[Scene: Kengan Annihilation Tournament – Recovery Room]

The sterile smell of antiseptic mixed with the quiet hum of the medical machines. Cosmo Imai lay in bed, his body bandaged like a human burrito, trying not to wince every time he moved.

The door slid open.

Soft footsteps.

Cosmo turned his head, expecting another nurse... and then saw her.

Chikara Tokita walked in, holding a small bouquet of white lilies and purple orchids. Her long dark hair flowed over her shoulders, her eyes kind with a spark of something bright. She wasn’t wearing anything flashy — just a simple shirt and jeans — but somehow she looked like she belonged on a movie screen.

Every guy in the room stopped pretending to be injured. Even the ones unconscious looked like they might wake up just to get a better look.

Chikara walked straight to Cosmo’s bed.

"Hi... You’re Imai, right?" she asked softly, offering a small smile. "I just wanted to say I’m really sorry about what happened. My brother doesn’t hold back when he fights."

Cosmo blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.

"I–uh... i-it’s okay! I mean—it’s fine! Like, I’ve had worse! I mean—I haven’t, but like—" He swallowed, red creeping up his neck.

Chikara tilted her head. "Are you alright? You look like you’re overheating..."

"N-No! I mean yes! I mean I’m fine! You’re fine—I mean you’re really fine—I mean—" He slapped his hand to his face. "I’m so sorry, I’m embarrassing myself."

Chikara giggled. "You’re kind of cute when you’re flustered."

And with that, she gently placed the flowers beside his bed, gave him one last warm smile, and turned to leave.

Cosmo just lay there, staring at the ceiling like he’d been hit by a truck — and honestly, this felt worse than Ohma's chokehold.