Axel woke before the sun had fully risen, the sky still bruised purple and orange. He rested his chin on the windowsill, watching the light spill across the city.

  His mind replayed the battle over and over, Leon’s shot, Giola’s blade, the feeling of almost dying and somehow… not.

  Elia’s voice came softly from behind him.

  “Up so early? What’s going through your mind?”

  Axel didn’t turn.

  “Just replaying everything. Honestly surprised to still be alive.”

  Elia frowned. “Why are you talking like that?”

  Axel rubbed his arm, unsure how to phrase it.

  “I don’t know… I can’t shake the feeling that, deep down, I wasn’t meant to die there. Like something was… shielding me.”

  Elia looked away. Not for long, but long enough for Axel to notice the silence.

  “Mom? Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, dear. Everything’s fine.” She forced a smile. “Go eat and head to school.”

  Later that morning, Axel walked toward the academy when a familiar voice chimed behind him.

  “Well good morning to you too, sir.”

  Axel glanced back. “Sir? Didn’t see you there. Maybe if you were a bit taller”

  Lea’s eye twitched.

  “Is that so?”

  She pressed a finger into one of Axel’s bandaged wounds.

  Axel collapsed to his knees. “AGH, okay, okay! I see you now!”

  Lea crossed her arms triumphantly.

  Axel groaned through a laugh.

  “You made your point. That’ll cost you thirty minutes from our date later.”

  Lea froze.

  “What?! Not fair, you can’t do that!”

  “Oh, I can,” Axel said smugly. “I just don’t want to.”

  Lea glared at him, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward.

  They walked through the academy gates together, where the rest of the group immediately descended on them.

  Lucio smirked.

  “Well, well. Mr. Savior himself couldn't beat a lousy bounty hunter.”

  Axel shot back instantly.

  “So funny, Lucio. Too bad I heard about your little accident while I was recovering.

  Guess we all have our struggles, right… crab boy?”

  Lucio’s face went pale.

  “…Who told you?”

  Felix was already snickering behind him.

  Lucio spun. “YOU. Why is it always you?!”

  Felix bolted for the doors. “I didn’t even tell him! I only told Lea and Miria!”

  “You moron!” Lucio shouted, sprinting after him. “Of course she’d tell him! You bomb loser!”

  Axel wiped a tear from his eye, laughing.

  “Man, I hope Prius works on his insults. That was horrible.”

  Lea sighed dramatically.

  “I think some things are beyond saving.”

  She and Axel exchanged a look, and burst out laughing again.

  Miria tried to intervene, hands raised.

  “Come on, I’m sure he’s trying his best. We should be encouraging him”

  Lea didn’t miss a beat.

  “That’s the worst part.”

  Miria stared for a second… then started laughing too.

  The bell rang overhead, signaling the start of classes.

  As they walked toward the building, Axel noticed countless students staring at him: whispers, glances, admiration, curiosity.

  “I’m getting… quite a lot of attention,” he murmured.

  Miria nodded. “You stood up to Ordine and helped feed the whole city. You are a hero.”

  Lea bumped her shoulder into Axel’s.

  “Barely a hero.”

  Axel smirked. “Don’t be jealous.”

  Lea scowled, which only made him laugh harder.

  Later that day…

  Axel pushed open the front door, tossing his bag aside.

  “Thought class would never end,” he muttered. Then he straightened his posture dramatically. “But now… for my next challenge.”

  A suspenseful pause.

  “What do I wear?”

  He sprinted to his room.

  Clothes began flying everywhere. Shirts, jackets, something that may have been a cape, all rejected.

  “This ain’t it. This ain’t it either. This DEFINITELY ain’t it.”

  Five minutes later, Axel stared at the mess he had created.

  “I give up. There is something in this world even I can’t overcome.”

  He inhaled.

  “Drastic situations call for drastic solutions.”

  Axel picks up the phone to make a call.

  Few minutes later..

  Lucio swaggered into the room first.

  “I knew you’d call me,” he said proudly. “Ladies can’t help themselves around me.”

  Felix followed behind him.

  “More like they can’t stop themselves from puking.”

  Lucio snapped toward him. “Say that again.”

  Axel: “STOP IT. Both of you. This is about me, not your inability to behave like civilized humans.”

