Salome was sitting, the drinks bought by Amu placed beside her.
Amu, meanwhile, was busy putting her products back in order on the display stand.
Salomé set the bottles down on the seat and joined her mother.
— Salomé, what are you doing?
— I'm helping you, Mom.
Amu was touched. Had her daughter already recovered from what had just happened?
After more than half an hour of silent work, everything was finally put away. They then sat down to drink.
— Salomé, I got you the grape one. It's your favorite flavor, isn't it?
— Yes, Mom. I love it.
Yet Amu remained somewhat troubled. Salomé's behavior seemed strange to her. Was she still hurt by what had happened?
— Uh… Salomé?
The little girl turned toward her, her face beaming with the pure energy of a child enjoying her favorite drink.
— Yes, Mom!
Amu smiled.
It was true that, among the Satsujin Otoko, reflection seemed to develop earlier from a very young age. But Salomé was still only six years old.
— Salomé… how are you feeling?
— So good, Mom!
— Oh really? And why?
— Because I'm with my darling mommy!
Amu was overcome with tender compassion.
Salomé had not forgotten what she had experienced a few minutes earlier. But it was possible that, in her case, wounds faded very quickly… as long as she was near someone she truly loved.
Forgetting was too strong a word. Let's say… moderating.
— Salomé… do you resent those people who spoke badly to you?
The little girl nodded.
— Yes, Mom. They're too mean to me. And yet, I didn't do anything wrong to them.
Amu gently stroked her head.
— Listen, my little treasure… Don't fall into their game. You will often encounter similar situations later on. Perhaps even worse ones.
Salomé looked up at her with an intrigued expression.
— Huh? But why?
— Because you are a Satsujin Otoko, my darling.
— Oh… I see.
Amu was surprised.
— How so?
— Big brother Bakuzan had already talked to me about it. He told me that, whatever form of hatred I might suffer, I had to stay calm and not fight back.
Amu was deeply touched.
— Incredible… Bakuzan had already warned you. That's very good. I'm truly sorry that you…
— Excuse me?
A voice interrupted their conversation.
Amu turned around.
A man in a white jacket, impeccably dressed, wearing a hat and leaning on a cane topped with a diamond, stood before them.
— Yes, sir. May I help you?
— Yes. It's for some information.
— I'm listening.
— I would like to know where I can find a certain Amu.
Amu flinched.
— Huh…? Amu? Amu Satsujin Otoko?
The man nodded.
— Yes. Exactly.
Amu remained wary. She did not know this man's intentions. Why was he looking for her?
— Well… That's me. What do you want from me?
The man seemed surprised.
— Ah… really? May I have proof that it is indeed you? We are not here to joke, miss.
Amu swallowed.
She took a small pouch placed near Salomé, took a card out of it, and handed it to the man.
He examined it for a moment.
— Wow… It seems that it is true. At last, I've found you, Miss Amu. Could you follow me, please?
He handed the card back to her.
Amu took it.
— Follow you… where?
— It's secret. But I should also tell you that it is really very important. We truly need you.
Amu hesitated. She distrusted this man. Yet, if it was that important…
— Could it take a long time?
— Oh yes. Of course.
She glanced at Salomé. She could no longer leave her alone.
— In that case, I would like to bring my daughter with me. And I will also have to pack all my things.
— There is no problem, miss.
No sooner said than done.
Amu and Salomé followed the man down a narrow corridor.
— Mom… Where are we going? Salomé whispered.
— Shh.
After a few steps, they entered an almost empty room.
Only five people were there.
— Ah… Is that her, Miss Amu? asked a man in a doctor's coat, glasses on his nose and brown hair.
The man in the white jacket replied:
— Yes. She is with her little girl… What's her name again?
— Little Salomé Satsujin Otoko!
The voice was familiar.
Amu and Salomé turned around at the same time. The same smile lit up their faces.
It was Ramos.
— Mr. Ramos! You're here!!!
Salomé ran toward him and threw herself into his arms.
— Haha! How are you, my little Salomé?
— Good, good! And you, Mr. Ramos?
— Oh yes, don't worry. Let's go to your mommy.
He approached Amu.
— Hi, Amu. How are you?
— Yes, I'm very well, she replied, smiling. So… why do you need me?
— You'll find out soon enough.
Ramos turned toward the doctor.
— Doctor, please go get the seriously ill patient.
The doctor nodded and disappeared into a nearby room.
— A patient? asked Amu.
— Yes. Did you bring all your potions?
Amu shook her head.
— No. Not really.
— Do you at least have the one that treats illnesses?
— Yes. I have some in my bag.
— Great!
Ramos was visibly excited.
Amu, meanwhile, still understood nothing about the situation.
The doctor returned, pushing a rolling hospital bed.
— Here he is.
— Amu, you can ask what his illness is, Ramos suggested.
She shook her head again.
— No need.
She approached the patient and took his hand.
— But… he is already too close to death. He will not survive this day.
The doctor confirmed in a grave tone:
— Yes, indeed. He suffers from a rare illness called Y54. It affects about one person in a million each year. Being extremely rare, we have no cure. In our patient, I believe the illness is in its terminal stage.
Amu looked at the man lying down again.
He was extremely weak, his skin clinging to his bones. He no longer opened either his mouth or his eyes. His breathing was barely perceptible.
She opened her pouch and took out a small vial.
— What is that? asked the doctor, intrigued.
— A potion. It doesn't really have a name. But its purpose… is a preservation of precise elements.
Everyone remained silent, captivated.
— A preservation of precise elements? repeated the doctor.
Amu nodded.
— Basically, it's something that very quickly assimilates the workings of whatever it is introduced into. The workings of the human body, for example. Once it has assimilated it, it eliminates everything that is failing with that workings. Everything that can cause anomalies or disorders, whether minor or deep.
The doctor's eyes widened.
— Wow… But… try it first!
— The patient cannot drink it, given his weakness. May I have a syringe?
A man handed her a new syringe.
— Thank you.
Amu drew a little liquid and injected it into the patient's arm.
— There.
What happened next was astounding.
The patient, who had been incapable of the slightest movement, stirred slightly.
The potion had barely entered his bloodstream.
They were not done being surprised.
As if by magic, the patient's body rebuilt itself.
The muscle mass returned. His complexion regained color. He even looked to be in good health.
It was incredible.
Ramos, overcome with joy, lifted Salomé into his arms.
— Hooray! We did it, Salomé! We did it!!!
— Hahahaha!
The patient finally moved and sat up on his bed.
— Where am I…?
The doctor addressed one of his nurses:
— Please explain the situation to him.
Then he approached Amu.
— Madam… You have accomplished something incredible. However, we are going to verify that the illness has truly disappeared from his body.
— Go ahead. I am one hundred percent sure that it no longer exists in him.
The doctor, impressed, asked:
— How do you make this extraordinary thing?
— Meh… It's a huge amount of work.
— Is it possible that, after receiving this treatment, one can never fall ill again?
Amu shook her head.
— Unfortunately, no. I'm still working on it. For that, I would have to fix the potion's effects on every cell… and in such a way that every new cell inherits them as well. It would have to last as long as the body itself.
The doctor smiled.
— No need.
— Why?
— Businesses cannot function if no one gets sick anymore. Hahahaha!
Amu remained expressionless.
— Do you put money before health?
The doctor, embarrassed, quickly corrected himself.
— Uh… No, no… Don't think like that. It was just a joke!
— Thank goodness.
He continued, more seriously:
— We really need to talk with you. Your potion… I'm going to call it the miracle potion.