"…These are the pancreas scan results. The areas most likely to develop cancer are here, here, and here." Dr. Kanesi Tanaka pointed at the tablet screen, explaining each part while answering every question posed by the boy in front of him.
To be honest, this was a new kind of experience for Kyousuke.
Although the hospital always provided a thorough summary of health check results for patients, most people had little patience for these abstract images and complicated medical terms.
They rarely paid close attention.
Some people even looked annoyed during his explanations, maybe because listening to things they didn't understand felt like being mocked?
But for Kyousuke this is different.
It was obvious he had done his homework, especially about pancreatic cancer.
Though still lacking in medical knowledge, his questions were sharp and focused, and he even followed up with further inquiries.
His thought process was exceptionally clear.
While Kyousuke was engrossed in conversation with the doctor, Sakura had been listening in too at first.
But as it dragged on, her head started to feel fuzzy and sleepy.
Eventually, she leaned back on the couch, deciding she'd just watch Kyousuke until it was over.
As she settled in, she noticed that both Naoka and Shouko, seated on either side of her, were also silently gazing at Kyousuke.
Feeling light-hearted now that she'd been told everything was fine with her health, Sakura suddenly had a mischievous thought.
She nudged Shouko with her shoulder, then Naoka, flashing a sly grin.
Shouko, caught in the act of staring, blushed immediately and quickly looked down.
But after a moment, she peeked back up with her large, slightly teary eyes, gave Sakura an awkward smile, and then turned her gaze back to Kyousuke.
Naoka, on the other hand, looked flustered for just a second after being caught, but then shot Sakura a look as if to say, So what? and continued to watch Kyousuke openly.
Satisfied with her prank, Sakura leaned back with a smile and began mentally calculating her remaining lifespan and what she might buy during tonight's shopping trip.
"Thank you, Doctor. So, in summary, there are no signs of cancer at this point, right?" Kyousuke asked after staring at the scan for about thirty seconds.
"That's correct," Dr. Tanaka replied confidently.
He wasn't one to hedge his own words, his diagnosis was based strictly on the machine's data, so he wasn't worried about future complications.
"Great. I'm done with my questions." Kyousuke nodded, thanking him and returning to his seat.
"Next, should we look at Nishimiya-san results or Ueno-san?" the doctor asked kindly, still smiling despite having already been explaining things for nearly twenty minutes.
"Let's start with Shouko," Naoka said decisively.
She honestly didn't think there was anything wrong with her own health, but she did worry a little about Shouko.
"From your submitted forms, I see that you regularly undergo hearing checkups. I assume you're familiar with your condition."
"At the moment, there's no sign of further deterioration. However, we can't completely rule out—"
Shouko gently touched her pale pink hearing aid and gave a calm, serene smile, nodding slightly.
Among the four of them, she was the one who visited the hospital the most, always keeping a close eye on her hearing.
"Excuse me, Dr. Tanaka—would you mind giving us a more detailed explanation?" Kyousuke interrupted a bit bluntly.
"In short, her current level of hearing remains stable," the doctor summarized without missing a beat.
"That's good to hear," Kyousuke said, relaxing into his seat.
He already knew Shouko got regular checkups, and with her mother working at the hospital, he wasn't too worried about her condition.
Hearing Kyousuke's words, Shouko, who had been blankly staring at her results, suddenly ducked her head and let out a soft giggle.
'He's not just kind to Sakura—he really cares about me too…'
"However," the doctor added, pulling out another report, "there are signs of minor inflammation in Miss Nishimiya's throat. It's likely due to excessive talking. She should take care or it could develop into chronic pharyngitis."
"Excessive talking?" Kyousuke blinked in surprise.
Even Sakura turned to look at Shouko in disbelief.
Now the center of attention, Shouko's eyes went wide.
She glanced at Kyousuke, then at Sakura, and her face turned crimson as she bowed her head in embarrassment.
"Shou-chan! Have you made other close friends behind my back?!" Sakura cried dramatically, hugging her like a betrayed cat owner discovering their pet didn't touch their favorite food because someone else had already fed them.
"No! It's not like that!" Shouko panicked, waving her arms. "I mean, I have made some new friends at school, but Sakura, you'll always be my best friend!"
Then she noticed Naoka nearby and quickly added, "And of course Naoka too!"
The idea that Shouko could develop throat issues from talking too much stunned Kyousuke so much he nearly choked.
But he didn't voice his surprise this was a good thing.
Shouko had always been shy and withdrawn, even with close friends like himself and Sakura.
