The arena is heavy with anticipation, a tense silence filling the air as the reality of the situation settles in. The crowd, having just witnessed an unexpected twist, seems stunned into silence. Even Jason, usually so composed and professional, stutters as he tries to regain his footing. "Well... I, I don't believe it folks, but it looks like Gunther is out. He's thrown in the towel. This means that... by some strange twist of fate... Lili is joining Pax in the finals!"
"You said it, Jason!" Callie chimes in, her voice brimming with excitement. "Even I never expected this! Let's hear it for Lili, everyone, our surprise contender!"
The arena erupts into applause and cheers, a roaring wave of sound that seems to jolt Lili back to reality. She sits up on the ground, her eyes wide with disbelief, still processing what has just happened. Gunther, who has finally managed to stand, clutching his stomach, walks over to her with a wide grin on his face.
"Wow, girl, you can really pack a punch, huh?" He extends a hand to help her up, his smile as warm as ever.
Lili, still in shock, hesitates for a moment before taking his hand. As she stands, he pulls her into a bear hug, and though she hesitates again, she eventually returns the embrace, her mind still reeling. "I can't believe it," she whispers, more to herself than to anyone else. "Did I seriously win? I actually beat you, Gunther?"
"Believe it, Lili, you did," Gunther assures her, his voice full of pride. "It's totally fine, though, because I didn't save you in round one for nothing. Now you go to the finals and kick everyone's butt! I'll be rooting for you." He tightens his hug, conveying his unwavering support.
Lili starts to wonder if Gunther let her win, if he toned down his defenses just so she could have this moment. But as she feels the sincerity in his words, she decides not to dwell on it. Instead, she tightens her own embrace and simply says, "Thanks."
As they walk off the arena floor together, they are greeted by the rest of their team. Nik is the first to speak, his voice filled with a mix of disbelief and humor. "Dude! I can't believe you actually lost!" He playfully grabs Gunther's head in a mock headlock. "Well, I suppose I can forgive you since it was Lili who beat you." They laugh, and then Nik turns to Lili, his expression softening. "Good job out there. You were great."
"I don't see why you'd have expected anything less, Nik," Mai adds, her voice carrying a gentle warmth. "She is great. No, she's amazing." Mai's smile beams at Lili, and in that moment, Lili truly feels like a winner. Noah approaches next, giving her a firm pat on the shoulder.
"Awesome job, Lili," Noah says, his voice steady and reassuring. "Though we always knew you had it in you, so I'm not surprised." He smiles, and Lili smiles back, feeling a sense of genuine happiness. Despite everything that has happened between them, she realizes that Noah still cares about her, even if only as a friend. She knows that all of them do.
Their moment of camaraderie is interrupted by an announcement. "Attention everyone, we're about to begin the second battle of the semi-finals now, so we ask the Fire and Water pairs to line up in their places."
"Well, I guess that's our cue, guys," Noah says, his tone shifting to one of determination. "Let's head over, Nik. We'll see you in battle, Mai. See ya, Lili, Guns."
"Alright, let's do this!" Nik responds, his usual confidence shining through. "Wish me luck, Guns, though I won't need it. Even if I have to fight Mai."
"You say that now, but you may regret that once the battle starts. Good luck to you, though. I'm sure you'll need it." Gunther's voice is a mix of encouragement and jest as he watches them go. Together with Lili, he waves them off.
"Good luck, guys!" Lili and Gunther say in unison before finding a spot to watch the next match unfold.
"Alright! The pairs are lined up, and the council has decided that Noah will face Ouran and Mai will face Nik!" Callie's voice is electric with excitement. "I have a feeling this is going to be quite a battle! Are you ready, everyone?" The crowd's energy surges, filling the arena with a fevered pitch of cheers and applause. The top fighters of the entire academy are about to face off.
The tone sounds, and without a moment's hesitation, Nik and Mai spring into action, their elements clashing in a dazzling display of power. Noah charges toward Ouran, but he quickly realizes something is off. Ouran isn't moving; they're just standing there, watching Mai and Nik fight with an intense focus. Cautiously, Noah approaches them, wondering if this is some kind of trap to throw him off balance, but even when he's standing right next to Ouran, they do nothing.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Noah asks, his voice tinged with confusion. "The tone sounded; you know."
