I don't want to die

In the intensive care unit, a few, unfamiliar people dressed in medical uniforms talked and examined how a young man breathed without a ventilator.

He tried to open his eyes, but they were too heavy and strained. His teal hair had clung to his temples, damp from the sweat that had gathered on his forehead.

Slowly, Natsuo woke up. It was anything but pleasant - all he could think about was his sore throat and the pain in his chest, piercing him with every breath he tried to take.

He heard his name being called, but everything was muffled and distant in his ears. His eyelids parted just enough to make out the blurry shapes and shadows around him.

Tubes and gadgets were attached to his body, surrounding him and making sounds beside him. A white ceiling loomed above him and bright fluorescent lights shined down on him, casting a cold and sterile glow on his face.