NOTES

1. English is not the writer's first language, so pardon some mistakes both in language and context. I also recognize that I have no idea how most education system works; so using the freshman, sophomore, etc terms could be difficult to me.

2. This story will be focused on Roxas, very flangsty, contain slash, contain possible threesome, contain references to gifted education programs, and contain references to social medias (such as youtube, twitter, and instagram). There are refenrences to Square Enix's franchises, obviously, but I've forgotten lots of it (so do remind me if there is any mistakes). This story will also contain time jumps between parts of the stories.

3. Because of the editor's filter, the tweets format in this story would have no at sign sign, and thus mentions would be in bold and the tweeter account would be in bold and italics (usually in twitter, they'd simply be in bold).

4. There is a possibility that a well-liked canon character would be depicted in a slightly twisted or unlikely way, but I have a good foundation for that. So if you're interested, stay with me. Let's roll.

PROLOGUE: #FarewellParty

Xion woke up with a blaring tweet in front of her eyes. It was like a premonition; one only a girl living in 2017 would have.

Keyblade Masters Fan -xXxlaxy133

NobodyXIV Ohmygah, gurl, you hav to check KeybladeMasterishere's latest vid! #depressed #FarewellParty #KeybladeFlameisover

KeybladeMastersFan was the leader of KeybladeMaster's fanclub on twitter, of course; and there was no way they would contact Xion in the morning unless there was an emergency. Xion's eyebrows met in confusion as her brain tried to work out what the deal was. The hashtags were worrying too...

"Xion, you're late!"

The girl jumped in her bed. She turned to her cat-shaped clock. She was late!

"Yea, mom! I'm coming down!" She screamed. No time for that flawless cat-eye look today; she needs to grab whatever clothes were nearby and threw her makeup pouch into her bag. She arrived downstairs with the look of a mad man; hands grabbing wildly at her mom after she appeared in the kitchen.

"Where's my toast? My toast?" She asked in a hurried manner. Her mother had her two hands on her hips; clearly judging her daughter up and down.

"I did not make any toast. If you want, I can make you a bowl of cereal," she answered.

"There's no time for that!" Xion squeaked like a dying rat, then made a wild grab at a plain bread, splotched a spoonful of peanut butter on top, then ran out of the house.

"That," her father said at the shadow of her daughter, "was the younger generation of today". His wife rolled her eyes.

The upper part of Sector 7 wasn't as crowded as the slums; but this was still Midgar at 8.45 am. The street would be buzzing with people going to school or to work. Xion spent her time half racing to Avalanche High and half glaring at her phone. #FarewellParty was trending on twitter; and it had something to do with her beloved KeybladeMaster. Oh no.

She didn't have the time to watch KeybladeMaster's latest video on the way to school, of course. She needed that peace of mind and the safety of her classroom to do so (which, of course, would be impossible considering how noisy her classmates could be). Still, she needed to prepare herself because this latest video from keybladeMaster didn't seem like a good news. The title, FAREWELL., sounded like the perfect click bait; and she hoped it truly was a late April Fools joke.

The first thing she saw after she arrived in class was Denzel's frowning face. "Get off, Denzel; I need to put my cat-eye on," Xion pushed the timid guy away and went to her usual spot; the desk by the window, sitting at the back of the class.

"Yeah, actually...," the brunette muttered; but Xion didn't have the time for a chit-chat.

"Look, I'm busy; and there's like, only three? Two? Minutes before class," she made a beeline to her favorite desk. She pulled out her earphone, her phone was ready on the desk, threw her makeup pouch next to it, and sat with a heavy sigh. A pocket mirror ready in hand, she quickly tapped on her phone to open the link listed at the top of her notifications. KeybladeMaster has uploaded a video! It said.

She clicked on the link with a heavy gulp; then let it load while she put on her foundation with a cheap sponge that desperately needed a wash since a week ago.

"Hello my dear wielders".

