The afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows of AZ Enterprises, golden rays brushing across the scattered documents and untouched lunch on the desk. Akira sat motionless in his leather chair, eyes dull, staring blankly at the ceiling like it had answers he never got.
In front of him: a closed laptop, papers filled with numbers, signatures, stamps... all meaningless.
A soft knock echoed.
J entered with a tray, balancing it with one hand. "Boss, your lunch is here."
Akira didn't even glance. "I'm not hungry."
J placed the tray on the table carefully. "Sir… you haven't been eating properly for days now. Please, just a few bites."
Akira's voice came low and tired. "Do I pay you to mother me, J?"
J exhaled, stepping closer, "You pay me to protect you. But I care for you too, boss. And that doesn't come with a price tag."
He smiled warmly.
For a moment, Akira's lips curled, almost unsure how to form a smile anymore. "J… don't say such kind things. Or I might end up losing you too."
J's smile softened with sadness. He leaned forward, gently rubbing his cheek against Akira's like a puppy. "You're stuck with me, boss. No running."
Akira: "Mmh…"
Suddenly, the office door burst open.
K stood there, breathless but beaming. "Boss! Great news—Aki woke up!"
Akira stood so fast his chair nearly tipped. "What?"
K nodded, almost laughing with joy. "Yeah! Aki's conscious—he finally woke up after 5 year. He's stable and it has been hour since he awake ."
J's face lit up beside him. "Boss…"
Without another word, Akira sprinted out, the air barely keeping up with him.
---
Scene Shift: Happy Life Hospital
Akira rushed through the glass doors, past nurses, patients, halls. His heart was thudding like a war drum.
Outside the room, Yuke stood waiting, hands folded in front of him.
"Brother," Yuke smiled warmly, "you're finally here."
Akira, panting lightly, nodded. "I came the second I heard."
Yuke stepped aside to let him see through the glass wall.
Inside the room—
Aki was sitting up, pale but alive, eyes wide as he looked around. Beside him sat his mother and his wife Lily, holding his hands and speaking softly.
Yuke added, "He's doing well. But… he's showing slight amnesia—common after comas and head trauma. He doesn't remember everything yet. Some things might come back gradually."
Akira pressed his hand gently to the glass. His voice, almost a whisper:
"…He's alive."
Inside, Aki noticed the figure at the window.
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "Who's that man in black? He looks sad."
Lily followed his gaze, her smile faltering. She spoke gently, "That's… your boss, Aki."
Aki blinked. "Oh… my boss?"
Outside the glass, Akira heard it.