Still Healing – Kazuki's Battle Within
Days had passed since Kazuki's breakdown, but the tension in the base remained thick, suffocating the halls and casting a heavy shadow over everyone. The medical room, once a place of quick patch-ups and lighthearted jokes, had transformed into a vigil of anxiety. Kazuki lay strapped to the bed, arms and legs restrained to prevent him from hurting himself. His face, pale and drenched in sweat, twisted with every unconscious murmur. His breathing, though slightly steadier than before, came in erratic bursts. Monitors beeped softly but unpredictably, reflecting the storm raging inside him.
Yano sat beside him, exhaustion etched deep into her face. Her eyes, rimmed with fatigue, never left Kazuki's restless form. With slow, careful movements, she wiped his forehead with a damp cloth. "Kazuki…" her voice cracked, thick with emotion, "You've always been stubborn... so fight this. Come back to us. We need you."
Kai leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a grim line. "Three days," he muttered under his breath. "Three damn days of this." His fingers drummed a restless rhythm against his arm, frustration boiling beneath his calm exterior.
Leon entered, carrying two steaming mugs of coffee. "And it'll keep going until his mind decides to stop being a battlefield." He handed one mug to Yano. "You should rest too. You've been at this for hours."
"I can't," Yano shook her head. "What if—what if something happens and I'm not here?" Her voice wavered, a mixture of fear and stubbornness.
Kai pushed off the wall. "Look, Yano, you collapsing isn't going to do Kaz any good. We're here. We got this."
Despite their words, all three flinched when Kazuki suddenly jerked against the restraints, mumbling incomprehensibly. His face twisted in pain as another wave of nightmares assaulted him. His lips formed broken words: "No... stop... please…"
Yano gripped his hand. "Kazuki! It's not real—please listen to me!"
Kai's jaw clenched. "He's fighting ghosts we can't see."
Leon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "And ghosts hit harder than bullets."
Kazuki's Trauma – Echoes of the Past
In the darkness of his mind, Kazuki stood amidst a battlefield torn apart by chaos. Smoke billowed around him, ash swirling with each step. The ground beneath his feet was soaked in blood and mud, squelching with every movement. All around him, distant screams echoed—voices he knew, voices he had fought beside.
Then came the figures.
Crimson appeared first, standing tall with that familiar grin twisted into something unrecognizable—resentful, accusatory. "Why didn't you save me, Kazuki?" Crimson's voice, once full of warmth, now chilled him to the bone.
Kazuki stumbled back. "No—I tried! I swear I—"
The scenery shifted. Now he stood in the base's common area, surrounded by Emjay's team. But their eyes weren't kind; they glared, judging. Leon stepped forward. "You're dead weight, Kazuki. We should've left you behind."
Kazuki's heart pounded. "Leon—don't—this isn't real."
Kai appeared next, his gaze hard, filled with cold disappointment. "Crimson died because you hesitated."
Kazuki fell to his knees, hands clawing at his head. Stop it. This isn't them. This isn't real—
And then he appeared—himself. Or rather, a darker version. The mirror image smirked cruelly. "Look at you. Weak. Clinging to people who'll just keep dying."
"Shut up," Kazuki whispered.
"You can't save them," the double continued. "One by one, they'll fall... and you'll stand there, useless."
"Shut up!" Kazuki screamed, the darkness closing in, dragging him deeper.
Team Discussion – A Tough Choice
Outside the medical room, Emjay gathered the team in the briefing area. The usual buzz of conversation was absent—replaced by a suffocating silence.
Leon broke it first. "We can't just sit on our asses. Missions aren't gonna pause because Kaz is... like this." His words, though blunt, carried no malice—just urgency.
Yano's hands clenched into fists. "Look at him! He's barely holding on, and you're talking about missions?"
Emjay raised a hand, calming both sides. "We're not abandoning him, Yano. But the enemy isn't waiting for Kazuki to get better. We stall, we lose ground."
Nami spoke up, voice quiet but firm. "Kazuki wouldn't want us wasting time."
Kai ran a hand through his hair. "So we go fight while he's like that? Feels wrong."
"I'll stay with him," Yano volunteered immediately. "He trusts me."
Emjay nodded. "Then that's settled. We move at dawn."
Night Before the Storm – Quiet Conversations
That night, the base felt heavier. Each member sought solace in their own way, knowing tomorrow's mission could cost them everything.
Kai found himself outside, sitting against a wall, legs stretched out. Stars dotted the sky, indifferent to their struggles. Nami approached, plopping down beside him. "You never sleep before missions," she noted.
Kai shrugged. "Hard to, with everything going on. Crimson... Kaz... it's a lot."
Nami leaned back, gazing at the stars. "Feels like we've been fighting forever."
Kai smirked slightly. "Hey, remember when Crimson dared you to out-eat him at that pizza place? Dude thought you'd explode."
Nami chuckled. "I almost did. He laughed so hard I nearly choked."
The laughter faded, leaving behind a bittersweet quiet.
Elsewhere, Emjay and Leon sat in the empty mess hall, nursing mugs of lukewarm coffee. "Ever think about just... walking away?" Leon asked.
"Every damn day," Emjay admitted. "But someone's gotta stand between them and us."
Leon smirked. "We do it for each other."
"Exactly."
Mission Day – Operation Iron Resolve
Dawn broke over the base, casting everything in hues of gold and crimson. The team gathered at the entrance, gear ready, expressions set. Yano adjusted Kazuki's restraints one last time, whispering, "Stay with me, Kaz."
Emjay addressed the team. "We get in, grab the intel, and get out. No heroics."
Kai grinned. "Yeah, yeah—heard that before."
Nami rolled her eyes. "Let's just get this over with."
With a final nod, they moved out.
Battlefield Chaos – Splitting the Fight
The battlefield erupted the moment they arrived. Gunfire lit the air; dirt and debris exploded under relentless fire.
Leon blinked across the field, teleporting between cover. "Left side clear!" he called, taking down enemies with surgical precision.
Kai dashed forward, vaulting over wreckage. "Got your six!" he shouted, tackling a soldier and disarming him with swift efficiency.
Nami moved like a phantom, blades flashing, cutting through the chaos. "Keep up!" she barked, breath steady despite the storm around them.
Emjay, calm amid the madness, directed from behind. "Push forward! Kai—flank right! Nami—you're with me!"
Then came a familiar voice, cutting through the cacophony.
"Well, well," Elijah smirked, stepping into view. "Didn't think you'd show."
Nami's gaze hardened. "We have unfinished business."
Kai stepped up beside her. "We'll handle him together."
Nami shook her head. "No. This is mine."
Kai hesitated. "You sure?"
"Positive." Her tone brooked no argument.
Elijah chuckled. "Let's see if you've improved, girlie."
Duel of Wills – Nami vs. Elijah
They circled each other, the world narrowing to just them. Elijah lunged, blade flashing. Nami parried, sparks flying. Her foot lashed out, catching his ribs and sending him back a step.
"Still feisty," Elijah grinned. "I like that."
"You talk too much," Nami retorted, attacking again. Blades clashed, metal ringing. Sweat trickled down her temple, but her focus never wavered.
Elijah's movements were precise, calculated. "You really think you can beat me?"
"I don't think," she hissed. "I know."
Their blades locked, faces inches apart. Elijah smirked. "Let's see how long that confidence lasts."
Nami's resolve burned hotter. "Bring it."