"C-Corrin," Flora uttered with a halting voice, gazing at Corrin with wide, teary eyes. "What a-are you-"

"Flora…." Corrin cut her off, breathing in deeply to regain his own composure. "…..I would be honored if you would accompany me and Elise to the Festival."

The maid was stunned and taken aback by the offer, staring at him.

'He's…..he's not joking, is he?'

"C-Corrin, you can't!", Flora protested, shaking her head rigorously. "I wouldn't want you to spend the first night you've h-had in a while with your sister trying to bring me along-"
"And I refuse to let you spend the night here alone, stewing in regret," Corrin interrupted her, as bluntly and gently as he could muster. "Because you're my friend, and to hell with anyone who says I should do otherwise."

He paused briefly. Flora tilted her head, curiosity blossoming in her mind.

"…..okay, except Elise. She might need some persuading. I'll bribe her with takoyaki again."

Flora, despite her saddened mood, snorted amusedly at Corrin's off-topic comment. "Corrin, you don't have to do that for me…."
"Nonsense. Of course I do. Come on, Flora," the prince offered her his hand. "Come with us."

"…..you're sure you want me around with you? I-I'll just be….tagging along…." The maid replied, sniffling slightly.

"Do you see any other blue-haired maids who happen to be around here?"

"You don't need to bribe me, Big Bro! Flora can come join us anytime!"

Elise smiled, hugging Flora around the waist, prompting her to squeak in surprise.

"L-Lady Elise!"

"Corrin and I'll make tonight the best night ever!" Elise reassured her, grinning up at her. "Just for you! You may not be my real big sister, but I'll treat you like one anyway!"

Flora couldn't help but smile at that. The young princess' optimism and happiness was infectious, even threatening for a moment to make her forget what had happened earlier tonight.

'And Corrin…he has a point.' the maid thought to herself. '…he's right. I deserve to have a good night tonight. He's right. I can't beat myself up over this. And…..I don't think a night with Corrin would be such a bad idea.'

Flora took Corrin's hand, nodding slowly at first, then more vigorously as she gained her resolve. She wiped the last of her tears from her grey eyes, a small smile dawning upon her face.

"…I would be happy to join you two. More than happy."

Elise cheered, tightening her hug around Flora's waist. "Yaaaaaaay! You're going to love tonight! There's food and fireworks and everything you could ever get all in one place!"

Corrin returned her smile, before nodding and relinquishing her hand. "Good to have you along with us. But, first, I'd like to show you something. Elise, you know where it is, right?"

"Your room, the cabinet, second drawer," the princess rattled off as if it was a shopping list, nodding with each word. "Don't worry, Corrin, I know how to put it on! Sakura showed me how!"

The prince tipped his head towards her. "Alright then. Elise, show her the way."

"Come on, Flora!" The princess grabbed Flora by the hand rigorously, almost bouncing down the corridor. The maid half-laughed, half-squeaked as she was dragged away, leaving Corrin behind to dust himself off.

"Ah. I should probably get changed too, shouldn't I?" the young man remarked to nobody in particular, before heading off in the opposite direction.

Minutes later….

Corrin waited patiently near the portal that was to lead them back to Shirasagi Town, a small Nohrian satchel wrapped around himself. As for his attire, Corrin had abandoned his elaborate suit of armor- a gift of sorts from Anankos-as-Garon, who wanted to use Corrin's power for his own- for a more suitable traditional Hoshidan yukata for the occasion.

His attire was really good needlework on Oboro's part; it was a birthday gift of hers for the prince, unlike the others. It was a faded red robe, with no designs upon it, untied and open around the chest to reveal a white undershirt. The obi used to keep the robe and undershirt on was wide and dyed a deep blue, and the prince wore a long black skirt underneath, reaching down to his feet, which were, as always, unadorned.

"I wonder how long until those two are done changing clothes," Corrin mused, looking at the newly installed clock- a Nohrian invention, surprisingly- in the entrance hall to the palace. It wasn't as good or advanced as an Outrealm clock- Corrin was already used to those weird digital clocks he saw while working in coffee shops- but it served its purpose. Currently, it was about five minutes before six. The sun had likely set- and if it hadn't, it would soon. The fireworks would likely start an hour afterwards, giving festivalgoers chances to have food, find a place to watch the fireworks and whatnot.

