Chapter 4: Regrouping
Eosinophil and Backwards Cap-kun walked back to the rest of the group.
"Eosinophil-chan, you were so cool!" said AE-3803.
"Th-thanks…" Eosinophil bashfully rubbed the back of her neck.
"Yes, the plans of fate have favored us today. In this constant battle between life and death, the hands of fortune have given us this victory so that we may continue for yet another day. But who knows when we all shall arrive at the doors of death, never to wake again? Vigilance, lest we fall into the eternal abyss."
The other cells stared at Basophil. "Uhhh…"
"He's saying that we won now, but have to be careful so we don't lose in the future."
"Ohhh…" said Red Blood Cell.
Eosinophil looked up at Basophil. She remembered back when she was just a little myelocyte, she looked up to him as a band cell to be her mentor. He would read difficult books with her, and he taught her to write down hard to understand phrases in the margins. With everything she read, it was easier to understand Basophil when he talked.
She appreciated Basophil for all his help. He gave her the courage to fight to the end. She remembered when he was still a band cell, he seemed so cool and mysterious. When she first saw him, she thought his serious expression and curly mop of hair were very handsome. She couldn't admit it to anyone, even 1146, but as a myelocyte she used to have a little crush on him, at least at first. As he continued to help her, though, she lost her crush. She certainly didn't think he was romantically interesting now. However, she continued to give him the admiration one might give to a cool older cousin, or an extremely helpful mentor. He was her hero.
Even though she had always written poems since meeting him for the first time, since finding out he was still alive, she wrote much more frequently. She also looked back at her poems before, and she could see how she had improved and how her feelings about various subjects changed.
"Nevertheless, our tangle with oblivion is concluded for now. I shall take my leave." Giving a small nod, he turned to depart.
"Wait! Basophil-sama!" Red Blood Cell shouted.
"Yes, Crimson One?"
Red Blood Cell looked confused, but she decided to press on anyway. "We're looking for Eosinophil's book, have you seen it? It's pink with red flowers!"
Eosinophil turned as red as one of the flowers on her book. Basophil-senpai CANNOT know about that!
Basophil looked pensive for a moment. "Yes, I have seen this flowered tome before, though alas, it was many moons ago. I have not seen it in recent times."
"Oh, okay! Please tell us if you see anything!" Red Blood Cell smiled sweetly at Basophil.
"Eosinophil, is this book the place where you give your musings a permanent residence?"
Eosinophil wished she could pour a granule on herself and melt away. She looked around, and saw-
She calmed down. She saw that her friends were still confused by Basophil's way of speaking.
"Yes, senpai."
"I see. Fortunately I have no pressing obligations. I shall join this search party and assist in locating your lost book."
"W-what?! Senpai, y-you don't have t-to-"
Eosinophil was cut off as Basophil placed his hand on her shoulder.
"The words we write are some of the most precious items we can own. If you require my assistance, I would be honored to be of service to my old kouhai."
"S-senpai…" Eosinophil was touched by Basophil's words. At once, she felt like she was a myelocyte all over again, and Basophil-senpai was helping her overcome yet another obstacle in her way. He may have been strange and aloof, but he always showed he cared, in his own way. Eosinophil felt awestruck that her mentor would be so helpful to someone as awkward as herself.
"T-thank you very much!" Eosinophil blurt out, bowing.
Basophil faced the others. "Where shall we go to commence the search?"
"Let's go back to the Heart," said White Blood Cell. "From there we can spread out across the body and cover more ground."
"A sound idea. Onward, to the Temple of Sensibility, from whence the lifeblood of this world flows."
Basophil indicated a direction with his umbrella and began walking in that direction, with Red Blood Cell following after him. White Blood Cell called out after them.
"Red Blood Cell-san! Basophil-senpai!"
The two stopped and turned to face White Blood Cell.
"The Heart is that way," he said, pointing in the opposite direction.