After spectacularly failing in his effort to recover from his slip of the tongue, Henry resolved not to say anything unnecessary to Declan.
Of course, both questions weren’t personal questions in Henry’s opinion. Especially the one about chicken soup.
He was certain that in America, chicken soup was considered food regarded as a common sentiment that could be shared with anyone.
Because it was a topic he brought up for that reason, Henry found the man’s reaction even harder to understand.
After even such a general question kept failing, he couldn’t even gauge which questions were okay and which weren’t.
In the end, it was perfectly natural that Henry chose to keep his mouth shut rather than displease him with unnecessary questions.
That evening, the medicine Declan brought took effect in his body, and after eating soup, Henry, who could finally stay awake a bit, received a call from Margaret.
She told him to receive Declan’s help until she returned. Henry asked, thinking he wouldn’t be willing, but unexpectedly, after only brief consideration, he immediately nodded. That he would do so.
On the night transitioning to the 28th, his fever rose again and he suffered a bit, and on the morning of the 28th, he was incomparably better than the 27th.
On the 28th, unable to resist the medicine’s effects, he took a short nap and could stay awake to some extent. And on the 29th, he improved much more than that and didn’t even take the cough medicine that made him drowsy. Then he stopped taking naps too.
From this point was the ordeal. He had to be awake all day with Declan, who was awkward and difficult even when briefly seen at school.
He was afraid of making mistakes if he spoke, and it bothered him if he stayed still. Though he didn’t want to admit it, Declan Russell was helpful.
He prepared meals without fail at every mealtime and made sure he took the medicine brought from the dormitory.
He was preparing one step ahead everything he thought Henry would need. The moment he realized that fact, Henry couldn’t help but observe Declan’s every action.
Foolishly, Henry was adapting to the situation of receiving his care.
Henry was quite flustered by the change that had occurred in him.
Henry often secretly stole glances at the neat face sitting on the sofa looking at something.
There was a strange stillness felt only from him. With it, he felt as if the whole world calmly settled and the noise making the world noisy disappeared.
Every time he witnessed Declan like that, his chest area tickled out of the blue. That fact was disturbingly uncomfortable.
Enough to even have the strange thought that it might have been better to suffer from the cold until his family returned.
Time that seemed like it would never pass flowed by. And so today, December 31st, 11:50 PM.
The last day of the year, and the night before the new year.
For the first time in his life, Henry was at home, not at church.
Together with Declan Russell, who was neither family nor a close friend.
Just the two of them sitting on the sofa in the spacious living room, waiting for the New Year’s countdown.
Henry, who had become quite healthy except for the occasional cough and sore throat, turned on the TV on time.
He switched from the Christian channel with prayers flowing out to a place broadcasting the New York Times Square countdown. Using Declan as an excuse.
It was a landscape that felt unfamiliar since he’d only ever seen it through media until now. As he focused on watching it, Henry slyly turned his eyes to observe Declan’s face.
Since he said he’d lived in New York, wondering if he might feel nostalgic seeing Times Square. But his face showed no particular emotion.
Conversely, Declan, who keenly felt Henry’s gaze, asked without even turning his head.
“Why.”
At the brief question, Henry made a somewhat fed-up expression. Since he keenly noticed even a brief glance and asked, it was quite awkward to deal with him.
Since he was caught looking, he should ask something, but it was a bit much to speak honestly. After brief contemplation, Henry pretended to be curious and asked him.
“Have you ever watched the countdown there?”
“Yeah.”
Unlike other questions he’d asked him before, this time a calm answer flowed out immediately.
This seemed to be an okay question, Henry was greatly relieved.
“How was it?”
“…It was hectic.”
An answer a little different from what he expected flowed out.
Different from his expectation, but somehow it was a response that felt like him. Before he could even realize it, Henry drew a smile on his lips.
“Still, it must have been fun. I’ve never welcomed the new year in a place like that.”
Times Square on the screen sparkled incessantly.
Lights of various colors and dazzling billboards. People densely gathered like stars floating in the night sky of some rural town in Texas. Various voices having conversations, excited with anticipation for the new year.
At the gaze felt from the side, Henry shrugged his shoulders once and gave a shallow smile.
“I always spent it at church, you see. Usually at this time, we’d be holding a service… and then welcomed the new year.”
Henry, who was answering, trailed off, captivated by the splendor on the screen.
Henry had always been curious about other people’s first day of the new year. Because at some point he learned that not everyone spent the first day of the new year monotonously and devoutly like him.
He wasn’t waiting for an answer. It was a personal story he brought up like a lament.
Naturally thinking one wouldn’t come back, when he was capturing in his eyes the scene on television he’d long been curious about.
“…Still, since you spent it with your family, it probably wasn’t bad.”
Breaking expectations, a slow but calm answer flowed from the man sitting beside him.
At the unexpected words, Henry unconsciously made a surprised face and turned to the side. The man was watching him.
The living room with only soft indirect lighting on. Dark shadows cast over his face.
Henry somehow felt he’d glimpsed the man’s shadow. Even though he had a face no different from usual.
Somehow he became tense. Even moving a finger or turning his gaze felt difficult. Like someone possessed by something.
Indescribable emotions rippled on their own. Somehow, a strange impulse to comfort him arose.
The air settled heavily. Because Declan didn’t bother to run away from the eyes looking at him, the two were endlessly looking at each other.
The silence was broken.
“It’s starting soon.”
After Declan informed Henry of the countdown’s start.
At some point, the strange feeling from before had disappeared without a trace, and he’d returned to being the usual Declan Russell.
“…Yeah.”
Only then did Henry reluctantly turn his face.
The center of Times Square shown on the screen. Numbers appeared on the giant screen hanging there.
“10!”
Regardless of whether they were together or not, everyone who came out to the square put their arms on each other’s shoulders. They all cheered the numbers together in excited voices.
“9! 8!”
Everyone was together. People’s hopeful shouts created a light vibration. Voices resonated in the vast space.
“7! 6!”
Though it was a new year welcomed every year, this moment felt quite different to Henry.
Unlike usual, because appropriate tension and anticipation decorated the last night of the year.
“5! 4!”
Henry slightly moistened his dry lips. For no reason, the warmth and presence of the person in the seat next to him approached more clearly.
“3!”
Without realizing it, Henry swallowed and held his breath.
“2!”
With a somewhat stiff face, he looked at the screen.
“1!”
The screen instantly brightened.
Cheers poured out. The massive crowd shouted with one voice. Happy New Year.
Among the shouts, someone hugged each other and kissed. It was a scene as if the whole world was colored with happiness.
Henry felt embarrassed by the couples or married couples sharing affection on the screen.
Unable to overcome it, Henry unconsciously turned his gaze to the side. Brief and awkward gazes collided.
Whether he’d been watching from some point, or whether he too had turned around unable to overcome embarrassment like himself, there was no way for Henry to know.
The two wordlessly looked at each other again. His heart tingled. Henry felt some kind of impulse.
It was an emotion similar to when returning to the field to start the 4th quarter of a closely contested football game.
He couldn’t hold back anymore.
Abruptly!
Henry stood up from his seat. In a slightly breathless state, Henry brought up an odd topic.
“I hope we win the championship this year.”
Unlike usual, a somewhat flushed voice flowed out. It was forced brightness trying to cover the boiling of emotions.
Declan looked at Henry’s back for a moment, then nodded and answered.
“…Yeah. It will happen.”
The answer was short, but somehow felt kind.
Henry’s face, who had stood up with somewhat exaggerated gestures, turned slightly red.
Henry cleared his throat and muttered that he was thirsty. Using that as an excuse, Henry headed to the kitchen as if running away.
