The young guy in a white coat shoved his hands into the basin, and boom—blood everywhere. The water went full crimson. Like someone spilled a tiny ocean of ketchup, but worse.
He grabbed a towel and wiped his hands. "So… uh, this girl, where the heck did you pick her up from?"
Roya turned toward Ethan, who was just chilling in the chair, looking bored as ever, but his eyes—oh, man—they were glued to the girl on the bed. She was sleeping, or pretending, who knows.
"With injuries like that? She should have been toast ages ago," Roya said, packing his tools. "And yet, somehow, you bring her back. Hanging on by a thread. Literally. Wild."
"How did she get hurt?" Ethan squinted at the girl, wrapped head-to-toe in bandages. Dangerous squint. Like, don't mess with me squint.
"If I said she fell off a building… would you believe me?" Roya laughed awkwardly. His face was calm but with a twitch of confusion. "Serious cranial trauma, multiple fractures, soft tissue mess everywhere, massive brain bleeding. If not a fall… then what?"
He fiddled with a scalpel. "I kinda wanna cut open her brain and see what's happening."
Then—bam! Ethan's glare hit him. Ice cold.
"Ha…ha. Kidding. Totally kidding." Roya stashed the scalpel and started gathering his things.
Two steps in, then—oh right—he remembered something. Super serious.
"Master, listen. I'm a top-level physician." He emphasized "top-level." "So, uh… respect the white-clad angel here!"
Ethan gave him that look. "White-clad angel?"
Roya felt that. Oh yeah. Ego boost.
"Get out!" Ethan said. Like he was swatting a fly.
"…Oh." Roya deflated. Big sigh.
Now he got it. Why novels have that one doctor character who pops up when needed, heals nothing, dies if they fail. That's him.
Ethan stared at the girl, bandages wrapped tight like mummy cosplay gone wrong. Eyes narrowed.
Falling? Homicide or suicide?
Suicide? Not possible. She wouldn't be on a mountain road waiting for him.
So, okay. Homicide.
She looked fifteen, maybe sixteen? A student. How did she end up attacked?
The school uniform—ah. He remembered. Purple Star Academy, top tier in Kyoto.
And she… blocked his car, made a deal, kept her word. Driving skills? Even Le Mans racers might blink twice.
Who is she? What happened?
For the first time in twenty years, curiosity exploded in Ethan.
Anya's faint breathing got louder. She stayed unconscious to heal faster. Smart.
But she knew. There was a gaze. Constant.
Same as in the car. Sharp, like an eagle in the dark hunting prey. Curious.
She woke. Eyes open. Room—luxurious, subtle, minimalist white.
Her hands, head, legs—tied, hung. A water bottle dripping into her. Tick-tock.
She frowned. Medicine here… meh. Primitive. In her world? Peak tech. Healing stuff. Cells regrowing in seconds.
Room empty. Needle still in arm. Her eyes narrowed.
Suddenly—it slipped out itself. Weird. Magic? Or physics?
Anya felt it. Power intact.
Not gone. Weak previous body hid it. Recovery speed insane. Felt like her old body.
Yep. Power still there. Safe-ish.
Memory of this body: world doesn't know powers exist. Maybe. But still, stay sharp.
Humans in apocalypse evolved abilities, timeline humans? Could be.
Five days of treatment. Must go back to Ye family.
Luna would spread rumors. Dead. Gone. Chaos.
She pulled out tubes. Pain. Ouch.
"Wow… you really wanna die," a cool voice from the door.
Anya looked up. Tall, handsome dude leaning lazily. Watching.
"It's you," she said. Flat.
"Thanks for saving my life. But hey—we're even, since I helped you win the race."
Ethan frowned. Young girl, voice old as… someone who'd fought decades.
Uniform made ID easy. Top school in Kyoto, Purple Star Academy. Elite only.
And she… granddaughter of Jonathan, Ye family. Red background, political juice.
"Even?" he smiled. "Never said that."
Tall shadow swallowed Anya. Blood dripping from tube spots. Eyes dark.
Anya looked calm. Cold. "Deal made on the mountain road. Fair or not, done. Want more? Sorry, nope."
She's decisive. Leaves no enemy chance. If he pesters, first kill in this world… could be him.
The road looked like… hell, I dunno, like someone tried to pave a war.
She fell. Obviously. Gravity still works.
Bodies everywhere. Counted—nope. Stopped. Didn't matter.