By the time Saya was finally able to get up, it was already early afternoon. Most of the group had gone back to rest, but Yamamoto, seeing Rinji sitting with Naoka, still looked at Saya with lingering concern.
"What is it?" Gokudera asked. Yamamoto simply shook his head. "Nothing," the boy replied with a small smile.
"We'll head out first then. Call us if you need anything," Tsuna said. Saya nodded, though she knew her phone and any metal objects nearby had already been fried by the electrical discharge. I'm just glad nothing actually exploded, she thought.
As soon as he received the word, Shamal rushed over. He performed a thorough examination while Lussuria provided Sun Flames and Yamamoto contributed Rain Flames to aid her recovery. Shamal also took a blood sample to re-check her condition following yesterday's injection.
"Don't push yourself," Shamal warned. "Lightning Flames cause damage at a cellular level. Sigh... did I underdose her? Maybe I should have just emptied the whole syringe."
"Um, it's actually a bit better than last time," Saya said, sharing what she could. Since Rinji and Naoka were present—and according to what Reborn and Tsuna had told her, the two weren't yet part of the Vongola—she chose to be discreet. "Last time, I blacked out completely... and there was a lot more lightning."
"Understood. So, it's working, but the dosage needs adjustment," Shamal noted in her medical chart. "By the way, I still don't know the reaction when your Mist Flame manifests."
"I think... there was just some fog," she recalled. "That was it."
"Got it. If anything happens, don't hesitate to tell me." Shamal smiled and patted her head gently. Her brown hair had grown all the way down to her knees due to the side effects of Lussuria's Sun Flames.
"Next week, I want to go see a movie with Gokudera-kun," she said, her eyes sparkling. "A-and I want to go cheer for Yamamoto at his baseball game too!"
Shamal paused, rubbing his chin in thought while Saya watched him anxiously, as if waiting for a contest result. When the doctor finally looked up and smiled, Saya beamed like a little child. For a moment, Shamal saw a flicker of the past Saya in her.
"Hey, then do you want to come watch our soccer match too?" Naoka chimed in. "With a cute girl like you cheering, we're sure to win!"
"Naoka, I think..." Rinji started, but Naoka already understood the implication and sighed in disappointment.
"When is it?" Shamal asked, surprising them both.
"In about two weeks, old man," Naoka answered, which immediately made a vein pop on Shamal's forehead.
"Don't call me 'old man'! I'm not that old!" the doctor snapped. "Watch it, kid!"
"If you want me there, I can go," Saya said. Naoka cheered so loudly he forgot they were in a hospital, prompting Shamal to bark, "Pipe down, you brats!"
"Is it always like this for you?" Naoka asked later. In the room, Dino was playing on his phone while Romario sat beside him, engrossed in a soap opera on the TV. Every ten minutes, as soon as Saya's hair began to frizz, Rinji would ignite his ring and touch her hand.
"It only started recently," Saya said, looking at Enzio the turtle on her lap. "But aren't you bored, sitting here with me?"
"Not at all," Naoka said, resting his chin on the edge of the bed. "I like looking at your face; you're cute. Can I sign up as your fan? You have quite a few admirers at school, you know. Since you're new, do you have a 'Fan Club #1' yet? If not, can I be the first?"
Saya gave a dry laugh. Naoka suddenly reached into his school bag and pulled out a small notebook used for tactics and a pen. He held them out with both hands. "Can I have your autograph?"
"I..." Saya started, seeing Naoka's eyes shining like he was meeting an idol. She tried to take the notebook, but her hands were still slightly numb, and everything slipped through her fingers.
"Ah, sorry. I was being too selfish," Naoka said, his voice dropping as his face fell. Saya smiled and shook her head. Rinji silently gathered the notebook and crawled under the bed to retrieve the rolling pen.
Rinji's large hand took hers and gently tucked the pen into her grip. Saya was surprised by the gesture. To keep her hand steady, he supported her hand and wrist. His touch was unexpectedly gentle, contrasting with his stoic expression.
