Chapter 16: Tough Decision
The gloomy gray clouds that had blanketed the sky were now slowly parting, allowing the warm rays of the sun to peek through and illuminate the serene landscape. The stream that Aizawa-sensei had mentioned in the clue was actually a small, winding river, fed by the steady melting of the snow from the towering mountain peak in the distance. Though narrow, the river's water was crystal clear and pure, a testament to the untouched, natural beauty of this remote area. The grass beneath my feet was lush and moist, but not frozen.
A short distance away, my camping tent stood erected, a comforting refuge from the elements. And nearby, the crackling campfire that Kacchan had built by skillfully shattering one of the clue box provided a welcome source of warmth. Though I had initially protested his actions, but Kacchan, ever the maverick, simply disregarded my logical concerns and did what he felt was necessary in the moment. That's just the way he is - headstrong, unyielding, and utterly convinced of the rightness of his own actions.
Yet, I found myself strangely grateful for his single-minded determination, as the roaring fire he conjured from the splintered wood provided much-needed warmth to my bone deep cold body. Basking the warmth of the campfire, I allowed myself a moment of respite, munching on a granola bar as I waited for Kacchan's return from the woods. He is scouring the area for more Aravac leaves, Magrimulish flowers, Actortium roots and cotton balls - items that would be crucial for the procedure.
The pain, which had been unbearable when I first set out, was now thankfully more manageable, thanks to the Aravac leaves I had chewed. No longer did I feel the dizziness and nausea that had plagued me earlier - compared to how I felt when I started walking. It was truly an art of torture.
Even with the walking stick, each movement sent shockwaves of pain radiating through my body. With each step, the pain intensified, each wave crashing upon me like an unrelenting torrent. One moment, it would be so intense that I felt the urge to scream, then it would subside, only to return with a vengeance shortly after. Sweat dripped from my chin, and my throat grew parched. But Kacchan, unyielding as ever, continued to stride ahead of me, carrying both our bags - so drinking water was out of option. I could only manage a few steps before needing to pause and catch my breath, the distance between us growing with every agonizing stride.
Then, just as my vision began to blur from the strain, the faint sound of running water reached my ears, offering the tantalizing prospect of hydration. But as I frantically scanned the area, Kacchan had vanished from sight. Overcome with a mix of pain, loneliness, and helplessness, I rubbed my eyes to erase the tears that welled up. With great effort, I pushed onward, only to be met with a surge of relief when I caught a glimpse of movement - there, just a few steps down the hill, was Kacchan, calmly setting up our tent.
In that moment, I desperately wanted to rush to him, to embrace him tightly and thank him for listening to my silent pleas, to apologies for slowing him down. The tent he erected ensured that we'll be resting here for some time. I can't thank him enough for his patience and support. I know his priority was to complete the assignment and return home, yet here he was, waving at me. The pain had reached a breaking point, and I thought I might collapse, but seeing him there spurred me forward with new determination.
"Hey Nerd, over here." he said, waving both hands to catch my attention, unaware of the relief I felt. I nodded and continued in his direction. He met me halfway with a bottle and handed me some leaves. "Don't you dare die on me. You look like you're about to drop dead any moment. These are Aravac leaves for the pain. Chew them, drink the extract and spit out the leaves" he instructed, then turned away, running to the tent.
As I held the leaves in my mouth, an intense, pungent aroma suddenly invaded my nostrils. The unpleasant smell was so overpowering that I immediately longed to spit the leaves back out. However, despite the vile taste and odor, I forced myself to obey his instructions, grimacing as I made my way over to him. As I approached him, he was rummaging through my bag until he extracted the clue box we had found under the tree - our first clue.
"What are you doing?" I asked, plopping down near the tent and trying to find a comfortable position.
"..."
"Why do you want to see our first clue?" I asked again, frowning at him. In the end, I sprawled on the ground, unable to find a position with least pain.
"Why should I tell you dumbass?" he snapped, removing the scroll from the box and placing it in his own bag.
Suddenly, he raised the open box, brought it down forcefully against his knee and watched in satisfaction as it cracked in half.
"What was that for?" I asked, my eyes bulging in bewilderment.
"For our campfire, of course. We're freezing to death here." he replied with a shrug in his classic-nonchalant manner.
I tried to argue, "What? No, you can't use that box for the campfire. I know there aren't any dry branches left after the rain, but that doesn't mean you can use one of the clue boxes. Aizawa sensei might want to see all the boxes as proof."
But all he did was break the box into even smaller pieces. With a heavy sigh of resignation, I turned my attention to more pressing issues. Blood was seeping through the bandage from the gaping wound, and I knew I needed to redress it quickly before the blood loss became critical. As I unwrapped the soiled bandage, I caught sight of Kacchan approaching, the dim glow of the newly kindled fire casting flickering shadows across his hardened features.
