"Hey, that's off-limits!"
"If you keep this up, I really will get angry."
Seeing his Little Seiki puff up like a pufferfish, the group of "wolf-like and tiger-like" nurse seniors finally awkwardly withdrew their guilty hands.
Seiki sighed while rubbing his cheeks. He wasn't faking that pout—he had every reason to be annoyed; his "delicate" face was about to get pinched red.
In a way, those terrifying women were partly why his former self had turned into a hikikomori back then. Was it really such a big deal just because he looked cute? Did they really need to pet him like a cat or dog?
"Well, better not dwell on it. Sure, it's shallow, but I'm still one of its beneficiaries—this whole looks-based system works in my favor." Perhaps because of intertwined destinies across two lifetimes, his current appearance wasn't much different from when he was young in his previous life.
Therefore, he could already foresee the additional troubles brought by transforming cuteness into handsomeness. Of course, under certain specific circumstances, such trouble could also transform into hidden resources.
Like—being a kept man.
"Little Seiki, aren't you already enrolled in school now? How do you still have time to visit the hospital?"
"Hehe, did our Little Seiki miss his onee-sans?"
"Aww, without Seiki here to massage our shoulders, these boring days don't even have anything to look forward to anymore."
Though they no longer touched him, these nurses still launched sharp verbal attacks.
Seeing Seiki's face become slightly flushed, the eldest nurse finally stepped forward to relieve the situation. "Alright, alright! Is there not enough work on your hands, or are there too few patients needing care? Speak up—I'll assign some more tasks to you!"
Though called the eldest, she was actually only around thirty years old. However, compared with these junior nurses aged sixteen or seventeen, she indeed qualified as an elder senior.
At her words, nearly half the surrounding nurses instantly scattered. Even in peacetime, the nature of being a ninja ensured they'd never know peace.
Thus, Konoha Hospital had always been operating beyond capacity. Otherwise, how else could they even accept someone like Seiki—a child worker? Of course, this was also because Seiki's performance genuinely impressed them. In terms of logistical operations, he alone liberated three full-time workers' worth of manpower for the hospital.
At this moment, Head Nurse Miyoshi finally placed both hands on her knees and bent forward slightly, narrowing her eyes toward Seiki. "Seiki, did you run into any difficulties at school?"
Several other senior girls who deliberately stayed behind even if it meant overtime also appeared tense. "Could it be that little Seiki got bullied?"
They themselves had graduated from the Ninja Academy, naturally understanding the unspoken hierarchy—"Noble families > Commoners > Orphans."
"Darn it, if anyone dares bully you, I absolutely won't let them off easy."
"That's right! That bastard better pray he never needs to step foot in this hospital ever again!"
Just imagining Seiki possibly being mistreated made them wish to return to school immediately, blocking the gates to beat up anyone daring to bully him.
"Thank you, Onee-san Yumiko, Onee-san Misa, Koto, and Auntie Miyoshi..." A warm feeling rose inside Seiki. Although he was more rational than emotional, in this world, there were still bonds that he acknowledged.
"Actually, I'm doing really well at school. I've recently become the class president, and my classmates are all very united."
"Wah, little Seiki is truly amazing!"
"Hmm, that's good to hear."
"Aww, if senpai Kaori knew, she'd definitely be happy... Oops, sorry!"
"Misa-oneesan, there's no need to apologize. What you said wasn't wrong either." Seiki's expression remained calm, though his eyes carried a hint of longing. "I'm doing well now, and Mother would surely feel relieved if she knew."
Seeing Seiki wasn't pretending, they finally relaxed slightly. Of course, their concern for Seiki went far beyond such superficial reasons.
Seiki's mother had once been a member of Konoha's Medical Team. She was also Miyoshi's best friend and the Chunin instructor for Yumiko and her two teammates.
They were indeed the most precious legacy left behind by Seiki's parents, helping him get through the darkest period of his life.
Of course, Seiki himself was an added bonus. Well-mannered and considerate children were always more likable than troublesome brats.
"Oh right, Seiki, so today you came specially to share this good news with us?" Miyoshi smiled brightly, clearly delighted.
"I guess so. Besides wanting to let you all know I'm doing fine, there are two other things I want to say." Seiki spoke seriously.
"Go ahead — we're all ears." Misa and the others looked at him with shining eyes. His solemn expression was oddly endearing. Even Miyoshi felt her hands tingling with the urge—she'd never been able to resist this kind of contrasting cuteness.
Apparently unaware of the approaching "danger," Seiki continued earnestly, "First, I'd like to talk to Lady Nonou about my situation. Starting from now on, I'll only be able to help out at the hospital on weekends."
His expression turned somewhat nervous as he added, "It doesn't matter even if I don't get paid, as long as they don't make me leave."
"That's it?" Miyoshi couldn't help but chuckle, "Little Seiki, this time you've underestimated your own importance. During the days you weren't here, managing medications and bed turnover at the hospital nearly collapsed completely. The ward leaders have been worrying every day whether they should 'kidnap' you back for a few shifts."
"Mmhm." Koto nodded repeatedly. "Without the procedures you established, our work has become way too complicated."
Misa followed up with a complaint: "Kazumi's scheduling system was terrible. I don't even know how I survived these past few days."
Yumiko joked with a smile, "The girls from Chimiya were looking forward to seeing you not just for your massages."
"Huh? Then I'll check it out later."
"Seiki spoke calmly, 'Actually, it's quite simple to establish a process. First, we understand everyone's living habits and try to eliminate the interference of time factors. Second, we roughly estimate everyone's chakra reserves and recovery speed, which can maximize efficiency. And finally...'
Miyoshi couldn't help asking, "Seiki, where did you learn all this?"
Seiki replied puzzled, "Isn't this something anyone can figure out with enough observation?"
Looking at Seiki's matter-of-fact expression, Yumiko and the other two silently groaned inwardly like academically-challenged individuals... no, more like ordinary people.
"Is this really something average people can accomplish?"
"Ahem..." Misa cleared her throat politely while trying not to look awkward, "Now I get why Kazumi felt so wronged."
"Is this what they call the domain of geniuses?" Miyoshi sighed softly before smiling again. "But it's probably a good thing—after all, your value, Seiki, is irreplaceable."
"Alright, Seiki, what's the second thing you wanted to talk about?"
Hearing that, Seiki turned serious and said, "Miyoshi Auntie, I want you to teach me [Medical Ninjutsu]!"
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~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!