Chapter 21: A detour

[A/N:

This is an apology chapter.

 Some readers have told me that the chapters are poorly written, and I agree. As I mentioned in my bio, I am a first-time writer, English is not my first language, and I had no writing experience when I started. 

Being a beginning writer, I had no idea where to start. All I had was an idea and no writing skills, so I sought assistance from other sources. However, the more I wrote, the better I became, and the more the story progresses, the better I will become.

I apologise to my readers for my poor writing skills and sincerely pledge that i will get better as story progresses.

I am uploading an additional chapter today as an apology and as a celebration of reaching 200+ collections and 50K+ views for this story.

Your support is what gets this story going, so please donate power STONES to the story.]

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The frustration in Mr. Hashimoto's demeanour resonated with Ryu. He knew the helplessness of battling a mysterious illness, the constant tests yielding no answers. A sense of empathy bloomed within him, a desire to help this man who, like him, faced an unknown enemy.

Ryu's gaze softened as he observed the elderly man, recognising the familiar signs of weariness and despair that came with an undiagnosed condition. He couldn't help but draw parallels to his own situation, feeling a kinship with Mr. Hashimoto that transcended their age difference.

"It's not just the physical discomfort," Ryu thought to himself. "It's the uncertainty, the feeling of being let down by your own body and the medical system that's supposed to help you. I know that feeling all too well."

Ryu then looked at the old man and focused with all his intent. Then it happened again. His ability was activated. He looked at the information bubble that popped into his mind and observed all of the old man from up to down. He looked at a pair of dusty hiking boots the man was wearing, covered in dust.

As the information bubble materialised in his mind, Ryu felt a surge of excitement. This ability, still new and somewhat mysterious to him, had proven invaluable in his quest for knowledge. He carefully examined every detail it provided, from the man's medical history to the minute particles clinging to his boots.

"Fascinating," Ryu murmured to himself. "The dust on those boots... it's not just ordinary dirt. There's something more to it."

Isao, surprised by the sudden shift in Ryu's demeanour, raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking, Ryu?" he asked in a hushed tone.

"I think I might know what's wrong with him," Ryu replied, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Ryu, with his uncanny ability to deduce the truth from seemingly random observations, smiled and started waking towards the man. He stopped right in front of the old man. He looked at the old man and smiled. It irritated the old man. Even Isao was surprised by this sudden behaviour.

The old man said, "What do you want, kid?"

"Hello, sir," Ryu greeted politely, extending a small hand. "My name is Ryu. I couldn't help but overhear that you've been struggling with a strange condition."

Mr. Hashimoto scoffed. "Kids these days," he muttered, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his tired eyes.

"So what. What do you want from me?" With annoyance, the elderly man spoke."Actually, sir," Ryu continued, ignoring the man's gruffness, "I may have an idea about what's causing your rashes."Mr. Hashimoto's eyes widened in surprise. "You? A kid? You think you can solve something the doctors couldn't?"Ryu smiled gently. "Perhaps, sir. Do you enjoy taking walks, by any chance?"Mr. Hashimoto, intrigued by this unexpected turn of events, nodded slowly. "Yes, I do. I recently moved near a beautiful quarry and discovered a lovely hiking trail there."He paused and asked, "Whats it to you, Kid?"

Ryu's eyes lit up at this information. "A quarry, you say? That's fascinating. Could you tell me more about it? What kind of quarry is it?"

Mr. Hashimoto, caught off guard by the boy's genuine interest, found himself elaborating. "It's an old quarry. It has been abandoned for years, but the trails around it are beautiful. I started walking there about... oh, three months ago, I'd say."

"Three months ago," Ryu repeated thoughtfully. "And when did your symptoms start, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mr. Hashimoto answered , "i think symptoms started showing two months ago or so.""And have the doctors run every blood test imaginable?" Ryu pressed further. Mr. Hashimoto, his confusion deepening, nodded again. Both the old man and Isao were surprised and wondered what he was trying to do.

"Ryu," Isao interjected gently, "perhaps we shouldn't bother Mr. Hashimoto with so many questions. He's been through a lot already."

But Mr. Hashimoto held up a hand, his curiosity now fully piqued. "No, no, it's alright. I'm interested to see where this young man is going with this. Go on, boy. What else do you want to know?"

"Mister," Ryu began, his voice a low rumble, "your ailment is quite curious, with persistent rashes and itching, particularly under..." He paused, his eyes flitting to the man's pale skin. "Sunlight, wouldn't you say?"

