Ryu could feel the frustration in Mr. Hashimoto's manner. He understood how hard it was to fight against disease. He developed empathy and a desire to support this man.
As Ryu observed the elderly man, his eyes softened, recognising the familiar signs of exhaustion, despair, and annoyance.
Ryu thought, 'It is not just the physical discomfort. It is the doubt and the sense of disappointment that your body and the supposed helpful medical system have let you down. I know that feeling all too well."
Ryu then looked at the old man and focused with all his intent, and what happened a few days back happened again, and his observational ability was activated. He glanced down at the old man and studied the information popup that had appeared in his vision around the old man.
Ryu's attention was drawn to a pair of dusty hiking boots that the man was wearing. He carefully examined every detail it provided, from the man's medical symptoms Isao had briefly told him about and the signs about the man's environment from his looks and clothes, especially his boots.
After a few seconds, the detailed shoe information appeared. Ryu felt a surge of excitement as he analysed and compared it with his symptoms and knowledge of different illnesses from his past experiences. Using all the available clues, a theory developed in his mind, and he grinned when he had figured out the mystery.
Ryu muttered to himself, "It is fascinating that the dust on those boots is not just regular dirt. If it is what I think it is, then it all makes sense. Let's go confirm my theory."
Isao, surprised by the sudden shift in Ryu's demeanour, raised an eyebrow. Then he whispered, "What are you thinking, Ryu?"
"I think I might know what's wrong with him," Ryu replied, a hint of excitement in his voice.
When Ryu reached the elderly man, he halted directly in front of him and grinned. It irritated the old man. Even Isao was surprised by this sudden behaviour.
The old man said, "What do you want, kid?"
"Hello, sir," Ryu greeted politely. "My name is Ryu. I couldn't help but overhear that you've been struggling with a strange condition."
Mr. Hashimoto scoffed. "Kids these days," he muttered, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his tired eyes.
"So what? What do you want from me?" With annoyance, the elderly man spoke.
"Actually, sir," Ryu continued, ignoring the man's gruffness, "I may have an idea about what's causing your rashes."
Mr. Hashimoto's eyes widened in surprise. "You? A kid? Do you believe you can solve a problem that the doctors were unable to?"
Ryu smiled gently. "Perhaps, sir, by any chance, do you like to go for walks?"
Mr. Hashimoto, intrigued by this unexpected turn of events, nodded slowly. "Yes, I do. I just moved close to a gorgeous quarry and found a great hiking trail there." After pausing, he said, "What is it to you, kid?"
Ryu's eyes lit up at this information as it moved his theory closer to the truth. He then asked, "A quarry? Could you tell me more about it? What kind of quarry is it?"
Mr. Hashimoto was taken aback by the boy's sincere curiosity and had to elaborate. He said, "It's an old limestone quarry. Although it has been deserted for many years, the surrounding trails are stunning. I would say that I began going there for walks around three months ago.
"Three months ago," Ryu repeated thoughtfully, " and when did your symptoms start, if you don't mind me asking?"
Mr. Hashimoto answered , "I think symptoms started showing two months ago or so."
"And have the doctors run every blood test imaginable?" Ryu pressed further.
Mr. Hashimoto, his confusion deepening, nodded again. Both the old man and Isao were surprised and wondered what he was trying to do.
"Ryu," Isao interjected gently, "perhaps we shouldn't bother Mr. Hashimoto with so many questions. He's been through a lot already."
But Mr. Hashimoto held up a hand, his curiosity now fully piqued. "No, no, it's alright. I'm interested to see where this young man is going with this. Go on, boy. What else do you want to know?"
Ryu said, "Mister, your condition is rather odd, with itching and rashes that do not go away, especially under … sunlight."
The man croaked a weak affirmative, a flicker of surprise crossing his usually stoic face.
Ryu then said, "Sir, I believe your condition isn't a disease at all, but rather a unique sensitivity. The quarry you mentioned, is it by any chance an abandoned limestone mine?"
Mr. Hashimoto gaped, astonished, and replied, "Yes, it is a limestone mine!"
A collective gasp rippled through the room, drawing the attention of nearby diners and staff. Isao cleared his throat and pushed himself out of his chair, his initial scepticism giving way to a growing sense of curiosity as he sensed the change in atmosphere.
"Ryu-kun," Isao said lightly, "what leads you to believe that there is a connection to the quarry?"
While glancing back and forth between Isao and Mr. Hashimoto, Ryu pointed to the man's dusty boots.
"Limestone dust," Ryu said. "While harmless for most, it can trigger an unusual reaction in some individuals—a phenomenon known as double exposure."
Mr. Hashimoto's brow furrowed in confusion as he asked, "Double exposure? What does that mean?"
Ryu explained, "Imagine, sir, that you have a sensitivity to lime dust. During your morning walks near the quarry, you unknowingly inhale these tiny particles."
The old man thought for a moment and asked, "If I am sensitive to lime, then why do the symptoms not show at the old quarry?"
He paused for a moment and then said, "The symptoms always show when I go to work after taking a bath."
Ryu replied, "While the dust itself might not cause any immediate discomfort, it enters your system through your lungs and skin pores but does not react immediately."
Ryuc continued with his explanation and said, "But only when exposed to sunlight do things get worse for you. The cause and the symptoms are separated by time and seemingly unrelated activities. Therefore, it was hard to make a correct diagnosis."
"Because you take a walk before the sunrise, the limestone was never noticed as a cause of your condition. If I am right, then you are sensitive to lime dust and sunlight's double exposure. Even if you wash the lime dust, it still enters your system through the lungs and skin pores, and the high calcium content makes some people particularly sensitive to sunlight. The combination of residual lime in your system and sunlight is what gives you the double exposure."
Ryu paused and continued, "The blood tests were useless, as there was nothing wrong with your blood at the time of the test, as most of the lime was removed by then."
"So," he croaked, his voice hoarse with emotion, "the blood tests were useless?"
Ryu nodded sympathetically and emphasized, "Indeed, what you need is a change in your routine to accommodate your unique sensitivity, rather than relying on medication."
Mr. Hashimoto leaned back in his chair, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief. He said, "All this time... all these tests and treatments... and it was my morning walks?"
Ryu nodded sympathetically and said, "In medical diagnosis, environmental factors are often overlooked, especially when they are as unique as yours. Because your case was so uncommon, it was very difficult to identify.
Isao, who had been listening intently to the conversation, turned to Mr. Hashimoto and said, "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, have you noticed any improvement when you've been away from home or on vacation?"
The old man's eyes widened in realisation, and he said, "Now that you mention it... yes! Last month, I visited my daughter in the city for a week, and my skin cleared up completely. I thought it was just a coincidence!"
Ryu solved the puzzle for the elderly man as the room echoed with awe, illuminating his unusual sensitivity to the special interplay between sunlight and lime dust. Finally, to the surprise of all, the mysterious symptoms that had long perplexed doctors began to make sense. The elderly man's eyes glistened with fresh insight as Ryu's straightforward but insightful diagnosis provided a clear route to recovery.
"Then a simple change of route is all he needs?" Isao asked Ryu, his reservations replaced by awe.
"Exactly, Mr. Isao," Ryu said with a knowing smile, a tinge of satisfaction showing on his face. "Sometimes, in cases of allergies caused by environmental factors, the simplest detour and a change in routine can be the best cure."
Throughout the hospital, word of Ryu's diagnosis spread like wildfire. In addition to being a turning point for Mr. Hashimoto, the cafeteria incident also changed how people close to Ryu viewed Ryu's abilities.