Drowning in the swamp of memories

Resilience

I woke up, fully healed in just three hours, feeling sore despite having no visible injuries. It didn't make sense - was this really the kind of exhaustion my gran-gran Katara's ability brought with it? I thought back to when Kai had once called me "weak as an ant." But no, that couldn't be right. I was tough as a rock, obviously. With a sigh, I turned to Yosano, who was busy jotting down notes.

"Yosano-san," I started, rubbing my temples, "why am I so drained when I wasn't even that injured?"

She looked up, studying me. "Your body is still adapting to the strain of your ability, Mizuki. It's not weak, per se, just... not quite used to handling the energy yet."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear. The way she said it made it sound like I was breakable - me, breakable? Unbelievable. I could practically hear Kai's mocking voice in the back of my head, "Like an ant, huh?"

As I huffed in response, Azouzou shot me a look from Yosano's lap, the sort that clearly read, "You disappointed me." I threw up my hands.

"I hate these hospital clothes," I muttered, tugging at the baggy kimono. I got up, not hesitating for a second as I shed the top layer, leaving only the white tank beneath and a pair of loose blue hospital pants. It wasn't revealing - at least not to me, since I barely filled it out.

Yosano just smiled, a little amused. "You remind me of myself when I was younger, Mizuki. Reckless, completely clueless, and always thinking you're indestructible."

"Hey, I am indestructible," I retorted, grabbing Azouzou. With a last, dramatic wave, I charged out like a kid on a mission. "Later, Yosano!"

Outside, I spotted the kid from the hostage situation - the "hostage." That little rascal was just sitting there, like none of this was his fault. I stomped over, reaching out to give him a smack on the back of his neck. "You bastard! Do you have any idea the crap you just put me through? Hospital clothes, exhaustion, the works! A little responsibility, huh?"

The kid blinked, looking up at me with wide eyes. "Oh! I'm really sorry, Mizuki-san!" He bowed deeply, and I had to look closer. He was short, with golden hair, brown eyes - no more than fourteen, but the kid was polite, I'd give him that.

"Uh-huh," I muttered, reluctantly patting him on the head. Trying to look heroic, I stared off at the wall, sighing deeply. Then, in a voice that felt a little too innocent, he said, "You're really short too, Mizuki-san... Actually, I think you're a bit shorter than me."

I froze, turning slowly to give him my best death glare. "Oh, you think that's funny, huh?"

He blinked, oblivious. "It's not a bad thing! Just... surprising?"

"Surprising? You want surprising?" And before he knew it, I was whacking him on the head again. "Think very carefully before speaking next time."

I watched him rubbing his head, then grinned. I couldn't help it. "Alright, kid. You're my new best friend now. The enemy of today is the friend of tomorrow or something like that."

Kenji looked at me, his brow furrowed. "Uh, I think it's 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' Mizuki-san."

"Whatever," I shrugged, ruffling his hair. "Close enough."

Just then, Dazai slinked into the room, smiling like a fox who'd found a henhouse. "Ah, Mizuki-chan, you're back on your feet! Looking particularly petite today."

My eyebrow twitched. With as much dignity as I could muster, I walked over and whacked him too, straight across the shoulder. "Petite this, you creep."

Kunikida, of course, was already annoyed by the entire exchange. "Enough! Mizuki-san, you've barely been back a day, and already you're causing chaos."