Haruto sat up in bed, still wrapped in bandages, spooning stew into his mouth slowly. Across from him, Mai leaned back in her chair, finishing her meal. The atmosphere was quiet, but Haruto couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable.
He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh… don't you think your clothes are a bit too, um, revealing?" he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
Mai paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow before smirking. "I suppose so," she said, her voice carrying a playful tone. "But they're comfortable, so I wear them when I go out hunting or training." She leaned forward slightly, a mischievous look in her eyes. "Why? Do you wanna see a little more of me?" she teased, lifting her skirt just a bit—not enough to show anything, but more than enough to fluster Haruto.
His face turned bright red, and he looked away quickly. "Pl-Please put on something less revealing!" he blurted out, his voice rising a little too high.
"Aww, aren't you a cute one?" Mai cooed, giving him a playful smile. "Fine, fine. I'll change, but here I was trying to have a nice little moment with my 'dear' husband," she said with an exaggerated sigh, standing up and taking her empty bowl to the counter.
Haruto let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. As he kept eating, he couldn't help but feel relieved—that was, until Mai walked back into the room a few minutes later wearing something even more revealing.
"Wha-What the hell are you wearing?!" Haruto practically yelled, immediately turning his head away and covering his eyes with one hand.
Mai grinned, clearly enjoying his reaction. "Why? Don't you like it?" she asked, her voice dripping with playful mischief. She climbed onto the bed, leaning close to him with a teasing smile. "I thought you were into this kind of stuff," she added, and before Haruto could say anything, she leaned in and gave him a playful little bite on the lips, leaving him completely stunned.
Haruto's heart was racing as he leaned back, trying to put some distance between them. "St-Stop messing around!" he stammered, grabbing her shoulders gently but firmly to push her away.
Before things could go any further, a loud BANG echoed through the small hut, followed by frantic knocking at the door.
Mai's playful demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, alert expression. "Hmm… There shouldn't be anyone here at this time," she said quietly, frowning. "My shop's closed. Why would anyone come this late?" With a snap of her fingers, her outfit transformed into a modest blouse and skirt.
She opened the door to find an old man standing there, his face pale and drenched in sweat. He was trembling, his eyes wide with fear.
"Please, save my granddaughter! She can't breathe! I beg you, doctor!" the man cried, his voice shaking with desperation.
"Alright, bring her in quickly," Mai said, keeping calm despite the panic in front of her.
Turning to Haruto, she added, "Darling, get out of bed and put on some proper clothes. There's a fresh set in the bathroom."
Haruto nodded and carefully got up, wincing slightly as he moved. He limped toward the bathroom, glancing back at the old man, who carried a small girl into the room and gently laid her on the bed.
Mai knelt beside the little girl, placing a hand on her forehead and checking her pulse. The girl's breathing was shallow, and her face was pale, covered in a thin layer of sweat.
"What happened?" Mai asked, her voice steady but serious.
The old man clutched his hands together nervously. "We were out gathering firewood, and everything seemed fine. But suddenly, she clutched her chest and started screaming for her mother. Then her breathing slowed down, and she collapsed. I don't know what to do… This has never happened before! A friend told me you're a great doctor, so I came straight here. Please… she's all I have left," he pleaded, tears welling up in his eyes.
Mai gave him a reassuring nod. "Okay, calm down. I'll do everything I can to help her. Please, sit down and stay quiet. Loud noises could make her condition worse," she instructed, her voice calm but firm.
The old man wiped his eyes and sat down in the corner, watching anxiously as Mai continued her examination.
Mai worked silently, her hands steady as she mixed a few herbal ingredients and poured them into a small vial. After a few moments, she handed the vial to the old man. "Give her this," she said softly, tilting the little girl's head and helping her drink the medicinal potion.
The child's shallow breathing eased slightly, her complexion improving just a little. Mai leaned back and let out a quiet sigh. "She should be safe... for now, at least," she said, her tone calm but cautious.
"For now?!" the old man's eyes widened in panic. "What do you mean, doctor?"
Mai opened her mouth to explain, but Haruto, who had just stepped out of the bathroom dressed, cut in. "Her lungs are clogged, and her heart's beating weirdly," he said, crossing his arms. He narrowed his eyes at the old man. "Tell me—do you smoke?"
The man froze, then stammered, "Y-Yes… I do. Every day."
Haruto sighed, leaning against the wall. "There's your answer. Your smoking is filling her lungs with secondhand poison. If you don't quit, she'll die from lung failure."
The old man's face paled as Haruto continued, "And as for her heart, I'd need to check it more closely. But that's complicated, and I doubt you'll be okay with what I have to do."
The man swallowed hard. "W-What do you mean? What method?"
"I'd have to open her chest," Haruto stated bluntly. "Check her veins for blockages or damage."
The old man's expression contorted with fear. "C-Cut her open?! No, I can't allow that! She'll die if you do that!"
Haruto kept his composure. "I know it sounds crazy, but if we don't figure out what's wrong, she'll keep having these attacks, and next time, she might not survive."
Mai studied Haruto from the side, a frown forming on her lips. Since when does he know so much about this kind of stuff? I thought he hated anything to do with medicine... yet here he is, sounding like a pro. What's going on with him?
"My husband's right," Mai added firmly, placing a hand on her hip. "This potion only buys us time. If we don't treat her properly, she won't make it past the next attack."
The old man slumped into a chair, trembling. "Is there no other way?" he whispered, voice thick with desperation.
"We'll do everything we can," Mai assured him. "But you have to follow our instructions exactly. And first thing—stop smoking. Immediately. It's killing her."
Tears welled up in the man's eyes. "I'll quit. I swear. Please, just save her."
To be continued...