"What do you think, Natasha?"
Facing Seele's question, Takagi didn't answer but looked at Natasha with interest.
"Th-that... let's inform Jennifer about the patient's condition first. It's not good to keep the family waiting too long. And regarding the special medicine the patient took, there are some things I want to ask Jennifer about."
Natasha pursed her lips and quickly walked past Takagi and Seele toward the family waiting area. Takagi raised his eyebrows, looking at the departing Natasha with disbelief.
"Was her face a little red just now, Seele?" Takagi asked.
"Yes, it was indeed red. It's hard to believe," Seele crossed her arms and nodded, speaking with surprise.
"This is really strange," Takagi narrowed his eyes. Similar to Seele's previous question, Takagi had heard the same remarks from many passersby on the street. But Natasha had never shown any signs of blushing or shyness until now. Facing Seele's question, she had surprisingly blushed. This caught Takagi's attention.
"Is it because you're here that she's embarrassed?" Takagi asked, looking at Seele.
"Me? I think it's because of you. I really don't know what you have that Natasha likes," Seele said. Natasha's performance had almost convinced Seele of a relationship between the two. It also made Seele curious about how they had developed such a bond.
"Or, maybe she just purely admires my medical skills? Or perhaps she's grateful for the supplies I brought?" Takagi said, stroking his chin.
"Being able to cure illnesses that even Natasha couldn't solve... your medical skills are indeed quite impressive. But supplies... you've mentioned them many times, yet I haven't seen any. Is what you said true or false?" Seele asked suspiciously.
"Didn't you claim not to believe me? If so, why not keep it that way? Or are you saying you want to lose the bet with me quickly?" Takagi smiled and tucked the portable Linkage Beacon into the pocket of his collar. He had already turned on the recording function. He felt it was necessary to capture Seele's current skepticism and her inevitable reaction once she saw the supplies. Who told Seele to keep doubting him?
Seele: "Tsk. Say it if you want to; don't if you don't."
Takagi: "Hehe, are you angry? How about eating a Sunsettia to calm down?"
"Where did you get that fruit?" Seele quickly took the Sunsettia from Takagi's hand and bit into it without hesitation. "Oh, it's quite sweet."
Takagi: "You're not angry anymore when you have something good to eat. You're quite childish, aren't you?"
Seele: "You guy! Who are you calling childish?"
Takagi: "Whoever replies. I'm talking about them."
Seele: "You!"
"...That's all about the Mutual Aid Society and the special medicine. Miss Natasha, my husband and child are really okay, right?" In the family area, Jennifer spoke to Natasha.
"Yes, the treatment was very successful. You can go see them now." Natasha greeted Jennifer and turned back. Once her back was turned, she frowned, troubled by what she had learned regarding the "special medicine."
"Really?" Jennifer exclaimed and quickly followed Natasha's steps.
Seele saw Natasha come in and stopped bickering with Takagi. She approached Jennifer's husband and child and witnessed them waking up at Jennifer's call. After talking with them for a while, Jennifer left the ward with Natasha, Takagi, and Seele, feeling immensely relieved.
"Thank you, thank you, Miss Natasha. If it weren't for you, I don't know if my husband and child could have held on. You not only cured their acute symptoms but also their original ailments. I should have known better than to go to some Mutual Aid Society to buy that damned medicine," Jennifer said, clenching her fists.
"It's good that they're okay, Jennifer. Also, you should be grateful to Takagi, not me," Natasha said with a light smile.
"So it was you! Thank you so much. I knew that people around Natasha were not simple," Jennifer looked at Takagi gratefully.
"It was nothing," Takagi said with a smile.
"Your 'nothing' is an ability that other doctors can't even hope to match. If I could also have such excellent medical ability as you, then everyone would suffer less from illness," Natasha sighed. Knowing the medicine was developed by her own brother, her tone carried a sense of guilt. She was genuinely envious of Takagi's healing power.
"But aren't Miss Natasha and Mr. Takagi lovers? Since you are a family, Miss Natasha will surely learn Mr. Takagi's medical skills soon, right?" Jennifer said with a smile.
"Learning..." Natasha raised her head and looked directly into Takagi's eyes.
"Not even denying it... they really are lovers after all," Seele muttered in a low voice.
Takagi: "Miss Jennifer, why do you think we are lovers?"
Jennifer: "Hook told me earlier."
Takagi: "It was her. She really is a mischievous child."
Natasha: "Hook is indeed very energetic. Speaking of which, just as Jennifer said, can you guide me, Takagi?"
Takagi's mouth twitched. Not long ago, Clara had made a similar request. He never expected Natasha to ask it now. Jennifer, seeing the two looking at each other, wisely chose to leave to attend to her family. However, Seele waited for a moment, narrowed her eyes, and said: "Takagi, why don't you answer? Natasha is asking you for a favor."
Takagi spread his hands and said helplessly: "When it comes to Natasha's medical knowledge, I can't guide her. But I can give you this. With this, your healing ability will surely improve significantly."
Takagi took out the Light Cone, "Post-Op Conversation," and handed it to Natasha. In his opinion, Natasha's previous struggle was simply due to insufficient Abundance energy. With this max-level Light Cone, she could handle such cases with ease.
"What is this? Why is there a portrait of Natasha on it? Takagi, could this be a gift you specially prepared for her?" Seele asked strangely.
Natasha held the Light Cone and remained silent. As a Pathstrider of Abundance, she could feel the exaggerated power contained within. Somehow, it felt tailor-made for her. She knew she shouldn't accept such a precious gift, but the thought of saving more patients made it impossible to refuse.
"Thank you for the gift you customized for me, Takagi. With it, I will be able to save more lives." Natasha held the Light Cone to her chest, looking at Takagi gratefully. Like Seele, she assumed Takagi had specially made it for her; otherwise, there was no way to explain why her own image was on it.
"Really? Natasha, do you also think this thing can help heal patients?" Seele asked suspiciously.
Natasha's lips curved slightly, and she said: "Takagi, I want to try its power. Seele, you come and witness it too." She turned and walked toward the ward where many other patients with difficult illnesses waited.