The world had quieted down since that night.

The chaos, the fire, the screams—everything had melted into a silence as the whole country was now in fear of what's next.

Two days had passed.

Ren stood beside Kyouka's hospital bed, the faint sunlight spilling through the white curtains and washing over her face. Her skin looked perfect again—smooth, unblemished, like she had never been burned at all.

Kyouka lay there, her breathing steady but weak. Her voice was still gone; her body needed time. But her eyes… they followed him. They understood him.

Ren smiled softly, brushing a few strands of hair away from her forehead. "Hey," he murmured. "You know, I thought I lost you back there."

Kyouka blinked, her fingers twitching slightly on the white sheets as Ren's voice only reached Kyouka's ears.

He chuckled quietly. "Don't look at me like that. You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"

She made a faint sound—a small sigh that barely escaped her lips—but Ren caught it. He gently patted her head, his touch careful and warm. "It's okay," he whispered. "You don't have to say anything. Just rest. You did enough already."

The steady rhythm of the heart monitor filled the silence. Each beep felt like reassurance that she was still here. Still alive.

Hiyori stood on the other side of the bed, arms folded loosely, her gaze soft but unreadable. She hadn't said much since they arrived. She didn't need to.

Ren glanced at her and smiled faintly. "You've been here all night too?"

She nodded. "Couldn't sleep," she said quietly. "Didn't want her to wake up alone."

"That's… very you," Ren said, letting out a small laugh.

Hiyori shrugged. "Someone has to make sure you don't break down either."

Ren smirked, looking down at Kyouka again.

A brief knock came at the door, and a nurse peeked in. "Mr. Ren, Ms. Misa has gone to meet one of the doctors. She said she'll be back soon."

Ren nodded. "Thanks."

As the door closed again, the silence returned. Only the sound of machines and Kyouka's breathing filled the room.

Ren looked at Hiyori, his tone gentle. "Take care of her for a bit, okay? I'll go see if Misa needs any help."

Hiyori gave a small nod. "Ok, Ren. I'll stay here."

Ren gave Kyouka one last pat on the head before he turned toward the door. "Don't give her a hard time, okay?" he whispered with a smile.

Kyouka blinked once—slowly, deliberately.

Ren chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I'll take that as a promise."

He stepped outside and closed the door softly behind him.

The hallway felt heavier. Each breath he took carried a weight he couldn't name. The scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, mingling with the faint hum of distant footsteps and the beeping of machines.

Ren leaned against the wall, exhaling deeply. "What the actual fuck happened here…" he muttered under his breath.

He could still see it—the image burned into his mind. Kyouka's body burned to a crisp, her blood smeared through his shirt. He'd carried her out, skin charred, breathing barely there. There was no way she should've survived, let alone healed like this.

And then… Misa.

He remembered seeing her slip into the room late that night. She had spoken to a few doctors first, her tone calm but firm, as if she knew exactly what she was doing.

Ren frowned, running a hand through his hair. "You're hiding something, aren't you, Misa…"

He pushed himself off the wall and walked down the corridor. The further he went, the quieter it became—until he heard faint voices coming from a side hall near the staff offices.

Peeking around the corner, Ren saw Misa talking with another woman—someone in a formal black suit, her presence commanding.

"…it's fine," the woman was saying softly. "I'll adjust the camera footage and documents. Your identity won't be in any trouble."

Ren's heart skipped. Identity?

Misa exhaled, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you… this means a lot. I really owe you."

The woman smiled faintly. "No need. Your safety and identity is our responsibility to protect. You're a national treasure for us."

Ren froze. National treasure?

Misa laughed softly, shaking her head.

The woman patted her shoulder gently. "Take care, Miracle!"

Then, without another word, the woman turned and walked away, her heels clicking against the floor until she disappeared around the corner.

Ren stayed hidden, his mind spinning.

National treasure. Hidden identity. Adjusting camera footage… what the hell are you, Misa?

He clenched his fists slightly, then sighed, letting them fall to his sides. "No… not my business," he muttered under his breath. "She saved Kyouka. That's all that matters. Besides, she is not a danger to me."

