Kaito had adjusted the infirmary lights to the softest and dimmest setting, leaving only a small night lamp that emitted a warm orange glow
He made sure Rice Shower was lying comfortably in the clean hospital bed and carefully tucked the corners of the blanket around her, leaving only her small head exposed.
Wrapped in the warm bedding, Rice Shower's body, which was always tense, finally relaxed a little.
But she was still nervous, her small hands tightly gripping the edge of the blanket as she asked in a low voice, with a hint of curiosity and unease:
"Um... Big Brother Kaito... what exactly is that 'special treatment' you mentioned"
Kaito looked into her eyes, which looked like those of a frightened fawn, and did not respond immediately.
He simply pulled up a chair, sat quietly by her bed, and then spoke softly in an incredibly affectionate tone, as if he were tucking his own little sister in for sleep:
"Shh... Don't rush"
"Before our 'special treatment' officially begins, let me tell you a bedtime story, one that belongs only to you"
"A bedtime story?" Rice Shower blinked, slightly confused.
Kaito smiled and nodded.
His magnetic and soft voice slowly resonated in the silent room, flowing into Rice Shower's heart like a warm current.
"Once upon a time, in a beautiful world full of colorful flowers, there lived a group of happy sheep"
"Those sheep were all pure white, like the clouds in the sky; only one was special, from its birth, it was completely black, like the night sky"
"Because its color was different from the others, all the white sheep were a little afraid of it and avoided it; they whispered behind its back that black was a 'sinister' color that brought bad luck"
Hearing this, Rice Shower's small hand, which was gripping the corner of the blanket, involuntarily tensed.
This story was like a mirror reflecting her own life.
Kaito's voice remained calm and firm.
"The black sheep was sad, but it never blamed anyone; it simply practiced and ran alone and silently through the forest at night"
"Until one day, a giant and terrifying monster arrived in the forest; it slept by day and came out to wreak havoc at night; all the white sheep were terrified because they were too visible in the dark and could not get close to the monster"
"Just when everyone was in despair, the black sheep stepped forward"
"Because... only she, with her fur as black as the night sky, had the best protection in the darkness; she could hide perfectly and approach the monster in silence"
"In the end, relying on the greater speed and stronger power she had perfected in the dark, she bravely defeated the monster time and time again, protecting the entire forest and all the sheep"
This story was a complete metaphor and a reflected image of Rice Shower's life.
She listened in silence, and her eyes, which moments before had been restless, unconsciously became brighter and more focused.
She was completely immersed in this fairy tale woven just for her.
When the story concluded, with the black sheep standing under the moonlight, receiving the cheers of adoration and gratitude from all the white ponies, Kaito's story also ended.
Silence returned to the room.
Kaito looked at the little Uma in the bed, whose face was full of yearning, and gently, softly, posed his last question:
"So, Rice Shower"
"Tell me, was that brave black sheep... ultimately an 'Assassin' or a 'Hero'?"
This time, Rice Shower showed no hesitation, doubt, or shyness.
She peeked out from under the blanket, her bright eyes shining with an unprecedented light, and with a hint of genuine and small pride, she answered clearly and without hesitation:
"She is... a hero!"
Upon pronouncing those words, a bright and innocent smile, like the first sun after the rain, bloomed for the first time on her small face, which was always tense and tinged with fear.
That smile was so pure and beautiful that it could make the entire world pale in comparison.
Kaito's heart melted completely and absolutely at that moment.
Unable to contain his emotions any longer, he leaned in slowly and gave a tender and precious kiss to her soft forehead.
Then, he spoke softly with a voice full of infinite affection, audible only to the two of them:
"So, my best lady hero"
"Now is the time to receive your big brother's 'Blessing', which belongs only to you"
...
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