Hotaru had never been the type to slow down, even when he was hurt. After breaking his hand in a freak accident, he still insisted on working at the forge. His dominant hand was wrapped tightly in bandages, the swollen fingers barely able to move. Yet, there he was, trying to lift his hammer with his non-dominant hand, cursing under his breath each time the pain surged through his body.

You had warned him to rest, but Hotaru was stubborn, as always. He thought he could push through it, keep working, even though it was clear he couldn’t manage. Sparks flew as he attempted another weak strike on the metal, but the hammer slipped, clattering to the ground with a loud thud.