The sound of distinct mumbling and distant echoing siren filled his mind. He sat in the white professional room tapping his notes impatiently with his pen while he listened to the person in front of him. Wearing his white robe with the same professional death eyes he had since his days back in high school. He let out an annoyed sigh as he tried to sort his thoughts.
There was no family history.
Only started a few weeks back.
And the current medication was not responding.
Ugh, being a doctor, a good one at that, had allowed him to foresee that this case was going to be a pain. Ones where the patient wouldn't tell the doctor the full story, or simply forgot, or worst of all, the one ones who thought they knew better than a doctor. Not that he was about to complain. He'd been given an opportunity to work here and took it without a second doubt, knowing an opportunity like this wouldn't come again.
Fuutarou Uesugi, a doctor at 24, working at Kyoto Hospital. Even to him that sounded unbelievable. However, the one who had put in a good word on him to this hospital assured him that he was qualified within his books, at least that's what Fuutarou got from their conversation.
It wasn't like he was an idiot; he was rather smart for his age. Consistent full marks on his grades ever since high school made every employer's eye turn to him with wishful thinking. Not that he could really care about that sort of thing, all he wanted was to live in peace and earn enough money with little interruption in his repeating days.
His appearance had pretty much stayed the same as his younger self. He was tall, slightly on the skinny side but still had some lean muscles. His blue hair was styled in the same bowl-cut as ever with slightly shorter hair and the two bangs he had sticking out were gone. The only real difference was the bags under his eyes that had become a regular with him.
After skimming through his notes one final time Fuutarou recommended some new medication. His patient didn't look assured that it would help, which might be because he talked too monotony. Still, the patient trusted the doctor as Fuutarou gave a paper with the prescription. The patient left the room and Fuutarou soon followed.
He checked the time and turned a page on his notes to the very back. Fuutarou crossed out another name and rubbed his eyes tiredly as he lacked much-needed sleep. He couldn't wait to go home to his apartment, yeah that reminded him, he's supposed to call Raiha and ask how her test went. She was in her final year of high school with exams piling up left and right. He briefly smiled when he remembered how Raiha reacted when he wanted to help. She pouted and said she wants this to be her own accomplishment. Then his features darkened when he remembered high school, interesting how one mistake could ruin it all.
"Heya! Uesugi!" One of his coworkers waved at him. "Finally decided on a break?"
"No, I just finished everything earlier than expected." Fuutarou looked back to double-check.
The co-worker gave a heartfelt laugh and patted his back, "As expected from the new top dog. What do you say we grab lunch after this?"
"I appreciate the offer but no thanks. I'll go ask if they have anything-"
"Aww, c'mon don't be a downer. Look it's just a bar, you don't even need to drink just grab water or something." He smiled at Fuutarou as if making a sales pitch.
Fuutarou gave it some thought and noticed out of the corner of his eye a file held by his co-worker. He seemed to notice his gaze at the file and smiled like a cougar ready to gobble up its prey. He held it out with both his hands and rotated it in front of his face. "If you come, I'll let you look through this, after all what more valuable than the top dog's opinion?"
Dammit, this had turned into a deal with devil situation, but Fuutarou couldn't deny that the deal looked enticing. The folder belonged to the diagnostics department of the hospital where cases normally unsolved by normal doctors were sent to. Cases that from the small glimpses he caught intrigued him immensely. Giving it a few seconds Fuutarou thought, screw it, one simple hang out wouldn't do much harm.
"Fine you win." Fuutarou announced in defeat.
"Ha! That's what I'm talking about." The co-worker pumped his fist, then his pager went off. "Well, works calling me. I'll text you the time and place!"
His co-worker ran off while waving at him. Seriously where did he get all that energy from, sure, he's likely more used to the setting since he's worked 3 years more than he has but still, it felt impossible. Fuutarou took his phone out of his white coat and set it to vibrate and put it down again.
His day continued from there when he took on more appointments instead of others who were occupied, to save the workforce. Most patients had a problem with an easy solution and others had more complex situations that would require time, something he didn't mind as the more complex situations interested him far more. It was like finding 'X in math. Use formula correctly and you'll find it, if not then either the calculations were wrong, or the formula was wrong.
Roughly 5 hours later Fuutarou unlocked his apartment door and stepped in, closing his umbrella as it had rained on his way home. With a quick change of clothes, he went to the kitchen, which was also a part of the living room, and took out some 5-minute noodles as he didn't feel that hungry nor had the energy to search up some recipe with what he had in his fridge, which was things he could eat by themselves anyway.
His apartment wasn't the biggest one he could afford, speaking money wise it would be a waste to spend money on something too big for him, so he settled for a one-room, one bathroom, and a kitchen-livingroom fusion. It was modern and clean since he didn't spend much time doing anything there.
Fuutarou sat down on his couch with the bowl at hand and turned on the tv. While from a perspective it looked like Fuutarou was watching it, Fuutarou really used it as side noise to help him think.
