The heavy studio door shut behind them, muffling the chaos of the audience's lingering reactions.
Arthur slung an arm around Gwin's neck, with a sharp grin, "Man that was embarrassing," he snorted, "I can't believe she thought that bath video was going to work."
Gwin chuckled along, twisting to jab a finger at his chest, "That 'Glamourbitch' should've known better to show a husband and wife alone time to the world Though love..." She tilted her head, "How'd you know about her fake arrest stats?"
Arthur's coyly smile, "Minor benefit of prison is that criminals love gossiping about different heroes. Her name came up a lot when it was about bribes...but I don't need verified my claims since there will be villain who will verify my statement since it's about her."
"How scandalous." Gwin replied.
"I know." Arthur replied.
Their laughter echoed within the backroom till Miles voice cut through with a silent but loud statement, "Thank you. Both of you."
They turned.
Miles stood a few paces back, head bowed, fists clenched at his sides.His shadow hands slithered around his torso like living armor, "I know I said we wouldn't talk about our pasts. That it was 'personal'."
A bitter chuckle, "Truth is, I just didn't want to give you ammunition to use against me later."
Gwin's slightly frown, "Best buddy...you actually thought we'd betray you?"
"We've known each other more than a week," Miles said flatly, finally meeting their eyes, "You think bonds formed this fast last? Once the exams are over—"
Arthur's backhand snapped Miles head to the side. Before he could react, Gwin mirrored the strike on his other cheek.
"Idiot, I thought we clear this up on the first day." Arthur growled, grabbing Miles' face to force eye contact.
"You're stuck with us. Meaning we are friends."
"Besto friendo!" Gwin hooked an arm around Miles' neck, yanking him into a headlock, "You really think we're gonna ghost you after this? We are the misfits."
Miles blinked, "Wait, you—you want to stay in touch? After... everything?"
Arthur rolled his eyes, "Yes, dumbass. I was planning on add you guys on my contact list so we can message each other."
Gwin gasped dramatically, "Oh no. Oh no no no." She seized Miles' wrists, "Best buddy... have you never had real friends before?"
Miles' shadow hands stilled. His silence was answer enough.
Arthur exhaled through his nose, "Unbelievable." He flicked Miles' forehead, "First thing after the exams: we're getting fix your appearance to get some style in their. Then hit the arcade."
Gwin cheered, "And manicures! And karaoke! And—"
"No singing," Miles and Arthur deadpanned in unison.
Laughter bounced off the hallway walls as the trio rounded the corner...
...and nearly collided with Jackie, leaning against the exit door, lightning crackling between his fingers.
"Cute," he sneered.
"Too bad it won't survive the finals."
---
Arthur's fist ignited with a blue flames as he rapidly approached him, his body moving on pure rage.
Jackie's smug grin only fueled the fire until Miles shadow tendrils wrapped around Arthur's arm, yanking him back.
"Not here," Miles muttered, his voice low but firm, "She's waiting for us to screw up now."
Jackie laughed, brushing past them with deliberate slowness, his shoulder knocking against Arthur's, "Doesn't matter what happens next. I will make sure you have one hell of a time here, Demon Child."
The tension hung thick in the air until the door swung open again where Violet and Joseph stepped out, ready for their turn in the spotlight.
Violet's red scarf was tied tighter than usual, her gaze flickering toward Gwin for half a second before she looked away.
Joseph, meanwhile, gave Arthur a curt nod as he passed, his expression unreadable.
---
Team 3 settled into the viewing room's plush chairs, surrounded by the other remaining teams.
The large screen flickered to life, showing Glamourbabe's manufactured smile as she introduced Team 6.
"Let's give a warm welcome to our second-ranked team!"
The audience cheered, but the energy shifted when the camera panned to Jackie.
His smirk was razor-sharp as he leaned into the mic, "Whose ready for some real heroes to be interview."
Glamourbabe giggled, her demeanor noticeably brighter than it had been with Team 3, "Oh, Jackie, you are gift from heavens! Tell us future number 1, what do you hope to accomplish?"
Jackie's answer was smooth, rehearsed, " A legacy. My father was a hero. My grandfather was a hero. Each one becoming the number one Hero and created their empire. But I'll be the one to surpass them all. And be the greatest hero on this planet."
The crowd ate it up.
Then came the real ambush, but for someone else.
The screen cut to a slow-motion replay of Violet's desperate fight against Armageddon's gravity crush. But then, the footage changed, zooming in on the jagged, acid-scarred flesh along her jawline.
"Violet, darling, you have been my sidekick for a long time and believe it's time you share your story." Glamourbabe cooed, "This injury… it's quite distinctive. Care to share how it happened?"
Violet's fingers twitched toward her scarf, but her voice was steady, "Yes ma'am, it was from the villain stalker back in the days."
Glamourbabe's eyes gleamed, "Ladies and gentlemen, can you guess who's Stalker identity?
The screen flickered again to a younger Gwin when she was fifteen. Wearing a horrific costume as she laughed at burnt face Violet who's crying uncontrollable.
The audience gasped.
Gwin stiffened in her seat, "She had that video but couldn't use it against me. So she going to victim to make us look bad."
But the damage was done. The approval ratings for Team 3 dipped slightly as murmurs of "psycho" and "unstable" rippled through the crowd.
---
Glamourbabe wasn't done.
"And Joseph," she purred, turning her attention to him.
"Your grandfather was Empire Gold, yes? The hero whose death Nameless caused?"
The screen replayed the same damning footage she'd used against Arthur—Empire Gold's brutal end at Kaizer's hands.
Joseph didn't flinch.
"It was an accident," he said simply. "One Arthur has spent years atoning for."
Glamourbabe blinked, thrown, "But surely you hate him? After what he—"
"I did." Joseph's voice was calm, final.
"Until I judged him for myself." He met the camera's gaze head-on, "Arthur isn't the monster you want him to be. He's my rival, not my enemy."
The approval ratings jumped.
Glamourbabe's smile turned brittle, "Well! Isn't that… noble of you!"
---
Back in the viewing room, Arthur let out a slow breath, "Huh."
Gwin elbowed him, "You owe him now."
Miles watched the screen, his shadow hands twitching, "She's not done. She's going to keep digging."
Arthur smirked, "Let her. We've got thicker skin than she thinks."
The finals loomed ahead—but for now, Team 3 sat together, united.
And that was enough.