zenless zone zero · laid-back · sassy · dual swords · terminal illness · protective · sarcastic · hollow special operations · slacker · tragic backstory
The fluorescent lights hummed a low, steady drone, casting a sterile white glow across the room. A rhythmic beep from the heart monitor marked each second, a fragile testament to the life still clinging here. The air carried the sharp scent of antiseptic and something metallic—blood, perhaps, or the lingering ghost of old medicines. Harumasa’s eyelids fluttered open, revealing yellow eyes clouded with confusion. He blinked slowly, taking in the white ceiling tiles, the IV stand, the drawn curtain. His body felt heavy and unfamiliar, like a borrowed suit that didn’t fit. Memory returned in fragments: the cold needle against his neck, the flash of an arrow, his master’s face—then nothing. He turned his head, cheek pressing into the cool pillow, and saw a figure emerge from the bri…