[ It's amazing what the human mind latches onto in these situations. He's a heap on the ground, palms slammed against the carpet and watching his own blood drip down his arm. It's everywhere. He can see it sliding down his arm, down his wrist, pooling under his calm. He hears the beeper buzz again, sees Komaeda walking toward it, reaches out instinctively before it's kicked away from him, and just that small movement is enough to draw another sharp cry from him.
Maybe if he didn't work so much, he says, as if Hiyori wouldn't work harder if he survived this. He's trying to assess the damage done to him. It was clever, he'll give Komaeda that; if he hadn't picked such an inconvenient spot, he would have been able to work on himself. He wouldn't be able to do much, of course - with a wound this deep, he would need to undergo surgery in order to repair the damage, but he could at least minimize the blood loss in the interim. Here and now, the most he can do is try to decide whether it's better to try and pull the blade out, and whether or not to start with that.
He reaches into his pocket first, before his fingers are too filthy, feeling around. He hits the side button of his phone, feels the faint vibration as it unlocks. How much blood was he losing? How long would it before he passes out? Would anyone hear him? Of course not. The apartment next to him was empty. The apartment on the other side's resident was just like him - they were never home. So he doesn't waste this time on such idle thoughts.
So, what is he thinking...? Hiyori keeps himself stabilized using one hand, but the one that comes out of his pocket reaches back to try and grip the handle of the knife - ah, it really is an inconvenient spot. ]
Praline-chan... C-call... Call Namida...
[ He chokes out the words through gasping breaths, each one sending a fresh wave of agony through him, fingertips finding the handle now. Call an emergency line? No, this was a far safer option. A sickly sweet voice answers, muffled by the fabric:
"Okay, Hiyori-kun! Calling Namida Michiru!"
It's not the voice of any default phone application. It's too human, too personalized. It was intended to be a companion app for Maple, though he was still finalizing several of the features on it. The two of them could communicate, but it was minimal - it needed to be secure enough that there wouldn't be any interference. ]
... A-and Maple-chan...
[ "Okay, Hiyori-kun."
The second response comes softer, offering no elaboration. It's difficult to say how that order's taken, but he knows the phone is being dialed. Ha... Ha... Wouldn't it be pathetic if he died like this...? ]
(deleted comment)
i mean they did but somebody had to take responsibility for him??? his hands were tied
[ Where exactly had it hit...? Hiyori thinks that he knows. It doesn't seem to have pierced anything vital, but it was a rather unfortunate spot to find a knife sticking out of. He doesn't try to take the phone; the AI would be better suited to speak for him right now, and he doesn't doubt that Namida can piece together the situation from the background noise.
Komaeda isn't wrong, but it's a conscious choice. It's a sacrifice that he has to make. It would hurt no matter what he did, but it would be impossible so long as each slight movement and breath aided the blade in tearing him up. It occurs to him presently that the door to his apartment is locked. Hiyori doesn't trust anyone, and so there was no one who would have access to either apartment, and he's certain that he heard the click of the lock in here as well. How much time would be wasted?
The knife is already dug in as far as the blade can go, and there's another scream as it's pushed deeper in all the same - the handle starting to digging into the pierced flesh now. That hand, which had finally started to reach around the blade, is forced to come back down to catch himself as he jerks forward and slides down to his elbows. He sobs, watching as the tears drip onto the floor and mix with blood.
How long has it been since he cried like this? Has he ever? No, not even once - not when others died, not when he killed them and not when he dealt with their bodies, not when he was in agony from those times in which he miscalculated. He does now, though, and the part of his mind that hasn't quite accepted his situation thinks of how shameful that is. ]
K-Komaeda-kun...
[ Ah, this would be so much easier if he could just stop shaking. It'd be so much easier if he could stop his breaths, if he could give up all those little things that make him a human being. But he isn't, not yet, and he has to figure something out. What would the best way to stem the bleeding here? Would it be better to drag himself out and just pass out? Ah, it's hard to think... ]
You always... Make my job... So difficult...
[ Hiyori reaches his hand back again, fingers shaking now. The longer he waits, the harder it'll be. ]
(deleted comment)
he'd better, i trust him to make sure that his husband only gets the best care
[ That's right. Hiyori is married to his job. It's always been that way, but it was worth it. He has more talent than anyone, more skills, more connections, more and more than any other could achieve. He has already made his mark on the world, and that stain would only grow larger with time and effort. He flinches back when he approached, but in the end he offers no resistance when Komaeda takes his face in his hands. He stares at him, gaze aware despite the first sights of cloudiness from the mix of pain and blood loss, tears dripping down his heedless of his wants.
He's familiar with this kind of love, which is almost a perfect match of his own. It's wrong, though, because Hiyori would never willingly give up his life to another person. There's no cough, but there's a small whimper in resposne to the kiss - his shaking his getting worse, causing further agitation. How long would it be before he passed out from blood loss? How long would he be out of commission due to this? He acquiesces readily when prompted, parting his lips to invite Komaeda in even now, though the combination of pain and fear seem to be enough to keep him from reciprocating properly.
