"Yukina, you're awake."
Noticing that Yukina had awakened, Chiba looked at her and spoke.
"You're awake..."
Hearing Chiba's voice, Yukina, who had been slowly sitting upright, first froze. Then she suddenly straightened up, delight immediately appearing on her face as the words slipped out.
"Yeah."
Seeing the still-vacant look in Yukina's white eyes, Chiba nodded in response.
It seemed Yukina's eyes had not improved at all during this time.
He needed to examine Yukina again.
His brow had already furrowed.
"Is that so..."
Though she was delighted, Yukina did not become overly excited. By the time she learned that Chiba had been hospitalized again, he had already been diagnosed as merely asleep and expected to wake soon. She could not help worrying, but she had not been particularly anxious.
Honestly, I actually fell asleep.
At this moment, she mildly blamed herself.
"How long have I been asleep?"
Watching the subtle changes in Yukina's expression, Chiba's furrowed brow gradually relaxed. A warm curve appeared at the corner of his mouth as he asked.
"About five days, I think. Yes, today is the fifth day."
Hearing Chiba's question, Yukina thought for a moment before answering.
It had already been two days since she finished making all the arrangements for the Defense Force to lift martial law, learned from her captain, Watanabe Kenshin, that Chiba had been hospitalized, and rushed here—leaving Captain Watanabe behind with an expression that seemed to say, "Did I say something I shouldn't have?" Including the three days Chiba had slept before that, it had been exactly five days.
Of course, Yukina had learned about Captain Watanabe's expression later from Hirohiko. The two of them had casually brought it up while keeping Chiba company and making conversation to stave off boredom.
Unfortunately, since Captain Watanabe was still busy with