"A-are you sure this is how you wear it, Lady Elise?"
"I told you, stop calling me 'Lady'! I feel old if you do that! Just call me Elise! And of course that's how you wear it!"

"It feels rather light."

"You're not used to wearing different clothing, huh?"

Corrin turned around to the talking girls, smiling as he admired them. "You two done?"

Elise grinned, nodding as she clutched Flora's arm. "Yup!"

"How….how do I look?" Flora inquired plaintively, an anxious expression across her pale face.

Elise was dressed in a vibrant red yukata, clad in stylized rose patterns that were dyed lavender, on Corrin's insistence and in honor of Camilla. It was rather large on the young princess; Oboro had made it assuming Elise had grown like Sakura had, but that added to the innocent, childish aura that she already had. Elise clutched a pink fan with ornate birds painted across it, a gift of Sakura's for her from her last birthday. The young princess would look almost perfect, was it not for her obi's ribbon being located at the front instead of at the back, where one would expect it to be. Combined with the largeness of the obi sash, Elise appeared like a toy wind-up doll, with the key on the front rather than the back.

Flora, on the other hand, was much more elegant and refined than her younger companion. Clad in a light blue yukata, hers was plain, with black lining around the wrists, collar and bottom, along with a wide, black obi tying her robe closed. Her hair, normally groomed into two ponytails, was groomed into one long azure ponytail, expertly tied; Corrin mused that this was probably Elise's work. The robe seemed to hug the maid's figure closer than Corrin had thought; it was hardly the first time he'd noticed Flora's figure, but perhaps the change of frame made it look different.

The prince grinned. "You look nice. Elise, you too, but you have the obi the wrong way around."

"Do I have to?" Elise complained with a pout. "It's so hard to tie it right if I have to do it from behind!"

"It's not proper to have an obi at the front. Trust me, you don't want to know what they think of people who do."

The princess made a defiant noise, but turned her sash around, placing the ribbon to face behind her. Flora, for her part, looked down at her yukata, before gazing at Corrin.

"You…..took the time to get something like this for me?" Flora inquired, half-disbelieving and half-gratefully. Corrin slowly nodded.

"Of course. I'm not letting you go without something nice to wear. Not that your maid uniform isn't nice, but you know. A change of pace is nice."

Flora smiled, agreeing with him. "This is rather light. When did you have the time to buy this?"

"Actually, I called in a few favors," the prince explained. "Oboro made the yukatas. Took us both ages to find good fabric for them."

"…..I'm surprised you didn't get something like this for Azura," Flora wistfully mused. "She might've appreciated this."

Corrin snorted. "Please. Azura would just ask if I'd bought her a swimsuit to come with the clothing."

"I'm afraid I haven't known her as long as I'd like to," Flora confessed. "Is she always so teasing?"

"When you get to know her, yes. People never get far enough to realise that the quiet blue-haired dancer girl is actually the most sarcastic woman to walk the face of this continent."

The maid nodded in agreement, smiling. "Would you have it any other way?"
"No. Never."

"Neither would I."

"Azura's the best big sis ever!" Elise chirped in, giggling, before shifting her suddenly serious gaze to Corrin. "When are we going for the fireworks?"

"Alright, alright, Elise," the prince sighed resignedly, turning to Flora. "Can't keep the princess waiting. Shall we be off?"

"A-ah. Of course," the maid nodded hurriedly, giving Elise an apologetic glance. "Sorry."
"I'm just kidding around with you, silly!" Elise grinned cheekily at her, before yanking her by the arm and running towards the portal. "Now, let's go!"

"Ah!" Flora squeaked in surprise, as she was pulled along by the young princess. Corrin shook his head, following along.

Shirasagi Town….

"Oh my," Flora put a hand to her mouth, looking around the bustling town as she, Corrin and Elise strolled around. "This is…..quite the festival."

