Chapter 44: The Trials

Ryu was in his hospital bed relaxing for the time being. That was all he could do at the moment under Dr. Yuki's strict instructions.

"It is boring. They should have at least given me something to read," Ryu thought to himself.

"Huhh!! Leave it; I will just ask Mr. Isao to bring me something from the library when he comes to visit," he breathed out.

Just then the door to his room opened, and Isao and Hana entered the room. Ryu thought to himself, "Speak of the devil."

"Ryu-sensei!" Hana practically shouted, rushing over to his bedside. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she said, "How are you? We brought updates!"

Ryu, propped up against the pillows like a wilted flower, managed a weak smile. Despite his frail appearance, a flicker of interest ignited in his eyes. "Updates? Already? How's the... project going?"

Since he was admitted to the hospital, he assumed his project would be moving slowly. He did not anticipate receiving an update so quickly and with such enthusiasm. 

Isao cleared his throat; the sound was a little too loud in the hushed room. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable in the hospital setting. "Well," he started. "Hana's been burning the midnight oil, literally," he teased with a slight smile, glancing at Hana, who promptly turned the colour of a ripe tomato. "She's been so dedicated, I've had to remind her to eat and sleep."

Hana chuckled softly, his usual seriousness momentarily lifted. "We've initiated the in-vitro tests, and we're expecting the results to be compiled by the end of the day."

"That is indeed good news," he mumbled in a raspy voice. He paused, taking a shallow breath before continuing. "But..." He hesitated, then blurted out, "I already conducted the in vitro tests with Mr. Isao's help."

Hana, eager to impress, leaned in further. Her enthusiasm was palpable, her words tumbling out in a rush. "But that's not all, Ryu-sensei! We've been optimising the culturing process, and I think we might be able to—" Her voice trailed off, replaced by a gasp of surprise.

With trembling hands, Hana held a small vial, its contents a shimmering liquid that seemed to glow faintly. The light from the window caught the vial, creating a prism effect that scattered tiny rainbows across the white bedsheets.

Ryu's brow furrowed. "What is it, Hana?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but the intensity in his eyes spoke volumes.

"The synthetic antibiotic!" she finally exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of awe and disbelief. She cradled the vial as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Realisation then dawned on her, the memory of Ryu's earlier words clicking into place. "Oh," she stammered, her voice dropping to a quieter register. "I did not realise you had already done the in-vitro testing. How did the outcomes turn out?"

A steely glint flickered in Ryu's weakened eyes. He straightened up slightly, drawing on some hidden reserve of strength. "Those tests were well underway before you joined the project, Ms. Hana, and they showed positive results, but carry on with reconfirming my results with yours," he corrected gently, his voice firm despite his frail state. "The formula itself was my brainchild, a secret I'd prefer to keep that way for now."

Hana's eyes widened in astonishment. She took a step back, her earlier excitement now tinged with a hint of embarrassment. "Wow, Ryu-sensei! That's incredible! I thought it was Dr. Yuki's idea," she said, her voice filled with admiration.

Ryu replied, "For the rest of the world, it is Dr. Yuki's idea. Please keep it a secret because I am unable to take credit for it for some reason. Since you are Dr. Sato's daughter and he already knew, that is why I am telling you."

Following some contemplation, Hana replied, "All right, Ryu sensei, I will not tell a soul. But what gave rise to the original concept of this synthetic antibiotic? It's not every day you hear about someone so young making such a groundbreaking discovery."

Ryu chuckled softly, a hint of fatigue evident in the sound. His eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and pride. "Let's just say I had a bit of an epiphany," he said with a wink. "Dr. Yuki and Mr. Isao were instrumental in bringing it to life, of course."

The light-hearted moment was interrupted by the door creaking open before Hana could finish her question. Dr. Yuki entered, her expression serious. Her pristine white coat seemed to blend with the walls, giving her an almost ethereal presence. "Good, you're both here. Just give him the updates and don't pester him too much. Ryu needs his rest."

She cast a meaningful glance at Hana and Isao. Her tone softened slightly, but the underlying steel remained. "The progress is commendable, but there's no time for hero worship. Keep working. If there are any critical updates, you can come here and tell Ryu. Otherwise, let him rest."

Her words were firm but fair. Hana and Isao exchanged a silent nod. Both of them understood the gravity of the situation, their earlier excitement tempered by Dr. Yuki's reminder of the task at hand.

"Of course, Dr. Yuki," Isao said, his voice respectful. He placed a gentle hand on Hana's shoulder, guiding her towards the door. "We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed report."

With a final squeeze of Ryu's hand, her touch lingering for just a moment, Hana reluctantly followed Isao out of the room. The door shut softly behind them, leaving Ryu alone with his thoughts.

Despite the doctor's orders, a wave of relief washed over him. He sank back into the pillows, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. Knowing the in-vitro tests were successful, another hurdle was cleared, filling him with a renewed sense of purpose.

There was still a long road ahead, but for the first time since his collapse, Ryu felt a flicker of optimism. He closed his eyes, the image of a healthy world, free from the clutches of the disease, a beacon in the darkness. He had to get better. He had to see this fight through. For Hana, for his grandfather, for the world waiting to be healed.

The door clicked shut behind them, leaving Ryu alone with Dr. Yuki. The air crackled with an unspoken tension that made Ryu shift uncomfortably.

Dr. Yuki's usually composed face was etched with concern as she sat on the edge of Ryu's bed. The mattress dipped slightly under her weight, and Ryu could smell the faint scent of antiseptic that clung to her clothes. "Ryu," she began, her voice low. "Isao and Hana filled you in on the in-vitro tests, I presume?"

Ryu nodded weakly, a flicker of worry crossing his features. "Yes. Even though my tests were previously successful, Hana and Isao can now confirm it once more by contrasting the outcomes of my tests with tests that they carried out on their own, independently."

"Yes," Dr. Yuki agreed, a hint of grim determination in her eyes. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "But the good news comes with a wrinkle. We need to move to the next phase—in vivo testing—much faster than anticipated."

"In-vivo?" Ryu's breath hitched. His mind raced, processing the implications. "With lab animals infected by the specific strain, right?"

"Exactly," Dr. Yuki confirmed. She reached out, her cool hand covering Ryu's. "The urgency of the situation demands a swift approach. If the in-vivo results are positive, we'll petition the Medical Council for human trials by the end of the week. There's a chance—a very small chance—that you could be part of the initial group."

A flicker of hope ignited in Ryu's chest. His heart raced, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through him. "Human trials? That… that would be…"

"Fast, yes," Dr. Yuki finished his sentence for him. Her grip on his hand tightened slightly. "But it's also your best chance. We'll do everything in our power to keep you safe, but there are still risks involved."

Ryu closed his eyes, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. Fear threatened to paralyse him, but a spark of defiance ignited within. "Mother," he said, his voice gaining strength with each word, "despite the risks, I'm willing. I have total confidence in my research. Already, this illness has taken too much from me. Besides, what other option do we have?"

A ghost of a smile returned to Dr. Yuki's face, pride mingling with concern in her eyes. "Don't worry, Ryu. Now, get some rest. You'll need all your strength for the fight ahead."

With a gentle pat on his arm, Dr. Yuki rose from the bed. She paused at the door, looking back at Ryu with a mixture of love and worry before quietly slipping out.

Left alone, Ryu stared at the ceiling, his mind whirling with possibilities. The stark white walls suddenly seemed less intimidating, replaced by a glimmer of hope. He wouldn't let this illness win.

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