"What is going on here?"

The facility was a mess. He had heard how the creatures who accompanied Kirin and Noir fought against literal monsters. At the time he had pitied the villagers who had to fight witch such scary things but he had realized the people weren't the ones to be pitied, in fact, it was the opposite. There were many people who could go into "Demon Mode" thing Yato could where they came from and many more with other weapons just as strong? It was the monster who had to fight with these menaces which deserved pity.

The Doctor had come to the training facility to check things out following a worker's complaint about the noise coming from there. When he read Kirin's new files, he thought the worker might be exaggerating, but upon seeing this mayhem, he realized it wasn't an overstatement.

Every target was completely destroyed, the walls and ceiling had been cut to shreds, and even the electricity had been cut off. These wreckages were becoming common occurrences, and if things kept going like this, Kal'tist was going to cut his pay.

Along with the training facility, the kitchen was also frequently blown up. While the kitchen incident had been resolved, the issues with this facility persisted.

After his investigations, he found out who had caused the kitchen explosion: Cutter. The operators who used the kitchen frequently had started a petition with the Doctor's support behind the scenes. A rule was set up as a result: Do not let Cutter in the kitchen under any circumstances. Seeing this constant mess caused by her, it wouldn't be wrong to say he was traumatized. Every time something bad happened in the kitchen, Cutter was the first thing that came to his mind. Deep inside, he wanted to personally tell her to "Never cook again," but he kept it to himself due to obvious reasons.

Unlike the kitchen, the training facility issue was more complicated. Training was precious to Operator Yato. While he wished she would stop after being asked multiple times, he couldn't ban her from training.

He had decided to find an open-air training ground for her, as suggested in the file by the worker.

For the moment, he assigned a mission to her with Noir Corne accompanying her, and he hoped for the best. Noir Corne was his go-to regarding any issue with Yato and was one of the operators he had a "brotherly" bond with, which made matters easier for him. Things like these were what made him love spending time with operators so much.

He didn't even want to imagine what kind of things he would have to deal with if people weren't willing to help him. He contacted the staff and addressed her concerns, assuring her that such incidents would not recur before returning to his office

Mostima, who had been behind him while events occured raised her thoughts, concerned. "Dokutah, is your everyday like this?"

"Not that much, but they happen often. Don't worry about it; things will fix themselves with time."

Mostima, who couldn't understand the situation, asked, "You tell me not to worry, but things look serious. I even considered stepping up if she went any further, you know. Why did you let her go at you anyway?"

She asked him, unsure of his reasons. How could a worker confront one of the bosses so openly Doctor was the one who handled things mostly, hiring operators and whatnot; surely he had the authority to fire them, right?

"This is the fourth time the poor woman has to clean that mess. I would be happy if I helped her blow off some steam. If I reprimanded her, saying she gets paid for this, the situation would only get worse." The doctor could guess where her worries came from; many people would have avoided the worker or told them off. He knew better than that. Such a destructive attitude would only make people mad. He had to make people ease up, not anger them.

Doctor had unplugged the device he put on charge as Mostima was sitting on the chair, lost in thought. She could see one of the reasons why so many people liked to spend time with the Doctor; his mindset was indeed constructive. She never heard Doctor complain or reprimand people unless something dangerous happened. Unlike Kal'tsit, he would also respond to many people's teases, including hers. It was quite wild when she thought about it.

He didn't give any harsh reactions and only pranked them back. The man who could fire them with a single word was getting teased by his contracted operators and going around listening to workers' complaints. What a nice employer to work under.

Being polite and holding oneself back was only expected if higher-ups or someone more powerful than them chewed them out, but that wasn't the case here. Nobody would have batted an eye if he told the worker in the facility off or ignored her. Sure, he warned people if things ever got serious, but even his warnings had some goodwill behind them. She could imagine what kind of treatment Kal'tsit would give them if things ever got to a point where she had to intervene instead of the Doctor. She had wondered how the Doctor did manage like the way he did till now; one had to have the patience of a saint with that way of living.

