Chapter 64: Shadows of Fear and Flickers of Hope
After his physical condition improved, Lucien was transferred to the general nursing ward.
That very afternoon, Iida Ayano and Mizuki arrived at the hospital. When they heard the doctors confirm Lucien's steady recovery, their faces lit with relief.
"Lucien-kun, this is wonderful news!" Iida said warmly. "Your condition has stabilized even further. We're so happy for you."
Mizuki clasped her hands together with a smile. "Senpai, you look healthier already!"
Iida then handed him an envelope with the manuscript fee and placed a copy of the new monthly magazine Manga Month on his lap. Inside was the serialized first volume of Slam Dunk.
She leaned closer, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Lucien, I have even better news. Your Slam Dunk might be adapted into an anime."
Lucien blinked, stunned. "Anime…? Did I hear that right?"
"Yes." Iida nodded. "A well-known animation director is preparing a basketball-themed series. As far as I know, Slam Dunk is among the shortlisted works."
For a moment, Lucien's pulse raced.
Anime.
In Japan, anime was more than entertainment—it was the lifeblood of cultural exports, the beating heart of an industry that turned stories into phenomena. Countless manga had exploded into national—and even global—hits once adapted into anime.
If Slam Dunk became animated, its influence would multiply tenfold. And for Lucien, that meant the system's rewards would be even greater.
The thought alone was enough to make his blood surge with excitement.
Iida tempered his enthusiasm gently. "Of course, nothing is confirmed yet. Five titles are under consideration, and Slam Dunk is only one. Still… the fact that an unfinished series is already being noticed speaks volumes about its quality."
She softened her voice. "We'll support you as best we can. But don't be discouraged if this particular chance doesn't happen. There will be others."
Lucien nodded. "I understand. But even knowing it's possible… it makes me want to push even harder."
Iida smiled, satisfied with his resolve.
Before leaving, Lucien handed Mizuki the draft of Chapters 14 and 15 of Attack on Titan Volume 4. But Iida, unable to resist, gently tugged the sheets from Mizuki's hands and skimmed them.
Her eyes widened. "Lucien… you really are a genius."
Even from incomplete sketches and notes, she could see the immense depth of story and character. As an editor, she had seen countless manuscripts, but this one sent shivers down her spine.
"Someday," she murmured, "I'd like to arrange a meeting between you and some of my other authors. Sharing ideas could be inspiring for everyone."
Lucien chuckled softly. "I'd like that."
Mizuki, glancing at her watch, tugged Iida's sleeve. "Ms. Iida, it's almost time. Don't you have a meeting with Shiina-sensei?"
Iida blinked, then laughed. "You're right. Forgive me—I got carried away." She returned the draft to Mizuki, bid Lucien farewell, and hurried off.
Mizuki stayed a while longer, asking earnest questions about comic pacing and character development, before taking her leave as well.
---
Later, Lucien's mother, Eve, rented a wheelchair from the hospital service desk. With her help, Lucien sat upright and was pushed to the garden lawn outside.
Birds chirped in the branches, flowers swayed in the breeze, and the summer sun bathed him in warmth. He stretched his arms wide, inhaling deeply.
"I'd forgotten… how fresh the air could feel."
For weeks, he had only known the smell of disinfectant and the beeping of machines. Now, the world felt alive again.
That evening, after creating for just over an hour, Eve gently scolded him. "Lucien, that's enough for today. Rest now, alright? Don't push yourself."
Not wishing to worry his parents, he set his pen aside and lay back. After a nutritious dinner, he read manga until his eyes grew heavy, then drifted into a deep, peaceful nap.
When he awoke, the sun was setting.
From the ward window, Tokyo stretched out before him, skyscrapers glowing golden under the crimson sky. A sudden yearning filled him.
"Mom," he whispered, "can we go to the rooftop?"
Eve obliged, wheeling him to the top of the building.
The sight stole his breath away.
Tokyo—home to over 37 million people—shimmered beneath the sunset, a vast ocean of dreams and struggles. Towers rose like giants, their windows ablaze with firelight. In that moment, Lucien felt both infinitesimal and strangely powerful.
"This city…" Eve murmured, her voice heavy with emotion. "We've lived through despair here, and yet… now there is hope again."
Lucien turned his head slightly. "Mom… I think I'll be discharged soon."
Her eyes softened. "When that day comes, you'll come home with us."
But Lucien's gaze stayed fixed on the skyline. "Mom… I don't want to go back just yet."
She stilled. "Why?"
"Because of someone," he said quietly. His voice was steady, but the meaning was clear.
Eve's lips curved into a knowing smile. "I see…"
She placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "Then your father and I will stay with you."
"Mom, your jobs—"
"There are other jobs," she cut him off firmly. "There's only one you."
Lucien's heart swelled. Yet he vowed silently: I'll recover, not just for myself, but so you won't have to sacrifice everything for me.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Eriri Spencer Sawamura (Eri Kashiwagi) was haunted by the same nightmare night after night.
In her dreams, Lucien's condition suddenly worsened. The doctors' frantic efforts failed. A cold voice declared his death. She always woke up gasping, drenched in sweat, her chest tight with grief.
By Monday afternoon, after school, she rushed to the hospital.
Not knowing Lucien had been moved, she went straight to his old ward. Opening the door, she froze. The bed was empty. The machines stood silent.
Her heart plummeted. The nightmare… it's real…?
"Lucien…?" she whispered, her throat tightening. Panic surged like wildfire. She stumbled through the halls, searching desperately for a nurse, anyone who could tell her the truth.
But in her frantic running, her foot caught. She tumbled hard to the floor. Pain shot through her body, but she forced herself up—only to collapse again, her strength gone.
Leaning against the wall, trembling, she clutched her chest as if to hold her heart in place. Her breath came in shallow gasps.
"Don't die…" she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "Please, you must not die…"
Images of Lucien flooded her mind—their arguments, their laughter, his quiet smiles. The thought of losing all of it made her chest ache unbearably.
The corridor around her blurred into silence, heavy and suffocating.
Then—
A familiar voice broke through.
"Eri…?"
She froze. Slowly, almost unwillingly, she turned her head.
There he was.
Lucien, sitting in a wheelchair, the glow of the sunset framing him like a vision. His eyes were gentle, alive, filled with surprise and concern.
"Eri… what are you doing here on the floor?"
Her eyes widened. For a heartbeat, she couldn't breathe. Then, unable to hold back, she cried out—
"Lucien!"
---
✨ End of Chapter 64
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