Once Shouko was safely lying inside the machine, Kyousuke followed the nurse to his next check-up.
The scan she was undergoing wasn't something that could be done in a couple of minutes, it required about twenty minutes inside a semi-enclosed space.
People with claustrophobia wouldn't be able to handle it.
The machine was basically the same type as an MRI you lie on a bed, and it slowly slides you into a tunnel. That was about it.
But once Shouko was fully inside the machine, she wasn't as scared as she'd expected.
Her head was filled with the image of Kyousuke's smiling face and his little encouragement gesture.
When the machine finished and she was slowly brought back out into the bright lights, she almost felt a bit reluctant to leave.
"Hey, hey, Shou-chan! How'd it go?"
As soon as she stepped out, Sakura suddenly popped up in front of her, making Shouko jump.
"Hmm?" Tilting her head in thought, Shouko replied with a bit of hesitation, "It actually… felt kind of nice?"
The calm atmosphere of the Hospital had made her mental image of Kyousuke even clearer.
That feeling, like it was just the two of them in the world and it was comforting.
"Really? I'm still a little scared, honestly… Give me some strength, Shou-chan." Relieved by Shouko's reaction, Sakura gave a wide grin and pulled her into a hug.
"Ah, hey, this is a hospital. Try to keep it down, Sakura," Shouko said with a small laugh, returning the hug.
She could tell, even though Sakura was the kind of person who'd tease a guard dog until the leash was tight, right now, she was really nervous.
Shouko didn't know why, but she followed Kyousuke's example and gently patted Sakura's head.
"Alright! Fully recharged!" Sakura said cheerfully, lifting her head like she'd just been revived in an RPG.
"Good luck, Sakura!" Shouko raised her right fist, the arm that hadn't been used for an injection and gave her best imitation of Kyousuke's pep pose.
"Don't worry, I've got this." Sakura waved dismissively and headed into the exam room, while Shouko made her way out through the other side.
'So this is the machine that's going to decide my fate, huh?'
Sitting on the chair, Sakura casually raised her left arm when the doctor asked, letting the nurse roll up her sleeve.
Even as the needle pierced her skin, she didn't take her eyes off the PET-CT scanner.
"There's nothing to worry about. It's perfectly safe," the doctor reassured her.
"Compared to a regular CT scan, the PET-CT actually has even less radiation exposure. As long as you drink plenty of water afterward, any residual effects disappear quickly."
"Doctor," Sakura asked quietly, her usual spark nowhere to be found, "with this scan… can you really tell if someone has cancer?"
Her voice was distant like she was both afraid and expectant, like a criminal waiting for judgment even though she hadn't done anything wrong.
"Yes, absolutely. Even a tumor as small as two millimeters can be detected."
"Wow… Medical technology these days really is amazing." Her amber eyes remained fixed on the bright, white machine as she spoke.
"That's right. Thanks to machines like this, the average lifespan of our citizens has increased significantly," the doctor said proudly.
Unlike normal CT scans, which are operated by radiologic technologists, PET-CT scans are overseen by highly specialized radiologists.
This hospital's staff even included graduates from Tokyo University's prestigious medical program.
"That's great… I wonder when they'll be able to cure cancer completely." Sakura's injection was smooth, but even so, she showed no intention of lying down on the scanning bed.
"If it's detected early, rest assured with today's medical advancements, most cases can be fully cured through surgery."
"Cured… as in surviving five painful years of struggle?" Sakura looked down at her feet, her toes curling tightly in her slippers.
The soft rubber soles were already marked with deep impressions from the pressure.
"…Please don't worry." Even for a doctor who'd dealt with countless diagnosed patients, that question landed like a punch to the gut.
"Let's begin. Sorry for taking up so much of your time." Loosening her toes, Sakura stood up and lay down on the narrow scanning bed.
If this really is it, then every day after this feels like a blessing.
Just… don't let it be deducted from my next life.
If it is, I guess I'll just have to apologize to my future self.
As the machine started up, the bed slowly moved her into the scanner.
Lying there, Sakura could feel only a faint vibration as her head and body were scanned.
It feels like I've time-traveled to the future…
With her head now inside the scanner, Sakura now somewhat composed let herself daydream.
