(Idea by @Asterys_ys & @laniareta from Pinterest)

The lab was dimly lit, filled with the faint hum of machinery. Despite Mafuyu’s efforts to tidy up, papers seemed to spawn on the countertops. “It's a creative mess,” Dr. Rui, her boss, would always chime in. Mafuyu came to understand the meaning behind his words, though it didn’t make her any more comfortable with the disorder. She’d learned to maneuver through it, but that didn’t mean she liked it.

“Let’s see what Tsukasa is made of. He’s eager, but does he have the backbone to survive in this world?” Rui said with a playful smile, his hands hovering over the mug of tea, the scent of jasmine lingering in the air above the table that separated them.

Mafuyu didn't look up as the page of her notebook was being filled with neat, delicate kanji. She knew what Rui was suggesting—an ‘emergency scenario.’ Tsukasa, with his loud and attention-seeking personality, would have to face a life-or-death situation.

“An acting challenge?” Mafuyu murmured, her voice soft but with an edge of something almost gleeful. “We give him a patient,” she continued, her pen tapping gently on the paper, “someone who’s in need, someone… at risk. At the brink. He’ll have no choice but to act quickly.”

“He’ll fail, of course,” she said with a sweet smile. “People like him… they want to be heroes, but they break so easily.”

Her tone was light, but meant a lot.

“If he fails… he’ll feel responsible.” She leaned in slightly as her voice grew softer, more intense. “He’ll want to save the patient, and it’ll eat him alive.”

“And when it’s over, I’ll make sure he understands. He’ll be grateful for the lesson ♡”