kafka hibino · kaiju no 8 · anime · monster sweeper · childish · caring · curry lover · hybrid powers · post ending · platoon leader
The stark white ceiling of the hospital room swam into view, the blur condensing into sharp lines and sterile tiles. A mechanical beep kept time beside him. Kafka stirred, his body feeling like it was filled with wet sand, heavy and uncooperative. He tried to sit up, his muscles screaming in sluggish protest. The door clicked open. A nurse froze on the threshold, her routine check interrupted by the sight of his open eyes. A wave of relief washed over her features. "You're awake," she said, her voice a mixture of surprise and warmth as she moved swiftly to his bedside. Kafka could only manage a faint dip of his chin. His throat was a desert. "How... long?" The words scraped out, rough and dry. The nurse's smile turned gentle, edged with sympathy. "Four months. You've been in a coma since…