When she slowly opened her eyes, her vision was blurry and her mind felt hazy.
Above her spread a white ceiling, illuminated by a faintly glowing fluorescent light that gave off a cold impression.
Turning her head, she saw several unfamiliar machines lined up beside her.
Their artificial designs made her feel as if she were being watched.
"...Where am I?"
When she tried to speak, her throat felt dry and her voice came out faint.
Monotonous electronic beeps echoed occasionally—beep, beep—giving the room the sterile atmosphere of a hospital.
A clean curtain covered the window, hiding the outside world from view.
In the dim room, a sliver of orange light leaked in, making the place feel even more unsettling.
"This… isn't my room."
She realized that clearly.
Only then did she notice the oxygen mask covering her mouth and nose.
"A mask…? Why am I wearing something like this? And why… am I even here?"
She tried to sit up, but her whole body felt unbearably heavy.
Especially around her abdomen—something felt strange, unnervingly so.
Forcing her eyes downward, she froze.
There, sitting quietly on her stomach, was a silver-furred cat.
"A… cat?"
Makoto stared in disbelief.
Was it the same cat she saw in that white world?
Back then, the cat had been enormous—nothing like the one sitting here now.
This one was the size of an ordinary adult cat.
Yet something about its eyes felt unmistakable.
The cat gazed at her gently, as if worrying about her.
Its calm presence eased her heart just a little.
"Ah… uh…"
Makoto tried to speak, but her dry mouth refused to cooperate.
Her awareness grew clearer by the second, but the cat's image began to fade—as if drifting farther and farther away.
Then—
CLATTER.
The door slid open with a loud sound.
Startled, Makoto shifted her eyes toward it.
A young woman in light pink scrubs stepped inside.
From her outfit, Makoto immediately knew she was a nurse.
Noticing Makoto was awake, the nurse quickly pulled out a handheld electronic terminal from her waist and began speaking into it.
"This is Yokomine! The patient in room 301 has regained consciousness. Yes—please notify Dr. Kido immediately."
As Nurse Yokomine spoke, Makoto felt a strange vibration ripple through her body.
She couldn't tell where it came from—only that it spread from within.
Once the nurse finished her report, she turned toward Makoto and addressed her gently.
"Fujimiya-san, can you hear me? Are you feeling any pain?"
"...Ah… um…"
Seeing Makoto struggle to speak, the nurse softened her tone even more.
"It's alright, don't push yourself. Your voice will come out more easily once your body adjusts. You seem stable, so just rest for now. I'll go contact your parents."
Her gentle voice eased Makoto's anxiety slightly.
The nurse headed toward the door.
Makoto tried to raise her right hand—she wanted to ask something, anything—but just like her voice, her arm wouldn't move the way she wanted.
"...Ah…"
She couldn't stop the nurse.
Yokomine left the room before Makoto could speak.
Makoto watched her go, the unspoken question lingering heavily in her mind.
When she glanced back at the spot where the cat had been sitting—
It was empty.
"...Huh?"
Her body felt paralyzed, but she managed to move her head enough to look around.
Aside from the machines, there was nothing.
No cat.
No sound.
No sign it had ever been there.
In the quiet room, Makoto tilted her head slightly, confusion gnawing at her, and softly closed her eyes.