Accel-Aid World
Level 16: The Broken Eagle
We are Emu
We both charge towards the Bugster. The Bugster aims it's right claw arm at us then fires at us. We attempt to dodge only for the arm to swing to the side ramming into us. Christ! So much power! "So this is Gekitotsu Robots!" Brave exclaims looking to her shield. Really? What tipped you? "Yeah. So I don't think that tiny shield will save you much." I said getting to my feet. The rocket arm reattaches to the Bugster and we get back up, that's when a familiar face jumps in. The black rider jumps in and knocks the two of us away.
Ex-Aid: What the? You're!
Brave: Why are you doing this?
Without hesitation, he charges towards us then attacks. We attempt to fight back, but Black Ex-Aid is always a step ahead, quickly over powering us. Brave is knocked aside as he focuses on me. While I hold off Black Ex-Aid, Brave summons her blade and taps B 4 times. Yeah, I know where this is going. "You will tell me who you are!" She shouts, charging from behind and swings at Black Ex-Aid. The attack lands, and BEx-Aid makes some distance between the two of us. He reaches down to his Gashat holder, taking out a lime green Gashat. Showing us the Gashat, he activates the game. "Shakariki Sports! (Upbeat Rock Music)" The Dark Rider closes his driver up and inserts the Gashat. Here we go! I backed up and prepared myself for an Insta-Kill attack. "Gashat! Gachan! Level Up! Mighty Action~ X! A Gacha! Shakariki! Shakariki! Bad Bad! Shaka to Riki to Shakariki Sports! (Upbeat Rock Song and Drum Bang)" He takes off the right wheel of the bicycle and flings it at us. I duck down while Brave swings her blade at the wheel. The wheel flies around us smacking us. Ending with an explosion we are blasted back.
Ex-Aid:(gets up) Ow...Wait… Huh?(looks around) He's gone.
Nanami-san and I both close our drivers and take out our Gashats. Our armor fades off of us, I run over to the girl on the ground and pick her up. "Hey? Are you okay?" I ask. I check her ID. Washizuka Noriko, 16 year old student of Seibi Academy. "Why did he ally with the Bugster?" Nanami asks. Now she asks?
Emu:(looks to Nanami) Are you serious? We battled him when he saved Ananabura. You could have asked then. But you find now, to have a good time?!
Nanami: Th-The question evaded me.
Emu:(blank face) Sure~
Asuna:(Puffs cheeks) Mou! That's not important! We need to get her to the hospital now!
"Right!" I shout as I begin calling up a hospital for an ambulance to my location. She doesn't look good. "Now hold on with that idea for a moment." Kiriya said as he walked over. "Oh fuck not you." I mumble, turning to face Kiriya-san. What does this fucker want?
Kiriya: You won't find the other patient here. He's taken somewhere.
Emu:(sighs) Fuck off, we don't need you helping us right now.
Kiriya:(puts hands up) Whoa, better watch that mouth. And besides don't be so angry. I'm sorry for what I did, okay?(walks over) Here, let me tell you something good as an apology.
I look at him with a 'Really?' face. "I'm serious. I've got something you might want to know." Kiriya said, walking over to us. What? Kiriya has something to say, like what? I wonder. The Mysterious Rider? "I saw him. That mysterious Rider… And his true identity." What?! I was kidding earlier but holy! We are taken aback by this information. "Really?" Nanami-san asks "Who is it?" We ask.
Kiriya: Actually, you all just met him not long ago. It's your patience. The Gashat thief.
Emu: Ah…
Nanami:(crosses arms) I see…
Asuna:(nods) Oh, I see….
Emu and Asuna:(in synch) EEEEEHHHH~?!
Nanami:(confused) Is it really that surprising?
Later… CR room
Sitting in the CR meeting room, we wait for the return of Asuna-san. "Emu." Asuna-san said walking up the stairs, and close behind him is Tyler-san. "Mr. President!" I rushed over to meet the CEO of Gemnu corporation Kuroto Tyler. A creative director of multiple game titles that I fondly remember.
Tyler:(puts out hand) You must be Dr. Ijima Emu.
Emu:(shakes hand) It's an honor to meet you, Kuroto-san.
Tyler:(smiles) The pleasure is mine.(looks at Asuna) Poppy told me about your achievements.
Asuna:(Poppi mode) Poppy sure did!(reverts) Ah...Um, it's Asuna.
Tyler:(chuckles) Ah, my bad.(looks at Emu) But back on topic. Is it true? You found out who that Black Ex-Aid is?
Asuna: It's that Gashat thief, we're sure of it.
Emu:(turns to Poppy) I'm gonna say it out front. I still don't trust Kiriya-san. Considering he lied to me. I don't fully trust his word. It's possible he may just be lying for his own gain again.
Tyler:(nods) You may have a point there. We shouldn't rule out every possibility till we know for certain. But besides that. We must find him, and take those Gashats.
Emu: But...! But that man may still have the game disease… Even if he is a criminal he's still a life worth saving!
Nanami: He's a criminal. If this Criminal is infecting patients we need to end him.
I turn to Nanami-san. "But he also needs treatment!" I shout only for Nanami-san to slam her hands onto the table. Nanami-san stands up. "Again with this?" Nanami-san said, turning to face me. "You care way too much about saving all patients." Nanami-san walks over towards me and grabs my shirt and jacket.
