The taxi pulled up in a residential area where slightly weathered buildings lined the streets. Looking around, I didn't see anything that resembled a hospital.
"This way," Mika said, leading the way.
She brought me to a particularly aged private residence. Without a moment's hesitation, Mika stepped inside the house—which, to me, looked nothing like a clinic. I hurriedly followed her through the door.
The entryway looked like that of any ordinary home, but unlike its exterior, the interior was old yet remarkably clean.
"Doctor!! Are you there?!"
"Who is it, shouting this early in the morning? Oh, if it isn't Mika-chan."
As we waited in the hall, a woman who looked to be in her fifties appeared from the back. She was a plump woman wearing a white lab coat, and her eyes widened in shock the moment she saw Mika.
"What happened to those wounds?!"
"Sorry... a lot's been going on..."
"Never mind that! Get inside, quickly! You too, boy!"
"Y-yes, ma'am."
Ushered inside, I stood there wide-eyed at the sight that greeted me.
From the outside, it was just a run-down house, but the interior was something else entirely. It had been completely renovated; for all intents and purposes, it was a small-scale hospital.
"Wait there, boy."
"Got it."
I watched the Doctor lead Mika into the back, then I sat down in the waiting area, which appeared to be a converted living room.
About ten minutes passed. The Doctor returned alone, leaving Mika in the back. She placed a steaming teacup in front of me.
"Um, how's Mika?"
"She's on a drip and sleeping. It looks like she’s been pushing herself far too hard. She’s out like a light."
Hearing her words, I finally let out a breath of relief. It seemed she was out of immediate danger.
"Were you the one who gave Mika-chan first aid?"
"Eh? Oh, yes. That's right."
"Hmm."
The Doctor scrutinized me, her gaze traveling up and down as if she were appraising my worth. It was more than a little uncomfortable.
"Um... did I do something wrong?"
"No. You did a good job for an amateur."
I’d been worried I’d messed up, but apparently not. Then why was she still staring at me so intently?
"You aren't with the Himatsuri-gumi, are you?"
"Well, no. That’s true. Can you tell?"
"I'm the one who looks after that lot. I know every one of their faces."
I took a sip of the tea to mask my discomfort, offering a brief nod in response.
"Boy, are you Mika's... this?"
The Doctor held up her left pinky finger toward me.
Realizing exactly what she was implying, I immediately choked on my tea and burst into a coughing fit.
"Gah! Cough... No, it’s not like that..."
"What? It isn't?"
"Mika and I aren't in that kind of relationship."
We weren't lovers. Honestly, we might not even be friends. Yet, we weren't on bad terms either—it was a strange, peculiar bond, something slightly different from a simple inseparable connection.
At the very least, it wasn't a bad relationship.
"Hmph. Well, whatever. At least you don't seem to be her enemy."
"Are you close with her?"
"Of course. I’ve known her mother since way back. Mika-chan is like a relative’s child to me."
Mika seemed to have a good relationship with this woman. I recalled her saying that she and her mother had both been under her care.
"Aren't you going to ask what happened?"
Given how much she cared for Mika, I expected her to dig deeper, but she didn't pry.
"Most people who come here are 'complicated.' My job is to fix them up. Neither the patients nor I ask questions. That’s the rule here. Though, if you want to talk, go right ahead."
Even with a personal connection, the Doctor’s pride in running this place for so long meant she stuck to her professional code when a patient arrived.
"Just make sure you protect her. You understand what it means for her to bring you here instead of her subordinates, don't you?"
"Yeah. I intend to do everything I can."
"Good. I feel like I can trust you with her."
For some reason, this woman’s trust in me was strangely deep. Was it just a woman's intuition?
"Mika refused to go to a hospital at first."
"Well, given the timing, she couldn't go anywhere but here."
If she went to a regular hospital, the Heroes or the police would be notified instantly, and she would be held for questioning. Mika would be detained for a long time, unable to move.
Furthermore, if the injuries suggested a crime, the investigation would reach the Himatsuri-gumi Headquarters. It was an incredibly delicate time. Most importantly, Mika could never forgive herself if the organization suffered because of her.
"Honestly, her underlings should be supporting her, but the lot of them have turned into spineless cowards since Kagura-chan passed away. That big idiot Sako especially."
While I was wondering how to respond to the Doctor's grumbling, the door rattled open.
"Doctooor, Mika-san is finished nowww."
Mika emerged, accompanied by a Nurse with a very relaxed, drawn-out way of speaking. Her complexion looked much better than when we arrived.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine. I'm all better now."
The Doctor approached Mika, cupping the girl's face in both hands to inspect her closely. After turning her head this way and that to check every angle, she let go and sighed.
"Honestly, I wonder who you take after."
"...Sorry."
"I'd be a lot more relaxed if you just eloped with this boy here."
"We aren't in that kind of relationship!!" Mika barked.
