After a tense, nerve-racking round of treatment, Kanzaki Kumo's injuries finally stabilized. All that remained was to change his dressings on schedule and rest.
The muscles in both his legs were strained, which was a little better than the torn muscles last time.
His right arm had suffered a muscle strain, his wrist and elbow were swollen and inflamed to varying degrees, and the web between his thumb and forefinger had split. Relatively speaking, these injuries were not too serious.
The dislocation and fracture in his right shoulder were the most serious injuries. A full recovery would probably take another two or three months, even accounting for Kanzaki Kumo's naturally strong constitution and relatively fast recovery.
Although the injuries on his back looked frightening, they were only abrasions from scraping against the ground while "Skipping Stones on Land." With medicine applied, they would more or less heal in a few days.
"You idiot, what did you promise last time?"
Only after finishing the last bandage and having Kanzaki Kumo lie facedown on the hospital bed did Shinobu Kocho begin complaining.
"This time was an accident. It was all that Upper Rank Three's fault. When he saw his attacks couldn't hit me, he just started bombarding the whole area. I was so close to clearing it without taking any damage..."
"Why do you have to risk your life like that? Do you know how worried we all were about you?"
Shinobu Kocho's voice was distinctly nasal and a little hoarse.
She had clearly been crying.
Kanzaki Kumo was just about to endure the pain and sit up when Shinobu Kocho planted a hand on his left shoulder, pressing his barely raised body back down.
"Don't move. If your wounds reopen, I'll be the one dealing with the trouble."
As she spoke,