If it ain't broken?

"Hello again, Alma. How have you been since we last met?" said a doctor as he met his patient for today's appointment. The doctor can be seen wearing glasses with blonde hair. His aged faced seemed to be filled with kindness. His eyes betrayed the feeling, as it exudes a feeling of frustration as he looked at his current patient.

"Heya Dr Kent, I'm doing quite good as you can see." Alma said as he flexed his arms and posed with his body. Currently, Alma has just finished his check-up and having a consultation with his doctor. Looking at the frustrated face that he that become rather familiar with over the years, Alma said curiously "What is with that look? Is your stomach not feeling well? Did your granddaughter said that she hates you for missing her birthday yesterday? Are you getting ignored by her?"

"No! I was just annoyed at your condition. There is just so much wrong with it and yet there isn't! Besides! I was busy! And I kind of forgot to bring her a gift- wait! how did you know about it!" Dr Kent looked sharply at Alma halfway through the conversation. He is staring intensely to figure out how did Alma find out.

"Well, if you look closely at the door, you can see a tiny face of a little girl filled with annoyance staring at you. You seemed to be forgetting a promise or something." shrugged Alma while looking at Dr Kent as he seemed to freeze before turning his head slowly towards the door.

"Ah ah, this isn't what it is my little princess. I most definitely didn't forget anything!"

"Good luck Old Kent. I'll continue the conversation with you later." said Alma as he looked at the panicking grandparent with a smirk.

---

*Sigh*

"Thanks for bringing some ice cream with marshmallows. With it, I finally managed to coax my little princess into relaxing and playing by herself for a while. It's a busy day today at the state hospital, so her parents are all over the place trying to deal with it. Now I finally understand why you brought in a bowl of melted chocolate ice cream while holding a bag of marshmallows as you came in today." said Kent gratefully towards Alma as he took a seat on his chair, only to be greeted with a blank stare.

"Did you believe that it actually was for me to eat? If it wasn't because of the situation, you won't even have the chance to look at it. Besides! It ain't no normal ice cream! It is the limited-edition special premium chocolate ice cream!" Alma said shocked at the careless disregard for ice cream the old man had.

"It's just ice cream. I'll just get you some next time. How hard can it be?"

"A non-believer! One day you will realize how wrong you are to look down on the limited-edition ice cream that you can only get from the flash sale that happens only once in a blue moon!" Alma said religiously as he tried to preach about the greatness of the dessert. Such greatness, that women and children even evolved another stomach for it.

"You know that is just a lie right? And those excuses are just stupid. Interesting but still stupid." Kent said with a blank look towards Alma.

"Well, it may be stupid, but it is also dumb." retorted Alma righteously.

"Hahahaha. Never a dull moment with you. But how about we move on to a more serious topic." chuckled Kent before he turned serious.

"You do realize that your brain tumour is getting worse right? For all my years treating cancer patients, none have turned out quite like you. For your symptoms, conventional treatment isn't going to cut it. Medicines at most could only delay the inevitable. Chemotherapy and the likes aren't suitable as it might cause more harm than good considering the afflicted area. That is why we only gave a conservative estimate on the amount of time you might still have." said Kent slowly as he allowed his words to sink in.

"Moreover, you have suffered from this when you are just 10. That is why we tried saying that you might not live past 20. Considering that treatments may cause harm and deteriorate your body. Yet I can remember you saying to make it 30. Like trying to bargain with us is going to help with anything. But it was understandable since you were just a child back then." said the doctor as he remembered about the past.

---

"I have some bad news. You have been diagnosed with brain cancer and you might not live past 20 years old." said an old doctor carefully as he broke the news towards a young child. He felt very sorry for the young child to be experiencing another tragedy so soon after the last event.

He looked with compassion and kindness to the child. Trying to calm him down by diverting his attention.

"Make it 50." said the child in a blunt tone.

"Huh?"

Confused at what he is hearing. The old doctor, who is Kent, tried to explain to the child. "I'm sorry but I don't think that is how that works."

"Alright fine." said the child, Alma, upon hearing his response.

"I understand you are shocked with the discovery but-" said Kent trying to think of a suitable response towards the current situation.

"You are really good at bargaining. Alright, I will lower my offer. Let it be 40."

*twitch*

"Please, kid. I understand you are frustrated at the news but you should stay strong for your sister. After all, your parents have passed on a year ago. Please calm down and don't go throwing a tantrum." said Kent as he held his forehead in annoyance.

"Fine."

"*Sigh* I am thankful for your understan-"

"You guys are really good at bargaining. Truly formidable. This is my loss, consider it as your victory. Just 30. My final offer, no more changes. Take it or leave it."

"..."

Speechless, Kent held his forehead as his face twitched with annoyance. 'This isn't what I was expecting when I planned to show my assistants how to break the bad news towards a patient. This is so out of the script that I am afraid that it will become a bad example to set this as a standard when expecting what a child would ask.' though the old doctor as he observed the situation.

The tensed atmosphere in the room has become very weird after the conversation. Looking at the confused and flustered faces of his assistants and nurses that are wondering what they should do regarding this awkward situation.

*sigh*

"Alright kid, you win. The others, go and continue with your jobs. Just leave this to me." said Kent with a tired tone.

The assistants and nurses looked relieved upon hearing this before they finally got their bearings straight and went back to their jobs. They left while putting whatever that just happened towards the back of their minds. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

---

"Like I always say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it." said Alma with pride.

