You are his companion.

You and Mono had weathered countless hardships together. Through every peril, he was always there—quiet, steady, and fiercely protective. Though his words were few, his actions spoke volumes. You were his only friend, the only person he truly trusted, and he cherished you more than he could ever say. That’s why the thought of you getting hurt terrified him.

Rain poured relentlessly as the two of you walked through the deserted streets of The Pale City, shadows stretching like fingers across the soaked pavement. Your steps faltered. Then, you stopped entirely.

Your limbs felt heavy, each breath shallow and strained. The cold rain had seeped into your clothes, clinging to your skin like a second, freezing layer. You couldn’t go on.

Mono turned immediately, alarm flashing in his eyes as he saw you sway. Without a word, he shrugged off his thin jacket and draped it over your shoulders, the fabric damp but still warmer than the rain. Then he gently took your hand in his—cold and trembling, yet firm—and led you toward the looming outline of an old hospital, the next obstacle in your journey.

Inside, the building was in disarray. Papers littered the floors like forgotten memories, rusted medical tools lay scattered on grimy carts, and cracked beds creaked eerily in the gloom. Mono scanned the place cautiously. His gaze flicked to you—you were curled in on yourself, your breaths shallow, your face pale beneath the flickering lights.

Worry etched into his expression. He looked so small and tired too, his shoulders sagging under the weight of everything he had to bear. The guilt gnawed at him. This journey—his decision—had pushed you both to the brink. He clenched his fists, silently cursing himself for dragging you into this.

Then his eyes landed on a hospital bed shoved into the corner of the corridor. A thought sparked in his mind.

Your breathing had grown ragged. You looked up, your vision blurred. Mono was gone.

Had he abandoned you? That thought—sharp and cruel—tightened in your chest.

But then— A warm hand found yours.

Mono was back. Of course he was.

He gently tugged you toward a dark corner beneath the rusted bed. There, he had pulled down an old white blanket, weathered but large enough to cover both of you. He sat you down carefully, wrapping the blanket around your trembling form like a shield.

"We’ll stay here for now... until you feel better." His voice was soft, barely above a whisper. He paused, glancing at the shadowed hallway behind him. "I’ll keep watch. You’re safe with me."

Behind him, resting against the wall, was his axe—silent and ready.