Mako jolted upright, his chest heaving as beads of cold sweat trickled down his face. For a brief moment, he thought he might have died. But the relentless pounding of his heart told him otherwise.

  As his breathing slowed, he took in his surroundings: the sterile white walls, rows of neatly arranged beds, and the faint, pungent aroma of antiseptics. The rhythmic ticking of a clock punctuated the familiar silence he was accustomed to.

  It was unmistakable—he was in the school infirmary.

  With a deep sigh, he leaned back against the pillow, grateful the strange dream had ended.

  But that’s when he noticed her.

  Seated by his bedside was a certain pink-haired girl with wide, startled eyes. She held a tissue to her nose, which had a faint crimson stain, and her cheeks were a light shade of pink.

  “How long have you been sitting there?” Mako asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

  “...Long enough to wonder if you were possessed,” Ashita replied, her tone half-joking but her expression was genuine concern. “You almost made me jump. What happened?”

  “Just... a bad dream.” Mako turned his head, avoiding her gaze as the remnants of the unsettling vision lingered in his mind. He didn’t see the point in burdening her with the details.

  “What about you?” he asked, scratching the back of his head. “What brings you to the infirmary?”

  “Just... passing through.” Ashita shrugged, her voice was ced with faint unease. “Needed some bandages, saw you lying here. I figured I’d check if you were, y’know, dead or something.”

  Mako raised an eyebrow, giving her a ft look. “You got hurt in the dodgeball game too?”

  He pointed to her still-bleeding nose. Ashita’s brows furrowed, but then her eyes widened, and she quickly averted her gaze.

  “O-Oh, that?” Her voice pitched slightly as she waved a hand dismissively, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. “Y-Yeah, I got bopped in the nose during dodgeball. Got a problem with that?”

  He scowled at her skeptically, but after a moment, he let out a resigned sigh. “Not at all”

  A brief silence followed, the air between them growing thick with awkwardness. Mako turned toward her again, studying her carefully before speaking. “Were you worried about me?”

  Ashita’s face instantly went crimson. “W-What?! No way! Don’t ftter yourself!” She whipped her head to the side, crossing her arms in an exaggerated dispy of indignation.

  Despite her reaction, Mako couldn’t help but notice how uncharacteristically flustered she seemed. It was... kind of cute.

  “You know, you’re kinda adorable when you’re not trying so hard to be a prim-and-proper girl,” he teased, unable to suppress a chuckle as Ashita’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. It was almost like steam might burst from her head.

  “No, I’m not!” she snapped, her voice hitting a higher pitch than she probably intended. “And what makes you think I’m putting on an act, huh?”

  “You’re a terrible actor,” Mako said bluntly, watching as her expression teetered between indignation and outright embarrassment.

  Truth be told, he’d suspected as much the moment they met. Something about Ashita’s overly polite demeanor felt off—like she was trying too hard to come across as composed. It was almost a relief to see that his gut feeling about her was spot-on.

  For a moment, Ashita sat in silence before letting out a frustrated groan and throwing her hands in the air. “Ugh, fine! Yeah, okay, the whole act is fake. Happy now?”

  “Not really.” He shrugged nonchantly. “I guess I’m just curious why you’d bother with such a paper-thin fa?ade in the first pce.”

  Ashita slumped back into her chair, running a hand through her hair in exasperation. “It’s... complicated,” she admitted, her voice softening. “My dad transferred me here, and I don’t know anyone. He’s big on appearances and keeps pushing me to behave properly. I hate it, but... I like having an allowance, so here we are.”

  Mako raised an eyebrow, smirking. “So, you’re pretending to be someone you’re not—for cash? That’s actually kinda funny.”

  “Don’t judge me!” Ashita shot back, pointing an accusatory finger at him. “It’s not like I’m proud of it! Peach Parfaits don’t come cheap, and I’ve got standards.”

  “Fair enough,” Mako said with a chuckle. “But, for the record, the real you? Way more interesting.”

  Ashita blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Her mouth opened as if to fire back but quickly closed again. For a brief moment, her expression softened into something unexpectedly vulnerable.

  “... You okay?” Mako asked, his tone a bit gentler this time. He didn’t know why, but he wanted to coax her into opening up more.

