Why Did You Save Me?
Why did I save her? It wasn't a question worth deep contemplation.
"How could a doctor ignore someone dying right in front of him? Save first, ask questions later."
Even setting aside Sato Kenji's professional ethics, this was sincere.
"Anyone would have done the same. I just happened to have the skills to save you."
The kunoichi's eyes wavered for a moment. Then she lowered her gaze, her expression complicated.
"But... as you know, I'm a ninja. Unlike you, I kill people."
She'd been using you informally until just now, but switched to you politely. Not a bad change.
Even if she kills people... murder's pretty common in the Hunter world anyway.
I didn't feel much revulsion. It might sound selfish, but as long as that blade wasn't pointed at me, I didn't care.
I answered nonchalantly.
"I guessed from the wounds. Didn't expect ninjas to still exist in this era, though."
Still, I voiced some curiosity about ninjas. Acting completely uninterested might raise suspicion. The original protagonist had asked similar questions.
The kunoichi shot back as if she couldn't comprehend.
"Then why save me if you knew? The life you saved might take many more."
"Well..."
I instinctively sensed it. This was a turning point.
...Gotta choose my words carefully.
The original story had no such conversation. It just showed their relationship developing sporadically after time passed since saving her.
What would Kenji say?
I shook my head after a moment's thought.
I couldn't keep following the original protagonist forever. I was Yoon Jiseung before I was Sato Kenji.
If I planned to build a story with her from here, I needed to show her who I was—not some fabricated line.
"Truth is, I don't have some grand mission to save as many lives as possible. If I did, I'd be doing medical aid in war zones."
I'd been half-forced into this world as a tutorial for my abilities, but I was staying to see a better ending. Blindly mimicking Kenji's actions wasn't the way.
"You collapsed in front of my house, looked in bad shape, so I treated you. That's all."
The kunoichi still watched me with a subtle expression. Not convinced yet?
"...Still, if the person I saved goes around killing indiscriminately, it'd hurt a bit."
I added it casually, pressing my forehead with a wry face—just in case. She startled and jumped.
"I- Indiscriminately killing people? I'm not some psycho murderer of innocents!"
I smiled inwardly.
That was the right answer.
Feigning ignorance, I tilted my head and asked her.
"Then who do you kill?"
She hesitated briefly before answering.
"...Only targets assigned by the clan."
"I see. What kind of people become targets?"
"Clan's enemies or clients the family head accepts. I've heard we reject requests targeting innocents."
Once the dam broke, she explained without hesitation.
"So targets are mostly from that world, right?"
"That... world?"
"The underworld. Groups breaking laws or doing shady stuff."
She thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah. Nothing to do with ordinary people."
"Then no problem."
I started rewrapping the loosened bandage.
"I'm not that narrow-minded."
"......"
She obediently let me apply fresh gauze and tie it off. Seemed used to my touch now.
"Let's head to the hospital. You heard the call earlier, right?"
"Yeah. But..."
"It's fine. I'm the director there. No need to worry about ID."
I secured the final knot and pulled my hands away.
"If scans show no internal damage and anemia's mild, no need for admission. Rest at my place and take meds properly."
A ninja wouldn't have legit ID. The original story had issues with that—I knew it well.
But she said something unexpected.
"Not that... I just feel like I'm imposing too much..."
"Ah."
From her perspective, yeah. I knew her fate and was acting to change it, but she had no clue.
A strange man suddenly treats her, takes her to hospital, offers his home. Suspicion was natural.
I chose my words carefully before speaking.
"Don't call it imposing. Treating the patient and ensuring recovery is the doctor's job. Abandoning midway and something going wrong—that'd bother me more."
"But..."
"Just rest easy and get treated for now. We'll worry about later, later. Gotta live to do that."
I shrugged casually. She stared silently, then nodded faintly.
"Got it. I'll repay this debt."
Her tone was too serious. I scratched my cheek, feeling like I'd made it a big deal.
"No need to sound so grave."
"Ninjas don't forget favors or grudges."
"Why bring up grudges?"
"Both are important."
Ninja thinking was a bit off from normal folks. But she wasn't refusing treatment anymore—that was enough for now.
"Great for me then. Let's prep for the hospital. We're running late."
I slid my arms under her back and knees, lifting her effortlessly.
"Eek!"
"...Isn't that scream too cute for a ninja?"
"Sh- Shut up! I was just surprised..."
She averted her eyes, voice shrinking. I chuckled softly and adjusted my hold.
"Just till the parking lot. Walking now could reopen wounds."
"I can walk myself."
"Doctor decides that."
"......"
Unable to argue, she shut up. But even cradled, her face held resolve.
"I'll repay the favor."
"No need to take it so seriously."
"No money, but... I'll repay somehow."
Her voice held no tremor.
Somehow...?
A scene from the original flashed in my mind. I coughed awkwardly and headed to the garage.
We arrived at the hospital just past eight. With Reiko's help, the kunoichi finished checks quickly.
Luckily, few patients today—I reviewed her results fast.
"No major issues."
I looked at the chart.
"No internal organ damage, major vessels spared. Anemia's down but not transfusion-level."
She exhaled softly.
"What now?"
"Rest, eat, sleep till healed. Results good—no admission needed."
"...Really okay at your place?"
"Told you. Big empty house, plenty of rooms."
I shifted topics to keep her from overthinking.
"Side's involved in breathing, so no straining for a while."
"How long...?"
"Absolute rest minimum week. Stitches out in ten days to two weeks."
Her face stiffened.
"That long?"
"Even post-stitches, not fully healed. Walking okay in days, but running or twisting—month minimum. Full recovery: two months."
"Such..."
She bit her lip.
Young and healthy, she might heal faster. But I didn't mention it.
If fully recovered, she'll vanish without a word. Bad end route. Must prevent clan return somehow.
No sabotaging meds to slow recovery, though. If she failed a mission later, I didn't want it blamed on me.
Ways to keep her home would come later. I set the med bag on the desk.
"Painkillers, antibiotics. Take as prescribed. I'll change bandages at home—need disinfection, monitoring."
She eyed the bag, lips moving faintly.
"...Thanks."
"Hm? What?"
Voice too quiet. She shook her head and asked.
"What's your name?"
Right, hadn't said. Better give this world's name over my real one.
"Sato Kenji. Yours?"
Polite ask, low expectations.
Original never named her. Clan didn't either.
Just kunoichi. Title for female ninja, her role. More label than name.
Even original Kenji called her that. I'd assumed no name.
But.
"Hikaru."
She said it. Steady gaze, like unveiling a long-hidden treasure.
That moment, I could only stare blankly.
"My name is Hikaru."
