The Degree
Two Weeks

The news media became so crowded, reporters and firefighters and ambulances swarmed the blast site like ants attracted to sugar.

There were some wounded, but there were also deaths there. Ray, Indri and Ben are among the seriously injured and quite critical.

“Surge! It's an emergency so get out of the way quickly!”

At the hospital the nurses are busy carrying Ray and the others, first aid may have already been done, but their lives still have the possibility of not being saved.

“How is it?”

“Bad! He lost his left hand and his skin burned. There is a possibility of his head bumping and causing bleeding inside!”

“Prepared for operation immediately!”

“Ya!”

In that chaotic situation, Ray still maintained his consciousness. The pain enveloped his body affectionately, though Ray could not greet him well.

‘Ah ... This really .. pain.’

Ray was unable to move his mouth to speak, the only thing he could do was groan.

“Give him dope!”

As soon as the nurse injected him, Ray began to feel a prolonged drowsiness, unopposed. The only thing that can be done is to accept it wholeheartedly.

...[******************]...

Elsewhere, Terumi and Erina are in her hotel. The two chose to stay there for the day because they had been doing heavy things lately.

“I did not expect that the situation would go this fast,” muttered Terumi while brushing her teeth.

He had walked out to monitor the situation as desired by Ray. It was surprising that there were several Degree users moving blatantly around him.

There is even some chaos such as rape, murder and even theft cases that occur in strange ways. There is no need to doubt, all of it is most likely caused by Degree users.

“I hope Ray will be fine. There seemed to be some group that started the movement. In addition, there is unpleasant news from the group Arthur.”

Terumi had sent her letter to the address determined by Ray. Something big happened in that short time. No one expected that the development of the situation would be that fast.

“Umm, Terumi ..”

Terumi turned around and found Erina showing half her face at the door. He looked worried and a little scared somehow.

“What's up, Erina? Is something bothering you?” asked Terumi softly.

Over the past week, a lot has changed from Erina. Terumi does not know clearly what happened and the cause of Erina lost all her memories.

Initially it was very troublesome because Terumi needed to provide an easy to understand explanation. Starting from the identity of Erina to the Degree and various other important things.

“Anu, that .. there is quite strange news ... on TV,” Erina said, like a child who is afraid of being scolded by her parents.

Terumi smiled wryly and walking up to him, she went to look at the TV and watched the news in question.

Terumi was quite surprised by the news of a suspected suicide bomb in a boarding house quite far from its place.

“That's a terrible case .. what might be an attack *******? But this could be the case caused by Degree.” users

No one is stupid enough to carry out an attack in such a place, so it is likely that it happened because of the Degree user.

Terumi furrowed her brows to see more clearly. A moment later he dropped his toothbrush and was dumbfounded. He held onto the TV screen, looking at the person designated by Erina. Someone he knows well.

“Not ... it can't be him ..”

It was impossible that the one who was there was a person he knew. There are many people who sometimes have fleeting resemblances. Perhaps what he saw was similar.

It's just that, somehow it feels like the man there is genuine. In addition, Terumi could think of no other possibility than the fact that the one lying there was Ray.

“Ray .. no .. what happened to you ... Ray?!” Terumi screamed and cried while holding her TV screen.

...[**********************]...

Two weeks after the explosion, Ray has regained consciousness and is recovering.

“You have incredible recuperating ability. Your burn has dried up which should take a month.”

“How about them?” asked Ray indifferently.

“They?” the doctor tilted his head slightly in confusion. “Ah! You mean those two friends of yours? They also suffered severe injuries initially but are now fine, even though your girlfriend is not yet awake.”

“So.”

“Yes. Then I'll leave you, call the nurse if something happens.”

After the doctor left, Ray just kept quiet and looked at his left hand— more precisely where his left hand should be. In the incident, Ray lost his left hand.

When the explosion occurred, Ray managed to escape through the window, but he did not fully escape. The impact of the explosion was quite large, Ray had to receive some injuries due to the debris and fire of the explosion.

When that happens, the ceiling begins to collapse and Ray's hands are horribly overwritten. The fire also started burning everything, the best option Ray made was to sacrifice his left hand. As a result, he cut off his own hand.

He jumped out and fell among the pile of cardboard as well as trash. I don't know what happened after that because Ray was immediately unconscious afterwards.

“The explosion resulted in a lot of losses. Losing the left hand ... It hurts, damn it!”

Ray closed his eyes with his right hand. His teeth were bluffing strongly and his body started to tremble slightly. Before that continued, Ray heard the door knock.

“Who?” ask Ray.

“This is me.”

Ray slightly raised his eyebrows because he did not expect to meet now, “Enjoy? Please login.”

A face that looks lethargic, worried and grateful at the same time. He ran while crying towards Ray. Terumi is fortunately aware that Ray's condition is not so good that he does not come to hug her.

“Where did you know I was here?” asked Ray curiously. From the door, he also saw Erina who was somehow just peeking and did not dare to enter.

“I saw you on TV two weeks ago. It took me that long to find you and come here!”

Ray doesn't know what Terumi's been doing lately. Surely Ray wants to ask some important things because he is in front of him, but Terumi's condition now makes it difficult to have a heavy conversation.

Although Ray was curious about why the person who brought the terrible gift of the bomb had a face similar to Terumi.

“You fool! I told you not to move on your own but you didn't listen!” Terumi began to let out her complaints.

Ray just gently stroked Terumi's head and delivered, “I'm sorry.”