Chapter 23: Wait, That Actually Worked? And We’re Still Alive??1. The Part Where I Wake Up and Regret EverythingPain.
Pain was the first thing I felt.
Then… confusion.
Then… the horrifying realization that I was still alive.
I cracked one eye open.
White ceiling.
Weird smell.
Machines beeping softly.
…Hospital.
I groaned.
Then I heard a voice.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to wake up."
I froze.
Then, slowly, I turned my head.
And there she was.
Mikasa.
Sitting in a chair.
Arms crossed.
Looking completely fine.
I squinted.
"You’re alive?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"Obviously."
I blinked.
Then I remembered.
Nexus.
The fight.
Mikasa getting smashed into the ground.
Me getting thrown through a wall.
Knives. Sparks. Explosions.
Then—
Darkness.
Yet, here we were.
Alive.
I stared at Mikasa.
She stared back.
Then I blurted—
"Wait, that actually worked??"
Mikasa sighed.
"This is why I hate you."
2. The Unfortunate News About My ConditionI tried to move.
Bad idea.
Pain exploded in my chest.
I winced.
Mikasa smirked.
"Yeah, about that," she said. "Doctor said you broke four ribs."
I blinked.
"Oh."
"Also, you have a concussion."
"…Oh."
"And a dislocated shoulder."
"…Oh."
"Also, they found a knife in your jacket pocket that somehow didn’t stab you, which is actually kind of impressive."
"…Wait, what?"
Mikasa shrugged.
"Anyway, you’re going to be stuck in that bed for at least a month."
I groaned.
"I hate everything."
Mikasa grinned.
"Good."
3. The Hacker Girl Shows Up to Be AnnoyingBefore I could even process my own suffering, the door burst open.
"YUUUUUUJI!"
I flinched.
Then I saw her.
The hacker girl.
Big smile.
Suspiciously untouched by battle.
Holding a smoothie.
She ran to my bed.
Then she poked my ribs.
Hard.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
I screamed.
Mikasa chuckled.
The hacker girl nodded.
"Yup. You’re alive."
I gasped for air.
"I hate you both."
She ignored me.
Instead, she plopped into a chair and started sipping her smoothie.
Mikasa snorted.
"You’re the worst."
The hacker girl beamed.
"I know!"
4. The Part Where We Realize We Actually WonAfter a solid ten minutes of suffering, I finally managed to speak.
"So," I groaned, "we actually did it?"
Mikasa leaned back.
"Yeah. Nexus is dead. For real this time."
The hacker girl nodded.
"Yep. No backup bodies, no AI copies, no st-minute escape pns."
I blinked.
"…So we’re done?"
Mikasa grinned.
"Looks like it."
I stared at the ceiling.
Processing.
Then I whispered—
"…Holy crap."
The hacker girl giggled.
"Crazy, right?"
I nodded slowly.
"I actually thought we were gonna die."
Mikasa smirked.
"I thought about leaving you behind."
I paled.
"WHAT?!"
She shrugged.
"Just saying."
I gred.
"You’re the worst."
She grinned.
"I know."
5. The Aftermath (a.k.a. “Now What?”)The hacker girl sipped her smoothie.
"So," she said, "what are you guys gonna do now?"
I hesitated.
"Uh…"
Mikasa crossed her arms.
"Good question."
We stared at each other.
For the past few months, our entire lives had been about running from Nexus.
Fighting. Surviving.
Now, for the first time…
We were free.
I swallowed.
"…I have no idea."
Mikasa snorted.
"Wow. Shocking."
I gred.
"You’re acting like you have a pn."
She shrugged.
"I might."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
She smirked.
"Yeah. I’m gonna take a long nap and eat something that isn’t disgusting survival food."
I blinked.
"…That’s it?"
"Yup."
I sighed.
"Somehow, I’m not surprised."
6. The Hacker Girl’s “Brilliant” IdeaThe hacker girl giggled.
"Well, if you guys are free, you could always…"
She paused.
Then she grinned.
"…Become bounty hunters!"
Mikasa and I stared at her.
Then, at the same time—
"NO."
She pouted.
"But think about it!" she said. "You guys have experience! You fight well together! It’d be awesome!"
Mikasa raised an eyebrow.
"You just want us to fund your ridiculous lifestyle, don’t you?"
The hacker girl gasped.
"How dare you accuse me of something so—"
I stared.
She grinned.
"—Okay, yeah, that’s exactly what I want."
Mikasa sighed.
I groaned.
This was gonna be a long conversation.
7. The Part Where I Finally Get Some RestAfter an hour of arguing, I finally gave up.
I leaned back.
Closed my eyes.
And muttered—
"I don’t care what happens next."
Mikasa smirked.
"Really?"
"Really," I sighed.
"Because if you say that, we might—"
I cut her off.
"I. Don’t. Care."
She grinned.
"Alright. Guess we’re bounty hunters now."
My eyes snapped open.
"WAIT, WHAT?!"
The hacker girl cheered.
"YAY! Time to start a new life of crime— I mean, justice!"
I screamed internally.
8. The End (Or Maybe the Beginning?)So.
We survived.
We beat Nexus.
We were free.
And now…
Apparently, I was being dragged into a new job against my will.
I sighed.
Looked at Mikasa.
Looked at the hacker girl.
And then I whispered—
"…I regret everything."
Mikasa smirked.
"Too te."
The hacker girl ughed.
"Welcome to the good life, Yuuji!"
I groaned.
And just like that…
Our ridiculous adventure wasn’t over.
The End. (Or Is It???)
