Lucy, Sasaki, and Alfie burst into the hospital, Jackson leaning heavily against Alfie's shoulder. His teeth ground together in pain, but he forced himself not to scream. The sharp scent of sterilized air hit them as soon as they entered the white-marble reception hall.
"Emergency case!" Lucy called out, her voice sharp with urgency.
The receptionist lifted her head, eyes widening as she saw the injured boy. Without hesitation, she tapped a glowing seal on her desk. A doctor materialized instantly through a swirling teleportation circle. His white robe trailed behind him, etched with glowing runes that shimmered faintly.
"Bring him inside, quickly," the doctor ordered, motioning toward the circle.
They obeyed, carrying Jackson into the circle. In a blink, the world shifted—walls stretched, then collapsed inward, and they reappeared inside a secluded room. The chamber glowed with dim blue light, shelves filled with ancient scrolls and jars lining the walls.
Drop the kid down there, kid
The doctor orders Alfie,he immediately drops Jackson on the bed.
Drop the kid down there, kid?' Sasaki thought to himself, his face twitching with annoyance. Tch. What kind of doctor talks like that?
The doctor knelt beside Jackson, pressing his glowing palm near the injury. His face hardened. "This wound… it's from an anti-Renshi training field, isn't it?"
Lucy nodded grimly. "Yes."
The man sighed. "Then it's worse than I thought. Neither Renshi nor spiritual energy will work on this. The field's curse lingers—it resists every form of healing. Only natural recovery will help, and that takes time."
Jackson's eyes snapped open, his voice urgent. "Time? No! I can't waste time! Mr. Doctor, anything—do it fast! Please!"
The doctor's brows furrowed as he rested a steadying hand on Jackson's chest. "Listen to me, boy. The earliest I can guarantee is two weeks. Any sooner, and you risk losing the strength in that leg permanently. If you want to walk—if you want to fight—then you must endure. Heal properly, or by the time you turn eighteen, you won't even stand."
Jackson shook his head violently. "No, no, no! I can't sit around while others train! I can't!"
The doctor's tone softened, but his words were firm. "Stay strong. Shinras don't fall apart so easily. You want to be one, don't you? Then act like it."
Jackson froze, his breathing ragged. Slowly, he nodded, though his clenched fists trembled with frustration.
"I'll give you a few minutes with your friends before I begin treatment," the doctor said, rising. His robes swirled as he stepped toward the door.
As soon as he left, Sasaki muttered under his breath, "Don't tell me he's gonna cut the kid open—"
Lucy instantly covered his mouth with her hand. "Shut it, Moron."
Jackson forced a weak grin. "You redhead… don't leave me lying there like some pregnant woman. I'll be bored out of my mind."
Lucy's gaze hardened, but her voice stayed calm. "Shut your mouth both of you, rock-heads. You're not even fifteen yet, and you're already acting like an adult. For once in your life, think about yourselves."
Her words pierced through the silence. Jackson swallowed hard, staring at the ceiling. Finally, his voice broke. "I'm sorry, Master… I messed up."
Lucy's expression softened as she brushed his hair back gently. "It's okay. Rest now. We'll let the doctor work."
She stood, motioning to Alfie and Sasaki. Alfie gave Jackson a playful thumbs up before they walked out together, the door shutting quietly behind them.
–––
Hours passed.
The moon hung high outside when Alfie quietly slipped out of the house with a pouch of coins Lucy had left for upkeep. His feet padded quickly against the cobblestone streets until he reached a small market stall, where he bought a bundle of noodles and some roasted chicken. With the bag slung under his arm, he went straight back to the hospital.
"Hey, miss," Alfie greeted the receptionist, leaning against the counter. "I'm here for the boy I brought earlier."
"Oh, the redhead," the woman replied, recognizing him instantly. She formed another teleportation circle, which expanded at his feet.
The world warped, and Alfie reappeared inside Jackson's room. His friend lay asleep, his leg wrapped tightly from thigh to knee in thick white bandages. The faint sound of his steady breathing filled the quiet room.
Alfie froze at the sight. "What the hell…" he whispered, clapping a hand over his mouth so as not to wake him. Slowly, he tiptoed to the side table and placed the food there. He lingered a moment longer, staring at Jackson's pale face.
Stay strong, redhead. I can't go on without you. Recover fast, Alfie thought, his chest tightening.
Without another word, he slipped back into the circle and vanished.
–––
The scent of fried chicken and spices drifted through the night air as Alfie wandered aimlessly. His stomach growled. Might as well get something for myself.
Just a few streets down, he spotted a ramen shop glowing faintly in the dark. He stepped inside and plopped down on a chair.
"What's your order, boy?" the owner asked, his voice muffled behind a scarf that covered the lower half of his face. His hair spilled out in long strands that looked like noodles.
"Noodles and chicken steak," Alfie said, propping his chin on his hand.
The man's hands blurred to life. He spun a clump of flour into the air, his bloodline technique kicking in as the dough stretched into hundreds of thin strands, slicing apart midair. At the same time, oil sizzled as he fried chicken with effortless precision.
Alfie's eyes widened. "Whoa! That's insane! How did you do all that?"
The owner caught the noodles in a filter with a flick of his wrist, dropping them into boiling water as if it were second nature. "It's part of my bloodline. Nothing to do with talent."
Oh thanks for making the food so fast.
It's not for free hope you know that,the owner of the shop whispers
Alfie leaned back, grinning. Of course I know Mr. Noodles Head, he thought to himself, though he didn't say it aloud.
Minutes later, a steaming bowl of noodles and crispy chicken steak was placed in front of him. Alfie devoured it quickly, paid the fee, and strolled back home.
–––
When he opened the door to their apartment, a surprising scent greeted him.
"Wait—Master's cooking?" Alfie asked, staring wide-eyed at Lucy standing in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up.
Sasaki, sitting cross-legged at the table with a chessboard in front of him, didn't even look up. "That's what shocked me the most today. She said the hospital won't feed patients until noon. She can't stand the thought of Jackson starving, so she's preparing meals herself."
Alfie scratched his head. "Why not just wait until morning then?"
Sasaki finally glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "Stop asking me all the damn questions Alfie,how the hell will I know what's going through her mind."
The room fell quiet, the smell of cooking filling the air. For the first time since the injury, the weight of the day seemed to settle on them all.