Part 9: The Sole Compatible Match
As soon as the sun crested the mountains, Akari was awake. She washed her face, left a quiet note for Renjiro—who remained home to keep a watchful eye on Kaito—and hurried back through the waking village toward the medical facility.
The hospital corridors were hushed as she reached the recovery ward. Dr. Ken was already standing outside Haruto's room, reading through a freshly updated chart with a heavy, troubled frown.
"Dr. Ken?" Akari called out, her heart instantly tightening. "Is something wrong? Did his condition change?"
Dr. Ken looked up, signaling for her to step into the quiet office adjacent to the recovery room. He pulled down his mask, his expression grim.
"Physically, he is stable for now, Akari," Dr. Ken began, choosing his words with care. "But his overnight blood analysis returned concerning results. Haruto's blood levels are critically low. Between the internal trauma from the raid, his drained Seiryū, and the nosebleeds caused by severe blood pressure spikes during his stress breakdown, his body has lost a dangerous amount of volume."
Akari's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Can't we give him a transfusion?"
"That is the core of the problem," Dr. Ken said, sighing as he tapped the file. "Haruto's blood type carries a rare, complex factor. A standard transfusion will trigger a severe immune rejection, which his weak body cannot survive. We checked the village hospital supply immediately—we have zero compatible matches in storage."
"Then use mine," Akari said firmly, rolling up her sleeve without a second's hesitation. "Take whatever you need from me."
Dr. Ken looked down at her with a calm, discerning eye. "Have you had breakfast this morning, Akari?"
"No, I came straight here," she replied, her voice edge-thin with urgency. "That doesn't matter. Just check my blood."
"It does matter," Dr. Ken insisted gently, shaking his head. "Donating on an empty stomach after a night of high stress will collapse your blood pressure, and I cannot conduct a proper screening while you're running on empty. Go home, eat a full meal, and bring Renjiro back with you. We will test both of your blood samples the moment you return."
Akari swallowed her protest, knowing the doctor was right. She turned and left the hospital, her quick steps bringing her back to the Inazuma household.
When she slid the front door open, the scent of warm rice and grilled fish greeted her. Renjiro had already set the kitchen table, placing three steaming bowls out for breakfast. Sitting at the far end of the table was Kaito. He sat rigidly in his chair, his head held down, staring blankly into the uneaten bowl of rice sitting before him.
He was completely unresponsive to the world around him, hollowed out, his mind endlessly replaying the memories of Ayame—her laughter in this very kitchen, the way she used to hand him his chopsticks, and the crushing realization that she was truly gone.
Akari slid into the seat beside Renjiro, her appetite nonexistent, but she forced herself to swallow every single bite of rice and fish for Haruto's sake. Beside her, Renjiro systematically emptied his own bowl, eating quickly to maintain his strength. Across the table, Kaito remained entirely motionless, his untouched food growing cold beneath his hollow gaze.
Once both of their plates were completely clean, Renjiro set his chopsticks down with a quiet tap and turned to face Akari.
"What did Dr. Ken say?" Renjiro asked in a low tone, keeping his voice subdued so as not to startle Kaito.
Akari set her own chopsticks down, her eyes grim. "Haruto's blood levels are critically low. He needs an immediate transfusion, but the hospital supply doesn't have his type. Dr. Ken needs to test our blood to see if either of us is a match."
Renjiro's posture straightened, his eyes narrowing with immediate resolve. "Then we go right now."
Renjiro stood up, walking over to Kaito's chair. He placed a heavy, reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "Kaito. Akari and I have to head back to the hospital for a while. Stay inside the house. Don't go anywhere."
Kaito didn't lift his head, but his small, bandaged hand gave a faint, slow nod of acknowledgment.
Leaving Kaito in the quiet house, Akari and Renjiro hurried back to the medical facility. Dr. Ken met them immediately in the testing ward, drawing blood samples from both guardians and running them through the compatibility seals.
Twenty agonizing minutes passed in the silent office before Dr. Ken stepped back into the room, holding the glass vials. He slowly shook his head, his expression heavy with disappointment.
"Neither of you is compatible," Dr. Ken said quietly. "Akari, your blood type carries an opposing factor that would cause a violent reaction. Renjiro, your cell count is entirely incompatible with his Seiryū pathway. Neither of you can donate."
Akari felt the room tilt beneath her. "There has to be another way..."
"Without a direct, compatible match," Dr. Ken replied somberly, looking toward Haruto's room, "his body will simply lack the volume it needs to heal."
Search options quickly narrowed, but Akari refused to sit idle.
"Mikasa-sensei," Akari said suddenly, her eyes snapping to Renjiro. "She's blood-related. She might carry the same rare factor."
Renjiro didn't waste a second. He dashed out of the hospital, taking the sharp turns of the village streets at full speed until he reached Mikasa's house. He rushed up the porch steps and knocked heavily on the front door.
A moment later, the sliding door opened. Mikasa stood in the doorway, looking surprised by his breathless arrival. Inside the kitchen behind her, five-year-old Mimi sat at the small table, quietly eating her breakfast.
"Renjiro?" Mikasa asked, her brow furrowing. "What's wrong?"
"We need to hurry," Renjiro said urgently, stepping close. "It's Haruto. His blood levels are dangerously low, and his blood type is extremely rare. Neither Akari nor I are compatible. You're his blood relation—we need to test your sample immediately."
Mikasa's face paled, her eyes widening in immediate alarm. "I'm coming right now." She turned back into the room, speaking softly to her daughter. "Mimi, sweetie, stay right here and finish your food. We will be back soon."
Mimi sat completely frozen at the table, her spoon resting loosely in her small hand. She didn't respond, staring at her mother with a shocked, blank expression, the heavy urgency of Renjiro's words hanging in the air.
Mikasa pulled on her sandals, and the two hurried back toward the medical facility.
They arrived at the hospital ward within minutes. Dr. Ken stepped out into the hallway, holding a metal tray with sterile needles and empty glass vials. But the second his gaze landed on Mikasa, he stopped dead in his tracks. He set the tray down on a side cart, his expression darkening as he stepped forward to block the entrance to the examination room.
"Dr. Ken, please," Mikasa pressed, stepping up and rolling up her sleeve without hesitation. "Take my blood. Test it now. If I'm a match, I'll give him whatever he needs."
"I can't take your sample, Mikasa," Dr. Ken said, his voice quiet, flat, and unyielding.
Mikasa blinked, caught completely off guard. "What? Why not?! He's my nephew—we share blood! Just test it!"
"You know exactly what you are dealing with," Dr. Ken replied, looking her straight in the eye. "The disease you carry... you know it is transmissible through blood. If I perform a transfusion, that condition will pass directly into Haruto's system."
Mikasa's breath hitched, her throat tightening.
"Haruto's body is completely burnt out," Dr. Ken continued, leaving zero room for argument. "His immune system has hit rock bottom. Introducing a blood-transmissible disease into a boy this weak won't save his life—it will kill him. I cannot allow you to give a sample."
"No..." Mikasa gasped, her shoulders collapsing as tears blurred her vision.
"Doctor... can I give my blood?"
The small, trembling voice cut through the heavy silence of the corridor.