The Professor|| Sylus

Embrace

Mei turned to look at Sylus, who stood a few steps behind, smiling at her and Ayako as they reunited. She mouthed a soft "thank you," and Sylus responded with a slight nod, acknowledging her gratitude. It was subtle, but it made Mei's heart feel light. Despite everything, he still found ways to make her happy.

As they all entered the carnival, it became clear that today was going to be filled with laughter and excitement. Kieran and Luke were the first to dash toward the nearest roller coaster, practically dragging Ayako along who was refusing with all her might, while Sylus stayed close to Mei. The two of them exchanged amused glances as they followed the rest of the group, leaving behind Rita and Dr. Gregory, who preferred to relax with some coffee rather than partake in the rides due to their age.

Kieran, full of enthusiasm, yelled from the front of the line, "Come on, boss! This ride's going to be epic!"

Luke, already buckling himself into his seat, chimed in, "Don't chicken out! Let's see who's tougher!"

Sylus smirked, playfully rolling his eyes at their antics. "I'll catch the next one," he replied, staying back with Mei.

But just as they were about to try one of the carnival games, Mina casually slipped between them, her voice sweet yet undeniably unlike her. "Oh, Sylus, remember the time we went on that giant Ferris wheel? You were so calm even when I got scared. Let's go again for old times' sake."

Mei's stomach churned. *Old times?* She felt a pang of discomfort at the mention of their shared past.

Sylus, however, glanced over at Mei, noting her expression. "Sorry, I have other plans " He guided Mei gently by the arm, leading her away, leaving Mina fuming silently behind them.

At the ring toss booth, Mei's nerves relaxed a bit as Sylus playfully handed her a few rings. "Think you can beat me at this sweetie?"

Mei smiled, taking the challenge to heart. "Oh, I'm pretty sure I can better than you last time." She threw the rings, trying to focus on the game, but the thought of Mina still lingered in the back of her mind. Just as she was about to make her final toss, she felt a presence close by—Mina, again.

"Oh, I bet Sylus is a master at this," Mina cooed, leaning in toward him, clearly trying to grab his attention. She tossed a ring herself, nearly knocking Mei's hand as she did so. "Oops, my bad!" she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Mei stepped back, trying to avoid any confrontation, but Sylus stayed focused on her. "Ignore her," he whispered, softly touching her arm. "This is your game."

Mei smiled weakly, grateful for his reassurance, but it didn't stop the knot in her stomach from tightening each time Mina made her moves. Every time she and Sylus tried something together, whether it was the carousel or grabbing a snack from one of the food stalls, Mina would find a way to squeeze between them and Sylus, in all honesty knew Mina was just acting all this out.

At the haunted house, when Mei clutched Sylus's arm, feeling nervous, Mina jumped in, pretending to be scared herself, clinging to his other side. "Sylus, protect me!" she teased, but the way she looked at him was all to gain attention.

And yet, Sylus barely acknowledged Mina's advances. He kept his arm wrapped securely around Mei, whispering softly to her, reassuring her through the spookiest parts of the ride.

Still, despite Sylus's efforts to keep her close, Mei couldn't help but notice how easily he and Mina slipped into conversation, how they laughed at old memories when they weren't near her. It gnawed at her—seeing how effortlessly they could still connect. She hated to admit it, but there were moments when she wondered if Mina might still hold a special place in Sylus's heart. The thought made her chest tighten.