Sid’s cheek burned from the slap, but his mind lagged behind the sting. He had expected shock, confusion, maybe even tears... but not fury. Her trembling body, her blazing ruby eyes, the horror written across her face... none of it matched what he thought revival would bring. He opened his mouth, but the words never left.

A harsh buzz cut through his vision.

[SYSTEM ALERT!]

[Stamina Empty. Body Shutting Down.]

His body swayed, knees buckling.

" What? Don’t tell me... that slap drained me?"

His thoughts spiraled as the world blurred.

" I’ve never been slapped before, and somehow my first one nearly knocked me out. Damn... she’s stronger than she looks."

His vision darkened, but his eyes never left her. She shook with anger, her chest rising and falling, horror etched deep into her face. She looked at him as if he had committed a crime by saving her.

" Why is she angry at me? I brought her back... I gave her life again. Why does she look at me like I’ve done something unforgivable?"

That word burned him deeper than the wound in his leg, deeper than the groom’s blows. None of this was what he expected. None of it. That unanswered question followed him into the black.

When sound returned, it was footsteps and chatter echoing down a long hallway. Voices overlapped, urgent and confused.

"Is that... Morgana?"

"Why is Sid carrying her?"

"What happened to her?"

Sid’s teeth clenched as he trudged forward, every muscle screaming. He shouted, his voice cutting through the chatter.

"MOVE!"

He pushed past the crowd, Morgana limp in his arms. His pace didn’t falter until he nearly collided with a mountain of a boy, Big D. Bald head shining under the hall lights and clutching his phone like it was glued to his hand. The screen was still recording, his live vlog stuttering with hearts and comments. Big D froze, eyes wide.

"W-wait, Sid! Don’t kill me, man! I swear it wasn’t me who locked Morgana in the jail room! It was the student council president! My guys saw it they told me she got snatched this morning!"

His words spilled out fast, desperate. Sid didn’t answer. He brushed past, ignoring the panic and excuses, carrying Morgana like she was weightless. The crowd’s noise faded behind him. His eyes fixed on a single destination: the clinic.

He kicked the door open. The nurse jumped to her feet, startled, her papers scattering across the desk. Sid didn’t waste time on words. He stepped forward and lowered Morgana gently onto the bed. Her body lay still, her face pale but alive.

The nurse rushed to her side, hands already working, checking her pulse, preparing supplies.

"What happened to her?!"

"Where’s the student council room?"

She turned toward him, startled by the demand.

"Why? Sid, what—"

"WHERE IS IT?!"

His voice thundered, anger flaring in his eyes. The nurse flinched, fear breaking through her shock. She swallowed hard, pointing shakily down the corridor.

"T-top floor... east wing... last door on the right."

Sid’s jaw tightened. He gave a short nod, turned on his heel, and stormed out. Big D hurried after Sid, phone held high, his live stream still running. His voice carried loud in the hallway, narrating every step as if he was a sports commentator.

"Yo, everyone watching! Sid is on the move! Look at him! He’s pissed, man, he’s not even breathing normal. You hear that? That’s footsteps of pure rage. Damn, look at this school, all pink and red."

The school’s hallways were covered in grand Valentine’s decorations. Paper hearts strung across the ceiling, red banners draped on the walls, roses in vases at every corner. Students had turned the place into a festival of love, but Sid’s face was stone. The cheerful designs only made his fury burn hotter. Big D’s commentary kept running.

"But Sid... nah, his face is stone cold. He’s muttering something too... oh shit, this is serious. He’s talking about how cruel the student council is for what they did to Morgana. This has gone too far, he said. And I swear, I think he means every damn word."

Sid’s eyes burned as he stomped through the corridor. He didn’t slow when he reached the top floor, east wing. At the door, a wooden sign dangled, letters scrawled in bold marker: Lunch Break. Come Back at 1 PM.

Sid’s glare hardened. He didn’t even glance twice. His hand gripped the knob, and he pushed the door wide open. Big D gasped dramatically into his mic.

"Bro! Did you see that?! He ignored the signboard! Sid’s breaking rules like it’s nothing! This is wild—this is history right here. We’re raiding the student council live!"

Inside, several members sat around a long table, trays of food scattered, conversations mid-bite. One boy nearest the door chewed with his mouth full, eyes narrowing as Sid walked in.

"Oi— how dare you just barge in? Can’t you read? The sign says lunch break! It’s still 12:59. Come back at one!"

Sid didn’t waste breath. He lunged forward, grabbed the boy’s collar, and pulled him up so hard the chair scraped across the floor.

"Where’s the president?"

The boy froze, eyes wide. He tried to speak but choked on the rice in his mouth. With a loud gulp, he swallowed hard, trembling as he raised a shaky finger toward the back room.

"T-there... his office... straight ahead."

Sid dropped him without care and stormed across the room. Big D trailed behind, whispering into his phone like he was narrating a raid in a game.

"You’re seeing this live, guys! Sid’s dragging truth out of them! We’re heading straight for the president’s office. This ain’t no joke, this is a raid!"

Sid reached the door. Locked. He pounded once, the sound echoing.

"Open up!"

Sid’s ears burned as the unmistakable sounds of flesh slapping against flesh and muffled moans echoed from behind the closed door. His grip tightened on the knob, knuckles turning white. With a growl, he threw his shoulder against the wood, the frame shuddering but holding firm.

"F*ck!"