Doctor was glad the time he had spent reading books and meditating on his thoughts was paying off. Even if he learned those skills with another thing in mind, they still helped him carry through his daily life. He had opened his device and gone through the information sent to him one by one. The data was lacking one piece, however; he needed to get the medical department's report manually. He had left his office along with Mostima and locked the door.

He had expected to retrieve the reports swiftly and return to his work, but fate had other ideas

He could spot a Sarkaz who particularly loathed him. She wasn't one to let any opportunity slip by her to be annoying. His thoughts were proven to be correct as she approached the Doctor.

"Doctor, Doctor, good day," the Sarkaz chimed in with a malevolent smile. Her words were laced with a hint of mockery. "How is your amnesia doing? Can you remember anything at all?"

Mostima wasted no time as she immediately stepped between Doctor and the intrusive Sarkaz. She spoke with a commanding tone, making it abundantly clear that she meant business.

"Step back, Miss W. I can't guarantee your safety if you come any closer," Mostima warned, her voice carrying a hint of menace.

W, who could sense her intentions, complied, albeit with a mocking tone as she continued to taunt the duo.

"The fallen angel has fallen so low that she now stalks the Doctor, huh?" There was a brief pause before she added, "I guess the rumors were true."

Mostima had an inkling of what those rumors might be about, but she preferred not to dwell on them. As she was about to reply, the Doctor, who watched the scene unfold, interfered, got in front of Mostima, and looked straight at the Sarkaz.

"W, you're looking good today. Amiya was looking for you; she said she had something urgent to ask you. She is waiting in her office."

Mostima could only stare at his back, dumbfounded. What the heck was he doing approaching somebody who just threatened him?

W raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected response. She glanced at Doctor and then at Mostima, her sarcastic facade faltering for a moment. "Oh? Amiya, you say?" W mused, her tone now more contemplative than mocking.

"Well, I suppose I can't keep her waiting then." With a sly grin, she turned and strolled away, disappearing around a corner after turning a corner.

After W's steps became inaudible, the Doctor asked his protector, who had a tight grip on his shoulder.

"M-Mostima, what's wrong? Do you have something to say?"

"Nothing's wrong Doctor. Rather, I might ask the same question for you, aren't you acting a little too bold?"

"Come on, she didn't mean any harm, that's just her way of.. playing"

" It looked more like she was threatening you to me. I have to say I wasn't expecting you to slip a compliment there. Picking up dangerous Sarkaz girls now, are we?" it was the look she gave when she mentioned the homework incident. Dokutah recognized that look, he was in for a scolding if things kept going like that.

"To tell you the truth, I like their horns. They look pretty" Lying to her felt a bad taste in his mouth but he had no choice but to resort to it.

Her expression changed as her ominous aura softened albeit a little "Doctor, I might get jealous if you say it like that."

He continued on his steps to his destination as he got off the hook "You have horns too you know?"

She recalled him asking to touch her horns. She had never thought being fallen might come in handy one way or another. "Didn't you just say you like the Kazdels? Will the little old me be able to satisfy Dokutah's desire?"

"It doesn't matter the race they are attached to. Whoever owns them is more important. Not like having horns or not is important as long as you love the someone anyway."

She looked at him eyes browed, slight cheeriness replacing her scary aura "Wow, who knew everyone's gym bro had a romantic side hidden beneath that mask?"

"You're gonna make the gym bro cry with your little expectations of him. What you gonna do if Blaze-nee-chan sees you making my eyes bowl out?"

"What do you mean "if Blaze-nee-chan sees you", huh? You have some explaining to do. You got new buddies behind my back when poor old me was out for deliveries?"

"What about you? I heard about how you protected Bison at the Sauin festival."

"You jealous?"

"Hell yeah I am. I was at least, now that you're my bodyguard I will go flex my guardian angel at him."

The bantering duo had reached the medical department before they knew it.

