Tomorrow came. He'd waited, laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling above him. The quiet chatters from outside the door were reassuring, but only at a certain degree. They grew stale rather quickly.

He wasn't expecting much when the woman said she'd come. Hope was something he'd given up on a long time ago. So he was pleasantly surprised to see her actually come.

He still gave her a curious look when she came in. She'd looked much better than when she left yesterday, but not nearly as good as the first time he saw her.

There was a ring under her eyes, something that she was pretty adamant in ignoring. Another thing to note was that she was wearing an odd looking outfit. It looked a bit like that of a soldier's uniforms but much more daintily. He'd seen it before, he was sure.

She actually stayed longer this time around, even bringing him some gifts in the form of a mint gum. He's never tried it before, but he thought it tasted pretty good. Aside from the fact that it was sweet, it was rather decent.

He liked her company, as odd as it was. He knew he couldn't have someone in his life, as fate had seemingly decided. Everybody he knew back then was already dead, some, he didn't know. His parents, who knows, he'd never met them. But at the very least, he liked the idea of having a friend.

She even sticks around for his lunch. The proportion had increased compared to yesterday, he noted. He ate more than he would have been comfortable with, but he ate it still.

For the remainder of the visit, he got to know her better. The woman had to leave eventually because he still had to take a rest, says a nurse, giving him a short wave before she left.

Night time was upon him. He yawned in exasperation, rubbing his eyes. He lay there for a few minutes before a dreamless slumber pulled him under.

Day three came. The same routine played out as yesterday. She came in a little early, not that it matters anyway. He's beginning to like the idea of having her around. Because having nothing to do but sit still had its way of driving him mad.

He watched as she sat on the chair beside his bed. Her hand clasped on the table, holding a mug. She's drinking something that she refers to as a black coffee. It's to give her strength for her work, she claims.

She also asked if he'd like to give it a try. He was a naturally curious boy. Having been isolated away from the freedom of the world for so long, he found nearly everything to be intriguing. Even the light switch intrigue him at some point.

His answer already clear, she hands him the mug. There was a smirk on her face, he noticed. He had a terrible suspicion and wondered if it's supposed to taste bad. But ended up drinking it anyway.

It was bitter, thick in flavour, and almost tasted like it was made out of charcoal. She might call it a medicine and he wouldn't be surprised. It tastes better than what he was expecting.

Its warmth was soothing, it was comforting. He supposed the novelty is already wearing off, but it's the only distraction from his monotonous, routine life.

He gave her the mug back, even had a little satisfied look on his face. She noticed and asked whether he liked it. He nods. It was perhaps the best drink he's ever tasted. If only water taste like that.

Tomorrow morning, she brought him a black can. On it was written a word in a bold font. Another coffee. He tried it, and his expression confirmed what he suspected. It was the same black coffee. Its cold, refreshing taste was so extraordinary that it's possible he's never had it before. He found that he was rather comforted by it.

It was the little things, he thought. Being around her, a genuinely caring individual. And learning more about her world. In spite of herself, her passionate and distinctive nature that wouldn't fit in a world that he'd hailed from, was often found to be the most enjoyable part of his days.

A week in, he was to be taken to a therapy, to get his muscles working again, so to speak. He was rather disappointed that he can't get out yet, but it's a start.

The moment he got off the bed, his legs seemed to crumble beneath him. He leaned on the nightstand and took a short breath, slowly steadying himself.

His muscles hadn't entirely woken up yet. Nearly 10 days with no physical activity? It was bound to catch up eventually. He had to be careful lest he wanted to fall flat on his face.

A wheelchair was procured. It seems even bigger than he was expecting, as though it can do all the walking he could ever hope to do. It was awkward to be pushed around, making him feel rather useless in it. He wished he could just use his ability, but there was supposed to be a law around the use of abilities in the city, that being no ESP outside of school or authorised perimeters. And hospitals just so happened to NOT be one of those two.

He huffed. They were so stringent around this damned city. But the cost of freedom? He'll live. Provided he was a free human being, not one bound by a rule that would control him. That's all he asks for.