  He picked up the phone again.

  “I’m calling for more backup.”

  Miria walks in. “Axel, I appreciate you called me over,” she said, hands on her hips, “but the three of you couldn’t handle this?”

  Axel shrugged helplessly. “You sound surprised.”

  Miria sighed. “I mean… no. But one could have hoped.”

  Lucio nodded seriously. “Calling Miria was the right move. But why is he here?”

  He pointed at Prius.

  Prius squinted. “What exactly are you implying?”

  Lucio: “You’ve never chased after a girl. Never been on a date. Ever.”

  Felix elbowed Lucio, eyes widening.

  Lucio: “Ohhhhhh.”

  Prius blinked. “Oh what?”

  Felix: “Sorry, we just assumed you were into men. I mean, all you talk about is men, all your battles are against men”

  Prius looked personally offended.

  “You morons. I’ll have you know I’ve fought multiple women.”

  Lucio and Felix’s jaws dropped.

  “Incredible,” Lucio whispered. “He didn’t deny it.”

  Felix nodded. “This explains everything.”

  Prius groaned. “Grow up.”

  A tiny pause…

  Prius: “I simply never saw the appeal in chasing after women. All they do is complain”

  A voice behind him:

  “All they do is WHAT?”

  Prius froze like a hunted animal.

  “Elia,” he said stiffly. “Didn’t see you there. How… how are you doing?”

  “You,” Elia said, pointing to a corner of the room, “are in TIMEOUT.”

  Prius sputtered.

  “I think NOT”

  Elia raised an eyebrow. One eyebrow.

  Prius: “…Fine.”

  He shuffled into the corner like a prisoner of war.

  Under his breath:

  “Countless battles fought and won… and I am reduced to this. Truly, the mighty have fallen.”

  Elia clapped her hands. “So! What’s the commotion?”

  Miria beamed. “Axel has a date.”

  Elia gasped so hard it was audible.

  “A DATE?! With who? Who is the lucky girl?!”

  Miria: “Lea.”

  Elia practically exploded with joy.

  “YES! She’s such a sweet girl!”

  She then turned to Axel with a new, terrifying intensity.

  “You treat her poorly, and I’m sure Prius won’t mind some company in the corner.”

  Axel gulped and glanced toward Prius.

  “Are you holding up there?”

  Prius: “Just listen to her. Save yourself.”

  Elia softened, briefly. “I still remember my first date with your father. It was so romantic”

  Axel practically dove in front of her.

  “OKAY. PLEASE spare us.”

  Elia folded her arms, amused.

  Axel exhaled. “I just need to figure out what to wear.”

  Everyone rummages through Axel’s clothes like an emergency wardrobe task force.

  Minutes later…

  Elia proudly held up a final outfit.

  “This is perfect.”

  Axel checked himself in the mirror, and actually liked it.

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  From the corner:

  Prius: “Can I turn around and see now?”

  Elia: “Oh, you want to see? Sure.”

  She handed him a mirror without letting him move.

  Prius sighed. “It will do.”

  Axel grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

  The moment it shut behind him.

  Felix: “…We’re following them, right?”

  Lucio: “Thought that was obvious.”

  Miria: “Of course we are.”

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Prius: “And they will need supervision.”

  Elia: “I THINK NOT. You kids have fun. You’re staying right here.”

  Prius groaned.

  A few minutes later.

  Axel stood in front of Lea’s house, staring at the door.

  This felt like it should have been much easier.

  He paced once. Then twice. He ran a hand through his hair, stopped, turned back toward the door, then turned away again.

  Maybe he could still bail.

  “I’ll just say I got sick,” he muttered to himself. “Yeah. That works.”

  He took two steps away.

  Something yanked him backward by the collar of his shirt.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Axel froze.

  Oh no. She caught me.

  Lea stood behind him, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, already smiling like she’d won.

  She tugged him closer. “Now how about we try that again,” she said, “and you knock on the door and ask for me like a normal person.”

  From the doorway, Lea’s mom leaned against the frame, laughing openly.

  Axel nodded quickly. “Yes. That. That sounds reasonable.”

  He took a few seconds to recompose himself, straightened his clothes, and stepped back to the door like he hadn’t just been dragged by the collar.