The light wasn't harsh, but she still closed her eyes.
It felt too intense, like watching a teacher grade your test right in front of you.
Best not to look.
'So, what should I think about?'
Heh, this is kind of like how Kyousuke always looks for the perfect YouTube video before he eats…
Before she could think of something more interesting, that odd thought jumped into her head.
No, no—don't overthink it.
If I daydream too much now, I might not be as excited to see him later.
But then again… maybe imagining him now will make seeing him in person even better…
Lost in her swirling thoughts, time seemed to pass quickly.
When a nurse's gentle voice told her the scan was over, Sakura swallowed hard and sat up with the nurse's help.
"Are you alright? Did the scan make you uncomfortable?" the nurse asked, noticing how Sakura's body was slightly trembling.
"No, not really…" Sakura, who had been cheerfully daydreaming just moments ago, now felt completely drained.
She forced a small smile to reassure the worried nurse.
"Is it the temperature? Are you feeling cold?" The hospital gown was a little thin, but the hospital itself was climate-controlled.
This was a premium diagnostic center, after all the patient experience was top-tier.
"No… It's just…" Sakura took a shaky breath, then looked up. "Doctor… do I have cancer?"
Her voice felt alien to her—dry and hoarse like something scraped from the bottom of her throat.
Even forming those simple words took effort.
She sounded so unfamiliar, it scared even her.
Thankfully, Kyousuke wasn't there to hear it.
That would've been even worse.
As the doctor paused and walked over from the machine, Sakura tried to swallow again, but her mouth was bone-dry like not a single drop of saliva was left.
That dryness seemed to seep into her brain too.
Even though she was wearing nothing but a flimsy hospital gown, she suddenly felt unbearably hot, like her nerves were lighting her up from the inside.
When Sakura turned her head, intending to reach for the glass of water the nurse had left to help her calm down, she instead caught sight of Kyousuke standing just outside the glass window.
It felt like a cool spring washing through her parched throat, or a gentle breeze brushing past her skin.
Like morning dew soaking into a withered flower, all the dryness and discomfort vanished in an instant.
She was sure if she spoke now, her voice would come out as clear and bright as always.
If it weren't for the setting, she might've stood up right then and shouted his name.
She eagerly lifted her right hand and waved at him through the glass.
Once she saw him wave back, Sakura finally relaxed and turned her attention back to the doctor.
"The test results will take a little while to process," the doctor said.
"Huh? But I thought modern medical tech was super advanced? Shouldn't it be like in the movies, where a single scan brings up all your data instantly on a screen?" Sakura, now back to her energetic self, threw out a joke without thinking.
The doctor chuckled.
"It's precisely because the technology is advanced that it takes longer. Just now, the machine took nearly 2,000 images of your body."
"Analyzing all of that takes time. But don't worry, once your full checkup is complete, you'll get your results."
He'd clearly chosen to ignore her sci-fi-level expectations, still wearing that professional, gentle smile.
"I see… okay then." Sakura hopped off the examination bed.
She didn't even bother going back for the water. Just seeing Kyousuke had somehow triggered her salivary glands into overdrive.
"Hey, hey, Kyousuke! Is it your turn for the scan now?" she called out cheerfully, grabbing his arm with both hands and giving it a playful shake as she walked out of the test room.
"Yeah. You took forever, Sakura. I've been waiting ages," Kyousuke teased, ruffling her hair with a grin.
"Ah! My hair!" Sakura pouted, releasing his arm and swatting at his hand as he tousled her head.
"Listen, Kyousuke, that machine inside looks exactly like something out of a sci-fi movie!"
"It's just like a holographic immersion pod or something! Super cool!" she said excitedly, grabbing his arm again.
"Is that so? Sounds fun I'll have to give it a proper experience," he replied, pretending to be super intrigued.
"Well, I'm off to my next exam. See you in a bit, Kyousuke." She gave his bicep one last tight squeeze through the hospital gown finding comfort in that familiar feeling before letting go with a bright smile.
"Yeah, see you soon." Kyousuke waved as she walked off down the hallway.
