Chapter 95

132. Crepes

"I'm thinking, should we clarify this? We can't let these baseless rumors keep flying around like this. Leaving aside the Apostle for now, it's not the right time to release information about the Angel. If some people with ulterior motives take advantage of this opportunity, it would be a huge loss."

"Hmm... that's true. Should I write it?"

Although she rarely puts much effort into managing her social media accounts, Efnir can easily ask questions, clarify things, or simply state the facts.

It only takes one or two photos and a few dozen words of caption. It's easy to write a long story about it as if it were a trip. Anyway, the details will be released through the official account. As the "agent idol," Efnir only needs to make her presence known.

And maybe Yukina can help us out.

This would be another opportunity to get closer to Yukina, and maybe I could even get a legitimate photo with Yukina.

Efnir realized that she and Yukina hadn't been in a photo together in a very long time. Although she took many photos and had some unintentional snapshots of Yukina's daily life, she still wanted a special photo of the two of them.

"Hmm... that works too."

Shinomiyami Nami nods.

"However, if it's inconvenient for you, Efnir, please don't force yourself. I'll make arrangements. After all, it's necessary to at least make do."

"Don't worry, this is nothing."

Shinomiyami Nami picked up her phone, glanced at it, and frowned slightly.

"Sorry, Efnir... I have something to attend to and may have to go..."

"Go on, bye-bye."

"Wishing you a speedy recovery, goodbye~"

Shinomiyami Nami left carrying the bouquet of flowers that had faded after a whole day, and the ward fell silent again.

Efnir gazed at the quietly blooming flowers, her expression fading.

The sky outside the window cleared up a little, but the rain showed no signs of letting up. The constant patter of raindrops hitting the windowpane, along with the monotonous ticking of the monitoring equipment, became the only two sounds in the ward.

It was so quiet that I could hear my own breathing.

Efnir sighed softly and frowned slightly.

I don't know if this is normal during the healing process, but my injuries feel even more painful than yesterday.

Sitting quietly on the hospital bed, she gently closed her eyes, feeling the lingering warmth that silently passed through the air. Although she didn't want to admit it, Efnir still felt a bitter taste.

The atmosphere in the hospital was oppressive; the heavy air made it hard for Efnir to breathe, and she didn't like it.

The feeling of having lost one eye disturbed her, as if half of the world had suddenly disappeared. More than anything, through her blind right eye, Efnir glimpsed her own doom.

Today it's my right eye.

What will it be next time?

Was I really prepared to die? I had finally managed to be with Yukina.

Even if I can let it go, it's still too unfair to Yukina.

The more you think about it, the less likely you are to find a solution.

Yukina, her parents, and Masaki Hina and Ayse are all people who care about her, so she doesn't want them to feel disappointed or sad because of their concern. Therefore, she pretends that nothing is wrong in front of them.

As long as she doesn't show pain and sadness, no one else's face will show sadness either.

But in reality, the situation is far from pleasant for Efnir.

The questions brought by the Apostle, what happened to Qinglan, what happened to Yukina, and what Masaki Hina mentioned about what will happen in the future.

Each one kept Efnir awake at night.

When Yukina arrived at the ward, it was already past six in the afternoon.

She stood panting in front of Efnir's hospital room, clutching her work bag tightly, trying to calm herself, wiping the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, straightening her clothes and wind-blown hair, and rubbing her aching legs.

Then, taking a step forward and nervously clutching her work bag, Yukina pushed open the ward door.

"Excuse me..."

Upon entering the room, Yukina realized that the lights were off. In the dim light of the rainy day, the room seemed like a completely different world from the bright hospital corridor.

Yukina hung the umbrella aside, leaving wet footprints.

"Naoko..."

Naoko sat on the hospital bed and glanced at Yukina.

At that moment, in the dim light Yukina was momentarily lost in thought, looking at the quiet girl on the hospital bed, feeling that all of this was becoming unreal.

"Are you cold? Come and sit down."

Efnir's gaze remained as gentle as ever as she smiled at Yukina.

Yukina looked at Efnir, at her right eye tightly wrapped in gauze, and her heart ached once again.

She gripped the strap of her commuter bag tightly and looked away.

"Naoko... what's wrong? The lights aren't on?"

With a snap, warm light illuminated Efnir's bandaged profile, turning the snow-white bandage a fluorescent yellow. Efnir squinted at Yukina standing in front of the door.

Taking care of Efnir's eye injury, the doctor specially installed this warm light there.

"I didn't really need it... so I didn't turn it on."

"Efnir said."

Actually, after Shinomiyami Nami left, no one else came to the ward. There was really no need for Efnir to turn on the lights while she was alone there in a daze.

