The room was dimly lit. Koto was still checking Nyoro's pulse as he lay on the bed surrounded by medical equipment. A needle was stuck in his arm, slowly giving him the blood they had worked so hard to get.
Steve (from his bed):
"Will… he survive?"
Koto (serious, without looking up):
"He lost a lot of blood, but… yes. As long as his body accepts the transfusion, he should start recovering in a few hours."
Steve (sighing in relief):
"Good…"
In the bed next to him, Akio was sleeping peacefully, though his body was covered in bandages and bruises. On the other side, Akira was also resting, occasionally groaning in his sleep. His body was slowly healing, though his muscles still ached from everything that had happened.
Ken stood by the door, leaning against the wall, quietly scanning the room with his gray eyes.
Steve (watching Ken, smirking):
"Huh… I didn't think you were the kind to care about others."
Ken (calmly, but with a sharp tone):
"I'm not."
Koto (raising an eyebrow, smirking):
"Oh really? Your actions tonight say otherwise."
Ken didn't reply. He just lit a cigarette and exhaled slowly while staring at Nyoro in silence.
He wouldn't admit it, but he felt a bit of relief knowing Nyoro was going to survive.
In the corner of the room, Ann began waking up on her bed. She blinked several times as she came back to her senses… and the moment she looked at the door—she froze!
There he was… the boy who made her heart melt a thousand times—Ken!
His gray eyes, the calm way he smoked, his cold looks that made any girl lose her mind… everything about him was perfect to her!
Ann (eyes sparkling like in a dream):
"K-Keeeeeen-saaaan!!"
She jumped up from her bed and ran toward him like a missile.
She stopped just one step away and grabbed his arm with affection, gazing at him with hearts in her eyes!
Ann (soft, adoring voice):
"Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!"
Ken showed no reaction as usual, just calmly exhaled his smoke like he didn't care.
But Ann looked closer… and noticed something.
There were light wounds on his neck and arms.
Bruises on his right hand.
Ann (eyes widening, raising her eyebrow):
"Wait… you're injured!"
Ken (exhaling as he gently moved her hand away):
"Just scratches."
Ann (worried face):
"Scratches?! That's an open wound, Ken-san! You can't ignore injuries like this!"
Koto (freezes in place, then turns slowly with fire in her eyes):
"Wait… what did you just say?"
Ann (quickly pointing at Ken):
"He has untreated wounds!"
Koto's eyes widened as she raised her eyebrows. She stared at Ken for a moment, then suddenly walked over and threw her medical gloves off—pointing at him furiously!
Koto (yelling):
"You stupid, annoying smoker!!! Why didn't you tell me?!"
Ken (raising an eyebrow, calmly taking a drag):
"Stop shouting in my ear. You're a bad doctor for not noticing."
Koto (screaming):
"Shut up! I was saving five people from death! That doesn't mean you get to hide injuries!"
Ken (quietly exhaling smoke):
"No need for treatment."
Koto (waving her hand angrily):
"This idiot thinks cigarettes are medicine!"
Ken (coughing slightly, trying to hide it):
"Cough… cough…"
Koto (angrily furrowing her brow):
"See?! That's because of your stupid smoking! No wonder you cough like an old man!"
Ken (coldly, taking another puff):
"It's not because of smoking."
Koto (smacks him on the head):
"Oh really? How many did you smoke today, you stubborn rock-headed man?!"
Ken (calm):
"None of your business."
Koto (eyes glowing, quickly reaches into his pocket):
"Then I'll make it my business!"
Ken (raising an eyebrow, watching her):
"What are you doing?"
Koto (evil smile as she pulls out his cigarette pack):
"Confiscating this, of course."
Ken (still staring blankly):
"Give it back."
Koto (holding it up with a smirk):
"No."
Ken (reaching slowly):
"Give it back. Now."
But before he could touch it—Koto ripped the pack in half!
Ken froze. He just stared at her silently, trying to process the tragedy.
Koto (holding up the destroyed pack, smirking):
"Problem solved. You're welcome."
Ann (stepping back nervously):
"Oh no…"
Ken (cold stare):
"That… was my last pack."
Koto (hands on hips, raising an eyebrow):
"So what? What are you gonna do about it?"
Without a word, Ken turned and started walking toward the door.
Koto (pausing, then cautiously asking):
"Where are you going?"
Ken (without looking back, in a deadly calm voice):
"To buy a new one."
Koto (shouting):
"You idiot!!! You still don't get it?! Quit smoking!! I swear, I'll make you stop even if I have to kill you!"
Ken (blank stare, opening the door):
"Good luck with that."
Koto (fake sweet smile, pulling a small syringe from her pocket):
"Sorry, but you're too stubborn."
In one swift move—she jabbed the needle into his arm with perfect aim!
Ken (eyes widening slightly):
"What…?!"
He felt a sting… then his head got heavy. He tried to move, but his body slowed down.