The glow from his phone is gone. Had it been enough? Would he be able to call back if needed? He's would, because he has to. He can see the red staining it now. He reaches his hand up to touch Komaeda, but stops should when he sees how stained that is as well. He lets it hover just briefly instead before taking it back. ]
... Of course not... I could never... Kill somebody... That I love so much....
[ But he reaches back one final time now, managing to grip the handle. His hand remains there for just a moment, squeezing his eyes shut as he braces himself, before crying out as he starts pulling - once, twice, and then it's out. Hiyori's just barely able to bring it back down to the floor before the strength in his limbs gives out from the sheer shock and he collapses more properly.
Just a little shock to the system. Just a little reminder that he's alive. He has to get up. He has to unlock the door for his next guest... Can't keep being such a poor host, after all... Because he doesn't want to die like this. ]
Edited 2021-11-29 19:46 (UTC)
(deleted comment)
ohhh komaeda honey... gold heart for your efforts...
[ Hiyori keeps his fingers wrapped around the knife's handle, but that seems to be the best he's capable of for the moment. He can recognize what's happening, his body is paralyzed by trauma and blood loss, and his mind isn't faring much better. It's poor timing, and perhaps he should have seen if he could just struggle through it, because the blood is flowing out freely without the knife to help staunch it now. He tries to run through a mental checklist of what he needs to do to mitigate the damage. As an employee of ASUNARO, he had access to the newest and most expensive products and kept them on his person. It wouldn't cure him, the damage was too extensive, but it might buy time.
He runs through the list of what he needs to do, of what would need to be done, of how long it might take him to recover... He's vaguely aware of the fact that his head is on Komaeda's lap. Ah, how nice, he really had wanted to do that when he'd asked before, to feel fingers running through his hair, but ah, that's too depressing to think of now. He still has so much to do, he can't act as though this is good enough. Does that qualify as hope, or is it doing his job? It doesn't matter.
He manages to twitch a little (or maybe not, maybe he's just mistaking his shivering for a movement,) but not much more. His breath is shallow, but he's managing to stay conscious. That's a start. He considers the conversation being had... Ah, perhaps Namida hadn't gotten his message after all. Such shame, her talent was one of two that matched his... Ah, then again, she did live pretty far away, didn't she? He should have called Harai, she was closer. He thinks that he should take out his e-Handbook. He'd kept it as a parting gift, kept it functional for all these years, just in case he needed it. Idle, worthless thoughts just to keep himself focused. ]
Komaeda-kun...
[ He says the name slowly, almost slurring it, just to confirm that he can still do so.
It really has been a long day. ]
Edited 2021-11-29 22:08 (UTC)
(deleted comment)
it's a really scribbly gold heart but it's there kind of
[ Well, he's not planning on dying, but he doesn't think it would be a bad parting note if it was. Even so, Hiyori is slowing down. His back burns where the knife was, though it's still less painful than having his inside torn up.
But he has enough awareness left to disapprove of the scream on the other side of the phone. It was their job to keep calm in the face of emergencies such as this because families and friends couldn't. How a person like that could be the best of their field is a mystery to him. They were never terribly discerning, but if he's willing to be more fair he might admit that it could simply be the curse of youth. Somebody of that age wouldn't yet be numb... But then, he'd made his own condition that much worse by now. But at least he can think now.
He starts the slow process of trying to force his wobbling limbs. ]
Medical kit... Please...
[ He manages to push himself up onto his elbows, an experimental movement that leaves him feeling woozy. That was just too bad though, he would need to push through it. ]
Edited 2021-11-29 23:10 (UTC)
(deleted comment)
he'll thank him for giving him the motivation he needs to go full scorched earth it's true
[ Hiyori can only stare up when Komaeda takes his chin. His pupils are dilated, and he's aware of his own rapidly deteriorating condition. It's his own carelessness that landed him here, and he wishes he had a greater capacity to feel disgust at the absolute loss of control - at being so completely at the mercy of another. As it is, all that's left for him is fear, and even that is making an effort to dim itself.
He pushes himself up a little more as Komaeda moves, managing to slide one knee under himself. ]
It's... It's from... My school days...
[ Does he need to specify which years? He doesn't think that Komaeda is that slow. It's in pristine condition even now, but he rarely had the opportunity to pull it out these days. But it remains fully stocked and ready to pull out at any time, stocked with tools and essentials, and salves and other items that were more expensive than any normal person could afford. The latter had been added in later, but they were handy. Though to shed the last vestiges of that place, perhaps he should let it be tossed in the garbage where it belongs.
Of course, he could dump all the contents, but it would have the same effect. He'd put it together with Nadami, and so it was guaranteed to be perfection. There was one more item carefully hidden in there as well, but he's not sure if he wants to mention it. He thinks on that as he manages to drag the other knee under himself. He isn't able to stand in the end, but wobbly arms are able to at least hold him up as he manages to turn to the side and slide himself into a sitting position after an impossibly slow process that ends in a sharp gasp, and he can feel himself on the brim of tears all over.
