Rhodes Island's Psychologist

Ch 94: Unexpected Entry

Lin Yie gets up.

He's late again.

"So what happened last night?" Ansel asks, "You have wound all over your body again."

Lin Yie sighs.

He slept in again.

Ansel says softly, "People would think you have night shifts if they don't know you."

Lin Yie says, "Maybe I should turn the volume to max."

"I already did that for you," Ansel sounds irritated, "But you didn't even wake up, alright. If it weren't for your injuries, I would have woken you up myself."

Lin Yie looks at his wounds. It seems Ansel applied some medicinal cream on him when he was sleeping. He smiles, "Thanks for treating my wounds."

Ansel rolls his eyes, "Why don't you tell me what you did last night? Weren't you learning how to use a sword? How did you end up like this?"

"I overdid it," Lin Yie smiles bitterly, "Or maybe, I was just suicidal."

"Suicidal?"

"Uhm. I asked Yato to fight me earnestly to see how different our skills are."

"I bet you didn't stand a chance."

"Oh, come on. Yato said I have high pain tolerance."

Ansel is speechless, "That's not something you should be proud of."

Lin Yie chuckles.

"So are you going to have your ass kicked every night?" Ansel says, "I saw Melantha's training with Yato. It wasn't like yours."

"Well, I bet I'm the worst student she's had," Lin Yie smiles, "That's why I need to work hard."

Ansel shakes his head, "Honestly, I don't understand why you are doing this."

Lin Yie puts on his clothes and the sword, "Thanks again for your help. I will buy you lunch next time."

Ansel says, "No need. Since you decided, I won't treat your wounds again. Medicine isn't cheap."

Lin Yie brushes his teeth and washes his face before leaving his dorm room. He was supposed to buy Nightingale breakfast, but he forgot again. Is this his second or third time? He can't tell.

He was venting his frustration on Yato last night, and Yato didn't disappoint. Even though she held back, she still nearly beat him to death.

Of course, he isn't a masochist. Yato told him that her strength is just enough to fight one Sarkaz warrior. Fighting two at once is impossible for her. That's why he asked her to fight him earnestly to gauge how powerful a Sarkaz warrior is. Now he knows. And he also has a better understanding of how powerless he really is.

He promised Shining that he will save Nightingale, but he can't even beat one Sarkaz warrior, not to mention there is more than one in that tunnel.

...

Lin Yie knocks on Nightingale's door. Hibiscus opens it for him. She tells him that Shining left this morning. Nightingale is waiting for him in the room.

"Liz..."

Nightingale is sitting on a window sill and looking out of the window.

Lin Yie thinks he needs to apologize, but Nightingale gestures to him to be quiet.

He whispers, "What's wrong?"

She points at a branch outside, "There."

Lin Yie looks towards where she is pointing.

There is a bird on the branch. He doesn't know what it is called. It might even be native to Terra.

Lin Yie whispers, "How long have you looked at it?"

Nightingale shakes her head, "I don't know."

"Are you going to my office?"

"Yes," Nightingale says, "But I also want to sleep."

"Are you tired?"

Nightingale rubs her eyes, "Last night... I was chatting with Shining Onee-san... I didn't sleep."

Lin Yie asks nervously, "What did you two talk about?"

"I can't remember..."

"Alright, why don't you go to bed then?"

"Because Pineapple Bun said he would be here this morning..."

"..."

Nightingale says softly, "I'm tired, so tired. I want to sleep, but I can't, so I watch that bird sleep."

It sounds so illogical, but Lin Yie feels more guilty now.

He only missed an appointment, but it feels like he destroyed the world.

"I'm sorry," He places his hand on Nightingale's shoulder, "Tomorrow, I definitely won't be late again, so sleep."

"..."

Nightingale doesn't answer him. She fell asleep.

Lin Yie sighs.

When he is about to carry her to her bed, he feels a familiar chill down his spine.

Fuck!

Lin Yie realizes he just made a big mistake, but it's already too late.

Once again, he's in the tunnel.