They arrived at a room. There were plenty of people here, maybe 10. 6 of which were wearing the nurses uniform, while the other 4 were the same as his.

All of them were doing the same thing. Their whole body is littered with sweats, their hands clutching on a railing as they walk. They were all moving at the pace of a shuffling turtle. This was the therapy he'll be doing, said the doctor.

In all honesty, it looked more like a race than an exercise. How hard could it be?

Not even three minutes later, his legs were shaking to a point where he couldn't stand on them anymore. It feels like it's gonna snap in two. The others looked equally as spent. The only difference was that they're still trying.

His tiny hands could barely hold themselves up anymore, hell, they're beginning to burn. He could barely keep his eyes open, sweats kept beading down on them. It felt like his whole body was gonna burst into flames.

He fell face flat on the floor with a groan. Two nurses came to pick him up. It's a good start, they said. He'd done his best, they said.

As the nurse wheeled him out of the room, he noticed something peculiar.

Yomikawa wasn't around.

He hummed absently. But it's probably good to take a break, it's not like she'll always be free, the boy thought.

He'd spent the majority of his day in that place. Everyday, his teeth would grit and sweat would pour down his face. His muscles would begin to tremble with fatigue, as he struggled to draw a breath.

From morning till noon. He'd even eat his lunch in that place. His doctor had suggested that this may help his appetite, which in turn helped him regain some lost weight and strength.

By day 20, his body has gotten meatier, healthier. He was on his way to full recovery, it seemed. He still had trouble standing for too long, but he was getting the hang of it.

Usually, every corner of his body would be sore as hell by the end of the day. He'd be unable to move without shooting pain in every joint. But he got used to it after a while. This, combined with the fact that they're feeding him painkillers and hormone therapy. Just another nasty addition to his condition.

While he was certainly much bigger than he was compared to how he was when he was first brought in, he is still comparatively small for someone of his age. Lack of nourishment and movements really took its toll.

It was day 27 that he was assaulted by the sudden idea that he'd be leaving this place soon enough when his legs no longer trembled. So he decides to push himself a little further that same day.

Tension came over him and he held the railing for dear life. As his feets walked, his damp hands slid away. He lost balance, fear gripped him. His eyes closed, ready to take in the pain.

It didn't come.

Had he knocked himself out, he thought. Curious, he briefly opened his eyes. A feeling of joy lingered in his heart.

He's standing.

He's actually fucking standing. If that isn't cause to cheer, then he doesn't know what is.

It was a glorious day. For the first time in nearly a month, a semblance of normality, where something other than a jolt of pain and exhaustion, made his body tingle with delight.

He smiled, the nurses pointed out. Which looked more like a smirk but still, it was a smile nonetheless. He wondered how Yomikawa would react to it. But that was far from his concern.

Much to his disappointment however, he still had to undergo some more tests before he could walk on his own.

But in three days time, the boy was finally free. With the supervision of just a single nurse, he was allowed to go outside.

As the doors of his hospital room opened, he stood up. He could feel the warm morning light on his skin. He raised his arms up high into the air. And was grateful that he could actually feel the sunshine.

Freedom.

Yomikawa slammed her hand on the table, a look of anger spread over her features. Her hand clenched. Her lower lip jutted out.

Half the station is out. The rest are eyeing a detailed map, showcasing the entirety of District 10. Over 20 spots were marked red, covering most of the western and eastern part of the district.

For an entire month, they had been working long and hard on this operation. The only progress they've made was that they had saved a kid's life. That was over a month ago. And It's starting to take its toll on her subordinates. But this thing was too important for them to drop.

Other than that, progress was at the pace of a snail. Perhaps slower. Hell, they might not even make any progress at all. This operation had been pushed back for a week already.

"Captain." A voice called out from behind her. "The results are in."

Yomikawa didn't turn around to face her, merely waiting for the inevitable. "There's no signs of activity in the northern parts."

Yomikawa groans, rubbing her temples. "How can you be sure?"

"We've had a satellite intelligence monitor of the area." Tsuzuri paused for a bit, taking her time to sit on the vacant chair right next to the captain. "The place is also constantly bustling with workers, day and night. No way for them to operate in a place like that."