Now that night had come to Shirasagi, the city was truly buzzing with life. Lanterns shone with a warm orange glow, hanging in rows over the bustling stone streets. The low hum of chatter echoed slightly between the stalls, with festivalgoers mingling with the shopkeepers. Nohrian and Hoshidan alike could be seen sharing bowls of udon, yakisoba and other assorted Hoshidan dishes on various benches or sat on the stairs leading into the plaza.

Flora could even make out Azama's bushy head of hair among the crowd, seemingly being yanked along by Effie, who appeared to be carrying a veritable stack of plates heaving with food. Elise waved happily at her former bodyguard, who responded with a vigorous nod; it was hardly going to be possible for her to wave if she had food in one hand and an unfortunate monk in the other. And perhaps it was a trick of the eye, but she thought she saw Takumi loitering around somewhere in the vicinity of Lady Camilla, who seemed to be having a good time with Selena.

It was as if the whole city had come alive.

Flora gazed around in wonder, her mouth slightly agape. "I've….never seen something like this before."
"Sakura told me that this kind of festival only ever happens in this city!" Elise explained cheerfully. "It's pretty, isn't it?"

"It makes me wish my homeland had something like this," Flora mused wistfully, her eyes still taking in everything around her. "The Ice Tribe would never hold something like this."

"Why not?" Corrin inquired, curious.

"It seems rather extravagant. Until recently, we never had much, even at the best of times. We always only had enough to survive, nothing more, even if we did thrive in the icy cold," the maid replied, looking away with a sigh. "I'm a little jealous, I have to admit."

Elise smiled at her sympathetically. "Don't worry. This is my first time at something like this, too. We never had something like this in Nohr!"
"It's true," Corrin affirmed his sister's remarks. "She complained about wanting to take Sakura's place when she told her about the festivals."

The princess giggled. "Well, Sakura has the festivals, but I have the best big brother!" She latched her arms around Corrin's waist, smiling triumphantly to an absent competitor.

Flora giggled lightly. "You really do love your brother, don't you?"

"Don't you? He's always nice, and he's smart, and he's funny!"

"Well, I suppose I can't say I don't," the maid replied. Corrin raised an eyebrow quizzically at her. Flora was oblivious as to what she'd said, before instantly flushing red and shaking her head vigorously.

"N-not like that, Corrin! I promise, n-not like that!"

The prince smirked mischievously. "I wasn't complaining, you know."

"….you really are the most shameless person I've ever met, bar Niles. You know that?"

"Still, I'm glad you really do see me as a friend, Flora. Even if I have to drum it into you that I am, in fact, your friend."

The maid looked away guiltily, clearing her throat.

"S-sorry. I'm just…you know? For the longest time, I….you, Jakob and Felicia were….all I had. Gunter, sometimes, but you three…..you three were my only friends. I know you're my friends, but….I'm scared, sometimes."

"Scared? Of what?"
"That you might get tired of me, or that…..we'd grow apart," Flora confessed in a low voice, playing with her ponytail. "I know I'm not like Azura, or Silas, or Kaze or Mozu or even my sister. I-I'm not intelligent, I'm not endlessly loyal, I'm not skilled, I'm not interesting....I'm scared that you might like my sister more than me, that….that I'm just there because you pity me. Not because you….actually care about me as a person, or what little there is to care about.

I'm scared that you….that everyone would rather have anyone else than me around."

Corrin was silent for a moment. Then he turned to the maid, a solemn expression on his face. Flora, for her part, had already started speaking to try to dissuade him.

"B-but perhaps, that's just my jealousy, and I'm being-"

"Flora."
"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"…..huh?"

"I promise you, Flora, I don't care if you're not the exemplar of anything. I'm not some bastard who'll just leave you behind because I don't find you interesting. You understand me? I will never abandon you. You know this."

"….y-yes," the maid shakily nodded. "….you said that on that day….in the ravine…"
"I said it then, I'll say it now," Corrin reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm always by your side. Felicia, Jakob, everyone- they'll be by your side too. You understand that? You have nothing to fear. Come on. Take my hand."

Corrin offered her his hand. Flora took it cautiously, gazing at Corrin.

