I stood in the center of the room, my words hanging in the air like a challenge none of them wanted to accept.
This is it. I've pushed too far.
They'll walk out. They'll demand a different center. They'll—
The bleached-hair trainee pushed himself off the wall.
My stomach dropped, bracing for his final dismissal.
Instead, he walked to the corner where we'd left our equipment and picked up a crimson ribbon.
He tested the weight of the silk in his hands, then looked directly at me. The simple act felt like forgiveness."
"You're right," he said quietly. "Haejun would want us to finish what we started."
One by one, the others followed.
A Titan trainee retrieved his ribbon. Another grabbed his water bottle and moved toward his starting position.
They weren't giving up.
My chest loosened for the first time since the accident. We had a chance.
"Positions," I called, my voice steadier now.
