The Maiden Wars

Prese

in erratic rhythms, surgical instruments clinked under hurri

und her. Sweat trickled down her brow, but she didn't flinch. The boy's life hung in the balance, and failure was not an option. After what felt like an eternity, the bleeding slowed, the heart rhythm stabilized, and the monitors began to emit a steady, rea

. At the center stood Dr. Sayo Hinamura, her colleague and, unbeknownst to many, her rival. Dr. Ishida, the Director of Surgery,

r the OR. Akiko approached, her voice steady but laced with restrained anger. "Director Ishida, the boy from Bay 3-Masaki Kobayashi-is stable." Ishida turned, momentarily surprised. "Ah, good work, Dr. Takahashi." Sayo interjected, feigning surp

fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow, highlighting the exhaustion etched on her face. She

of the parking lot, the rain tracing jagged paths down the wi

ate. Don't

ai

trauma rotation- their hands brushing as they passed instruments across a blood-soaked table, two strangers lock

at tiny ramen shops, sharing stories between shifts, his fingers always brushing the small of her back like she was someone

ments. No confessions. Just distance. A quiet, cold retreat that left no evidence, only an ache. She had asked once, maybe twice-what was wrong. He'd smiled and kissed her forehead l

er chest. She drove home through the rain-soaked streets of Tokyo, the city lights blurring into streaks of color. Her apartment, a minima

d froze. The tangled sheets, the whispered voices- it was unmistakable. "Mika-wait-Akiko's not home-" Her sister's giggle p

teering wheel so tightly they had turned bone-white. Tokyo blurred past her in streaks of color- neon signs bleeding into puddles, brake lights dragging long red shadows down glis

d been the worst part. Not a scream. Not an apology. Just absence, like she'd never existed in the first place. She didn't remember turning into the convenience store parking lot-only the fli

One message. Unknown nu

never

she reached for the screen-but before she could breathe, a blinding flash of headlights pierced the downpour. Tires screamed. Her world exploded.

*