The stage fixed itself quickly this time. There wasn't much damage to fix.
"He didn't even try," Areum said, watching Joon's box rise back up into its ring far across the cavern. "He was yawning. Who yawns in the middle of a tournament?"
"Joon," Do-yun and Jin said at the same time.
Areum sighed. "He's so annoying."
"You're just mad he made it look easy."
"I'm not mad. I'm a little mad."
Jin smiled and shifted against the glass, trying to find a position where his ribs didn't hurt. There wasn't one. He settled for the least bad option and watched the wheel start to spin.
After seven fights, he'd almost gotten used to the rhythm of it. Spin, slow, stop, and then someone's whole night changed. He'd stopped holding his breath every time. That was probably a bad sign.
The wheel stopped.
🔻 [Lim Haneul]
Areum was on her feet before the name finished glowing. "Haneul!" She pressed a hand to the glass. "He's okay," she said, more to herself than to anyone else. "He made it."