His speech remains slow, words coming between shallow breaths, and he wonders how much longer before he loses consciousness. ]
... Let me see it....
[ Ah, well, that's just his luck today. It's not as though he needs the proof. ]
(deleted comment)
just pump him full of blood and drugs and ivs he'll be fine
[ He only offers a small sigh in response to the question. There were too many things that he needed now to handle it himself, but he's not quite ready to bring up the amount of blood lost. The evidence was around them. It was on Komaeda too. Instead he pops the lid open. The kit is neatly organized, and one can see that some items are older just by the way they've faded - letters have rubbed off packaging and there's one or two things that show signs of wear. He ignores that for not, taking out a few items of interest before considering the best way to get to the item at the bottom.
He settles for sliding his hand in, letting things clatter together as he tips up the false bottom. He feels dizzy, and even this is an insurmountable effort, and the sound of items clattering as they tip over inside and tip out of the case makes him want to scream for an entirely different reason. But he'd heard the conversation from before, and so he procures what should be a familiar item to Komaeda - after all, every student had one. He fiddles with it for a moment, trying to avoid smearing more blood on it than necessary, before holding it out.
Komaeda seems to have readily accepted it by now, but he had nonetheless offered to show his old student ID before. It was undeniable proof of his time spent there, perfectly preserved even after all this time. He'd taken such care to ensure that they wouldn't get it back after he was done with it. He'd kept it all together and added to it and shoved it in a cabinet where he so rarely had to even think about it. ]
I love you, Komaeda-kun.
[ Him and him alone, even now. ]
(deleted comment)
it's so insane but you know what sometimes u just gotta get forced to take a vacation
[ They say that seeing is believing. Hiyori wonders if that might be what's unfolding before him. Even if it's not, he doesn't doubt the significance that the card would hold to Komaeda. It was undeniable proof of the Ultimate Surgeon, who had otherwise been erased from the school's memory, who they had yet to find another worthy of taking the title of. It was the final proof of the good and bad days that he had spent there... It was true, he had been a different person then. It wouldn't be wrong to call those his hopeful years, dotted with despair, and the turning point in his life despite all its flaws.
Is it alright to let him take it and risk losing it, when it was his only concrete proof of his own existence? If it was lost to time, then he would truly lose his identity. Perhaps that was fine, if his hopes were misplaced here then it would be what he deserved. Hiyori leans forward. His vision is starting to blur now. He might topple over at any moment.
It'll be fine. He'll survive this, and he'll watch for a little while longer before he makes his choice. But he will make one... He wonders if Komaeda would be happy to hear that? Just a little shock to the system, just dozens of reminders, just a look into the person that he used to be. The doorbell rings and shakes him out o fhis fractured thoughts, and he can only look on as Komaeda goes to the door. The Ultimate Nurse, was it...? Well, he can guide her if needed... Ah, how would she react? He's sure it'll be a funny face, just as Namida would... He'll have to try and stay conscious for that, at least.
They can talk later. ]
(deleted comment)
his vacation is just going to be sleeping on the couch but that's okay that's what he needs
[ It's not what he was expecting, but it's an equally entertaining result. If he's bothered by it in any sense of the word, it doesn't show on his face. If anything, there's a faint look of disappointment. These are the types of people they replaced himself and Namida with, hm? How embarrassing for them. But the ruckus does give him enough sense of mind to check his phone... Had she ever gotten back to him? He coughs. ]
Ah... Careful now, you can't embarrass yourself in front of your patients like that. They'll think you're going to be equally clumsy with their care, and it'll make it hard to build up trust.
[ It comes out slowly, with a hint of pain, but it's clinical all the same. It's the voice of a person who is used to such acts. He's dealt with women like this before, and coworkers of both genders who played games while on the job... Well, unless it was a genuine accident. He doubts it though, no more than when somebody would "accidentally" fall against him, or "accidentally" have their skirt up their ass, or any of the other little "accidents."
But he means well, of course; he's older than her, and has been in the field longer, so those little tidbits were necessary guidance. He'd gotten the same advice himself. You couldn't be clumsy, nor cry, nor embarrass yourself in front of those you were treating. He sets the phone down and takes up a bottle of salve himself to make his point, unscrewing the cap on it before hearing the door open again moments later, followed by a quick set of steps that stop abruptly in a door where a green haired woman stands.
She takes in the scene quickly, pushing her glasses up - from Hiyori bleeding out on the floor, to a teenage boy covered in blood, to a girl with her legs spread, and she's not quite sure which point to start with... But seeing as only one of them is bleeding out, and only one of them is her coworker, she decides to start by walking over and kneel down beside him, immediately yanking that medical kit from him and that salve out of his hands. ]
H-Hiyori-kun!? Wh-what happened!? Who are these two? What are they doing here!? N-n-no, nevermind, that's not important...! Wh-why didn't you call 119?
