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Belle sat on the couch in the cozy Diaz apartment, surrounded by Miguel's family. The warm, comforting atmosphere of their home filled her with a sense of belonging, even though she was still figuring out what her own future looked like. She glanced around at everyone gathered-Miguel's mom, Carmen, his Yaya, and his stepdad Johnny. The conversation was casual, yet there was a subtle energy in the air as they all waited for Miguel to read his college essay aloud. Belle had been supporting Miguel through the process, encouraging him as he navigated his future, and now it was finally time for him to share his hard work.

Miguel cleared his throat and began to read from his computer, his voice steady but laced with a vulnerability Belle hadn't seen in him before. "Not all of us have to learn how to walk twice in one lifetime. But we do all have to learn how to pick ourselves back up when we're down and stand firmly on our own two feet. In the end, I learned that first steps are harder the second time around. I hope my next step brings me to Stanford University."

Belle smiled wide, her heart swelling with pride as he finished reading. "That's amazing, Mig!" she exclaimed, her voice full of admiration as she leaned over and kissed his feet playfully. "I'm so proud. I'm gonna cry!"

Carmen, Miguel's mom, clapped her hands together, her eyes glossy with emotion. "I'm so proud of you, mijo," she said, her voice cracking slightly.

Miguel's Yaya, always full of energy and love, said something in Spanish to Miguel, her words lost to Belle but full of warmth. Belle could see the pride in her eyes, the way she doted on Miguel like only a grandmother could.

Johnny, sitting next to them on the couch with his legs stretched out, looked at Miguel with a sly grin. "Go more for the jugular at the end. They'll be begging you to go there."

Miguel looked a little thrown off by the advice but nodded, taking it in stride. "Okay..." he said, glancing over at Robby, who had been quietly listening. "What do you think?"

Robby leaned back, crossing his arms and considering the essay. "It's great. Even though I'm kind of the bad guy in it." His tone was light but there was an edge to it, acknowledging the complicated history between him and Miguel.

Miguel looked back at his essay, his brow furrowing slightly. "Uh, I-I'll change your name. I-"

"No, dude," Robby interrupted with a chuckle. "I'm kidding. It's not like I'm applying to Stanford. Or anywhere, really."

Belle, sensing Robby's hesitation, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're not alone. I'm not applying anywhere right now," she said softly, her words genuine, offering Robby the same support she'd been giving Miguel.

Johnny jumped in, ever the optimist. "Come on, Robby. You have great futures ahead of you."

"Exactly," Belle agreed, squeezing Robby's shoulder lightly. "When we win the Sekai Taikai, opportunities will be flying at us."

The room fell quiet for a moment as everyone mulled over Belle's words. The idea of winning the Sekai Taikai, of reaching the top, was a shared dream that seemed to ignite a flicker of hope in all of them.

Suddenly, Miguel's Yaya, unable to hold back her emotions, cried out and rushed over to Miguel, wrapping him in a tight embrace. She spoke rapidly in Spanish, her voice shaking with pride.

Belle watched them with a soft smile, but then, something strange happened. A few droplets of water hit Miguel's computer screen, and her stomach dropped. She looked up, her eyes widening as she saw the ceiling above them begin to sag. "Uh, guys?" she called out, her voice trembling slightly as she noticed the dark stain growing larger.

Before anyone could react, there was a loud, sickening crack, and the ceiling above them burst open, spilling sewage water and a foul, unbearable smell into the kitchen. The moment the filthy water hit the floor, Belle's stomach lurched. "Oh, gross!" she exclaimed, backing away quickly.

Everyone scrambled to their feet, stepping away from the mess as the ceiling caved in further. "Rob, the bowls!" Miguel shouted, realizing that the kitchen was now a disaster zone.

"It's a sewage pipe!" Johnny yelled, his face twisted in disgust as he backed away from the spreading mess.

Belle could barely stand the stench. It hit her like a wall, a mixture of waste and rot that made her stomach churn. The sight of it, the overwhelming smell, made her feel like she might puke. She took a few steps backward, her eyes watering from the disgusting odor. "I can't," she muttered, holding her hand over her nose as she backed toward the door.

