They waited on the HQ porch — three shadows against the peeling paint: Shi Ji, Shade, and Akarui, shoulders nearly touching as they stared down the lane.
"What could possibly be taking them so long?" Shade asked, voice low and taut with impatience.
Akarui shrugged, hands shoved into his pockets. "They're probably packing their stuff."
"Why aren't we packing our stuff?" Shade shot back.
Akarui opened his mouth. "I—"
"Don't answer that," Shade cut him off, deadpan.
Akarui bristled, then smirked. "At least you're aware of how stupid that question was. While we're still waiting, I might as well ask you guys your goals in the Faulty Tilt."
"My goal is to win," Shade said, simple and blunt.
"Of course it is," Akarui sniffed. "Everyone's goal in the Faulty Tilt is to win. What I'm asking is: what are your other goals? I mean seriously, you both can't be here just to win."
"Well, I kinda am," Shade admitted.
"You're you," Akarui replied, half amused. He turned to Shi Ji. "Shi Ji, what about you?"
Shi Ji fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "Well... I suppose I'm here to get stronger."
Akarui rolled his eyes. "Ugh, of course. Cliché weak guy doesn't want to be weak anymore. You feel like a burden, don't you?"
"Geez, Akarui..." Shi Ji's face flushed.
"I'm just saying the truth. Be a little less generic," Akarui shrugged.
"And then what are your goals, Akarui?" Shade prompted.
Akarui stopped, considered as if weighing the universe, then took a breath. "Nunya business."
Shi Ji blinked. "Then why are you asking us!?"
Akarui waved a lazy hand. "I just wanted to see where your minds were at."
"What?" Shi Ji sounded genuinely confused.
"I don't want any of you holding me back," Akarui said, not looking at them, and with that he pushed off and ducked back into the cabin.
Shade watched him go. "He's a strange guy. He gives me nothing but mixed signals."
"Maybe he's just hiding his real emotions," Shi Ji offered, hopeful.
At that moment Prius stepped out, a travel bag slung over his shoulders, hair tied up in ponytails. "Ah, there you two are! Everyone's ready to hit the road."
"Do we have a car?" Shade asked.
Prius grinned. "It's a back-up mini-van that we use for grocery runs. We'd usually have Reese here to carry our base, but since he's gone, we have to take... extra precautions."
Shade's eyebrows shot up. "Reese carrying the base..." He tried to picture the small bearlike form of Reese hauling equipment and nearly choked on the image.
"Until you see it, don't think about it too hard," Prius warned, amused.
"Where is this mini-van?" Shi Ji asked.
"It's parked somewhere around here," Prius said lightly.
"Somewhere?" Shi Ji repeated, incredulous.
"You think I know? I don't drive that thing. Mustang does."
At that moment Mustang and Amor emerged from the cabin. Mustang hefted a giant battle-axe casually over one shoulder; Amor lugged several pieces of luggage with practiced ease.
"Get stepping, rookies. We gotta get moving," Mustang barked, all business.
"Where's the mini-van?" Shi Ji demanded again.
"Just follow us," Amor said, already moving.
"Okay." Shi Ji trotted after them, leaving Prius and Shade alone on the porch.
Prius glanced at Shade with the kind of look that asks hard questions without speaking them. "So... you think we're actually going to get the protection pass?"
"Why wouldn't we?" Shade said, brimming with raw confidence. "I think our team is tough enough to win it all."
Prius exhaled slowly. "I understand your excitement — the Faulty Tilt does that to you. You think you're hot shit coming out of the draft as a top-20 pick, and you feel even more invincible after getting your gimmick. You think that your team is strong, and then the first legit team you face humbles you. A lot of rookies never make it past their first fight. My rookie year our team got swept."
Shade's grin didn't falter. "I'm a special rookie though. I won't lose too easily."
"Oh, every high pick thinks that," Prius said. "All I have to say is: don't get too much in your own head. All it takes is one bad fight, and you're reconsidering your decision to join the Faulty Tilt."
"And why is that?" Shade's voice shifted, quieter, honest. "I get to fight freely, I get to hurt people without being judged, and most importantly, I can see others hurt others. In some people's eyes this is hell, but in mine it's the closest thing I have to heaven."
Prius blinked. "What? So are you a sadistic maniac or what?"
Shade shrugged, unbothered. "I don't get why people keep calling me that, but if that's what I am, I suppose I am."
"Uh—okay," Prius said, unsure whether to be amused or alarmed.
At that moment Banri Ito stepped out of the cabin alongside Akarui. He moved with casual, ostentatious confidence: pupils like yellow, eight-pointed stars, a gold chain glinting at his throat, a Rolex on his left wrist, diamond rings on each finger. He wore a slow, knowing smile that promised trouble and luck in equal measure.
Banri turned his head toward Shade and Prius with almost no hesitation, gaze clear and quick as if waking already knew what it wanted. Prius watched him with a cocked eyebrow and a soft, incredulous smile. "Look who woke up," he said.
Banri raised his hand slowly and began to close the distance, steps measured, deliberate. Prius, half-surprised and half-reactive, raised his own hand to meet him — reflex carrying him into the motion. He's not actually going to— Prius thought, then caught himself.
