The Professor|| Sylus

Carnival

Morning came sooner than expected. Mei stirred, the empty space beside her confirming what she already knew—Sylus was gone. She glanced at the clock, it was almost 11. Rubbing her eyes, she yawned and sat up, the events of the night before still lingering in her mind. The faint smell of him still clung to the bed.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a text from Sylus.

Sylus: I'll pick you up from the mansion at 12.

Panic flashed through her as she realized she had less than an hour to get ready. She shot out of bed, hurriedly getting ready and making herself presentable.

By the time she rushed downstairs, it was nearly noon. She stepped outside and spotted Sylus leaning casually against his bike, checking something on his phone. He looked up just as she came running towards him.

"Sorry, I woke up late," Mei said, slightly out of breath.

Sylus, unbothered, smiled and reached out, gently ruffling her hair. "You're just in time, sweetie. Hop on."

Mei felt the familiar warmth at his casual affection. She climbed onto the bike behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. As they prepared to leave, curiosity got the better of her. "Where are we going?"

Sylus's voice was calm but carried a hint of amusement. "I figured we both need a day off. We're going to a carnival. It's a little far, but everyone is coming along too."

Just as he said that Mei spotted a familiar dark figure circling overhead—Mephisto, the raven, flying high above them.

A grin spread across Mei's face as they sped off, the wind rushing through her hair. The tension of the past few days seemed to melt away as they rode towards the carnival. She hoped they could escape—if only for a day—from the chaos that surrounded them. The thought of spending a carefree day with Sylus brought a sense of excitement and peace she hadn't felt in some time.

As the city faded away, giving way to the open fields and the cheerful atmosphere of the carnival, Mei's eyes widened with excitement. The sprawling carnival was filled with laughter, screams of joy from the rides, and the unmistakable scent of sugary treats. Families bustled about, friends screamed in mock terror on the rides, and everywhere Mei looked, there was a whirlwind of happy chaos. It was everything she imagined it would be—a place filled with fun, excitement, and carefree energy.

Sylus parked his bike a short distance away from the carnival entrance. Before they could even take a step, a familiar voice rang out.

"Over here!"

Both Mei and Sylus turned their heads to see Kieran, Luke, Rita, and Dr. Gregory walking toward them.

Mei waved with a smile. "Oh, hello! It's good to see you all here."

Kieran grinned broadly, clearly thrilled by the idea of having a rare day off. "I'm so excited! Now we can finally forget about all our problems for a while!"

Dr. Gregory, always the voice of reason, interjected with a calm reminder. "Now, now, we all know we can't let our guard down completely."

Luke, ever the optimist, chimed in. "True, but come on, it's unlikely anyone would travel this far just to mess with us, right, boss?"

Sylus, however, remained cautious. "You can never be too sure."

Just as he said that, another voice joined the conversation, causing the group to turn in surprise.

"My father had other plans for today, so I think we're all good."

It was Mina.

Mei's heart skipped a beat as she saw the familiar face approaching them. *Did Sylus invite her?* The question echoed in her mind, uncertainty creeping in.

Kieran looked just as shocked. "Mina?! uhh it is happy to see you here bu-but What are you doing here?"

Mina, as cool and collected as ever, smiled slightly. "I'll be around here and there, nothing new like we discussed, right, Sylus?"

All eyes turned to Sylus, whose expression darkened. His tone was sharp, and his patience seemed to be wearing thin. "No. We did not agree on anything."

Mina bit her lip before responding, her voice laced with defiance. "I suggest we all just have fun, since I'm already here. Unless, of course, you'd prefer I make a call and let everyone know you're all here..."

She cast a teasing glance at Mei, her tone playful but with an underlying edge. "I'm only one call away~"

The tension was palpable. No one knew quite how to react. Mina's presence had thrown the group's plan for a relaxed day into uncertainty.

Sylus, clearly frustrated, stepped forward until he was mere inches away from Mina. His tall frame towered over her, and his gaze was fierce. "Fine. You can stay. But don't think I'll come running to your rescue if you stir up trouble. As far as I'm concerned, you're nonexistent to me."

Mina's playful facade wavered for a split second, his words hitting her harder than she wanted to admit. Still, she kept her composure and scoffed. "Fine by me." But despite her words, there was a trace of hurt in her eyes.

Sylus turned back to the group. "Now, we just need to wait for one more person."

Mei, still processing the interaction between Sylus and Mina, looked at him curiously. "One more?"

Suddenly, a high-pitched voice rang out from the distance.

"MEIII!!!"

Mei's heart leaped with joy as she recognized the voice. From across the carnival grounds, Ayako came running toward her.

They rushed toward each other, embracing tightly.

"Oh my god, I did not expect you!" Mei exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.

Ayako beamed, her eyes bright with happiness. "Sylus—I mean, professor—called me! It was so sudden, but here I am!"

Mei's heart swelled with joy. Having Ayako, her best friend, join them for the day was the perfect surprise. For the first time in a while, she felt a genuine sense of happiness, surrounded by people she cared about.