You did well doctor, the operation was a success.

… No I didn't…

Doctor Erhuard Muller sighed slumping back in his chair. He couldn't get his most recent operation out of his mind. Yes he managed to save the patient but only just barely.

20 minutes… 20 whole minutes of not knowing where the bleeding was coming from … How could I have missed it so easily?

He had been having a bad week as it was. From insomnia to something from his past being brought back up.

"You monster...You're the Cumberland College Murderer!"

He cringed remembering being called out for the crime a few days prior… It had come from a relative to one of his patients… It stung and he couldn't quite get it out of his head.

It's been so long since it happened… Why can't I just let it go? I've worked off my sentence, I'm finally free and have my own name back… Why can't I move on now and be like everyone else?

Knock knock knock.

"Dr. Muller?"

He looked over to the door at the end of his office.

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal Tomoe Tachibana on the other side.

"Are you alright?" She asked coming closer, concern written in her features.

In all honesty? He thought. "... I've been better…" He sighed running a hand through his hair.

Tomoe frowned pulling up a chair next to his.

"I heard what happened… I'm so sorry, I'm sure any of us would've missed it too."

Erhuard looked at her. "20 minutes… It didn't take me 20 minutes to find the needle when it fell in during Joshua's surgery...The patient could've bled out and it would've been my fault.." He looked away looking at his right hand. Idiot… I'm an idiot…

"Dr. Muller mistakes happen, we all make them, I know they're hard to get past…"

Tomoe could see the look in his eyes. She knew she had given the same look herself whenever she messed up on anything.

"Don't think for one moment that you're stupid, you're really smart."

The surgeon let out a sigh. "Smart doesn't make up for slow reaction times… or thinking of jumping off the roof last year…" He said quietly. Besides… it's not just this operation….

Tomoe winced remembering the Skeleton Reaper Incident. It was a very frightening time, and two of her friends were almost taken away from her, Erhuard being one of them. Someone stopped him luckily enough. Whoever it was Tomoe wanted to thank them a 1000 times over, she didn't want to see anything bad happen to him, not after working so hard to prove himself.

But what do I say? I don't understand what he's going through… Wait…

"It's more than the operation that's bothering you isn't it?"

He nodded. "I haven't been able to sleep well… and..." He glanced away, feeling foolish for holding onto something like this. "I was called out as a murderer… Someone recognized me from Cumberland… Called me the Cumberland College Murderer..."

Oh goodness...

"Dr. Muller we all know that wasn't really your faul-"

"I should've been able to notice Professor Sartre was acting abnormal! I should've noticed… I could've done something!" Erhuard snapped looking at her a brief flash of anger in his eyes… Anger at himself. My sister might not be dead if I had just taken notice.

Tomoe flinched, backing away a little. She had never seen him get angry like that save during some operations. Let alone she had never been in the crossfire whenever he did end up getting angry.

"... I-I'm sorry… I shouldn't have said that." Tomoe said quietly lowering her head a little.

His expression softened as guilt started to wash over him. It wasn't her fault..You really are a jerk sometimes.. He mentally scolded himself. "Tomoe I-I'm sorry…I shouldn't have snapped.."

"It's okay, I know that the whole thing upsets you whenever it gets brought up… Seems like no one wants to let it go."

He frowned touching her arm. "No… It's not your fault… It just seems to follow me…" That's a good excuse… Be rude to her and then blame it on something else…

Tomoe gently placed her hand over his.

"It'll keep following you if you keep thinking that's all you are… You need to see something that I think you're missing."

Erhuard gave her a look of confusion. "And what's that?"

Tomoe took both his hands in hers, tracing over the marks and scars on his palms.

"I've seen these hands do so many great things, performed many operations that were deemed impossible, saved countless lives, and even wielded a sword at one point to help save a digital world. No matter what people name you as, a murderer, a monster or any of those horrible names, these hands I see here, these aren't of a murderer or a monster, these are the hands of a healer, the hands of man who just wants to show the world… That he can be more than what they think he is."

Tomoe smiled at him.

"He's a wonderful man, he's brilliant, and won't turn his back on his patients… I just wish that others could see what I and the team see in you."

Erhuard was momentarily speechless. He was touched, she really cared about him that much? She's so kind… "Thank you…" He said after a moment squeezing her hands gently. "You're so kind to me Tomoe...You always have been… it means a lot.."

"I just… try to see the good in all things, when you first came here I just saw you more than just a prisoner, I just saw you as a doctor, never forget what I told you, you aren't regarded as an outsider here, you're one of us."

She doesn't consider me a monster...She never did.. Erhuard thought as he gazed into her eyes. He always had appreciated how kind she had been to him when he arrived at the hospital. "That means the world..."

And...She's really beautiful...Wait...What am I thinking?

... I'm thinking for myself… "Dr. Tachiban-...Tomoe… You're a very kind… and beautiful person..."

Tomoe was surprised at the last thing he had just spoken and even felt some heat coming to her cheeks.

"Thank you Dr. Muller…"

He… He thinks that of me too…?

He nodded going quite. Ugh that sounded creepy...Stupid!

Tomoe glanced to the side for a second before looking at him in the eyes again, giving his hands a gentle squeeze.

"Never lose faith in yourself… I always believed in you, I just hope you can do the same for yourself."

Tomoe gently let go of his hands before standing up.

"I better go, you probably have work to do."

Erhuard stood up quickly. "Just one moment please… May I ask you something?"

"Sure, anything."

He took a deep breath, he couldn't remember the last time he asked a woman this...

"Would you… like to get coffee sometime?"

Tomoe smiled.

"I'd love to… Saturday, after both our shifts are over?"

He nodded a smile on his face. "Sounds perfect… and thank you again Tomoe.." He said feeling better about the situation...About himself.

"You're welcome… Erhuard…"

He blushed a little hearing Tomoe call him by his first name instead of doctor. Tomoe gave him one last look before heading out, an excited look on her face.

He really is amazing.