[QED] Riding the High. [Nick]

Badum, Badum, Badum. as she ran down the corridors of the school building Elise could find her heart beating erratically in her chest. Although the recent days had been a period of trials and tribulations for the people at Yūei Kōkō, she had not been one to lose hope. Why? Because amidst the darkness of this difficult time that would make most despair Elise had found a blessing: a newfound friendship in one of the students of the high school, one who just like her was working side by side to find a way to save the academy. Rin Kurama was the second friend she had made in her entire life, and was right now in danger... which meant she found herself acting automatically on the thought: I got to save Rin!

She gripped her cell phone tightly, but no new messages had appeared on the screen since Rin's cryptic message. Fortunately, she had been in the dorms, so she quickly was able to confirm the girl wasn't in her room, which meant she was already back at the infirmary. Although she was not strong or fast by any means, Elise was an energetic lass with a lot of energy, so she was running toward the infirmary without a moment to slow down, her mind haunted by the thoughts what might have been happening to the girl.

Finally, she arrived at the infirmary, a hand sliding onto the door as she opened it to find a scene even her nightmares couldn't justify. Rin was lying on the floor, a broken shell of her usual self and a twisted mixture of euphoria and terror upon her visage. "Rin!" She called out, stepping into the room as she worriedly approached the girl, kneeling down beside her. "What happened to you?" She tried to sound as kind and reassuring as possible, but those symptoms, this seemed like a much more intense response than the one Sophie had before according to Rin's notes.

The worst possible thing had happened, Rin had been infected. "But how? Why? You're too smart to take a risk like this after knowing we're dealing with someone trying to---" She paused, a moment of distress crossing her expression. She quickly looked around the room, remnants of a meal, a phone on the ground... the chatroom open as if a desperate call for help was made, a silent plea to be saved.

Even as the poor girl had lost consciousness Elise had gently pulled one arm beneath the girl's neck, trying to slowly lift her slightly. "What can I do? We didn't get to prepare an antidote yet..." That was a lie, there was an antidote, there always had been one. One with the power to cure this 'blight' upon the school. There had been someone who could save Rin right now, that someone who was hesitating now.

Why was she hesitating? To use a power she was embarrassed about? One only a few people knew about? But how? The only way she could save Rin was with her Quirk. Was she so weak, so pathetic she would abandon someone who needed her? Someone who had stood by her side against this fight? Someone she called a friend?

Tears gathered in her eyes. That treatment was sacred, one she had reserved for someone special. But if she didn't act now, then things would surely worsen. Rin didn't deserve this, nobody did. She had the power to help, then why... why wouldn't she?

Ah... That was it because she was ashamed. Ashamed that people would realize just what type of weird power she possessed. Her power was something a pervert would use as an excuse.

"Rin..." She called out gently, her eyes steeling their gaze into one of gentle determination. "It's alright now... Why? Because I am here."

She brought a fingertip gently to Rin's lips, a tender caress even if she knew it wouldn't cause a reaction. "I once told myself I would only use this power for one I love. But if I can't find it in me to do this... to save you, then I wouldn't have the right to become a doctor... or even call myself your friend."

If it had affected Rin this strongly, it was certain that she had ingested a large dose, so drastic measures had to be made. "Even if we only met recently, I really liked that you trusted me this much, relied on me..."

She smiled for a moment as she slowly leaned in. "So thank you... Rin." And then came the salvation the girl needed. Just like a Demon had violated her earlier, an angel had bestowed her with a warmth that would wash away this seeping darkness. Even as a tongue invaded, gently engaging in a slow waltz around the girl's own, Elise was certain that her actions would work, she did her utmost to ensure that she used as much of her saliva as possible, even if... it did leave things a bit messy, but at least it would help Rin's body to purify itself from the curse the demon left upon her.

After what seemed like an eternity she finally parted, leaning back slightly as she whispered like the early rays of sunshine that accompanied the dawn that would banish the dark shadows looming over Rin's consciousness. "Rin, can you hear me? Please... please get back to me, I need you... I can't solve this problem alone."

Even as her heart was skipping beats for an unknown reason, and she felt immensely embarrassed by her actions just now, her concern for Rin's safety was too overwhelming. Still, even as she waited for Rin to react to the treatment Elise thought about what had happened. Rin had been poisoned, her attitude made her believe that was a mistake she wouldn't make, which made Elise ponder: Did someone else...

