Somehow, I had been chosen as the first person to visit Thoma in the recovery room.

There were far too many of us here to see him all at once, and everyone had some reason for why they would wait. For Barbara, Professor Kreideprinz, and Sucrose, it was a matter of discussing the medical properties of the vitanova and how this new research can be applied to future treatments.

Though Bennett was ready to jump at the opportunity of seeing his friend, Amber and Xiangling held him back—whispering something about alone time. Diluc stayed behind—aware of how Thoma may feel overwhelmed when waking up to a crowded room after a week-long coma. Kaeya had agreed.

Childe and Aether had paused their feud long enough to consider joining me. Much to my surprise, Aether was quick to let me go on my own. After all, this would be his first meeting with Thoma, and he wished to save their first impressions for later. Out of everyone, Childe looked the most reluctant to stay behind, but he ultimately stated that Thoma had earned it…whatever that meant.

As excited as I was about Thoma's recovery, even though I'd worked so hard to get him a cure, it still felt unreal. The image of his gaunt body lying in the infirmary bed was still fresh in my mind, and it was hard to believe that—only several paces down the hall—he was completely healthy.

Now standing in front of the closed door, I sucked in a deep breath and prepared myself for anything and everything. It was time to confirm for myself that he was really, truly recovered. Had I really beaten Enjou's scheme? I gripped the doorknob and swung open—careful not to make a sound in case Thoma was still asleep.

He was.

The need to see him clearly brought me closer to the bed until I sat at the edge. Like before, Thoma lay motionless in the middle of the room, but that was the only constant. My lips parted, and all I could do was stare. Though his eyes remained shut, they were no longer sunken. Though he did not stir at my arrival, I could only imagine it was because he was at peace for the first time in forever. The color in his skin had returned, previously dry and cracked lips had smoothed, and the strained expression that used to mar his face had completely vanished.

Tears of relief stung my eyes, but I held them back with a soft bark of laughter. Just one look at Thoma erased the stress and anxiety weighing on my mind. I felt light. I felt like a miracle had happened, and in a way, it had. More than a full recovery, Thoma lay here as though he was relaxing after a long spa day.

Then, I remembered how cold Thoma's hand felt when I last held it. Tentatively, I reached out to lightly place my fingers above his and was met with another spark of electricity. It didn't hurt, but I flinched back from the suddenness. Two times is a coincidence, but three times make a pattern. Normally, I would have stopped to consider other possible causes for this energy besides dry winter air, but all thoughts fled my mind when I noticed movement.

Thoma's fingers twitched.

Immediately, I drew my attention to his face, holding my breath and waiting for another reaction.

"Thoma?" I asked. "Are you awake? Can you hear me?"

Silence…and then…his lashes fluttered softly. Next, Thoma's lips parted at the same time his eyes peeked open. It had been too long since I last saw those beautiful, olive eyes.

His voice came out hoarse, the single word spoken slowly. "Lumine?"

Adrenaline washed over me at the confirmation. I could feel my heart beating in my chest, harder and faster. A smile had already grown on my face, and now I struggled to keep the tears from blurring my vision. Gripped with the happiness and relief of finally having Thoma back, I held his hand properly. A short laugh escaped me when his fingers curled around mine.

"How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? What do you remember?"

The questions rattled from me as Thoma slowly came to. He shifted in the bed, sitting at a better angle and blinking away the haze that clouded his eyes. For his sake, I held back the infinite string of more questions brimming at my lips.

Now more awake, confusion mixed with concern on his features. Thoma held my hand tighter, and his eyes darted all over me.

"You…you're okay?" he whispered. "I remember we were on our date. Those rifthounds came after us, and I tried…" His voice broke off there, and I could see the pain in his eyes. I knew it wasn't pain from an injury because I felt it too—the unpleasant memory of the attack.

"You were hurt badly," he said after some silence. "I couldn't protect you."

"No, you did protect me. If it weren't for you at my back, they would have ripped me to shreds," I spoke fiercely. He had to know that what happened was inevitable. "I was lucky that you were there. We held out for as long as we could, and help arrived right after you passed out."

I filled Thoma in on a short version of what happened up until now. The Celestia Academy Task Force rescuing us just in time, how I'd woken up after Enjou haunted me, working with others to create a cure…all of it. Thoma's eyes never left me as I explained. Even when I had to look away, when I choked up at the reminder of how hopeless I'd felt after failures, he listened intently and didn't interrupt.

"Thank you," he said once I finished. "You saved my life."

"There were other people involved, too."

"That may be so, but you're the reason why I'm awake right now."

"This never would have happened if I…" I stopped myself from expressing guilt, already knowing how the conversation would go from there.

