Yuuki Asuna had been just about to complete her discharge paperwork when she unexpectedly learned this piece of information.
Among the information Black Cat had given her was the story of a pair of twin sisters whose circumstances were equally tragic.
Black Cat had told her that if she ever woke up—and if there was still time—she should use the Panacea to save them.
According to Black Cat, the older sister might not survive until the end of the year.
The moment Asuna remembered this, she immediately wanted to rush to the hospital where the sisters were being treated.
Unfortunately, Black Cat's information had been too vague. All Asuna knew was that they were receiving treatment at a hospital in Yokohama. There were far too many hospitals in the city to search them one by one.
Even knowing their real names wouldn't help much. Hospitals didn't casually disclose patient information because of privacy laws.
With 6O's hacking abilities, however, they probably could have found them.
The problem was that by the time Asuna remembered, 6O and Kain had already left to search for Kayaba Akihiko.
Then, just as she was preparing to complete her discharge procedures, Asuna happened to overhear a doctor mention that a pair of sisters had been temporarily transferred to this hospital because of unusual circumstances.
The hospital had only recently acquired a specialized medical device: a medical-grade FullDive machine called the Medicuboid.
It generated electromagnetic pulses several times stronger than those produced by an ordinary VR headset, allowing it to completely block the signals traveling from the nerves to the brain and eliminate the patient's pain.
It was generally used in palliative care for terminally ill patients.
The moment Asuna heard the sisters' surname and learned they were twins, she immediately asked for more details.
They truly were the sisters she had been looking for.
After learning which floor their room was on, Asuna hurried there at once.
She still didn't know the exact room number when she arrived, but then she noticed a girl of about thirteen or fourteen standing outside one of the rooms. Asuna instinctively felt that this had to be the person she was searching for.
She quickly approached her.
"Um, hello. My name is Yuuki Asuna."
Asuna's sudden introduction startled the girl. She had been so focused on watching her older sister through the transparent glass wall that she hadn't noticed anyone approaching.
"H-Hello. I'm Konno Yuuki."
Yuuki introduced herself in return, her voice restrained and noticeably timid.
Her gaze shifted toward the person standing behind Asuna, and her unease became even more pronounced.
That must be Miss 2B.
2B hadn't left with the others. She had remained at Asuna's side.
"This is Miss 2B, and this is my little sister, Yui," Asuna introduced them.
"Hello, Big Sister!"
"Hello."
Yuuki responded gently to the adorable little girl.
"Is the person inside...?"
"She's my older sister."
After answering, Yuuki said nothing more.
She simply stared sorrowfully at the sister lying inside the machine.
Her sister didn't have much time left. Soon, Yuuki would be all alone.
The device her sister was lying inside—the Medicuboid—allowed her to move around in a virtual world with a healthy body.
Then Yuuki noticed something.
Her sister was about to wake up from the virtual world.
And this would most likely be the final time she ever awakened.
At that realization, a terrible pain tightened around Yuuki's heart.
Ordinarily, no one was allowed to enter the sterile room without authorization. The fact that it had now been opened meant that maintaining a sterile environment was no longer necessary.
They were letting Yuuki say her final goodbye to her sister.
Yuuki started toward the door, but her legs suddenly gave out beneath her. She nearly collapsed before someone caught and steadied her.
"Thank you."
"Let me help you."
"N-No, you don't have to. I can walk by myself."
Seeing Yuuki panic and shy away from physical contact, Asuna understood the reason.
She was afraid she might accidentally transmit the virus to Asuna.
It wasn't something that could spread so easily, but Yuuki's reaction was enough to show what a kindhearted girl she was.
"May I come inside with you?" Asuna asked.
"Huh?"
Yuuki stared wide-eyed at the girl who was several years older than her. She could see genuine concern in Asuna's eyes.
Come to think of it, Asuna was wearing a hospital gown as well.
Could she also be suffering from a terminal illness like them?
The thought gave Yuuki a sense of kinship with her.
"Okay."
After receiving permission, Asuna followed Yuuki inside. They passed through an antechamber before entering the sterile room itself.
Naturally, several doctors were present. When Yuuki explained that Asuna and the others were friends of hers and her sister, they didn't ask any further questions.
One of the doctors gave Asuna a few additional glances, probably recognizing her as one of the hospital's long-term patients.
