You've never choked someone into unconsciousness in a fight before, and you're a little worried that you might have overdone it without meaning to. Consequently, you decide to go find Ranma. As you head in the direction that you believe leads to the medical station, you weave a healing spell, and sigh in relief as it goes to work. You still ache a bit where Ranma hit you, but it's much more tolerable. Those kids who actually saw your match are quick to get out of your path, even as they whisper in your wake and cast furtive looks at your back - either Ranma was a local favorite, or they're just nervous about the big American who can shrug off having a pocket-sized can of whoopass opened up on him. Regardless, you quickly leave the zone of whispers behind.

Reaching the infirmary is no great issue, but when you get there, you discover a surprise: Ranma is gone.

"Three-Ten?" one of the attendants says in response to your queries. "Yes, he was already awake when they got him here. No damage to anything but his pride, although the way he was carrying on, you'd think it was the end of the world. Granted, his father wasn't helping with that impression - kept on saying things like 'shame to the school,' 'weak as a girl,' and 'extra training.'" The paramedic scowls, obviously not impressed with the elder Saotome's rhetoric. Then he shakes his head. "I turned my back on the two of them for a moment, and when I looked again, they were gone."

Well, that's disappointing. Thanking the man for his help, you look around. There's at least two other doors connecting this room to the rest of the complex, aside from the one you used, and you've no idea which one the Saotomes used, save that they didn't go back to where the preliminaries are being held. They could be anywhere in the arena by now, or out of it entirely. It seems your vague notions of striking up a more permanent association with Ranma are not to be realized, at least not today. Disappointed, but relieved in the knowledge that you did not harm the other boy, you turn and head back to wait for your next bout.

You're perhaps halfway to your destination when you pause. The hall around you seems empty, and yet, you'd swear...