  He knocked.

  “Hello,” Axel said, forcing calm into his voice. “I’m looking for Lea. We’re supposed to go on a date.”

  Lea’s mom smiled. “I’d say I’d go get her, but she’s been waiting for you for the last thirty minutes.”

  “Mom!” Lea snapped, mortified.

  Axel blinked. “You wouldn’t say.”

  Lea stormed past her mom and grabbed Axel’s wrist. “Let’s go, pretty boy.”

  Axel didn’t argue.

  “I know better than making you repeat yourself,” he said, then turned back toward the doorway. “It was very nice meeting you, ma’am.”

  Lea’s mom waved them off, still laughing.

  Axel let Lea pull him down the path, his heart finally slowing now that the hardest part was over.

  Or so he thought.

  They walked side by side down the quiet street, the city slowly waking around them.

  Axel broke the silence first.

  “That was something,” he said. “You really waited that long for me.”

  Lea glanced at him, a smile already forming. “No. I would never wait for you. Or any other boy.”

  Axel nodded seriously. “Right. Thought you’d be more excited about the date. Guess I was wrong.”

  She slowed just a little. “No,” she said. “It just took forever for it to happen.”

  Axel stopped walking. “Forever? How long have you been waiting for this?”

  She met his eyes. “Clearly longer than you.”

  For a moment her smile faded, then returned softer than before.

  “Speaking of,” she added, “were you nervous knocking on my door?”

  Axel straightened up, already preparing a lie. “Me? Nervous? I don’t even know what that is.”

  Lea didn’t say anything. She just looked at him.

  Axel sighed. “Petrified,” he admitted. “That one I know. And yeah. You’re probably right.”

  She smiled again, this time warmer.

  “So behind all the muscle,” she said, “there’s someone who thinks about more than training and fighting.”

  Axel looked away. “I guess you could word it like that.”

  They walked a few steps more.

  Lea glanced down at the ground, then back up. “Did you get me anything?”

  Axel stopped dead. “What? No, wait. Was I supposed to?”

  His thoughts spiraled instantly. He forgot how to breathe.

  “I mean, I was running late, and I didn’t know what to wear, and everyone was over helping, and nobody said anything about…”

  Lea laughed quietly, cutting him off. “It’s okay. It would’ve been a nice touch. That’s all.”

  Axel swallowed.

  Great. Haven’t even arrived and I’ve already messed up twice.

  “So,” Lea said, breaking the tension, “where are we heading?”

  Axel forced a smile. “It’s a surprise.”

  She raised a brow. “I’m not getting abducted and sold, right?”

  He smirked. “I doubt anyone would pay for a loudmouth like you.”

  She punched him lightly in the arm, smiling.

  They walked a few more minutes before Axel finally stopped.

  “We’ve arrived.”

  Lea looked up at the building in front of them. Faded lights. Cracked glass. A sign that had seen better decades.

  “…An arcade?” she said. “A rundown arcade?”

  Axel nodded. “Yeah. It’s perfect.”

  She hesitated.

  He gently took her hand and started pulling her forward. “Think about it. It’s just the two of us. No crowds. Just games. It’s perfect.”

  He paused, glancing back at her.

  “And if you’re lucky,” he added, “I might even win you something.”

  Lea smiled.

  The arcade had clearly seen better days.

  Paint peeled from the walls. Dust coated the machines. Half the signs were cracked, the other half completely dark. Axel stood in the doorway, hands on his hips, taking it all in.

  “This place has seen better days,” he said.

  Lea crossed her arms and looked around. “So how exactly are we planning to play games when there’s no power?”

  Axel blinked. Then smirked. “It’s almost like you answered your own question.”

  He pointed deeper inside. “Old places like this always have a central panel. Just needs a bit of encouragement.”

  A faint flicker of energy danced across his fingers as he spoke.

  Lea watched him, unimpressed. “That’s one way to call it.”

  They wandered through rows of silent machines until they found it: a rusted control box half-hidden behind a broken prize counter.

  Axel stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. “Alright. Step back. I know what I’m doing.”

  Lea raised a brow. “That’s comforting.”

  Axel glanced over his shoulder. “Whether I light the place up or accidentally blow it up is… honestly a toss-up.”

