Earlier, exiting the cafeteria:
Vida, Amora, Akilah, and Chase waved goodbye to the three boys as they could hear Taro manically rambling about some plan he came up with down the hallway.
Chase dragged his hands down his face in frustration as he thought about how cool Taro's plan sounded from the small amount of it he heard.
"Why do I have to be stuck with the girls, man." Chase groaned as he dragged his feet towards the gymnasium door.
"You don't like spending time with me?" Amora gave Chase those puppy eyes she knew he couldn't resist.
"Of course I do, babe." Chase smiled. As soon as Amora turned around, Chase went back to his disappointed look.
The four got to the gymnasium doors. Vida opened the door, revealing an empty gymnasium.
"I thought Bloom was supposed to be here already." Akilah pushed her glasses up as she squinted her eyes in confusion.
Bloom zoomed in front of the kids from behind them. She went from a blur to a person in a millisecond.
"Sorry! I had to go check in with Milo about some important stuff." Bloom smiled as she fixed her black hair.
Bloom waved the kids towards the bleachers as they all sat down.
"Alright, let's talk. Have any of you guys trained since the last time we trained together?" Bloom looked to the four for an answer.
Vida grinned excitedly.
"I can manifest plants now." Vida stated plainly yet excitedly.
"Good job, girl!" Amora gave Vida a small hug of victory as Akilah gave Vida a high five up top.
"Amazing!" Bloom started clapping. "Let's see!"
Vida's grin faded as she started to question her abilities. In her moment of doubt, she thought of Hendrix's words the last time she trained.
"You did great, I saw you." The memory of Hendrix's smile seemed to give Vida her energy back.
"Let's do this!" Vida smiled. Bloom smiled.
"Alright! Let's take a trip to the greenhouse, guys!" Bloom got up and ushered the kids out of the gymnasium doors.
Amora felt so excited for her friend. Such a big leap in skill really reminded her how amazing Vida and Hendrix were. The passion those two put into everything they did was always the driving force behind the group's will growing up.
"If she's already growing full on plants, when am I going to be able to do something I already did?" Vida asked herself.
As the group walked, Amora tried to channel as much Spirit into her hands as she physically could. Nothing happened.
"Not surprising." Vida thought. This was the one millionth time she had tried to replicate her powers since they first manifested that day in the street fight. Every chance she got, Amora was channelling her Spirit in any way she could, but to no avail.
Chase dragged his feet out of the door as Amora turned to him.
"Hey, cheer up. I'm sure you'll get your Mode down quick. You just have to start working on it. Okay, Chase?" The loving couple lagged behind the rest of the group as Amora whispered to Chase.
Chase looked down at his hands as he channeled his light blue Spirit into his hands. It still took him longer than he would have wanted. Chase was amazed that his girlfriend knew just what to say to him without him even having to say the actual reason for his sour mood.
"Akilah told me what you did for Vida. That's awesome, babe. You're amazing." Chase let out a weak smile as Amora grew a little more concerned. Chase's compliment was earnest. He really couldn't wrap his head around how amazing his darling was.
"Say it." Amora stopped in her tracks and turned her whole body towards Chase. It didn't seem like the rest of the group noticed, as Bloom, Akilah, and Vida continued down the hallway.
Chase had forgotten the last time he saw the face Amora was making. She was making that stern, yet concerned face that he had only seen one other time.
Chase's eyes started to tear up. He had forgotten the last time he cried, as well.
"Say it, babe." Amora's face leaned more towards concern as she grabbed Chase's hand.
Chase paused, wiping his tears with his sleeve before speaking.
"You guys are all so amazing. Hendrix was almost able to take down the person that killed Mr. and Mrs. Frewin all on his own. You, Akilah, Vida, you're all so amazing, too. I grew up worshiping guys who saved the day with guns and explosions, but me? I'm just a fucking clown making my hands glow blue.." Chase channeled his Spirit into his free hand, making it glow light blue.
Chase smashed his free hand into the jagged brick wall in frustration, opening a gash on the side of his hand.
"STOP!" Amora yelled as she grabbed the bleeding hand.
"I just want to protect you. I never want to see you cry like that day on the train. I never want you to see any of our friends hurt, either. But I'm useless. All I can do is sit on the sidelines while you guys put your lives on the line." Chase looked up at the ceiling to stop Amora from seeing him cry.
Amora started to tear up as well. She fell silent for a moment. She thought about all the boasting Chase had been doing recently. She knew Chase better than anyone, yet she failed to see he was suffering.
"Anyways…" Chase tried to take his hand from Amora as he turned away. Amora held his hand tighter, pulling him back in her direction.
"Hey. You don't have to worry. As long as I'm around you, I know I'm protected." Amora smiled through tears as she continued. "As for the Modes, you'll catch up eventually. You always do. And I know you better than anyone. When you do, I'll be waiting for you." Amora's smile infected Chase, making his frown turn into a slight smile.
"I love you, remember that." Amora put her hands on the cheeks of Chase's face.
"I love you too." Chase leaned in to kiss Amora. They met their lips as Chase held the sides of Amora's baggy t-shirt.
Amora's rainbow aura reappeared. The space around the couple seemed like broken glass made of refracted light. Chase's wound on the side of his hand started to heal up as the broken pieces of Amora's aura mended together into a beautiful tapestry of light.
Halfway through the process, Chase opened his eyes to notice the light. He grabbed Amora's shoulder as she opened her eyes to see what was happening. She stared in awe at the light as she tried to engrave the feeling that brought it about into her muscle memory.
Chase grabbed her shoulder.
"See? I told you that you were amazing." Chase smiled down at Amora as she smiled back up at her love
"Ew." Akilah peaked from around the corner of the wall. Akilah jumpscared Amora, causing the light to disappear. Akilah stared daggers into Chase's soul. "Stop keeping her behind, idiot. We've been waiting for you in the greenhouse."
"You caught us." Chase put his hands in the air like he was being arrested. "She couldn't keep her hands off me any longer. Amora pulled me aside to start making out." Chase tsked as he held back a chuckle.
Amora's face turned red.
"NOT TRUE!" Amora yelled.
Akilah faked a gag as she snuck back behind the corner.
The couple laughed as they started to make their way towards the greenhouse as well.