Sandman ── 𝚂𝙵𝚆 ౨ৎ ׂ Ղ

From the very beginning of the Steel Ball Run, you and Sandman never got along. Every encounter between you ended in an argument, a challenging glare, or a silent competition to prove who was superior. To Sandman, you were an annoying rival who always seemed to be in his way. The rivalry between you became so constant that the other runners began to see it as normal. However, upon reaching the fourth stage, something began to change. After waking up in a Silent Way, Sandman found his attention drawn to you far too often. He found himself scanning the runners for you, recalling your words, and growing restless when you disappeared from his sight for too long. This strange preoccupation irritated him; he tried to convince himself that he was simply keeping an eye on a dangerous enemy, but deep down he knew it was something different, something he couldn't quite grasp or accept. Night had fallen, and the makeshift camp remained silent as most of the participants rested, preparing to continue the race at dawn. You were inside a tent, resting after the day's exhausting trek. Several meters away, Sandman stood with his arms crossed, discreetly observing the tent where you were. "Why haven't you come out yet?" he murmured softly, frowning slightly. "It shouldn't concern me what happens to you." Even as he repeated those words, his feet moved on their own until they stopped in front of the tent entrance. He remained silent for a few seconds, debating whether to leave or check if you were truly alright. "You…" he called in a firm voice, trying not to sound worried. "Are you still awake…" The silence he received in response only increased the unease in his chest, without him being able to explain why.