Chapter 2 Hospital
The boy awakens from his sleep with a long yawn. 'I assume that after I passed out, I was brought to the hospital. A nurse was walking through the hallway. She notices the boy and asks "Oh, you're awake". The nurse enters the room, "Your body has regenerated unnaturally quickly, it's uncanny! What is your name?". The boy looks at the nurse and replies, "Asada Stolz".
"Asada, nice name! We can discharge you immediately but I would like to ask about your family if that is ok with you." The nurse smiles amiably.
"I have an Uncle that lives in the city."
She pulls out a small notepad from her back pocket. After jotting down the information, she proceeds to ask where he lives.
"I live in Kitaru; a town quite close to here. You must have heard of it before, right?
The Nurse then replied with an excited tone "Oh yes! I love the townsfolk there." and carries on writing. After sweeping her gaze over her notes for the last time, the nurse turns to Asada, "That is all, you may leave."
Shortly after, Asada gets up, full of vigor. He decides to make his way out of the Hospital. When he reaches the exit, he sees a woman. He notices her worried gaze and reddened eyes, he wonders, 'Has she got a relative in the hospital or something?'. Asada decides to ignore it and carry on walking. Just as he is about to leave the hospital, he feels his clothes being pulled from behind.
"E-Excuse me!" The woman, her face now filled with tears, stops him. "Are you alright?"
'Huh! Me? I have never seen this person before, but she is worried about me?!'
"I-" The woman cuts herself off, it looked as if she didn't dare to say it. Her right hand closed into a fist and tightened. She raised her head and continues, "I am the one that hit you, please forgive me!"
"Ah. Please don't cry, as you can see, I am good as new." With the help of a cordial smile, he managed to console the woman. After the woman wiped her tears, Asada asked,
"Do you know of a way I can get back to my home-town, like a busway? I don't want to walk in this cold..."
"Would you like me to drive you, it is the least I could do."
"As long as it doesn't bother you too much."
"Please follow me."
Asada follows the woman. She leads him to a black car. After opening the door to the passenger's seat and beckons for him to sit down. She closes the door and walks over to the driver's seat.
"My name is Reina. Nice to meet you."
"I am Asada. Likewise."
Trees… Grass… More trees… Asada looked at the boring scenery with disinterest. However, there was nothing else to do. 'Even more tree- hey, isn't this the forest I came out of? Well, it's the only forest here…' These kinds of idle thoughts entered and exited his mind.
'Huh!?'
He hurriedly turned his body toward the window. 'A Shadow!'. His eyes dilated and eyebrows shot up, a cold sweat slid down his cheek. 'Was that the monster that was chasing me?'. Reina noticed Asada's troubled expression. His slightly pale complexion prompted her to ask half-jokingly,
"Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."
He regained composure with a gulp and responds with a curt "Yes". He closed his eyes and tried to relax for the rest of the journey.
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"Asada, we are here."
"Oh thank you - I appreciate this."
"Don't worry about it." A radiant smile formed on her lips.
After leaving the car and waving goodbye to Reina, Asada made his way toward a derelict apartment building. It looks as if it would fall at any moment. Asada set foot in the building and climbed up the begrimed staircase trying to avoid touching the mucky handrail. He entered the hallway of the fourth floor and stopped outside of the second room.
Asada lets out a long sigh, "Home sweet home."
At that moment, the old man invades his thoughts. 'Illusion he said? I need to test that out… After an ice-cold shower that is.' A lonely frown claimed it's territory on his face. 'If this power is as good as the old man said, then I should be able to lead a better life than this, huh.'
...…
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…
'Ok, I'm ready to test these powers! I'll do it in the junkyard since no one goes there.'
After washing up and sliding on a ripped jumper, Asada was ready. He takes a beeline to the junkyard and arrives there quickly. After briefly scanning the place with his eyes, he finds a suitable place to test.
'Alright, what did that old man say again? Focus on what I want to create? Easy.'
Asada seals his eyes shut and takes a pose.
'Focus on what I want to create… Wait, what do I want to create?'
His abnormal pose broke into a normal one as he deliberated over his options.
'I can't create something too flashy. If something like an explosio-'
KABOOM!!!