Sable returned on the day of the tournament.
She slipped through the courtyard gates like a shadow, the morning sunlight catching faintly on her black hair and the edge of her tie. Conversations dulled when she passed — eyes following her, curious and cautious, whispers trailing in her wake.
She didn't flinch.Didn't look at anyone.Her sleeves were pulled down further than usual, almost swallowing her hands.
She walked into class as if she'd never been gone.
When she sank into the chair next to Bruce, his pen froze mid-spin. He glanced her way, uncertain, but she didn't meet his eyes — just propped her chin on her palm and stared ahead, quiet as ever.
The teacher hesitated when he saw her. Just for a beat — like he wasn't sure if he should say something — before clearing his throat and clapping his hands. "Alright, everyone, eyes up."
By the end of class, the air still buzzed with unspoken questions. The group kept sneaking glances at her — even Logan, who rarely noticed anyone outside his playlist.
So when the bell rang, they expected her to vanish like always.
Instead, Sable stood, gathered her bag, and stopped by their row.
"Come with me," she said simply.
No explanation. No inflection. Then she turned and walked out.
They exchanged quick looks.Raxian was the first to stand. The rest followed, orbiting him like planets caught in her gravity.
She stopped at the end of the hall, turning to face them. Her green eyes were steady, unreadable.
"I know what you did," she said. "The principal told me."
Bruce stiffened, guilt flashing across his calm face. "Right. Sorry. I—"
"Thank you," she interrupted.
Silence. Then Jake's grin cracked through like sunlight. "Well hey — there we go. A thank-you. Guess that means you owe us now."
"Jake," Tess warned, voice sharp.
"What? A favor for a favor," he said, looping an arm around Sable's shoulders with a big, easy grin. "We defended you. You talk to us. That's the deal. Don't think we're letting you vanish again. You're one of us now."
She froze, not quite pulling away — just blinking up at him, uncertain what to do with that kind of warmth.
"Buzz off," Tess hissed, swatting his arm. "Give her space."
"Relax!" Jake said. "I'm just welcoming her! You all act like I'm kidnapping her."
Behind him, Logan finally pulled one earbud down, voice flat."He's got a point. You haven't been the same since she left."
Raxian froze mid-step, glaring.
Logan met his eyes, unbothered. "You even stayed home one day."
That earned him twin stares — one from Raxian, one from Sable — sharp enough to kill.
Logan blinked once, shrugged. "Just saying."
Jake burst into laughter, clapping his hands. "See? Look at that. Matching death glares. Perfect team synergy already."
"Jake." Bruce's voice cut through, calm but firm. "Enough. This isn't funny."
Jake paused, then sighed, hands raised. "Alright, alright. I'm just saying — if she doesn't stick with us, who's gonna watch her back, huh?"
That made Sable glance up. Her gaze swept over them — Tess's exasperation, Bruce's steady concern, Raxian's quiet focus — then landed back on Jake.
She let out a slow breath."…Fine."
Jake blinked. "Wait. Seriously?"
Sable tilted her head slightly, tone even. "Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing. Having… people around."
For a second, no one spoke — caught between surprise and something that felt suspiciously like relief.
Then Jake broke into a grin so wide it practically lit the hallway. "You heard her! She's with us!"
Tess groaned. "If you scare her off, I swear—"
But Sable was already walking ahead, steady as ever, voice faint as she tossed it back over her shoulder:"Try to keep up."
Raxian's lips twitched — almost a smile — as he fell into step behind her.
---
Sable didn't look back as she walked, steps quiet against the linoleum, shoulders loose beneath her blazer.The murmur of the crowd thinned behind her — but not all of it.
A cluster of footsteps followed, light and uneven.
"Yo, where are you even headed?" Jake's voice called, upbeat, a little too close.He jogged forward, falling into step beside her with that trademark grin. "C'mon, mystery girl — you disappear every lunch. What's the secret spot? Rooftop hideout? Underground base? Tell me you've got a secret base."
Sable didn't answer. The vending machines loomed ahead; she stopped, slid a coin in, pressed the button. The can dropped with a dull thunk.She cracked it open, took a sip, eyes still on the metal slot.
Behind her, the others slowed — Raxian, Bruce, Tess, Marcus, Ava, Logan — their loose formation hovering in the hallway's quiet.
Jake leaned on the opposite machine. "Seriously, though. You vanish like smoke every day. Where do you even go?"
Sable's gaze flicked toward him — not sharp, just distant, the look of someone debating whether honesty was worth the effort."…Nowhere special."
"Nowhere?" Jake repeated, unconvinced. "C'mon, there's gotta be—"
"Jake," Tess warned, crossing her arms. "Back off."
He raised both hands. "Hey, I'm just making conversation! Trying to know our newest recruit!"
Sable took another slow sip. Her voice, when it came, was quiet — almost too calm."There's not much to know."
Bruce frowned slightly. "You don't have to—"
"I'm not," she cut in, still looking at the can. "It's just… simpler that way."
The words hung there — small, matter-of-fact, heavy.
Raxian studied her profile, something tight settling behind his eyes.Simpler. Right. He knew that feeling — when distance felt safer than being seen.
Sable set the can on the ledge of the vending machine and finally turned toward them. Her expression didn't change, but her eyes softened a fraction."Anyway. You found me. Congratulations."
Jake blinked. "That's it? No grand tour? No secret hideout?"
"Afraid not." A faint shrug. "You'll survive the disappointment."
Logan huffed — maybe a quiet laugh, maybe just a sigh — and slipped one earbud back in.Marcus murmured, "Mystery unsolved, then."
Ava tilted her head. "For now."
Sable brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, gaze skimming past them toward the windows where sunlight spilled across the floor.
She didn't say it — not about the rooftop, or the empty lunches, or the years she'd spent turning invisible — but the thought flickered anyway:
If they hadn't come looking, things could've stayed quiet.Hidden.Like they were supposed to.
No curious eyes.No cracked façade.
Just silence.Safe. Predictable.
But now the veil had lifted, and no matter how calm she acted, a part of her knew — she couldn't slip back into the shadows as easily as before.
And now, somehow, she was here — caught in their orbit, whether she liked it or not.
"Come on," she said finally, slipping her hands into her pockets. "Bell's about to ring."
The group fell in behind her, chatter picking back up as they headed down the hall.
Raxian lingered a moment, watching her go — that steady walk, that quiet armor — then followed.
---
The bell shrilled, and before Sable could so much as stand, Jake was on her.
"Ah-ah—nope. Not vanishing today," he declared, swooping in with all the subtlety of a flashbang. He slung an arm across her shoulders like they were lifelong friends instead of near-strangers. "A deal's a deal, Miss Prodigy. Cafeteria time."