  Ashita looked away, rubbing her arm. “It’s just... I kinda stole your thunder back there. I thought I broke your neck or something…”

  Mako tilted his head, confused for a second, until a spark of realization lit up in his brain.

  “Oh, you mean this?” Without warning, he twisted his head a full 180 degrees.

  Ashita gasped, eyes wide. “WHAT THE HELL?!”

  She jumped out of her seat, wondering if the boy really was possessed.

  Mako straightened his head back into pce with a grin. “Rex. My grandpa used to take Kimera back when it was a thing. I guess I inherited some owl traits from the dose he got. So yeah, part owl.”

  Ashita stared at him, blinking. Then she leaned forward, curiosity taking over her initial shock. “Okay... that’s actually kind of cool. But seriously, don’t ever do that again!” She gave him a pyful shove.

  “Noted,” Mako replied with a ugh. “Just wanted to show you that I’m fine. No broken bones or grudges. You didn’t maim me or anything. And for what it’s worth, I don’t talk behind people’s backs—not that I have many people to talk to anyway.”

  Ashita scowled at his words, but then her eyes gained a determined glint. “Well, you can talk to me. We’re friends, right?”

  Mako froze, caught off guard by the sudden statement.

  Friends? It was strange to hear someone call him that, especially from a girl his age. And, even though he had talked to her twice before, it was still a foreign feeling to him even now.

  But he quickly recovered, scratching his head and trying to py it cool. “Y-Yeah, of course, Ashita.”

  Now it was his turn to feel awkward. Mako gnced away, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. Ashita, noticing his flustered state, couldn’t help but ugh.

  CONNECTION ACQUIRED

  “... What?” Mako blurted, startled by the sudden voice.

  Ashita tilted her head, her ughter fading into curiosity. “Something wrong?”

  “...It’s nothing.” He waved her off quickly, trying to shake the odd sensation.

  He turned away, hoping to push the moment aside, but something caught his eye. It was faint, barely there, like a glimmer of light just out of focus. Mako squinted, waiting for it to fade, but it stubbornly lingered.

  “What the…” he muttered, lifting a hand to brush his bangs aside.

  There it was, clearer now: a thin, translucent red string, shimmering faintly in the air. One end seemed to vanish into his chest, while the other stretched toward…

  His gaze darted to Ashita, who was suddenly turning her head to the side, avoiding his eyes.

  “Hey, do you see this?” he asked, pointing to the mysterious string.

  Ashita’s shoulders stiffened, and her response came a beat too te. “See what?”

  Mako frowned, gncing between her and the string. “This… this thing right here.” He gestured again, more insistently.

  Ashita still didn’t look at him. Instead, she fidgeted with her sleeve. “...I don’t see anything.”

  Mako hesitated, watching her carefully. Was she avoiding him because his face looked like a disaster? He winced at the memory of the ball smming into his head earlier. Maybe she just didn’t want to see the aftermath.

  Or was it her own injury? He noticed Ashita pressing the tissue against her nose again, her movements quick and a little too deliberate. Was her nosebleed getting worse?

  He assumes she just didn’t want him to see her face smeared with blood, probably feeling self-conscious about the mess.

  Shaking his head, Mako turned his attention back to the strange thread floating in his vision. Unable to resist his curiosity, he reached out, fingers brushing toward the translucent strand. It passed through him, intangible, like the air. A chill ran down his spine, leaving him unsettled and more confused than before.

  “What are you doing now?” Ashita asked, curiously glimpsing at his sudden actions.

  Mako dropped his hand and sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe that dodgeball really did mess with my vision.”

  Ashita finally turned slightly toward him, though she kept her gaze focused on the wall to avoid his eyes. “Disoriented, huh? Here, how many fingers am I holding up?”

  She raised her hand, three fingers extended.

  “Three,” Mako answered without hesitation.

  Ashita shrugged, lowering her hand. “See? You’re fine. Probably nothing.”

  Mako wanted to brush it off, but the string lingered stubbornly in his sight, an ever-present anomaly. Following its faint, translucent path, he traced one end to his chest and the other…

  To Ashita.

  Before he could even begin to process what it meant—

  BAM!

  The infirmary door smmed open, making both of them jump.

  “Ah, you’re awake! Welcome back, Mako!”

  The school nurse, Cara Belle, wobbled into the room with an unsteady gait, her b coat dragging behind her like a cape. Her green hair was tousled, her gsses sat slightly askew, and her flushed cheeks hinted at… something questionable. She stumbled toward Mako’s bed, the sharp cck of her heels only amplifying her precarious steps.

