A groan escaped Reinhard's throat before consciousness fully returned.

His eyes felt heavy, taking a bit of effort to break whatever was keeping them closed.

When he finally managed to pry them open, he blinked and saw a blur of white that gradually displayed white tiles.

When he winced before turning his head away from the light and the brightness. Then a figure moved closer and blocked the light as they sat beside the bed he was on.

Reinhard blinked rapidly, forcing his vision to focus as details emerged piece by piece.

The figure's hair was a cascade of white mixed with gold that flowed over her shoulders and caught the light in strange ways. Then, clothing was an indigo mantle, hooded, with patterns across it that looked like constellations against the velvet expanse of the night sky.

Beneath the hood, a dress swirled in cream and white silk, cinched at the waist with a deep navy bow. More patterns danced across the skirt could be seen across the skirt that even Reinhard had to admit looked very good.

Then there was the beautiful face with eyes that were a mix of amber and crimson, with a faint smile. "Hello, sleepyhead." Her voice was warm, gentle. "You've been sleeping for a long while now, but I'm happy you're awake."

Reinhard coughed a few times before saying. "Who are you? Where am I?"

"My name is Celestia. I'm the Head Doctor at Memento Mori Academy." She gestured vaguely around them. "Right now you're in Memento Mori, after the events that happened in Phane City-"

Reinhard's body trembled as his hand gripped the blanket covering him. "What about my friends? Anasha? Martha? Are they safe?"

Celestia's laugh was light and reassuring as she nodded. "Everyone is safe and made it out alive in that terrifying incident."

Relief flooded through Reinhard's chest as his entire body sagged into the bed. Then he furrowed his brows. "Could you tell me what happened while I was sleeping?"

Celestia's smile widened slightly. "I won't be telling you that. Principal Klaus has been dying to speak to you since he reached Phane City."

Reinhard blinked. "Just him?"

"Well, plenty of people actually." Celestia's amber-crimson eyes glinted with amusement. "Your teammates, Marie and Joseph, for example. Rosaria had to drag them away because they were unwilling to leave your side before you woke up."

Reinhard's lips twitched.

He tried to suppress it, but couldn't quite manage as warmth flooded through his chest at their actions. Something both new and strange to him, this feeling of being cared for by people who weren't blood.

Celestia stood, her dress rustling with the movement. "I'll go call the Principal now. You have a lot to catch up on after sleeping for six months."

Reinhard nodded automatically before the words registered.

His body froze completely as his eyes widened, and then he stared at Celestia's retreating back with a blank look.

"Six months?"

The words barely emerged as a whisper. But Celestia was already gone, the door closing behind her with a soft click.

…

Time passed.

Reinhard couldn't say how much as his hand moved through hair that felt longer than he remembered.

He was trying to process, trying to understand how six months could have passed and how he had slept for that long.

The door opened again before multiple figures entered. Reinhard's hand dropped from his head, and he looked up.

Klaus entered first, his black hair combed back with those two styled strands falling near his eyes. His beard was groomed perfectly despite the late hour, or was it late? Reinhard had no sense of time anymore. The Principal's light-gold eyes found Reinhard immediately, and a faint smile touched his lips.

Behind him, Rosaria followed with her silvery and crimson eyes, remaining completely expressionless as she moved to stand beside Klaus.

They positioned themselves at the side of his bed. Klaus took the chair, settling into it with casual grace while Rosaria remained standing, hands folded in front of her.

"Have I really been sleeping for six months?" Reinhard's question emerged in disbelief.

Rosaria nodded once. "It's already February 20th, 1046."

Reinhard's body trembled as he gritted his teeth and his hand tightly gripped his thighs. He felt pain in his head as images began to come up in his mind.

His little sister Anna, with her curly long black hair and crimson eyes, face lit up with excitement, waving as he'd left for the Academy. While Klein with his disheveled short brown hair and blue eyes, smiled as he told Reinhard to go, to not worry about him.

The images changed as he recalled promising to celebrate the end of the year with them. His promise to send letters every week, or at least every month.