Sable blinked, one brow lifting a fraction. "You're touchy."
"And you're walking," Jake said cheerfully, already steering her toward the door before she could protest.
Tess trailed behind, sighing. "Jake, she agreed to sit with us, not be abducted."
"She's walking with me, it's fine," Jake shot back, as if that settled it.
Marcus smirked, hands tucked in his pockets. "One day, you're going to get decked for this."
"Worth it," Jake said without hesitation.
Bruce rose quietly from his seat, falling into step as the group drifted out. Even Ava and Logan followed — Ava curious, Logan's headphones hanging loosely around his neck.
Raxian stayed put.
He didn't mean to. His hands just lingered on the edge of his desk, eyes following the trail of chatter as it faded through the door. He was used to being the center of their pull — the one people orbited around. Watching them gravitate toward someone else, even briefly, felt… off.
The room felt stranger still when it went quiet.
"Oi."
Jake's voice cut through the hush.
Raxian looked up.
Jake had doubled back, leaning halfway into the doorway. "You planning to brood in here, or are you coming to lunch like a normal human?"
Raxian blinked, caught. "…Yeah, yeah. Coming."
"Then move your ass, TimeWrapped." Jake grinned, vanishing back into the hall.
Raxian shoved his hands into his pockets and stood, following the fading noise of their voices.
---
The cafeteria was louder than Sable remembered.Or maybe it only seemed that way because she wasn't insulated by her usual rooftop silence.
She followed the group through the double doors, noise washing over her in waves — clattering trays, the rise and fall of voices, bursts of laughter echoing from every corner.
It was… chaotic.But not random.
Her eyes swept the room as they wove between tables. There was a rhythm here — unspoken but visible.Gamers grouped by rank, athletes clustered by the windows, art kids spilled across the back wall like scattered paint.
Even here, there were territories. Invisible borders. Hierarchies hiding in plain sight.She hadn't expected that.
And then, of course, they stopped — at their table.
It sat near the center, a vantage point over the whole room.Sable caught the glances that rippled when they arrived — subtle, curious, waiting. Raxian's group drew eyes naturally.Of course they had a designated spot.Of course.
She blinked once, masking her surprise, and set her tray down beside Bruce without a word.
Jake immediately dropped across from her with a theatrical sigh, kicking out his chair."Behold! The fabled throne of the toplaner elite."
Sable gave him a flat look. "…It's a table."
"She's not wrong," Ava murmured, sliding into her seat, pulling her hair over one shoulder.
"Blasphemy," Jake declared, clutching his chest. "This table has history. Legacy. Sweat and tears have been shed here."
"Mostly your tears," Marcus said dryly, sinking into the seat next to Tess.
"Excuse me — they were victory tears," Jake shot back.
"Against bronze players," Logan mumbled, not looking up from his phone.
Bruce bit back a quiet laugh.
Raxian arrived last, dropping into his usual seat at the center. He didn't say anything — just cast a sideways glance toward Sable, as if even he wasn't sure how she'd ended up there.
Sable caught the look. She didn't return it.Just took a slow sip of her drink and let the current of noise swirl around her — laughter, banter, warmth she wasn't used to.
It was loud. Unruly.Completely unlike her rooftop.
And — not entirely unpleasant.
---
The buzz of the cafeteria had nothing on this.
By early afternoon, the gymnasium had transformed into a makeshift arena — long tables lined with gaming rigs, power cables snaking across the floor like coiled serpents. Rows of fold-out seats stretched toward the back wall, packed with students from both Aetheridge Central and visiting schools.
It felt less like a school event and more like the opening of a real tournament. Commentators perched near the stage, testing microphones as the hum of anticipation built.
Raxian's crew had clustered off to the side, surrounded by a quiet bubble of focus — or as close to focus as they ever got.
"Still can't believe he got out of class for this," Jake muttered, jerking his thumb at Ethan.
The shorter boy barely looked up from his energy drink. "Jealousy's not a good look."
"Jealous? Bro, I'm offended," Jake said. "You got a free day, and you're still cranky."
"Tournament perks," Marcus said easily, arms crossed. "He's done this since middle school."
Tess adjusted her headset. "Every year, same thing. Tournament hits, Ethan vanishes. Tradition."
Jake leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes sweeping the gym as the tournament buzz built around them. "Man, this is wild. Whole crowd, lights, commentators—feels like we're going pro."
"Focus," Tess muttered, adjusting her headset. "We've got our first match coming up."
Jake waved her off, grinning. "Relax, we've got this. You've got me top, Rax mid, Ethan jungle, Marcus support, and you ADC—dream team."
Logan didn't even look up from his phone. "You mean 'ego team.'"
Jake pointed. "Ego builds confidence. Confidence builds wins."
Marcus sighed. "We'll see if that holds after the draft."
As the group settled, Jake's gaze drifted — and landed on Sable, standing quietly off to the side. She was watching the stage, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
A spark lit behind his grin."Hey—Sable!"
She looked up, brow arching. "What?"
"You main top, right?"
"…Yeah?"
"Perfect." Jake clapped his hands once. "You're in. You're subbing for me."
That earned a collective pause.
Tess blinked. "Jake. What."
Raxian straightened. "You're… giving her your spot?"
"Yup," Jake said cheerfully. "Team's gotta run our best lineup, and let's be honest—she's cracked. You heard the rumors, right? Want to see if she holds up to 'the prodigy' title. Let's see what she goes for."
Sable just stared at him. "You're serious."
"As a pentakill," Jake said, grinning. Then, leaning in slightly, "And hey—since I'm offering you my spot, guess that means you owe me one, yeah?"
Sable blinked. "Owe you?"
Jake's grin turned shameless. "Yeah. Like… maybe a little 'thank-you' dinner after we win?"
"Jake." Tess's voice was sharp enough to cut glass.
"Oh my god," Marcus muttered, rubbing his temples. "He's actually doing this."
Bruce sighed. "She hasn't even agreed yet."
Logan didn't look up from his phone. "Bold move. Stupid, but bold."
Jake threw up his hands. "What? I'm just joking! Mostly."
Sable's eyes narrowed slightly, but there was no real heat — just that same cool detachment. "You can keep your spot if it comes with strings."
Jake blinked. "Wait, no, I— I didn't mean it like—"
"Too late," Tess said flatly. "You dug that grave. Lie in it."
Bruce stepped forward, voice calm. "You don't have to, Sable. Really. You can just watch."
She hesitated — gaze flicking from Bruce's steady reassurance to Jake's sheepish grin, then to the stage lights and swelling crowd.
Every attempt to stay unseen just dragged her deeper.