"Where are we going?"

"Just come on! Quickly, before everyone else shows up!"

"B-but…." The maid hurriedly looked around, realising someone was missing. "Wait, where's Elise?"

Corrin's eyes widened as he searched in vain for his little sister, before sighing and shaking his head. "…..she probably ran off to talk with Effie or Odin or something. We'll find her later. She's an adult now, she can handle herself. Now come on, Flora!"

Taking his hand, the maid was guided through the crowd by the prince.

Nearby, Elise watched them disappear into the crowd, a small smile growing on her face as she kept her head down to avoid being seen.

"…I promised I'd make this night the best night ever, Flora," she whispered under her breath. "I think Corrin would be better at it than me."

Smiling to herself, the princess disappeared to seek Odin; the sorcerer had promised to meet her near the palace, and Elise was eager to reunite with her new best friend.

"Here! Here!" Corrin yanked Flora aside into a nearby, darkened plaza, as the maid looked around curiously. The two had been walking through alleyways and through crowds for the better part of five minutes, making their way from the centre of Shirasagi Town to this small alcove.

"W-where are we?", she asked as she took in her surroundings, trying to understand what the place was.

Unlike the rest of the city, this small square was silent, with only orange lanterns radiating warmth and the distant roar of the crowd indicating that there was a festival that night. The square was solely comprised of four stone paths leading to a central square on a small hill, upon which a tree with leafless boughs sat, several pieces of paper hung on it with red string, blowing gently in the faint evening breeze. The tree, though it seemed dead, filled Flora with a sense of hope upon looking at it, for whatever reason she didn't know.

Here was an island of solitude in the sea of bustling activity.

"…..what is this place?" she asked again, as Corrin finished making sure they were alone.

"This…is the Hill of Wishes," Corrin explained, as Flora gave him a strange look. "Sakura told me she always visited this place, before the war. She liked making wishes here…can you believe she spent her time wishing that they'd find me one day?"

"….like the one in Nohr, where you tie wishes to the branches?"

"Yes, but this is a different hill," the prince clarified. "This one, you only visit on the night of the Festival of the Stars, though you do tie wishes to it. It's said that the prince and the shepherdess, because they're so happy at being reunited, will grant any wish anyone makes of them tonight if you hang it on this tree, which, people say, they planted to celebrate their reunion."

Flora slowly nodded in understanding. "I see, I see. I….still don't see how this would be any better than the Nohrian Hill of Wishes. The likelihood of any wish being granted here is….small."

"It's said that any wish you hang on here will come true for sure, because the gods themselves will grant it," the prince explained, before snorting dismissively and waving his hand. "I personally think it's a ton of codswallop, but it's fun."

"Codswallop?"
"Outrealm term. Anyway…." Corrin produced two pieces of paper tied with red string, giving one to her. "Come on, make a wish!"
"No, I couldn't," the maid shook her head, giggling at the absurdity of it. "I….I don't really have anything worth wishing for, and it seems pointless. Besides, I-"
"Oh, come off it, of course you do. Come on, Flora, there's got to be something, right? Here, I'll make a wish. We hang it on the tree without telling the other. And then, we go grab some food because I'm hungry and then fine a nice place to sit for the fireworks."

Flora sighed, shaking her head and smiling at Corrin.

'He's certainly energetic when he wants to be….' the maid mused to herself, closing her eyes. 'I really like being around him when he's like this. It's….infectious.'

"Alright, alright. If you insist." Flora sighed good-naturedly, taking one of the papers and taking out a small graphite stick, scribbled on it her wish.

'…I know it's stupid to think that some weird superstition like this might do anything,' the maid admitted to herself. 'But, for some reason, I feel luckier tonight. Perhaps it's the mood.'

Corrin, a pen in hand, had already finished his. "Have you finished yours?"

"Here."

"Let's hang them up together. Come on," the prince beckoned her to come along, smiling. Flora nodded, trudging up towards the tree first and carefully tying her wish to the tree. "Your turn."

Corrin nodded, hanging his own wish up on the tree. He dusted his hands off.

