Hospital Blues

[seiyayamada]

After exiting the mirror world, it had been agreed that hospitalization would be the best option. Calling an ambulance, Seiya had been driven to the hospital in order to be examined and treated. Once stabilized, the nurses ceased fussing over her wounds. Great, a bandaged hand and a gouged side. Fighting in the mirror world would be the death of her if she continued to go in alone. Alone... Loneliness crept up on her as the blank walls seemed to close in. She wondered how anyone would know where she was. Her father didn't really bother keeping up with her, and her cell phone was back in her bag at the school. Staring at the ceiling, Seiya just listened to the hum of the machines.

Comments

[americandiplomacy]

Greg had taken what was quickly becoming his daily trip to Yamada Mart for a soda after school, only to find that Seiya was not there as usual and there was an older man in her place. He was a lot gruffer than the boy's usual clerk, which threw him off just a bit, but in the end he got his two cans of soda... And worked up the nerve to ask where Seiya might be. It turned out that the man running the shop was her father, and after a short interrogation as to what sort of friends they were he was informed that she was in the hospital at the moment. It wasn't a very long bus ride from the store, and it was on his way home anyway, sooo... Gregory decided he'd pop by. Why not?

He didn't much like hospitals, but he could learn to deal. All Greg had to do was ask the front desk for her room number and he was off, navigating the halls not-so-expertly and getting lost at least twice before finding the number he needed on basically luck alone. Japanese hospitals were weird, okay? After adjusting his tie slightly and knocking twice, the teenager stepped into the room with a half-empty soda can in one hand.

[seiyayamada]

It had been a while since she'd checked in, yet her expression remained the same. A soft knock on the door broke her gaze as she was met with the face that didn't belong to yet another nurse. Eyes lighting up at bit, Seiya jerked to sit up. Bad idea. Clutching her side, the girl slumped back against the pillow, instantly regretting it.

"G-kun!" His name was mixed with a few groans as she shifted. "How? You-- You're here!"

[americandiplomacy]

An eyebrow lifted at the sudden movement and the instant reaction that followed. Jeez, was she that excited to see him? Well, probably excited to see anyone who wasn't a doctor, now that he thought about it. Her dad had probably been visiting, though! Hopefully. "Uhhh, hi. Your dad told me you were here, so..." So what? He didn't really want to make it seem like that was the only reason, it felt weird. "It's on my way home, and all that. Figured I'd just stop by." And he didn't have anything important to do at home, so it worked out.

"Anyway." Time to change the subject! "What happened?"

[seiyayamada]

Smiling, she looked absolutely ecstatic that he was here. "My dad?" Seiya's expression turned slightly sour. "Huh." So he knew she was here, yet hadn't bothered to stop by. It was to be expected from a man like Kosuke Yamada. Sighing, Seiya beckoned him to a seat next to her bed.

"The story we're sticking with is that we were mugged. But... I went into the mirror world to help this girl." Her brow furrowed as she recalled what had happened. It felt good to say it out loud, "She came out a bit banged up but..." Gesturing to her side, she forced a weak grin, "I took the business end of that riding crop."

[americandiplomacy]

"Wow. Bad enough for the, uh, hospital then?" He wasn't about to ask to see it or anything, though. Hopefully this wouldn't become a theme... Seiya getting injured every time she went in would be sort of a problem, huh? Greg had a sip of his soda and then moved to the chair beside her hospital bed. "At least you're not dead, uhh... Y'know." That sounded better in his head. "And the other girl's all right?"

[seiyayamada]

"Yeah, heh... at least I'm not dead." Getting comfortable again, she looked back up at the ceiling. The presence of a friend relaxed her a bit. "Yeah she's okay... I mean I think she is."

It was odd, putting her life at risk like this. What else did she expect, though? Peering at him from the corner of her eye, she smiled. "Did you get that from the freezer on the left? Keeps 'em colder."

