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Chapter 27 – Maria Grache’s Visit to Japan Part 2
The ear is broadly classified into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.
The outer ear consists of the auricle and the external auditory canal, which efficiently collect sound vibrations.
The middle ear contains the eardrum and ossicles.
Sound vibrations travel as waves, and the tiny bones called ossicles amplify them.
In the inner ear, within the cochlea—a spiral-shaped structure—sound is converted into electrical signals and transmitted to the brain via the cochlear nerve.
The brain then processes these electrical signals, allowing humans to perceive sound.
This intricate series of specialized functions enables humans to hear.
Consequently, hearing loss can occur due to problems in any of these areas.
For example, the eardrum can become damaged.
The tiny muscles attached to the ossicles may fail to function properly.
The hair-like structures on the hair cells within the cochlea that convert sound into electricity become damaged.
Abnormalities can also occur in the nerves connecting to the brain or in the auditory cortex itself.
Although it’s simply called hearing loss, the problems are complex and varied.
Maria received a lengthy explanation from the doctor about the functions of the ear.
Ultimately, she understood that there was almost nothing that could be done for these possible causes.
No matter how detailed the explanation, it meant nothing if it didn’t cure her.
Ultimately, if the treatment worked, none of the extra explanation would matter.
For Maria, the most important thing was simply to regain her hearing and her identity.
The taxi drove to the given address and stopped in front of a small coffee shop.
To Maria, it looked like an unremarkable, perhaps even unpopular, shop.
Could her hearing really be healed in a place like this?
She hadn’t expected much from the hospital, but she certainly hadn’t imagined that a coffee shop could cure her.
“Hey, Maria. Long time no see.”
“Hi, Mitsuru. Your voice is truly back. That’s wonderful.”
“Thanks. But right now, it’s more about you than me. You’ve been through a lot.”
“You bet. I’ve had a rough time.”
Just because she was an exceptional singer didn’t mean she didn’t appreciate others with beautiful voices.
In fact, precisely because Maria was active at the top level, she valued Wakai’s voice more than anyone else’s.
When she heard that his voice had been lost long ago, she deeply regretted it.
She was overjoyed to hear that he’d achieved a comeback surpassing his former peak.
But now, his voice was faint and indistinct, impossible to hear clearly.
Wakai’s expression was bright as he greeted her at the café.
The man who had sunk into despair after losing his voice was now smiling happily and energetically.
His eyes, fixed on Maria, showed concern, yet there was not a trace of anxiety in them.
He truly believed things would get better.
If that were possible, perhaps she could be cured, too.
Maria felt hope.
Shifting her gaze around the shop, she noticed an ordinary man surrounded by beautiful women.
Compared to the successful people she’d met in America, he was an ordinary, unremarkable-looking man.
Yet Maria’s intuition struck her like lightning, compelling her to believe with fierce certainty at first sight that this man would be her savior.
Maria shuddered violently as if struck by lightning, unable to look away.
Her heart pounded loudly: thump, thump.
Wataru rose from the sofa inside the shop and offered his hand. Maria hastily took it.
When was the last time she’d worried about sweaty palms? she wondered.
His hand was warm and gentle.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Wataru Sakai.”
“Ma-Maria Grache. Nice to meet you, Wataru.”
“Huh? You speak Japanese, Maria-san?”
“Only really simple words.”
Maria said, sounding slightly proud.
During her many stays in Japan, she had only picked up the basics, such as greetings.
Part of her regretted not studying more.
After that, Mitsuru took over the interpreting.
They signed a contract written in both Japanese and English after the effects of the potion being provided this time were explained.
Maria felt deeply skeptical about needing a non-disclosure agreement for this treatment, but she had signed numerous contracts for surgeries, too. Right now, getting better was the absolute priority.
“Maria-san, I believe you understand the contract terms.”
“Of course. I’ve signed many important contracts before. You can trust me.”
“This time, I’m offering two types of medicine. The cost is five million yen. It’s possible that just one might have an outstanding effect. In that case, the cost of one would suffice.”
“Understood. Let’s begin immediately.”
Could it really be cured that quickly?
Could this deafness, which America’s most advanced medicine couldn’t cure, truly be fixed for just five million yen?
If it meant a complete cure, five million yen wouldn’t have been too much for Maria to pay.
It was an enormous sum for treatment, but she was confident that she could earn it back if her body was fully restored.
Wataru placed two bottles on the table.
Both contained a small amount of liquid.
“Which one should I take first?”
“Hmmm… Well, given the price… I’d really prefer that you be cured with the first one, so this is a tough call.”
“I think the acute one’s better!”
“And why is that?”
“Because when I gave it to the guy who lost his hearing when his eardrum burst during training, he got better right away!”
