"Well!" Tamaharu the male nurse interjected cheerfully, "It's good to see you're back to your old self again, Agent Arai. Another day or so of rest and you'll be good to go!"

Katsuko sat back in her chair and glowered at Ryuichi as Tamaharu bustled around the bed, taking readings and marking down things on charts. She stayed silent until the nurse had wheeled the cart out and shut the door behind him.

"Ryuichi," she said at last, after Tamaharu's footsteps had faded into the distance, "What was in those pills?" Her voice was raspy; her body ached from the strain she'd put it through during the mission. The bruises that she'd been ignoring while waiting for Ryuichi to wake up flared to life, throbbing in an ugly rhythm.