Zeruel’s mother was imdiately brought over to Trisha and Natasha, who wasted no ti beginning a thorough examination.
Their expressions were focused and professional—but beneath their calm deanor, there was a trace of awe. It wasn’t every day that soone awoke after sleeping for an entire year.
They started with her vitals—asuring her heartbeat, breathing, temperature, and blood flow.
Every instrunt buzzed softly as readings flickered to life, and the two worked in near silence, occasionally exchanging glances or nodding.
Then ca the sensory tests.
Touch. Sight. Taste. Reflexes.
Every response was carefully observed and docunted.
Astonishingly, everything ca back normal.
Despite being unconscious for more than a year, her physical body showed no signs of decay or fatigue.
Her responses were crisp and clear.
As if she’d rely taken a long nap instead of being asleep for months on end.
She didn’t even ask for food. Not once.
Her stomach made no sound, and her eyes held no hint of hunger.
It was strange, almost unnatural.
But perhaps... understandable, given the circumstances.
Maybe hunger didn’t apply to soone like her who felt like they had slept only for a day.
Throughout the entire check-up, she kept stealing glances at .
Her gaze was steady but warm. She smiled softly each ti our eyes t.
And I had no idea why.
Zeruel stood beside , her attention completely locked on her mother.
Her smile—genuine and full—never left her face.
It was radiant, full of relief and joy that made my chest feel oddly tight.
She looked like a little girl watching a toy being lowered by a claw machine, her older brother guiding the claw with precision. The prize was finally coming ho. All she had to do was wait. Her joy was pure and unfiltered.
Honestly... I couldn’t bla her.
After everything she’d gone through—the things she had to face, endure, and sacrifice just to reach this mont—this was her reward.
Her mother, alive. Awake. Smiling. Speaking. Breathing. Here.
Her tireless efforts... they weren’t in vain.
She had finally earned her peace. She was living the fruits of her struggle.
When the tests were done, Trisha and Natasha gave their final notes.
Vitals? Stable. Physical body? Healthy.
Nothing unusual detected.
All readings matched soone who hadn’t just been asleep for a year.
With that, they finally stepped away, giving her space to breathe.
Zeruel’s mother let out a soft sigh of relief, stretching her limbs as if feeling them anew. And then, her eyes turned to her daughter again.
"H-How was it?" Zeruel asked, voice trembling slightly with anticipation.
"They said I’m fine now," her mother replied gently. "But they still want to run so more detailed tests to make sure everything’s truly okay."
She let out a soft laugh.
"Honestly... I don’t feel anything wrong. Are you really telling I was asleep for more than a year?"
"Yes," Zeruel said with a small nod, her smile turning a little emotional.
"Well, I’m sorry," her mother said, expression shifting to one of regret. "I must’ve caused you so much work. So much worry."
"No, it’s fine." Zeruel’s voice cracked, but she quickly composed herself. "I’m just glad that... you’re back now."
She looked like she was about to break again, her eyes shimring. But she swallowed it down, forcing the tears away.
"I’m sure Selene would be happy," she added, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes... Selene," her mother repeated, as if the na had just co back to her. "How could I forget about her? She must’ve grown so much."
"She’s going to start her first year after this current one," Zeruel explained. "She’s been studying here with the others lately, and I think she’ll pass the entrance exams easily."
"I see... That’s wonderful. I’m excited to see her again. She must’ve changed a lot," her mother said, eyes soft and distant for a mont. Then, her gaze slowly returned to .
"And I’m sorry I couldn’t say anything to you earlier," she continued. "When I first woke up, I saw a stranger hugging my daughter and I... I was really confused. I’ve only just woken up after more than a year. Everything felt strange."
She gave a gentle smile, eyes kind and calm now.
"So let properly introduce myself. I’m Zeruel’s mother. Juna," she said warmly. "Would you mind telling your na? I’d like to know the man who’s currently in a relationship with my daughter."
"M-Mom! M- and Leon are not like that!"
"Not like what?"
"W-We’re not in a relationship!"
"Huh? But I could’ve sworn..."
"H-He’s just soone who helps us a lot, okay?! B-Besides, I don’t think Leon’s attracted to or anything!"
She shot a side glance—half embarrassnt and half denial.
"I do think you’re attractive," I replied calmly, eting her eyes. "I confessed to you, rember?"
"T-That was...!"
"He confessed to you?" her mother blinked in surprise, then narrowed her eyes at her daughter. "And you’re still not in a relationship? Why? Don’t tell you’ve been leading him on and dodging the question. Or... did you reject him?"
"I-I wasn’t in a good mood that day, okay? It was the day you collapsed, Mom..." Zeruel muttered.
"Ah... I see. So your heart wasn’t in the right place, and that’s why you turned him down," Juna said gently. "But tell ... if he confessed to you again—right here, right now—would you answer him properly this ti?"
She looked at with playful eyes, lips curled in a teasing grin.
"After all, Mr. Handso here clearly still likes you, if he’s stuck around this long."
"Um, it’s not because he likes that he’s here," Zeruel said hastily, glancing away. "He’s here because... he owns this entire establishnt."
Her mother froze, blinking in disbelief.
"Wait... really?" she asked, her voice nearly cracking from shock.
Her reaction was justified. Who wouldn’t be surprised by sothing like that?
I wasn’t even in my twenties yet. Owning a place like this—sothing that usually took decades to build—wasn’t sothing people just casually did.
But I nodded silently, confirming her daughter’s words.
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