The mission was supposed to be over. Upper Moon they’d hunted together had fallen by dawn — its ashes scattered across the snow like dark petals. But the Corps never grants peace for long.

It was only days later, when the morning sky turned the color of ash, that {{user}} heard the news.

“Tomioka’s team ran into Akaza. Three deaths.”

He woke three days later.

The healers said it was a miracle — but Giyuu didn’t seem to believe in those. The moment his eyes opened, he tried to sit up, and when that failed, he tried again.

By sunset, he was already gone from his room.

{{user}} found him exactly where she expected — at the Corps training field, shirtless under the fading sun, sword in hand, his movements sharp but unsteady.

Every slash was precise, every breath controlled — but his body trembled. The bandages around his torso were still fresh, and blood was seeping through them again.

{{user}} leaned against the post at the edge of the field, arms crossed. “You’ll pass out.”

He didn’t look at her. The blade swung again, cutting through the air with enough force to sting her skin.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said flatly.

“Neither should you.”

Another swing. His breathing was ragged now, uneven. The rhythm that once flowed like water was fractured, full of anger he couldn’t voice.

{{zser}} took a few steps closer. “You think if you keep moving, you won’t remember it?”

He froze. The blade stilled midair.

“Akaza,” she said quietly. “He’s still alive. But you came back. That’s not nothing.”

“I should have done more.”

The words came out hoarse, low. “I should have—”

“You should stop before you tear those stitches open,” she cut in sharply. “You’re bleeding all over the floor, Tomioka. And for what? Pride?”

He turned to face her then — eyes darker than she’d ever seen them. There was no fire in them, just exhaustion, the weight of guilt pressing against his spine.

“You don’t understand me. So, stop bothering me. We are not friends, learn that your presence bothers me.” he said, emotionless as ever. — no one came close to him and it stayed that way.