At a local clinic just outside of downtown Mushiyori City, Shuichi walked through the halls of doctor offices and examination rooms along with his mother and an assistant nurse. The area might as well be a spaceship considering how freshly waxed and clean the vinyl flooring was highlighted by the warm-toned, pastel colored walls emphasized by LED lighting. Framed posters detailed Information on the how the eyes work, what happens to a woman when she's either pregnant or going through menstruation, the digestive system, the skeletal and muscular system, what the brain is like in it's depressive state, the different stages of infancy and childhood, and what to do in an emergency mingled with abstract artwork to serve as medical wallpaper so to speak.

Mother and son were escorted into an examination room after going through the basics. Initial measurements concluded that Shuichi had grown a couple of centimeters taller, two kilograms heavier, a straightened spine that healed itself from all the swimming he's done, and was in the green in terms of body temperature, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and eye, ear, and throat functions. In other words, Shuichi was developing the way a teenager should.

The room was standard. The examination bed had a fresh, recently added bedsheet on it sitting in the corner with a medical gown hanging on the curtain frame waiting for its next user. On the opposite wall were more framed posters covering child development and puberty for boys and girls. That area was where the doctor will take his place as the desk came complete with a personal computer, a couple of medical journals and binders, and a standard desk chair. Shiori claimed the second seat next to a storage cabinet that contained basic medical equipment such as cotton swabs, gauze, tongue sticks, medical gloves, bottles of rubbing alcohol and iodine, and disinfectant wipes for both the surface and hands. Shuichi took advantage of the examination bed, lying down as if he was exhausted after removing his school-issued jacket. Shiori watched it all with motherly concern.

"Shuichi, what is it?"

Shuichi simply shook his head in silence, "Nothing, mother. I'm not a fan of the doctor."

"I know but it's for your own good. How about this? Afterwards, we can pick up a few things from the convenience store for us and your father. How about it?"

Shuichi mumbled, "Hmpf. Father…"

The doctor stepped in with Shuichi's chart clutched on a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other. After introducing himself and greeting both mother and son, it was time for the last of the physical checkup. The doctor was well into late middle age and was mostly an expert in pediatric care. Informed of Shuichi's extracurricular activities, the doctor checked his patient for conditions such as swimmer's ear and stiff joints. Shuichi was A-okay from all of it.

Positioned at the desk, the doctor conducted this appointment as if it was another day at the office, "Alright. What seems to be the problem?"

"My son told me about a bruise and a bite mark on his leg," Shiori said, "On his right leg to be specific."

That broke Shuichi's concentration, My right leg? How did you know? I never said it was my right leg, much less, my leg at all.

The doctor turned to Shuichi, "Is that true?"

"Well…" Shuichi uttered, "yes but the bruise isn't an issue. It went away after a day."

"A day? How bad was it?"

"It was quite noticeable, maybe…the size of an orange?"

"And you said it lasted a day?"

"Yes, sir."

"What about this bite mark your mother mentioned?"

"It popped up after the bruise disappeared."

"I see. Have you been exposed to anything poisonous recently? Such as poison ivy?"

"No. Everything was discovered during and after a recent swim meet."

"Are you allergic to water?"

"No. Of course not."

"Did you bump into anything?"

"No. I don't think so."

The doctor had some possible diagnosis in mind. A bruise that lasts a day? The appearance of bite marks after?

The doctor turned to Shiori, "Do you know of any skin conditions your son may have?"

"No," she said, "He dealt with dry skin when he was a baby but the doctor, then, said it was nothing serious."

"What about the bite mark? An animal encounter? Snake encounter possibly?"

"No. He has two aquariums at home but none of the fish are biting or have teeth. We haven't had any outdoor adventures since last spring. Perhaps the bite mark is a birthmark?"

"Why would you say that?"

Shiori went on to confess, "When Shuichi was in the NICU, we noticed his leg was bandaged and a bit bloody. Not much was thought of since. It was assumed to be an animal bite and after some testing, he was allowed to go home."

Blood? Shuichi contemplated, "I was bitten as a child?"

Shiori sat in embarrassed silence, "Oh, Shuichi… Yes. By what or how, no one knows. You made it out okay in the long run…so far."

The doctor has heard enough, "Okay. I'm going to have to ask you to step out with me for a moment while your son disrobes. I want to take a closer look at this bite mark."

