I didn’t answer, turning my back to him. The blanket was my fortress, and I wasn’t about to let Blue guilt me into leaving it.

“Mia,” he said, his voice now carrying a hint of irritation. “You seriously think Gary can step up when it matters? That kid would trip over his own ego before getting anything done.”

I peeked out from under the blanket, narrowing my eyes. “Gary cares about me, unlike you, who just wants to keep me stuck here forever.”

Blue blinked, visibly taken aback. “I do care about you! That’s why I’m not letting you just breeze through without proving you’re ready.”

“Well, maybe I don’t need to prove anything to you,” I snapped. “I already know what I’m capable of, and if you can’t see that, then… then maybe you’re the problem, not me.”

Blue let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just about you, Mia. It’s about making sure you’re strong enough to face what’s out there. It’s about survival.”

I sat up abruptly, the blanket slipping off my shoulders. “You think I don’t know that?! You think I don’t get how hard it is out there? I’m not stupid, Blue. I’ve trained. I’ve battled. I’ve won. What more do you want from me?!”

Blue’s expression softened, and for a moment, he looked almost… guilty. “I want you to believe in yourself, Mia. Not just say it, but know it. And yeah, maybe I’m pushing too hard, but it’s only because I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

I stared at him, my anger fading just a little. “...You could’ve just said that instead of acting like a jerk.”

He smirked faintly, sitting down beside me on the bed. “Yeah, well, communication’s never been my strong suit.”

I sighed, pulling the blanket back over my lap. “You know, for someone who’s supposed to be a genius, you’re pretty bad at this emotional stuff.”

Blue chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll admit that. But you’re not exactly easy to deal with either, you know.”

I couldn’t help but smile a little, even though I was still annoyed. “So… what now? Are you going to keep me locked up until I battle you?”

He hesitated, then shook his head. “No. If you really think you’re ready, I won’t stop you. But I still think it’d be a good idea to battle me first. You know, just to see where you’re at.”

I looked at him, considering his words. “You promise you won’t hold back?”

“Promise,” he said, holding out his hand.

I hesitated, then shook it. “Fine. But if I win, you have to admit I’m better than Gary.”

Blue groaned. “Ugh, fine. But don’t get your hopes up.”

I smirked. “Oh, I’m going to destroy you.”

“Bring it on, kid,” Blue said, standing up and ruffling my hair. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

For the first time in hours, I felt a spark of excitement. Maybe battling Blue wouldn’t be so bad after all.