Chapter 36

I entered the break room with an exhausted grunt and then having several cups of water to rehydrate.

Finishing my final drink with a relieved sigh, I carelessly tossed the cup to the trash in the corner of the room and not bothering to pick it back up when I missed as I immediately collapsed on the nearest seat.

Tossing away my used surgical gloves and masks, I rummage around the grey couch I was sitting on for a pillow, shoved my head into it and screamed.

I couldn't help it, really.

I'm frustrated and indignant of the fact that I couldn't help my patients today.

They weren't making quirk enhancers, triggers or stimulants, no. The fools in that laboratory thought it would be a good idea to play god and mess with genetics. They cut up children of various ages, and injected them with a serum containing randomised quirk factors.

And the serum, oh gods, the serum...

The children whose bodies couldn't adapt to the new alloted genetic data would destabilize, physically mutate in different ways and degrees making it harder for the children to live normally in this society of xenophobes. That is the lighter of the two.

For the children whose bodies destabilized so much that they couldn't handle it? They collapsed entirely. Those kids became the serum. Some of those that made it to the hospital only collapsed into a literal puddle of slime hours after.

Not the staff, not me, not even sensei were able to do anything.

The time frame was too short and the complicated processes and strict requirements for gene splicing... It was hopeless.

Sensei he... It was the first time I saw that sort of expression on his face. It was a mix of different emotions but a tinge melancholic, the last bit being something I'm all to familiar with.

The genetic map of whatever left we can scavenge painted a picture so dense and intertwined, it wouldn't be possible to save it with a heal spell, but perhaps a ti-

'REWIND!' I shot up from the couch and began unconsciously started pacing back and forth the break room.

How can I forget about Eri?! Wait, think properly. How old is she? Going by canon, she first appeared on screen at age six meaning that since I'm a middleschool freshman she's three. Her quirk probably hasn't awaken yet so she hasn't been abused but...

This is a mixed world isn't it?

I should probably keep tabs on that somehow. Only problem is that I don't have connection with gangs and the like.

Asking my friends from either side is out too. The normal side is obvious enough and I couldn't keep relying on Hii-chan's group forever, especially since they specialised on the supernatural side of things.

Nana is probably out too since the shi-whatever Yakuza also deals in drugs. Being in the same business most likely means that they had their people cross paths and bullets at times.

Hiring random Youkai and spirit are a gamble since I wouldn't really know if they're gonna just stab me in the back or whatever.

My hands would be tied but this is probably something that I should wait out for. In any case, I don't even remember what city it was.

Gah, it been so long since my death that my memories of my past life are becoming more and more unreliable.

I should probably write it dow- no.

Who knows when someone would come to find them. Something like reincarnation and our own reality being a cluster of entertainment media is a secret I'll take to my metaphorical grave.

In a world of superpowers, it would be easy to for a person with a stealth quirk or something to sneak into my room and steal stuff like that. I mean, wasn't there already that ki-

'THAT KID?!'

Wait a moment, I'm getting overwhelmed by myself here.

Where is that kid? The one that gave me clues about the lab that started the raid. Shouldn't he have shown himself by now?

I figured he wanted to reunite with his friends or something so why is that brat still missing? Did something happen or did he just disappear? Wait, don't tell me he also dissolved into a puddle of slime?

Ugggghhhhhhhhh

Why can't things just be simple?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The kid was a no-show.

It's been days and there hasn't been a message, clue or even a single letter to where he is, let alone confirm that he's even still alive.

The kids that we were able to save have been put under rehabilitation to let them get used to their new bodies as well as emotional and psychological therapy.

It is also fortunate that Nezu has not gotten winds of what has happened here. Well, knowing him he either does know and hasn't connected it to me or he does know and hasn't said anything. All I do know is that Recovery Girl hasn't called me on the phone about it and scolded me for being reckless so I called that a win in my book.

On another note, now that my head is cleared away from the pseudo-breakdown I had, the clarity has aired me in thinking through a certain problem. The matter with Eri shall be set aside for now and I'll come back to it when I have a more concrete plan of action or when stuff actually happened yet.

It sounds cruel, I know but I would rather protect whatever or whomever is closer to me that to lose them over tying to save someone that is essentially a stranger.

I got lucky with the Gensokyo incident years ago. Even injured, at least there's a notice that they're alive left by Shinomori.

What happened a few days ago was a wake-up call. So far, the only people that died around me were nameless civilian casualties from collateral damage between big villains, the friend of my friends mentioned in passing or the nameless silhouettes in mirrored tokyo that faded. But those kids were different, those kids died on my hands.