"Impossible...." she whispered, she didn't want to believe it. Someone who could come close enough to poison a student? That could only be someone who was at the academy! One of their own... a student or teacher at U.A. A slow tap came with her free hand toward her phone, looking at it as she found an unpleasant emotion rise up within her: anger.

Good, it seemed her ability was working. Although the signs were subtle at first, slowly but certainly her Quirk did its work, almost like a full body-flush, and then she finally moved, slightly. "You shouldn't move too much yet Rin." Yes, the emotions she felt right now had made her unaware she had dropped the formality in her addressing of the girl, not even a -chan was given. "Your body is still recuperating and even if it's being aided right now, it still will take a bit of time before your body is back to normal." She explained in the kindest tone she could muster.

A doctor always remains positive, for if they start to despair then there will be no hope left for the patient. But at this point? At this point, the emotions were too much and threatened to overwhelm her like a tsunami sweeping over a dam. Nothing could stop those emotions in their wake as she finally gave in, both her arms gently wrapping around the smaller shoulders of the girl as she tried to lightly embrace her, stifling the flow of tears that were nearly ready to emerge. "I was so worried..."

She finally leaned back, a hand wiping away her tears as she tried her best to smile. "To think you of all people would let yourself get infected... But this confirms my earlier suspicions." She paused for a moment, gently reaching with a hand to try to help Rin upright and move her to a nearby chair to take a seat while she gently scooped up the girl's phone.

"Do you remember anything Rin?" She asked worriedly as she looked around, it seemed that aside from the patients nobody else was in the infirmary from what she could see.

"Like did someone come here?" She took a deep breath and as she shifted her gaze around a final time she stepped toward Sophie's desk and pulled a chair from there so she could sit across from Rin while she started her explanation.

"You got poisoned Rin." She felt her sorrow rise up again alongside that other unfamiliar sensation. "I was getting some supplies in my room when I read your chat message, I perceived it as something going wrong so I rushed over here but I came too late... I'm sorry... I should have been here for you, I could have prevented this..." She felt her fists balling up, her fingernails digging lightly into her flesh as sorrow emerged within her once more, alongside that other unfamiliar and unpleasant sensation. "I'm using the term poisoned instead of infected because... From working with you earlier I noticed you're way too smart and careful to let such a simple mistake pass by, also that dose was way higher than the one from the other patients if the symptoms are to be considered a signal.... someone intentionally targeted you."

She closed her eyes and paused for a moment, a hand grasping for her cellphone. "Gimme a moment, I'm going to reassure the others that you're fine now."

She knew that there would have to be an explanation, in the end she was aware of just how much effort they had put in together to finish Sophie's job, to find the cure for this virus that had spread like an invisible blight. "Do you remember when we first started working together on solving this matter and I explained how my body is resistant to things like this?" She paused for a moment, even if she trusted Rin to not be judgemental it was still quite difficult to reveal the secret she was about to expose. "Please don't tell the others but... My quirk it..." gods, this really was more difficult to put in words, much more than she expected! "alters my bodily fluids. They possess a special property that induces a healing and regenerative effect when the body comes into contact with it, whether it is through touch or ingesting. However, it also has the ability to purify."

Of course, that would likely make Rin wonder why she didn't use this power right away to save everyone! "I... If I were to turn it into medicine it would be too weak to properly banish whatever is ailing everyone. At best it can temporarily weaken the symptoms. I tried earlier, but just contact with my sweat isn't enough either, Sophie-sensei didn't react when I tried to apply some of it to her hand, because it's so deep in the system it needs to be ingested."

And now came the part she dreaded to admit, her cheeks flushing up into a bright red hue as she confessed her deed. "In order to save you, I-I kissed you. By ensuring you swallowed enough of my saliva your body got flushed of the effects of the drug."

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, but to no avail as her heart was beating even faster, making her feel even more flustered than before. "When I saw you suffering like that earlier I made my decision. Even if it was super embarrassing of me to do this, I care too much for you to allow you to experience something like that."

