It had been a few days since Hajime's fingers twitched—that one, fragile moment of hope that shattered as quickly as it came.
Now, Sockoo sat beside his bed again, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her eyes tired and red. She had tried everything. She brought his favorite cookies again. She told him stories, replayed old memories, even scolded him like she used to when he acted reckless. But… nothing.
No twitch. No reaction. Just the slow, quiet rhythm of the heart monitor.
She had begged the doctors to run tests. They found . Still alive. Still in limbo.
Sockoo stared blankly at the window, rain tapping lightly against it. Her voice was hollow.
Sockoo (whispering):
“Was it really just a fluke…? Were you saying goodbye...?”
She looked at Hajime again. His face was still the same. Calm. Distant.
Sockoo:
“I thought you were coming back. I thought you heard me.”
Her hands gripped her skirt tightly. Her voice cracked.
Sockoo:
“Please don’t leave me. Not after everything. Not like this.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out something new—a worn notebook
Next to , it read:
“She’s the one I want to protect. Even if it kills me.”
Sockoo’s breath hitched. She pressed her forehead against the bed, her shoulders shaking.
Suddenly——Hajime’s lips moved.
A whisper.
Hajime:
“…rage… on…”
Sockoo’s eyes shot open. She jerked her head up, eyes wide. Tears instantly formed again.
Sockoo (panicked, overwhelmed):
“Hajime!? Say that again—please—say it again!”
But his lips had gone still. His breathing remained the same. The room returned to silence.
Still, she saw it. She it.
A whisper. A spark.
Hope, fragile and flickering… but alive.
Sockoo turned sharply, eyes wide, only to see Yu
standing by the door—his hand on the frame, his expression awkward but soft. He looked like a kid caught doing something embarrassing.
Yu (quietly):
“...rage on…”
Sockoo blinked, stunned. Her heart, already on edge, felt like it froze.
Sockoo:
“You… You said that…?”
Yu scratched the back of his head, a small, guilty smile forming on his face.
Yu:
“I-I didn’t mean to scare you. I just… I thought if he heard it, maybe… he’d remember who he is. What he always said. Y’know… his whole ‘rage on desu’ thing…”
He laughed nervously, but his voice cracked at the end. There was pain in it.
Yu (softly):
“I miss him too.”
Sockoo’s eyes filled again, but this time the tears weren’t just sadness—they carried of gratitude. She nodded slowly, standing and walking over to Yu.
Sockoo:
“Thank you, Yu…”
Yu looked at her, unsure.
Sockoo (looking back at Hajime):
“We’re not giving up. Not yet.”
She turned back to the room, more determined than before.
Sockoo:
“If there’s even the smallest chance his heart is still in there… we’ll bring him back. ”
Yu gave a small nod. Then, with a quiet but determined voice:
Yu:
“Then let’s do what Hajime would do… rage on.”
The room was silent—too silent.
Machines began to power down one by one.
The soft beeping that had echoed for three months… stopped.
Sockoo
gripped Hajime's
Sockoo (whispering):
"I’m sorry... I’m so sorry… I love you, Hajime… I love you..."
The rest of the Music Club
Angel
was hugging herself tightly, lips trembling.
Daka
had tears falling, trying hard to stay strong but failing.
AmyEmily
Yosuke
and Bondo
Just then, the door burst open.
Makoto
Makoto (shaking):
"N-no… no no no… I'm late? I... I promised I’d make it in time… Hajime!!"
He dropped to his knees at the edge of the bed, clutching the rail tightly, the metal shaking under his grip as he bit back screams.
Behind the glass wall, BakuBella
Bella
Baku
Down the hall, RaySelene
No one said a word.
For the first time since they became a family...
The Music Club was truly broken.
But just as the final machine dimmed...
a sparked from Hajime’s chest
A soft, groggy yawn
""
Everyone froze.
Sockoo’s
breath caught in her throat. Her head slowly lifted from Hajime’s chest—eyes wide, red from crying.
Hajime
blinked lazily, stretching his arms as if nothing happened.
He looked around the room with that confused, innocent face of his.
