Kana's eyes fluttered open, her breath uneven at first before slowly evening out. Her body felt strangely weightless, yet heavy at the same time — as if her limbs were pinned down by invisible weights.

The soft sensation beneath her registered only after a moment, and when her blurry vision cleared, she froze.

Ruby's face was right above hers.

Her pink hair spilled over her shoulders like silk, glowing faintly beneath the filtered sunlight peeking through the temple's latticed windows.

Her expression, for once, wasn't teasing or smug — instead, there was a quiet gentleness in her gaze, her soft fingers lazily playing with strands of Kana's hair as if absentmindedly weaving away her exhaustion.

Kana blinked slowly, realizing then that her head was resting on Ruby's lap. Her lips parted, but no words came at first.

Ruby noticed her stirring and tilted her head slightly, strands of pink swaying gently as she looked down at her.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?"

Ruby said softly, her voice unusually calm.

Kana tried to move, but her body protested almost immediately. Her muscles felt stiff, her arms sluggish, and her legs utterly unresponsive.

Groaning softly, she attempted to push herself up but failed, collapsing back into Ruby's lap with a frustrated huff.

"My limbs…They feel… heavy. I can't… move much."

Kana murmured, her voice hoarse.

Ruby's hand stilled in Kana's hair for only a second before continuing its gentle motions. Her expression didn't change, but her tone softened, quiet reassurance woven into every word.

"Don't worry. What you're feeling right now… is just a side effect. You forced the process to stop midway, Kana. Your body was beginning to transform, and I had to cancel it before it went too far."

Ruby said, her thumb brushing lightly against Kana's temple.

Kana's lips parted in silent confusion, but Ruby leaned down slightly, her pink hair grazing Kana's cheek as she continued in a steady tone.

"It won't harm you in the long run. Once your energy stabilizes, the heaviness will fade. You'll be fine."

Ruby reassured her gently.

Kana stared up at her for a moment, struggling to process her words. Then, slowly, she lifted her trembling hand, reaching upward as though pulled by instinct.

Her fingers brushed at the air between them, hesitating just inches away from Ruby's face.

"Ruby...Why? Why are you… helping me like this?"

Kana whispered, her voice fragile, her brows faintly furrowed.

Ruby blinked once, her lashes lowering slightly as a soft shadow crossed her face.

Instead of answering immediately, she let her hand slip from Kana's hair and lightly rest against the girl's cheek, warm and grounding.

"You don't need to know."

Ruby said simply, her tone even but carrying something unreadable beneath its calm surface.

There was something in those words — something Kana couldn't quite name — but it only made the strange familiarity in her chest grow stronger.

She didn't know why, but Ruby's presence felt… comforting. Safe. Like reaching toward something she had once known but forgotten.

Every time she looked into those pink eyes, it felt like a memory was trying to surface — like there was a missing piece buried deep within her.

Her fingertips brushed closer, almost touching Ruby's cheek, but before she could, her vision blurred again.

A sudden, consuming wave of drowsiness swept over her body, tugging at her consciousness and pulling her under before she could resist.

Ruby didn't pull away when Kana's hand faltered.

Instead, she reached for Kana's limp fingers, holding them gently as her soft voice cut through the haze swallowing Kana's awareness.

"Rest now. I'll be here when you wake."

Ruby whispered, her pink eyes glimmering faintly under the filtered light.

Those were the last words Kana heard before her consciousness faded completely.

At first, there was silence.

Then, gradually, whispers began to bloom in the corners of her mind.

Kana felt herself drifting, floating through weightless darkness. Yet the further she sank, the more vivid her surroundings became.

Pale threads of white and shimmering gold began weaving around her, forming an endless expanse that felt both beautiful and suffocating.

Her breath caught as the space around her shifted, and she felt it — something calling her. A voice, soft and distant, echoing faintly as though carried by the wind.

"…Kana…"

Her heartbeat quickened.

The sound was faint, but strangely… familiar. She didn't know why, but her instincts surged, pulling her toward it, urging her to follow.

The golden threads around her brightened, wrapping closer, almost as if guiding her forward — or trapping her.

"Kana… come closer… free me…"

Her steps quickened without her meaning to, her bare feet brushing against the warm, glowing strands as she moved through the endless space.

It felt as though if she just kept walking, she could reach the voice… she needed to reach it.

But then — something strange.

The more she walked, the further away it seemed.

No matter how many steps she took, the distance between her and the voice remained the same, as though the path itself was bending against her will.

Confusion struck. Kana slowed, her brows furrowing as unease crept into her chest.

"Kana…Don't leave me… please…"

The voice softened, pleading this time, pulling at something deep inside her.

Her chest tightened. There was something in that tone — something raw, desperate, familiar in a way she couldn't name. Her body ached to follow it. To help.

But then… something else.

A second sensation — faint but firm — pulling her in the opposite direction.

The white and gold strands began twisting, constricting around her like vines, and before she could move, a cold hand suddenly wrapped around her wrist from behind.

Kana gasped sharply and spun around.

No one was there.

But the grip remained — invisible yet unyielding, tugging her insistently toward where the voice was calling from.

For a moment, her instincts screamed at her to follow. To give in. To trust that voice.

But deep inside, something didn't feel right.

Her lips parted, breath shaky, and softly — almost instinctively — Kana whispered:

"…No."

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