Snowy lay on the white hospital bed, his left arm still bandaged from the burns, and his right arm wrapped in a cold compress. The medical center was quiet, the rhythmic beeping of nearby equipment the only sound accompanying his thoughts. His mind replayed the tournament's final moments—the clash of powers, the roar of the crowd, and the intense, searing pain that followed. He clenched his uninjured fist slightly, feeling the strain in his muscles.
The door creaked open, pulling him from his reverie. A familiar voice filled the room, soft yet tinged with curiosity. "You look terrible," the voice said, playful but gentle.
Snowy turned his head, his eyes narrowing in recognition. It was the girl from the other school, the one with the white hair—the one who nearly burnt his arm to a crisp. Her name... he hadn't quite caught it before, but now, seeing her up close without the battle's heat, she looked... different. Human, almost vulnerable.
"Hey," Snowy greeted, his voice calm but a bit raspy. "Are you okay? You looked like you were about to cry when I kicked your arm."
The girl chuckled, brushing a strand of her white hair behind her ear. "I wasn't crying, just... shocked. You really don't hold back, do you? But I'm fine. I'm tougher than I look." She paused, studying him with an expression that mixed amusement with sincerity. "I'm Alyssa, by the way. And you are?"
"Snowy," he replied, eyeing her with his usual guarded expression. "So, how's your arm?"
Alyssa waved her hand dismissively, though she winced slightly at the motion. "Better than your arms, I'd say. But I'll live. I heard you put up quite a fight in the finals. Not many people get back up after a beating like that."
Snowy shrugged, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Yeah, well, I don't like losing."
Their conversation drifted into the battle's aftermath, each exchanging snippets of what they saw. Alyssa laughed when Snowy recounted how one fighter, in his enthusiasm, accidentally sent his own teammate flying off the stage with an overpowered spell. Snowy chuckled back, the sound foreign to him but oddly natural in this shared space. For once, the weight of competition lifted, replaced by the camaraderie of two warriors who had gone through hell together.
Outside the room, Draken—Snowy's teammate and one of the academy's strongest candidates—stood at the door, hesitating. He had come to fetch Snowy for the celebration party, but the sight of him sitting there, laughing with Alyssa, made him pause. He blinked, utterly confused. Snowy, the stone-faced combatant, was giggling? And with a girl? Draken almost turned away, but curiosity got the better of him.
*Has this guy found himself a girl from the other team?* Draken thought, shaking his head. He rapped his knuckles against the door lightly, the sound pulling Snowy and Alyssa's attention.
"Come in," Snowy called, straightening up as Draken entered.
"You two look cozy," Draken smirked, giving Snowy a knowing look. "Ready to join the rest of us? Or should I give you lovebirds a few more minutes?"
Snowy rolled his eyes, feeling a sudden urge to kick Draken across the room. "Shut up. We were just talking."
Alyssa covered her mouth, stifling a laugh as Draken grabbed Snowy by the shoulder, yanking him to his feet. "Sure, sure. Come on, Romeo. We've got a party waiting."
As Snowy was pulled away, Alyssa chuckled softly to herself, watching them leave. *That was... unexpected.* She thought about how different Snowy seemed now compared to the battlefield. Perhaps there was more to him than the icy exterior he showed.
---
The celebration was in full swing when Snowy stepped into the grand hall, packed with students from the Arcane Nexus Academy. Banners hung from the ceiling, and tables overflowed with food and drinks. The room erupted in cheers as Snowy appeared, a wave of applause and shouts that echoed against the marble walls. Snowy wasn't used to this kind of attention. Usually, he was the quiet observer, the silent strength in the corner. But now, he was the center of it all.
Emily, spotting him from across the room, wasted no time. She sprinted over, grinning ear to ear. "Look who finally decided to show up! The hero of the hour!" she exclaimed, clapping Snowy on the back.
Snowy winced slightly but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at his lips. "It's not that big of a deal," he mumbled, trying to downplay the situation.
"Oh, really?" Emily teased, nudging him. "I saw you in the last match, Snowy. You were smiling! Don't think I missed it."
Draken, who had followed behind, joined in. "Yeah, that tiny little grin. It was like seeing a miracle unfold. Do it again, Snowy, come on!" he mocked, pretending to snap a picture.
Snowy shot him a flat stare. "I am not a zoo exhibit."
Kael, another teammate, jumped in, clearly having overheard. "I've heard the legends," he said dramatically, throwing an arm around Snowy's shoulders. "The mythical Snowy smile! Quick, someone, do something stupid so we can see it again!"
Emily snickered. "I swear, I almost got it on camera. It's like seeing a rare animal in the wild."
Snowy tried to keep his face stoic, but as more and more students chimed in, all teasing and laughing, the pressure mounted. His stone-cold demeanor cracked, just a little. A small, reluctant smile spread across his face. The room erupted in cheers, everyone raising their glasses in triumph.
"There it is!" Emily whooped, pointing at him as if she had struck gold.
"You guys are ridiculous," Snowy muttered, but he didn't try to hide the smile this time. He was, for once, enjoying himself. The teasing, the laughter—it was all unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
The party continued with more jokes, cheers, and stories of the tournament. The room was filled with joy, a stark contrast to the intense battles they'd fought mere hours ago. For the first time, Snowy felt the warmth of belonging, surrounded by friends who celebrated not just his victories but also the person he was becoming.
As the night wore on, Emily raised her glass, calling for a toast. "To Snowy," she declared, her voice ringing clear and bright. "For fighting like a beast and finally showing us that he's human after all!"
Everyone laughed, raising their glasses in unison. Snowy, caught off guard by the sudden attention, could only shake his head, smiling wider now. The cheers echoed, and Snowy looked around at the faces of his teammates—Emily, Draken, Kael, and the others—realizing that, maybe, this was what he had been missing all along.
The party continued into the night, with Snowy at the heart of it. For once, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment, knowing that while battles and tournaments would come and go, these bonds were something worth fighting for.