One Day Later
The hospital was quiet. Soft morning light filtered through the window, illuminating the room. Kaien was still asleep, every muscle tense even at rest, his body heavy with the pains of the recent battle. Yuki, the manager, had already left for the spy agency, concerned about the day's operations.
Kaien wakes slowly, his body protesting every movement. His blue eyes open, heavy, and he lets out a muffled groan.
— Oh… my…
He leans forward, carefully removing the bandages, each gesture painful, his mind tired, trying to process the morning. Every cut, bruise, and scratch reminded him of the confrontation he had faced.
— Damn… now I'm going to be marked…
Rising in the bed, still wearing the clothes stained with dried blood, he takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of every blow he received, but determination already flickers within him.
Moments later, Kaien arrives at the spy agency. Each step is slow but firm, carrying the exhaustion and tension from the previous day. As he enters, Yuki sees him, her face shifting from concern to immediate annoyance. She rushes forward, eyes sharp, observing every detail.
— Kaien! Why did you leave the hospital without permission?! You're not at 100%!
Kaien scratches the back of his neck, the pain throbbing, but remains calm:
— Yeah… my bad…
Yuki rolls her eyes, but a faint smile betrays her.
— Fool…
Kaien tilts his head, confused, trying to read her expression.
— Go work already! — Yuki interrupts, firm and direct.
He heads to his desk, sits down, still wearing yesterday's bloodstained battle clothes. His fingers touch the keyboard carefully, reviewing reports, analyzing information. Each click seems to echo in the silent room. Pain throbs in his body, but his mind, though tired, remains sharp.
After a while, Kaien stops, takes a deep breath, and without warning, rises and leaves the agency. Yuki notices, alarmed, but before she can reach him, he has already disappeared.
Arriving home, he opens the door, slips inside quietly, and collapses onto his bed. The silence is heavy. His eyes close, and immediately, memories of the fight flash through his mind: the blows received, the bullets dodged, the mafia boss dominating the room, and the moment he finally triumphed. Every sensation is vivid: the pain, the fear, the sweat, the blood.
— I have to stay focused… now… damn…
His body surrenders to exhaustion. He feels every muscle relaxing, each breath slowing. Sleep finally claims him, deep and inevitable. Kaien knows, even if he cannot articulate it, that he will not be the same after this.
The night's silence is broken by the phone ringing. Kaien does not stir, still immersed in deep sleep.
— Yes, I saw the news…
— This Kaien guy… he's playing with things he shouldn't…
The narrative camera closes in on Kaien's motionless body, but his blue eyes, even in dreams, shine with determination and focus, foreshadowing that the next challenge will be even greater.
End of the Beginning.