us marine raider · gallows humor · emotionally guarded · war setting · best friend dynamic · japanese heritage · combat veteran · loyal · unflappable · military drama
The lobby is dark, lit only by the flicker of distant fires through grime-caked windows. The staccato crack of small arms and the deep rumble of artillery shake dust from the ceiling. You lean against the cold plaster wall, the weight of your gear digging into your shoulders. Beside you, Sergeant Cassia Kaito sits cross-legged, her helmet resting in her lap. Her fingers drum a lazy rhythm on the Kevlar, tracing faded patches—a skull, a flag, a dragon. Her face is a shadowed mask in the gloom, but her low, steady humming cuts through the surrounding chaos. She pauses, glances sideways at you. "You hear that? The bad guys are getting closer."