もののけ | monster | soshiro hoshina (Kaiju No. 8) (COMPLETE)

にじゅうに | twenty two

もののけ | kaiju | monster

22

[A lengthy chapter ahead]

Soshiro

I STOOD SILENTLY, MY FACE DEVOID COLOR, my emotions buried deep within a seemingly blank expression. For the past three days, I had been rooted to this spot, staring through the large transparent glass window into the room where Kenji lay. Inside, he was surrounded by a myriad of medical apparatuses—machines to monitor his vital signs, tubes delivering necessary fluids, and electrodes mapping his brain activity. He was encased in a transparent dome designed to maintain a sterile environment and aid in his recovery.

Three days had passed since the incident during the final examination, and still, Kenji had not regained consciousness. My feet felt as if they were glued to the floor outside his room. I wanted to go inside, I really do. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn't bring myself to step through that door.

The sight of someone hooked up to those machines brought back memories I had long tried to suppress, a trauma that still lingered in the recesses of my mind...

It had been a long time since I had seen anyone in such a condition. The beeping of the monitors, the sterile smell of the hallway, and the sight of Kenji lying there, motionless—it all made my stomach churn. I hated this part in the Third Division. I hated feeling so helpless.

I sighed heavily, knowing that today, just like the days before, I could visit Kenji, but I couldn't muster the courage to go inside. I watched as the medical staff moved around him, adjusting settings on the machines, checking his vitals. Each day, the same routine. Each day, the same crushing guilt and helplessness.

I leaned my forehead against the cool glass, closing my eyes. "Hey, kid," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "You passed the exam. You should be rubbing it in my face, not lying here like this..."

I pictured Kenji's cheeky grin inside my head, the way his eyes would light up with mischief. I could almost hear his joyous voice, the infectious laughter that would fill the room. He would have bragged about his success every day, telling me that one day, he would surpass me. A bitter, almost imperceptible smile tugged at my lips. That's how he is—was.

I let out a shaky breath, my mind wandering to the darker thoughts I tried to keep at bay. What if he wakes up different? What if that infectious smile and lively spirit are gone, replaced by a hollow shell of the boy I knew?

Just like... just like her.

The memories of the past, of another young life changed forever, threatened to overwhelm me.

Please, I don't want that to happen again...

I stood in front of Ashiro's desk, the weight of the past few days bearing down on me like a lead blanket. The office was quiet except for the soft rustling of paperwork and the distant hum of ventilator. Ashiro didn't look up as she asked, "Any news? How's Examinee 2010?"