Absolute blackness. Cold gripped him, embraced him. Where was he?
No, it wasn't so unpleasant, really. But... he couldn't see anything. Nothing at all.
Were his eyes open? He couldn't be sure. Maybe...
*He opens his eyes*
"Oh..."
Where was he? A hospital room? The objects around him strongly suggested it... Wait a second. Maybe the fight against Grafay never happened. Maybe it was all a dream!
Sakolomé: Ugh... my head hurts!
He brought a hand to his skull, struggled to sit up, and sat on the hospital bed. Touching his head, he felt the thickness of the bandages. He inspected his arms, his body. More bandages everywhere.
Sakolomé: What the...?
The door to his room opened, revealing a bald man in a white coat.
"Oh... you're finally awake, young man? How do you feel?" the man asked.
Sakolomé: Uh... who are you, sir? A doctor?
The man nodded.
"Yes, I'm Doctor Evriskin. You were brought here in critical condition. I didn't even expect you to survive, given your state!"
Sakolomé (astonished): What do you mean?
Evriskin continued:
"Your bones were broken from head to toe. Your right arm was pierced by your own fractures. Your spine was shattered. You suffered multiple head traumas and internal bleeding. You've been in a coma for over a week. Honestly, I'm surprised. I was expecting a month or two, haha. And how did you manage to sit up like that? You shouldn't even be able to move! You were in such a state that you could have ended up disabled for life."
Sakolomé swallowed hard.
Sakolomé: That certainly explains why my head and joints still hurt so much.
The doctor, still standing, observed Sakolomé with palpable curiosity.
Evriskin: Do you think you could walk? I understand you're a Killer Man. Defying the laws of biology and astonishing us is part of your nature.
Sakolomé: Uh... I don't know. I have no idea whether or not I'm able to walk!
Sakolomé looked away and noticed an abundance of fruit on his bedside table.
Sakolomé: Mr. Evriskin, who are these fruits for?
The doctor followed his gaze and replied:
"They're for you. During your coma, your family—your brother, your sister—kept coming to see you. They were very worried. There was this little girl with purple hair, very adorable, who seemed to be the most upset. And also two boys, Bakuzan and Bakuran, is that right? Not to mention that bald man, Baham. Your parents even called by phone, they were so worried about you..."
Doctor Evriskin kept talking, not realizing that Sakolomé wasn't listening anymore. Sakolomé was pensive. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks. He was moved, touched by his family's concern.
(*That's right, my family, my extended family... Why would I have lost against Grafay, given up all this? My beloved family is all I have on this earth. They are the source of my mental strength, the reason I mustn't lose. I must always exist, to hope one day to clear the honor of my clan...*)
Sakolomé wiped his tears and came back to reality. He looked at Doctor Evriskin, wondering what he was talking about.
Evriskin: ...in my memory, I even think they'll come to visit you today. You should get ready!
Sakolomé frowned.
Sakolomé: Who's coming to visit me? My family?
Doctor Evriskin nodded.
Evriskin: Yes, damn it, haven't you been listening, or what?
Sakolomé smiled, embarrassed.
Sakolomé: I'm sorry, I was a little lost in thought, haha!
Doctor Evriskin sighed.
Evriskin: It's okay, I understand you. You've come a long way... it can't have been easy for you!
Sakolomé looked away again and stared at the window of his hospital room. He thought, and replied in a murmur:
Sakolomé: Indeed. By the way, I hope Grafay and Yuki are doing well. I'd like them to get out of prison too, haha... As for Yuki, he'll definitely get out, but Grafay, on the other hand...
Doctor Evriskin didn't understand anything Sakolomé was saying.
Evriskin: What are you talking about, young man?
Sakolomé looked at Doctor Evriskin and smiled.
Sakolomé: Haha, it's nothing. I was still thinking, and words came out on their own!
Evriskin: Hmm... I hope your brain isn't damaged, because all this seems very strange to me!
Sakolomé, faced with these words, grimaced, visibly irritated.
The door opened, and a pretty nurse appeared.
"Mr. Evriskin, the family of young Satsujin Otoko has arrived. Can they come in?"
Sakolomé, hearing this, let glimmers of joy, almost tearful sparkles, show in his eyes.
Doctor Evriskin replied:
"Let them in!"
The nurse nodded and withdrew.
The doctor turned to Sakolomé.
Evriskin: You're finally going to see your family again, young man. How do you feel?
Sakolomé wiped his tears and said:
Sakolomé: I'm so happy, you can't imagine!!!
The door opened, and there, to his great surprise, Sakolomé's brothers and sister were all there. Salomé saw her big brother on the hospital bed and was overcome with emotion at seeing him healthy. She ran, jumped on the bed, and hugged him.
Bakuzan, wary, wanted to stop her, but it seemed unfair to him.
Sakolomé and Salomé hugged each other tightly. Salomé was crying hot tears, happy to see her big brother in one piece again.