I let go of the breathe I was unknowingly holding and relaxed my teeth. My hands moved on their own and started to routinely stroke the ribbon behind my head, a habit that occured more frequently.

'The weight on the shoulders of a healer... I took it for granted.'

It didn't really sunk in since I never failed to save someone before. Even if it was out of my hands, Sensei or granny could've done something and called it a day. But actually failing? It stung more than I taught.

A lot more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bell rung signalling the start of a break. I was about to sneak away to eat when a someone pat me on the back.

"Hey man, you alright?" Asked Haru. He had a worried look on his face, even the flower on his eye socket seemed to radiate the same worry.

"Yes. Why?"

"You, uh, don't look so good..." He looked at me up and down.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about it."

"But that's exactly what- hey!"

"Sorry, gotta go." I said while briskly leaving.

Why did he say that I didn't look so good? Even if I stay up and haven't slept for a few days, I'd still be fine. After all, I am a Youkai. My body wouldn't degrade for something as trivial like a lack of sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Shuzenji-san?"

"What is it, Konori-senpai?" I said over the severe rustling of papers.

"Don't you think that you might be working a bit too hard?" She asked, pointedly gesturing to the heads flying back and fro.

"Not at all."

"I, this- look," She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just take a break for a bit."

"There's an important call on phone number four." I said and before she can refute, the sounds of ringing came in just in time.

She seemed conflicted for a bit between telling me off and missing a potentially important call, or answering the call and leaving me to my own devices. Ultimately, she sighs before going to pick up the call but not before saying "This isn't over."

I didn't think about it too much though. There are plenty of ways to distract her, Nebi for one.

And besides, didn't she know that doing more work now means that you can play more later? I thought for sure it was common sense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was late at night and I couldn't find it in myself to simply sleep so I've been spending my time doing something more productive.

Mainly studying.

It doesn't matter whether it was mundane topics like math and biology or supernatural grimoires that touch upon more magical lessons, so long as it helped pass the time I simply kept my mind working.

I've taken to reading late, deep into the night. Particularly with the lights switched off so people would think I was already asleep --Saten tried to sneak into the balcony again to talk to me about random things.--, the darkness doesn't impede my vision since the luminance from the bright city lights are more than enough for my eyes.

Briefly, my thoughts shift to the stars as I gingerly stand up and shift the curtain slightly to look out of the balcony.

Their soft beautiful glow is nowhere to be found.

I was reminded yet again that this place is different. The humans have conquered the night and made it their second day. Gone was the fear and wonder, I noticed.

It was gray, dull and I know that it is littered with the same darkness humanity harbored within themselves the same way as any supernatural would, but in it's own way, it too, is beautiful.

I sighed before going back to my studies, fully aware that the tsukomogami were awake in their own way and looking at you in worry.

I smiled at them but said nothing. Even the small bell, as noisy as it normally was, is simply radiating comfort. I relaxed a bit and basked in the moment for a while, Appreciating the both the silence and company.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And that's it. You're doing great! Keep up the good work." I smiled at the kid before he runs away and continued playing.

Rehab is working wonders for them. Their bodies are different from what they're used to, but they have already started to adapt. Granted, some of them that have special needs are relocated to a different facility.

With my job at this ward is essentially over for the day, I move on to the next one and continue my shift. Someone is always in need of healing somewhere, right? So it would make sense to do as much as I can.

Even I haven't seen Sensei for a while now so he probably must be busy elsewhere. The man known as the Heaven Cancelled wouldn't be idle so why should I?

There are still plenty of people that need help after all. If the patients on this hospital are all healed then it would be time to move on to the next one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I decided to get some fresh air for tonight.

Repeatedly tackling the books has become monotonous to me lately so I figured so exposure would do some good. And it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't get rid of a few miasma catalyst while I'm at it. Two birds with one stone and all that.

But then again, I'm neither in a hurry nor in any particular drive to actively hunt them down so I am merely walking.

Not a brisk pace, not running, not flying, bot jumping rooftop to rooftop. Just a regular walk as far as normal goes.

And of course, I brought company.

I am now accompanied by both a small bell and a prayer bracelet. The latter of which is now one the relatively same level of sentience as the former.

'It wouldn't be too productive of my time but,' I smiled softly while glancing at the bracelet on my wrist. 'Concessions must be made, especially if it meant celebrating the nearing of ones day of "Birth" in a manner of speaking.'

A part of me whispered if the new tsukomogami did it on purpose to let you catch a break, but another part of me whispered that it fine.