It was surely a joke, but for some reason, her voice didn't sound like she was joking at all.
"Well, fine. We'll be in the back, so feel free to use this room. Customers hardly ever show up, so why don't you two have a proper talk."
The Doctor led the nurse into the back room, leaving just Mika and me.
"...So, what's the plan?" I asked, trying to break the awkward tension the Doctor had left behind.
"Right..."
The fact that the enemy had taken such direct action meant their situation had changed—or they had simply run out of patience. Either way, things had shifted.
"Whatever we do, I have to head back to the Gumi first."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
Mika hadn't been back since last night. She needed a change of clothes and had reports to make. I didn't object to her returning, but I was worried.
"I have to go back, but..."
"Yeah..."
She said she had to go back, but her hesitation suggested otherwise. There was a high chance that someone within the current Himatsuri-gumi had ordered the hit on her. It was too dangerous to let her go alone. But if we were to dig deeper, internal information was a necessity.
As we both sat there, heads down in thought, the door opened and the Doctor walked back in.
"Listen, you two. Things might have just gotten a bit messy."
"Messy?"
"Yeah. I’ve been trying to get a hold of Sako for a while now, but I can't reach him. There’s a chance something’s happening at the Himatsuri-gumi."
At her words, Mika and I looked at each other simultaneously.
The hesitation vanished from Mika's face. In its place was no longer the face of a girl, but that of a Leader who commanded an organization.
"Doctor, Owari—I'm going back to Headquarters."
"Mika, you understand, don't you? If things go south, it could cost you your life. Even I can't fix a corpse."
"I know. But I'm the Leader of the Himatsuri-gumi."
Mika’s resolve was harder than steel. At this point, no words would break her.
"Honestly, I wonder who you take after."
It was the same phrase as before, but this time, the woman sounded a little proud.
"Fine. But if you're going, take him with you."
"Me?" I asked.
"Take Owari?" Mika echoed.
"Yeah. I'm sure he'll be useful. My intuition says so."
Somehow, I got the feeling this Doctor had guessed I wasn't an ordinary human. In her long career of treating people, she must have seen Dark Matter associates before. She might even have treated a Kaijin.
Or maybe it really was just intuition. Either way, this woman was no ordinary doctor.
"I trust your word, Doctor, but bringing Owari along might be too difficult..."
If a strange man suddenly appeared by Mika's side when she returned, it would draw unnecessary suspicion.
"That part’s taken care of. Hey, bring it in."
"Heeere it is~"
The Nurse entered the room and handed me something black. When I spread it out, I saw it was a black suit, identical to those worn by members of the Himatsuri-gumi.
"And these too~"
Next came a pair of sunglasses. If I put these on, I’d look exactly like a Gumi member.
"Wearing this should keep you under the radar."
"No way, they'll definitely notice. Right, Mika?"
"...Actually, it might work. Thanks to Uryu's influence, we’ve had a lot of new recruits lately. For a day or so, nobody should notice a new face."
"Are you serious...?"
"Still, even if they don't notice, it's dangerous. I really can't bring you into this."
"This boy will be fine, I tell you. He'll figure it out. Right, boy?"
"...Well, much as I hate to agree with her, she's right. I'll be fine."
I’d come this far; there was no way I could just let Mika walk into a den of lions alone.
"Are you really okay with this?"
"Of course. I promised, didn't I? I’m sticking with you until the end."
I’d promised to help her that night. I intended to stand by my words and see her through to the very conclusion. I wouldn't let her down.
"Settled, then? Then get ready, quickly."
"Got it."
Prompted by the Doctor, I went into the back room to change. I’d never really had a reason to wear a tie, so I struggled to get it right. Giving up on making it look perfect, I settled for a somewhat messy knot and returned to the room.
"Well now, it actually suits you quite well, boy."
"I don't really feel like that’s a compliment."
Looking good in a suit would normally be a plus, but since this was Himatsuri-gumi gear, being told I looked the part left me with mixed feelings.
"Hey, Owari."
"What is it?"
"Face me for a second."
"What so sudde—!"
As soon as I turned toward her, Mika grabbed my tie and jerked me toward her.
She was close. So close I could clearly see her long eyelashes and the depth of her eyes.
"Good grief, you’re terrible at this. Let me see."
Mika let out a heavy sigh, untied the mess I'd made, and began to re-tie it herself.
"Even if it’s a disguise, you’re representing the Himatsuri-gumi. You need to look sharp."
"Can't be helped. I never have an excuse to wear one of these."
"...Say, maybe the two of you should just elope—"
""We aren't doing that!"" we snapped simultaneously.
Despite the Doctor’s teasing, Mika finished the tie. My disguise was complete. Now, to any observer, I was a perfect member of the Himatsuri-gumi.
Fully disguised, Mika and I said our goodbyes to the Doctor and set out for the Himatsuri-gumi Headquarters.