S-2878 • L3 Sintoluna • D29 Silenflu
"Sintoluna refines the sky to its end. Silenflu pours silence in final silver. The tide gathers the glow and preserves the thread. The portal ignites — and the story begins again."
Winter brought the flu with it.
As usual, the sudden drop in temperature knocked me down.
I followed the Aether Network's guidelines and entered quarantine.
I asked Takashi to notify the hospital and withdrew at home.
The creative energy of my Mother phase would have to remain within.
My flu always lasted half a lunation.
The first days were the worst.
A throbbing headache.
Relentless congestion.
That deep, bone-heavy malaise.
High fever. Vomiting. Dehydration.
A cruel cycle that left me completely inert.
S-2878 • L4 Abeluna • D00–03 Silenflu to Silensina
"Silensflu seals the dust and leaves the path shining. Silensi opens the portal: a whole beginning, soft ground. Silenabe lifts the silver thread, light budding alive. Silensina tunes the path: Abeluna guides, the story ignites."
Peak of the flu.
My biochip recorded every idea I had, in the smallest bursts of energy I could gather to think.
I received a message from Daren:
📩 "Akiyama, I heard about your situation.
Get well soon.
I hope you return to work quickly."
I rolled my eyes.
His concern sounded more like pressure.
Obvious. Tiresome.
I felt completely drained.
Takashi handled CogniSynth with the team in my absence.
As for Maia, I remembered to inform her:
"I'll be away for the next half lunation.
Don't worry about the blood collection."
The reply came almost instantly:
"Why?"
I threw my head back against the pillow.
My body felt heavy.
"I'm sick.
I'll let you know when I'm better."
A pause.
"Sick?"
"Yes. A flu."
No answer.
I sighed.
Too weak to worry about it now.
Nightfall
I woke up feeling even worse.
My body felt anchored, draining what little strength I had left.
The humid air suffocated me.
My eyes burned.
I felt submerged.
The miserable weather only made everything colder.
I adjusted the apartment temperature and wrapped myself in blankets.
Despite having no appetite, I needed to eat.
I ordered food through the GostiTron app.
In a few minutes, a nanodrone would drop it at the window intake.
DING
The doorbell rang.
I frowned.
Deliveries were remote—no physical contact required.
I dragged my feet to the door.
The security holoscreens flickered.
The hallway appeared empty.
Some nanoengineer must be doing maintenance.
What little strength I had vanished when I opened the door.
I staggered, leaning against the wall.
Maia stood there, holding a package.
My fevered mind took a moment to process.
How did she get here?
"W-what are you doing here?"
My voice came out weak. Hoarse.
She looked me up and down.
My head spun.
I was about to collapse.
"C-can I come in?"
I nodded, pathetic.
With firm gentleness, Maia took my arms and draped them over her neck.
Before I could protest, she lifted me.
"Where's your room?"
I pointed weakly.
She laid me on the bed, unpacked the food I had ordered, and brought out some medicine.
How did she get that?
I thought about asking.
I knew it would be useless.
I just accepted it.
"I looked up what might help you, but I bought what the pharmacist recommended."
She sat beside me.
"Tell me what to do."
I pointed to the painkiller and antipyretic.
I didn't like medication.
I preferred natural treatment.
Usually, I just let the flu run its course.
But this time, I gave in.
Maia leaned closer.
What was she doing?
She pressed her forehead against mine.
My heart jumped.
It beat so hard I feared she could read it.
Heat rushed to my face.
I hoped she'd blame it on the fever.
"You're burning," she murmured.
She was… checking my temperature?
Like that?
So close?
My symptoms worsened instantly.
Maia affected me in a way that exposed how unprepared I was to deal with her.
"Let's wait for the medicine to kick in."
She sounded casual, as if destabilizing me was just part of her presence.
She pointed at my food.
"I'll eat this.
For you, I'll cook something proper."
Her commanding tone caught me off guard.
"This outfit of yours is doing more harm than good.
Also, why is it so hot in here?"
Maia grabbed the apartment control and lowered the temperature.
"While I cook, go change into something lighter."
Before I could respond, she walked to the kitchen.
The glass wall between my room and the kitchen let me see her.
Maia opened cabinets. Drawers. The fridge. The pantry.
She inspected everything.
Picked vegetables.
Chopped them with precision.
Moved with efficiency.
I watched, unable to stop myself.
Then she looked up—
caught me staring.
I turned away quickly, embarrassed.
Resigned, I obeyed.
Changed into lighter pajamas.
Back in bed, I stared outside.
Tried to ignore the discomfort—
and the fact that Maia was there.
With me.
She had always made it clear she disliked coming to Zenith.
And yet—
there she was.
Almost an hour later, she brought a tray.
I recognized it immediately:
Zosui, a Japanese rice soup, traditionally served when sick.
Shōgayu, a warm ginger drink.
A weak smile escaped me.
"Where did you learn this?"
My voice was hoarse.
I took a spoonful.
Delicious.
Maia shrugged.
Ate my delivery food instead.
I regained a bit of strength and covered myself with a thin blanket.
"Akiko…"
She clicked her tongue and leaned closer.
"What?"
She looked at me with mischief, biting her lip.
"Why do you do that?"
I shrank slightly.
"Do what, exactly?"
Her face was so close.
Her breath mingled with mine.
My heart lost all rhythm.
My fever didn't help.
Maia lowered her head.
Let out a low laugh and pulled away.
I looked aside.
I was sick—and she still did this to me.
I turned toward the window.
Focused on the night.
Maia did the same.
I sneezed three times in a row and blew my nose.
"Not worried about catching it?"
"I'm resistant."
I lay back.
Maia leaned over me, arms on the headboard.
