The room was quiet.
Soft light filtered through the window—
Resting gently on the still figure lying on the bed.
Bandages wrapped his body.
Clean.
Changed.
Proof that time had passed.
Yet—
He had not moved.
At the side of the room—
Lina hummed softly.
A small cloth in her hand as she carefully arranged the bottles on the table.
Behind her—
Kaito leaned against the wall.
Arms crossed.
Watching.
"…You're doing that again."
Lina paused.
"…Doing what?"
"Organizing the same things twice."
A small pout formed on her face.
"I just want it to be neat…"
Kaito sighed.
"It already is."
Silence returned.
Comfortable.
Ordinary.
Then—
A breath.
Slightly different.
Unnoticed.
On the bed—
A faint movement.
His fingers twitched.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
His eyes opened.
Blurred.
Unfocused.
Light.
Too bright.
His gaze remained fixed upward—
At a ceiling he did not recognize.
Breathing.
Shallow.
Heavy.
No thoughts formed clearly.
Only a single feeling—
Weight.
"…Huh?"
Lina's voice broke the silence.
Soft.
Uncertain.
She turned.
Her eyes landed on him—
And froze.
"…Kaito…"
Barely above a whisper.
"…his eyes…"
Kaito glanced over.
A pause.
"…Oh."
He straightened slightly.
Looking more closely.
"…He's awake."
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then—
"W-Wait—!"
Lina nearly dropped the cloth in her hand.
"I'll call sensei!"
Her footsteps rushed out of the room—
Quick.
Uneven.
Kaito remained.
Standing still.
Watching.
Their eyes met—
For only a second.
Alias tried to move.
Pain answered.
Sharp.
Immediate.
His body refused.
A faint breath escaped him.
"…Ah…"
His throat burned.
Dry.
"…W…here…"
The word barely formed.
Breaking before it could finish.
Kaito didn't respond.
Not immediately.
"…Don't try to move."
Simple.
Direct.
"You'll just make it worse."
Footsteps approached.
Faster this time.
The door slid open.
She entered without hesitation.
Eyes sharp.
Expression unreadable.
She looked at him.
Really looked.
A moment passed.
Then—
"…You fucker."
A quiet exhale followed.
"Finally decided to open those eyes, huh."
No warmth.
No softness.
Yet—
Not cold either.
She stepped closer.
Hand reaching out—
Fingers pressing lightly against his wrist.
Checking.
Pulse.
Still weak.
But steady.
Her other hand lifted slightly—
Adjusting his eyelid.
Observing.
"…Good."
A mutter.
"Don't move."
Flat.
Certain.
"You'll tear something."
Alias's lips parted.
Dry.
Cracked.
"…Wa…"
The sound barely escaped.
"…Water…"
Lina was already moving.
"I got it!"
She returned quickly—
Holding a small cup.
Careful.
Gentle.
"Slowly…"
She supported his head slightly.
Tilting the cup.
A drop touched his lips.
Then another.
He swallowed.
With effort.
The sensation burned—
Yet soothed.
"…More…"
A whisper.
"Not too much."
The doctor's voice cut in.
"He's not ready."
Lina nodded.
Carefully pulling the cup away.
Alias's eyes shifted.
Slowly.
He looked around.
Unknown room.
Wooden walls.
Strangers.
Safe.
But unfamiliar.
A faint crease formed between his brows.
Something felt—
Wrong.
But he couldn't grasp it.
The doctor stepped back.
Arms crossing once more.
"…You were found on the road."
Simple.
Direct.
"Half-dead."
A pause.
"You're lucky."
No further explanation.
Alias stared.
Trying to understand.
But his thoughts drifted.
Slipping.
Fading.
His body felt heavier.
Too heavy.
His eyelids lowered—
Slowly.
"…Hey—"
Lina leaned forward.
"…Is he—?"
"He's fine."
The doctor interrupted.
"Just exhausted."
Alias's eyes closed.
Not unconscious.
Not fully.
Just—
Gone again.
Silence returned to the room.
The doctor turned away.
"…You're not dying anymore."
A quiet statement.
"That's enough for today."
Lina exhaled softly.
Relief washing over her face.
Kaito remained still.
Watching.
On the bed—
The boy rested.
Breathing.
Alive.
At last—
The eyes that had remained closed for days—
Had finally opened.
But the world before him—
Was no longer the same.