  A distinct, intoxicating aroma wafted through the air as she approached, but it wasn’t nearly as distracting as the chaotic sway of her curves with each teetering step.

  Cara adjusted her gsses with one hand while zily tossing her b coat over her shoulder with the other. Her smile was a little too wide and her voice carried a sing-song quality as she addressed him. “Day one, and you’re already stuck in here with me? I was hoping to have a quiet day, but nooo~! Still, I’m gd to see you again, Mako!”

  Before either of them could respond, Cara unceremoniously plopped herself onto the edge of Mako’s bed, leaning in close enough for him to catch a whiff of something sharp and sweet, like spiked fruit punch.

  Ashita blinked, utterly baffled. “Is she… okay?” she whispered, leaning slightly toward Mako.

  Mako sighed, his expression caught somewhere between exasperation and resignation. “She’s fine,” he muttered, though the bead of sweat running down his temple suggested otherwise. “...Probably just overworked.”

  “I’m not overworked!” Cara hiccuped, her words slurring slightly. “I just had too much—”

  “Paperwork!” Mako interrupted quickly, his voice sharp as he forced a reassuring smile. “Lots of paperwork. Don’t worry, Ashita, Ms. Belle just burns the midnight oil with all her administrative duties.”

  “...I see.” Ashita didn’t sound convinced. Her skeptical gaze shifted between Mako and Cara before settling on the nurse. “Ms. Belle, was it? Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Women at your age need to take extra care of their health.”

  “I’m not that old!” Cara whined, her voice pitched like a child’s.

  “Sure you aren’t,” Ashita quipped, rising from her seat and grabbing her things. “Anyway, Gym’s almost over, and I’ve got to get to css.”

  “Oh right, csses exist,” Cara muttered, rubbing her temples as if only now recalling her professional obligations. She turned her bleary eyes to Mako. “You stay put, kiddo. I need to do a proper check-up since you’re awake.”

  “Got it, Ms. Belle,” Mako replied, his tone obedient but tired. He looked over at Ashita and offered her a faint smile. “Take care, Ashita. See you at lunch?”

  “See you at lunch,” she said, smiling back as she headed toward the door.

  The moment Ashita left the infirmary, Mako let out a deep breath and slumped against the bed. His expression shifted to one of mild irritation as he turned toward Cara, who was now swaying slightly in pce.

  “...Cara,” he began, his tone low but pointed, “Why are you drinking on the job again?”

  Cara froze, blinking at him with wide, gssy eyes, before abruptly lunging forward and wrapping him in a surprisingly tight hug.

  “I BLEW ALL MY MONEY ON LOTTERY TICKETS AGAIN!” she wailed, her sobs muffled as she buried her face into Mako’s shirt, using it as an impromptu tissue.

  Mako lowered his head and exhaled heavily, his arms awkwardly patting Cara’s back in a weary attempt to comfort her. “You really need to get your priorities straight,” he muttered, his tone caught between exasperation and sympathy. “What’s going to happen when someone catches you hammered on the clock?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with washing down my sorrows!” Cara shot back, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes. “Besides, my Role lets me sober up instantly!”

  “That doesn’t make it okay,” Mako grumbled loud enough for her to hear. “You nearly admitted to being drunk in front of another student. If I hadn’t cut you off, she might’ve reported you!”

  Cara’s eyes widened in realization before another torrent of tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking Mako’s already abused shirt. “You’re right! But I still want to keep drinking!”

  “That doesn’t solve anything!” Mako snapped, his voice rising with frustration.

  Seeing Cara act this way, it was hard to believe she was once a renowned figure in the medical field. Just a few years ago, she had been one of the youngest and brightest minds of her generation—a natural genius whose Role allowed her to innovate groundbreaking advancements in medicine.

  But all of that changed after a tragic incident. While developing an experimental drug meant to counteract the effects of Rezevil, something went horribly wrong. The procedure had pushed the patient into critical condition, and Cara was forced to shoulder the bme. The medical community ostracized her, stripping her of the promising career she had worked so hard to build.

  Fortunately, she had a friend at Sac High willing to vouch for her. Thanks to them, she found a pce at the school, coinciding with Mako’s freshman year.