[americandiplomacy]

Greg looked down to the soda in his hands, blinking at the question. "Uhhh... I don't know. I think so? I'll remember that, though." He still had one in his bookbag, and it was unopened... The boy pulled it out and offered it over, just in case Seiya wanted it. He was pretty sure they didn't insist on a certain diet for cuts and other similar wounds, at least.

Funnily enough, despite saying he was coming home from school, Gregory definitely wasn't in his uniform. He wasn't even in anything it looked like he'd normally wear: A faux-leather jacket with a fuzzy in-lining, a very green shirt, and a pair of pretty beat-up denim jeans. Actually, she might've seen this same jacket on a teacher at some point! Everything was a little too big for him, too. The truth, of course, was that his uniform was covered in goddamned blood and he'd been given this by teachers and the nice detectives.

"So, uh, something happened at school today. I've got pictures to show you."

[seiyayamada]

Adjusting the bed so that she could sit up, Seiya graciously accepted the soda. "Thanks, I owe you one." Popping the tab, she took a slow sip, savoring it.

Finally taking him in, she realized his clothing was a bit off. In fact, very off. At the mention of something going down, her stomach flipped and her chest grew heavy. "What happened? Your clothes... are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

[americandiplomacy]

"Who, me? Oh, no, I'm good." Good-ish. Better than Hikari, at least. "There was, uh... Jeez. I don't know how to, like..." Greg took a deep breath and then just spat it out. "I walked into the girl's bathroom on accident, and there was a dead girl in there. Hikari Endo, she was in my class, she's the one who pushed the teacher off of the building and everything..!" Oh, no, that didn't explain the clothes. "I got blood on me. That's why the... Yeah." He gestured a little aimlessly, then tugged at one of the jacket's lapels.

Yeah, that meant he'd seen a dead body just a few hours ago. Well! "I took pictures-- Not of the body, I'm not, uh, not weird. She wrote stuff down, like, with her blood. It sounded important, and it's about the mirror world, I think. Do you... Want to see?"

[seiyayamada]

Her brow furrowed, concern written all over her face. "You what? [Oh my GOD.]" Seiya shifted uncomfortably. How did it even-- Wait, he mentioned the mirror world. "Huh? Yes, show me."

Leaning over towards him, she took another comforting swig from the soda. It was all too much. That'd could've been her.

[americandiplomacy]

Greg hadn't been able to tell Miho the other day, but it came a little easier now. Probably because Seiya wasn't as likely to know this girl! He leaned sideways when she leaned in and held up his phone to bring up the pictures. She'd see a whole lot of apps, mostly games, on that thing. "So it's, uhh-- I think I shouldn't have these, by the way. So don't tell anyone..." Not that he thought she would.

Greg had taken pictures of each of the bloody scrawls, and his cell phone thankfully had a decent camera quality to it. They weren't exactly crystal clear, but certainly readable!


Picture #1:
mirror, mirror, on the Wall,
push them down
and wAtch them fall

Picture #2:
i'm sorry Kiyomi

Picture #3:
rEflections

Picture #4:
yoUr shadow

Picture #5:
Please don't go


"It, uhm... It's obviously got something to do with the mirrors. And... The bigger letters, the capital ones, they spell 'wake up'. That's all I've got so far..." Smart boy!

[seiyayamada]

Seiya looked impressed at his deduction. "[Good boy Watson!]" She patted his shoulder, studying the images intently.

"I agree, it's definitely related to what we've encountered..." Seiya lingered a moment longer than necessary before pulling away. "I'll have to go back in." Sliding off the edge of the hospital bed, she groaned, leaning on the IV for support. "Gotta stop it from... unnnnngh... happening again..." Panic tinged her words. She absolutely needed to sit back down, but for the moment, her thoughts were clouded.

[americandiplomacy]

He chuckled faintly at the English, it was out of character but then he hardly felt 100% right then. "Yeah. There's probably more to it-- Uh, what? You don't mean..." Seiya did, because she was trying to get up. "Hey, no, what? You can't go now." Greg set a hand on the girl's shoulder to keep her from getting up and gave her a look like 'sit back or I'ma make you'.