I grimaced at the sight of the wound, the wound looked even worse than I had feared, the blood seeping through with each gentle swipe of the cloth. This required sutures, and fast, or I will be bleeding out by the day's end. I began mentally reviewing what I had that could be used for makeshift sutures.
"Tsk. We need more Magrimulish flowers" he said, the irritation clear in his gruff tone as he broke the tense silence. I shot him a pointed look, shaking my head firmly.
"No. I need stitches first. Only then will the Magrimulish flowers be of any help. Otherwise I'll just start bleeding again." I replied, my voice laced with urgency as I recalled the critical information I had read in our last clue.
Kacchan's brow furrowed as he eyed me skeptically. "And you have all the tools you need? What do you think you are? A fucking Doctor?" he scoffed.
"..." This time it was my turn to remain silent, my gaze dropping back down to the injury, knowing the alternative I was about to propose was far from safe. But desperate times calls for desperate measures.
"..What? I checked both the emergency kits and there was no suture thread or needle," he said, his frown deepening as he pulled the kits out to re-verify their contents.
I kept my eyes trained on the wound, raising them only briefly to gauge his reaction before quickly dropping them again. "I have a fishing hook and some plastic thread. I know its not the best option but it will have to do for now." I said quietly, bracing myself for the onslaught of his disapproval.
And sure enough, his eyes widened in alarm, and his voice rose with each word, until he was practically shouting. "Have you finally lost it? Do you even hear yourself? Do you even know the consequences of using that plastic thread? Do you know how dangerous that will be? Have you ever heard of the term 'infection'? Have you already forgotten all the emergency training we did?" He paused briefly, a look of sheer disbelief etched on his face. "And even if I go along with your fucking crazy idea, who's going to do it? Last time I checked, none of us is a medical professional. Did you even think that through? Huh?"
I can't remember when he got up, but suddenly he was towering over me, shouting at top of his lungs. Keeping my eyes closed, I couldn't help but wince as his words reverberated in my throbbing head, the headache intensifying with each word.
"Do you want me dead that badly?" I said, no - scratch that - I shouted, trying to match his volume. I don't know why I vocalized this thought. The words had spilled out unbidden, a desperate plea laced with a raw, gut-wrenching fear that I had tried so hard to bury. I was thinking about death when I lost all hope of rescue and my energy slipping away like sand. I was waiting for Kacchan to save me like a hero only to watch him abandon me to suffer. Does he hate me that much? When he found me, I thought I am safe now, that Kacchan will save me. No matter how much we fight, he will never leave me like that.
But he did. He left me there. Initially, I thought it must have been a horrific dream, my sick mind playing tricks on me. But the searing, relentless pain had shattered that illusion, forcing me to confront the devastating reality - Kacchan had left me to die. I was terrified and in agony - and this time, it was not because of the physical injuries. The pain of betrayal was much deeper.
Although, he did came back - whether out of pity or fear of failing the assignment, I don't know. My addled mind conjured the vision of massive white tiger sniffing my blood, circling menacingly and preparing to devour me as its next meal. In that moment, I found myself not reflecting on the events of my life, as some say happens when faced with death, but rather dwelling on all the things I would never get to say or do. I thought of the loved ones in my life - my mom, my mentor, my friends, my teachers - those who had been there for me in my darkest hours - and the countless times I had failed to properly express my gratitude to them.
I thought of my mom, whose unwavering support and endless sacrifices had been the bedrock upon which I built my dreams. I berated myself for not being a better son. I thought of All Might, the enigmatic and powerful hero who had taken me under his wing, imparting invaluable wisdom and pushing me to heights I had scarcely imagined. I thought of my friends and teacher in UA, those who had stood steadfastly by my side through triumph and tribulation, their encouragement and camaraderie having galvanized me time and again.
All the missed opportunities, the unsaid words of appreciation, the chances I had let slip by without fully cherishing them - they all came rushing back to me in that moment of crisis. I was overwhelmed by a profound regret, a deep sorrow that I had not done more, said more, been more present for the people who mattered most.
But even as those morbid considerations swirled in my mind, I never wanted to voice them in front of Kacchan. It was just my messed up mind hampering my words. Because ultimately he rescued me, he saved me just as I thought he would. Though knowing these facts doesn't matter as the damage is already done. I know I have to tread carefully. He seemed momentarily taken aback, like I caught him off-guard. I could see the emotions warring behind his intense gaze - the anger, the concern, the confusion all bubbling to the surface. "What do you mean by that?" he said, frowning.
Voicing such dark thoughts in front of him was a risk, but I sensed there was more to his reaction than mere indifference. "Okay, dying might be a far-fetched conclusion. But I will definitely lose consciousness due to blood loss at this rate." I can clearly see his anger tank filling again and it was filling up fast, the familiar fury threatening to consume him once more.
