Tide Between Two Worlds

The Truth Is Out

       At a local clinic just outside of downtown Mushiyori City, Shuichi walked through the halls of doctor offices and examination rooms along with his mother and an assistant nurse. The area might as well be a spaceship considering how freshly waxed and clean the vinyl flooring was highlighted by the warm-toned, pastel colored walls emphasized by LED lighting. Framed posters detailed Information on the how the eyes work, what happens to a woman when she's either pregnant or going through menstruation, the digestive system, the skeletal and muscular system, what the brain is like in it's depressive state, the different stages of infancy and childhood, and what to do in an emergency mingled with abstract artwork to serve as medical wallpaper so to speak.

Mother and son were escorted into an examination room after going through the basics. Initial measurements concluded that Shuichi had grown a couple of centimeters taller, two kilograms heavier, a straightened spine that healed itself from all the swimming he's done, and was in the green in terms of body temperature, breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and eye, ear, and throat functions. In other words, Shuichi was developing the way a teenager should.

The room was standard. The examination bed had a fresh, recently added bedsheet on it sitting in the corner with a medical gown hanging on the curtain frame waiting for its next user. On the opposite wall were more framed posters covering child development and puberty for boys and girls. That area was where the doctor will take his place as the desk came complete with a personal computer, a couple of medical journals and binders, and a standard desk chair. Shiori claimed the second seat next to a storage cabinet that contained basic medical equipment such as cotton swabs, gauze, tongue sticks, medical gloves, bottles of rubbing alcohol and iodine, and disinfectant wipes for both the surface and hands. Shuichi took advantage of the examination bed, lying down as if he was exhausted after removing his school-issued jacket. Shiori watched it all with motherly concern.

       "Shuichi, what is it?"

       Shuichi simply shook his head in silence, "Nothing, mother. I'm not a fan of the doctor."

       "I know but it's for your own good. How about this? Afterwards, we can pick up a few things from the convenience store for us and your father. How about it?"

       Shuichi mumbled, "Hmpf. Father..."

The doctor stepped in with Shuichi's chart clutched on a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other. After introducing himself and greeting both mother and son, it was time for the last of the physical checkup. The doctor was well into late middle age and was mostly an expert in pediatric care. Informed of Shuichi's extracurricular activities, the doctor checked his patient for conditions such as swimmer's ear and stiff joints. Shuichi was A-okay from all of it.

       Positioned at the desk, the doctor conducted this appointment as if it was another day at the office, "Alright. What seems to be the problem?"

       "My son told me about a bruise and a bite mark on his leg," Shiori said, "On his right leg to be specific."

       That broke Shuichi's concentration, My right leg? How did you know? I never said it was my right leg, much less, my leg at all.

       The doctor turned to Shuichi, "Is that true?"

       "Well..." Shuichi uttered, "yes but the bruise isn't an issue. It went away after a day."

       "A day? How bad was it?"

       "It was quite noticeable, maybe...the size of an orange?"

       "And you said it lasted a day?"

       "Yes, sir."

       "What about this bite mark your mother mentioned?"