Campione: Strongest# 457: A ‘Good Friend’

After 1 month.

“I heard Miss Nyaruko has been grounded again by Haru?”

A soft, subtly amused voice drifted out from the hospital room.

Haru, who was using a paring knife to peel an apple, looked up at Kirié Fujou, who was propped up on the bed screen with a playful look. “Something like that, yes.”

“Judging by your expression, did Nyaruko escape again?” Kirié Fujou’s smile grew brighter.

Almost a month had passed since she met Haru.

The silver-haired young man would often drop by her room, sharing the day’s funny stories. Although they were mostly mundane domestic anecdotes, Kirié deeply enjoyed listening to Haru recount these trivial matters.

Perhaps it was because these small details made her feel like she was still a part of the world, but more likely, it was simply because she was happy to have a friend complain to her. Kirié Fujou had always been completely alone.

Though, their relationship as ‘friends’ seemed a little ‘strange’ in the eyes of the nurses.

For example, on a stormy night, a ‘good friend’ claimed she was afraid of thunder, climbed onto the bed, and held the girl’s frail body while they slept.

That was surely beyond the scope of ‘friendship,’ wasn't it?

“Well, if nothing else, that one is a first-rate escape artist,” Haru said, his lip twitching as he continued to peel the apple skin in a single, continuous spiral.

No matter how powerful the seal or restriction he placed on her, nothing could hold that cowlick-wearing Outer God. The finest restriction he built last night at 8 PM was already breached by dawn. Now, that escapee was probably out roaming with her little follower, Azaka Kokutou.

'Why is Azaka so clingy to Nyaruko after being tricked into losing her ‘dignity’? She calls her ‘Auntie’ more often than she calls her Father.'

'No, wait. If you count the ‘extra’ time at night, I suppose she calls me ‘Father’ more often. One call per thrust. Don't you dare fear that.'

“Miss Nyaruko is quite the little mischief-maker,” Kirié Fujou said, covering her mouth and giggling softly.

“I only wish it were just mischief,” Haru muttered, recalling the morning news about a missing civilian.

“By the way, are you feeling any better?” Haru skilfully sliced the apple into a rabbit shape, placed it on a plate, and offered a small slice to Kirié’s lips.

“Ah—nom—” Kirié Fujou was used to the gesture. She opened her pale pink lips, took a bite of the apple, and chewed with a blush.

“Oh, so the home remedy I mentioned seems to be working,” Haru said, his lips curling into a strange smile.

The so-called home remedy was simply the infusion of life energy.

Kirié Fujou had been sick for so long that her body was severely depleted, so the nourishment had to be delivered slowly and gently.

The method of infusion was similar to what a certain painkiller had done to a certain little Kaoru: touching her all over. Wasn’t that method quite popular these days? Aside from the fact that Kirié was far more physically developed than a certain loli, there wasn’t much difference.

“It’s working, yes, but that method seems a little inappropriate, doesn’t it? At first, you only touched my hand, but why did it progress to…?” Kirié Fujou asked, her face completely red.

Kirié, who had been hospitalized since age seven, was innocent of gender relations, but the abnormal sensation of being touched all over by Haru—which left her weak and soft, as if she were dehydrated—made her suspicious.

'And why did he not spare my lower body? And why did he pay such special attention there?'

————————————————

Hearing Kirié’s question, Haru calmly placed the plate of apples on the bedside table, picked up the small mirror on top of it, and held it up to Kirié.

“Look at your complexion. If it’s working, what does it matter?”

Kirié Fujou stared blankly at her reflection in the glass mirror. Haru had styled her hair so her naturally smooth, dark-blue hair reflected a soft white light. Her delicate, slightly rounded face was subtly flushed, radiating a unique, ethereal charm. Like a rhododendron flower in full bloom or a sheltered noblewoman, she exuded an air of peaceful gentleness.

Compared to her skeletal appearance a month ago, the current Kirié Fujou—aside from her pale skin and her uniform hospital gown—looked like a completely different person.

“…” Kirié covered her lips, looking at her reflection in disbelief.

The lovely woman in the mirror made the exact same movements as she did, yet Kirié still couldn't believe this budding beauty was herself. Kirié felt as if she had fallen into a dream, like seeing a flower in a mirror or the moon in water.

“See? So don’t worry about the details—just focus on the results.”

Watching the dazed Kirié, Haru couldn't help but chuckle.

True, at first, the infusion of life force had only required contact with her hand, and even that was just to put her at ease, as he could have done it remotely.

However, as her depleted body was replenished, Kirié, who had always been a beauty beneath the sickness, began to blossom. Watching an ugly duckling slowly become beautiful and constantly exude a gentle, peaceful aura was a test of Haru’s self-control.

So, slightly adjusting the treatment method was an obvious decision, wasn’t it?

“Oh—oh—” Startled by Haru’s voice, Kirié Fujou responded vaguely. She snatched the mirror from Haru’s hand and began touching her own face, looking like a total fool as she smiled foolishly at her reflection.

Seeing her behavior, Haru’s lip twitched, and he nearly burst out laughing. Although he understood a woman’s vanity, the fact that Kirié had only just realized her complete transformation after several days was incredibly endearing.

“You never noticed before?” Haru teased.

“...Um.” Kirié’s movements instantly froze, and she looked embarrassed.

Having lived in the hospital for so long, she knew exactly how sickly and terrible she had looked. It was this natural female instinct that made her avoid mirrors, and if the nurse hadn't thoughtfully placed one by her bed, there wouldn’t have been a single high-definition mirror in the entire room.

Seeing Kirié’s distressed expression, Haru’s smile grew wider. Giving in to his mischief, he stared intently at her face, savoring her unique discomfort.

Just as Kirié was about to hide herself under the covers out of sheer embarrassment, Haru’s expression suddenly changed.

“What’s wrong?” Kirié asked, puzzled.

“Shiki seemed to move just now. I’m going next door to check on her,” Haru explained, having kept a subtle watch on the room next door.

Then, Haru stood up and quickly walked out of the room.

Haru, with his back to Kirié Fujou, did not see the blank, vacant expression that had replaced the shy blush on the girl’s face.

“She’s already awake?”