Chapter 38 – Proposition

Translated by Mecorx, Proofread by Crashouch

Before we knew it, we were sleeping side by side. When I looked at the clock on the wall, it was still in the early hours. It seemed I hadn’t slept all that much. I got up, and focused on my shoulder. There was hardly any pain at all. I wondered if it was because those painkiller-like drugs had taken effect. Either way, I was thankful. Relieved, I looked over at Kyrie’s face and saw that she was sleeping peacefully.

“Oh, I overslept.” Excusing himself, the Doctor came in and looked at me. Then, he looked away. “What happened to your cast? And why are you out of bed? What happened to the restraints?”

I followed the Doctor’s gaze to three struts protruding from above the headboard of the bed, with an arm attached, extending parallel to the floor. It was like a crane. A broken wire was coiled around the pulley. It seemed that it wasn’t just the plaster cast, but that my whole body had been fixed to bed. The same could be said for the cast, but this wasn’t something that I had taken off myself. That much I was sure of.

“Don’t you feel any pain? It should be bad enough to make you faint.”

The Doctor said, having grown impatient with my silence.

“No, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

“That’s ridiculous. Wait, is it the drugs? They should be wearing off soon…”

“I mean it.”

I demonstrated by rolling my left shoulder around.

“Your shoulder is broken.” The Doctor shook his head, baffled. “I reattached everything with things like wires, bolts, and a plate, but that didn’t go so well. It wasn’t something that could be fixed easily. Damn it. I’m going to go investigate. Find out what happened, that is. You just sit tight, got it?”

The Doctor said that as if to threaten me before going out of the room. Elena proceeded to enter in his stead.

“Morning. I kinda heard you’re already up and about…”

She said all that without looking me in the eyes.

“Oh, I’m sorry for shooting you.”

I knew she was saying that unwillingly.

“But it doesn’t hurt at all, right? That Doctor went and said your shoulder was broken. And for that surgery, I bet he just went and took extra time on what was actually a simple procedure, right? Well, anyway, it’s a relief. C’mon, wake that girl up. We’re leaving.”

“Leaving… Where to?”

“You’re heading to Nibelheim, aren’t you? If you can move, then let’s get going.”

“Why are the Turks going with me?”

“To apologise. For shooting you. But you shouldn’t have tried to escape.”

This time, she spoke defiantly. Perhaps this was how she really felt.

“I’m done with that. If it’s alright with you, let’s part ways here.”

“Evan, I think it’d be better to go with them?”

Said Kyrie, apparently having woken up a little while ago.

“I’ll wait outside. Hurry up and talk things out.”

Elena went out of the room.

“I’m done already.”

“Yeah, I know. But, I want to go.”

“Why?”

“Gould Arde.”

What came out of Kyrie’s mouth, was a name I had completely forgotten.

“Oh, yeah.”

“It’s the Mireille Detective Agency’s last assignment. Why don’t we try to do this properly? You can do whatever you want when it comes to your mother. I’ll follow along.”

Even though we were having a serious conversation, I unintentionally burst into laughter.

“What?”

“Follow? You will, Kyrie?”

“Is that a problem?”

She pouted. It was my favourite look. I had even more doubts and worries, now. I was nothing but confused about how the situation was developing, too. But Kyrie’s with me. She’s my queen. Kyrie will be there for me in times of joy and sorrow.

“You’re grinning… that’s weird, Evan.”

It was strange, even for me. This elation. The sense of bliss. I wonder where it all came from.

“Wonder if it’s the drugs. I feel awfully happy.”