Chapter 6: A Sickly Heroine is Always Accompanied by a Doctor Who Worries About Her and Takes Care of Her

[Doctor]

These are people who work hard every day, doing incredibly difficult work for the sake of patients.

It may seem obvious, but they often appear in stories about sickly heroines who live with the label of being frail. 

In these stories, they are tasked with explaining the heroine's current situation to the protagonist, or in some cases, even trying to break up the relationship between the protagonist and the heroine, albeit with the understanding that it is for the heroine's own good.

While doctors play various roles depending on the direction of the story, they often struggle with their inability to save the heroine and, wishing for her happiness, cooperate with the protagonist, making them a reassuring ally for the sickly heroine.

Because they possess the knowledge, they can understand the heroine's suffering more concretely than anyone else.

However, they are often burdened by a sense of powerlessness, and it is precisely because of this position that their words carry weight.

Their presence often marks a major turning point in stories centered around the sickly heroine, and sometimes there's also stories where protagonist even appears as a doctor, making it safe to say that the relationship between the sickly heroine and the doctor is inseparable.

It's so nice when the doctor sheds tears upon seeing the sickly heroine's smile....

★★★

It's been several months since Sakura and Onii-sama had that conversation, and Onii-sama has started sending me letters much more frequently than before.

Well, the content is rather formal, like ["Are you well?"] or ["Are you eating properly?"], and the letters themselves are short, but it's still very nice that he sends them so often.

Yes, it's nice.

.... It's nice, but... 

IT'S STARTING TO GET ANNOYING FOR REAL!!

It's almost like a daily letter from you, Onii-sama!

I don't think that's a good idea!

You don't have to write me every single day, Onii-sama!

I mean, I was happy to receive the comb and obi, but it's a bit too much to receive them so frequently, Onii-sama! 

Even Sakura is starting to have trouble finding a place to put the comb and obi, Onii-sama!!

So, new problems have arisen, but I'd say the plan to turn Onii-sama into a stereotypical siscon is progressing smoothly.

However, I wonder what Sakura-chan really talked about with Onii-sama that time.

When I ask her, she only replies, "We just talked a little about Chitose-sama."

Well, considering they talked about Chitose-chan, it seems Onii-sama has finally realized how wonderful Chitose-chan is as a frail little sister heroine.

There's no way an older brother wouldn't dote on such a delicate and ethereal little sister...

In fact, it's strange that he wasn't before!!

Even so, I really can't thank Sakura enough for telling Onii-sama how wonderful Chitose-chan is. Between her contributions to my daily life and everything else, she's truly the best best friend and maid-like character.

I'm also looking forward to seeing Chitose-chan's protagonist when he finally appears!

So, aside from not finding my protagonist, I'm enjoying a smooth-sailing life as a sickly heroine (who's actually healthy), but of course, being human, there are things in life that I dislike.

"Chitose-sama, Sensei has arrived."

"Chitose-chan, it's been a while. How are you feeling?"

"I've been feeling much better lately, and I can even jump around like this! I owe it all to Ayame-sensei."

"Yeah... I'm happy, but please stop jumping and bouncing around so suddenly! It's bad for my heart! Seriously!!"

Contrary to her intelligent and cool appearance, this woman who gives sharp, quick, and excellent reactions is named Mita Ayame.

In terms of my past life, she's a doctor character for my Chitose-chan.

This world possesses a mysterious power called Yin and Yang energy, but unfortunately, that doesn't mean everything can be solved with just that and doctors are unnecessary.

First of all, everyone in this world possesses Yin and Yang energy. However, not everyone can consciously control and use it.

I somehow grasped it the moment I was born in this world, but normally, it seems to require proper instruction to learn.

Even with proper instruction, some people can't fully grasp it, and this might be a major reason why families that practiced Onmyōdō maintain their position.

The fact that families with know-how are strong remains true whether in my past lives or this life.

To put it simply, people who can use Yin and Yang energy, Onmyōji, are quite rare.

Therefore, if we tried to heal everyone who was injured or ill solely with the power of Yin and Yang energy, there would be an absolute shortage of manpower.

That's why techniques and medical practices that maintain health without using Yin and Yang energy are being developed and refined in this world as well.