She let out a quiet breath. "…Fine."
Jake's grin reignited instantly. "Knew it! Look at that — team player and sense of humor."
Raxian muttered, "You're insane."But beneath the dry tone, his pulse quickened. Having Sable beside him — on their stage — felt heavier than any match before.
Tess crossed her arms. "If this implodes, it's on you, flirt-boy."
Jake pointed finger guns at her. "If it implodes, it implodes with style."
Marcus sighed. "That's not how tournaments work."
But it didn't matter. The commentators' voices boomed overhead, the crowd roared, and their lineup — unexpected, untested, electric — was called to the stage.
Sable followed, quiet and steady.Already caught in the current.
Jake slumped dramatically. "Tragic. Betrayed in my own lane."
"You offered," Tess said flatly.
"I regret it instantly," he muttered, dragging himself toward the bleachers.
They moved toward the stage together, the crowd's murmur swelling to a roar. Sable walked with steady calm, Raxian a step behind her, pulse thudding in his ears.
She didn't look back. He didn't speak.But he could feel it — the quiet pull between them, the unspoken question hanging in the air:
Would he show up this time?Could he keep up with her?
The announcers' voices boomed overhead, names flashing across the projector.Aetheridge Central Academy (ACA) First term competition.
The teams took their seats, headsets sliding on.Screens lit up. Timers ticked down.
And as the match countdown began, Sable's gaze flicked across the monitors toward midlane — toward Raxian — before settling forward again.
If she was going to be dragged into this chaos, she might as well see how far it went.
The gym lights dimmed as the projector screen above the stage flared to life, the crowd's roar ebbing into a tense, buzzing hush.
The gym lights dimmed as the projector screen above the stage flared to life, the crowd's roar ebbing into a tense, buzzing hush.
Draft Phase: Begin.
Ten monitors glowed beneath the spotlight, their reflections catching in each player's eyes. Headsets clicked into place. The noise outside the stage faded — replaced by the soft, mechanical rhythm of mouse clicks and scrolling wheels.
"Alright, focus," Marcus said, voice steady through comms. "Standard setup. No ego picks."
Ethan leaned forward with a grin. "What do you mean no ego picks? That's literally our brand." His gaze slid toward Raxian, a spark of humor in his eyes.
Raxian snorted quietly but said nothing, cursor spinning idly.
Tess didn't even look up. "Relax, alright? Just play your best. That's all that matters."
"Hey, I'm relaxed," Jake's voice crackled through the team channel from the stands. "You're the ones acting like this is Worlds."
"Pretty sure Worlds doesn't let Jake anywhere near the stage," Logan muttered, faintly amused.
"Jealousy's ugly on you," Jake shot back.
"Everything's ugly on you," Ava chimed in, her tone smooth and dry. "We're just being consistent."
Bruce laughed softly in the background. "Focus, you three. They can actually hear us."
Jake groaned. "Man, can't a guy hype his team?"
"Not if your version of hype includes stand-up comedy," Logan said.
"Relax," Marcus cut in, chuckling despite himself. "We're good. Let's keep comms clear."
"Copy that, coach," Jake teased.
Raxian leaned back in his chair, lips twitching faintly. The noise — the banter — it helped. Grounded him. For the first time all day, it felt like a game again.
But when the cursor hovered over Ekko, his chest still tightened.
He hadn't touched the champion in weeks.
Still, the others believed in him. Maybe that was enough.
His cursor hovered over Ekko — his name, his rhythm, his pride.It felt heavier this time. Like the entire crowd was watching just him.
He locked in without a word.
From her seat, Sable's gaze flicked toward his screen — sharp, thoughtful.She recognized that hesitation.It wasn't the same player she'd once faced. At least, the player she thought she once faced.
TimeWrapped.
Not yet.
"Guys," Marcus sighed, rubbing his temple, "please. Just lock in."
Tess hovered Xayah, sliding her cursor with practiced ease.
Marcus's brows lifted. "Oh? Xayah? You're spoiling me."
"Don't make it weird," Tess said, locking in.
Marcus clicked Rakan with a small, resigned smirk. "Lover duo — let's go."
"Cute," Jake muttered from the bleachers. "Rom-com synergy on stage."
As if Tess could hear him she said,
"You can stay single — no need to announce it."
Across the row, Ethan quietly hovered Evelynn.
No one said anything at first. It wasn't exactly a surprise — just one of those comfort picks everyone knew to expect.
He locked her in without hesitation, expression calm, sharp eyes unreadable beneath the stage lights.
Marcus tapped his desk. "Alright. Top — your turn."
All eyes shifted to Sable.
Her cursor drifted instantly to Akali.
A murmur rippled through the stands — low, knowing. Of course she'd pick her one-trick. The rooftop duelist. The prodigy. Everyone had heard the stories. Everyone expected the show.
For a heartbeat, her hand hovered — still, steady — over the familiar icon.It would've been easy. Natural.
But it also would've meant eyes on her again.Spotlights. Whispers.The same ones she'd spent years avoiding.
Her fingers shifted.Click.
Irelia.
The crowd's reaction was instant — a ripple of surprise, scattered voices breaking through the quiet tension.
Raxian glanced sideways, brows lifting faintly. She didn't look at him — didn't look at anyone.
Jake's voice broke through the comms, light, teasing. "Didn't think you'd pass on your main."
Sable's tone was calm — detached, almost. "Not here."
Raxian watched her for a second longer, understanding more than she'd said aloud.Not here.Not now.
Not when the spotlight still burned too bright.
The enemy team locked in:
K'Sante. Kayn. Yone. Ezreal. Aphelios.
Jake let out a low whistle. "Yo, that's a full-on Heartsteel lineup. Only one missing's me."
Tess arched a brow. "What, Sett?"
"Exactly!" Jake grinned. "It's a crime they didn't lock him in. Tragic. Imagine the synergy."
Marcus chuckled. "You're saying you'd join the enemy team?"
Jake leaned back, smug. "If it means completing the boyband? Hell yeah. I'd hit those synchronized poses no hesitation."
"Please don't," Tess said flatly.
Logan's voice filtered through from the stands. "Nah, let him. It'd be the fastest throw in tournament history."
"Bold talk from the peanut gallery," Jake shot back.
"Translation," Marcus said, smirking as he clicked through his notes, "focus Aphelios and Ezreal. Let the boyband squishies squirm."
"Copy that," Ethan murmured, cracking his knuckles.
Up in the bleachers, Ava leaned forward, voice calm. "If they snowball early, it's over."
Logan crossed his arms. "Then they better not."
Bruce just smiled faintly, eyes on the stage. "They've got this."