Though I knew Enjou was at fault for all of this, I also held some blame. Thoma never would have gotten hurt if he wasn't with me on that day, but there was no use lamenting over the past. What's done was done, and I needed to move on and prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.

"I would do it again," Thoma said resolutely.

"What?"

"If the past repeated itself, and I was living that situation again, I wouldn't change my actions," he said with a distant smile. "A long time ago, I made a decision to be with you regardless of who else was in your life. A lot of times, instead of jealousy, I was comforted by knowing that there were others who felt the same way."

Thoma paused to shift more in the bed, scooting to the side and patting the new empty space beside him. He tugged my hand forward and pulled me close beside him.

"I'd go up against those rifthounds another five, ten, twenty times if I had to. If I knew that, each time, I lose that battle…that wouldn't change my decision to protect you. Even if I fall, you won't be alone. Hearing your story confirmed that, and it's enough for me to know that you survive."

I rejected that idea immediately. "I would never allow it. You can't always put me before your own safety. On the contrary, I ask that you never scare me like that again. Never jeopardize your life for my sake because…if you died then I'd never forgive you or myself. There's no point in having power if I can't save one life."

"I know how you feel." Thoma swiped a thumb under my eye, catching a single tear. "I'm sorry if I upset you, Lumine. Know that I choose to live a life with meaning, and just as I have no intention of throwing mine away, I see more value to life with you in it."

I blinked back the rest of my tears, listening to his words and accepting them.

"Why are you apologizing?" I murmured. "It should be me."

"Alright, alright."

"I'm sorry."

He smiled. "It's okay."

"Are you sure you're feeling better?"

"I feel right as rain."

"You didn't have any nightmares?"

"None that I can remember," Thoma said thoughtfully. "I've fully recovered from the corrosion, but I can still sense that my body was in poor shape up until now. My days of being unconscious certainly weren't painless, but it's quickly becoming an old memory."

I analyzed every bit of him and nodded. "You're basically glowing."

"Am I?"

"Your skin looks great, and your hair is fluffy." I lifted a hand to graze his fringe. "Healthier than mine, even."

"You haven't slept enough," he said, displeased. "I can see it in your eyes."

"Do I look that bad?"

"You never look bad."

"You're biased."

"Have you been eating, at least?"

"Yes," I sighed. "You're not the first person to lecture me on my well-being, so don't even start."

Thoma laughed, and I could have died with happiness. Like an idiot, I just sat there smiling at him. I wanted to remember this moment forever. If there was a kamera on hand, I would take a million snapshots and frame the best one. Looking for silver linings was a thing of the past. The storm had finally gone, and my rainbow sat right in front of me.

It had only been a week, but it felt like we'd missed out on so much time together. For starters, Thoma and I never got to finish our date. The flower crowns we were supposed to take photos with were long gone. Thinking about it, our last happy memory together was probably when we'd kissed. The sun had shined so brilliantly on Thoma back then, and even now he seemed to beam from within.

"Can I kiss you?" I asked before the idea had a chance to fully form in my head.

Thoma's laugh disappeared, and his mouth went slack. A blush like the pink skies of sunset deepened his cheeks and kissed the top of his ears. What if I also kissed his ears? Then I would kiss his cheeks, his lips, and anywhere he'd let me.

"Yes."

Lost in my thoughts, I was momentarily confused by what he said.

"I can?" I asked with a spreading smile that contrasted with his shy one.

Thoma turned his face to the side, though it did nothing to hide the blush. Good. I loved it on him.

"Only if I can kiss you after," he said bolder than I expected.

No, not bold. Passionate.

Now I was the one blushing. How could I suddenly be so flustered? We'd kissed before, this would just be another. The atmosphere was different than before. Would it be appropriate to kiss in a place like this? How long would it last? When he kissed me back, should I—

There was an intrusion at the door.

"Hey, guys!"

I jerked to see Bennett poke his head in the room, his face lighting up upon seeing Thoma awake. Behind him, Amber and Xiangling followed.

"Thoma! You're back in tip-top shape." Bennett bumbled right in, unaware of how my fizzled brain was barely coming back together. "I've never been in one of these rooms before, so that's how you know your condition was super serious."

"What were you two talking about?" Amber asked coyly.

Xiangling stifled a giggle behind her hand. "Did you eat chili peppers? Your faces are really red. I thought we gave you enough alone time, but maybe we should go."

"What?" Bennett frowned. "We just got here."

I cleared my throat and squeezed Thoma's hand one last time before standing up from the bed. "It's fine. Don't let me hog Thoma all to myself. I know you guys were really worried about him, too."

