bubblegum princess

chapter fifty eight

⭒˚‧ ︵‿⭒ཐིཋྀ ཐིཋྀ⭒‿︵ ‧˚⭒
welcome to the final show;
SICK SICK SICK !
⭒˚‧ ︵‿⭒ཐིཋྀ ཐིཋྀ⭒‿︵ ‧˚⭒

𝞋𝞎

Sakura hummed softly as she closed the apartment door behind her, exhaustion weighing on her shoulders after an entire day at the hospital. She massaged her sore arms with a quiet pout, murmuring to herself, "Channaro, I really shouldn't overwork myself." Flicking on the kitchen light, she made her way toward the fridge, hoping for a quick snack to ease the long day.

Her hand froze on the fridge handle when something caught her eye. The faint glow of light spilled from the bathroom door, left ajar, casting an eerie shadow along the corridor. The muffled sound of coughing reached her ears, sharp and unsettling, making her breath hitch. A sense of dread curled in her chest.

Without hesitation, Sakura rushed toward the bathroom, her heart pounding. She pushed the door open to find Seiren slumped on the cold bathroom tiles, her body trembling.

Her arms hung limply as she gripped the toilet seat for support, heaving violently. Sakura's eyes widened in alarm as Seiren vomited, her dinner mixed with streaks of blood that made Sakura's stomach twist in fear.

"Seiren!" Sakura gasped, immediately dropping to her knees beside her daughter. She gently gathered Seiren's hair into a loose ponytail, keeping it out of the way as she rubbed soothing circles on her back. "Breathe, sweetheart. Just breathe," she whispered, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay calm.

Seiren choked out another heave, her body wracked with shudders as tears spilled from her eyes. The sight of her daughter in such pain tore at Sakura's heart.

Soft, quiet footsteps echoed down the corridor, their sound muffled but unmistakable in the heavy stillness of the apartment. Seiren froze, her labored breathing halting for a moment as the familiar voice of her sister drifted into the room.

"Ma? You're home?" Sarada's sleepy voice called out, tinged with drowsiness. Sakura's breath hitched, her face growing pale as she instinctively turned toward the door. She had hoped—prayed—that Sarada wouldn't see this.

Sarada rubbed her eyes lazily as she stepped closer, her movements sluggish as she tried to ease the grogginess from her system. But as her gaze adjusted to the dim light and fell upon the scene before her, her steps faltered. She stopped in the doorway, her half-lidded eyes snapping wide open, horror gradually seeping into her expression.

"S-Sei?" Sarada stammered, her voice cracking under the weight of disbelief.

Her lips parted in shock, her breaths shallow as she took in the sight of her twin. Seiren, pale and trembling, was hunched over the toilet, her hands gripping the edges for support. Her loose strands of pink hair stuck to her damp cheeks, and her teary, bloodshot eyes turned away, too ashamed to meet Sarada's.

Sarada's gaze dropped lower, landing on the streaks of blood trailing down the toilet bowl and onto the cold tiles. Her knees felt weak as the realization sank in, her stomach twisting with fear and helplessness

Sarada's drowsiness evaporated instantly, replaced by a jolt of adrenaline that made her limbs feel cold and shaky. She dropped to her knees beside them, her heart thudding painfully against her ribs. Gripping Seiren's trembling hand, she tried to steady herself, but her voice betrayed her panic.

"W-What's happening to you?!" Sarada's words tumbled out in a frantic rush, her wide eyes darting between Seiren's pale face and her mother's tight expression. Her breath hitched as Seiren weakly tried to respond but instead lurched forward again, retching into the toilet bowl. Each strained breath seemed to cost her more and more strength, and Sarada's stomach twisted at the sight.