And Sable — newly seated under the glow of the monitors — rolled her shoulders once, gaze steady, breathing even.
She hadn't planned to stand out.But the stage didn't care what you planned.
The countdown hit zero.Loading… Summoner's Rift.
---
From the spectator seats, Fayne sat quietly between Mira and Leah, hands folded over her lap as the hum of the crowd rose and fell around them.
Mira was leaning forward, elbows on the railing, eyes bright with anticipation, while Leah sat cross-legged on the seat, calmly scrolling through her phone between glances at the stage.
A few rows down, two familiar figures had somehow managed to snag prime spots: Agnes and Paul — both of whom had, to Fayne's faint disbelief, taken an official leave from their performing arts school just to be here. Apparently, their teachers had approved it without much resistance. That was how big esports had gotten in Aetheridge — it had become a cultural event as much as a competition.
Agnes and Paul weren't subtle about it, either. They were fully kitted out in matching white shirts with the EGO logo sprawled across the front, plastic thunder sticks clutched in their hands. Paul had even stuck a small team sticker on his cheek, grinning like a kid at a concert. Agnes, ever effortlessly elegant even while dressed down, had tied her shirt at the waist and paired it with a sleek skirt — managing to look like a fangirl and a celebrity at once.
Mira squinted at them, incredulous. "Okay, but… seriously? You two look ridiculous."
Agnes just smiled serenely, not the least bit embarrassed. "Says the girl who made an entire Heartsteel Hotness Ranking chart and carries it around in her notes app."
Leah snorted. "She's got you there."
Mira went red. "That is not the same thing!"
"Mm," Agnes hummed, eyes twinkling. "Heartsteel are still technically part of EGO, aren't they? This isn't any different."
Paul nodded solemnly beside her. "Exactly. Pure dedication."
Mira buried her face in her hands with a groan as Leah laughed, and even Fayne's lips threatened to twitch.
Then the crowd roared again, pulling their attention back to the stage — and Mira nearly shot out of her seat."Wait. No way. They actually locked them in. That's the full Heartsteel lineup."
On screen, the enemy comp shone beneath the stage lights: Sett, Kayn, Yone, Ezreal, Aphelios — all gleaming in synchronized Heartsteel skins.
Mira clapped her hands together like it was a concert opener. "They even bought the skins! Oh my god, look at them — the whole boyband is here!"
Leah grinned, leaning over. "So which pop group are you cheering for, then? Our crew or your K-pop boyfriends?"
Mira hesitated, torn. "Okay, objectively? If it wasn't for Rax's team… totally Heartsteel. But this—" she gestured at the stage, where Raxian's Ekko shimmered in his True Damage skin and Evelynn's silhouette gleamed in K/DA All Out — "this is basically a popstar showdown! Do you see this? True Damage and KDA versus Heartsteel? It's like a live crossover event!"
Leah chuckled. "So a sing-off with murder."
"Exactly!" Mira said, eyes sparkling. "I am so here for this."
Even Fayne couldn't help the faint smile tugging at her lips. The energy, the noise, the absurdity of it all — it was ridiculous, yes, but infectious.
And as the countdown ticked toward zero, the gym felt less like a school tournament and more like a world tour — two teams stepping onto the stage not just to fight, but to perform.
---
The first few minutes passed in tense rhythm — quiet clicks, timed wards, minions falling in sync.
Then — chaos.
"Mid's shoving hard," Marcus called, eyes flicking between lanes.
"Good," Jake quipped through comms. "Keeps Rax awake."
"Shut up," Rax muttered, voice low — more tired than sharp.
On-screen, Yone shoved another wave under tower before vanishing in a blur of wind.
"Yone's missing," Rax said, too late.
"Bot side," Tess snapped. "He's roaming!"
The camera swung down — Ezreal's shots flashing through the minion wave, Aphelios swapping guns mid-combo. Kayn slipped out from the river like a shadow, Yone following close behind.
"Marcus—shield—" Tess barked.
"I'm on it!" he said, feathers bursting wide as he dashed forward to peel.
But the burst was too much. The enemy dive crashed under tower, blue health bars evaporating in seconds.
"Fall back!" Marcus shouted—
Light flared behind them.
A teleport.
Steel bloomed.
Irelia dropped into lane like a blade through glass, dashing between minions, resetting each strike in a blur. Ezreal blinked back too late — cut down mid-step — and Kayn's shadow form shattered as Sable swept through the chaos, her final blade skewering Yone.
"Holy—" Tess breathed, barely alive.
Marcus's Rakan fell to the last tower shot, feathers scattering like embers.
He exhaled, voice steady even as his screen grayed. "Worth. Carries live. That's what matters."
Sable's camera panned across the wreckage — calm, controlled, focused. "We're clear."
The crowd erupted — a wave of noise cresting through the gym.
Raxian glanced over. She didn't meet his eyes.
Her gaze stayed on the screen, sharp and silent — a prodigy returning to rhythm.
---
With bot finally breathing, Raxian took the opening.Yone was still grounded from his failed roam — corpses still warm in botlane — and midlane was wide open.
He shoved the wave hard, Timewinder slicing through caster minions like clockwork. The tower plates cracked under Ekko's autos, gold numbers flickering across his screen.
For the first time all match, he had breathing room. Space. Rhythm.
But as soon as Yone's teleport flared back into lane, Raxian backed off — clean, cautious. No contest.
Jake's voice crackled over comms. "Come on, man. What's up with you? You're playing like you're scared."
Rax didn't answer. Just reset under tower, eyes flicking downriver.
"That's not the guy I used to duel," Jake pressed, half-joking, half-not.
"It's fine," Bruce's voice came through spectator chat from the stands — calm, steady. "There's nothing wrong with playing safe. Better safe than reckless."
Jake scoffed. "Hey—what's that supposed to mean?"
Logan didn't even look up from his phone. "Basically? Do the opposite of whatever you'd do."
Jake clutched his chest. "I am offended."
Ava snorted quietly. "He's not wrong."
But Raxian barely heard them. His eyes were already on the minimap — the timer ticking down.
"Drake spawning," Marcus called. "We setting up?"
"Bot's got push," Tess said. "Vision's half-cleared, but we can contest if we're fast."
Marcus swept through river with Rakan, clearing the last ward near pit.
"Bush is dark," Ethan said. "I can flank."
"Copy," Raxian murmured.
They slipped into fog like ghosts — Evelynn first, vanishing into shadow, Ekko close behind.
Aphelios and Ezreal crept forward, checking for control.
And then — chaos.
Evelynn's charm bloomed from nowhere. Ezreal blinked too late, his health bar evaporating under spikes and Timewinder's return.
"Pick secured," Marcus called.