  Over time, Mako had grown closer to Cara, though he would never openly admit it. Frequent trips to the infirmary had forged an odd camaraderie between them, one that allowed her to indulge in her eccentricities—much to his chagrin. Still, despite everything, he was grateful that she continued to treat him with the same warmth after learning he was Roleless.

  Well, was Roleless, considering he had a Role now. Not that he’d ever admit what it was to anyone.

  “Hey, Mako,” Cara suddenly blurted out, her voice tinged with unexpected meekness. “Do you think I’ll ever get a boyfriend?”

  “W-Why are you asking me that all of a sudden!?” Mako snapped, clearly caught off guard by the nurse’s sudden question.

  “Because it’s embarrassing to ask the other staff,” Cara murmured with a wistful sigh. “I don’t want people my age knowing I’m still single.”

  “I feel like telling someone younger than you doesn’t make it any better,” Mako retorted, scowling at how she responded.

  Cara giggled, the sound tinged with a mix of humor and self-deprecation. “But you have trouble with girls your age too, Mako. So you can understand what I’m going through, right?”

  Mako opened his mouth to respond but hesitated. Turning his face away, his cheeks flushed a faint pink. “Well… you know that girl who was in the room earlier? You might not have noticed it in your… less-than-sober state, but she asked me to have lunch with her. So, technically, I’m getting a date.”

  For a moment, the room was filled with silence. Cara’s expression was unreadable as her hair shadowed her eyes. Then, without warning, she buried her face into Mako’s shirt again, unleashing yet another wave of tears. “I REALLY AM WORTHLESS! EVEN A KLUTZ LIKE YOU CAN GET A DATE BEFORE ME!”

  Watching the nurse’s exaggerated breakdown, Mako let out a resigned sigh. He wrapped his arms around her again, patting her unkempt hair with a mix of concern and irritation. “You know this is supposed to be my st year, right? I’m not going to be around this school forever. Maybe it’s time for you to try and change—just a little?”

  Cara sniffled, peeking up at him through tear-filled eyes.

  “If you start taking your work seriously,” Mako continued, his tone softening, “maybe one day you’ll find someone. But it’s not going to happen if you keep doing… this.”

  Cara blinked, her lip quivering as she mulled over his words. With a dramatic pout, she slumped back onto the bed. “I don’t know… maybe I just don’t like this job as much as I thought I would. Honestly, what’s the point? Maybe I should just get myself fired and be done with it.”

  Mako’s expression darkened, and he let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t sell yourself short, Cara. Everyone screws up—it doesn’t mean you’re out of the game.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, hesitant, searching for the right words to say. “... Look, I know things didn’t go the way you pnned, but that doesn’t mean you should throw everything away. You’re still a damn good doctor. You’ve patched me up more times than I can count, and I’m still standing, aren’t I?”

  Cara gnced at him, her pout softening ever so slightly.

  “And if it makes you feel better,” Mako added, his tone quieter but earnest, “I’ll make sure to keep in touch even after I graduate. So stop being so gloomy, alright? You’re not as hopeless as you think.”

  Cara stared at him, her eyes widened before her cheeks began to flush. She let out a soft ugh, her mood lightening. “You always know the right thing to say to cheer me up, don’t you?”

  “Well, we’ve known each other for like, four years now,” Mako replied with a small shrug. “This isn’t exactly my first pep talk.”

  “And it probably won’t be your st,” Cara finished for him with a sly grin. Her expression softened, and after a moment, she added, almost wistfully, “You know… if I ever got a boyfriend, I’d want him to be someone like you.”

  “What?” Mako froze, his head snapping toward her in surprise.

  “I mean it,” she said, her voice steady but her gaze hazy. “You listen to all my problems, even when I’m being ridiculous. And you put up with my nonsense when no one else would.” She reached out, her fingers gently brushing against his cheek, her touch warm. “You’re the only one who really listens, Mako. Guys like you are rare. I wish more of them were like you.”

  Mako stared at her, utterly bewildered by the sudden confession. His mouth hung open, but no words came out. Realizing he was gawking at her, he quickly turned his face away, cheeks burning.

  Cara giggled, clearly enjoying his flustered reaction. “That clumsy, dorky side of you? It’s kind of cute. I’m honestly surprised no girl’s tried to sweep you off your feet yet.”

