Cough! Cough!
I stumbled into the ladies' bathroom, clutching my stomach.
My back hit the cold wall, and I slid down to the floor, gasping for air.
Cough! Cough! Splatter…
I stared at my trembling hand.
Red.
Bright, metallic red.
Blood.
I laughed weakly, my voice cracking between coughs.
"Heh… so she poisoned the drink."
My vision blurred as more blood dripped from my lips.
"She… she tried to poison my favorite characters…"
My chest burned like fire, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
Then — I heard it.
Footsteps.
Sharp, deliberate heels clicking against the marble tiles.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
That sound made my heart sink.
The air in the room seemed to grow colder.
"Wow," came a smooth, icy voice.
"You really are going to die for them?"
Selene appeared in the doorway, her silver hair shimmering under the bathroom lights, her expression calm — almost amused.
She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed as she watched me crumble.
I opened my mouth to answer — but all that came out was another fit of blood and a strangled gasp.
I dropped to my knees, my hands slipping on the wet tiles.
Selene's cold eyes narrowed just slightly.
"Just yesterday," she murmured, her tone almost teasing, "you were ready to watch them die… And now?
You're the one dying for them."
She crouched a little, tilting her head as if examining me like a strange bug.
"Do they even deserve your sacrifice, Kisaragi?" she asked softly, almost mockingly.
I tried to glare at her — but my eyelids felt so heavy, my body refusing to move.
I collapsed fully to the floor, my cheek against the cold marble.
Selene stood and straightened her robes, her shadow looming over me.
"I warned you," she said simply.
"I told you to stay out of my plans.
But no… you just had to play the hero."
She paused at the doorway, giving me one last look over her shoulder.
"Let's see," she said with a faint smirk,
"…if you get another awakening, Kisaragi."
Then —
Her footsteps faded.
The door closed with a soft click.
And everything around me went black.
Silent.
"Rin! Rin!"
A voice pierced through the darkness, soft but desperate.
I felt someone shaking me gently.
My eyes fluttered open to see Shion kneeling over me, her purple hair falling forward, her brows furrowed with worry.
I gasped and quickly sat up, touching my body, checking my arms, my legs—
I wasn't… naked.
Oh. Right.
I thought I'd shatter and wake up like a phoenix or something, but—
Nope.
Still clothed.
Still here.
Guess the only reason I was naked last time was because I'd been in pieces.
"Rin…" Shion whispered, her hands hovering like she wanted to touch me but was afraid.
"There's blood… all over your face… and your body…"
"Oh—uh—this?" I wiped at my cheek awkwardly, smearing it even more.
"This is… um… ketchup."
Shion's expression didn't change.
Not even a blink.
She just stared at me flatly, clearly not buying it.
What was I even saying?! Ketchup?! Really, Rin?!
"Rin…" Her voice cracked. "Are you… dying?"
Her words hit me like a dagger, and I froze.
Those big violet eyes of hers shimmered with tears she was trying so hard to hold back.
"No! No no no, I'm not—"
I stopped, realizing she could see right through me.
She always could.
I sighed, slumping my shoulders.
"Yes," I mumbled, defeated. "I… I'm dying."
Her eyes widened and then—
Tears.
"Ah—wait, wait!" I scrambled to reassure her.
"But I'm fine now!" I added quickly, forcing a weak smile.
"I mean—look! Sitting. Breathing. Not… dead yet!"
"How can you say that?!" she snapped suddenly, her voice shaking.
"You're covered in blood, you're weak, and you're pretending it's nothing—!"
She grabbed my wrist, standing up with determination in her eyes.
"That's it. Let's go home right now. The physician needs to see you."
"W-wait—Shion, I—"
But her grip was iron.
And in her tear-streaked face, I could see the truth. For someone who claimed to hate the Arakawa and all this rivalry…
She really cared about me.
Even if I didn't deserve it.
She laid me gently on my bed, tucking the blanket around me.
"Do you need anything, Rin? The physician will be here soon," she asked softly, her violet eyes still glistening.
"No… I'm fine now, Shion. You don't need to bring the physician," I said, my voice quiet but firm.
What was I going to do now?
I reached out and gently held her by the arms.
Her eyes widened, and I could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks.
"Just…" I said, meeting her gaze.
"Stay with me here tonight. That's all. I don't need a physician. I only need… a warm body beside me."
…Wait.
Did I really just say that?!
Am I trying to seduce a character now?!
Her face froze in shock for a full moment—then in the next breath she bolted, running out of the room so fast the door rattled behind her.
"…Obviously you're too shy to express your feelings for Rin," I muttered, flopping back onto the bed with a smirk.
"That's why you never get to tell her how much you love her…"
I dragged myself up and went into the closet to change into a fresh dress.
But then—
Something cold filled the air.
It crept in from the window.
And when I glanced over—
Selene's dragon was there, perched on the ledge like a phantom.
I narrowed my eyes.
"What are you doing here, you icy creature?" I hissed, yanking the window open.
The dragon didn't even flinch.
It simply opened its mouth and spat out a shimmering, frozen scroll before beating its wings and vanishing into the night sky.
I caught the scroll, feeling the chill bite my fingers, and unrolled it slowly.
On the glistening page, written in sharp, elegant strokes:
"If you're reading this, it means you survived. Let's see how many lives you really have, Kisaragi."
I clenched the scroll, my breath puffing in the cold night air.
"…Selene…" I whispered.
"She's so hell-bent on killing those two… on destroying everything. But…"
I threw the scroll onto the desk and straightened up, a determined smile curling my lips.
"…Not on my watch, you villainess."