Because of what happened yesterday, the doctors and nurses at the hospital are very busy. Unless Efnir requests it, they will only come once at a fixed time, observe the situation, and then leave.

Efnir sat there motionless for two hours without realizing it.

In the afternoon, the light from outside the window was sufficient, but now, around six o'clock, it's becoming somewhat inadequate.

But for Efnir, who had always lived in silence, such changes made no difference.

"Yukina, nothing happened on the way, right?"

"Why?"

"It seems to have taken longer than usual."

"I... I heard there's a new shop that makes pretty good crepes... I thought you might like them, Naoko, so I went and bought some... I'm sorry to have kept Naoko so long."

Yukina took out the crepes she had bought, looking at Efnir somewhat guiltily.

Having told a small lie, Yukina nervously clutched her commuter bag.

I spent over an hour buying crepes; nobody would believe it if I told them, right? Actually, Yukina went to pick out a gift.

Unfortunately, in the end, there was no gain at all.

That's really difficult.

133. Keli Keli

Naoko's birthday is just a month away. Although Yukina had deliberately put this matter out of her mind, it was brought up again today.

So, during her free time after school, Yukina spent a long time choosing a gift at the store, but she couldn't figure out what Naoko needed or what she lacked.

If it were "Yanase Naoto", there might be room for imagination, but as "Magical Girl Efnir", Naoko can have whatever she wants. As long as it's something sold in this city, Naoko has enough money to enjoy it.

Ultimately, Yukina's allowance came from Naoko, and thinking about it this way immediately leads to the vicious cycle of "What's the point of doing this?"

In the end, Yukina could only ask the shop assistant for advice without any real purpose, and the only answer she received was a variety of fancy little gifts that had no practical use.

Those were not Yukina's goals.

Yukina's goal is to make Naoko happy, to make her smile, to help her, and to make her feel happy.

But...

Naoko has lost an eye, something Yukina could never give her.

"It's okay, I'm willing to wait for you."

Efnir's eyelashes curved, her gaze never leaving Yukina from the moment Yukina entered.

"Then... can Naoko eat with me?"

"OK!"

To Yukina's surprise, Naoko seemed to be in high spirits, looking expectantly at the crepes wrapped in the paper bag in Yukina's hand.

By all accounts, he doesn't look like someone seriously injured, bedridden, and blind in his right eye.

Yukina put down her commuter bag and went to the bedside.

"Speaking of which, didn't the doctor mention any foods I should avoid?"

"Some people said I couldn't drink alcohol or anything, but crepes aren't included, so it's okay."

"Then I'll feed you."

"I can do this myself..."

Efnir looked at the crepe offered to her and declined it somewhat embarrassedly.

"It's alright, just sit still. I'll take care of Naoko today."

Yukina held one in each hand, fed Efnir a bite, and nervously watched Efnir's expression.

"How is it? Is it delicious?"

Actually, these aren't crepes from a newly opened pastry shop. Although they taste pretty good and are from a popular shop frequented by students, they're definitely not some "amazing delicacy."

Just as she couldn't imagine what gift could please Naoko, as an idol who often tasted all kinds of desserts, probably wouldn't find this kind of thing particularly delicious. Compared to the dessert shop outside the stadium a few days ago, Yukina no longer had any confidence in the taste of this kind of thing.

If it doesn't taste good, then it's pointless.

"Hmm... it tastes pretty good, better than the ones sold near our school."

To Yukina's surprise, Efnir seemed to quite like the flavor, which made Yukina laugh.

Why compare it to that time?

"Hmm... because the only time I remember the taste of crepes was back then... although that might be a bit of an exaggeration, I haven't had the chance to eat them since leaving school."

Efnir smiled sheepishly and continued.

"There's no way around it. When I'm an idol, I often get to eat all sorts of desserts. At other times, I'm on a diet and weight control, so I end up avoiding more ordinary foods."

"What? Naoko is just so busy eating that she's forgotten about her sister who's still enjoying whole grains."

Yukina complained sourly, dissatisfied with Naoko's past relationship of leaving her alone.

"It's clearly just showing off!"

"I'm so sorry! I promise it won't happen again!"

Yukina looked at the two crepes in her hand.

The one left for Naoko was banana and light cream flavored. Although it was a very simple flavor, it was suitable for most people. It had Naoko's small, neat teeth marks on it.

The other one is for myself, a flavor I usually choose, which I haven't started eating yet.

Why aren't you eating? Are you thinking about something?

"Huh? No, no..."

Faced with Efnir's gaze, Yukina hesitated, then took a symbolic bite.

Yukina had been pondering what to give Naoko for Naoko birthday. It seemed that Naoko had everything she needed, whether it was food, clothing, or other necessities.