Silence handed over the data needed. The Island network still wasn't sufficient, and some data wasn't available digitally. They had to be taken as papers

He had finished the work data and stopped by the restaurant. While saddened that Matterhorn wasn't there, his pessimistic emotions were quickly swept away as he remembered something. He had been quite busy these days, so he hadn't eaten any of Sideroca's food for a while. He had been skipping it for a while, but even so, she would cook something for him and Mostima, right? It would also be a good opportunity for Mostima to experience it. So he called, asking if they could come.

They met in Sideroca's room.

"No." Sideroca was looking at the duo, face stern.

"Why? Didn't you say you could make some?"

"I can make for her, but you, Doctor, I only agreed to make you food on the condition that you would train! Abide by the rules!"

"But the training room is under repair!" Doctor said dramatically

"Is that true?" she looked at Mostima for confirmation.

"Yes, it's true. I've seen it myself. It was a sight to behold," Mostima nodded her head, confirming.

"I see," Sideroca said putting her hand on her chin, thinking.

The Doctor, who saw the hope in the situation, asked her with vigor, "So you can make an exception today, right?"

"Stay here; I will come back in 10 minutes," Sideroca left the room as she ignored the Doctor's questions.

"Ahahaha. Doctor, you have been rejected so pitifully," Mostima gave a laugh as she looked at the Doctor.

"Ahh, give me a break."

"Now, now, she is right, though. You wouldn't want to lose your gains. I might let you indulge in some of mine if you do some sit-ups. How many do you think you can manage?"

"I should be able to do 50 at least."

It was her turn to put her hand under her chin. "Fifty, huh.." Fifty wasn't much, nevertheless, it wasn't low either. He must have been working on it for quite a while considering he could hardly climb up the stairs not long ago. "Okay, Doctor, lay down now."

She got to where his legs ended, checking out his body.

The Doctor took off his mask and helmet and then did as he was told. He put her hands behind his head and got into the proper sit-up position, beginning the exercise.

She had already seen his face many times while they were eating together; however, it still didn't stop the odd feeling that bugged her regardless of how many times she had seen it. She was looking forward to the day she would get used to it. Being reminded that she was one of the privileged ones to get to see Doctor's face brightened her mood.

Without a place to hold his legs still, his movements were awkward. He felt a weight on his lower body just when he was about to ask for assistance. He looked down to see the source, Mostima, who had taken off her staves, was sitting on his legs.

Recalling Mostima's teasings towards him he decided to get back at her a little.

"Man, my legs feel heavy. I can't push myself," he said with his head on the ground.

"Doctor, you're really testing my patience here," she told him with a smile, but the way she said it made it clear his comment wasn't appreciated. "By the way, Doctor, I think 50 is a bit low don't you think? How about we aim for 100 today?"

"M-Mostima. I-I have been struck with unimaginable stomach pain; even my organs are trying to tell me I can't do it," said the Doctor, looking as fine as ever.

"Now, Doctor, that won't do. I know you can do it." She exerted more weight on his legs, a sign she wanted him to start soon.

"NOOO," a scream came from Sideroca's room, only to fall on deaf ears.

He completed the exercise, performing two sets of 50 reps. Needless to say, he was out of breath, sweating everywhere when he was done. 100 was twice the amount he did normally, although Sideroca made him do a variety of exercises. He had been skipping workouts since he was busy; he needed it. Perhaps he could come here again

Not a minute later, Sideroca came to the room with dumbells and bar curls in her hand.

The Kazdel was surprised to see the Doctor in that state. "Oh, started already?" She realized what he had done, looking at his and Mostima's position. "How many did you do?"

"I did fifty," he instantly answered her, not leaving any room for Mostima to react. Mostima gave him a devilish look; the Doctor had a guess what she had in mind. He lifted his finger quickly, pretending to scratch his nose, then turned it into a shush. Thankfully, Mostima let him off the hook for now.

