CH 186

Japan's crisis?

***---***

While waiting for the inspection of the Marburg house, I had some time, so I took out my smartphone from the shadow storage and turned it on, and I found a message from Suzuki-san on the app.

When I opened the message, I found something startling.

[ Please come back to Japan as soon as possible. I will explain the details when you come here. Thank you very much, Japan is in crisis. ]

It was already light in Landshelt, but it should still be midnight in Japan.

When I checked the clock on my smartphone, it was not even 4 o'clock yet, but a call was ringing. Of course, the identity of the caller was Suzuki-san.

"H, hello ..."

"Kokubu-san, I'm sorry for being so early in the morning. Is it possible for you to come back to Japan?"

"Umm ... Please wait a minute. Reese-san, is it okay if I go back to Japan for a while?"

"What's that, you're so popular ... I don't mind. In return, if you don't come back properly, I don't know what will happen to Shuichi."

"Yes, Takayama ... It's fine if you do as you like with him, so I'll go there for a while."

"Hey! Kokubu, you want to be the only one to escape from Lau-san's special training!"

"Wh, what are you talking about ... I, don't understand ..."(TN: He says 'Boku, wakaranaiyou' in katakana, as if to imitate a foreigner speaking Japanese.)

"Why are you saying that in monotone."

"Ah ~ ... Annoying, annoying, it can't be helped since it's a crisis in Japan. Basten, could you please act as an escort for Reese-san and also as a landmark?"

[ Understood, Kent-sama. ]

"Hello, Suzuki-san, I'll be right there."

"Yes, I will also head there soon, so, my best regards."

From the other side of the smartphone, I could hear some kind of rattling sound and the rustling of clothes, but the train wasn't moving at this time, was it.

Suzuki-san, are you okay.

In other words, if Suzuki-san isn't in the countermeasures room, is the situation not that urgent.

When I moved to the countermeasures room at the SDF Nerima Garrison, the lights were bright even though it was just before 4:00 in the morning.(TN:Just going to abbreviate Self Defense Forces to SDF from now on, it's a pain to type out every single time.)

However, it seemed that the only person in the room was the SDF officer who seemed to be on duty.

Let's make use of the lessons I learned last time, and this time let's go out before revealing myself.

"Good morning, Kokubu Kento, I have appeared!"

"Yes!! Good morning. Thank you for your hard work!"

In front of the SDF officer who decided to salute, I put out a shield of darkness and bowed my head in greeting.

"Excuse me for arriving so early in the morning. It seems that Japan is in a crisis. What happened?"

"Ha!? Is there a crisis in Japan?"

"Ehh, is it wrong?"

"Japan is ... Ah, that's right, Japan is in a crisis!"

Umm ... We're talking about a crisis in Japan, but I wonder why the person on duty is smiling.

"Isn't the crisis in Japan an urgent situation?"

"Urgent ... It's urgent. Yes, I think it's urgent."

"Is that so ... For the time being, what should I do?"

"That ... can you ask the person in charge directly?"

"Really, is it. Is it urgent ...?"

"Yes, it's urgent."

Hmm ... I felt like his eyes were smiling even though he was saying that it was urgent.

I had coffee made for me, so I sat down on the sofa and waited.

As I was thinking about that, at that time Murt popped its head out, and after stroking it, it went back in a similar matter.

Next, Mirt, then Mart, Murt again, then Mirt again, apparently Japan which had no magic essence was uncomfortable, but it seemed that they still wanted to be pampered.

Mart again, then Murt, then ... nose!? It was Zeta who stuck out her big nose. Yes, yes, you want me to pet you.

Yup, it's a little moist, but it feels really good.

Zeta-tachi joined Mart-tachi, and when I stroked the six of them in turn, I heard trotting footsteps and Suzuki-san appeared.

I wondered if she ran out of the house in a hurry, and she looked like a junior high school student who rushed into the classroom just before she was late, instead of her usual tight-knit feeling.

"Haa haa ... Good morning, Kokubu-san."

"G, good morning ..."

Whether it's because she came running or because she just got up, her hair was flying all over the place and her eyes were a little sunken.

"Umm ... Japan's crisis ..."

"It's a big deal! By all means, please lend us your power, Kokubu-san!"

"But, I don't sense any atmosphere of urgency ..."

