"Argh...!"
Noah's eyelids twitched as he struggled to open them.
His entire body felt numb.
It was as if he had completely lost control over his limbs. He tried to move his fingers, but they refused to respond. Even lifting his head felt impossible.
'What's happening...?'
His thoughts were sluggish, drifting in and out of consciousness.
Then he heard voices. Two people were talking nearby. Their voices sounded strangely familiar, but his mind was too hazy to identify them.
'Is that... Akari?'
A sudden worry surfaced within him.
'Is she okay?'
He tried to focus on the conversation, but the voices gradually became distant. His consciousness began slipping away again.
'Akari...'
Before he could gather another thought, darkness swallowed his mind.
---
Blink.
Blink.
Noah's eyelids slowly opened. The first thing he saw was a beautiful ceiling.
'Damn...'
He stared at it for several seconds, trying to understand where he was.
