(Riku POV)
***
I stood to the side, watching curiously as the old woman kicked out some of her customers.
"You want a discount for something that's already this cheap? Get lost!" she snapped.
"Is this how you treat a customer?" the woman replied with shock, her face paling under the shade.
"You're only a customer if you're buying! I'm not giving a discount, which means you aren't gonna buy, ergo you aren't a customer!"
"Y-You!"
I held back a chuckle at the twisted, yet sensible logic.
'This granny seems interesting.'
It still didn't make sense as to why it felt like this woman was the key to the solution of my problems.
My fever had vanished almost completely at this point, and the hunger was nearly gone as well.
And I had the feeling that if I struck up a conversation, they would both disappear for good.
So when the 'customers' left the stall, grumbling obscenities under their breath, I approached the old woman with caution.
When I placed one foot into the shaded stand, she turned to me with a quizzical look.
"Young man, why aren't you at school?" she asked, her eyes scanning my uniform. "You're from Souhei High?"
"Y-Yeah, but I was feeling a little sick and was excused by the nurse," I defended myself.
"Is that so?" she replied with a disbelieving expression.
"It's true, see?"
I handed her the note from the nurse.
My intuition was screaming at me to leave a good impression, which is why I was making sure she didn't think I was some sort of troublemaker who skipped school.
I wasn't like a certain delinquent after all.
"....Alright, but why are you here instead of going home. You should get some rest."
Even though her words were sharp and had a questioning tone, there was also a slight softness within them that gave me the warmth I desperately needed after today's mess.
"I felt a little faint because I didn't have breakfast, so I thought I'd grab something to eat on the way back. But then I saw that scarf, and thought I'd buy it for my Mother!" I explained, pointing to a nice-looking black scarf on one of the hangers.
'Hehe, perfect! This gives me the image of a pitiful and hungry boy, as well as a caring and filial son. Double Combo, it's Super Effective!'
Both reasons were lies, but she didn't know that.
And just as planned, the old woman's furrowed brows lightened with concern.
"I see, then I'll give you a nice discount on the scarf. You should buy it quickly and get something to eat with the remaining money," she said, taking it down from the hanger.
I was a little surprised, since she'd just chewed out someone for asking for a discount, and here she was giving me one without even bringing it up!
There was a flicker of guilt for deceiving this old woman, but I stood firm.
I needed to prioritize my well-being.
Which was immediately proven to be the right choice, because my ailments disappeared in the next second.
The illness was gone, and I didn't even have that emptiness inside of me anymore.
'Is this granny a magical being? There's no other way to explain it!'
What if she were some hidden master with high-level healing powers and was being lowkey out of worry that she'd be dissected by scientists?
I'd read a novel with a somewhat similar plot, so was it really that far-fetched?
The proof was in the pudding, and I felt just as energetic as I was this morning before all the critical hits attacked me.
My HP Bar was back to full, or somewhat close to it.
I scanned the payment code eagerly, wanting to make a connection with this mystical being.
If I had some ailment in the future, wouldn't she be moved to heal me?
And maybe she had some other powers too, who knows.
'Like, what if she's actually 500 years old, and has lived this long because of her powers?'
As my mind was drifting away with wild imagination, the old woman dragged me back to reality.
"I recommend the Yakisoba stall nearby. I know the owners and can guarantee their skill and quality," she said.
"Ah? Oh, right. I'll do that then," I mumbled incoherently.
This much contact was enough for now.
I couldn't let her know that I had discovered her secret, lest she panics and moves away.
But as I was about to turn and leave, she continued the conversation.
"By the way, Souhei High's midterm results came out, right? What year are you in, and how'd you do?"
I started sweating.
'If I tell her I failed, her favorability will decrease, right?'
"I-I did decently well. Somewhere around the middle rank in the first year," I stammered, lying through my teeth.
The woman's face lit up.
"That's not bad. If you're in the first year, do you know if someone named Yuzuki Haruna made the Top 10 list?" she inquired excitedly.
My mind went blank.
'She knows Yuzuki-san? Is she a relative?'
That sent a mix of emotions tumbling through me.
Excitement at the possibility of improving my relationship with that gorgeous blonde through this woman.
But fear at the possibility that she'd find out I lied about my ranking and cut off any contact.