"…alright, now for dinner. Come on, my treat!" The prince offered, grinning. "Your pick. I don't mind; I feel like anything Hoshidan might do tonight."

"Are you sure? I'm fine with whatever you might want."
"Come on, Flora! Tonight's your night! I'm only here to drag you around because you won't do it yourself."

"I…suppose that the yakisoba might be something I'm willing to try, yes. Felicia always says she loved those kinds of noodles, and I've always thought of trying some for myself."

Corrin tapped his chin thoughtfully. "…..well, I think I saw a place that sells yakisoba a few blocks back."
The maid's eyes lit up excitedly. "Truly? Shall we go, then?"

"Ladies first," the prince teased, gesturing towards one of the paths leading outside the plaza.

….

Half an hour later….

Flora sighed, placing her chopsticks in her wooden bowl and placing aside her bowl of finished yakisoba, with only tiny bits of noodles left in the bowl. The maid looked around, watching Corrin finish his own bowl, as she sat close next to him.

"….thank you, Corrin," the maid uttered quietly. "I can't think of what I would've done if you hadn't….invited me along. I know I must say this a lot, perhaps too much, but thank you."

"Don't mention it," the prince waved her off.

"No, I mean it. I…..I need to do something for you," the maid resolved, clenching her fist tightly in her lap. "I need to help you get with Azura. Or help you with getting someone else together. I can't just….let you do all this for me without some form of repayment."

Corrin smiled. "You don't owe me a thing. Just promise you won't mope around like that, okay? I can't stand seeing you cry. You…..look nicer when you smile. No, scratch that. You're beautiful when you smile."

"Are you flirting with me again?"
"No, I'm being totally serious!" The prince protested, half-laughing. "Perhaps I've flirted with you too much for you to believe me, but I'm being serious. You really do look beautiful when you smile."

Flora suddenly flashed a mischievous grin. "Is that why you want me to smile so much? Because you find me beautiful when I do? Maybe I'm just eye-candy to you."

Corrin was stunned by her sudden audacity, as Flora collapsed into giggles, unable to maintain her façade.

"I'm sorry, I….I couldn't resist!"
"…touché, Flora," Corrin conceded defeat to his servant, sighing. "Touché. Being around Azura's a bad influence for you."

"Making those kinds of jokes is….hard," the maid admitted, chuckling despite herself.

"You get used to it. It's the context, really. You've got to have the right context and situation."

"Ah, I see-"

Flora and Corrin's conversation was suddenly interrupted as a man ran past them, yelling at the top of his voice.
"The fireworks are starting! The fireworks are starting!"
"Ooh!" Corrin suddenly pulled himself to his feet as swift as he could. "That's our cue. Come on, we'll need a prime seat!"

He offered Flora his hand for the umpteenth time. The maid took it, looking up at him curiously.

"Where to?"
"Come on, we're getting the best seats for the fireworks we can get."

"Is the marketplace not a good place?"

"It's going to be packed full of people. No, when Elise and I said we'd give you a good night out, only the best will do. Now come on!"

Flora suddenly felt rejuvenated in spite of herself, standing up and putting the bowls aside as she looked around. "Okay, okay! Wait, where do we go? The plaza's going to be full of visitors!"
"I have an idea!" Corrin called back, chortling as he clambered into an alleyway next to a nearby house, beckoning Flora to follow him.

"On the roof, Corrin?" Flora looked up curiously as Corrin helped her up, her foot leaving the top of the barrel she'd been standing on. "Is this really safe?"

"It's not that badly slanted," Corrin reassured her, his bare feet scuffing the terracotta tiles on the roof. Guiding her to the side of the roof facing towards Castle Shirasagi, the prince sat down, Flora following suit. "Besides, this has the best view."

Indeed, the house was upon a hill just outside the centre of town, high enough so that the people in the plaza below seemed small and off in the distance. The festivalgoers could be seen like small ants, wandering around the lit plaza and slowly settling in place. Shouting could be heard from the plaza, as eager children and beleaguered parents took their places, with a few more boxes of fireworks being carted to the small alcove somewhere in Shirasagi where they were launched from.

