DMC: Being a demon hunter in Japan is not easy

"Why can he talk to Yotsuba while we can't?" Nino asked her father.

Nino's complaint was valid—when they were called this morning, they were told to go to the hospital, but they couldn't see Yotsuba until further notice.

The worst part was that someone like Desmon could go in and talk to Yotsuba while her own sisters had to wait outside, unable to see her.

"I want to believe Yotsuba's current condition was caused by an external factor."

His daughters had been controlled by a demon, and he had even heard how those girls displayed superhuman abilities like regeneration. That meant there was a possibility that Yotsuba's state was due to some kind of curse.

That was why he wanted Desmon to talk to her. If that small chance turned out to be true, the young demon hunter might be able to do something about it.

But… that was just a faint hope Mr. Nakano held onto. The reality was that his daughter was suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the brutal beating she endured—one that had left her barely alive.

"You only told us she has PTSD, but you didn't explain what that even means!"

"For now, this is for the best. I'll explain everything once Desmon-san gives his opinion."

"Tch!" Nino clicked her tongue in frustration.

"Come on, Nino, let's just wait for now." Ichika said, trying to calm her sister down.

"How can you be so calm!?" Nino snapped.

"I'm not…" Ichika clenched her fist. "I still can't believe everything we were told, but they have no reason to lie to us. And… if we were the ones who seriously hurt Yotsuba, she'd be the last person who'd want to see us."

As the eldest sister, it was her duty to protect and take care of them. But learning that she was the one who had hurt Yotsuba so badly was a heavy blow to Ichika.

"Do you seriously think that's possible!?"

"Nino, that's enough!" Itsuki raised her voice, glaring at her.

Ever since Desmon went to talk to Yotsuba, Itsuki had pulled Miku aside to ask for more details. In the end, Miku had no choice but to tell her everything.

"What's your problem, Itsuki!?"

"Stop acting like a child and accept it already!"

Itsuki wasn't much different from her sisters—at first, she found it hard to believe. But after Miku confirmed it, she no longer had any doubts and accepted the truth. In a way, she was the most mature of the five.

"Huh!? You actually believed Miku's nonsense!?" Nino raised an eyebrow.

"Our memories from that day are a mess. Can you say for sure that it didn't happen!?" Itsuki challenged her.

All of them, except for one, had already come to terms with the fact that it was their own fault. But Nino stubbornly refused to accept it.

"I…"

Before Nino could answer, Desmon walked out of Yotsuba's room and approached Mr. Nakano.

"Desmon-san, what do you think? Do you think you can do something about it?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope.

But Desmon simply shook his head.

"I see… Maybe you know someone who—"

"I don't know anyone good enough to fix Yotsuba's condition. Besides, I think you already know—what she's dealing with is the aftermath of what happened to her." Desmon's expression remained as calm as ever.

Desmon had few connections, and none of them were miracle doctors who could treat any kind of illness. Not that such a person even existed in Japan, right?

Mr. Nakano let out a sigh. Maybe he had been holding onto too much hope that an external force was responsible for Yotsuba's condition, something that could be easily fixed.

"…I understand."

As an adult, all he could do was face reality.

With Desmon's answer, Mr. Nakano knew it was time to tell his daughters the truth. He cleared his throat, looked at them seriously, and began to speak.

"Yotsuba has post-traumatic stress disorder. It's a mental health condition that develops after experiencing an extremely traumatic event. It causes intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional changes. People with PTSD feel like they're in constant danger, even in safe environments."

He carefully chose his words, making sure his daughters grasped the gravity of the situation.

"There's a treatment for it, right?" Ichika asked, worried.

But before their father could answer, Miku spoke up.

"But that's not all… right, Father?"

Nino frowned at her after hearing what she said

"What do you mean by that, Miku?" She asked incredulously. Wasn't it enough that her sister was already dealing with a mental disorder?

Miku lowered her gaze for a moment, trying to find the right words to explain what had happened that day, but Mr. Nakano continued speaking.

"In some cases, the brain blocks out trauma as a defense mechanism. This is known as dissociative amnesia."

The atmosphere grew tense.

"If Yotsuba has amnesia, then she doesn't remember what happened… that's a good thing, right?" Nino asked, her tone laced with a desperate attempt to convince herself.