[ Ah, this was the other consequence of embarrassing yourself in front of your patient... Somebody else would inevitably steal your limelight... Ah, see, getting screamed at for not going to a hospital, he feels safer already. She must not have heard all the background noise, otherwise she no doubt would have ages ago. ]
Edited 2021-11-30 05:33 (UTC)
(deleted comment)
he really did... are we sure that komaeda's actual goal here wasn't just to force him to use his pto
[ Namida nods in agreement with her assessment. She offers a gentle smile, though there's a hint of sadness behind it. Fortunately, if Hiyori seemed to be a little too busy bleeding out to use any tact, she is not. ]
Tsumiki-san, please don't worry. Hiyori-san and and I didn't see anything except a wonderful nurse tending to him. Thank you for your assistance.
[ Her voice is calm and soothing, almost maternal, as one would expect of a doctor who was at the top of her field - as with Hiyori, it's not at all difficult to believe that she was an Ultimate at Hope's Peak. It's professional and serious, and so unlike the tone she used with others in private. Hiyori's blank gaze remains forward as she starts cutting through the fabric of his shirt with a pair of scissors. She was limited on what she could do here and now, but this was at least a start. It's completely stuck to him - there was so much blood, and she whispers soothing words to him. ]
Hm? Ah... No... I still need to fix Komaeda-kun's stitches... He tore them out again... I just fixed him...
[ The words come out slower and fainter than ever, and it's enough to tell anyone that he doesn't have much time left. Even so, while Namida doesn't pause in her work, she does flick her eyes up briefly. Namida and Harai were both aware that Nagito Komaeda was his patient, and apparently a troublesome one at that - a troublesome one that he had a completely inappropriate relationship with, which might explain all of this.
Still, that concerns her. Hiyori was thorough in his work, and it was dangerous for a patient to start ripping at their works. Moreover, she can tell just by looking at Komaeda how frail he is. ]
Would you check to see if Komaeda-kun needs treatment as well, Tsumiki-san? If we can give first aid now, then as he said, the medics will be able to care for both of them after.
[ The words remain kind, but her voice suggests that she's willing to check herself if it proves to be too difficult. Hiyori was, for better or worse, currently going to be a much more compliant patient. ]
[ Namida clears her throat at Komaeda's objections. Has she dealt with situations like this before, or was it just a result of being an Ultimate herself? As with Hiyori and Harai, she did well during her time, and her skills had only improved since those days. Regardless, despite the complete insanity of the situation before her, she finishes with cutting off his shirt. She frowns as she considers the depth of that injury. It was a small miracle that he hadn't pierced a lung. ]
Komaeda-kun, you have three experts in this room. You should have more faith in us.
[ Regardless of the fact that one of them was on the verge of death, and the terror that instills in her. Hiyori's capacity to only prioritize his own self-preservation and his obligations as a professional are truly impressive. There's a steady resolve to those words. Namida has quite a bit of patience, but it takes everything in her not to say that they've both caused enough issues for everyone today, and she herself is on the verge of tears trying to wipe off some of the blood and attend to the injury as best she can. How long had he been left like this...?
She considers for a moment, trying to remember what she's been told about this patient. Hiyori, she's sure, would justify it as their being coworkers and for her willingness and need to cover his patients should he be out of commission. Regardless, Namida knows enough to try and put her thumb on the scale. ]
Did Hiyori-san tell you that we went to the same school? We've worked together since then, so I hope you can trust my judgment.
[ This is, in fact, the nicest way possible of saying you have caused Tsumiki and I enough trouble. However, realizing that's a little harsh, in a softer tone she adds, ]
... I'm sure you'll be released quickly, okay? I want to see you home safe as quickly as possible too.
(deleted comment)
he's going to have soooooo much work to do when he gets back i'm crying
[ Namida is far from an aggressive person, but her tone gains a harsh edge as she says: ]
Don't you think you've caused enough problems for one day?
[ She sighs and shakes her head, biting her lip. Perhaps, she thinks, she should call the authorities and let them deal withi him instead. She suspects they'll be called regardless, but then Hiyori will no doubt see to it that it's covered up quietly. But as he's out like this, Komaeda will have tried to murder one of the top ranking officials of ASUNARO. It hadn't taken her long at all to piece it together. Why, she can't imagine, though she knows he's prone to violent mood swings.
She shakes her head again. As with Hiyori, she understands that it's her job to be more collected than this; it does no one any good for their doctor to lose their patience and start snapping. It would only encourage the poor behavior.
But Hiyori is bleeding out before her, and she can only imagine what an issue it might cause if one of his patients needed him. He had been on call. There was so much she would need to handle now... But that wasn't present company's problem. They were allowed to be bored. With that in mind, she nudges through the kit to find that Hiyori has sedatives hidden in there, as expected.
She shakes her head again. She was far kinder than Hiyori, but also far more emotional. She struggled with keeping her calm, unlike Hiyori, and she lacked Harai's commanding presence. She wishes one of them could aid her. ]
... Please, Komaeda-kun. You and Hiyori-san have needlessly dragged poor Tsumiki-san into your mess.
