The party was loud in the best way.
Music blasted through the house while groups of teens laughed, talked, and moved around between rooms. People were dancing in the living room, hanging out by the snack tables, and talking over the music wherever they could find space.
To Mark's surprise, there was no sign of alcohol or anything stronger.
That alone eased some of the tension sitting in his shoulders.
At least he didn't have to worry about that.
After helping Mary settle in with her friends, he headed upstairs for a second, plugged his phone into a charger in one of the empty bedrooms, then made his way back downstairs.
As he moved through the party, he noticed a lot of unfamiliar faces.
Instinctively, he assessed them.
A quick glance.
Who was loud.
Who looked harmless.
Who was keeping to themselves.
Who was watching other people a little too closely.
Nothing looked off.
Just a normal party.
He grabbed a bag of chips from a snack table overflowing with candy, drinks, and paper plates before leaning against a wall near the edge of the living room.
His eyes followed the crowd.
A couple kids were dancing.
Others were crowded around the dining table playing drinking games with cups of punch, laughing every time someone messed up.
The energy was easy.
Light.
Fun.
A small smile pulled at Mark's face as he ate a chip.
Since when did Mary make this many friends?
He barely had time to think about it before movement caught his attention.
Alicia.
He clocked her immediately from the corner of his eye as she made her way toward him.
She stopped beside him, folding her arms as she glanced out at the party.
"You're not much of a party person, are you?"
Mark chuckled.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Pretty much."
She looked over at him with a grin.
"You look like some spy in a movie trying to spot a criminal in the crowd."
That got a real laugh out of him.
"Damn. That bad?"
"Yeah," Alicia said, trying not to laugh. "It's actually impressive."
Mark shook his head and popped another chip into his mouth.
"I can't help it."
"I can tell."
A brief silence settled between them.
Comfortable.
The music thumped through the floor while voices blended into the background.
Alicia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before glancing at him again.
"Don't worry though."
Her smile softened.
"You're in luck."
Mark raised an eyebrow.
"I'm basically a party expert at this point."
"Oh yeah?"
"Definitely."
She nodded dramatically.
"Years of experience."
He gave her a sideways look.
"You're fifteen."
"Exactly. Veteran status."
That made him laugh again.
A slight blush crept across her cheeks, but she kept going.
"And I'm willing to show you the ins and outs…"
She looked toward him.
"…if you're willing to."
Mark looked over at her properly this time.
For a second he noticed things he hadn't really paid attention to before.
The way she looked nervous even while trying to sound confident.
The slight pink in her cheeks.
The way she was trying very hard to act casual.
Then he looked back at the crowd.
"If you're offering…"
He shrugged.
"…who am I to refuse?"
Alicia smiled immediately.
A real one.
"Good."
She gently pushed off the wall.
"Rule one."
Mark straightened slightly.
"There are rules?"
"There are now."
Alicia pointed toward the living room.
"If you stand against the wall looking mysterious for too long, people assume you're dangerous."
"That bad?"
"Absolutely."
"And what's rule two?"
She smiled as she started walking and motioned for him to follow.
"Try not to look like you're mentally preparing for combat every five seconds."
Mark followed beside her.
"No promises."
Alicia laughed.
"Yeah… I figured."
And for the first time since getting there, Mark stopped scanning every corner of the room.
Just for a minute.
And let himself enjoy the party.
---
Alicia walked around the party with Mark, showing him how to actually loosen up.
They moved from table to table and game to game, stopping here and there to join in before moving again.
A quick card game.
A snack table.
A group arguing over music choices.
A few random conversations.
Somehow Alicia seemed to know everybody.
And somehow Mark found himself actually having fun.
By the time they made their way toward the backyard, both of them had cans of soda in hand.
The cool night air was a nice contrast from the heat and noise inside.
Alicia looked over at him with a grin, holding her soda can with both hands.
"So… how's your partying experience so far?"
Mark shrugged.
"It's not bad."
Alicia narrowed her eyes dramatically.
"Just not bad?"
"Yeah."
He took another sip.
Alicia shook her head.
"You're a fairly tough customer."
Mark smiled a little.
"Guess you could say that."
That earned a quiet giggle from her.
Before either of them could say anything else, Mark felt a pat on his shoulder from behind.
He turned.
Connor.
Bright red hair.
Sharp red eyes.
Easy grin.
Hard to miss.
"I knew it was you, Marky boy."
Mark smirked.
