Raizel's eyes, dark and emotionless, bore into Arzen, making him feel small and insignificant.

“You should go to the infirmary.”

Arzen’s heart pounded in his chest as he stared at Raizel, who stood before him with a calm, almost eerie detachment. The sweat on Arzen’s brow trickled down, making his hair stick to his forehead, and he struggled to keep his breathing steady. 

‘What…Why is he here?’

The thought flashed through Arzen’s mind, but he couldn’t muster the courage to voice it.

Arzen's gaze instinctively drifted to Raizel’s left wrist—a habit he couldn't break, even though he had checked it earlier in the day. His eyes traced the faint blue veins under Raizel’s pale skin, each line stark against the otherwise unblemished surface. Raizel noticed the glance, a slight twitch of amusement flickering in his eyes, though his face remained calm.

Raizel’s head tilted slightly as he studied Arzen like an intriguing puzzle. Raizel couldn’t help but wonder why this boy was so fixated on his wrist.

“I am not the one who hurt my hand.”

Raizel’s voice was measured, devoid of any emotion, but the words struck Arzen like a splash of ice water. Panic flashed in his eyes as he realized that the casual glance at Raizel’s wrist hadn’t gone unnoticed, and now, under Raizel’s cold, calculating gaze, every inch of Arzen’s body locked up in sheer terror. The creeping realization sent a chill down his spine, as if icy fingers were crawling over his skin.

Arzen’s throat tightened, his voice struggling to find its way out. He looked at Raizel, his posture shrinking slightly under the weight of the other boy’s unrelenting stare.

"Wh-what are you... doing here?"

Raizel’s expression didn’t shift; he remained a stone statue, his eyes dark and unyielding. Arzen’s stuttered question only seemed to bounce off his impenetrable exterior.

"M-Mind your own business."

Arzen’s voice rang with a false bravado, his hands betraying him by shaking uncontrollably.

Raizel’s hand shot out, clamping onto Arzen’s left wrist with a grip that felt more like a restraint than a touch. The sudden contact sent a jolt through Arzen, his eyes widening in shock.

"Wh-What are you doing?!!"

Arzen tugged, but Raizel’s hold was unrelenting, like steel bands locking him in place. Raizel’s deep black eyes bored into Arzen’s blue ones, a strange mix of curiosity and something darker flickering in their depths.

“I don’t like minding others' business, but my uncle’s spouse told me not to ignore people in trouble. You look like you're in deep trouble.”

Raizel’s gaze dropped to Arzen’s hand, blood still seeping from the wound and dripping onto the ground. The sight stirred nothing in Raizel’s expression, but his grip tightened slightly, a silent acknowledgment of the severity of the situation. Arzen’s heart pounded so loudly it drowned out everything else, each beat a reminder of how trapped he felt.

A swirl of confusion, anger, and a deep-seated urge to flee battled within Arzen. His legs twitched, wanting to run, but Raizel’s hold anchored him in place.

“L-Leave me alone!”

Raizel remained unfazed, his calm demeanor unshaken by Arzen’s plea. 

“This is a public space in school. It’s not up to you if I stay here.”

Arzen’s frustration bubbled over, and he clenched his free hand into a fist, his knuckles going white with the effort. His patience snapped, the urge to escape overpowering his fear.

"Let me go!!"

He shoved Raizel with his free hand, but it was like pushing against a brick wall. Raizel didn’t budge, his grip as unrelenting as his stare.

"No. Since you told me to mind my own business, I’ll do just that. My business now is getting you to the infirmary."

With that, Raizel began walking, dragging Arzen along as if he weighed nothing. Arzen stumbled, barely keeping pace, his mind whirling as he tried to comprehend what was happening.

'What the heck?! This guy’s grip is no joke!'

Arzen’s wrist hurt more than his palm as they reached the infirmary. Raizel pushed the door open with a force that startled the nurse inside. The nurse’s eyes widened at the sight of Arzen’s bloody hand.

Arzen’s chest heaved, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he glared at Raizel. His eyes burned with defiance, but Raizel’s calm, measured demeanor didn’t waver.

