Taken by Lapis and Tsukiori, I, who went straight to the medical office, received an unexpected diagnosis.
“… The ballpoint pen that Sensei1 has?”
“No, your bones.”
A female doctor who beautifully crossed her legs showed me the x-ray of my chest.
“Here, you see, it’s broken splendidly.”
“… The ballpoint pen that Sensei has?”
“No, like I said, your bones.”
By the way, Ojou, who was resting in the medical office, seemed to have returned to our room.
The recreation time is already over, and now, it’s already evening. Until dinner time, unrelated to those Ojou-sama who were in the middle of enjoying this cruise trip, I watched the beautiful sunset in this medical office with my right forearm and ribs broken.
“Using magic, although it won’t be completely cured by tomorrow morning, you can make that you almost won’t be bothered by it. However, it will be painful to some extent. The effect of the medication will surely make your consciousness hazy. So, I suggest you ask your homeroom teacher to accompany you ton–”
“I will accompany him.”
Getting close to me, Lapis said with a serious face.
“He was injured for my sake. That’s why I will accompany him.”
“Me too. I stay in the same room with him, after all.”
Tsukiori smiled, and I whispered to the female doctor so that the two couldn’t hear me.
“… Do you want golden-colored sweets2?”
“Yes?”
“I am a member of the Sanjou Family. If Sensei says that it was your ballpoint pen that was broken, and not my bones… I promise to show you my gratitude.”
I grinned.
“For you… it isn’t a bad deal, isn’t it?”
“Even if you say you want to accompany him, he is a man, you know? (Ignoring Hiiro). If people know that a young lady from the Otori Magic Academy is spending a night with a man… if it’s with a girl, it would be treated that you two have such relationships, but if it’s a man… at any rate, I don’t recommend it very much.”
“I-if it’s Hiiro…”
Lapis hung her head down and whispered while blushing.
“I don’t mind… he is my lifesaver… and he is injured because of me…”
“Lapis, actually, I did this myself. I wanted you and Tsukiori to get along with each other, so I had the retainer girl beat me many times. So, these injuries were made intentionally, and I wasn’t hurt to protect you (confession).”
“So you wanted to say that you asked to get them to beat you up until your right arm and ribs are broken…? No one would do such a stupid thing. If you want to lie, I think you should do a more realistic lie.”
Did she just call me stupid? (Straight face)
“Understood. Please report it to your homeroom teacher properly. If his breathing becomes weird, please call me immediately.”
“Yes, I understand. I will be sure to accompany and watch him.”
“Me too.”
“Me to— not that!!”
I stood up and shouted.
“I do not agree with this!!”
I shouted to spurt my thoughts.
“I do not ag–”
Sensei suddenly pressed my ribs gently.
“…. (Stifling pain)”
Because of that, I silently sat down and gently held my chest.
“Well then, I’ll begin the treatment, so you two please wait outside the room. Now, Sanjou Family’s young master, can you please take off your top and turn to this side?”
“Sensei!! Aren’t you a doctor?! Please cure me right away!! If it’s about money, I can give you as much as you want (by threatening the baba from the Sanjou Family)!! Please!!”
With the two leaving the room, I clung to Sensei’s white coat.
“I… I can’t end my journey here….!!”
“Please take it off (excellent doctor).”
“Alri~ght, let’s take it off, okay~!”
“Stoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooppppp!! This is a violation of human rightsssssssssssssssssss!! I am the Sanjou Family’s young master, you knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!”
Being held down by the nurse-san, my clothes were taken off in no time.
The two smiling nurses were holding me down on the chair with the force of a mountain gorilla, as if they were using magic to strengthen their bodies.
“…”
With enough force to let me not feel the pain, Sensei touched my chest with a finger to confirm the swollen affected area.
