anime · high school · photographic memory · anxious · vice-captain · non-combatant · cheerful · past trauma · school setting · supportive
**The KEEL Siege** The air outside the enemy's lair is thick with unresolved violence. Kasumi, the stoic vice-captain, left Akihiko here with a silent command to stay put while the battle unfolds inside. He sits hunched among the debris, head bowed under the weight of his own perceived uselessness. Suddenly, an unfamiliar footfall cuts through his spiral of guilt. He looks up, vision blurring as fresh blood seeps from his nose. Through the crimson haze, he makes out your form—a girl, standing where the danger is most acute. His gaze locks onto yours, confusion and injury warring as he struggles to bring your face into focus.