[89] Paying the Price with Myself

"It seems he just woke up."

Kiriko knocked on the door and then walked into the room.

"No need to look for me, I'm already here."

Inside the room.

A middle-aged man with a square-shaped face, wearing a hospital gown from another hospital, had already sat up on the bed. His eyes were bright and full of energy, and his voice sounded vigorous.

"Dr. Kiriko, please come and persuade my dad. He just woke up and wants to get out of bed and walk around!"

Serving by the bedside was Ayase Ayatsuji, wearing the Hagun Academy uniform. When she saw Kiriko, she immediately complained with dissatisfaction.

"Trust my skills. Your father is in very good health now."

Kiriko let out a light hum, slightly raising the corners of her eyes, exuding a lazy yet proud demeanor.

"Muscle atrophy, gastrointestinal motility... I've adjusted all his functions. His physical condition is no different from an ordinary person's now. But before getting out of bed, it's best to eat something first. Your body doesn't have much strength."

There was almost no sign that Kaito Ayatsuji had been asleep for two years.

The muscles on his body had slightly atrophied compared to his prime, but he wasn't emaciated. His face was full of energy and radiance, and there was almost no trace of the weakness that should come from not moving for two years.

This was the work of Japan's strongest doctor, a miracle-like ability.

"Trust Miss Kiriko. In her hands, patients don't need rehabilitation."

Eiji also walked into the room, supporting Kiriko's statement.

For Kiriko, patients were only divided into those who could be saved and those who couldn't. There was no distinction between weak and strong. Whether they could be saved or not, as long as she wanted, she could restore a patient's physical condition to normal within a day.

"Nangou-kun... is that true?"

Ayase couldn't quite believe it.

When Eiji first heard about her abilities, he had the same reaction.

After all, no one could imagine that she could break down her own body to the cellular level and then reassemble it as if nothing had happened. When Eiji saw it, he almost popped his eyes out.

He was truly shocked at the time, and it definitely wasn't because Kiriko was wearing clothes that showed her curvaceous figure.

"Well, you'll know when you try it."

Kiriko waved her hand, not bothering to explain further.

After that, the father and daughter were indeed shocked.

Just as she had said, Kaito Ayatsuji's body was in excellent health. He could walk around without any issues. Apart from his heart still weakening, there was no sign of any other problems.

"Thank you, thank you so much, Dr. Kiriko..."

"I was just doing what I was asked."

Ayase kept bowing to Kiriko, her face full of gratitude.

"Young man, you're a swordsman, right?"

Kaito leaned against the hospital bed, his eyes burning as he looked at Eiji.

"I heard from Ayase that you can suppress that beast-like young man with your swordsmanship. Your skills are quite impressive. Would you be interested in inheriting my Ayatsuji Ittou-ryu?"

Ayase probably couldn't sense it.

Kaito thought silently.

This young man named Eiji Nangou had an unusually sharp sword aura, yet it was restrained, showing that he had complete control over his presence.

A swordsman of this level was rare even in his lifetime, and someone of his age was even more unheard of.

"Sorry, I already have a master."

Jiang Li shook his head, politely declining Kaito's offer, but then changed his tone.

"However, I would like to learn the intricacies of Ayatsuji Ittou-ryu!"

In fact, this was also the purpose of his visit.

"Hahaha, what an interesting kid!"

Kaito was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting Eiji to challenge him so directly, but then burst into laughter.

"But whether I can wield a sword or not depends on Dr. Kiriko's opinion..."

As he said this, his eyes kept glancing at Kiriko beside him, as if asking her to put in a good word for him.

"Dad!"

"Eat first. There's plenty of time to fight after eating."

Kiriko shrugged, a proud smile appearing on her face.

"Don't worry, even if you die suddenly, I can bring you back. Betting on my reputation as Japan's number one doctor, I'll keep you alive until the very end!"

Ayase couldn't say much more.

"Then I can rest easy!"

Kaito laughed heartily, his hands trembling with excitement.

Choosing to retire from swordsmanship due to illness was, for a swordsman dedicated to the pinnacle of the art, tantamount to negating all the efforts and ideals of his life, rendering them meaningless.

He had never imagined that two years later, he would have the chance to pick up a sword again.

If he could spend the rest of his life with a sword by his side.

Then this life would have no regrets.

At three in the afternoon.

Eiji and Kaito engaged in a pure swordsmanship duel in the hospital garden.

"I concede."

After one minute, Eiji bowed.

Kaito looked at the wooden sword on the ground and couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

"I never thought I would lose to my own techniques. This kid, he learned my secret technique just by watching it once..."

For the first fifty seconds, Eiji kept dodging.

In the last ten seconds, he launched a furious counterattack using Ayatsuji Ittou-ryu, ultimately defeating Kaito with his own proud technique.

These days, the younger generation is truly formidable.

He didn't know that Eiji had already given him plenty of face.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken a minute.

***

After the duel, Kaito returned to his room to rest.

Ayase escorted Eiji all the way to the hospital entrance.

"Nangou-kun, you've done so much for our family. I really don't know how to thank you."

Ayase lowered her head, her expression filled with indescribable gratitude.

In just two days, everything had changed like a whirlwind, so fast that it was almost overwhelming.

The enemy who knocked out her father was defeated, the dojo was reclaimed, and her father finally woke up. The heavy burden that had weighed on her for years, almost becoming an obsession, was resolved in a few swift moves.

All of this was thanks to Eiji's help.

Without him, she could have done nothing. She would have had to watch helplessly as the villains tainted the dojo and her father slowly faded away in his sleep. She wouldn't have been able to pick up a sword again, let alone see the world once more.

Thinking of all this, waves of emotion surged in her heart.

"Um... although I know I'm not as beautiful or well-endowed as the student council president or Totokubara-san, but... but this is all I have to offer—"

The girl fidgeted with her fingers, her expression becoming shy, her cheeks gradually turning red, almost as if steam was rising from her head.

"I-If you don't mind, I can use... use myself to pay you back!"

The girl was extremely shy.

But she still tried her best to convey her feelings, wanting to express her gratitude to the young man.

So, she raised her head—

"Huh huh huh??? Where did he go?!"

***

Hey readers!

Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.

🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹

Thanks for being awesome! ❤️