“Sensei… what do you want…. is it status? Honor? Or maybe a woman…. Kuku, it’s useless to make such an expressionless face… Human desires are bottomless… The only one who can satisfy your desire is me… think carefully… I will wait for 10 seconds… You only have 10 seconds to accept my offer… I will compromise… (the dignity of the one with authority)”
Ten seconds later, Sensei was still touching my affected area with a serious look.
“I guess I will wait for another 30 seconds…! (Shivering voice)”
“Sanjou-san.”
With a serious face, Sensei muttered to me.
“Saving patients is the job of a doctor. Women or men don’t matter. Of course, the Sanjou Family also doesn’t matter. Everything is equal. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I am very sorry…..! (Teared voice)”
Thus, I shut my mouth so as not to disturb Sensei.
Suddenly, Sensei stopped her finger on a point on my chest, probably on the ribs.
She squinted her eyes and took the ballpoint pen– magic device in her chest pocket and tapped the head of the ballpoint– the trigger, generating a pale light.
Since magic operators also exist in human’s bodies, it is possible to approach illness or injury from the outside by using a magic device.
However, imagination is naturally required to activate magic. Even when making a bow or blade, you need to think about the details. In other words, to tinker with human beings means that more detailed imagination and knowledge about the human body are indispensable.
That is why, even in the Esco world, magicians who got a profession called Doctor were regarded as valuable, just like in the real world. Because even though hemostasis and first aid may be cured on our own, if we desire more treatment, a specialized expert is required.
Anyway, while thinking about such things, the pain in my body gradually disappears.
Sensei repeatedly activated the magic while replacing the consoles several times. And just like that, the medication ends after tens of minutes.
Having applied a splint on my right arm, Sensei smiled at me.
“Good. Thanks for your cooperation. There are no particular restrictions on eating or bathing, but please refrain from strenuous exercise. Just now, I have fixed the bones after giving you a dose of painkiller, so there is no pain, but I think you will experience quite a bit of pain tonight. If the medication works, your consciousness will also become hazy, and if anything happens, please let the girls accompanying you know and come here immediately.”
“I am very sorry for the inconvenience this time (sincerity).”
As I got out of the medical office, I saw Lapis and Tsukiori waiting for me.
“How is it… are you okay…?”
“It’s completely healed (a big lie).”
“That’s a lie (immediate detection).”
“Hiiro, it seems it’s about time for dinner.”
Lapis gently gets close to me, and brings her soft body closer.
“You can’t walk by yourself, right… I’ll support you…”
“No, only my right arm and ribs are broken, I can walk normally.”
“Doesn’t she just want to snuggle with you?”
Teased by Tsukiori, Lapis’s face reddened and separated herself from me.
“N-no…! H-Hiiro already has a fiance, so I-I can’t make a move on him… B-besides, he is a man…”
“Fiance…”
Thinking with her fingers on her lips, Tsukiori stared at me and smiled.
“Is there someone like that?”
Snow, did you hear that… your existence has disappeared from this girl’s head… the engagement relationship that we dreamed of… was it just an overnight illusion…?
“Onii-sama!”
At that moment, a girl whom I wish to be an illusion ran toward me.
With her long black hair disheveled, Rei, who ran desperately embraced me while tears flowing from her eyes.
“I’m glad… I’m really glad Onii-sama was safe… I…when I heard Onii-sama was injured… I was so worried and uneasy… Because Onii-sama did something reckless to protect me again…”
“I’m not injured because of protecting you, though? (Dead serious)”
“It’s fine… I know that Onii-sama is that kind of person…”
“You don’t, really. (Dead serious)”
“H-Hiiro has broken ribs, so it’s better to not thoughtlessly cling to him. B-besides, he has a fiance.”
As I gently pushed Rei away from me, Lapis gave a great follow-up.
“And Hiiro risked his life to protect me… your case is a misunderstanding, okay?”
Okay!! Okay, Lapis!! That’s good!! Wonderful!! Just like Snow said, I’m glad I got you on our side!! But, I didn’t protect you either, okay!!
