Made Perfect

12

(YM)

Every beep of the monitor seemed to punctuate my growing unease. Each momentary silence between heartbeats marked a reminder of the risks of such an experimental surgery. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen, consumed by worry for Hinata lying motionless in the hospital bed. Well, wasn't this just the highlight of my day? Spending hours in a stuffy operating room, elbow-deep in an operation I've been dreading since I got to know the guy. All that time poking at his brain made my own exhausted. Yeah, imagine that.

Brain fog and strain swirled in my mind up until I sewed his head back into one piece. My overworked mind clicked back into a different mode as soon as Hinata's whole again, wondering if he's still himself. I knew I'd have to wait at least a day before I had my answer. Sleep helps the mind heal, after all. Our work was done for the day. All 10 hours spent in his head to give him math and language based talents. Of course, both of those affected the frontal lobe. He might be completely different when he woke up. Realistically, some things were bound to be different. He would be closer to what the old bastards wanted.

"Good work, Matsuda, Dr. Shikinami." The lack of a 'doctor' to my name was such a lovely reminder. "How long until we can wake him?" One of the committee geezers asked while us mere medical staff walked into the observation room. They were such a pain to look at. "24 hours would be the best for the amount of tinkering we did." I spat out the correct number, although I wanted to see if he was still Hinata as soon as I possibly could. The oldies nodded in almost a disappointed way. Wanting to see the same thing, but with different desired results. Tch. "Very well, you're dismissed."

With half assed goodbyes, we all left the building. All the other staff went through a back door to avoid getting seen, but not me. Since I was a student at the oh so glorious Hope's Peak, I could walk all over this place no questions asked. A solemness tugged at me with each tired step. Patiently waiting for answers, how fun... When I stepped into the blinding sunlight, it dawned on me how utterly unimportant my needs seemed to be in that room. Hungry, exhausted, and annoyed. How could this waiting period get any worse?

Just then, my cellphone rang. Exactly what I needed right now; to deal with people. The caller ID sprung out at me: "Enoshima Junko <3"...Don't ask how that heart got there. I took a breath before answering while I walked to my dorm. "What do YOU want?" I didn't waste time in formalities with her. She hated when people did anything like that, especially me. "Ooh, feisty. Is that anyway to talk to your nice little girlfriend?~ I miss you so much and you're mean right off the bat!" Her playful voice already brought a lightness to my annoyance. We messaged everyday, but calls are more rare recently. "Yeah, yeah. What do you want?" I asked a bit less harshly. Knowing her, she probably wanted someone to pester. Unlike Hinata, her pestering usually went too far too fast. At times, I couldn't help thinking about what her limits were or if any existed at all.

"I wanted to see my sweetie! I'm in town for a shoot and have a hotel room just for us~" Enoshima's voice was sing songy. I could just imagine her twirling her hair around a finger. "I just got done with a 10 hour surgery. I don't have the energy for your bullshit." Oh great, another thrilling episode of trying to wrangle her into something resembling acceptable behavior. Any of her dumbass obsession and my head might explode. Especially today. "Aww, don't be like that. Are you hungry? We could go out on a date. Come on, Yasuke! Take me out! Don't you wanna show me off in public? We make each other even hotter by association." She was the only person in my life at this point to use my first name. The familiarity tried to melt my heart when she said it, but I had to focus and keep her in check.

"...you're at a hotel. We could get room service. Don't cause a public scene around me today, Stupid." My dorm room had some fruit in it. Something easy for on the go. Fake crying that used to work on me started up as soon as I picked out an apple. "You're no fun. I just wanna spend time with you, jerk! Am I not pretty enough or something?" How ridiculous. Did she really think I'd fall for that after so long? "Oh, please, spare me the Oscar-worthy performance. I've seen better acting from a soap opera. Where are you anyway?" I took my first bite after the question came out. Her fake sniffles didn't stop as she replied. "...At the Kodaka Inn. Room 9875." I knew exactly where that was. Down the street and to the left of the school. Hm, sounds planned. What was she planning? "Fine, I'll head that way. Don't do anything stupid before I get there." I chose to continue my apple as I walk there. Yeah, it was rude or whatever, but I didn't care. I needed something before dealing with the train wreck that was Enoshima Junko.