Operation: Make the protagonist happy

22. Knife

[Name] couldn't help but feel responsible for everything.

Her words were the catalyst for Crystal's impromptu change. If she wasn't such an emotional mess, Leo would be safe. If she wasn't so naive, Crystal wouldn't be crazy. If she had an ounce of control, this messed up mission would be in the past.

And that was perhaps the reason why [Name] was heading the search party.

"We should split up," the antagonist insisted after opening the 50th door, only to find a significant lack of Leo and a significant abundance of Kraft Singles cheese. The corridor was an endless labyrinth of doors leading to seemingly nowhere. Anxiety was eating away her sanity. What if she was too late?

"Are you stupid? That's how every horror movie protagonist dies," Sei said while swinging his flashlight like a lightsaber. The walls seemed to cave on them as if desperate to swallow them.

"Lucky for you, I'm an antagonist." [Name] awkwardly laughed at her joke. When no one laughed with her, the antagonist cleared her throat. "It'll take ages to go door-to-door. By the time we find them, Leo will probably be on a flight to his honeymoon."

Sei gave a look of skepticism. "And what if one of us gets tackled by Crystal?"

"Please," the girl scoffed. "Crystal is a scrawny sophomore. What's the most she'll have? A knife? This school is baby-proofed!"

"Actually, the school store sells knives," Rion mumbled under his breath. He opened another door, only to reveal a pile of cherry tomatoes.

"Please tell me. What else is in this Costco of a school store?" [Name] exasperated and shot him a glare.

Rion, in response, brought up his hand and listed, "well, there's the basics like pencils and backpacks. Romance options like chocolates and instant ramen. My favorite section is the dangerous goods like poison, grappling hooks, memory altering pills..."

"How do you even get this information?" [Name] was absolutely dumbfounded. Rion, in response, just shrugged and popped a tomato into his mouth.

"Listen, I'm all for efficiency!" Sei jabbed her stomach with his flashlight. "But even I'm not that reckless. You know how unhinged Crystal is! Hell, this is the same girl who doesn't believe in cars and fevers!"

"Next thing you'll tell me is that Crystal doesn't believe in... I don't know... worms??"

Sei prayed to any being in the sky to give this girl at least one brain cell. "[Name]. [Name]ie. I will literally pay you to shut up and keep the group together."

"But, Crystal—"

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he stared into her panicking eyes. "Calm. Down. You're acting reckless," Sei stressed. His voice was even paced and low, straining for a level of composure.