For Kei, there was no shortage of things he lacked, but time was not one of them. Now that he had figured out how to handle surveillance and launch his counterattack, his mood had noticeably improved.
Upon arriving at the clinic, Kei settled into his usual seat and handed the patient logbook to Haru.
"Haru, I'll be counting on you to record the patients' cases from now on."
Since she was officially assigned to "take care of him," Kei naturally made full use of her.
"No problem."
Haru responded flatly, took the logbook, and quietly stood behind him, taking up her role as assistant without complaint.
She showed no hint of dissatisfaction, executing her duties like a machine following orders, just as Kei had expected.
Girls like Haru, and others like Hyuga Natsu, were raised from childhood by the Main Family to be loyal, unquestioning servants. They would carry out commands with absolute obedience.
No further conversation followed. Soon, a one-armed man stepped into the clinic, signaling the start of the day's appointments.
Before Kei could even ask, the man blurted out, agitated,
"Doctor! I think I'm going crazy!"
"Don't worry. Take your time and tell me everything," Kei replied with his usual gentle smile, brewing a cup of hot tea and sliding it across the table.
For patients like this, he always started with emotional regulation before treatment.
The man, Takagi Yosuke, took a sip of tea and calmed down somewhat, though his hands still trembled.
"It started a few weeks ago," he explained. "I lost my right hand in an explosion during a mission. The injury was too severe, we had to amputate."
"But just two days ago… I suddenly saw my right hand again."
"I thought it was a miracle. But that was just the beginning of the nightmare. That hand, only visible to me, aches constantly, all day and night. It never stops."
"I went to the hospital, got painkillers… nothing worked. The pain keeps me from sleeping. I feel like I'm going insane…"
As Yosuke spoke, Kei already knew what was happening.
This was textbook phantom limb pain.
Known clinically as "phantom pain," it occurs when patients continue to feel sensations, including severe pain, from limbs that have been amputated.
The pain typically manifests in the most distant parts of the lost limb, with varying types of sensation, electric shocks, slicing, tearing, burning, and tends to worsen periodically.
Medication is often ineffective.
"What should I do? I swear, if this keeps up, I really will go crazy!" Yosuke cried.
"Mr. Yosuke," Kei said patiently, "the more agitated you are, the harder it is to solve the problem. But I do have a method, if you can calm down first."
Hearing that, Yosuke clung to the hope like a drowning man to driftwood. He forcibly composed himself.
Kei then instructed Haru to fetch a cardboard box and place a mirror inside it.
He cut two armholes into the front wall and said,
"Now, please insert your two arms."
Yosuke hesitated, but eventually did as told.
"Do you see both of your arms reflected in the mirror?" Kei asked, deliberately emphasizing both arms to guide Yosuke into accepting the presence of the phantom limb.
"Yes," Yosuke replied. "I… I see them."
"Now try slowly opening and closing your hands. Grip and release. Repeat the movement."
"Is this really going to work?" Yosuke frowned. "I mean… I know my right hand isn't really there."
He found it hard to believe. A cardboard box and a mirror? It felt absurd.
But Kei's expression remained so confident and calm that Yosuke couldn't help but give it a try.
And in that moment…
It worked.
The phantom hand in the mirror seemed to come alive.
As he opened and closed his fists, the constant pain in his right arm began to ease, gradually, but unmistakably.
It still hurt… but far less than before.
He stared at Kei in disbelief.
"Doctor… what is this?! It's working, my hand doesn't hurt as much!"
"I'm glad," Kei said, still smiling warmly.
"Just keep doing this exercise a few times every day, and the condition will improve."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Yosuke's eyes welled with emotion.
"If not for you, I really don't know what I would've done…"
"No need to thank me. It's my duty." Kei nodded.
"Now go home and get some proper rest."
After sending the man off, silence returned to the clinic.
Then Haru finally broke it, unable to suppress her curiosity.
"What was that technique? How could a simple cardboard box and mirror treat something so bizarre?"
"It's a psychological method," Kei replied calmly.
"In clinical terms, it's called mirror therapy. Even if I explained it in detail… you wouldn't understand."
"…Then don't explain," Haru muttered.
She didn't press further, but silently filed the technique away.
She planned to report it later.
Kei turned his head slightly, his cloudy eyes 'facing' her direction, and tapped the air near the logbook.
"You recorded the patient's symptoms clearly?"
"Yes."
"Good. With such a capable and dedicated assistant, I can finally relax a little.
I'm sure the Great Elder will be very pleased with you."
Haru's brow furrowed at his tone.
"…What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, nothing." Kei smiled.
"Just a thought. You're clearly from the Great Elder's household, well-trained, diligent, obedient."
The atmosphere immediately grew tense.
Kei didn't seem to notice, tilting his head as if still 'watching' her.
Haru gripped the pen tightly in one hand, the logbook in the other, her eyes fixed on him.
Several seconds passed.
Then she said coldly,
"You're mistaken. I'm not from the Great Elder's household."
"Oh?" Kei replied, unfazed.
"Seeing how seriously you work, I just assumed you were part of the Main, ah, my mistake. I misunderstood."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
And he sensed it, her hand tensed even more.
That reaction was all he needed.
Kei smiled inwardly, completely satisfied with the result.
As for consequences?
Well, over the next few days, Haru wore a cold expression, barely speaking unless necessary.
Unless Kei asked for help directly, she stood in silence behind him during clinic hours.
Only after a week did the atmosphere between them begin to thaw.
And on one particular evening, as Kei closed shop, he stopped her.
"Haru," he said, pulling out an envelope, "please deliver this letter to the Great Elder."
Though clearly reluctant, Haru took the letter.
"…What's in it?"
"Oh, just a few words of gratitude," Kei said with a pleasant tone.
"And a small request for the Great Elder's help."
Haru didn't respond, she didn't argue either. She simply took the letter and left.
As her presence faded from his senses, Kei finally let a smirk creep across his face.
A faint glint of anticipation flickered in his expression.
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>