Y/N: Hey, hands off, I need that!

Hava: Ah come on, I'm just going to borrow it for a while~

The voice of both assistant librarians could be heard by the director and her lapdog, who simply passed the time in different manners.

In the back, the former duo were fighting over a book. On one side, Angela's assistant was struggling to maintain a grip on the object while on the other, Hava calmly held her usual smile as she effortlessly moved around him.

Yet, in spite of that, she applied no force in her pull, simply playing along.

At first, Roland tried his best ignore what was going on but he was soon forced to wake once the commotion didn't quiet down.

Now, he simply sat where he lied down and observed the duo bicker, sometimes taking a glance in Angela's direction.

The director, in the meantime, was busily reading through the book she was holding, not paying attention to what was happening.

...

At least at a first glance.

The Grade 9 Fixer could see the machine's eyes, very briefly, turn towards the both of them before looking back at the book she held.

Each time she did so, he could feel the air around her quickly freeze, making her unapproachable.

This process repeated until finally, Netzach's assistant widened her smile and jumped on the former captain. The worker's eyes widened as he fell down on the ground, held down by the girl on top of him.

Thud

His body landing on the floor left a long silence following its sound. No one inside the room moved for what felt like an eternity.

Y/N: ...

Roland: ...

Angela: ...

Hava: ...I'll be borrowing this~

The voice of the devil with red eyes abruptly snapped the assistant back to reality just in time to see his attacker make her way out of the room with a grin of victory plastered on her face.

Out of instinct, he rose up to catch up to her but immediately gave up and lied back down. He let out a long sigh of defeat as he did so.

Y/N: Felt like pulling a boulder...

Angela: Are you done playing around?

The AI overseeing what just unfolded calmly closed her book and walked towards her assistant. He looked back at her and slowly stood up.

Y/N: I know, I know, no need to remind me.

The man replied, already predicting what she was about to tell him.

It wasn't the first time this conversation occured and judging by the looks the both of them gave to the other, it wouldn't be the last time.

The former captain turned around and tried to give chase to Hava but soon came to a halt once an unfamiliar voice caught everyone present offguard.

"...Merry. Where are we now?"

The present trio all turned in its direction, only to be met with a sight they weren't expecting to see again. Surrounded by blue walls and lights of the same color, a couple could be seen sitting in seats next to each other.

On the ceiling, a blue logo taking the form of a "W" was right above their heads.

This was the inside of a Warp train and not any of them.

Y/N: Those two?

The former employee was the first one to notice who the invitation was focusing on. He immediately retraced his steps and walked closer.

Right behind him, Angela followed him with her own curiosity.

With a sense of unease floating in the air, they quietly watched what was showed to them.

...

Merry: I don't really know... I don't know how long we've been here...

The girl wearing a red sweater looked at her loved one with a look of worry. She lowered her eyes slightly, allowing her to notice a pair of shoes entering her sight.

She quickly raised her gaze and was met with a face she became acquainted with. Wearing a yellow jacket and carrying a brown bag around her hips, her name was Elena.

Behind her, a man with white hair wearing a long overcoat silently watched them. His name was Jae-heon.

Elena: We're about ten days in.

The revelation made Tommy's eyes widen.

He glanced at Merry, hoping that she would tell him that it wasn't the case. Unfortunately, her lack of response left him in total shock.

Tommy: ...Ten days?

Elena: How are you feeling right now? You were out cold for three.

Tommy: I thought Warp trains were supposed to arrive in just ten seconds? How could this happen to us? Where are we...

His confusion led him to mumble questions at a rapid rate without giving anyone the chance to respond.

The mere idea of being stuck in this train for any longer was making him sweat bullets.

Sensing his distress, the woman in a yellow jacket could do nothing more than give Tommy the truth.

Elena: I'm not certain myself, mister Tommy.

After spelling out those words, she began introducing both herself and her partner, who remained quiet up until now. Jae-heon calmly nodded along and let his assistant do the talking.

Something she did not hesitate to use to let out her own worries.

Elena: This is my first time experiencing a delay like this, too. I've used Warp trains quite often, you see. I'd always have a pleasant 10-second trip to the destination. Do you know anything about accidents like this, doctor?

The nurse turned to meet the eyes of the doctor. Both Tommy and Merry followed along and stared at him, almost hoping that he might have something that could help them.

...But alas.

Jae-heon: Not at all. This kind of malfunction should surely be fatal to W Corp's image. It's strange that they haven't made any response for this long.

