August 16, 2015

The PRISM Medical Corps, the building high enough to prop up the sky with itself, was located in the vibrant downtown of New Tokyo. The local streets blended its infinite people, cars and noises into the urban cocktail that Aoi hated like sin. She was standing at the entrance, squinting because of the bright sun and throwing looks at the vintage street clock. Takeshi met her expectations and arrived exactly on time.

“Konnichiwa, sensei.” Upon approaching, he made a slight polite bow. Different rumors had been circulating recently, so he was cautious of his manners in public.

“Konnichiwa, Izumi-kun,” Aoi answered. Her student had already mastered the local language, but she was okay with communicating in the eastern speech. “Ikimashou.”

They entered the building whose crystal white interior would suit an angelic haven, and its floors were possibly the cleanest in the whole world. The mages went to the reception desk and requested a visitor pass for Takeshi while Aoi used her personal card of the Academy professor. On their way to the elevators they’d finished with a small talk and the Viridian finally asked, “Could you please enlighten me about the patient in question? And I would also like to know why it is me you’ve requested.”

Aoi handed him the folder and pressed the button of the desired floor on the control panel, and the display showed the exact door which they should go to. Takeshi started reading aloud, “Eleonor Grant, 12, androgynous with unspecified gender identity. Dissociative identity disorder, diagnosed March 12, 2015. January 2015—first symptoms, alongside puberty and growth of amber spectrum cells.”

“I’d say these events are just concurrent and not related,” Aoi commented, flicking back her shaggy shoulder-long hair.

“Currently hospitalized at the Medical Corps…” he skim read the following text. “Hm. Split personality, then?”

“As much as expected from my best student.” Despite the irony in her voice, Aoi smiled warmly at Takeshi. “The diagnosis is preliminary, because her condition... well, it’s different from trivial cases.”

They went into the elevator and, surprisingly, were there alone. This gave Aoi the opportunity to communicate in a less formal way.

“Eleanor believes that she is both a boy and a girl,” she began her explanation, while the elevator was carrying them to the 13th floor. “First of all, it is genetically determined by improper development of X and Y chromosomes. Multiply this by her mental disorder, puberty and the rapid growth of spectrum cells…”

“Depression, suicide attempts, emotional lability, panic attacks, sleep and eating disorders… tai hen desu ne.”

“Yes, the whole picture is dreadful… but on the other head, you should see what dreadful things can happen in the magical world.”

“Is this the reason why I am here?”

“No, Takeshi-kun. I need your advice.”

“Advice? But I am just a freshman… well, a sophomore now, technically speaking.”

“Despite your age, you are the most amazing, talented, and brilliant Viridian I've ever met.”

“First, you’re flattering me, Sensei. Second, you know very well that I’ve moved here because of my younger sister, and not because I am especially gifted for studying at the world-best magical academy.”

“There’s one thing that might interest you... against the background of her disease, Eleanor’s cells are mutating into purple ones. She is undergoing a correction therapy, and for now she has enough strength to resist the curse. But you understand how rare these cases are, so…”

Takeshi twitched in surprise and stared at the teacher. “Sou desu ka. That explains why me.”

“The first signs of distortion already manifest themselves. I really want to help the girl. Just look at how much research has been made. A whole horde of the best PRISM healers, the most famous magicless psychiatrists and even the personal doctor of Harold Omnious the Third tried to help her recover and become an adequate member of the magical society. But no one could do anything. All they managed was to make her stop injuring herself and others.”

“Shikashi, what makes you think that a mere student like me can be of any help?” Takeshi was perplexed.

“You see what others don’t. I trust you and your instincts. Mine tell me that the solution is almost under my nose. But I miss it all the time. For the whole month I’ve been trying to come up with a solution, but it’s no use. We need a fresh look at the problem. And I'm pretty sure that you’ll find a way out.”

“Sorry, sensei, but that doesn’t sound very convincing. Although I will do my best, I can’t promise you a miracle.”

Aoi beeped her card and the mages entered the ward, unbearably white as the rest of the premises. That alone was enough to drive someone crazy, Takeshi thought. The windowless room was of plain design and consisted only of unbreakable interior furnishing. The walls and floor were damage-proof, a plastic rounded table in the middle of the ward was turned upside down, chairs scattered around. A tousled girl with blond hair and bright green eyes was huddling on a bed in the corner—her face was swollen, hands had distinct marks of bites. Takeshi’s heart sank.

“Hello there, Eleonor,” he said. “Can we talk?”

“Fine go by me on,” the girl replied.