-If she only forgot those days or even the last week, it wouldn't be a problem. Nino thought, trying to believe that maybe her father was exaggerating.

But her hope crumbled the moment she saw her father shake his head.

"Dissociative amnesia isn't like regular amnesia." He explained. "It's not that Yotsuba simply forgot… Her mind suppressed those memories to protect her from the pain. That means she can't remember the traumatic event voluntarily."

He paused for a moment before continuing, taking a deep breath.

"However, the memories can resurface suddenly if she encounters a trigger. If she sees her assailant, her mind may force her to remember everything at once. And when that happens, she experiences an extreme emotional breakdown."

A shiver ran down Ichika's spine upon hearing this.

"Does that mean… if Yotsuba sees us, she'll remember what happened?"

Mr. Nakano nodded gravely.

"That's what happened a few days ago when she saw Miku. Her mind associated her with the trauma and reacted with fear."

Miku's eyes widened in shock. Until now, she had thought Yotsuba hated her, but the truth was far worse. Seeing her had triggered something so painful that her body had gone into crisis mode.

"But her condition can be treated, right?" Itsuki insisted.

For the second time, she asked about treatment, as if her father had deliberately avoided answering before.

Mr. Nakano closed his eyes for a moment before responding.

"Normally, 80% of patients with dissociative amnesia recover their memories with the right therapy." He said calmly.

The sisters felt a slight sense of relief… until their father spoke again.

"…But Yotsuba's case is different."

Nino's heart stopped for a moment.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked, her voice filled with unease.

As Mr. Nakano prepared his response, Desmon leaned toward Uesugi and spoke in a low voice.

"You seem pretty calm. You already know what he's about to say, don't you?"

Uesugi kept his gaze fixed on Yotsuba's hospital room door and simply nodded. He knew what was coming… and it wasn't good news.

Mr. Nakano took a deep breath and continued.

"For therapy to work, there needs to be a reference point to reconstruct the trauma. But Yotsuba doesn't have one… because she doesn't remember the people involved."

Miku took a step forward, her voice trembling.

"What do you mean by that?"

Mr. Nakano clenched his fists. Saying it out loud… was almost unbearable.

Tired of the drawn-out tension, Desmon decided to cut to the chase. Sometimes, it was better to be direct rather than drag things out unnecessarily.

"What your father is trying to say is that Yotsuba's mind is so distorted that it completely erased her sisters from her memories. To her, you don't exist. She believes she's an only child. And since I spoke with her, I can confirm it." Desmon said calmly. "Her attitude, her demeanor—she's just a cheerful, energetic girl. Yotsuba is completely normal. She can go on with her life… without you."

The silence that followed was crushing. Desmon's words hit like a punch. None of the sisters could react immediately.

They didn't know what to say. They didn't know what to do.

"As Desmon-san said, Yotsuba's condition is far from promising." Their father's voice was quiet, almost defeated. "There's a 90% chance she will never regain her memories."

The last sliver of hope they had… crumbled.

Hearing those final words, the Nakano sisters' expressions showed pain and fear, but…

-She can't just forget us, right? We're sisters, we've been through so much, and now she's just erased us?

…But only one of them bore an expression of anger.

Nino let out a dry, bitter laugh, devoid of any joy.

"Hahahahaha…"

Her laughter echoed through the room, but it wasn't amusement. It was denial. It was despair.

"Did Yotsuba forget us? Did she forget all the years we spent together? That we attacked her because we were possessed by a demon?" Her voice trembled between fury and disbelief. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS!"

Before anyone could stop her, Nino spun on her heels and stormed toward Yotsuba's room.

"Nino, wait!" Ichika tried to reach her.

"Stop! Don't do anything reckless!" Itsuki shouted, but Nino wasn't listening anymore.

With a loud slam, she threw the door open.

"Uesugi-san, did you forget some..."

She froze mid-sentence. Her eyes widened. Her body tensed. Her expression shifted from calm to sheer terror. She shrank back against the bed, hands trembling, breath unsteady. Yotsuba was paralyzed by pure fear.

"Ahhh!?"