Hajime (groggily):
“Eh? Why is everyone... crying?”
He blinked again.
“Wait—why is everyone here…? Did someone die?”
The was in stunned silence—shock
Amy gasped
Makoto fell back
Angel covered her mouth
Yosuke's jaw clenched
Bondo’s glasses fogged
“...You ...”
Rizra shrieked
Daka
grabbed the bed railing, nearly shaking it off its hinges.
“No way… Hajime?! That’s you?!”
Hajime (still dazed):
“...What’s going on? Why are you acting like I died or something? Rage on... desu?”
And then—
Sockoo launched forward
Sockoo (sobbing):
“You die!! You idiot!! You almost died!! You left us! You left !! You weren’t supposed to leave me!!”
Hajime’s cheeks turned red, nose bleeding slightly.
“W-Wah! S-S-Sockoo!? T-Too close!! R-Rage on desu!!”
But no one cared about the comedic timing.
He was alive.
Somehow, some way—
Hajime came back.
*
The room shook with their combined voices. Emily actually fell backwards from yelling too hard, and Angel was on the floor flailing like a baby. Even stoic Yosuke
Makoto:
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU PUT US THROUGH!?"
Amy:
"WE ALMOST PULLED THE PLUG ON YOU, YOU DUMB RAGE BOY!!"
Bondo:
"I WAS READY TO BURY YOU AND PRETEND YOU WERE MY COUSIN WHO DIED IN A TRAIN CRASH!!"
Rizra (shouting with tears):
HajimeSockoo’s arms locked around his waist like a vice gripsobbing
Hajime (nervously):
“W-Wait, wait! I can explain! Rage on!! Rage on desu!!”
He raised his hands in surrender, nervously sweating
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Hajime (rushing his words):
“My body—after everything… after the fight with Strikeka… after using
I had—it just shut down! It wasn’t a coma! It was more like…”
He paused, then said it like it was completely normal:
“Like… sleep mode
Everyone stared.
Yu:
Hajime (shrugging):
“Well, I ran out of magic, and my body was completely overused. It wasn’t healing normally, so I guess it just forced itself into a deep sleep to preserve life. I —I just needed time to recharge.”
Emily (tearing up):moron! You scared us half to death…”
Daka (pointing):
“No, he scared us death. I saw Bondo cry. Actual tears. Bondo!”
Bondo (glaring):
“You swore never to speak of that.”
Hajime was still very much trapped in Sockoo’s armsher fingers clutching his hospital gown like she’d never let go again
Sockoo (muttering through tears):
“You… idiot… I thought I lost you… I thought I lost you forever…”
Hajime’s face turned bright red
“R-Rage on desu… s-someone help… I’m gonna combust…”
No one moved to help.
Because for the first time in 3 months…
Their friend was back.
Daka:
“By the way,” “there’s a thing called the Striker Tournament
He tilted his head.
“Wanna join us?”
Hajime (casually, still in Sockoo’s arms):
“Sure, why not—could be fun.”
Suddenly, the air dropped 10 degrees.
Sockoo (eyes narrowing):
“No.”
Hajime:
“Eh?”
Sockoo (tightening her grip):
“You woke up after almost dying. You still have IVs attached. You’re not going to a battle tournament.”
Hajime (strained):
“But—! The exposure—! Training—!”
Hajime (barely breathing):
“R-Rage… on…”
Daka (chuckling):
“Well, I gonna say we’d let him take it easy during the prelims but… if he dies again, I’m not explaining it to the doctors.”
Emily (arms crossed, nodding):
“She’s right. He’s not cleared for anything involving the words ‘tournament’ or ‘striker.’”
Hajime (weakened, waving a white towel from nowhere):
“I surrender… I’ll recover… Please release… the death grip…”
Sockoo (still clinging but calmer):
“...Good.”
Angel (giggling):
“Let him breathe, or you’ll send him back into sleep mode.”
Yu (grinning):
“Don’t worry, Hajime. While you recover, we’ll get strong enough to carry you through the tournament when you're back.”
Hajime (blinking):
“You… you’d do that for me?”
