Chapter: First Paycheck
Hospital rooms always felt too white.
Too clean.
Too quiet.
Ayu hated it.
He sat on the bed, arm bandaged, chest wrapped, staring at the window. The city outside moved like nothing had happened.
A soft knock.
Kaito entered first, holding a plastic bag full of snacks.
"Hero is alive!" he said loudly.
Miko followed, smiling gently.
Milosevic walked in silently, hands in pockets.
Shadow stood near the door.
Yoi came last.
Ayu looked at all of them.
"…Why do you all look like I died?"
Kaito laughed. "You were close."
Ayu smiled faintly.
Then Yoi pulled out an envelope.
He threw it onto Ayu's bed.
Ayu looked at it.
"What's this?"
Milosevic answered, "Government compensation for the Death Blower mission."
Kaito grinned. "Our first official pay!"