"I've put in a good word on my behalf. I have faith that you'll not falter their trust with me Uesugi." Maruo said.
Why did he do it? His experience with that man wasn't all too good to behind it and it certainly wasn't any better after high school, at least that's what he expected. Maybe he did it to get rid of him, or maybe so he could finally bring home some worthwhile income to his family or whatever else Fuutarou could come up with.
Moving was likely the hardest thing he'd ever done. It was like a test of courage if you're ready for reality. Raiha was sad to hear that he was moving but he assured her that he'd visit as much as he could. His dad was proud and hugged him with emotion stating how proud he was of him, it felt warm. They assumed that he felt the same way about not wanting to leave, but the thought of leaving felt like fresh air to his face. Since it would be one step further from them, the five unchosen.
By the time he finished his noodles his phone shimmed in showing a notification from his co-worker.
[Heya! Here's the place, see you in 20 minutes, don't forget to wear normal clothes ;D]
Oh yeah, he'd actually forgotten about that.
[Attached file]
Fuutarou clicked the file which was a simple image of some mapping software marking how to get there from his apartment. 'Can't use the excuse that I don't know where to go.' Fuutarou frowned as his co-worker had outsmarted him. 'Looks like I have to go no matter what.'
After typing together a message he stood up and put the bowl in his sink leaving it for later. He switched clothes to something more casual and looked out the window at the lowering sun that was falling under the horizon. The rain had stopped but there were still puddles. In the end, he wore a gray t-shirt, purple jeans, a blue hoodie, and a black jacket. Not really caring if it matched the norm these days Fuutarou set off.
Likely knowingly to his co-worker Fuutarou wasn't planning on getting drunk or anything like that even though tomorrow was an off day. He'd tasted alcohol prior of course but didn't find any enjoyment out of it as it compromised his rational thinking, he never wanted to make an irrational mistake again.
Approaching the place Fuutarou noted how he'd seen it before on his way to the buss. It was your average run-of-the-mill bar with classy tones to it from what he saw. He looked through the window and saw his co-worker chatting up the bartender as the social person he was. Fuutarou steeled himself and entered the bar.
He took off his jacket and draped it around the chair as his co-worker caught sight of him.
"You actually showed up!" He said in fake surprise. "That in of itself is worth a toast!" He raised an imaginary glass.
"I said I would come, didn't I?" Fuutarou said, ignoring the thought that he was planning on wiggling his way out of this before.
"Yeah, but I thought you'd be one of those people to say something and not go through with it." He laughed and called the bartender over.
"What's that supposed to mean." Fuutarou frowned prompting him to laugh more at his serious demeanor.
"Oh, come on Uesugi. I'm one of the few you actually let talk to you without going out of your way to avoid. Heck, you prolly talk the least to your patients out of everyone." The bartender took out two glasses and put them down, pouring them both up.
"First of all, I'm not avoiding anyone, I'm busy." Fuutarou picked up the glass closest to him and so did his co-worker. "Secondly, I'm expected to help patients, not be their friend. Once I have enough information for a diagnosis that's it, nothing more or less."
The job of a doctor was to find the problem and solve it, he did just that. Nobody could complain about it. He had long since moved on from needing interaction knowing where the paths could lead him. He'll help them and move on, just like how he should have done before.
"Geez, how are you supposed to get ladies with that attitude." The co-worker shook his head with an amused smile and drank some.
Fuutarou looked down at his glass, "Who says I should."
His co-worker let out a fake gasp. "Uesugi don't tell me you're actually g-"
"I'm not!" Fuutarou called out while blushing and begrudgingly drank some of his drink.
"Chill, I'm joking." He waved his hands and smiled. "Wait! This is a perfect opportunity!"
"Huh?" Fuutarou narrowed his eyes. "What are you planning?"
"I'm planning on teaching you how to pick up girls my style, Uesugi." His co-worker pointed and smiled at him as if having waited for this day his entire life.
"No a chance in hell." Fuutarou replied harshly yet calmly and down another portion of his drink.
"Ha?! Why not!?" His co-worker looked flabbergasted. "Who knows you might even cheer up… wait do you already have someone!"
Fuutarou winched at that and paused. A memory played in the back of his head.
'Uesugi, when everything for today is over, each one of us will be in our respective rooms, waiting for you.'
They had waited and waited patiently, which made his own choice sting all that more. To this day forward he couldn't grasp if it was the right choice, just that it was the choice that seemed most rational back then. He blinked and for a split second found himself back on that bench outside of school, however that didn't last long.
His co-worker noticed the change in his demeanor, even if it was hard to spot, and realized he had hit a bad string. With a sigh, he gulped down his entire drink and said, "Well we didn't come here to talk girls, did we? So, what's new in the exciting life of Uesugi?"
Fuutarou snapped out and looked grateful at him before leaning back on his chair with a drink at hand. They talked mundane life stuff and medical things which from an outside perspective certainly sounded like babble. His co-worker drank more than him which Fuutarou had expected.
