Her hands lay flat at her sides, her fingers slender and long, retaining their beauty even now.
Haruka Kasugano stood at the doorway of the hospital room, his gaze locked tightly on Shiki Ryougi. He felt as giddy as if he'd just hit the jackpot.
Aha, she really is here! Hard work truly does pay off.
Judging by her condition, the accident likely happened within the last month. He toyed with the idea of going inside for a closer look, but then reconsidered. This was the ICU, after all; if he barged in and compromised the sterile environment, causing her to kick the bucket, he'd be the villain of the story. Best to wait until she was moved to a general ward to truly admire her beauty.
Just then, the patient brought in by the ambulance arrived at the ICU with a flurry of doctors and nurses. Haruka Kasugano could no longer linger. He turned and vanished.
He slipped out of the ICU like a silent phantom, stepping into the hospital grounds amidst the dim glimmer of dawn. The world outside was just waking up to the first light of day—everything felt quiet and serene. He made his way to the hospital rooftop, found a secluded corner, and sat down.
Gazing into the distance, he watched the sunrise over Misaki City. The rising sun dyed the horizon a brilliant gold, bathing his face in a warm, golden glow. Immersed in the scenery, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. Before he knew it, his eyelids grew heavy, and sleep claimed him right there on the roof.
By the time Haruka Kasugano woke up, it was already noon. The sun was scorching, its glare stinging his eyes.
Holy crap... it's midday already? Sola's going to be worried sick that I disappeared. I've got to get back!
He scrambled to his feet, but as he prepared to leave, something on the lawn below caught his eye. A solitary boy sat on the grass, staring up at the sky. His eyes were filled with a profound sense of confusion and helplessness, as if he were searching for something.
Wait... that kid looks familiar. Who is he again?
His curiosity piqued, Haruka Kasugano headed downstairs to investigate. He approached quietly, trying not to disturb the boy's contemplation.
"Hey there, kid," Haruka Kasugano greeted softly.
Shiki Tohno looked up. His eyes held an unspeakable bewilderment—they were hollow, yet carried a trace of murderous intent.
"Hello..." the boy replied politely.
"What's your name?" Haruka Kasugano asked bluntly.
"My name? ...I'm Shiki Tohno," he answered, his voice trembling slightly.
Shiki Tohno... that name... I've heard it somewhere... Haruka Kasugano frowned, digging through his memories.
Damn! The "Kichiku" (Pervert) glasses guy! He's still young and not wearing his glasses yet—no wonder I didn't recognize him!
Wait... he's in the hospital. No glasses... Holy sht, is this right after he awakened the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception?*
Because the Tohno family feared the power of the Nanaya, the previous head, Makihisa Tohno, had wiped out the Nanaya clan. However, he took an interest in Shiki because he shared the same name as his own son (both pronounced "Shiki" in Japanese). Hoping to use the Nanaya bloodline to suppress the Tohno's non-human blood, he spared the boy and took him in as an adoptee. Later, Akiha's biological brother, SHIKI Tohno, suffered an inversion impulse and attacked her; Shiki died protecting Akiha. Not wanting him to go, Akiha shared half her "life" with him to bring him back. The chronic anemia Shiki suffers from later is actually due to his body being unstable from that incident.
One reason Shiki possesses the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception is that he has experienced "Death" firsthand, allowing him to comprehend it. Much like Shiki Ryougi, he witnessed "Death" and gained the eyes. Normally, those who witness death stay dead, making the eyes theoretically unobtainable. But Shiki Tohno was revived by Akiha, and Shiki Ryougi had her "Yin" personality (SHIKI) die in her place—leaving them both as people who saw Death but didn't die!
But that wasn't the point. The point was... Shiki Tohno and Shiki Ryougi were in the same hospital! It made sense; Misaki City was a small town, so if you wanted top-tier medical care, you came to the neighboring Misaki City.
Looking at Shiki Tohno's glass-less face, Haruka Kasugano flashed a wicked smile.
"Shiki... have you run into a big sister with red hair lately?" Haruka Kasugano asked. Aoko Aozaki should have red hair at this stage of her life.
"A red-haired sister... one showed up two days ago. But she seemed like she wanted to give me something and then left," Shiki Tohno said.
Hahaha, exactly. Aoko Aozaki would definitely be back to give him the "Mystic Eye Killers" glasses!
Wait... Aoko's glasses were stolen from her sister, Touko. Does that mean Touko's been unreachable because she's busy dealing with Aoko's robbery?
The pieces were falling into place. But more importantly: Aoko Aozaki. Who would pass up a chance with a stunningly beautiful Magician? If he missed this window, he might never run into that wind-like woman again! Shiki Ryougi would be asleep for another two years anyway—time to handle Aoko first!
He probably wasn't strong enough to take her head-on yet; she'd beat him to a pulp. He needed a plan.
Haruka Kasugano stroked his chin and looked at Shiki Tohno at his feet. Their eyes met.
I've got it! I'll use you, Pervert-kun!
Haruka Kasugano pulled out Circe's [Bond Essence] and summoned the "Kykeon" directly from it.
"Eat up, brat!"
Shiki Tohno: "..."
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Kykeon has the effect of turning people into animals. Naturally, it also grants a degree of control over them. Haruka Kasugano turned the "Kichiku glasses guy" into a "Teddy" (a common Chinese slang term for a hyper-sexual dog). To keep Aoko from noticing immediately, he didn't change the boy's appearance, keeping him in human form but altering his physiological reactions and instincts to match the dog.
On top of that, Haruka Kasugano doused him in a special drug and left him there.
Hehe. Now I just wait for Aoko to bring the glasses.
Haruka Kasugano lay down nearby, pretending to be injured and unconscious to bait Aoko. But—Aoko didn't show up all day. He had to send the boy back to his room to avoid raising suspicion at the hospital.
The second day, he placed the boy on the grass and lay down again. Still, no Aoko. Haruka Kasugano refused to give up! He wasn't leaving until he got to Aoko Aozaki!
Day after day, Haruka Kasugano lay on that grass. He had to top up the "Teddy" with more Kykeon several times.
Finally, on the fourth day, Aoko Aozaki appeared!
Haruka Kasugano quickly got into position. He was lying about four meters away from Shiki, down the slope of the lawn. Coming from the hospital, Aoko wouldn't see him until she got close.
In a few moments, she approached. She currently had long, flaming red hair that flowed like a blazing phoenix. Her figure was flawless—curvy, with long, straight legs. Every detail radiated perfection. Her body was a masterpiece of nature; there wasn't a single flaw to be found. She was a living portrait that demanded one's full attention.
At 163cm tall and 51kg, with measurements of 88/56/84cm, she had a superb physique—slim where she should be, and ample where it counted. As she got closer, her flawless skin dazzled in the sunlight like fine porcelain.
Aoko Aozaki slowly walked toward the slope where Haruka Kasugano lay. Her mere presence seemed to elevate the very grass beneath her.