"That's not true. It's very urgent."

"Umm ... So, what's going on?"

"Akane-chan got injured."

"Ha!? Just now, what ..."

"I told you, it's because Akane-chan got injured."

"Haah ...?"

With the case with Takagi-san, maybe they were in trouble with some other country, I thought maybe it was about a civil war breaking out in some country, so I couldn't understand Suzuki-san's words, and my eyes became dots.

"Kokubu-san, do you understand the current situation?"

"No, I have no idea."

"Haah ... Kokubu-san, are you really Japanese?"

"No, I'm more than half a Volzard person ..."

"This is not the time to be joking! Take it seriously."

"I'm really serious. Who is Akane-chan?"

Upon hearing my words, Suzuki-san opened her eyes wide, let out a deep sigh, lowered her gaze, and shook her head left and right as if it were impossible.

No, the SDF officer on duty was fainting in agony from laughter ...

"Fukuzawa Akane, are you saying you don't know the female figure skater representing Japan?"

"Aaahhh ... skating is ... yes, yes, I know ... but, I just watch it on TV."

"That Fukuzawa Akane got injured!"

"Is that so ... it's a pity. But, how does that relate to the crisis in Japan?"

"Kokubu-san, do I have to explain such a simple thing?"

"Haah ... Please start with the basics."

"Understood. Let's start with the basics so that even a kindergartener can understand. In the first place, the sport of figure skating is ..."

"Eeehhh, from there?"

To summarize Suzuki-san's explanation, Japanese women's figure skating ace Fukuzawa Akane fell and injured herself during practice for the Four Continents Championships.

She was scheduled to compete in the world championships next month, but it seemed that her participation was in jeopardy due to this injury.

"Do you get it, Kokubu-san. Following athlete Kanbayashi, who was found to have a stress fracture, and Fukuzawa, who is the ace athlete, were to miss the event, it was said that they would definitely secure three slots for next year's Winter Olympics, but we might end up with only two slots! It's a crisis for Japan!"

"Could it be, you want me to treat that athlete, Fukuzawa?"

"That's right. Kokubu-san, who can use healing magic, should be able to save Japan from this crisis!"

Yeah, I fully understand that Suzuki-san is a no good figure skater otaku.

"But, Suzuki-san, wouldn't it be better to treat athlete Kanbayashi as well?"

"Eh, Kokubu-san, can you heal broken bones?"

"Yes, I've also healed my broken collarbone and arm during combat training."

"Is that true! Please wait a moment."

Suzuki-san took out her smartphone and started contacting someone hastily.

She seemed to be checking if athlete Kanbayashi was staying in Japan.

"Excuse me, I will get back to you, so please wait a moment."

I mean, it was still before 5:00 in the morning, but I wondered if things were okay.

In addition, Suzuki-san seemed to be making adjustments by calling several places.

As expected, it took more than 30 minutes before I got a reply.

"Kokubu-san, it seems that athlete Kanbayashi is also staying in Japan, so could you please give them treatment?"

"I don't mind that, but am I going to treat them here?"

"No, Kokubu-san will move now."

Towards Suzuki-san, who nodded with confidence, I had a bad feeling, but I wondered if it was just my imagination.

Suzuki-san handed me something, it was a map.

"Kokubu-san, if it's around here, it's possible to move without being noticed, right?"

"Yes, it's possible, but ... here is?"

"It's the SDF lodgings across the Kawagoe Highway from Nerima Garrison. For now, could you please move to this room and follow the staff's instructions?"

"Haah ... Understood. Is it okay to move directly into the room?"

"Yes, if possible, it would be helpful if you could talk to them at the entrance."

"Understood ..."

I didn't know what it was, but I moved to room 202, Building F, Nerima Kitamachi Dormitory, which was drawn on the map.

Looking at the situation from the shadows, it seemed that preparations were being made in a hurry.

I thought about going directly into the room, but in Japan you had to take off your shoes.

So, I went out at the front door and called out.

"Good morning, I'm Kokubu Kento. Umm, is this room okay?"

"Yes, good morning. I'm Kimura, the backup staff. Please come up."

"Yes, excuse me ..."

The view from the entrance looked like a normal apartment, but what was supposed to be the living room had been renovated to look like a barber shop or some kind of studio.

