The ride back from the tournament grounds was unusually quiet.
Everyone sat in peaceful exhaustion, their bodies drained from the adrenaline, the battles, and the celebration. The armored transport hummed softly as it rolled across the city streets, carrying the group back to their academy dorms—back to normalcy, if such a thing still existed after what they'd endured.
Kael, seated between Hana and Ryuu, had fought harder than anyone that day. His bruises were patched, his body bandaged, and his arms still throbbed under the void-reactive alloy guards. He leaned to one side, eyelids heavy, until his head gently rested on Hana's shoulder.
Hana blinked in surprise, then smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from his face.
Hana (whispering):"You earned this nap, dummy…"
Kael was already breathing softly, completely asleep.
Tetsu, sitting across from them, looked like he had a million things on his mind—and zero energy to say any of them. But one thing finally clicked in his exhausted, spinning brain.
Tetsu (suddenly sitting up):"Wait… Eri."
She looked over from her seat near the front, curious.
Eri:"Hm?"
Tetsu (groggy but trying to be cool):"Those kinetic amplifiers… do you think… you could make another pair? I kinda… I broke 'em…"
Eri tilted her head, her expression unreadable. Tetsu swallowed nervously, then suddenly remembered the kiss—the cheek kiss from earlier. His face turned ten shades of red.
Tetsu (panicking internally):Oh no. She kissed me. I forgot. I REMEMBERED. Oh no—
And just like that, in his overwhelmed, overworked, overheated brain…
He fainted.
Tetsu (collapsing backwards):"Worth it…"
Ryuu didn't even blink. He just let out a long sigh.
Ryuu:"…Idiot."
Eri giggled as she pulled a blanket over the unconscious Tetsu.
Eri (smiling):"I'll take that as a yes."
Back in the dorms, the students dragged themselves inside like survivors of a long war. Even Kaede looked half-asleep as he closed the door behind them, muttering something about a hot bath and ten hours of silence.
Kael remained asleep on Hana's shoulder the whole way in, and she helped him to his room without waking him. As she tucked him into his bed, she hesitated for a moment, looking at him. Then she smiled again, just faintly.
Hana (softly):"…Sleep well, champion."
Outside, the wind carried the sounds of the city through the open windows.
For now, they were safe. For now, they could rest.
But the darkness that had followed them to the tournament—Team Darkshade, the unseen presence of Kurojin Tsukiro—still lingered. And somewhere, in the shadow of victory, something was watching.