Chapter 3 - The Wave of Popularity
Everything turned upside down in the hospital since Sota arrived. The entire ward felt like a festival venue. There was a sudden, unusual rise in the number of annoyingly excited female visitors, and even the other nurses became like giddy teenagers in his presence.
What's all this fuss about him? Saeko wondered as she stepped into their room to check whether the deaf boy had eaten all the fruits, she had brought him.
To her surprise, he and Sota were nowhere to be found, yet that brat's flamboyant friends settled in the room as if it were their own. Those guys really used up every minute of the visiting hours hanging around.
"Did you see the video about the incident went viral?" exulted Kaito, not even noticing her.
"Well, not much of a condolence," Yasushi muttered, "We could have gotten away with less if we let the police catch us instead of getting Sota end up in the hospital."
"Don't sweat it! He has got more serious injuries than this because of his work," Tatsuya slapped his back encouragingly. With his tall, buff body and buzz cut hairstyle, he really gave off a soldier-like appearance.
"If you ask me, it all totally worthed it, the whole running away was so dope," Kaito rejoiced proudly.
Saeko stood there, baffled by what she had just heard.
Don't tell me I rescued some lunatic who was escaping from the police.
"Ah, here you are. You are really that girl who helped Sota," Yasushi was the first to realize her presence, "Let us thank you for helping him out…" his words were cut off.
"I know you from somewhere," Saeko said, realizing it just then. "You're that psychology student from the library who needed help with his thesis," she added, tilting her head in surprise
"Yeah, and you were kind enough to gather a few more people to fill out my survey," he said with a warm smile.
"And kind enough to kick us out," Tatsuya added not exactly thrilled.
The memory of the other guys making a scene in the library only increased her hostility.
"Why on earth are you spending your time with these frivolous guys?" She turned toward Yasushi with a disapproving look.
"Frivolous?" Tatsuya asked as if he hadn't heard it clearly.
"Ah," he smiled nervously, "I happen to be the founder of the band."
"What kind of band?" Saeko squinted, just realizing that not only Sota, but the others had instruments too.
"We are The Jigsaw," Kaito bragged, showing her their logo on his leatherjacket. Four puzzle pieces each in different colour.
She did recognise the sign. It was all over the city – posters and stickers on the walls.
"You know, we had that spontaneous street gig yesterday when the incident happened…" he said. She blinked blankly, seemingly clueless.
"Ah, don't tell me you haven't seen that…" Kaito scolded her, then eagerly showed her the video.
It started with the four guys hopping out of a minivan in the middle of a traffic jam and climbing on top of it. When they started to play music, people in their cars cheered them on with honks and shouts. Encouraged by the crowd, they went even crazier and jumped onto other vehicles as well. Only the drummer, Tatsuya, remained perched atop the minivan, seated, and playing a cajon. That crazy Sota even did a backflip with his guitar, jumping off one of the cars. A few minutes later, the cops showed up, and they all scattered in different directions. Kaito proudly narrated the entire incident to tie up all the loose ends.
It was mind-blowing. Mind-blowingly frustrating.
"Oh man! Why are you exposing me?" Sota chided him as he returned in the company of the little boy and a large pack of snacks they had shared.
He had hoped he could keep their popularity hidden from Saeko a little longer. He pretty enjoyed that the girl wasn't head over heels for him because of his fame just like others.
But, I guess, it's all over now. He groaned, fully prepared for a change in her behaviour.
"Pfft," she snorted rolling her eyes, "pathetic. I can't believe you are so reckless."
"What's your problem?" Kaito said apparently offended.
"You don't understand, do you? It seems tons of people are following you, guys. You are responsible for what kind of examples you set. Do you really want them to see you escaping from the police?"
"Yeah, you have got a point there…" Yasushi muttered.
"Don't act like you are much better than us just because you are so responsible, granny! As if being serious all the time would be the most important thing that matters in life…" Kaito snapped at her, defending themselves.
Saeko replied in a composed voice.
"Not everyone has the luxury of acting so carefree. Please, stop causing a ruckus in the hospital. Just because your roommate can't hear, it doesn't mean playing music in the room is allowed," she left without waiting for a response.
"I don't get it. What's so great about her? She is such a killjoy," Kaito complained to the others.
"She is just so cool," Sota said, gazing after her.
"You must have hit your head too…" Tatsuya added.
"You should create social media accounts too, so you could stay updated," one of the nurses suggested. Then she showed Sota's profile to her, not as if she were interested, of course.
"I've heard he started to work as a stuntman right after high school instead of going to university. He is so cool," her colleague raved.
"Are there really people who make a living from this? What is so great about it?" Saeko said not pleased at all.
"Don't tell me you didn't even see his showreel video."
"What's that?"
"Every stuntman needs to have some to advertise themselves, so they could get even more requests."
Another video to watch… She sighed. More than enough social media for a day.
The reel was full of dangerous stunts. In one moment, he was climbing and jumping from a tall building to another, then he was doing tricks with his motorbike on one wheel. And of course, martial arts.
"One of his specialties is the bo staff, he's like a real ninja," she explained. Even watching the video made Saeko dizzy.
"So, this is how he got his previous injuries," she grumbled.
How can some people waste their lives on such worthless and dangerous things?