What is the future?

[ACMI: Childhood Days]

They met up with him in the hospital's waiting room.

Miyama was sitting on one of the benches, a plaster on his arm.

"Are you okay?" Uiharu asked first.

The young boy nodded "I'm fine. I just had an IV in my arm earlier."

"So something was wrong then." Shirai noted.

He looked to her "Yes, there was. But you've confirmed my ability for yourself, right?"

She pursed her lips before answering.

"Yes, we've seen it. but that doesn't excuse you hurting yourself."

"It's my pain weighed against the lives of others." He countered "I think if it's for that kind of a reason..."

"That's not-"

He interupted her though "Why are you in Judgement? Isn't it because you can use your power to help others even at risk to yourself?"

"You're too young."

"I can't be that much younger than you. Neither of us are adults."

Joule raised her hand "Can we slow down a bit. You're starting to raise your voice Shirai."

With a pause, she nodded and looked back at Miyama.

"How about this then?" She began to suggest "We'll keep doing this, you giving me disasters to stop but you'll stay in the hospital while we're doing this."

He shook his head "I can't. People will notice I'm missing."

"Then tell your researchers about this-"

"No." He was insistent.

Shirai shook her own head then "If you're not keeping yourself safe, then I can't agree to help."

"I'll use my power either way." Miyama noted "You wouldn't be reducing how much I use it."

"I could ask for you to get a stay in a hospital ward for Espers overusing their abilities." Shirai noted.

The two of them locked eyes and Joule and Uiharu glanced at each other too.

Then...

"How about this?" Konori walked over with a case in her hand. It had the hospital's symbol on it "He only uses the second stage in safe places. This hospital or the Judgement office. I've got this-" She held up the case "-so we can treat him if it gets too bad."

...Shirai hesitated for a few minutes then nodded, Miyama agreed to it too.

"Tomorrow then?" Miyama asked as they headed out and the looked up at the orange sky "It's late today."

Shirai nodded then paused "Ah, there was something I wanted to talk to you about your ability though. Something that Joule thought of during the rescue."

"Yes?" He looked between Shirai and Joule. Joule decided to ask it first.

"The tragedies... what about them makes them tragedies? Is it the person being put in a life threatening situation or is it them getting hurt."

He looked away as he thought about it before finally answering "I wasn't really sure there was a difference, I couldn't change anything about them."

Joule nodded but explained what had happened at the rescue and brought up the original point again.

"So, why can't someone else have thrown in life rings? Why couldn't you have?"

He considered the question "If I'd thrown them in, I wouldn't have been able to get her out of the water safely. I'm not a strong swimmer."

"But you could have told someone else, a normal person that was a strong swimmer. He wouldn't be a teleporter but he could have saved her too."

Miyama thought about it for a bit more time before giving his answer.

"Judging on past events, I think your suspicion may be right. Once someone's in a life threatening state, whatever it is that allows them to happen ends. If it's something faster than water though, the difference doesn't matter that much."

It did however mean that other people could help with the rescue too. Depending on the situation of course.

"Then, do we have a deal?" He asked, looking back at Shirai "I find tragedies, you stop them."

"We do." She nodded "As long as you stay safe too of course."

Joule sighed, glad that the problem was over.

Now then, hopefully the next days are easy enough. She was involved now and wanted to help too.

End of chapter.

Oh, a little short this time. Just needed to wrap up the end of the first day though.