Walking back to the clinic, I realized how much the atmosphere here had changed. It was gloomy, quiet and dull, a real shadow of what it was a few years back. If it wasn't Hachiro disturbing me about Nana, it would be the girls with their plays and gossip, or Mui shouting and yelling — none of those things exist anymore.
The saddest amongst all was Mui. The Gorilla had gone docile. And to be sincere, I really felt bad about her. Thinking about it, there are so many reasons for her to be the way she is. Not to mention the scars and her missing arm, she is going through a lot, and her sister constantly blaming her for Ms Ayuma's death must be another level of pain.
When I arrived in front of the clinic there was some kind of commotion happening just at the door. Girls gathered around the entrance, there were so many I couldn't see whatever was happening beyond. As I took the stairs and approached, they began to part ways until I saw Nana kneeling on the ground with one knee, sweating and gasping for air.
She peered at my leg and gradually lifted her head until her eyes met mine. A stare that was filled with hatred turned into something of a shock. She loosened herself and eventually fell on both knees to the ground.
After eventually accepting defeat, Nana was helped to her bed where I sat on the chair beside her. She had her face down in such a way I couldn't see her expression, but I had a feeling it would be something related to nervousness or embarrassment.
We sat in silence for a long time, almost stretching to around ten minutes straight. I don't know what I was thinking, expecting a traumatized girl to strike up a conversation with someone she was seeing for the first time in years.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"I'm fine!" She said as though stating a point.
"Fine. But I think you should stay in bed for a bit longer to get yourself together." I scanned her pale body from head to foot. Beneath her eyes laid heavy bags, and no matter how hard she tried to hide her exhaustion under that confident expression, it showed.
After that she didn't respond and just sat on the bed looking at the bedsheet draped over her legs. Another stretch of long silence.
"Why are you here?" She asked suddenly. "Why did you come back?"
"No strange reason entirely, I came to take the trails and become a demon slayer, officially."
"You ran away!"
"Run–? Nana, I didn't run."
She shot me a strong piercing stare that almost made me tumble off the chair.
"You left without a word." Her voice cracked.
"I had something important to take care of. I'm sorry I left without saying anything to you or Hachiro." In the middle of that explanation I was beginning to regret some of my life's choices.
Nana met my apology with indifference and continued to stare at her feet. As I looked at her, my thoughts revolved around how everything was affecting her — the way she was pushing herself. Even though she blamed Mui for Ms Ayuma's death, she also blamed herself deep down. I'm sure it's that same mindset that had been hindering her progress for some time now.
"Hey. You need to take it easy—"
She chuckled and looked me in the eyes, her eyes had reddened. She bit the lower part of her lip.
"Do I look like a child to you too?" She said, struggling to maintain a stern voice. "I know Big Sister sent you here to talk to me—!"
"I came here to see you — to know how you're doing. The last time I saw you, you were about to be killed."
Nana didn't respond and folded herself on the bed, her brows squeezing together as she looked at me with teary eyes, giving out a sad expression. She turned the other way and flipped the bedsheet up into the air. It floated and covered her face.
It seemed this was the moment where I either got closer to her or walked away, and to be honest I'd choose the latter. I'd heard enough of all this for one day.
I scooted up from the chair and was about to leave when a sudden chime came from my clothes. It was the necklace. I dipped my hand in and brought out the box, holding it firm in my hands. My eyes bounced from the box to Nana on the bed. I didn't know if now was the right time, but then again, when would be the right time.
I dropped it on the chair and turned to Nana before leaving. "I got you something on the way." Then I left the room.
***
When I reached the building the result of a full day without sleep hit me all at once. My limbs felt limp, my eyelids heavy as though being pulled down to the center of the earth.
I walked into the house pacing behind my escort — another girl. It's just girls. I was shown around; the living room, the kitchen, and one bedroom. It was well kept and a standard house both in this era and in the future.
"I hope it is up to your taste, Lord Tatsuya?"
"Yeah, it's really nice. Thank you for everything."
"No need for that, Lord Tatsuya. What would you like to eat?" She asked.
"Mmm…" A cheese burger and milkshake wouldn't hurt. "Just bring anything you got—your favourite food."
Her cheeks reddened as she averted her gaze to the ground "I..will come back with your meal." She said and strode away.
I don't know what was building up the anxiety inside me — the way they treated me like some high lord, or the fact that I'm just surrounded by girls.
I went to the bedroom, almost empty with a futon rolled neatly by the edge of the wall. I unrolled it and made myself comfortable. My muscles relaxed, the heaviness in my eyelids prevailing as they shut gradually, the world went silent in the next second.
Like a snap there came a loud bang coming from the door, which caused me to jolt up like a spring.
A sharp pain struck the left side of my head like I'd been stabbed. I pushed myself up to my feet and started for the door. I didn't have a mirror but I bet I looked like a drug addict going through withdrawal at that moment.
The bang came again and I had to shout, "I'm almost there!" I slid the main door open and a gush of cold morning wind hit me. I'd slept more than I planned
I looked around and there was this boy—or guy, standing there. His build for a boy was insane, thick and well defined muscles and cut scars over them, especially on his arms. His long hair was a shade of brown and so were his eyes, his hair now reaching his back. His face gave him away and I recognized those eyes.
"Hachiro?" I gasped.
"It's been a while, Tatsuya."