(So this gets kinda dark in areas. I am using experiences from actual mental hospitals from friends personal experiences to interviews from people in my country and its kinda fucked up. Mental health needs to be treated better and taken seriously. Many are dehumanizing in facilities in my area and its not ok. Anyway enjoy the story. I took a lot of creative liberties so don't see this as an accurate portrail, also its the commission and they are assholes)
"Dont eat raw meat!" I huff while he laughed.
"Its not that bad" he shrugged, "Used to do this and worse as a kid" he flicked another small piece of raw beef into his mouth
(Eating raw beef isn't anything new in the terms of Japanese culture. What's more common is raw horse but let's not culture shock anyone too bad xD author Chan used to live on a farm and eating raw ingredients including raw beef and chicken were common as you stealing the shredded cheese)
"At least sear it first"
"Its fine" he rolled his eyes
It was fun cooking with him. He is so relaxed and casual. He seems happier without the cuffs on too.
At the end of my shift I start packing up.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, unfortunately this is the end of my shift" I grab my bag
"Do you have to go?" He had a bit of a pout
"Yes Keigo. I need to go home"
"Got family waiting for you?"
"No," he kept silent. After a moment I continued, "Just my cat but they get mad when I'm late back home. I'll be back monday though"
"Its already the weekend?" He furrowed his brows
"Yup. Anyway I'm headed out. See you monday" I leave really wanting to get home and pass out.
I don't mind spending time with keigo. It's fun and the job isn't that hard. Stressing at first since I feel like I'm walking on the edge of a knife but fun. He's chatty and seems really lonely.
Its on Sunday I get a call filled with panic and authority. I'm called into work for an emergency.
I hurry over and intercepted at the entrance
"He's crazy! I wouldn't eat today and when I sent someone in there to force him he fucking attacked them! He is unstable and should NOT have the clearance you've allowed him!" Goru yelled in my ear
I do my best to bite my tongue. You don't force feed a patient. Even if they did get him to eat he could easily puke it up out of spite. Something is wrong and should be handled delicately.
"Sir, ill handle it. Stay here while I go in"
"You also took down all the fucking cameras so we can't monitor him!"
"Sir," I speak sternly, "No cameras means He's less likely to lash out. Now let me do my job" I scan my badge and head into the cell area.
I take a deep breath and enter Keigos cell. He's out in the open pacing, shaking, and staring blankly.
"Keigo?" I keep my voice soft setting down my care bag
He immediately looked up at me and seemed to relax slightly. He is tense. His nails buried into his own arm gripping roughly. I wouldn't doubt that he's already starting to bleed a little bit.
"Are you ok? Can I approach you?"
"I-i don't know what to do, I'm don't know what to do with myself. Im. I'm fucking useless!" His voice raises after each sentence
I approach slowly, keeping cautious but trying to look relaxed. He's standing still now but still shaking.
"Keigo. Its the weekend. Its your day off" I set a hand over his gripped one slowly peeling it away from his arm staying gentle so he released himself
"My. My day off" he looked bewildered
"Mhm. So you don't have anything you need to do ok? You just gotta relax" I get his hand away noting the bloody marks from his nails
"But I-"
"Can I have a hug? I really need one from my hero" I look up at him and see the panic slowly leave him as I wrap my arms around him.
He hugged back tighter than I preferred but kept from tensing so I didn't scare him. He hugged me tightly head buried in my shoulder.
It took a while but he relaxed and sighed.
"Have you eaten?"
I felt him tense at the question.
"We can make something together in the kitchen" I offer. After this he is not going to accept facility food
He nodded and slowly let go of me, "Can we have some chicken nuggies?"
I fight a giggle and nod, "Yes we can have some chicken nuggies"
It didn't take long until we were in the kitchen eating nuggets. He seemed much better. Not 100% but better.
I grab my care bag and bandage his arm while he complained he was fine. He let me though and he was all fixed up.
"Keigo. Can you tell me what happened?" I let a hand rest on his reassuringly
"I just...lost control" he mumbled
"You know you aren't useless right?"
He huffed, "Then tell me what im useful for"
"Well...you help make my day. You are a amazing hero who has saved thousands of lives-"
"Im not a hero anymore"
"You are to me"
That argument always shuts down his self depreciating thoughts. I can see the flicker of pride in his eyes.
A loud rapping on the door drew our attention. I need to go update security that he's stable.
