Chapter 30: Regret |
Young girls often possess a heightened sense of emotional turbulence, and someone as unique as Mitsuri was no exception. At that moment, Yeruashi was in his ordinary person mode, which meant he had suppressed his foresight and mind-reading abilities. Thus, he remained blissfully unaware of the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her head.
Knowing her personality, however, one could easily guess the nature of those thoughts.
Yeruashi offered a faint, internal smile.
He was fully committed to his current role, striving to view the world through the eyes of a young physician, and he wasn't about to let a minor surprise disrupt his immersion.
Behind him, Mitsuri stood frozen, hesitantly twirling a strand of her hair as she watched Yeruashi's retreating figure. She couldn't muster the courage to chase after him and ask for the name of such a handsome stranger.
As immense as Mitsuri's physical strength and appetite were, her courage in matters of the heart was proportionally small. This timidity had only worsened after a string of disastrous, soul-crushing blind dates.
Mitsuri remained rooted to the spot until Yeruashi vanished from sight. Only then did she vigorously pinch her cheeks, trying to shake off the sudden wave of disappointment and regain her composure.
Only then did she remember the errand her father had sent her on.
Shaking off her daze, she hurried down the street.
A few moments later, she stepped into the small reception area. She looked around the empty room before tentatively calling out, "Um... is anyone here?"
Shortly after, a voice responded.
"Are you here for a consultation, or perhaps some medicine? Oh, it’s you. Have you come to pick up something for someone else?" The curtain at the back of the room parted, and the doctor stepped out to meet her.
It was, of course, Yeruashi.
Since he was currently playing the part of a doctor, his skills were perfectly suited to the task. He had realized during their brief encounter earlier that Mitsuri herself was in perfect health.
"Yes..." Mitsuri’s response trailed off. Finding Yeruashi here was a complete shock. She gathered her wits and stammered shyly, "You... you're the doctor?"
Yeruashi pulled the curtain fully aside and stepped into the room. "I inherited this practice not long ago, but I can say I haven't received a single complaint from a patient yet."
He couldn't help but smile at her flustered reaction.
Mitsuri was so agitated that her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead. To an outsider, it might have looked like she was in the throes of a medical emergency.
It was worth noting that while Yeruashi’s appearance in this role was largely unchanged, he had consciously dialed back his natural radiance so as not to seem too perfect for a mere mortal.
At most, his current look was enough to catch a girl's eye and cause a modest blush—nothing more.
It was Mitsuri who was truly special in her reactions!
"Don't worry about my skills; just tell me what's wrong," Yeruashi said, his smile gentle as he waited for her to find her voice.
"Right, right, sorry... um... I need something for bruises. My father hurt his leg while working in the garden..." Mitsuri finally managed to speak, though her face grew even redder. She didn't dare meet Yeruashi's eyes.
"Based on what you've described, it doesn't sound too serious. I'll prescribe a standard ointment for such cases," Yeruashi said thoughtfully. He disappeared behind the curtain, returning shortly with a small jar. He placed it in a paper bag and handed it politely to the blushing girl. "Apply the ointment to a cloth and use it as a hot compress. Repeat this three times a day for an hour each time until it's gone. Is that clear?"
"Yes, I understand..." she murmured.
"That will be twenty-three yen," the young man said with a smile.
Mitsuri paid the fee, still unable to work up the nerve to ask for his name before he vanished behind the curtain once more.
Regret flooded her mind.
Again, she had failed to ask...
She lingered for a moment, watching the fabric settle where he had disappeared, before leaving the clinic with a heavy heart.
On her way back, she was so distracted that she tripped over her own feet. However, thanks to her superhuman reflexes, she performed a graceful mid-air flip and landed perfectly, ensuring the medicine didn't even touch the ground.
She soon arrived home with the package.
"I'm back!" Mitsuri called out, waving her hand.
The family was already gathered around the table, waiting for her before starting the meal.
"Come, sit and eat," her father nodded with a smile.
Mitsuri put the medicine away and took her seat.
"Thanks for the food!" her younger brother exclaimed, already stuffing his face.
The rest of the family followed suit.
For obvious reasons, a survival instinct had long since developed within the household: eat as fast as possible. If they didn't, the bottomless pit that was the powerful Mitsuri might inadvertently leave them with nothing but empty plates.
But today, the food brought her little joy.
The image of the young doctor refused to leave her mind.
It was one thing to have a chance encounter with a strikingly handsome man on the street, but to find him again at the clinic—to learn he was a kind, gentle, and friendly young physician... how could she possibly just forget about him?
After dinner, her father brought up the subject of yet another blind date scheduled for the following day. Mitsuri barely heard him; his words went in one ear and out the other as her thoughts remained elsewhere.
Her father simply assumed she was still reeling from her previous failure and tried to console her, telling her not to worry and that she would eventually meet her destined partner.
That evening.
As the light in the cramped room was extinguished and her sisters fell asleep, Mitsuri lay staring at the ceiling.
Her father's words echoed in her mind.
'Another blind date? I wonder who it is this time...'
'He was so handsome, kind, and sweet—and a doctor to boot. It's a shame I didn't even get his name. But... he’s probably already married.'
'I wonder what kind of girl was lucky enough to capture his heart?'
'Wait, what if he isn't married? Should I try to win him over?'
'Sigh... my strength would definitely scare him away.'
'And I practically ran him over in the street. I definitely made a terrible first impression.'
'But he seemed so defenseless... I could protect him.'
'Though, what kind of guy would actually enjoy being protected by a girl?'
'What a pity...'