  Lea sighed. “Why am I not surprised?”

  Axel focused, letting a small amount of energy gather in his hand. He pressed it against the panel.

  The arcade hummed.

  Lights flickered once… twice… then slowly came alive. Not bright, not perfect, but enough. The machines buzzed quietly, screens glowing like they were waking from a long sleep.

  Lea looked around, impressed despite herself. “Okay. That was actually kind of cool.”

  She tilted her head. “What about tokens?”

  Axel groaned. “You’re definitely messing with me now.”

  Lea smiled. “Just checking you didn’t use all your brainpower on the dramatic show.”

  Axel ignored her and walked toward the first machine, cracking his knuckles. “So. Ready to lose?”

  Lea stepped up beside him. “As if I could lose to a wannabe hero.”

  They both smiled as they reached for the controls.

  Somewhere else in the city, three very familiar figures stood in the middle of the street.

  Felix squinted at Lucio. “Great tracking. Some hunter you are.”

  Lucio scowled. “Last time I went hunting, I wasn’t tracking an idiot on a date.”

  Miria sighed. “Focus. Where would Axel take her?”

  They stopped walking.

  Lucio snapped his fingers. “Easy. Fancy dinner.”

  Felix laughed. “You’re terrible at this. What makes you think Axel is that classy?”

  Lucio puffed up. “I would be. That’s what a proper gentleman would do”

  Felix smirked. “Is that before or after being a proper pain in the ass?”

  “Enough,” Miria said sharply, raising her voice just enough to cut through them. She took a breath, then looked at Felix. “What do you think?”

  Felix frowned, actually thinking this time. “Something fun. Low pressure.”

  He paused. “Like an arcade.”

  Miria shook her head. “That place shut down years ago.”

  Felix nodded. “Exactly. Axel used to love it.”

  All three of them stopped.

  They looked at each other.

  “No…” Lucio said slowly.

  Felix groaned. “He wouldn’t.”

  Miria was already turning. “He absolutely would.”

  They started moving down the street.

  Back at the arcade.

  Axel and Lea stood shoulder to shoulder in front of a shooter cabinet, fingers flying across worn buttons.

  “Yes!” Lea shouted as the screen flashed TOP SCORE. She threw her hands up in victory.

  Axel laughed, shaking his head. “Looks like you’re better than me at something after all.”

  “Oh, absolutely,” Lea said, smug. “After school, cooking, and..”

  “Alright, alright,” Axel cut in, raising his hands. “I get it.”

  They both laughed, the tension from the day finally melting away.

  Lea leaned back against the machine, smiling. “I’ll admit it. This was the best date I’ve had. The arcade wasn’t such a terrible idea after all.”

  Axel glanced across the room, his eyes landing on a claw machine tucked into the corner. Its glass was cracked, its lights dim, but the prizes inside were still visible.

  “And it might get even better,” he said. “Come on.”

  He grabbed Lea’s hand before she could respond and pulled her toward it.

  She blinked, surprised, then blushed as she followed.

  “So,” Axel said, gesturing to the machine. “Which one catches your eye?”

  Lea stepped closer, studying the plushies inside like it was a serious decision. After a moment, she pointed.

  “That one,” she said. “The wolf.”

  Axel nodded solemnly. “Step back. This is going to get intense.”

  Axel cracked his knuckles and fed the claw machine.

  A few tries later.

  “This is it,” he said seriously. “I can feel the universe aligning. This is the one.”

  “You’re hopeless,” Lea said, laughing.

  “On the contrary,” Axel replied. “I’m full of hope.”

  The claw descended.

  Clamped.

  Lifted.

  And dropped the wolf into the prize chute.

  Axel froze.

  Then grinned. “And that’s why I’m the best.”

  Lea stared for a second, then smiled softly. “You are.”

  Axel felt heat rush to his face and quickly looked away.

  They found a quiet bench nearby. Lea sat down, hugging the wolf plush close to her chest.

  “I had a lot of fun today,” Axel said after a moment.

  “Oh?” Lea teased. “Were you expecting not to?”

  She hesitated, then added quietly, “Honestly… I never thought I’d go on a date with you.”

  Axel chuckled. “I can see why. You’re not exactly a princess waiting for a hero.”

