Dim sunlight filtered through the slits of his barely opened eyes.
Daren slowly forced his eyelids open.
A spinning ceiling fan, grayish-white walls, an IV bag hanging beside the bed, and various life-monitoring devices glowing faintly in the corner of his vision.
This was a hospital room.
"Yo, you're finally awake."
A familiar voice came from beside him. Daren turned his head and was met with Tokikake's scruffy, ugly face.
He was sitting with one leg crossed over the other, wearing a pair of floral shorts that exposed his hairy thighs, flip-flops on his feet. He held a banana in his right hand, awkwardly peeling it with his teeth as he spoke.
His left hand was wrapped in a cast, with a sling hanging around his neck.
Daren glanced at the half-unwrapped fruit basket on the floor, the corner of his mouth twitching as he said irritably,
"You've got some nerve. That fruit basket was meant for me, wasn't it?"
"...It's not like you could finish it all."
Tokikake took a bite of the banana, let out a snort, and pointed toward the wall.
Over there, dozens of fruit baskets had been piled up into a small mountain, filling the entire private ward with a sweet, fruity aroma.
"I fought too, and got injured. Not a single damn fruit basket for me..."
Tokikake mumbled through a mouthful of banana, his face full of indignation.
Daren took in his bird's-nest of a hairstyle, the greasy sheen on his face, and that whole lazy, thrown-together look. For a moment, he didn't even know where to start complaining.
"Got a smoke?"
He shook his head and asked.
Tokikake fumbled one-handed in his pocket for a bit, then reluctantly pulled out a box of fancy cigars. With a pained expression, he took one out and handed it over.
Daren's eye twitched.
If he had to guess, this was probably another gift meant for him.
But he couldn't be bothered to argue with that bastard. He bit down on the cigar and started looking for a lighter.
"You got a light?"
Tokikake blinked in confusion.
"Hang on."
He dug into another pocket, and with a clatter, over a dozen lighters spilled out and scattered across the floor.
Daren: "..."
Tokikake: "..."
"Hehehe."
Tokikake chuckled sheepishly as he picked one up and handed it over.
You're really something... Even the lighters aren't safe from you.
Daren rolled his eyes, lit the cigar, and took a deep drag.
The spicy smoke rolled down his throat, waking him up a bit.
He pushed himself up with great effort, sitting upright on the bed. Even that simple movement cost him a lot of strength.
A burning pain shot through every muscle, and a tidal wave of exhaustion hit him, cold sweat instantly breaking out across his forehead.
"That was way too close..."
After briefly checking his condition, Daren gave a bitter smile.
It was worse than he'd imagined.
Severe overexertion, at least thirty fractured bones, large-scale muscle tears, massive blood loss...
He couldn't even remember the last time he'd been this badly hurt.
With injuries like these, he'd need at least a week just to start recovering.
Leaning back against the bed, Daren quietly smoked his cigar. After resting for a while, he finally asked,
"How did you end up here?"
Tokikake muttered,
"There were too many wounded in this battle. There are only so many high-end rooms, and all of them got taken up by you monsters and the seriously injured."
"The rest of us had to cram into the standard wards. The guy I was stuck with was that creepy Onigumo. Just seeing his face ruins my appetite and gives me nightmares."
He's even picky about Onigumo's looks now... Daren rubbed his temples in silence.
Knock, knock, knock...
A soft knock came at the door.
Moments later, a burly figure wrapped in blood-stained bandages strode in.
Zephyr glanced at Daren, who was now awake, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Daren, you're up. How's your body feeling?"
Daren smiled.
"Looks like I'll need a few days of rest, Zephyr-sensei."
Zephyr gave him a quick once-over, then nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. Even if you're built like a monster, it's best to take a few more days to heal properly. You don't want any lingering damage."
He'd been dropping by Daren's room frequently these past two days, clearly worried about his condition.
Seeing the kid alive and kicking now, puffing on a cigar, finally let Zephyr relax a little. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Then his gaze shifted to Tokikake, still sitting cross-legged nearby, and he frowned.
"Tokikake, what are you doing here?"
Tokikake opened his mouth, about to explain, but Zephyr waved a hand dismissively.
"Forget it. Just stop coming by so much. Daren needs peace and quiet to recover."
Tokikake: ...
Right then, an excited voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.
"Yo, Daren!! You're finally awake!!"
Everyone turned in surprise. Kuzan came limping in, a bandage wrapped around his forehead, eyes gleaming as he stared at Daren.
"That move of yours was insane!! You pierced through an entire island with a single slash!!"
He struck an exaggerated pose, stars practically shining in his eyes.
"When you're better, you have to show me that move again!"
Then he paused, eyeing Tokikake with confusion.
"Wait, Tokikake, what are you doing here?"
Tokikake: ...
Before he could get a word out, another figure stepped in, exuding a cold, heavy presence.
His bare upper body was wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, and the sheer intensity radiating from him made people instinctively want to keep their distance.
"Awake?"
Sakazuki looked at Daren, his tone flat and direct.
"Yeah, doing alright."
Daren replied with a smile.
Sakazuki nodded, then turned to Tokikake with a cold glance.
"What are you doing here?"
Tokikake: ...
His face instantly turned red.
"Next time you see a superior officer, remember to salute. It's regulation."
With that, Sakazuki turned and left without another word.
He had barely stepped outside when yet another figure strolled in.
"Seems like it's gotten pretty lively in here..."
The voice was all too familiar—and just as irritating. Borsalino leaned on a crutch, his left leg in a cast, smiling as he looked over at Zephyr and Kuzan.
His gaze drifted lazily, almost unintentionally, past Tokikake.
"What? You all can drop by, but I can't?"
Tokikake finally snapped. He shot to his feet, grinding his teeth.
"I didn't say anything..."
Borsalino raised a hand like he was surrendering, pretending to be shocked.
Then, eyeing the panting Tokikake with interest, he added,
"But now that you mention it... why are you here?"
Tokikake: ...