Chapter 7: Even So, the People Who Reach Out Their Hands are Still Beautiful

[Impossible]

This word indicates something that is not possible or unattainable. It's a word deeply associated with sickly heroines, often burdened with the heavy reality of an incurable disease.

In some cases, it's not just a matter of incurability; sometimes, death is clearly awaiting them.

When depicting a sickly heroine, how the protagonist, heroine, and those around them spend their days amidst unavoidable suffering and an inevitable end, and how they come to terms with the end, is an unavoidable aspect.

Whether it's a happy or sad ending, neglecting this aspect makes me personally a little sad. Especially if I like the heroine's character design.

Well, to put it simply....

I love the characters who go to great lengths to help a sickly heroine, even though they know it's impossible... and it's even better if those characters are usually calm and collected...

★★★

"Chitose-sama, just a little more, just a little more!"

".... Sakura~"

"E-Even if you look at me like that, I won't help you! This is medicine for Chitose-sama, after all."

"Ugh... Hiks...."

With her pretty face contorted in disgust, Chitose-chan drinks the herbal medicine with a look of utter disgust, looking like a child who has simply caught a cold.

Sakura-chan, who is earnestly supporting her, must be her older sister.

These two have only known each other for a little over a year, but watching them, they seem like close sisters, and it warms my heart.

A younger sister who hates medicine, and an older sister who worries about and supports her.

It's an ordinary, yet peaceful and precious scene that can be found anywhere.

Every time I make a house visit, I can't help but think that if only Chitose-chan's hair weren't white and if only she didn't exude this unusually gloomy aura, it would all be perfect.

I've known Chitose-chan since she was little. My mentor was present at her birth, so I had the opportunity to visit her on house visits many times as her assistant when I was still an apprentice.

Since I took over her case from my mentor and officially became Chitose-chan's doctor, I feel like our bond has deepened even more. We simply see each other more often, and more importantly, I've had more time to think about Chitose-chan.

Perhaps that's why I've been sighing more often.

I've known her since she was a baby, not just a young child. It's impossible not to feel affection for her, especially since Chitose-chan is such a charming and cute child.

Even when I was still an apprentice, I was soothed by her calling me "Ayame-shensei, Ayame-shensei" in her lisping voice.

I'll never forget the time she desperately straightened her back and stroked my head with her tiny hand when I was feeling down after being scolded by my mentor during a house visit. 

...... And also the coldness of her hand at that time, too.

Yin energy is by no means impure.

I myself use Yin techniques during treatment to stop bleeding, protect wounds, and alleviate pain, and it's also used for various other things like preserving food.

But the problem with Chitose-chan is that the amount of Yin energy she has is out of balance with her Yang energy.

People who can't control their energy can still live a normal life even if they have Yin energy because they also have enough Yang energy to balance it out.

Yang energy neutralizes the properties of Yin energy, and Yin energy calms the properties of Yang energy. It is this balance that allows most people's bodies to grow, maintain, and age normally.

Yin and Yang are interdependent; they repel each other, yet their existence is sustained by their mutual interaction.

However, in Chitose-chan's case, this balance is not maintained. Her Yin energy is far too strong compared to her inherent Yang energy.

The immense Yin energy, which cannot be neutralized by the Yang energy within her body, is inhibiting and causing the loss of almost all bodily functions.

Although she managed to survive the most vulnerable period as a baby, and is currently in a stable state thanks to regular external supplementation of Yang energy...... even I don't know how long this state will last. 

It's possible that one of her organs could stop functioning at any moment. That's how fatal the imbalance of Yin and Yang is.

".....Ugh..... ugh....."

"Keep on, Chitose-sama! All you have to do now is swallow it, Chitose-sama!!"

Seeing her face on the verge of tears as she tries to drink the last sip of her medicinal broth, it's hard to believe she's in that state. But I know just how fragile that smile is, resting on a thin thread.

..... And I also know what will become of this girl when she falls from that thread.

Everything in this world possesses the energies of Yin and Yang.

While the amount and normal ratio differ for each, it's fundamentally impossible for an entity to possess only one but not the other. This applies to humans, other animals, and even youkai and spirits—there are no exceptions.

However, there are certainly beings that deviate from this natural order, beings that are not normal.

Beings that have deviated from the principles of Yin and Yang, forever losing their harmony.

A kind of supernatural being completely stained by either Yin or Yang—we call them [Stranger]

When Yang is deficient, Yin becomes abundant. And vice versa, when Yin is deficient, Yang becomes abundant. Yin and Yang are supposed to constantly increase and decrease in balance with each other.

However, in special cases like Chitose-chan's, this doesn't happen properly, and one of the energies can grow uncontrollably.

..... It would be fine if all that awaited her was death. But what if she couldn't even die?

When Chitose-chan becomes a being known as Stranger, I...I...

"Ayame-sensei!!"

"...Huh! What is it?!"

"I wanted to tell you that I was able to drink that herbal medicine... But are you alright, Sensei?"

"Uh, yes. Of course I'm fine. I'm sorry for suddenly raising my voice."

"If you say so... Oh, that's right! Sakura, let's get Sensei something sweet! Sweets are the best thing when you're tired."

"Isn't that just because you want something to cleanse your palate, Chitose-sama?"

"Y-You don't have to mind every little thing!"

"...Understood. Well, you did manage to drink that herbal medicine, after all."

With a troubled smile, Sakura left the room, and Chitose-chan watched her go, her eyes beaming with dazzling light. She must be so happy to have some sweets to cleanse her palate.

Chitose-chan's been drinking it since she was little, yet she never seems to get used to the medicinal concoction. I recalled those memories, that every time I make a house visit, I couldn't help but burst out laughing at those sight.

"I'm so glad."

"Yes, now Chitose-chan got to eat sweets—"

"NO, THAT'S NOT IT....! Well, I'm happy about that too, but... I'm just glad that you finally smiled, Sensei."

Seeing Chitose-chan, smiling as usual, saying that I seemed a little down before, I was speechless. 

'What have I done.....?'

My mentor surely would be furious if I gave up first as a Doctor.

That's right, what good would it do to only think about the worst-case scenario?

This child has already performed a miracle once. So, there's no way there won't be another chance.

It shouldn't be possible.

Hug!

"Sensei?"

Without saying a word, I held that small, far too small body tightly.

It was cold, much, much colder than a normal child's body.

But even so, there was a faint warmth, definitely Chitose-chan's, there.

I'll engrave this warmth, not the coldness.

I'll engrave it firmly so I don't forget, so I don't lose it.

So that when I get lost again, I can remember it clearly.

So that I can remember only this warmth.

"Do you have any dreams, Chitose-chan?"

"...You won't laugh?"

"Of course."

Her body, already hunched over in my embrace, shrinks even further. With her usually pale face flushed bright red, Chitose-chan continues.

"I'd like to... become husband and wife with a wonderful person."

"Yes, that's... that's a very nice dream."

Then Chitose-chan and I talked about the future.

Not about whether it would come true or not, but about a future I will make come true—we talked about it so much.

So much that I don't have the time to be down anymore.

★

(An event to increase my intimacy with Sensei has arrived!

This definitely has a special event CG!

There's has to be an event CG!

After all, if you're playing a sickly heroine, you can't leave out these kinds of events!!!)