  “Y-You know the exact reason why girls don’t approach me!” Mako stammered, his voice rising defensively.

  She ughed again, the sound light and teasing, as she leaned back with a smirk. “Maybe, but I still think they’re missing out.”

  Mako ran a hand through his hair, sighing as he tried to figure out what to do with this woman. But suddenly, Cara leaned closer, her face nearing his neck. He froze when a sharp chill ran down his spine.

  “W-What are you—” He stopped mid-sentence at the sound of her taking a loud sniff.

  “Sorry,” she said, pulling back slightly but still close enough to make him uneasy. “I just realized you smell nice. Did you put on cologne or something?”

  “...Cologne?” he echoed, confused. As far as he knew, he hadn’t used anything like that. What was she picking up on?

  Before he could piece it together, she started absentmindedly brushing her hand against his chest, sending a strange tingle through him. Her breasts dangled close to his arm and lightly pressed against him like a pillow.

  “You’re really close, Cara…” he mumbled, his voice shaky.

  She tilted her head, blinking up at him innocently. “I was hugging you before—why are you getting flustered now?” she teased, nuzzling against his shoulder like a kitty cat.

  Mako stammered, “W-Well, this feels… different.”

  Despite his awkward protest, he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. Her warmth was oddly comforting, though his brain screamed at him to set boundaries.

  No.

  A rational part of him pushed through the haze, reminding him that he needed to stop this before it went too far.

  But yet…

  BUT YET—

  Suddenly, a wave of heat surged through Mako's body, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed Cara by the shoulders, pushing her down onto the bed. The Nurse could only gasp in shock as Mako pinned her arms to the mattress.

  The strands of hair that had clung to his face slipped away, and from his commanding position, he could fully take in Cara's striking beauty.

  From her tousled hair to her vivid emerald eyes and all her voluptuous curves, he took in every detail of the intoxicating dy in front of him and licked his lips.

  "Hey, Cara, You might want to watch out when you tease me like that,” A faint smirk tugged at his lips. The nurse's breaths came in soft, uneven waves as the young man's hand started to gently brush against her cheek. “Otherwise, you’re just asking me to eat you up.”

  CONNECTION STRENGTHENED“...”

  The sudden voice snapped Mako out of his haze, and the realization of his compromising position with the school nurse hit him like a truck. He scrambled off of her in a panic, bowing deeply as he stammered out an apology.

  “S-Sorry, ma’am! I didn’t mean for that to happen! I-I don’t even know what came over me! Honest!” His words tumbled out in desperation, a knot tightening in his chest. The st thing he wanted was to ruin one of the few bonds he had, especially with someone he’d need to rely on when he inevitably got hurt again.

  Cara remained silent as she sat up, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her gsses. Her hair obscured her face, but Mako could swear he saw a faint flush of red on her cheeks.

  He braced himself, clenching his eyes shut as he prepared for the scolding of a lifetime. But instead...

  “You should probably get back to css, Mako,” she said, her tone surprisingly calm, almost sober. “The bell’s about to ring, so you should hurry.”

  “O-Oh. Yeah, thanks.” Mako straightened up, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. He stepped toward the door, but something made him stop. He hesitated, gncing back at Cara.

  “...Something wrong?” she asked, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her coat.

  He smiled softly, his voice warm. “...Just take care of yourself, okay?”

  With that, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

  Cara sat frozen for a moment, her expression unreadable. But as the sound of Mako’s footsteps faded into silence, the composure she fought to maintain shattered. She colpsed back onto the bed, her hands flying to her face as a storm of emotions surged through her, painting her cheeks a deep, fiery red.

  "W-Was Mako always like that?" she murmured, her voice barely audible. Steam practically billowed from her head as she pressed her flushed palms to her cheeks. "I never imagined he could be so bold... yet..."

  Her words trailed off, her heart racing, and her eyes gleaming with an unspoken realization.

  "Yet... I don't mind if he was so bold with me."

  The Nurse let out a muffled scream into her pillow, wailing like a lovesick girl.

  Meanwhile, Mako, lost in thought, made his way to Literature css.

  "Just then... I saw it," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his chin. "I thought I was imagining it before, but it was so clear, unlike with Ashita..."

  He recalled the moment he turned back in the infirmary. He saw it then. "Cara had a Red Thread too."

  Charlie_Bones