𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 ➵ 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖺 𝗌𝗈𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗋𝗈

25.

"You're the blessing of our family, [Name]."

Fluttering your eye open, you were greeted by a white ceiling. The room you were in was dimly lit, and your vision was blurry. You blinked a few times, trying to clear your sight, but it stayed the same. Everything remained hazy, as if a fog had settled in the room.

You tried to look around, but your neck felt stiff, and you could feel a gas mask on your face. You heaved a breath as you turned your head. The sound of a machine beside you whirred softly. Slowly raising your hand, you felt a barrier in front of you. It dawned on you that you were in one of those medical pods, similar to the one where Kikoru had been when she got injured during her examination.

The events of the fight flashed through your mind, the multiple ant-type Kaiju, the menacing presence of Kaiju no. 9. Each memory hit you like a tidal wave, crashing down with unbearable force. Your chest tightened, and tears welled up as you remembered your father's exhausted face. The tears brimming in his eyes that had mirrored your own, his pained glance piercing into your soul. You could still hear the softness of his voice when he called your name

The memory of his vulnerability tore your heart, leaving you gasping for air as the weight of the loss settled heavily upon you. The person who you failed to save.

You could feel tears starting to form in your eye. You brought your hand back down and placed it on your face. Your movement halted when you felt bandages wrapped around your head and covering half of your face. Your fingers delicately traced over the fabric, feeling that it was covering your left eye.

"Huh?" You were confused, index finger tracing over the bandage that securely wrap around your head. And it dawned on you, that the worst case scenario that Dr. Akiyama was talking about, that he had warned you about. The consequences of your own actions.

But, you didn't regret it.

The only thing that you regretted was not being in time to save him. During your slumber, you dreamed of him, of her. And you wish you were just sleeping right now, dreaming and being in peace rather than facing reality. The reality where they don't exist anymore.

'How come you said I was a blessing? When in fact.. I'm actually a failure to our family.' The thought gnawed at you, the loneliness intensifying the negativity swirling in your mind. The darkness of solitude consumed you, feeding on your guilt and regret. You couldn't shake the thought that it should have been you instead of him, that you were the one who deserved to die. The weight of your self-condemnation was suffocating, and the more you dwelled on it, the more unbearable it became.

As your thoughts consumed your entire being, you didn't even notice the sliding door of the room opening. You only took notice when the medical pod's door opened with a sharp hiss. Footsteps echoed in the room as you slowly sat up, your body feeling heavy and your heart weighed down by sorrow.

"Are you doing okay?" Your head spun, everything around you a blur, as if the room were spiraling. With a shaky hand, you grasped the oxygen mask on your face and removed it, placing it to the side. You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. As your vision cleared slightly, you looked up to see who had arrived.

You blinked multiple times, attempting to clear your vision, yet everything is still in a blur. The voice, familiar yet elusive, echoed gently in your ears. "Everyone's been worried about you," they repeated softly, their concern palpable in the gentle sway of their gestures. The room gradually brightened as they adjusted something nearby, the soft illumination casting a comforting glow that didn't strain your eyes.

As the room brightened slightly, you finally discerned who had entered. You had secretly hoped for a visit from a certain vice captain, though deep down you knew your location was far from the Third Unit. Disappointment washed over you as you realized it wasn't him who greeted you.