THE FIFTH INVESTIGATION

[airlockedmods]

[As usual, the day begins at seven a.m.

Good morning, Champions.]

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[everylittlesecret]

[To be honest, she was testing him. Good.]

So you didn't damage the tendons too bad. That means you'll heal faster. I can show you some exercises to do to loosen up the wrist when the stitches are out, okay?

[She holds the cup out for him.]

Fortified beef broth with spinach, broccoli, and some rice for carbs. Iron rich. I'll bring something with tomatoes later.

[shikosuki]

O-Okay...

[ He takes the cup from her, steadying it with both hands, but doesn't drink from it yet. He feels a little... awkward. Like he needs to say something but is not sure how. ]

Um... thank you. Not just for this.

[ For everything. ]

[everylittlesecret]

[She purses her lips, looking confused otherwise.]

... You don't need to thank me for anything. I just am doing what I can to get as many people out of here as possible.

[shikosuki]

[ He pauses, taking that in ]

...Even so, you still saved my life. I can-- [ and he hesitates on saying this, because honestly he has extreme doubts about their actual getting out of here but... ] see my brothers again because of you.

So I do need to thank you.

[everylittlesecret]

...... everyone here is so weird.

[She sighs softly with a shrug.] Thank Heart for finding you and getting me. Thank Queenie for stopping most of the bleeding. Thank Yuuri for helping get you into bed and dry clothes. I'm not the only one who helped.

[shikosuki]

I know. I'm going to...

[ And "Takumi" whenever he's good enough to get to the memorials but. You know.

For now though he finally drinks from the cup. ]

[everylittlesecret]

Good... they need to feel appreciated. This shook them pretty bad. Me? [She's quiet for a moment.] I've never saved a life. I've only ever dealt with the dead. It's weird saving a life.

[shikosuki]

[ He's not sure how to respond to that at first, so he keeps drinking broth to give himself time to think. When he sets it back down, he keeps his eyes down again too. ]

...I'm sorry.

[ ...is the best that he could come up with. ]

[everylittlesecret]

Why are you apologizing? I'm........ for fuck's sake, okay, I get why my mom keeps telling me I need to tone down my honesty... [She reaches over and pats his shoulder.] It sounds worse than it is, but... my dad taught me to save lives. He really did. I've just........... okay. So you feel scared when you see someone has passed away, right? And it really hurts and is terrifying in so many ways? Well......... imagine that ten times stronger with happiness and pride mixed in. That's how saving a life feels, and I........... might have broken down in the hallway after I knew you were going to be okay.