Then he began imagining their reaction while he was sleeping. Anna waited by the door every day during December with a sad look, and her face fell when no letter came. Klein asked if he had written to Anna yet while trying to hide disappointment.

Then January came, but still no word of his return. He began imagining their worry building and growing before it transformed into fear.

Something must have happened to him.

The thought appeared in Anna's imagined voice, and Reinhard's chest constricted.

Then a worse image appeared in his mind of Anna and Klein whispering together. He must have abandoned us… Just like mother did.

Reinhard's lips bled where his teeth sank in. His breathing came faster, shallower, his chest rising and falling rapidly but taking in no air.

"Breathe, Reinhard."

Rosaria's voice cut through the spiral.

Reinhard's eyes widened before he gasped, air flooding his lungs in a desperate rush. The imagined scenes shattered with Anna and Klein's faces fragmenting into nothing.

Only now did he realize he had been holding his breath.

Klaus's hand landed on his back before he began gently patting his back. Another hand pressed against his chest, it was Rosaria who was rubbing his chest.

"I can figure you were panicking because of your siblings." Rosaria's voice remained steady. "Don't worry. Marie and Joseph visited them the week after you were placed in your long sleep. And for the past months, with our help, they have been taking care of them."

Klaus nodded, his faint smile returning. "My daughter talks about the two of them constantly. She spent the December holiday and New Year with them."

Reinhard stared at them both, his expression went completely blank from his mind, simply unable to process what he'd just heard.

"They did..." Reinhard said in shock. "But why would they..." He paused, shook his head slightly. "No, wouldn't it be better for them to spend time with their own families?"

Klaus lightly laughed. "I won't speak for Joseph, but Marie's answer to me was simple." He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Reinhard's siblings need help, and so it's obvious that as his friends, we should help him out."

Reinhard's eyes widened slowly as he glanced between Klaus and Rosaria.

He was searching for the joke, the trick, the manipulation he'd learned to expect from people.

He found none.

Reinhard's gaze dropped to the blanket covering his lap. "They did all that..." The words emerged as barely more than breath. "Just because we're friends? Is it... is it really that simple?"

Rosaria hummed, the sound carrying consideration. "Naturally, normal friends wouldn't do that. But I suppose during the expeditions, the three of you became very close." She paused. "Or maybe that's just how that girl Marie is. I swear she's strange sometimes."

Klaus sighed as his smile grew. "You don't need to worry about Anna and Klein. They're doing well. Marie and Joseph even used their stored-up school points to help buy medicine for Klein."

Reinhard trembled before he looked down, unable to meet their eyes as emotions warred in his chest. He felt gratitude, confusion, shame, warmth, disbelief, all mixing into something he couldn't name. "I really do owe them so much."

Klaus chuckled. "Then you should show it instead of saying it. Or those two will just wave off your words and say 'it's no problem.'"

Reinhard sighed heavily. "That's annoying."

"I agree." Rosaria nodded once, a light sigh escaping her lips.

Klaus laughed again. "Right?"

Reinhard lifted his head as he glanced at Klaus. "I can guess you want to hear my side of what happened?"

Rosaria nodded. "We already got most of the details from the others, and also a surprising source. But we're still in the dark about what happened to Fenrir and what you did in Phane City."

Klaus leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Of course, anything you say will be added to your end-of-year points. So you don't need to think you're giving information for free."

Reinhard nodded, but before he could speak, the room door opened up.

Celestia entered carrying a tray that held a bowl of soup, some beef, bread, water, and vegetables. Steam rose from the hot food, the scent filling the sterile hospital room with something living.

"He can explain while he eats." Celestia moved to the other side of the bed. "I'm sure he's very hungry."

Reinhard blinked before he felt his stomach rumble, loud enough that everyone in the room heard it. His hand shot to his stomach, gripping it as his face scrunched up.

Klaus laughed. "We can do that. Go ahead, Reinhard. Eat up."

Celestia placed the tray on his lap carefully, making sure it was balanced before stepping back.

Reinhard stared at the food before he dug in.

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