"Well, drat. What am I supposed to tell Arata-Niichan now? The exact answer you just gave me?" Midori asked in a weary tone.
An alarm reminiscent of police sirene tolled in Midori's head, threatening to burst her eardrums.
[Warning! Warning! Warning! Midori-san, revealing the fact that you transmigrated into this story is a stark violation toward the system! It is punishable with a -10000 Life Points deduction!]
Midori rolled with her eyes.
"Didn't you say that I have already created a new story out of 'Dream Of The Ancient Period'? I am the protagonist here. It should not be a violation at all. Call that artistic imagination."
[These are the rules. Midori-san, please pay attention not to break the rules while you work toward creating a piece of classical Japanese literature out of the story "The Pregnant Cannon Fodder Is Looking For A Second Husband".]
"Fine. Unfortunately, I can do nothing about the memory fragments. I will just pretend to hit my head somewhere after I exited the brothel that night."
S-9898 cleared her throat. Midori's face darkened afterward, and for a very good reason.
[Congratulations! The third mission for Midori-san has herewith been established.
Third Mission : Recover the memory fragments and construct the memory of leaving Kagemachi.
Basic reward upon completion : + 100 Life Points.
Basic punishment upon failure : -100 Life Points.]
"... You must be kidding me!" Midori exclaimed. "You are cutting off all my escape routes! This is a scam! An extortion attempt!"
[The system is just trying to help you achieve your goals, Midori-san. Plot holes surrounding especially the main character do not speak well for classical Japanese literature. Good luck~!]
Midori's jaw went slack in amazement. Good luck, her @$$!!!!
The door to the private ward clicked open and the sound of two men conversing in a low voice could be heard.
"Maybe it's due to Fumiko-san's attack today," Minato said. "Arata, let Midori-san recover first before you let her give you any testimony."
"I know," Arata replied. "I didn't expect that..."
Surprise was written on both brothers' faces when they saw that their younger sister had regained consciousness.
"Midori-chan, you are finally awake," Minato heaved a sigh of relief, both of them rushing to her side.
"Midori-chan, how are you feeling?" Arata asked.
Midori pressed a hand against her cheek and pulled a dismayed facial expression.
"I suddenly encountered a terrible headache just then. I am sorry for worrying the two of you. I am really fine now."
Arata exhaled. "That's good."
"I did ask them to check whether you bumped your head during the fall, but it did not seem to be the case."
"About Kagemachi..." Midori started to speak, but Arata stopped her mid-sentence.
"No need to worry about Kagemachi. Midori-chan, you need to focus on yourself right now. I will find another trail to solve the case, don't worry."
"But Arata-Niichan, that's not what I was trying to say," Midori said. "I wish to help you with the investigation."
Both brothers were baffled by this unexpected declaration.
"Midori-chan, I don't think that you are supposed to run around in your condition," Minato said as he crossed his arms before his chest, disapproval was implied in his words.
"I am also not supposed to stay put because it won't do the baby any good," Midori countered. "Let me help. I can help. I want to remember what happened on that day in Kagemachi. It will be good for me to remember. Minato-Niichan, I will have Arata-Niichan with me all the time. Everything will be just fine."
Arata stared at Midori.
"I never knew that you were this interested in police cases, Midori-chan."
"But of course!" Midori announced dramatically. "Arata-Niichan and his colleagues work hard every day to uphold justice and maintain peace in our streets and homes! I wish to fully support our police force when they are doing their jobs!"
100 Life Points! It concerns 100 Life Points! Gaining them is a blessing, losing them practically a death sentence! Midori screamed in her head.
Arata rubbed at his lips, seemingly forlorn for a brief moment.
"If you can't remember, you can't remember. I don't see any way to recover your memory. We can talk when you recall anything."
"I can remember if I return to Kagemachi," Midori quickly came up with a solution. "Arata-Niichan, let's go to Kagemachi, just the two of us. There is no harm trying."
"... Alright, I will see what I can do about it."
"Not this week, Arata," Minato said with a hint of warning. "Midori-chan is busy as she is. I understand that you agreed to teach English and receive tutelage in the womanly arts in return?"
Midori beamed at him.
"That's correct."
Minato chuckled.
"You could have asked your brothers to teach you, you know. Grandpa always praised me for my tea-making skills."
Arata scoffed.
"No, Niichan. Grandpa said that the tea you made reminded him of the bitterness of life. That was not a praise."
The three siblings laughed together.
"Wasn't it? Oh, my, and I have been thanking Grandpa so earnestly every time, too."
"And by the way, Midori-chan, you haven't had your lunch yet. You must be famished. Might as well eat for dinner too."
"I am going to ask the kitchen to heat the food."
They all fell silent when their ears captured the sound of two grown men arguing in the corridor.
With furrowed brows, Minato looked up and stared at the ward door.
"Are they insane?" He muttered as he straightened his white robe. "A hospital is a place to rest, not to quarrel."
The door clicked open to show two very familiar men -- Ryouichi Koishikawa and Akiyama Kinoshita, the two men who featured in Midori's past and present life respectively.
"What's going on here?" Minato asked in a cold voice.
"I am here to visit Midori-san!" Both of them blurted out in unison.
"Apologies, visiting time was over ten minutes ago," Minato remarked. "Please come back again tomorrow at eight."
"Then, please let me hand this fruit basket to Midori-san at least!" Ryouichi insisted.
"I have some healthy snacks for pregnant women with me. Please take them to Midori-san!" Akiyama thrust the carefully wrapped cloth box under Minato's nose.
Minato rolled with his eyes. Nevertheless, he took both of their offerings before he kicked them out of the private ward section.
"Good news!" He held up the items in his hand and beamed at his siblings. "We got free snacks and dessert!"