Time passed and the sun was completely down. Fuutarou checked the time to see if Raiha had gone to sleep yet, no, there was still about an hour left. Deciding to end his time here Fuutarou stood up for the first time in a while and stretched, cracking a few joints.
"Aw, leaving already?" His co-worker said drunkenly.
"You should to, I'm afraid what might happen if you leave any more drunk." Fuutarou put his jacket back on.
"Oh, what's that, are you worried about me?" He said cheekily.
"No, I'm worried about the bystanders you'd encounter." Fuutarou said blankly who despite the drinks remained sober.
"Mah! So rude!" he complained but to started to put on his jacket.
Since their path was the same for the first 5 minutes Fuutarou decided to walk him home and lend him an arm, seriously he only had two more drinks than him and was like these, geez talk about tolerance. They held some small chatter about work, and he told Uesugi that they can look at the file tomorrow if he wants, but Uesugi had his mind somewhere entirely else.
Fuutarou felt guilty. But it's not like he could change that feeling now, he could only endure it.
Eventually, the small chatter stopped when his co-worker asked a question.
"Hey Uesugi? Why did you become a doctor?" The co-worker asked out of the blue.
Fuutarou slowed down in his walking but kept up a good pace. He thought about giving him the same cookie-cutter answer he'd given Raiha and dad, but the alcohol put the truth out.
"Because I thought that if I study hard enough, I'd forget some things." Fuutarou stated with a sigh and looked up at the stars. "All because I made a choice that sent me tumbling down from mistake to mistake."
"That bad huh?" A small chuckle followed.
"Yeah…" Fuutarou nodded at nothing in particular.
Their walk continued silently until the co-worker noticed his house coming up. He unhooked himself and wobbly stood with and took out his keys. "It was nice chatting with you Uesugi." He unlocked his door and entered with a wave leaving Fuutarou left to walk home.
Fuutarou turned to his phone for the fastest route home, he really wanted to sleep the whole tomorrow off. The route was one that he wasn't all too familiar with but the need for sleep pushed him to walk it.
'This was more exhausting than I thought, seriously how do people do this all night?' Fuutarou wondered with a yawn.
The walk home was quiet, only the sound of trees rustling by the wind from the nearby park. He could see his apartment in the distance as it got closer and closer with each step, so he put away his phone, no longer in need of directions. As he walked by the road, cars passed him with blinding light. It was annoying, sure, but necessary for the safety of others.
As he continued to walk Fuutarou went deep into thought, 'This has probably been the most I've thought about them in a while.'
'Wonder what they are up to… wait stop… I should… I need to just let it go.' Fuutarou blinked indecisively and looked up again. 'So why can't I?'
As he continued to think a car drove by him with lights off. A few seconds pass of complete silence until…
CRASH!
An ugly sound of something being hit and of tires screeching to a halt came from behind Fuutarou who jumped at the sound but quickly turned around.
Behind him was a sight of horror. A car's right side was messed up beyond comprehension like something had tried to split it in half. A light pole that was heavily bent yet still blinked and next to it was a shadow of a figure laying on the ground in a pool of blood.
By instinct, Fuutarou shifted to his hospital persona and ran towards the crash with his phone at hand dialing the ambulance who he quickly gave the needed information but kept on call in case anything new appeared.
He first ran by the car and saw only the driver who had been smudged by the airbag. While his instincts told him to break open the window and search for any unseen damages his rationale argued and told him to go to the person the car had hit as that person likely is in a worse condition.
He ran to the person faster than ever before and got on his knees to look for where the blood was coming from.
From his examination, the person was thankfully breathing. Looking closer he found a wound on the back of the head that was tainted with dirt and whatnot. However, the scariest part was where most of the blood was coming from. The person's legs were bleeding the most as it became indistinguishable where the wound was.
His guess on what happened was that the car tried to turn away from hitting the light pole, but the wet ground made it turn sideways and it managed to hit someone along the way.
Quickly Fuutarou took off his jacket and ripped it into two, something that was impressive but now was not the right time. He tied the two-cloth piece around the respective legs to stop the bleeding. Fuutarou felt if any of the ribs had cracked as they would sometimes pierce the lungs in situations like these. He found the two lower bones were broken.
'What taking them so long?!' Fuutarou panicked.
The light from above them blinked a couple of times letting Fuutarou see the person in full view instead of having to rely on his phone screen as light. It was a girl about his age, though slightly shorter from the looks of it. Medium length hair that dropped to her chest and to top it all of it the was a reddish-orange.
Now, Fuutarou wasn't about to make the claim even though it was right in front of him. He stood frozen as he stared in disbelief while the sound of an ambulance came up from behind.
The last sign that his eyes weren't deceiving was when a star-shaped hairpin fell out as they carried her to the ambulance with him following right after picking it up.
It looks like Fuutarou's peaceful life will have to wait for now that Itsuki made a surprise apperance. Will, he even be able to talk to her? How will Fuutarou handle this situation and what will this bring in?