"I hope the owners of this house won't be too angry," the maid commented worriedly. Corrin snorted as he peered over the side of the roof downwards.

"Considering the owner of this house is Kaze, I'm sure he won't mind too much. He still can't get in, considering the massive pile of love letters outside," he replied, gesturing to the massive pile of letters piled up outside the door below.

Flora adjusted herself, resting slightly against the roof. She sat up, stretching her arms and exhaling deeply. "….I'm surprised you haven't got such a stack of letters."

"I'm sorry?" Corrin tilted his head. Flora stared back at him, tilting her head.

"You know….letters from admirers? I'm surprised you hardly have any. I mean, aside your obvious qualities….you're a prince, a war hero, brother to the Kings of Hoshido and Nohr and personal friends with the Dukes of Izumo and Kohga. You'd expect more women to throw themselves at you."

"Heh, perhaps they think I'm taken. I do live in a palace with a highly attractive princess with those exact same credentials."

"Well, why don't you clarify that? I say this just in case you and Azura don't work out."

Corrin looked thoughtful for a few moments, tapping his chin before nodding slowly.

"Well, maybe I don't want some stranger to court me. I might be waiting for the right person, and they might be a friend of mine. I like the unexpected."

The maid nodded in agreement, fully understanding. "That's fair, I'll give you that-"

A loud bang crackled through the sky, followed by a long whistle, as Flora and Corrin immediately snapped their gazes to the source of the noise.

In the clear Hoshidan night sky was a giant plume of flame, rapidly expanding from where the firecracker had unleashed it, red, yellow and orange dots flying outwards in a synchronised manner forming the shape of an elegant, blooming flower standing out in the blackened sky, petals unfurling into an elegant pattern in the night sky. It hung there for a few moments, twinkling like stars in the sky before fading out into ashes as the flares fizzled out.

Flora's eyes almost lit up as bright as the fireworks themselves, such was her excitement. "Are those the fireworks?"

"Yes. Those are the fireworks. They're beautiful, aren't they?"

"….yes," the maid nodded slowly, smiling like a child seeing snow for the first time. "They are. I heard they were beautiful, but…I wasn't told they were like this. I know that usually, things are always said to look better than they actually do, but….not this time."

"I thought it was overblown too," the prince confessed, chuckling. "…not this time. No wonder everyone knows about this festival."

"I suppose I'm not used to this," Flora admitted. "You'd never see this in Nohr."
"No. No you wouldn't."

Flora laughed a little, before sliding up a little closer to Corrin's side, almost leaning on him.

The night carried on. More and more fireworks exploded like vivid paint on a black canvas, with the cheers of the Hoshidan crowd erupting from the market below. Fantastical shapes of serpentine dragons with regal crowns, undulating ornate spirals of gold and white, and the simple, but beautiful Hoshidan sakura flower, bloomed and grew into the sky. Hoshidan firework makers were master artisans in their field, and it showed.

Corrin smiled as the Nohrian rose was displayed in the sky alongside the Hoshidan sakura flower; a pre-emptive show of unity. Cheers erupted, louder this time; the Nohrians were cheering with their Hoshidan counterparts, elated at their brothers and sisters acknowledging them.

"I wonder who arranged that one," Corrin mused to Flora. The maid didn't respond. The prince frowned slightly.

"Flora? What's wrong-"
His inquiry was interrupted as he saw immediately what was wrong.

Flora had fallen asleep, resting her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed and her chest rising and falling as she breathed softly. The emotional and physical exhaustion had tired her out, and the maid had decided to rest for a moment.

Corrin smiled sweetly. He tried not to move too much- only to keep her elbow from jutting into his side- but that was it. The prince didn't want to disturb her.

Her face was peaceful, a slight smile on it that he'd never seen before. He'd seen her smile, true, but it was usually out of amusement, or gratitude.

This was a smile of contentment and peace. The kind that Corrin rarely saw.

This was what Corrin had been trying to attain for her. This rare thing, this moment of peace for Flora. This was it.