"I know it did, I'm not deaf," Ouran replies calmly, their eyes still locked on Mai and Nik's battle. "But obviously, I'm not ready to fight. I wanna see their fight first."
"Seriously?" Noah can't hide his surprise. "You mean you want to sacrifice a chance to have a sure spot in the finals? Not that you'd ever actually beat me, but still, it seems like a weird thing to do."
"I never said I was normal, did I?" Ouran grins at Noah before returning their gaze to the ongoing fight.
"Alright then," Noah says, shrugging. "I guess I can't fight you unless you're ready, so I'll just sit right here and wait." He sits down on the ground with his legs crossed like a child, looking up at Ouran expectantly. After a moment, Ouran joins him on the ground, sitting down beside him.
"Well folks, this is... odd," Jason's voice cuts through the murmurs of the crowd. "It seems Noah and Ouran have elected not to fight and instead appear to be watching the other pair fight instead. I'm not sure what they're thinking, but it's certainly a first."
"What do those pretentious asses think they're doing just sitting there watching us fight?" Nik grumbles as he dodges one of Mai's attacks, his battle bow shooting out a volley of fire bolts.
Mai deflects the fire with a swift motion, her face focused. "Why are you surprised? Those two are nothing but arrogance wrapped in skin."
"Well, whatever," Nik huffs as he launches another attack. "We all know Noah's gonna wipe the floor with him anyway. I mean, come on."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Mai replies, her voice steady despite the quick pace of their duel. "Honestly, I still get major bad vibes from them. Ouran's different, and I don't just mean their abilities."
As they continue exchanging blows, Nik's expression shifts to something more contemplative. "I don't think there's anything weird about Ouran," he says, almost as if he's trying to convince himself. "If anything, they're the only water elemental who could sort of compare to you in this academy. Maybe you just feel threatened, or... maybe even jealous. Kind of like how I think you hate me sometimes because, unlike you, I don't hide who I am, even if it does turn people against me."
Mai's concentration falters at his words, causing her to stumble. Nik, quick to seize the opportunity, whacks her in the arm with his flaming bow, disarming her. The pain flares, but it's nothing compared to the anger that ignites within her. Her eyes blaze as she strikes back with renewed fury.
"I'm nothing like you!" Mai shouts, her voice cutting through the air as sharp as any blade. "How could I ever be jealous of you? I don't think constant heartbreak at the hands of every person who shows me a little interest is anything to envy. I would never be so weak as to let them—"
"But you are weak!" Nik's words stop Mai in her tracks. The two stand there, locked in a tense stare-down for several long seconds, the air between them crackling with unresolved tension.
When Nik speaks again, his voice is softer, but no less intense. "You are weak, Mai, even more so than me. You know why? Because at least I take chances. I may fail most of the time, and yeah, I get heartbroken all the time, and yeah, it hurts like fucking hell. But I get back up and try again because I know that eventually, I'll succeed. There's only one guy I can say I'm in love with, but I'll probably never get the chance to tell him because he's not like me, and I don't want to ruin what we have. We're in a good place now as friends, and I'm not about to mess that up with a childish fantasy. But I believe that there's someone else out there for me, and no matter how long it takes, I'll keep trying. And that's what makes me strong."
Nik's words hang in the air, heavy with truth. Mai's eyes widen, the full weight of what he's saying sinking in.
"You may be physically stronger than most," Nik continues, his voice steady and sure, "but emotionally, you're probably the weakest of us all. You have no confidence or sense of self-worth. You live only to serve others, but when it comes to yourself, you do nothing. You've got to live a little, Mai, and let yourself have fun. It's not always about the mission or obeying orders. Sometimes you need to take a breather for yourself. Be selfish sometimes! Stop denying yourself the feelings you know are there."
Mai's breath catches in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. She knows, deep down, that Nik is right. She has been hiding, not just from the world, but from herself.
"No matter how much you try to hide it," Nik says, his voice softening, "the fact still remains: you are just like me. You're gay, Mai. And even more than that, you also have someone very close to you that you're in love with. Our personalities are fire and ice, for sure, but we're also the most alike because we both love in a different way from others. Open up your closet Mai!"
Mai stands there, frozen, the words echoing in her mind. Nik's confession, his challenge, shakes something loose inside her. The truth she's been running from, hiding from, is laid bare before her. And for the first time in a long time, she feels the walls she's built around herself start to crack.