Chapter 100

"Huh? No, nothing like that..."

The nurse smiled sheepishly and paused.

The air was silent for a moment. She lowered her gaze, took a deep breath, and stepped back. Suddenly, she produced a large bouquet of flowers and a wrapped gift box from somewhere outside the door and handed them to Efnir.

The sudden turn of events startled Efnir.

"This is...?"

"Um... I heard you're being discharged from the hospital, this is for you."

The nurse, somewhat awkwardly, forcefully shoved the bouquet into Efnir's hands, hesitated for a moment, and whispered:

"Although this was prepared in haste... I hope you will accept it... I wish you a speedy and full recovery!"

Efnir was somewhat surprised by the bouquet and gifts in front of her, and reached out to take them.

For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Thank you... We'll see you again next time.

"Although I would love to see you again, I still don't want you to come here again, since it's not a place worth remembering."

The nurse grinned sheepishly.

"Once things are all over here, I'll definitely come to your concert to cheer you on! Well then, Lady Efnir, goodbye!"

The nurse seemed very energetic and waved her hand.

Efnir smiled too.

"Bye-bye, please give them my regards..."

It wasn't until Efnir left the hospital and got into a taxi that Yukina, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

"Naoko..."

"Um?"

"You're so popular..."

"Really...? Maybe it's because I'm an agent..."

That's not the reason.

Yukina glanced at the bouquet in her hand.

Efnir suddenly realized that her explanation was somewhat unconvincing, and gave an awkward laugh.

In fact, Efnir was never really aware of these things.

Whether she is an agent or not, or whether she is the idol girl of Xijing City or not, whether she deserves the so-called "hero" title in people's mouths, what she should do has never changed.

I did it simply because I felt it was necessary, and only gradually realized that my position had changed.

This has little to do with her agent; a similar thing was done more than a year ago when Efnir wasn't an agent.

Before Efnir could finish speaking, her gaze suddenly fixed on the view outside the window.

"Futaba... classmate?"

"Babble?"

At that moment, Yukina followed Efnir's gaze and looked outside, then saw a figure that was both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar.

She was a slender, black-haired girl.

Although it was just a fleeting glance, Yukina was impressed by her beautiful face. Then she suddenly realized that this girl was the same girl she had seen a few days ago at the secondhand shop in the shopping street next to the school.

At the time, Yukina thought this girl was one of Efnir's fans, but now it seems that her older sister knows this girl?

For no apparent reason, Yukina suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

"Naoko know her?"

"Um..."

Efnir gazed intently at the girl before slowly withdrawing her gaze, offering a simple reply before falling silent.

Seeing this, Yukina felt even more envious.

Outside the dark window, the road was wide open, and the shadows of the trees on the sidewalk were dragged behind as the car moved forward. Yukina looked out, but the girl was long gone.

Yukina glanced to the side and saw that Efnir was still thinking about something, with a nostalgic expression on her face. She immediately puffed out her cheeks with a sour feeling.

She glanced at Efnir and asked softly, "Naoko, who... is she? What... is your relationship with her?"

"She... is she a friend?"

Efnir was still thinking about other things and didn't know how to explain it for the time being.

She initially thought that Yukina might know her, but then she thought that Yukina was in school every day at that time, and might not even know her.

"What's your name?"

"Futaba Erii..."

This was that girl's name, Yukina silently repeated it in her heart several times.

Efnir seemed to care about this girl named Futaba Erii differently than she cared about others; Yukina could sense a subtle difference in Efnir's gaze.

She became increasingly concerned.

Even though it was just a fleeting glance from inside the car, the figure of the girl who was quickly left far behind still left an impression on Yukina. Her raven-black hair, like ink splashed on a corner of the landscape, was quiet and serene, reserved yet high-profile, like a cold and stubborn snow plum blossom blooming proudly.

Girls like this will attract attention wherever they go.

Yukina was confident that she was no less beautiful than the girl, but unlike Yukina's reserved personality, the girl's inner and outer charm was unique and radiant.

Seeing the girl and noticing Naoko's subtle expression, Yukina suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

"She and Naoko... were very good friends?"

"Hmm... not really, well, actually I don't even know if we can be considered friends..."

Unaware of the turmoil in Yukina's heart, Efnir gave a bitter smile.

In fact, Futaba Erii was Efnir's classmate in college. At that time, she was a very eye-catching beauty in the class, and also a very strong and powerful competitor to Efnir in many aspects. Efnir's overall grades were always the best, and she was always close behind. Occasionally, she would even surpass Efnir in one or two subjects. She was a formidable opponent who could be overtaken if she was not careful.

But if they were to fight again now that they're at a disadvantage, wouldn't Efnir definitely lose?

It's been almost two years since I last studied.

However, until Efnir dropped out of school, her relationship with Efnir Futaba Erii was limited to nodding hello between classmates.