He immediately realized she gave him a fast-acting sedative.
Ken (voice fading as he fought to stay up):
"Damn you… Koto… I'll remember this…"
Koto (with a victorious grin):
"Oh, you will.
But only after a nice nap."
And just like that… Ken lost balance and collapsed to the floor.
Ann (kneeling beside him, shaking him):
"K-Ken-san! Are you okay?! Please answer me!"
Koto (yawning, waving casually):
"Don't worry. He'll wake up in the morning. And now that he's out cold, I can finally treat his wounds without him resisting."
Steve (raising an eyebrow):
"Girl… he passed out from drugs. He's not answering even if you were a guardian angel."
Ann (looking at Ken sadly, holding his hand gently):
"He always acts like he doesn't care… but he carries everyone's pain, even when he's hurt."
Steve (stretching in his bed):
"Sigh… After all that chaos, I realized I'm starving."
Koto (freezing, then turning slowly, eyes glowing with rage):
"Are you kidding me?! You're both injured and bruised, and you're acting like everything's fine?!"
Ann (cheerfully):
"I'm fine! You treated me well, Koto-chan!"
Steve (nodding):
"Yeah, nothing serious."
Koto (holding her forehead like she's trying to survive their stupidity):
"You two… are the dumbest people in this room."
Then suddenly—"THWACK!!"
Without warning, Koto slammed their heads together!
Ann & Steve (together, screaming in pain):
"Aaaahhh!!"
Steve (holding his head, shocked):
"What the heck?! That hurt!!"
Koto (grinning as she pulled a rope from her bag):
"Well, since you're both so energetic, you can handle being tied up."
Ann (backing away):
"W-Wait… what's the rope for?!"
Koto (evil smile):
"Just a little something… I'm gonna make sure you two stick together!"
In a flash—"CHAAAAK!!"
Koto tied Ann and Steve together!
Their hands were tied behind their backs, and their bodies were stuck together!
Ann (screaming and struggling):
"What the heck?! Let us go right now!!"
Steve (face red like a tomato, trying to pull away):
"H-Huh?!"
Ann (frustrated):
"Ugh! This is annoying! Koto-chan, untie us now!!"
Koto (arms crossed, staring coldly):
"No. I said you need to rest—so stay put."
Steve (nervous, staring at the floor, trying to ignore how close Ann was):
"Is… is this really necessary?"
Koto (raising an eyebrow):
"Yes, obviously. You two are acting like you're fully healed, but I still see bruises all over. And now… you need to make peace after all that fighting!"
Ann (still trying to undo the rope):
"I don't mind resting, but why do I have to be tied to this idiot?!"
Steve (glaring at her, offended):
"Idiot?! You're the one who never stops yelling!"
Koto (with a sarcastic smile):
"If you two can't stop bickering, I'd better speed things up."
And just like that, Koto pushed their beds together, lifted Ann and Steve at once, and placed them on a double bed!
Ann (freezes for a second, then screams):
"W-Wait!! Why did you put us in the same bed?!"
Steve (turning bright red, shouting):
"This isn't fair!!! A boy and girl shouldn't sleep next to each other like this!!!"
Koto (arms crossed, staring coldly):
"Oh, really? But just a minute ago you two were acting like you didn't care, right?"
Steve (sweating, trying to sit up despite the rope):
"There's a huge difference between not caring… and being tied next to a girl in bed!!"
Ann (yelling at Koto):
"You're a terrible doctor! Is this how you treat your patients?!"
Koto (grinning as she walks away):
"Well, goodnight you two. Don't move too much or you'll fall off the bed."
Ann & Steve (yelling together):
"GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOOOOOW!!!"
But Koto ignored them completely and closed the door gently, leaving Ann and Steve in an extremely awkward position.
Ann (frustrated):
"This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me!!!"
Steve (sighing, trying not to look at how close she is):
"You're so dramatic."
Ann (spinning toward him, eyes burning, tears forming):
"You don't understand anything!!! Why do I have to be stuck with you of all people?! If it were Ken-san here, things would be a million times better!!!"
Steve (blinking, completely stunned):
"…Huh?"
Ann (still angrily crying):
"Yes!!! If it were Ken-san, it would be romantic!! I'd rest my head on his shoulder, and he'd look amazing as always! But you—you're just an emotionless, boring, useless nerd!!!"
Steve (looking down, voice colder):
"Useless…?"
Ann (still in her dramatic rant, not realizing what she just said):
"Yeah!! And your glasses make you look like an old man. Maybe if you took them off, you'd look a bit better. But until then, you're nothing but—"
Before she could finish, Steve felt like something invisible had stabbed straight through his chest.
He never really cared about people's opinions… but he didn't expect her to say it. Not like this. Not with that much disdain.
Steve (eyes down, voice distant and cold):
"I get it."
Ann (still grumbling):
"Why do I have to be stuck with you?! I didn't do anything to deserve this!"
