The applause had died down, but the atmosphere of the gala lingered in an unusual mixture of awe and tension. Ari and his companions had retreated to a quieter corner of the ballroom, far from the whispers and curious stares.

Yuri was the first to speak, her green eyes still alight with the afterglow of satisfaction. “Did you see his face when you caught that punch? Priceless.”

“It was like watching a toddler throw a tantrum,” Finoria added, her grin playful as she leaned against the wall. “You didn’t even need to try, did you?”

Ari gave her a measured glance but didn’t respond. He took a sip from the glass of water in his hand, his calm demeanor betraying no hint of pride or frustration.

“Always so modest,” Kimi said softly, her serene smile fixed on him. “You should let yourself enjoy the moment, Ari. Everyone else is.”

“I don’t fight to enjoy it,” Ari replied evenly. “It’s just necessary sometimes.”

“That’s what makes it so annoying,” Yuri said, throwing her hands up. “You don’t even care about the attention, but you still get all of it.”

“You sound jealous,” Finoria teased, nudging Yuri with her elbow.

“I’m not jealous!” Yuri snapped, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I just think it’s unfair, that’s all.”

“Unfair?” Kimi tilted her head, her voice tinged with amusement. “What’s unfair about being the best?”

“It’s not about being the best,” Yuri grumbled, crossing her arms. “It’s about him acting like it’s nothing when the rest of us would kill for even half that kind of respect.”

Ari turned his gaze to her, his expression steady but thoughtful. “I don’t need respect to prove anything. Neither should you.”

Yuri blinked, caught off guard by the weight of his words. She shifted uncomfortably, looking away. “Yeah, well... maybe you should at least try to look like you enjoy it once in a while. Might make the rest of us feel better.”

Finoria chuckled, stepping closer to Ari and brushing her hand lightly against his arm. “She has a point. You’re always so serious, Ari. Would it kill you to have a little fun?”

“I have fun,” Ari said, his tone deadpan.

“Name one thing you do for fun,” Finoria challenged, raising an eyebrow.

“Training.”

“That doesn’t count!” Yuri and Finoria said in unison.

Kimi giggled softly, her violet eyes gleaming. “He’s not entirely wrong. Sparring with Ari is always... exhilarating.”

“Yeah, for you,” Yuri muttered, rolling her eyes. “I end up sore for days afterward.”

“That’s because you don’t dodge enough,” Ari said simply.

Yuri groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’re impossible.”

Finoria laughed, leaning closer to Ari with a sly grin. “That’s part of his charm, though, isn’t it?”

Ari raised an eyebrow at her but didn’t pull away.

Kimi’s smile softened, and she shifted slightly closer as well, her voice lower and more intimate. “You really don’t see it, do you, Ari? How much you mean to everyone here?”

He glanced between them, his gaze lingering on each of his companions. “I see it,” he said quietly. “But that doesn’t mean I have to act like it’s something special. We’re a team. That’s enough.”

The simple statement silenced them for a moment, the weight of his sincerity settling over them.

Then, of course, Finoria broke the silence with a teasing grin. “You know, if you ever do decide to act like it’s something special, I’ll be here to help you celebrate.”

Yuri rolled her eyes. “Don’t you ever take a break from flirting?”

“Not when it’s this much fun,” Finoria replied, winking.

Kimi chuckled softly, though there was a faint edge to her smile. “Just don’t forget, Finoria, you’re not the only one here who appreciates Ari.”

Yuri groaned again, throwing her hands up. “And now we’re back to this. Great.”

Ari let out a soft sigh, shaking his head. “You three argue more than anyone else I know.”

“Because you’re the only one worth arguing about,” Finoria said cheerfully.

Kimi nodded slightly, her tone sweet. “She’s not wrong.”

Yuri turned to Ari, exasperated. “Can’t you tell them to stop?”

“They wouldn’t listen,” Ari replied, his voice calm but with the faintest hint of humor.

As the group fell back into their usual banter, the tension from earlier melted away, replaced by the easy camaraderie they shared. For all their quirks and bickering, they were a team—a unit forged through years of trials, battles, and unshakable loyalty.

And as Ari looked at them, a rare but genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Let’s head back,” he said finally. “This party’s overstayed its welcome.”

The group followed without hesitation, their laughter and playful jabs filling the air as they left the ballroom behind.

For Ari, the night had been a reminder—not of his strength or reputation, but of the people who made his world worth protecting.