"What are you doing now?" I asked nervously.
"I'm going to insert an IV, take a blood sample, and give her something to lower the fever. Something's not right. I have a creeping suspicion that the curse spirit poisoned her."
Goddamn it!
And all of this just because I had left her alone!
Shoko swiftly inserted the long needle into the back of her hand with practiced movements, secured it with white tape, and quickly grabbed the blood vials. I watched intently as Shoko drew Mayu's blood and closed off the cannula again to prepare the infusion.
She placed the vials onto a tray. Then she grabbed the large bag filled with clear fluid and hung it on an IV stand. Next, she picked up a syringe, a dark brown ampoule, and quickly drew the medicine into the syringe. She attached a new needle to it and pierced the bag above the IV fluid to mix the fever-reducing medication with the infusion.
While I watched her connect the infusion tubing to Mayu's cannula, I sat down on the edge of the table and laid my hand on Mayu's side. I wanted nothing more than to start pacing. To tear open every cabinet and search for a solution myself, but I knew all too well that Shoko needed absolute calm and concentration in situations like this. But it was tearing me apart inside.
What if Shoko couldn't manage this? Mayu was already in an extremely critical condition — serious enough to visibly shake even Shoko.
Until now, I had only once seen a medical emergency rattle Shoko like this.
Trying to stay composed, I eyed Mayu warily.
I didn't like this at all.
My gaze became more penetrating, more focused. I concentrated on any traces of cursed energy — but saw none. Instead, I noticed a faint and very subtle heat shimmer rising from her body. Barely perceptible, but... it was like she was… burning?!
Was I imagining things out of sheer worry for her? The skin beneath the midnight blue lace fabric of her uniform sleeve seemed more flushed, so I immediately pushed the sleeve up.
Shoko also looked at it immediately.
"What… is that?..." we asked almost in sync, as I ran my fingers over isolated reddish patches on her arm.
"Noticeably hotter areas compared to the rest of her already burning skin," I observed while touching a larger, vaguely defined red spot.
Shoko moved the fabric of her uniform aside again. On her abdomen, waist, and also around her chest up to her neck, there were many more of these altered spots visible. They all felt just as hot as those on her arm.
This could only be poisoning — it had to be spreading!
"I haven't the faintest clue, but I'm going to quickly prep the blood for analysis. You stay here with her and keep a close watch!" Shoko instructed me firmly, her tone filled with concern, and I nodded.