Haha… thinking about the past in a situation like this... It feels like I'm carrying half the world's problems on my shoulders.

  “When did it all go wrong?” I murmured with a wry smile before spitting out another mouthful of blood.

  How long has it been now? Oh, right… nine years. Nine long years of staring at the same walls, the same white coats, the same soulless faces. No home, no life—just this hospital bed. But at least books were there to keep me company.

  Suddenly, a violent wave of nausea hit me.

  “Bwaaah!”

  I coughed up another mouthful of blood. It wasn’t anything new—it was almost second nature by now.

  The nurses arrived as always to clean up. Their faces carried expressions I knew all too well: disgust, contempt, hatred. They didn’t even bother to hide it anymore.

  “Tsk, filthy bastard… Can’t you just die already and save us the trouble?” one of them muttered while changing the blood-stained sheets.

  I forced a weak smile and replied, “Not exactly the kind of thing you’re supposed to say to a patient…”

  The other nurse stepped closer and grabbed me by the collar.

  “If I haven’t killed you yet, it’s because I have the patience of a saint.”

  Ah, a pun. Clever. I approve.

  I didn’t respond, but she tightened her grip, as if testing how far she could push me, then let go with a sneer.

  “Honestly, I’ve had enough of this.”

  Her colleague chuckled. “Don’t worry. Things are looking up. I heard his precious little sister lost an arm… by accident.”

  My heart stopped.

  “What?”

  They burst out laughing, as if they’d just shared the funniest joke in the world.

  “Yeah, that idiot Marine. Apparently, she got caught in a raid.”

  Before my brain could process anything, my body moved on its own. I grabbed the wrist of the nurse who had mocked me earlier.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Oh, what’s this? Defending your stupid sister now?” she sneered.

  I couldn’t muster a response. My mind was elsewhere. Marine… no… this can’t be true.

  I let go of her wrist, and they laughed even harder. But I didn’t care. I had to know. I had to find out if it was true.

  The pain was unbearable, but none of it mattered. Nothing mattered except Marine. I had nothing left to lose. Slowly, I pulled out the IVs and tubes connected to my body.

  The nurses didn’t even try to stop me, as if they were hoping I’d finally die. I spat blood as I walked, every step drawing out agonized screams. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.

  I had only one thought: Marine.

  The hospital was hell, but as if the universe itself hated me, it was pouring outside. The rain struck my skin like icy daggers, cutting straight to the bone. But even that couldn’t deter me.

  An hour later, I reached the house.

  I knocked on the door with the last of my strength, but no one answered. I pushed it open. One step, then another, until I reached the living room.

  There she was.

  Marine, sitting alone. But this wasn’t the Marine I knew. She was drinking—something she used to despise. And then I noticed… she only had one arm.

  My legs gave out beneath me. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I had no strength left, but I needed to see her.

  She turned abruptly and glared at me, her face red with anger and alcohol.

  “What’s a dying patient doing here, soaking wet no less?”

  She recognized me instantly, without a word. Maybe it was her newfound instincts.

  I struggled to speak.

  “I… I heard…”

  She raised her hand, cutting me off sharply.

  “Heard I lost an arm?” she said coldly, as if she’d read my mind.

  I tried to respond, but before I could say anything, she stood up, furious. She walked toward me, her eyes filled with pain.

  “All of this…" With a face reddened by alcohol she dropped this bomb on me:

  "All of this is your fault!”

  Her words were like daggers, piercing deeper with every syllable.

  “Mom, Dad… my arm—give it back!”

  Her cries echoed in my mind, shattering my world completely.

  I had never seen Marine like this. She collapsed, tears flowing freely. She lunged at me, clinging to me, as if realizing what she’d just said.

  “I… I didn’t mean it…”

  “Forgive me…”

  “Hiro… Hiro…”

  I couldn’t blame her. No, she was absolutely right. Every tragedy our family had endured up to this point… was because of me. A truth I knew all too well.

  So I held her, pulling her close. I wanted to tell her it would be okay, but I knew it would be a lie. I stroked her hair, whispering words of comfort I didn’t even believe.

  “My princess…”

  She looked up at me, her eyes filled with sorrow. Her lips moved, but I couldn’t hear her. The world around me blurred.

  “Hiro… Hiro…”

  I held her tighter, trying to pour all my love into that moment. But I knew I didn’t have much time left.

  And then, everything stopped.

  I saw the system’s final messages flash before my eyes.

  I let out a faint laugh.

  It hadn’t appeared even once during the past nine years, no matter how hard I tried. And now, out of nowhere, it showed up just to mock me? I didn’t even have the strength to be angry anymore.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re entertained, bastard.”

  My breathing grew shallow, my strength fading. I spat blood, my vision darkening. But before I drifted into the void, I stroked Marine’s hair one last time.

  “My princess… don’t let this world break you.”

  I couldn’t hear her, but I understood the movement of her lips.

  “Don’t leave me too!!”

  I bit my lip in frustration. I knew this was the end. She would be alone now, without any family.

  I hated myself.

  And then, everything disappeared. My eyes closed for the last time, and I was no longer there to hear Marine’s final words.

  The system, however, wasn’t done.

  With a weak smile, my final thought echoed before everything faded to black:

  “YOU SON OF A BITCH!”