{"Ah Mii chan, can you come home early today?"
"Ehh?"
Mizuki responds, a crack of disappointment.
"Okay I guess..."
"I'm sorry about this, can you let your club leader know?"
Fuuka promises her daughter, putting both her hands together.
"only for today"
Images of Daisuke's grin fills her mind.
"I'm pretty sure he won't mind"}
[So she says]
Mizuki explains to Daisuke via SP comms. Half focusing in class, half engaging in conversation with him.
[I see..]
Daisuke responds. Not even looking at the teacher, nonchalantly laying his head on the table without repercussion.
[Then I get Kemori chan all to myself]
Evident content lights his response, teasing.
[Ngghh then I'll come for training this weekend!]
Immediately she sets a deal. And then corrects him.
[And it's Nekomori chan!]
The boy only smiles in his sleep, amused.
As the bell rings signaling the end of school hours, students pour out into the main court. Before leaving the school gate, Mizuki takes one last look in Daisuke's way.
A hint of longing, or could it be anticipation.
[What are you waiting for?]
Daisuke waves his hand while turning his back to her.
[no club activity for today]
[Okay.. then see you tomorrow]
She left off with that final goodbye. Going the other way.
As Daisuke arrives at the forest clearing, their brand new training ground, he looks around for something.
'Is it not here today?'
{"a giant bat?!"
Mizuki alarmed.
The large shadow with a face stay suspended midair, gauging both Mizuki and Daisuke.
Daisuke hid his left arm behind his back,
"Barikkurai"
He uttered under his breath and out came his huge signature trench knife resting in his palm.
But before he could take a lethal step towards the uninvited wildlife, his pupils dilated, and his steps halted.}
'Something's off..'
He thought recalling yesterday's incident.
Though not long after he arrives, another presence joins him in that plain. The rhythm of flapping of wings precedes the gust of wind that follows.
It's here.
Nekomori lands not far from him and leaps around in excitement. Unmistakably joyful of his arrival. Unable to contain its happiness, it charges towards Daisuke.
But what met the warm greeting was far from friendly. Daisuke's eyes narrows, his fist clenches, waiting for his new pet to come close enough.
As the gentle giant come pouncing at him,
A deafening seismic boom shakes the atmosphere. Without a shred of sympathy in his cold gaze, he bashed the creature's head into the ground. Planted right beside the hole housing Nekomori's head, a Kyokan knife.
A car sized crater rests visibly on the open training ground, ruining the otherwise serene grassland. In the middle of the crater, Nekomori lays with its head planted inside. Daisuke's work.
It remained motionless for a couple minutes, before suddenly jerking up. Then with all its limb firmly pushing the ground, Nekomori attempts to free its head from the hole.
The culprit that planted it there only waits patiently until it escapes the crater and shakes the dust off its head. Swaying to the side, disoriented.
Their eyes meet.
He summons his signature trench blade.
"Come at me again-"
With both arms raised, he taunts the creature.
"this time, like you mean it"
And wasting no time, the creature does exactly that.
Meanwhile,
Away from that hostile bouts,
At the Kitahara household, Mizuki is welcomed by an unfamiliar face.
"I'm.. home..."
She hesitantly announces her arrival.
"Ah! You must be Mizuki chan, you've grown so much"
The middle aged woman greets her by the front door.
For a second Mizuki has a look like she'd got the address wrong, until Fuuka pops out behind the door.
"Ah Mii chan, come in quick"
Confirming that this is indeed, her house.
In the living room, she got a proper introduction,
"Nice to meet you Mizuki chan, I'm Doctor Yamanaka"
Her hand gestures towards Keiki.
"a friend of your father from work"
And Mizuki returns the gesture, still unsure of who the woman is but simply acting out of courtesy.
"Mii chan do you remember, Dr. Yamanaka?"
Fuuka returns with a tray of tea and distributes it to everyone around the table, before taking her seat next to Mizuki
"She used to come treat you like this when you were little"
"Dr. Yamanaka..."
Mizuki juggles that name on her tongue, trying to recall it in her memory bank.
"Well Mii chan was still too young at that time,"
Keiki joins in, he's seated across Mizuki and his wife.
"it's okay if you don't remember"
The doctor touches her own cheek,
"How time flies... you've grown into a fine young lady now"
"Ah t-thank you.."
Shyly the daughter expresses her gratitude.
"but still polite as always"
Dr. Yamanaka chuckles, hands covering her mouth.
A tone of red starts highlighting Mizuki's cheek. Receiving that much compliment from someone she's unfamiliar with inevitably makes her a tad embarrassed.
Promptly, she then announces the purpose of her visit,
"Actually I'm here today for your health check-up, Mizuki chan"
"Ehh?"
