She had a rather strange dream.
In the dream was darkness that seemed to go on forever.
She was holding Soga Toyura's hand, while her older sister tightly gripped hers, completely unlike her usual icy demeanor, as aloof and pristine as a flower on a high mountain.
Instead... that shrinking, frightened expression made Su Youzi think of an adorable little puppy.
She couldn't help wanting to pinch the girl's cheeks and bully her, watching her whimper between her fingers.
Then she wiped the damp fingertips, stained with little traces of saliva, across her face.
After that, she pretended nothing had happened, took her hand again, and stepped into that seemingly endless darkness.
Su Youzi opened her eyes.
The air was filled with the distinctive scent of hospital disinfectant.
Sunlight streamed through the blinds, passing through the lush leaves of the plants by the windowsill. The warm sunlight of early spring spilled across the snow-white sheets, and onto... Kujo Ryuko's hair as she lay beside the bed.
Su Youzi was holding Kujo Ryuko's left hand.
The soft little hand of her older sister that she had held in the dream... actually belonged to the "Imperial lackey" before her.
Su Youzi tightened her grip on Kujo Ryuko's hand slightly.
The maiden slept quietly beside the hospital bed.
After shedding that overly constricting black silk outfit and changing into a somewhat more reserved sweater that nevertheless outlined her figure with ease, Kujo Ryuko's body turned out to be even more gorgeous than Su Youzi had imagined.
The girl's heavy burden at her chest was pressed against the edge of the mattress.
With the girl's lightly trembling breaths, her long eyelashes quivered. Their slightly curled tips tilted upward, making one want to place a soft kiss upon them.
With her eyes closed in