Chapter 53 - Acceptance Part 1

Kasunao made a point to visit each of the recently hospitalized PK Academy students.

The first one he visited was Makino Arisu.

The girl was about to leave the hospital, with both of her parents. She was crying, telling her parents that she didn't want to leave, not until she had a chance to visit Yumehara-senpai and see how the auburn-haired girl was doing.

Arisu's parents, however, were adamantly against such an idea. These delinquent third years must have exerted terrible influences on their precious daughter. Their darling daughter would never do something so dumb by herself. There was no telling what further consequences there would be. Would the temple file arson charges against their daughter? Would the parents of the other children accuse their darling daughter of leading them astray? In addition, the attending physician, Nuri-sensei, advised against such a visit, citing Yumehara's condition and hospital protocol. It simply was too distracting for the medical staff for a perfectly healthy individual to wander around the hospital.

The second person that Kasunao visited was Akechi Touma.

The poor blonde boy was kept in a pleasant mental fog by the multitude of opioid pain killers. He was in a body cast, to set the bones that had shattered. His esophagus was mutilated, which caused the bleeding into his stomach and out of his mouth. Luckily, most of his major blood vessels were undamaged and his heart was healthy. Intubated, he could not talk, nor did he have a desire to do so, being so drugged. Since his innards sustained a strange mauling, as if he had swallowed several nails and needles, the hospital put the boy on liquid nutrition drips until his digestive track healed enough to consume food.

The hospital was finally able to reach Akechi's mother. The blonde petite woman sat next to her boy in silent vigil, tears trailing down her cheek. She was polite to Kasunao, thinking that he was one of the priests employed by the hospital to provide the much-needed spiritual healing and comfort to the friends and family of the injured and ill. Once she realized that he was a priest from the Desire Temple, the location where Touma-kun was 'hanging out with friends and got hurt' she shrieked curses at him and demanded that he leave.

Much to Kasunao's chagrin, he checked on the gyaru girl next.

The overly developed young woman was found to be staring intently at her crystal ball. Somehow, the girl was able to make a frumpy hospital gown sexy. The top two buttons were left unbuttoned, the gown seemingly made of silk, clinging to her healthy tanned skin, accentuating her curves. Her bandaged legs were supple from underneath the old-woman flower-patterned gown. Her expression though was not her usual coy, confident smile. The girl was all grim and grimace.

She was partially reclined on the hospital bed, her legs bent at the knee, her back propped up by pillows. The girl's crystal ball was resting on the small divet that must've been her belly button. She narrowed her eyes at the crystal ball, looking frustrated.

"Aiura-san," Kasunao managed to say with a restrained politeness.

Aiura flicked an annoyed glance at Kasunao before going back to her crystal ball, muttering to herself.

Undeterred, since Kasunao has a strong sense of responsibility, asked, "Where are your parents?"

"They're getting food," responded Aiura distractedly.

At least that was good news. Both of her parents were there so Aiura had people to advocate for and care for her. Even more so, her parents felt at ease enough to leave their daughter alone while they search for sustenance.

The juxtaposition among Aiura, Makino, Akechi, and Toritsuka did disturb Kasunao a bit. While both parents for Aiura and Makino were present, Akechi only had his mother. Toritsuka had Kasunao, who was simply Toritsuka's guardian. Who knew where that Saiki kid went to.

Was society failing their young men? Was the expectation that men should be naturally independent, causing parents to withhold rightful protection and guidance to their male children?

Which reminded Kasunao that he still had to tell Toritsuka's father about the boy's most recent mischief. So far, Kasunao had avoided some of the Toritsuka's lesser exploits. Some of the complaints from the girls who came to the temple or Toritsuka's choice of literature were typical enough not to worry the young man's father. This one with the fire might make the newspapers. Toritsuka's father would probably like to be one of the first to know.

"Well, I'm glad that you're all right," said Kasunao to Aiura. "I'm sorry that you were hurt."

Aiura glanced at the old bald man. "Why? We're the morons who played with fire."

Kasunao took a slight step back. The girl's crass language caused a minor rise in Kasunao, having used to hearing more polite speech directed at him. However, the girl's message demonstrated unusual boldness and straightforwardness. It was refreshing.