Once Sakura disappeared from view, the smile on his face vanished instantly.
Something wasn't right.
Why had she looked so afraid in there?
He had been standing just outside her line of sight, quietly observing.
But with his sharp eyes, he noticed the subtle trembling in her body.
That's why he stepped into view to reassure her.
Still… what happened in that room that scared her so much?
"Sir, this scan shouldn't be done twice in a short period. It could affect your health," the nurse warned gently, puzzled by the sudden shift in his mood.
Even though his face had darkened, the sheer handsomeness of it stunned her into silence.
"Thanks, but I'm not here to take it again." Kyousuke forced a polite smile and stepped into the examination room.
The nurse didn't have time to stop him and quickly followed inside.
"Hello, please have a seat over here," the doctor said, looking up from his computer with a practiced smile.
But then he paused, recognizing the man in front of him.
"Huh? Hojou-kun? You already completed this test earlier, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did. I just wanted to ask was the girl who went in just now… were her results normal?"
The moment he asked, Kyousuke realized something terrifying, his body that have been trained and disciplined to its peak, was shaking.
That was unthinkable.
He could draw a perfect circle freehand.
He could suppress his heartbeat during sword fights. But now?
'Was this… fear?'
He wasn't even this tense during matches against dojo masters.
He'd built his whole life on this unwavering focus—so why was he like this now?
Could it be… that Sakura had asked the doctor the same question earlier?
His mind raced as he stared at the doctor, who looked slightly taken aback. Kyousuke asked again:
"Does she… have cancer?"
His voice came out like a rusty saw blade scraping against wood—rough and unnatural.
'What happened to that ice-cold clarity I always have?!' he screamed inwardly.
Control your breathing, you idiot! The voice of his old kendo instructor rang in his head like a blade's strike.
That's right.
That was the tone he was supposed to have. Not this mess of a trembling man.
"Well… we won't know anything until we've analyzed the data. It's too soon to tell," the doctor replied with a familiar sort of weariness, like this wasn't the first time today he'd said it.
"Tch."
Kyousuke clicked his tongue, though inwardly, he felt relief wash over him.
Not confirmed.
That meant Sakura might just be overthinking it.
Seriously, she could be so bold normally, but in a hospital she turned into a scared kitten.
He was definitely going to tease her about this later.
"Thanks for your time, doctor."
"No problem," the doctor replied, slipping effortlessly back into his professional demeanor.
"As if this was Japan's most cutting-edge tech… why does it still take so long? Maybe Sakura's right, it does feel like a holographic dive pod," Kyousuke muttered under his breath as he turned to leave.
"…." The doctor's polite expression froze for a second. 'Two thousand images. Two thousand!!'
"Sorry for taking up your time. Let's head to the next exam," Kyousuke said with a grin to the nurse waiting outside.
"It's no problem at all. Your satisfaction is our greatest goal," she replied, her voice going soft as she got lost in his gentle, water-clear eyes.
Whatever irritation she had melted away completely, and even her gesture to lead the way was so graceful it was practically a ballet move.
Kyousuke smiled once more and followed the nurse in the opposite direction from where Sakura had gone.
———————————————————————
A little earlier…
As soon as Sakura turned the corner and disappeared from Kyousuke's view, she quietly came to a stop.
After waiting a few seconds and hearing footsteps from behind, she peeked just slightly around the corner, her head sticking out like a spy on a mission.
The nurse behind her was completely baffled.
'What is with this group today?'
That guy, Hojou Kyousuke, wasn't he scheduled to be the first one to do the PET-CT scan?
Why did he suddenly go back in again?
And this girl… she was trembling with nerves just moments ago inside the examination room, but now she's walking out acting all cheerful.
Chatting about her check-up like it was a fun ride at an amusement park?
Sakura, of course, had no idea about the swirl of confusion going on in the nurse's head.
The moment she saw Kyousuke step out of the room, she quickly ducked her head back and grinned as if to say,
'Just as I thought.' With a bounce in her step, she walked off cheerfully.
The nurse, still watching her from behind, looked more lost than ever.
'Is it me? Am I just getting too old for this?'
'But I've only been working a few years... Since when did girls get so hard to understand?'