Tommy: Why are we worrying about W Corp? We're all going to starve to death trapped inside this train!!

The man with blue hair suddenly stood up from his seat and glared at Jae-heon. The pressure broke through him and, in turn, made him quickly react without thinking much.

The doctor stayed silent, facing the passenger. Behind Tommy, Merry reached for his arm and tried her best to calm him down.

However, as she did so, her words became stuck, as if she didn't know how to break the news. She could only mutter a few words-

Merry: Tommy... Actually...

-Before Elena took the initiative and cut her off.

Elena: Let me tell him.

Tommy: What?

He looked back at his partner for a second before turning back towards the nurse. Her eyes dug deep into his as she brought up what should have been questioned minutes ago.

Elena: Tommy, you were asleep for the last three days. Are you feeling any thirst right now? You didn't consume any water or moisture while you were out, just so you know.

A second of nothing followed her question.

The one being interrogated froze for a moment and opened his mouth before closing it. His fear dissipated as he looked at Elena.

Tommy: I'm not thirsty at all...?

Getting the answer she expected, she continued.

Elena: For some reason, no one here appears to be feeling any kind of hunger or thirst. To elaborate, no one has shown malfunction or distress in vital physiological functions.

The answer Tommy received made him unconsciously reach for the seat he was sitting on a moment ago for support.

He couldn't process what was happening. Confusion was plastered to his face.

Tommy: How is that even possible? Just what is going on here...

Elena: We have no idea... Let's wait a little more. It seems that time is all we have, after all.

Tommy: Time.. huh...

Her words were like the final nail in a coffin for Tommy. Without saying anything else, he sat back down, right next to Merry. With a faint smile on her face, she wrapped her hands around his arm, hoping to comfort him.

Merry: Tommy... You can keep your eyes closed if you're tired. I'll always be at your side.

Her squeeze was returned by the man. He looked back at her with a somewhat relieved expression.

Tommy: Me too, Merry... I'll stay next to you all the time...

While the couple was busy comforting the other in this ordeal, the nurse and doctor still standing nest to them quietly glanced at the other. Without a word uttered from them, they stepped away from the scene.

This was the start of their misery.

-15 Days in-

Merry: Tommy! Tommy!!

Suddenly dragged back to reality by the voice of the one he loved, Tommy slowly opened his eyes and looked around as his ears picked up a commotion not too far away from them.

Tommy: Merry... What's wrong...? What's with all this noise?

 In spite of waking up, his brain still felt floaty inside his skull, like a cloud. The only reason he was able to focus was due to his lover rapidly shaking him around.

Merry: Tommy! Wake up! This is bad!!

Her last sentence made the semi-opened eyes of the passenger go wide. He stood up from his seat and, followed by Merry, made his way to the middle of the carriage. There, Elena and Jae-heon were observing the situation alongside the other passengers.

Once they got closer, the nurse turned to face them.

Tommy: What's going on?

Elena: Ah, Tommy.

The couple reached their side as she greeted him, allowing them to take a closer look at what was happening.

Standing alone, right in front of their bewildered eyes, in the carriage right before theirs, a man was holding what looked like a crude dagger in his hands. His eyes revealed that his mind was beyond saving by now. His movements were erratic, making it dangerous for someone to approach him.

Elena: Although we did expect something like this to happen sooner or later...

Tommy: What do you mean...?

For once, Jae-heon was the one to respond to his question.

Jae-heon: It seems trouble has occured in the carriage next to ours.

His cold voice was like night & day compared to the unstable passenger they could witness. With each second passing, his behaviour grew more violent as he began to move the blade closer to his own throat.

The sight left the couple shocked.

Tommy: Wh-... What... What is he doing?

Right as he asked that, the tension reached a zenith as the passenger yelled at the top of his lungs, grabbing the attention of everyone near him.

"Watch me!!! Witness me!!!"

Then, almost like performing a magic trick, the man cut himself off with a singular slash at his neck. A fountain of blood erupted from his wound before his body landed on the floor.

Tommy's face turned pale, followed by Merry's scream filling the carriage.

Both reached for the other, ignoring the somewhat calm attitude of the duo next to them. Elena observed the scene with a certain glimmer while Jae-heon began to spell out the cause of this scenario without a single care.

Jae-heon: A natural reaction to being trapped in a closed space like this for more than two weeks.

Tommy: Did... Did that person... just slice off their own throat?

