A Walking Time-Bomb

Suddenly...

Hideaki woke up and started coughing uncontrollably, struggling to breathe.

His throat felt parched, desperately longing for moisture. Then, out of the blue, he felt the presence of a cold glass of water on his lips.

When he directed his gaze towards the person who had offered it to him, he was taken aback.
'S-Seiji..?'  Then, when he quenched his thirst, he began to look around... 'W-wait... w-where am I...?'  he asked himself.

Hideaki noticed the presence of bandages on his body and head. The steryle room. The beeping of the heart monitor.

Then, he realized,

'I am in the hospital..?'

He sat on the bed, staring at his hands.

Both hands were tightly wrapped in thick, elastic bandages, from fingertips to wrist. Only the swollen tips of his fingers stuck out — red, stiff, some faintly bluish around the joints. Through the gauze, faint stains of blood and serum had already seeped. 

A gentle sunlight streamed in through a large glass window. The weather outside appeared ideal for a refreshing evening walk. However, he found himself confined to the bed.

Seiji observed him closely. "I'll inform the nurse that you're awake. I'll be back in a moment," he said before swiftly exiting the room.

In that instant, a rapid thought raced through Hideaki's mind,

'If I'm in the hospital, they probably already know who I am and have alerted the police... I have to escape from here.'

He cautiously attempted to leave the bed, feeling a pang of pain in his ribs and arms from the exertion, but he refused to give up. He didn't want to be captured and sent back to jail again.

Just then, the nurse entered with Seiji.

Observing Hideaki's struggle to rise, the woman hurried over to him. "Please, sir, don't try to get up yet. You still need to rest," she urged, gently guiding him back onto the bed.

Once Hideaki was settled back in bed, the nurse busied herself straightening the rumpled sheets on his hospital bed.

Resting his head on the pillow, Hideaki felt a sense of helplessness that his escape plan had failed.
"Who... Who brought me here?" he asked the nurse.

"You were brought in by an ambulance." the nurse responded.
"I will inform the doctor that you are awake. We will arrange for your discharge from the hospital," She gave a slight bow before leaving.

Now, only Seiji remained with Hideaki.

Seiji stood up and approached him. "Hideaki, how are you feeling?"

"How am I feeling..? I feel terrible!" the killer suddenly coughed, experiencing pain in his ribs from the strain. "I... I could have been better," he said, this time with a calmer tone.

"Yeah, I can see that. You took quite a beating. When I came home, you looked like a mess. But... I'm glad you're alive."

"You are...?"

"Yes... It would have been bad if you had died... After all, you wouldn't be able to kill me later."

"Tch! Idiot... Do you think I am so weak to let some motherfucker kill me right away!? huh!?!"

"No, not at all. It's just... eh, forget it."

Seiji, observed him

'He seems to be improving, at least based on his demeanor. I'll try to inquire a little about what had happened.'

"Now that you're better... Can you explain what happened? Why were you covered in blood and injured? And why are some of my things missing?"

Hideaki shifted his gaze towards Seiji, perceiving a judgmental look reflected in his cold-blue eyes.

'He probably thinks I stole his stuff...'  Hideaki thought. 'I won't lie to him... I'll just tell him what happened.'
"A thief broke into the apartment. He tried to rob you. I tried to defeat him, but... I.. I failed... That damn guy was too strong."

"You tried to 'defeat'? Like to 'prevent' the thief?" Seiji was skeptical.. "That's an unusual move for someone like you. And are you sure you didn't take the stuff yourself? You know, you could be working with the thief. After all, you're a criminal too."

"I could have, but... why...? Why the hell would I need such things? It's enough for me to have something to eat, a place to sleep, and not have to worry about anything else," he sighed. "...Well... Almost... Because the police is still searching for me..."

Seiji analyzed the situation carefully.

'I don't know him well enough to rule out deceit right away... he's a criminal. He could be manipulating me. But... On the other hand, if he was going to do this, he would probably steal it long ago.'

Seiji scrutinized Hideaki, searching for any sign of deception. He took a deep breath.

"Alright, let's assume I believe you. But if you're hiding something, it won't end well for you if I find out."

Seiji attempted to intimidate him, but Hideaki burst into laughter, finding it amusing.

"Hahahaha!" He suddenly coughed from the strain. "W-What, are you going to hand me over to the cops? Hahaha!"

Seiji maintained a serious expression. "Yes. That's exactly what I'll do."

Hideaki's laughter subsided
"Huh... W-wait... You're not s-serious, are you...?" Fear began to grip him as he heard what Seiji said. "You're joking, r-right?" he nervously inquired.

