The entire stadium falls into a stunned silence as the gravity of the situation settles over the crowd. Mai stands trembling, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turn white, tears streaming down her face as she glares at Nik. The weight of everything she's been holding back, all the pressure, the expectations, and the pain, finally breaks through her composure.
"It's not that easy!" she cries out, her voice cracking with emotion. "You're the type that doesn't care what others think of you, so of course you can carry on. But I can't do that! You don't understand what it's like to be in my shoes every day, to be held to a standard that everyone else has placed on you, to maintain the image they create, to be liked but still be alone because no one knows who you really are!"
Her words hang in the air, raw and unfiltered, as she continues. "I've always been seen as the tall, exotic, charming prince. It's impossible for people to believe that I could like cute clothes, or makeup, or cooking—all the things that are too 'girly' for me to like. I've been treated like a tomboy my whole life just because I've always been taller and stronger than other girls, and because I prefer pants over skirts. People assumed I must be masculine, all because of how I was as a kid."
She pauses, taking a shaky breath as she tries to regain control, but the floodgates have opened. "But now that I'm grown up, now that I've come to like those 'girly' things, it's considered strange because I've already been coined the 'Ice Prince.' I decided that if everyone was going to see me that way, if they expected that of me, then I should just be that prince. So I gave up on wanting to be 'girly.' This is who I am now."
Mai's voice softens as she continues, her eyes flickering to Lili, who watches with a mix of shock and understanding. "Yes, maybe I do love that person, but just as you know things would be complicated if you confessed your feelings, it's the same for me. That person isn't ready for that type of relationship, and the best I can do for them now is to stay by their side in the way that's best for them. To keep them safe and help them heal. I can't afford to be selfish because doing so would only hurt them more, and I couldn't bear to see them suffer. So maybe I am weak in that sense, but my weakness gives them strength, and I don't regret it."
Nik stands there, speechless. He had pushed her, wanting her to admit the truth, but now that she has, he feels a heavy weight of understanding settle over him. He knows exactly what she means. His confidence, the bravado he wears like armor, is a shield to hide his own fears and insecurities. He, too, understands the pain of hiding his true self, of playing a role to protect the bond he cherishes. He knows the agony of loving someone in silence, of watching from the shadows as they move through life, unaware of the depth of his feelings.
For a moment, there's nothing but the quiet sound of Mai's soft sobs and the echo of Nik's unspoken understanding. The entire stadium is caught in the emotional gravity of the moment, unsure of what to do or say.
"Well, I'm not quite sure what to make of this, folks," Jason says, breaking the silence, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant. "But it seems like the battle has actually come to a standstill, all because of some... childish drama. This is turning out to be quite a show indeed."
"No way, Jason!" Callie counters, her voice filled with excitement. "The battle's totally still going on, but now it's a battle of love! I think it's romantic!"
"Yeah, well, I think it's a major waste of time," Jason grumbles. "When are we gonna get back to the battle itself?"
Noah watches the unfolding scene with wide-eyed confusion. He turns to Ouran, hoping for some clarity. "Wait, call me crazy, but is it possible that both Nik and Mai just gave secret love confessions? Cause I'm getting that vibe."
Ouran doesn't respond, and when Noah looks over, he realizes that Ouran's eyes are shut. "Dude! Are you sleeping? How can you fall asleep on the battlefield? Are you crazy? Didn't you get enough sleep last night?"
Ouran's eyes suddenly snap open, and they look at Noah with a serene expression. "Sorry, were you saying something?"
"Well, yeah! How do you fall asleep on the battlefield? Are you insane? Did you not get any sleep last night?"
"Oh, I did," Ouran replies with a casual shrug. "This was just... well, it doesn't really matter. But I think things are about to get interesting."
"Huh? What are you talking—" Noah's question is cut off as Callie makes an unexpected announcement.
"Oh boy! Things are really getting interesting today, guys! We've officially become witnesses to a record BoE! President Hiro himself of the council just informed me that they've decided to change it up this year. They're ordering a thirty-minute break, and then the battle will continue—but not as it is now. Instead, it will be the final battle!"
The crowd erupts in chatter as Callie continues, "Not just that, but they've decided to let all four of the competitors fighting now participate, along with Lili and Gunther! It seems Pax came down with a sudden illness and can no longer participate. So, for the first time ever, we're going to have a six-person free-for-all final battle! This is unprecedented but also so much more exciting! I think we're in for one hell of a finale, am I right?"
The arena is ablaze with excitement, but among the competitors, the mood is much more subdued. Nik, still reeling from the earlier exchange, is dumbfounded. "No way! Are they actually serious? This has never been done before!"
Mai says nothing, her mind clearly elsewhere. She quietly exits the arena, seeking solitude. The others, understanding the emotional toll of the revelations, don't follow her. Even Lili, who wants to run after Mai, hesitates, unsure of what she would say or how to comfort her friend.
"Well, it's definitely crazy," Noah remarks, trying to break the tension. "But the council has spoken, so we should rest and then just make the best of it, right, Ouran?"
Ouran smiles, but this time there's something unsettling about it, a subtle shift that makes Noah uneasy. Still, he grins back, brushing off his concerns.