Two weeks after the N Project Universe transformed into a blue orb and descended upon Earth, within a confined room at the Iwo Jima Research Center.
At this moment, Aridaka Takefumi, possessed by the Ancestor Anomalous Beast The One, began to undergo a qualitative change in his genetic makeup, with sharp spikes appearing on his face. He was currently being interrogated.
Aridaka Takefumi's fiancée, Mizuhara Sara, was conducting the interrogation.
"In the sky, sooner or later, there will be another light..." Aridaka Takefumi said, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"Light?" Mizuhara Sara questioned.
"Chasing me." Aridaka Takefumi said, then laughed maniacally, "Hahaha~."
"What? What's so funny?"
Aridaka Takefumi's expression suddenly changed. "That guy is an obstacle."
Then, Aridaka Takefumi's face began to contort hideously. "So, kill him, kill him!"
At this time, The One, having devoured Aridaka Takefumi, was still adapting. His memories were somewhat chaotic, and he was still hazy about the battle in the Pacific Ocean, unable to recall it clearly.
Mizuhara Sara felt a deep bitterness looking at her fiancé, who had become utterly alien to her. But she was helpless; she could only retreat to a corner and silently shed tears.
At the TLT base, Yuzawa Yu was trying to locate another suitable person, but everything about this suitable person seemed shrouded in a mist, making it impossible to see clearly.
"Where did this suitable person come from? Why can't I find any information?" Yuzawa Yu was feeling agitated now, as people always feel uneasy when things are beyond their control.
Meanwhile, Fang Xinhan was wandering around Shinjuku. Due to the dungeon game, he could communicate with the people here without any barriers, but since he had no money, he could only browse.
As Fang Xinhan wandered around, looking through his alchemical telescope, he suddenly heard the sound of an ambulance. Then he saw an ambulance speed past him, and Fang Xinhan stood rooted to the spot, stunned.
It wasn't for any other reason; Fang Xinhan had just used his alchemical telescope to see through the ambulance's window and spotted Maki Shunichi's family of three. Their son, Maki Tsugumu, was lying on a bed with a ventilator, while a worried Maki Shunichi and a sobbing Maki Eiko were beside him.
"If I remember correctly, Tsugumu seems to have a congenital blood disease." Fang Xinhan put away his alchemical telescope and looked towards the ambulance carrying the family of three.
Fang Xinhan also followed, all the way to the hospital where Maki Tsugumu was rushed into the emergency room, leaving the Maki couple to wait outside.
Fang Xinhan stopped when he saw the Maki couple waiting outside. As time slowly passed, Maki Eiko went to the restroom.
Seeing her leave, Fang Xinhan walked to the seat next to Maki Shunichi and sat down. Maki Shunichi, noticing someone sitting next to him, couldn't help but look up.
At this moment, Fang Xinhan was dressed in casual clothes, with a neutral face that made it impossible to tell his gender, and he held two bottles of drinks in his hands.
"Hey, why the long face? Have a bottle, it's on me." His voice was somewhat neutral yet magnetic. As he spoke, Fang Xinhan handed a bottle of drink to Maki Shunichi.
Maki Shunichi stared at the offered drink for a moment, then took it and said, "Thank you."
"Actually, it's my child. He suffers from a congenital blood disease, and his condition cannot be cured with current medical technology." Maki Shunichi's expression turned sad as he spoke.
"He'll be 6 in a few months, why is Heaven doing this to me!" Maki Shunichi buried his face in his hands, clearly in great distress.
Fang Xinhan patted Maki Shunichi's shoulder and comforted him, "A congenital blood disease, huh? Then you, as a father, should spend more time with him. By the way, could I meet your son later? Don't misunderstand, I just want to make friends with him."
Looking at Fang Xinhan, Maki Shunichi inexplicably felt a sense of trust. He didn't know where this feeling came from, but it was there.
"Of course."
Soon, Maki Eiko returned and was curious to see a young person next to her husband.
Maki Shunichi wanted to briefly introduce Fang Xinhan, but he suddenly realized he didn't know the other person's name.
"Hello, Mrs. Maki, my name is Shi Fangshuo. I saw your husband looking troubled earlier and wanted to ask what was wrong, and that's how we met." Shi Fangshuo was, of course, Fang Xinhan's alias, as he couldn't use his real name.
The few of them chatted for a while longer, then the emergency room light went out. The doctor walked out, and seeing this, the Maki couple immediately went forward to inquire about the situation.
"Doctor, my child..."
The doctor sighed, then said earnestly, "Your child's condition is not optimistic. The next time he has an episode, there's only an estimated 20% chance of survival."
As soon as the doctor spoke, Maki Eiko was so shocked she nearly collapsed. Fang Xinhan quickly caught her.
"Madam, please be careful. If your child sees you like this, he'll probably be even more upset." Fang Xinhan comforted Maki Eiko while guiding her into Maki Shunichi's embrace.
"Doctor, can we see Tsugumu now?" Maki Shunichi asked somewhat urgently.
"Quietly, the patient is resting."
Then, the three entered the ward, where the cute and well-behaved Maki Tsugumu lay with a ventilator.
"Your son is truly adorable," Fang Xinhan couldn't help but praise.
The few of them, unable to contain their feelings, conversed in hushed tones.
Perhaps the external sounds startled Tsugumu, as his eyelids slowly opened, and then three figures entered his sight.
"Papa," the weak Maki Tsugumu said, then his gaze fell upon Fang Xinhan.
"Tsugumu," the Maki couple looked at their son with eyes full of heartache and helplessness.
"Papa, who is this?"
"Hello, little Tsugumu. My name is Shi Fangshuo, and I've come to be your friend." With that, Fang Xinhan offered a gentle smile.
"Oh? Is that so?" Maki Tsugumu shifted his gaze to Maki Shunichi, as if wanting to confirm the truth in his father's eyes.
"Yes, and Papa will always be with you from now on." Maki Shunichi had already decided to stop being a pilot in a while; he wanted to spend quality time with Tsugumu while he was still here.
"Really?" A visible happiness appeared on Maki Tsugumu's face.
Fang Xinhan then walked to Maki Tsugumu's side. Just as he was about to reach out to touch Maki Tsugumu, he paused and looked at Maki Shunichi. Only when Maki Shunichi nodded did Fang Xinhan continue, placing his hand on Maki Tsugumu's head.
"Tsugumu is very well-behaved. How about we be friends until you get better?" Fang Xinhan said, using Healing Art to begin treating Maki Tsugumu. During this treatment, Fang Xinhan's brow furrowed slightly, but then relaxed.
After a brief chat, Fang Xinhan left.
"Tsk, although congenital blood disease can be treated, the cycle will probably take over half a year. As it stands, even after defeating The One, it might not be possible to completely cure Tsugumu." However, Fang Xinhan wasn't annoyed. "But congenital blood disease has been classified as a 'weakness' negative effect, which can be solved with a bucket of milk. For now, though, I'll continue to use Healing Art. Even if Tsugumu was willing to drink something given by a stranger he just met, his parents wouldn't be."
(P.S.: When watching the movie, I felt Tsugumu was so well-behaved. Also, some people might think the Maki couple are too unguarded with strangers, but this is a tokusatsu, isn't this normal?)