A New Dawn, Reunion Once Again

Lily pushed open the door, her eyes narrowing the moment she stepped inside. A cute nurse with long, silky black hair stood just a few feet from Leo—who, to her surprise, looked like a guilty kid caught stealing cookies. His wide-eyed stare practically screamed, 'I swear, it's not what it looks like.'

For a split second, her eyes flickered to the adorable fluffy cat ears twitching atop his head and the kitten-like tail flicking behind him.

'Oh God. Even in reality, he's stupidly cute!'

She nearly melted on the spot, but she quickly snapped out of it, crossing her arms with a dramatic pout.

"Who's this, Leo?!"

Leo floundered to find an answer as his gaze flicked between Lily and the mysterious nurse. However before he could find the words to say, the nurse stepped towards Lily with a bright smile. 

"Nice to meet you Ms. You must be Mr.Leones sister. You are as beautiful as the rumors say. It is a pleasure to meet you~! My name is Rachel. Rachel Wu." 

Lily blinked, then grinned smugly, absolutely basking in the attention.

"Hehe~! Beautiful and famous? I like this nurse." 

She tossed her now vibrantly green hair dramatically. 

"You've got a sharp eye, Rachel~."

Rachel chuckled.

 "Of course. I've heard a lot about you, Miss Haronyu."

Leo, still standing awkwardly, sighed.

"Lily… You're not my sister."

Lily froze mid-smugness.

Rachel tilted her head slightly, intrigued. 

"Oh? You're not related?"

Her bemused expression only made things worse.

Lily's face immediately turned cherry red. She whipped her head toward Leo, flashing him an embarrassed yet furious look.

Leo felt a deep, primal sense of impending doom.

Lily, recovering fast, crossed her arms and huffed dramatically. "Ohhh, I see how it is. Trying to embarrass me, huh?"

Then, her eyes glinted mischievously.

"…So, should I tell Luna that the reason we aren't leaving the hospital is because you're here flirting with this pretty nurse?"

Leo felt his soul leave his body.

His ears flattened. His tail bristled in panic.

"Y-You wouldn't dare!"

Lily smirked.

Rachel, watching the exchange, let out a soft chuckle. "Oh my~. This is way more fun than I expected."

Leo snapped his head toward Rachel and growled.

"Well, I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself, you crazy—" He paused.

His instincts screamed at him to shut up.

Because he had just noticed the dark glint in Rachel's eyes… and the gleam of the scalpel between her fingers.

"—good nurse."

He forced a tense, polite smile.

Lily snorted.

Rachel simply smiled back, the scalpel disappearing somewhere out of Leo's sight. 

Leo's tail flicked stiffly as his survival instincts kicked into high gear.

"We should go. Thank you for looking after me, Miss Rachel. Goodbye!"

Leo spun on his heel so fast it was almost unnatural, grabbing Lily's wrist as he practically dragged her toward the door.

"Ahh. Right! Yes, Luna will be waiting at the front desk, I think."

Lily stumbled slightly as she was yanked along, still basking in Rachel's earlier praise—until something about the nurse's demeanor nagged at her.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

'Wait a second… something's… off about her…'

But before she could put her finger on it, Leo tightened his grip, practically yanking her out of the room.

Lily let out an indignant squawk.

"H-Hey! No need to run, I'm coming, I'm coming—wait, are you scared?"

Leo's ears twitched.

"No! Shut up! Walk faster!"

Silence returned as Rachel stood alone, trying her best not to laugh.

"…That Kitty Boy was cute."

Then, her smile froze.

"Wait a second."

Her eye twitched.

"His sister's friend paid for the room, right?"

Realization dawned.

"Wasn't that her?! Crap!"

Her hand clenched into a fist.

"I missed my chance to make money! Damn it!"

Then—

"…Oh, shit. I forgot to tell the doctor he was awake."

Rachel facepalmed.

Her usually sharp mind felt slow, her lack of sleep finally catching up with her.

After a long pause, she exhaled sharply, shoulders slumping.

"…Damn it."

She could only trudge out of the room and go tell the Doctor and take the inevitable scolding that was coming. 

Despite the strange encounter with Rachel, Leo's mind was fixated on something else entirely—

He was walking again.

The rhythmic tapping of his feet against the linoleum floor felt almost surreal. Comforting. Grounding.

At the end of the hallway, he spotted a familiar white-haired beauty filling out paperwork.

He blinked.

'Did she dye her hair? Come to think of it… Lily said her hair color changed. Did that happen to Sis too?'

Before he could call out, Lily's voice boomed through the hallway.

"Luna! Look who I have!"

Luna looked up.

Her golden eyes widened as she saw Leo walking toward her.

Even from a distance, he could see the tears welling in her eyes.

She covered her mouth, her shoulders trembling as silent tears spilled down her cheeks.

Leo flinched as a pang of fear shot through him.

'Is she crying because she's happy... or because she thinks I'm a freak now?'

He didn't have to wonder for long.

Because in the next instant—

Luna tackled him.

Leo staggered as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, her head burrowing into his chest.

"I-I am so glad!"

Her voice shook with emotion, muffled against his hospital gown.

Leo's own heart clenched. The flood of warmth in his chest drowned out any lingering doubt.

But then—

A different kind of panic set in.

Because his bones were creaking.

"S-Sis… N-Need… to… BREATHE!"

He wheezed as Luna's iron grip tightened.

'I thought her strength in-game was outrageous, but this is ridiculous! Is this how I'm going to die?! My sister's bear hug?!'

Lily, unhelpful as ever, snickered.

Luna, realizing what she was doing, immediately loosened her hold.

She pulled back, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her jacket.

"Sorry! I just—" She sniffled, taking a deep breath.

Then, with a wobbly smile—

"Welcome back, Leo."

For a moment, Leo just stared.

Then, slowly, he smiled.

"I'm back, Sis."