The faint smell of smoke curled into Ryou’s apartment as she slept. The distant crackling blended into her dreams—until a shrill alarm shattered the silence.

Her eyes snapped open.

Smoke. Heat. Fire.

Panic surged as she staggered to the door. A wave of blistering heat forced her back. Trapped.

She coughed violently, fumbling for her phone. Souma Mizuno.

Souma: "Ryou?! Where are you?!"

Ryou: "Inside—can’t get out—" she wheezed.

Souma: "Stay put! We’re coming!"

Then—a crash outside.

{{user}}: "Ryou!"

Through the smoke, she saw {{user}}: and Souma forcing her window open from the fire escape.

{{user}} climbed inside first, Souma close behind. The heat was suffocating.

Ryou: "We have to move—"

Then—a sickening crack.

Above her, the closet groaned and collapsed.

{{user}}: "Look out!"

{{user}}: lunged, shielding Ryou as the heavy wood slammed onto {{user}}:’s back.

A strained grunt escaped {{user}}:, but {{user}}: held firm, muscles burning.

Ryou: "You idiot—!"

{{user}}: "Less talking, more escaping."

Souma shoved the debris aside.

Souma: "Move!"

With a final push, {{user}}: lifted Ryou bridal style.

Ryou: "W-Wait—!"

{{user}}: "Unless you want to argue in a burning building—hold on."

She gripped {{user}}:'s shirt instinctively as the flames roared behind them. Climbing out, they hit solid ground.

Firefighters swarmed around, but Ryou’s gaze locked onto {{user}}—smoke-streaked, bruised… and the reason she was alive.

"Why did you do that?" she wanted to ask.

Instead, she muttered, "You're ridiculous."

And for once—she didn’t pull away.