Another reason might be that while Yin and Yang energies are useful in many ways, they are not perfect.

For example, let's say you suffer a serious injury, like having your arm cut off. A skilled user of Yin and Yang energy can reattach the severed arm, and some Onmyōji can even make it grow back from scratch. Truly things that make you wonder if they're even human.

In fact, when I begged Onii-sama to show me some magic, he suddenly cut his own arm lightly, and in that instant, the wound vanished without a trace.

As an aside, Onii-sama got a good scolding from Okaa-sama at the time.

He's been coming home much more often lately, not just sending letters, so I tried to strike up a conversation to get to know him better, and this is what happened.

'Seriously, is that the kind of character you are, Onii-sama?'

Incidentally, I'll never forget how calmly he said that since arms and legs often fly off during his work, so this much was nothing. Otou-sama was nodding along beside him, as if to say "I totally understand," which made it even more terrifying. I think all the women in the scene were taken aback.

While this Yin-Yang energy healing is very convenient, it seems that because it heals quickly and forcibly stops bleeding, it puts a considerable strain on the body.

Therefore, it's recommended to heal without using those energy unless it's a situation where every second counts.

..... I'm once again a little disgusted that Onii-sama would do something like that as a form of entertainment to his cute little sister.

Perhaps due to this background, the government puts a lot of effort into training doctors, and there is an office called the Pharmacy Bureau, which is responsible for medical care, training of medical personnel, and management of medicinal herb gardens.

Incidentally, Ayame-sensei is not my private doctor, but a doctor belonging to that Pharmacy Bureau.

To put it in terms of my previous life, she is a proper doctor with a national license, a government-approved profession.

I think it's amazing that she's so accomplished despite being so young, and personally, I find beautiful female doctors to be a strong point for my sickly heroine, so I don't dislike Ayame-sensei.

No, in fact, I would even say I like her.

HOWEVER!!!

"Yes. I examined her, including her mental state, and there doesn't seem to be any particular problem. Well, in Chitose-chan's case, her normal state is abnormal, so you could say there is a problem.... or not?

Anyway, I'm relieved that Chitose-chan seems stable for now."

"Thank you again for today, Ayame-sensei. Well then please excuse—"

"Not so fast, Chitose-chan~"

"I understand how you feel, Chitose-sama, but... it's for your health. Let's do our best, shall we?"

"How could you do this to me, Sakura!!"

—It's not that I dislike Ayame-sensei; what I dislike is the thing that she brings.

"Okay. Well then, let's take a big gulp today!"

".... Hiks..."

It's a herbal concoction called Hell of This World.

If I were a real child, it would be one thing, but for someone with memories of a past life, I think to myself how pathetic it is...

I think so, BUT!

It's just so INCREDIBLY horrendous.

The taste, the texture, the way it goes down, the smell and everything about it just gives off an aura that you absolutely shouldn't drink.

The first time I drank it, I didn't act like a sickly heroine at all, I ACTUALLY threw up.

I think that was the biggest crisis I've ever faced as a sickly heroine in this life.

I wonder why medicine is always the thing that pushes me to the brink...

Incidentally, I make a point of not asking about the ingredients.

The first time it was served, I asked out of curiosity, and all I got was a jumble of names like snakes, lizards, and earthworms. 

In this world, there's a strong belief that balancing Yin and Yang energies truly leads to good health, and the idea of ​​food and medicine being of the same origin is very prevalent, so people are naturally very conscious of what they eat. It's like they'll try anything they can.

In such a world, it's unlikely that anything labeled as medicine would contain ordinary ingredients.

If there's no escaping it anyway, it's better not to ask.

"This time we're using zhè insect and wú insect, so it should be invigorating."

As Ayame-sensei taught me before "zhè" in japanese means cockroach, and "wú" is centipede.

..... I know. I know that Professor Ayame truly cares about Chitose-chan. But even so, I have to say it...

'IT'S DISGUSTING AS HELL!!'

Ah, but it's genuinely painful, so I'm really happy that I can naturally act like a sickly heroine.

Every time I see Chitose-chan's face in the mirror, making a nauseating face, I even get excited.

'...Thank you as always, Ayame-sensei!'