She lowered her head slightly and whispered feebly. "I..." She really was lost for words right now. "Umm..." What in the world could she even do to justify her actions? "B-but... you kind of tasted like a hamburger..."

At Rin's question about the empty bottle, Elise shook her head lightly in return and answered her. "No, I haven't touched anything, but your assumption is correct. If you believe you know people you could trust blindly, then maybe but else we need to consult the faculty about this. It's highly likely that the culprit behind your poisoning is someone who can get close to us without turning heads: one of our own."

It was worrying that there would be someone among the students who had such nefarious intentions. However, for now her worry for Rin took priority over the worries haunting her. The missing water bottle, the overdose, it all pointed out to someone with ill intentions toward Rin.

I'm going to find the one who did this...

And then what? What use would it have? However, even more troubling was the negative emotions that were so unfamiliar to her, yet they were festering beneath her smile. At least as she talked about her quirk it seemed Rin was willing to listen to her request to keep it a secret, and so she began her explanation, soon receiving a rather unexpected response. "Y-You think so?" the girl stammered out in embarrassment at the honest praise the girl gave her, but still to describe it as her sweat and spit being able to heal and purify... "Most usually say it's an excuse for smooching someone..." The girl mumbled underneath her breath, not entirely pleased by the memory but she had other things to think about right now.

The sudden reach for her hair made Elise blink in confusion, the tender brush as their eyes locked together made Elise wonder what Rin had been thinking, but what followed was one of the things she didn't expect. No flustered or annoyed reaction to the kiss, instead Rin described the action as 'protecting her' and that it was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done to her.

"I-I" she tried to stammer out, her heart threatening to beat out of her chest, a hand slowly reaching for her chest as if holding her hand there would help slow down the erratic pacing. Her cheeks flushed up almost as if she had a fever, and a certain joyous feeling spread through her. Rin had reacted positively, she had not even thought it was something as vile as taking advantage of her, something another person could have possibly done if they had been in her shoes. In the end a kiss, especially one on the lips was sacred.

She felt as if time came to a halt, her audial perception replaced entirely by the soft rhythmic beating of her heart. What was this feeling? This familiar feeling? It was just like when she felt at certain times around Tetsuko. Wait, surely it couldn't be similar, right? She was merely happy that Rin had reacted like this. Then why couldn't she deny the fact the kiss felt more pleasant than a saving attempt should have been? While she might have felt guilty, that guilt had quickly taken place for a warmth.

She was Rin's number one hero... the one who had saved her... Her power had allowed her to save Rin! "I... I'll gladly save you as often as needed!" The girl stammered out, for that was something friends would do, right? Friends, such a lovely but confusing thing. "A burger?" She asked, her mind briefly distracted at the thought of tasting someone's cooking, especially that of a cute girl like Rin, so her answer was obvious. "Mhmm! Once we finish our shift, let's eat together~" Elise answered with a bright smile.

But then the words came that hit her like a cannonball in the gut. Rin thought she tasted... like apples? Her cheeks instantly went from red to crimson as she fidgetted lightly on the spot, her breathing slightly faster as she answered the girl's attempt to defuse the situation with one that would make it explode. "I thought you were still unconscious back then! B-But, realizing you remember it..."

She paused for a moment, recalling a certain memory as a finger absently reached for her mouth, the digit running along her lips. "Hehe~ it makes me kind of happy."

Still, Rin had a point, a very good one: they were spread too thin to put substantial resources into playing detective, so the first thing she should do was ensure Rin's safety. "Rin, can you umm... tap blood properly? I would like you to tap a vial from me, we'll make it into a serum to be a safeguard if someone targets you again. Nobody will likely expect we have this, and I think my blood is potent enough to purify your body as long as you take it quickly enough."

She raised a hand to her cheek, tapping a finger against it as she mused softly. "Some artificial sweeteners and flavoring agents should make its flavor doable for you to handle, and it's a solid means to ensure you got some protection if I can't reach you."

She paused for a bit, thinking this might had been a logical course to take while she felt her face reddening again. "Rin I---" wait, what was she about to say?! Quickly shaking her head she smiled at the girl and continued "Am glad you're back~ Now let's finish up this stuff so we can get some burgers? I think I still got some imported apple juice~"

But what were those conflicting feelings in her heart?