Sideroca let him off easy with the weights, seeing he was rusty. 3 sets of 10 reps with bar curls; shoulder bench presses and lateral raises were slightly less intense than his weight training. Although he was still weary from the sit-ups he had done, he found himself more motivated than ever with Mostima on his side and completed it without giving out. His hands, shoulders, and arms were numb, but it was only a necessary sacrifice to eat some food. Delicious food. Unlike the atrocities he had to consume every day.

ki

...

..

After the workout, they thanked Sideroca for the food, they went to the Doctor's office hor him to handle paperwork again.

"Doctor, thanks for the food; it was just good as you said"

"Of course, you would be amazed to know she started not long ago. She learned how to cook to convince me to work out."

"Whaat?" She could understand where the rumors came from. Sideroca wasn't one to be taken lightly. She had reached that level just recently when the Doctor had started working out? The Sankta had to step up her skills ASAP if she ever wanted to compete with girls on that level.

The device on her wrist rang, symbolizing her job was done. It was time for her to go. She bid farewell to the Doctor and went to her room. After a shower and putting on clothes as always, she went to her bed. The job didn't leave much time after the work was done, but she had breaks while in it. While she was concerned that anything could happen to him while she was gone, her worries were eased after being informed that Wei Yenwu's wife's former bodyguard took her place to protect the Doctor when she wasn't present. This answered many of her questions. Why did they allow a bodyguard to leave so carelessly? What did they need a bodyguard for if the said bodyguard was allowed to take leave? Who was watching over him at night? After all, something must have happened for Kal'tsit to have the Doctor appoint some protection for him. She knew sometimes the operators who were chosen as Doctor's assistants took on the role of a bodyguard, a job that was entirely different.

Another bodyguard answered all the questions, yeah.

She reflected on her day as she was staring at the door. The Doctor was full of surprises. She had been his bodyguard for only a few days, but she could see the chaos he dealt with. Who knows how many days like this have passed for him in his life after his return? There was a strange feeling she had after he got to his office to engross himself in his work, leaving all the hilarity he lived through during the day behind his back. Although he spent most of his day in his office, it seemed he made the most of it while he wasn't "working." A relieving thing to see.

There was the issue with W that needed to be addressed.

Wait

How the hell Doctor manage to change the subject anyway? Just as she was about to warn him they were talking about horns before she even knew it. It was too late so scold him for that now.

Somebody could roam around the base, going around threatening people, the Doctor no less, and get away with it? What the hell was Kal'tsit doing? She was planning to talk to W for a while anyway, although for slightly different reasons.

The workout in Sideroca's room was quite fun though the Doctor was brimming with satisfaction when he was done. While she said he had to do 100, she tried to stop him halfway through the second set. He looked genuinely tired. He had such a fragile body, but he still kept pushing through. While his reason for working out was probably just to eat some delicious food, a motive she respected as a fellow foodie, she knew he was pushing himself to the fullest. She herself had carried the Doctor to his room seeing he fell asleep in absurd places only to he had been working afterwards.

Why was he pushing himself to such an extent? Only doing a single part of his work, be it taking care of operators' need, managing the base, or going through documents were a job. But he did all of them at once? Perhaps his workload increased because Kal'tsit was gone even so, he also needed to lead operations.

Did he have anything on his mind he cannot tell or was it really just for Rhodes Island?

Kal'tsit loathing him wasn't a secret so why would he work so hard for somebody who hated him?

She wanted to promise him she would take him along with her adventures for a while. Making him forget about Rhodes Island even if for a moment, as if their only worry was to reach their

destination.

But she stopped herself from doing so. Such hopeful promise while he was busy dealing with all these responsibilities would be absurt to make. She wasn't the

one to act so childishly. The Doctor she knew was a strong one, if he wasn't content with the things he was surely capable of making changes. Who knows, maybe he was just taking his time or preparing to make said changes and perhaps those beautiful days were approaching them as she was on her bed, having these thoughts.

She hoped so from the bottom of her heart.

She closed her eyes with such thoughts on her mind.