The mark in question was located on Shuichi's inner right thigh just above the femoral artery. It wasn't painful but it was itchy at times. It also looked like a vampiric bite mark. If it was a simple snake bite, it would've disappeared by now and medical reports would've been made. For something that has lasted fifteen years is definitely interesting. There wasn't much the doctor could do except conduct a precautionary blood test to see if Shuichi had been infected from the inside and prescribe some anti-itch cream for any flare ups.

The ride home was silent and awkward. More revelations brought forth by Shiori only planted seeds of inquisition that can only be watered by Shuichi's parents…or parents in general. True to Shiori's word, a stop at a convenience store for a quick meal was made before arriving home. While some karaage and sushi sounds good, Shuichi couldn't bring himself to eat it so he made a beeline for his room and his phone for a three-way video call.

"So what's the verdict," Kuronue wondered.

"All systems green," Shuichi answered, "Sans the result of a blood test."

"A blood test," Kiyoni repeated, "What's the blood test for?"

"Remember the bite on my leg? The doctor wants to see if I've been infected."

"If you were infected, we wouldn't be talking, don't you think," Kuronue claimed.

"I thought the same thing but I was told that infections can happen sooner or later than anyone thinks. He's also curious as to why something as insignificant as a bite mark would last for fifteen years."

"I'm with him there," Kiyoni concurred, "What did your mom say?"

"She revealed the story of how my parents found me. I think I had to be taken to the NICU because of that bite."

"So you're born, you get bit, get dumped, and taken to the hospital and boom, you're adopted," Kuronue orated.

"That has got to be the most disrespectful, inconsiderate crap you have ever said," Kiyoni stated with a hand gliding down her face, "The man is still processing for creator's sake, dude."

"That's what it sounds like! Minamino, some back up please?"

Shuichi sat on his bed in silence as Kiyoni and Kuronue bicker. What if Kuronue was right? What if that's how Shuichi's family came to be? What does that say about his birth parents? Why would they leave him like that? One of the last things Shuichi thought about was what bit him and why.

"Yo," Kuronue beckoned, "Earth to Minamino. Hello?"

"Hm," Shuichi replied from a broken trance, "Oh, sorry. What were we talking about?"

"Your backstory?"

"I'm not too concerned about it. That's something I have to discuss with…my parents anyway."

"Yeah," Kiyoni agreed, "That's first and foremost. You have a lot of questions to be answered."

Shuichi smirked from that. Between him, Kiyoni, and Kuronue, the former two knew exactly the questions that needed answers.

"Well, as much as I'd like to stick around… " Kuronue yawned, "I have some studying to do. See ya."

"Later, Misaki," Kiyoni said with a peace sign.

"Later," Shuichi followed before ending one call.

"Are you going to be okay," Kiyoni surveyed, "What about the other stuff?"

That was a prompt for Shuichi to check out his aquariums. The angelfish looked especially shiny on this day.

"I don't know if I should bring that up just yet."

"But what if your parents…your birth parents…?"

"Are you saying my parents could be fish? Don't be ridiculous, Ikeda."

"Well unless you can come up with a better explanation behind your changes, my idea is likely. Maybe your parents would know. The parents you have now."

"I don't want to think about that part of me just yet. I just want answers about…me."

"I understand. I'm sorry, Minamino. For…"

"Thank you, Ikeda. I appreciate it. Sorry for worrying you."

"I'm not worried. Well…not like you think," Kiyoni adjusted the peachy-colored satin bonnet on her head in favor of an itchy spot, "Just… I'm worried but not worried. If that makes sense."

"Sure thing. I think I hear my father coming in. Talk later?"

"If you want to. I have nothing planned. Well, other than studying too."

"Thank you. Later."

Kiyoni ended the call with a wave and a smile, "Bye."

Shuichi sat alone in his room with only the sounds of his aquarium filters at work in the background. Now that his parents are home, he has to find out the big secret…and why was it kept from him for so long.

Dinnertime at the Minamino home and the silence was so thick, it could be cut with a knife. What should've been a normal, family moment, didn't exactly feel that way. Since dinner wasn't an issue, at least that problem was avoided. Didn't stop either parent from worrying about their son.

"Shuichi…" Shiori asked, "is everything alright?"

Shuichi sat in his seat completely ignoring everything around him by focusing his attention on a slice of sushi partially dipped in wasabi. He wasn't in the mood for small talk. He wanted to get right down to the chase.