The terror overwhelming both of them were met with no response from the doctor, who didn't need to point out the obvious. Right behind him, Elena was examining the blood on the floor with an interest in her eyes.

That is, until something else caught her attention, something that seemed impossible. She quietly retracted her hand from the crimson pool and stood up before looking at her partner, now also looking at what she saw.

Elena: This is intriguing... Doctor?

Jae-heon: Certainly is... Eileen didn't send us here for nothing.

Both of them were in agreement.

"Kahhk... Hahh..."

Right at their feet, the body of the man who should have died due to his injury... didn't. His hands grasped the floor and his barely attached head dangled as he slowly stood up, to the horror of everyone present to witness his "revival".

He reached for his cut neck, where the blood that once came out of it, was now firmly attached to, like a bloodied glue holding onto him. His eyes, still operational, looked at the ones watching him and, with the few breath he could inhale, spoke.

"L... Lukh at this... Kahkh. My neckh iith barely danggrgling and I'm sthill aiive..."

The scene left Tommy panting, his hands tightening around Merry's, who could only sob as she called his name.

Tommy: Stick with me, Merry...

-16 Days in-

The sight.

The blood.

That man.

The incomprehension.

The terror.

Every one of those thoughts swirled around in Tommy's head as he could feel his lightheadedness still torment, despite the 15 days spent inside this train.

Everything repeated on loop, again and again. The previous day haunted him until finally, he couldn't take it anymore and abruptly woke up.

Once awake, the stress lessened his grip.

Tommy: Hah... Hah...

Out of fear, he immediately turned to his left and, to his relief, his lover was still by his side, still in a deep slumber.

He reached for her hand, hoping that it would quell his worries. However, his choice was interrupted by a pair of footsteps that forced him to lower his hand back down to his leg.

He looked in their direction and was met by the nurse and doctor who were inside the same carriage as them.

Elena: Ah, mister Tommy. You're finally awake.

She spoke first with a worried look on her face.

Tommy: Haha... I never thought I'd faint so many times in my life...

Elena: The sight must have been quite shocking for miss Merry as well.

The nurse glanced at the woman in a red sweater, who slept peacefully against her boyfriend's shoulder. Out of consideration, Tommy tried his best to not move too much during this conversation.

'She deserves to rest', that's all he could think about when looking at her face.

Tommy: Yeah... she's still asleep...

After taking one last look at her, Tommy glanced in the direction of where the 'incident' took place before looking back at Elena.

Tommy:  ...Um, what happened to that person?

Elena: If you're talking about the person that slit their own throat, they were put under quarantine in another carriage.

Jae-heon: There's three hundred people on board. Can't be the only one to have done such a thing.

Tommy: Quarantined...? You mean, they're not dead?

The color on his face dissipated as he hesitantly asked that question. In return, what he received was a slight change in Elena's expression as she revealed the news.

Elena: They're surprisingly alive, even though the arteries were cut. Blood was spilled all over the floor, but it wasn't completely separated from the body. Not a single drop of blood was scattered or smeared on other surfaces; the pool of blood remained in contact with the body like a cohesive mass.

Every word she uttered made Tommy wish he had kept his mouth shut. All of those details were things he didn't want to think about.

The shock of yesterday was strong but now that he knew that said passenger was still alive in spite of that made said sight even more terrifying to think about.

After a while, the man lost track of time as he ruminated on those thoughts. That is until the nurse lightly shook his shoulder.

Elena: Mister Tommy?

Tommy: H-Hah... Yes?

He quickly looked back at her, feeling the gazes of both the doctor and his interlocutor on him.

Tommy: I'm fine... simply shocked, that's all.

Jae-heon: There's one thing that is certain though.

Tommy: ...And that is?

Jae-heon: That this is only the beginning. You'll have to brace yourself.

Elena: For the sake of your lover as well.

In unison, the trio turned towards Merry, who quietly slept through this whole conversation. Tommy lightly grabbed her hand and as he did so, he mumbled to himself.

Tommy: Yeah... I gotta...

-30 Days in-

Merry: Tommy... Miss Miho from the next carriage over told me that five of the thirty carriages are already filled with suicidals.

Tommy: Don't worry, Merry... The people in our carriage are still going strong.

Their hands remained locked together as they exchanged those words, fearing that a single moment apart would leave them unable to reunite.

In fact, many of the passengers alongside them were in the same predicament. Each were fearing the loss of someone close to them, leaving them in this state.

Yet, in spite of that, they held on, all thanks to the medical duo keeping the morale strong among them.

