I've got to mention: In the anime, Pansy is Sanshokuin Sumireko's nickname. However, I'm not sure if it's an error on my part or the author that Nichiji has the nickname Pansy rather than Sumireko. It doesn't affect the story though.
**************
"You girls chat—I'll step out for a bit."
Nozomi gave a small wave and turned toward the hallway, his coat fluttering slightly behind him like a cloak in a JRPG cutscene. He knew well enough that Pansy—real name Nichiji Sumire—would have a mountain of things to talk about with her best friend after waking from such a long sleep. It was only natural to give them some space.
The moment Nozomi closed the door behind him, Pansy turned toward Sanshokuin Sumireko, her soft gaze brimming with emotion.
"Sumire... this is amazing."
Her voice was slightly raspy but still carried the warmth that had always comforted Sumireko.
"I never thought... I'd wake up and find out that you'd moved on from Yasuo Hazuki and even found yourself a boyfriend. And not just any guy, but someone that good-looking?"
Sumireko blinked rapidly, her eyes reddening. She couldn't hold it in any longer. Her emotions, which had been restrained for so long, burst forth. She rushed over and wrapped her arms around her long-lost best friend.
"I'm so glad you're awake, Pansy..."
The nickname had always sounded a little silly to outsiders—Pansy, like the delicate flower. But between the two of them, it carried a deep familiarity and affection.
Pansy smiled softly and returned the hug, gently patting Sumireko's back. "Yes. I'm really back."
The embrace lasted a few seconds longer before the two girls pulled away.
"Alright," Pansy said, narrowing her eyes playfully, "You owe me the whole story. Spill it—how did you end up with him?"
Sumireko wiped away her tears, chuckling as she nodded. "Okay, okay. It all started with a pretty crazy day..."
She launched into the tale, starting from the incident where she'd been harassed by a thug on the street—just because her outfit stood out. Nozomi had swooped in like a protagonist from a shoujo manga, stepping between her and danger, and laying the guy out with a single, effortless move. That was the beginning of it all.
And from there… the story unfolded.
Sumireko didn't shy away from mentioning Nozomi's strange, inexplicable powers. She trusted Pansy too much to hide that. The way he moved, how he always seemed to know when something was wrong—it was like he wasn't bound by the same rules as normal people.
Pansy sat in silent awe, absorbing it all. A potion that could heal her from a coma? A boy who gave it to her without hesitation?
She placed a hand to her chest, her voice quiet. "So... Nozomi used something that precious just to bring me back?"
Sumireko nodded. "He didn't even think twice."
Pansy smiled faintly, brushing her hair back. "Seems like you've found yourself a keeper."
"But..." she tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow, "from what you said, he sounds a bit... unpredictable. You sure you can handle that?"
Sumireko chuckled and shook her head. "Absolutely."
She looked down for a second before adding, "After what I went through with Yasuo Hazuki, I can say with confidence—Nozomi's the kind of chaos I want in my life."
Then she mumbled under her breath, cheeks pink, "Besides... he's too much for me to handle alone anyway."
Pansy blinked. "Wait... have you two already...?"
"W-We haven't gone that far!" Sumireko waved her hands, flustered. "But we have kissed."
She looked down shyly. She wasn't the type to rush things, and Nozomi respected that. He never pushed. They had agreed to let things develop naturally. And she knew that as long as she stayed with him, his arms would always be open.
Seeing Sumireko's lovestruck expression, Pansy couldn't help but giggle.
"I'm happy for you, Sumireko. You've found someone strong... someone you can lean on."
Sumireko squeezed Pansy's hand and smiled. "And you can lean on me, too. We're sisters, right?"
That made Pansy laugh again. "You really are good, Sumireko. I call you sister, and you're already trying to shove me onto your boyfriend's ship."
"Can you blame me?" Sumireko smirked, "We do look awfully alike. I'd bet good money Nozomi's already thinking about it."
"Please," Pansy rolled her eyes, "I just woke up from a coma. I'm not exactly thinking about romance right now."
"Fair, fair. But when you're ready," Sumireko said, nudging her, "we'll be back in class together. You've got to catch up."
Pansy nodded. "Right. I've fallen behind too much. I'll need tutoring."
"No worries. Nozomi's second in our year. Between the two of us, we've got you covered."
"Thanks. I'll count on you."
Just then, her stomach growled. Loudly.
Pansy froze, face flushing red. "Ugh... that's embarrassing."
She had been on life support the entire time—only surviving on nutrient solutions. Now that she was awake, her body was clearly craving solid food.