Steve (low voice, unusually sharp):
"Don't worry. I feel the same way."
Suddenly, everything went silent.
Ann (blinking, confused):
"…Huh?"
Steve didn't look at her. He stared at the far wall, face expressionless—but in a different way this time. Like something inside him just… went dark.
Ann hadn't expected that.
She thought he'd joke back or grumble—but he didn't.
Ann (gulping):
"H-Hey, I was just joking…"
Steve (quiet, calm, deadly):
"No need to explain. Your message was clear."
Ann (nervous):
"Steve, I didn't mean—"
Steve (cutting her off, still looking away):
"I said I understood."
Later that night, the ballroom was completely dark.
The lights had gone out after the chaos, and the only sound was the cold wind whispering through the broken windows.
In the middle of all the destruction… Terrakula's body still lay motionless on the floor.
She looked dead—but up close, she was still barely breathing.
The blood she'd lost covered the ground around her.
The Sanguinis sword that had pierced her chest was gone—taken by Akio.
But suddenly… something strange started happening.
"Tsshhhh…"
Drops of blood scattered across the floor began to move—as if they refused to stay away.
Slowly, they started flowing back into her body, entering her open veins like they were giving her life again.
Her deep wounds began to close.
Her tissues regenerated, her muscles stretched.
But even with this strange healing… she didn't wake up.
She was still unconscious, her breathing faint—barely there.
Then… slow footsteps echoed across the room.
Someone was there.
His face was hidden. He wore a long black cloak, and his aura was terrifying.
He stood silently by Terrakula's side, then spoke in a deep, calm voice:
"You're not going to die that easily… sister."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
No sympathy either.
He spoke like this was expected—like death was never an option for her.
He knelt beside her, picked her up in his arms like she weighed nothing, and walked out of the hall.
The moment he stepped outside… all the blood around her disappeared—as if it had never been there.
⸻
The next morning…
Ken woke up feeling a strange heaviness in his body.
He tried to move—but couldn't.
Ken (slowly opening his eyes, voice rough from sleep):
"…What the…?"
He looked around—and it only took him a second to realize what had happened.
He was lying in bed, and both his arms and legs were tied down with thick medical straps.
Ken (blank expression, sighs):
"Damn it… that doctor…"
He tried pulling his arms free—but the restraints were tight.
But that wasn't even the worst part.
When he turned his head—he saw something that made him nearly laugh.
In the bed next to him, Steve and Ann were still tied together with the rope Koto used the night before.
Ann was snoring lightly, mouth open.
Steve was frowning even in his sleep.
Ken (raising an eyebrow, smirking sarcastically):
"Well… that's a scene worth staring at."
He tried moving again—nothing.
Koto clearly didn't just sedate him… she made sure he couldn't move after treating him.
Ken (sighing, muttering):
"This is what I get for being helpful…"
Steve (groaning, shifting slightly):
"Agh… my back…"
Steve opened his eyes slowly.
When he realized he was still tied to Ann—his face tensed, especially when he saw how close she was.
Her hair was touching his shoulder.
Steve (blushing):
"Oh god… is this a joke?"
Before he could move—
Ann (soft yawn, slowly waking):
"Mmm… good morning…"
She didn't notice right away.
But as she moved and felt Steve right beside her…
Ann (freezing, then looking around):
"Wait… what?!"
Her eyes widened instantly!
Ann (screaming):
"Kyaaaaaaaa!!! Why am I STILL tied to this idiot?!"
Steve tried to stay calm—but he clearly wanted to escape.
Ken (flatly):
"This is a pretty fun scene to wake up to."
Ann turned and looked at him.
Her eyes widened even more when she saw he was tied up too!
Ann (pointing at him, shocked):
"Whaaa?! You're tied up too?!
Koto-chan didn't go easy on you either, huh, Ken-san?!"
Ken (sighing, staring at the ceiling):
"Is this supposed to be treatment or a prison?"
He desperately wanted a cigarette—but his hands were tied.
And worse… he didn't even have a pack left.
It was pure torture.
Ann (soft, emotional tone):
"Oh, Ken-san… you look so tired… Do you need anything?"
Ken (raising an eyebrow, staring at her):
"Freedom?"
Ann (gazing at him with love):
"If I could, I'd untie you with my own hands! Ken-san, are you sure you're okay? Are you cold? Hungry? I can help you!"
Ken (sighing again, bored):
"Do you have a cigarette? No?
Then there's nothing you can do."
Just then—
"BANG!!!"
The door slammed open.
Koto entered, holding a cup of coffee, with a lazy smile full of satisfaction.
Koto (looking at the three of them, smirking):
"Ah, good morning my annoying patients. Did you enjoy your sleep?"
The three tied-up teens stared at her with looks full of meaning…
But one thing was very clear—
Koto was LOVING every second of this.
To be continued…