𝗖𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗 ᝰ bnha

15 | change of heart

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHANGE OF HEART

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

The faint beeping of a heart monitor was the first thing you registered as consciousness slowly crept back in. Your head felt heavy, like it was stuffed with cotton, and the sterile scent of antiseptics stung your nose. A dull ache radiated through your body, but it wasn't unbearable. Blinking sluggishly, the blurry outlines of a hospital room came into focus.

Your throat feels dry, and the effort to move even a finger sends a wave of soreness cascading through you. You glance around weakly, noting the IV in your arm and the machines at your bedside quietly tracking your vitals.

The door creaks open, and your gaze sluggishly shifts toward it. A familiar figure steps inside, his dark hair as disheveled as ever, his expression unreadable behind the bandages wrapped around his face.

Your teacher.

Right behind him, a nurse enters, holding a clipboard tucked against her chest, her eyes widening slightly when she sees you awake. She turns to the doorway, calling out, "Doctor, she's conscious!"

A doctor strides in next, his white coat swishing slightly as he approaches your bedside. He stops beside the heart monitor, briefly checking the readings before shifting his attention to you.

"Good to see you awake," he says, flipping through the clipboard the nurse hands him. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore."

The doctor nods, making a note before looking at you again. "That's to be expected. You took quite a beating." He glances at Aizawa, then back at you. "We're going to run a few cognitive tests, just to make sure everything is functioning properly. Nothing too stressful."

The doctor clears his throat. "Let's start with something simple. Can you tell me your name?"

You swallow, the dryness in your throat making it difficult to speak, but you manage to rasp out, "[L/N] [Name]."

"Good. And do you remember where you are?"

You glance around the white-walled room, noting the machines hooked up to you, the crisp hospital gown you're wearing. "...A hospital," you answer, your voice stronger this time.

The doctor hums in approval, flipping a page on the clipboard. "Do you remember what happened before you got here?"

Your chest tightens. Flashes of memory surge forward. It all slams into you at once, leaving you breathless.

Your fingers twitch against the sheets as you force yourself to answer. "We were attacked..."

Aizawa's jaw tightened. The doctor exchanges a glance with the nurse before nodding again. "Okay. It appears you have a strong recollection of the event. Now, can you tell me today's date?"

You blink. That one stumps you. How long have you been here?

"...I don't know," you admit, your voice quieter now.

The doctor doesn't seem surprised, only making another note. "That's alright. You were unconscious for thirty-five hours. Some disorientation is normal." He clicks his pen shut and offers you a small, reassuring smile. "Your memory seems intact, which is a very good sign. You should be able to recover with rest."

You exhale a breath you didn't realize you were holding. Jesus, when you do the math, you're practically knocked out for a day and a half. The exhaustion creeps back in, but you push past it, shifting your gaze back to the doctor. "... How bad was it?"