"It's all thanks to Elena and Jae-heon. It's not just us, everyone in the six adjacent carriages seems to be counting on those two."

All of them, in the face of a hopeless situation, laid down their hopes on a coldhearted doctor and not so frigid nurse.

"It really is... They're so professional and collected, it's reassuring to have them around."

A doctor and a nurse who, in the face of a fate worse than death, simply stared in silence.

Merry: You're right... if it weren't for Elena and Jae-heon, we might have...

The voice of his lover was cut by wrapping his arm around her body.

Tommy: Merry... Don't say dark things.

He didn't want those words to be heard, especially not from the one he loved so much. Without goal, his eyes wandered until they landed on the duo they blindly relied on, talking to each other about something he couldn't hear.

He simply stared at them without purpose, holding his soulmate.

-93 Days in-

Elena: The situation is worsening, everyone. Carriage 5 to 15 are still in solidarity, including carriage 7 where we are located, but thing are not looking good for the carriages beyond 15.

Her voice was enough to gather everyone in their current carriage while her words were enough to send the passengers into a panic.

Fearing the worst, whispers were growing among the crowd, many of which were heard by none as they were overtaken by the louder voices in the group.

"Yeah! I heard carriage 19 is already full of half-dead people!

"They're breaking into other carriages and ravaging people's bodies, like... They were playing with them like toys..."

Each of those sentences were enough to raise the tension in the air, only to be doubled once their only light in this scenario solemnly nodded along.

Elena: That's sadly the case... Those people seem to have decided to accept pain as a way to endure this trial of time.

Tommy: Have they gone mad...?! Killing each to just pass the time...

His own frustration about this situation made his voice strong enough for everyone to look in his direction. In any normal situation, something like this probably would have broken through his confidence.

However, this wasn't a normal circumstance and, coupled with is still persisting lightheadness and stress of their potential future, made him completely ignore those stares.

Standing next to him, Merry acted as the light of reason for him... not a completely sane one but still one nonetheless.

Merry: They aren't exactly dead, though...

Tommy: Merry! They're crawling around with their limbs barely attached. They're pretty much as good as dead!

His annoyance echoed in the small room they were in.

Right after his exclamation, Jae-heon stepped forward, gathering the attention of everyone who depended on him to keep going. His unchanging expression revealed no fear of their potential bad end.

It was a face he never lost during this entire ordeal.

Jae-heon: That's right. We must persevere. We can't stop them from damaging their own bodies, but forcing that pain on others is simply unacceptable.

"Miss Elena! Jae-heon, sir! What can we do... What if they attack my younger siblings?

Grabbing said siblings in her grasp, a passenger asked the both of them with worried eyes. She didn't want to see their bodies be ravaged by the "undead" trying to break through their defenses.

Many of the other people present shared that sentiment.

Jae-heon: I'm sure you don't want to be separated from your loved ones. You want to stay with them forever on this trip that might last an eternity, don't you?

"Yes, we do! We'll be able to endure it if we're together!"

The desperation was clearly visible. Everyone was pushed to the brink, trapped in their fears. Left with basically no other option, they could only ask the doctor for support.

"Can you show us a way, Jae-heon?"

Merry: I don't want to be separated from Tommy, either! You feel the same, right, Tommy?

She tightened her grip around Tommy's arm as she looked into his eyes. Left powerless in this situation, he simply nodded along and forced a few words out.

Tommy: ...Yeah, of course.

Right next to him, Elena stepped forward and looked at each and every one of them, her red eyes observing their reactions as she did so.

Elena: Then please have faith in us. We need your agreement. And you must be prepared to fight them.

'Fight them', those words that should have made many question them were only met with a feeble hesitation from Tommy alone. He looked at the nurse, sweat forming once more on his forehead.

Tommy: ...Fight them?

Elena: The vile people from beyond carriage 15 who are trying to break us apart, of course.

Those words.

...If only they had noticed the slight change that occured in that last sentence. Maybe, just maybe, fate might have shifted slightly.

But alas, they didn't. Thus, here we are, about to witness the cruel outcome.

The outcome you wanted to change.

-100 Days in-

Tommy: They're mad... they're all crazy...

The man with blue hair was barely able to slip out those words as he took a step back in horror. His lightheadness got the better of him and his legs were ready to give out on him.

In spite of that, though, Tommy held on. He simply watched, fearing what had occured.

