Beyond the Veil | Yuji

18

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
CHAPTER 18
NOBARA
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

We drive back to the institute in silence, the weight of the earlier confrontation still hanging in the air. Nanami's concern is palpable, and he insists on accompanying me to see Shoko as soon as we arrive.

"You don't need to," I start to protest, but he cuts me off with a firm look.

"You're going. No arguments," he says, his tone leaving no room for debate.

Reluctantly, I nod and follow him to the infirmary. Shoko is already there, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sees us enter. She motions for me to sit on the examination table and begins her assessment.

"Where does it hurt the most?" she asks, her hands already gently probing my sides.

"Here," I wince, pointing to my ribs. "Standing up and walking hurt like a bitch."

She nods, her expression serious as she continues her examination. After a few minutes, she steps back and looks at me with a mixture of concern and reassurance.

"You've got two cracked ribs," she concludes. "That explains the pain. I'll heal you, but you'll still feel sore for a while, and a bruise will form."

I nod, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. "Thanks, Shoko."

She smiles slightly and begins her healing process, her hands glowing with a soft, warm light. The pain lessens considerably, though a dull ache remains. When she finishes, I slump back in the bed, exhausted but grateful.

"Take it easy for a while," she advises. "No strenuous activities until the soreness goes away."

"I will," I promise, though inwardly I wonder how long that will last. Missions don't wait, and neither does danger.

Nanami stands by the door, his arms crossed, watching the entire process with a furrowed brow. "Thank you, Shoko," he says, his voice softer than usual.

"You're welcome," she replies, giving him a nod before turning back to me. "And you—be more careful next time."

"I'll try," I say with a small smile. "I wonder if I'll ever attend a mission without returning injured. That would be remarkable."

Shoko chuckles softly. "In our line of work, that's a rare occurrence. But keep improving, and who knows?"

Nanami finally steps closer, his expression softening. "You'll get there. Just take it one step at a time."

I nod, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "Yeah. One step at a time."

Nanami looks at me with a serious expression. "I'm going to report to Yaga about the mission. You should go back to your room and rest."

"I'd like to hear what you have to say about me," I say, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Since you were supposed to evaluate me."

His expression softens slightly, but his tone remains firm. "You need to rest. We'll talk about it later."

Before I can protest, he steps closer and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Rest up," he says softly. "We'll discuss everything once you're better."

His unexpected gesture leaves me momentarily speechless. I nod, feeling a warmth spread through me. "Alright. I'll go rest."

"Good," he replies, his usual stoic demeanor returning. "I'll see you later."

I salute him, a small smile playing on my lips. "See you later, Nanami."

He watches me for a moment longer, ensuring I'm heading toward my room, before turning to make his way to Yaga's office. I walk slowly, the events of the day replaying in my mind.