Chapter Text
Autumn leaves fluttered to the ground, enveloping the path that Gentaro walked in vibrant red hues. In search of writing inspiration, Gentaro found himself at a nearby park, as people watching and nature were two things that always seemed to get his pen moving. Just as he found a bench to rest at, however, his peaceful afternoon was interrupted by ringing from his pocket; a call from Ramuda.
“Hewwo Gentaro~”
“What is it, Ramuda?” Gentaro cringed. “You only use that awful voice when you’re up to something.”
“You saw right through me, as expected of Gentawo~” Ramuda giggled. “Could you do me a favor and fetch Dice? He isn’t answering my calls...”
“Calls, plural?” Gentaro’s eyes widened. “You’ve mean you’ve called him more than once?”
Ramuda sighed. “Yeah, being ignored sure is lonely.”
“And how should I know where he is?”
“I dunno, just use your Gentaro senses! Pwetty pwease?”
“Alright, alright,” Gentaro grimaced, not able to bear any more of Ramuda’s uwu-speak. “I have an idea of where he might be, so I’ll try that.”
“Thanks a ton,” Ramuda chimed. “See ya~!”
Gentaro sighed and tucked his phone and notebook back into his pocket. Walking from the tranquil park back into the bustling streets of Shibuya, he could only imagine what kind of predicament Dice had gotten himself into this time.
When Gentaro arrived at Shibuya’s most infamous gambling den, its appearance made him recoil. Glaring neon lights lit up the front of the casino, which intensified the shadiness of the alleys on either side of the building. Gentaro had an inclination to look for Dice in one of these alleys, and sure enough, he was right. Dice lay there passed out in the alley, leaning up against a nearby dumpster.
“Dice?” Gentaro called out to his friend, but to no avail. Knowing his soft-spoken voice would never get through to him, Gentaro shook his friend’s shoulder, but even after that, Dice remained unresponsive.
“Dice, wake up, I’ll give you 10,000 yen,” Gentaro shouted, his usual calm tone now sounding more on edge with each word. He couldn’t remember the last time he raised his voice, but no matter what Gentaro seemed to do, Dice wouldn’t open his eyes.
“Oh, what’s up with that guy?” a passerby commented from the street. “Is he dead?”
“Dead?” Gentaro felt his heart sink in fear. “He couldn’t be…?”
Gentaro’s hands started shaking as he pressed two fingers onto Dice’s neck, searching for a pulse. “His heartbeat is so fast…” Gentaro thought, then used his other hand to feel Dice’s forehead. “Ah, he’s burning up too…”
“He was fine yesterday...” Gentaro hurriedly pulled out his phone. “I need to call for help…”
After an ambulance transported Dice from the alley to the hospital, the events following blurred together. Gentaro took a taxi to the hospital, but nothing about the ride registered in his mind. Once he arrived at his destination, the drab white interior of the hospital passed him by as well, and he wasted no time heading to the front desk.
“Arisugawa-san…?” the receptionist replied, searching through some files. “He should be over that way, ER room 45.”
Without a response, Gentaro began his search down the hall, finally finding the correct room after a few agonizing minutes. Upon reaching the door and seeing that it was open, Gentaro took a deep breath before walking in, bracing himself for the worst.
“Dice...?”
At the sight of his lively friend with IVs sticking out of him, Gentaro found himself clutching the chain on his jacket.
“Oh, are you a family member?” A woman in a white doctor’s coat spoke up.
Gentaro shook his head, his eyes remaining fixed on Dice.
“Well, your... associate, Arisugawa-san, has influenza; one of the harsher strains that’s been appearing here in Shibuya,” the doctor explained. “We’ve stabilized his condition, but his health is still fragile, so he’ll have to stay here for now.”
“...Thank you.” Gentaro replied, then left the room abruptly. Several repulsive feelings overcame him at once, and every second that he spent in the hospital only intensified all of them. Gentaro’s mind grew more clouded as he walked home, but just as he reached the front door of his office, his runaway train of thought was interrupted by ringing from his pocket.
“So?” an expectant voice asked; it was Ramuda again. “Didya find Dice yet?”
“Yes.”
“And? Did his phone die or something?”
Gentaro paused. “He has the flu… He passed out by the casino.”
“Oh no! For real?” Ramuda pouted. “Having one of our beloved team members out sick is gonna be such a bother...”
Ramuda paused; he could’ve sworn he heard the sound of something breaking.
“Aaanyway, I know you’re probably gonna visit Dice again tomorrow, so get some sleep, ‘kay?” Ramuda hurriedly cut through the heavy silence on the other end. “Cause it would be a huuuge bummer if both of my fave people in the world were out of commission!”
“Ok... I’m going to sleep now.” Gentaro hung up.
That was Gentaro’s first and only lie that day.