Chapter 20

'Why is he acting like that?'

Ash, who always remained expressionless no matter what was said, was showing a strangely different side today. His transformation into an unfamiliar appearance had started when the dimension wanderer's story came up.

"How do I look right now?"

"...?"

Why is he suddenly fixing his hair?

"Should I change clothes before going..."

Ash, who had been muttering to himself, picked out the largest and freshest-looking flower from the vase. After bringing it under his nose and deeply inhaling the floral scent, he disappeared from Daniel's sight without saying a word.

And in less than a few seconds, Ash reappeared before Daniel and muttered in an embarrassed voice.

"Shoes."

He slipped his feet into his shoes that had been placed under the bed, then used his ability again to disappear. It all happened in an instant.

"..."

Daniel, left alone after he disappeared, looked down at the crumpled bed sheets and let out a hollow laugh.

"No. What's so urgent."

It wasn't far at all. He could just walk a little bit, but how long has it been since he collapsed and woke up, and he's already abusing his abilities? At this rate, he'll suffer from rampage symptoms again... Daniel grumbled in an incredulous tone and picked up the chart left on the empty bed.

Let's just leave him be. He had long ago given up trying to understand Ash.

* * *

Nain checked the list of patients waiting for treatment once. Perhaps because it was evening and several training schedules that ended this afternoon overlapped, there seemed to be more people than before. He was glancing at the sandwich Sofia had left behind, carefully timing when it would be good to eat a snack.

Sofia, a psychic Esper, worked on the 6th floor here counseling awakeners troubled by mental health issues. People who visited the medical ward for such problems appeared to have fog wrapped around their heads like a band. And they sometimes transmitted symptoms to people nearby, but fortunately Sofia didn't seem to be much affected by the patients' conditions. It was her calling.

He had become friends with her after running into each other while doing errands, and Sofia occasionally shared snacks she bought for herself with Nain. Thanks to her picky taste, Nain would eat anything Sofia gave him without being choosy, putting it in his mouth first before thinking.

'I'll eat when it gets less busy.'

He was gauging people's reactions while tapping his feet under the desk. Then there was a murmuring sound.

Not only Nain but also the Esper sitting on the sofa waiting for his turn for treatment, and other reception desk staff looked in that direction. The person who pushed through the entrance door was someone Nain knew.

"...?"

Even with a black hood pulled down over his head, his three-dimensional features couldn't be hidden. Nain unconsciously widened his eyes and looked at the man.

People who had put their names on the waiting list suddenly stood up, pretended to look at their phones, and hurriedly left their seats. A patient who was just about to enter the medical ward also saw Ash, got startled, and quickly turned around to run away, moving his limping leg very fast. It was a miracle. There was no other miracle like it.

'Why are they all acting like that?'

Nain was flustered by the chaotic scene and could only blink. Meanwhile, the man looked around and as soon as he spotted Nain, turned direction and walked straight toward him.

The man who had caused a commotion and approached right up close sat across from Nain with just a desk between them. Nain was momentarily speechless and could only stammer without being able to greet him. It was Ash who first broke the ice in the conversation.

"Hello."

A slightly hoarse, half-muffled voice lingered in his ears. Nain could only blink his surprised eyes. When no response came from him, Ash tilted his head slightly and said.

"Um, can't you hear me? A person is greeting you..."

"Ah, hello."

Nain answered in surprise and bewilderment. The man who had been staring intently at Nain with persistent eyes belatedly raised his eyebrows as if remembering something, then chuckled.

"Ah, that's right... Is this our first time meeting?"

Ash looked down at the silver name tag attached to Nain's chest, staring at it intently, then continued.

"Is that your name?"

"What?"

"I asked if your name is Nain."

The man smiled gently, crinkling his eyes. The corners of his mouth curved up as if drawn. Nain, who had been half out of it, thought for a moment and nodded earnestly.

"Then I can call you that from now on?"

"..."

"Nain?"

"Yes?"

Actually, Nain hadn't properly understood what the man had said until just now. He realized for the first time that when you're too surprised, your voice doesn't come out.

