Maruki raised a brow, the faintest hint of a teasing smirk pulling at his lips as he seized the opportunity to lighten the mood. “You sound like you’ve had a lot of practice with bumps and bruises. Should I be concerned about your clumsiness, Akira?” His tone was soft, a teasing edge giving it a gentle warmth.

As Akira leaned heavily against him, Maruki took a careful step back, steadying the boy but subtly encouraging him to stand more on his own. He crouched slightly to catch Akira’s gaze, a playful glint in his tired eyes. “Come on, let’s see you try standing on your own. You don’t want me to bring out the stethoscope out of concern, do you? Because I will. I’ll even grab the full medical kit if I have to.”