"Why are you crying?" Mira asked, her voice soft with concern. She was still sitting beside his bed, but Miss Tokoyami was nowhere to be seen.
Kakashi touched his cheek, surprised to find tears there.
"I... was crying," he admitted, sounding slightly bewildered.
"You were also mumbling a bunch of weird stuff," Mira said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. She gently wiped away the tears, then returned the handkerchief to her pocket. "The doctor said you're free to leave, you'll be fine as long as you don't stress yourself. Come with me"
Mira pulled Kakashi out of bed, eager to take him out of the room.
"Where are we going?" he asked, his voice still slightly hoarse.
"You wanted to see your friend, right? Let's go then. Oh—" Mira ran to the drawer beside Kakashi's bed and picked up a leather bag and handed it to him. "You should change into this."
Kakashi nodded, taking the bag, his gaze lingering on Mira for a moment.
"Oh, sorry!" she said, turning away, a blush rising on her cheeks.
He quickly changed into the black jeans and red T-shirt inside.
"Okay, let's go," Kakashi announced.
"I almost forgot to ask your name," Mira said, turning back to him with a smile.
"It's Kakashi."
"Alright, Kakashi," Mira said, taking his arm, her smile warm and reassuring. "Let's go!"
She pulled him toward the elevator, their destination the fifth floor.
Throughout the ride, Kakashi's mind raced. He couldn't shake the image of Megumin, and Mira's earlier words only intensified his anxiety. Megumin was his only remaining friend; if anything happens to her, their sacrifices would been in vain.
They arrived on the fifth floor and walked down the hallway. At the end, they found Miss Tokoyami standing before a glass window, observing a patient inside.
The window offered a clear view of the room. Two beds stood on opposite ends, Megumin lying in one, another girl in the other.
"What's going to happen to her?" Kakashi asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Thankfully, the operation was a success. We found some devices implanted in her brain, same as yours, but luckily, her karma is still flowing but it's unstable and low," Miss Tokoyami replied, her voice surprisingly calm.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi pressed, his anxiety rising again.
"She'll need to undergo revitalization," Miss Tokoyami explained.
"Please, can I see her?" Kakashi pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.
"She just came out of surgery; she needs rest," Mira said gently.
Ignoring her, Kakashi entered the room, his gaze immediately drawn to Megumin. Her hair was shaved, stitches visible on her head, abdomen, and leg, but her hand was healed. She didn't appear to be in critical condition, but Kakashi lacked the ability to sense her Karma energy.
"The revitalization… what is that?" he asked as Natski and Mira walked into the room.
"It's a machine that restores karma by drawing in natural karma and transferring it into the patient's body," Mira explained. "It's usually used when there's no one with compatible karma to perform a direct transfer, or if the patient's karma levels are too low for a simple transfer to be effective."
"But how is that possible? She couldn't use any techniques," Kakashi asked, his confusion mounting.
Miss Tokoyami gestured for Mira to leave them, and Mira obediently walked and sat on a bench in the hallway.
"Please, sit," Miss Tokoyami said, indicating the chair beside her as she sat on the chair beside Megumin's bed. Kakashi obeyed. "When Supernaturals use their powers, they use a special energy called karma. Karma exists in every living thing, but its nature and type vary. Everything depends on this energy to survive. So, what do you think happens if you use too much of this energy?"
"Umm, I guess they wouldn't be able to survive," Kakashi replied hesitantly.
"Some people have move karma energy than normal and they are called supernatural.
"Supernaturals use this energy to create superhuman ability, which drain their karma. If they continue using their powers even when their karma is low, their life force will also be drained," Miss Tokoyami explained patiently.
"Wait! I don't understand. Is she going to die?" Kakashi asked, his voice filled with alarm.
"No, but your friend is in this state because she used too much karma," Miss Tokoyami said, pausing to choose her words carefully. "It's not uncommon; many rescued from research labs end up drained of karma, and most die. It's a miracle you're still brimming with karma energy."
"But at the lab, they mentioned creating experimental… Do you know what that is?" Kakashi asked, his voice filled with apprehension.
"Supernaturals can absorb karma from the air. This natural karma is used to create superpowers called techniques," Miss Tokoyami began, trying to explain the complex concept in simple terms. "By using techniques, we drain karma, but imagine a way to use techniques without using karma."
"But that's supposed to be impossible!" Kakashi exclaimed. "If supernaturals need karma energy to use their powers then using techniques without karma will just drain our life force instead."
"Well, it's already been done. Few of the victim we saved are able to control karma energy even though they don't have any." Miss Tokoyami rose from her chair, her movements graceful. She let out a sigh and turned to Megumin–who lay unconscious on the bed–and stroked her hair gently. "Well, that's isn't your concern. Oh, I almost forgot. What are your names?"
"I'm Kakashi... Yami," Kakashi replied, the name feeling slightly unfamiliar to him. "The girl's Megumin."
"I'm Natski Tokoyami, but you can call me Natski." She offered a warm, reassuring smile.
"So, about the revitalization, how is it done?" Kakashi confirmed, his gaze fixed on her.
"Well, there's another problem. The other girl needs it as well, the doctors are planning to use the machine on her instead, since she has a higher chance if surviving"
"Isn't there another way?" Kakashi asked, a hint of urgency in his voice.
"If someone with the same karma type transfers it to her, she might be fine. Her case isn't too critical, but your friend will definitely require the revitalization machine."
"What type of karma does she have?"
"She has a lightning-type karma. And, as far as we know, there are no other lightning-type supernaturals left."
A sudden surge of resolve filled Kakashi. "I'll do it!"