It had been a month since that day on the balcony.
Max's days blurred together.
Wake up.
Stretch.
Push-ups.
Run laps in the hallway until security told him to stop.
More push-ups.
Sleep.
His body still ached in places, but the fire in his chest — the Fire of Envy — had cooled into something quiet and waiting.
Kaz visited first.
"You're starting to look human again," Kaz said, leaning against the doorframe.
Max didn't stop doing push-ups. "Thanks."
"Don't get cocky. You still look like you'd lose to a strong breeze."
The next day, Ava sat cross-legged on his bed, munching an apple while watching him do sit-ups.
"You should work on form," she said.
"I'm fine."
"Yeah, sure." She took another loud bite, the crunch echoing. "Your back's gonna regret it later."
Mira came once, reading a book aloud for twenty minutes without checking if he cared. He didn't.
Rika showed up twice — once to check his stitches, once to tell him he should stop overtraining. He ignored her both times
Samira dropped by with snacks, sliding a bag of chips across his table.
"No flirting today?" Max asked.
"Not when you look half-dead. Eat first, maybe I'll consider it." She left before he could reply.
Noel came the most. Sometimes they talked about training. Sometimes they just sat there in silence. Noel never seemed bothered by it.
Renji never showed up.
By the end of the month, Max could run ten laps without feeling like his lungs were going to explode. He could spar with Kaz and not end up on the floor in under a minute.
That morning, someone knocked on his door.
Noel stood there, already geared up.
"Mission in twenty. You're on the roster."
Max frowned. "Already?"
"Guess Loyalty thinks you're ready. Or maybe she just ran out of people willing to deal with Renji."
The briefing room smelled faintly of coffee. Loyalty stood at the front, white hair catching the light.
"Sector 5. C-Class mission. Civilian showing signs of Vice corruption. If so Isolate and neutralize before spread. Three-man team."
Her gaze locked on them.
"Noel, Max, Renji."
"Renji is the one leading this mission," Loyalty added.
Renji barely reacted, just raised his head slightly.
The garage was cold. The driver, a silent figure in dark gear, slid into the driver's seat without a word. Max took the passenger seat. Noel settled into the back, and Renji climbed in last, silent.
The engine rumbled to life.
Max glanced at Renji through the driver's rearview mirror. "So… you just don't talk to anyone, or is it just me?"
Renji didn't look up. "Does it matter?"
Noel smirked from the back. "Don't take it personal. He's like this with everyone. I think he's trying to set a world record for fewest words spoken in a year."
Renji leaned back, closing his eyes. "Your voice is already annoying me."
Max turned toward the backseat. "Yeah? You planning to give any actual orders, or just sulk the whole time?"
Renji cracked one eye open. "Only if I have to."
Noel chuckled quietly. "This is gonna be fun."
They drove in silence for a while.
Noel hummed a song Max didn't recognize, tapping the roof in rhythm. Max stared out the window, watching the city blur into quieter streets.
"Ever fought a corrupted before?" Noel asked.
"Not like this," Max said.
"Good. Means you won't come in thinking you know everything."
Renji finally spoke again. "Just don't slow me down."
Max twisted in his seat. "Pretty sure I'll keep up fine."
"We'll see."
They reached the target — an old apartment block with peeling paint and curtains drawn over every window.
The driver killed the engine.
Noel slid forward, grabbing his gear. "Alright. In and out. Don't play hero."
Max grabbed a short blade from the trunk. Renji… didn't take anything.
"You're going unarmed?" Max asked.
Renji shrugged. "Don't need it."
Inside, the building smelled damp. The hallway lights flickered.
A low, wet breathing came from upstairs.
"That's it," Noel whispered.
The corrupted stepped into view — human once, now warped. Gray skin blistered and cracked, eyes too wide, jaw twitching like it couldn't decide whether to scream or bite.
Renji moved first, slamming into it without a word. The impact sent both crashing through the wall into the next room.
"Guess we're starting," Max muttered, charging after him.
Noel followed, blade ready.
The fight was fast and ugly.
Renji's strikes were heavy and precise, but reckless. He took hits that would've dropped someone else, barely reacting. The corrupted lashed back, claws slicing the air.
Max moved in, slashing at its legs, forcing it to stumble. Renji didn't thank him — he just used the opening to drive a kick into its chest.
"Little warning next time!" Max shouted.
"You'll live."
The corrupted's claws swiped at Max. He ducked under, countering with a slash across its ribs. Renji caught its arm mid-swing, twisting until bone cracked. The thing screeched, thrashing violently.
Max didn't even think — he stepped in beside Renji, moving in sync for the first time. They drove it back together, blows overlapping, forcing it into the corner.
Noel's voice cut through the noise. "On three! One, two—"
Max and Renji shoved the creature toward Noel, and Noel's blade came down clean, severing its head in one smooth motion.
Silence settled. Dust floated in the air.
Noel wiped his blade. "Not bad. Could've been cleaner, but not bad."
Renji was already walking out.
Max called after him. "Do you ever say anything positive?"
Renji stopped at the doorway. "I didn't say you were useless."
For Renji, that was basically a compliment.