Still, a flicker of unease refused to die in his chest.

Ren watched as Misa turned and started walking back toward Kyouka's room. Her pace was calm, her expression soft again—just like the Misa he knew.

He waited until she disappeared from sight before quietly moving down another hallway and looping back toward the patient rooms.

By the time he reached the door again, his heartbeat had steadied. He sat down on one of the waiting chairs outside, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

A few minutes later, Misa appeared, walking gracefully down the corridor. Her kimono swayed slightly with each step, her expression warm when she saw him.

"Ren," she said softly. "You're still here?"

Ren stood up quickly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Of course I am."

Without warning, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Misa froze for a heartbeat—then smiled and hugged him back, her chin resting gently against his shoulder. "Everything will be fine, baby," she whispered. "Kyouka's a strong girl."

Ren said nothing. He just held her. For a moment, all the questions faded away—the secrets, the doubts, the strange conversation he overheard.

After a long moment, Misa pulled back slightly, her eyes glimmering. "I'm glad she's recovering. I was so worried when they told me her situation was bad."

Ren looked at her carefully. "Yeah… you looked really worried that night."

Misa smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Of course. I worry about three of you, my precious family."

Ren tilted his head. "Family..."

She chuckled. "What's that tone?"

He shook his head quickly. "Nothing. Just… never thought I'd have a family like this."

Misa laughed softly and patted his arm. "You've been here for too long, Ren. You should get some rest."

"I'm fine."

"Don't argue," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "You've been running on fumes since we got here. Go home, take a shower, sleep. I'll stay with Kyouka for the night."

Ren hesitated, watching her eyes. She seemed genuine—warm, calm, caring. The perfect mask of a medical worker who cared about her patients.

And yet… he couldn't forget what he'd heard.

"Alright," he said finally. "If anything happens, call me right away."

"Of course."

She smiled again and walked past him into the hospital room. The door closed softly behind her.

Ren stood there for a while, his thoughts tangled.

Then, with a small, tired laugh, he muttered, "It looks like I got an interesting family."

He shoved his hands into his pockets and started walking down the corridor, the pale lights above casting long shadows on the floor.

As he walked away, the sound of the heart monitor echoed faintly behind the door—steady, calm, alive.

For the first time in days, he felt relief wash over him. But beneath it, in the quiet corner of his heart, a whisper lingered.

What did you really do, Misa?

***

The private reading room in the library was a sanctuary of silence, its walls lined with towering bookshelves that stretched toward the ceiling. Dim light filtered through stained-glass windows, casting a soft, golden glow over the leather-bound tomes.

Ren and Anna sat close on a plush velvet couch tucked in a secluded corner, the air thick with the scent of old paper and something far more electric. Books lay forgotten on the table before them, their pages untouched as the two leaned into each other, their breaths mingling.

Ren's hand found Anna's waist, pulling her closer as their lips met in a heated kiss. It was hungry, urgent, their mouths moving with a rhythm that spoke of pent-up desire.

Anna's fingers tangled in Ren's dark hair, tugging lightly as she pressed herself against him. His hands roamed, tracing the curve of her back, slipping beneath the hem of her blouse to graze the warm skin of her lower back. She let out a soft gasp, her lips parting against his, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing hers with a slow, deliberate intensity.

"Ren," Anna murmured against his mouth, her voice a breathless whisper, "we shouldn't… not here."

"Shh," he replied, his lips brushing her jaw, trailing down to the sensitive spot beneath her ear. "No one's coming. It's just us."

Anna quickly realized she shouldn't complain, because Ren would lose interest in her if she became too much of a scaredy-cat.

Her hands slid down his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she pulled him closer, her body arching into his touch. Their kisses grew fiercer, a tangle of lips and tongues, hands exploring with reckless abandon.

Ren's fingers danced along her thigh, slipping under her skirt, and Anna's breath hitched, her nails digging into his shoulders. The world outside the library faded away, leaving only the heat of their bodies and the soft sounds of their shared desire.

Ren pulled back slightly, his lips hovering over hers, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. "By the way," he said, his voice low and teasing, "where's that other girl? One who put me in trouble last time."

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