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He had left the others behind at the stadium. He just… he just needed to cool off. Figure out why he couldn't combo. He was alone in a corridor now. He wasnt sure where he was going just that he was going somewhere.
His fingers became tight fists at his sides. It should've worked. It almost worked. But almost didn't count. He turned a corner and now,… he didn't know where he was. “Great,” he mumbled. “Perfect.” He moved to turn back, maybe he could head back to the stadium to train.
His thoughts were interrupted as he noticed someone in front of him. Key jumped, his arms going up in some sort of defense pose.Thats when he noticed… oh it's just ameline. “Oh Ameline! Phew, it's just you. What are you doing here?”
Ameline tilted her head, her glasses glinting in the light. “ Training over. Check on key.”. Key blinked and sighed. “ I'm fine Ameline. I just… I don't know, I need to figure out how to combo before our next game.”
Ameline studied him for a moment.“You not fine,” she said simply.Key stood there for a moment. “I am,” he insisted quickly. “I just need to work at it. If I can get it to work then we have a better-”
Ameline shook her head wildly.“No work,” she said. “You tired.”. “I’m not tired,” Key denied.But even as he said it, his frame felt heavier than it should've.Like gravity was pushing him down.
He shifted slightly.
“…It’s just not syncing right” he added, annoyed at himself.“I know what I want it to do, it just doesn’t listen!” Ameline frowned. “ Key need rest. You work hard. Figure it out later.”
Key wanted to argue but it looked like Ameline was set on it. He sat down against the corridor wall. Ameline frowned slightly, before sitting down next to him. “You work hard,” she said again. “Too hard.”
Key let out a short breath through his nose before he rubbed the back of his neck. “I just… I can’t get it right,” he admitted, quieter now. “Since I got to Kal Asterock it’s like I’m always a step behind everyone.”
Ameline blinked, she was simply listening.Key hesitated, but it came out anyway. “I still haven’t been able to connect with my tama since I got here,” he said. “Everyone else makes it look like it’s so easy and I just… I don’t know what I’m missing.”
A pause.
His fingers curled slightly into fists again.
“I just don’t want to drag the team down,” he added quickly. “If I can get this combo right, then I can actually help.” Ameline didn’t answer right away.When she did, her voice was softer than before.
“You already friend,” she said.Key blinked.
“That’s not— I mean, yeah, but—”
Ameline moved a little closer, looking at him like she was trying to line up her next words. “You friend not only when useful,” she said. “ You friend now.” Key looked away.That hit closer than he wanted it to.
“I’m just trying to not mess things up.” he said.
A beat.
Ameline nodded once.“Mess up happens,” she said. “You still our friend. And in team”. Key exhaled slowly. “I just want to prove I can do it,” he said finally, almost under his breath. “That I’m not just… lucky or something.”
Ameline looked at him.
“You don’t need prove,” she said simply.“That’s easy for you to say.” he mumbled. Ameline blinked. “I say anyway,” she shrugged.That made him huff a laugh. His expression softened just a little.“…You’re weird,” he smiled.
Ameline nodded immediately.
“Yes.”
That actually did make him laugh this time. A real laugh.For a second, the tension in his shoulders eased.
Just a second.
Then—
Footsteps somewhere down the corridor.A voice, distant but sharp with excitement. “Hey! The Knights and Shadows are at a stand off in the cafeteria!”. The words cut through the quiet like a snapped thread.Key’s head turned instantly.
“…What!?”
Key was already on his feet.The words barely finished landing before he was moving. “ Wait, where did they say it was?” he said quickly, turning down the corridor.
Ameline stood too, watching him closely now.“Cafeteria,” she said urgently.That was enough. Key nodded once.“Okay,then lets go.”He started forward immediately.
Ameline followed a step behind, quiet as always. For a few seconds, it was fine. They were jogging towards the cafeteria. But then Key’s breath caught slightly.
He slowed without meaning to.
“… wow, its hot in here,” he muttered, more to himself than her. He looked in front of him, Ameline has stopped.She was looking at him. “You shaking,” she said.“I’m not,” Key said automatically.
But as he looked down to check, they told a different story.They were clenched too hard.He forced them to loosen, but it didn't help. “…I’m still going,” he said, more firmly now. He tried to keep moving but his movements felt sluggish. He noticed Ameline still wasn't moving.
“What?” he asked.
Ameline studied him for a moment.Then spoke determined. “You go,” she said. “You get worse.”. “Ameline I'm fine.,” Key repeated again, trying to keep himself steady.
“…I just need to get there,” he said. “If something’s happening I can’t just—” Ameline stepped closer. Not blocking him. Just close enough that he had to slow down.
“I go,” she repeated. “You rest.” he still felt wrong. Like his legs weren't his. But he was fine.He took a step forward to prove it. Then another. For half a second, it worked.Then his vision dipped. He tried to push forward again.
But his body didn’t follow.The corridor tilted.Ameline’s voice pitched higher.
“Key!”
He didn’t answer.
He was already trying to move again, stubbornly.“I said I’m—”His sentence broke. The world dropped slightly under him.His feet left him before he could register.
The last thing he noticed was motion.Ameline was moving toward him.And her voice-
“Key!”
Then everything went weightless.
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Then… sound came back first. A slow, steady rustle.Key blinked.His vision swam into focus in pieces.A Brown wooden ceiling and warm light.
There was the smell of herbs and something like crushed leaves
He looked to his side and saw her, nurse Volgora She was already reaching for something on the bedside table.A small thermometer.
Key watched it warily. Soon she placed it in. For a moment, everything was quiet.Then the thermometer started glowing orange.
The glass flickered and then…The thermometer gave a sharp crack. Suddenly-
Boom!!
A puff of heatless orange flames burst out and dissolved into the air. Volgora let out a yelp and threw it out. “ You're on fire!”. Key immediately sat up a little too fast.“I’m sorry,” he said quickly.
Nurse Volgora held up a hand. “ No need to apologize.” Suddenly he remembered something. Key looked around the room again, more alert now. “ Wheres Ameline?” he asked. Volgora glanced toward the corner.“She’s still here,” she said.
Key turned his head slightly.
Ameline stepped into view from behind a curtain divider, seemed she had been there the whole time. “…Oh there you are,” Key said softly.
He hesitated.Then looked down slightly.“…Sorry,” he said. “I should’ve listened.”. Ameline blinked.“You fall,” she said. “Not choice.”. That made him go quiet for a second.
Then he nodded.“…Still sorry.”Ameline accepted that without arguing. The two smiled at each other. Suddenly it was interrupted when Volgora cleared her throat gently.
“ Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “I need to treat key. I'll need you to go back to class.” . Ameline looked at Key and Key gave a small awkward nod.“I’ll be fine,” he said quickly. Then immediately added, “I think.”
Ameline paused.Then smiled.“Okay,” she said simply. She turned toward the door. “…You rest,” she said narrowing her eyes.Key gave a tired half smile and laughed.
“ Sure,” he said. Ameline smiles back and left our the door.
Key sighed and looked down at his hands. “ Shes a good friend. Y’know she brought you here. She didn't want to leave until you woke up. Hard to say no.” Volgora laughed.
Key was surprised but gave a small sigh. Yeah, she was a good friend.