"Oh hey Connor. What are you doing here?"
Connor spread his hands.
"I never miss a party, my friend."
Then he glanced around the backyard.
"Didn't know you were hosting this one though."
Mark shook his head.
"Nah. My little sister hosted this, not me."
Connor blinked.
Then grinned.
"You mean that cute Mary is your little sister?"
Mark stared at him.
Not saying a word.
Just a flat look.
Connor immediately raised both hands.
"Okay, okay. Relax."
He laughed nervously.
"It was just a question."
Then his eyes shifted toward Alicia.
His grin got wider.
"Guess I got my answer."
Mark sighed.
Connor pointed between them.
"So who's your girlfriend?"
Alicia nearly choked on her drink.
Her face turned pink immediately.
Mark barely reacted.
"Don't embarrass her."
Connor raised an eyebrow.
"She's not my girlfriend," Mark continued calmly. "She's my little sister's friend. Alicia."
Connor nodded like he understood everything.
"I see."
He absolutely did not look convinced.
"Well then…"
He backed away with a grin.
"Let's get back to partying."
Then he disappeared toward a growing dance circle like he'd never been there.
Mark watched him go.
"That guy…"
He muttered under his breath and shook his head.
Alicia laughed quietly.
Then she looked over at Mark with a curious expression.
"You're full of surprises, you know."
Mark raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't think you were friends with Red Riot."
Mark glanced at her.
"Is he that popular?"
Alicia stared at him.
"Seriously?"
He shrugged.
"I'm asking."
Alicia laughed.
"Yeah. He is."
She took a sip of her soda.
"He's kind of a rising star in the streaming community."
Mark blinked.
"Streaming?"
"Yeah."
"He streams games?"
"And challenge videos."
"And random stuff."
"And somehow people love him."
Mark looked back toward the dance circle where Connor was already yelling louder than everyone else.
"…Yeah."
Alicia laughed again.
"That reaction tells me you had no idea."
"Not even a little."
For a moment they both stood there, watching Connor somehow become the center of attention in under ten seconds.
Then Alicia nudged Mark lightly with her shoulder.
"See?"
Mark glanced over.
"Party expert."
He smiled.
"I'm starting to believe you."
Alicia smiled back.
"Good."
---
Back at the hospital, Adrian and Sato had thinned their opponents' numbers to a considerable degree.
Bodies were scattered across the hall.
Some groaning.
Some unconscious.
Some too afraid to move.
Adrian knocked another guy out with a sharp kick to the jaw before stepping back, breathing heavily.
Blood ran from a cut near his brow.
His arms felt heavier with every second.
The damage from earlier was clearly catching up to him.
"Looks like…"
He took another breath.
"…we're almost through with them."
Sato dropped another opponent with a clean strike before glancing his way.
"It seems so."
His voice stayed calm as ever.
Controlled.
Like the chaos around him barely mattered.
One of the remaining men tried to crawl away.
Sato grabbed him by the collar and slammed him back to the floor.
He pinned the man down with one knee and stared at him.
Cold.
Focused.
"Where is he?"
The guy winced.
"Where's who?"
A sharp crack echoed through the hallway.
The man screamed.
Sato had broken one of his fingers without hesitation.
"You still have five left."
His voice didn't rise.
Didn't shake.
"Talk before I break all of them."
"Alright!"
The man nearly sobbed.
"I'll talk—I'll talk!"
Before he could continue—
"LOOK OUT!"
Adrian's voice exploded behind him.
Sato's eyes widened.
Too late.
A massive fist slammed into his side like a wrecking ball.
The impact launched him across the hall.
His back hit the wall.
Hard.
He flipped and landed in a crouch, one hand against the floor to steady himself.
The tiles cracked beneath his palm.
He exhaled sharply.
Then looked up.
The giant.
The same towering brute from earlier.
Still standing.
Still conscious.
Still somehow moving despite everything they had already thrown at him.
A bruise darkened one eye.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
But his expression was unchanged.
Like pain barely registered.
Sato adjusted his footing.
"I knew I should've hit harder."
Adrian forced himself upright beside him.
His breathing rough.
His body screaming.
But his eyes sharp as ever.
The giant rolled his shoulders.
The sound alone was unsettling.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway as he stepped forward.
Once.
Then again.
Adrian clenched his fists.
Sato lowered his stance.
And for a moment—
the damaged hospital hallway went completely silent.
Now the two boys stood face to face with a mountain of an opponent.
Can they win?