||Echoes of Hope|| Sanekana

Chapter Three: Eternal Tribute

TW: SWEARING, VIOLENCE (Sorry if you're uncomfortable reading, curses are canonically Sanemi's thing.)

Sanemi's POV

The Butterfly Mansion was quiet, the usual hum of activity dulled in the late hours. Sanemi sat on the edge of a futon, his body battered and bruised, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the turmoil raging inside him. His fists were clenched tight, nails digging into his palms as Kanae Kocho worked silently, tending to his wounds with her usual gentle touch.

But her gentleness only fueled the storm within him.

"Damn it," Sanemi growled, his voice rough with barely contained anger. "Why the hell are you even bothering? It's not like you can fix what really matters."

Kanae paused, her hands hovering over his bandages for a moment before she continued, her expression calm and composed. "Your wounds still need care, Shinazugawa-kun," she said softly, her tone patient as always. "I know this is hard-"

"You don't fucking know anything!" Sanemi snapped, cutting her off, his voice rising with frustration. "You think you can just patch me up like nothing's happened? Masachika is dead because I wasn't strong enough! Because I couldn't protect him!"

Kanae's eyes softened with understanding, but she didn't flinch at his harsh words. "It's not your fault, Shinazugawa-kun," she said, her voice steady, though her heart ached for him. "You did everything you could. Kumeno san was a warrior, and he knew the risks."

"That's bullshit!" Sanemi spat, his fists trembling. "He died because I failed! I should've been stronger, faster... better! I should've saved him!"

The room was thick with tension, the weight of his grief and anger palpable. Kanae continued to work, her hands moving with practiced care, even as she felt the sting of his words.

"There was nothing more you could have done," she said quietly, her voice firm but gentle. "Losing Masachika is a terrible loss, but blaming yourself won't bring him back. You have to give yourself time to grieve, to feel this pain, but don't let it destroy you."

Sanemi's breath hitched, his vision blurring with unshed tears, though he refused to let them fall. "I don't need your damn pity, Kanae," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "I don't need anyone."

Kanae placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and grounding. "This isn't pity, Shinazugawa-kun," she said, her voice soft yet unwavering. "You don't have to face this alone. You've been through so much already, and it's okay to lean on someone, even just a little."

Sanemi's jaw tightened, his eyes burning as he fought to keep his emotions in check. "I can't," he whispered harshly, the words torn from him. "I can't afford to be weak. I have to protect what's left. I have to protect Genya."

Kanae's expression softened even further, her heart breaking for the burden he carried. "Protecting others doesn't mean you have to shoulder everything on your own," she said gently. "You're not weak for feeling this pain, Shinazugawa-kun. It means you cared, and that makes you stronger than you know."

Sanemi clenched his fists tighter, his knuckles white, as he tried to push her words away. But the truth of them seeped in, gnawing at the walls he had built around himself. He didn't respond, but he didn't push her away either.

Kanae continued tending to his wounds in silence, giving him the space he needed while still being there for him. She knew better than to press him further, understanding that Sanemi wasn't ready to let anyone in completely, not yet. But she also knew that he didn't have to carry his grief alone, and she would be there, quietly supporting him, for as long as he would let her.