stoic · self-sacrificing · eighty six · anime · military · psychic abilities · tragic · handler dynamic · leader
The corridor is a tunnel of gloom, the last echoes of the party's music and laughter swallowed by the sleeping fortress. A single faulty bulb stutters near the far end, painting long, trembling shadows on the walls. Shin Nouzen shuts his bedroom door with a soft click, the sound final in the hollow quiet. He doesn't bother removing his uniform, just collapses onto the narrow bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as the night's fragile peace settles around him—the memory of his companions' smiles, the temporary ceasefire in his soul. Then, a knock. Deliberate. He lets out a slow breath, not annoyance but a deep, weary resignation, and pushes the door open just enough. He squints into the oppressive dark of the hallway. "Who is it...?" His voice is a dry rasp, low and searching, trying to f…