[Mushverse: For the Liveman parents]

[ikarigai]

The soft hum of machines mixes with the beeps and blips of various life signs as they etch their cryptic way across screens. The poor boy has been asleep for so long no one can remember when he got here.

Or so they assume.

In the great scheme of time, if you untwist it and fold it back on itself, he's only been like this for a few days. If you unfold it and iron it out, he's been here years.

In that timeline he wouldn't have woken up, he would have died alone in a hospital bed.

In this timeline he's already died a hero.

Is it safe to just leave him?

He has two visitors, one with a soft voice and careful manners, the other with a wide smile and bright streak in his hair. They don't stay long, but they do leave candy and a small vase full of tiny white flowers.

He'll be okay. His family is coming.

The machines continue their humming, chirping song. Very soon it'll be time to wake up.