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The game intensifies. Magic flashes across the field—Pollom’s lunaflow colliding with solaris shields, sunfyre licking at cleats, and ice spears shattering midair.
My pulse syncs with the rhythm of the game.
Before I can stop myself, I start shouting again. “ON YOUR LEFT, LEAF!”
He actually listens, trusting me in the moment despite him knowing full-well that I was responsible for the myrage, and pivots just before a spear grazes him.
My chest tightens.
He glances at me again, face focused and aware and high over the game. Definitely not in any sort of sexual way like he wants to devour me. We are friends.
Leaf dodges around Harley and scores.
The whistle shrieks.
Purple and silver fireworks erupt from our side of the arena. Without thinking, I grab Akemi’s hand and spin, releasing a controlled arc of sunfyre into the sky. She layers blayze over it, the light cascading like molten starlight.
The crowd roars.
And I’m laughing. Actually laughing.
The final minutes blur into chaos. Riot is bleeding from somewhere unfortunate. Soren is feral. Kauri is screaming something unrepeatable.
Leaf is incandescent.
The last flare launches, and the score is tied.
Everything rides on this.
Leaf catches it.
Pollom charges.
They collide like giants.
Leaf breaks free.
“HE SHOOTS…” Pictor narrates, preening with excitement.
He throws with all his might, bicep flexing with strain.
The flare zings through the hoop.
“SCORE FOR PURPLE AND SILVER!”
The stadium explodes.
I don’t think, I just cheer, including some “colorful” phrases for the other team.
Akemi throws both arms around me, and we jump in place like idiots.
The team storms the field. Riot tackles Wyatt in celebration. Soren is shrieking.
Leaf scans the sideline, eyes eventually settling on us, then runs. He skids to a stop in front of the protective barrier the Goad Squad stands behind, chest heaving, grin blinding.
“You two,” he says, pointing at us. “Anita’s Tavern. Tonight. We’re celebrating with a full barrel of wine.”
Akemi beams instantly. “Obviously.”
