Chapter 56: Yanas Naoko

“You must be Hanasou-san, correct?”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m Shiomi Yukina’s older sister.”

Ephnel smiled at Hanasou Kotone, flawlessly concealing her awkwardness, her impromptu skills as an idol on full display.

Beside her, Yukina wore a strange expression.

She could tell at a glance that it was something made up on the spot.

‘Her sister probably said the same thing to the teacher when she arrived at the school, right?’

Meanwhile, Hanasou Kotone stared at Ephnel and Yukina, stunned for a long moment, before stammering out a quiet reply:

“He-hello, Onee-chan…”

‘So pretty, so pretty, so pretty! Just as pretty as Shiomi-san!’

Hanasou Kotone was completely captivated.

‘Why had Shiomi Yukina never mentioned she had such a beautiful older sister!’

‘Oh, wait, she did say something this morning.’

‘It seems she did mention having a sister…’

Then Hanasou Kotone remembered the incredibly expensive car she had seen that morning.

—Beautiful, rich, and young—this was Ephnel’s first impression on Hanasou Kotone.

In her heart, Hanasou Kotone mentally kicked the silent Yukina several times.

Although she had always felt she didn’t know Shiomi Yukina well enough, it now seemed that Shiomi Yukina’s family was not simple at all…

…

“…Her situation is a bit unusual.”

“It doesn’t seem like trauma caused by a simple volleyball strike.”

“And it hit her jaw.”

“I can’t be sure if there’s any hidden damage.”

“A full-body check-up would certainly be better.”

The school nurse said.

Ephnel nodded in agreement.

“In that case, let me take her to the hospital.”

“That would be better.”

“As for the expenses, I will take care of them.”

“That would be for the best.”

“However, we’ll need to get her father’s consent for this.”

The school nurse paused, then suddenly sighed.

“This child’s father is very busy.”

“I called him this afternoon, but he didn’t come.”

“He doesn’t seem to be a very easy person to talk to.”

“Anyway, if you’re willing, I can give you his phone number.”

“That’s fine.”

“I’ll speak with her father about it.”

“Then please wait a moment.”

“I’ll write you a temporary leave of absence form.”

“You just need to sign it.”

With the form in hand, all that was left was to take Hanasou to the hospital.

Just then, Yukina suddenly grabbed Ephnel’s hand.

“Onee-chan, I have something I want to ask you… about something that’s happening to me…”

…

Ephnel and Yukina went to the courtyard.

Since it was class time, there was no one else around.

“You’re saying you feel a… physical abnormality?”

Ephnel didn’t quite understand Yukina’s straightforward description and frowned in thought.

According to Yukina, she had noticed this morning that her body seemed to be undergoing some sort of change.

Her five senses and various physical abilities were all rapidly improving, as if racing towards a mountain peak.

Yukina was not used to such changes and, as a result, had failed to control her strength, leading to Hanasou Kotone’s injury.

Ephnel closed her eyes gently, and when she opened them again, her pupils had turned a beautiful crimson.

She looked up, her gaze searching among the school buildings, and soon found Yukina’s classroom.

“Yukina, can you see your classroom?”

“Yes, I can see it very clearly.”

“Then, on the bulletin board on the wall in the hallway to the left of your classroom, what is the second word of the second line of the second paragraph of the second poster?”

“Study.”

That was correct.

Ephnel blinked, and her eyes returned to normal.

When she looked at the bulletin board again, the writing on it was completely illegible.

She frowned, a rare look of concern in her eyes.

To be honest, Ephnel was not completely without speculation regarding the unexpected situation Yukina described.

In fact, after Ephnel first became an Agent, she had also gone through a period like this, unable to control her strength and often crushing tecups or breaking door frames.

Many Agents had experienced this; it was the result of the body being unable to adapt to a sudden surge in power.

It was like trying to thread a needle while wearing thick gloves.

But the difference was that after others disengaged from their sync, the power within their bodies would quickly dissipate.

Neither the enhancement of their five senses nor the changes in their physical strength would remain.