Mustering up my courage, I asked, "Are you concerned about me?" with a small grin.
The moment the words left my lips, I could feel the tension in the air shift, as if a switch had been flipped. His thunderous expression morphed into one of his iconic indifference, and he scoffed, "What makes you think I'd be concerned about you? Getting injured doesn't make you special. And we'd be having a completely different conversation if you weren't injured."
I sighed, relieved that he was no longer yelling. I recognized the subtle nuances in his demeanor, the way his eyes betrayed a flicker of worry, the tightness in his jaw that belied his outward nonchalance. This was Kacchan's way of conveying his concerns, a defense mechanism honed over years of pride and stubbornness. No matter how harsh his words, I could see the underlying care in his actions, the way he had tended to my wounds yesterday.
"I know the risks, but I don't have any other choice. We're stuck here, and we need to use whatever is available. Once I finish the sutures, I promise I'll start walking, and we'll complete this assignment before sunset. And it won't get infected - I have enough rubbing alcohol to disinfect. But Kacchan, I'll need your help. Could you please fetch more Aravac leaves and Magrimulish flowers for me?" my voice cracking slightly towards the end.
"Were you thinking of doing it without them? Stupid Nerd." he said, laced with his signature gruff demeanor, betrayed by a softer edge. "Of course, I'll bring everything but only after I eat something first. I am starving."
"Thanks, Kacchan" I said, dropping back to the ground and covering my eyes with my hand to hide the tears welling up, overwhelmed by the pain and sense of relief by Kacchan's reluctant cooperation. I heard the sound of rustling and grinding, imagining he was looking for cup noodles. Suddenly, something brushed my hand, and I sat up, alarmed. Kacchan was applying a paste of crushed pink flowers to some leaves, the pointed ends brushing my hand.
"I had some Magrimulish flowers with me. Use it for now till I fetch more." he said.
I nodded and stretched out my hand, but he just stared at me with a blank face instead of handing it over.
"I want to see you apply the paste properly on the exit wound." he said sarcastically. "I want to see your eyes on your back. Go on. Show me your flexibility quirk dumbass." he paused, then added "Lay on your side and let me do it properly."
I stared at him, wide eyed, wondering if he is truly the Kacchan I know or a villain impersonating him. Perhaps I do have a concussion and a major one at that. Did he say he will be redressing my wound? A moment ago he said my injury doesn't make me any special and now it does? Fetching some medicinal herbs is a different thing but playing nurse? The real him would never help a "weak, pathetic Deku" like me. These swirling thoughts were increasing my headache. I snapped back to reality and said "N..No. It's okay, Kacchan. You don't have to worry about it. I'll manage it mys..."
"JUST SHUT UP AND DO AS I SAY" he shouted and I winced. Okay. Now, I believe him. He is real. Sighing, I laid on the ground and let him do the work.
-x-x-
And here I am now, munching on the granola bar he forced me to eat while he had his cup noodles. We discussed the steps of the process and fine tuned it. I read the articles again and added Actortium roots and cotton balls to the list as well.
Actortium roots possesses incredible antibacterial, antiviral, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Actortium roots can be boiled in water to form a dense decoction to ward off viral infections.
He should have returned by now. It's been too long. Eventually, my eyes grew heavy and I fell into a restless sleep. The next time I woke up, I was surprised to see Kacchan, sitting next to the dying embers of our camp fire, straining something into a bottle. Just how long had I been out? It couldn't be too long because the sun was still shining brightly but the sad part was, dark clouds were gathering again, promising the arrival of another storm.
"Whe.." cough "When did you get back?" I asked hoarsely, rubbing my eyes. My joints made popping sound as I stretched and sat up.
"Almost an hour ago" he replied, not looking up from his work. He looked like a true alchemist, working on a difficult potion, surrounded by all the magical herbs and tincture. "Why didn't you wake me? I could've helped"
"And watch you ruin the supplies I gathered with your shaking, clumsy hands? No fucking way." he retorted. I watched him, transfixed, as he carefully added lengths of plastic thread to my bottle of rubbing alcohol. Seeing him prepare for the procedure, I thought about getting the wound area ready as well.
Sighing, I slowly peeled off my shirt. As soon as I raised my hand above my head, a sharp pain left me hissing and panting. After spending a laborious 5 minutes on a task which shouldn't take more than a second, I successfully removed my shirt, revealing the broken body to Kacchan's scrutinizing gaze. He had everything ready with him now.
Before I could ask him anything, he broke the silence with "We won't do this here. Get your ass over those trees" pointing towards the forest "- sit with your back on the left one and your legs on the right." I did as I was told.
"Are you really sure about this?" he asked once I was settled, not even masking his concern this time.
"As sure as I can be"
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