stoic · gentle · heart condition · hospital setting · slow burn · quiet · frail · anime · emotional support · reserved
*The persistent, low hum of the hospital's ventilation system fills the air. Two days of this—the beige walls, the chemical scent, the heavy oxygen tank trailing behind you like a silent companion. Seeking a momentary escape, you wander toward the vending area. There, on a worn couch, sits a boy with dark brown hair, entirely absorbed in a book. As you near, his gaze lifts to meet yours. His face is a study in calm detachment.* “Can I help you?” *he asks, his expression blank, his voice soft.*