The Heart of the Underdog

"Kid, it's not time for you to die now. Get a hold of yourself," a familiar voice rang in Remond's ears, breaking through the haze of pain.

"Huh… who's there? Ugh, this pain is unbearable. I can barely open my eyes," he groaned, his voice strained.

"Don't give up, kid. I don't want you to die on me," the voice came again, clearer this time, carrying a tone of urgency and care.

"Huh… am I already dead?" Remond muttered, his lips curling into a weak, bitter smile. "Well, that's good too. Now I can finally have a chat with you, Uncle Edwards. So tell me—what is this all about?"

But before he could hear a reply, consciousness slammed back into him like a wave. His eyes fluttered open, and he realized he was lying in the school infirmary. He winced, disoriented, noticing Sid next to him. Sid was awake and leaning toward him, concern etched on his rugged face.

"Hey, buddy! Earth to Remond. Hey, are you okay?" Sid asked, his voice laced with worry but firm enough to ground Remond.

"Yeah… kind of," Remond replied, his head still spinning. He winced as he tried to sit up. "What happened? How did we end up here?"

"I don't know," Sid admitted, scratching the back of his head. "From what the nurse said, it was some girl who found us both and got us here."

"Oh! Then we should thank her," Remond said, his voice soft but earnest.

"Yeah, we will, but later. First, tell me what happened back there. And why were you heading toward the school building covered in gooey stuff?" Sid's tone shifted to curiosity, but his brows knitted as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Remond's expression darkened as the memory resurfaced. "It was… that serum. Oh no, the serum bottle broke during her attack!" he exclaimed, panic flickering in his voice.

"Okay, calm down," Sid said quickly, raising his hands as if to steady him. "Just tell me what happened after I fainted."

Taking a deep breath, Remond recounted everything he could remember.

Sid listened intently, his expression shifting between concern and thoughtfulness. "So as I suspected, Dr. Edwards was involved in some shady stuff. But you know what? It's kind of a blessing in disguise—at least that serum won't fall into the wrong hands now. So chill, bro. No use worrying about it."

"Yeah… but still, he wanted me to protect it. I just feel like I let him down," Remond said, his voice tinged with guilt.

After they were discharged, the two friends headed to Class XI, Section B. The nurse had told them their savior was a student there.

The classroom wasn't far, but it still took them nearly fifteen minutes to get there. Standing outside, they asked the class representative about the girl who had helped them.

"Ah, you're looking for Innes, right? Wait a moment," the class representative said with a polite smile before heading inside.

A short while later, he returned with a girl. She had a simple but striking appearance: a slim figure, straight layered hair that framed her face, bright blue eyes that held a quiet confidence, and a firm smile.

"Innes, these are the boys who were looking for you. They said you helped them," the class representative introduced her.

"Yeah, I did," Innes replied, her voice steady but kind. Her gaze moved between them, assessing. "Have you two recovered from your injuries?"

"We have, thanks to you," Sid jumped in before Remond could even open his mouth. "Seriously, we owe you big time."

Remond stayed quiet, simply nodding his gratitude.

The conversation flowed between Sid and Innes, with Sid's animated personality contrasting against her composed demeanor. Remond stayed mostly silent, watching their dynamic unfold. He felt a little out of place but didn't mind.

As they wrapped up, Innes turned her attention directly to Remond.

"Hey, you're not as talkative as your friend. Why is that? And what's your name?" she asked, curiosity sparking in her blue eyes.

"Hmm, true," Remond admitted with a small shrug. "I'm just not very social. My name's Remond."

"Okay, then, Remond and Sid, take care. See you soon," Innes said with a faint smile.

"Yeah, sure," Sid replied enthusiastically.

"Okay," Remond added in his usual reserved tone.

As they walked back home, Sid couldn't contain his excitement. "Hey, bro, wasn't she cute? This feels like one of those romance stories—you know, like I was saved by the girl I'll end up with," he said, practically bouncing with energy.

Remond shot him a sidelong glance, his expression flat. "Really, bro? I think it's just your imagination. We're just teenagers. Romance isn't exactly a priority."

"Who even told you that?" Sid retorted, looking exasperated. "This is the perfect time for a girlfriend! Want me to list all the benefits?"

"No thanks, I'm fine," Remond replied, rolling his eyes but smirking slightly at Sid's antics.

Later that night, Remond lay on his bed in his dorm room, the day replaying in his mind. His small, tidy room felt like a sanctuary, but his thoughts were anything but calm.

He mulled over the events, torn between relief and unease about the serum. Could he have done something differently?

Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot through his body, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Huh… what the…?" he gasped, clutching his side. His head spun, and darkness crept into the edges of his vision. "Why is this happening again?"

Before he could make sense of it, the pain overwhelmed him, and he fainted.