Jamal followed the officials waiting for him at the exit, as they led him pass the onlookers cheering him on, asking for information, like what happened to him, how did he do it, would he be ready for Leon, and such. Jamal just walked past them, and back outdoors. He was instantly congratulated for making it to the next round and was told that whoever made it passed the first round on his team, would be with him in the team-based fight next. They allowed him to continue onward and was quickly embraced by Ula.
"You actually did it! I knew you could do it!" she said with joy.
He embraced her back, "Of course I made it. It wasn't that hard of a fight!"
They parted when he saw Leon walk up to him.
"Don't think I couldn't see that large fire from here. I wasn't surpised that you didn't make it this far for nothing. At least I know there might be someone worthy enough to give me a little competition. But you'll still be broken, just like everyone else I've taken on." he set forth.
"Ha! I don't think you won't be given a victory this year, now that I'm here. Hope you enjoyed your final win from last year." he smartly replied back.
Leon smirked at him, and walked away towards his room. Jamal wouldn't hold back on him, unlike Vice.
"You really did win, huh? That Vice kid was too cocky." Hops had chimed in.
"So Ula, you trying to go meet Fonda real quick? I don't know when we're not allowed access in the building." he ignored him.
"Sure, I hope she's doing all right."
He grabbed her hand as they walked towards the stadium hospital, Hops fuming at him but just went in the opposite direction. When they arrived, she was doing much better and squealed with joy when he told her that they had both won. She couldn't wait for them to win the next round, which he said he would do his best. After the interaction, they went back to the food area and had gotten the dinner when Brat greeted him.
"Yo! How much power are you holding back! That was, like, the most fire I saw come out from you!" he yelled, before people began to look at him, and point towards him. They quickly left the area, before more people were chasing him and hopped inside a waiting carriage. Closing the door behind him, Jamal heaved as he was out of breath.
"Are you okay? We only ran a few yards out of there." Ula asked him, her hand on his back.
"Must have been from earlier. During the fight, I snapped again or something, and I felt like stronger, but afterwards I just lost my energy and I was tired, and they only thing keeping me from falling asleep is you guys." he muttered to them, after telling the driver to go to the designated building for his room.
"After that, I agree. That power of yours must be taking a lot of it." Brat had asked.
"When you said snapped, did it have to do with me in some way?" she had questioned again.
Jamal looked at her and nodded. I guess my powers can increase with my emotions now, he pondered, I'll have to look into that.
She just nodded back, and looked the other way.
"Did I do something wrong this time?" he asked again.
"No, but you don't always have to protect or worry about me all the time. I can fend for myself. I won my match today without you. Trust me, I know you care for me too much, but if your feelings for me is doing this, then I feel like it might be a setback to you." Ula ejected.
"Well, I did hear Jamal yell about not allowing the other guy to hurt you or something like that, so maybe he just really cares for you, which I got to respect." Brat chimed in.
"I just don't want him to get hurt for me. That's just so risky and it might effect him negatively, like too much effort on me and not himself."
"I understand. I'll be better." he said, before kissing her briefly.
The carriage had slowed down, and Jamal opened the door for them to get out.
"Well, I'll just walk to my building, I still got to rest for my fight and I don't want to be injured as bad as yesterday. You guys take care." Brat waved at them, and walked slowly in the other direction from where they were going.
They walked up the stairs and by the time they had reached their floor, Jamal was breathing heavily and fell to the ground.
"Jamal! You need to get some sleep now! You're not okay!" she cried out.
He weakly smiled as she opened the door for him and laid him on the bed.
"Don't get off. Get some sleep. I'll see if you're doing better in the morning."
His breathing slowing down, he muttered, "I love you."
She turned around and replied back, "I know you do. But if you really do, then go to sleep and recover."
And with that, she closed his door. Jamal sighed and took a much needed deep breath. At least he had won for them all. Now, it would just be him and Leon and only three days away. I cannot hold back on him, no matter what, he knew. With that, he fell asleep, dreaming up his plans for the upcoming fight ahead and all the possible combinations that they could pull off in order to win the entire thing. Jamal was going to be ready, and it would all come down to that very day.