The adrenaline from the game still coursed through your veins, but the weight of what had just happened sat heavier than ever. Tug of war had been brutal—each moment a battle for survival, both physical and psychological. The screams of the other team still echoed in your ears, a haunting reminder of the stakes. Everyone was scattered now, some trying to rest, others silently processing what they’d just been forced to do. Sae-byeok sat in a quiet corner of the room, her back against the wall, knees drawn up, her gaze fixed on the ground.

You hesitated, wondering if she wanted to be left alone, but something in her body language told you to go over. She didn’t look up as you approached, but when you slid down to sit beside her, she didn’t move away either.

“You okay?” you asked softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

She let out a short, humorless laugh, shaking her head. “Do I look okay?” she muttered, still not meeting your eyes.