Kill credit popped up. An enemy has been slained.
Old Rax would've grumbled about the last-hit. Tossed a jab. Demanded the gold split.Now, he just moved back into river, silent.
Objective secured.Rhythm steady.
Sable watched him through half-lidded eyes.It felt like he was holding himself back — every move precise, cautious, restrained.Like a blade dulled on purpose.
Something in him had extinguished— not his mechanics, not his skill — but the edge that once made him burn through games.
She folded her arms, gaze lingering on the screen.If he wanted that spark back…He'd have to fight for it.
---
The game rolled on — a slow, tense burn.Raxian kept to the sidelines, split-pushing towers, trading farm for fights. He joined only when it mattered — when the odds were clean, when the setup was safe. Every dive was calculated. Every move, restrained.
Sable didn't like it.
He was too careful. Too quiet.The Raxian she remembered didn't wait for openings — he made them.
So, she decided to test him.
When Baron's timer ticked down, she slammed her lane forward — bot side — crashing waves into the base.Ping. Ping.The signal was clear: pressure play. Split the map. Force a choice.
Kasante rotated to meet her, but he'd been under her heel all game. Two towers gone, inhibitor gate wide open.She danced around him like the blade she was — relentless, deliberate, refusing to yield an inch.
Then — the misstep.
Marcus, clearing vision near the river, got ambushed — Yone from the flank, Kayn from the shadows. His ult and flash burned in a panic escape, but Ezreal's Trueshot Barrage carved through the jungle — catching Marcus and Tess.
"Half HP," Tess hissed, falling back toward mid. "We're not contesting Baron like this."
Sable's eyes flicked to the map — decision made.She pinged.
Raxian top.Ethan dropping Rift Herald.A full split — pressure both sides, squeeze the map until it broke.
If he wanted to prove he still had bite, now was the time.
They pushed in sync — Irelia surging bot, Ekko shadowing Herald top. But the enemy responded fast. Baron was still alive. They couldn't give a single inch.
Then came the collapse.
Top side.Raxian overextended.Yone and Kayn snapped in from fog.
"Rax, back!" Marcus barked.But the map flashed red — and it was too late.
Caught.Knocked up by Yone's mortal steel.
Sable clenched her jaw. Of course.Without thinking, she rotated — a blur of steel and will. Irelia's Vanguard's Edge split the fight wide open as she dove in, Ethan's Elise and Raxian's Ekko echoing her descent.
3v5.A suicide mission.Or so it seemed.
Blades flashed. Feathers fell.Aphelios — deleted.Ezreal barely blinked away.Kasante staggered back, half HP, Yone forced to retreat.
And then — Kayn.
Shadow blurred.Umbral Trespass.
Sable's screen dimmed — life bar melting as the scythe tore through her chest.Her first death.
"Damn," Jake muttered over comms. "Guess even prodigies bleed."
---
Mira leaned forward, lips twisting into a half-smile. "There goes lover boy again," she teased, nodding toward the replay of Marcus's blunder. "Got himself caught — bet Tess is thrilled."
Leah chuckled. "You really think she cares?"
"Please," Mira said, waving a hand. "She totally does. You don't get that tilted over a random support."
Leah grinned. "You've been shipping them since week one."
"Because I see things," Mira insisted.
Fayne arched a brow. "Or you just make them up."
Mira smirked. "Hey, someone's gotta narrate the love story."
Fayne's gaze drifted toward the stage — to Marcus and Tess sitting side by side, their focus locked on the game. She couldn't tell. Maybe Mira was right. Maybe not. She'd never been close enough to either of them to know.
Her eyes shifted again — this time to Raxian.He sat hunched, focused, quiet.Across from him, Sable.The girl everyone had whispered about since she showed up 2 weeks ago.The one who'd vanished after the rumoured ambush.The one Raxian's group had stood up for.
Fayne hadn't believed the rumors — not about Sable, not about anyone daring to lay a hand on her. But seeing her there now, competing, even smiling faintly at Jake's antics…
It felt like something fragile had shifted.
She was back.Not hiding.Here.
And maybe — just maybe — so was Raxian.
---
Baron down. Towers cracked. One last push.
Tess hovered near the river entrance, feathers scattered like glass through the underbrush. Her Xayah had been near-perfect this match — patient, poised, deliberate. Even Sable, still catching her breath after the last skirmish, found herself watching from across the map, a flicker of respect behind her calm gaze.
"Featherstorm's up," Tess said steadily through comms, eyes cutting toward the jungle fog. "We end it here."
"Got you," Marcus replied.
Rakan slipped forward first — a shimmer of light in the shadows — catching movement in the brush.Ezreal. Aphelios. Alone. Out of position.
Marcus didn't hesitate.Flash–Charm–Grand Entrance.
Both carries lifted off their feet, and Tess was already there — feathers bursting outward in a perfect arc, the air slicing with color.
The crowd held its breath.
Featherstorm. Bladecaller.
A sharp snap — steel threading through light — and both health bars collapsed at once.The double-kill banner bloomed across the screen as the arena erupted in cheers.
"Holy—" Jake started, cutting himself off mid-swear. "Okay, that was cracked."
"Disgusting," Marcus breathed, grinning. "We love to see it."
"Beautiful," Ethan murmured, almost reverent.
But his voice sharpened a second later. "Hold up. Kayn on map."
Raxian flicked his camera up — sure enough, that shadow was slinking through their jungle. The same Kayn who'd stolen their Baron earlier.
Ethan's tone went cold. "My turn."
The crowd's roar dimmed into silence as the screen cut to fogged terrain — then the faint shimmer of purple eyes.
Allure.Hate Spike. Last Caress.
Evelynn emerged from stealth, gliding behind Kayn like a whisper of vengeance — one glowing heart over his head before she kissed him goodbye.
Kayn's health bar evaporated.
One shot.Gone.
Jake burst out laughing. "Yo, stealing objectives from Ethan? Big mistake, my guy."
"Justice served," Marcus said.
Ethan only exhaled, voice low and calm. "Order restored."
The crowd lost it.
Onstage, Tess just exhaled, calm and collected, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
As they regrouped mid, Marcus's Rakan glided back across the jungle path, landing beside her once more.
Without a word, he dropped a single ward in the brush.
A beat of silence.
Jake's voice crackled through comms. "...You came all the way back just for that?"
Marcus tilted his head, grin audible. "Can't let her recall alone."
Tess shot him a sideways look, but when he started the recall animation, she followed — wings folding, feathers curling in.
The crowd caught on instantly, laughter and cheers rippling through the gym.
"Power couple moment!" someone yelled from the stands.
Mira was already on her feet. "YES. FINALLY!"