Seiji shook his head. "I'm not joking."

Hideaki's fear grew, and he swallowed nervously. "F-fine... Damn it... But... Tch! Just fucking know that I'm not hiding anything from you."

Seiji looked at him intently. "I hope not."

Suddenly, the nurse returned with the doctor responsible for Hideaki's care.

"Good Afternoon. I'm doctor Watanabe. I'm responsible for taking care of you, during your recovery at the hospital." He gazed at Hideaki.

He was a tall, elderly man, wearing a square glasses on his nose. He examined the Hideaki's bandaged wounds.

"Hmm... Yes. Judging by the healing, I think that after a rehabilitation, you will be able to be discharged. The treatment is working well so far, and the wounds should heal nicely by then. You are really lucky."

Hideaki nodded silently, but his expression was a mix of skepticism and uncertainty.

The doctor, sensing something off, let out a deep chuckle. "Hahahah, I apologize if I have given you the wrong impression. Is everything okay? Is something bothering you?"

Hideaki hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with doubt. "M-maybe..." he muttered, unsure. "I mean..." His tone carried an edge of caution, almost like he was second-guessing his own feelings.
"W-what actually happened to me..?" He finally asked him.

The doctor nodded gently and spoke in a professional tone,.

"You suffered multiple severe injuries — including four fractured ribs, extensive bruising to your torso, crushed bones in your hands, a dislocated shoulder, and a mild concussion from head trauma. On top of that, you lost a dangerous amount of blood. You were brought in unconscious, and due to the seriousness of your condition, we took you straight to surgery."

Hideaki's breath hitched. 'S-surgery?'  His fingers clutched the sheets beneath him. 'You... cut me open? Touched inside me — put things in me —'

His panic grew and despite the healing magic and surgery, he felt a strange tingling and pain with every movement — as if his bones and nerves were still shattered.

"During the procedure, our surgical team worked together with magical medics."
Doctor continued
"They reconstructed your broken ribs with Calcium Restoration Magic Ability, reset your dislocated shoulder, and stabilized your crushed hands to preserve function. We also treated your blood loss with transfusions and fluid therapy. Fortunately, there were no catastrophic internal organ injuries, which made a critical difference." 

'You... used magic on me?!'  he snapped in his thoughts, his voice rising, almost feral. 'That's inside me now?! What if it did something else — what if it changed something—'

Seiji also felt a twinge of apprehension.

'Given his condition, he's not capable of killing me nor surviving on the streets. He'll make a reckless move, get himself caught, or worse. I need to manage this situation better.'

"Your hands, however," Watanabe slowly turned his gaze on the bandaged hands of Hideaki. His tone calm but firm,

"is a more complex matter. The crushing injury did a serious damage.

The bones and fingers have been magically fused. You can move and grasp them, but your movements are stiff and painful — in other words, your range of motion is limited.

Your Magic Ability, is a different topic in that case.

The trauma damaged the flow of the magical fluid and its control. I'm afraid that with your current condition, you cannot exactly use it. We've done our best to repair the damage, but restoring full function will require time, therapy, and further magical treatment."

Hideaki's pupils dilated.
'W-what?!...'  His breath grew shallow. 'N-no... No! No! My magic... my blood control! If I can't use it... if it's broken—'  His mind spiraled, flashes of panic surging with every thought.

The doctor sat down across from them, adjusting his glasses. In his hand, he held a results chart. He gazed at Hideaki, noticing his shocked expression. He tried to calm him down a little.

"Everything might look shocking and complicated Tom you right now, but don't worry. Once your condition stabilizes further, we'll run rehabilitation. It will be required to regain full use of your hands, normal breathing after the broken ribs, and proper flow of Magic Ability. Our physiotherapists will work with you here in the hospital. But it's important to avoid overexerting yourself. Rest is essential for your full recovery."

He slightly moved the sheet of paper with the remaining data onto the chart.

"However, there is one thing to remember..."

Hideaki gulped audibly. 'W-what else??'

"Know this, that your Ability may not fully recover, even after rehabilitation. This depends on how your body adapts to the fluid flow following the injury.—"

'W-what!? No... no! Stop. Please—stop talking,'  Hideaki muttered in his head, voice shaky. His eyes were wide, unfocused, his chest rising and falling unevenly.
'If my hands won't heal... if my Magic Ability won't work anymore... then what the hell am I supposed to be?!'

The doctor paused, noticing the change in his expression. "Miyahara-san, are you okay?"

