Viki looked at Azaan for a moment before speaking softly.

"Rest well here. I'll bring the doctor to examine you. Stay here, okay?"

Azaan nodded.

Viki then turned and started walking toward the door.

Just as he reached it—

"Sir..."

Viki immediately stopped.

Slowly, he turned around and looked at Azaan.

"What happened?" he asked. "Do you need anything, Azaan?"

Azaan hesitated.

The pain in his leg was still unbearable, but he didn't want Viki to worry.

Forcing a small smile onto his face, he pushed himself off the bed and tried to walk toward him.

The moment Viki saw that, his expression changed.

"Azaan!"

Without wasting a second, he quickly crossed the room and moved beside him.

Before Azaan could take another step, Viki gently grabbed his arm and supported him.

"Don't try to walk," Viki said firmly.

Azaan looked up at him and smiled.

"It's okay, Sir. I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

A voice suddenly came from outside the room.

Both of them turned toward the door.

The door slowly opened.

A second later, Sam walked inside.

His eyes immediately landed on Azaan and the support Viki was giving him.

Sam crossed his arms and shook his head.

"Stop pretending you're fine, idiot."

Azaan let out an awkward laugh while Viki sighed quietly beside him.

It seemed that convincing Sam was going to be much harder than convincing Viki.

Sam looked directly at Azaan and shook his head.

"You are not fine, Azaan."

Azaan let out a helpless sigh.

For once, he decided not to argue.

"Just listen to Viki Sir's advice," Sam added.

Viki gave Sam an approving nod before turning back toward Azaan.

Carefully supporting him, Viki guided Azaan back to the bed.

"Don't move around too much," Viki said.

Azaan simply nodded.

Then Viki looked at Sam.

"Take care of him for a while."

"Leave it to me, Sir," Sam replied.

Without saying anything else, Viki turned around and walked out of the room.

The door closed behind him.

Azaan's eyes unconsciously followed the door.

For some reason, the room suddenly felt quieter.

He almost called out to stop Viki.

But before he could say anything, Viki was already gone.

A strange feeling of disappointment settled inside his chest.

Sam noticed immediately.

A small smirk appeared on his face.

However, he decided not to tease Azaan yet.

Instead, he pulled a chair closer and sat down.

"So," Sam began, "how are you feeling now?"

Azaan leaned back against the bed.

"Yeah... better."

Sam nodded.

Then his expression suddenly changed.

"Do you know something?"

"What?"

"I was furious during your match."

Azaan blinked.

Sam crossed his arms.

"When that guy kept attacking your injured leg, I was seriously about to teach him a lesson."

Azaan couldn't help laughing.

"Really?"

"I'm serious."

Sam pointed at him.

"I had already decided what I was going to do."

Azaan raised an eyebrow.

"So what stopped you?"

"Viki Sir."

Azaan's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name.

Sam shook his head.

"He stopped me before I could do anything."

A small smile appeared on Azaan's face.

"Oh... I see."

A few moments later, Sam suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right."

"What?"

"Mark Sir is giving all of us a treat for winning the tournament."

Azaan's eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Yep."

Azaan thought for a moment before casually asking,

"Is Viki Sir coming too?"

The second those words left his mouth, Sam's smirk immediately returned.

"I knew you'd ask that."

Azaan froze.

"W-What?"

Sam laughed.

"Relax."

Then he leaned back in his chair.

"Yes."

Azaan tried his best to hide the smile appearing on his face.

But Sam noticed it anyway.

"Yep," Sam repeated with a grin. "He's coming too."

And somehow, hearing those three words made Azaan far happier than the news about the treat itself.

Azaan's face immediately brightened after hearing that Viki would be joining them for the celebration.

Sam noticed the smile and shook his head with amusement.

A short while later, the doctor entered the room carrying Azaan's medical report.

"Let's take a look at that leg," he said.

After carefully examining the injury, the doctor looked at Azaan seriously.

"The injury is healing, but you must be careful."

Azaan listened attentively.

"For the next few weeks, you'll need to use a walking stick. Do not put too much pressure on your injured leg."

Azaan nodded.

The doctor continued, "And don't even think about fighting or running. If you're careless, the injury could become much worse."

Azaan gave a small smile.

"I understand, Doctor."

"Good."

The doctor stood up and gathered his things.

"You need proper rest. Stay here tonight, and if everything looks fine tomorrow, you can leave."

After giving a few final instructions, the doctor left the room.

The exhaustion from the tournament, the pain, and the medication soon caught up to Azaan.

Before long, he drifted off to sleep.

Several hours later, the room door quietly opened.

Viki stepped inside.

The room was silent except for the steady sound of Azaan's breathing.

Viki slowly walked over and sat beside the bed.

For a moment, he simply looked at the sleeping boy.

His eyes unconsciously fell on the bandages around Azaan's leg.

A wave of guilt filled his chest.

Azaan's words from earlier echoed in his mind.

"I fought for you".

Viki closed his eyes briefly.

