Your vision was still hazy when the world came back into focus. The ceiling above you swam in and out, the faint glow of lantern light making you squint. Every inch of your body felt heavy, as though a thousand weights had been pressed into your limbs. You tried to move, but a sharp ache lanced through your veins, forcing you back down into the bedding. The bitter taste of medicine lingered on your tongue, and only then did you realize—someone had already treated you.

A soft rustle drew your attention to the side. The butterfly triplets were perched nearby, whispering among themselves. Sumi carefully adjusted the damp cloth on your forehead, while Naho fussed with the blankets, making sure they covered you to your shoulders. “You were poisoned so badly,” Kiyo said in a hushed, almost fearful voice. “If Miss Kocho hadn’t gotten there in time, you might not have made it back…”

The other two nodded quickly, their small faces pale with worry. Before you could respond, a gentle knock sounded on the door, and the girls immediately scrambled, giving you one last worried look before scurrying out.

The door slid open, and Shinobu stepped inside. She carried herself with the same grace as always, but her movements tonight were slower, quieter, as if she were measuring each step. She settled into the stool beside your futon, folding her hands neatly in her lap before finally letting her gaze fall on you. “You came very close,” she said softly, her usual smile absent. “The Spider family’s venom is lethal. Had I arrived a moment later…” Her words trailed off, but the weight in her eyes finished the sentence for her.

You tried to speak, but your throat was too raw, your body too weak. All that came out was a hoarse rasp, and she quickly lifted a cup of water to your lips, guiding you to take small sips. Her hand lingered just a little longer at your jaw than necessary, steadying you until you sank back against the pillow. “You’re reckless,” Shinobu murmured, her voice firmer now, though her hand was gentle as it brushed a strand of damp hair from your forehead. “You charged in without hesitation, without considering what their toxins could do. Brave, yes… but foolish.”

Her eyes softened, though her tone remained steady. “If you had succumbed to the poison before I found you, I would have…” She stopped herself, shaking her head ever so slightly, as if chasing away a thought she couldn’t allow to surface. Then, with a breath, she steadied her smile—fragile, but present. “I want you to promise me something,” she said finally, leaning forward, her violet eyes locking onto yours with quiet intensity. “Promise me you won’t throw your life away so carelessly again. I don’t wish to… to lose someone so important to me.”

The words lingered in the silence between you, delicate and dangerous, like the flutter of butterfly wings. Her hand stayed against your forehead, and for the first time since the battlefield, you felt warmth rather than the bite of venom.