Standing in front of him, the uncaring doctor quietly cleaned his tools while the nurse assisting him stared at him.

Elena: Mister Tommy... Are you still hesitating?

To his right, Merry watched the results with a mixed expression on her face but instead of showing it, she forced herself to speak and lessen the truth.

Merry: Tommy... Look at them, they don't look all too bad...

Tommy did not respond, unable to see what she tried to convince him to see. This forced Merry to keep digging.

Merry: I was shocked at first, but... If I can be forever with you, Tommy... Then, I think I'll be able to make it through...

Each time she added a sentence, she glanced at her lover, hoping that he would change his mind... and each time she did so, she saw more sweat on his face.

With gritted teeth, he averted his gaze from her.

Tommy: Sorry, Merry... I just-

He stopped himself for a moment. He didn't know what to say. His rapidly beating heart made it hard for him to take a deep breath to think things through.

Why was she okay with this? He asked himself that but couldn't find a good answer.

Tommy: -I need a little more time to think...

Elena: Mister Tommy, while this train has an abundance of time, we don't have much of it left for us.

The nurse also tried her best to talk to him, to make him realize how dire their situation is. Right behind her, Jae-heon was done taking care of his tools and turned around to face him.

Jae-heon: I won't compel you. The decision is in your hands.

Although he claimed that, the look he gave him made it clear that he expected the answer he would soon receive.

-113 Days in-

Tommy: I'll do it...

....

Tommy's weak answer, the one the duo needed to hear, was uttered. They both turned in his direction while Merry looked at him with a surprised look.

Tommy: I'll do it dammit!!

Merry: Tommy...

Tommy: I've seen what happened to the people in carriage 14... They were already raided... They were just sitting there drooling, their eyes turned white from shock... I can't let the same happen to you Merry.

What he saw was enough to give him shivers. Just thinking of the same happening to the girl next to him was enough to make his hands turned into fists.

He didn't want this to happen to the both of them.

He didn't want to...

Merry: Tommy... I feel the same...

The both of them watched each other with fear in the back of their mind, making them unaware of the smile that formed on Elena's face as she glanced at Jae-heon.

Elena: Good. Let's start the procedure immediately. Doctor... Preparations, please.

Her demand was met with a single nod from him.

-120 Days in-

Merry: Tommy... How are you feeling?

Tommy: I dunno... But I'm relieved... I can feel your heart vividly...

Merry: Me too... We'll never be apart again...

...

...

-150 Days in-

Elena: Thanks to your love, we could keep carriages up to number 10 safe.

"All thanks to the bodies you have given us, doctor."

As a reply, dozen of voices spoke in unison with not a single one lacking behind. This unity was met with an unfazed voice coming from the nurse.

Elena: I'm flattered to hear that. Your love for each other is what really protected you.

"Doctor!!! Carriage 10 is urgently asking for help."

...Once more, the voices exclaimed together, catching the attention of the one they followed.

Elena: Mister Tommy and Miss Merry, could you head to carriage 10 and lend them your strength?

"Huh? But we never fought anyone in our lives... And we aren't strong either..."

Just like the many others, the duo answered in sync.

Jae-heon: Your affection for each other will surely invigorate your new body.

"We'll trust you, doctor."

-3,437 Days in-

"We can shove suicidals into their place like a breeze now, Tommy..."

The sound of shattered bones and splattered flesh echoed as she calmly spoke.

"Yeah, it's just as the doctors said. Our affection for each other gave each other strength."

The both of them lacked the fear they once had, now only focused on completing their task.

"They keep crawling out no matter how many times we smash them."

"They should go quiet for a while now."

Tommy replied to her remark as they shoved one more body inside their "cage". Their footsteps echoed, returning back to their carriage now that their duties were finished for today.

There, both Elena and the other passengers were there to welcome them back.

Elena: Welcome back to the town, Mister Tommy and Miss Merry.

Finally, after what felt like centuries of tension, light was shed by the invitation, allowing the librarians observing this scene to take in what happened.

Standing in front of all of the townsfolk, a giant reaching the size of the carriage they were in looked down at them. The monstrosity was made entirely out of combined flesh. Multiple pair of vaguely human arms could be seen attached to it. The main pair, however, was large enough that steel seemed bendable with only a single push.

A large, bloodied apron with the words "Love Town" written on it was worn by the creature.

This thing that once was Tommy and Merry now only had their heads as the proof they were once normal people attached to the hulking body they controlled.

"Tommy and Merry are the heroes of Love Town!"

