That same afternoon, Yuuki regained consciousness. After basic treatment and returning to the Asagami household, he was greeted by his maid's heartfelt laughter.
"Ha—hahahaha! Ah—no—hahahahahaha!"
"Miss Tama… my brother is hurt this badly. Could you please not laugh like you're having the time of your life?"
Unlike Tama, who was enjoying the spectacle, Asagami Fujino was carefully applying medicine to Yuuki's injuries with a cotton swab.
"But… the way Master strode out this morning, all confident… and not even two hours later he's carried back after getting beaten to a pulp… it's just—"
"I'll say this again: I did not get beaten to a pulp! I didn't run either! It was… evenly matched—well, maybe not, but it was back and forth. And in the end I only… only lost by half a step. Just half."
He hadn't suffered anything catastrophic. His back was bruised from the impact, his chin had a huge swollen lump, and the cartilage near his neck seemed cracked—so he was wearing an absurdly thick neck brace.
The Ryougi household had done basic treatment and emergency stabilization, then called a car and sent him back to the Asagami residence.
Incidentally, Yuuki had actually woken up in the car on the way home. He'd hesitated—but decided to go home first—so this was the result.
"So, did Master get to see the young lady he's been pining after?"
"Ow—ow—ow!"
"Sorry, brother… I'll be gentler."
It might've been Yuuki's imagination, but when Tama mentioned Shiki, Fujino's hand seemed to press a little harder.
Unable to move his neck, Yuuki lay facing away from Tama and muttered listlessly, "I didn't see her. One of their servants brought me home."
"Hahahaha—so you didn't even see her. Master, have you been completely hated by her?"
"I'm not hated! Probably… um… I mean… hopefully not…"
He wasn't confident at all. If anything, being hated would be the normal outcome. Thinking back, ever since Yuuki met Shiki again at school, he'd mostly just caused her trouble.
And honestly—this had always been the pattern.
When Yuuki tried to accomplish something for himself, it usually went smoothly. But whenever he tried to do something for someone else, things always seemed to go sideways.
His relationship with his father was a perfect example. Even after handing all Tokyo affairs back to him, the relationship still hadn't healed.
And though Fujino had liked Yuuki from the first meeting, he still didn't dare keep her with him. He'd entrusted her to the only person he truly trusted—Tama—to take care of her. Work was part of it, but that fear was part of it too.
Tama had probably spoken well of him behind the scenes. Otherwise Fujino might've hated the "cheap brother" who'd abandoned her alone and gone back to Tokyo.
In April, Yuuki transferred from Tokyo to attend school in Kanbu City. June hadn't even ended before he ended up in the hospital. At this rate, he'd spend more time hospitalized than attending class.
And the original plan… hadn't been carried out properly.
He hadn't stopped Shirazumi Lio from becoming Araya Souren's pawn. He hadn't stopped Lio from killing. Most importantly—he'd let Shiki, still just a high schooler, shoulder the burden of a murder case too early, triggering her impulse to kill.
Maybe… trying to do anything "for Shiki" was simply against his nature—so it would never go smoothly.
Lately, lying in the hospital, every time Yuuki got lost, those thoughts crept in.
"Putting that aside—Fujino, the person I asked you to ask about…"
"You mean the upperclassman named Kokutou Mikiya, right? I tried, but… I'm sorry, brother…"
It seemed nobody even recognized the name. But Reien was a girls' academy—maybe because of Yuuki's interference, Fujino never attended the co-ed junior high where she was originally supposed to meet Kokutou at a sports festival. Instead she chose Reien's affiliated junior high and advanced straight through—she'd lived in girls-only schools the whole time.
"Master, I looked up the person you asked about too. Kanbu City has six police precincts—I went through them all. And the result…"
Tama spread her hands. Same outcome.
Akimi Daisuke—Kokutou's uncle, an important source of information in another life—had no trace here.
Yuuki had also investigated the roster at Kanjo High School, even digging through the junior high division and old enrollment records. Nothing.
A total wipeout…
Unease rose in his chest—yet he also remembered the night he'd nearly died to a corpse-thing: the slender shoulder that had held his weight, and the warmth of it.
Yuuki drew a slow breath and forced the unease away.
Maybe the "chosen male lead" could've done better than him. But there was no "maybe" here. Shiki's safety was on him.
Even if it meant their relationship got worse—because Yuuki feared the day he might hear news that she was gone.
While he was thinking, Fujino finished re-dressing his wounds, put away the supplies, and closed the medicine box.
"Fujino… I kept meaning to see how your cooking is after learning from Shiki, but it kept getting delayed. Honestly, I'm curious."
In truth, the delay was mostly because he'd gotten himself hurt at night. Fujino didn't comment—she only nodded.
"I understand, brother."
She left the room. Whether she understood he'd sent her away or not, she would quietly cooperate either way. That made Yuuki feel guilty.
Once the Araya crisis was truly resolved, he'd spend time with her properly.
That was what he told himself as he looked toward Tama.
"Ah… right. It's about time again to deal with the lesion for Miss Fujou at the hospital. I'll go check on her…"
"Miss Tama, please wait."
"Eek… no! I won't! Not even for a raise!"
Last time, Yuuki had forced Tama to treat his fractured ribs. She'd transferred too much pain at once and ended up with chest pain so severe she couldn't get out of bed for days.
Yuuki had been ready to push harder again—but seeing her like this softened him. He shook his head, endured the ache in his neck, and stood.
"Fine. As long as my arms and legs work…"
He turned as if to return to his room.
Even while hospitalized, he hadn't slacked off—he'd kept training. He felt his stamina and strength had improved, but he still couldn't meet the minimum requirement to use the Moonlight Greatsword.
Sixteen Strength… If only he could know exactly how much Strength he had now.
"Wait, Master."
Tama's voice stopped him from behind.
-------
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