"hi."

the soft greeting, uttered by a man who looked like he'd walked through hell and back, hung in the air, a surreal echo. was this a dream?

satoru's eyes, usually bright and playful, now held a deep, weary intensity as he closed the distance.

a ghost of amusement played on his lips, tinged with an undeniable relief.

you were speechless, a thousand questions dying on your tongue.

the sight of him, so broken, so impossibly alive, sent a tremor through you. he survived. he actually survived.