The Succubus's Plaything

Chapter 64: Medical Checkup

Hina POV

"Hmm.. Have you been doing any excessive exercise lately?" The doctor in a white lab-coat asks, returning from the lab room.

"I can't really say that I have." While it may be true that I've been moving around a bit more than I normally do, I haven't really done anything worthy of being classified as "exercise." Is that worth mentioning?

Pushing up his glasses, he scribbles down a few notes. Honestly, for how much doctors write, I am almost convinced that it's just for show. Especially since you can't read their writing anyway.

I cross my right leg over my left, and straighten out my posture. "Is anything wrong? You know that you can give it to me straight."

He hesitates, clearly having in inner debate what to say.

"Have you then perhaps been a bit.. Overly emotional recently? Done anything to speed up your heart?"

That.. I suppose? There is no way that that could affect my health, right!? Right!?

Letting out a shaky breath, I force myself calm when I respond. "That is possible, yes."

"Ah.. I see."

"Doctor. Tell me about your evaluation."

Once more, the man before me hesitates, but then sighs once he's decided. "Ok. Your heart is still weak. Despite inhibiting all of the snow-woman genes and abilities, you live like the humans do. This means you are under a constant threat of overheating. Over the years your heart has taken an incredible strain from this, and thus you need to be careful to not put additional stress on it. But this is not anything new to you." He pauses.

"Yes.. I know all this. What is your evaluation!?" Despite the seriousness of the words coming out of the doctor's mouth, I am growing more and more impatient.

"Your heart's condition has taken a turn for the worse, and in addition to being in a growing state of exhaustion, it has begun to beat irregularly despite your pacemaker. Not enough to be currently life-threatening, but the irregularity is there and alarmingly increasing."

I feel my skin go cold, and as a subconscious reflex, I put my hands over my chest.

"This is likely to do whatever you're going through emotionally. Have you either been excited or scared a lot recently?"

Excited?.. I suppose one could call it that. Lowering my voice, I speak in a near-whisper. "There's a boy I like.."

The doctor sighs with pity. "I knew it. Forgive me for not wording this nicer, but that boy will be the end of you. Unless you remove yourself from the warm human environment, or give up on your elevated emotions, you won't last much longer."

With a jumbled up mess of emotion, I bite the inside of my cheek. This world is too cruel. How can life be so unfair?

...

I've never wanted much. Just to be normal. I know that given my family's wealth and my responsibilities as the next heir of the Oshiro Company, I will never actually achieve a normal life, but that is what I've always wanted. And of course my- "eccentric" personality doesn't help me either..

From an early age I was taught what I needed to learn by hired private teachers, which for a while I didn't mind. At the time I was content with just the idea of school. But as I grew older, my loneliness also grew with me.

Of course I wasn't actually alone, I had cousins and family to keep me company, but I never actually had any friends.

That is why, when I got older, I begged and pleaded for my parents to send me to an actual school. It took a few years, but eventually they gave in when I threatened to run away or even worse, run away and get myself pregnant.

Almost two years ago now, that is when I was finally able to go to school. And immediately after I ended up engrossed by school life and culture.

I eagerly put on the mask of the naive rich kid, and made sure that everyone liked me. It was as if I had to make up for lost time.

It wasn't long after however, when my heart condition began to show up. In the beginning I had to stop going to PE class, which honestly I was grateful for, but after a while, I was told to avoid jogging or walking quickly, and to sit down at every chance I was given.

Right now I'm at the point where my parents are seriously thinking of pulling me out of school once again.

If that happens.. I might just break.

...

"What.. are you telling me.. to do?.." Holding in my tears, I clench my pale fists tightly together.

"I assume that pulling out of school is still a no-go for you?" The doctor and I have had this particular conversation many times in the past, and he knows how much I want to stay.

I nod my head slowly.

"And your emotions are too strong to ignore?"

I nod again, this time quicker.

"Like I've said multiple times before, it really would be better for you to withdraw from school. But, for now, if you were to take two sick days a week then you should be able to survive a little longer, and hopefully even recover a little. The latter point however I am uncertain about, so you will need to come to see me once a week instead of every two weeks like previously. And also, no more warm baths or showers. Only bathe in water equal to, or cooler than your own skin temperature."

"Also, should your condition continue to worsen, I won't hesitate to inform your parents to withdraw you from school, and to hire a private tutor instead." 

He stares seriously into my eyes, and I look down in order to hide the icy tears forming in my eyes.

"Can you do this?"

"I-is this all really necessary?.."

"Yes. And nonnegotiable if you want to live past the next couple years."

"O-okay."

"Promise me that you'll follow my instructions?"

"P-promise. Could.. Could you not tell my parents about this?.."

His eyes are sad when he responds.

"I am sorry Miss. But that isn't something I can do. They are my clients after all."

-----------------

Inesa: Lupus.

Lupus: Yes?

Inesa: I've had enough. 

Lupus: Of?..

Inesa: I'm the main character! Besides Hal of course.. But I'm the first girl, best girl! Why haven't I been getting like.. ANY screen time lately!?

Lupus: Ah.. Well.. Uhm.. You got a bunch before?..

Inesa: Ages ago. 

Lupus: I'll tell you what. The next chapter you can have, is that good?

Inesa: You can do better.

Lupus: Do you want to suck blood?..

Inesa: ... 

Lupus: Just tell me! Sulking isn't going to help anyone! 

Inesa: I want character development. I feel like I've been a bit underdeveloped lately.. Hina is getting way ahead of me.. Which is not okay. 

Lupus: Ohh.. I suppose when you word it like that.. Fine. Although you do understand that I can't completely cut Hina out. But I can grant you more screen-time, or rather.. page-space going forward. Happy?

Inesa: Yes.