Naruhito (15)
“Hey. It’s about time you wake up.”
Shaken, I opened my eyes. When did I fall asleep? I rubbed my cheek against the sensation of the futon. It feels good. I was lying face down, but my back didn’t hurt. My right hand and both feet were chained, and I was still naked, but they covered me with a futon.
“Hey, can you hear me?”
Relieved, I was about to doze off again when I was shaken once more. It was the person in the white coat from earlier. Dr. Shinobube and one more.
“Water…”
My throat was dry, so I tried to speak. It was a hoarse voice, but they seemed to hear it, and the two looked at each other.
“As expected. We can communicate, Doctor.”
“This is interesting.”
They won’t give me water, huh~?
Well, I can sleep because of the futon.
“Don’t sleep. Your fever should have gone down.”
Noisy person, I thought, but then they put a straw to my mouth. The water tasted good.
“Do you have a name?”
They placed a chair next to the bed and started talking. I have one. I won’t say it, though.
“How old are you?”
I don’t know.
“You can speak. Don’t give me that ignorant look.”
No, really, I don’t know my age.
… It somehow reminds me of the exchange with Hitachimaru. How nostalgic.
“What are you laughing about?”
An irritated voice.
Sorry.
I was remembering something fun. “I want to go home.”
“Doctor, what should we do?”
“Don’t rush, Mutsumine. We are just at the greeting stage.”
“However…”
“For now, let’s collect some blood and get a bit of skin. While examining that, why not try talking to him?”
Sounds of preparations with syringes and scalpels echoed around. Lost in thought, a pressing issue came to mind.
“Toilet.”
I tried raising my voice. If they have to remove the chains, it’ll take time. Plus, I can’t walk due to the medication. Will I make it in time?
“Eh? Huh?”
Mutsumine looked surprised.
“Toilet!”
“Ah, right, the toilet.”
In a hurry, he removed the handcuffs and ankle restraints. Hurry, hurry. Since I couldn’t put any strength in my legs, he carried me to the toilet in a cradle hold.
Well, I made it in time…
“Done.”
As I said that, a scream came from the other side of the toilet door. What, what?
“We should have collected urine too.”
Oh, right.
While Mutsumine carried me in a cradle hold again, he murmured, “You’re light, aren’t you?”
“Oh, by the way.”
“What now?”
Dr. Shinobube asked as he prepared for the blood collection.
“Doesn’t he need lunch?”
“… Indeed.”
“There’s one rice ball left. Want to eat it?”
Matsumine gently laid me on the bed face down and left. How lively.
Dr. Shinobube searched the shelf and found a gown-like outfit for patients, which he put on me.
In the corner of the room, two soldiers left behind by Sekitora continued to aim their guns with scary expressions, but Dr. Shinobube and Mutsumine seemed not to have any intention of putting the handcuffs and ankle restraints back on me.