"Thank you for coming to visit." Thoma waved at them, his blush fading. "Lumine told me that I've been out for a while. How has the second semester been treating you? Hopefully, I didn't miss out on too much."

I happily listened to my friends talk and catch up with Thoma. It warmed my heart in a different way for all of us to be here together, and it was only a matter of time before he was discharged. Then, we could go back to normal—better than normal.

Bennett was especially expressive as he told stories of his adventures, enough that I backed away to avoid getting smacked by his flailing arms. The room erupted with laughter more than once, and I was so distracted by the liveliness of it all that I almost didn't notice the tingle on my wrist.

Two days remained for Enjou's deal, but I didn't need those days anymore. So, what would become of the mark he placed on me?

To make the day even better, there were no classes because we had finally reached the weekend. Though Thoma was in a much better state physically, Barbara had asked him to stay in the infirmary for one more day so she could monitor his health and make sure there wasn't a relapse. In the meantime, I rediscovered what the typical student life was all about.

A mountain of homework waited for me in my dorm. Throughout the week, I had put off work that I deemed less important—A.K.A. not due until next week. Now that I had the time and mentality, I was left with no choice but to face the consequences of what past Lumine had left me with. As far as burdens went, these assignments were nothing compared to what I had just gone through.

And so, most of the day was spent flipping through pages and scribbling notes. There was some comfort in this mundane work, but I was more so motivated by an activity Xiangling decided on for later tonight. We were going to make tri-color dango in celebration of Thoma's recovery.

There was no better place to hold this cooking venture than Xiangling's room.

When the time finally came, I knocked on her door and waited longer than I anticipated before it creaked open. She scanned the hallway left and right before letting me in. I soon understood the reason for her caution.

"There's no way this is allowed," I commented after entering her space.

Somehow, Xiangling had completely transformed her desk into a cooking station. It was moved to the center of the room and sat more like a kitchen island. I was impressed by how many ingredient bowls and cooking utensils she managed to place on the surface. Honestly, it was hard to believe we were issued the same sized desk.

Off to the side was her unsanctioned, makeshift stove. This was the first time I saw it for myself, blazing with a fire that heated a pot of boiling water.

"Friends don't tattle," she reminded me. "It's just going to be you and me today. Amber backed out because of dance. She forgot about rehearsal."

I shrugged, understanding. "She's been working hard at that."

"Of course, the Welkin Festival is next month. It's almost time for her to showcase the tango to us. I also have to decide on a dish I want to serve to everyone. There are just so many to choose from."

Another bonus to Thoma's recovery was that I looked forward to events again. I'd heard about the Welkin Festival in passing, a school festival held yearly when the moon glows with extra luminescence. All of the extra-curricular clubs would be presenting their work for others students to see, and watching Amber dance was at the top of my list.

"Focus." Xiangling clapped her hands. "This dessert is fairly simple, but that's only if you make the right measurements and apply the perfect amount of force when kneading the dough."

As she pointed out the ingredients to me and did a quick walkthrough of directions, I was transported back to when Sucrose taught me alchemy at her lab station. The two professions really were similar, and cooking was surprisingly just as difficult.

I failed at both the measurements and the kneading steps. The dough somehow became lumpy and rock-hard in my hands. Xiangling's tri-color dango looked amazing. I lost track of time as she coached me before I finally made something remotely edible. Once again, I was reminded of how Bennett deserved more credit. This time, for his cooking attempts.

After almost scathing myself with boiling water and accidentally dusting Guoba with rice flour, I was finally satisfied enough with the tri-color dango that I had made. Smiling, I remembered when Xiangling taught Thoma how to make almond tofu for my sake.

"He has a better knack for cooking than you," Xiangling said when I brought it up. "But don't worry! Practice makes perfect. It mostly matters that the food tastes good. Looks come second."

Then came the taste test, which I passed with surprisingly flying colors.

"I'm proud of you, Lumine. This is the product of hard work and love."

I nearly dropped the final dango about to be skewered. "Love?"

"Yeah, food obviously tastes best when it's made with love."

Love.

She said it so simply, and I had to agree.

"Also, you're delivering this tomorrow," she said. "Chef's orders."

"What about you?"

"I'll be taking some time alone so you can have your…alone time." Xiangling wiggled her eyebrows at me. "Enjoy the sweets with your sweetheart!"

Xiangling was bold to tease me when I had full access to rice flour. Still, I doubted she regretted her words even as I powdered her with the ingredient. After a few rounds of retaliation and laughter, the night demanded that we threw in the towel. I helped to clean up the mess and squeezed a hug goodbye to her and Guoba. Then, I collected both boxes of tri-color dango and securely wrapped them in a bag.

That bag sat on my nightstand as I fell asleep with a sigh of contentment.

