Chapter 15
1110words
Yui's scream finally broke the awkward, frozen air in the entryway.
She rushed over in a few quick steps, crouched beside me, and looking at my miserable state, became so anxious that tears were about to fall.
"Was... was it the person who was ringing the doorbell outside?! I-I'll call the police right away! And an ambulance!"
"Calm down, Sato."
Rin's voice regained its usual composure, though her swollen, red-rimmed eyes still made her look less than convincing.
She spoke with an authoritative tone before Yui could take out her phone: "Calling the police won't help. Besides, Ayashiro-kun's condition wasn't caused by external force."
"Huh?" Yui froze, "Isn't he... wasn't he beaten up? Then how did Ai-kun get..."
She pointed at the blood on my face and Rin's clothes, her face full of confusion.
Looking at Yui's clear eyes filled with concern, I felt my headache worsening.
I could hardly tell her that her childhood friend was actually a person with supernatural powers, who just had a psychic shootout with a director from an evil organization to save her, and ended up depleting all his magical power and bleeding from seven orifices, could I?
Who would believe such a truth that sounds like a setup from some third-rate light novel!
"It's... anemia."
Using all the strength in my body, I forced out a reason through gritted teeth that even I didn't believe.
"Yes, it's my old problem, anemia. I stood for too long just now, and suddenly... this happened. Nosebleeds are also common for me."
"Liar!" Yui immediately refuted, "How can anemia cause so much bleeding?! And it's everywhere! Ai, do you think I'm a three-year-old child?!"
"...I'm telling the truth," I insisted, while desperately seeking help from Rin with my eyes.
Help me cover this up! Partner! Aren't you the best at logical analysis and speaking nonsense with a straight face?
Rin received my distress signal.
She pondered for two seconds, and then, in her distinctive, AI-like emotionless voice, began her performance.
"According to long-term health data monitoring of Ayashiro Ai, he suffers from an extremely rare 'Acute Hyperactive Thrombocytopenia with Complicated Vascular Pseudohemophilia.'"
She uttered a long string of medical terms that I couldn't understand a single word of, without changing her expression.
Yui was stunned and confused: "Eh? What... what disease?"
"Simply put," Rin continued to explain, "this is a non-lethal genetic disorder. When patients experience intense mental stimulation, such as fright, nervousness, or prolonged standing, it causes drastic changes in blood pressure, resulting in capillary rupture, which leads to severe and seemingly serious bleeding symptoms. However, in reality, his bodily functions haven't sustained any substantial damage, and he only needs rest and nutritional supplements to recover."
She paused, then added a finishing touch: "This is a rare case that even modern medicine finds challenging to treat, and regular hospitals cannot handle it. I have already contacted professional medical institutions affiliated with 'Chronos,' and they will send someone with the special medication."
I listened to Rin's "science lesson" with my mouth agape.
This... this person, her ability to fabricate medical conditions on the spot is too impressive! And it sounds... why the hell does it actually make sense?!
She even arranged for the subsequent "special medication"—this web of lies is too perfect!
Yui was obviously convinced by this set of "scientific explanation."
The panic on her face slowly faded away, replaced by deep concern and sympathy.
"So... Ai has been suffering from such a serious illness all this time..." She looked at me, her eyes full of pity, "Why did you never tell me! I-I won't force you to participate in cultural festivals or similar activities anymore!"
"Ah... um..." I responded nervously.
Great, I finally managed to fool her.
And I also solved the problem of being dragged into labor in the future. Is this a blessing in disguise?
Just like that, under Rin's flawless lie, a supernatural battle that could have completely overturned our daily lives was forcibly classified as a "rare, sudden illness requiring rest."
I, the "patient," was naturally supported to bed by both of them working together.
Yui is responsible for cleaning up the "crime scene" at the entrance, while my newly appointed "guardian"—Miss Kurosawa Rin—has volunteered to take on the task of "looking after" me.
I lie weakly in bed, covered with blankets, feeling like a useless person who can't take care of himself.
Rin has brought a chair and sits beside my bed, staring at me silently with her sharp eyes.
It doesn't feel like the previous "surveillance."
It's more like... the feeling of a zookeeper observing an extremely rare albino panda that has just undergone surgery.
"Look... you don't need to keep staring at me like this, do you?" I feel uncomfortable all over. "Wouldn't it be better if you went to help Yui clean up?"
"Refused." She answers straightforwardly, "My primary task is to ensure your vital signs remain stable. Data monitoring shows your heart rate and blood pressure are still below normal levels, and your consciousness could be interrupted again at any moment. I must stay here."
As she spoke, she took out something small, silver, and resembling a medical scanner from a sci-fi movie from her pocket, and scanned me with it.
"Body temperature 36.2 degrees Celsius, heart rate 55 beats per minute, oxygen saturation 96%. Confirmed, target's vital signs stable but in extremely weakened state. Recommendation: immediate supplementation with high-energy liquid food."
"So... are you going to feed me a nutrition bar?" I quipped weakly.
"Negative." Rin shook her head, "According to the 'Partner Skill Exchange' protocol, and the first edition, third clause of the newly updated 'Ayashiro Ai Care Manual', nutrition bars have been listed as 'forbidden food except in emergency situations'."
She stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
"Now, I will prepare a 'patient meal' that meets health standards and personal taste preferences. You just need to lie still."
Watching her somehow reliable back as she walked into the kitchen, I suddenly had an ominous premonition.
Wait a minute!
The tragic scene of that tamagoyaki is still vivid in my mind!
Yui is still in the living room!
Please don't blow up the kitchen again!
My inner voice was screaming frantically.
But my body wouldn't listen to me, I couldn't even move a finger.
Finally, a wave of fatigue washed over me, and I couldn't resist it anymore, falling into a deep sleep.
In my last moment of consciousness, I seemed to hear Yui's surprised exclamation from the kitchen, and... the sound of something being crushed.
I hope it was just my imagination.
