A/N: Thank you IsshiNene for your review! I am glad you like my dialogue ahhhhhhh and the fact that you think Nene's on point? That's so sweet of you, and that makes me so happy! You will know who hurt Hang... someday hgfdhg but you'll get some amount of angst this chapter! A lot of questions will be answered in the future though! This whole story will be a wild trip honestly so be ready for it!

Also thank you to IceColdSea for your review too! I am glad you think the entire chapter is good ahhh and the entire story too? I'm screaming ahh I love all of you stories too and they're all amazing too though uwu And yep there's a lot of hinting about things which will be talked about later on so even the little details count ! And ahhh thank you! I hope I don't disappoint!

Now to the chapter! I hope you enjoy, dear readers! Love you!

The room turned absolutely cold- icicles forming inside the room and the temperature dropping insanely low. Even the fire element leader felt chills down his spine… "Nene-" Who hurt you? "Is there something you want to say- I'm here to listen." A lot of thoughts clouded his head, and the temperature made him lose his focus. If it weren't for her being there, he would have used his powers to let the temperature in his body go higher.

But she wouldn't want to see him use his power after the fight, now would she?

The eyes of Nene only grew brighter and with one single word- he knew that she was greatly irritated by his replies to the situation. "Die." Her tone bitter and cold, but any other sense of anger was not obvious- besides the fact that her eyes were emitting a different aura.

No response.

Isshiki admitted that this situation made him quite irritated himself, but the main problem was he cared for her more. Yet to her, his care meant nothing to her. As if it's an empty promise. "This conversation wouldn't lead to anywhere if you keep acting like this." He finally responded, keeping note of how her expression remained to be a pokerface. "We can talk about training after we talk about your feelings…"

"I am fine."

"You can't lie to me if your eyes are saying otherwise."

She placed her hands on the table, making the things on it freeze. Was she controlling it herself or was this an effect of strong emotions? "You don't understand." She muttered. "Actually, when exactly did my feelings matter to you?" She squinted her eyes, and he began to notice… that maybe it was his fault that her emotions flowed out more.

"It always did."

"Liar."

"Nene-"

"Liar."

Soon, Isshiki had no choice but to use his ability to increase his own body temperature. The whole environment was getting suffocating, and he definitely felt that no normal person would be able to handle this kind of situation. "I-"

"You don't have the right to speak to me so casually, Isshiki." She didn't allow him to finish her sentence, still looking angered by all his words. "You also don't need to know what happened to one of my people." The snowflakes which were frozen in place began to move rapidly, imitating a movement of a blizzard. "Also cared for my feelings? I doubt that. All your actions say otherwise."

He didn't know how to respond with all the things she said… Did she actually think he didn't care at all? God, she was wrong. Very wrong. "Of course I care about your feelings." He had to tell her this, she had to know the truth. "I care about it a lot, why can't you see that? I thought it was obvious by now."

"... You think making me win by holding back is caring?" She questioned before a rush of questions began to come out of her mouth. "Always beating me in everything and allowing to see how better you are compared to me? Allowing me to do my best efforts yet you don't try at all? Making me realize how you're so perfect compared to me? Do you think that's caring?"

Was this how she felt throughout the years? Is this what made her colder towards him? Was his action to blame for this? He didn't mean to feel this negative about herself, and what she didn't understand was that- he saw her differently. Him? Perfect? Make him laugh, he was far from that- he only hid it because…

That's what his family wanted to see in him: perfection. An empty vessel of perfection.

But… this explained the distance. Why she decided to get more distant. Why she decided to not talk to him. Why she decided to ignore him. Why she decided to act as if he wasn't there. For all these years. Now he understood a bit of her reasoning, but he certainly did not feel like that was the best way to deal with the situation.

"I wanted to see you happy." He tried to explain his actions. "I wanted to see you happy for your win. I did not do that to show that I'm better than you." He paused for a moment before continuing his words. "And even if you see me as perfect, I would want to tell you that you're far better than me."

Suddenly, the room didn't feel as cold. It was still in freezing temperature, but it certainly wasn't as cold as before. "You don't mean that." She had some suspicion that he didn't mean those words. To make her feel warmer, to make her feel as if her assumptions were wrong. That he didn't do that to make her feel that way. "You don't need to lie to make me feel better about myself."

"I am not lying." This was the moment to throw the act he was playing for a short moment. He was kind and loving to his people, yes- but there were times that he was more than that. He had to be honest to let his words get through her.

Her eyes began staring at his as she searched for truth in his eyes. As a leader, she had to be able to read people by observing them alone- but he was harder to read than most people… But this very moment, if felt like she was reading an open book. He didn't end up placing a defensive act, he did not try to hide anything. It was different from the rest of the days where it felt like she was reading nothing but stones with no words. He wasn't trying to keep anything away from her. "Nothing beats perfection."