Makoto (arriving with snacks):
“Nah, we just want the prize money. But sure, yeah. You.”
Everyone laughed.
And for the first time in a long time, it felt like the Music Club was truly whole again.
Emily
squinted a little as the group started relaxing and talking more casually. Her eyes landed on Bondoglasses
Emily (tilting her head):
“Wait… Bondo? Why are you wearing glasses? Your eyesight’s never been bad…”
Bondo adjusted them silently, looking away, refusing to answer.
Amy (blushing, panicked):
“H-He probably just needed them for like… reading! Yeah! R-Right, Bondo?”
Bondo (still silent):
“…I like to read.”
Rizra
squinted with a sly smirk, eyes bouncing between Bondo and Amy. Then she slowly leaned over with a knowing grin.
Rizra:
“…So Amy’s kink, huh?”
Amy (face turning bright red):
“W-WHAT!?! RIZRA!! IT’S NOT A KINK— I MEAN— I DON’T— I—”
Bondo (stoic, pushing up his glasses):
“…She said I look ‘hot.’ So I wore them.”
Emily (bursting out laughing):
“Oh my god!! So it a kink!!”
Yu (with a smirk):
“Bondo… the silent lover. Respect.”
Makoto (snorting soda):
“Next he’s gonna start wearing lab coats and carrying books.”
Sockoo (finally cracking a small smile):
“At least someone’s thriving in their love life.”
Amy (hiding behind a chair):
“Can we please talk about something else now!?!?”
Hajime (grinning from the hospital bed):
“…rage on desu…”
Laughter filled the room, the kind that had been missing for a long time. Despite everything, they were still the Music Club—chaotic, close, and filled with warmth. Sockoo
She turned to Hajime, only to see him quietly sitting up in bed, legs covered in blankets, his index fingers pressed together
Sockoo (softly):
“…You’re thinking about something, aren’t you?”
Hajime didn’t look up at first, his eyes staring blankly ahead… then slowly, he turned his head to face her.
Hajime (quietly):
“…I heard everything.”
Sockoo froze.
Sockoo:
“E-Everything…?”
Hajime (nodding slightly):
“Every time you talked to me… I couldn’t respond… but I heard it all. When you brought cookies. When you cried and blamed yourself. When you yelled at Baku. I heard you say you loved me.”
Sockoo’s breath hitched, her eyes trembling.
Hajime (gently, still serious):
“…I heard them all talk about pulling the plug. About giving up on me.”
Sockoo looked down, gripping her sleeves tightly.
She didn’t try to deny it.
Hajime (whispering):
“…But your voice always brought me back. Even if I couldn’t move… I stayed alive because of you.”
Sockoo walked over slowly, tears welling up in her eyes.
Sockoo (choking on her words):
“…I thought I lost you. I was going to shatter if you didn’t wake up…”
Hajime (looking down, with a faint smile):
“You didn’t. I’m here. And now I’ve got to keep my promise…”
Sockoo (confused):
“Promise…?”
Hajime (looking into her eyes):
“To protect the Music Club. Even if it kills me.”
He raised his pinky finger.
Hajime:
“Rage on… pinky swear?”
Sockoo let out a small, broken laugh through her tears, slowly linking her pinky with his.
Sockoo:
“… dummy.” As their pinkies stayed locked together, the room fell quiet again — not heavy like before, but peaceful.
Hajime stared at Sockoo for a moment longer. She was wiping her eyes, trying to smile through the flood of emotions, and he just watched her. Every visit, every tear, every word she'd whispered when she thought he couldn’t hear — he remembered it all.
And suddenly, Hajime leaned forward.
Sockoo:
“H-Hajime…?”
Before she could say anything more, Hajime gently pressed his lips against hers. It wasn’t forceful, it wasn’t rushed — just warm, honest, and full of everything he didn’t know how to say with words.
Sockoo’s eyes widened for a moment… then softly closed, tears still clinging to her lashes.
The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to say:
When they parted, Sockoo was flushed, completely speechless. Hajime scratched the back of his head, eyes darting away shyly.