"It's not like there's any rush. No one else has, uh... Pushed any teachers off of buildings. I haven't seen anyone else acting weird, either." Nevermind that he had a period from when he entered the bathroom until he found the body that was a little blurry. Gregory had his suspicions on what might've happened, but he really didn't need to worry poor Seiya any more than she already was. "You gotta rest..!"

[terminalshow]

The sound of Miho running was a disruption of the normal quiet of the hospital. Running was not a thing she normally did, but today was a very special case. Her dress shoes clicked hard against the shiny laminate floor, and she was already winded (running up stairs, why'd she do that? Quicker than the elevator, maybe?)! When she arrived in front of the room the nurses had told her Seiya Yamada was at, she paused to take a deep breath and fan herself. Her upperclassman could probably hear her trying to regain her breath. Knock, knock!

“Um, Seiya-chan, I'm coming in, okay?” The second year stepped on into the room, clicking the door shut behind her. In her arms was a big ol' bouquet of flowers, and a box of chocolates!

[seiyayamada]

The sound of running woke her from a light nap. Seiya perked up, brow furrowed. Who the hell was making all that-- knock knock?

Fully up, she smiled as Miho entered, clasping her hands together, "Miho-chan! How did you...?"

[terminalshow]

"G-san mentioned it." She nodded matter of factly, returning the smile (although hers was somewhat tinged with worry). "I got some flowers! I hope a nurse can get you a vase later." Said bouquet of spring coloured flowers was carefully set down on Seiya's bedside table. The box of chocolates was offered forward. "These, too."

[seiyayamada]

Seiya's eyes widened in wonder. Flattered, she took the box and set it neatly on her lap. "You're so sweet!" She reached out, patting Miho on the head. "I take it he told you all about what happened?"

[terminalshow]

“He didn't go very much in detail... He mentioned you and Ren-chan, and the mirror world?” She smiled at Seiya's reaction to the presents. Being from a rather well off family and all, it was only proper that she doted on her friends with her allowance, right? Right! “That's it, though.. Are you okay? Is Ren-chan okay? I was imagining the worst.”

[seiyayamada]

"That about sums it up!" She admired the flowers, taking in the aroma. "Oddly, I feel just fine. The nurses said they can only see a scar now. I guess the medicine Arthur gave me really was magic." Seiya babbled on about things only in her head, looking at Miho as if she knew all about it.

[terminalshow]

"Arthur?" Miho blinked. "Who is Arthur? Is he one of the nurses?" She absently took a seat on Seiya's bedside with a smile. "Jeez, that must mean you can get out soon, right?"

[seiyayamada]

"What? No, he's the guy in the velvet room. Oh, that's right, you can't-- forget I mentioned it." She beamed, stretching her back. "Yep! I get out tomorrow."

[terminalshow]

“Velvet..?” Miho tilted her head and pushed her glasses up her nose. What was that? It sounded like some sort of night club or something. “Good, though! I’m glad. When you get out, I’ll take you for a big ramen dinner.” Ooh she was practically droolin’ at the very thought. “And then maybe cake.. Carrot cake.” Now she was getting all excited about dragging Seiya out of the hospital! “… You’re okay though, right? The mirror world..” That probably needed some discussion, huh?

[seiyayamada]

Seiya's stomach growled at the mention of food that actually had sustenance. Her face lit up further at the very thought of carrot cake. Unfortunately that all went to hell when the mirror world was brought up. "I'm okay. Miura-san should be healing up well, too." Twiddling her thumbs, Seiya let her gaze fall to her lap. "We'll have to go back, eventually."

[terminalshow]

“You will? Why? But..” Well, it was obvious why. It was clearly causing things, probably bad things to happen. Still, Miho didn’t want to see her friends get hurt. “I’ll come too!” Even if she didn’t have the same power, she could do something. “I don’t want you or Ren-chan or anyone to get hurt. So I’ll go with you.”

[seiyayamada]

"No way." Seiya shook her head, shooting down the idea instantly. "Miura-san and I have our personae. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you got hurt." She frowned. It was tough love, but hopefully Miho would understand.