Chapter 28: Scrutiny

Ryu's small flat was suddenly filled with the sound of a harsh cough, breaking the morning silence. He winced in discomfort, holding his chest as the rough cough reverberated in the confined room.

A dark, menacing shadow passed across his face as he muttered, "It is getting worse. I have to ready the cure, and fast." Wearing a grimace, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

The sunlight filtering through the threadbare curtains seemed to mock his pain, casting cheerful patterns on the worn floorboards. Ryu's gaze fell on a small potted plant by the window, its leaves drooping slightly. "Looks like we're both fighting, huh?" he whispered, reaching out to touch a leaf gently.

He had clung desperately to his ability called [Minor Healing], a gift he barely understood. It had been his only comfort. It had somewhat eased the constant aches and pains and the ever-present fatigue that clung to him like a shroud.

However, it merely masked a gaping wound at this stage. Each day, the illness gnawed at him from within, becoming increasingly harsh, and his ability to heal was fading.

He pushed himself to concentrate, splashing water on his face with a shaky hand. Breakfast was a simple affair: toast with a side of determination. Lately, he'd surprised even himself with his newfound culinary skills. He was getting better every day, a small triumph in the face of his deteriorating health.

Chewing on slightly burnt toast, Ryu's mind wandered to the hidden makeshift lab in the library, contemplating ways to improve the experimental cure.

"Maybe if I adjust the concentration of the culture medium," he mused, scribbling notes on a napkin. "Or perhaps introduce a new strain of bacteria. No, there is no time. I must continue focusing solely on that specific strain. Anything more might require more time than I can currently afford."

Recently, the fried chicken he cooked, a dish he lovingly remembered and recreated, had made Grandpa Dan smile. A small victory in the face of a seemingly insurmountable foe.

As usual, they left home to visit Lead Central Hospital. Grandpa Dan, his adoptive grandfather and the only remaining family member he had, walked beside him, a comforting presence despite the worried frown etched on his face. As usual, Isao, the cheerful attendant with eyes that held a warmth that rivalled the summer sun, greeted them with a bright smile that seemed strained for the first time.

"Are you okay, kiddo?" Grandpa Dan asked as they walked towards the Leaf Central Hospital, his weathered hand resting gently on Ryu's shoulder. "You seem a bit pale today."

Ryu managed a smile, trying not to cause more concern for his grandfather. "Just a bit tired, Grandpa. Do not worry, Grandpa—a little rest will take care of everything."

"Morning, Ryu-san! Mr. Dan!" Isao bounced on his heels, his usual chipperness subdued. "Your grandpa's looking sprightly today." He forced a chuckle that sounded more like a cough.

"Good morning, Mr. Isao, How are you today?" Ryu said, offering a small smile in return.

Isao's smile faltered for a moment before he plastered it back on. "Good morning, Ryu-san. I am good. How about you? Feeling okay today?" Though he was aware that Ryu's condition was not improving, he still asked. 

As Grandpa Dan left Ryu with Isao, asking him to look after him, and returned home. Isao, however, didn't lead him to his usual room. "Dr. Yuki wants to see you, Ryu-Kun," he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Seems urgent."

Ryu was surprised by this. He said, "Urgent? Mother Yuki comes to me rather than calling for me. What is going on?" A knot of anxiety formed in Ryu's stomach. 

He followed Isao and said, "Let us go then." He followed Isao into a conference room.

He could not help but notice the icy looks of strangers in the conference room. Still, he recognised one of them. Dr. Yuki Sarutobi sat across the table in front of Ryu. Next to her were two medical professionals, a young resident named Dr. Nono Yakushi and a seasoned physician named Dr. Sato, who was the director of Leaf Central Hospital and whose stern eyes gave a hint of disapproval.

Ryu could feel the weight of their gazes on him, each carrying a different emotion—concern, curiosity, and what seemed like judgement.

"Ryu-kun," Dr. Yuki said, her voice gentle yet firm, beckoning him to sit. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please sit."

"Mother Yuki," he began hesitantly, his voice barely a whisper, "you called for me? Is something wrong?"

Dr. Yuki offered a reassuring smile. "No need to worry, Ryu-kun. Please, be at ease," she said as she gestured towards the chair again. Ryu nodded,lowered himself into the chair, and forced himself to exhale deeply.

"This is Dr. Nono Yakushi and Dr. Sato," Dr. Yuki began, introducing her colleagues. "The man you diagnosed was Dr. Sato's patient."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ryu-san," she chirped, her voice brimming with friendly curiosity.

Ryu's smile was slight and uncertain. Dr. Nono's enthusiasm felt like a ray of sunshine breaking through the otherwise tense atmosphere.

"Thank you, Dr. Nono, Dr. Sato," Ryu replied, his voice gaining a bit of strength. "It's nice to meet you too."

Ryu looked at Dr. Sato and thought about it. He now understood his steely gaze. He was the physician for the man Ryu believed to be a vampire and who had a rare skin condition.

Dr. Sato was looking at him like he was a baby whose candy had been taken from his hand. Ryu comprehends his scepticism towards him. Because Ryu correctly diagnosed the patient that Dr. Sato failed to diagnose and treat, Ryu believed he had embarrassed Dr. Sato in his own hospital, and rightfully so.

Ryu cleared his throat, forcing himself to meet Dr. Yuki's gaze. "Mother Yuki," he said again, his voice growing a little stronger. "What is this all about, exactly?"

Dr. Yuki reached across the table and placed a thick file in front of him. It was the full medical record of a patient. Glancing over at Dr. Yuki, Ryu wondered, "Is she asking me to diagnose this patient? But she earlier said to keep a low profile."

Dr. Yuki Sarutobi pointed at the thick file in front of Ryu. "This, Ryu-kun," she said, her voice serious, "is a patient case study. We'd like to hear your thoughts on it." The weight of her gaze felt like a challenge, pushing him to rise above his doubts and embrace his unique gifts.

Ryu's eyes widened. He looked at Dr. Yuki with a face full of questions. Dr. Yuki noticed his hesitancy and said, "Don't worry, you can trust them. Dr. Nono Yakushi here is my student, and Dr. Sato here is my old friend and current director of this hospital. They are people I greatly respect."

She then said, "They just want to look at your diagnostic approach. It intrigued them. Furthermore, there is no use keeping it from them because they already know it was you. I told them you were intelligent and that I had set up a quarantined area in the library so you could read there without any disturbance."

Ryu sighed in relief as he deduced from her words that she had kept the details of his abilities and experiments from them. They likely knew about his unconventional methods, but not to the full extent. A silent gratitude bloomed in his chest. 

"Thank you, Mother Yuki," Ryu said softly, his eyes conveying the depth of his appreciation. He then turned to face the other doctors, his posture straightening slightly. "I apologise for my hesitation. I'm ready to help in any way I can."

"I'll review it and share my thoughts. If I don't find anything helpful, I hope you won't be disappointed that I've wasted your time."

Dr. Nono leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Don't worry about that, Ryu-san! We're all here to learn. Your perspective, regardless of the outcome, is valuable to us."

Dr. Sato cleared his throat and spoke up for the first time. His voice was gruff, but not unkind. "Young man, in medicine, there's no such thing as wasted time when it comes to seeking answers. Now, show us what you can do."

Ryu nodded, his newfound determination settling over him. He opened the file, his eyes quickly scanning the contents.

As he read the contents from the file, a transparent screen with a blank canvas appeared in front of him, and everything he read appeared on that see-through screen that only he could see.

The room quieted down, with only the gentle rustling of papers as Ryu immersed himself in the case study, mentally noting down every detail for further examination.