"Yes, there is. What if so I am perfect? You're better than that. Far more beautiful. You're a hard worker who tries her best in everything. Nothing could possibly be better. Your efforts are far beyond me- and that's what makes you beautiful. Your efforts. Your dedication. Your passion. They're all far better than mine." If only she could see it...

Snowflakes stopped in the middle of time, the objects on the table were unfreezing itself, the eyes of Nene turned back to its original color- and with one look at his face, she knew that… He meant it. All the words he stated- it was nothing but the truth in his perspective. "You could have shown it through another way."

"Do you think I knew how to show it in another way?" He retorted. "I didn't know how to make you happy, and I thought winning meant everything to you."

"It isn't." She was now in a calm demeanor, but she disliked how he actually though that was the case. "I would rather win against you when I know you're truly giving effort."

"Now I know and if we do fight after we win this competition- I promise I won't hold back. Actually, I won't hold back from now on."

"You shouldn't. You make me look pathetic compared to you every time you do that."

"And I'm sorry for that."

She didn't know that she needed those words from him. More of- she never believed that she'd get these words from him. No words he said ever made her feel this different, and she would have never expected an apology from him. He had his pride masked with his happiness, his smug attitude hidden by his friendly exterior- so an apology was not something to expect from him.

She would have said it's fine- but it wasn't. What he did to her has damaged her own pride too much, but she truly appreciated his sincerity at that moment… Should she voice it? Say it? She wasn't so sure herself. "... Thank you for apologizing, yet I can't say if it's truly fine." She has to tell him. To tell him her thoughts.

A spread of relief as he realized that he got to know her more despite how the situation could have went to a different direction. "That's alright… Now I've heard it from you, I could see why you wouldn't forgive me so easily."

"About Hang Le…" She made an attempt in changing the topic to find a way to escape her thoughts from the previous conversation. "I can't tell you yet. I still do not fully trust you, you only got a slightly better reputation in my eyes. It does not mean I will warm up to you, Isshiki."

She really was perfect as the Ice Queen, huh?

"I already expected that. One day, maybe?"

"That is if I trust you enough "one day"."

She was back to her usual self, but she was trying to hide the fact she was flattered with his words. He knew how she was, and she was somehow an expert in pushing things aside to talk about different topics. "Trust me, you will."

"I do not need the smirk on your face." She began to glare, noticing how his usual personality came back after she showed another side of hers- a side which he used to see more when he was younger. A soft side which she refused to show after the incident… Which he was not aware about at all.

Maybe he'll know that… But not now. This was not the time, nor did she want him to know… Not yet. It was a secret between her and the most trusted people in the kingdom.

"Couldn't help it." He chuckled and she only rolled her eyes. She had no time to mess around, she only allowed her emotions to get the best of her for a couple of seconds as painful memories played in her mind. Now was not the time… to feel anything. The priority was the competition now, not her.

"I need your answer to my question." She did not want to use her time on nonsense, so she decided to move the conversation elsewhere.

"And that is?"

"When will training start?"

Outside the conversation between the two leaders, something else was going on… Something which none of the leaders were aware about as they had their discussion.

"Why is a stranger like you here?" A guard of the ice kingdom asked a blonde male who was currently wrapped around in several layers of cloth, his breath getting hitched. He ran there and ignored the icy area he ran in, causing a mix of signals and side effects to happen to him… He ignored all the warning signs, and this may have damaged him for all he knew.

"I have to see my leader- Isshiki Satoshi. He came here from what I've heard."

"The Fire Element." The guard began spat. "How rude. You have the guts to come here after your leader decided to damage one of our strongest people so harshly?"

"I know my leader wouldn't do such unless he was hit first. I apologize in his stead, but I have to see him. I beg of you. We're allies for the next tournament after all, so if you could- Please allow me to pass. I will do no harm."

A sigh only came from the guard before he opened the gates. "Fine. May I take note of your name?"

"Gray." The blonde grinned widely. "Hans Gray."

"I have to tell you this, Gray." The man spoke up, his eyes losing any sign of gleaming. "Your leader has damaged Shouko Kaburagi, and we will not be able to forgive such unless our leader tells us otherwise."

"... Understood."

Carefully, he placed the hood he had on, before taking steps further into the palazzo. Hurrying to the room he could guess… where the person is. "I'll regret this." He softly mumbled. "I'll regret this so much." As soon as he spotted the doors made of frozen ice with a transparent door that revealed a familiar figure- he exhaled loudly. "But I have no choice."

He came inside the room where the injured Shouko Kaburagi was, flames appearing on his hand. "I'll regret this. A chance to betray trust, but I really have no choice. Sorry for the lies, Isshiki Satoshi."