Working With Phantoms

Forgotten Hope

June 28th

Suga's POV

Suga sat at the lunch table beside Madran in complete silence. She hoped that her silence wouldn't prompt Madran to ask if she was stressed about what happened yesterday, as she was still trying to digest what Shadow Wysteria had said, and how Wysteria swapped from pleading her shadow to stop to having a polite yet gun-filled debate with her.

"I just can't get over it. Like, I mean, did something possess her?"

"I hate Mondays. Not only are you still trying to get used to the day being at school again after you've just gotten used to being at home, but you also suddenly learn twenty million things at once. Tensei? Universe? Dying? How the hell are we supposed to keep up with all of this?"

"We don't. I swear, my life has been a bit of a rollercoaster since I awakened to you and changed Proctora's heart. Now, this little group I've gotten involved with is suddenly the hottest thing in Japan, and there have just been way too many factors at once."

"Indeed. I just hope that we can live normally for the next few months until the hype around us dies down a bit."

"Suga, is everything ok?"

"Isn't it funny?"

"Huh?"

Everyone looked at Suga.

"I'm on the verge of having my life completely ruined, and yet, I'm not freaking out about it. This major role in my life is just going... poof."

Suga snapped her fingers.

"Do we need to get a therapist or something?"

Suga looked at Haru.

"Oh, no, I'm fine for now."

"That's the thing. 'For now.' Trust me, I can fully fund a half year of counseling for you."

"Eh, I got through the Proctora thing fine."

"Suga, you aren't taking this seriously. You got through the Proctora incident because your mind gave you several slaps on the cheek and I dragged you into my business because three people were like, 'hey, Madran, go help your friend.' Suga, we have to do something about this and not just laugh about it."

"What can we do? both of the Wysterias are like, 'well, since I had apathy syndrome for basically a decade and a half, everything in my body just can't function as well and I'm a ticking time bomb waiting to fall over.'"

"You're awfully pessimistic. Do you even know what's wrong with her?"

"Yeah. Several doctors that examined Wysteria told her that her major organs were rapidly deteriorating, but ' we couldn't diagnose it, so just try this random drug for some time,' bla bla."

"Couldn't they at least put her on life support?"

"Mom refused it, so they did what they do best and started prescribing things."

"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday, while we were in school. Then, mom's all freaked out when her shadow decided to cut the bullshit and tell us what was going on."

"Suga, this might just be me, but..."

Morgana sighed.

"I think your mom has bipolar."

"Ya think? If I had a shot for every time she goes from kind old lady to freaky detective lady, I'd be as high as the ISS."

"So, it's diagnosed?"