"Tommy!!! Merry!!! You're so cool!!!"

-724,284 Days in-

Elena: You're back, Tomerry.

The massive footsteps marched closer as the amalgamation made its way towards the nurse. Once close enough, a singular but combined voice, replied.

"What's up, mommy?"

Elena: How have you been?

"It's the same as always! I just wonder if I should fold those blood lumps into squares of triangles next time?"

Elena: That's nice. They enjoy the pain anyway, so they should like it.

The smile she maintained soon faded as she reached inside her pocket.

...It was none the wiser to her change of expression.

"Um... Where's daddy?"

Elena: He went to the front carriage for a moment.

"So why'd you call me here, mommy?"

Its question brought back the smile elena held a moment ago.

Elena: I finally got an interesting toy. It means they've seen enough, according to Eileen.

"Interesting toy?"

She replied with a light nod as she pulled out a certain piece of paper from her pocket, revealing it to Tomerry.

Elena: The invitation to the Library. Remember the infamous Urban Legend? The Fixers who sat behind you disappeared after receiving an invitation that looks like this.

Her question left the abomination confused as it racked what was left of its brain to understand what she was saying.

In the end, it couldn't.

"...Sorry, mommy. What's a Library? What do you mean by 'Fixers'?"

Elena: Ah, right. I'm sorry! Huhu.

She giggled at the sight of the thing she created not understand concepts that would have been simple for any cityfolks.

Taking it as a sign of anger, Tomerry began to apologise.

"Nooo... Don't be sorry mommy... It's our fault for being dumb..."

Elena: No, no. He'd have cried laughing if he were here...

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Please don't punish me..."

Elena: I'm not scolding you, see? No punishments either.

The nurse comforted it with her usual smile as she raised her hand holding the invitation towards it. Tomerry observed the strange object with fascination, trying to not break with its massive arms.

Elena: Here, take this and sign that invitation with the other townspeople. If you can find and bring the books listed on that paper there, I'll give you a prize.

At the mention of a reward, both heads immediately formed a smile on them as it exclaimed its joy with a childish tone.

"Prize! I like prizes!"

With no hesitation, it turned around and walked away, gathering up the townsfolk as it shared their task.

The woman with piercing red eyes dropped her facade once the many eyes were no longer on hers.

Elena: ...Not that you'll make it back, anyway.

...

...

Roland: Seven hundred twenty-four thousand, two hundred and eighty-four days?!

As soon as the invitation vanished, the voice of the Grade 9 Fixer echoed across the room, unable to believe what he witnessed.

Standing next to him, Angela was completely silent. This sight was unusual, especially coming from her of all people.

A bead of sweat formed on Roland's face as he tried to get a reaction out of her.

Roland: Uh, are you alright? You don't look so well.

Finally, her tension flew out of her through a long sigh she exhaled.

Angela: It's disgusting... It's a shame that I can't vomit like humans do.

"Human", this single word made the Fixer remember that a second person belonging to that group was there.

He quickly turned around and there, he saw the worst reaction out of them.

The librarian was sitting down on the floor, the book he always carried around dropped open. His eyes, unfocused, were still looking at where the invitation revealed them their next guest.

His face was pale, no, devoid of colors by now. His hands were shaking slightly. His breathing was practically silent, someone could mistake him as a corpse in this state. The assistant did not utter a single word, unresponsive.

Roland: Uh... Are you-

Angela: Y/N?

The machine's voice called out to him as she stepped closer... or at least tried. The moment she took a step, the worker instinctively backed away from her and grabbed the book on the floor.

With a face on the brink of death or something worse, he tried his best to maintain a smile as he retreated to the door, talking with no break all the while.

Y/N: Y-You know, Angela, I don't feel that fine right now so I'm letting you take care of this. I'm sure you won't mind, right? Great! I won't get in your way for once, enjoy it while it last. Ok bye-bye! Have fun!

It was a miracle that the ex-captain didn't stumble into any of those words at the speed he spoke.

Without hearing any comments from the duo present, the hurried footsteps of the assistant librarian grew distant until no sound could be heard.

Roland: Ah... He couldn't be more obvious if he wanted to.

Angela: ...I'll take care of this later, let's cut this chat short.

Roland: Wait, I wanted to know, what about the time out-

His request was cut short with a snap of the director's fingers, making her presence vanish into thin air.

Now all on his own, the Grade 9 Fixer looked around for a moment.

Roland: ...How much time has passed in here?