That she was speaking more meant she was growing.
He wanted to encourage that.
"Dr. Tanaka, besides talking less, are there any other solutions?" Kyousuke asked seriously. This was the time for the doctor to shine.
"Well…" Dr. Tanaka paused.
It's simple, really just like how tired eyes need rest, a strained throat needs silence.
According to her file, Nishimiya Shouko is just a regular middle school student.
It's not like she needs to talk for a living.
Still, rather than lecture them, he thought for a moment and then offered some constructive advice.
"I'm not too familiar with medication for throat protection, so you'll need to visit a specialist for that."
"But my suggestions are: before speaking for long periods, try warming up your vocal cords. I won't go into details—you can consult someone in vocal training for that."
"Also, consider practicing diaphragmatic breathing. It reduces strain on the throat compared to traditional breathing."
'Breathing can hurt your throat?' Kyousuke was baffled.
'So every breath is like self-harm? That's wild.'
"Doctor, what exactly do you mean by traditional breathing damaging the throat?"
"It's… not quite as dramatic as you think…"
While Kyousuke and the doctor got into a discussion about breathing techniques, Sakura was on the other side, trying to get to the bottom of why exactly Shouko had been using her voice so much lately.
Naoka watched as Sakura relentlessly interrogated Shouko, and let out a helpless sigh.
Among them, only she knew the real reason behind Shouko's recent behavior.
It wasn't chatting with friends, nor was it reciting school lessons.
It was… "talking to herself."
Ever since she found out that Kyousuke's manga might be adapted into an anime, and was praised for perfectly mimicking the characters' lines, Shouko had been obsessed.
From that day on, whenever she had free time at home, she would start mimicking lines from One Punch Man.
Sure, Shouko had always liked imitating lines from TV shows, but ever since she asked Naoka to make her a Kyousuke plushie, this once-casual hobby had turned into a genuine aspiration.
She wanted to be a voice actress.
Just like Naoka dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, Shouko had found her own calling.
The only problem? She was a bit too motivated.
After school each day, once her club activities at the sign language society were done, she'd rush home and skip her favorite morning dramas just to practice One Punch Man lines over and over again especially Saitama's.
"I'm just a hero for fun."
Naoka used to love that line at first.
But now?
Every night when she closed her eyes, she could still hear Shouko repeating it in every tone imaginable—complete with expressive facial cues.
Honestly, Naoka was sure not even Kyousuke knew Shouko had such a wide range of expressions.
They were cute, of course but hearing it dozens, even hundreds of times a night? It was enough to drive anyone nuts.
Every time Naoka tried to get Shouko to take a break, she'd just give her those big, sad puppy-dog eyes.
And Naoka would immediately cave.
She finally understood why guys were weak to that look even she couldn't resist it!
With training that intense, Naoka had caught Shouko coughing more than once.
That's why she had only refused the health check for herself today.
She'd purposely kept quiet about Shouko's situation, hoping Kyousuke would notice during the checkup and maybe talk some sense into her.
But judging from what just happened... Kyousuke was still the same Kyousuke.
Still doting on Shouko as always.
'Sigh.'
She'd have to talk to Shouko again later.
And if she still didn't slow down, then she'd tell Kyousuke everything.
Let him do the convincing.
At least, aside from her throat, Shouko was in perfect health.
Naoka too just like she'd said was a healthy and energetic girl.
After politely declining the nurse's invitation to dine at the hospital, Kyousuke and the girls boarded the subway headed to Ginza.
Their destination? Ramen.
Sakura had whined about wanting a fancy meal, but after a long and tiring day, nothing beats a big, hot, savory bowl of ramen to soothe the soul.
Browsing ramen reviews in Tokyo on his phone, the three girls debated between Chuka Ramen and Ichinorou Ramen.
Sakura leaned toward Chuka Ramen, simply because she had one before.
Shouko, on the other hand, voted for Ichinorou Ramen, she just liked that they used buckwheat flour from Hokkaido.
Naturally, Naoka backed Shouko.
Since Kyousuke abstained from voting, the majority ruled in favor of Ichinorou.
Still, Sakura made him promise they'd have some food after tomorrow's checkup.
Ichinorou Ramen, located in Ginza, Chuo Ward, had never dropped out of the top 10 in Japan's Ramen God Magazine.
Unlike other shops that specialize in one flavor, Ichinorou's claim to fame was that every kind of ramen they made was top-tier.
Standing on the train, Kyousuke glanced at the time.
It was already past 4 PM.
Remembering what he'd read online about long wait times, he messaged Kisaki Tetta.
