Chapter 92

Efnir's cool fingers gently caressed Yukina's cheek. She tilted her chin slightly and pleaded for Yukina's lips. Her fingers passed through Yukina's hair, slid behind her ear, around her neck, and flowed over her collarbone.

A gentle bite.

The person on her body, as soft as candied fruit, let out a faint moan. Yukina frowned slightly, her fingers curling in pain as she gripped the collar of Efnir tightly.

Her eyes were closed as her jaw was pried open inch by inch.

At that moment, Efnir's restless hand slipped under Yukina's clothes.

This was the first time, the first time Efnir had ever taken the initiative like this.

Are we about to fulfill our promise?

Her mind was filled with wild thoughts, her clothes became disheveled, and Yukina's breathing became fragmented. She supported herself with one hand, letting Efnir use her as a pillow, while her other hand wandered restlessly on the sheets. She didn't dare to grab Efnir, but she didn't know where to put it, so she would occasionally crumple the sheets into a ball.

After a long while, until Yukina's vision was almost out of focus, Efnir finally released Yukina.

Efnir's face was flushed, and she was breathing heavily.

Yukina looks the same.

Efnir breathed heavily, looking at Yukina.

"I almost couldn't breathe..."

She seemed to be observing Yukina's appearance.

Yukina was also panting, feeling dizzy and weak all over, as if she had been drinking alcohol.

"It's all Naoko's fault... She's supposed to be a patient, but she doesn't act like one at all, really..."

Efnir suddenly smiled mischievously.

"So Yukina is wearing adult underwear... it's quite cute."

Yukina didn't reply, but turned to the side and began to straighten her disheveled clothes.

Nothing further happened.

It won't happen.

Ultimately, only one of Efnir's arms and one leg are still relatively intact. While she's not completely unable to move, doing anything more is still too much for Efnir at this stage.

Yukina breathed softly, a faint, refreshing taste lingering on her lips.

Her gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, slid down from Efnir's fair neck and landed on Efnir's hands.

Efnir's fingers were very fair and long.

Despite being someone who uses weapons regularly, his hands are remarkably beautiful.

She savored the beautiful moment, suppressing the desire in her heart, and quietly lay down on the edge of the bed.

Lost in their own thoughts, the air grew quiet again. Soon, their breathing became steady, but sleepiness crept in.

Yukina subconsciously raised her hand slightly, wanting to step back, but Efnir's hand grabbed her sleeve.

Compared to Yukina's sleepy eyes, Efnir seemed completely awake, quietly gazing at her.

"The bed is quite wide..."

"Efnir said softly."

The single-patient intensive care unit is very luxurious, and the beds are just as luxurious. Apart from the snow-white sheets, you can't see any trace of the ward. There is more than enough room for two people to sleep side by side.

"If you're tired, come up here and sleep..."

The next day, it rained continuously.

The sky outside the window was dark. Efnir sat leaning against the hospital bed, gazing at Yukina.

"Sorry... I can't attend the parent-teacher conference again today..."

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

Yukina held the bouquets of flowers in her hands and smiled.

Her wish has been fulfilled. Whether it was her infatuation with Efnir or the misunderstanding with "Yanase Naoto," all of that became a thing of the past the moment she confessed to Naoko and started dating her.

Therefore, the parent-teacher conference, which serves as a medium, should no longer be a concern.

What Yukina truly cares about is Naoko. As long as Naoko is happy and carefree, Yukina won't have any other thoughts.

Yukina pulled the curtains up a little, walked to the window, knelt down to arrange the bouquet, and then picked up her commuter bag that was placed to the side.

She glanced at Efnir with concern.

"Then... I'm really leaving...?"

Go ahead.

Efnir didn't leave a single thing behind.

Yukina pursed her lips, leaned down slightly in front of the hospital bed, and planted a kiss on the corner of Efnir's lips.

"Naoko, please take good care of yourself and I'll come back to be with you soon!"

Yukina gave her instructions.

"I will."

Efnir smiled slightly, watching Yukina's figure until Yukina left the ward.

"Take care on your journey."

The door clicked shut, followed by the sound of Kanade Kotone playing outside, and then Yukina's footsteps faded into the distance.

But soon, the door was pushed open again, and a familiar figure appeared before Efnir's eyes.

It is none other than Masaki Hina.

She was still dressed the same as last night, but her complexion looked unnatural and she appeared tired. She had been working non-stop since last night without taking a break.

