Just then, Chella walked up, her sharp gaze fixed on Sora. Her eyes narrowed slightly, then softened. She gave a small nod.
"Can I join you?" she asked, her voice calmer than usual.
Yamato glanced at Lumei, then nodded. "Sure," Lumei said, moving over again.
Chella sat down beside them. Sora watched her, remembering their battle. But when their eyes met, she saw something new—respect.
The conversation was quiet at first, slightly awkward. But soon, Chella began to speak more openly, sharing her thoughts.
"I've been thinking about our match," she said, looking down at her hands. "That form you used... it's been haunting me."
Sora blinked, caught off guard. "Haunting you?"
Chella nodded, her brows drawn together. "Yes. The way you moved, the energy you tapped into—it was... unforgettable."
Lumei and Yamato listened closely, intrigued. Sora leaned in slightly.
"What do you think made it stick with you?"
Chella looked away, deep in thought. "It was unexpected. Your control, your strength—it shook me."
Sora smiled faintly, emotion flickering in her eyes. "I'm glad it made an impact."
She looked at Chella, voice softer now. "I saw that form before… Ichiha used it. But something about yours felt… different."
Before anyone could speak, Ichiha suddenly appeared, a sly grin on his face. "That's none of your business," he said playfully.
Everyone laughed. Chella rolled her eyes, smiling. "Of course it is."
Sora chuckled. "You're a real troublemaker, Ichiha."
He shrugged proudly. "Someone's got to keep it fun around here."
Lumei snorted. "You mean someone's got to annoy everyone."
Their teasing bounced around the table like a ball. Chella, for once, smiled easily, finally relaxing with them.
Yamato turned to Ichiha, a playful glint in his eyes. "If I had used 80%, it would've been a draw."
Ichiha raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I still think I'd have won."
They grinned at each other, the air between them buzzing with friendly rivalry.
Chella and Sora watched, amused. Lumei joined the debate, tossing in his own theories and predictions.
And as they laughed and talked, the group felt something shift—not just training partners, not just classmates.
They were becoming something stronger: a team.