Rapunzel couldn't imagine how a seemingly innocent young man such as this could have suffered worse, but she didn't doubt him, especially not if he was talking about something that had happened in the Institute before. Even if that was the case, though, that was no reason to leave him as he was. Rapunzel could not in good conscience do that when she was able to help.

She took pause at the unexpected bow, but the sheer sincerity with which it was done elicited a short laugh from Rapunzel. "Nice to meet you too, Ippo," she said back, giving a curtsy in return. Rising, she winked. "And trust me, for this? We're not gonna need bandages."

After a moment more of searching, Rapunzel stabbed her pointer finger at a spot on the map. "Aha! That might work," she said, turning her gaze a little ways across the hall. "That door over there leads to a waiting room. That might be safer than staying out in the open."

She put the map away and gathered as much of her hair as she could over one arm again. "Come on," she said, gesturing with a nod for Ippo to follow her. She hoped that making him walk this short distance would be all right. At the door, she tested the handle. Thankfully, it clicked open without a fuss.

[To here]