Yuzuki instinctively took a half-step back when her black onyxes' eyes landed on him, her body freezing for a brief moment before she forced herself to regain composure.
She swallowed lightly and managed a small greeting.
"...Hello there."
The man turned smoothly at her voice, his black visor catching the dim shop light. His chuckle was low, and far too casual for her pounding heart.
"Ohh… hello, child. We meet again. What a coincidence."
"Y-yeah… such a coincidence," Yuzuki replied, her voice unsteady as she gave a stiff nod.
Her eyes darted to the small vial in his gloved hand. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, a substance she had never seen before. It only heightened her suspicion. Still, she reminded herself he was a doctor.
Of course he'd be here.
Maybe he was buying supplies or selling something rare.
That had to be the reason. Right?
"So," he said, tilting his head slightly, "what brings you here to this humble shop?"
"uhm" the doctor stop realizing that he doesn't know the name of the child he had help.
so both of them just stare at each other for few awkward seconds.
"...Yuzuki," she corrected softly, her nerves forcing the words out before she realized what she was doing. "My name is Yuzuki."
"Oh… what a good name," he replied smoothly, his voice carrying that same calm amusement.
She blinked, momentarily thrown off. "…Thank you."
Then, her voice steadied as she said, "The reason I'm here should be obvious, right?"
"Ah, right, right," he said, lightly tapping the vial against his palm as though in thought. "You're here to buy medicine."
"Yes," Yuzuki confirmed, her black eyes narrowing slightly.
His tone softened. "And which one would that be, child?"
"The medicine… for the Blood River illness," Yuzuki said quietly, her hands tightening slightly at her sides.
"Ohh…" The man's gloved hand pressed against his chest, a mock-dramatic gesture that somehow carried genuine concern. "Ah, my heart hurts from hearing that a small, cute child like you is suffering from this disease."
Yuzuki froze. Did he just call me… cute? Her heart skipped a beat, warmth spreading strangely through her chest. She had never felt "cute" before in this body, and somehow, hearing it made her lips twitch upward, a faint, unintentional smile forming.
"Th-thank you," she whispered, voice barely audible.
"No problem, child," he replied, his tone softening even more. "And there's good news for you."
Yuzuki blinked, eyes widening as he held up the vial she had noticed earlier. Its contents shimmered a deep, vibrant red.
"You see this vial in my hand, right?" he said, tilting it slightly so the light caught it.
"Yes… I see," she murmured, her fingers inching closer as if drawn by some instinctive hope.
"It better than one you ever using before," he continued, "something that will help live more batter in your condition than before."
Yuzuki's chest tightened with a mixture of relief and disbelief.
"Are… are you saying the truth?" Yuzuki asked, stepping closer, her eyes wide and shining with a mix of disbelief and hope as she focused on the vial the man called a doctor held.
"Yes," he said gently, a small smile hidden beneath his mask. "Why would I lie to a child?"
He extended the vial toward her. Yuzuki's hands trembled as she reached out, the red liquid inside glowing faintly in the dim light. Her chest felt tight with anticipation and relief all at once.
"How much… how much is the price?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Well," he began, tilting his head slightly, "seeing as you're a child, I'll give it to you for thirty silver coins. How does that sound?"
Yuzuki's lips parted for only a moment before she nodded quickly. "Deal," she said, the word carrying more hope and determination than she had felt in a long time.
The man handed her the vial, and Yuzuki clutched it like it was the most precious thing in the world. For the first time in weeks, she felt a small flicker of relief, a spark that maybe, just maybe, she could survive a little longer.
Yuzuki held the vial tightly, her fingers brushing the cool glass. She had enough silver coins for the month more than enough, in fact but she didn't hesitate. The medicine she had used before had offered only a fleeting relief, barely enough to ease her pain. Yet even if this one worked only a little better, it was worth every coin.
She handed the thirty silver coins to the doctor without hesitation. "Here," she said, her fingers trembling slightly, "take it."
The man accepted the coins with a gentle nod and, in return, pressed the vial firmly into her hands. Yuzuki clutched it close to her chest, feeling a strange warmth spread through her as the promise of relief settled over her.
Even if the improvement was small, even if it was only temporary, she would pay any price to feel her body stop screaming in pain, if only for a little while.
"Do you need help taking the medicine?" the doctor asked, crouching down to her eye level.
"Ah… yes," Yuzuki replied, her voice barely above a whisper. After all, she needed to see if the medicine would actually take effect. If it worked, she could rely on this person in the future.
"Good," he said calmly, carefully injecting the vial into her arm.
Yuzuki's eyes widened as the sharp sting of the needle pierced her skin, but it quickly faded. Almost immediately, a warm relief spread through her body, washing over her like sunlight after a long, cold night.
Her arms no longer ached. Her stomach felt lighter, less like a twisted weight. Her vision seemed clearer, sharper, as if a fog had lifted from her eyes. Even her legs felt stronger, capable of carrying her far beyond what she thought possible. And most importantly, the relentless pounding in her head the pain that had been gnawing at her skull was gone, replaced by a strange, peaceful clarity.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Yuzuki felt… whole
"It worked! It really worked!" Yuzuki exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder. This medicine had reduced the pain far more effectively than any other she had taken before.
"That's good," the doctor said calmly, a faint warmth in his tone. "I'm glad you're happy."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" she said, her hands trembling as she removed more coins from her pouch and placed them carefully into the doctor's hands.
"I… I want to buy two more," Yuzuki added, though in reality, she wanted more. Two vials were all she could afford without leaving herself starving or unable to survive until her next payment.
"Alright then," the man replied. He carefully removed two vials and handed them to Yuzuki, her hands shaking as she received them.
Clutching the vials tightly, Yuzuki bowed her head in gratitude before stepping out of the apothecary. The wooden door creaked shut behind her, the faint chime of the bell marking her exit.
Inside, the man remained where he stood, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable beneath the mask. He watched the closed door for a long moment before a low chuckle escaped him.
"Well then," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's see how the dice roll."