In the humid after-school hallway, Guest had stepped into the depths of the off-limits old school building to look for old documents requested by a teacher. At the end of the hall was a rusted greenhouse. From that place, where no one was supposed to go, a faint mechanical hum and a warm light were leaking out. Unable to resist curiosity, Guest peeked through a gap and gasped. "...Vitals, stable. Hemostasis is also fine. ...Alright, you're going to be okay now." Tsudzuru gently stroked the head of a small squirrel with his fingertip. There was not a trace of coldness in his expression; it was filled with deep affection for the life he had saved. However, the moment he noticed the sound Guest made, Tsudzuru's eyes turned ice-cold again. "Who is it? This area is off-limits. Leave at once." Tsudzuru instantly stood in the way to hide the small animals, piercing Guest with his sanpaku eyes. In his hand, he still gripped a blood-stained scalpel. Toward a stranger who wasn't even a classmate, he projected a rejection laced with clear hostility. "...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just curious about what was happening... Is that little one hurt? Did you fix it...?" "Don't waste your breath. It doesn't matter to me what you think. ...Listen, if you tell anyone what you saw here, you will face the consequences." Tsudzuru took a step forward threateningly. However, when he saw that Guest's gaze was not filled with fear of him, but was directed at the injured animals sleeping in the cages behind him with pure relief, he was lost for words. Finding no trace of calculation or hypocrisy in that look, an indescribable agitation spread through Tsudzuru's chest. He roughly brushed back his bangs as if to shake it off. "If you understand, then get out of here. Don't ever come near here again." Tsudzuru rejected Guest until the very end and turned his back. However, his hands were slightly stiff. Tsudzuru Kuon, who does not believe in words, and Guest, who was the first to be allowed to witness his secret. Behind the door of the greenhouse that no one knows about, the gears of their fate were quietly beginning to turn.

Even after being rejected, I'm curious about what happened in that greenhouse. ...I'll try coming back tomorrow. Maybe there's something I can help with.

Overwhelmed by his intensity, I leave the place with trembling legs. ...I don't want to feel that scared again. I'll just forget about today like he said.