[ Which is to say nothing of Hiyori's condition. It bothers her to see such a young girl dragged into the middle of a crime scene in a strange man's house. It bothers her even more to be pushing this burden onto somebody so young... Namida sees so much of herself in the younger girl, too, enough that it aches to see her treated so disrespectfully. ]
Neither you nor your classmate need the entertainment that will come from running out looking like a person leaving a crime scene.
[ So, you know, exactly what he'd be doing. ]
Edited (WORDING and then i hit send by mistake sorry) 2021-11-30 18:06 (UTC)
(deleted comment)
he's great at both his jobs, that's why they keep him around, and also his patients love him
[ Those words are gentle once more, and she manages a small smile. It is, too. ]
Tsumiki-san, I'm sorry to trouble you further, but could you please watch Hiyori-shan for a moment?
[ She's already done what she could, using treatments that few could afford to stem the bleeding and encourage repair, dressed it up as well as she could - though it would need to be redone in moments, and Namida thinks it best to put her faith in another. For the moment, her patient is still breathing, though he shows no sign of regaining awareness. Even if he did, she doesn't imagine he would even have the strength to twitch his fingers.
Namida has been counting the seconds. They would be here in less than a minute, or perhaps two. She gets to her feet, tugging the gloves off and tucking them in a pocket. She'll stop Komaeda by placing a hand on his shoulder - ]
Komaeda-kun. I need you to listen.
[ - gingerly spin him around, and look directly in his eyes. There's an unshakable resolve in that gaze. ]
Hiyori-kun's patients are my patients. If he's not able to care for you, then it falls to me to cover for him.
[ Her smile widens a little. Her expression is always a little shaky, as though she's not sure how to be anything aside from melancholy. ]
Especially not when you were the one who found him... [ Especially because he's responsible for it. ] I'll make sure you're both taken care of.
[ She lets go after that, knowing that in a few seconds they'd be interrupted. ]
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HE NEEDS SO MUCH HELP??? HE'S HAVING A BAD TIME RN
Maybe if he didn't work so much, he says, as if Hiyori wouldn't work harder if he survived this. He's trying to assess the damage done to him. It was clever, he'll give Komaeda that; if he hadn't picked such an inconvenient spot, he would have been able to work on himself. He wouldn't be able to do much, of course - with a wound this deep, he would need to undergo surgery in order to repair the damage, but he could at least minimize the blood loss in the interim. Here and now, the most he can do is try to decide whether it's better to try and pull the blade out, and whether or not to start with that.
He reaches into his pocket first, before his fingers are too filthy, feeling around. He hits the side button of his phone, feels the faint vibration as it unlocks. How much blood was he losing? How long would it before he passes out? Would anyone hear him? Of course not. The apartment next to him was empty. The apartment on the other side's resident was just like him - they were never home. So he doesn't waste this time on such idle thoughts.
So, what is he thinking...? Hiyori keeps himself stabilized using one hand, but the one that comes out of his pocket reaches back to try and grip the handle of the knife - ah, it really is an inconvenient spot. ]
Praline-chan... C-call... Call Namida...
[ He chokes out the words through gasping breaths, each one sending a fresh wave of agony through him, fingertips finding the handle now. Call an emergency line? No, this was a far safer option. A sickly sweet voice answers, muffled by the fabric:
"Okay, Hiyori-kun! Calling Namida Michiru!"
It's not the voice of any default phone application. It's too human, too personalized. It was intended to be a companion app for Maple, though he was still finalizing several of the features on it. The two of them could communicate, but it was minimal - it needed to be secure enough that there wouldn't be any interference. ]
... A-and Maple-chan...
[ "Okay, Hiyori-kun."
The second response comes softer, offering no elaboration. It's difficult to say how that order's taken, but he knows the phone is being dialed. Ha... Ha... Wouldn't it be pathetic if he died like this...? ]
i mean they did but somebody had to take responsibility for him??? his hands were tied
Komaeda isn't wrong, but it's a conscious choice. It's a sacrifice that he has to make. It would hurt no matter what he did, but it would be impossible so long as each slight movement and breath aided the blade in tearing him up. It occurs to him presently that the door to his apartment is locked. Hiyori doesn't trust anyone, and so there was no one who would have access to either apartment, and he's certain that he heard the click of the lock in here as well. How much time would be wasted?
The knife is already dug in as far as the blade can go, and there's another scream as it's pushed deeper in all the same - the handle starting to digging into the pierced flesh now. That hand, which had finally started to reach around the blade, is forced to come back down to catch himself as he jerks forward and slides down to his elbows. He sobs, watching as the tears drip onto the floor and mix with blood.
How long has it been since he cried like this? Has he ever? No, not even once - not when others died, not when he killed them and not when he dealt with their bodies, not when he was in agony from those times in which he miscalculated. He does now, though, and the part of his mind that hasn't quite accepted his situation thinks of how shameful that is. ]
K-Komaeda-kun...
