Chapter 17.2 - Thousand Blade Academy and the Big Five Holy Festival [7] – part 2 (1/2)

Thousand Blade Academy and the Big Five Holy Festival [7] – part 2

The rhythmic beeping sound of the machine, brought me back to consciousness.

（……）

The smell of disinfectant.

Artificial dazzling light.

A pure white ceiling spreading out in front of me.

It seems that I’m lying on my back.

「Uh… Where am I…?」

When I turned my head and checked the surroundings, there were the figures of Ria and Rose. They were sitting in a chair, with their upper body on my bed, and were sleeping. Finding the friends I knew calmed my heart a little.

I slowly raised my upper body so as not to wake the two of them, and leaned against the headboard.

「I see, this is the hospital…」

There was an electrode on my chest and an electrocardiograph next to the bed. The beeping sound was the sound of the horizontal line moving up and down with my heartbeat.

「What happened after that…」

After Sid-san unleashed a thrust at my neck… I honestly don’t remember much. However, I remember that『something』lurking within me was happily rampaging. At that time, I was sinking in deep, dark water.

I remember being very, very sleepy. But for some reason, I felt like I should never sleep. Then, as I fought the drowsiness, I heard Ria’s voice. When I turned towards the voice – I was pointing my sword at Ria.

I struggled to death. I struggled desperately in the water – and when I noticed, I was back in the real world.

(What was all that about…?)

As I was thinking back to that time,

「U-Uun…」

Ria rubbed her eyes, and slowly raised her upper body.

「Good morning, Ria.」

「!? A-Allen! You’re awake!」

With her eyes wide open, she hugged me tightly.

「Ah, you’re hurting me, Ria…」

「I’m glad… really glad…」

She whispered so, again and again with a trembling voice.

(I have made her worry…)

It was a bit complicated, because of the feeling of guilt that caused her worries, and the feeling of joy that she was worried about me to this extent.

But…… For the time being, I have to say this.

「E-Err, you know… I-It’s touching…」

「…Touching? …!?」

She understood exactly『what』was touching me, as she blushed brightly and separated from me.

And with both hands crossed in front of her chest, she glared at me with disgust.

「…A-Allen, you pervert!」

「Oh, that’s too harsh…」

And when I was smiling bitterly,

「Nn… Allen?」

Rose rubbed her eyes and got up while shaking her upper body.

She seems to be a weak morning person as usual, and her usual dignified air was nowhere to be found. In addition, an erect ahoge protuded from the top of her head. It’s a truly artistic bed hair.

「Good-morning, Rose」

「…Good morning …Are you alright?」

She was concerned about me in a slightly lingering tone.

「Aa, I’m most likely okay.」

Strangely enough, even though I suffered so many wounds, I couldn’t find any trace of it anywhere on my body.

(Is this also… his power…?)

『Something』had taken over my body and rampaged as much as possible.

(Seriously, who was that guy…?)

When I put my hand on my chest and pondered about it, the door of the hospital room suddenly opened,

「Oh, you’ve woken up, Allen!」

Leia-sensei, dressed in her usual black suit, showed up.

「Look, I’ve brought fruits. If you have a good appetite, you can eat it.」sensei said, and handed over a plastic bag hanging from her right hand.

When I checked inside, there were three bunches of bananas.