Nanami: That's exactly the reason why you lost your Gashat to Hanaya Taiga! I'm sick of your Goddamn idealism! You're a dreamer acting like a doctor! So get with reality and enough of you're stupid idealism!
I clench my fist in anger. "It's not idealism, it's my JOB!" I shouted, raising my fist and punched her across the face, sending her back as Nanami-san fell back into her chair. Which surprises everyone. "I'm not just gonna give up on my patients! To me. That's what a real doctor is." I turn and leave down the stairs.
Hospital Roof
I ponder on Nanami-sans words as I look out over the city. "I'm sick of your Goddamn idealism! You're a dreamer acting like a doctor!" So what if I dream? If it helps people… Does it even matter? I can't help but feel so confused. "Wanting to save your patient… You're a doctor, it's only natural." I hear from behind. I turn to Tyler-san who walks over to my side.
Tyler: But I agree with Nanami-kun. He's a criminal, and while he needs treatment, we have to do what we must.
Emu:(looks out over the city) … To me, all patients are worth saving.(looks at Tyler) A life is a life, I don't care if he's a criminal! If there's a patient in front of me, I can't just… I can't just sit back and do nothing! Just like Washizuka-san down below.
Tyler:(chuckles) You're like a crystal, clear and pure. You reflect a patient's heart to your own. A crystal that shines a warm light… But that's also why I'm worried. Know that not all patients have good intentions. If a malicious patient took advantage of your kindness… Your crystal will shatter into pieces, no longer shining.
My monitor beeps as duty calls. "Even so… I know I'll regret it if I don't, so I will save him, Washizuka-san and any of my patients!" I head past him and towards the CR Bedroom.
CR Hospital Bedroom
I enter the room, Washizuka-san is up and staring at the ground in confusion, guilt, and loneliness. Nanami-san's words echo through my head looking at her. I take a deep breath and exhale. I can't let what Nanami-san said get to me. I'm saving people whoever they are. I walk over to Washizuka-san and lightly tap her on the shoulder. "Um… Excuse me Washizuka-san?" Washizuka-san jolts in her bed.
Washizuka:(Burning red) Ah-Ah Y-Yes?!
Emu:(sweatdrop) Sorry to surprise you. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Iijima Emu. I'm the doctor who found you. And I will also be the one looking over you.
Washizuka: Ah! Um...(bows) Th-Thank you for saving me!
Holy she's bowing like crazy. It's off setting what's up with her? "Please calm down. Uh." Aw man… What did they say about dealing with patients like this? I try to remember my training of how to deal with patients. "Remember trainne's, when dealing with patients who aren't calm in mind remember to calm them with positive and renforceive talk." I remember my instructor telling us. Right. Calm her. I place my hand on her head and begin to rub.
Emu:(smiles) No need to thank me. I'm doing my job and having fun while doing it. You're safe. You understand me right?
Washizuka:(nods) Y-Yes… thank you.
Emu:(nods) Perfect.
Asuna:(walks in) Ah. Emu, Washizuka-chan's friends and family have arrived.
"F-Friends?" Washizuka-san mutters. She places her hand on her forehead as she lies down. "Are you okay?" I ask. Washizuka-san turns annoyed. "I don't have friends." What? I look back at Washizuka-san in confusion… After a moment of thought I ready a response.
Emu:(turns to Asuna) Tell them I'll be with them in a bit.(turns to Washizuka) For now. Explain, please. I'm here to help you Washizuka-san.
Washizuka: Why should you care?
Emu:(looks at Washizuka) Because I'm worried. We can help you faster if you tell me what's wrong. I won't hurt you. I promise. You can trust me. This is a safe environment. So tell me… What happened?
Washizuka:(shuffles) I didn't treat my friends right, and when I needed them… They left me.
Emu:(chuckles)(whispers) Well then teenage problems… Okay.(out loud) It's okay to tell me. If you don't tell me what's wrong I can't help you as a doctor. But if you really don't want to tell me, I also understand.
Washizuka:(sits up) … I, I was a jerk to my friends. Someone I wanted to become my friend, I bullied her. I kept her away from others… I-I(tears up) I don't even know why I even… I did even such a thing...
Emu:(grabs seat) It looks to me that you want to apologize to this person.(sits next to Washizuka) Do you not feel confident in saying such apologies?
Washizuka:(turns to Emu) What does it matter to you!(looks down) You… All you need to do is just to fix me.
Emu:(sighs) Wrong.
"Eh?" Washizuka-san looks up at me. I cross my arms, as I think back to the day I was saved from death. "A doctor is meant to not only save, but also help their patients through a hard situation. Not just "Fix" them, it makes it sound like you make yourself out to be a tool." I said to Washizuka-san goes to respond but I put up my hand. "It's my duty to make sure that when you leave this hospital, you leave with a smile." I said with a warm smile. Washizuka-san looks up at me in surprise.
Emu:(smiles) I'm a doctor, yes. But my duty is to "help" people. Not "Fix." I don't want you to feel like you need to hide your feelings. I'm here to help. If you want me to help, I would like to know who this person is.
Washizuka:(looks at Emu) S-Sensei…
Emu: But. You need to be the one to express your apologies to. You shouldn't have to rely on others all the time to get you somewhere. It's only when the two sides are willing to apologize when things begin to change. I can help set up the talk. But everything else has to be done by you. Okay?
Washizuka:(looks down)...(deep breath) Okay.(looks up) Please help me Sensei.
Emu:(nods) Tell me what I can do.
See you next game?