"Yotsuba, end this already!" Ignoring the terror on Yotsuba's face, Nino stepped closer.

"NOOO!!! STAY AWAY FROM ME!!! NO!!!" She screamed, her expression twisted in absolute horror.

"Yotsuba, it's me, Nino! Look at me!"

Nino grabbed her shoulders, forcing Yotsuba to meet her gaze.

"NOOO!!! S-SOMEONE, PLEASE, HELP…!!"

Her mind replayed the events of that moment—when her own sisters, the people she loved the most, had tried to kill her. Beating her mercilessly, as if they were enjoying it.

That image, the overwhelming fear, the unbearable pain—they all came rushing back. But above all, the disbelief that her own family had wanted her dead.

"UESUGI… SAVE ME…!!"

Just like back then, when she was on the brink of death, when she had whispered a childish wish for her boyfriend to come and rescue her, her mind now latched onto those same words, screaming for help.

"Nino, that's enough!"

With an expression filled with anger, Uesugi forcefully pulled Nino away from Yotsuba, nearly making her stumble and fall.

"Fuu-kun?" Nino muttered in disbelief as she saw the hatred in Uesugi's eyes.

"UESUGI… UESUGI…" Yotsuba sobbed in her boyfriend's arms.

"It's okay, Yotsuba. I'm here." He ignored Nino completely.

After Uesugi stormed into the room, the others followed. But the moment Yotsuba's eyes landed on her sisters, her fear surged even stronger.

The girls finally understood. Seeing Yotsuba like this left no room for doubt—everything they had been told was true. Even Nino finally realized it.

"I… they… why…!" Yotsuba could barely form words, stuttering as she hyperventilated. Her mind involuntarily dragged her back into the trauma, forcing her to relive it—something her subconscious refused to allow.

"Yotsuba! Yotsuba!"

In Uesugi's arms, she lost consciousness.

At that moment, Mr. Nakano stepped forward to check on his daughter.

"Uesugi-kun, she's alright. Her mind shut down, so to speak, to keep her from processing those resurfaced memories."

Yotsuba's condition was delicate. The best thing for her would be to live her life without regaining those memories.

"I understand." Uesugi gently laid Yotsuba on the bed.

Seeing how Yotsuba reacted to even the sight of her own sisters—her family—brought back old thoughts. Maybe this was all his fault.

Uesugi lifted his gaze and met Desmon's eyes. He had also entered the room.

"Desmon… this is my fault, isn't it?" Uesugi asked, his voice heavy with guilt.

For Kiyohime to have interfered in the girls' lives, certain conditions had to be met. Maybe if he had been more decisive, if he had outright rejected the other girls, things would have turned out differently.

That's what Uesugi Futaro believed. But no matter how he had handled things, as long as that feeling of rejection remained, that demon would have manifested anyway.

"I have no idea. Demons are unpredictable most of the time. But… it's always best to be cautious, don't you think?" Desmon replied seriously.

That was all Uesugi needed to hear.

Japanese folklore was vast, and if demons were involved, there was no guarantee that another entity like Kiyohime wouldn't appear in the girls' lives again.

And if they had survived this time, there was no telling if they'd be so lucky the next.

Kiyohime appeared on the same day the girls were rejected, when a strong sense of rejection took hold. Because of this, a conversation to clear things up and support each other never happened—the demon had already planted the seed of doubt and hatred within them. And so, any chance for the girls to resolve things through dialogue and have a normal future without complications was lost.

"…I see." Uesugi turned to face the four girls.

Mr. Nakano, meanwhile, nodded as he met Uesugi's gaze. What comes next is something that only concerns the young ones. It's time to set things straight.

"I should have said it from the beginning, but I was too much of a coward… Maybe if I had, Yotsuba wouldn't be in this situation. I'm just as guilty as that damn thing that possessed you…" He lowered his head.

The girls looked at him in surprise, but they could already sense what Uesugi was about to say.

"I love Yotsuba. She's the most important girl to me. That's why I can't be with anyone else, no matter what happens, no matter how much time passes, even in the future—my feelings for her will never change." Uesugi took a deep breath. "That's why I'll never be able to return anyone else's feelings. It doesn't matter if it's today or years from now—the only girl I will ever love is Yotsuba!" He declared with unwavering resolve.