Leah laughed, clapping. "Told you they had chemistry."
Even Fayne couldn't help a small, fleeting smile.
Onstage, the pair reappeared at base — side by side — ready for the final push.
And across the map, Sable glanced toward them one last time, quietly wondering what it might feel like to fight beside someone who matched you.
---
When the enemy Nexus finally shattered at forty minutes, the arena erupted.
A golden burst lit the stage as the words VICTORY flooded every screen.
Jake shot up from his chair, fists raised high. "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BABY!"
Tess exhaled, a rare grin breaking across her face as Marcus reached over — instinctive, unthinking — to bump her fist. A silent we did it.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, headset sliding off with the faintest smirk — cool, composed, satisfied.
Up in the stands, Jake and Bruce clapped loudly. Logan and Ava even cracked a small, rare smile.
But Raxian… stayed still.
He sat there, headset hanging loosely around his neck, eyes fixed on the victory screen.No grin. No shout. Just a long exhale — the kind that came after holding your breath too long.
It wasn't that they hadn't earned it.They had.He just hadn't.
He could still feel it — the passivity, the hesitation, the weight in his fingers every time he'd backed off instead of diving in.
And through the glass reflection of his monitor, he caught her.Sable — calm, quiet, unreadable — glancing his way.
He turned away first.
Jake's voice cut through comms, bright and teasing. "C'mon, Raxy. At least pretend you're happy. The crowd's literally cheering for you."
Raxian blinked, glancing up toward the stands — the thundersticks, the lights, the roaring faces. Then back to the black-and-gold screen.
"…Yeah," he murmured. "Guess they are."
---
But the day wasn't over.
The tournament stretched long into the evening — round after round, bracket after bracket. Each match tougher than the last.
By the finals, only three teams remained — each captained by one of the school's top-ranked players.Aetheridge's best.
The games were brutal.Closer.Every fight could've swung either way.
And though Raxian's team scraped through each battle — clutch plays from Sable, razor-sharp setups from Tess, Ethan's clean flanks, Marcus's life-saving shields — Raxian felt it with every passing minute:
He wasn't driving this.He was being carried.
When the last Nexus fell and the final cheer went up, he stood among them under the stage lights, gold medals hung around their necks.Cameras flashed.The crowd roared.
And still… nothing.
No spark.No surge.No sense of victory.
Just that same hollow ache — the quiet truth he couldn't ignore.
If it hadn't been for them — for her — they wouldn't have won.
And he knew it.
---
As they filed down the steps from the stage, adrenaline still humming in their veins, Jake was practically vibrating.
"Okay, okay, hear me out," he said, spinning around to walk backward so he could face them. "Victory dinner. My treat. No—victory feast. We deserve it."
"Your treat?" Marcus raised a brow. "Didn't you still owe me from last time?"
"That was different," Jake said instantly. "This is celebratory debt. Totally different category."
Tess unclipped her headset with a sigh. "You're unbelievable."
Before she could say more, a burst of motion—Mira, flying out of the bleachers like a missile.
"You killed it, girl!" she cried, throwing her arms around Tess in a confetti-cannon hug. "That Featherstorm? ICONIC. Literal art."
Tess froze, then sheepishly returned the hug. "…Thanks."
Leah grinned, already lifting her phone. "Okay, team—pose. One picture. For the history books."
"Photo after feast," Jake corrected, striking a ridiculous pose anyway.
"Not happening," Ethan muttered. He didn't move—but his usual sharpness had softened, if only slightly.
Logan and Ava hung back, sharing small, knowing smiles as they watched the chaos. Even Bruce chuckled as Mira launched into a dramatic retelling of Tess's surprise attack on Ezreal and Aphelios like it was a national legend.
Raxian trailed a few steps behind, hands shoved in his pockets, gaze distant. When Jake nudged his shoulder, grinning wide, he didn't pull away.
"Seriously, man," Jake said. "You were solid out there."
"...Thanks," Raxian murmured, voice quiet but real.
Jake clapped his hands together with the finality of someone about to make a terrible financial decision. "Alright!" he declared. "Feast time. Everyone's coming."
"Define everyone," Tess said, wary.
Jake swept his arm dramatically—nearly smacking Marcus. "Everyone. Us, Fayne's shadow squad—" he pointed toward the stands, "—and them."
Them being Agnes and Paul, striding down the bleachers like they'd just stepped off a runway. Post-show glow, thunder sticks in hand, somehow looking both like superfans and celebrities.
"The more the merrier," Jake said, grinning like this wasn't about to spiral into chaos.
Leah raised an eyebrow. "You're mixing friend groups?"
"Exactly," Jake said. "Social alchemy. Watch me."
Logan muttered, "Containment breach," while Ava gave a slow shrug—the universal sign of sure, why not.
Then Ethan spotted her.
He froze mid-step, like he'd walked into an invisible wall. His scowl slipped—replaced by instant, horrified stillness. And then… full crimson flush.
Tess caught it first, smirking. "Oh no."
Marcus snorted. "Oh yes."
Ethan latched onto Logan's shoulder like a barnacle. "Don't. Say. Anything."
Logan blinked. "You're literally glowing."
"I'm fine," Ethan hissed, not fine at all.
Agnes, of course, was blissfully unaware, chatting easily with Paul. Though, if anyone looked closely, Paul was straightening his collar every five seconds like his life depended on it.
Jake's grin sharpened. He saw it.
So did Tess. "Wow," she muttered. "Two of them."
Jake's eyes gleamed. "Love triangle."
"Do not meddle," she warned.
"Too late," he whispered, delighted.
"If he tries, we're leaving him behind," Ava said flatly.
"Agreed," Bruce murmured.
They started filing toward the exit, conversation buzzing, Mira and Leah chatting, Agnes and Paul walking in sync, Ethan hiding behind Logan like stealth mode might save him.
Then Jake spotted motion in the corner of his eye.
Sable — already ghosting away, slipping off like smoke before the noise could swallow her.
"Not so fast, Phantom Girl!"
Jake darted after her, slinging an arm across her shoulders before she could vanish. "You're coming with us."
Sable blinked up at him, unimpressed. "Am I."
"Absolutely," Jake said, already steering her back toward the group. "Victory feast. No ghosts allowed."
Tess groaned. "Jake, you are obsessed."
"Not obsessed," he corrected, beaming. "Persistent."
"Same thing," Logan muttered.
"Persistent gets results," Jake said proudly, pointing at Sable like she was Exhibit A. "See? Not even running away this time. Must mean I'm growing on you."
"I'm considering it," Sable said calmly, side-eyeing him.
Bruce, walking just behind them, said mildly, "Might be easier to let him tire himself out."
