Chapter 9 - A Guide to Family

                                        

                                              



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Carla Yeager had welcomed them warmly, her kind smile immediately putting Mikasa at ease. 
After hearing the 온라인카지노게임, atop of feeling horrible for what Mikasa had been through, she quipped with a laugh, trying to ease the mood, "I've always wanted more kids anyway."
It was well past midnight now, and the air inside the clinic was still, save for the soft rustling of Grisha's medical tools. Mikasa sat quietly on the examination table, her pale face showing signs of exhaustion. Grisha wiped the blood from her lip and carefully checked her mouth for any signs of internal bleeding.
Nearby, Eren sat slouched in a wooden chair, his arms crossed and eyes drooping. His head bobbed slightly as sleep threatened to take him.
Grisha glanced at him and smiled. "Getting tired, Eren?"
Eren snapped his head up, blinking rapidly. "No! I'm not tired. I'm just... closing my eyes for a second."
The words barely left his mouth before he let out a wide yawn.
Grisha chuckled. "Of course, you're not tired. Well, I'm almost done here. Once Mikasa's all set, I'll take a look at your friend over there."
At this, Kiyotaka, who had been standing silently by the window, turned his head toward Grisha with a questioning look. "Check me? I don't need that. I'm fine."
Grisha raised an eyebrow, his tone taking on a note of authority. "I'll be the judge of that. Those thugs might've gotten a sneaky hit on you that you didn't notice. Sit down."
Kiyotaka hesitated for a moment, clearly debating whether to argue, but decided it wasn't worth the effort. Instead, he sighed softly and remained standing.
Grisha gave him a knowing smile before returning to Mikasa. "Alright, that should do it," he said gently, patting her shoulder. "No internal injuries, just some bruising. You're going to be fine, Mikasa. Let's get you settled into bed soon."
Mikasa nodded quietly, her dark eyes flicking toward Kiyotaka for a brief moment before looking down again.
Grisha turned his attention back to Kiyotaka, who was still standing stiffly. "Now, let me see your hands."
"I told you, I'm fine. I don't see the point."
Grisha wasn't having it. "Show me your hands. Unless you're secretly a doctor, I'd appreciate it if you let me do my job."
Reluctantly, Kiyotaka stepped forward and held out his hands. Grisha examined them carefully, turning them over and pressing lightly along the knuckles and joints.
"Hm," Grisha murmured, noting the bruising on Kiyotaka's knuckles. "That's some nasty bruising. Surprised you didn't break anything with how hard you must've hit those men."
"I've been in fights before," Kiyotaka replied evenly. "I know how to handle myself."
Grisha gave him a curious look. "You're tougher than you look. Most people would've walked away from that kind of confrontation with at least a few broken bones."
He wasn't exactly normal...
Kiyotaka shrugged. "It's just about knowing where to strike."
Grisha sighed lightly, clearly impressed but unwilling to press further. "Alright, you're in good shape. Just be mindful of those bruises. They'll heal in time." He straightened up and motioned for everyone to follow him. "Come on, let's get inside. Mikasa can sleep in the spare room we have."