My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 168: The Aftermath of the Stampede ④

Episode 168: The Aftermath of the Stampede ④

“…Onii-chan.”

Kyouka was sitting in one of the hospital rooms where she had once been admitted. Rindou lay on the bed in the same room, still unconscious.  

Kyouka spent every moment, except for meals and sleep, holding Rindou’s hand. She was waiting for him to wake up.

“Kyouka-san, you need to rest too, or you’ll collapse.”

There was another person in the room: Kanna Ayase. She was Kyouka’s attending physician. And she had now taken on Rindou’s care. However, Kanna was grappling with her own sense of frustration as a doctor.

“…I’m sorry, Kyouka-san. I couldn’t do anything for you. And now, it’s the same with Rindou-san.”

Kanna had felt helpless when treating Kyouka. She was unable to improve her condition as much as she’d hoped. The fact that her healing [Light Magic] couldn’t help either had only deepened her regret.  

When Rindou was brought in, Kanna had vowed to make a difference this time. But as the days passed and Rindou remained unconscious, her despair grew. Determined not to let Kyouka’s condition worsen, she focused on monitoring her health closely.

“It’s not your fault, Doctor. It’s because… I was too weak!”

Kyouka’s voice was filled with frustration. It was not toward Kanna but herself. She couldn’t forgive herself for being unable to fight alongside Rindou.  

While she’d helped in the final moments, it wasn’t enough. Kyouka couldn’t consider her contribution satisfactory. She was deeply disappointed in herself.  

She had believed that awakening as a player would allow her to support Rindou. Instead, she felt she had only been a burden.

“…Next time, I’ll protect you. I’ll become strong enough to help you… So, please, Onii-chan, wake up…”

Tears finally spilled from Kyouka’s eyes after holding them back for so long. As she clutched Rindou’s hand, a single teardrop fell onto his cheek.

Kyouka’s heart was breaking under the weight of her guilt. She was convinced that Rindou’s condition was her fault.

“…Don’t cry, Kyouka.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, the voice she had longed to hear filled her ears.

She raised her head, her eyes wide. And she looked at the source of the voice.

“…Onii-chan?”

There he was. Rindou’s face appeared before her. His cheek was damp from her tear and his eyes were now open.

“What’s wrong, Kyouka?”

“…Onii-chan! Onii-chan! Waaahhhh!”  

“You’re awake, Rindou-san!”  

Hearing Kyouka’s cry, Kanna quickly moved to his bedside and began checking his pulse.

“I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble, Doctor.”

“It’s no trouble at all. In fact, I couldn’t do anything to help. But Rindou-san, are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”

“Yeah! Are you really okay, Onii-chan?”

Kyouka joined in, her voice filled with concern.

“Strangely enough, aside from being hungry, I feel fine,”

Rindou replied with a wry smile as he sat up and gently patted Kyouka’s head.

“…Really? You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. But……. what happened after I lost consciousness?”

Rindou had no idea what became of the Patchwork Dragon. After emitting the golden light, he had blacked out almost immediately.

“This isn’t the time to be asking questions! You need a full examination right away!”  

“She’s right, Onii-chan!”  

“W-Wait! At least tell me if we defeated it—”

“If we hadn’t, you wouldn’t be here!”  

“…Ah, okay. Sorry,” 

Rindou relented, overwhelmed by their intensity.

Pushed by Kyouka and Kanna, Rindou was promptly taken for a thorough medical examination.

(…Thank goodness. Are the others okay? But since Kyouka’s here and hasn’t mentioned anything, they must be fine.)

With these thoughts in mind, Rindou was moved to lie down on the bed in the examination room.