Hideaki's heartbeat monitor spiked. The nurse rushed in with a soft "It's okay, please calm down, you're safe now—"

"No! Don't touch me! Don't—!" His voice cracked as panic took over. He pressed his hands to his chest, as if trying to protect himself after the fact.

He thrashed weakly, flinching away as if every hand in the room was a threat. His face was pale, eyes wild with fear and confusion.

Seiji watched his thrashing from where he stood near the wall. The monitor was beeping, the nurse was trying to say something, and Hideaki looked like an animal cornered in a trap.

"Enough." — Seiji spoke in a calm, firm tone. He didn't shout, didn't rush forward, he just fixed his gaze on him.

Hideaki froze for a moment, as if that single word cut through the panic.

Seiji took a step closer.
"No one here is going to touch you. The surgery is over. You're breathing. You're alive. Everything you're doing now is only weakening your body even further."

His voice was steady, controlled, almost icy — but that made it stand out against the chaos in the room.

The doctor signaled to the nurse with urgency.
"Now. Give him something mild. He's hyperventilating. This is a panic response."

The nurse didn't hesitate. With swift precision, she leaned over to the IV line connected to his arm and injected a small dose of a transparent solution into the port.

"It's okay. This will help you calm down," she said gently, her tone low and practiced.

Seiji leaned slightly, just enough so Hideaki could see only his face, not the nervous hands of the medical staff.
"If you don't want the doctors to treat you like an object, then you need to give them a reason not to. Stop thrashing and show them you can handle this. Otherwise, they'll treat you like a child."

'Tch! A ch-child!?'  Hideaki breathing grew rapid, shallow again, but not from the fear now, but from anger brewing inside him.

The needle silently penetrated the skin, distributing the sedatives throughout Hideaki's body.

Hideaki didn't even notice — or maybe he did, but it was too late. Within seconds, the effect began to settle in. His breathing, though still shaky, started to slow. His muscles softened under the weight of drowsiness, the edges of his panic dulled like a fog creeping in.

The doctor let the silence stretch for a moment, waiting until Hideaki's eyes began to flutter, his frantic movements weakening.

Finally, he exhaled quietly, glancing at Seiji.
"Thank you. Sometimes words from someone familiar are more effective than any medicine."

The nurse nodded in agreement, still adjusting the IV line.

Seiji's expression didn't change much — his face remained composed, almost unreadable — but his eyes narrowed slightly.
"I didn't do it for him," he said flatly. "I just don't want him tearing out his stitches and undoing your work."

The doctor allowed himself a faint smile, sensing the weight behind Seiji's cold words. "Regardless, it made a difference."

Hideaki, drifting on the edge of sedation, caught fragments of their voices. His mind swirled between irritation and reluctant... relief.

"We'll monitor his psychological state as well." Doctor added, more quietly this time "That kind of reaction... it's not uncommon after trauma." Then he added, looking at Hideaki.

"We'll be performing follow-up tests: bloodwork, neurological responses, blood pressure checks, and especially respiratory efficiency, since your ribcage was damaged. You should start feeling less pain day after day, compared to the first day."

Watanabe adjusted his glasses slightly before continuing.

"Note, that this won't be a quick process. You may find it difficult — or even painful — to later use your Ability with precision. Potentially causing tingling, sparking pain, and blockage when attempting to use your powers."

Hideaki looked away, as if irritated.
"How long does this whole process will take?" he muttered impatiently.

"All of this takes weeks. In severe cases, even months. of intensive work. That's the absolute minimum for your body to fully recover. And only on the condition that you follow the recommendations: exercises, rest, avoiding overexertion, and an absolutely cautious approach to using your Magic Ability."

Then, he turned his attention to Seiji and inquired, "Are you a family member of the patient?"

"He's just my roommate."

"I understand. In that case, it's important that you help ensure he follows the care instructions when he'll be back in home. I recommend checking in regularly and assisting him with any needs he might have problems to do, during his recovery."

"Of course." Seiji nodded and bowed lightly.

The doctor cleared his throat softly, adjusting his clipboard.

Hideaki grimaced, while Seiji narrowed his eyes slightly.

"What if... someone wanted to speed up the recovery process and rehabilitation?" Seiji asked calmly, clearly cutting to the point.

The doctor sighed, resting his hands on the desk.
"There are methods of acceleration — but none are free of risk. We could apply intensive stimulation of the magical channels, or experimental agents to support regeneration. At best, it would shorten rehabilitation by a few weeks. At worst..."