[ Ah, this would be so much easier if he could just stop shaking. It'd be so much easier if he could stop his breaths, if he could give up all those little things that make him a human being. But he isn't, not yet, and he has to figure something out. What would the best way to stem the bleeding here? Would it be better to drag himself out and just pass out? Ah, it's hard to think... ]
You always... Make my job... So difficult...
[ Hiyori reaches his hand back again, fingers shaking now. The longer he waits, the harder it'll be. ]
he'd better, i trust him to make sure that his husband only gets the best care
He's familiar with this kind of love, which is almost a perfect match of his own. It's wrong, though, because Hiyori would never willingly give up his life to another person. There's no cough, but there's a small whimper in resposne to the kiss - his shaking his getting worse, causing further agitation. How long would it be before he passed out from blood loss? How long would he be out of commission due to this? He acquiesces readily when prompted, parting his lips to invite Komaeda in even now, though the combination of pain and fear seem to be enough to keep him from reciprocating properly.
The glow from his phone is gone. Had it been enough? Would he be able to call back if needed? He's would, because he has to. He can see the red staining it now. He reaches his hand up to touch Komaeda, but stops should when he sees how stained that is as well. He lets it hover just briefly instead before taking it back. ]
... Of course not... I could never... Kill somebody... That I love so much....
[ But he reaches back one final time now, managing to grip the handle. His hand remains there for just a moment, squeezing his eyes shut as he braces himself, before crying out as he starts pulling - once, twice, and then it's out. Hiyori's just barely able to bring it back down to the floor before the strength in his limbs gives out from the sheer shock and he collapses more properly.
Just a little shock to the system. Just a little reminder that he's alive. He has to get up. He has to unlock the door for his next guest... Can't keep being such a poor host, after all... Because he doesn't want to die like this. ]
ohhh komaeda honey... gold heart for your efforts...
He runs through the list of what he needs to do, of what would need to be done, of how long it might take him to recover... He's vaguely aware of the fact that his head is on Komaeda's lap. Ah, how nice, he really had wanted to do that when he'd asked before, to feel fingers running through his hair, but ah, that's too depressing to think of now. He still has so much to do, he can't act as though this is good enough. Does that qualify as hope, or is it doing his job? It doesn't matter.
He manages to twitch a little (or maybe not, maybe he's just mistaking his shivering for a movement,) but not much more. His breath is shallow, but he's managing to stay conscious. That's a start. He considers the conversation being had... Ah, perhaps Namida hadn't gotten his message after all. Such shame, her talent was one of two that matched his... Ah, then again, she did live pretty far away, didn't she? He should have called Harai, she was closer. He thinks that he should take out his e-Handbook. He'd kept it as a parting gift, kept it functional for all these years, just in case he needed it. Idle, worthless thoughts just to keep himself focused. ]
Komaeda-kun...
[ He says the name slowly, almost slurring it, just to confirm that he can still do so.
It really has been a long day. ]
it's a really scribbly gold heart but it's there kind of
But he has enough awareness left to disapprove of the scream on the other side of the phone. It was their job to keep calm in the face of emergencies such as this because families and friends couldn't. How a person like that could be the best of their field is a mystery to him. They were never terribly discerning, but if he's willing to be more fair he might admit that it could simply be the curse of youth. Somebody of that age wouldn't yet be numb... But then, he'd made his own condition that much worse by now. But at least he can think now.
He starts the slow process of trying to force his wobbling limbs. ]
Medical kit... Please...
[ He manages to push himself up onto his elbows, an experimental movement that leaves him feeling woozy. That was just too bad though, he would need to push through it. ]
he'll thank him for giving him the motivation he needs to go full scorched earth it's true
He pushes himself up a little more as Komaeda moves, managing to slide one knee under himself. ]
It's... It's from... My school days...
[ Does he need to specify which years? He doesn't think that Komaeda is that slow. It's in pristine condition even now, but he rarely had the opportunity to pull it out these days. But it remains fully stocked and ready to pull out at any time, stocked with tools and essentials, and salves and other items that were more expensive than any normal person could afford. The latter had been added in later, but they were handy. Though to shed the last vestiges of that place, perhaps he should let it be tossed in the garbage where it belongs.
Of course, he could dump all the contents, but it would have the same effect. He'd put it together with Nadami, and so it was guaranteed to be perfection. There was one more item carefully hidden in there as well, but he's not sure if he wants to mention it. He thinks on that as he manages to drag the other knee under himself. He isn't able to stand in the end, but wobbly arms are able to at least hold him up as he manages to turn to the side and slide himself into a sitting position after an impossibly slow process that ends in a sharp gasp, and he can feel himself on the brim of tears all over.
His speech remains slow, words coming between shallow breaths, and he wonders how much longer before he loses consciousness. ]
... Let me see it....