Uesugi cherished all the Nakano sisters; they were his dear friends. But among them, the one who had won his heart was Yotsuba. That was why he had always hesitated to reject the others outright, unwilling to hurt them so abruptly. But now, things had changed.

Still… what would have happened if Uesugi had confessed to all five sisters? That's something no one will ever know—because the only one he loves is Yotsuba.

After all, for a man to be with multiple women, he'd have to have a screw loose, disregard social norms, or simply not care what anyone else thinks. Unfortunately, normal guys never even entertain that kind of thought…

Once the girls heard his words, there was nothing left to say. Uesugi had been clear and direct: no matter what happens in the future, he will always love Yotsuba. Even if something were to happen to her, she would forever remain the only girl in his heart.

"I hate you!"

Nino ran out of the room, tears spilling from her eyes.

"She needs some time alone." Ichika said, placing a hand on Itsuki's shoulder, who seemed like she wanted to chase after Nino.

"I think we need it too..." She replied, noticing the tears in Ichika's eyes, while Itsuki herself was sobbing.

Miku, on the other hand, remained silent, her head lowered.

"It's harder to hear than to say, isn't it?" Desmon placed a hand on Miku's head as he spoke.

During the Kiyohime incident, Miku had firmly stated that she would always choose her sister over the boy she loved. She had said it with complete confidence—or so she thought. But hearing Uesugi's rejection directly stirred conflicting emotions within her. She had believed she was prepared for this moment, but reality proved otherwise.

"It is… It really hurts…" Miku let out a few quiet sobs.

Desmon was more considerate of Miku because of the help she had given him against the demon. Otherwise, he would have simply ignored the situation, chalking it up to teenage drama.

-What should I even say here? Desmon pondered, searching for the right words.

"You went toe-to-toe with a half-dragon demon. I doubt this is harder to get through." He said with a lighthearted tone.

"Your way of comforting people is terrible." She sniffled, wiping her tears.

"I know. But it'd be worse to say things that aren't true." Desmon continued to ruffle her hair as if she were a little girl in need of comfort.

"Alright, alright, you're awful with words." Miku brushed his hand off her head.

"At least I can say I tried." He shrugged, noticing that Miku seemed a little better.

With their conversation over, silence settled over the room.

A lot had happened in just a few minutes, and everyone had something to process. Some needed time to think things through, while others just wanted to go home and sleep.

"Desmon-san, thank you for your help. I don't think I could have said it myself… Having you here today really meant a lot. Truly, thank you."

In the end, it was Mr. Nakano who broke the silence, stepping forward to express his gratitude to Desmon.

"I'm good with words. Besides, it was time for them to accept the truth of the matter. I hope their daughter recovers."

Despite what people might think of him, he can be quite sensible at times.

"I hope so too. Even if the chances are low, there's still a possibility that she can regain her restricted memories and overcome her trauma."

As long as the possibility isn't zero, Yotsuba still has a chance to recover.

"I guess we won't be seeing her again…" Miku said, looking dejected.

"Unfortunately, that's how it is. I still need to figure out what to do moving forward."

Sooner or later, Yotsuba will have to return to her normal life. But if she happens to run into one of her sisters, it could trigger her trauma. And since all five of them still attend the same school, the chances of a chance encounter are high.

"For now, we should leave. I don't want Yotsuba waking up." Ichika spoke, showing her protective side as the eldest sister.

Even if she can't interact with Yotsuba anymore, she will still watch over her. After all, it's her duty as the eldest. Though at this moment, she isn't sure she has the right to, not after the harm she caused.

Her other two sisters nodded, knowing this would be the last time they could be near Yotsuba.

"Uesugi-kun, what about you?" As the only person his daughter trusts, Mr. Nakano placed his full confidence in him.

"I'll stay with Yotsuba a little longer, then head home."

For Uesugi, who had already made up his mind, the most important thing right now was doing everything he could to help Yotsuba.

"I'll check with some colleagues to see if there are other rehabilitation methods. I'll keep in touch."

With that, Mr. Nakano and his daughters left the room, leaving Desmon, Uesugi, and Yotsuba alone.

For several seconds, silence filled the room until Desmon finally spoke.

