A child prodigy beyond imagination--the greatest neurosurgeon in the universe—a super-genius at the age of 18—Hero.

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One year ago.

[Hiroto Kumagawa POV]

“Is there a reason why you barged into my office, Marie?”

The case with Europa’s president was already annoying me more than enough. He was showing symptoms associated with ME/CFS, especially the post-exertional malaise. Still, I guess I’d need to do a proper visit just to reassure them. People like him were always a pain. What’s the point of requesting me without having complete trust in my abilities?

Now that Marie—full name Marie-Anne of the interplanetary diagnostics department (IPDP)—had invited herself into my room, I’d probably be around for another stupid political mess.

I’d already wasted enough of my time on these trivial matters that could easily be solved by any local doctor, let alone a doctor from the Elite League.

“This isn’t like the situation with Europa’s president.”

“I’m glad you can read my mind.”

She couldn’t actually read my mind, but the amount of times she’s managed to predict what I’ve wanted is enough for me to keep her as my secretary. Her job at the IPDP was more of a side project for her since she was a part of the Elite League with me.

“What is it then?”

She had a subtly mocking smile.

“It’s something I’m sure you’d be interested in, Dr. Kumagawa.”

Making her way toward me, she pulled out a small document from under her shirt.

What the hell?

“Was there a reason you needed to smuggle that in like that?”

She laughed a little.

“Well, I did have to steal it. This isn’t just something for anyone’s eyes.”

What was this now?

I guess it sounded a bit interesting, at least.

Dragging over one of my seats from the side of the room, she slammed it right in front of my desk and sat down. Pulling a bit of her lab coat out from under her ass, she leaned forward and stretched out her arms.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Are the security cameras off?”

“They’re always off when I’m in.”

“Ooh? So you changed the rule. Is it because you need to relieve yourself from all that stress?”

“Stop with the euphemisms, what’s the document.”

Laying them out in front of me, she slowly unstacked the pile.

“Have a read yourself, Dr Kumagawa~.”

I looked down a the document.

…

What in the world?

It didn’t make any sense.

A girl in the Royal Psychiatric Ward. A girl who was Callisto’s brightest star. A girl whose smile could cure any illness.

A girl who was now so depressed that you couldn’t even talk to her.

“Are you going to explain this to me, Marie?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

I sifted through the documents.

“Nothing here says what happened. How am I supposed to figure out how to fix her?”

“You’re going to travel there and ask her yourself, obviously.”

“I’m not doing that for someone who’s not in the Universe Council.”

“Is that a rule?”

“I’m not wasting my time on anyone who’s not important.”

“But all these other cases you’ve been taking, they’re not very fun, are they?”

“What’s to say this will be fun. It’s probably another case of stress-induced depression or puberty.”

Marie-Anne smiled.

I said her full name because it looked so serious that I couldn’t describe it.

“Are you sure, Dr. Kumagawa?”

“What do you mean.”

“I can tell you that it wasn’t caused by any of those things. A perfect girl like her would never break apart from something so trivial.”

“That’s what they always say. It’s more common than you’d think.”

“If you’ve met the girl, you’d know that it’s simply not possible.”

I sighed.

“So, what do you think it is then?”

“I think it was caused by someone.”

“Like poison?”

“No, not literally poison. But maybe psychological poison.”

She made a V with her fingers and ran them across my desk as if she were a child role-playing characters with their hands. She then made another V with her other hand and placed them across from each other.

“It was a boy,” she cooed.

“And you say it’s not puberty?”

“You’re an idiot for how smart you appear, Dr. Kumagawa. You’re an adolescent boy as well, it doesn’t work like that, you know? Her will was about as strong as yours.”

“What are you trying to say then?”

“I’m saying that it was a boy whose intelligence could challenge yours. It was targeted, it was the most extreme case of manipulation you will ever see. Not any boy could manipulate the mind of a girl so strong.”

I looked over the documents again. It certainly did seem weird. With the entire page regarding her background, she did not seem like the person who’d just get heartbroken after a break-up. She was someone who saved lives, someone who was beloved by many—which seemed oddly like people’s descriptions of me as well.

For such a huge change to come about her like this, it definitely was suspicious.

“Why is it kept undercover then? This should be a large-scale case considering her background, should it not?”

“That’s why it’s weird. I don’t know why they kept this case under such high scrutiny.”

Something did seem off.

“How am I going to go see her then?”

“There are many things I can arrange. A lot of people want to see her recover, you know?”

I’ll go then.

**

In the dark room of the Royal Psychiatric Ward, I looked at the young girl whose lush white hair was beginning to fade into grey. She seemed no older than sixteen.

I guess she could’ve been like me, someone who’s been burdened with lives since before they could even drink alcohol.

She looked up at me with eyes that looked like they’d given up on the world.

“Who… are you… wait…!”

For a brief moment, her eyes lit up. Then, she squeezed herself into the corner of her room, looking at me with complete fear.

“I’m Dr. Kumagawa. I’m here to assist with your condition.”

She was silent for a moment.

She opened her mouth again—her next words shocked me to my very core.

“You… look like Akira.”