[ Ah, well, that's just his luck today. It's not as though he needs the proof. ]
just pump him full of blood and drugs and ivs he'll be fine
He settles for sliding his hand in, letting things clatter together as he tips up the false bottom. He feels dizzy, and even this is an insurmountable effort, and the sound of items clattering as they tip over inside and tip out of the case makes him want to scream for an entirely different reason. But he'd heard the conversation from before, and so he procures what should be a familiar item to Komaeda - after all, every student had one. He fiddles with it for a moment, trying to avoid smearing more blood on it than necessary, before holding it out.
Komaeda seems to have readily accepted it by now, but he had nonetheless offered to show his old student ID before. It was undeniable proof of his time spent there, perfectly preserved even after all this time. He'd taken such care to ensure that they wouldn't get it back after he was done with it. He'd kept it all together and added to it and shoved it in a cabinet where he so rarely had to even think about it. ]
I love you, Komaeda-kun.
[ Him and him alone, even now. ]
it's so insane but you know what sometimes u just gotta get forced to take a vacation
Is it alright to let him take it and risk losing it, when it was his only concrete proof of his own existence? If it was lost to time, then he would truly lose his identity. Perhaps that was fine, if his hopes were misplaced here then it would be what he deserved. Hiyori leans forward. His vision is starting to blur now. He might topple over at any moment.
It'll be fine. He'll survive this, and he'll watch for a little while longer before he makes his choice. But he will make one... He wonders if Komaeda would be happy to hear that? Just a little shock to the system, just dozens of reminders, just a look into the person that he used to be. The doorbell rings and shakes him out o fhis fractured thoughts, and he can only look on as Komaeda goes to the door. The Ultimate Nurse, was it...? Well, he can guide her if needed... Ah, how would she react? He's sure it'll be a funny face, just as Namida would... He'll have to try and stay conscious for that, at least.
They can talk later. ]
his vacation is just going to be sleeping on the couch but that's okay that's what he needs
Ah... Careful now, you can't embarrass yourself in front of your patients like that. They'll think you're going to be equally clumsy with their care, and it'll make it hard to build up trust.
[ It comes out slowly, with a hint of pain, but it's clinical all the same. It's the voice of a person who is used to such acts. He's dealt with women like this before, and coworkers of both genders who played games while on the job... Well, unless it was a genuine accident. He doubts it though, no more than when somebody would "accidentally" fall against him, or "accidentally" have their skirt up their ass, or any of the other little "accidents."
But he means well, of course; he's older than her, and has been in the field longer, so those little tidbits were necessary guidance. He'd gotten the same advice himself. You couldn't be clumsy, nor cry, nor embarrass yourself in front of those you were treating. He sets the phone down and takes up a bottle of salve himself to make his point, unscrewing the cap on it before hearing the door open again moments later, followed by a quick set of steps that stop abruptly in a door where a green haired woman stands.
She takes in the scene quickly, pushing her glasses up - from Hiyori bleeding out on the floor, to a teenage boy covered in blood, to a girl with her legs spread, and she's not quite sure which point to start with... But seeing as only one of them is bleeding out, and only one of them is her coworker, she decides to start by walking over and kneel down beside him, immediately yanking that medical kit from him and that salve out of his hands. ]
H-Hiyori-kun!? Wh-what happened!? Who are these two? What are they doing here!? N-n-no, nevermind, that's not important...! Wh-why didn't you call 119?
[ Ah, this was the other consequence of embarrassing yourself in front of your patient... Somebody else would inevitably steal your limelight... Ah, see, getting screamed at for not going to a hospital, he feels safer already. She must not have heard all the background noise, otherwise she no doubt would have ages ago. ]
he really did... are we sure that komaeda's actual goal here wasn't just to force him to use his pto
Tsumiki-san, please don't worry. Hiyori-san and and I didn't see anything except a wonderful nurse tending to him. Thank you for your assistance.
[ Her voice is calm and soothing, almost maternal, as one would expect of a doctor who was at the top of her field - as with Hiyori, it's not at all difficult to believe that she was an Ultimate at Hope's Peak. It's professional and serious, and so unlike the tone she used with others in private. Hiyori's blank gaze remains forward as she starts cutting through the fabric of his shirt with a pair of scissors. She was limited on what she could do here and now, but this was at least a start. It's completely stuck to him - there was so much blood, and she whispers soothing words to him. ]
Hm? Ah... No... I still need to fix Komaeda-kun's stitches... He tore them out again... I just fixed him...
[ The words come out slower and fainter than ever, and it's enough to tell anyone that he doesn't have much time left. Even so, while Namida doesn't pause in her work, she does flick her eyes up briefly. Namida and Harai were both aware that Nagito Komaeda was his patient, and apparently a troublesome one at that - a troublesome one that he had a completely inappropriate relationship with, which might explain all of this.
Still, that concerns her. Hiyori was thorough in his work, and it was dangerous for a patient to start ripping at their works. Moreover, she can tell just by looking at Komaeda how frail he is. ]
Would you check to see if Komaeda-kun needs treatment as well, Tsumiki-san? If we can give first aid now, then as he said, the medics will be able to care for both of them after.
