Chapter 80: Race Against Time - 2
Time feels as though it's going in slow motion... Even during the drive here, I was too busy focused on Charlotte, scared about if blood would start pouring out of her wounds. Again, I couldn't help but think that if I was there, taking all of these wounds, they'd all be healed up by now. I probably damaged the seat a bit from how hard I was gripping it back there, so now that I'm holding Charlotte's hand in both of my own, I have to remain calm.
But that would prove to be difficult as I soon watch as the people around us beginning stabbing needles into Charlotte's wound on her chest. I was a bit confused on why they were hurting her, but before I could speak up, I noticed that the needle was connected to some kind of string, slowly closing up Charlotte's wound. But with every stab, Charlotte squeezed onto my hand. I felt hopeless in not being able to help, but regardless, I continued to hold onto her hand, trying to give her some comfort as she gets through this.
"D-don't cry Shiro."
"I- I'm not crying..." It's a lie, I know. I can tell my vision has been getting more and more blurry with ever minute. But I don't want Charlotte to worry about me. "Just don't move."
"Hehe. Okay." How can she chuckle in this kind of situation? But regardless, seeing her smile really did lift off a massive weight inside me as I let one of my tears fall onto our hands.
"How you holding up there, Lieutenant?" One of the nurses calls out to Charlotte while they continue to slowly close up her wound.
"I'm okay, thank you."
"Your friend's very brave for sticking with you." Friend. So these people see Charlotte and I as friends? I feel the corners of my mouth being pulled up into a smile upon hearing that.
"Hehe, I know. She's quite a tough one."
"You're not injured as well, right?" Suddenly, another nurse came up to me asking that.
"I'm okay! I just want to stay with Charlotte." I'm definitely not leaving her side, not until she gets better. No, even if she gets better, I'm still not leaving her side. I shouldn't have agreed to letting her go out alone...
Time continued to flow at at an incredibly slow pace, but eventually, Charlotte's wounds were all closed up and now have bandages around her. One of the people around us ended up giving me a seat to sit on, letting me sit in a comfortable spot without leaving Charlotte's side.
"Alright, Lieutenant. Could you slowly release your mana for me?"
"Alright."
I watch as the bandages arounds Charlotte's chest soon started to have blood seeping through. It was scary, but it didn't seem like a lot of blood was spilling out.
"Okay, how do you feel?"
"Could be worse. What about Lisa? The woman that was with me."
"I can go check for you."
"Thank you."
One of the people ends up leaving the room, probably going to wherever Lisa is. I know my main focus right now is Charlotte, but I'm also worried about how she's doing... Even when Charlotte and I was carrying her, her body was completely limp. I tried the best I could to take as much of her weight as possible, hoping that Charlotte didn't need to strain herself.
"Okay, I'll also be right back. Just press this button if something happens." One of the people points out a button for me that's on the side of the bed.
"Okay." So if Charlotte looks to be in danger, I just press this button? I'm not too sure why, but I guess I'll trust them and do it.
"Thank you. Just try and rest up now Lieutenant. Be sure to keep her company, okay?"
"Nn! I will." I reply as the last man leaves the room, leaving just Charlotte and I inside.
I'm glad to see that Charlotte managed to get help, and I'm not sure why, but I feel like I've gotten a sense of auras now. Of course with people like Mell I could tell easily, but I could never notice Charlotte's or anyone else. But now with Charlotte laying down like this, I feel her aura has lightened. Is it because she's no longer trying to keep her blood inside her?
"Haaah~" It was then whilst I was in thought that Charlotte let out a sigh that's filled with relief which also relieved me a bit as well as I continue to hold her hand.
"Does it still hurt?"
"You want me to be honest?"
"Nn."
"It's the worst pain I've felt in my life." Her words makes it hard for me to hold back as I end up squeezing her hand once more. "Hehe, but I'd rather I take this than you or Lisa."
"...Stupid."
"Eh?"
Wait, did I say that accidentally?
"Y-you know I heal much faster. Don't say something silly like that."
"Maybe, but that doesn't mean it's okay to take on this pain."
"But-"
"I've heard your screams too many times, Shiro. I wouldn't dare push this onto you." It was then that she herself tightens her hold on my hand, bringing over her other hand as well as we both cusp each other's hands. "But thank you... For saving me."
"I... I didn't do anything."
"Mm-mmm. You did. I saw what you did back there."
"I'm not sure..." Even now, I'm not entirely sure what I did to do that, but I definitely knew that seeing Charlotte like that was the trigger. "I just didn't want you to die..."
"Hehe, well I'm glad you came. You were pretty cool."
"H-huh?"
"Pfft, hehehe."
Seeing her smile as she complimented me left me speechless on what to say. My chest feels incredibly warm looking at Charlotte right now... I don't want this feeling to go. Thinking that, I end up laying my head down onto the bed she's laying on, wanting to maybe just get a bit closer to her. There's not enough room for me, but maybe my head is enough? And in the next moment, I feel her hand brush over my hair as a whole new feeling takes over my body as my eyes quickly begin to grow heavier.
"Thank you, Shiro."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone