SAI SHINU
My eyes fluttered open — both of them. At first, only light. A pure white ceiling stared back at me, sterile and endless.
I turned my head to the right. A woman sat in a chair, her head tilted back against the wall. I couldn't tell if she was asleep or just lost in thought, but her posture radiated calm, like she'd been there for hours.
Then I turned my head left. The kid. Curled up in a chair beside the bed. Relief washed over me so hard it almost hurt. I didn't even know the woman yet, but gratitude was already blooming in my chest.
I flexed my fingers beneath the blanket, testing myself. The sensation was strange, like moving through water, but my hands worked. My arms worked. My body was mine again.
"Hey… I forgot to tell you something," the voice inside my head murmured.
I answered it quietly, in my thoughts: "What is it?"
"The assassin in the motel wasn't after you," he said.
The words landed like a blade sliding into my ribs. "What?"
He didn't pause. "He was after Yuri."
I blinked. Shock pulsed through me. "How is that possible? They had me back then in that cave, but after that… nothing."
His voice was steady. "We didn't know where we were. We both thought no one would recognize you after almost three years. But now… you're more mature. Your hair is longer."
I nodded faintly, lips pressed tight.
And then, a soft voice — a real one — rose from my right.
"Are you alright?"
I turned, and for the first time I saw her.
Her hair was white — no, more like crushed diamonds under sunlight. But it was her eyes that locked me in place: amethyst purple, deep and clear, staring straight into me as if she already knew my story.
My mouth opened but no words came.
She stood slowly, and her full silhouette came into focus. White shirt under a jacket, a slim tie, black slacks. Her hands — scarred, hard-earned marks of battles survived — caught my attention before anything else.
When she reached me, I slid my right hand out from under the blanket. My fingers brushed hers. She paused, then clasped my hand in hers with a warm, unguarded smile.
I couldn't help but smile back.
"How are you?" she asked softly.
This time my voice worked. "I'm good. Thank you… for saving the kid."
Her smile brightened. "It's my pleasure."
"Can you move?" she asked.
"Yes," I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I stood carefully, the white hospital shirt and pants hanging loose around me.
"Do you want to go for a walk in the building?" she asked.
"Yes. For sure."
"That kid…" she began, glancing toward the chair where he slept. "You know him?"
I hesitated. A thousand truths and lies flickered through my mind. Finally, I said, "Not very much. But yes… I know some things."
She nodded. "Oh. Because when you fell unconscious, that kid came straight to you. After I arrived, he begged me to take care of you."
I knew all this already, but I widened my eyes and forced a small smile. "That kid has a good heart."
We left the room together, leaving him to sleep. He'd stayed up too long, watching over me.
The corridor stretched long and white, a crimson carpet running down its center. Windows lined the walls, tall and narrow. Through them, the world spilled into view.
I looked outside instinctively — and froze. The first thing my eyes found was the execution platform.
She noticed my pause but said nothing, only walked a little closer. Then, as if testing the waters, she asked quietly:
"Your code name? I understand if you don't want to give me your real name… but what's your code name?"