Honestly, this was Kyousuke's first time ever visiting Ginza, even after living in Tokyo for a while.
Why? Because he used to be dirt poor.
Just hearing the name "Ginza" screamed expensive, and he'd always steered clear.
But now? Things had changed.
He was a millionaire.
Well, in yen—but still.
He could finally afford to explore Ginza properly, and if Sakura or the girls spotted clothes they liked, he wouldn't have to just smile awkwardly and walk away.
Even on the subway ride to Ginza, the atmosphere was different.
People in Japan rarely spoke on the train, and even tourists adapted to this quiet custom.
But here, it was obvious that everyone in the car was buzzing with excitement over the upcoming stop.
Even two Japanese women obviously locals, as their teeth gave them away were whispering about a clothing store that was having a discount today.
Nearby, a pair of Western tourists were discussing the best bars and clubs.
Not that Kyousuke was eavesdropping.
No, his sense has improve but several times.
While not quite superhuman, he could still pick up tons of tiny details in this cramped subway car.
Thankfully, if he focused on his sense of smell, he could shut out the noise.
Not the smell of perfume or body wash but something far more distinct, something unique to each person.
A "scent" like their essence.
Sakura still smelled like fresh morning dew.
But lately, he noticed that scent had become fuller, like her life force had grown stronger.
Shouko carried the soft, sweet aroma of tachibana blossoms not chrysanthemums, not gardenias, but the white flowers of the tachibana orange tree.
The petals were lotus-like in shape, and their fragrance was rich, a perfect blend of sweet and sour.
Naoka's scent was unmistakably grape.
Kyousuke didn't know if it had something to do with her striking eyes that sparkled even in the subway's dim light—but he could distinctly sense that fruity, tangy note.
The four of them stood in the back-left corner of the train.
Kyousuke positioned himself between them and the crowd, shielding the girls from the jostling passengers.
Naoka still held the paper bag full of manga, while the others peacefully scrolled through their phones, browsing shop recommendations in Ginza.
Kyousuke caught glimpses of their LINE messages as they chatted excitedly.
When the train finally arrived at Ginza Station, a solid 90% of the passengers disembarked at once.
Just stepping out into the underground shopping arcade, the group could already feel the vibrant energy of Ginza.
Tempted as they were to start shopping right away, the girls knew what came first: food.
Without hesitation, they made their way up the escalator, leaving the station in search of ramen.
Mount Fuji symbolizes Japan's nature, Kyoto represents its history, and Ginza in Tokyo stands as a symbol of modern Japan.
That's why people often call it the heart of Tokyo.
And just like how the heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body, Ginza is also one of the most expensive and important areas in Tokyo.
This was the scene that greeted Kyousuke as he stepped out of the station.
To the right, he could immediately see Ginza's new landmark—the Kabukiza Theatre.
Even the bus stop nearby was adorned with posters for the theater, featuring actors with completely white-painted faces and traditional topknots, dressed in classic kabuki attire.
Since it wasn't evening yet, Ginza hadn't reached its full bustling glory, but the main excitement stretched from blocks 1 to 8.
Their destination, Ichinorou Ramen, was located in block 2.
When they arrived, just as expected, a long line had already formed outside.
"Kyousuke, I'm gonna starve to death before I even get a whiff of that ramen," Sakura groaned the moment she saw the queue.
"Haha, don't worry. I had a friend come early and save us a spot. Come on," Kyousuke said, leading them halfway up the line where someone was already waiting with a resigned expression.
"Seriously, why did it have to be me?" Kisaki complained as he tossed over Kyousuke's motorcycle key.
"You could've asked literally anyone. Do you have any idea how expensive cram school is?"
"Haha, my bad. But I can't trust this task to just anyone," Kyousuke said, catching the key and introducing Kisaki to the girls.
"Oh! I remember now. You're the 'strategist,' right?" Sakura said brightly. "I'm Yamauchi Sakura, Kyousuke's childhood friend."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kisaki Tetta, Hojou's friend," he replied, suddenly becoming stiff and nervous now that he was face-to-face with what could only be described as the most dazzling trio on the street.
These were all girls who might one day become his sisters-in-law, he had to make a good impression!
Even though his heart still secretly belonged to Tachibana Hinata, Kisaki couldn't help but feel a little envious after spending every day surrounded by two idiot friends.
Maybe it was time to ditch the single life?
Who says a man can only fall for one girl?
Even his perfect boss Kyousuke was neck-deep in the honey trap!