[ The words remain kind, but her voice suggests that she's willing to check herself if it proves to be too difficult. Hiyori was, for better or worse, currently going to be a much more compliant patient. ]
he's taken like one day off so probably a lot
[ Namida clears her throat at Komaeda's objections. Has she dealt with situations like this before, or was it just a result of being an Ultimate herself? As with Hiyori and Harai, she did well during her time, and her skills had only improved since those days. Regardless, despite the complete insanity of the situation before her, she finishes with cutting off his shirt. She frowns as she considers the depth of that injury. It was a small miracle that he hadn't pierced a lung. ]
Komaeda-kun, you have three experts in this room. You should have more faith in us.
[ Regardless of the fact that one of them was on the verge of death, and the terror that instills in her. Hiyori's capacity to only prioritize his own self-preservation and his obligations as a professional are truly impressive. There's a steady resolve to those words. Namida has quite a bit of patience, but it takes everything in her not to say that they've both caused enough issues for everyone today, and she herself is on the verge of tears trying to wipe off some of the blood and attend to the injury as best she can. How long had he been left like this...?
She considers for a moment, trying to remember what she's been told about this patient. Hiyori, she's sure, would justify it as their being coworkers and for her willingness and need to cover his patients should he be out of commission. Regardless, Namida knows enough to try and put her thumb on the scale. ]
Did Hiyori-san tell you that we went to the same school? We've worked together since then, so I hope you can trust my judgment.
[ This is, in fact, the nicest way possible of saying you have caused Tsumiki and I enough trouble. However, realizing that's a little harsh, in a softer tone she adds, ]
... I'm sure you'll be released quickly, okay? I want to see you home safe as quickly as possible too.
he's going to have soooooo much work to do when he gets back i'm crying
Don't you think you've caused enough problems for one day?
[ She sighs and shakes her head, biting her lip. Perhaps, she thinks, she should call the authorities and let them deal withi him instead. She suspects they'll be called regardless, but then Hiyori will no doubt see to it that it's covered up quietly. But as he's out like this, Komaeda will have tried to murder one of the top ranking officials of ASUNARO. It hadn't taken her long at all to piece it together. Why, she can't imagine, though she knows he's prone to violent mood swings.
She shakes her head again. As with Hiyori, she understands that it's her job to be more collected than this; it does no one any good for their doctor to lose their patience and start snapping. It would only encourage the poor behavior.
But Hiyori is bleeding out before her, and she can only imagine what an issue it might cause if one of his patients needed him. He had been on call. There was so much she would need to handle now... But that wasn't present company's problem. They were allowed to be bored. With that in mind, she nudges through the kit to find that Hiyori has sedatives hidden in there, as expected.
She shakes her head again. She was far kinder than Hiyori, but also far more emotional. She struggled with keeping her calm, unlike Hiyori, and she lacked Harai's commanding presence. She wishes one of them could aid her. ]
... Please, Komaeda-kun. You and Hiyori-san have needlessly dragged poor Tsumiki-san into your mess.
[ Which is to say nothing of Hiyori's condition. It bothers her to see such a young girl dragged into the middle of a crime scene in a strange man's house. It bothers her even more to be pushing this burden onto somebody so young... Namida sees so much of herself in the younger girl, too, enough that it aches to see her treated so disrespectfully. ]
Neither you nor your classmate need the entertainment that will come from running out looking like a person leaving a crime scene.
[ So, you know, exactly what he'd be doing. ]
he's great at both his jobs, that's why they keep him around, and also his patients love him
[ Those words are gentle once more, and she manages a small smile. It is, too. ]
Tsumiki-san, I'm sorry to trouble you further, but could you please watch Hiyori-shan for a moment?
[ She's already done what she could, using treatments that few could afford to stem the bleeding and encourage repair, dressed it up as well as she could - though it would need to be redone in moments, and Namida thinks it best to put her faith in another. For the moment, her patient is still breathing, though he shows no sign of regaining awareness. Even if he did, she doesn't imagine he would even have the strength to twitch his fingers.
Namida has been counting the seconds. They would be here in less than a minute, or perhaps two. She gets to her feet, tugging the gloves off and tucking them in a pocket. She'll stop Komaeda by placing a hand on his shoulder - ]
Komaeda-kun. I need you to listen.
[ - gingerly spin him around, and look directly in his eyes. There's an unshakable resolve in that gaze. ]
Hiyori-kun's patients are my patients. If he's not able to care for you, then it falls to me to cover for him.
[ Her smile widens a little. Her expression is always a little shaky, as though she's not sure how to be anything aside from melancholy. ]
Especially not when you were the one who found him... [ Especially because he's responsible for it. ] I'll make sure you're both taken care of.
[ She lets go after that, knowing that in a few seconds they'd be interrupted. ]
NOOO HE'S NOT LOSING ANY PATIENTS... PERMANENTLY...