Silver sighed again, softer this time. He reached up, ruffling his own hair in frustration before looking back at me.

“Mia,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “I know it hurt before. But that wasn’t me.”

I sniffled, curling up tighter.

Silver’s gaze didn’t waver. “You don’t have to say it,” he continued, like he knew exactly why I wasn’t talking. “But I get it.”

He didn’t rush me. He just sat there, crouched down at my level, waiting.

After a moment, I peeked at him through my arms. “…Y-you sure it won’t hurt?”

Silver nodded, serious. “I swear.”

I hesitated. Then, slowly, I stretched out my arm.

Silver gave a firm nod. “That’s it. Just keep breathing.” He moved carefully, unwrapping the syringe. “I’ll go slow.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself—

The sting was sharp, sharper than I expected. A small yelp slipped out before I could stop it, and my whole body jerked in response.

Silver swore under his breath, steadying me with his free hand. “Mia—hey, it’s okay,” he murmured, but I was already shaking.

“It h-hurt,” I stammered, voice barely above a whisper.

I didn’t mean to flinch. I didn’t mean to feel everything. But I did. And it was too much.

Then, I felt something pressed into my palm.

A piece of candy.

I blinked, looking up at him, confused.

Silver leaned back, arms crossed. “It’s a reward.”

I just stared at him. “…Why?”

Silver’s jaw clenched. He looked away, muttering, “Because you deserved one.”

I opened my mouth to ask what that meant—

Then Silver froze.

His eyes locked onto something. Not my face. Not the shot.

My arm.

My breath hitched as I followed his gaze.

Scars.

Faint, circular scars—ones that matched the exact size of a shot.

Silver’s expression darkened.

“…What the hell?” he muttered under his breath. His fingers twitched like he wanted to reach out, but he didn’t. His eyes flickered between me and the scars, something unreadable in them.

I swallowed hard. “I-I don’t know…”

Silver’s hands curled into fists. “No, you do know,” he said, his voice oddly calm. Too calm.

I shrank back. “I… It’s just from when I was little… I think?”

Silver’s eyes narrowed. Then, without another word, he stood up, grabbing his phone.

“…Silver?”

He turned, typing something fast. “I’m suing them.”

I blinked. “Wait—what?”

Silver’s eyes burned with something dangerous. “That’s not normal, Mia. That’s not okay.”

I shrank into my seat, watching as he started making calls.

And for the first time, I realized—

Silver wasn’t just angry.

He was furious.

And it wasn’t for himself.

It was for me.

Silver’s expression softened—just a little—as he watched me rub my eyes. He exhaled through his nose and reached up, lightly flicking my forehead.

“Hey,” he murmured. “I know it hurts. But you’re safe here.”

I sniffled, curling up tighter. “…Still don’t like it.”

Silver sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, I figured.” He grabbed the alcohol wipe again, but before he opened it, he looked back at me, studying my face.

“…Did they do it wrong before?” he asked quietly.

I flinched. Too much silence.

Silver didn’t push, but I saw something shift in his expression—something like realization.

“Okay.” He sat back on the stool, thinking. “I’ll make this as easy as possible. You don’t have to look, and I’ll be fast.”

I hesitated before giving a tiny nod.

Silver rolled up my sleeve, his hands steady but careful. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to shake.

“Deep breath,” Silver said, voice calm.

I barely had time to inhale before I felt the needle. Sharp, quick, but it still hurt.

I flinched hard. My whole arm jerked involuntarily.

Silver cursed under his breath, steadying me. “Easy, easy. It’s over.”

I swallowed thickly, rubbing my arm as my breathing stayed uneven.

Silver was quiet for a moment before he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out… something small.

“Here,” he said, handing it to me.

I blinked down at it.

Candy.

I looked up at him, confused.

Silver rolled his eyes, looking away. “It’s… something people do after shots. I dunno. Just take it.”

I hesitated before unwrapping it, popping the candy in my mouth. Sweet.

Silver watched me for a second, then turned to put his supplies away. That’s when he froze.

I followed his gaze.

My arm.

The scars.

Circular, perfectly round scars.

His eyes darkened.

“…Mia,” he said, voice dangerously low, “what the hell is this?”

I swallowed, suddenly unsure what to say.

Silver’s hands clenched. “…That’s from injections. Repeated ones.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “I-I don’t know, I just—”

Silver cut me off with a sharp exhale, rubbing his temple. He looked furious, but not at me.

“Yeah. Okay. I’m suing that place.”

I blinked. “W-what?”

Silver stood up, cracking his knuckles. “Suing. That. Place. Whoever did this is done.”

I stared, candy half-melted on my tongue.

Pikachu, who had been watching from the counter, nodded in agreement. “Pika.”

Silver growled under his breath. “Unbelievable.” Then, glancing back at me, his voice softened just slightly. “…You’re never going back there.”

I nodded weakly.

Silver exhaled, shaking his head. “Tch. No wonder you hate needles.”

He grabbed another candy from his pocket and tossed it to me.

“…Here. You deserve another.”