Raiyokan and the Fibonacci Sequence

Chapter 12: A New Friendship, A New Revelation

Amid chaotic flashes, I slowly opened my eyes, and the fluorescent light of the hospital flooded my vision. I felt the stiffness of the bed and the coldness of the IV coursing through my veins. Confused, my gaze shifted to the bandage stained on my shoulder—a testament to my weakness, something I had never imagined experiencing. The rifle bullet defied the logic of my ancestral power.

The ward revealed the presence of a beautiful woman of about twenty-one, talking to her boyfriend, a fair-skinned young man with blond hair. The couple, immersed in their conversation, said goodbye with a kiss, while I remained there, a stranger in my own body, unable to comprehend how something so unimaginable could have happened.

In the silence after the boyfriend left, the woman, Juliana, turned to me in the ward, still lying down, her eyes reflecting curiosity.

— What happened to your shoulder? — she asked, her voice soft but firm.

Before I could articulate a response, I noticed the absence of the handcuffs that normally followed after an arrest. An intriguing revelation, a silent gesture of gratitude from the police officer I had saved on Avenida Afonso Pena—he apparently had not revealed my identity.

Juliana, however, was still waiting for my answer, her eyes searching for it, unaware of the singularity I represented.

— I was shot in a firefight, hit by a stray bullet — I replied, trying to keep my identity secret.

She nodded, seemingly processing my words.

— That must have been terrible. — She paused, then continued. — How exactly did it happen?

— I was walking down the street when it all started. Bullets were flying from every direction. I just tried to protect myself, but I got hit. — My story was brief and deliberately vague. As I revealed the events, I was careful to avoid details that might expose my Raiyokan identity.

During my narrative, I noticed a change in her expression, as if something deeply troubled her. Curious, I asked why she was at the hospital.

— And you, Juliana? What brought you here? — my voice carried genuine curiosity.

She sighed, her eyes darting away briefly before meeting mine again.

— An anxiety attack. — She paused, biting her lower lip. — My boyfriend... he has unexpected mood swings, and it's been emotionally unsettling for me.

While Juliana described the situation with her boyfriend, I hadn't noticed anything unusual when they had been talking minutes earlier. However, as a medical student, I understood that appearances could be deceiving.

— It sounds like he's going through something difficult — I commented, trying to show understanding.

She nodded, seeming relieved to finally have someone to share with.

— Yes, it's true. He can be so affectionate and then suddenly, without any apparent reason, become distant or irritable. It's as if there are two different people inside him. — Her voice trembled slightly.

— Perhaps he's facing some problem affecting his psychological state — I suggested, then continued. — It doesn't necessarily mean malevolence. Often, people deal with internal struggles we cannot see.

— Do you think he might be sick? — Juliana asked, her concern evident.

— It's possible. But it could also be temporary, a reaction to stress or other pressures. The important thing is that he seeks professional help. — I answered carefully, trying not to alarm her.

She remained silent for a moment, processing my words.

— Thank you for listening to me — she said with a faint smile. — It's hard to find someone who truly understands.