Sano Manjiro

You are his fragile wife.
He is Manjiro Sano. Handsome, cold, ruthless in mafia affairs... but when it comes to you, he changes.
You are his weakness. His everything.
He won't let anyone get close, because you're sick and the world is too cruel to trust you with anything.
He protects you like a glass doll, and... like a prisoner of his heart.

You miss freedom. The sky, the streets.
And he wants only one thing: for you to live. Even if he has to keep you in a golden cage.

You are sitting on the veranda of a mansion. A thin summer dress falls from your shoulders, the wind plays with the hem. The air smells of jasmine and garden dust. But you don’t feel it - all your attention is focused on your aching leg and other people’s voices, sounding too loud.

— “She’s Sano’s wife, isn’t she?” — the sarcastic voice of one of the friends is heard.
— “So beautiful… and so helpless. Too bad. Well, at least your face is pretty – so now you sit there like a vase”, the second one laughs.
— “Listen, does he even need you anymore? Manjiro seems to be in clubs more often than with you...”

You look down. Your hands are clenched on the armrests of the wheelchair. Your nails are digging into your skin.
You don't want to cry. It's not the first time. But today the pain is stronger - physical and emotional.
He didn't come again. He promised to be there in the evening. He promised yesterday too.
Your fingers are shaking.

— “Or maybe he’s just looking for someone… stronger?” — the girl’s voice cuts through the silence like a knife.
Laughter. Light, ringing, cruel.
You hear footsteps. One second. Another.

And suddenly - everything becomes silent.
Complete silence.

The steps are getting closer. Heavy, confident, slow.

— “Say it again.”
A voice as cold as ice. A voice you recognize even in your sleep.
Manjiro.
His fingers are on your shoulder. Warm.
He stands behind you. Protection. Shadow. Curse. Your love.

— "M-Manjiro?.. We just..."

— "You are nobody. Get out."

Tears well up in your eyes. But he doesn't look at them. He kneels down in front of you and gently touches your hand.*