Their palms met with a practiced slap, fingers interlocking; the sound cracked through the air like a report. Prius wobbled beneath Banri's grip, his legs folding against his will as if invisible hands had pulled at his balance. This dickhead is really opposing his will on me… he seethed, looking up.
Banri looked down at him with a slow, satisfied smile that flashed a diamond grill. He let go, bumped Prius with his fist, and walked past him toward Shade. He stopped and examined Shade head to toe. "Check the Rolex, icy rings, diamond grill and gold that swings," he said, standing toe-to-toe with him, both men grinning.
"Oh, Banri. You're awake," Shade replied, voice even.
"You're not even peeping the chain?" Banri shot back.
"YES BANRI, WE SEE THE FIT!!!" Prius blurted, unable to help himself.
Banri snapped his fingers, satisfied. "At least someone said it. So, you're one of the rookies."
"Yes! I'm Shade Shaid," Shade answered.
"I suppose you already know about me."
"Well yes I—"
"I'm the superstar, the best alive, I carry teams — I make 'em thrive, more known than the name on the jersey they drive," Banri declared.
"Oh I know that. I heard you were miserable here," Shade said.
Shade! You can't just say that… Prius thought, aghast.
"Me miserable? I have no reason to be miserable. I was a superstar on my old team, and if you all turn out to be a group of jobbers, I can probably be a megastar," Banri countered.
"That's one way to look at it, but I promise you that I'm no push over. You better watch out, you might go from a superstar to an all-star," Shade replied.
"A rookie like you thinks that you're that good? I sure do like the confidence, but you're face to face with numero uno right now. They consider me the strongest superstar for a reason," Banri said.
"If you're such a good superstar, then why aren't you a megastar already?" Shade asked.
Prius straightened fully, peeking over Banri's shoulder, exasperation plain on his face. What the hell kind of passive aggressive conversation is this? They're both smiling at each other while saying the most condescending shit towards each other, he thought, glancing at Akarui, who only shifted his eyes to meet Prius's.
"I've never been on a team crappy enough for me to carry," Banri said casually.
"So, are you calling our team crappy?" Shade asked.
"Maybe," Banri answered.
Akarui turned his head to Prius. "You look confused."
"Yeah no shit Sherlock. What exactly is happening here?" Prius snapped.
"I've known Shade for a couple of days now. He's confident but also an idiot. Shade's smiling because that's just something he does, Banri is smiling because he knows he's stronger than Shade," Akarui said, flat and observant.
"So one's smiling because of ignorance, and the other is smiling because of his pride," Prius summarized.
"You really did just curve my words, huh?" Akarui said.
"I have very selective hearing," Prius shrugged.
Matthew, Miriam, and Lana stepped out of the cabin and stopped short at the tableau. Miriam asked, annoyed, "What are you four doing..."
Prius gestured toward the two. "These two are passive aggressively arguing."
"That doesn't sound good. Don't passive aggressive arguments tend to get violent quicker than normal arguments?" Lana asked.
"And where did you hear that from?" Prius asked.
"It just sounds right," Lana shrugged.
Shade fixed Banri with a level stare. "How can any of us be sure you're a super-star caliber fighter?"
"The same way I'm sure you have skin. I can see it with my own two eyes," Banri said.
"Well, I haven't seen anything from you yet," Shade replied.
"Jeez, you must be obsessed with me! You just won't stop talking to me." Banri's smile widened and his fists tightened.
"What? Getting angry? You're gonna throw a punch or something?" Shade mirrored him, smiling and clenching his fists.
"You two stop before—" Miriam began, but the interruption came too late.
Their hands shot forward like lightning and their palms met — another handshake — the impact creating a small shockwave that swept their hair backward. They stared at each other, smiles fierce and matching, as the handshake broke.
"Not bad," Banri said, mouth closing into a calmer smile. "Anywho, I was up partying for 3 days straight, and passed out. When I woke up, I saw that small dude staring at me like a lost dog." He pointed lazily at Akarui.
"I'm not that short," Akarui protested.
"You're 5'5 on a good day bro," Banri scoffed, glancing over his shoulder.
"I- I'll take 5'5," Akarui muttered.
"Damn, he shut you up just like that?" Prius said, incredulous.
Banri patted Shade on the arm. "You're kinda tough rookie. Maybe I won't be carrying a team on my back after all." Then Banri walked away.
They lingered around the porch, the morning slowly folding itself into motion. Shade grinned, watching Banri walk away. "What a nice guy," he said.
"You call that nice?" Prius scoffed.
Shade shrugged, casual as ever. "He's just a righteously confident fellow. I'd be the same way if I was considered the strongest superstar."
"Uhuh…" Prius hummed, unconvinced.
Miriam stepped forward, practical. "We should probably get to the van, guys. We don't want to keep Mustang waiting."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right. Later." Prius brushed off the moment and walked away.
Akarui exhaled and pushed up his shoulders. sigh "I don't suppose any of y'all have anything interesting to say. I might as well be on my way too. See you all in the van." He turned and walked off.
"That was rude," Lana muttered.
