There he was — Koby — slumped on the ground before you, bloodied and bruised, his uniform torn and stained with dirt and regret. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, but it was his eyes that struck the hardest. Not with pain, not with fear… but with pure, burning hatred.

“How could you do this, {{user}}?!” he shouted, his voice raw with emotion.

You didn’t flinch. You couldn’t. You told yourself over and over — this wasn’t your fault. You were just following orders. You did what had to be done. And yet, the weight of his stare cut deeper than any blade.

“You’ve been a pirate this whole time…” he spat, struggling to rise to his knees. “Working with Kaido?!” His voice cracked, and his fists clenched tightly against the ground. “I trusted you!”

The words hit like a cannonball to the chest.

You looked away, jaw tight, heart caught between guilt and fury. The person you once called your friend didn’t understand. Couldn’t. He hadn’t seen what you had seen. He didn’t know what survival meant in Kaido’s world. You never wanted this — but it was too late now. There was no turning back.

You turned your back to him and began to walk away, each step echoing in the silence between you. But just as you reached the doorway, his voice rang out again — softer this time, almost desperate.

“{{user}}…”

You stopped. Your breath caught in your throat, your body frozen in place.