I tell Keigo to stay and eat while I go out immediately met with Goru and a company of guards, "He's stable"
"I was sure you were dead" he raised a brow
"Look, force feeding him won't work. He won't eat the facilities meals anymore after this"
"Hes been spoiled by you" goru scoffed
He's been mistreated by you. I bite my tongue. If I lose my job because of this ill never forgive myself. Then again Keigo could rampage and kill more of them. As satisfying as that would be though I care more for him then to let that happen, "He's responding well to treatment"
"He broke one of my men's arms"
"Better than his neck"
Goru kept his mouth shut but scowled.
"Id like to request activities for him"
"Denied" he barked
"He's bored out of his mind and needs things to do. Stimulation of the mind. Brain puzzles or something"
"Fine"
I nod, "Thank you. Now if you excuse me I'm going to finish up with him and head home"
Heading back in Keigo was standing in the kitchen doorway, "Everything ok?"
"Yup" I smile looking around the room.
This cells layout is simple. A closet on the wall with no doors, a large open room with no window, and a small kitchenette on the far wall. Next to it the bathroom.
The large room is a small dresser and bed, more like a cot. The bolted down table was the only place to set food down to eat. The whole room being safety proofed with nothing that can be used as a weapon or that can cause self harm. The oven and other kitchen appliance having special sensors to keep him from harm.
He doesn't have a place to sit except his bed, no activities, and hardly the space to do anything.
When I finally went home I couldn't sleep. I wrote my report and my request forms.
Monday was fun but it wasn't till Tuesday I heard the new plans for keigo.
"Dont you fucking dare touch my patient!" I stand at the doorway blocking their path
"Its code. If he is going to self harm we need to do daily checks"
"He is on the road to recovery, if you strip him down like...like some animal he is going to freak"
"We have to. We need to look for further signs of self harm" the man argued
"I will ask him every day if I have to"
"And he will lie. Its not that bad. We strip him down, examine him for damage then we are on our way"
"You are not stripping him!"
I watched Goru walk over looking frusterated, "Let the men do their job Dr."
"No sir. He is finally in a stable place and if I let you do that we will be right back at square one"
"Its for his safety"
"And what about his mental health!"
"I am going to have to ask you to move or else"
"You do it and I'll quit" I threaten.
Goru pierced his lips but sighed waving the men to follow him away.
Relieved I entered Keigos cell to find him chilling on the bed patting a beat on his legs.
"Hey keigo"
"Hey Doc" he smiled getting up
"What are you up to?" I try to not think about what just went down outside.
The next day I went in when Guro stopped me, "You aren't needed today"
"Aren't needed?" I raise a brow
"Yes, we have him handled"
"What do you mean by handled?" I peered down the hallway. I watched a man walk out of the cell with a toolkit. He was holding one of the broken cameras.
What the fuck are they-
A scream came from the room and I stopped thinking. I pushed past Goru and rushed into the cell seeing a man sitting by keigo who had been strapped down to his cot. The man was filling a syringe with something when I slapped it out of his hands.
"What the FUCK, are you doing to my patient?" I seethe bordering on seeing red in anger seeing the bit they had forced into Keigo's mouth
"Number 4475 had self harmed days prior, after examination today they found the harm marks were deep and he needed to be sedated after showing signs of aggression-"
"They did what?" I look at keigo seeing just how terrified he looked trying to fight the bit in his mouth
"He needs to be sedated and his nails removed"
"Removed?" I gap
"Yes, if cut they will grow back and he is a long term patient with violent tendencies so-"
"With all due respect, get the fuck out"
"Maam I-"
"Its Doctor to you and this is MY patient. I did NOT give clearance so get out"
The man left and I slammed the door behind him before quickly returning to keigo removing the bit and undoing the restraints.
"I am SO sorry keigo, I never meant for-"
Once the restraints were loosened he grabbed me in a tight hug shaking. I hugged him back trying to be comforting son realizing he started to cry.
I comforted him until he finally cslmed down finishing up the rest of the restraints.
"Keigo. I know it's hard but. Can you tell me what they did to you?" I rubbed his cheek with my sleeve to dry some of his tears.
"Th, they stripped me, me down and, and, and were forcing me around. When I fou- fought back they left so I got dressed but then, then these, then these guys came in forcing me down and restraining me. I couldn't fight back" he broke into another fit of sobs.
I pulled him into another hug letting him cry it out. I glanced around the room only to spot a newly installed camera. I glare at it angrily until Keigo let go of the hug.