Chapter 96

As the sun shines brightly on City A, Erina covers her eyes as she accidentally glances at the sun while walking out of her apartment building.

"Oh! There she is!" Layla said cheerfully, pointing at her as she waits from a distance.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Layla, Yukina…"

"It's ok, it's not like we're in a hurry or anything," Yukina said, staring at Erina.

"What is it?"

"Oh, nothing… you have a great fashion sense, I didn't expect to see you in a beautiful dress though, you look so refreshing,"

"I chose this since it seemed hot today, what about you? You're dressed quite well yourself, wearing a tight shirt and jeans, it's like you're showing off your figure…" staring at her breast.

Yukina covered her chest in embarrassment, "come on, don't say it like that! I dress like this every time I go out…. Great, now I'm self-conscious!"

"Hahaha, you two get along so well already," Layla said cheerfully.

Yukina and Erina suddenly stared daggers at her.

"Eh!? What's wrong?"

Looking at her plain shirt and knee-length skirt, "what about you? Aren't you dressed too plain? Confident about your cute face that much?"

"Eh!? What are you talking about!? We're just visiting the hospital, aren't we? What's wrong with dressing like this!?"

An awkward silence occurred for a short moment.

"come on, let's go," Erina said as she began to walk.

Yukina nodded, following Erina.

"Eh… why do I feel like it's not right to end the conversation this way…" looking awkward.

"Come on, Layla," Erina said, "he should be awake today right? I want to talk to him as soon as possible, and I'm going to need some explanation," looking at Yukina.

"Yeah… The doctor said he should wake up today, we'll talk it all out once we get there,".

Meanwhile, at a private hospital located somewhere outside the Central, a warm breeze passes through the window, turning cold as it brushes past Yuji's skin making him shiver from the mood of the room he is currently in.

"So, you're finally awake…"

Sitting up on the bed, looking nervous as sweat drops from his forehead, Yuji stared straight in front of him as he braces himself for whatever is about to happen.

"No reply? Do you not remember what happened yesterday?"

"Yesterday?" glancing out the window, he got a little grasp of what was happening, "I see, so a day has passed since that happened," he locked eyes with the person in front of him, "Gabriela… I,"

"That's not what I meant…"

"Huh?"

"To be more precise, how about last night?"

"I… don't even remember making it till sundown, what is it? What happened?"

"You look so confused… You really seem like you don't know…"

"what are you talking about? Anyway, how about you!? Are you…" Yuji became hesitant as he remembers what happened.

"I'm completely fine now," she said, "I was even the one who brought you here after our… conflict yesterday, though I was only doing what I was asked,"

"I see, who asked to bring me here? Yukina?"

"She probably would have, If you hadn't asked me first,"

"Huh…? I… asked you?"

"So you don't remember up until that part…"

Yuji looked confused, "what is she talking about… do you know, Alicia?" he thought, grabbing his head, he felt worried as he didn't get an answer.

"Alicia?"

"She won't be able to answer for a while," Gabriela said, making Yuji even more confused.

"Huh?" Yuji replied in shock and confusion.

"At least, that's what she told me,"

"Gabriela… do you…"

"Agh! That's enough for now!" Gabriela suddenly ran towards the window and fully opened up the curtains, brightening up the mood and the whole room.

"We'll talk all about the serious stuff later when everyone is ready!" she said with a bright smile, completely removing the tense mood between them.

"this girl… the way she changes the mood of things with a single smile or frown… she's scary in many ways…" Yuji thought, "I have so many questions, but I guess I'm going to have to hold on to that for now… I don't want to upset her,"

"If that's the case then… what are we supposed to talk about?" Awkwardly staring into Gabriela's eyes.

Baffled, Gabriela scratched the back of her head, "well… now that you mention it, you probably can't help but just keep thinking of your questions, can't you? And you probably want an answer to some of them as soon as possible,"

"Y… yeah," still sounding nervous.

"Then let's talk about this!" Smiling brightly as she sat beside him on the bed, "what do you… think of my sister?"

"…"

"Of course, I'm talking about sister Alicia, the one inside you,"

"How did you know…?"

"We can talk about that later, for now, tell me…" Pulling her face closer to Yuji with a smug expression, "what do you think of her?"

"I want my question to be answered already… but I guess I should go along with her for now," he thought.

Yuji looked away in thought, "what do I think of her…" holding his chin up high and clenching his eyebrows, struggling to think of an answer, "I have never given it much thought before… but if I had to say something…"

Gabriela subconsciously pulled her face closer, longing for an answer, "you've seen her right? Have you thought about her stunning beauty? Or perhaps the angelic mood she emits?"

After gathering his own thoughts towards Alicia, Yuji slowly opened his eyes and smiled, "If I were to say… I think she's a great sister,"

Looking at Yuji's bright and pure smile, showing no lies or ulterior motives, Gabriela's eyes enlarged as she felt her heart flutter, "that's wrong…" she whispered.

"Huh?"

Gabriela stood up from the bed and looked outside the window, "she wasn't just great… she was the best!"

Yuji smiled, "I see, glad you think of her that way, though I don't think comparing sisters is…"

"It's ok,"

"What is?" sounding confused.

"Saying she's the best out of all us siblings…. Since it's something all of us agreed on before,"

"I see… so you all thought she was the best?"

"Yeah… that's why when we lost her, it was…"

Yuji stayed silent, looking down on the bed as he didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, Gabriela jumped back into the bed and grabbed Yuji's head, forcing him to look her way.

Being taken by surprise, Yuji locked eyes with Gabriela with a tense expression, "w…what is it now?"

"You know… you're not the only one who has questions here…"

"Th… that's right!" He thought, "it looks like she found out about some things… but doesn't seem to know the full story… she must be…"

"Regarding Alicia and I…"

Gabriela suddenly placed her pointing finger above Yuji's lips, interrupting what he was about to say.

"We'll be talking about that later," Gabriela said, "I want my answers just like you want yours… but both of us have to wait," removing her finger from his lips.

"wait for what, exactly? Also, why with the serious look since…"

"I knew it…" she said, interrupting Yuji, " your eyes, I knew I wasn't seeing things yesterday,"

Yuji's eyes shrunk in tension.

"If I look really carefully into your eye, using a part of my ability on mine, I can see it… your left eye is… different,"

Suddenly, Yuji remembered Alicia's words some time ago. "it seems that when you reach your body limits, the Akuma side in you emerges and gives you more power," remembering her words, Yuji felt tensed, "and if I remember correctly, it changes the shape of my left eye…"

"Gabriela… did you…?"

Suddenly the door beside them opened.

Layla covered her face with her hands as she was flustered, while Yukina and Erina looked panicked and confused, as they all reacted in shock at Yuji and Gabriela's position.

Seeing Gabriela kneeling on top of Yuji with well-fashioned clothes, holding his face with both of her hands and emitting a suspicious mood between them, they all reacted in shock.

"AGJSDAKFJADFJL"

"What are you doing!?"

"What's going on!?"