They'd all come to the agreement that the place would have to operate on the surface, or at least a portion of it. The kid was a special case, so they had to put him underground to ensure the utmost security and avoid any forms of detection.

They've concluded that over 700 orphans from across the city were missing in the past 10 years. There's no way they'd have the money to create a large enough underground lab to facilitate all those childrens. Not unless they have a benefactor of some sort. Which is impossible to come by in a city mostly populated with teenagers.

Not unless they're the board directors, that is. And knowing some of them, it could be true.

Yomikawa sighed heavily. "Then redirect all the personnel towards the southern section." It was clear she had lost her patience. "That's the only spot we haven't checked yet. They have to be there."

The woman didn't respond, merely looking at her. A hint of indecisiveness flitted through her features. "Captain," Her voice was steely. "I believe I'm speaking on everyone's behalf in this matter. I'm sorry to have to say this, but we can't keep doing this cat and mouse game."

She eyed her, eyes narrowed. Her voice lowered to a strained whisper. "What do you mean?"

Tsuzuri took a breath, trying to make the captain see reason. "We can't keep chasing something that has proven to be too elusive."

She felt the pressure within her vessels. "Just what are you saying, cadet?"

"All we're doing is wasting resources and getting nowhere. Half the time, we're just watching and waiting for nothing. It's not worth it."

Yomikawa was floored. She'd never before spoken against her orders. She was one of her most consistent subordinates. She worked hard under her and she trusted her.

Her voice was sharp, clearly annoyed. "We're not stopping until we catch every single one of those imbeciles."

The woman didn't seem offended at all by her attitude. She let out a quiet sigh, leaning back into the chair. "I don't mean to be a downer, Captain, but I think it's for the best. We can't continue like this. The situation is deteriorating our morale."

She felt like the cadet was giving up on her, giving up on them. The operation was doomed and she knew it. A downcast expression crossed her face. "You're under a lot of pressure, I'm sorry." Tsuzuri said, not really expecting a response.

Yomikawa just grunts, looking away. "Those kids would've resented us for this."

Tsuzuri sighed, her shoulders sagging in resignation. "I know," she whispered, looking away, pausing for a second before a slight grin tugged on the corner of her lips. "I haven't talked to that boy yet, what with all these works and all. Introduce me to him, will you?"

Yomikawa furrowed her eyebrows. "What boy?" She thought she was joking for a second, but the longer she stared into her eyes, the clearer it became that she wasn't.

"Oi, don't tell me you forgot?" She said almost in disbelief, furrowing her brows as if she was indeed a complete moron. "When was the last time you met him again?"

Yomikawa felt a wave of discomfort sweep over her, more than what she already had. "Seriously, what are you talking about?" she repeated, a growing hint of annoyance evident in her voice.

Tsuzuri groans, scratching the tip of her nose. "I'm beginning to think that you haven't visited the boy at the hospital. You were working too hard."

She paused. "Oh," She swallowed hard. "Oh fuck." Feeling a blush creep up her face, she cursed under her breath.

The woman visibly paled. She took out her phone. "It was today, wasn't it?" she said shakily, feeling stupid for it. "He's to be discharged today?" She can only nod.

They paused for a minute, the sound of papers scattering around the floor. Yomikawa pulled her hair, shaking her head slowly in utter disbelief.

"What do we do?" Tsuzuri asked.

"I-I don't know."

Yomikawa threw her phone down. The cadet scratches her head. "Can't we just put him to a more trustworthy orphanage?" She suggests.

"And what, risk him being taken again?" Yomikawa shouts. "We're not taking any chances. We've got to keep a close eye on him. Especially if everything said on those reports were to be true."

Her head jerked up, she paled even more. "You're not sending him to HQ, are you?"

She shivered. "God no, I'm not that cruel to send a child of all people over there. And have you ever seen how skinny he is? He won't last an hour over there."

Tsuzuri let out a relieved sigh, pausing a second. "So where then?"

Yomikawa seemingly froze in place, gripping her hair in frustration. "I might have an idea." She was quiet for a minute, before looking at the cadet with a serious expression. "Call for my replacement."

