A few weeks after that awkward situation, I was lying weakly in a hospital bed.
I had been found in critical condition and rushed to the nearest hospital. Apparently, the kid in the neighboring room, Sean, heard me screaming something like "Pirates!" and came to check. He found me surrounded by fog, which I can only assume was accidental magic cooling my overheated body. He immediately went to get the matron, but by the time they returned, I was unconscious with a high fever—and the fog was gone.
Apparently, using Luffy's gear put my body at serious risk, which I'd forgotten in the heat of the moment. My insides were completely messed up. I still don't understand how I even managed to keep moving for that long.
Not going to lie, I dodged a bullet there. Without magic, I wouldn't have survived.
The doctors couldn't find any apparent cause for my condition, so they started making assumptions. The conclusion they reached? They thought I might have HIV/AIDS, which had recently started spreading in New York and California. They even suggested that I could be the first case in England.
So, I was moved to an isolation ward with multiple people keeping tabs on me.
It was infuriating that they assumed I was either gay or had done drugs! How could they even assume the romantic preferences of an 11-year-old child who's only just entered puberty?
Actions have consequences, and because of my recklessness, I'm paying the price.
Normally, I wouldn't put myself in this kind of risk. But breaking it down, it's been a decade since I arrived in this world, and I've been able to sense magic around me if I concentrate enough. I could even see traces of magic in muggles! I guess there's a threshold—below a certain level, one might be considered a squib, and beyond that, a witch or wizard.
You have no idea what it's like to have something as amazing as magic within reach and not be able to use it.
It was unbelievably frustrating.
I couldn't even use my metamorphmagus abilities properly, as they were often uncontrollable. Whenever I tried to change, something always went wrong. Only after I turned 11 was I able to somewhat control this ability.
Until then, the only magic I could do was accidental magic, which, of course, you can't control.
With no other choice, I decided to focus on non-magical pursuits—training my body, studying science, earning money, and acting.
I made great progress in all of these areas, except acting. I joined the drama club and even participated in a play, but they cast me as a tree! Meanwhile, the main role went to some freckled kid who only got it because his mom was the teacher and wanted him to be an actor.
After that, I gave up on acting and shifted my energy to other things.
That was my life until my 11th birthday, when I gained better control over my metamorphmagus abilities. Though I still couldn't control the magic in the atmosphere, I was thrilled.
So thrilled, in fact, that I started using my powers wildly. I had the idea of mimicking the abilities of fictional characters, and Luffy was the first that came to mind.
But, I am a very careful guy. I wouldn't behave as such.
Maybe I have changed since arriving in this world.
Maybe the magic have affected me in some unforeseeable way.
Or maybe it's just my baby brain doing baby stuff.
Well I have been acting like a child many times since I arrived here. So I strongly think this would be work of my child brain.
Anyhow I need to consider any other possibilities too.
Well anyways, this brings me to my current situation.
Now I need to get out of this mess because it's already May, and the Hogwarts letter should arrive in June or July.
I have to prepare for my first journey to the Wizarding World. Even though there will be a professor assigned to me and increased Auror patrols with parents visiting, I'm not taking any chances.
All it would take is some random guy sneaking in an Avada Kedavra, and that's it—I'm dead.
But before all that, I need to escape this hospital first.
So, what could help me heal?
Natural healing? It would take months, and they'd keep monitoring me long after.
Magic? I don't know how to use it, let alone healing spells.
Metamorphing abilities? Maybe, but how?
Wait a minute!
If I could use Luffy's power, shouldn't I be able to use other fictional characters' powers to help my condition?
But whose?
After a few seconds, one idea came to mind—Demon Slayer's breathing techniques.
By simulating my cells and invigorating them with abundant oxygen, I might be able to heal my injuries. I'd also need nutrients, but since I'm in a hospital, that part should be covered.
With my thoughts gathered, I began practicing the breathing techniques.