The girl in question reacts, having not been informed beforehand of this exchange apparently.
"only for a bit"
Fuuka comforts her again, rubbing Mizuki's shoulder.
"It'll be over before you know it"
"It's just a simple routine"
The doctor offers her input,
"everyone around your age does this"
"Ah, okay.."
Finally the girl in question voices her agreement. Taking a quick peek at the guest's modest medical bag, understandably she's slightly holding her breath of what's to come.
After the courtesy exchange, she instructs Mizuki to sit by the counter as she opens her case.
As the doctor fiddles and examine her medical kit, Mizuki takes a deep breath. She can hear every little detail of light metal clanking, tissues wiping, noise from the fan, the subtle gulps of her mom from couch.
Everyone seems like they're trying to stay calm but the atmosphere in the living room noticeably grows more tense. Almost like they're in a hospital ward.
"I see you're still nervous for these kind of stuff"
Finally Dr. Yamanaka turns to her. In her hand, a popsicle stick and a penlight, on her collar, a stethoscope. Though the hygiene mask covers her face, the subtle squint in her eyes reveals her smile underneath. While caressing the girl's head she reassures,
"Don't worry dear, this won't take long"
After a few minutes, the examination concludes.
"Alright we're done!"
Her hands clap together gently,
"You've been a very good girl, Mizuki chan"
As the doctor promised, it was over before she knows it. After having the penlight flashed into her eyes and mouth, the cold stethoscope earpiece touching her chest from the back and the front, tiny hammers knocking the larger joints of her limbs along with other minor medical procedure, Mizuki finds herself still in one piece afterwards.
Fuuka lightly caresses her shoulders,
"That's all Mii chan, not so bad isn't it?"
"I-I know that, Mom!"
Embarrassed, Mizuki spontaneously retorts. Suddenly the whole room cheers back up.
"T-then, if you'd excuse me-"
She bows to the guest before taking her leave upstairs.
"Wait Mii chan-"
"I wanna take a shower first"
Fuuka just sighs,
"Good grief, this girl..."
"Sorry about that Dr. our Mizuki is not that good with new people"
Keiki apologizes too.
"Oh don't worry about it, it's normal for girls her age"
Dr. Yamanaka shrugs it.
"In fact, my niece also-"
"Ahhh before that Dr.-"
Keiki interrupts,
"For now, did you find out anything?"
"Ohh-"
She gets back on track.
"About Mizuki chan, actually..."
On the other room, Mizuki is pondering this development.
'what's up with them?'
water splashes on her face as she's lost in thought.
'suddenly arranging a check-up..'
'I don't feel sick or anything'
She sinks deeper into the water,
'could it be, these training are affecting my health somehow?'
An audible sigh echoes in the bathroom.
"I wonder if they notice something..."
She throws her head upward, lost in shower thought.
Suddenly the image of Nekomori's claw pass her mind.
"Should I... tell Dad about that...?"
Though that idea throws her deeper in her own thought as she gaze on the surface of the still water. Mulling over it.
Once Mizuki returns back down all freshened up, she sees the light in everyone's face.
"I'm glad to hear that.. maybe we overreacted"
Fuuka's voice is the first to greet her down. Her parents and the doctor is already at the door.
"It's okay. Better to detect anything early before it becomes serious"
The doctor offers her advice, and some more.
"Plus, it's a pleasure to meet Mizuki chan again after all these years"
"Speak of the devil,"
Keiki turns to Mizuki, waving for her to come close.
"Here she is, come Mii chan"
"Thanks for everything, Dr."
A bow follows her gratitude.
"Ah what a polite kid!"
Dr. Yamanaka reciprocates while reaching for the door, but then turns around
"You really do remind me of my niece"
"Ah yes yes, you mentioned her a lot"
Keiki rubs behind his head with a polite chuckle.
Before jolting a bit from Fuuka's covert light pinch.
"She sounds like a good kid"
The wife properly entertains.
"Oh wait, maybe Mizuki chan have met her"
The Dr looks upward, recalling some information.
"Her father stays near here so she also goes to Hokubu High"
'wait- Yamanaka..?'
Mizuki thought. Then spontaneously she guesses,
"Yamanaka.. Hanna-san?"
Dr. Yamanaka's eye brighten,
"Ah, you know her then"
Far from that suburb,
back in the intense forest, the kyokan is no longer erected. Daisuke is crouching near the motionless giant bat.
Its fur scattered across the field, its wing tattered and ripped. Its intimidating physique lays unresponsive on the ground.
At least for a few second until it twitches and start moving again.
Daisuke on the other hand, seems unperturbed by that development
"As I thought..."