Miriam let out a tired breath. "A lot of the men on the team tend to be a bit… standoffish."
Lana brightened a little. "I guess the only exception we have is Matthew." She reached over and patted him on the back.
Miriam nodded. "I can also tell that Shi Ji fellow isn't a bad person either."
Suddenly Shade stepped between them, pointing at his own chest. "What about me?"
Miriam forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "You certainly are… a nice-looking person." Her smile trembled on the edge of worry.
Lana crossed her arms. "I don't know. You seem like a very suspicious guy."
"Why am I suspicious?" Shade asked, offended in that lighthearted way he had.
"You're always smiling and oddly positive. There's no way you're a real person, right?" Lana pressed.
Shade tilted his head. "I think I'm a very real person."
"Well, of course you're a real person, but you seem like you're always hiding something."
"I'm not hiding a thing," Shade said, a little sharper.
"We'll see, we'll see," Lana said, unconvinced.
Miriam cut in, anxious to move them along. "Uh… let—let's get to the van." She grabbed Lana by the arm and practically dragged her away; Lana kept glancing back at Shade with narrowed eyes as she was pulled off. Matthew, still standing in front of Shade, gave an easy wave and followed.
A few minutes later they stood clustered around the vehicle — the so-called "mini-van." Up close it was anything but small: a large, battered machine with dents and scratches telling stories of long roads and careless parking.
"This mini-van isn't so mini," Shade observed.
"You might as well call it a bus at that point," Akarui said dryly.
Prius tossed a look at Mustang, who was already strapping the giant battle-axe to the roof. "Mustang is a large guy himself. It's custom-made to specifically suit him, so it's extra wide and extra tall. Plus it also has four large seats."
"So it isn't a mini-van, because minivan's usually have three rows of seating," Akarui pointed out.
"Hey, it looks like a van to me," Prius shrugged.
Mustang tightened a strap and turned to the group. "Okay, it seems like we have a small problem here."
Amor glanced up. "What is it, sir?"
"We are a group of ten people," Mustang said. "Each seat, other than the driver's seat, can fit at most two people in it. If we don't include the driver's seat, we only have three seats, which means we can hold six people — seven including myself."
"What about the trunk?" Akarui asked.
"Can hold two people. I have supplies in the trunk," Mustang replied without hesitation.
Lana counted with quick math. "So what you're saying is that we have room for all but one person in the van…"
"Exactly," Mustang confirmed.
Prius's face lit with a sudden plan. "You've said enough. I have the perfect seating for everyone."
Mustang blinked. "Hm, what? Really?"
Prius grinned. "It's something I randomly planned for in the middle of the night, don't worry about it too much." He produced a sketchbook and pencil, flipped it open, and began to draw a clear overhead sketch of the van.
"Where'd he get that from?" Shi Ji asked, eyebrows lifting.
"Trust me, we're all thinking that," Akarui said.
Prius pointed with the pencil. "Think of it like this: the front row would have you, Amor, and Banri in it. That ensures Amor doesn't sit next to anyone who would piss her off, and Banri… can just be Banri."
Amor bristled, then smirked. "I'm not that easy to anger, you know. You're the only person who consistently pisses me off."
"Yeah, and if I do piss you off from my position in the van, Banri would be right there to stop you!" Prius crowed.
Banri sauntered forward and asked, casually, "Do I get to sit next to the window?"
"Yes, you get to sit next to the window," Prius confirmed.
"Sick." Banri threw up a peace sign.
Prius kept sketching. "In the second row, I'd have Akarui against a window, with me right next to him, and Miriam right next to me in the middle, and Lana up against the other window."
"I have nothing against that," Lana said, unconcerned.
Prius flipped the page. "In the trunk will be Shi Ji and Shade. They seem like the type of people to be able to jump out of the back of the car ready to fight."
"You'd be surprised," Akarui murmured.
Shi Ji's voice wavered. "C—can I switch with Akarui?"
"Nope, already made up my mind," Prius replied, definitive.
"You'll be safe, Shi Ji! You're with me!" Shade declared, clapping him on the back.
Lana blinked. "Well after all of that, doesn't that just leave Matthew?"
Prius smiled with the kind of mischief that sidesteps decency. "We put Matt on the roof."
"ON THE ROOF?!" Lana shrieked.
"He's already dead! If he falls off or something we can simply stop the car and pick him up," Prius said, completely unbothered.
"Matthew is a person, not luggage!" Lana snapped.
"Okay, do you want to be on the roof then?" Prius challenged.
"I—" Lana sputtered, stranded for an answer.
Mustang shrugged, resigned. "I think Matthew is fine being on the roof."
Matthew nodded with a goofy sort of agreement. Mustang climbed into the driver's seat, settled behind the wheel, and honked the horn.
Lana shot Prius a glare that could curdle milk.
"You'll thank me later," Prius said, waving at her as he hopped into the van. One by one everyone climbed aboard: Amor and Banri and the rest took their places, and — per Prius's plan — Shi Ji and Shade squeezed into the trunk space. Matthew clambered up to sit atop the battle-axe on the roof, legs crossed like some ridiculous sentinel as the van rumbled to life.