Rinji held her hand until she finished signing, then handed the book back to Naoka.
"Thanks!" Naoka beamed. Rinji nodded and turned back to Saya. "I'll cherish this. By the way, 'Saya Tomoe'? Are you Mikasa Tomoe's daughter?"
"Yes, Naoka-senpai," Saya replied. "I am."
Naoka's eyes sparkled even brighter, and he began chatting excitedly. Saya listened calmly, laughing occasionally. Eventually, she steered the conversation back. "You both play soccer, right? I'd like to try kicking a ball sometime."
"Oh! Once you're better, come to the field!" Naoka invited. "We can just kick it around for fun and exercise."
"I think the baseball field is a better idea," Rinji suggested. "The club members might listen to me, but... don't trust them too much."
"True, those guys are..." Naoka bit back the word 'savage' just in time. He didn't want their idol to be scared of the soccer club. "Uh... they're just very intense about soccer. Haha."
"I see," the girl said. "Then I'd better get well soon."
"Yeah, get well soon, Saya-chan!" Naoka smiled.
Seeing that Saya was bored, Naoka asked if she wanted to go anywhere or eat something. She wanted to decline, but seeing them stuck in the room, she decided a walk would be nice. Rinji, being the taller and stronger one, gently scooped her up from the bed and placed her into a wheelchair before letting Naoka take the handles.
They strolled together under the same rule: physical contact every ten minutes.
"Hey, Rinji," Naoka whispered while pushing the chair. "Someone's following us."
"I know," Rinji replied. "If they're trouble, get Saya out of here. I'll handle them."
"No, I'll handle them," Naoka countered seriously. "You have to stay with Saya, or that crazy cloud will come back."
"Fine," Rinji agreed. They swapped positions, Rinji taking over the wheelchair. Confused, Saya asked, "What's wrong? Is someone following us?"
Rinji nodded. Saya sighed and pulled out her phone, opening the front camera to use it as a rearview mirror.
When she saw a figure with a purple flame flickering in their eyes, she blinked in realization. "It's okay. He's, my friend."
"..." Rinji went silent. Saya made a quick call.
"Come out, Jinnai. Rinji-senpai and Naoka-senpai think you're a villain."
"Yes, My Lady." Jinnai emerged from the shadows and ran toward her brightly. He extinguished the purple flame in his eyes and bowed politely to the two boys. "Hello, Rinji-sama, Naoka-sama. I am Jinnai Kaede, My Lady's servant. We have met before."
"Oh, it's just you," Naoka said. "You were being pretty suspicious."
"I was merely doing my duty. My apologies," Jinnai said with a gentle smile.
"As long as you're not an enemy," Rinji muttered. Suddenly, they heard the sounds of two children running toward them.
"Lambo, stop right now!" I-Pin was chasing Lambo, who held a lollipop in his hand. "Stealing is bad!"
"No! No! This belongs to Lambo-sama!" Lambo laughed, but as he scrambled around, he tripped. The various items hidden in his afro scattered everywhere including the Ten-Year Bazooka.
It flew straight toward Saya.
"My Lady!" Jinnai's instincts kicked in, and he lunged to shield her. But the bazooka hit the ground right in front of Saya. A string caught on Lambo's head acted as a tripwire, pulling the trigger.
Click! Boom!
Saya felt her body tossed into the air, her head spinning. She opened her eyes to see a kaleidoscopic tunnel before losing consciousness.
"Mmm... ugh..." Saya groaned softly as she felt a comforting warmth and a faint, pleasant scent. She slowly opened her eyes. She was surrounded by something that was neither too soft nor too hard. As her vision cleared, she found herself pressed against a bare chest.
Startled, she looked up.
A young man with black hair and blue eyes... a version of Rinji who was even more handsome than before was staring at her with wide eyes, though his face still held that same "dead fish" expression.
He was lying there, naked, holding her in his arms.
"AHHHHHHH!"