"What are you waiting for, Trion?" asked one of the security guards.
Alpha Trion was at the school gate in the late afternoon, as it was well past dismissal time.
However, an hour had passed and Alpha Trion just stood there, continuously staring toward the school building.
A security guard approached him and asked what he was doing there.
"Sir, the school is already empty, but why haven't I seen Nexus Diggito come out?" asked Alpha Trion.
"... Oh, maybe he went home early," said the security guard.
The security guard then stepped into the schoolyard.
"Besides, I'm going to start my patrol around the area, so I'll be closing the gate shortly," the security guard said.
"I'll come with you!" said Alpha Trion.
Alpha Trion approached the security guard.
"Even so... I know Nexus never skips school!" Alpha Trion stated.
The security guard let Alpha Trion tag along.
"Huh... you seem to care a lot about that kid!" the security guard remarked.
"I've been with Nexus a lot since he was 5 years old,"
...
"... He must be feeling tormented right now," Trion said.
"How about we check the storage room?" suggested the security guard.
The security guard and Alpha Trion walked down the hallway. A long, straight hallway.
Several doors lined up alongside it; they were all special extracurricular rooms, school equipment rooms, and storage spaces.
The security guard checked every room there just in case.
"Why are you patrolling all by yourself, Sir?" asked Alpha Trion.
"We use a shift system here; I'm on the afternoon shift, and tonight it won't be me checking," answered the security guard.
The security guard sat down for a moment with Alpha Trion near the vending machine.
The security guard handed Alpha Trion a bottle of drink from it.
They rested for a moment to have a drink together.
"... By the way, who is Nexus to you? A best friend, a sibling, or a relative?" asked the security guard.
Alpha Trion fell silent and let out a sigh.
"... Nexus and I..." "Actually—"
...
SCREEECH!...
The sound of a sliding door right next to them. The door opened on its own.
Alpha Trion and the security guard spontaneously turned their heads toward the door that had opened by itself.
Footsteps could be heard from inside the door.
Shortly after, the owner of the footsteps appeared.
It was Nexus, stepping out slowly from inside.
"Nexus!..."
Alpha Trion quickly walked over, approaching Nexus.
Due to Nexus's severe condition and the cloth tied around his bleeding head.
"What happened to you?!"
asked Alpha Trion.
Not long after, Nexus lost his balance and fell. Fortunately, Alpha Trion quickly caught Nexus by the shoulders.
"We have to take him to the hospital near here!" said the security guard.
The security guard immediately carried the unconscious Nexus on his back.
Alpha Trion followed behind the security guard.
Luckily, there was indeed a hospital very close by.
Nexus was lying in the hospital, but his eyes were already open.
Lying flat on his back, his eyes stared up at the white ceiling.
From the curtain next door, several other patients could be seen lying down and sleeping.
"He actually suffered a mild concussion, but it seems someone had already provided first aid; fortunately, we were able to treat the boy's condition quickly," said a doctor.
"If I may ask, are you this child's guardian?" the doctor asked the rescuing security guard.
"Uhm... well, no. I found him inside the storage room in that condition, Doctor Drugger," said the security guard.
It turned out Doctor Drugger was at this hospital, and he was the one treating the patient, Nexus Diggito.
"... This is a serious matter. I will contact the headmaster. It's clear this boy took a beating from an iron rod," Doctor Drugger stated.
The security guard remained silent, swallowing hard.
"Coincidentally, if I'm not mistaken, I have the headmaster's contact," said Doctor Drugger, immediately checking his floating gadget.
Beep... beep... The doctor directly called the headmaster.
"Good evening, I am Magnum, a specialist doctor from Glory Hospital."
"Yes, what is it, Doctor Drugger?" the headmaster's voice sounded.
The doctor then walked out of the room while speaking into his telecommunication device.
...
"Did you intentionally let one of your students receive this kind of treatment?" asked Doctor Drugger.
"... What happened, Doctor?"
asked the headmaster.
"Your student named Nexus Diggito received severe bullying; he is badly hurt in the head. If I hadn't treated him immediately, he might have died in a few moments!"
the headmaster said.
"... Look here, Doctor Drugger,"
"I don't care about a student like him,"
"He deserves it!"
"Everyone normalizes Nexus as an outlet, so what else can I do? I just have to follow along..."
"Besides, who would have thought that Atlas Prime, who became a big boss, ended up ruined and wrecked in a single day,"
....
Doctor Drugger slammed the wall, furious at the headmaster's words.
"So you're the one who caused this?" Doctor Drugger asked.
....
"I pity you more, Doctor Drugger," said the headmaster.
"Your salary is relatively small and you hold a low doctor rank,"
"... if you keep this up, you'll always stay at the bottom, Doctor Drugger."
Doctor Drugger immediately hung up the phone.
In that soundproof room, Doctor Drugger fell silent. Pondering for a moment there.
Doctor Drugger felt cold for a moment.
Doctor Drugger went back inside the patient's room. Walking closer to Nexus.
"If you don't mind, I want to continue a procedure on Nexus. He suffered a slight concussion and forgot a few things, so... Excuse me for a bit!" said Doctor Drugger.
The security guard and Alpha Trion excused themselves for a moment, leaving the patient's room.
"Do your best, Doctor!" said Alpha Trion before taking his leave.
The doctor sat next to Nexus. The doctor then gently took Nexus's hand.
"Sir!"
Nexus said, interrupting the doctor.
...
"Yes," the doctor then looked at Nexus.
The doctor reached for a syringe and filled the syringe with some kind of liquid.
"... Could you make it so I don't wake up again tomorrow?"
"Eh, why are you talking like that?" asked Doctor Drugger.
"... Nobody wants me around!"
"... Mom and Dad are gone; they left me forever. But instead, I have to be left alone like this!"
"... They are so cruel for throwing me away like this!"
Tears streamed down Nexus's eyes. His sobbing was so agonizing.
...
Doctor Drugger froze, his eyes welling up with tears hearing Nexus's cries.
....
The doctor hugged Nexus.
....
"Son... I'm sorry. If only I could make your life better, I apologize."
Doctor Drugger's embrace felt so warm.
The feelings of anxiety and frustration seemed to melt and vanish just like that.
"... I will help you!"
ZTAKKK!!!
Oughh!!!
...
...
...
Doctor Drugger stroked little Nexus's back. The days were too heavy for a child his age. He didn't deserve to suffer the consequences of his parents' actions.
But what else could be done; his parents were indeed the ones at fault.
Tutttt!!!
The electrocardiogram (heart monitor) let out a long beep.
The blue light in Nexus's eyes instantly faded and disappeared.
...
Doctor Drugger brushed his hand over Nexus's eyes to close them.
He then covered Nexus's entire body with a cloth.
Doctor Drugger afterward sat back down near Nexus there.
He stayed silent, frozen there to contemplate.
Because, Doctor Drugger... had just murdered Nexus Diggito.
To be continued...