  Lea laughed. “Even if you’ve saved me more times than I can count.”

  “Details,” Axel said.

  Silence settled between them, comfortable but heavy.

  Lea shifted slightly. “What do you want in your future?”

  Axel blinked. “I… don’t know how I’m supposed to answer that.”

  Lea looked down, gripping the wolf tighter. “Is fighting all you see?”

  Axel leaned back, staring up at the flickering lights above them.

  “My future…” he murmured. “I don’t think I ever really allowed myself to imagine one. Lately, though… I’ve been having doubts.”

  Lea looked at him, surprised. “Doubts? You?”

  They both laughed softly.

  “I’m serious,” Lea said. “You can tell me.”

  Axel’s smile faded. “Everyone thinks fighting is all I care about. But… Why me? Everything my father did brought pain to everyone around him. Do I really want to walk the same path?”

  Lea studied him, seeing something new.

  “So what do you want?” she asked gently.

  Axel met her gaze. “Moments like this. Friends. Laughter. You.”

  A breath passed.

  “I want to forget there’s a war,” he continued. “Just live. Normally.”

  Lea looked down. “I want that too. But doing such… is a privilege.”

  Axel frowned.

  “We get to choose,” Lea said. “Others don’t. If someone tried to take this life away… you’d fight to protect it. But not everyone can.”

  Axel listened, silent.

  “I talked to Prius,” Lea added. “He understands your doubts. But he also showed me why they’re dangerous.”

  Axel exhaled. “Is this you talking? Or him?”

  Lea smiled. “It’s me. I want the same things you do. But you were given the strength to fight for people who can’t.”

  She looked at him, eyes steady.

  “Just promise you’ll always come back.”

  Axel nodded. “I promise.”

  “Then promise you’ll let me stay by your side.”

  “I promise,” he said softly.

  They leaned closer. Neither noticed.

  “You know… you have really beautiful eyes.”

  Lea smiled and closed hers.

  So did he.

  And then.

  The ceiling exploded inward.

  “WATCH OUT!” Felix shouted as the trio tumbled through, landing in a pile of dust and broken boards.

  Across town, Giola paced the war room, tearing through the space piece by piece. A table shattered under his hand. A screen cracked against the wall.

  “I’m a damn joke,” he snarled. “Everyone saw that. I should have killed that brat.”

  The doors slid open.

  Dragora stepped inside, carrying a drink. He set it down in front of Giola without a word.

  “This should calm you down.”

  Giola didn’t touch it.

  “You know why this is happening,” Dragora said.

  Giola scoffed. “Oh great, Dragora. Enlighten me.”

  Dragora met his gaze, steady and unflinching. “You can’t resist your urge. You want to unleash his potential, then crush it. You want to destroy the symbol of hope this planet is still clinging to.”

  Giola stared back. “Aren’t you perceptive?”

  “That doesn’t make it any less true.”

  Giola finally grabbed the drink and took a slow sip. “So what you are saying is that I simply need to accelerate his growth.”

  “That’s not what I…”

  Giola waved him off. “You are a genius, Dragora. Really. Glad they kept that magnificent brain of yours intact.”

  Dragora said nothing, but his jaw tightened.

  Giola tilted his head. “So how do I get to him?”

  Dragora looked away.

  Giola smiled faintly. “You do know how, don’t you.”

  Silence.

  “Oh don’t be like that,” Giola said calmly. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll force it out of you. One way or another.”

  Still nothing.

  Giola’s tone dropped.

  “I am ordering you. Speak.”

  Dragora stiffened. He had no choice.

  “Pain and suffering,” he said, “are the greatest catalysts for growth.”

  Giola frowned. “I already took his father. His hometown. What else is there?”

  “You did it when he was too young,” Dragora replied. “He barely remembers. The wound exists.”

  A pause.

  “You must remind him that it does”

  Giola’s expression froze.

  Then he laughed.

  “I know exactly what I must do now,” he said. “Tomorrow is a brand new day indeed.”

  He turned and stormed out.

  Dragora collapsed to the floor.

  Moments later, Ariel rushed in. “Dragora, what did that maniac do?”

  Dragora stared at the ground. “It’s all my fault.”

  “What did you do?”