At that exact moment, the door opened—and Nozomi stepped in, carrying a few bags in each hand.
"Miss Nichiji Sumire, I figured you might be hungry. I brought steamed buns, a bowl of porridge, and some soy milk. Eat while it's still warm."
Pansy's eyes widened, the aroma making her mouth water.
"You read my mind... thank you!"
As she eagerly took the food, the pieces clicked into place.
So that's why he stepped out earlier...
He didn't just want to give them privacy—he'd anticipated her hunger, gone out to find easily digestible food, and returned just in time.
How thoughtful.
Sumireko's heart felt warm again, and when she looked at Nozomi, her eyes were softer than ever.
Nichijii Sumire eagerly bit into the freshly steamed bun, savoring the warmth and soft texture as it filled her empty stomach. Between bites, she took sips of porridge and soy milk, eating with the ravenous energy of someone who hadn't tasted food in far too long.
Nozomi hadn't known what her preferences were, so he'd bought a variety of breakfast foods—plain, savory, sweet. Everything was there, laid out with quiet consideration. Whether she chose to eat them or not was up to her, but the gesture itself had already said plenty.
Thanks to the healing potion Nozomi had used, her body had made a miraculous recovery. Gone was the frailty of a coma patient. Her limbs no longer felt heavy, her senses had returned, and her appetite—strong and undiminished—was the final proof that she had truly come back to life.
Oddly enough, despite the rich flavor of the meat buns and the thick porridge, Sumire didn't feel queasy at all. Instead, she felt refreshed, even invigorated. The magic of that potion was still working within her.
That wasn't an exaggeration. What Nozomi had used on her wasn't just some ordinary healing medicine—it was a Life Potion, a treasure chest reward straight out of a game world. Its power wasn't scientific, but rule-breaking, the kind that bypassed logic and directly boosted vitality as if the body were part of a stat sheet. The moment she drank it, the gears of recovery had begun spinning beyond what modern medicine could ever replicate.
Sumire finished the last of the buns and wiped her mouth with a tissue, her stomach now pleasantly full. She pushed the soy milk over to Sanshokuin Sumireko—her bestie—who accepted it with a smile. Catching Nozomi's gaze lingering on her, Sumire lowered her head shyly, her face tinged with a faint pink.
Sumireko narrowed her eyes and gave Nozomi a playful pinch on the waist.
"Geez, haven't you stared enough? It's rude to ogle a girl while she's eating, you know."
Nozomi, ever the calm type, gave a small shrug. "Sorry. I was just curious. Are you sure you two aren't sisters? You look so much alike… and both of you are ridiculously pretty."
Nichijii Sumire giggled, her earlier embarrassment fading a little. "Nope, definitely not sisters. Besides—Sumire's chest is bigger than mine."
"P-Pansy!!" Sumireko's face went bright red, steam practically rising from her head. "What are you even saying?!"
"Hehe, just telling the truth," Sumire said innocently.
Nozomi, nodding sagely as if evaluating a profound truth of the universe, murmured, "...I see."
That only made Sumireko cover her face in defeat. If anyone else had made such a comment, she'd have brushed it off without a care, maybe even clapped back with a sharper quip. But coming from Sumire—her closest confidant—it hit different. Pansy wasn't just a friend; she was the one who taught her how to apply makeup, how to blend into the background when she needed to, and how to avoid certain troublesome eyes—like Hazuki Yasuo's.
If it weren't for Pansy's advice and tricks, Sumireko might never have met Nozomi in the first place.
…
Meanwhile, the nurse had come in to do her routine check and was floored by what she saw. Nichijii Sumire—the comatose girl who'd been all but declared brain-dead—was now sitting up, chatting, and laughing like any other healthy teenager. It didn't take long before the attending doctor was summoned.
After a full exam, the verdict was clear: Sumire was back to normal. Her vitals were stable, reflexes perfect, and the coma-inducing condition had vanished entirely. Her body was still a little weak, of course, but nothing time wouldn't fix.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
But miracles come with questions, and Nichijii Sumire knew exactly what kind of "attention" she'd attract if she stayed. Sumireko had hinted at it already—her awakening wasn't natural. She could feel it too. Something had changed in her… and the fewer eyes poking into it, the better.
So, without hesitation, she signed the discharge papers. Staying here any longer was not an option.
After all, she had a second chance at life—and she wasn't going to waste a single moment of it.
**************
Weekly quota met, bonus chapters delivered and some smut.
Enjoy your weekend, and have a nice week ahead.