16 Separation Anxiety

"If a Sentinel has other needs, please follow the formal procedure."

This was the template response Ego used the day before yesterday to brush off Kaiser, yet now, it was being turned against him.

Ego stared silently at the notice of temporary reassignment for a Guide sent by the Sentinel-Guide Association.

It was mandatory. Someone would arrive at noon today to take you away, removing you from Blue Lock for three days. The document bore the official stamps of both the German Sentinel-Guide Organization and the Football Association. It was clear that strings had been pulled; otherwise, a German party could never have processed all the paperwork in a single day.

The stated reason was that the Sentinel, Kaiser, was suffering from severe separation anxiety, complete with a medical evaluation.

In the spirit of humanitarian—no, "Sentinel-itarian"—principles, the local Association had immediately issued a mandatory order following the German application, requiring his Guide to accompany him for three days. When faced with a Sentinel's separation anxiety, even the complex, ill-defined nature of international Sentinel-Guide bonds had to yield—after all, separation anxiety could destroy a top-tier Sentinel.

Ego Jinpachi: "............"

He was perfectly fine just two days ago, and now he was suddenly acting up.

It was obviously a deliberate decision to stop his medication.

One could only wonder if he was truly ignorant of how separation anxiety worked, or if he was just obsessively stubborn to this degree—if one stops taking medication after having already started, the emotional backlash is doubled.

This Michael Kaiser...

Ego adjusted his glasses, calculating silently.

Still, it was fine. Three days... you would be back just in time for the third selection round.

He hoped Kaiser's separation anxiety wouldn't be too much of a torment.

*

*This German...*

Upon learning the news of your three-day leave, your fists clenched.

These Sentinels were truly dragging you back and forth. You had finally managed to escape from Sae and thought you would lead a comfortable life as a Guide within Blue Lock, only to be snatched away by the Association to alleviate Kaiser's separation anxiety.

You felt a bit irritable. *Didn't he take his medicine? Why am I being dragged into this again!*

The staff member who came to pick you up explained it this way: Mr. Michael Kaiser was experiencing separation anxiety for the first time and wasn't quite sure about the dosage, so it wore off by the third day.

Due to the international complications, even though the paperwork had been rushed through, Kaiser's condition by the fourth day was not looking optimistic.

You: "...I'm a new Guide, don't try to fool me. Can anxiety really get to the point of being 'not looking optimistic'?"

You couldn't even imagine it.

Before you were taken away, Ego gave you a few reminders:

"Relieving anxiety is simple; just stay by his side."

"Don't show too much sympathy; he is a much more mature Sentinel than you are. I'll come to pick you up in three days."

*...He's such a reliable and cool adult!*

With those words from Ego, you felt reassured.

Your luggage was packed, and you climbed into the Association's official vehicle.

The staff member beside you immediately handed you a pair of headphones, identical to the ones Kaiser had given you.

*Just how many of these headphones did they make... Did they consider from the start that I wouldn't carry them around with me?*

The car drove smoothly, and the staff member fell silent after explaining the basic information.

They told you that your freedom would not be restricted for these three days, though you should try your best not to leave the Sentinel's line of sight; naturally, it was best not to go out today, focusing primarily on soothing him.

You nodded to show you understood, though you still felt very uneasy.

An unfamiliar environment, an unfamiliar Sentinel, and unfamiliar separation anxiety.

You checked your phone, and a message from Miura Hoshikari popped up.

Hoshikari: I heard about it. Don't be afraid; no matter what, a Sentinel won't hurt you. Just pamper them a little ^_^

"............"

That made you feel even more afraid.

You replied: *Okay, I will do my best!*

Thirty minutes later, you arrived at the hotel where Kaiser was staying.

The hotel interior was incredibly luxurious. As you walked in, a specialist immediately guided you to the Sentinel's room.

No one spoke, and the silent atmosphere made you tense up.

"It's right here, Miss."

The staff member opened the door for you. The door was heavy, appearing to be custom-made; the floor behind it was stained with a small patch of blood that looked as if it had already dried. The surrounding furniture was in complete disarray.

*...What is this, a hotel crime scene?!*

You gathered your courage and stepped carefully, avoiding the bloodstains.

After you entered the room, the door was suddenly shut behind you without mercy.

You immediately turned back to look at the door; the terrifying scratch marks on the other side made your scalp tingle.

The sound of the door closing was like a thunderclap in the quiet room. You turned back around, not daring to move, as if walking past that short hallway would reveal a brutal monster awakened by the slam of the door.

*

Michael Kaiser, who had planned to rely on medication to get through this period, had clearly underestimated the power of this compatibility.

After consulting with his private doctor, he realized the dosage was still too low. After running to Blue Lock to see you once, he felt the medication wearing off even faster.

"If we increase the dosage further, it will cause significant harm to the Sentinel's body..."

Kaiser pointed to a clause in the international regulations:

"This, it's absolutely universal, isn't it?"

"Yes, as long as there is proof, any country in the world will enforce it." The doctor hesitated, leaving the decision to him.

"But during the processing of the paperwork, you will have to rely on yourself. No auxiliary sedatives or hypnotics can be injected into a Sentinel in a state of agitation."

Not to mention using hypnotic gases, which were extremely harmful to the body. The club would never allow that to be used on their Sentinel players.

"Then use this method."

"Are you sure?" the doctor asked again.

*It's no big deal,* Kaiser thought.

He only needed to endure for a little while to wait for you, and three days would be enough to bring him closer to you; why not choose this?

Kaiser had confirmed your importance to him, and the European Sentinel Management Headquarters had confirmed it as well.

Upon returning to Germany, they would tailor a more detailed and perfect plan.

But now, waiting alone in the hotel, Michael Kaiser regretted it.

After stopping his medication entirely, Kaiser, who had been locked in the hotel ahead of time, completely lost control within half a day, to the point that the separation anxiety evaluation was issued almost immediately.

His brain continuously scavenged the pathetic, meager memories he had of you, and hallucinations of your figure almost appeared before his eyes. He craved your embrace, even if it was just to hear you say a word, or to have you watch him quietly...

The feeling made him irritable and restless, yet it also made him feel ridiculous. The violent genes within him were awakened; Kaiser gritted his teeth until his lips bled, clutching the door until his nails were ruined and blood dripped down.

The crown tattoo on the back of his hand was a mess, and there were several abrupt scratch marks on his skin. He hadn't slept well for over thirty hours; his face was exhausted, yet his eyes were furious and clear.

Kaiser realized that unmanaged separation anxiety was nothing more than self-mutilation for a Sentinel.

*Where is the Guide?*

*Did she abandon me? Why hasn't she appeared yet?*

His remaining sanity ignited with rage, screaming to overcome the Sentinel's instincts. Kaiser couldn't stop himself from thinking about this repeatedly, and his emotions grew ever more intense.

He would survive this damned separation anxiety period on his own, and from then on, he would never touch it again!

It was simply the natural enemy of a Sentinel.

Entering the mental landscape was of no use—

Until Kaiser heard the sound of the door opening.