“No, I didn’t protect either of you…”
“What is the basis for Lapis-san to say such a thing?”
“Rei and I are going off on our own, right? Aren’t you returning to the ship to bring the girl in your group who got sick? At that time, Hiiro was already fighting for me.”
“I don’t know the exact time when you were attacked, but I was also ambushed by a robber on my way back to the ship. I tried to escape, but… before I knew it, the robber had been defeated, and at that time I definitely saw Onii-sama’s shadow.”
“No, but, the wounded Hiiro fell in front of me.”
“I heard that you once fainted. I think when you were unconscious, Onii-sama came to save me while severely injured and was exhausted the moment he returned to you.”
“But–”
“Isn’t it fine to think that it’s not just you?”
Tsukiori tiresomely murmured.
“Let’s just say that Hiiro saved both of you.”
The two stared at each other and turned away at the same time.
“Well, Hiiro might actually do that…”
“Certainly, if it’s Onii-sama… well…”
“Objection!!”
In response to the debate that was about to be solved, I shouted with all my might.
“I have an objection to that conclusion!!”
“What’s wrong, defendant, your wound will act up, you know?”
“The one who saved Rei was you, right, Tsukiori!! How could you think of a terrible thing such as imposing your credit on other people!! As a human, I think that’s the worst!!”
“But, Rei said she saw Hiiro’s shadow.”
“Of course it’s a mistake!! Do you have the evidence!! Come show me the evidence!! Not guilty!! Hiiro is not guilty!! The judge should acknowledge my innocence!!”
“That was really Onii-sama’s shadow. There is no doubt (Decisively).”
“Yes, the court is closed.”
“Don’t run away, you coward!! Don’t run!! Don’t run away you stupid, idiot!! Coward!! (Lamenting)”
“Rather than that, what should we do tonight?”
In response to Tsukiori’s words, Lapis and Rei looked at each other.
“As expected, even if we all say we will take care of Hiiro, there is no way Marina-sensei will allow us… we have to narrow the number to one person.”
There, Rei gracefully stood up.
“Of course, that should be me, his sister. In the first place, the cause of Onii-sama’s wound is my unpreparedness. Thus, I will be the one who will take care of Onii-sama. No need for help from others.”
“Hiiro was hurt because of me, so of course, I should be the one who will take care of him. I think there is no option other than that.”
“I am in the same room as him, so I think it’s easy to get permission from Marina-sensei. It’s not even an exaggeration to say that the cause of his injuries lies with me, who couldn’t support him.”
“It’s me!! What’s wrong with me taking care of myself?! There is no one who knows more about the person named Sanjou Hiiro than I do!! I know he desires it!! Go take care of yourself, he said!! Girls should sleep together in bed with each other!! No need to take care of a man!!” You guys!! Are wrong!! And I am here to correct the distortion of this world!!”
“Looks like if we keep going like this, we will never reach an agreement.”
Then, the smiling Tsukiori gently put out her palm.
“Let’s simply decide it with a rock-paper-scissors.”
At that moment, the air was buzzing, as we stared at each other.
As if it was connected by fate, I, Tsukiori, Lapis, and Rei who stood in four directions, stick out our fist in the form of 『Rock』.
All people here have various thoughts in their minds. Our intentions collided with each other, scattering sparks.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and groaned in pain because of the injuries.
I couldn’t afford to lose… if this keeps going, I’ll be the idiot who went through great pains in vain… I’m standing here with the feelings of Esco fans on my back… Hone my luck… it’s fine, I can win… dear God of Yuri, look at me… I will…!!
Then, I– opened my eyes.
Right here!! I will definitely!! Win!!
“””Rock-paper!!”””
A whirlpool of passion is created between us. My passion rises high in the sky, drawing a gust of wind around us. Everyone’s hair flutters in the breeze, bringing our shouts to fly away high in the sky.
In this one chance— I will bet– everything I have!!
My 『Scissors』 cuts through the air and slammed to the front.