The Worst Kind of Indigestion
This was the absolute worst. Yujin thought, trying to settle his churning stomach. It was the first time he had ever suffered from indigestion since awakening his supernatural ability.
It made no sense. The body of a supernatural ability user was fundamentally different from that of an ordinary human. Even if their anatomy was the same, their durability was worlds apart. Furthermore, for someone of Yujin's caliber, it should have been physically impossible to get indigestion even if he wanted to. Yet, here he was, suffering a spectacular case of it. His stomach was doing flips, and his head throbbed painfully.
'I couldn't help it...' Yujin lamented inwardly. He simply couldn't keep his mind off her. The stares of those around them? Sure, they were annoying, but he could easily ignore them. The attention would fade with time anyway, and he could endure being in the spotlight for a brief moment.
The real problem was the blonde girl sitting right in front of him. The way she had nibbled on her food with her small mouth... He hadn't been able to tear his eyes away. He had been so inexplicably tense that he couldn't even taste his food. Whenever their eyes threatened to meet, he had jerked his head away in a panic. Even though it was just a meal, he had been sweating as if he were in the middle of a life-or-death battle. And in the end, he had ended up with a severe case of indigestion. Yujin's face burned crimson with sheer self-loathing.
"How do you feel now that you've taken the medicine? Are you okay?" asked Lucia, who had guided him to the infirmary, as she gently patted his back. She had no way of knowing, but her sweet, gentle words were like poison to him right now. He was too embarrassed to even lift his head.
"Yeah, don't worry. It's nothing major."
"What do you mean, 'nothing major'? Your face is completely red."
In truth, it really was nothing major. His stomach felt a bit bloated, but a minor ailment like this would resolve itself if left alone. He didn't need medicine, and he certainly didn't need to visit the infirmary. But Arin had blown the situation out of proportion. She was the one who had sent Yujin to the infirmary with Lucia. It wasn't out of malice; in fact, she had done it entirely for his sake. Arin had simply granted Yujin's request, creating an opportunity for him to be alone with Lucia. But he had never wanted it to happen like this. To show himself groaning and pathetic over a simple case of indigestion... If there were a hole in the ground, he would have shoved his head right into it.
Pat, pat. Lucia diligently continued to pat Yujin's back. Her touch wasn't heavy, but to Yujin, it felt as if she were tapping directly on his heart rather than his back. Every time her small fist made contact, his body flinched and trembled. At this rate, far from curing his indigestion, it felt like it would only get worse. Struggling to hide the tremor in his voice, Yujin spoke up.
"Usually, when you have indigestion, pricking your finger helps... Is there a needle or something here? If not, I can use my sword..."
"Yujin, that's just an unproven folk remedy. It's probably nothing more than a placebo effect."
"...Is that so?"
No way. Yujin was dumbfounded. In the past, when Yui had indigestion, he had pricked her finger for her. Yui had been terrified, but he had coaxed her into it, promising it would make her feel better... If it had absolutely no medical effect, didn't that mean he had just hurt her for nothing? I'm sorry for being such a useless older brother... His self-loathing intensified.
Perhaps taking pity on Yujin as he groaned in distress, Lucia pointed to the mattress of the infirmary bed.
"Here, sit down."
Lucia seemed to be misunderstanding something. His groaning just now wasn't from physical pain, but from lamenting his own foolishness. However, explaining all of that felt like too much of a hassle, so Yujin quietly did as she said.
"Yujin, give me your hand."
"Huh?" The question slipped out before he could stop it. It wasn't that he hadn't understood her. It was just that the words triggered a vivid memory of hearing something very similar in the past.
"Your hand. Give it to me."
The warm sensation that had once flowed through his fingers came back to him with striking clarity. Unable to bring himself to look Lucia in the eye, Yujin lowered his gaze. He awkwardly extended his hand. Lucia took it in hers without a second thought.
"They say massaging the web between your thumb and index finger is really good for indigestion."
As she spoke, she firmly pressed the space between his fingers. Her blonde hair swayed gently, brushing against the back of his hand. It tickled, but Yujin didn't dislike the sensation. Watching Lucia diligently apply acupressure to his hand, Yujin felt his mouth go completely dry. It wasn't even that painful. Though it wasn't intentional, he felt as if he were deceiving her. Yet, telling her he was fine now felt incredibly awkward. Besides, watching her busy herself with her small hands was somehow so adorable that he wanted to keep looking. To cope with the awkwardness and embarrassment, Yujin blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"Isn't that a folk remedy too?"
