Rin barely held herself upright, her body screaming in protest. Every muscle burned, every breath stung. She had lost. Badly.
And yet—Cruzer was still holding her up, preventing her from collapsing like a broken doll.
That pissed her off more than anything.
She tried to shove him off. "Let go—"
But his grip remained firm. And the look in his eyes—half-amused, half-scornful—made her blood boil.
"You sure?" Cruzer mused, tilting his head. "You're swaying on your feet, Rin. Be a real shame if you dropped like a sack of rocks right in front of all these people." He gestured lazily at the roaring crowd, who still hadn't settled from the brutal finish.
Her teeth clenched. She hated that he was right.
But he wasn't done.
"You know," Cruzer continued, voice smooth but venomous, "this whole situation feels... familiar."
Rin stiffened. Instinct screamed at her to shut him up now, but her body refused to cooperate.