"Hey," Kazuya called, "Is everything okay? You can talk to us if something's wrong. Is there something wrong?"

"Is there something the two of you would like to explain," Shuichi countered.

"Hm?"

"Shuichi, what's with the attitude," Shiori wondered.

"I'm sorry, mom. Dad. I overheard you talking about me yesterday," Shuichi admitted.

"Well, yes. We were concerned about what you told me."

"I'm not referring to that. When were you two going to tell me about my adoption? Am I really adopted?"

Shiori emotionally deflated while Kazuya gathered the courage to speak on the couple's behalf.

"So it's true," Shuichi concluded, "I'm really adopted. Why didn't I find out about this sooner?"

"Shuichi…" Kazuya explained, "we wanted to. Hell, I told your mother I wanted to do that a few years ago but–"

"But what? You're not giving me the answer I'm looking for."

"We didn't tell you because–"

"I didn't want to," Shiori confessed, "That's what it was. I didn't want to. When we brought you home from the hospital, I…no…I convinced myself that you were our son. No matter how our paths crossed, you were our son. For the last fifteen years, that's all you were to us."

Kazuya took it a step further, "Having a child to call our own was one of the first things we wanted to do after we got married. We wanted to have the perfect life. Stable careers, a sustainable home and way of life, and a child to call our own. Unfortunately, the powers that be couldn't give us the last part. We looked to adopt but there was so much red tape to go through, that it became…we wanted to give up at that point."

"But then, fate turned in our favor the night your father found you on the pier."

Shuichi never diverted his attention for a second as his parents told their story, "I was found on the pier?"

"Yes," Kazuya answered, "I was just about to start my shift for the day when I heard the sounds of a baby crying out by the water. You were completely naked, cold, shivering, and bleeding. I couldn't believe someone would just leave you like that. To this day, I still don't know who was the one responsible for doing that and why."

Shiori added, "Afterwards, you were brought to the hospital for treatment. Your father called me while you were in the NICU. As soon as you were checked out…we…brought you home. Doctors wanted us to wait for a couple of days for your birth parents to claim you but considering the condition you were in, neither of us thought that would happen. I mean, as a mother or as someone who has given birth, the last thing I would want to do is abandon my child unless there was absolutely no way I could raise it. And certainly not leave it behind the way you were found. We were going to bring you home come hell or high water. And that's all there was to it."

Shuichi felt shameful upon his parents' confession. Of course, he was upset that the secret is out but after listening to his parents come clean, said anger dissipated. Who would leave a baby in that state? Why? Whoever Shuichi's parents really are, they have some serious explaining to do should those paths ever cross.

"Shuichi…" Shiori assured, "we just want to let you know that we didn't keep this secret from you out of spite. We did so because–"

"Our ego for one," Kazuya stated.

"Yes…that but we did so because we believed you were our son from the first time we laid our eyes on you. We may not be related by blood but you are still our son. No matter what, you'll always be our son. Please understand our reasoning for keeping this from you."

Shuichi had no words to say. Instead, he ran his fingers through his hair, blew out his frustration, and excused himself from the table.

"Hey…" Kazuya called, "aren't you going to finish your food?"

"I'm no longer hungry," Shuichi replied in a disappointed tone, making his way to his room and staying there for the rest of the night.

Shiori buried her face in her hands out of embarrassment and shame, "I knew this would happen."

"Yeah…" Kazuya concurred, "but it was going to happen someday, Shiori. At least the truth is out there now."

"Yes but what if he doesn't trust us again? What if he doesn't trust us at all now?"

"Then that's something he'll have to face on his own. You said it yourself. We're his parents and as such, we have to make sure he follows the right path by setting an example. If that earns trust, so be it. He's going to need us anyway. Did you get the test results?"

"They'll be in in a couple of days. Then, we'll know for sure."

Kazuya sighed in contemplation, "Yeah…right."

Before Shuichi turned in for the night, he sent out a text to both Kiyoni and Kuronue, requesting their company. Since there's so much to go through, Shuichi finds it best to come clean about everything to his classmates. Fortunately, it's the weekend and it's going to be a nice one. A perfect time to get some fresh air while clearing the air.

So Shuichi is adopted. That's fine. Actually, because of that revelation, Shuichi can truly focus on the other problem. What exactly is he? Who are his parents? How in the world is it all connected? So many questions, so many answers to discover.