After the orb integrated into him, he checked the system. Just like the other two, it was also on cooldown.
He pressed the X button and then the back arrow, bringing him back to the first panel of the system.
He looked at his points.
From 2,104… down to 804 points in total.
Still a lot.
He lowered his head and realized he had forgotten about the cup of water he had dropped earlier.
He bent down and picked up the cup, placing it on the white table near the sofa.
Then he looked around for something he could use to clean the mess.
Near the entrance of the room, he saw an alloy-like locker structure. At the far end of it was a closet, probably a cleaning closet, he assumed.
He walked over and opened it.
There were no cleaning tools inside.
Only hangers hanging at the top and sealed boxes below. Since the boxes were sealed, he didn't open them.
He closed the closet and looked around again.
Still nothing.
His gaze fell on his sliced and cut-up hoodie.
He sighed inwardly.
He loved that hoodie.
And since he hadn't been wearing a shirt or sando underneath, he had been bare-chested when he removed it.
He walked toward the spilled water, squatted down, and used his hoodie to wipe the wet floor.
After making sure the water had been absorbed, he stood up and walked toward the window.
He slid it open to the right.
Then he looked down, making sure the surroundings were clear.
When he looked down, he noticed the ground was just within sight.
He scanned the area carefully. Once he confirmed it was clear, he stretched his hands out the window and squeezed the hoodie he was holding.
Not a single drop came out.
After that, he placed the hoodie below the frame of the opened window.
Because he had opened the window, a breeze entered the room.
But he didn't feel cold.
Just a breeze.
Unlike the sea breeze, which was chaotic and moved with the crashing waves, this breeze swayed gently with the forest.
He stayed quiet for a while.
The fortress was illuminated by lamppost lights, creating a night paradise. The lights looked like fireflies scattered across the dark forest.
He didn't notice the door of the room slowly sliding open.
From the entrance, four ladies entered.
Nemuri was worried about him.
Mei wanted to see him again.
Unohana followed them.
And Shakuyaku was eager to see him.
Earlier in the meeting room, Nemuri and Mei had demanded an explanation about the strange phenomenon happening to Shakuyaku.
Eventually, Shakuyaku gave in and explained.
She told them that "Love Sickness" (恋の病, Koi no Yamai) is a fatal condition unique to the women of the Kuja family, occurring when they fall in love with a man and suppress their emotions. The illness causes severe pain, declining health, and eventual death.
The disease stems from the conflict between a Kuja's duty to be strong and the natural desire to love, often triggered by encountering powerful men.
The only known cure is to accept those emotions and follow the beloved.
It was a curse placed upon them, preventing them from falling in love with just anyone. They were even forbidden from understanding what love truly was.
For a Kuja woman to fall in love was considered an abnormal occurrence in their clan's history.
There had only ever been one before.
And she died.
They did not choose who to love.
Fate did.
And for Shakuyaku to feel this way already felt unrealistic to her.
Those who were not part of the Kuja clan couldn't fully understand what was happening.
How could love be forbidden? How could it be a curse?
But in this world, anything could happen.
Nemuri and Mei listened to her explanation. Each time she spoke, they could see that she was clinging to hope for something.
Yet her eyes were slowly giving up.
Nemuri didn't know what to do.
She wasn't in control of Maki. He could make his own decisions.
At first, she thought it would be easy. Just say yes or no.
But it wasn't that simple.
And she regretted bringing him here.
If she hadn't asked him to come, none of this would have happened.
But she knew one thing.
Maki was responsible.
Kind and grateful person.
He would decide for himself.
Nemuri finally said, "I'm going to check on him. Are you coming?"
She scanned their reactions.
Of course, Mei was the most eager.
Shakuyaku was still weak, but she nodded her head. Whatever happens will happen.
Unohana stood up from her chair.
The four of them took the elevator down to the second floor of the academy.
Minutes later, they arrived. The elevator doors opened, and they walked toward Room 0013, the clinic room.
Nemuri took the lead. Mei helped Shakuyaku walk, and Unohana followed behind.
There was no need to knock. The sliding door detected their weight on the floor sensor and opened automatically.
They all saw the man they had been talking about the entire day.
They saw his bare back. He seemed to be looking outside the window.
He didn't notice them.
Nemuri called out softly.
"Maki? What are you looking at outside?"
His ears seemed to perk up. He heard Nemuri's voice and slowly turned his head.
As he turned, time seemed to slow for the women present.
Especially for Shakuyaku.
Her eyes lingered on him.
They saw his braided hair.
They saw his face.
And they felt the change in his expression.
His eyes shone like rubies, and his gaze was clearer, more alive.
They heard his deep voice.
"Nemur—"
He stopped, surprised by the others with her.
He recognized the girl with brown hair covering one eye. She was the one he had mistaken for Nemuri in the tunnel.
The one next to her was new. Their gazes met briefly.
And behind them was the woman whose head he had slammed into.
Nemuri rushed toward him.
"Are you alright, honey?"
The three women's mouths twitched at Nemuri's teasing antics.
They heard him say he was okay.
Then they saw him bend down, wrap his arms around Nemuri's waist, and hug her tightly, pressing his head against her shoulder.
Instead of jealousy, they felt something heavy settle in the atmosphere when he hugged her.
Nemuri stiffened slightly.
"A-are you really okay…?"
The man stayed silent.