The steady hum of the machines filled the hospital room, their beeps and whirs the only signs that life still clung to Yuto's fragile form. His face remained pale and drawn, his chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven breaths. The wound Nyx had inflicted had been treated, but it had left more than just physical damage behind.
Takeshi sat by Yuto's side, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, his hand resting lightly on the edge of Yuto's bed. Every twitch, every slight movement of Yuto's fingers, sent a jolt of hope through him, though those moments were few and fleeting. Rika stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, watching in silence, her usual energy replaced by an air of quiet concern.
The door to the room creaked open, and two doctors walked in, their faces set in grim expressions. The older of the two, Dr. Saito, cleared his throat before speaking. His gray hair and the deep lines on his face spoke of years of experience, but even that didn't soften the weight of the news he was about to deliver.
"Takeshi," Dr. Saito said quietly, his voice gentle but firm. "We need to talk about Yuto's condition."
Takeshi straightened, his heart clenching as he braced himself for whatever was coming. Rika moved closer, her eyes flickering with the same unspoken fear.
"What is it?" Takeshi asked, his voice hoarse from the countless hours of worry. "What's happening to him?"
Dr. Saito exchanged a glance with his colleague, Dr. Nishida, before stepping closer to the bed. He took a deep breath, his eyes softening with empathy. "Yuto's injuries are severe, but it's not just the physical damage we're concerned about. His Anima... it's fading."
Takeshi blinked, the words hitting him like a physical blow. "What do you mean it's fading? He just needs time to recover, right? His powers will come back, won't they?"
Dr. Nishida, a younger woman with sharp, analytical eyes, stepped forward. "It's more complicated than that. Anima is the manifestation of a warrior's spirit—both mental and physical strength are required to sustain it. Yuto's fight with Nyx caused not only bodily trauma but a rupture in his spiritual energy."
Takeshi's stomach twisted as he struggled to process the words. "A rupture? What are you saying?"
Dr. Saito's face grew more solemn. "The wound Nyx inflicted was no ordinary injury. It cut deep into his Anima core, where the very essence of his powers resides. That kind of damage... it can't be healed through traditional means. His Anima has been destabilized, and as a result, it's slowly dissipating."
The room seemed to grow colder, the gravity of the situation pressing down on them like a suffocating weight. Takeshi's hand tightened around the bed frame, his knuckles turning white. "You're saying he's going to lose his powers?" His voice trembled with disbelief.
"Yes," Dr. Saito replied softly. "Unless something changes, Yuto's Anima will continue to weaken until it's completely gone. And without his Anima, he won't be able to fight... or protect himself from further spiritual harm."
Rika took a sharp breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "But... isn't there something you can do? Some way to stop it?"
Dr. Nishida stepped forward, her tone clinical but tinged with regret. "We've explored every option, but it's not just about physical healing. Anima is deeply connected to the soul. Once it starts to unravel like this, it's nearly impossible to reverse. We've seen cases like this before—warriors who push themselves too far, and their Anima becomes irreparably damaged."
Takeshi's heart raced, his mind spinning with desperation. "But Yuto... he's different. He's stronger than anyone I've ever known. There has to be a way—he can't lose his powers. He can't."
Dr. Saito sighed, the weight of his own helplessness evident in his eyes. "I understand how you feel, Takeshi. But even Yuto isn't immune to the laws that govern Anima. His fight with Nyx pushed him to the absolute limit. The strain on his soul was too great. Even if he wakes up, it's highly unlikely that his Anima will recover."
Takeshi's eyes darted to Yuto's still form, his mind screaming in protest. This wasn't supposed to happen. They had won. Yuto had fought so hard, given everything he had. He was supposed to pull through, to come back stronger, like he always did. How could it end like this?
Dr. Nishida continued, her voice softer now. "When an Anima begins to fade, it's not just about losing powers. It's a part of who they are—an extension of their very essence. If Yuto loses his Anima, it will leave a void inside him. He'll feel that loss deeply, and it could affect him in ways we can't predict."
Rika clenched her fists at her sides, her voice tight with emotion. "But he's still Yuto. Even without his powers, he'll—"
Takeshi cut her off, his voice rough with barely contained frustration. "That's not the point. Yuto's whole life has been tied to his Anima. To fighting, to proving himself. If he loses that... what's left for him?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Dr. Saito nodded solemnly, understanding the depth of Takeshi's concern. "I know this is difficult to hear. Yuto has been through more than most warriors ever face, and to lose something so integral to his identity... it's a harsh reality. But we'll do everything we can to make sure he's physically stable. Beyond that... it will be up to him."
Takeshi clenched his jaw, his gaze never leaving Yuto's face. He couldn't bear the thought of Yuto waking up to find that everything he had fought for, everything he had become, was gone. How could he face that kind of loss? And how could Takeshi stand by, powerless to help?
"Is there really nothing we can do?" Takeshi asked, his voice low and strained. "No way to bring his Anima back?"
Dr. Nishida hesitated, her gaze flickering toward Dr. Saito before she answered. "There are... experimental methods. But they're risky, and none have been proven successful. Even if we tried, there's no guarantee that Yuto's Anima would be restored. And it could cause even more damage."
Takeshi closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The room felt stifling, the air too thick to breathe.
"I need to think," he whispered, barely able to get the words out.
Dr. Saito placed a hand on his shoulder. "Take your time. We'll be here if you have any more questions."
As the doctors left the room, the silence that followed was deafening.
Rika sat down in the chair opposite Takeshi, her hands trembling slightly. "What are we going to do? If Yuto wakes up and finds out..."
Takeshi shook his head, his voice thick with frustration. "I don't know. But I'm not giving up on him. I don't care what the doctors say. If there's even the smallest chance, we have to find it. We owe him that much."
Rika nodded, though her expression remained troubled. "I just hope... he's strong enough to handle it."
Takeshi's gaze lingered on Yuto's face, his heart heavy with the weight of the uncertain future.
"Yuto," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Please, wake up. We need you."
But Yuto remained still, locked in the silent void of his unconscious mind, while the world around him began to unravel.