Recovery Girl- Origin: Part 2

(So, I'm uploading my next chapter. I hope you guys like it. I know these are short chapters, but think of Recovery Girl- Origin as a novella. I've found that shorter works typically have shorter chapters. But maybe that's just me. I mean, my chapters tend to lean on the shorter side anyway. In any case, I've got plenty of awesome content coming up, so please leave a favorite, review, and follow. I wouldn't want you to miss out on what's coming up next. Thank you again for your support, and I'll see you all next time).

The next morning, Chiyo awoke bright and early, well before the sun was up. It was pure habit at this point. She never slept in, even on her days off, like this one. Sometimes, she would go for a run, catch the sun as it rose. But not today.

She crept out of her bedroom and into the living room. She did her best to be quiet, but truth be told, she doubted she could wake Urusuke with a gong in his ear. That boy'd always managed to sleep through anything when they were in high school; if there was one thing she hadn't expected to change, it was that.

He'd still be out for another four hours, at least. Which was fine by Chiyo. Gave her some time to catch up on her reading. After six years of studying medical journals and textbooks, it felt nice to finally get caught up in a steamy romance novel or two.

Not that she got too distracted- she still had to keep sharp on her medical knowledge. But residents were only permitted to work 40 hours a week, so she had, of all things, time on her hands.

She glanced over at Urusuke's sleeping form. Sure enough, he was out cold. His face didn't look peaceful- peace was never a trait of his- but he did look content, which was all she could ask for. It was so incredible to know that the little turd she used to know in junior high and high school had finally become a real hero.

And he was a hero, no matter how he denied it. She knew the impact Master Goji had had on him. Heck, he'd had an impact on all their friends, but most of all Urusuke.

She settled into a chair near the balcony door and pulled open her reading app on her phone. Today would be a good day.

#

Like a broken, delayed, overly lazy clock, Urusuke finally ticked to life long after the sun rose. He slumped, rolled off the couch, and sprawled onto the floor.

"Do you… need help?" said Chiyo.

"Uggggghhhhh," he groaned.

Chiyo smiled to herself. Some things never changed.

"I've got some rice in the cooker and eggs in the fridge if you'd like."

He grunted in affirmation, and with a shaking head, Chiyo went about prepping their breakfast. She clacked the bowls of egg rice on the table with some soy sauce and chopsticks. "You can put the sauce on yourself. I've never liked it much."

Forcing himself up, Urusuke clutched the soy sauce and dumped a huge wallop of it into his bowl. "You're so bland," he said, "And can you get me a spoon. Chopsticks are a pain in the ass."

"Are you even Japanese?"

"Oh shush. Spoons are divine and we should use them more. Trying to pick up little grains of liquidy rice is torture in itself."

Chiyo snapped open a drawer and grabbed out a spoon. But as she did, she thought again about how easily they'd settled back into old dynamics. It was a good thing, she decided. He'd always said he'd be leaving as soon as they finished high school. But when he had, it had hurt.

Having him back felt wonderful.

Of course, that meant he would leave just as abruptly. Probably as soon as he finished this investigation.

That brought a crinkle of sadness, but she would just make the best of this. He was here now, so she would be with him now.

She placed the spoon down in front of him. "After you eat, hop in the shower. We're going shopping."

He was already two mouthfuls into his rice and couldn't speak. He shook his head no. She shook her head yes. That meant he was going to do what she said.

#

"How do you look?" called Chiyo through the curtain.

"I look like a prick in this suit," groaned Ururusuke.

"I promise the suit has nothing to do with that."

"Then why even bother with this?"

"Because it's possible to look like a prick without looking like a bum."

"Har, har," he said, pushing aside the curtain.

Damn, he looked good. They'd just grabbed the suit off the rack, but they'd lucked out. It formed around his shoulders nicely, tight around the chest, without looking like it was stretching.

"Turn around," said Chiyo forcefully.

"Alright, alright," said Urusuke, "Just don't look at my ass too long, okay."

Chiyo flashed crimson. How did he know?!

"Ahem, well, I'll have you know that as a medical professional-"

"Blah, blah, blah. Am I done yet?"

They'd gone to the local mall to look for clothes and other supplies for him. It was still morning, so not many people were there. And honestly, Chiyo was fine with that. That gave her plenty of space to drag Urusuke around.

"Hmph," said Chiyo, miffed, "I'll get you the suit, and some normal street clothes to work in. Do you have a travel bag to keep stuff in?"

He re-entered the changing area and closed the curtain behind him. "Nah. The last one I had caught on fire."

"Then I'll get you one of those too."

He came out wearing the same ratty clothes he'd shown up on her doorstep in. "Is all this really necessary?"

"I told you already. Not a bum."

He groaned but acquiesced, and she led him throughout the rest of the shopping center. She couldn't get him too many clothes, but she got him the suit, some semi-formal wear, and some casual wear. New shoes, new trousers, new underwear.

"When you fight villains, what do you wear?" she asked.