Hajime (mumbling):
“…I figured I owed you that much. You know… since you waited for me.”
Sockoo (quietly, with a trembling smile):
“…Dummy. You owe me a lot more than that.”
And for the first time in a long time… she smiled without pain. As soon as Sockoo smiled and leaned against him, Hajime's eyes slowly widened.
Hajime:
“…Wait.”
His brain finally caught up.
He kissed her.
He actually kissed her.
Hajime (panicking):
“W-WAIT—WHAT DID I JUST DO?!?”
His entire face turned bright red. A tiny nosebleed popped out. His hands started trembling, and he leaned back against the hospital bed like he’d been shot.
Hajime (screeching):
“R-R-RAGE ON DESUUUU!! I JUST DID ! T-THE THING!!”
Sockoo blinked, then tilted her head.
Sockoo (teasing):
“You kissed your girlfriend, Hajime. It’s okay.”
Hajime (covering his face):
“ YOU’RE—YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT!!”
He started kicking his legs under the blanket like a little kid, steam practically bursting from his ears. His glasses fogged up. His body even twitched from embarrassment.
Hajime:
“I CAN’T EVEN SAY THE WORD ! WHY DID I DO THAT?! MY SOUL IS ASCENDING—RAGE ON DESU!!”
Sockoo giggled through her tears, gently grabbing his hand.
Sockoo (softly):
“You’re such an idiot.”
But her smile was everything he needed. And deep down, even through all his flailing and combusting from embarrassment… Hajime smiled too. Hajime (laying in bed, dramatically staring at the ceiling):
"Rage on… desuuu… I’m going to die of boredom before my wounds ever kill me..."
He rolled over, his blanket tangled around him like a burrito. His hair was a mess, and he had a small pile of snacks and half-read manga next to him.
Hajime:
"I can fight a maniac who explodes himself and stabs me in the heart, but I can’t fight ?! What kind of cruel arc is this?!"
He reached for his phone… scrolled for five seconds… then threw it on the bed.
Hajime:
"I MISS THE MUSIC CLUB!! I even miss Makoto’s weird obsession with hero speeches!"
Then he remembered what Ray said this morning.
Ray (earlier):
"Kid. No training. No sparring. No magic. Not even . You burned your soul like a lit match, and it’s barely flickering back to life. Rest."
Hajime (now):
"Tch. Old man’s lucky I respect him."
He rolled over again, hugging a pillow, then paused.
"...I could sneak out."
Then a vision of Sockoo
Hajime (shivering):
"On second thought… maybe I’ll "
Just then, he got a text from Daka:
"Yo. Tournament’s in two weeks. Don’t die of boredom."
And another one from Sockoo
"If you sneak out I will find you. ??"
Hajime (sighs):
"Rage on desuuu… I’m not even free in recovery..."
He pulled the blanket over his head and mumbled:
"Someone please bring snacks... or death..." Storyshift (poking Hajime’s cheek while sitting on his bed):
“Come on, young master! Let’s gooo play! Let’s spar or chase cats or throw fireballs at water balloons!”
Hajime (face buried in his pillow, muffled):
“I’m on house arrest.”
Storyshift (tilting her head):
“…Arrest? Like the bad guys? Did you commit sword crimes?!”
Hajime (turns slightly, sighing):
“No, no—‘house arrest’ just means I’m not allowed to leave. I’m grounded. Because my body’s still recovering. Ray, Sockoo, Emily, and like, everyone, said I need rest.”
Storyshift (blinks):
“Then let’s rest ”
Hajime:
“Sockoo has cameras. She’ll know.”
Storyshift (gasps dramatically):
“She on you? Is she your sword rival?! Should I challenge her?!”
Hajime (snorts):
“She’s my girlfriend.”
Storyshift:
“Oh! Then I’ll challenge her to a ”
Hajime (groans into pillow):
“That’s not a thing…”
Storyshift (pouting):
“You humans make everything so complicated. Back in sword form, it was just slash, slash, nap, slash.”
Hajime (sits up slowly):
“Back in sword form, you also didn’t talk so much.”
