Chapter 4 Dissolution

In the hospital, the medical team wheeled Kikomori's body out of the emergency room. The nurses, their fatigue hidden behind their medical masks, had struggled to treat his numerous injuries, which looked like something out of a survival movie. The result: two broken ribs, an infection in his left arm, burns scattered across his body like paint on a canvas, another infection in the lower part of his body, and several wounds on his right arm.

After placing his body in a room, waiting for him to wake up, they quickly left. Two police officers were then stationed outside the room, as if expecting something new to happen.

A few hours later, Kikomori slowly opened his eyes, as if waking from a long, pleasant dream, and then screams echoed throughout the building. The officers, who had started to drift off, were jolted awake by the screams, as loud as an alarm. "NOOOOOOOOO!!! DON'T COME CLOSER! DON'T TOUCH ME! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'LL KILL YOU!!! KILL!!! KILL!!! KILL!!! KILL!!! KILL!!!"

The police officers rushed into the room after hearing the screams and saw Kikomori half-standing, thrashing around with one eye open. His wide-open chestnut eye gave them the impression of being devoured by his gaze. The officers sprang into action to subdue him.

"FIND A NURSE, QUICK!!! WE NEED SOMETHING TO SEDATE HIM AGAIN!!!"

At the same moment, a nurse who had been alerted by Kikomori's initial screams passed by and saw him standing. She heard the officer's panicked orders…

*****

Hector lay on the ground. The inspector, who had come back because he had forgotten his bag, saw the man on the floor as if he was being carried to heaven. He rushed over, checked his pulse, and was relieved to find he was alive. After unbuttoning Hector's shirt, he saw the bandage was red, as if it were naturally that color. "SHIT!" He pulled out his phone and called for help.

Hector was then taken care of and brought to the nearest hospital. A doctor put in an IV and a few stitches, then came out of the room and said to the officer, "Hector's in pretty bad shape, come back later. Chill, bro, you're too on edge." He patted the inspector's shoulder and added, "See you later, brother." The inspector was shocked by the doctor's casual language and realized he must be a fresh graduate after scrutinizing him. However, he was reassured because this doctor seemed endlessly kind.

The doctor then headed towards Kikomori's room, walking so relaxed it looked like he was out for a stroll. He saw the nurse, the one who brightened his days, and one of the reasons he had suddenly transferred to this hospital.

Hana was almost too radiant; her body, her spirit, embodied everything one could dream of in a woman. Her lips had a hypnotic effect, making you want to listen to everything she said. Her figure was generous but not perfectly Japanese, and her complexion was fair, with blonde hair that invited you to dive into it.

"Hello," he said. As he spoke, the doctor met her eyes, eyes so beautifully blue he wanted to swim and lose himself in them. He stuttered, "H-h-hello." She smiled, seeing the doctor lose his composure. He interpreted this as flirting, thinking he had a chance with her.

"A-are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you, and you?"

"Y-yes."

"I have a few things to handle with a patient named Hector. I'll see you after if you'd like."

"Y-yes, I'd like that…"

He began to imagine a romantic life with her as he continued on to the hell awaiting him. Opening the door, he saw Kikomori handcuffed to his bed, staring vacantly out the window, seemingly looking at the trees. The doctor tried to focus on the patient, though his mind kept drifting to Hana, who was still omnipresent in his thoughts.

"Kikomori, is that right?"

"Yes."

"How did you get so many injuries? It's not normal, especially for a boy your age."

"In the spring…"

The doctor's mind cut off Kikomori's words, as he thought about the spring walks he could take with Hana.

"...That's when my father started burning down the apartment…"

The doctor's mind drifted again, this time to his heart burning with limitless love for Hana.

"...My mother…"

The doctor, determined to introduce this perfect woman to his mother, had already stopped listening to Kikomori's story.

"Ahh… yes, that sounds about right."

Kikomori realized the doctor was no longer listening and stopped talking, not wanting to speak in vain. The doctor said, "You know, Kikomori, someone made me fall, too." Kikomori replied, "Did she make you fall into limitless suffering and depression?" The doctor, no longer listening, said, "Into limitless love… I mean suffering, sorry." An awkward silence filled the room due to the contradiction in their answers.

"That's all. I won't bother you any longer, little Kikomori."

He then headed to the room of his former patient, Hector, to reunite with the goddess of his world. Opening the door, he saw a vision of horror that wiped away all his dreams and his usual goofy smile that made him so approachable, so human.

The doctor saw the patient he had treated, saved, kissing the wonderful Hana.

Ikari stood in the doorway with an expression unfamiliar even to his own body. Hana moved in a way that could captivate any man who looked at her, then noticed Ikari with an awkward smile and said, "Uh, I'll see you at the cafeteria." She fled because the situation was embarrassing.

Hector said, "You could've knocked, you know?" Ikari did not respond and quietly locked the door to avoid being disturbed. He hadn't transferred just for Hana; there was another, darker reason. After an altercation with his boss, his boss was found half-dead behind a parking lot next to the hospital. After an investigation, no one was suspected, but, oddly, Ikari was the closest person to the scene. Yet, nothing could prove he was a potential suspect.