Yet Yukina was now exhibiting abilities comparable to an Agent’s while not in a synced state.

This was the first time Ephnel had heard of such a situation.

If there was one thing that made Yukina different from others, it was the fact that she was an “Absolute Accommodator.”

But since it concerned Yukina, Ephnel couldn’t jump to conclusions.

“…”

Ephnel’s doubtful expression was plain to see.

Yukina asked in a small voice.

“Could it be… you don’t know either, Onee-chan?”

“I’ve never seen a case like yours, but I’m not completely clueless.”

Ephnel paused and asked.

“When did these changes start?”

“I don’t know when they started.”

“I didn’t feel this way yesterday.”

“I first noticed it during class today, around… ten or eleven o’clock.”

“Besides these physical changes, are there any other feelings?”

“No…”

Yukina shook her head, then paused again.

“No, actually, my chest has been a little tight.”

“It started this morning and hasn’t gotten any better.”

“But I’m not sure if it’s related.”

“Maybe it’s because I didn’t sleep well last night…”

Ephnel observed Yukina carefully.

From her perspective, she couldn’t see the slightest sign of a “sync” reaction on Yukina.

Besides, “Fifina” was still in her possession.

“Yukina, don’t move.”

Before Yukina could react, Ephnel suddenly lifted her own hair, lowered her gaze slightly, and leaned in close to Yukina’s cheek.

“Eh?”

Yukina froze for a moment, subconsciously raising a hand to press against Ephnel’s shoulder, but she couldn’t stop Ephnel from getting closer.

Ephnel reached out, gently brushed her hair aside, and then their foreheads touched.

Cool and refreshing, a pleasant scent wafted past the tip of her nose.

Yukina was dazed.

“Is your body temperature a bit abnormal after all…”

After about a breath’s time, Ephnel finally lifted her head and looked at Yukina seriously.

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

“We need to consult an expert about this kind of problem.”

“We can also get Hanasou Kotone checked out while we’re at it.”

“Okay.”

Yukina’s cheeks flushed.

She hurriedly lowered her head and replied in a small voice, unwilling to meet Ephnel’s gaze.

…

To take Hanasou out of the school, they needed consent from both the school and Hanasou’s guardian.

Ephnel called Hanasou Kotone’s father and ended the conversation after just a few short words.

Ephnel couldn’t be certain what kind of person Hanasou Kotone’s father was, but there was no doubt that her first impression of him was not good at all.

His own daughter was injured, yet he showed no concern whatsoever.

Even when she called, the only response she got was a flat, dry nasal sound.

“Mm.”

—It was as if that was the only word her father knew how to say.

“Hanasou-san’s mother seems to have passed away a few years ago.”

“After that, her father became like a different person and often doesn’t come home.”

“It seems he wasn’t like that before.”

Yukina said softly.

“I heard this from the teacher.”

“In fact, Hanasou-san doesn’t talk about these things often…”

“Is that so…”

Ephnel sighed.

She was in no position to inquire about another family’s affairs; she could only be a bystander in these matters.

“Then you two must get along well.”

Ephnel put down her phone with a blank expression and took a deep breath.

Families like this existed from time to time.

Due to the frequent disasters, human society was already riddled with holes.

Although the survivors of this world were still alive, their minds were constantly developing in distorted directions.

People who had always tried their best to live and smile were suddenly found to have committed suicide at home.

They lived and worked like machines, but breaking down was something that happened without warning, in an instant.

And the final reason might just be a single broken gear.

Countless others chose to willingly fall into depravity.

Ephnel had once pursued a criminal to his residence.

Abandoned underground garages and unfinished buildings were places he frequented, inhabited by dissolute people who lived on alcohol and low-quality powders.

They were as horrifying as wandering corpses.

In a sense, those people were turning into monsters.

What the White Hole Erosion brought was not just physical infection and mutation, but also the corruption of the mind and spirit.

…

Ephnel drove Yukina and Hanasou Kotone to the special care unit of the United Hospital’s inpatient department.

She found Nishizaki Yuki with practiced ease and asked the outstanding young physician to perform a full-body examination on Hanasou Kotone.