Before anyone could stop her, Belle rushed out of the apartment, her heart racing and her breath shallow from the nausea. She didn't stop until she was outside, taking in the fresh air and trying to clear the smell from her senses.

Miguel followed her out shortly after, looking back at the wreckage in disbelief. "Guess we weren't meant to have a calm night, huh?" he said with a nervous laugh.

Belle managed a half-smile, still shaken but grateful to be away from the smell. "Yeah, definitely not how I pictured the evening going."

They stood in silence for a moment, taking in the fresh air, before Miguel reached for her hand. "You okay?" he asked, concern in his voice.

Belle nodded, squeezing his hand gently. "Yeah. Just... definitely not something I ever want to experience again."

Miguel chuckled softly. "Agreed."

As the two of them stood outside, the chaos of the evening still swirling in their minds, Belle couldn't help but feel a little relief. It wasn't the night they had planned, but with Miguel by her side, she knew they could handle whatever came their way.

Miguel and Belle walked into Johnny's apartment, boxes of clothes and essentials in their hands. Since his own apartment had been destroyed, they had no choice but to move in with Johnny and Carmen for the time being. The hallway was quiet, but as they passed Carmen's bedroom, their steps slowed. The voices coming from the room caught their attention, and they instinctively stopped, listening.

"And Miguel wants to go to a college we don't have the money for," Carmen's voice was muffled through the door, but the frustration and worry in her tone were clear. "How are we going to make this work?"

Johnny's voice followed, sounding more confident, but there was a hint of tension in it. "It's like I've been saying. The tournament will fix this. All right? It's gonna bring in students and sponsorships."

"The tournament is still months away," Carmen's voice cracked with concern. "What do we do in the meantime?"

Miguel's heart sank as he heard their conversation. He wasn't blind to the struggles Johnny and Carmen had been facing, but hearing his college dreams tied to their financial worries made him feel like a burden. Without another word, he walked past the door, his brow furrowed, and turned into the guest room. Belle followed him silently, understanding without needing to ask.

Miguel set the boxes down on the floor, his shoulders slumping with the weight of everything. He felt his breath catch as the reality of the situation hit him-his dream of going to Stanford, of a future beyond the dojo, was slipping away. All the hard work, the late nights studying, the hope of escaping his past and starting fresh seemed impossible now. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration brewing inside him.

Belle stood in the doorway, watching him with quiet concern. "Miguel," she said softly, stepping into the room. "I know this is tough, but we'll figure it out. Maybe-maybe I can see if my moms can help. They're well-connected, and they might be able to help you get a scholarship or something."

Miguel spun around to face her, his expression conflicted. "No," he said, shaking his head sharply. "I don't want your money, Belle. I won't take it. I've already put you through so much, and now you want to help me with this too?"

Belle's face fell, the words hitting her harder than she expected. She took a step toward him, her voice gentle but firm. "Miguel, I'm not offering you money to fix everything. I'm offering to help, because I care about you. I don't want you to feel like you have to do everything on your own."

Miguel turned away from her, running a hand over his face, his voice tight with emotion. "I don't want to depend on anyone, Belle. I promised myself I wouldn't be a burden to anyone, especially you."

Belle's heart ached at his words, but she refused to let him push her away. "I'm just trying to help. I hate seeing you like this, Miguel. I know you're strong, but you don't have to carry everything on your own."

Miguel let out a frustrated sigh, running both hands through his hair before turning back to face her. He walked toward her slowly, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I just... I don't know what to do. I don't want to feel like I'm letting everyone down, especially you."

Belle reached out, placing a hand on his arm gently. "You're not letting anyone down, Miguel. You're doing everything you can. And that's all any of us can do."

Miguel met her gaze, his eyes softening. He stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Belle smiled, her heart lifting just a little at his words. "You don't have to know. I'm here."

He nodded, taking a deep breath and leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Thanks for always being here for me."

Belle smiled up at him, her hand resting on his chest. "Always, Miguel."

In that moment, despite the uncertainty looming over their future, Belle knew they would get through it together. And that was all that mattered.

