The next morning, the academy buzzed with the usual energy: students running drills, gloves thudding against pads, and the faint metallic scent of sweat mixing with the lingering aroma of breakfast from the cafeteria. Soon Hae moved through the crowd cautiously, still exhausted from the previous day's grueling sparring sessions. Her eyes flicked nervously toward Kim Nana, who was leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, an unreadable smile on her face.
"Morning, Soon Hae," Nana said sweetly, holding out a bottle of juice. "Here, you look tired. Drink thisbit'll help."
Soon Hae hesitated, taking the bottle with a polite bow. "Th...thank you, Nana," she stammered, her hands shaking slightly.
She twisted off the cap and took a small sip, immediately noticing the sweetness was far stronger than expected, almost dizzying in its intensity.
Within minutes, the world around her began to tilt. Her legs felt like jelly, her hands moved too quickly, too sluggishly, in the same breath. Fang Yu noticed first. "Uh… Soon Hae? You okay?" he asked, frowning as she staggered slightly while trying to adjust her gloves.
"I'm fine!" she said, laughing nervously, though the sound came out a little too high pitched. She waved her arms in exaggerated movements, almost as if she were dancing. "I'm… I'm just a clumsy rabbit!" she shouted, twirling in place and wobbling dangerously.
By the time she made it to the ring, she was practically swaying to a beat only she could hear. Her usual cautious movements were replaced by reckless, exaggerated motions. She hopped onto the edge of the platform and, without thinking, began to jump and spin, waving her arms like she was in a club. "I'm a clumsy rabbit!" she sang loudly, her voice echoing across the training hall, her waist swaying wildly.
The students froze, some snickering, some concerned. Nana watched from the sidelines, a satisfied smile curling on her lips. "She's… really taking the bait," she murmured quietly to herself.
Soon Hae, caught up in her dizzy state, leapt from the ring's edge with far too much enthusiasm. Time seemed to stretch as she flailed mid air, the floor rushing up toward her. In an instant, a strong pair of arms caught her Lu Han's. His calm, serious expression was the only anchor in the chaotic whirl of her senses.
"Careless rabbit," he muttered, setting her down gently on the mat. "You could have seriously hurt yourself."
Her head lolled against his chest for a moment, the room tilting, voices distant and echoing. "Lu… Han… I… I'm fine…" she slurred, attempting a grin that came out lopsided.
Coach kang stormed over, frowning deeply. "What happened here? Why is Soon Hae acting like this?" His eyes narrowed as he scanned the scene, immediately recognizing the signs of intoxication. "And who gave her something to drink?"
Nana pretended innocence, yet her smirk betrayed her satisfaction. Soon Hae was immediately escorted to the academy's sickbay, supported by Lu Han and Fang Yu, her legs wobbling beneath her. Bai Cao trailed behind, silently shaking his head.
Once inside the sterile, quiet room, Soon Hae sank onto a cot, feeling the cool sheets against her flushed skin. Her stomach churned and her head throbbed, the world spinning in uneven directions. Lu Han helped her remove her gloves and jacket, his face unreadable.
"This is… really bad," Fang Yu muttered, pacing the small room. "Not just the drugs, but the way she's been reckless… this is going to get her punished even more."
Soon Hae mumbled, her words slurred, "I… I'm… a clumsy rabbit…" and flopped sideways, almost sliding off the bed. Lu Han caught her in time, holding her steady again, his expression softening minutely despite the sternness.
Coach kang entered shortly after, his face grim. "Soon Hae," he said firmly, crossing his arms. "You're lucky you didn't injure yourself seriously. But this… will have consequences. Extra training, cleaning duties, and you'll have to report your condition every hour until fully recovered."
The punishment weighed heavily on her, yet she couldn't shake the bizarre mix of embarrassment and thrill from the incident. Even as Fang Yu muttered sarcastic comments from the corner, and Bai Cao maintained her calm, concerned gaze, she realized she had become the center of attention once more though this time for entirely the wrong reasons.
Lu Han stayed by her side, keeping a watchful eye as the nurses administered supportive care, his silence more intimidating than any reprimand could be. Soon Hae felt a flicker of gratitude toward him, though mixed with her lingering embarrassment and the haze in her mind.
As the day wore on, the sickbay became her prison and her classroom. She was lectured, her movements observed, and every time she even attempted to rise from the cot, Lu Han's hands steadied her. Soon Hae could feel the academy's eyes on her through the small windows, whispers circulating about the "clumsy rabbit who nearly ruined herself."
By evening, as the effects of the spiked juice began to fade, Soon Hae lay quietly on the cot, reflecting on the day. The humiliating scenes, the close call with serious injury, and the looming punishments from Coach yang all combined into a knot of fear and determination. She knew one thing for certain: she couldn't let herself be so easily manipulated, nor could she afford to appear weak.
Yet, beneath the embarrassment and exhaustion, a quiet, stubborn flame burned in her chest. She had survived the incident without serious injury, she had been caught by Lu Han in time, and she had endured the lecture, the punishments, and the whispers of the academy. Tomorrow, she promised herself, she would train harder, prove her worth, and perhaps just perhaps show that even a "clumsy rabbit" could survive in the world of fighters.