"Rudolf… what happened to little Meteor?"
Symboli Rudolf didn't answer. She walked straight past, face grim.
Maruzensky had just returned with the hospital meal tray—and that expression threw her off completely.
But the moment she pushed open the ward door, her mood dropped like a rock.
On the bed, Eternal Meteor sat with her head lowered. Blood and tears kept dripping down from a face she could barely make out.
"Hey—are you okay?!"
Maruzensky panicked, tossed the tray onto the nearby table, hurried to the bedside, and lifted Meteor's face with both hands.
And once she got a clear look, even Maruzensky—normally gentle to a fault—couldn't stop herself from cursing Rudolf in her head.
The bandage on Meteor's head had been torn loose and lay scattered. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. And her lips—like they didn't even belong to her—were being viciously chewed between her teeth. She wouldn't let go, even as she was nearly biting through the flesh.
"Sweetie, hey… can you loosen your mouth a little? Did Rudolf bully you? Tell big sis—after this, I'll go beat her up for you."
She pulled a tissue from the box at the head of the bed and carefully dabbed the blood from Meteor's lips.
Only then did Meteor seem to come back to herself.
She took the tissue, wiped her mouth twice—roughly, carelessly—then forced the corners of her mouth up into a smile.
"I'm fine, Sister Maruzensky. Don't worry."
That strained smile made Maruzensky's anger nearly boil over. She wanted to chase Rudolf down, drag her back by the collar, and make her look at the mess she'd caused.
Damn it, Rudolf.
She's so good at lecturing Teio and everyone else—so why does her emotional intelligence drop to negative numbers every time she tries to "educate" Meteor? And somehow she always ends up making her cry.
Maruzensky sucked in two deep breaths, repeating to herself that Meteor mattered more right now, then stepped out to the nurses' station to ask for cotton swabs and disinfectant.
When she returned and gently pushed the door open, she caught Meteor scrubbing her lips with toilet paper like she was sanding wood.
Maruzensky rushed over and stopped her.
The instant she dipped the swab in disinfectant, Meteor reached for it again.
"I can do it myself."
"No, you can't! Who treats a wound like that?!"
"It's fine. This kind of tiny injury doesn't hurt. Even if I leave it alone, it'll be fine."
Maruzensky froze.
Four puncture marks—four bloody holes—on those lips, and Meteor acting like she couldn't feel pain at all…
Maruzensky's doubts deepened. What did this kid go through, back then?
And every time she tried to ask Rudolf before, Rudolf had dodged the topic—smoothly shifting the conversation somewhere else.
Meteor, seeing Maruzensky still refusing to let go, started thinking.
"Look! Tokai Teio!"
Maruzensky reflexively turned her head.
In that tiny opening, Meteor snatched the swab and started applying it herself—only to realize Maruzensky wasn't turning back.
Confused, Meteor leaned forward to peer past Maruzensky's shoulder—
…and went rigid.
The swab slipped from her hand and landed on the bedsheet.
Because there, half-hidden behind the doorframe—only a huge head sticking out—was Tokai Teio. And Meteor's eyes met hers perfectly.
Teio froze too.
How did she see me?!
Maruzensky was blocking the line of sight—unless Meteor had X-ray vision, there was no way…!
"M-Meteor… how did you see me?"
Because I guessed and got lucky, okay?! Meteor screamed internally.
Outwardly, she kept a straight face and pointed at Teio's head.
"Your ears were sticking out."
Teio instantly clamped both hands over her ears.
Meteor's mood lifted a little at the sight.
"By the way—how did you know I was here?"
"I saw you weren't at school and got worried… so I messaged the President and asked."
Teio's gaze flicked over Meteor's face. The traces of blood she hadn't wiped clean. The obvious signs she'd been crying.
She opened her mouth like she wanted to ask something—then shut it again, afraid she'd poke at something tender. Her lips kept moving uselessly, like a goldfish blowing bubbles.
Meteor could pretty much guess what Teio was thinking.
But how was she supposed to explain? If she told the whole story, Teio's brain would probably overheat on the spot.
Sensing the awkward silence, Maruzensky stood, pulled the meal table out from under the bed, and brought the tray over.
"Eat a little first. Then take your medicine. But… are you sure your lips are really okay?"
"They're fine, fine."
Meteor shook her head as if the injury didn't matter at all, grabbed the utensils, and started wolfing down the food.
"You two talk. I just remembered something—I'll head out. Once you're better, I'll take you both for a spin in my ride."
"Yeah! Yeah!"
Meteor nodded enthusiastically—completely ignoring the way Teio's face turned corpse-white in an instant.
Maruzensky bent down and gave the white-haired mochi-ball a fierce, affectionate head-rub, then pulled out her phone and left the room.
The moment she was far enough away, Teio rushed to Meteor's side, frantic.
"Meteor! Whatever you do, don't get in Maruzensky's car! It'll scar you for life!"
Just remembering that time in the passenger seat made Teio's stomach churn. The full-speed, six-consecutive hairpin turns still haunted her dreams—every so often she'd jolt awake, gasping.
Meteor pouted.
"Is it more exciting than the roller coaster?"
"That's not the point! The roller coaster has safety systems! In her car, all you can do is pray that the sad little seatbelt will protect you when she speeds and crashes!"
"Then is it more exciting than bungee jumping?"
At that, Teio's mind flashed back to Meteor smiling as she jumped without even waiting to be pushed.
Teio went silent.
"…Okay. It's not."
"Then we're good. When the time comes, I'm going to enjoy the hell out of it."
Meteor had always loved thrills—she'd just been trapped by a body that couldn't handle them before.
Out in the hall, Maruzensky—mid-text to Rudolf—sneezed.
For some reason, it felt like someone had just challenged her.
She glanced around, didn't see anything, and went right back to her phone.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 74)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter20)
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