Knowing Kisaki was a rare male friend of Kyousuke's, both Shouko and Naoka greeted him with warm smiles.
"Well then, I'll leave you guys here to hold our place. Kisaki and I need to take care of something real quick."
"I'll take the bag for now just order me whatever ramen you think I'd like. I'll definitely be back before it's ready."
Kyousuke took the bag of manga from Naoka, grabbed Kisaki (who still looked like he wanted to protest), and headed across the street.
"Ugh, I was hoping to rope Kyousuke into standing in line so the three of us could go shopping," Sakura sighed dramatically, then turned to Shouko with a playful grin.
"Hehe," Shouko chuckled softly, clearly amused.
After glancing at the still-long line, she spoke up, "I can stay and wait. You and Naoka should go shop without me. I don't have anything I want to buy anyway."
"No way am I letting you wait alone, Shou-chan! And who said you're not buying anything? I've already planned out a whole outfit haul for you!" Sakura declared, rejecting the idea immediately.
With someone as adorable as Shouko around, how could she not want to see her try on every cute outfit imaginable?
"She's right. You should really add more to your wardrobe," Naoka said, raising an eyebrow at Sakura. "Every time, I practically have to drag you into buying anything."
"That's it, I'm going all out with your outfit today!" Sakura declared, striking a mock-jealous pose in sync with Naoka's tease.
While the three girls chatted happily in line, Kyousuke and Kisaki walked to the nearby motorcycle parking lot.
"So, where are we headed?" Kisaki asked, looking skeptical. Was his big bro seriously ditching three beautiful girls and a bowl of ramen to go for a joyride?
"I need to head back to Suimon City real quick. Thanks again for bringing the bike, Kisaki," Kyousuke said as he hopped on and adjusted his helmet.
"I don't really mind… but could you please stop hiding your apartment key on top of the doorframe like an anime character? It's so unsafe," Kisaki said with a sigh.
"Then where's the key now?"
"…Still on the doorframe," Kisaki replied, a bit sheepishly. "But hey, I put it back where I found it, so it's fine, right?"
"Keep your voice down! You want the whole parking lot to know where I hide my key?!" Kyousuke whispered fiercely, flipping open the visor with a horrified look.
Kisaki stared at him, deadpan. They were literally the only two people in the parking lot.
"Haha, relax! If only anime characters do that, then nobody else would even think of it, right? See you next week!"
With that, Kyousuke shut the visor, revved the engine, and sped off toward Suimon City.
It was just over 20 kilometers from Tokyo barely a 20-minute train ride.
On his bike, it'd be even faster.
He could make the round trip in under 30 minutes, easy.
He'd be back before the girls even got their ramen.
———————————————————————
And just like he planned, when Kyousuke returned, parked his bike, and found the girls again, only 30 minutes had passed.
"Kyousuke! Finally! We're almost up!" Sakura waved excitedly from a distance, just like she had that morning at the medical center.
Kyousuke wasn't shy in public, but he didn't exactly enjoy shouting across a crowd either.
Instead of responding, he simply pulled a paper bag from his coat and waved it in the air.
"Wait… is that…?" Sakura's brown eyes lit up, slowly filling with delight and maybe even a touch of tears.
"Yusuke's Dorayaki!" Shouko called out the name for her, instantly recognizing the treat.
It was from the shop she visited every week—no way she'd mistake it.
Kyousuke had remembered what Sakura said.
That had to mean… he'd gone to her house, right?
Yuzuru was going to love the manga he brought.
Watching Sakura's emotional reaction, Shouko smiled with genuine happiness.
That was just like Kyousuke—always remembering the little things that mattered to them.
Just like how he remembered her mentioning Naoka had three younger brothers, even though she'd only said it once in passing.
Shouko was sure that after he took her home tonight, he'd help her practice proper abdominal breathing and remind her to take care of her voice.
Naoka, on the other hand, noticed what was in Kyousuke's other hand—a thermos.
And not just any thermos… the only one from her house.
So that means... Kyousuke really did go all the way to Suimon City just now?
"Here—something to celebrate your clean bill of health. I made sure it stayed warm the whole way,"
Kyousuke said as he walked up and handed over the bag full of dorayaki to his childhood friend.
"Kyousuke!" Sakura's voice trembled with joy, barely holding back tears.
The emotions she'd been bottling up all day finally overflowed.
She threw herself into Kyousuke's arms, hugging him tightly.
Kyousuke rested his chin gently on top of her head and gave her a tender shake, like he was reassuring her.
"Sakura, always stay happy, okay?"