"Now, now, child Yujin. That is not the case. This is pressing an acupressure point. I can guarantee you it's much more effective than simply drawing blood."
Was it? To be honest, he had no idea. He had never studied such things, so it was only natural that he was clueless. The only things Yujin had ever cared about were combat techniques and physical conditioning. But since Lucia said so, he decided to take her word for it. He could feel his earlobes burning. He couldn't check without a mirror, but his entire face was probably flushed red. It was strange. Yujin felt as if he were starting to get used to this sensation. In the hospital, in the classroom, in the cafeteria... Whenever he stood before Lucia, it was always like this. Why? Yujin asked himself, but no answer came. In the end, rather than searching for an answer, he decided to calm his racing heart first. He took a deep breath in and let it out, careful not to let Lucia notice. Controlling one's breathing was the best way to soothe a wild heart. Having mastered this through grueling training, Yujin's execution was seamless. It was highly effective; his heart rate gradually began to slow. It was still beating fast, but it was no longer thumping loudly enough to ring in his ears.
"You're a really hard worker, aren't you, Yujin?"
...Until Lucia spoke. In an instant, Yujin's efforts crumbled to dust. His heart began to hammer wildly once again, completely out of his control. Feeling the intense thumping in his chest, Yujin bit his lower lip.
"...What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"
"Just because. Holding your hand like this makes me feel like I can tell." Lucia lightly stroked the back of his hand. Every time she did, Yujin's spine stiffened, but Lucia seemed completely oblivious.
"Whenever I massage your fingers or palm like this, I can feel the sweat you've poured into your training. A hand like this doesn't just happen without immense effort. You've been working so hard all this time, haven't you? Yeah, you really are amazing, Yujin. You should hold your head high. Don't worry about what the people around you think. All of this is the result of your hard work."
"..."
Yujin was left speechless. He couldn't remember ever receiving such praise. No, actually, he had. He had heard something very similar from her just this morning. And even before that, though he might not remember it, he might have received such compliments. Before enrolling in the academy, he had lived in an orphanage run by the Holy Order. He had trained his supernatural ability under their support. He must have heard a word or two of praise back then. But none of it had ever resonated with him as deeply as her words did now.
"But I'm also a little worried. I'm afraid you might push yourself too hard and collapse." Lucia offered a bitter smile. Caressing Yujin's scar-covered hand, she spoke with genuine concern in her voice.
"Sometimes, you seem so anxious, Yujin. Like someone being chased. When things get tough, won't you stop and take a break? If you only push yourself, you won't be able to hold out forever. Proper rest is essential. Okay? You aren't alone. So you don't have to shoulder everything by yourself. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, just look around you. There will surely be people willing to help. People who will support you so you don't fall. You won't have to look far, either. They're probably right by your side even now."
...So that was how Lucia saw him. He supposed he really must have looked that way. Yujin reflected on himself. If he was anxious, he was anxious. If he was being chased, he was being chased. He wanted to become strong as quickly as possible. He wanted to cast aside his own weakness. He hated his powerless self. He had been forced to watch, completely helpless, as someone precious to him died. He had failed to protect his younger sister. That fact disgusted him to his very core. He was sick and tired of his own weakness. He had clung desperately to his supernatural ability. Pushing everyone else away, he had obsessed over strength alone. He had a clear, unshakeable goal. To become a hero, to become a commander. To subjugate every last monster. To protect people. To do that, he needed power. That was why he had always immersed himself in training as if driven by some invisible threat... Had that desperation looked precarious to others? Yes, perhaps it had. Yujin let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Maybe it was okay to rest a little, just as she said. Of course, he had no intention of becoming lazy. He would continue to train just as hard as before. He had absolutely no intention of letting go of his desire to grow stronger. But instead of suffering in isolation, relying on those around him didn't seem like a bad idea. He wasn't alone anymore, after all. Leo had reached out to him. Arin had become his friend. Though his social circle was small, Yujin now had people he could lean on. Just as she said, he didn't have to look far; those people were already right beside him.
"..."