"You do realise your current situation is very different from any patient that has the same problems as you right? Cancer patients, normally after much treatment, they won't be as healthy as you. Even without treatment, I don't think any patient is as healthy as you."

"Oh stop it, you're making me blush." said Alma without a hint of shame.

"You should be serious. At least in these types of conversa-..!" Kent admonished Alma before he stopped suddenly while a look of realization dawned upon him.

He remembered Alma describing his current situation. As his tumour got worse, he began suffering increasingly painful headaches and migraines. Somehow, Alma said he managed to improvise a solution to the pain. He describes the pain is still there, but he somehow managed to push it to the side and ignore it in order to continue his life without heavy interference.

As time passed, Alma said he finally managed to adapt to the problem and that he will no longer feel the pain. Though he said it seems to come with some downsides, such as mental instability. He will be unable to focus for long periods of time and the problem seems to get worse as the tumour progresses.

After examinations and tests, it is determined that although it helped with dealing with the pain, it seems to accelerate the proliferation of the tumour instead. With this, he should have passed on earlier than expected, yet he is still alive and kicking. Alma's body is as healthy as it can be and he is slowly pushing towards 30.

"How do you actually manage to do that? Currently, many doctors and scientists are baffled at your situation." questioned Kent as he looked at Alma with a frustrated glare. This is because he was also one of the aforementioned doctors.

"Umm, how about focus, commitment, and sheer force of will?" said Alma questionably as he looked at the old doctor that has gradually become a close friend over the years.

"Keep trying. You have used that one before. You can't fool me with that bullshit. I watch movies you know. It is not like I live under a rock or something." retorted Kent.

"Ehehe." chuckled Alma as he scratched his cheek.

'I also want to tell you the reason. But I have no idea how to explain it.' Alma thought inwardly as he directed his attention towards a corner of his mind. As Alma focused on the 'something' in his mind. Small fragments can be seen floating around the 'something', some of them could be seen shining dimly, as though looking at a starry sky. Alma focused on two specific fragments that are glowing dimly before a flow of information appeared in his mind.

[Some stories are currently exerting their effects.

Story: A healthy body means a healthy mind. Right? Right!?

Despite your illness, you continued to exercise your body without fail. Eventually, you seemed to have ended up with a very fit and healthy body. And as they say, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. Though your mind is not 'ok' in the slightest, at least you have your very fit body to console you? Maybe looking at your slim-muscled body in the mirror might help reduce the burden of your mind? Muscle!

Effect: Reduces deterioration of the body. Ignores the influence of the mind on the body. Helps maintain body fitness. A very minor chance of changing the sexuality of the user.

Story: Mental problems? What is that? Is that delicious? My mind is totally fine!

Prolonged exposure to headaches and migraines due to brain cancer seems to have done a number on you. You seem to be unable to focus your mind for long periods of time. Memory loss is your friend but you seem to furiously deny that. Eventually, your adamant spirit in ignoring the problem seemed to actually be of help? At least now you won't be considered crazy. You will just resemble a semi-senile person with ADHD. Isn't that fun?

Effect: Increased rate of cancer progression. Increased chance of memory loss. Increased chance of remembering the lost memory. Limited focus. Unstable personality. ]

Looking at what is displayed, Alma did not know where to laugh or cry at the weird descriptions. Sadly, the thing is, whatever that is written seems to be true. After all, it's not every day you can see such a beautifully sculpted bod- stop!

'Snap out it, Alma! You love girls! You are not gay! No matter how nice your own body is... No! I will not fall to the dark side! Quick think about sexy girls! Recite the scriptures of the wise men, Oppai is Truth! Medium is Premium! Flat is Justice! Thick thighs save lives! Saido Chesto (Side Chest)!- Wait, something isn't right...' Alma shook his head quickly as his thoughts got rapidly derailed.

"Anyways, you shouldn't dismiss what I just said so casually Alma. After all, what I am saying is for your own good." lectured Kent with a stern look as he saw Alma shaking his head at the advice that he gave.

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?" Alma said while tilting his head, confused at what was happening.

".... *sigh* did you not pay attention to what I was saying again?"

"Nope. I have no clue. Something about my own good?"

"Since you obviously did not listen to what I previously said, fine. Just remember this Alma. You are now 22 years old and your cancer is getting more serious. Us doctors are unable to predict when will you be able to last at the rate it is going. You could just drop dead anytime now. Therefore, you better be prepared. After all, your sister is all that you have left." Kent said towards Alma.

Upon hearing this, Alma's gaze sharpened as he said seriously "I know. All I could do is us the remainder of my time to prepare whatever that is needed for my sister to live comfortably when I am gone. I wish she can live freely and do what she wants, not worrying over every little thing."

"... I understand. I wish you the best of luck." said Kent, resigned at the situation for not being able to help. He sighed inwardly about how unfair life is, to put so much pressure on such a nice young man. He prayed in his mind, wishing Alma all the best.

"Enough of these serious talk. It might just give me depression and I do need more mental problems than I already have. Besides, I already managed to go against your prediction of not living past 20. Who knows, I might just live long enough to see my little sister bring back a boyfriend." laughed Alma as he tried to disperse the dark mood.

"Heh, now that will be a sight to see. The tomboy bringing back a boyfriend." chuckled Kent along with Alma.

"Besides that, I still remember my bargain with you when I was 10. Last call! Make it 30! I will not fall before that!" said Alma with confidence.

"Even after all these years, I kept telling you, that isn't how that works!" retorted Kent with a smile as the atmosphere seemed to brighten up a bit.