Xion halted from blending her foundie. That doesn't sound like him, she noted. She stole a short peek at her phone and flinched from the gloomy filter of the KeybladeMaster's video. He looks so ill. And his eyes are swollen and sad, she thought, fuck, this is so unlike him. I better get that sailor sized ice cream bucket to binge on tonight.

"Ummm, Xion?"

Xion looked up. She noticed that Denzel was still here. He seemed like he was trying to tell her something, but she was too busy listening to the sound of her favorite youtuber from her earphone all the while focusing to put on her daily makeup.

"So by now you'd notice that this is unlike my usual video. No music, no editing, or anything," the KeybladeMaster started. Hell yeah I've noticed, Xion noted in her mind as she put on her powder like a true seventeen year old – lacking in technique, but overflowing in confidence.

"Because I... have something serious I wanted to share with you guys".

Okay, baby. I'm all ears, you got me. Just tell me baby, tell me, Xion nodded to herself. Denzel, who was speaking in front of her, thought she was nodding at him and took it as a sign of affirmation. The guy continued speaking.

"So as you know, I've spent most of my life in Midgar. I've moved here ever since Kingdom Hearts, which would ring a bell if you've spent your childhood in Midgar. Kingdom Hearts is a live musical show where I made my debut. And that brought me here all the way from Destiny Islands to this buzzing city".

"I have to say, I have all my thanks to Mr. Turks, who had brought me here to this time and place. I would never be here without his guidance and support. He is like a father to me; a parent; a family. And I would never have that here in Midgar if he wasn't there".

"But then again, there is another family of mine waiting in Destiny Islands..."

Xion halted yet again in the middle of filling her left cat-eye. Unlike her foundation and powder work, this cat-eye was flawless – because she had watched that beauty vlogger, Princess Kairi, doing hers numerous times. Normally, Xion would compliment herself on the mirror for a full five minutes, but that day she didn't have time for that.

There was this foreboding feeling growing inside of her; and she feared what KeybladeMaster had to say next.

"My Wielders, I think... my family, my real family, needs me".

Xion choked and dropped her eyeliner brush. Denzel, who had been speaking alone in front of her, frowned. "Uhh, Xion?"

"O-oh no," Xion stuttered; face looking pale even with all those makeup.

"W-what's wrong?" Denzel – good ol' Denzel – genuinely seemed worried.

"He's leaving, isn't he?" Xion dropped her pocket mirror to the desk. Her eyes had gone wide.

Denzel shook his head in confusion, "No. As I said, he is coming here today".

Xion frowned, because Denzel absolutely had no idea what he was talking about. She was talking about KeybladeMaster god damn it! And Denzel wasn't listening into Xion's earphone or even subscribed to KeybladeMaster's channel. Denzel was such a goody two shoes anyway, he wouldn't understand.

"There has been a complicated situation back at home and for a while, it was deemed that it's okay for me to stay here. But at this point, my mother... she needs me with her and it is important for me to grant her this wish".

"There is of course a lot to prepare, and in that preparation, I've also sold my Kingdom Key to an auction. I used the money to book myself a flight and secure a place to stay because none of my family knows that I'm planning to go home. I think the risk of being the child is that people tend to hide problems from you, even though you've known that something is going on".

"By the time you're watching this video, I would've arrived at Destiny Islands, probably for a day already. And sad to say... this video would be my last... for a while, probably, I'm not sure."

And here Xion stared wide-eyed at the monitor of her smart phone. This couldn't be happening. KeybladeMaster, the happy-go-lucky teen, was actually shedding tears.

"Umm, Xion?" Denzel called, but Xion sushed him quickly.

"I would probably be off all of my social media account for a while, until an undetermined time. And I know this news will dissappoint my wielders, but you guys have always been with me ever since... ever since all this – not even youtube – you guys have always been there. Since my debut when I was 5, and when I started hosting at 8. Your words of support always stay with me and they have beem my source of strength at my weakest times."

"This is probably the most difficult time for me and thus, I beg of you for your support, prayers, and your forgiveness, wielders."

