Astra listened intently to Arisu's story, following her every word. But as Arisu spoke with growing emotion, Astra suddenly felt an invisible force push against her chest, forcing her a few steps back. She frowned, thinking it was just the wind, and brushed it off.
Then, without warning, her legs locked in place.
She tried to move first forward, then back but her body refused to obey. A creeping unease settled over her as she attempted to call out to Arisu, but the moment she opened her mouth, a sharp pain shot through her throat. It was as if an unseen hand had wrapped around it, crushing her voice before it could escape.
She reached out desperately, her fingers stretching toward Arisu's distant figure, but no sound came. Her tongue felt numb, lifeless like it had never existed.
Her breathing turned ragged. Each gasp felt thinner, weaker, until she realized with mounting horror that she could no longer inhale at all. The air around her grew heavy, pressing down like an invisible weight, suffocating her from all sides. She clutched at her throat, her nails digging into her skin as panic surged through her.
Darkness crept into the edges of her vision. Her limbs turned numb. The world tilted And then everything went black as she collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
Arisu's heart pounded as she knelt beside Astra, shaking her desperately.
"Astra! Wake up! Astra!" Her voice wavered, thick with panic, as tears welled in her eyes. She pressed her hands against Astra's shoulders, but there was noh response.
Meanwhile, two figures approached from the opposite directiom, walking leisurely. One of them, Shion, carried a bag full of fresh fruits, while the other, Kaen, struggled with a massive basket overflowing with sweets.
"Are you sure she won't finish all of this in one night?" Shion asked, eyeing the basket.
Kaen let out a small sigh. "That's why we need to hide it from her giving her few now. It's a surprise. She was upset last night and barely slept. Milk sweets are her favorite. This should cheer her up."
"You think we can hide it? She's like a rat. she'll sniff it out even if we bury it underground. Chew, chew, chew."
The two chuckled at the thought, but their laughter was cut short when Kaen suddenly stopped. His expression tensed as if sensing something, and without another word, he quickened his pace.
Shion raised a brow. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Kaen didn't care to answer at that moment .His gaze was locked ahead, his heartbeat quickening as if looking for something.
That's when the basket dropped to dirt and his eyes widened at the scene infront of him,
Astra lying motionless on the ground, Arisu beside her, sobbing and shaking her . His breath hitched.
Hey Kaen! Why did you-
Shion, catching up, followed his gaze. When he saw the same his eyes widened, and without hesitation, he threw the fruit bag and sprinted forward along with him.
They dropped to their knees beside Astra,
"Miss haneko, what just happened?!" Shion's voice was sharp, louder than intended.
Arisu, barely holding herself together, sniffled between sobs. "I-I don't know! She was fine, and then she just she just collapsed! She won't wake up!"
Kaen's eyes scanned her, his breath hitching when he noticed some marks on her throat. His face paled instantly.
"Evil's Breath…" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, but loud enough for the others to hear.
Shion's head snapped toward him. "Evil's Breath?"
Kaen gave a stiff nod and on Shion's face visible panic crept into his features.
"We need to move fast!" Shion's voice was urgent. "Kaen, go inform Ryoma immediately! Miss Naneko, you should head home."
"But—"
"Just go back!"
Arisu flinched at his intensity but quickly nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Without another word, she got up then turned and ran.
Wasting no time, Shion bent down, wrapping Astra securely in his arms. Without hesitation, he lifted her and took off.
"Not this Again."
____________
A sharp pain throbbed in Astra's head as she slowly regained consciousness. Her fingers instinctively clutched at her temples, trying to ease the ache. Blinking against the light, her vision gradually adjusted, and she recognized the room. it was the place they had been staying.
She lay on the bed, her throat sore and dry. When she tried to sit up, a wave of weakness washed over her, and she nearly collapsed back onto the mattress. With great effort, she pushed herself up, using her trembling hands for support. messy hair fell over her face, blocking her view. She usually every morning tied it up in a bun in after waking up, but right now, she didn't have the strength to do that .
Taking a shaky breath, she reached for the table beside the bed, using it to stand. But the moment she placed weight on her legs, dizziness struck. Her vision blurred, and her body swayed. Before she could react, her knees buckled, and she felt herself falling eyes squeezing shut, bracing for the impact.
Just as she was about to fall, she heard the door creak open and felt a firm hand catch her.
"Watch out!"
She immediately recognized the voice but kept her eyes shut.
"Why did you get up?" he asked, steadying her and guiding her back onto the bed.
"You should rest. Don't leave the room," he added, his tone more of an order.
When she still didn't respond, he sighed. After a moment, he walked to the corner of the room, picked up a wooden comb, and returned to her side. Without a word, he gently took sections of her hair and began combing through them. Astra remained still, showing no reaction.
After a few minutes, he started braiding her hair.
"You wouldn't struggle so much if you kept it braided… but you never listen," he muttered, tying the end with a red band.
Finally, Astra opened her eyes and spoke.
"Ryoma….did I get infected again?"