He then posed in a ridiculous way, flexing. Saya, however, could see the subtle bags under his eyes.
"Just make sure to rest appropriately." Saeko stated from the doorway. "Your body is still adjusting. Push it now and you'll be a liability later."
Kohta saluted like an overeager recruit. "Yes, ma'am!"
"Go." Saya said, waving a dismissive hand.
Kohta scampered off, a new spring in his step.
Asami and Haruto gave their own nods and followed, leaving the core group. Saya couldn't help but roll her eyes. How couldn't she know what was going in in that gun-addicted nerd's head? Not that she blamed him. Asami was quite attractive, if one were to like short, athletic types with a righteous streak. Not her type, of course. Not like a certain big, blockheaded, infuriatingly brave idiot who was currently passed out upstairs from self-inflicted sunburn.
The thought soured her coffee.
"Alright." She said, pushing the bitter taste aside. "Kenji-san, if you're willing, the workshop is yours. Help Kohta with whatever he needs."
Kenji nodded, a sense of purpose settling over him.
Saya took one look at everyone at the table. Takashi and Rei were obviously tired, and it was much better to sort all this shit when everyone was well-rested. Besides, as much as she tried to fill in Tysone's shoes, she was just as concerned as everyone else, and wanted to rush upstairs to see him.
"Get some rest. All of you. You've been through hell. We'll debrief properly in the morning. Clear the table. We'll start cataloging the new equipment after we've all had some sleep."
With that, Saya dismissed them.
She watched them go—one by one. The raid squad was visibly tired, supernatural powers or not. They had just been through a dangerous situation. Rei and Takashi went to their respective dorms, while the rest scrambled about, either too restless to sleep, or relocated elsewhere to chat.
Only after the last of them had shuffled out did Saya allow herself to slump into the chair, the exhaustion hitting her like a physical weight. She picked up her cold coffee, stared into it, then set it down with a soft clink.
She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, a familiar gesture that did little to soothe the headache building behind her eyes.
They'd gotten lucky. If Tysone hadn't survived, she didn't know what she would've done. She didn't even want to imagine it.
She rubbed at her face, a wave of weariness crashing over her.
Fuck.
This wasn't her responsibility. She was smart, talented, beautiful, and not in danger of death because she was worthless in combat.
Saya looked at Saeko. The purple-haired swordswoman was staring out the window at the dark, rain-soaked yard. She must've been tired too, yet made no motion to return to her own room.
"Worried?" Saya asked, a subtle hint of jealousy in her eyes, but what could she do in this situation? She knew Tysone wasn't exclusive to her, as much as she might have wished otherwise.
Saeko didn't turn. "Of course." She said softly, and calmly─Saya figured there was very little that could actually shake Saeko. Even after facing horrors beyond imagination, she maintained her grace and calm. "Tysone came close to dying today."
"He did it so you'd have time to get to safety."
He was like that.
"Yes..." The edge of Saeko's lips raised. "The same kind of fool that would unquestioningly run into a raging horde of zombies, risking his life."
"He'll wake up and bitch at us."
"And you'll roll your eyes and lecture him for being an idiot." Saeko shook her head, her chuckle dry. "This is exactly how it played out every time. How infuriating. Such a simpleton he is."
"I do not lecture." Saya huffed, though secretly agreeing with the sentiment. She placed her elbows on the table, holding her cup between her palms. "I wish I could do more to help him... and, well, you all. But the best I can do is to aid from the side. It is frustrating."
"Don't belittle yourself. Your contribution and planning has always been a tremendous help to the team."
Saya sipped at her tepid coffee, no longer bitter.
"Thank you."
"No." Saeko shook her head. "It's what everyone thinks. Tysone first and foremost."
Saya huffed behind her mug. "How is he anyway?"
"He's resting. Presumably a coma, but we both know he'll wake up soon enough." Saeko said with the slightest of smiles. "His body is catching up to his spirit. When he wakes up... he'll be stronger. Again."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Saya mused. "How much stronger can he get before he stops being... Tysone?"
No one knew what the core's effects were long-term. If there was any chance that the core was harmful, or perhaps could negatively impact the users, they had no way of knowing, either, but the possibility wasn't small. In spite of the strength they granted, what if they could mess up with someone's head?
Maybe there were bad cores that even humans aren't supposed to absorb? The lack of knowledge was terrifying, and Saya hoped she could unearth all the answers before Tysone gets too far ahead.
Saeko smiled as she turned towards Saya. "As long as he looks at you the way he does... I think he's still human enough."
Saya flushed, opening her mouth to retort, but closed it. She looked away, huffing. "Idiot."
...
Tysone woke up to the smell of antiseptic and... lavender?
His eyes peeled open. The room was dim. He tried to move and immediately regretted it. His body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder and then reassembled by a blind mechanic. Every muscle ached with a deep, bruising throb.
"Easy, tiger."
A hand on his chest.
He blinked, focusing. Shizuka. She was leaning over him, her face close.
"You're awake~" She whispered dreamily, a smile breaking across her tired face. "Welcome back to the land of the living."
"Water." He croaked. His throat felt like he'd swallowed a handful of sand.
She grabbed a cup from the bedside table and held the straw to his lips. He drank greedily, the cool liquid soothing the fire in his throat.
"Slow down." She chided gently. "You'll make yourself sick."
He pushed the cup away when he was done, letting his head fall back against the pillow. "How long?"
"A whole day." A new voice said.
Mai. She was sitting in a chair by the window, her legs pulled up under her. She looked small in the big chair.
Tysone groaned. "Fuck. That's too long."
A lot of shit could've been done in one day. For someone like him, that was too much rest time.
"You almost died, Tysone," Mai said, her voice shaking slightly. "Your temperature spiked so high we thought your brain was going to boil."
Shizuka nodded in agreement. "It's surprising you woke up this soon too, you were really, really, reeeaally hot~"
Mai gave the nurse a sidelong glance.
"But it didn't." He pointed out, flexing his hand as he stared at both girls and quietly exhaled. "Come on... I'm fine."
He had come close again. For a moment, he really thought it was the end for him. A disappointing one, no doubt.
"You're an idiot." Mai stood up and walked over to the bed. She looked angry, but her eyes were wet. "A reckless, stupid, self-sacrificing idiot."
"I saved the truck. Saved the loot. Saved squad. What was I supposed to do?" There was a trace of irritation in his tone. He knew where she was coming from—also knew she was concerned and scared, but he was exhausted and still mildly burning, and likely running a low fever still.
All he wanted was to get back in his headspace, figure out his body's condition and what had happened while he was out cold, not get scolded for literally looking out for everyone else.
Did she really expect him to abandon everyone?
"And who saves you?" She snapped. "When you're out there playing hero, who watches your back?"
"I do." Saeko said from the doorway. She walked in, carrying a tray of food. Porridge, by the smell of it. "Please, Mai-san, do not question our ability to stand by Tysone's side."
Mai stayed quiet for a while, a glare still etched on her face. A soft one, because, clearly, she knew this outburst was borne from watching Tysone literally boil the water around him.
… And her inability to help him in any other way.
For a moment, Saeko and Mai stood there, staring at each other, until Mai averted her gaze. "I'm sorry."
Saeko shook her head gently. "No, your reaction is normal, but Tysone just woke up and he doesn't need to be crowded like this."
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.