"I don't know… I guess everyone has to die one day. My day just came sooner. So I don't care much. Heck, I even know approximately when I'll die. That's a win in my books."
There was melancholy in his tone, something fragile hiding behind the tough act. Even if he tried to sound detached, he was scared.
That only made Daichi angrier. For a moment, he forgot about his dream entirely. All his attention was locked on Ryuga. "What happened to you? You were stabbed, right? Did it hit a vital organ? But if it did, you wouldn't be talking so casually. It must be something minor. You're just messing with me."
He nodded to himself, convinced he had caught Ryuga's lie. He had to be lying to distract him. If his condition was truly that serious, he wouldn't even be able to walk.
Ryuga popped that illusion instantly. "No, I'm not lying to divert your mind. I'm telling you because I need someone to look after my siblings after I die. Yes, they'll be adults by then. But to me, they'll always be kids. The thought that something might happen to them when I'm gone is the only thing that scares me. So I need someone to watch over them. Once I'm gone."
Daichi tilted his head slightly and stared straight into Ryuga's eyes. His facial muscles tightened, his gaze fierce. Then he stepped forward and hugged him.
"Why… why… why do you have to die? Can't we do something… there has to be a way to save you, right? Surely there must be a way. If you care so much about your siblings, then live and take care of them yourself. I'm not taking your place."
Ryuga smiled softly and gently patted Daichi's back. "You won't take my place. You can't take my place. Just be a good, cool uncle to them. Also… I know what happened to them."
Daichi's eyes widened. He felt the malice hidden in Ryuga's voice. He let go and studied his face. Ryuga looked calm, completely normal. That made Daichi even more suspicious.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing… until I'm well…"
"Stop with the bullshit and tell me what you'll do. You're dodging everything about your injury. At least tell me your plan. And don't try to fool me. I can sense something's going on in your head. Otherwise, you wouldn't be this calm."
Ryuga sighed. He patted the side of the bed, gesturing for Daichi to sit. Daichi complied.
"Well, before I was stabbed and drowned, I met Hiryuu-san. She's the captain of the Akebono Police Bureau. She told me a few things about these cultists. How they work and all that. And the signs pointed toward haunted spots. Basically, these cultists operate around infamous places where no sane person would visit. Pretty clever, if I must say."
"So you want to raid haunted places now? All alone at that."
"Pretty much."
"You are retarded…"
"..."
Daichi was baffled at his audacity. This guy was half dead, yet he calmly declared he would go commit suicide. It was as if he didn't care about his life…
"Wait a minute… you're calm about your death because this situation basically gave you a free pass to be reckless. You're thinking: I'm already going to die, so what if I act recklessly? At least that way I'd cause some trouble."
Ryuga's eyes flew open at Daichi's intuition. He slid back a little, putting a fair distance between them. For a moment, he genuinely second guessed his impression of Daichi.
"Dawg, are you seriously gay? Do you notice me so much that you can guess my thoughts? Are you perhaps my soulmate?"
"Shut the fuck up with that gay shit! I'm not homophobic but you will make me!... Wait, you're dodging the question again!!!"
Daichi wanted to rip his hair out. This little shit was making his scalp go numb. But at least his fear from the dream was completely overshadowed by Ryuga's atrocities.
"Anyways, Daichi… I haven't met them personally. My siblings, I mean. And I won't meet them again until I've recovered. So, take them home."
Feeling something off, Daichi narrowed his eyes. "Promise me you won't run off to some haunted place while I'm gone. We can do this shit after you've recovered TOGETHER."
"Haaahh…" Ryuga sighed and patted his shoulder. "Alright, alright. As you wish… now go let me rest. Even if I don't look like one, I'm a patient. A seriously injured patient."
That made Daichi raise a brow. "Oh, I'm surprised you know this. Anyways, I'll go now. Tell me where they are."
"They're right around the next corner, ward 102. Just for directions in case you get lost."
"Kk." Daichi gave a lazy salute, then turned to leave.
"Necrosis…"
Ryuga's voice halted him mid-step. He turned around, confused. "What?"
"Necrosis… I have necrosis. A decent part of my internal organs is affected. Their cells are dead. They won't regenerate."
"What's that? I've never heard of it."
"Think of it as reverse healing. Something that chars your cells. Cytotoxin was the venom imbued in the knife I was stabbed with. It went fairly deep and caused all of this. The doctors removed the dead cells, that's why I'm even alive. You paid the bills but didn't notice why it was so high?"
Daichi shrugged. "I didn't pay much attention. How much was it, by the way? I just threw my credit card and called it done."
"3 million… bitch."
"Damn… you owe me now, jackass. You better not get your ass killed while I'm taking your siblings back home."
Ryuga tried to smile, maybe even laugh, but the sheer audacity of the guy made him question his own sanity for a moment. He knew Daichi was rich, but to throw 3 million yen like that… this guy was also mad.