He hesitated, then looked first at Seiji, then at Hideaki.
"...there would be permanent damage to the channels. Meaning: complete or partial loss of Magic Ability. With no return."

Hideaki stiffened.

"S-so you're saying I could lose my Magic Ability forever?!"

"Yes." The doctor replied grimly "The channels of magical flow are severed and strained. They are freshly damaged after surgery, being as fragile as thin glass. One stronger overload — and they'll shatter. And once glass is broken... it can't be pieced back together."

Silence fell. Hideaki clenched his fists on his knees, trying not to show his emotions.

Seiji nodded slowly, his voice cold but firm.
"So it's like a cable cut in several places. If you try to use your Magic Ability in this state, you risk a short circuit — that is, permanent damage to your Ability."

Hideaki ground his teeth, looking aside.

"If you ignore rehabilitation and try to force your Ability too eairly — that risk exists. At best, you'll prolong recovery by months. At worst... only a mere shadow of what you once had will remain." Doctor said.

Seiji leaned against the armrest of his chair, his tone cold as he added:
"So he has to be careful. No attempts, no showing off."

The doctor nodded. "Exactly. We need to give the body time to rebuild. Energy channels, just like nerves, heal slowly. Mr. Miyahara will need patience and consistency. If you push too hard or act recklessly — you risk undoing all the healing we achieved in surgery. Please take this seriously."

Hideaki only clenched his fists, remaining silent.

Seiji saw his reaction and sighed softly.
"The choice is simple, Hideaki. Either patient rehabilitation, or the risk that you'll never use your Ability again."

The doctor leaned back in his chair.
"That's why I repeat — it's a long process, but if you go through it properly, you have a chance to regain full functionality. Speeding it up won't give you that; it will only put everything on a knife's edge."

He glanced toward the nurse, who nodded.

"If you have any questions about his care or if there are any changes in his condition, don't hesitate to reach out to us."

Hideaki gulped nervously.

Seiji nodded and bowed with gratitude.

Doctor bowed as well and exhaled lightly.

"Well, now, as it appears that everything is proceeding satisfactorily, please excuse me. I need to get to other patients as well. Appointment slots are scheduled until 7 pm. If you require any assistance, the nurses in the corridor are readily available.
I wish you good night."

He concluded, before leaving the room with the nurse, leaving Seiji and Hideaki alone.

Seiji observed Hideaki's condition silently for a moment, his analytical mind taking in the details - the pain in his ribs, the tiredness evident in his face and the crushing fact that he couldn't use his Magic Ability as he used to.

"Do you need something?" Seiji asked, his tone steady. "Want me to get you something from the vending machine?"

"No... Thanks..."

"Alright then. I'll go use the restroom. I'll be back in a moment," he added before heading to the toilet.

"Mhm..." Hideaki barely responded, murmuring something as he sank back into the pillow, staring at the ceiling.

He reached his hands before him, staring at them for a longer while.

'If only I had more control... Maybe I wouldn't be stuck here... and my Magic Ability...'

He clenged his teeth, feeling the overwhelming feeling of hopeless and irritation creeping in

'Fuck!!!'

He placed his hands back on the quilt and let out a quiet ragged sigh. He yearned to leave the hospital as soon as possible.

The weather outside was beautiful, with the sun almost completely covered by horizon. It's warm rays were illuminating the room.

It seemed to beckon him to step out for a evening walk.

---

Several minutes passed.

Seiji had been gone for quite some time, and Hideaki glanced at the door,

'He probably left the hospital soon after he exited the bathroom... Wanting to leave me with all these... ill... old... and disgusting people...'

He sighed and closed his eyes, but suddenly his attention was drawn to the sound of the door opening and heavy breathing.

It was Seiji, breathing heavily and holding a bag that emanated the aroma of a bakery.

"I'm sorry it took me so long, I hurried to the bakery because I thought you might want something later," he said, taking out a cinnamon roll from the package and placing it on the empty plate next to Hideaki.

As soon as Hideaki saw cinnamon roll his eyes lighten up, but then immediately returned to his sunk back attitude, "You didn't have to do that... i-idiot..." He replied, but deep down was taken aback by Seiji's gesture of going through so much trouble to buy him a sweet bun.

"I know... But... honestly, you seemed a little down. Miserable even." Seiji responded. "You might not say it, but it's written all over your face. Thought it might cheer you up."
Seiji began to sit down.

He gazed at the time on his phone and sighed, "Look, I'll have to go home in a half an hour. Are you-"

"I hate this!" Hideaki suddenly blurted,

"Huh?" Seiji was taken aback by Hideaki's statement. His eyebrow raised. "Hate what?"

