Juli stared.
The red hair. The emblem. The way the captain carried himself with that quiet intensity.
His grin returned. Not the goofy one. A genuine, warm one.
"Yo," Juli said.
Then, in one swift motion, he swiped the cap off the captain's head.
The captain's expression didn't change. Neutral. Unmoved.
Red hair fell freely now, short and sharp, catching the light. The flame crest emblem gleamed on the cap in Juli's hand.
The hall remained silent. Watching.
Juli reached into his shirt and pulled out his own emblem. The one he always kept hidden, pressed against his chest. The red flame crest on its leather cord.
He held both emblems up. Side by side.
Identical.
Perfect matches.
Team 9 stared. Pam's silver eyes widened slightly. Kade's tail went rigid. Tessa's hands covered her mouth.
The other cadets leaned forward, trying to see. Whispers started to ripple through the crowd.
"Are those...?"
"The same symbol..."
"What does that mean?"
Juli's grin widened. His red eyes sparkled with genuine happiness.
He looked at the captain. Really looked at him. "I get it now."
The captain's black eyes remained steady. Watching. Waiting.
"You're his younger brother, aren't you?" Juli's voice carried across the silent hall. "The younger brother of the RED-haired Titan."
The hall GASPED.
The collective sound of thousands of cadets reacting at once. Shock. Disbelief. Excitement.
"NO WAY!"
"THE RED-HAIRED TITAN?!"
"ONE OF THE FOUR GREAT TITANS?!"
Javar's beak dropped so far it looked dislocated. "BLOODCLAAT! DI RED TITAN'S BROTHER?!"
C'luppo's tentacles went completely limp. "That's... that's..."
McGee's datapad fell from his hands.
Nara's eyes gleamed with newfound interest. "Oh my..."
Even Kade looked genuinely surprised for once. "The brother of a Great Titan..."
Pam's expression shifted. Understanding. Recognition. That's why Juli reacted so strongly.
Juli extended his hand. Not aggressive. Not challenging.
Warm. Kind. Full of genuine emotion.
"You know that guy..." Juli's voice softened. A small tear rolled down his cheek, but his smile never wavered. "He was more than a hero to me."
The hall went completely silent again.
"That guy," Juli continued, his voice growing stronger, prouder, "was like a father to me."
Team 9's expressions changed. Pam's stern face softened. Tessa smiled through watery eyes. Even Kade looked... moved.
The other cadets watched, captivated.
"He saved me and my mom when we had nothing," Juli said, still holding out his hand. "He gave me this emblem. Gave me hope. Gave me a reason to keep fighting. To become strong. To become someone who could help others like he helped me."
Another tear fell. But Juli was still grinning.
"So that means," he looked directly into the captain's black eyes, "you're family too. Anyone connected to that man is family to me."
The hall collectively melted.
"AWWWWWW!"
"That's so sweet!"
"I'm gonna cry!"
Tessa was already crying. Pam had the tiniest smile. Kade looked away, but his expression was softer.
Nara clutched her chest dramatically. "My future husband is so PURE!"
Javar wiped his eyes with a wing. "Dat's beautiful, mon! BEAUTIFUL!"
Even C'luppo's skin turned a soft pink. "Okay, okay, that's actually quite touching..."
Juli stood there, hand extended, tears on his cheeks but smile bright as stars. Waiting for the captain to take his hand. To accept the connection. To acknowledge their bond through the man who saved him.
The captain stared at Juli's hand for a long moment.
Then he moved.
SMACK.
He slapped Juli's hand away. Hard.
The sound echoed through the hall like a gunshot.
Everyone froze.
The captain's neutral expression finally changed. His lips curled slightly. Not a smile. Something colder.
"Don't compare me to that bastard."
The word hung in the air like poison.
Juli's smile vanished.
His eyes widened.
Then his face darkened.
His jaw clenched.
His fists balled at his sides.
His red aura started to flicker.
Rage.
Pure, unfiltered rage.