Once at the hospital, he spoke to a nurse who gave him directions to Shidou but who either wouldn't or couldn't give him any updates. Well, this was useless. The nurse certainly did not appreciate being told so, but Sae didn't care. He had not dragged himself all the way out here at 2 am not to be given more information. He demanded to know what was going on with the demon and to see his doctor right now. The nurse he'd spoken with eyed him warily as he directed his icy glare back at her, hoping to convey how much of a difficult customer he could be and that he was not used to being told no all-in-one swoop. She glared at him before calling a doctor down to speak to him. Sae rechecked his phone, sending an annoyed text to his manager, who had still not answered Sae's numerous calls. He quickly pocketed the phone as he saw a man in a white coat, presumably Shidou's doctor approaching him.
The doctor stretched out his hand to shake, which Sae ignored, blinking at the doctor slowly until he removed his hand to his side. To the doctor's credit, he was obviously a professional as he appeared to take Sae's rudeness in his stride which was something of a rarity. The doctor seemed unphased, merely smiling and gesturing for Sae to follow him down a corridor, exchanging pointless niceties and kindnesses to Sae about how he understood that this was a distressing time, which Sae ignored. They stopped in front of a row of beds with the curtains drawn. Sae attempted to peer around the doctor and saw a glimpse of tanned skin through the curtain crack. The doctor smiled at Sae warmly and began to explain.
Sae stood rigidly in front of the doctor; his gaze unwavering as he listened to the medical professional explain Shidou's condition. The doctor's words seemed to blur together in Sae's mind, the technical jargon unfamiliar and overwhelming. He clenched his fists at his sides, feeling a sense of insecurity creeping in.
"Mr Itoshi, your friend Shidou has sustained several injuries," the doctor began, his tone calm and measured. "He suffered a post-traumatic seizure of a generalised nature, likely triggered by external factors. The seizure was tonic-clonic, occurring in both hemispheres of the brain."
Sae nodded as if he understood what any of that meant. The only thing he'd taken away from all this was Shidou had a seizure.
The doctor continued. "During the seizure, Shidou experienced involuntary bladder release, which is not uncommon during seizures. We do not have any records of seizures in the past. Do you know if Mr Shidou has a past history of seizures?"
"No, if he has, I'm not aware of them," Sae said curtly.
The doctor merely nodded and continued.
"We performed a head CT scan to rule out any significant brain injury. Fortunately, there's no permanent damage. However, he has a concussion, which means the brain has received a mild injury and requires careful monitoring. This is good news, as we do not expect lasting damage if he adheres to appropriate rest and recovery."
Sae nodded stiffly, brow furrowed, absorbing the information. His gaze flickered briefly to the curtains again, the doctor was blocking his view.
"Furthermore, Mr Itoshi, it's important to note that Shidou appears to have a history of head injuries and concussions," the doctor stated, his voice grave. "This increases his risk of experiencing future seizures and exacerbates the severity of his current condition."
As the doctor continued to speak, dropping another weighty piece of information onto Sae's already burdened shoulders, Sae's expression hardened further. The revelation that Shidou had a history of head injuries and concussions sent a chill down his spine, adding another layer of complexity to an already unpleasant situation. He clenched his jaw, suppressing the swell of frustration that threatened to consume him.
"Is there anything I can do to minimise the risk?" Sae asked, his voice strained as he tried to maintain his composure.
He felt stupid and out of depth trying to take in all of this information, grappling with the enormity of the situation unfolding before him. He wasn't a babysitter or a nurse. He wanted his manager down here pronto – so that he could make arrangements for Shidou if needed. He began thinking of the scathing voicemail he would leave his manager if he dared not answer Sae's call this time.
The doctor nodded solemnly, his expression sympathetic.
"Ensuring Mr Shidou receives proper medical care and adheres to the prescribed treatment plan is crucial. Avoiding activities that pose a risk of further head injury is paramount, as is monitoring him closely for any signs of deterioration."
Sae absorbed the doctor's words the best he could. He wished he wasn't such a stupid soccer player. Did normal people with adequate schooling understand this kind of thing? Sae subtly peered at the doctor's clipboard. This doctor had rather neat handwriting he supposed all stereotypes weren't true. He glimpsed the words periorbital ecchymosis, laceration on the upper limb, and multiple abrasions. He had no idea what this meant, and he now wished he hadn't looked as it did nothing to quell his feeling of stupidity and this irritating internal squirming.
"In addition to the concussion, Mr Shidou has sustained external injuries," the doctor continued, oblivious to Sae's inner turmoil.
"We've assessed the injuries, and here's what we're looking at. He has some bruising around his eye, which is likely from impact but doesn't appear to have caused any serious damage to the eye itself. He also has a split lip that isn't deep enough to need stitches, but we've cleaned it thoroughly to prevent infection. On his arm, there is a deeper laceration where we found and removed some pieces of glass. We disinfected the wound carefully and closed it up. He also has a few scrapes on his skin, which we've cleaned and bandaged. Overall, while these injuries look painful, there's nothing life-threatening, and we're taking every precaution to ensure proper healing and prevent infection. Do you have any questions or concerns about his treatment so far?"
Sae just stared at the doctor and shook his head. The doctor continued.
"As you may see, these injuries are indicative of a physical altercation. We have connected with the appropriate authorities to ensure Mr Shidou's safety and well-being. The police have been contacted in line with our obligation to report situations where someone's safety may be at risk. If you have any information or concerns that can help us provide support, we'd encourage you to share that."
Sae's jaw tightened Shidou being in a fight was the least surprising thing he'd heard all night, yet he'd seen Shidou pick many a fight and come away with hardly a scratch on him. Just who had he pissed off to land him here in the hospital? He also did not want to be present when Shidou talked to the police, victim he seemed to be, but Sae wouldn't put it past Shidou to enrage the officers so much they decided to arrest him instead.
"Now, Mr. Itoshi, it's crucial that Shidou receives proper care and monitoring." The doctor emphasised, his gaze meeting Sae's with a hint of concern. "He'll need plenty of rest, and I'll provide you with detailed instructions for managing his concussion symptoms. It's imperative that you follow them closely."
Sae nodded curtly, his mind whirling with the multitude of tasks that lay ahead. He felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest, a gnawing sense of inadequacy. He was a footballer, not a nurse or a caretaker, and yet here he stood, thrust into a role for which he felt ill-prepared.
"Understood," Sae replied, his voice clipped and authoritative despite the underlying uncertainty. "I'll see to it that it's taken care of."
The doctor provided him with the necessary instructions in a calm and patient way. He was thorough. However, Sae couldn't shake the feeling that this was above his pay grade. But it's not like he needed to take care of Shidou solely. It was just formalities; he reasoned with himself. He'd make sure his manager heard the information as well and he'd get whoever necessary down here to deal with the problem. The could be free of this.
But before that, he had to face Shidou and get some answers from his little demon himself.