I woke up for a couple of minutes, just to hear I would be out of the racing world for two months. It hurt more than the injuries... wasn't I supposed to run in June? For some reason, my heart was in pain... Do I really care about it that much?
'I bet Flashy is disappointed too...'
Suddenly, I felt really sleepy even though I had just woken up.
"I really want... to run... on June..."
"Meek?" A voice asked with worry after hearing my voice, "Meek!?"
'Eh? Why the scream... why are you guys panicking?'
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.
'Ah... I'm dead again?'
...
...
...
I was dead? Sadly, yes, but I lived.
Actually, not, the machine right beside me had a malfunction, which scared me and made me pass out. While I was out of combat, the people around me were relieved, then someone got really scolded for not checking out the gear, but that was unknown to me. After that silly incident, I slept for the whole night. I dreamed about many things. About my old life, about the career I won't be able to attend, and of course, about the Power Umas chapter I missed.
...
...
...
The next morning
"Uwaaaah... I'm sowwy!!" A very teary Mambo was crying near my bed.
"Tannhauser-san... it was nothing," I said, smiling, trying not to laugh, but laughing was painful.
"We are really... really grateful," Said Mambo's mom. She looked really like her daughter. "We... never imagined something like that would happen to her at school... our silly daughter." Mambo got fulminated with a stare which made her shiver, "Never told us about"
"Please, Ms Matikane Murasame, don't be harsh with the kid," Aoi interceded on behalf of poor Mambo.
"But Ms Kiryuin, your student got badly hurt because of my daughter."
"That's okay, it's not... Tannhauser-san fault, those jerks are at fault," I said, trying to smile and sound reassuring.
"Even so..." She sighed, then she slightly relaxed. "We are sorry for your injuries... if there is something we can do for you..."
"If that's the case... please let her come to Tracen next year," I said, smiling.
"!"
Everyone in the room fell silent for a moment; both mother and daughter were surprised by my request. Before I could say anything more, the doctor arrived in the room, reading some notes.
"Okay, Miss Kiryuin," He said. "Everything is in order. Happy Meek is okay to go back with you, but she can't do any physical work for the next four weeks."
Then I remembered I had not a single coin to pay for this, and my ears fell flat on my head. The doctor, looking at me, laughed.
"Don't worry, young miss, girls your age heal quickly. After some check-ups, you may even be able to run in June."
'That's not why I'm worried!' I wanted to scream that, but Aoi passed the doctor some papers in return.
"There, those are the approved documents. Tracen medic secure is covering all the debt and her treatment."
"!"
'Aoi! You are an angel!'
My eyes sparkled with overwhelming joy. In the end, I exchanged contact numbers with little Mambo, and she looked as if she was in even more joy than I. After saying our goodbyes, Aoi and the doctor were processing my checkout, and I saw my phone; it wasn't at the top of the news, but at a side note, I saw my URA profile photo and the header, 'Happy Meek is assaulted by delinquents while saving a junior'; I raised an eyebrow.
'Well, news surely flies by, ' I thought as I opened the article.
It was just a brief description of the incident; even so, it was exaggerated as if I put up a last stand without resorting to violence. Well, good thing they don't know I don't have an idea about how to defend myself, but this made me look like a pacifist. The comment box was surely populated tho.
[How can this even be possible!? This is terrible!] Anonymus.
[I thought Japan's crime rate was fairly low? This is so disappointing...] Jack, the world traveler.
[Noooo, how dare they touch a goddess from Tracen!! They must pay!] Umafanturbo777, 46 replies.
'Eh?' It seems things were pretty heated, and as for now, the punks haven't been caught, so it's even more of a hot topic, but thanks to Tannhauser's testimony, they are all identified and their photos are in public display, alongside a blurred scene of how they kicked my poor ass while I tried to cover Mambo.
'Even so... those girls were savages... if getting hit by a human sounds terrible, just wait to get kicked by some furious uma, damn, thank goodness I'm an uma myself right now or I would be so dead' Then I remembered the game when Goldship sis win's and she drop kicks the trainer 'Huuh... rest in peace...'
After a couple more minutes, I was helped to a wheelchair because walking was so much of a pain, even with a ton of painkillers, and we left the hospital. Mother and daughter said their goodbyes, and Mambo told me she will visit me on campus. On the way to the car, Aoi sighed.
"I can't believe something like this actually happened," She said with grief in her voice.
"Come on, Aoi, I'm fine!" I said, trying to make it less impacting.
For a moment, a shadow crossed Aoi's eyes, then she smiled.
"You are right, thanks, Meek, I'm so proud of you."
I feel my chest warm, for a brief moment, even breathing was kinda painful, not because of the injury, but more because none else had told me those words with real intent before.
The ride home was smooth; she drove slowly, so I didn't feel bad about the bumps on the road, and when we arrived, I was surrounded by many umas who had read the news and more who got attracted by the sudden forming of a crowd that started to grow big.
"Little sis, are you alright!?" I heard Goldshi's voice.
"You were so brave, Meek. We are proud of you!" Then I heard... McQueen?
There were too many people to actually locate them all just by their voices, but I could swear I saw Teio and other girls I knew. Soon, Tazuna had to step in and asked everyone to please step aside so I could go back to my room and rest properly. So I was led there by Aoi pushing my wheelchair and Tazuna escorting me, so other people don't crowd me again.
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...
...
When I entered the room, I felt somewhat melancholic. I wanted to see Haru again, but she was still on her countryside campaign. I was helped to bed and soon they left me alone to rest. And when I was alone then the system attacked again.
(Congratulations for being brave!)
(Reward: +500 uma coins)
(Debuff: Shattered body, since your body has suffered an injury, your potential has been shattered as well; all Stats are capped on C+).
(Buff: Limit Breaker, just once, when you are at your limit, you may go all out and overcome them).
Limit Breaker? I could go beyond my limits? Also, my limits seem awfully similar to the in-game limits of Happy Meek. So... I won't be able to see the true potential of this body and won't reach my peak?
"Hehe... now it's the time I wake up from a nightmare... or this would be the time when I just quit the career mode and start over again..."
I felt tears forming in my eyes, but that's okay, that level of stats is enough for me, I can win the triple tiara like that. I will have to do it like that.
"But I don't regret it, it was worth it."