"You assume I fight villains."

"So help me, I will make you try on the skinniest damn pair of jeans in H&M if you don't give me a straight answer."

"You know the answer," Urusuke said, "I don't think about villains, or heroes, or what I'm wearing. I just see people doing bad stuff, and I stop them. It doesn't matter what I look like."

Chiyo sighed. "Are you going to ruin the clothes I'm buying for you?"

"Probably."

They sat down at a bench between stores. A small girl led her grandmother by the wrist toward the toy store. The little old lady struggled just to keep up with the tyke, bowed over and clutching her purse as she shuffled along.

Why was it that Chiyo felt so similar to an old grandma at that moment?

She sagged into the bench. "You're going to make me turn gray and old, you know that?"

"Hey, don't blame me if you turn into a hag."

Chiyo almost smacked him but decided to smile instead. "You know, I have missed you, Urusuke."

He didn't say anything. His face turned a bit red as he stared in the other direction. He seemed in that moment as impudent as ever, still the smug little asshole she'd known all her life. But like Master Goji, she'd come to see the diamond shining beneath all that rough.

"I know you'd never admit to missing me too, but you don't need to say it," she said, "And truth be told, I'll miss you when you leave again. And I'm okay with that. Just… just promise me that you'll come visit again. Preferably not after seven years."

He didn't respond.

"Urusuke?"

He shifted in his chair, legs spread wide, and rolled his head to look at her. "I can't promise I'll ever come back, Chiyo. You'd be best just forgetting about me."

Indignation blossomed from within Chiyo, bursting suddenly like water from a dam, except she hadn't even known the dam had been full. "Excuse me?! You just appear out of nowhere and expect me to forget about you? Excuse me?! Forget you, just so you can pop back into my life once every ten years to remind me that you exist? How about hell no?"

He got red with frustration, not embarrassment, "Yeah, well, maybe I just won't come back at all, okay?!"

"Don't say that!" Chiyo snapped, "Dammit, Urusuke. I want you to come back to me!"

"Well, I told you already that I can't promise that!" he said, "Every time I step out of your life, there's a good chance I'm not coming back, Chiyo, and it's not by choice. Every day presents a new danger, a new enemy trying to wear me down. I can't have you waiting around hoping I'll come back to you if I'm dead in a gutter somewhere."

Chiyo slapped him.

His face was unabashed, straight, and now tingling red from where she'd hit him. And to be honest, her own hand stung. But damn it, she was angry.

"There is so much wrong with everything you just said," Chiyo hissed, "I'm not waiting around, wasting my life for some delinquent to come sweep me off my feet. I am a doctor. I graduated from medical school at the top of my class. With or without you, I will make this world a better place.

"And so help me, Urusuke, if you die, I will kick your ass."

Urusuke touched his cheek and let out a breath. "You really are something, Chiyo."

"So I've been told," she said.

Then he chuckled. "Alright, alright," he said, "You win. I promise I'll come visit."

That was good, but not enough. "This friday," said Chiyo, "I'm taking you out for dinner."

"Chiyo," Urusuke said, face hardening, "I don't know if I'll be-"

"I don't think you understand," said Chiyo, "You are going to promise me, right here, right now, that we will go out for dinner this friday. I will not take no for an answer. You said you'll visit me again, and I refuse to wait another ten years for that."

"You realize you have, like, no bargaining power at all, right?"

"I said promise me."

Urusuke sighed. "Fine. I promise. Dinner, with you. This friday."

Chiyo nodded emphatically, considering the matter solved. "I'm glad you could finally see reason."

He rolled his eyes but chuckled a little. "You really haven't changed a bit."

"I could say the same to you."

He smiled for a moment, letting the air between them settle, before he stood. "I'm afraid I have to go, now," he said.

"What?" Chiyo yelped, "So soon?"

"Afraid so," he yawned, "I've got work to do if I'm going to make it for dinner on friday."

"Oh," said Chiyo, "I see."

"Eh, don't look so down. I promised to see you friday, remember?"

Chiyo swallowed but nodded. "Right," she said, "And don't you forget it."

"Never," he said. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then, straightening to full height, he said, "You know, you said you weren't just pining away for me, and I believe that. But are you sure you're happy as a doctor?"

Chiyo wasn't sure which took her aback more: his sudden departure, or this strange question. "Why, of course I'm happy as a doctor. I save people's lives."

"You say that," said Urusuke, "And I believe you. But really, I think you're not as happy as you could be. No, you haven't found your calling yet."

"And what would that be, oh wise sage?"

He shrugged. "Like I know. Perhaps we can talk about it over dinner. But for now, I gotta go."

He turned to walk away, and Chiyo felt a well of anxiety spring up in her. She stood and called out to him, "Please do come back. Please."

Urusuke waved at her without looking back, his shoulders broad and countenance straight. Yet, in his gait there seemed to be hesitation and regret, and as he disappeared into the mall, Chiyo felt the pangs of longing follow his every step.