“Rejected.”
“Whaaat?! Why did you reject it?”
Aire puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
Maria’s tension eased at the girl’s innocent, straightforward expression.
Then, Mariel calmly offered another opinion as if mediating.
“I think the chronic one is better.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Maria-san’s ear symptoms might actually be the result of accumulated daily strain progressing gradually over a long time. Considering that, it also explains why the tests showed no abnormalities.”
“That sounds convincing. Well thought out.”
“I put a lot of thought into it, too!”
“All right, all right. Stop sulking. Maria-san, your eardrum isn’t ruptured or injured.”
“How would I know?! If I hear a loud noise, my ears hurt too. Maybe something like an infection is happening deep inside my ear!”
“Well, that might be possible.”
“See? See?”
“It’s rather noisy, isn’t it? If it really works, I wouldn’t mind paying for two bottles myself.”
“I’m kind of sorry about that. Can you start with the chronic one?”
“Yes.”
Maria didn’t dislike the noise.
But, right now, because she couldn’t clearly hear the cheerful scene, it was painful for Maria.
Would this really cure it?
With just the medicine in this one bottle?
Maria drank it down in one gulp, harboring the same doubts as all the other customers who had bought the potion.
Almost immediately, the area around her ears flashed brightly.
Feeling a strange sensation around her ears, she pressed her hands against them.
“Ahh!? Wh-what’s this? My ears feel… hot! I-is this okay?”
“Calm down. It’s just a strange sensation from your body healing so quickly.”
“Oh, okay. I’m fine. I’m calming down now.” Hm? Oh, I can hear! Really?”
“Yes, it worked. That’s good.”
“It’s healed! It’s healed! I can hear! I can hear!”
“Maria, you should try to calm down.”
“Ah, y-yes, sorry. Sorry. I’m just so happy! I… I was really scared and worried that I might never hear again. My future felt completely dark.”
Then, as if a god had intervened on a whim, the situation was resolved in an instant.
Maria realized her ears were truly healed.
In fact, she could hear more clearly and distinctly than before.
Not only could she hear Wataru right in front of her, but she could also hear the faint breathing of Mitsuru, Aire, and Cloche; the air conditioner in the café; and the footsteps of people walking outside.
“Good.”
Seeing Wataru’s face, which was smiling with relief as he softly murmured that, she understood that he had truly been worried about her.
“Maria, it seems you’re healed, too.”
“Yes, in fact, my ears seem to be working better than before.”
“I see. My throat feels better than it did before, too.”
Maria’s senses were correct.
The hair cells crucial for hearing had regrown to their adolescent density, and the muscles attached to the ossicles had fully healed from microscopic fiber damage.
Maria now had hearing capabilities unattainable even in her childhood.
For both Mitsuru and Maria, who had grown accustomed to the gradual aging and deterioration of their tissues as adults, feeling better than before was hardly surprising.
The potion’s effects were also manifesting in Maria’s throat, but she was focused on her ears, so neither of them noticed.
Maria’s expression brightened as she realized she had fully recovered from her hearing loss. A strong gleam lit up her eyes.
With a delighted smile, she picked up the bottle of acute treatment potion.
“I might as well drink this one, too. It should have the same effect, right?”
“It depends on the symptoms. Are you sure?”
“I might have some injuries I’m not aware of.”
She downed it in one gulp.
She didn’t feel any significant change.
But that was fine.
A potion this potent wouldn’t have any effect.
That meant there was nothing that needed immediate healing.
Maria approached Wataru and showered his cheek with light kisses.
She had to somehow convey to him the profound emotion of this instant healing and deep feeling.
“Wataru, thank you. My Messiah. This is my thanks.”
“H-Hey, Maria-san!”
“Oh? Are you not pleased?”
“…I am pleased. H-hey, whoa!”
He resisted, looking embarrassed but not seriously.
After showering him with kisses, Maria pulled away from Wataru.
“Mmph, extra service. I’m truly grateful you saved me. You saved my music, you know. Contact me anytime. I’ll fly across the ocean in my private jet to see you right away.”
“Y-yes…”
Maria flashed a perfectly executed wink, making Wataru’s face turn even redder, already flushed from the sudden kiss.
Maria was beautiful, now radiating the charisma and allure befitting one of the world’s most famous figures.
Her physique was well-toned and possessed a different kind of allure compared to Mariel’s and Aire’s.
When Mariel and the others spotted their sudden rival, they glared at Maria with disdain. But the diva of the century remained unfazed, smiling nonchalantly.
After that, Maria released hit after hit, setting new records across the United States.
During one song, the “Mysterious Magician of the East” appeared, sparking heated debate over its interpretation and meaning. Yet, it is said that only a handful of people worldwide truly understood its significance.
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