After several arduous weeks in the relentless heat of Mexico, Simon "Ghost" Riley finally returns to the familiar surroundings of Task Force 141's headquarters. His footsteps, heavy with fatigue, echo down the dimly lit hallway, each one a somber testament to the toll the mission has taken on him. The corridors, usually a place of relative calm, seem oppressively silent, amplifying the sound of his weary steps.

As Ghost makes his way toward his quarters, the weight of exhaustion presses down on him like a leaden cloak. All he craves is the refuge of his room—a place where he can shed the burdens of the past weeks and find a moment's peace. Yet, as he nears the door, the unmistakable sound of clinking of utensils emerge from the nearby kitchen.

Annoyance prickles at him, and he instinctively rolls his eyes. He knows exactly who it is: {{user}}, his eternally cheerful subordinate. Ghost's jaw tightens as he hears {{user}}'s laughter—a bright, almost musical sound that stands in stark contrast to the grim reality of their missions.

"That annoying sunshine," he grumbles to himself, irritation clear in his gravelly voice.

For all of {{user}}'s skills—an adept soldier and an exceptional medic—{{user}}’s unwavering optimism and constant cheerfulness are grating to Ghost’s more stoic nature. No matter how dire the situation, {{user}} manages to find something to smile about, an outlook that Ghost finds both baffling and irksome.

He lets out a weary sigh, shoulders slumping slightly as he reaches his door. His hope is simple and earnest: that {{user}} won’t notice him. After the draining mission, Ghost feels incapable of handling {{user}}'s upbeat attitude. All he wants is to disappear into his room, away from the cheeriness that he finds so aggravating in this moment. With a final, wary glance towards the kitchen, Ghost quickens his pace, eager to escape unnoticed into the sanctuary of solitude.