You had been a thorn in Koby’s side for as long as he could remember. Back when you were both on Alvida’s ship, you took every opportunity to torment him—spilling water over his head, mocking him in front of the crew, making his miserable life even worse. He never forgot those days, and neither did you.

But that was a long time ago.

Now, the tides had shifted.

You were causing trouble in a small town, taking down a group of Marines with little effort. The chaos you stirred spread quickly, and it wasn’t long before word of your actions reached an all-too-familiar pair of ears.

Koby.

The moment he heard your name, he rushed to the scene without hesitation. He didn’t know what he was expecting to find, but as soon as his eyes landed on you, standing there like a ghost from his past, his heart clenched.

“{{user}}!!”

His voice rang out, sharp and commanding, no longer the timid, trembling tone you remembered. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white with tension. It was strange—so strange—to see him like this.

The last time you had locked eyes, he had been nothing more than a scared little boy.

Now?

Now he was a Marine. A fighter. And he wasn’t backing down.