Who would heal me then?
"Uh....I do know her. We're friends!" I responded after a bit of hesitation.
Though we had quarreled a little today, I didn't lie this time.
The old lady broke out into a grin.
"Really? That's great! Did she make the Top 10?" she repeated.
".....Yes, she ranked 4th in the class."
".....What?"
The woman's eyes widened, her face wrinkling even further with the massive smile on her face.
"You're not lying to me, are you?" she gasped, grabbing hold of my hands.
"N-No, she really came 4th."
"Thank god! That child was so nervous....."
The old woman sat back in her chair and sighed with relief, making me a little confused.
Was it really something to be this happy about?
It was just the midterms of their first year anyway.
"I was really surprised too, haha. I even thought it was a mistake at first," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
It was also a contingency, in case Yuzuki-san somehow brought it up on her own and ruined my efforts.
"Hmmm? No, she studied very hard for it," the woman shook her head.
"I guess so. It's a shame that there are even cheaters who sully the ranking list."
"Cheaters?"
"Yeah," I sighed, shifting the topic to Yagami.
If I show her that she's hanging out with a delinquent, won't she try to dissuade Yuzuki-san from talking to him?
It would also make me seem like a friend who's worried about her!
"A delinquent somehow ranked first, which is ridiculous."
".....Who?"
Unlike what I expected, there was a gleam in the old woman's eyes.
"Someone called Yagami Reiji," I revealed cautiously.
"...I see."
The granny's lips trembled for a brief second, and then went back to normal.
'Is she that angry about it? I should press forward!'
My excitement got the best of me.
"In fact, Yuzuki-san has started hanging out with him. Lady, you should have a good talk with her; otherwise, the bad influence might rub off and affect her future!"
*CRACK*
'Huh?'
Why was the hunger back?
Why did I suddenly feel dizzy again?
Were her healing powers temporary?
I looked up and saw her eyes grow cold, her previously warm concern for me transforming instantaneously.
".....You shouldn't talk badly about other people behind their backs," she said in a hushed tone.
"....Maybe you didn't understand me properly. That man is not an ordinary delinquent who causes trouble; he even has ties with the Yakuza! It isn't safe for Yuzuki-san!"
I couldn't backtrack at this point; I could only grit my teeth and push forward to make her believe that I was telling her the truth.
*CRACK*
Alas.
The old woman stood up and placed the scarf I bought into a bag, handing it to me with indifference.
"You said you're sick? You should hurry on home."
"Ah? But I ca-"
"Leave."
My mouth clamped shut as I saw a barely restrained fury on her weary face, making me gulp involuntarily.
I wanted to stay, to clear up the misunderstanding she seemed to have.
But my head started throbbing, that same splitting pain that had sometimes attacked me at random times, returning with an even greater force.
It hurt more now than it ever had before, like something wanted to break free from my skull that served as a cage.
I grabbed the bag from her and ran out, without looking back even once.
My only thought was to go to a hospital, but with how disoriented I was, I ran the wrong way.
I went deeper into the market, rushing past various stalls as they merely served as a blurring backdrop.
*CRACK... CRACK*
The pounding in my brain started getting faster, and so did my feet.
And then there was silence.
The market was long behind me as I slowed down involuntarily.
There was a river canal next to me, the flowing water trickling by at a soothing pace.
The grass beneath my feet was thick and fluffy.
But the beautiful scenery did nothing to help my condition.
I collapsed, sweat beading on my face as I struggled to hold back the agonizing groan that begged to escape from my lips.
*CRACK... CRACK... CRACK*
The cracks continued, both the frequency and volume increasing as I felt something bulging within my head, like something really was trying to escape.
And then...
Glass shattered.
No, it wasn't glass.
Whatever it was, it collapsed inside the deepest part of my consciousness.
Something finally broke free.
The pain vanished.
And my mind was clearer than ever before.
Like I was finally truly alive.
[DING]
I blinked.
I blinked again.
I blinked a third time as I stared at the illusory screen in front of me.
"What..... is this?"
[Significant shift in balance detected]
[Unauthorized interference detected]
[Excessive incompetence detected]
[Activating emergency protocol]
....
[Welcome, Host]
'.....What?'