Salomé: Big brother... sniff sniff... I... I missed you so much!!!
Sakolomé, also with tears in his eyes, was delighted to see his sister again.
Sakolomé: I missed you too, so much, you have no idea how much!!!
Bakuzan and Bakuran smiled as they saw this. Bakuran approached Sakolomé and gave him a hug as well. Sakolomé hugged them, then saw Bakuzan holding out his fist, inviting him to a check.
Sakolomé looked at Bakuzan and saw a soothing smile on his face. Although responsible and stoic, Bakuzan didn't have the same way of expressing his joy at seeing a loved one again. He was too proud to start crying.
Sakolomé smiled and tapped Bakuzan's fist.
Salomé hugged Sakolomé even tighter, still crying.
Salomé: When we... sniff... came to the hospital, I was so scared by your condition. You weren't talking, it was like you were dead. Don't ever scare me like that again, big brother!!
Sakolomé: Sniff... sniff... I'm really sorry, but you know, it was too difficult where I was. I had to fight for my life.
Salomé: For your life?
Salomé leaned back slightly, still in tears.
Salomé: Tell me, who hurt you so badly? I'm going to beat him up and kill him!!!
Sakolomé, finding the situation awkward, because Grafay and Salomé weren't in the same league, scratched his head and replied:
Sakolomé: It's okay, it's already in the past. The important thing is that I'm here!!
Salomé broke down in tears again.
Salomé: Big brother, I was so scared. The day you disappeared and I was told you were in prison, my heart was so broken!!
Salomé took the sheet on Sakolomé's hospital bed and blew her nose loudly, which disgusted Sakolomé and the others, as the noise suggested the impressive amount of snot she had just evacuated.
Sakolomé: Damn it, Salomé!!!
Bakuzan: Salomé...
Bakuran: Salomé, you'll never change!!!
The atmosphere relaxed. Laughter, good cheer, and joy filled the room. Sakolomé was happy to see his brothers and sister again. They exchanged on many subjects, including what Sakolomé had missed during his stay in prison. Sakolomé also recounted what he had experienced in prison and the people he had met. He told them about Grafay and Yuki, whom he described as very good people and whom he hoped to introduce to them later, the day they were released from prison.
After that, the door opened on Uncle Baham. Sakolomé looked at him and smiled.
Sakolomé: Uncle Baham!
The uncle, phone in hand, replied:
Baham: Sakolomé, I'm glad to see you're doing well. With Officer Édouard, we were able to exonerate you!
Sakolomé widened his eyes.
Sakolomé: Really? Mr. Édouard? So he kept his promise?
Uncle Baham nodded, then his phone rang.
Baham: Ah, that's right, it's your mother Amu calling!
Sakolomé opened his eyes wide.
Sakolomé: Mother!
Uncle Baham handed the phone to Sakolomé.
Baham: Here, she's been calling non-stop for a while now, she wants to hear your voice!
The moment became more intense, and the room fell silent. Sakolomé took the phone and answered.
Sakolomé: Hello! Mother!
A weakened voice replied from the other end of the line.
"My son, finally I hear your voice again!"
It was Amu. Her voice was so weak.
Sakolomé: Mother, why is your voice so weak?
Amu: I haven't stopped crying for my child. From the day you went to prison, and as soon as I was told about your release, I was so relieved. But when I was told about your condition, I felt my heart stop beating. Sakolomé, be very careful. You are my son. With your brothers and sister, you are my little treasures. I don't think I could be the same if one day I had to lose you!
Sakolomé was touched by his mother's words, as were Salomé and Bakuran, who shed a few tears. Bakuzan, too, was moved, but didn't want to show his weakness in front of the others.
Amu continued to speak.
Amu: I wish you had the same privileges as other children. The fact that you are Satsujin Otoko makes you live with a hatred you don't deserve. When Salomé told me what happened to you because of Doctor Grijan, my heart broke. Anyway, we're not going to continue to let you be like this. With your father, we've decided to come and live in the city, in order to at least be close to you and support you at all costs. Your uncle Baham is watching over you, but he can never give you the love we have for you!
Sakolomé: Sniff... sniff... okay, Mother, we all understand!
Amu: Tell me, how do you feel? I was told your bones were broken. I'm coming with a potion that will get you back on your feet quickly, okay darling?
Sakolomé: Okay, Mom!!
Amu then passed the phone to Niyus.
Niyus: Hey Sakolomé, my boy, I hope you get well soon. You're a Killer Man, your mentality is that of a soldier who has to watch over the world, got it!!
Sakolomé, hearing this, smiled. He wiped his tears, and his trembling voice gradually disappeared.
Sakolomé: Yes, Dad, I'll get better very quickly, I promise!!
Niyus: That's what I like to hear!!!
Sakolomé exchanged a few words with his father. The family was reunited. Things could finally get back to normal.