She got up, putting on her jacket and grabbing her keys. "Where are you going?" She asked, surprised. Whatever it is she's doing, it's important enough for her to do, that she immediately abandons the very thing she had relentlessly defended not even 10 minutes ago.

"Keeping an eye on the boy until we figure out what to do and where to put him. " She bent down and wrote something on a piece of paper before putting it in her pockets. "A week should suffice." She added a bit later.

He knelt down, his head bent. The tree above shields him from sun rays. The road wasn't far up ahead. Cars zoomed by, barely stopping. People talking, rushing for their jobs and the bus. A little boy ran past him.

His eyes craned from the passersby towards the grass below. Ants scurried across his legs, the bite of dew on his bare feet. His eyes twitched as he frowned, brushing off the ants. He takes one last glance behind him. A nurse watched him with great interest.

The boy sighed, rubbing his sore feet. He moved back towards the tree bark and leaned on it, making sure that there were no insects waiting to take a bite out of his bare skin.

The sun glimmers through the leaves above, glistening. The leaves hover in the air like a blanket, silently swaying to the wind. The rustling it makes as the breeze blows through the tree is comforting, soothing for the ear.

He yawned. Sleepily he lids his eyes close, stretching his limbs. He wipes his tired eyes with his hand and contemplates whether to sleep again or just get up and get something to eat inside the hospital.

It wasn't even a choice. It was clear what he wanted. Taking deep breaths and listening, feeling relaxed as the scent of the tree fills his nostrils. The calming scent of nature. The sounds the insects make and the breeze. A soft buzz, a gentle noise.

A noise. He felt something looms on him, with dark shadows forming around it. He grits his teeth. A flash of a man in a white coat, faceless with malicious intent. His imagination is overwhelming. He opens an eye, letting his anger seeps into his glare.

It was a woman with a soft smile. Her name is just at the tip of his tongue. "Yomikawa." He called out, sounding rather confused.

"Yo." she nodded, the corners of her mouth tilted upwards. "Getting better I see." The woman knelt beside him, smiling. She folded her arms. "What's up?"

"I thought you died."

She paused before bursting into a lighthearted giggle. "Kiddo, either you thought too lowly of me, or that you just want me to. Which is it?" Her hand wanders over to his hair, ruffling it with a light touch.

He hummed. "I don't know." She looks slightly more skinny, he noted. "Where have you been?"

She let out a deep sigh. "Here and there. My line of work is quite busy these days." She exaggerated her tone, acting as if it was the most amusing thing ever.

"I see." Was all he could manage.

She kept quiet as well, just sitting there playing with the boy's hair. It feels strange, but at the same time nice for the two of them. Just her and the young boy.

This thought of hers was confirmed by the sudden yawn he let out. She snorts. "Oh my, are you tired already? Don't sleep just yet." She teased, patting his head.

"Quiet now, woman." The boy glowered at her. Yomikawa chuckled, looking down at the boy. He evens out his breath as his eyelids grew heavier by the second.

The hand retracted from his hair, straight onto his wrist. This couldn't get more annoying until she pulls him from his position, forcing him to stand up. The cheeky woman was definitely the very embodiment of a playful vixen, he thought angrily. This was amplified when she began laughing.

As if that's not enough, she began leading him away from his sanctuary. The heat from the sun was excruciating for his sensitive skin. "Damn you, Yomikawa!" he grumbled, feeling his hands curl into fists.

Yomikawa just laughed even harder, pulling him to move. "Come on, don't be like that."

The boy just continued to grumble at her, unable to feel nor understand how she could be so evil. He stood still while she dragged him around. He can do nothing about it aside from expressing his disapproval with a chain of groan and growls.

They soon reached a spot he's never been to before. It was not that he never went here, just that he wasn't allowed to. The parking lot. He wondered what she plans on doing, bringing him here and all.

They stopped near a vehicle. She opened the door and stepped aside. There was silence for a few seconds. "Are you gonna get in or what?" She scolds, shielding herself from the sunlight.

He blinks. "Where are we going?"

"We're going home."

"Home?" He repeats.

"Yep, you're living with me now."