Sakayanagi Arisu's Curiosity

"Ring-ring-ring—"

The crisp sound of the alarm cut through the quiet of the early morning dormitory, waking Sakayanagi Arisu from her light sleep.

She slowly opened those amethyst-like eyes, their gaze initially carrying a hint of drowsiness from just waking, but quickly regaining their usual clarity and sharpness.

She glanced at the electronic clock by her bedside, which displayed [06:00].

Today was the official first day of school, with the first class starting at eight o'clock. She had reserved a full two hours for herself to prepare.

The reason she set such an early alarm was that Sakayanagi Arisu was well aware of her body's "routine."

Every morning upon waking, she usually needed a considerable amount of time to fight off the weakness and dizziness that came with consciousness, sometimes even mild nausea.

Things like getting dressed and washing up, which were effortless for ordinary people, required extra energy and time for her; her movements had to be slow and cautious.

However, this morning's feeling was completely different from before.

The moment the alarm went off, she didn't feel the usual grogginess in her head or tightness in her chest.

On the contrary—

"I feel... wonderful."

She murmured to herself, a hint of incredulous surprise in her tone.

Her consciousness was unusually clear, as if it had been washed clean by clear spring water.

As far as her eyes could see, every detail in the room was exceptionally vivid, the colors rich.

Most importantly, she could clearly perceive the beating of her heart within her chest—steady, strong, rhythmic, pumping warm and vibrant blood throughout her body.

The lingering sense of heaviness and faint stabbing pain, like being underwater, that had haunted her for years had actually lessened significantly, replaced by a long-missed feeling of lightness and ease.

Carrying this novel and pleasant sensation, Sakayanagi Arisu tried, without the support of her cane, to sit up directly, then slowly moved her feet to the edge of the bed, stepping onto the slightly cool floor.

Those small, delicate feet, like finely carved works of art, steadily bore the weight of her body.

The graceful arch of her foot fit against the floor, her rounded toes curling slightly, feeling the solidity of the ground.

She had actually... stood up.

Although her body was still thinner and frailer than ordinary people, the feeling of teetering, as if she might collapse at any moment, had greatly diminished.

A small surge of excitement rose in her heart, and she tried to take a step forward.

But the long-term habit of relying on her cane and her weakened muscles, along with a sense of balance that might not have fully adjusted yet, betrayed her at that moment.

Her body uncontrollably leaned back slightly, losing its center of gravity.

"Mm..."

With a soft grunt, she fell backward, sinking into the soft, fluffy mattress behind her.

But the expected frustration or discouragement didn't appear. Lying on the bed, Sakayanagi Arisu instead gently curled the corners of her mouth, revealing a faint but genuine smile.

"As expected... the chronic ailments accumulated over so many years can't be cured overnight."

She stared at the ceiling, analyzing rationally, "But... this vibrant, good feeling coming from inside my body is something I've never experienced before."

She closed her eyes, savoring the brief but real sense of stability she'd felt while standing, and the throbbing of her heart's powerful beats, like a rebirth.

"So... is this what it feels like to be healthy?"

She murmured to herself, her amethyst eyes shimmering with complex emotions—wonder, longing, and a barely perceptible hope for the future, "Though it's still brief... this feeling is truly wonderful."

After resting for a moment, she pulled herself together and began to methodically tidy her appearance, preparing for the first day of school.

First came changing clothes.

She slipped off her nightgown and picked up the neatly folded school uniform beside her.

A pure white fitted blouse, the fabric soft against the skin.

She carefully put it on, buttoning each button one by one. Though her movements were still slower than ordinary people's, they lacked the previous difficulty and stiffness.

Next was the blue delicate necktie. She faced the mirror, tied it carefully, and adjusted it to the most proper position.

Then came the red blazer, which made her silver hair and fair skin stand out even more.

The lower half was a white pleated skirt, the hem falling just above the knees, outlining the girl's slender waist and straight legs.

Next came the part that required the most patience and care—putting on the thigh-high stockings.