"Oh no...," Xion muttered lowly. Denzel, who had been oblivious to whatever happened in Xion's mind, tilted his head.

"Xion?"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The girl shrieked, making Denzel jump in surprise as a result. A couple of accusing glares were sent to the poor guy's back and he was left defending for himself.

"I d-didn't do anything!" Denzel explained once he caught Marlene's questioning gaze.

"HE'S LEAVING! OH LORD, HE'S LEAVING!" Xion had her hands on her head, "And what about Dancing Flame? Oh my God, he should've done something! Goddamnit, his fucking prince is leaving!"

"Um, Xion?"

"Noooo! This is the worst! I'm like shaking! LITERALLY!"

"Xion".

"It's the end of the world! I knew it! I knew iiiittt!"

"XION!"

Xion snapped out of her rant and looked to her right. There wasn't only a confused looking Denzel there, but Marlene was there too; obviously playing savior to Denzel's distress. "We've been talking to you for a while," Marlene added.

"Uhh..., yeah," and Xion didn't have the time to listen.

"It's about the school's buddy system," Marlene had her hands crossed in front of her, she was always good at giving a scolding or two, "And considering the fact that you don't have a buddy currently, you are given the task to watch over a new student coming to our class today".

Usually, Xion would be excited at the notion of having a new student over, but any good news would be nothing in comparison to KeybladeMaster's farewell video. "Our class? But isn't this advanced physics for juniors?" Xion questioned instead, "I would be expecting to have a freshman under my watch". The buddy system was to pair of an upperclassman and an underclassman after all.

"Well yeah, the thing is, he's only fifteen," Marlene smile turned tight-lipped, "As Denzel has explained, of course. But he'll be participating in most of the junior's or senior's classes".

Denzel flinched once addressed, meanwhile Xion's brows met. "Why the fuck do we have a fifteen year old in our class?" She's a junior for God's sake.

"He skipped grades," Marlene answered quickly; she seemed like she wasn't planning to stand there for long for she grabbed Denzel's arm like she owned it, "And now that we have explained everything to you, we would like to return to our seats –"

"Wait, what?" Xion exclaimed, "How the fuck did he skip grades?" But her question was left hanging in the air as Marlene dragged Denzel with her to their desks and the teacher had arrived in class. Behind said teacher, a blond guy could be seen walking slowly.

"Alright, we have a new addition today. This is Mr. Roxas Strife. He's a sophomore – err..., freshman – but thanks to his hard work and dedication to his academics, he is fortunate enough to skip a couple of grades. Therefore he would spend most of his time with all of you".

The teacher was beaming and proud, but none of the students appeared interested in his explanations. Xion, especially, turned deaf for the sake of ogling the boy from her seat in the farthest back. Even from her spot she could catch the sight of the two dangling accessories from the new kid's bag. They were small, in the size of a key chain; and was key shaped, yet seemed more intricate than most keys.

They're keyblades! Xion grinned to herself.

A short introductions was given, and then Roxas Strife was sent to his current buddy who, surprise surprise, was in class that day and had an empty eat beside her. At this point, Xion was sure everything was arranged. However, that was not a problem. Because now, the boy was walking to Xion's way and she could clearly see his baby blue eyes.

And maybe she was just missing her favorite youtuber or something, but she could see KeybladeMaster in this guy somehow; even with the different style of clothing and different shade of hair color. Even the smile was different; for KeybladeMaster often gave wide genuine grin, meanwhile this boy stick to polite nods and small smiles.

He sat on the desk next to hers, spent his time putting his books before actually turning to look at Xion with a hesitant smile. "You're Xion?" His voice light – boyish – and Xion could see the similarity there.

"Yes," she nodded. She was practically still in disbelief.

The boy gave an awkward smile and offered his hand. Xion took it and shook his hand. The boy seemed glad, "I'm Roxas".

"... yeah, I know".

Tbc

I know the whole social media scene is cheesy, but I have to give it a shot.