"Before I go, I just wanted to say—I admire you. See you around."

Desmon smiled and waved before leaving.

Uesugi had been through a lot. Few would have the mental strength to face such a situation, let alone stay by Yotsuba's side after everything that had happened.

Anyone else would have chosen to distance themselves from this family full of problems. But Uesugi Fuutarou didn't run away. He chose to stand by the girl he loves and face the problem head-on. It wouldn't be an easy path, but it was his decision.

That kind of determination and conviction was something Desmon genuinely admired. Unlike him, Uesugi didn't run away like a coward when things became too much. He didn't abandon the only girl who had ever truly cared for him.

But then again, what could you really expect from a scared twelve-year-old who thought he was going to die?

That regret would haunt him until the day he died.

In response, Uesugi gave him a calm smile.

"See you later, Desmon-san. And… thanks for everything."

With that, Desmon left the room, leaving the couple alone—finally closing the case of Yotsuba Nakano… for now.

...

"Not sure if I should be happy that a girl is waiting for me… or concerned that it's you."

Once outside Yotsuba's room, Desmon found Miku waiting for him.

"It's the first one, baka." Miku sighed.

"In that case, I'm thrilled to have a beautiful girl waiting for me. But if I remember how much trouble she is, it definitely lowers her score."

"When you're quiet, you don't seem like such a child."

"Oi, oi, was that a compliment? Are you flirting with me? Sorry to say, but I like mature women. Maybe in three to five years, you can try aga...Ouch!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Miku, fed up with his nonsense, pressed her necklace against his cheek, causing him pain.

"Are you done talking nonsense?" She scolded him.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm done. Just get that thing away from me…"

For some reason, Miku's necklace seemed to have an odd effect on the demon hunter.

Seeing that Desmon had given up, Miku put her necklace away.

"Sometimes I can't believe you're the same guy who fought Kiyohime." She shook her head.

Anyone else wouldn't be able to connect the relaxed idiot in front of her to the ruthless demon hunter who mercilessly took down his enemies.

"I'd rather not stand out. Having a fan club chasing after me would be exhausting."

Miku stared at him as if she were looking at an absolute fool.

"That's never going to happen." She shook her head.

"At least let me dream…" He sighed.

With that brief exchange, the two left the hospital room and began walking through the hallways.

Desmon had finished everything he needed to do, so now all that was left was to head back to Shizuka's apartment for a nap.

"If you come across any doctor who might be able to help Yotsuba, let us know." Miku said.

"Like I told your father, I don't know any doctors. I've never needed to go to a hospital since I can regenerate, and as for illnesses, I've never even caught a cold."

His regenerative ability and the supernatural nature of his body made him incapable of getting sick, let alone needing medical attention.

"You're weird, so I'm sure you'll run into someone who's an amazing doctor… of demons?"

If demons and yōkai exist, then the idea of a supernatural doctor capable of treating all illnesses isn't impossible. And given Desmon's terrible luck, the chances of him stumbling upon someone like that are even higher.

"I can't rule it out, but a demon doctor? That sounds insane. I'd say meeting an alien doctor is more likely."

"Aliens? Do they actually exist?" Miku asked curiously.

If demons and other supernatural beings are real, what's stopping aliens from existing too?

"I've never seen one, but I wouldn't want them showing up in a spaceship and abducting me… though the view would probably be amazing."

"You're the only person who'd think that while being kidnapped by aliens…"

How did their conversation shift from doctors to aliens? Only the two of them knew.

And so, they kept walking through the hospital, debating the existence of aliens in ancient times—an idea Miku rejected outright.

-Now that I'm paying more attention, this place is full of those things. Desmon thought, but he quickly stopped caring. They weren't worth his time.

His vision had picked up on certain things more often than usual—at least in this hospital—but since his demonic essence had been erased, they simply ignored him, as if he were just an ordinary human.

Not that it mattered if those things noticed him. After all, he was a truly dangerous existence to anyone. And with Miku showing great resolve and pushing herself to overcome rejection, she wasn't an easy target either.

After all, demons and yōkai aren't the only dangerous supernatural creatures out there.

And unfortunately for Nakano Nino, she was about to find that out firsthand.