"So, why don't you start by telling me how you feel lately?" 

"Lately, is it? I think I'm feeling mostly fine."

"Is that so?" The psychiatrist, Mikazuki, wrote in her notebook. Afterwards, she takes a look at me for a little while, and fixes her glasses before replying.

"Kusakabe, I understand that you may feel uncomfortable. Everyone have their own limitations on what is comfortable and what is not comfortable. However, please remember that I am here to help you. That includes helping you accept, and hopefully eventually overcome whatever is bothering you." 

I could only nod weakly upon hearing her words.

"With that said, please let me ask you once again. How are you feeling lately?" 

"I..." I only managed to get a word out before I felt a lump forming in my throat.

"Is it too difficult right now?" She replies, sounding concerned.

"No, just," I run out of words again, and I can feel my heart starting to beat harder. After trying unsuccessfully to calm myself down by emptying my thoughts, I close my eyes and start to take deep breaths. the world grew silent as I continue to take deep breaths, and eventually I can feel my heartbeat going back to normal. I take my last deep breath, and then open my eyes. 

The first thing I see is Doctor Mikazuki, who has taken a seat in front of me, and by the looks of it has waited until I managed to calm myself down.

"Are you feeling better?" She asks while offering a pack of tissues. It is at this point that I realize I am sweating, albeit not as severe as it was on the bus.

"Thank you," I reply while taking a few sheets. "Yes, I'm mostly feeling alright now."

"Good to hear," she replies while retracting her hands. She then waits until I finish wiping my sweat before starting to speak once again. 

"Let's move on to a different topic then," She says as she opens her notebook, which was placed on the table besides her.

"I met her on the way today." Her hands stop when she hears my words. "She rode the same bus as I did on my way here. I wasn't lying, before today I was mostly fine. As fine as one can be in my situation, anyway. However, when I saw her..." I let my words hang unfinished, but she isn't saying anything. The silence hangs around the two of us for a little while. 

"I had quite an adverse reaction."

"Would you like to elaborate?"

"In short, I felt... afraid. A kind of bone-chilling fear, where I felt the temperature around me dropped. I couldn't do anything, not even look her way in fear of catching her attention. I could only sit down on my seat while looking downwards all the way from her coming on the bus to the stop at the promenade."

"I see." 

"I only realized after getting down from the bus, but I was sweating profusely. To the point where my shirt under my jacket was drenched. However, after seeing that she wasn't there both when the bus arrived at the stop, and at the promenade itself, I managed to calm myself down before changing my clothes."

"I see. Good job," Doctor Mikazuki said softly. "Did something happen physically? Did you start to ache, or did some other thing happen?"

"No. At least, aside from the profuse sweating, I don't think so," I reply. "But I still feel like I can't bear to look at her, and trying to communicate with her... I think that is out of the question for now." 

"I agree," she replies. "With what happened, I think it would be better for you to keep yourself from her for now. How about the others? Do you feel that feeling when interacting with other people? Friends, or parents, for example?"

"I still can't tell them about what happened, or about how I am now. However, I think I don't have any problems with the others. Not yet, anyway."

"That is good to hear. As to the actual problem, let's take it one step at a time. I will be here to help you along the way."

"Thank you, doctor," I replied, upon which she smiles for a little bit.

"Now, let's move on. Do you have anything else that you want to share?" 

"Actually, I had a nightmare last night. About that event." 

"I see. Did you have them before?"

"No, last night was the first time. However, I haven't been able to sleep well lately, and I end up with a lack of sleep during the day."

"I understand. Can you tell me how you felt after you woke up?" 

"From what I can remember... Mostly the same. I was sweating a lot even though it was cold. I'm pretty sure I was also tossing and turning in my sleep, as my bed was very messy, although I'm not sure if it happens before, during, or after the nightmare."

"Were you agitated before you sleep?"

"I don't remember, to be honest. I just found it hard to sleep, like I said earlier."

"I see. So it appears that what we've been doing so far is not enough. In that case," Doctor Mikazuki says as she stands up and heads towards a cabinet. She takes out a key from her pocket, unlocks and opens up the cabinet and takes out two small medicine bottles. Afterwards, she turns back and puts the bottles on top of the table before me.