When they reached the bed where Yuuki's older sister was lying, Asuna felt her heart twist painfully at the sight.
Although the hospital gown concealed most of the girl's body, it was still obvious how badly her condition had deteriorated. Asuna couldn't begin to imagine how much pain she had endured.
"I'm so sorry, Yuuki. Your sister can't..."
Asuna watched silently, growing more anxious by the second. Her grip tightened around the thermos in her hands.
She wanted to immediately give Konno Aiko some water mixed with the Panacea, but she needed an excuse. Offering it without any explanation would be far too suspicious.
No—she couldn't keep hesitating.
If she waited any longer, it might be too late.
"Um... Would you like something to drink? It might make your throat feel better."
Asuna quickly seized upon the excuse and held out her thermos.
Please agree. Please agree. Don't question it.
She stared hopefully at Aiko.
"Yes, please."
The older sister agreed. Asuna was about to step forward and help her drink when she noticed Yuuki tense up beside her.
She stopped and handed the thermos to Yuuki instead.
"Thank you."
Yuuki thanked her, slowly unscrewed the lid, and carefully brought it to her sister's lips before gently tilting it.
"Hmm?"
"It's warm milk," Asuna explained. "It should soothe your throat."
She had mixed the medicine with water first. Otherwise, Yuuki would certainly have realized that something was strange.
Even if she mistook it for yogurt, this wasn't exactly an appropriate time to eat something like that.
After Aiko drank only a few mouthfuls, Asuna began staring at her even more intently.
Drink some more!
Aiko had originally planned to stop after taking a few sips. However, the girl who had brought the warm milk was looking at her with such obvious concern—and seemed so hopeful that she would drink more—that Aiko decided to take several more sips.
Strangely enough, drinking should have been exhausting for her, yet her body felt a little lighter with every swallow.
The warm milk didn't seem to be soothing only her throat. It was making her entire body feel better.
After drinking about half of it, she finally stopped.
"Yuuki, you should have some too. Look at your lips—they're so dry they've started cracking."
Under Asuna's expectant gaze, Yuuki took one tiny sip.
That was all?
Would such a small sip be enough to have any effect?
Still, Aiko was the immediate priority. She was already in the final stages of her illness and close to death.
Could the Panacea truly cure even someone in her condition?
"Mm...?"
"Big Sister?"
Yuuki had just returned the thermos when her sister suddenly began acting strangely.
Had she finally reached her limit?
"Yuuki, my body feels uncomfortable. It's itchy."
Aiko began squirming and raised a hand to scratch herself.
As she lifted her arm, her sleeve slid down, revealing patches on her skin that were beginning to peel away.
And was that blood?
Within moments, blood seeping from Aiko's body began darkening her hospital gown. Yuuki's expression changed drastically.
"Doctor—!"
Before she could finish shouting, the doctors rushed into the room. They stared in astonishment at the abnormal fluctuations appearing on the medical instruments.
A short while later, Asuna stood helplessly outside an operating room.
"Asuna, come here!"
Yuuki Kyouko, who had gone to complete her daughter's discharge procedures, called Asuna over to a deserted corner.
She had already noticed the intense guilt and anxiety in her daughter's eyes.
Whatever had happened to the child inside the operating room, Asuna appeared to be involved.
"Tell me what happened."
"I-I was only trying to..."
Asuna told her mother exactly what she had done.
"You—! That was unbelievably reckless!"
Kyouko wanted to give her daughter a severe scolding, but seeing the state Asuna was in, she swallowed the rest of her words.
How could Asuna simply assume that this medicine, which was supposedly capable of curing almost every disease, would also work here?
Her daughter had been far too impulsive.
Suddenly, the light above the operating-room doors turned green, and a doctor hurried outside.
Kyouko immediately approached him.
Even though the patient had already been near the end of her life, Kyouko was still Asuna's mother. If her daughter's actions had caused anything to happen, then she bore responsibility as well.
To her surprise, the doctor immediately asked for permission to examine the twins' younger sister and began urgently questioning them about what had happened.
The eventual findings left Kyouko stunned.
Asuna's medicine truly appeared to have worked.
But Kyouko also realized that they now faced an enormous problem.
A medicine capable of restoring a terminal cancer patient on the verge of death to full health was beyond extraordinary. If its existence became public knowledge, it would unleash a storm beyond anything they could imagine.
Her daughter was in serious trouble now.
(End of Chapter)
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