Thoma would be free from the infirmary today, but I thought it would be nice if we first shared the tri-color dango together for breakfast. With the bag of sweets in my hand, I leisurely took the path to the administration building—stopping here are there to admire the beauty of the world. I truly was turning into a sap, copying the singsong of birds with a light hum.

Upon seeing Qiqi at her desk, I made a mental note to save one tri-color dango for her as well. Though I only knew for certain that she liked coconut milk, she might enjoy the taste of something made with love.

My humming faded away when I signed my name in the logbook and, by habit, scanned the names above me. Kamisato Ayaka had signed in not too long ago, and I guessed why. It didn't surprise me that she would come to visit Thoma—they were close. What I didn't understand was why my stomach suddenly sank.

I gripped the bag in my hands and walked down the familiar hall. The door to his recovery room was already open, and I heard a voice coming from inside. Soft and regal. Ayaka.

I paused, standing in the hall and unsure of what to do. Would it be rude to join them and possibly disrupt their conversation? Maybe. Would it be even ruder to hang around and eavesdrop? Definitely. I couldn't help myself. I would only listen to a few words. That way, I could determine whether or not it was a good time to show up, or if I should come back later. Yeah, that's it.

"Is it to your liking?" Ayaka asked. "Soup is always an ideal serving to be had when recovering from an illness, and I am aware this is your favorite dish."

She'd already brought him food. I ignored the way my stomach sank even further at the discovery.

"It's delicious and wonderfully nostalgic. The miso soup served in the dining hall pales in comparison."

"I expedited a shipment from the estate as soon as I heard of your recovery. Ayato oversaw the making of this soup himself." She laughed cutely, and my hands clenched on their own accord. "Do not worry, he had no hand in the process. We just want to make sure that you're well taken care of. If you need anything at all, remember that I am always here to provide for you."

Thoma responded kindly. "Of course, I haven't forgotten. You've always been good to me, and I hope to one day repay the favor."

Why was he always so kind? I shouldn't be nearly as upset as I was.

"If that is the case, then I ask that you please reconsider my offer," Ayaka said.

The bag of tri-color dango now felt like a heavy weight. I regretted my choice to eavesdrop, but the muscles in my legs refused to move me from hiding.

"I know how you feel," Thoma said. It was exactly what he'd said to me just yesterday. "But I'm afraid I can't do that."

"The offer is always open to you, Thoma. Ayato and I were quite worried for your health after the attack. In my correspondence, I urged that he refrained from traveling to campus and escorting you back to the estate. The healers here are quite exceptional, but you know how my brother can be."

"Thank you for giving me time, my lady. If I feel the need, I will do as you advise and return to the estate for proper recuperation."

She wanted Thoma to leave? What about his classes? What about…me?

I took a shuddering breath and forced my legs to move. It appeared that hiding in the shadows would only hurt my feelings. Though I very much wanted to leave the infirmary altogether, Xiangling still expected me to deliver the goods. She'd put so much effort into the tri-color dango last night, so I would not let her down.

"Hey," I said upon entering, my voice unnaturally high. "Oh, hello Ayaka. I didn't expect to see you here."

She was sitting on a chair that had been pulled close to Thoma's bedside. At least she wasn't sitting on the bed itself. Thoma had a bowl of soup in his hands. Miso soup. Perfect soup made by talented chefs. A taste of home that could never be matched.

Ayaka nodded at me. "Good morning, Lumine."

Thoma sat straighter when I locked eyes with him. His expression tensed, and he probably guessed I'd heard their conversation.

"Pardon my intrusion. I came here to drop off some treats made by Xiangling." I robotically stuck my arm into the bag, making sure to only grab one box. "It's tri-color dango."

I didn't dare touch the other box. Compared to Xiangling's excellence, my lumpy dango with uneven patches of color wouldn't suit the palate of an Inazuman. Compared to Ayaka's natural remedy brimming with nostalgia and cooked with only perfection in mind, I should have known better than to serve him an amateur attempt.

Ayaka's eyes tracked the box as I rested it on the counter. "How lovely. I heard she is a fine chef."

Finding it hard to speak, I nodded and stood there for a moment too long. It had gotten awkward. Ayaka stared at me expectantly, and I wondered if she was waiting for me to say something else. What else was there to say? No, she was waiting for me to leave.

Thoma set down his bowl of soup—the delicious miso soup. His favorite dish. Oh no. I really was intruding.

"Lumine—" he started.

I ducked my head in a polite bow. It seemed like an appropriate action in the presence of the lady of a clan. Barely audible, I said my goodbyes and escaped from the too-small room. No longer tempted to even make an offering to Qiqi, I quickly signed out without looking back.