Part of him couldn't stop thinking that Azaan had pushed himself too far because of him.

If he hadn't encouraged him...

If he hadn't been there...

Maybe Azaan wouldn't have gotten hurt.

A soft sigh escaped his lips.

"You're really reckless, Azaan," he murmured quietly.

The sleeping boy didn't hear him.

After sitting there for a while, Viki finally stood up.

Before leaving, he glanced at Azaan one last time.

Then he quietly walked out of the room.

When Azaan slowly opened his eyes sometime later, the room was empty.

He looked around instinctively.

No Viki.

No Sam.

No Mark.

Just silence.

For some reason, disappointment flickered across his face.

He didn't know why he had expected Viki to still be there.

With a small sigh, he leaned back against the pillow.

The next morning arrived quickly.

Today was finally the day Azaan could leave the medical center.

Although the pain had improved, walking was still difficult.

Without the walking stick, he could barely move around.

Just as he was adjusting the stick beside his bed, the door opened.

Viki, Sam, and Mark entered the room together.

Azaan's eyes immediately landed on Viki.

A smile appeared on his face before he could stop it.

"Good morning," Mark said cheerfully.

"Ready to go home?"

Azaan nodded.

"I've been waiting for this moment since yesterday."

Sam laughed.

"Of course you have."

Viki glanced at Azaan's leg before speaking.

"Don't try to walk by yourself."

Azaan smiled.

"Yes, Sir."

The three of them had come to help him leave the medical center.

And somehow, seeing all of them there made Azaan feel warmer than any medicine ever could.

With the help of Viki, Sam, and Mark, Azaan slowly got out of bed.

Even with the walking stick, moving around wasn't easy.

"Careful," Viki reminded him as he supported him toward the exit.

After completing the discharge process, the group finally stepped outside the medical center.

The fresh air immediately made Azaan feel better.

Before leaving, Mark suddenly looked at them.

"Oh, right! Don't forget about tonight's treat."

Azaan's eyes instantly brightened.

The moment he was about to agree, Viki spoke first.

"I don't think Azaan can come."

Everyone turned toward him.

Azaan blinked.

"What?"

Viki pointed at his injured leg.

"Look at your condition."

Azaan immediately protested.

"Sir, I can come."

"No."

The answer came instantly.

Azaan froze.

Viki's voice wasn't loud.

But it was firm.

"You need proper rest."

"Sir, it's only for a little while—"

"Azaan."

The protective tone in Viki's voice immediately stopped him.

"You are not coming."

There was no room for argument.

Azaan opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

Finally, he lowered his head.

"...Okay, Sir."

The disappointment on his face was impossible to miss.

Sam and Mark exchanged amused looks.

Neither of them dared to interfere.

A little later, Viki drove Azaan home.

The journey was quiet.

Azaan sat beside him, staring out the window.

After a few minutes, he finally spoke.

"Sir..."

"Hm?"

"I really could have come."

Viki kept his eyes on the road.

"No."

Azaan sighed dramatically.

"Okay, Sir."

The car became quiet again.

Then suddenly Azaan spoke once more.

"Sir."

"What is it now?"

A small smile appeared on Azaan's face.

"When you go there..."

Viki glanced at him briefly.

"Try not to drink too much."

Viki blinked.

Azaan continued.

"That's better for your health."

For a moment, Viki simply stared at him.

A look of genuine surprise appeared on his face.

Out of all the things he expected Azaan to say...

That wasn't one of them.

A warm feeling unexpectedly settled inside his chest.

Slowly, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Okay."

He gave a small nod.

"I won't."

Seeing that smile made Azaan's heart skip a beat.

He quickly looked away before Viki could notice.

Eventually, they arrived at Azaan's house.

Viki helped him get out of the car and walk to the front door.

Once they reached it, Viki stepped back.

"Take your medicine."

Azaan nodded.

"And get some rest."

"Okay, Sir."

Viki gave him one last glance before turning around.

Azaan watched him leave.

For a brief moment, he wanted to call out.

To invite Viki inside.

To spend a little more time with him.

But he stopped himself.

After everything that had happened...

After the confession...

He wasn't sure he could control his feelings anymore.

So he remained silent.

And Viki eventually drove away.

Night arrived.

The house felt unusually quiet.

Azaan sat alone on the couch.

His walking stick rested beside him.

He couldn't stop thinking about the others.

"They must be having fun right now..."

A small sigh escaped his lips.

For some reason, he wished he was there.

Or perhaps...

He simply wished he could see Viki.

Suddenly—

*Ding Dong.*

The doorbell rang.

Azaan frowned.

At this hour?

Slowly, he grabbed his walking stick and made his way toward the door.

The bell rang again.

Curiosity filled his mind.

Who could it be?

Finally, he reached the door.

He unlocked it and slowly pulled it open.

The moment he looked up—

His eyes widened.

Standing outside was someone he knew very well.

Someone he never expected to see tonight.

And for a moment...

Azaan completely forgot how to breathe.