Ch 2:
What. The. Hell. Just. Happened?
Abe stared down the hall at Mihashi's retreating form thinking this had to be a joke. What was Shiga thinking? Was this mess of a kid seriously supposed to be his patient? He was just an intern after all. He hadn't even been doing this for a full year yet. How was he possibly supposed to-
"Abe-kun?" Dr. Shiga said snapping him out of his thoughts.
"You're joking right?" he exclaimed, voice starting to rise. "You can't be serious? That kid?" Abe pointed down the hall in the direction Mihashi had disappeared. "That kid is supposed to be my patient?!"
"I know what you must be thinking Abe-kun but please hear me out" Dr. Shiga reasoned. Crossing his arms Abe let out a frustrated huff. He nodded his head in compliance, it's not like he had a choice exactly. He had already promised to take on this new patient the other day when she called. It was only now starting to dawn on him that he probably should have got some background information first.
"First of all-" Dr. Shiga continued. "This is a case of the upmost confidence which means everything I share with you must strictly be kept between the two of us. Is that understood?" Abe once again nodded his head trying not to think too hard about what exactly he had just gotten himself into.
"As you can see Mihashi-kun is a bit of a special case. I can't exactly go into detail with you but I'll try to explain things as best I can. Mihashi-kun is currently recovering from multiple injuries and before you ask, no I cannot tell you how he got them."
"What?!" Abe threw his arms in there air, starting to lose what little self-control he had left. "If I don't know how he got his injuries then how am I supposed to-?"
"Abe-kun" Dr. Shiga interrupted, letting out a small sigh. "Please let me finish. The only other thing you need to know is that he is currently suffering from a severe case of PTSD so this isn't exactly going to be easy."
Abe's control was officially gone. What the hell was she thinking bringing him a patient like this? A patient who clearly needed to see a real doctor not an intern like him. As worked up as he was getting he couldn't hold his tongue back any longer.
"That's it?" he shouted. "That's all I need to know? That he has multiple "injuries" and a severe case of post-traumatic stress? You've got to be kidding me! How am I supposed to help someone with injuries I can't know anything about and who mentally isn't ready to be here. It looked like he was about to pass out from just meeting me. Are you sure that I'm the right person to be helping him? I mean I'm just an intern. Don't you think he needs to be supervised by someone with a bit more experience?" Dr. Shiga let out a long slow breath her gaze never leaving Abe's which gave him the feeling that he was about to get his ass handed to him. After about a minute of awkward waiting she spoke.
"Honestly Abe-kun I've asked myself that multiple times. But it's partially because you are in fact an intern that I picked you."
"What?" Abe interrupted, officially confused.
"Let me explain" Dr. Shiga continued. "Mihashi-kun doesn't need a physical therapist with multiple patients to worry about. He needs the one on one attention that only you can give him. But above all else what Mihashi-kun needs right now is someone he can trust and I'm hoping that person can be you Abe-kun."
"What? Why does it have to be me? I don't understand."
"I wouldn't be putting you in this position if I didn't trust you myself. I know this is frustrating, me giving you so little information to work with but I wouldn't have chosen you if I didn't think you could handle it.
All I really need you to do is assess his injuries to see how they are healing and to work with him so that they can continue to heal properly. Do you think you can manage that? And I want your honest answer. I can't be putting you in charge of Mihashi-kun if you're only going to back out a few weeks from now. I need someone who is going to be one hundred percent committed to this, to him. Nothing less will be tolerated. He deserves someone who is going to give him their all. So tell me Abe-kun, is that person going to be you?"
Abe was speechless. He had never seen Shiga this serious before. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't help but think how Shiga never really answer his question. Why did she pick him? Why did it have to be Abe?
Part of the reason that Abe had come to this University in the first place was because of their outstanding Physical Therapy program. Which meant that there was no short supply of therapists who could be working with Mihashi. So that once again left him with why him? Did it really matter though? Did it matter that Shiga had picked him over someone else.
