Chapter 31

Extra Case File 31 Heartless Ash

“Gurgle.”

Behind the focused Ash stood Nozomi, her hand that was meant to cheer him up paused in mid-air before her chest. She couldn’t bring herself to breathe loudly, and the sound of her swallowing saliva could clearly be heard.

There was only one reason for her current tension. In front of her, Ash was performing a delicate examination for Yu. Our Precure girl was afraid any noise might disturb them.

The man semi-crouched in front of the blonde woman, extending those ample, slender legs. He grabbed the woman’s foot, liberating it from her house slippers, and casually discarded the black stocking to one side.

In his rare moment of serious work, he had no mind for anything else. Gazing at the soft feet in his hands with an intensely hot gaze, his pupils constricted, focusing intensely. What the naked eye couldn’t see, the pulsing tendons, vivid muscle tissue, and sturdy bones beneath her healthy skin, all became visibly clear to him.

“Mm, indeed.”

“Mm…ah…” Different from the always calm Ash, the woman’s right fist clenched involuntarily as she pressed it against her chin. With a slightly blushing face, Yu let out soft breaths while he “played” with her feet.

Even though he usually used machines for examinations and there is nothing unusual about being physically examined by other doctors, especially since her leg feels nothing now, and it definitely couldn’t be something like an itch.

So if someone were to seriously look at my feet, would I feel this embarrassed?

Is it because I’m being seen in front of my good friends that I feel ashamed? Why does it feel like my whole body has been exposed… Is it just my imagination?

“Ah.”

With a raised hand, he held tightly onto Yu’s thigh before she almost let out a yelp, feeling the warmth and smoothness on his fingers. The man’s ten fingers followed along the lines, massaging the healthy and plump toes and arch while the expression on his face twisted more.

“Doct—Doctor?” Yu, enduring her sense of shame, mustered the courage to ask: “What’s wrong? Is it really a serious problem?”

“No,” Ash shook his head, giving Yu relief with his answer, “Both externally and internally, muscles, nerves, and bones are truly fine.”

He saw now that Yu’s legs were as healthy as can be, even healthier than his own, though maybe a little too pudgy in his calves due to lack of exercise over time. This matched his initial conclusion based solely on observation.

“The only problem lies within yourself.” Ash loosened his palm, forming a fist, and struck the appropriate point on her knee with just enough force to make her foot spring up. Just as her foot was about to knock Ash’s chin, he turned his head sideways, making his earlobe move from the gentle push of her toe.

“It’s because you believe you can’t stand that you are like this!”

“But—” As much as the medical advice and words from Timefire comforted her, she still felt tongue-tied. “I’ve been trying so hard to get up, but I can’t!”

“Then try standing now.”

Seeing Ash step away from her, Yu gritted her teeth, summoning new bravery. Her arms began tensing, bracing for action.

“I—ah!”

Her trembling hands, encouraged by Nozomi’s supportive look, tried to prop herself up with the wheelchair handles, but imbalance caused her wheels to slip backward instead. Without support, Yu fell forward uncontrollably.

“Yadodou~” Ash caught her under the armpits, preventing her from falling face-down. At the same time, he rubbed her head a couple times.

“I—I!” Her eyes, sparkling with beauty and stars, closed slightly, her eyelashes wet with tears. The sorrow and frustration she held deep inside poured out as Yu poured her heart out to Ash.

“Even if I tried, I was always scared of the fall, ending up falling every time!”

Ash lifted her from below, his face composed as he listened to her jumbled narrative.

That makes sense. Another case of past trauma affecting her now. That explains her struggles.

“A friend once scolded me, and after that, I gave up trying to jump again, giving up on my dreams…” With a pleading look, Yu sought an answer from him that would satisfy her.

“This time, will I end up giving up again until I can no longer stand?”

“Well…” But Ash’s response countered her hopes entirely. “Your effort is not bad, but it’s also true that not everything works out no matter how hard you try. It’s important to accept that sometimes failure is inevitable.”

“What…”

Yu’s strength seemed to dissipate instantly, causing her to slump back into her wheelchair. The light in her eyes rapidly dimmed.

“The courage you lack is within, and the weakness you cannot overcome is also in yourself.” Unfazed, Ash added another jab, then sniffed his hands after they touched Yu’s hair, wrinkling his brow slightly as he smoothed it.

“Hmm, no reaction. Good girl, huh? Oh my…”

“Hold on! Hold on!”

The sensation from behind made Ash turn around. There stood Nozomi, puffing up like a pufferfish, clearly upset.

“What is this about?” Dragging Ash away from Yu where she wouldn’t hear, Nozomi immediately voiced her objections. “Even though I don’t understand medicine, I understood Yu can’t stand up because of her psychological state, correct?”

“So why is Doctor Ash discouraging her instead?”

“Forget it. She’s already mired in her own weaknesses; continuing to encourage her in vain won’t help.” Ash shook his head, disagreeing with Nozomi’s sentiment. “Anyway, I didn’t lie, did I?”

“Gumugumu…” Nozomi’s cheeks flushed red, stirring Ash’s urge to deflate her mood. “But didn’t you say you would heal her, Doctor Ash?”

“Yes, I didn’t say otherwise. So…”

Ash pulled out a blue chainsaw from behind, drawing a shocked reaction from Nozomi.

“I’ll cut off her legs instead.”