The man croaked a weak affirmative, a flicker of surprise crossing his usually stoic face.

Taking a deep breath, Ryu explained his deductions, his voice a low rumble that commanded attention in the bustling cafeteria. "Sir, I believe your condition isn't a disease at all, but rather a unique sensitivity. The quarry you mentioned, is it by any chance an abandoned limestone mine?"Mr. Hashimoto gaped, astonished by Ryu's knowledge. "Why, yes, it is!"

A collective gasp rippled through the room, drawing the attention of nearby diners and staff. Isao, sensing the shift in atmosphere, cleared his throat and pushed himself from his chair, his initial scepticism replaced by a burgeoning sense of curiosity.

"Ryu-kun," Isao interjected gently, "what makes you think there's a link to the quarry?"

Ryu, his gaze flitting between Isao and Mr. Hashimoto, pointed towards the man's dusty boots. "Limestone dust, sir," he said, his voice brimming with a newfound confidence. "While harmless for most, it can trigger an unusual reaction in some individuals—a phenomenon known as double exposure."

Mr. Hashimoto's brow furrowed in confusion. "Double exposure? What does that mean?"

Ryu, with a reassuring smile, offered a simplified explanation. "Imagine, sir, that you have a sensitivity to lime dust. During your morning walks near the quarry, you unknowingly inhale these tiny particles. While the dust itself might not cause any immediate discomfort, it enters your system through your lungs and skin pores."

A collective murmur of understanding rippled through the crowd. Diners leaned closer, their curiosity piqued.

Ryu, with a smile, replied, "You are sensitive to lime dust and sunlight's double exposure, mister."

The old man thought for a moment and asked, "If I am sensitive to lime, then why do the symptoms not show at the old quarry?"

He paused for a moment and then said, "The symptoms always show when I go to work after taking a bath."

Ryu nodded, his eyes lighting up at this crucial piece of information. "Excellent observation, sir. This is exactly the kind of detail that helps solve medical mysteries."

He turned to Isao, including him in the explanation. "You see, Mr. Isao, this is why the condition has been so hard to diagnose. The cause and the symptoms are separated by time and seemingly unrelated activities."

Ryu smiled at this answer and said, "Because you take a walk before the sunrise. The sunlight is what gives you the double exposure. Even if you wash the lime dust, it still enters your system through the lungs and skin pores, and the high calcium content makes some people particularly sensitive to sunlight. Later, when you are exposed to sunlight, you experience double exposure, and your skin starts to have rashes and a burning sensation."

Ryu paused and continued, "The blood tests were useless, as there is nothing wrong with your blood."

"So," he croaked, his voice hoarse with emotion, "the blood tests were useless?"

Ryu shook his head gently. "Indeed, sir. There's nothing wrong with your blood itself. You simply have a unique sensitivity that requires a change in your routine, not medication."

Mr. Hashimoto leaned back in his chair, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and hope. "All this time... all these tests and treatments... and it was my morning walks?"

Ryu nodded sympathetically. "It's not uncommon for environmental factors to be overlooked in medical diagnoses, especially when they're as specific as this. Your case is quite rare, which is why it was so challenging to identify."

Isao, who had been listening intently, turned to Mr. Hashimoto. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, have you noticed any improvement when you've been away from home or on vacation?"

The old man's eyes widened in realisation. "Now that you mention it... yes! Last month, I visited my daughter in the city for a week, and my skin cleared up completely. I thought it was just a coincidence!"

As the room buzzed with murmurs of amazement, Ryu pieced together the puzzle for the old man, shedding light on his rare sensitivity to lime dust and sunlight's unique interaction. And, to everyone's astonishment, the mysterious symptoms that had baffled medical professionals for so long finally made sense. The old man's eyes sparkled with newfound understanding as Ryu's simple yet profound diagnosis offered a clear path to recovery.

Isao, his scepticism replaced with awe, turned to Ryu and said, "Then a simple change of route is all he needs?"

Ryu, a hint of satisfaction gracing his features, replied with a knowing smile, "Precisely, Mr. Isao. Sometimes, in cases of allergies caused by environmental factors, the simplest detour and a change in routine can be the best cure."The news of Ryu's diagnosis spread like wildfire through the hospital. The cafeteria incident became a turning point, not only for Mr. Hashimoto but for the perception of Ryu's capabilities. Whispers of a "genius boy" with an uncanny ability to solve medical mysteries began to circulate.