"Not having control!" Hideaki's frustration was palpable now, boiling over.

Seiji was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that if I had more control over my power back then, I wouldn't be here! And my Magic..." He paused, gritting his teeth, making his chin shaking.

Seiji stayed quiet for a moment, studying Hideaki's outburst. He wasn't one for offering comfort in the usual sense, but something about Hideaki's words struck him as genuine.

"You tried," Seiji said after a pause. "You did what you could. I'm surprised that you actually did something like that, especially knowing your physical strength right now... And what's most surprising to me, that you tried to defend my belongings. It's unusual for a criminal to try to do such a good deed. But... I'm sure that if the police catch this man, then I guess-"

"NO!"

"No...?" Seiji questioned.

"They can't!" Hideaki scowled. "B-besides, I don't care about your stuff! I was trying to kill that bastard! I was so close to butchering him! So close!"

"Hideaki... killing people isn't the best solution. It won't solve things," Seiji's mind raced, grappling with the weight of his words. "and sometimes it's a main reason for greater problems. So what's the point? It would be just another body on the ground. You think that's control?" He felt a pang of concern.

'If he thinks this way now, what darkness is lurking in his past? What has he been through to think this way?'

Hideaki clenched his fists, his knuckles white as he glared at Seiji. He shifted restlessly on the bed, the bandages crinkling beneath him. "You wouldn't understand! You don't know anything about what I've been through!" His voice wavered, frustration boiling over.

Seiji leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You're right. I don't. But that's why I'm asking." His gaze was critical but attentive. "What drives you to want to hurt people so badly? What's the point? Because, the truth is, you're not truly evil. Something inside you must have snapped, causing you to act this way."

Hideaki's anger flared, but beneath it, there was a hint of uncertainty - a crack in the tough exterior. "Tch! Why the fuck do you even care?!"

Seiji sighed, his voice growing softer but still direct. "Because I want to understand you. And I can't do that if you keep acting like I'm the enemy."

"Tch!" Hideaki hissed,
'Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!! STOP IT!!! STOP IT!!!!'  his mind screamed, refusing to listen, feeling a surge of emotions and memories welling up within him.

He clenched his fists in frustration and anger.

"F-fuck off!" he blurted out suddenly, in a sharp and icy tone, like the hiss of a snake.

"I am sure that if you'll 'understand me', you'll just gonna leave me like everyone else!" he said, his voice rising, each word a burst of pent-up anger and fear. His voice became hoarse, broken, full of cracks, as if tears were gathering in his throat, preventing him from speaking clearly.

Seiji noticed the glint of tears in his red eyes.

His expression softened, though his voice stayed steady.

"I'm not them. I don't abandon people. I won't leave you behind. I don't know who left you in the past... But I promise you, I'm not like them."

Hideaki clenched his fists so tightly that his arms shook. His eyes were wide and wet with tears.

"You... you're lying!" he shouted, his voice breaking mid-sentence.

After a moment, the tone dropped, his voice muffled by mounting sobs. Hideaki looked away,

"You only want me to kill you." he whispered in a hoarse, shaking voice, each word dripping with pain and bitterness.

"Why would you care about someone like me?" he added in a low voice, with tears in his throat.

Seiji felt a pang of guilt at the words.

He sighed and shook his head, standing up and placing the tissues beside him.

"It's true that my main reason for keeping you here is for you to kill me later, we made a deal."

His voice was calm, almost dispassionate. He took one of tissues and lead it to Hideaki, adding

"But I don't waste time on lies. If I said I wouldn't leave you, I really wouldn't. Take it or leave it. But stop assuming I'm like everyone else. If I were, you wouldn't even be here right now."

Hideaki, reluctantly taking the tissue, muttered through clenched teeth: "Sh-shut up! J-just sh-shut up!" Tears began to stream down his face; the words caught in his throat.

Without another word, Seiji sat down again, giving Hideaki the space to deal with his emotions, knowing that pushing him any further would only cause him to retreat.

'He is likely exhausted. Both from surgeries and emotions. I should let him rest now.'  Seiji thought.

Hideaki clinged his teeth even harder. Both, from the emotions, and from the fact... that he showed Seiji his sadness and frustration in that way.

"F-fuck!" He cursed under his breath, covering his tears-welled up eyes with his elbow.

Seiji sighed. He could see that whatever Hideaki was hiding deep inside, it must have been a traumatic experience for him, just as it had been for him - Seiji himself...