The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character

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Leo sat back in his chair like the meeting was over.

"Then we're set," he said. "This weekend."

Just as the conversation seemed to wrap up, the tension in the room snapped again.

"Still doesn't change the fact," the big guy muttered under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear, "that I don't like weaklings joining this club."

I turned my head slowly.

He wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

"And you are?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He sneered. "Trent Vol. And don't think for a second that you're on my level."

"Trent," I repeated, like I was testing how punchable the name sounded in my mouth. "Right. Got it."

Before I could say anything else, Leo's gaze turned sharp—glacier cold.

He didn't even raise his voice. He just looked straight at Trent.

"You have a problem with my decision?"

Trent's smug grin faltered, just a crack.

"I just said I don't like weaklings, that's all—"

"I invited Rin," Leo cut in, his tone steady but dangerous. "If you can't trust my judgment, you're free to leave."

The room fell dead silent.

Trent clenched his jaw, fists tightening, but he didn't say anything after that. Just lowered his eyes and stepped back.

I watched the whole exchange, more amused than anything.

Leo really wanted me here, huh?

Still, I couldn't resist. I stepped forward just a little, toward Trent, my hands casually in my pockets.

"Well," I said lightly, "if you're that uncomfortable with a weakling being here, how about we make it fun?"

Trent looked up, narrowing his eyes. "What kind of fun?"

"A bet," I said, smiling. "This weekend. If I'm the one who contributes most to clearing the dungeon, you'll stop calling me a weakling."

He snorted. "And if you don't?"

"Then I'll call myself a weakling, right in front of everyone, and I'll leave the club."

The others shifted uncomfortably, but Leo said nothing—his expression unreadable now.

Trent's lip curled. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."

"So, do we have a deal?"

There was a moment of hesitation before Trent finally grunted.

"Fine. But don't cry when you get left behind."

I grinned. "You'll be the one eating your words, Trent."

As Trent backed off, still fuming, the atmosphere settled again—tense, but no longer boiling.

I turned slightly, catching Leo's gaze.

He was watching me—not with that usual cold disinterest, but with something like faint amusement flickering at the edge of his expression.

"You sure you can win?" he asked quietly, so only I could hear.

I shrugged. "Probably not. But I don't need to win. I just need to make it look like I did."

Leo snorted, which, for him, might as well have been a full-blown laugh.

"I didn't invite you because I thought you were strong, Rin," he said, his voice low. "I invited you because you're dangerous in ways people like Trent can't see yet."

Was that a compliment?

Before I could answer, someone else interrupted.

"Reckless and full of bravado," Violet muttered as she walked past us, her arms crossed, eyes sharp. "You sure know how to make enemies."

I tilted my head toward her. "And yet, you haven't tried to kill me yet. So I must be doing something right."

Her lips curved into a slight smirk. "You're not important enough to kill."

"Oh, so you have thought about it."

That earned me a raised eyebrow, but no denial.

Violet walked off toward her seat, muttering something about 'idiots with egos.' I wasn't sure if she meant me, Trent, or both.

Leo leaned slightly closer, still watching her as she left.

"She may seem harsh, but she's sharp," he said.

"Yeah, I noticed. She was the only one not surprised when I mentioned the dungeon."

"Because she's already suspicious of you."

"Should I be worried?"

He gave me a sidelong glance. "If she really thought you were a threat, you'd know by now."

"…That doesn't actually make me feel better."

Leo Leo let out a short laugh—dry, amused, but not unkind.

"Didn't say it was supposed to."

I exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Great. So I've impressed exactly one psychopath and mildly intrigued another. This club's looking real healthy."

"You're the one who joined," Leo reminded me, voice laced with smug satisfaction.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm starting to think I should've picked the Gardening Club instead."

"You can't now," he said flatly.

"…Figures."

Leo turned slightly, resting an arm on the back of the chair beside him. "You're good at stirring things up, Rin. That's useful to me. I don't need everyone to like each other—just to move."

"And what if they move in the wrong direction?"

"That's what I'm here for."

I glanced at him. "So you're the leash?"

"I'm the hand holding it."

Right. Of course he'd say something dramatic like that with a straight face.

Still, I couldn't deny it—Trent had folded the second Leo's tone changed. And even Violet, who clearly had her own agenda, didn't push past a certain line.

Leo didn't command attention.

He demanded it.

"And you want me to be the chaos you direct," I muttered.

Leo smirked. "Exactly. I like what chaos reveals."

"You mean weakness?"

"Among other things."

I fell quiet for a moment, letting that sit.

Then, more casually, I asked, "So what happens if I stop being useful?"

Leo looked over at me, eyes sharp again. "Then you'll find out if Violet really has thought about killing you."

"…Right. Comforting."

He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Relax. You're not there yet."

"Gee, thanks."

Leo stood, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeves. "We'll leave the logistics to tomorrow's meeting. Same time. Don't be late."

Everyone began filing out slowly, some still eyeing me like I was some unwelcome guest who wouldn't leave.

Violet passed by one last time, eyes flicking in my direction.

"…We'll see if you can back up that mouth," she muttered.

I smiled politely. "I'm looking forward to disappointing you."

She didn't smile back—but her steps didn't falter either.

Once the others were mostly gone, Leo turned to me one last time.

"You made a strong impression today."

"Good or bad?"

"Yes."

I blinked. "That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting," he said, heading toward the door.

I followed after him, still feeling that strange cocktail of tension and amusement buzzing in my chest.

The Perfect Hunting Club.

What a joke.

But as I stepped into the hall, I had to admit—

This weekend was going to be interesting.