Kai's eyes slowly fluttered open.
The beeping of the heart monitor continued steadily, but something had changed. Alia, sitting beside him, noticed it instantly—his eyes weren't the same. They were no longer hollow, dark, or lifeless. Now, they shimmered with emotion—curiosity, warmth, and something Alia hadn't seen in a long time.
Hope.
"Kai?" she whispered.
Kai blinked, and for a moment, his lips trembled.
Then, tears welled up in his eyes. He suddenly sat up and wrapped his arms tightly around her, burying his face into her shoulder.
"Sister… I'm here," he said, his voice cracking with raw emotion. "Did you wait for me…?"
Alia gasped softly, stunned by the unexpected embrace. But she quickly returned the hug, her arms wrapping around him tightly as tears slipped down her cheeks. "Of course I waited. Of course I did…"
Ruki, who had just entered the room carrying a report, froze at the sight.
She looked at Kai—really looked at him.
This wasn't the same boy who had once stared blankly at food, barely reacted to kindness, or asked emotionless questions about pain and death. No… this Kai was bright, expressive, and full of emotion. There was life behind his eyes now. He was… cheerful, even eager, like a child given a second chance.
Ruki's eyes narrowed slightly, not out of hostility, but concern.
That meeting... she thought. They said he had two personalities—the 'original Kai' and the passive one. This... this must be the original.
She said nothing for now and watched quietly as Kai and Alia began reminiscing, giggling about their old hide-and-seek games and the time Alia had to carry him piggyback when he pretended to twist his ankle just to get attention.
Despite her suspicions, Ruki didn't interrupt. She simply leaned against the wall and listened.
For now, this moment belonged to them.
But in the back of her mind, Ruki was already thinking of what to report to the president.
And how they'd handle this new Kai.
After a while, Kai turned to Alia and gently squeezed her hand.
"Sis… you should get some rest," he said, his voice warm. "I'll be fine here. Can Ruki stay with me for a bit?"
Alia blinked, surprised. "You sure?"
Kai smiled and nodded. "I trust her."
Ruki gave a soft smile, placing a hand on Alia's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of him."
Alia sighed in defeat, unable to resist the double-team of her little brother and her reliable partner. "Alright… but call me if anything changes." She stood, gave Kai one last hug, and left the room.
As the door clicked shut behind her, the air in the room shifted.
The warmth dissipated.
Silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Ruki's sharp senses caught the change immediately. The pressure was subtle—but unmistakable.
Then, Kai spoke.
"Hey… President."
It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
Ruki's expression didn't change, but her eyes narrowed. She sighed softly. "So… this is your altered original personality, huh?"
Kai tilted his head and pressed a finger to his chin, feigning innocence. "Hmm? Whatever do you mean… President?"
The childlike tone was mocking. Deliberate.
Ruki's expression darkened. Her aura grew colder, sharper.
"If not for Alia… I'd kill you right now," she said with quiet fury.
Kai simply smiled. "Then do it."
Ruki stiffened.
"It's so… troubling," he continued, his tone still light, but his eyes distant. "To be alive, I mean."
Ruki's breath caught. That phrase—it struck something in her memory. The report… the notes. The suppressed personality. That hopeless, empty version of him—it's still there. Just hidden… beneath the smile.
Kai turned to her again, still wearing that soft, unsettling smile.
"Please take care of Alia, President. Be her sister in my place… if I disappear one day."
Ruki stared at him, expression unreadable.
He leaned back, resting his head against the pillow, his voice light once more. "And don't tell her. About this side of me. Let her keep thinking I'm okay."
As if on cue, the atmosphere in the room lightened. The dense pressure faded. The warmth returned, as if nothing had happened.
Ruki stood silently beside him for a while, watching.
This boy… no, this entity named Kai—he wasn't simple. And this was only the beginning.