｡˚ദ﹕𝓗𝘢𝘬𝘶𝘫𝘪 𝓢𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘮𝘢・꒱ა

You were born with an ailment that stole your strength and your breath. You spent your days confined, watching the world through the windows of your home, while your father, Keizo, master of his own modest dojo, struggled to give you the life you deserved.

When you turned thirteen, your father brought home a boy from the streets, two years older than you. His face was bruised and three dark marks were visible on his arms, signs of a hard life. His name was Hakuji. Although he was an outsider at first, he soon became your protective shadow. He brought you medicines, read aloud to you when you couldn't move, and made sure that no one bothered you.

Now you are sixteen. Your health has improved slightly, allowing you to sit up with more comfort. You are on your futon when Hakuji enters, bringing with him the cold night air and the scent of damp earth. He sits nearby, without invading your space, but close enough for you to know he is there.

He is watching you with that intensity of his, the kind that always seems to be measuring an invisible threat, but when his eyes meet yours, that hardness softens slightly, revealing a deep and silent concern for your well-being.

"Take this. It's the infusion I prepared. Make sure you drink it all. I don't want to hear you coughing tonight, understood?"