Kaito had always appreciated his work clothes at the hospital, it provided free movement and was rather practical. Unlike the nurse’s, his trousers were a dark blue, loose fitting, accompanied by a white polo shirt sporting the hospital logo and he was allowed to wear trainers. The room he usually worked in was on the smaller side, but provided enough space for a little desk, a shaft full of clean laundry, a shelf with different kinds of paddings and a few small weights. He had a little stool with wheels and in the middle of it was the therapy bed. The white walls were decorated with a few posters showing models of bones and muscles and next to the desk hung a small light box, providing him with the chance to recheck X-ray and other images.
A few minutes ago a nurse had come by, handing him a folder with a new patient’s files. The guy had been treated by a different therapist so far but that department didn’t quite have the equipment for further rehabilitation and this one would need a full program. Kaito mentally booked the gym and thanked her, smiling. His superior knew that he liked working in the gym and he was grateful that he often was assigned to patients needing it.
He was a surprised when he flipped open the file, after the nurse left again, not having expected a name he knew. Especially not this particular name, he’d thought Hakuba went back to England and stayed there. For a moment he wondered if he should redirect the detective to another therapist, telling the office that he knew Hakuba and wasn’t sure if the man would feel comfortable with him, due to some missunderstandings they had at school. But that was years ago and they were squabbling all the time, not fighting. So, this was worth a try.
Professionally it was definitely worth the case. He’d studied the files for quite some time and started to edge out a few treatment ideas that would have to be narrowed down or perhaps even discarded after he’d seen and examined Hakuba, but he just liked having some ideas ready.Hakuba’s appointment was first thing next day, so he got the room ready for examination when he got in and sat down to look at the most recent X-ray again while waiting for his patient.
Nothing had changed about Hakuba being a morning person throughout the years, even after the drastic changes in his life in the previous one. But two factors made it significantly more difficult and time-consuming, and these he tried to push into the back of his mind as he drove to his appointment through rush hour traffic.
Met with little to no success, the fretting detective made his way into the office by way of crutches, in no mood to put on a cheerful face for rabble around him. His leg hurt, his head hurt, he was tired, and having to get physical therapy at 22 was not something he enjoyed.
His last therapist had been so condescending. Every encouraging word dripped with sickly-sweet forced enthusiasm that Hakuba had to wonder if she’d secretly been trying to make his condition worse. Or, she just thought he was stupid. Either way, it hadn’t helped. He was still in pain, still unable to put weight on that leg, and still unable to work, which was the biggest detriment of all. And he had so little hope that this next person would be any better.
Sighing, he checked in at the front desk, shifting the crutches to one arm so that he could sign the appropriate paperwork, then managed to take a seat in the waiting area only to be called back almost instantly. Although he was grateful that he wouldn’t have to wait an ungodly amount of time for his appointment – which he’d taken great pains to be punctual for – the whole process of sitting down and standing up with his leg in that state made him cross. He should have just waited while standing, but then… that sounded exhausting, too.
Soon, he was brought to the office where he was to meet his therapist who, once the nurse opened the door to, looked startlingly familiar. Hakuba stared as he was ushered into the room, crutching all at once more awkwardly, near stumbling. Was it…? Could it really be…?
“K-Kuroba-kun?” A pause. “Ah, Kuroba-san?"