"It will never be out of his system," Tess sighed.
Marcus chuckled. "Honestly? I want to see if he can pull it off. It's like watching someone try to befriend a brick wall."
"Hey," Jake said, undeterred. "Every wall crumbles eventually."
"Poetic," Ava said dryly, eyes on her phone.
Sable exhaled slowly, the faintest ghost of amusement flickering across her face. "...Fine," she said at last.
Jake's grin went nuclear. "YES!"
Tess groaned. "Regret. Immediate regret."
Jake threw a fist in the air. "Alright, squad—tonight we celebrate!"
And as they spilled out into the crisp night, chatter and laughter echoing down the courtyard steps, even Raxian felt a flicker of something ease in his chest.
For the first time in a long while—They felt like a team.
---
The Nexus Noodle Bar glowed like a beacon at the end of the block — neon chopsticks crossing above the doorway, the buzz of energy spilling out even onto the street. The faint smell of miso, chili oil, and grilled skewers wrapped around them the second the doors slid open.
"Baron Bowl for the victors!" Jake announced the moment they stepped inside, throwing his arms up like he was greeting destiny.
"Please don't shout 'bowl' like that," Tess muttered, following close behind with Marcus and Ethan.
The host blinked at the crowd funneling through the entrance. "Uh… table for…?"
"Thirteen," Jake said proudly.
The host just stared.
Marcus sighed. "We can split—"
"Nope," Jake cut in. "We win as a team, we feast as a team."
"Your wallet doesn't feast as a team," Marcus shot back.
Jake finger-gunned him. "Good thing you're paying."
Marcus froze. "...I'm what."
"Too late, you blinked," Jake chirped, already ushering everyone after the host.
---
They ended up at the longest booth in the place — glowing monitors overhead replaying Aetheridge Central highlights, steam curling off the ramen pots drifting by.
The five who'd stood onstage — Raxian, Tess, Marcus, Ethan, and Sable — slid in first, taking the center stretch of the booth like an unspoken formation. They hadn't planned it, but it just felt right.
Raxian sat in the middle, quiet, still running over plays in his head. Tess sat beside Marcus, trading calm smiles. Ethan dropped into the seat next to Raxian, posture sharp, expression unreadable. Sable took the edge seat, her silence steady but not cold — more present than usual.
Jake plopped down right beside Raxian, grinning. "Winners' row, baby."
"You weren't on the stage," Logan said, already sliding into the corner with Bruce.
"Spiritually, I was," Jake said.
Across from them, Agnes and Paul were still glowing in their matching League tees, much to everyone's amusement.
Jake pointed dramatically. "Hold on. Matching shirts? That's—wow. Adorable. You two come as a set now?"
Paul coughed into his drink. "They were on sale."
Agnes smiled serenely. "He didn't want to wear his alone."
Marcus leaned back. "Power couple move."
Ethan, seated directly across from her, nearly inhaled his miso. He stiffened and muttered something unintelligible before staring very hard at his menu.
Bruce raised a brow. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Ethan gritted.
"Sure," Logan said mildly.
Meanwhile, Sable quietly scanned the wall of ramen photos until Jake slid the ordering tablet her way with a grin. "C'mon, you gotta go big. You're part of the championship lineup."
"I don't celebrate," she said evenly.
Jake smirked. "You do now. Team rule."
Tess sighed. "You made that rule up."
"Correct," Jake said, already tapping Baron Bowl. "Purple broth supremacy."
"That's just food coloring," Marcus noted.
"Victory," Jake countered solemnly.
---
Plates began to hit the table — steaming noodles, rice bowls, sizzling skewers, a vibrant mess of color and sound. The winners sat close, quiet at first — still shaking off the hum of the stage lights.
Jake was halfway through his first bite when he noticed Raxian hadn't touched his bowl. "Hey. Earth to Rax. You planning to eat or just vibe?"
Raxian blinked down at the broth, chopsticks hovering. "Not hungry yet."
"Not hungry?" Jake said, scandalized. "Bro, we won. You're supposed to be starving."
Tess glanced over. "Not everyone stress-eats victory."
"I don't stress-eat," Jake said — through a mouthful of dumpling.
"Yes, you do," Marcus and Logan said in unison.
Jake pointed his chopsticks at Raxian. "C'mon. You carried your weight. You earned this."
"I wasn't the carry," Raxian muttered.
That silenced the table just enough for Sable to glance sideways at him — a steady, knowing look, not pitying. "You don't have to carry every game," she said simply.
Raxian's shoulders shifted, just slightly. "...Yeah. Guess."
Jake tried to keep it light. "Hey, next one, you can 1v9. For now, just eat."
A faint chuckle from Marcus eased the air. Tess passed Raxian a napkin like a silent nudge back to earth.
The noise swelled again — Mira hyping Tess's pop-off, Leah taking selfies, Logan tossing dry comments across the table, and Ethan quietly sliding his untouched drink toward Agnes when she mentioned wanting one.
And in the middle of it all — steam rising, laughter echoing, the team still glowing from victory — Raxian finally lifted his chopsticks, the corners of his mouth softening as he took the first bite.
It wasn't celebration.But it was something.
---
The bell above the noodle bar door jingled as they spilled out into the cool evening air, voices overlapping in easy chatter. The glow from the windows washed across the sidewalk, casting the group in a warm amber light.
Jake stretched his arms overhead with a loud sigh. "Alright, listen up, degenerates—this is historic."
Tess gave him a look. "What is."
"All of us. Together. Voluntarily." Jake spun on his heel to face them, walking backward down the pavement. "When does this ever happen? We've got Fayne's trio, our team, mystery prodigy over there—" he jerked a thumb toward Sable, who didn't even look up— "Agnes the celebrity, Paul the violinist. It's like the Avengers, if the Avengers couldn't afford therapy."
"Accurate," Logan said flatly.
"Touching," Ava added.
Jake snapped his fingers. "So. Group photo. To immortalize this moment of absolute unity."
Marcus arched a brow. "Unity?"
"Camaraderie," Jake corrected proudly.
"That's not how you pronounce it," Ava muttered.
"Yes it is," Jake said immediately. It absolutely wasn't.
Mira was already rummaging in her bag. "Fine, whatever. Line up, you clowns."
"Do we have to?" Ethan grumbled.
"Yes," Jake said. Then he clapped his hands. "Now move. Heroes front and center."
He lunged forward, hooking an arm around Raxian's shoulders and the other around Sable's, dragging them both into the middle of the sidewalk before either could protest.
"Whoa, hey—" Raxian started, half-stumbling.
Sable sighed. "Is this necessary?"