On the one hand Abe was almost flattered on the other he was beyond overwhelmed. Clearly this kid was going to be a lot of work. A lot more work than Abe had bargained for. But that was his answer right there wasn't it. He had already promised Shiga the other day on the phone when she had called that he would do this. No, he hadn't know exactly what he had been getting himself into at the time but that didn't really matter did it. He had given his word. He couldn't back out now. Abe took a deep breathe composing himself and looked Shiga in the eye.
"I don't go back on my word" he said. "I told you before I would help so that's what I'll do." Shiga smiled like she had known this would be his answer all along.
"Then it's settled" she said. "You can start your physical therapy with him tomorrow. As for now I'll be showing him to his dorm. I hope you don't mind I heard that you were lacking a roommate so I took the liberty of assigning Mihashi-kun to your dorm. "
"You What?!" Abe shouted, about to protest.
"This way we can keep a better eye on his progress. It works out nicely don't you think?"
"Wait, I'm not-"
Dr. Shiga promptly cut him off.
"Thank you for your understanding Abe-kun. I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Oh and Abe-kun? Above everything that I have just told you, it is imperative that Mihashi-kun never learn that you are a catcher."
"Wait, what?!"
Abe could only stand stunned as Shiga disappeared down the hall. Thinking to himself once again…
What. The. Hell. Just. Happened?
The tour of the REC had been a blur. Shinooka was an endless pit of information that I couldn't even begin to try and absorb. The walk to the dorms with Dr. Shiga wasn't any different. It had been a long day and I wasn't sure how much more I could take in.
I shuffled my feet from building to building hoping at each one that this would be the one we were headed to. Finally after passing what seemed to be the hundredth building Dr. Shiga came to a stop. She pulled a card out of her bag and flashed it at a little square monitor that turned green. There was a short buzzing noise and the door in front of us swung open.
I followed her to another door that lead to a staircase. We climbed to the second floor and entered a long hallway. We walked all the way down the hall and then took a right bringing us to yet another hallway. Halfway down the hall Dr. Shiga stopped at a door on the left, room 226. Dr. Shiga held the card out to me that she had used to get into the building. I looked at the card a little surprised to see my own face staring back at me. My head snapped from the card to Dr. Shiga.
"Th-this is a p-picture of me. Wh-."
"That Mihashi-kun is your student ID" Dr. Shiga said tapping the card. "It also serves as your room key and your meal plan so make sure not to lose it."
I looked once again at the card in my hand wondering how I would keep track of something so small. That's when I noticed the name on the card. I read it out loud "Mihashi Ryuu-no-suke". Ryuunosuke not Ren? I didn't understand and then it dawned on me. I had already forgot that no one here knew my name, could know my name. I looked back to Dr. Shiga who gave me a small smile.
"Make sure to remember that name and get used to it so you respond back to it properly. Ok Ryuu-kun?" Dr. Shiga said with a wink. "Well then let's go inside shall we?"
My hand only shook a little bit as I slid the card through the keypad. Just like the door downstairs there was a flash of green and the door unlocked. I took a deep breath as I turned the handle pushing the door open into what would be my new home.
I walked into a spacious living area with a large couch, coffee table and TV. Behind that was a decent sized kitchen with an island counter where you could sit. I wasn't expecting there to be a kitchen. A little smile snuck up my face to think that I could cook here. Of all the changes that were happening lately it made me happy to think that cooking didn't have to be one of them. Cooking had always calmed me and it was comforting to know that I wouldn't have to give that up.
I looked over from the kitchen to see Dr. Shiga heading down a little hallway to the left that I hadn't noticed when I walked in.
"This way Mihashi-kun" she called after me. I hurried down the short hall following her through the door on the right.
"This is your room Mihashi-kun. As you can see all of your things have been brought here" she said gesturing to the boxes scattered about.
"Why don't we sit for a minute Mihashi-kun" she said gesturing to the two chairs in the room. Dr. Shiga sat in the wooden chair at the desk which left me with the overstuffed chair pushed into the corner of the room. I sat holding my hands in my lap trying to keep myself from fidgeting too much.
"There are just a few things I would like to go over with you before I take my leave. First off is your ID. Like I said before it functions not only as your room key but can also be used for your meal plan at any dining hall on campus. So make sure to keep it in a safe place." Dr. Shiga then pulled out a large yellow envelop from her bag and handed it to me.
