Chương 2: Introduction II

Strange expressions and mixed feelings welled in the ladies on the side. They could understand Aika's concern and consequent reaction, however, Hisato's reaction surprised them. Still, they felt they had more important matters to address. When the two ladies finished their session of suffocating hugs, they stood aside. Now, all around his bed encircling him stood eight exceedingly beautiful ladies staring at him. Yet, he did not flinch at their gazes, instead meeting each one with his own, his eyes displaying affection and gratitude.

Mira broke the silence once again. "What happened?", her stern tone made Adonis aware that he could not hide anything. Breathing in and out, Adonis began his narration.

"Yesterday late evening I was attacked. I don't know by whom since they had masks on. I think it was because I had prevented one of them, their boss, I think, from molesting a woman." Adonis summarized the events as best he could. The two older ladies, Mira and Kyouka did not miss the slight tremble of Hisato Asuma's body.

Kyouka pressed on knowing she'd get an answer one way or another, "Did you know the woman?" Adonis felt it inappropriate to reveal the victim's identity, choosing to lie instead.

"I don't…", he responded, however, his darting eyes and upturned lips easily confirmed otherwise. Slight chuckles erupted among the standing ladies as the same thought flashed in their minds. He has such an easy tell that its funny he's even trying. Adonis steadied his darting gaze on the chuckling ladies feeling something was wrong but couldn't exactly tell what.

Seeing their happy faces, he chose not to ruin the mood but noticed that Hisato wasn't as relaxed as the rest. She tightly clutched to her jeans with her countenance glued to the floor. Letting out a sigh, Adonis made a mental note to assure her that it wasn't her fault.

Interrupting the somewhat eased atmosphere, a tall man in white overalls walked into the room accompanied by the previous nurse. His step faltered feeling the several pairs of gazes from the beautiful women but still he proceeded. The nurse however, abruptly stopped seeing the beautiful women before her.

Is there a pageant happening here? She even wanted to go outside and confirm the room number once again but was sure it was the right room since he saw the pink-haired boy. A strange feeling of loss washed over her and she finally decided to do her job lest she was scolded for her clumsiness, a usual occurrence. The poorly shaven, groggy eyed doctor made it beside the headboard of the bed standing next to Adonis while the women had chosen to stand at the other end of the bed.

"Good morning. I am doctor Ryoichi Nishida," his husky voice started, "and I am the doctor who attended to you. Which of you are his immediate family members?"

"We are!" all the women, except for Hisato, answered in turn, none backing down despite the strangeness of the answer. The doctor was stumped for a few seconds but thought this wasn't his problem to deal with and his light headache urged him not to.

"Okay." Drawling his o's he continued, "You suffered three broken ribs, two on your right side and one your left as well as impacted fractures on your left radius and right ulna. Quite lucky if you ask me." His earlier words earned him audible gasps at 'broken' and 'fractures' before his latter statement earned him death glares from all eight women. He unconsciously took a step back feeling a subtle threat to his life was imminent if he did not explain himself.

Raising his hands in sign of surrender he continued, "That type of bone fracture is actually common in children, rarely in adults and takes a significantly shorter time to heal. A month should be enough but given how strong his bones seem since he only got an impacted fracture, I'd say maybe three weeks."

His elaboration earned him understanding nods and happy clasps about the good news but they still glared at him for his poor choice of words. Beads of sweat drenched the middle-aged man's back while Adonis simply offered a hearty chuckle at the women's overbearing demeanor. The man still feeling suffocated decided to continue the conversation in a safer place with more witnesses, if needed, so he proceeded to stand outside the door.

All but Hisato followed after him, seeking more information leaving only the two.

"Ad…Adonis," she stammered but the boy simply shook his head.

"Let's talk later." The short interaction did not escape the watchful eyes of Mira and Kyouka who tacitly agreed to find out exactly what happened. The busty housewife limply nodded her head, her heart a swirl of emotions. An uncomfortable silence settled in the room which Adonis decided to dispel.

"I hope you didn't leave anything cooking." Watching the initial reaction of shock turn into fear and finally remembrance and relief, Adonis let escape a boisterous laugh at the changing features of her face. The other ladies chose to ignore his mischief while Hisato's cheeks reddened with embarrassment feeling aggrieved. But watching his laughing features, she let out a chuckle herself happy to see him not angry with her. "I'm really tempted to pinch your cheeks for making fun of me Adonis-kun."

Her tensed-up posture visibly relaxed with the shaking of her shoulders and she let out a deep breath she did not know she was holding. Feeling responsible, she strode towards the group surrounding the doctor, a confidence in her step she did not have before. She was determined she would help wherever she could in his recovery, after all it was her fault that he lay there.

The group listened attentively to the doctor concerning Adonis' recovery needs and requirements, with dutiful Nina writing them down in a notebook. The doctor carried on with more confidence since he felt the ladies wouldn't do anything extreme while in the open. At least, he hoped so.

The nurse had gone away with Mira to give out the boy's details and settle his admission. Fifteen minutes later, Mira had arrived back to find the group of women bombarding the doctor with questions and she couldn't help but chuckle at their seriousness. Rejoining them, she was happy to hear that Adonis would be discharged the following day upon examination by the doctor to continue the healing process at home.

The boy simply watched on, happy to have so many people care about him. Closing his eyes, the images of all women present flashed through his mind. He contemplated thoughts he had been having for a while now. He had previously been conflicted about what to do but the previous day's events had been incentive enough on what his future plans would be.

He only stirred once the chatter of the women had surrounded his bed once again. Opening his eyes, a determined and resolute gaze fell upon the women before him. The three older women immediately felt the weight of his gaze and a single thought crossed their minds. The look of a determined Man.

Mira felt equally amused and expectant subtly licking her lips. Kyouka felt a tingling in her body realizing the meaning of his look but chose to ignore it momentarily. Hisato felt uncomfortable under the determined gaze and unconsciously compared it to her husband's. A thought she quickly banished and chose to look away shaking her head in self-reprimand.

The younger women too felt a subtle change in the atmosphere around Adonis though they could not deduce its underlying significance or nuances. Nina's blue eyes met Adonis' green eyes in direct contact through her glasses, not giving way, though a red sheen lightly coloured her cheeks. Yuna's shy demeanor came to life as her ear tips and face were dyed red and she looked downwards. Yuka met his gaze directly as well, in defiance even, though Adonis noticed the lightest rosy pink colour her cheeks. Koharu simply met his gaze with a kind and warm smile accordant with her nature. Aika's expression too was peculiar. Adonis noticed her sporting her usual carefree smile though her eyes held swirls of hope, encircled by storms of uncertainty and fear.

I'm not letting any of them go. He mentally declared. After making the silent declaration, he heard a beep go off. Glancing around, he saw nothing that could make the noise nor did the girls unchanging expression indicate they heard it too. Letting it go, he returned his gaze to them as they too broke into chatter among each other.