Beyblade Burst Adventures

Asylum Eleven, Part 2

In which Valt's time at Beigoma Hospital and Mental Institution continues, and there's a noticable change in some of the patients that may be caused by his arrival- and by a comfort they may feel from his innocent, kind aura.
Meanwhile, Valt remembers a crucial detail and has to relive the loss of his parents once more. (Inspired by Fran Bow. The names of Japanese characters are in reverse order.)

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"Hey, Valt... Sorry about yesterday." Cuza murmurs to me, frowning as Carl ducks his head.

"It's... It's not your fault. I'm sorry for running off." I mumble back.

"You don't need to be sorry, honestly. A lot of people get really scared when they hear what Shu did."

I look around the institute's cafeteria, spotting Shu sitting at a table in the far back. He's alone for a moment, then Kristina sits by him and they start talking about something. Everyone else's chatter and stuff are making it hard for me to hear them, though.

"A-And, um... Don't get mad, b-but I kinda asked Doctor Kitaniji what happened to you... And now I can understand even better why you freaked."

I look back to Cuza and shrug. "I don't care if you know. Everyone else probably will, eventually... Since everyone seems to know a lot about everyone."

"Heh, yeah..." He rubs the back of his neck, offering a shaky smile. "We're all pretty tight knit, even with the newer arrivals like Ken. I-I mean, Wakiya kinda isn't really close with anyone, but that's because he pushes us all away no matter how hard we try to include him... I don't get why, though..."

I bite my lip a little as my gaze falls, then whisper to him. "Wakiya said yesterday that a lot of the kids here were crazy... Then he said he isn't. Maybe that has something to do with it? Like... Maybe he's scared of people thinking he's crazy?"

I lift my gaze, finding Cuza and Carl staring at me with wide eyes. "Oh. My. Gods. That's gotta be it!" Cuza shouts, and Carl flaps his wings and squawks.

"You did it! Rawrk!"

"I gotta tell Doctor Glass- o-oh, but I don't want you sitting alone..." Cuza frowns, then he begins to turn in circles and look around the room. "Oh, you could sit with Kristi- wait, no, scratch that. Ummm... Uuuuuummmmm..." I stops circling and faces me, then he looks behind me and chirps. "Oh, Lui!"

I look over my shoulder, seeing Lui being pushed into the room on a wheelchair by a doctor I don't recognize. He looks like he's not having a good day. "Hey, Cuza. What's up?"

"Do you mind if Valt chills with you for a bit? I gotta go talk to Doctor Glass!"

"Sure." Lui shrugs, and the doctor makes a face.

"Wait, what's going on?" He asks. "Is everything okay?"

"Uh-huh! I just got a lead on Wakiya's buggy attitude!" Cuza says, jumping a little before running out of the cafeteria.

"Cuza!" The doctor shouts, going down the hall after him and calling. "You're not supposed to run!"

I frown a bit as their voices fade, then I go over to Lui and hold into the handles of the wheelchair. "Where do you wanna sit?"

"It doesn't really matter. But hey, there's a spot in the corner that looks pretty empty." I stand on my toes to see where he's pointing. It's a table near the corner, and no one else is sitting at it.

"Okie doke!" I chirp, beginning to push the wheelchair in that direction. It's a little hard to see, but I'm managing. Along the way I hear Lui heave a heavy sigh as he slumps into the chair, then I ask. "Are you alright?"