Storyshift (grinning):
“Are you saying you miss quiet me?”
Hajime (playfully glaring):
“I’m saying if you keep talking, I’m gonna stick you back in umbrella form.”
Storyshift (mock offense):
“You wouldn’t dare!”
They both burst into light laughter. Hajime leaned back on the bed, smiling a little.
Hajime:
“...Thanks, though. It’s kinda nice not being alone.”
Storyshift (softer, smiling):
“I’ll always be here, young master. Whether you’re bored, broken, or battling.”
Hajime (grinning faintly):
“Cheesy sword.”
Storyshift (grinning wider):
“Exhausted swords make the best cheese.”
And with that, Hajime finally relaxed, warmth filling the room despite his restlessness. Hajime (blinking hard, sitting up in bed):
“Wait—what did you just say?”
Storyshift (sitting cross-legged on the floor, beaming like it’s the most normal request):
“I said I want to do the kiss thing. Like what Sockoo did to you. It looked
You turned red and flailed like a broken kite!”
Hajime (face turning red instantly, waving his arms):
“Wha—NO! No-no-no-no, that’s—!! You can’t just—!! That’s not something you just like a snack!!”
Storyshift (tilting her head, confused):
“But it made you happy. You smiled after. You even fainted from joy! I want to try it too. Please?”
Hajime (falling back into bed, face first):
“Rage on desu…”
Storyshift (crawling up onto the bed innocently):
“I mean, I’m your sword! Shouldn’t I know all the things that make you feel good and energized? Besides, I learned a lot from watching Sockoo!”
Hajime (groaning dramatically):
“That makes it worse!! You're not supposed to study her for that!!”
Storyshift (poking his side):
“So… one kiss? On the cheek maybe? It’s for science.”
Hajime (peeking from his pillow, still burning red):
“…If Sockoo finds out, she’ll throw me into the ”
Storyshift (innocently):
“Then let’s not tell her!”
Hajime:
“THAT’S NOT BETTER!!”
As Hajime panics in a flustered spiral of internal screaming, Storyshift just giggles, swinging her legs off the side of the bed. She doesn’t push it any further—just happy to see Hajime alive, flustered, and surrounded by love.
Storyshift (whispering with a teasing smirk):
“Maybe one day, when you’re braver… young master.”
Hajime (melting into embarrassment):
“…I need… so much sleep again.” [Scene: Classroom – Afternoon sunlight peeking through the windows]
Sockoo sat silently, staring at her notes. Her pencil was clutched so tightly it finally in half with a sharp crack. The whole class jumped slightly at the sound—including Emily, who turned her head with startled eyes.
Emily (nervously):
“Um… Sockoo? Are you okay?”
Sockoo (without looking up, voice low):
“…I feel like I should break a sword today.”
Emily (confused and alarmed):
“…What?! Why a sword? Who made you mad?! Did Hajime do something again?”
Sockoo furrowed her brows, her eyes still locked on her notes but not reading a single word. Her grip on the broken pencil tightened, hands slightly trembling.
Sockoo (quietly):
“I don’t know why. I just… feel it. Like something’s off. Like there’s someone or that’s making my blood boil and I don’t even know what it is…”
Emily leaned in carefully, whispering:
Emily (concerned):
“Did you… sense something? Or is this, like, a girlfriend sixth sense?”
Sockoo blinked, her intense expression briefly softening. She looked over at Emily and gave a tight, awkward smile.
Sockoo:
“…Maybe. Or maybe I just woke up and realized someone might be getting too close to Hajime.”
Emily paused… then slowly leaned back in her chair, eyes wide.
Emily (muttering):
“Okay. Yep. Girlfriend sixth sense confirmed. Somebody’s gonna die.”
As the tension in the room quietly lingered, Sockoo snapped a second pencil with her other hand.
Sockoo (grumbling):
“…I something was up this morning.”
Far across town, Hajime sneezed hard in bed, causing Storyshift to fall off the dresser.
Storyshift (climbing back up):
“Bless you. That was… violent.”
Hajime (sniffling):
“…Someone must’ve sensed something dumb.