Belle walked into her house, the familiar scent of her mom's cooking drifting from the kitchen. She took a deep breath and called out, "Mom? Alana?"

"Hey, sweetie, you're home early!" Her mom, Olivia, greeted her from the kitchen. Olivia was tall, with long brown hair that always seemed perfectly styled and a no-nonsense attitude. Beside her, her wife, Alana, a shorter woman with a sharp, intelligent gaze, was chopping vegetables. Alana always had this calm, grounded energy about her, which perfectly balanced Olivia's more fiery personality.

"Hey, yeah, I didn't have the heart to stay at Johnny's for too long," Belle replied, slipping her shoes off and sitting down at the kitchen table. "I needed to talk to you both."

Olivia raised an eyebrow, her hands still moving as she stirred a pot on the stove. "What's on your mind?"

Belle hesitated for a moment before speaking, knowing she had to say what had been on her mind all day. "Miguel's really struggling with his college applications. He's been dreaming about Stanford for so long, but he's worried we won't be able to afford it. I... I suggested asking you two for help. Maybe you could help him get a scholarship or something."

Alana stopped chopping, her expression thoughtful. Olivia set the spoon down and turned to face Belle. Both of them exchanged a glance before Olivia spoke.

"Belle, honey," Olivia said gently, her voice always direct but never unkind, "We know you care about Miguel, and we're proud of you for wanting to help. But you've got to understand, we can't just fix everything with money. It's not about that."

Belle looked at both of them, confusion furrowing her brow. "But, I mean, you've both got connections. You run successful companies. You could do something. Help him somehow."

Alana walked over, placing a hand on Belle's shoulder. "Sweetheart, it's not that simple. You know as well as we do that you can't cheat the system. No matter how much we want to help, Miguel has to prove himself. College isn't just about money or connections. It's about hard work, dedication, and earning your place."

Olivia nodded, her expression softening. "Time will tell. It's about the journey, the struggle. That's the part that teaches us the most. And Miguel, he's strong. If this is truly what he wants, he'll find a way. He just has to keep going, no shortcuts."

"But what if he gives up?" Belle's voice was small, a knot forming in her stomach. "What if he thinks it's all impossible and just... quits?"

Alana sighed, her gaze steady and comforting. "You can't carry his burden for him, Belle. You can support him, yes, but you can't solve everything for him. It's his fight to face. He needs to believe in himself, even when things look impossible."

Belle chewed on her bottom lip, feeling the weight of their words. "I just want to help him so badly. I hate seeing him feel like this."

Olivia smiled softly. "You're doing exactly what he needs most, sweetie. You're being there for him. You're a good girlfriend. But sometimes, all we can do is offer support and let people learn on their own. He's going to need you, but not as a savior. He needs you as a partner, someone who believes in him when it feels like the world's against him."

Belle nodded slowly, absorbing her moms' words. She had always known they were right, but in the moment, it was hard to let go of that desire to fix things. "I guess... I guess I just don't want to lose him, you know?"

Alana's voice softened as she rubbed Belle's back. "You won't lose him. Just remember, everyone has their own journey. You're both young, and there's still so much ahead of you. Time has a way of working things out, as long as you keep pushing forward."

Olivia added, "And don't forget, no matter what, we're here. You've got us. We'll figure it out together."

Belle smiled, grateful for their unwavering support. She hugged both of them tightly, the reassurance she needed sinking in. "Thanks, you guys. I really needed to hear that."

Alana chuckled softly. "You always do. Now, go give Miguel the love and support he needs. But remember, don't carry his whole world on your shoulders, okay?"

Belle nodded, feeling lighter. "Okay. I'll talk to him. Thanks."

As she left the kitchen, Belle couldn't help but feel a little more at peace. Her moms were right-Miguel had his own journey to walk, and while she'd always be there for him, he had to find his own way. And maybe, just maybe, the time would come when they'd both take the next step together, in their own time.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

my sweet belle loves helping everyone<3

im debating on the sekai taikai... should i make it 6 or 7 fighters?😉

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)