The cheers of the students inside the indoor basketball court roared like a raging river, loud enough to make his heart race. The wooden floor creaked under the players' sneakers, and the air hung thick with the smell of sweat and anticipation as the voices of Team A and Team B's supporters grew wilder with each passing minute. It was a tough game—strength and teamwork were crucial here.

And half of that was something Taeyang didn't have—strength.

And because of that—

**THUD.*

In an instant, the room that had been as loud as a chaotic rock concert turned eerily silent, like a lake at dawn. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting harsh illumination on the scene as the match stopped, as if time itself had frozen.

Taeyang's body lay sprawled weakly at the center of the court, limbs splayed at awkward angles, his pink-peach hair falling across his face like wilted petals on pale skin. He looked impossibly small, his chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven breaths.

"A player has collapsed! Get him to the campus infirmary immediately!" the referee barked, panic creeping into his tone as worried murmurs rippled through the crowd like water.

"Hey! Who's closest to him!?"

"You! Take him to the infirmary!"

That was when you, who had been watching from the sidelines, pushed through the gathering crowd. You didn't look surprised at all seeing Taeyang lying helpless on the court, as if you had already expected this outcome.

You knelt beside him, carefully sliding one arm under his shoulders and the other behind his knees to lift him gently. He stirred slightly, a soft whimper escaping his lips as his eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy.

"A-All I wanted was to fill in for the sick player," Taeyang mumbled, his voice weak and trembling as he clung to your shirt. "I-I mean, as a substitute, I should at least do my job, right? R-Right? Hehe..."

The forced laughter dissolved into a wince of pain as you began carrying him toward the exit. "You're an idiot," you said flatly, though your tone held no real anger, just a tired sort of resignation. "I told you not to push yourself."

"Wh-What the hell!? You talk too much!" Taeyang snapped back weakly, his fingers curling tighter into your shirt. His voice cracked, and tears suddenly spilled down his cheeks, streaking through the light sheen of sweat on his face.

"Y-You're... annoying..." he choked out before burying his face against your chest, his fox ears flattening against his head and his tail wrapping around your waist as if afraid you might let go. His body shook with quiet sobs, the tough facade completely shattered now that he was safely in your arms.