"So. This one," she says as she puts her finger on top of one of the bottles, "should help block your nightmares. For now, take one a day before you sleep, and only before you sleep. The other one is an antidepressant. For now, take it once a day. It will take some time before it comes into effect, so please don't try to take more than once a day until we meet again. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Good. For our next appointment... let's make it one week for now. Please be prepared to report the effect of the prescriptions so that we can adjust it if needed. Do you have any question?" 

"Hmm. What should I expect after taking these?" 

"Is this your first time taking these kinds of medicine?"

"Yes, it is," I answer truthfully.

"It depends from person to person. In the case of a clinically depressed person, they will usually feel a reduction in the symptoms and feel less depressed and more content. Most will usually lose their negative thoughts, although replaced by hollow feelings afterwards. There are also cases where the antidepressants simply don't work, which means that we will have to change the medicine itself. So again, please pay close attention to what you feel in the days leading to our next meeting. Is that alright with you?"

"Yes, of course. Thank you, doctor."

"Thank you as well, Kusakabe. Take care."

"I will, doctor. Once again, thank you," I answer as I stand up from the sofa before taking the small bottles and heading towards the door. I bow towards her as I exit as I did the first time before opening the door and leaving the room, closing the doors behind me. As I leave the room, the young woman who received me earlier is standing by the door, and upon seeing me she bows towards me before turning back and walking in front of me, leading me towards the main entrance. Upon reaching the main entrance, she gestures for the front doors, and I quickly but carefully return the slippers that I used before wearing my shoes once again. As I am leaving, she once again makes a short bow towards me.

"Take care, Mister Kusakabe. I hope you feel better soon."

"Thank you, miss," I reply while bowing lightly as well, before exiting the house and closing the doors behind me. The warm air welcomes me as I make my way back to the outside world, accompanied by a gust of chilling wind which caresses my cheek, giving the atmosphere a typical early winter air.

I take a deep breath, trying to savor the distinct smell that only an autumn air could bring, and for a few seconds I feel as if my problems have disappeared. However, I am quickly brought back to reality, as the medicine bottles rattle around in my pocket, reminding me of the reality that I am facing; I am nowhere near getting over my trauma. I make my way back to the promenade, and when I arrive, the sun is halfway set. The shopping street that was full of people is now mostly deserted, with most of the stores having closed down save for the convenience store where I changed as well as some bars where people come to unwind after a long day of work. 

I suddenly feel compelled to look at the surface of the lake, and so I do, and staring back at me is a reflection of my face, smiling ever so slightly surrounded by the glittery surface of the lake, courtesy of the final dying rays of today's sun. I fix my gaze at the reflection of the lake's surface, and without me even realizing, the sun has completely set, upon which my reflection is gone and I am able to take my eyes off the somehow mesmerizing sight. The temperature has dropped further, giving me a slight shiver, and I quickly board the bus heading home the moment it arrives at the bus stop.

The bus is deserted, and aside from the familiar electric buzzing sound of the lights it is mostly silent. The brightly shining light of the road lamp illuminates the road, seemingly trying to repel the darkness from the night away. As I am looking through the window to the houses outside, the bus eventually reaches my stop, and I disembark as soon as the doors open. I stand a little while at the bus stop, looking at the bus as it leaves, its taillight getting smaller before it turns at the corner and disappears entirely. 

Turning away from where the bus disappeared, I head straight back home, and thankfully the short trip was uneventful, short of the cold wind that blows from time to time, making me shiver. Once I arrive, I quickly make my way inside, locking the door behind me. I greet mom as usual before going directly upstairs, foregoing the usual shower in favor of a quick rest. Taking my toothbrush, I rummage my pockets for the medicine and head towards the bathroom. 

After brushing my teeth, I gargle and spit out the water inside my mouth, and picks up the medicine bottle. I take out one tablet of capsule of the medicine said to suppress nightmares, and down it along with a glass of cold tap water. Afterwards, I return to my room, put the medicine bottles back together, and lay on top of my bed. Maybe due to exhaustion or some other reason, I find myself feeling really sleepy suddenly, and before long my consciousness fades away as I sincerely hope for a deep, uneventful sleep.