"In this envelop contains a map of the school campus with other detailed maps of all the buildings and their emergency exits. I know it's a lot but I would like you to look those over and to memorize as much as you can. There is also a list of all the campus emergency numbers including my own and the detectives." I couldn't help but start to tremble at the thought of having to memorize emergency routes. It made me think of him and everything else I was trying hard to forget.
"I don't mean to worry you Mihashi-kun" Dr. Shiga said looking at my shaking form.
"I just want you to be as prepared as you can just in case."
"I-I understand" I said, squeezing my hands even tighter, clutching the envelope to my chest trying to stop the shaking.
Giving a nod Dr. Shiga started speaking again.
"The last thing you'll find in the envelope is the list of classes you're signed up for. And before you worry-" she said holding her hands up at my small protest.
"All of the classes are online. I figured we'd start assimilating you in slowly and at the end of this semester we can see where you are and whether you're up for taking a sit in class or not. Also on your desk you'll find a new laptop for your school work and a cell phone. I've already taken the liberty of programing in the numbers on the list."
"Now" Dr. Shiga said taking a deep breath. "With the cell phone comes some rules. You are not permitted to make any calls outside of campus which means local calls only. Do you understand?"
"What? My, m-my Parents?" I asked, concern spreading across my face.
"Don't worry Mihashi-kun" Dr. Shiga said reassuringly. "You are permitted to call them once a week but it will have to be from a special phone in my office. If you would like, you can call them tomorrow to let them know that you've gotten settled in." I gave a small smile and shook my head agreeing this would be fine.
"The third thing is about your medication. I've already collected your old medication so I would like you to start on your new medication tomorrow morning. I've had all of the prescriptions filled and put them in the top drawer of your bedside table." My gaze followed to where she pointed to a small little dresser sitting to the left of the bed.
"Now it's going to take some time getting used to, so you'll probably feel a bit sluggish for the next few days. If you happen to have any other concerning side effects please let me know right away." I once again shook my head making a mental note to watch out for any strange symptoms I might get.
"The last, but above all, most important thing I need to remind you of Mihashi-kun is that you are not permitted to go off campus for any reason. Do you understand? You must stay on campus at all times." Dr. Shiga gave me a look saying that in this situation a verbal response was required.
"Y-yes I understand" I said shaking my head. "Will not l-leave for any reason."
"I'm glad you understand" Dr. Shiga said abruptly rising from her chair.
"Well Mihashi-kun unless you have any questions about anything I won't take up any more of your time and will leave you to unpack." I shook my head no, not being able to think of anything at the moment. I stood following Dr. Shiga but paused in the doorway. Across the hall directly across from my room was another door I hadn't noticed when I originally came down the hall. The bathroom perhaps? I thought to myself. Slowly I opened the door and to my shock I opened the door not into a bathroom but another bedroom. But whose was it? I didn't understand. Dr. Shiga never mentioned this. I ran down the hall and caught Dr. Shiga just as she was about to leave.
Flustered I asked pointing down the hall "Bedroom. Not Mine. Whose?"
"Oh yes" Dr. Shiga said like it wasn't a big deal at all. "I thought it would be best if you weren't left completely alone so you'll be sharing the dorm with Abe-kun."
I froze.
"Is that all Mihashi-kun?" Dr. Shiga asked. I nodded my head slowly not trusting myself to speak.
"I'll see you tomorrow then" she said and was out the door.
I stood there in front of the door for what seemed like forever. I had to live with Abe. I couldn't believe it. After embarrassing myself in front of him this afternoon I was already dreading seeing him tomorrow for physical therapy, but to have to live with him too? I would die of embarrassment before the week was over.
I sighed shaking my head. I just wouldn't think about it. I just needed to distract myself. I would go to my room and unpack that was a good idea.
I headed back down the hall to my room and paused just a moment to long before walking through my door. Across from my room was Abe's where the door still stood wide open from when I opened it before. A pair of dark silver eyes flashed across my mind giving me a jolt. I gave out a little squeak falling into my room where I shut the door firmly behind me. Apparently distracting myself wasn't going to be as easy as it sounded.