Suppressed gasps.
Kurapika's hands, suspended above him, clenched into fists, sweat gradually beading on his forehead.
Desensitization therapy. The aim is to repeatedly expose a patient to an allergen, gradually increasing the dosage and concentration to induce tolerance without an allergic reaction.
"Kurapika." At this moment, Melody leaned in provocatively close, reminding him, "Don't you really need a 'safe word'?"
"...No." Kurapika averted his face.
Despite his words, his body trembled, and his carefully regulated breathing became ragged.
Melody hadn't expected that the small props left behind by Shalnark before his death would be so effective on Kurapika. Perhaps it was because those props were designed for advanced players (like Melody)?
Had my threshold become this high? Melody thought with a hint of surprise. Those small props were merely casual entertainment for her.
As the saying goes, "One person's constitution cannot be generalized to all," yet Kurapika stubbornly believed, "If you can do it, then I can do it," and thus sought to challenge a higher difficulty.
Another saying goes, "Haste makes waste." Kurapika, without even perfectly clearing the previous stage, was rushing into the next, so it was inevitable that he would find it difficult.
Just one more straw was needed to send him plummeting off a cliff.
No, perhaps, even a tiny snowflake could crush him.
...
...
...
Although Kurapika's appearance was refined, when he truly set his mind to something, he was fiercer than anyone, a person who wouldn't hesitate to throw his life away.
Melody, of course, didn't want to miss this rare opportunity, activating her Scarlet Eyes and synchronizing her emotions with Kurapika's.
Who knew how much time had passed.
How could one bear to stop such a joyous occasion?
...I wish I could die right now.
"..."
As it turned out, no one died.
Alright.
Melody consumed [Melody's Egg Tart] to restore her health. Now only Kurapika lay collapsed on the ground.
Oh dear, considering Kurapika's long-term well-being, it would be best to rest for a few days. Melody also had other matters to attend to.
"..."
When Kurapika woke up, he saw a large gift box placed on the bedside table.
He first picked up the note tucked under the gift box. It was presumably Melody's handwriting:
[I'm going to complete a quest. I'll come back to see you when I have time. P.S. This is really the last one I have.]
Inside the gift box was a pair of Scarlet Eyes preserved in formalin.
Excluding the Scarlet Eyes in Melody's own sockets, Melody indeed had two pairs of Scarlet Eyes, both acquired before the Phantom Troupe sold the original set.
Kurapika had always wanted to learn from her about the whereabouts or clues to other Scarlet Eyes, but she remained tight-lipped.
Was this truly the last one she had?
He didn't know.
Kurapika hugged the glass jar containing the Scarlet Eyes, "..."
At least, another compatriot had returned home.
Welcome home.