Western Country, Sky City.
Abihime's consciousness slowly surfaced, as if she were rising up from deep water.
She felt her body was very heavy.
It hurt.
Especially her left shoulder, as if something had crushed it.
She wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as lead.
Only after expending a great deal of effort did she manage to open them a crack.
What entered her sight was a white ceiling.
Not the gray-blue stone bricks of the castle.
It was wood, polished very smooth, glowing warmly under the dim yellow lamplight.
A faint medicinal fragrance filled the air.
Very familiar.
Abihime's nose twitched.
This was...
Her mind had not fully cleared yet, but her body had already instinctively recognized the scent.
The Western Country.
Chiyo's Sky City.
Her heart gave a violent leap.
Then she saw the person beside the bed.
A man sat in the chair by her bedside.
Long white hair spilled over his shoulders, and crimson eyes were looking at her.
There was little expression on his face.
But his brows were faintly furrowed.
Abihime's mind went blank for an instant.
Then she heard herself speak, her voice hoarse as sandpaper.
"Why... are you here..."
Chiyo did not answer.
He only looked at her, looking for a long time.
Then he spoke.
"You nearly died."
His voice was very low.
Abihime froze for a moment.
Then she laughed.
That smile was a little weak, but carried her particular stubbornness.
"What's it to you?"
Chiyo's gaze shifted slightly.
Only for an instant.
Then he reached out and lightly flicked Abihime's forehead.
"If I don't look after you, who will?"
Abihime's tears surged out all at once.
She had waited for those words for more than ten years.
She turned her head away, not letting