As soon as she walked in, Masaki Hina said, "... I saw your sister carrying her work bag and going out with that high school girl. I thought you would ask for leave for your sister today, but I didn't expect you to be so heartless. What kind of older sister are you?"

"Oh, good morning, Chufei."

Good morning, Yanase- san.

Efnir raised her left hand to greet Masaki Hina, and then smiled.

"While I'm away, could you please keep an eye on Yukina for me?"

"It's all arranged, don't worry."

Masaki Hina took off her military cap, patted it, stood on tiptoe, and hung it on the coat rack between her fingers.

"Besides, you can just ask for leave, right? You're really obsessed with school, aren't you? Don't make others fulfill your regrets."

"Masaki Hina" refers to the incident where a student dropped out of Efnir University before completing her first year due to an accident.

Efnir glared at her, annoyed.

"It doesn't matter, but it has nothing to do with my own affairs. Although Yukina is a prospective agent, she should still try not to fall behind in her schoolwork. Such memories don't come often."

Today is not a holiday for students; Yukina and Kanade Kotone still have their studies to complete.

Efnir did not agree to Yukina's suggestion to stay and take care of her, and instead let Yukina go to school as usual.

As for the reason...

It wasn't because Efnir's own regrets were being transferred to Yukina, nor was it because I wanted to leave Yukina with memories of an "ordinary" daily life.

She just didn't want Yukina to keep seeing herself like this and being sad.

Compared to the oppressive atmosphere of the hospital, school life is clearly a welcome change.

"Besides, it would be putting the cart before the horse if my problems dragged down a whole bunch of people and prevented them from getting anything done. Anyway, my injury can't heal quickly, can it?"

"That's true, I agree. But people are always afraid of being alone, aren't they? In that case, there's nothing wrong with relying on someone a little."

Masaki Hina threw off her coat and plopped down on the hospital bed without any hesitation.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but looking at Efnir's snow-white bandages, the words she was about to utter stuck in her throat.

Feeling uneasy, Masaki Hina sighed.

"Speaking of which, are you feeling better now?"

"Much better."

128. Can you still see me?

Efnir smiled slightly, her hands resting quietly on her lap.

"Thank you so much for yesterday... and to all those people, I must thank them and apologize to them."

"I will pass it on."

Masaki Hina paused.

"But they didn't die for you, so don't dwell on it."

"Um..."

"Can you get out of bed and move around now?"

"That's not a problem, but walking independently is still a bit difficult."

Efnir's injury wasn't too serious, but it wasn't minor either. With the help of crutches, she could walk a few hundred meters without any problem. In an emergency, she could even fight as a substitute, although her combat strength would probably be less than 50%.

"It will take at least two weeks to fully recover, right? If that's the case, you and Elincia will stay in the city for the Maesakagawa mission in ten days."

"Let's talk about that later. Compared to that, how much information have Qinglan and the Angel gathered?"

"Not ideal. Angel are top secret within the Apostle Organization; we are still interrogating and searching."

Masaki Hina was speaking, she changed the subject.

"You don't need to worry about these things too much for now. We've recorded all the information you gave us. All that's left is to race against time. But compared to our work here, I have some... bad news for you."

"What bad news?"

"About your eyes..."

"Go ahead and say it."

Masaki Hina looked at Efnir with complicated emotions. Efnir seemed calm. She sighed and took out two folded pieces of paper from her pocket.

"I just received your post-operative check-up report, Efnir. It seems your right eye cannot be saved."

"--!?"

Her commuter bag slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, but Yukina didn't notice at all.

She stood outside the ward, one hand stiffly gripping the doorknob, looking utterly lost.

She had only gone back to retrieve something she had left behind, and just as she was about to open the door, she heard the conversation inside. Although the hospital room was well soundproofed, it wasn't impossible for Yukina to hear what was happening inside.

However, when she heard the contents, Yukina's heart skipped a beat.

"... Efnir, you have lost sight in your right eye permanently..."

That was Masaki Hina's voice, telling a truth that Yukina absolutely did not want to hear.

"... The Angel's beam of light is activated, Corruption Energy..."

"... The Corruption has completely destroyed the structure of the eyeball. Although the remaining Corruption has been mostly removed, the damaged parts cannot be saved..."

"... It's probably based on the same principle as 'Dregsification,' which is beyond our current human technology to repair..."

"..."

Blindness?

Naoko, she...