It's even worse than that.

Efnir was the quiet type, running between her class, student council, and clubs every day, her schedule completely different from her classmates', and she wasn't even very familiar with her roommates.

Futaba Erii, on the other hand, wore her "keep away" expression on her face, especially towards Efnir, who had always been academically superior to her.

During Efnir's brief time studying there, the two of them had no memory of speaking to each other alone; at most, they had only had brief exchanges because of their respective student council duties.

The changes happened after that.

During that Corruption incident, Efnir saved her, helped her escape the Erosion Entity's pursuit, and took refuge with her and other lost classmates. In the end Efnir single-handedly lured away the Erosion Entity, and unexpectedly became the person she is today.

141. Old Altar Yukina

That battle was exceptionally brutal for Efnir was undergoing her First Synchronization.

Many people died. Efnir was seriously injured before she managed to defeat the Erosion Entity. When Efnir sat in the ruins, wiping away tears, Futaba Erii was the first to arrive. She covered Efnir with her clothes and called for help.

This also revealed Efnir's gender and identity at that time.

After that, many things happened. Futaba Erii came to her door and offered to take care of Efnir, who was injured at the time, but Efnir refused.

In the end Efnir voluntarily left the university, devoted herself to her work as an agent, and completely severed ties with her former classmates. At that time, Efnir almost erased everything about "Yanase Naoto". Since Efnir, Futaba Erii again.

Efnir didn't have any other feelings for Futaba Erii. She was just surprised that Futaba Erii, who lived in the South District, would be here, and that seeing Futaba Erii reminded her of her own regretful and short-lived university days.

But the expression revealing such faint thoughts immediately took on a different meaning in Yukina's eyes.

"I'm not sure if we can be considered friends?"

Yukina repeated Efnir's words with a sour tone, and another scene immediately appeared in her heart— Efnir and Futaba Erii had a sad and bitter past. More than friends, but not quite lovers, their budding feelings were forced to end in separation. A heart-fluttering emotion ended without a trace. Today, after a long separation, their eyes met across the sea of people but they would never see each other again. A thousand words turned into a soft sigh.

--Although it's a very simple romance novel plot, it looks so much like Naoko now.

Yukina gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, a pang of sorrow gripping her heart. She took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"Naoko..."

"Um?"

Suddenly realizing that Yukina's tone seemed a bit off, Efnir looked up and saw Yukina's deep resentment in her eyes.

Yukina stared at her intently, her cheeks puffed out, looking like... a pufferfish?

Although I've never seen one in person, Efnir's had read about that kind of fish in some books. It seemed strange, but also strangely cute.

Maybe you can find it if you go to the aquarium sometime.

However, the current situation seems to leave Efnir no time to recall the specific characteristics of the pufferfish.

Her younger sister, Yukina, seemed somewhat displeased. She raised an eyebrow, suddenly bringing her face extremely close, almost nose to nose, and loudly proclaimed, "That nurse earlier, and this girl too Naoko, how many girls have you been flirting with without my knowledge?!"

"Why?"

Efnir was stunned.

What's going on? What flirting? What girl? She herself had no idea. Then, seeing Yukina's extremely jealous expression, she stood there for a while before she realized what was happening.

"Wait, no, no! It's not what you think, Yukina! Let me explain..."

"I won't listen, you idiot! You idiot sister!"

Yukina tilted her head back and huffed angrily.

Efnir was both amused and exasperated, and quickly offered an explanation.

But now, how is that any different from making excuses after the fact? Yukina certainly wouldn't accept it so easily.

Only the female driver glanced at the two sisters in the rearview mirror with a strange expression.

"Youth is truly wonderful..."

The little incident in the taxi was long gone; the two sisters returned to their residential area and then went home.

"It's still so comfortable living at home..."

"Okay, go sit down."

Returning home after a long absence, Efnir hadn't even had a chance to savor the familiar, warm atmosphere before she was half-pushed and half-forced onto the sofa.

Yukina took a medicine box out of her suitcase and placed it on the coffee table.

"Sis, please sit here and rest. I'll go do the laundry. No one's been staying here for a few days, so I'll tidy up a bit."

She gently kissed the corner of Efnir's lips.

"Um..."

Efnir smiled and looked back at Yukina.

Their conversation inexplicably reminded Yukina of "a husband who comes home from work and a wife who takes care of everything at home," and she unconsciously glanced away.

"It's okay, Naoko has always Naoko these things, I'll do it today."

Efnir has not yet recovered to the point where she can move freely.

Although her body had recovered a little, it was only to a "barely" degree. On the way back from the hospital, Efnir gradually felt the pain in her wound again. It was probably because Yukina noticed that Efnir was intentionally or unintentionally covering her wound that she told Efnir to rest as soon as they got back.