This week.
Hayato's second visit to Chiba Hospital.
Four days had passed. The possessed man, Hirano Kenji, had already been discharged. Of the two people critically injured in the Chiba Station fire, the one with lighter injuries had regained consciousness and been transferred to a regular ward. The severely injured one was still in the ICU under monitoring, clinging to life by a thread.
According to what Hayato had gathered from the medical staff, the critical patient probably wouldn't make it. All vital signs were declining. Two days at most before the end. Maybe less.
But Hayato still hadn't triggered the game mission he'd been expecting. Nothing. No notification, no mission prompt.
First floor lobby.
Hayato sat in a secluded corner, thinking quietly. The smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils.
"Did I make the wrong judgment?"
Was it too much of a stretch to connect the two based solely on the possessed anomaly's eyes and the photo from the news, combined with the fire and the anomaly's burning?
Hayato rubbed his chin. He still felt his judgment should be correct. The pieces fit too well.
"Maybe it's a probability thing."
"Not everyone triggers an anomaly incident."
With that thought, Hayato stood up. He didn't particularly like this place with its air full of disinfectant smell anyway. The sterile atmosphere pressed down on him.
Hayato decided to head back to his apartment, read for a bit, and get some rest.
Tomorrow was Saturday. Perfect time to familiarize himself with Chiba City. Explore the area properly.
In the lobby, several young nurses in uniform appeared, chatting as they walked. Their voices carried relief and exhaustion.
"I'm so exhausted from these past few days."
"Finally get to rest properly. A day and a half off! oh my god, I'm so happy!"
A young woman in a pink nurse uniform showed a rare expression of relief. Her shoulders sagged with exhaustion.
The consecutive days of overtime work had pushed her to her mental limit. She desperately needed this break to rest and reset.
"I'm so jealous, Ren-chan."
"You got time off last week. What's there to be jealous about? I work in the ICU, it's exhausting!"
"But the pay's better!"
"I don't want that kind of salary."
Between jokes and banter, the nurses passed by Hayato. Their laughter faded as they moved toward the exit.
A faint smile slowly appeared on Hayato's calm face.
"My analysis and judgment were correct after all!"
[Ding!]
[Detected nearby personnel carrying dense anomaly aura.]
[Mission trigger conditions satisfied.]
[Mission now issued.]
[Mission Name: The Wildest Ride!]
[Mission Type: Reality - Regular Type.]
[Mission Objective: Ensure the safety of this person's life.]
[Accept?]
[If no response within 5 seconds, automatically declined.]
...
The game notification had sounded when those nurses had walked near him. The mechanical voice was clear in his mind.
Three female nurses.
One of them carried a dense anomaly aura. Besides the one who'd been working in the ICU recently, Hayato couldn't think of any other possibility among the three.
"It's her."
But from the mission content, Hayato realized that the nurse wasn't possessed by an anomaly. She simply carried a high level of anomaly aura. Like a beacon attracting moths.
This would probably attract anomalies, right?
With that thought, Hayato followed them. Keeping his distance, staying casual.
Couldn't lose track of her.
"Nurses really do live up to their reputation. With that uniform bonus, they're definitely more attractive."
Hayato muttered a comment or two before suppressing his wandering thoughts. Focus.
A few minutes later.
The nurses came out one after another. The three walked together, their conversation continuing.
Hayato had assumed they'd stay together all the way to the station to catch the train, but right at the hospital entrance, they parted ways. Hayato followed the nurse, who headed off alone in a different direction. She waved goodbye to her colleagues before turning down a quieter street.
"Tap tap..."
Soft footsteps echoed continuously as the nurse walked. Her bag swung at her side.
As a nurse in the municipal hospital's ICU, Nanase Ren dealt with high work pressure and a busy daily schedule. But she still faced advances and confessions from men. Doctors, patients' family members, and even random people on the street. She'd initially volunteered for the ICU to avoid these situations, though that goal hadn't been fully achieved.
"Haa..."
"Rest well tomorrow and the day after."
Just thinking about sleeping in tonight made her genuinely happy. A smile tugged at her lips.
But...
Suddenly, Nanase Ren spun around. The view ahead was completely empty. No one was there. Just shadows and streetlights.
"My imagination?"
Nanase Ren had this feeling she was being followed. A prickling sensation at the back of her neck.
"I think I heard something about... a young woman kidnapping case happening around Chiba a few days ago."
She grew more anxious and picked up her pace. Her heart hammered in her chest.
Along the way, Nanase Ren turned around several times but never saw anyone. She figured she was probably overthinking it, being paranoid. Just tired and stressed.
When she turned back around, Nanase Ren suddenly jumped and couldn't stop herself in time. She almost crashed right into the man in front of her. He'd appeared out of nowhere.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
She immediately bowed her head in apology, automatic and deeply ingrained.
"An apology? You almost ran into me!"
The shady-looking guy looked her up and down, his eyes taking on an unfriendly glint. Predatory and leering.
"Miss, if you want me to forgive you, it's simple. Just have dinner with us guys. How about it?"
Nanase Ren realized there were two more men behind him. They'd surrounded her.
From their appearance alone, they were obviously delinquents.
Nanase Ren instinctively stepped back, trying to create distance. But the delinquents had no intention of letting this pretty girl go.
"Come have a drink with us."
"We definitely won't hurt you."
Nanase Ren felt increasingly uncomfortable. Why did this have to happen today of all days? Her breath came quick and shallow.
Run.
She turned and immediately bolted, but the delinquents were faster and blocked her path. Hands grabbed at her.
She was surrounded.
"Hey..."
Hayato appeared at that moment. His voice cut through the tension.
Hayato looked at these three delinquents with confusion.
Was this the crisis the nurse had to face? This didn't look anything like an anomaly event...
"Kid, don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
Seeing that Hayato had absolutely no intention of leaving, the nearest delinquent immediately threw a punch.
"Heh, weakling!" Hayato smirk.
"Ahhhhh..."
The delinquent clutched his stomach and crouched down, wailing in pain. The sound echoed off nearby buildings.
The other two looked over, eyes blazing with anger.
"Go to hell, kid!"
One even pulled out a knife. The blade glinted under the streetlight.
But in the blink of an eye, both of them were on the ground, screaming like pigs being slaughtered. Pathetic sounds that grated on the ears.
Nanase Ren immediately realized she'd been saved. Relief flooded through her.
She smiled at Hayato, gratitude blooming in her chest.
"Thank you..."
But after speaking, her heart jumped. She recognized Hayato. Wasn't this the guy wearing a mask she'd seen in the hospital lobby every day!?
Why was this guy here?
Instinctively, Nanase Ren turned and ran. Her nursing instincts screamed danger.
At that moment, Nanase Ren spotted Bus Route 18 slowly pulling into the stop and quickened her pace even more. Once she got on the bus, she'd be safe. Away from this stalker.
That guy was a stalker following her!
Though, since when did Route 18 have a stop here?
"Hey! Wait....!"
----
Nanase Ren Illust on the comment section in this chapter.