Fujii Itsuki was still feeling ill. "Ar-choo!"

"Bless you!" Mrs Fujii was concerned, "I think you should go to the hospital to have your cold checked. It's winter now, and I don't want you to catch pneumonia." Fujii Itsuki made a sound. She hated going to the hospital; she felt depressed there.

The door bell rang. It was her uncle, Mr Yamato, who was a real estate agent. He was taking Mrs Fujii to view a new apartment that day. Mrs Fujii was looking for a new place as their home was very old, and as the prices of new apartments had fallen, this might be a good time to start looking.

"I want to go see this place," Fujii Itsuki was interested to see any new place; she had been living at her present home ever since she was born. Mrs Fujii looked at her daughter and decided that she should rest at home, but she announced anyway, "All right, let's go then."

In the car, Aki started to cough. "Are you having a cold?" asked Uncle Yamato as he started the engine.

"I hope she recovers soon. Colds that don't get well for a long time are dangerous especially in winter." said Mrs Fujii, "it can turn into pneumonia."

"How can pneumonia kill people? It's not deadly at all!" Mr Yamato's ignorance was deeply disturbing.

"My father died of pneumonia, and he's your brother, for goodness' sake!" Aki shouted from the back seat. Uncle Yamato was a strange person.

The car took an unexpected turn, and Aki wiped the frosted window with her hands. "Where are we?"

"At the hospital." came the reply.

Mum must have told Uncle that Aki must go to the hospital instead of visiting the new apartment. Aki reluctantly stepped out of the car onto the white steps of the hospital.

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