"Kokubu-san, please come over here ..."

I was directed to a chair like you would find in a barber shop or beauty salon, with a mirror and a sink in front.

"Possibly, have you not had a haircut since you went over there?"

"Yes, I don't even know where the barber is, and I don't have time to look for it ..."

"Then, what should I do ... For now, I'm told that you should look like a different person from the photo in the weekly magazine ..."

"Umm ... I'll leave it to you. Please make it as cool as possible."

"Understood. Then, let's make it a little shorter, and a more hassle-free form."

Kimura-san gave me a haircut, black-rimmed glasses, a blazer uniform in a different color than the Hikarigaoka Junior High school uniform, a duffle coat, and an enamel sports bag to hang over my shoulders.

Yup, I didn't look like Kokubu Kent because it felt a little sophisticated.

I was told they would hang onto the clothes I was wearing, but I threw them all in the shadow storage.

"Then, there is a white wagon parked in the parking lot down the stairs, so please move with the staff there."

"Understood, thank you for your help."

When I put on the provided sneakers and walked out the front door, I felt like I was living in Japan.

When I went down the stairs, a white one-box car was waiting for me, and after I bowed to the person in the driver's seat, the door behind them opened.

That's right, electric doors were commonplace in Japan.

"Good morning. I'm Kokubu, nice to meet you."

"Please, take any seat you like ... Ahh, just in case, please put on your seat belt."

"Understood ... Then, nn, here goes ..."

After I fastened my seatbelt, the car sped off.

Yeah, Japanese cars were definitely quieter and didn't shake.

But, it didn't have the taste or feel of a different world.

The car glided along the streets of Tokyo, where traffic jams had not yet started.

It seemed that the destination was a large hospital after going around the Imperial Palace, passing through Ginza, turning left on Harumi-dori at Tsukiji.

In front of the hospital, Suzuki-san, who went ahead of me while I was changing clothes, greeted me.

"For a moment, I didn't know who you were."

"It feels weird to me, too."

"Please, this way. Please walk side by side with me normally."

"Normally ..."

"Since the mass media are rushing in, please act normal ..."

Media cars were driving around the hospital, and reporters seemed to be preparing for their morning information programs.

Even though it was before the start of general outpatient services, I thought it would be more suspicious, but once they found out that I wasn't a related person, it seemed the media would lose interest.

Besides, it was a large hospital, so it was normal for people to come and go even at this hour.

Suzuki-san guided me to the elevator and up to the surgical ward.

After returning from Taipei, where the Four Continents Championships were held, athlete Fukuzawa entered the hospital directly from the airport and was said to be hospitalized.

When I got off the elevator, I was greeted by someone who seemed to be related.

"Yukawa-san, this is Kokubu Kento. Kokubu-san, this is Director Yukawa of the Skating Federation."

"I'm Yukawa. Thank you for your hard work so early in the morning."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Kokubu."

"To get straight to the point, might I ask of you?"

"Yes."

Yuakawa-san guided me through the corridor, where a man in a white coat who seemed to be a doctor was standing in front of the hospital room, staring at me with a stern expression.

Director Yukawa told me that he was athlete Fukuzawa's doctor.

"Good morning, Sakaguchi-sensei."

"Good morning. Yukawa-san, who are these people?"

"Suzuki-san from the Cabinet Secretariat and Kokubu-san."

"I heard that you asked for some kind of dubious treatment, but I would be troubled if you were treat her without permission in the hospital."

"I fully understand what you are saying, but we are also desperate."

"Performing such a thing as a dubious treatment, if athlete Fukuzawa's life is endangered, how do you intend to take responsibility?"

Maa, I expected it, but I'm not welcome.

In front of the hospital room, Dr. Sakaguchi and Director Yukawa started arguing in a polite tone.(TN:Says Sakaguchi-ishi, but as with all not super common honorifics, I'll translate it)

"Suzuki-san, can I go home?"

"What are you saying, it's obvious that's no good, isn't it?"

"But, I'm not welcome."

"Haah ... Understood."

We were watching the two of them argue from a little distance away, but Suzuki-san let out a sigh and stepped in between them.

"Athlete Fukuzawa, let the person in question decide for herself.)

"But, in our hospital ..."

"Isn't this hospital respecting the patient's wishes? After listening to the explanation, if the patient wishes to be treated with healing magic, it should be respected."

