Chapter 55. strolling in hospital?

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Chapter 55

Word's counted -- 1500

~Well enjoy ~

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Aki hummed softly to himself as he strolled through the hospital, his steps light as he headed toward the elevator. He was making his way to the topmost private area, reserved specifically for his mother, the hospital's owner. As he approached the elevator, he unexpectedly bumped into Dr. Gorou Amamiya, the temporary doctor for Yuki.

"Eh, Amamiya-sensei? What are you doing here on the second floor? Aren't you supposed to be up on the sixth floor?" Aki asked, surprised to see the doctor.

Amamiya looked up, smiling. "Ah, Shijo-kun! Yes, I'm just on my way to check on one of my patients. And don't worry about Yuki—her mother is visiting her right now."

Aki relaxed, but felt a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry for being rude, Amamiya-sensei. I know you're Yuki's temporary examiner, but I didn't think about your other responsibilities. I was just... concerned."

Dr. Amamiya chuckled, waving off the apology. "No harm done. I understand your concern."

As the doctor turned to leave, Aki hesitated before speaking again. "Um... Amamiya-sensei, do you mind if I accompany you on your rounds?" His voice held a nervous edge, and he felt unsure about the request.

Amamiya raised an eyebrow but chuckled again, seeing the curiosity in the boy's eyes. "I don't mind at all, but... Oh, of course, you can follow me," he said, understanding that Aki had a genuine interest in what was happening around the hospital.

Aki was relieved and excited at the same time. Sure, he could have roamed the hospital by himself, but that might lead to awkward situations—like wandering into patient rooms or restricted areas, not to mention getting lost.

More importantly, he didn't want to take away doctors or nurses from their duties just to accompany him. Though it might be a silly thought, Aki didn't want to be responsible for delaying their work, especially if it could impact a life. Accompanying Dr. Amamiya seemed like the perfect balance.

They walked together through the hospital corridors. Dr. Amamiya checked on patients with minor injuries, giving advice to the newer doctors and nurses in training. Aki stayed close, listening intently to the medical discussions, observing the way treatments were being handled.

He was curious about the intricacies of human life. After all, he wasn't from this world—he was a transmigrator, reborn into this life. Something about being in a hospital, surrounded by the fragility and resilience of life, made him wonder if there was more he could learn here about the human condition. Maybe there were clues he hadn't yet uncovered, something unique that might answer the lingering questions he had about his own existence.

As they moved through the different patient rooms, Aki remained silent but attentive, taking mental notes of everything around him.

Perhaps, in a place like this, he might find answers.

Dr. Amamiya glanced at Aki, who was attentively listening, and a sense of pride filled him. 'I should inform Madam Shijo about this,' he thought, knowing Aki's mother would be thrilled to hear about her son's growing interest in the medical field.

As they walked down the hall, Aki's curiosity piqued. "So, how old is your patient? Is it an elderly man?"

Amamiya shook his head. "She just turned 10 last month."

"She? And 10 years old?" Aki was surprised. "A kid? Well, maybe it's not that serious... just some rich family being overly cautious and admitting her here," he speculated.

They arrived at the patient area, and before they entered, Amamiya paused, turning to Aki. "Aki-kun, this case is serious. I can't talk or teach you about her case infront of her."

Aki's curiosity deepened. "What is she sick with? " he asked, genuinely concerned.

Amamiya sighed. "She has anaplastic astrocytoma, also known as malignant or high-grade astrocytoma."

Seeing the puzzled look on Aki's face, Amamiya went on to explain. "Astrocytomas are a subtype of gliomas, which include other tumor types like ependymomas and oligodendrogliomas. Astrocytomas develop from star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes, which help protect nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord."

Amamiya's expression grew more somber as he continued. "It's a rare malignant brain tumor. The problem is, while we can treat it, we can't cure it. Treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy help manage the tumor, but these types of astrocytomas tend to grow back, often becoming more aggressive. So, yes… it's cancer."

Aki's eyes widened, and his voice rose in disbelief. "So it's just a brain tumor? And there's no cure yet?"

"Sssshhh!" Amamiya quickly covered Aki's mouth, his expression tense. "Keep your voice down. She could hear you."

Aki nodded, lowering his voice. "Sorry… So what happens now? It's just a matter of delaying her death?"

Amamiya nodded sadly. "We try our best to control the tumor's growth and manage her symptoms, but it's essentially delaying the inevitable. Based on her condition, we estimate she might have two, maybe three more years with treatment. But as time goes on, the tumor will get more aggressive. Eventually… well, we can only hold it off for so long."

Aki frowned, his thoughts racing. He wasn't the type to lean into emotional or heroic gestures, but hearing about a 10-year-old child fighting such a disease hit him hard. "So it's just delaying her time of death," he muttered, feeling a knot form in his stomach. "A kid like her… what the hell is God thinking?"

The air between them grew heavy with the weight of reality. Aki stared at the door, lost in thought. After a moment, he turned back to Amamiya. "How much time can you delay it? Realistically?"

Amamiya sighed. "With her current treatment plan, maybe two or three more years. But I can't say for sure."

The atmosphere grew even gloomier. Aki could see the genuine care and concern in Amamiya's eyes. This wasn't just another patient to him—he had a personal stake in this girl's well-being.

"Well, there's no use dwelling on it," Aki said, breaking the silence. He reached for the door and opened it before Amamiya could say anything. "Let's go in. And don't worry—I'll talk to my mother about this. After all, I can't let someone die in my future property."

Amamiya froze for a moment, stunned by Aki's words. Then the realization hit him: with the Shijo family's influence, there might actually be a chance to extend the girl's life by more than just a few years. Perhaps they could give her five, even ten more years of life, without the constant pain and suffering that came with her condition.

Tears welled up in Amamiya's eyes, not from sorrow, but from the glimmer of hope. He had been treating this girl for a half a year now, it might not be much to form a bond but in that time, she had become like a daughter or little sister to him. He wanted nothing more than to give her a fighting chance, a chance to live a few more precious years of childhood. The thought that the Shijo family's wealth and influence could make that possible was overwhelming.

As Aki entered the dimly lit room, he immediately noticed the small figure lying on the bed. Though her eyes were closed, he could sense that she was only pretending to sleep—there had been a slight rustle of movement just before he opened the door. 'Sigh... So she heard everything. Am I the one at fault for being too loud?' Aki thought, his guilt growing.

"Sarina," Dr. Amamiya softly called, stepping closer to the bed. The girl remained still, not responding. Unfazed, Amamiya gently tapped her face to rouse her.

Slowly, the girl stirred. "Um... sensei, you're here already?" she mumbled, her voice so soft it was barely a whisper—more like the faint buzzing of a mosquito.

"Yes, Sarina, it's time for your night check-up," Amamiya said with a kind smile, helping her sit up. She nodded faintly, and with his support, she carefully sat upright.

Aki watched the interaction, slightly bewildered. 'How on earth is he even hearing her at that volume?' he wondered. But the moment Sarina sat up and her face came into full view, the pieces of a much larger puzzle fell into place in Aki's mind.

The girl's pale face, her delicate features, and the unmistakable sense of familiarity—it all made sense now.

"Ruby," Aki muttered to himself, eyes widening slightly as the name slipped out. The girl in front of him wasn't just any patient—she was one of the main cast of Oshi no Ko. "But how?" Turning to Amamiya again, realization hit him.' Then he is Aqua'.

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Hum hum hum I bet the story is getting hipe up....

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