"I'm sorry, Oji-san," said Aiura. She suddenly seemed contrite. "For burning down the absolution building. If Peni...I mean, Toritsuka-kun, hasn't apologized on our behalf, yet. We were being dumb. I'll work off the cost of the rebuilding with my part-time job."

Kasunao thought about that. Was this girl for real? "You can get 3 million yen?"

Aiura's eyes widened before she turned a little green. She curled up a little more. "No." She looked at her acrylic pink nails. "I guess I won't be going to the beauty bar for a while."

The girl was appropriately apologetic. Maybe Toritsuka did have a good eye for friends.

That overly developed chest on Aiura, though, still concerned Kasunao. He could clearly see a future where the temple could end up with a scandal between a monk and an unchaste woman.

Or maybe several monks and an unchaste woman.

Kasunao left as soon as a nurse came by to check on Aiura's dressings. There was no need for Kasunao to see a scantily clad woman, much less one who would shamelessly flaunt her assets.

The last person on Kasunao's list was Yumehara Chiyo.

The girl was in a separate wing of the hospital due to the extent of her injuries. Once she was stabilized in the initial burn unit, she was moved. Kasunao had to stop several hospital employees to inquire as to her location. Almost all had told him to buzz off, telling him that access to that wing of the hospital is strictly controlled. However, once Kasunao dropped the name "Suzuki Risa," every one came to attention immediately and were most helpful. One even walked him part of the way.

By the time that Kasunao found Yumehara, there were several important-looking medical professionals in full protective gear, scurrying around her. Yumehara and the medical professionals were in a climate-controlled room. As it was at least in part a teaching hospital, the hospital room wall that faced the hallway was made of glass.

Kasunao had to advert his eyes once his eyes landed on Yumehara.

As an aged man, Kasunao had seen quite a lot in his life. But he had never seen semi-quivering tissue, convulsing from the automatic function of breathing. The muscles were exposed as the doctors carefully picked and pull off the blackened skin like peeling off the outer layer of a dried onion. Hair burnt to cinders. Bones of the metatarsals, normally bathed in fresh blood, seemed out-of-place, being of white, held together by stiff tendon.

It was like watching a live skinning from one of those animal protection groups that secretly filmed the process of obtaining wild fur. Only in this case, it was a human girl.

The imagery was positively sickening.

Though, Kasunao's nausea was blissfully distracted by the coming of a constipated-looking pink-haired young man.

Dressed like he belong in a corner office, with a white collared shirt and black suit, Saiki had snuck in beside Kasunao. Impassive as always, he stared with an incurious expression as the physicians worked, as if he was watching paint dry.

Except those violet eyes were fierce as if they could bore holes into the sun.

"You're Saiki Kusuo, aren't you," asked Kasunao, eventually. He had seen Saiki enough times to recognize him.

"Guilty," confirmed Saiki. He stared at the doctor's work like he was an exam proctor, looking for any mistakes, cheating, or imperfection.

"I thought you had something to attend to," said Kasunao. "Suzuki-sensei said so."

"This is important," Saiki offered.

The pair fell into an uneasy silence.

"Where are your parents?" asked Ksauno eventually.

There was a minor twitch in the young man's facial muscles. "Busy."

The clipped responses annoyed Kasunao. However, he felt that it was his place to be patient and try again by changing the topic. "Is Yumehara-san your friend?"

Saiki nodded mutely, looking calmly at the newly exposed fresh tissues of a shoulder muscle and its associated tendons and nerves.

"You are not disturbed by what you see?" Kasunao asked.

"No," said Saiki, still staring steadily at the bloody blackness in the shape of a young woman. The linoleum floor surrounding the girl had become black with the flecks of burnt skin.

Oddly, Kasunao felt there was more that he should ask for. "Why is that?"

"I can't tell the difference."

What an odd remark. "Can't tell the difference between what?"

At that, Saiki did look away from Yumehara. He looked down to his feet, seemingly ashamed by something. "She doesn't look much different to me than before."

Kasunao made a face. What could this boy mean? "She suffered massive third and fourth-degree burns. She's going to be permanently crippled and disfigured."

At that statement, Saiki said another odd thing. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Kasunao fought the urge to scoff. "What can you do about it? Are you a doctor? A genius?"

The response was confident. "No. I'm something far more."