The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character
Chapter 197: Wrestling At 3 In The Morning [1]

Leona's POV.

"Where the hell is he...?"

It's 3 in the morning and Rin still haven't come to their dorm room apartment.

It's been almost 10 hours since Rin left saying that he has something to do.

Leona thought contacting instructor and telling them that Rin is still not in the apartment.

But she held herself back.

Yeah she was slightly worried for him since it's 3 in the morning but she knows that contacting Instructor would bring more trouble for him.

So, she held herself back.

For his sack but if didn't return by morning she would report it.

"Really, he's not doing anything dangerous, is he? He said he'd be right back, so why isn't he here yet?"

The moment she muttered to herself, familiar footsteps began to sound from the hallway.

"Oh, what? He's here."

The door lock opened and she heard a voice.

"Hey, I bought Melona."

However, even though the Rin she had been waiting for had returned, she was overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling.

She had never felt wary of Rin before. Simply in terms of ability, he wasn't skilled enough to harm her.

But the Rin she was facing right now after just an hour had passed exuded a completely different energy than when he had left the room.

It was like when she first saw Ryen and Leo at the entrance ceremony. No, the energy that was emanating from him was perhaps even more violent than theirs.

"Hey, you…!"

So, the moment she grabbed his shoulder to ask him something…

"Huh?"

As if it were a lie, the energy disappeared, and the weak and fragile Rin who was holding a Melona appeared before her again.

"…Why? Should I have bought something other than a Melona?"

The way he spoke, like he was strangely frightened, was exactly like the kind of boy she felt she had to protect.

'Was it an illusion…?'

Leona narrowed her eyes.

"No… never mind." She pulled her hand back from his shoulder, slowly. "You're late. Ten hours late."

Rin flinched. "I, uh… got caught up."

She folded her arms. "Caught up where? You didn't answer any of my messages."

He avoided her gaze, holding the frozen treat out like a peace offering. "I said I'd be back soon, didn't I? I brought Melona. You like these, right?"

Leona sighed, taking it without much thought. It was still cold. He must've just stopped by a store on the way back.

"You were out training again, weren't you?"

Rin paused. Not denying it. Not confirming it either.

She watched him closely. His eyes were tired—red at the edges like he hadn't blinked in a while. His clothes were damp with sweat that had long since dried, and there was dirt on his sleeves. But it wasn't just that.

There was something in his presence that still lingered, even if it was faint now. Like the final note of a song still echoing through an empty room.

"…What did you do, Rin?" she asked, more softly this time.

He sat down on the edge of his bed, rubbing his palms together.

"Nothing but traning. I lost the track of time while doing so."

Leona narrowed her eyes. She didn't believe him.

"Training, huh?" she said, her voice quiet but pointed. "And what kind of training makes you feel like a completely different person when you walk through the door?"

Rin looked up at her, confused—or pretending to be.

"I don't know what you mean."

"You came in here like a different person, Rin." She took a step closer. "Your energy… it was cold. Wild. For a second, it felt like you were someone else entirely."

He flinched again, but this time it wasn't from guilt. It was more like he was bracing for something.

"You're imagining it," he said.

"No, I'm not."

There was a beat of silence. She could hear the low hum of the fridge and the faint tick of the clock on the wall. Rin still hadn't looked her in the eyes. He stared at the floor like it would offer him an escape.

Leona took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to rein in her frustration.

"You don't have to tell me everything. But at least tell me if you're in danger."

"…I'm not."

"You sure about that?"

He finally looked up at her. "I promise, I'm fine."

She studied his face. There was sincerity in his voice… but it was wrapped in something else. A veil. Maybe even a lie he was telling himself.

"Tch," she clicked her tongue and turned away, peeling the wrapper off the Melona bar. "Fine. But next time, at least answer your damn messages. Or I will report you. Got it?"

"Got it," Rin said softly.

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't quite peaceful either. It was like something invisible sat between them—something Rin wasn't ready to say, and Leona wasn't sure she wanted to hear.

As she took a bite of the ice cream, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

'Just what the hell happened to you out there…?'

And why did it feel like she was seeing only half of Rin now—like the other half had been left somewhere in the dark?

She watched him as he quietly peeled off his shoes and shuffled to the bathroom.

No limp. No wince. No signs of injury.

But still, something wasn't right.

He was… too calm. Not in the usual quiet-Rin way either. It felt off, like someone had taken the boy she knew and painted over him with something colder, darker. She didn't know what kind of training could make someone come back changed like that. Unless it wasn't training at all.

The way his presence had spiked for that brief moment still lingered in her memory, like a claw grazing past her senses. That violent aura—it reminded her of the upper-ranked cadets. No… it was sharper than theirs. Hungrier. As if something inside him had woken up and was still testing its chains.

She tightened her grip on the Melona bar.

If she hadn't reached for his shoulder… if she hadn't spoken… would that presence have stayed?

Her instincts weren't wrong. Something happened out there. Something Rin wasn't telling her.

And if he wouldn't say it now, then all she could do… was watch. Wait. And be ready.

Just in case the boy who walked through that door tonight wasn't the same Rin who had left ten hours ago.