With a joyful heart, Kiriya entered the gate of his house, in his hand a bag of pastries hung safely. Upon reaching the front of the house, he knocked on the door three times before turning the handle and pushing the door open.
But the door didn't bulge.
"Locked?"
Kiriya raised his eyebrows. 'Where are Groza and Masami?'
He checked his phone, and right a moment later, an incoming message arrived from Groza.
[Groza: Master, Masami and I are going to check in with the doctor. Masami suddenly experienced a mild migraine earlier.]
So it has started—Kiriya pondered over the situation happening to his junior.
Iwasawa Masami was a young girl who dreamed of becoming a musician. She had gotten the opportunity to pursue her dream without fear of running out of money with my help.
However, her life problems were not just limited to money alone.
[Kiriya: Tell the doctor to scan her brain. No matter the cost.]
[Groza: Understood, Master.]
[Kiriya: Good.]
Kiriya closed his flip phone. He no longer had the desire to visit the house; he would directly check on them at the hospital.
"... That's right, Groza didn't give the hospital address. Well, who cares, she knows my power anyway."
Kiriya detected Groza's position in the world, hid himself in an illusion, and teleported next to Groza.
His appearance didn't surprise anyone. People around didn't even seem to notice anything. As if Kiriya's sudden teleportation is a normal everyday thing, thanks to illusion magic that twists people's perception of him.
Even for Groza.
"How is Masami's condition?"
Kiriya's voice made the blonde robot turn her head. "Master Kiriya. You have arrived." Groza stood up, her voice slightly raised and her eyes wide open.
She didn't realize his appearance before.
"I used my power. Just use the excuse that you told me everything, so I rushed here directly." Kiriya replied.
"... Right, I haven't given the hospital's location. I'm sorry, Master, I didn't know you intended to come."
"No problem, I don't say I'll go anyway. How's the situation?" Kiriya waves his hand.
"The doctor is just scanning her brain for any anomalies." Groza answered calmly and straight to the point.
Kiriya didn't say anything, only handed the bag in his hand to Groza and sat next to her.
A moment of silence appears between them before Kiriya starts to talk.
"Masami lived and grew up under a broken family. Her father was a drunkard who always hurt her mother."
Kiriya Paused for a moment.
"... I've heard about that too from Masami." Groza confirmed.
"Her head was once injured from being hit by her father when she was trying to stop the fight. I'm worried the situation is more dangerous than a simple headache." Kiriya continued.
Of course, Kiriya wouldn't say that he knew Masami actually had brain damage from the anime he had watched in the past.
"If that's true, this will be dangerous for Masami."
Kiriya nodded.
They were waiting in silence, hoping for the best.
With Dreamless active, Kiriya entertains himself by watching people passing by. Some of them were patients with incurable illnesses, and others only a simple cold.
This is life—Kiriya pondered. Regardless of whether Kiriya knew one or another of the passing people, their lives might be even heavier than Masami's.
You are the protagonist of your own life. Regardless of whether you are the senior brother of Uzumaki Naruto or you're the ancestor of Kiana Kaslana, even if you are not the center of the universe, even if you are not the hero of the world, you are a protagonist in your life.
'Value your life, because many people are willing to curse the world just to get into the same position as you… Maybe it was the point of this Group Chat all along.'
Kiriya might remember his past life and also have friends from another world—he was the book protagonist by all the quirk he had. However, that didn't mean he was capable of determining the direction of life and all the decisions of others.
He was a protagonist, but in his own life and not every person is part of his story. Maybe his life was different if he never regained his past life memories, maybe he'll never be able to help Masami if he never accepted the Group Chat's invitation.
'Influencing the lives of others ultimately also has moral and ethical values… Other people have their own lives. At the very least, I don't want to influence their lives with something they don't deserve.'
—Like a random ghost suddenly haunting the neighborhood because it can't live at Kiriya's stigmatized house anymore.
Not long after, the doctor who examined Masami came alone.
"Are you the patient's guardian?"
"Yes, I am her brother." Kiriya replied.
"I would like to inform you of the patient's current condition." The doctor's face looked very serious and gloomy as he looked towards Kiriya.
As Kiriya expected, the doctor found bleeding inside Masami's brain after examining her through a CT Scan; Masami had a severe trauma inside her brain. And unfortunately, present-day technology could not save Masami from that illness. The only choice Masami could take was to live with equipment forever.
For the time being, Masami could still engage in normal activities, but her condition would be controlled by medication and monitored at any time she lost the ability to move.
The atmosphere became very gloomy even when they reached home. There was only an awkward silence among the three of them.
"Senpai…" Masami whispered weakly. Her hand reached for the edge of Kiriya's sleeve.
She had heard everything. The injury she suffered and the future that awaited her.
When the world gave her hope only to be destroyed by an incurable disease.
"I'm sorry, I… betrayed your expectations…." Masami could not look into Kiriya's eyes. She had disappointed the person who had extended his hand to help the teenager who ran away from home.
Kiriya raised his hand. She flinched, expecting a hit, but what she got was a pull into his chest and caress in the head.
"Don't worry, I'm not angry. This wasn't your fault from the start," Kiriya replied.
"..." Masami could only remain silent.
"I want you to live well. I already consider you a part of my life."
'A reminder that my life was once at the same point as Masami.'
In the past, he was also another guy on earth who had nothing to brag about, he's not the best nor the worst.
"It's okay if you're sick. Reach for whatever you want, stop whenever you want. It doesn't matter if you fail, I will always be here for you, Masami."
"Thank you… Kiriya-san." Masami smiled weakly, letting herself lean longer on Kiriya's shoulder. She knew her life would only become a burden to Kiriya. She was grateful Kiriya still accepted her even when she no longer had the same worth.
Masami was disappointed in herself, she was angry at the fate she had. Even so, her heart also felt so light. Just knowing that Kiriya's shoulder would always be there to be her place to lean on made Masami feel that she would not shatter.
This was the first time in her life having someone she could rely on. Masami was grateful to be able to meet and get to know Kiriya.
'I will do everything I can for Kiriya-san.' Masami swore to herself to live for the person who became her pillar until she dies. After all, she could no longer pursue her dream.
Rather than rotting alone inside a medical space, Masami preferred to live together with Kiriya until the end.
With this remaining time, she wants to make it worth for people who cherish her.
It doesn't matter anymore.