“What’s with you?!”

Raizel finally let go of Arzen’s wrist, stepping back with a controlled movement, as if he were placing a piece back into its proper place.

“Sit down. Get treated.”

Raizel nudged Arzen into the chair, not waiting for him to settle before turning to leave. Arzen slumped into the seat, his limbs heavy with exhaustion and frustration as he watched Raizel stride away, his exit as brisk and purposeful as his entrance. The silence in the infirmary was almost suffocating in the wake of Raizel’s departure.

'What the heck just happened?'

The nurse hurried over, her eyes wide with concern, her hands fluttering nervously. 

“What happened?”

She took a quick look at Arzen’s wound, her brow furrowing as she examined the injury more closely. The nurse’s hands moved with practiced efficiency as she gently probed the wound, checking for debris or deeper damage.

“How did you get hurt?”

Arzen felt a mix of nervousness, confusion, and fear, his heart racing. He was upset at how powerless he felt, having been dragged here against his will. His eyes darted around the room, avoiding the nurse’s gaze.

"I... I hurt myself when I accidentally fell and brushed against the wooden bench."

The nurse began cleaning the wound carefully, her hands gentle but firm. The antiseptic stung, but Arzen barely felt it, his mind still reeling from the encounter with Raizel. He clenched his teeth, trying to focus on the nurse’s actions rather than the lingering humiliation.

"The wound isn’t deep and there are no splinters, but it needs to be cleaned properly."

The nurse’s gentle touch pulled him back to the present. As she cleaned his wound, Arzen’s thoughts drifted back to his script, now lying abandoned on the bench outside. His heart ached, the weight of his efforts and dreams feeling heavier than ever.

Arzen clenched his good hand into a fist, the bandaged one resting in his lap. He shook his head, his eyes, dark and tired, stared at the floor.

'It doesn't matter, it won't be used anyway.'

The nurse finished her work and gave him a sympathetic look, her voice soft and reassuring.

“Take care of yourself. Don’t strain that hand too much.”

Arzen nodded, standing up slowly, his legs feeling like lead.

“Thanks.”

He walked out of the infirmary, looking around for Raizel. When he didn’t see him, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. His shoulders sagged, the tension slowly ebbing away.

'So much for trying to not get involved with the main characters. Look where I end up now!'

Arzen sighed, dragging his feet back toward the courtyard. The sun hung low, painting the sky in soft oranges and purples, while the cool evening breeze rustled the leaves, filling the air with the fresh scent of grass and blooming flowers. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to shake off the tension that clung to him like a stubborn shadow.

As Arzen approached the clearing, he spotted Raizel standing by the bench where he’d been earlier, casually holding Arzen’s script. Arzen’s teeth clenched, heat rising to his face.

'He is still here?!’'

Arzen didn’t know why it bothered him so much—why the mere thought of Raizel reading his work made his blood boil. Maybe he was just looking for an outlet, a place to dump all the frustration that had been building up. The reason didn’t matter. He was just tired—tired of this world, tired of his situation, tired of tiptoeing around this main character like his every move was under surveillance.

Arzen walked towards Raizel, his steps hesitant at first, but then his pace quickened, turning into a near sprint. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white as he closed the distance, the heat of anger searing his chest.

Arzen lunged for the script, his fingers brushing the edge of the paper, but Raizel moved it up effortlessly, keeping it just out of reach. Arzen’s frustration bubbled over, his breath hitching into short, angry bursts as he glared up at Raizel.

“Give it back!”

Raizel’s gaze remained steady, his dark eyes locked on Arzen with a calm, almost clinical detachment. He watched Arzen’s every movement, noting the trembling hands, the way Arzen’s eyes darted in frustration, the barely contained fury.

Arzen tried again, his arm shooting out with more force, but Raizel stepped back smoothly, his movements fluid and precise, almost like he was toying with Arzen.

Arzen’s sanity snapped. He didn’t care anymore what would happen in the future.

'F*ck the storyline, f*ck going back to my world!'