"That's fine. First of all, let's confirm the person in question's intentions."

Dr. Sakaguchi lead the way to the hospital room, inside was athlete Fukuzawa and their coach, who I often saw on TV, athlete Fukuzawa's right knee was rigidly fixed in place.

The diagnosis using MRI and other methods revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscal slope injury, requiring reconstructive surgery.

"I would like to speak from a doctor's point of view, but I am very concerned that dubious treatment will worsen the condition of the injury and put the athlete's life in danger. If surgery were done right now, it might be in time for the Olympics. Of course, it's something that is quite strict in terms of time, but there is hope."

Dr. Sakaguchi, who had expressed his opinion earlier, stopped and turned to face me.

Everyone in the hospital room turned their eyes to me.

"What's wrong, say something."

"Even if tell me to say something ... To be honest, I don't know anything about medicine, and frankly, I can't guarantee that she'll be cured. Still, if everything goes well, she'll be cured here and now."

"You don't know ... Go home."

Uwaa, those eyes are as if looking at an insect.

Maa, a lot had happened since I went to another world, and I was used to this kind of treatment.

It seemed that it would take about half a year to be able to return to training on the ice after surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament, so it seemed that the timing was really close to aim for the Olympics.

Athlete Fukuzawa, after consulting for a while with coach Yamamura, decided to have me treat her.

"If it really heals, I would like to participate in next month's world championships and contribute to securing a quota for the Olympics ... so, please."

"Understood. Sakaguchi-sensei, could you be present to see if I'm doing something strange?"

"Of course, I will fulfill my duty as the attending physician."

In the presence of Dr. Sakaguchi, I had the knee brace removed.

As a figure skater, athlete Fukuzawa was a bit plump, so maybe that's why her knees were strained ... uwaa, she's staring at me like crazy.

From the thigh to the knee to the calf, I wrapped my palms around them and stroked them while concentrating.

On the other hand, inflammation spread around the knee, and when I concentrated, I could see that the ligaments were torn.

I couldn't answer at all when asked how I could know or what could be cured, but it was my style to cure anything that could be cured.

After about fifteen minutes of healing magic being poured into the knee, the tear and inflammation disappeared completely.

"Umm, how is it. If there are other painful places, I will treat them ..."

"Ehh, no way! ..."

Athlete Fukuzawa timidly bent her knee and looked at the coach in disbelief.

"It doesn't hurt. I don't feel any discomfort at all ... It seems like a lie! Umm, can I ask you for my left ankle too?"

"Yes, I don't mind. Then, is that everything."

After that, I spent about 30 minutes taking care of the muscles, joints, and ligaments of her legs, back, and lower back.

After getting out of bed after the treatment, athlete Fukuzawa easily performed a double turn by jumping.

"Thank you, it's been a long time since I haven't felt pain or discomfort anywhere like this."

"Th, that, you're welcome ..."

Coach Yamamura, Director Yukawa, and Suzuki-san were happy to shake hands.

And, there was only one person who was stunned.

"No way ... Impossible ... how!"

"Hmm ... It's troubling if you ask me that. To be honest, I don't even know, myself, so I can't explain it."

"Does it increase cell regeneration? No, the collateral ligament can be repaired, but the cruciate ligament can't be repaired ..."

"Sorry, I refuse to be a guinea pig for research."

The color of Dr. Sakaguchi's eyes changed, so I gave him a warning first.

Suzuki-san was beckoning from the side of Dr. Sakaguchi, who looked disappointed that he let his prey escape.

"Now, Kokubu-san, let's head to Tokyo Station."

"Hee!? To Tokyo Station?"

"Yes, Kanbayashi-san is staying in Nagoya, so we will be traveling by Shinkansen. Director Yukawa, could you contact them over there?"(TN:Shinkansen, or commonly known as a bullet train.)

"Yes, I will have the staff of the federation pick you up at Nagoya station. Kokubu-san, thank you very much."

"Y, yes ..."

"Come on, Kokubu-san, let's go."

"Eeehhh ..."

After that, I was dragged by Suzuki-san to Tokyo Station, crammed into the first class car, and moved to Nagoya.

To the facility of the university where Kanbayashi belonged, Where I treated the stress fracture.