At a sudden thought, Yujin unconsciously tensed his hand. Even now, his right hand was enveloped in her warmth. The blonde girl was carefully massaging his hand. Could the person she just mentioned... actually be Lucia herself? It might be a massive leap in logic, but she was indeed one of the people around him, and she was worrying about him at this very moment. She was giving him advice and physically helping him by massaging his hand. Perhaps she was indirectly expressing her true feelings... No. Calm down, self. Calm down, Yujin. You're getting ahead of yourself. She just said those words out of concern, and you're overinterpreting them. Has your brain melted from the heat? Where did your fire resistance go?
"Lucia." Yujin called her name on impulse. Because it was purely impulsive, he flinched in surprise at his own voice the moment the word left his mouth.
"What's wrong?" Lucia replied innocently. She looked up at him with a pure, unblemished smile. In that split second, a flurry of thoughts raced through Yujin's mind. What should he say? How should he say it so that Lucia wouldn't find it unpleasant? Then, he arrived at a single conclusion. The fundamental reason this situation had been created in the first place. He wasn't thinking about his indigestion. He remembered why Arin had sent the two of them to the infirmary alone.
"About the favor coupon you mentioned this morning."
Yes, this was the reason he had wanted to be alone with her. He had decided on his wish after much deliberation. It was a request he had rehearsed and repeated in his mind countless times. All he had to do now was say it out loud. And yet... 'My voice won't come out...!' When it came down to it, his throat completely locked up. Lucia stared at him blankly, tilting her head in confusion. Yujin covered his face with his left hand to hide his pathetic expression. Why was he like this? Seriously, what was wrong with him? He hadn't been this nervous even when fighting high-ranking monsters. It was no big deal. It was just a simple wish to get along well from now on... 'What if she hates it...?' He was suddenly asking to become close friends. Besides, Lucia was a girl. If he, a guy, said something like that, wouldn't it look strange? Unlike with another guy, asking a girl to be close friends could easily lead to misunderstandings. Even if Yujin himself had no such intentions... Did he really not? Yujin shook his head, as if running away from his own thoughts.
"It might make you uncomfortable. Are you sure you're okay with that?" He still couldn't bring himself to meet Lucia's eyes. Keeping his left hand over his eyes, he waited for her response.
"...Of course. I told you, didn't I? I'll grant whatever favor you ask."
After a brief silence, Lucia's voice reached his ears. Perhaps she was nervous too, as her grip on his right hand tightened slightly. Yujin suddenly felt the urge to pull his hand away out of sheer embarrassment. The tension seemed to have stimulated his sweat glands, making his palm slick with cold sweat. Should he stop now? No. He had already come this far. He couldn't run away! Had he forgotten his vow never to run away again?! ...Though he was pretty sure that vow wasn't meant for a situation like this, but whatever!
"Lucia."
He called her name once more. Summoning every ounce of his strength, Yujin forced his left hand down from his face. It felt as though that simple movement had drained all the energy from his body. He felt instantly exhausted, but out of sheer stubbornness, he refused to stop now and lifted his head. He looked straight into Lucia's pink eyes. She didn't look away, offering him a gentle, quiet smile.
"This is my wish."
"Y-Yeah..."
It seemed he wasn't the only one embarrassed. Lucia's face was also flushed, as if caught up in the atmosphere. Drawing courage from her reaction, Yujin poured his heart into his shout.
"Please be my friend."
...He had done it. He had actually gone and said it. There was no turning back now. Suppressing his racing heart, Yujin anxiously watched Lucia's reaction. For some reason, Lucia looked completely dumbfounded. Was that a yes or a no? The overwhelming tension made his mind go entirely blank. A high-pitched ringing echoed in his ears, and the churning in his stomach grew even worse. Yujin tried to think optimistically. If he didn't, his head felt like it would literally explode. Lucia was kind, so she wouldn't reject him outright. Even if she did, she would let him down gently. Besides, he was just asking to be friends; there was no way Lucia would get angry over something like that.
"Yujin,"
Lucia called his name. Her face was stiff and expressionless. As Yujin began to panic at her unexpected reaction, she spoke.
"I'm disappointed."
It was a freezing, cold statement. Hearing Lucia's chilly voice for the very first time, Yujin's senses froze over. With a heavy thud, his heart plummeted as if it were shattering into pieces.