The snow fell quietly.
White flakes drifted lazily from the gray winter sky, landing softly on the village street where children had been laughing only moments ago.
Now—
Everything felt wrong.
Kaito knelt in the snow.
Hina's small body lay in his arms, limp and frighteningly still.
Her tiny fingers that had been clutching the bracelet moments ago had gone loose.
The wind that normally danced so freely through the streets of the Wind Clan village seemed to hesitate… as if it too had noticed something was terribly wrong.
"Hina…?"
Kaito's voice came out weak.
Uncertain.
He gently shook her shoulders.
"Hina?"
No response.
Her head rolled slightly against his arm.
Her breathing was shallow.
Too shallow.
His heart skipped.
Then it began to race.
"Hina!"
He shook her a little harder.
"Hina, wake up!"
Her eyelids didn't move.
Her chest rose slowly… then fell.
Too slowly.
Panic began to creep into Kaito's chest.
"Hina, stop joking…"
His voice cracked.
He shook her again.
"Wake up!"
Nothing.
The world around them had started to change.
Villagers nearby had begun to notice.
People who had been shopping at the toy stalls slowly gathered closer.
Soft whispers spread through the snowy street.
"…Is that Lord Kaito?"
"…And Lady Hina…"
"…What happened?"
A woman stepped forward anxiously.
"Should we call a healer—"
But Kaito wasn't listening anymore.
His arms slid beneath Hina's body.
He lifted her up quickly.
Her head fell weakly against his shoulder.
That alone sent a spike of fear straight through his chest.
"Hina…"
His voice trembled.
Then—
He ran.
Snow exploded under his feet as he sprinted down the street.
Fast.
Too fast for the ordinary eye.
Villagers barely had time to react before he rushed past them like a gust of wind.
"Move!"
People jumped aside as the young heir of the Wind Clan tore through the village.
His arms held Hina tightly against his chest.
Too tightly.
As if letting go would make her disappear.
"Stay with me…"
His voice shook as he ran.
"You're okay… you're okay…"
His breath came out in white clouds.
His heart pounded violently in his ears.
"We're almost home…"
His legs moved faster.
Faster.
The wind howled around him as his instincts pushed his body harder than ever before.
But his thoughts were chaos.
Why did she collapse?
She was laughing.
Just seconds ago she was laughing.
"Kai…"
He remembered her smiling face.
The way she proudly held up the bracelet.
"Look big brother! Now you cannot forget me!"
The memory stabbed into him.
"Don't do this…"
His voice cracked.
"Hina, stay with me…"
He glanced down at her.
Her eyes were closed.
Her small body felt too light.
Too fragile.
Fear gripped his chest tighter.
For the first time since he could remember—
Kaito was truly scared.
The towering gates of the Kaze Estate came into view.
Kaito didn't slow down.
He burst through them.
"Lord Kaito—?!"
The guards barely finished speaking before he ran past them.
Servants turned in shock as the young master sprinted through the courtyard with a small unconscious child in his arms.
"KAEDE!"
His voice echoed across the estate like thunder.
"KAEDE!!"
Sliding footsteps sounded behind him.
Then—
Kaede appeared.
Her calm expression immediately changed when she saw Hina.
"What happened?!"
Kaito rushed toward her.
"She collapsed!"
His voice trembled.
"She just grabbed her chest and— and then she—"
Kaede didn't waste a second.
"Inside."
Hina was quickly laid on a futon inside one of the estate rooms.
Snow melted off Kaito's clothes as he knelt beside her.
Kaede sat next to Hina.
Her hands began glowing softly.
A warm green light formed between her palms.
Healing energy.
The air grew calm as the gentle aura spread across Hina's body.
Kaito watched anxiously.
His fingers clenched tightly into fists.
The energy flowed through Hina.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Kaede's expression changed slightly.
Just slightly.
Her eyes narrowed.
She increased the flow of healing energy.
The glow became brighter.
But something felt… off.
Very off.
Kaede could feel it.
Hina's Pulse wasn't responding normally.
It felt chaotic.
Unstable.
Like wind currents colliding violently deep within her body.
Kaito noticed the hesitation.
His heart sank.
"…Kaede?"
She didn't answer.
Her hands pressed closer as the healing intensified.
Still—
Something wasn't right.
Kaito's voice grew sharper.
"Kaede."
She exhaled slowly.
Then spoke quietly.
"…We need Lady Hana."
Kaito's stomach dropped.
Word spread through the estate like wildfire.
Within minutes—
Footsteps rushed through the halls.
The door slid open.
Hana entered.
Behind her was Toru.
Both of them stopped when they saw Hina lying on the futon.
Hana moved immediately.
No hesitation.
No panic.
Only focused urgency.
She knelt beside Hina.
Kaede moved aside respectfully.
Hana gently placed her hand on Hina's forehead.
Her eyes closed.
Her senses expanded.
She felt Hina's pulse.
Then—
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"…Strange."
Toru crossed his arms nearby.
"What is it?"
Hana didn't answer immediately.
She focused deeper.
Feeling the Vital Pulse flowing through Hina's body.
It wasn't calm.
It wasn't natural.
It was… building.
Like pressure inside a sealed storm.
Hana's expression changed.
"…This shouldn't be happening."
Across the room—
Kaito stood silently.
Watching.
Waiting.
His hands trembled slightly.
His mind replayed the moment again.
And again.
Hina laughing.
Hina holding the bracelet.
Hina suddenly stopping.
Her small hand gripping her chest.
Her voice—
"Big brother…?"
Then collapse.
His breathing became uneven.
Was it something she ate?
Did I miss something?
Should I have noticed sooner?
His chest tightened painfully.
His eyes trembled.
What if—
What if she doesn't wake up?
His fingers shook.
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
"…Hina…"
Toru noticed.
He walked over slowly.
Kaito didn't even realize he had approached until strong arms wrapped around him.
Toru pulled him into a firm embrace.
Kaito froze.
Toru's deep voice spoke quietly above him.
"She'll be fine."
Kaito's hands clenched against Toru's robe.
"…What if she isn't?"
His voice was small.
Scared.
Toru tightened the hug slightly.
"She will be."
Kaito's eyes trembled.
"I should've noticed something…"
Toru gently placed a hand on the back of Kaito's head.
"This isn't your fault."
Kaito's voice shook.
"…She was just laughing."
Toru spoke calmly.
"And she will laugh again."
Kaito didn't respond.
But he held onto Toru's robe tightly.
Like a frightened child.
Across the room—
Hana suddenly froze.
Her hand remained on Hina's chest.
But her eyes slowly widened.
She felt it.
Deep within Hina's Pulse.
A presence.
Something ancient.
Something powerful.
Something that should not be awakening yet.
Her voice came out in a quiet whisper.
"…No."
Toru looked up.
"What?"
Hana's eyes were locked on Hina.
Disbelief filled her face.
"…That's impossible."
The room fell completely silent.
The wind outside stopped.
And for the first time—
True worry appeared in Hana's eyes.