Too much.
She kept doing this.
"Where can I sleep?"
"Y-you're staying?"
"Obviously.
Otherwise, how am I supposed to take care of you?"
My cheeks burned.
I hid under the blanket.
"S-sleep wherever you want."
"Wherever I want?"
Her tone was pure amusement.
"Even with you?"
I wanted to scream.
All that came out was a muffled groan.
My heart pounded like a drum.
Holding myself together around Maia was already difficult.
Being sick made it impossible.
I peeked out.
She was smirking.
"I can sleep in that chair."
She pointed.
"Though I'd rather stay close to you."
"Why do you do this?"
My fever threatened to spike again.
I felt dizzy.
"Are you really going to pretend that…?"
Pretend what?
Everything inside me spun.
I felt everything—but couldn't process it.
Maia seemed to read me.
She lifted me before I could react.
Even if I tried to protest, I had no strength.
"W-what are you doing?"
"When you have a fever…"
Our eyes met.
"It's better to cool your body."
What did that even mean?!
She carried me to the bathroom.
Stayed there.
"Don't—"
My cheeks burned hotter.
"Turn around."
Maia rolled her eyes but obeyed, laughing softly.
"You're staying there?"
I turned on warm water and activated the tub's hydromassage.
"Can I turn around?"
The tub filled.
I sank into it.
The weight in my body eased slightly.
"You can turn."
Maia sat on the vanity chair, legs crossed, elbow resting casually.
Her eyes—sharp, playful—tracked every movement.
"Akiko, Akiko… ♪"
She whistled.
Ran a finger over her lips.
I scrubbed my skin.
Tried to ignore her.
Impossible.
Her presence pressed against me.
It was too much.
I stood abruptly, tossing the sponge.
"WHY?
WHY DO YOU—"
THUD!
Maia fell backward with the chair.
The sound echoed.
I shrank back into the water, peeking over my knees.
She groaned.
Got up.
Face flushed.
"I'll wait in your room."
I sank under the water.
Let out a muffled scream.
What was that?!
Why?!
I stayed in the tub longer, trying to process it.
My whole body burned with embarrassment.
Eventually, I went back.
Maia was on her old phone.
Didn't even look at me.
How did she recover so easily?!
Was it just me?
She dragged the chair closer to the bed.
I was overthinking.
It was nothing.
Definitely nothing.
Maia was just…
really nice.
Yes.
That had to be it.
I wrapped myself in blankets.
Closed my eyes.
Whatever it was—
I needed sleep before my mind exploded.
The following lunar days
I thought Maia would have left.
She proved me wrong.
She woke me with breakfast in bed.
And every meal after that.
Most of the time, we stayed in silence.
My lethargy kept everything slow.
A seluna passed.
I felt physically better—
but emotionally heavier with the luteal phase.
"Feeling better?"
Maia brought pancakes with chocolate and strawberries, along with tea and milk.
"Yes."
I took a bite.
Sweetness melted in my mouth.
Maia sat on the bed.
Sunset painted the sky in pink, lilac, yellow.
She sighed.
Rested her chin on her knees.
So… adorable.
I finished my tea.
She turned.
"What?"
My body froze.
Damn.
The orange glow of sunset helped hide my flushed face.
"N-nothing."
She smiled and took the tray away.
Came back with the apartment control.
I frowned.
"You control everything with that?"
With a playful look, she started pressing buttons.
Temperature shifted.
Lights flickered—
red, blue, orange, pink.
Music turned on.
Louder. Softer.
Windows darkened. Brightened.
Like a child with a new toy.
Sunset reached its final stage.
Maia raised an eyebrow.
A strange smile.
"What's this?"
She pressed a button.
"What…?"
The atmosphere changed.
The windows darkened just enough to reflect the fading sunlight.
A soft red glow wrapped around us.
Gentle music began to play.
Our eyes met.
Maia set the device aside.
Slowly, she moved closer—
in sync with the melody.
A rhythm that followed our heartbeats.
Fast and slow.
Intense.
I held her gaze.
A male voice sang:
Since you came into my life I lost my breath Your love found a way Straight to my heart ♪
Our breaths intertwined.
Her face inches from mine.
Her intimidating aura vanished.
She allowed herself to be vulnerable.
And so did I.
She moved closer.
Our hearts aligned.
I was still—
lost in her.
Her freckled face.
Honey-colored eyes.
White hair bathed in orange light.
"Akiko…" Maia whispered, brushing her nose against mine.
Our foreheads touched.
Her fingers trembled—
just for a moment.
Barely noticeable, but real.
Her eyes searched mine.
Before I could think—
before she could pull away—
I pulled her in.
Our lips met.
We closed our eyes.
All her coldness turned warm.
Her skin—heated.
Her fingers at my nape held me like something precious.
Her breath against my lips—
a promise.
My body burned with something far beyond fever.
I lost myself in that moment.
In that song.
Maia gently laid me down and pressed her body against mine.
Heat spread through me.
She nipped at my lips.
We were breathless.
Time stopped.
The kiss softened.
She gave me small pecks before pulling away.
We stayed wrapped together.
Looked at each other.
Laughing softly.
Sharing the same smile.
I rested my head on her arm.
We stayed like that—
in silence—
until night fell.
Every insecurity I had about Maia vanished.
It didn't matter how different our worlds were.
How little we knew about each other.
How many gaps could exist between us.
None of it mattered.
She was quiet—
and still, I felt her.
As if her soul spoke directly to mine.
Instead of fear—
I felt held.
Because something inside me knew:
with Maia—
everything would change.
What existed between us—
was only the beginning.
The beginning of something intense.
Endless.
Cotranscendent.