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Ryosuke burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, calm down!" He shot him a mischievous look, then after a brief pause, concluded softly: "Yes, Kokichi. I'll help you. I hope you've said your goodbyes to those bandages."
A heavy silence fell after Kokichi's outburst. Ryosuke remained still, his clear eyes fixed on the bandaged figure. Yet inside, his mind was blazing.
The world seemed to slow as he focused his gaze. Gradually, a subtle glow emanated from Kokichi, like a translucent veil unraveling. It was there, just beneath the surface. Three distinct layers of light.
The second layer reacted immediately, flaring with a golden shine.
The scenery shifted.
He found himself suspended in an unreal space. Here, threads of energy swirled in the air like serpents of light. At the center, a luminous sphere floated, pulsing gently, alive.
Ryosuke extended a hand. The sphere obediently descended, resting on his palm. He studied it with curiosity, then, without hesitation, murmured:
"Destroying it would be a waste. This could be useful."
At his words, the sphere vibrated and slowly shrank until it disappeared into his skin.
The scenery instantly reformed. The cave, the pipes, and Kokichi, still wrapped in bandages. Ryosuke exhaled calmly and straightened, a smile stretching across his lips.
"Done," he announced simply.
Kokichi, his eyes still closed, frowned slightly before reopening them. At first, he looked disoriented. Then, like a wave, a new awareness surged through him. He moved a hand. His fingers, freed from their bandages, trembled at the touch of air.
His breathing quickened.
With a sudden surge, he sat up. He staggered at first, but his feet held firm.
Another silence weighed down as he looked at himself, stunned, then fixed his gaze on Ryosuke.
"This is… incredible. I can…"
Ryosuke offered him a sly smile, hands in his pockets. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm a genius. But the real question is… are you ready to see the sunlight?"
Kokichi froze for a moment before determination lit his eyes.
"Yes."
Ryosuke snapped his fingers and started walking toward the cave's entrance, his steps echoing in the heavy air. "Then follow me, my dear Kokichi. Your new chapter begins now."
Kokichi slowly emerged from the tank, the bandages peeling away and falling to the ground in a damp heap.
Naked, he examined his own body with a mix of awe and disbelief. Toned muscles and radiant skin had replaced his damaged flesh. His feet, once nonexistent, now pressed against the cold stone. And his right hand… his right hand! It finally obeyed his commands, the fingers curling and uncurling at will.
"This is… unreal," he whispered, turning in place as if to confirm it wasn't an illusion.
The cave air felt more alive, charged with a new energy. Yet deep down, he sensed that something hadn't changed. His cursed energy, the force he had learned to master despite his failing body, still boiled within him. Intact. Powerful. Ready to be used.
With a sudden impulse, Kokichi began walking toward the cave's exit. His steps, hesitant at first, grew steadier with each stride. This simple act—walking—was a triumph, a brand-new and exhilarating sensation.
Outside, the night still reigned, speckled with distant stars. Ryosuke was already waiting, leaning against a rocky wall.
Hearing Kokichi's footsteps, he turned, his face half-lit by the moon's pale glow. With a mock frown, he scratched his head.
"Ah, damn…" he muttered. "I forgot a crucial detail."
Kokichi froze, shivering slightly at the night breeze brushing his bare skin. He frowned, intrigued. "A detail?"
Ryosuke sighed theatrically before pointing a finger at the dark sky. "It's nighttime, Kokichi. Night. And I, genius Ryosuke, was supposed to show you the sun! The script is ruined. Dead. KO."
A long silence followed his words. Kokichi blinked, then, without warning, burst into short but genuine laughter. For a moment, he let himself be carried by hilarity, clutching his sides. Ryosuke, a satisfied smile on his lips, seemed to enjoy the reaction.
"You're serious?" Kokichi managed to say, wiping away a tear.
Ryosuke crossed his arms and shot him a mock-indignant look. "Are you mocking me? Of course I'm serious. But anyway—behold the moon, Kokichi!"
Kokichi lifted his head toward the partially unveiled moon. It wasn't new, but he had always seen it filtered through his machines. And now…
"Thank you…"
Ryosuke shrugged, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "You're welcome. Enjoy it—it's on the house."
A companionable silence settled between them.
Kokichi stood still, staring at the moon. Its silvery glow bathed the rocks and barren plains, casting soft shadows and mysterious reliefs. The crisp night air seemed to fill his lungs with fresh energy. For an instant, he forgot everything—the cave, the machines, his past struggles. Only this light and this sense of freedom mattered.
At his side, Ryosuke also gazed at the sky, but his eyes wandered. Every now and then, he stole glances at Kokichi, and gradually, a sly smile spread across his face.
"Say, Kokichi," he said, a little too casually, "doesn't it feel strange being… how should I put it… a bit too comfortable?"
Kokichi, lost in contemplation, slowly lowered his gaze. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"
Ryosuke pointed a finger at him, feigning innocence. "Well, you're… stark naked, man. Completely. Bare as the day you were born."
Kokichi's brain took half a second to process the words. Then, in a flash, his hands slapped against his body in a desperate attempt to cover himself. "WHAT?!"
Ryosuke burst out laughing. "Relax, only the moon's here to judge you, and she's a pretty chill audience. As for me, I'm straight…"
But Kokichi was no longer listening. Blushing furiously, he spun around and bolted back into the cave at surprising speed. "YOU COULD HAVE WARNED ME SOONER!"
Still laughing, Ryosuke leaned once again against the rocky wall. "It's been a long day."