She sat by the bed, picking up the pair of fine, pure white over-the-knee stockings.

First, she gently stretched open the stocking's opening, then carefully slipped one delicate foot inside.

The silky fabric of the stocking softly wrapped around her ankle, her arch, climbing upward, caressing her slender calf.

She lifted her leg slightly, slowly pulling the stocking up, her movements gentle to avoid snagging.

The stocking gradually covered past her knee, all the way to mid-thigh.

Then, she adjusted the lace-trimmed elastic band at the top of her thigh, ensuring it was comfortable and wouldn't slip, before lightly hooking the delicate garter attached to the stocking's edge onto the specially designed buttons on the side of her underwear.

Throughout the process, she was fully focused, her fingertips occasionally brushing against her delicate skin, bringing a slight ticklish sensation.

After putting on the other stocking, she stood up and lightly stomped her feet, feeling the perfect fit of the stockings hugging her skin, and that slightly constraining yet elegant support, so different from being bare-legged.

The colored stockings nearly blended with her fair skin, only at the knee and the edge of the stocking top did a faint hint of skin tone show through, adding a touch of subtle allure.

Finally, she bent down to pick up the polished calfskin shoes.

Her small feet tentatively probed into the shoe opening, then gently pushed forward, the heels sliding in smoothly.

She adjusted the angle, then tried lightly rising onto her toes.

The shoes fit well. Though standing and walking remained challenges for her, today, putting on these shoes seemed less strenuous than usual.

"Hah..."

After completing all the steps, Sakayanagi Arisu let out a soft breath.

A fine layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, and her cheeks flushed with a faint pink from the slight exertion.

But she keenly noticed—it wasn't as tiring as before.

That familiar sense of exhaustion and shortness of breath, as if half a day's energy had been drained after dressing, was noticeably reduced.

She only felt the normal warmth and slight panting after mild activity.

"This means..."

Her gaze involuntarily drifted to the desk, where the delicate glass bottle held about six-sevenths of the milky nutrient solution, quietly gleaming with a warm luster in the morning light. "That bottle of nutrient solution... really works."

Having used only one-seventh of the dose, in just one night, it had brought such clear and positive feedback from her body.

Though it hadn't cured her, it had genuinely improved her baseline condition.

A tempting thought rose in her mind.

"If one-seventh had this effect... if I drink all the rest, to what extent would my body... recover?"

But immediately, rational thinking intervened.

"No... perhaps I should first have my father analyze the composition of this potion. If the formula can be deciphered, replicated, or even improved, enabling unlimited supply... then my body might truly have a chance to fully recover, no longer at others' mercy..."

This was the most instinctive and reasonable thought of a drowning person grasping at a lifeline—trying to turn that "straw" into a stable "lifeboat" of her own, freeing herself from dependence on the giver.

Yet, she then recalled the calm and assured expression on Mazumi Mami's face when he handed her the potion, and the deeper meaning implied in his words.

He seemed... unconcerned that she might do this?

"Could it be... some 'secret formula' that modern technology cannot analyze?"

Sakayanagi Arisu frowned slightly, a glint of contemplation flashing in her violet eyes. "If even this step was already within his expectations and calculations... then that man is truly frighteningly deep."

She shook her head, temporarily suppressing the chaotic thoughts.

"But regardless, the analysis must still be done."

She made her decision.

"Yet... possessing such a miraculous potion, yet giving it to me so generously, merely in exchange for my 'not opposing his opinions'? His own abilities are already outstanding enough, and the three maids by his side are no ordinary people..."

Standing before the mirror, Sakayanagi Arisu made final adjustments to the silver strands of hair on her forehead. The girl in the mirror had a complex gaze, murmuring softly, "Mazumi Mami... you really are a mysterious and dangerous person."

And deep within her heart, where she hadn't noticed, that curiosity about the mysterious transfer student boy, like a drop of ink into clear water, quietly spread thicker and harder to ignore.

A new day of campus life was about to begin, and the story between them was destined to unfold even more intricate chapters under the new sunlight.