The evening air in Stronghold had a different feel tonight. A cool breeze rolled in from the mountains, carrying with it a sense of calm after the storm of the day's trials. Nestled in one of the quieter streets of the city, Easton's Café had always been a sanctuary for Stronghold's young benders. The scent of freshly brewed tea and baked goods wafted out into the street, inviting weary souls to step inside and leave their troubles at the door.John, Anne, Alex, and Max entered together, the bell above the door giving a soft chime. Inside, the warm glow of lanterns bathed the small café in a cozy light, the hum of quiet conversation and clinking mugs filling the space.Alex stretched his arms above his head as they made their way to their usual booth in the corner. "Man, it feels good to be out of the training hall. I swear, if I had to listen to Benji critique one more of my moves, I would've lost it.""Yeah, because being critiqued for 'taking it easy' is just so hard on you," John teased, giving Alex a playful shove as they sat down.Alex grinned, rolling his eyes. "Says the guy who went full inferno mode on Victor and still barely managed to scrape by."John opened his mouth to retort, but Anne cut in before the back-and-forth could escalate. "Okay, let's not pretend we all didn't get our butts handed to us at some point today. Can we just relax for five minutes without talking about fireballs and energy blasts?"John smirked, but he relented, leaning back in the booth. "Fair point."As they settled in, a familiar voice called from behind the counter. "Evening, Unit 92!" Mr. Easton, the café's owner, waved as he finished wiping down a table. "What'll it be tonight? The usual?""You know it!" Alex replied, flashing a thumbs up. "And maybe throw in some of those energy-infused donuts too. I'm starving."Mr. Easton chuckled, nodding as he jotted down their order. "Coming right up. Make yourselves comfortable."Once he disappeared into the kitchen, John turned to Anne, his expression softening as they finally had a moment of peace. "So... what did you think of today's match? You and Isabel, that was intense."Anne sighed, resting her arms on the table. "Yeah, it was. She's... tricky. That teleportation thing throws me off. Every time I thought I had her cornered, she'd blink out of sight.""You kept up with her, though," John said, his voice encouraging. "I was watching. You've gotten faster."Anne smiled, though there was a hint of frustration in her eyes. "Thanks, but I don't know if it's enough. I mean, she's got this agility that I just can't match. It's like she's always two steps ahead."John leaned in, his gaze steady. "Maybe. But you've got better control, and you're more focused. Don't sell yourself short. You just need to figure out how to turn her speed against her."Anne looked at him, her smile softening. "You think?""I know," John replied with a grin. "And besides, we've still got time before the tournament. We'll figure it out."Across the table, Alex and Max were already deep into one of their usual taunt-filled conversations."You were lucky I didn't go full-on with the gravity today," Max said, leaning back with a smirk. "You'd still be stuck to the floor if I had."Alex snorted. "Yeah, right. You're lucky I didn't throw you through a wall. You and your gravity tricks—always trying to cheat your way to a win.""Cheating?" Max feigned offense, holding a hand to his chest. "It's called strategy, my friend. You know, using my actual powers instead of just relying on brute strength."Alex shook his head, chuckling. "You keep telling yourself that. We both know I'm the one who carried the last match."Max raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Is that so? Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were the one getting tossed around."Alex was about to respond when he spotted Lila sitting at the far end of the café, quietly sipping a drink by the window. His teasing smile faded, replaced with a more serious expression."I'll be right back," Alex muttered, standing up and heading toward Lila before Max could get in another word.As Alex approached her table, Lila glanced up, her face unreadable as usual. "Alex.""Hey," he greeted, trying to keep his tone casual. "Mind if I join you?"Lila tilted her head slightly, studying him for a moment before nodding. "Sure."Alex slid into the chair opposite her, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, uh... about today's match. You were... really good out there.""Thanks," Lila replied, her voice calm and measured. "You weren't too bad yourself. Though I could tell you were holding back."Alex shifted uncomfortably. "I wasn't holding back, I just... didn't want to hurt you, you know?"Lila raised an eyebrow. "I can handle myself, Alex. You don't need to go easy on me.""I know, I just..." He trailed off, unsure how to express what he was feeling. Being on opposite sides of the fight had been harder than he'd expected. He admired Lila—her composure, her intelligence—but he hadn't wanted to risk pushing too hard and crossing a line."I didn't want things to get weird," Alex said finally, his voice quieter. "Between us, I mean."Lila studied him for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "Things won't get weird unless you make them weird, Alex. We're competitors. We're friends. We're both benders. That's not going to change, no matter what happens in a match."Alex blinked, surprised by her straightforwardness. "Right. Yeah, I guess you're right."Lila took another sip of her drink, glancing out the window. "Besides, there are bigger things to worry about than whether or not you're holding back. The tournament's coming, and it's going to be way tougher than anything we've faced so far."Alex nodded, a flicker of determination lighting up his eyes. "Yeah. We've got to be ready."Lila's gaze met his, and for a moment, there was an understanding between them. No matter what happened in the tournament, no matter which side they ended up on, they were both in this together. Friends. Competitors. Equals.As they sat in silence, the soft hum of the café filling the background, Alex found himself feeling a little more centered. Maybe they would be on opposite sides when the time came, but for now, they were just two people trying to navigate the chaotic world of benders, tournaments, and friendships.Back at the table, John and Anne watched from a distance."Think Alex is finally making a move?" John teased, nudging Anne with a grin.Anne shook her head, laughing softly. "Nah. But I think he's finally realizing that he doesn't have to prove himself to her."John leaned back, glancing at the window where Alex and Lila sat. "Maybe we're all learning that."