A bathroom journey.

In the midst of this masquerade of happiness, Alex couldn't help but sense the underlying sadness that lurked within the arena. Despite the outward celebration, no one seemed to truly believe that Ashe could lose the game with just a single hit, especially to someone who clearly had no experience playing her game.

As the teammates gathered around Ashe and Eve to console them, John couldn't contain his excitement and broke into a goofy dance. Meanwhile, the girls from the team embraced Ashe, and tears began to flow freely. It was evident to Alex that their tears weren't solely a result of losing a game. From the moment John had selected that particular suit for him, it was clear that something significant had transpired here in the past.

Mr. Thomas approached Alex and whispered in his ear, "I knew you could do it," then he took Alex's hand. "Today, we have a new champion, a new leader." He raised Alex's arm high. "Alex, the Dragon Master!" The crowd erupted into wild cheers, chanting his name. However, Alex remained utterly bewildered by the commotion around him.

Glancing behind him, Alex noticed that Behemoth was still standing there, gradually fading away. Unlike Ashe's phoenix, which had disappeared immediately after the impact, Behemoth's lingering presence felt strangely real. It wasn't just a hologram or a technological product; it possessed a peculiar sense of life that stirred something within Alex, leaving him with a peculiar sensation in his chest.

"He is magnificent, isn't he?" Annalina remarked, gazing up at Behemoth. The gym fell eerily silent, and Alex immediately recognized that time had frozen once more. He didn't bother to look around for confirmation; he simply knew it.

Alex questioned Annalina, his frustration evident, "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" Annalina replied nonchalantly as she walked towards Behemoth.

"All of this," Alex gestured to himself, "That," he indicated Behemoth, "Everything."

Annalina dismissed his concerns, "You're just angry and scared."

"I don't know who you are," Alex shouted at her, "I don't know what you are."

Time resumed its normal course, and John continued his jubilant dance while the crowd cheered. Alex's anger at Annalina's actions still simmered beneath the surface, but he couldn't ignore Ashe and Eve, who were still seated in the arena. He approached them and extended a hand to help them up, but Ashe declined and rose on her own.

Mr. Thomas assisted Eve to her feet and admonished her, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Eve replied.

"Never do something this reckless again," Mr. Thomas warned sternly.

"I'm sorry, I won't," Eve assured him.

As for Ashe, she remained silent and simply nodded. Mr. Thomas then addressed the entire gym, "Okay, everyone, the show's over. Return to your classes now." Turning to Alex, he added, "Alex, I'll meet you in my office after you change."

John playfully leaped onto Alex's back from behind. "Why didn't you tell me you had this monster inside of you?"

"Monster inside of me?" Alex questioned.

"You really don't know anything about this game, do you?" John realized.

"Not a clue," Alex admitted.

"I'll explain everything to you later," John promised. "I have a science lab now."

"Alright, see you later," Alex responded.

Ashe headed to the dressing room to change, and Alex followed suit. However, before he could proceed, Mr. Thomas's secretary, Mrs. Megan, intercepted him.

"Here's your contract; you'll need to have your mother sign it as well," she informed him.

Alex, tired from the day's events, didn't bother reading the document. "I'll make sure she signs it," he replied, indifferent at that point.

With the papers in hand, Alex entered the dressing room, removed the suit, and sat down on a chair. The pressure in the room weighed heavily on him, and he struggled to take a deep breath. Despite being alone in the room, it felt as if it were overcrowded, suffocating him with unseen tension. As he slowly made his way toward the shower room, he hoped that a quick, cold shower would help him relax. However, with each step, the mounting pressure became almost unbearable.

Alex entered the steam-filled shower room, the haze obscuring his vision as he tried to locate the source of the crying he is hearing. He followed the heavy, sorrowful sobs until he reached a dead-end wall, where the pitiful sounds seemed to emanate from the other side.

In his search for a way to connect with the person in distress, Alex noticed a ventilation duct. He closed his eyes, focusing on the crying, and recognized the voice. "Is that you, Ashe?" he called out from beneath the vent.

The crying abruptly ceased, and the oppressive atmosphere began to dissipate. Alex's breathing returned to normal, and the fog gradually lifted.

Ashe's voice trembled as she replied, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Alex."

"How did you get in here? This is the ladies' room."

"I'm talking to you through the vent."

There was a pause, and Alex sensed Ashe's hesitation.

"By the way," he ventured, "you did great in the game back there."

"Yeah, right," Ashe replied, her voice heavy with doubt.

"No, really," Alex insisted. "You almost beat me. Just one more point to go."

Alex sensed that Ashe was still wary but wanted to offer her some comfort.

"Are you going to tell anyone that I was crying here?" Ashe asked, her voice softer now.

"Probably not," Alex replied after a moment's consideration. He knew she was hurting from losing her position as captain, and he didn't want to add to her pain. "Why?" he asked.

"It's not that," she said, her tone shifting. "It's just... you've picked the wrong one to be friends with."

"What do you mean?"

Ashe hesitated again, then finally said, "Just forget it. But thanks for the offer anyway."

With that, the shower turned off, and the last of the fog dissipated. Although Alex had initially intended to take a cold shower, the strange turn of events had left him feeling a different kind of chill. He remembered that Mr. Thomas had wanted to meet him in his office, so he quickly got dressed and left the dressing room.

As he exited, John was waiting for him just outside the door. "Where are you headed now?" John asked.

"I'm meeting with the counselor; didn't you have a lab or something?" Alex replied.

"I know. He asked me to get both of you," John said.

"Both?"

"Yeah, you and Ashe. But she already left."

"Strange."

"I know. It's annoying, right? I can't get along with him at home or at school."

"At home?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. He's my father," John casually mentioned.

Alex blinked in surprise. "So, you and Eve are siblings?"

"Not exactly. She was adopted before I was born," John clarified. "But never mind that. I'm sure she'll fill you in on everything. Now, let's get going."