'This person... how is he alive?'

Nain was stunned. The man's entire body was black. The aura of death that others might not be able to see was billowing up around the man in clouds. It meant that even now, a week after regaining consciousness, he wasn't in such a fine state.

The black fog was also a clue that told Nain where patients were injured, but something this dark was no different from the aura of death. The man might suddenly die soon. Black fog was clinging thickly all over the man's entire body as if biting and holding on.

Nain swore he had never seen such a scene even once. Such thick and viscous black color... Ash was in a state where it wouldn't be strange if he died soon. Since he couldn't tell the man this fact, he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut and stare at him intensely.

"I heard you sent flowers."

"Ah, yes..."

After getting used to the black fog surrounding him, the man's face finally came into view. A single white flower was held in his hand. Ash looked straight into Nain's eyes and said.

"Thank you."

"..."

The atmosphere seemed to shift completely with just one smile. Until now, when he had only seen him in photos, he had only thought of him as having a fierce image, but just by smiling with crinkled eyes, the atmosphere became much more gentle. Certainly the real thing moving vividly in front of his eyes seemed much better than photos.

But no one approached him to talk first.

'Why is that?'

Nain tilted his head. All the rumors about Ash were nothing but terrible ones. He strongly felt like he shouldn't get involved with him, but...

'He's such a famous person, surely there wouldn't suddenly be any reason for him to get involved with me?'

There was no need to be overly cautious when they would just pass by each other. And he shook his head thinking that the man wouldn't try to become friendly with him in the first place.

Of course, regardless of the bad reviews about him, Nain basically had a good impression of Ash. He was also the person who had saved him, and honestly speaking, his handsome appearance played a part too. Since Nain was also a person with proper eyes, seeing pretty and handsome things made him feel good.

At one time, Nain's roommate called him a thug collector. This was because he always hung around with friends who all had rough-looking appearances, regardless of gender.

Among them, there were people whose appearance and personality didn't match, and there were also people who were actually harmful to humans. Thanks to that, Nain was always unintentionally found at the center of incidents.

"Ah, no. I should be the one thanking you."

Wouldn't his staring gaze feel unpleasant? Nain belatedly waved his hand and spoke. And he bowed his head while conveying his belated thanks to him.

"Thank you for saving me. I actually wanted to meet you in person and greet you."

Ash looked at such a Nain intently as if observing him. An indescribable look in his eyes... Nain found it quite difficult to meet such eyes and gaze directly.

"I'm the one who should be sorry for finding you late. It must have been difficult?"

An apology came from his side even though it wasn't something to apologize for. Was that so? Had it been difficult for him? Actually, Nain hardly remembered anything from that time.

'...He's nicer than I thought? Why did such rumors spread?'

Unlike his appearance, the man in front of him seemed to have quite a gentle personality. Nain tilted his head and muttered internally.

Nain's gaze stayed on the man's face, then slowly moved down to rest on his forearm. Black fog that had slithered down his forearm like a snake spread thinly over the back of his hand. It was the first time he had seen such vivid black fog. But seeing that he was walking around fine despite that, he didn't seem to be an ordinary person.

'It's unfortunate but...'

Since there was nothing he could do for him, he didn't step forward unnecessarily.

Growl. Then a clear thunder sound broke the silence. Nain realized that sound was coming from the man's body. The moment the sound was heard, he could see Ash flinch. He wondered if he should pretend not to notice in case he felt embarrassed, but...

"...Excuse me, Esper-nim."

"Mm?"

"If you're hungry, would you like to eat this?"

Nain held out the sandwich he had received from Sofia. It seemed better for someone who was hungry right now to eat it rather than himself. After thinking for a moment, Ash accepted it.

"It's Ash."

"What?"

"Ash. My name."

"..."

"I mean it's not 'Esper-nim' or 'excuse me' or anything like that."

Ash switched the sandwich to his broken arm and wiped his hand on his clothes before extending it. His particularly persistent gaze clung to Nain like a shadow.