"Absolutely," Jake said, tightening his grip like he was posing for a championship poster. "Center of gravity, baby. You two—me—this is the core trio. Picture-perfect synergy."
"More like forced formation," Sable murmured, but she didn't step away.
Raxian rolled his eyes, but stayed put, caught between them — Jake beaming, Sable steady beside him.
"Okay!" Mira said brightly, waving everyone else into place. "Tess, Marcus, Ethan—shift right. Fayne, Leah—come up on this side."
Fayne blinked but stepped in quietly, ending up beside Raxian on his other side. Leah slid in next to her, fixing her hair in the reflection of the shop window.
The rest shuffled into a loose line—Marcus leaning on Bruce's shoulder, Tess standing arms crossed, Ethan stiff as a board two spaces from Agnes, nearly hiding behind Logan who was standing next to Ava. Paul looking like he was pretending not to stand too close.
"Closer!" Mira ordered. "Pretend you actually like each other!"
"We don't," Tess muttered, but she nudged closer anyway.
Jake grinned wide. "Alright—three, two, one—say League trash!"
"League trash," they chorused (some more enthusiastically than others) as the flash lit the sidewalk.
The picture caught them mid-laugh: Jake grinning like a fool, Raxian caught off guard but faintly smiling, Sable calm and composed beside him, Fayne soft-smiled in the glow of the noodle bar window.
Mira lowered her phone, peeking at the screen — then grinned. "Perfect. Everyone actually looks human."
"Let me see," Jake said, leaning in. "Oh yeah. That's it. Frame it. Cafeteria wall."
"Delete it," Ethan muttered.
"Absolutely not," Mira said, already saving it. "This is art."
Raxian glanced at the photo over her shoulder — the blur of faces, the laughter caught mid-breath — and for the first time that night, something in his chest eased.He didn't say anything.But he didn't look away, either.
---
"Alright," Jake announced, clapping his hands once. "Before we all scatter like emotionally repressed confetti—"
"Please don't," Tess muttered.
"—I am adding you three to the group chat," he continued triumphantly, whipping out his phone and pointing at Sable, Agnes, and Paul in turn. "Congratulations. You're officially part of the circus now."
Agnes blinked, then let out a soft laugh, adjusting her bag strap. "Oh. Sure."
"Wait, you have a group chat?" Paul asked, genuinely surprised.
"Yes," Marcus said dryly. "It's 80% Jake screaming in all caps."
"And 20% memes," Logan added without glancing up from his phone.
Jake grinned, proud. "Exactly. It's an ecosystem."
Sable blinked slowly, green eyes shifting between them. "No one even has my contact."
"Then give it," Jake said easily, holding his phone out toward her. "Don't be shy."
She stared at the screen for a long moment — unreadable, weighing the social cost of willingly joining Jake's notification chaos. Then, with a small sigh, she took the phone and typed her number in.
"There," she said, handing it back.
Jake fist-pumped like he'd just won finals. "Victory."
Tess rolled her eyes. "She's not a Pokémon, Jake."
"Debatable," he said, waggling his phone.
Agnes was already leaning in to add her own number, Paul following suit — though he typed his in a little too fast, nearly dropping Jake's phone in the process. Agnes steadied it with one hand, smiling, while Paul flushed bright red.
"Welcome to the chaos," Marcus said as Jake's screen pinged three times.
"You can mute it," Logan offered, sounding like someone who had long since accepted his fate.
"I will," Sable said flatly.
Jake slung his arm around Raxian's shoulders, looking far too pleased with himself. "See? Look at us. Building community. Expanding the empire."
"It's a group chat," Tess said.
"Same thing," Jake replied.
Ava tucked her phone away with a small, amused hum. "He's not entirely wrong."
Raxian just shook his head, faint smile flickering. "You really think this counts as empire-building?"
Jake grinned. "Step one: communication. Step two: domination."
"Step three: muting Jake," Marcus said.
"Hey!" Jake protested, but he was laughing.
For a moment, they were all just standing there in the glow of the noodle bar lights — easy, unguarded, the buzz of post-victory warmth still lingering in the air. Even Sable, silent as ever, didn't drift away this time.
---
One by one, the group began peeling off into the night—pairs and trios scattering down different streets, the noodle bar's golden glow fading behind them.
Paul and Agnes waved as they headed toward the station alongside Fayne, Mira, and Leah, who had volunteered to escort them.
Mira was already fussing with her phone as they walked, muttering about how she had to fix the lighting on the group photo before it "saw the light of day."
Ethan mentioned something about early archery practice as Logan and Ava herded him along, both looking like designated babysitters.
Jake lingered, stretching his arms above his head with a lazy yawn—until his eyes landed on the last two still standing near the curb.
Raxian.And Sable.
Both facing the same street.
Jake froze mid-stretch, then slowly lowered his arms, squinting at them. "Hold up… wait, wait—you two live in the same area?"
Raxian blinked, caught off guard. "Uh—"
Sable's brows lifted faintly. "…Apparently?"
"Apparently," Jake repeated, scandalized. "You mean to tell me this whole time—these two weeks—you've been walking the same route home and didn't know about it?"
"We're not neighbors," Raxian said flatly.
"That's exactly what a secret neighbors-to-teammates slow burn would say," Jake shot back, eyes narrowing like a detective in denial. "Oh my god. This explains everything."
"Nothing needs explaining," Sable said evenly, though her eyes flicked toward Raxian, faintly amused.
"Mm-hm," Jake said, crossing his arms, looking deeply unconvinced. "Sure. You're just coincidentally walking home together under the romantic glow of streetlights. No subtext here. None at all."
Tess sighed, rubbing her temples. "Oh my god. You're jealous."
"I'm not jealous!" Jake said way too fast.
Marcus raised a brow. "You sound jealous."
"I—okay, first off—" Jake started, hands flying up, "—I am not jealous, I'm just pointing out how suspiciously cinematic this is! Like, look at them!" He gestured wildly at Raxian and Sable. "If this was a show, the background music would fade in right now!"
"Sure, man," Bruce said, steering him by the shoulder. "Keep telling yourself that."
"I'm just saying!" Jake protested as Tess shoved him down the opposite sidewalk. "Same direction, same mysterious vibes—this is literally Episode 10 confession arc energy!"
"Night, Jake," Raxian called, voice dry.
Jake twisted around mid-step, walking backward. "GOODNIGHT, POWER COUPLE!"
Sable blinked. "…Power couple?"
"Ignore him," Raxian muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets.
She did. Mostly.
The group's voices faded down the other street, leaving only the soft hum of the city behind them.
And so the two of them—Raxian and Sable—ended up walking side by side, quiet, their steps falling into easy rhythm under the amber streetlights.