The door to the ward at the end of the corridor stood ajar.
Before he even approached, intense sorrow spilled through the gap.
"Lee! My Lee! Youth... how could your youth end here!"
"Boo-hoo... it's all because your teacher was useless..."
Son Goten frowned and pushed the door open.
The sight inside the ward was almost unbearable.
Might Guy knelt before the hospital bed, clutching the sheets with both hands. His face, usually lit with a confident smile, was now streaming with tears and snot, looking both ridiculous and pitiful.
On the bed, Rock Lee was wrapped tightly in casts and bandages, leaving only his scarred face exposed.
He stared lifelessly at the ceiling, his eyes as empty as two dried-up wells.
At the sound of the door opening, Might Guy whipped around.
Seeing Son Goten, Might Guy hastily wiped the liquid off his face and tried to force a smile that looked worse than crying, raising his thumb.
"Hey... young Goten. Have you come to visit Lee? Such... youth."
His voice was still trembling.
Son Goten took half a step back in disgust, dodging a few drops of unidentified liquid Might Guy had flung his way.
"Old man, stop crying."
Son Goten picked at his ear, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"You sound awful. I could hear you wailing from two corridors away. Anyone who didn't know better would think the person lying in here was dead."
Might Guy's expression froze.
His raised thumb hung awkwardly in the air.
Then anger surged through him.
"Goten! How could you say that!"
Might Guy sprang to his feet, banging into the foot of the bed because of his sudden movement. His mouth twitched with pain, but he paid it no mind.
"Lee... the doctors have already given him a death sentence!"
"Shattered bones!