Chapter 135: Shame

Yukina waited quietly in the corridor outside the treatment room, her legs pressed tightly together, her hands gently clutching the hem of her clothes.

…She was saved.

Yukina took a deep breath, calming the rise and fall of her chest.

But, she also felt a little disappointed.

What would have happened just now if she had let Naoko continue?

Faintly, Yukina felt a sense of anticipation, as well as an indescribable feeling spreading through her chest.

In her mind, the image of Naoko’s eyes from that one glance gradually surfaced.

She was a little concerned…

Come to think of it, Naoko had been acting strange since last night, constantly demanding from her.

Despite being covered in injuries and in a place like a hospital, she seemed even more hungry than when they were at home.

In contrast, because Naoko was injured, Yukina could only endure, even if she wanted to pounce on her a million times.

Could it be that Naoko was deliberately getting back at her?

Sighing, Yukina gently lifted her sleeve to wipe it.

Although Yukina had tried her best, she had ultimately failed under Naoko’s teasing and had gotten some cream on her cuff.

After waiting for a while, she sent a text message to Hanasou Kotone, but there was no reply.

…

Yukina waited for a full half hour before Ephnel’s dressing change was finished.

When she was brought back to the room by the nurse, Ephnel felt the intense pain that had slightly subsided surge back into her mind once again.

Almost all the gauze on her body had been re-wrapped.

Because Agents were special, changing dressings twice a day was sometimes the norm.

And, Ephnel now had more medicine in her hand.

“I’ll go get you some water.”

“Thanks…”

Ephnel forced a weak smile, tossed the handful of pills in her palm into her mouth, and took the water Yukina brought.

With a slight tilt of her head, she swallowed all the medicine.

“Are you okay, Naoko?”

Yukina asked worriedly.

“If it hurts a lot… I’ll go call the nurse right now.”

“No need. Just stay with me.”

Ephnel took small sips of water until the cup was empty.

“Right, the crepes…”

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and then the door was pushed open.

A nurse came in with two insulated lunch boxes, greeted Yukina, and left after putting them down.

“They’re really busy…”

“Well, it’s that time. If they chose to rest, someone might be in danger because of it.”

Ephnel said.

“Let’s eat too. You must be hungry, Yukina, having dinner so late?”

“I’m alright…”

Although she was a little hungry.

Because she had been worried about Ephnel all day, Yukina hadn’t eaten much.

Yukina opened the insulated lunch boxes, and hot white steam, accompanied by the aroma of food, billowed out.

There were two boxes in total, just enough for Ephnel and Yukina.

After Ephnel’s parents left, the hospital was responsible for her three meals a day.

They were all freshly made and delivered by the kitchen staff.

For Agents, this level of special care was common.

However, the meals were supposed to be delivered around five o’clock, but Ephnel had asked them to delay a bit for Yukina.

“Mm, Yukina, can you feed me?”

Just as Yukina sat down on the edge of the bed, she heard Ephnel’s pitiful voice.

Yukina glanced over and saw Naoko fumbling with the utensils in her left hand.

“I’m not used to my left hand…”

“Pfft—”

Unable to hold it in, Yukina laughed.

“I told you I’d feed you.”

The rain outside gradually stopped.

The sky after the rain was as if it had been washed clean.

Through the window, you could see far, far into the distance, all the way to the edge of the city and the vast, white Outer Boundary area.

The city was gradually growing quiet, but the hospital was still brightly lit as always.

Because of what happened yesterday, the number of inpatients had increased dramatically.

Doctors and nurses could often be seen passing through the corridors, and the figures of soldiers could also be seen from time to time.

But for most people, the time after nightfall was monotonous.

The special care unit was even quieter than most wards.

After dinner, Ephnel rested, leaning against the headboard.

After taking painkillers, the intense pain from her wounds had subsided a little, which made her feel slightly better.

Yukina was hunched over the table, doing her homework under the dim light of the warm lamp.

The school didn’t assign much homework.

More time was spent on reviewing and preparing for lessons than on completing assignments.

But Yukina was also thinking about what to give Naoko for her birthday.

‘If, just if.’

‘If I gave myself to Naoko, would she accept it?’ This kind of scenario happened in some manga and movies, right? The person receiving the gift would usually show a very surprised and excited expression.

After seeing the change in Naoko’s attitude towards her from yesterday to today, Yukina couldn’t help but think this.

But there was a gap between imagined works and reality, and she didn’t know if Naoko would like it.

Or would it make her seem too indecent?

And in the end, it didn’t seem like a very ideal gift—since she would give herself to Naoko sooner or later, using something that would belong to Naoko eventually as a gift seemed a bit cunning.

But from another perspective, if two identical gifts were given to Naoko, one on a normal day and one on that special day, the meaning they contained would naturally be different.

For her and Naoko, it could also become a deeply impressive memory.

In comparison, the time she took Naoko seemed too shabby.

She had left nothing behind.

It was just because of her own impulse and Naoko’s silent indulgence that they had done everything.

“Hasty” wasn’t even enough to describe that night.

But even so, for Yukina, it was a memory she would never forget.

Even for the sake of that experience, Yukina absolutely had to become a qualified Agent and stand by Naoko’s side.

She had no thoughts of backing down anymore.

Otherwise, once her Agent powers were taken away, all her memories from her first synchronization until now would be lost at the same time.

Her relationship with Naoko would go back to square one, and that was something Yukina would never want to see.

When you’re worrying alone, it’s harder to get out of your own head.

Yukina sighed, staring blankly at her book, but she couldn’t take in a single word.

Until the rustle of fabric pulled her back from her thoughts.

“Um… Yukina…”

Naoko’s voice was calling her.

She turned her gaze and saw Naoko sitting quietly on the bed, like an orchid blooming silently at the bottom of the sea.

The warm light cast a faint blush on her snow-white skin, sparking one’s imagination.

But Naoko’s expression was a little unnatural right now.

Yukina put down her book, got up, and sat on the edge of the bed.

She asked softly, “Naoko, what’s wrong?”

“I need you to help me with something…”

Ephnel lowered her lashes, her voice hesitant and as thin as a silk thread, growing quieter until it was almost inaudible.

She said:

“I… want to go to the bathroom…”