The hospital room smelled of disinfectant, medicine, and regret.
White walls. White sheets. White ceiling. The kind of room that made a person reflect on every life decision that led them there.
In my case, that list began with trying to weaponize mathematics using cursed energy.
Both of my arms were wrapped heavily in bandages and secured to keep movement minimal. Even the slightest twitch sent pain through my fingers like someone driving nails beneath the skin. My chest was sore from being blasted into a tree, and every breath reminded me that ribs and lungs preferred not to be used as impact absorbers.
I had drifted in and out of sleep after treatment, but when I finally woke properly, the first thing I saw was someone sitting in the chair beside the bed.
Naobito Zenin. This body's father.
He sat with one leg crossed over the other, arms folded, expression dark enough to curdle milk. There was no drink in his hand, by the way; maybe he was reading the newspaper as it was lying on his lap.
"You're awake," he said. Judging by his tone, he was disappointed.
I shifted slightly and immediately regretted it. "Unfortunately."
Naobito's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused today?"
"Emotionally or financially?"
"Don't test me."
Fair enough. I am intelligent enough not to poke at a hornet's nest.
He leaned forward, elbows on knees and his gaze dropping to the bandages around both my arms. Anger was clear on his face now.
"What," he asked slowly, "did you do for both your arms to rupture like this?"
I considered lying, then I remembered he would know if I lied, as there are not many lies that can explain the explosion that occurred in the woods, so I shrugged as much as a broken patient could shrug.
"I was experimenting with the reverse cursed technique."
"..." Then he blinked, then another.
"I had a theory," I continued. "I was checking if it worked."
The anger on his face eased almost instantly, transformed into something else entirely.
Because unlike most people, Naobito understood exactly what those words meant.
Any sorcerer worth the title knew what the Reverse Cursed Technique represented. It is the dividing line between strong and exceptional. For someone my age to even attempt it was madness. For someone my age to understand the principles enough to try?
His eyes sharpened in thought.
"Did you make any progress?" he asked.
I smirked despite the pain. "A lot."
Technically true. I had learned several important things:
One, cursed energy could explode violently when mishandled. Two, my pain tolerance was increasing. Three, I was absolutely trying again.
Inside my head, thoughts already raced.
My cursed energy reserves are collapsed right now. Once they recover, I'll attempt it again. This time I'll adjust the pressure ratio. Separate streams first, then rotational compression before contact. I'm close. I know I'm close.
Naobito studied my face for a moment and must have guessed exactly what I was thinking.
"No."
"Hm?"
"No more experiments until you heal."
"That sounds like fear talking."
"That sounds like authority talking."
I clicked my tongue.
He stood from the chair and adjusted his robe. "You'll remain admitted for one week before discharge. The doctors said movement should be minimal, especially with your hands."
"One week? I'll die of boredom first."
"If luck favors us." He turned to leave, then paused at the doorway.
Something occurred to him. "Do you want me to bring Maki and Mai here?"
I stared at him. That question coming from Naobito was so unexpected I almost checked whether I was still sedated.
He noticed my expression and snorted.
"Don't misunderstand. They've been asking."
Ah, that made more sense... Like hell it did. This old one will just ignore them, like those who were bullied on the Zenin clan premises.
I looked back at the ceiling for a moment, and then I shook my head carefully.
"No."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I'll be discharged in a week. I'll see them then." Truthfully, I didn't want them seeing me like this. Both arms wrapped like mummified sausages, flat on a bed because I blew myself up chasing a theory.
Maki would call me an idiot, and Mai would probably cry first and insult me second. Better to meet them standing. I nodded to myself.
Naobito gave a short nod. "As you wish," then he added, almost casually. "You're reckless."
"Takes one to know one."
~~~
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