Hanasou Kotone was so nervous throughout the process that she didn’t say a word.

A pretty and gentle young lady, a private car so expensive it made one’s teeth ache, and a personal physician who held the title of an academic giant.

This was the first time Hanasou Kotone had experienced something like this, and it once again ignited her strong curiosity about Ephnel.

“It’s nothing serious.”

“Just make sure to rest and recuperate.”

“But…”

Nishizaki Yuki put down the examination report, a puzzled look on her face, tapping her cigarette case on the table.

“I’m curious, what kind of volleyball could hit someone like this?”

“That’s the answer I was hoping you could find.”

…

The special care unit of the United Hospital’s inpatient department—many people knew that its predecessor was a special area jointly used by the United Hospital, the military, and the city government.

But not many people knew that at one point, it had taken over a research project on “Numbered Ones” infected by the Erosion.

In other words, the predecessor of the special care unit was actually a “Numbered One” research institution, existing as a secret organization not recognized by human society.

The so-called “Numbered Ones” was a term left over from the old era.

They were essentially people who had been infected by the Erosion and showed a certain degree of “mutation.”

They were very likely to reach a critical point at some moment and completely degenerate into “Remnants” who had lost their human emotions and were extremely aggressive.

Therefore, for the safety of others, these people were gathered and managed in that special era, and assigned serial numbers for quick identification, hence the name “Numbered Ones.”

In order to study the changes within their bodies to find methods or drugs to combat the Erosion, many places had launched research projects on the “Numbered Ones.”

The United Hospital was no exception.

Therefore, it retained a fairly complete set of observation and experimental equipment for the Erosion and the Power of Order.

These instruments were the reason Ephnel brought Yukina here.

Nishizaki Yuki took Yukina through one physical data check after another, while Ephnel took Hanasou Kotone to an empty hospital room.

What Ephnel and Nishizaki Yuki needed to confirm now was not suitable for an ordinary student to know.

And Hanasou Kotone was still in a bit of a daze.

She looked up, staring blankly at the pretty young lady before her, her mind still racing with wild thoughts.

‘Shiomi Yukina’s sister was really amazing—’

Even she, who didn’t pay much attention to the daily news, knew what kind of place the special care unit of the United Hospital was.

Generally, ordinary cases would not be sent here.

Her injuries would have been fine with a simple registration at any clinic.

But not only was this young lady not stopped when she came here, but she also found a very impressive-looking doctor with practiced ease.

‘She said they were good friends, so they must be on the level of best friends, right?’

She was a little envious.

Since Dr. Nishizaki was a doctor stationed here, she was obviously not someone to be trifled with.

And with such an impressive friend, Shiomi-san’s sister must also be very impressive.

This could be seen from the car she drove.

“I just spoke with Teacher Futaba on the phone and gave her a brief overview of your situation.”

Ephnel carefully helped Hanasou Kotone lie down on the white bed and said.

“She’s very worried about you and hopes you get well soon.”

She raised the headrest of the bed for Hanasou Kotone, so it would be more comfortable to sit up.

Hanasou Kotone’s injuries were not so severe as to require a personal consultation with a doctor like Nishizaki Yuki.

The main reason Ephnel came here to find Nishizaki Yuki was because of the abnormalities appearing in Yukina.

But since they were here, there was no problem in having Nishizaki Yuki help with a check-up.

Ephnel had great trust in her friend’s abilities.

Nishizaki Yuki and Ephnel had a deep friendship.

She was the first person Ephnel thought of regarding the abnormalities in Yukina’s body.

She was a specially appointed physician in the Order Organization’s medical department and had moved here with the department after the disaster six days ago.

She was also one of the people in charge here, so it wasn’t difficult to use the resources here to give Yukina a full-body examination.

“Um… I’m not sure what I should call you?”

After hesitating for a long time, Hanasou Kotone finally asked.

“My last name is Yanase.”

“Yanase Naoko.”

“You can call me Onee-chan, just like Yukina does.”

Ephnel smiled gently, lying without batting an eye or her heart skipping a beat.

…