'…I'm….a little creepy for watching her sleep, aren't I?' the prince chided himself. '….wait until Azura hears about this. Corrin, being all sentimental about things. I'd never hear the end of it. Still…..Flora really does look beautiful, just like this. She's….I don't know. It feels nice ,seeing her like this. It's as if her contentment's almost…..infectious.'

Flora's eyes fluttered open, the maid wiping them slightly as she looked at Corrin, staring him in the face.

"Wuh….oh. Sorry, Corrin," the maid apologised softly, her cheeks a little red as she began to lift her head "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you. Is the firework display over?"
"No, not yet," the prince replied. "And it's okay. You can sleep a little longer. I don't mind."

She flashed a grateful smile, exhaling as she closed her eyes again and resumed resting her head on Corrin's shoulder. "Thank you. This….feels nice."

"Get some rest. I'll be here when you wake up."

'And…..yeah. It feels nice, just…being like this,' Corrin admitted to himself quietly. '…..I feel like this could last forever.'

The night went on, and the fireworks finished with a final massive display of a series of increasingly elaborate patterns, swirling and spinning in the sky, closing to the rapturous applause of the audience below.

It was an impressive turnout. It seemed as if everyone from Nohr to Mokushu to Cheve had shown up, with the amount of people present in Shirasagi. Tonight, if the intention had been to unite the world in one awe-inspiring display, this could be counted as an unmitigated success.

Flora and Corrin strolled towards the palace to return home through the portal.

"You had a good night?" the prince inquired to his partner. She nodded once.

"I can't say this enough, but thank you," Flora answered gratefully. "I can say this however many times and I don't think I'd ever be able to thank you."

"Oh, we can do this again, if you like. I hear there's another festival coming along-"
"No, I mean…..for being here for me. For being my friend, Corrin. For being you. Thank you. It really does mean a lot to me."

Something about that made Corrin turn towards Flora. Maybe it was the grateful, almost longing tone to her voice. Maybe it was her kind words. Maybe it was something deeper.

Whatever it was, it was enough to make Corrin meet Flora's gaze with his own.

Grey eyes met red ones, as the maid and prince gazed into each other's faces. The moment hung in the air, thick enough to cut through with a blunt knife. They seemed to hold their gaze for an eternity, encapsulated in one moment. A strange feeling ran through the couple as they did. It was something incomprehensible, something weird but not entirely unpleasant.

Flora was the first to turn away, holding a hand to her suddenly burning cheek and shaking her head. "A-ah. I'm sorry for s-staring…."

"N-no, I am," Corrin turned away next, his cheeks a little red and his voice slurred as if he hadn't fully comprehended what had happened. "Ah. That was…..awkward, wasn't it."

"N-no, not really," the maid admitted, laughing nervously and looking a little shocked, as if she couldn't believe what she said. "…..w-we should probably get going. I want to get something nice for Felicia, s-so you go on ahead. I'll see you tomorrow, Corrin."

Flora scurried away, leaving Corrin alone to ponder. He looked dumbfounded and dazed, as if he'd come out from a trance.

'What was that feeling?' the prince wondered to himself. '…that was…..weird. Surely Flora can't be…no. Of course not. I'm overthinking things. Right?'

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

Corrin almost jumped as Azura showed up, smiling. The prince sighed.

"Ah. Azura. How was your night?"

"I'd like to ask you the same question, considering you look lovestruck" the songstress ribbed him. "A little bird told me you and Flora spent the whole night alone. Anything happen?"

"It was Elise, wasn't it?"
"It was Elise."

The prince exhaled, somewhat exasperated. Their situation had been engineered by his little sister. Perhaps she was less innocent than he gave her credit for.

That was a matter for later, of course. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"….I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours," he gently teased Azura. The songstress rolled her eyes.

"Fine. But you'd better tell me what happened. I want to know, okay?"

"It's a long story. Clear your schedule. We might have to make a lunchtime out of it."

END OF ACT 1

A/N: Whew. Long two-parter, amirite?

Anyway, I've divided the first half of Corrin Reacts into four Acts- just like in the various routes of Katawa Shoujo (a brilliant visual novel, if you haven't read it, it's free for download off their website), and we've reached the end of Act 1 of the first half. Hence the ending to this one being not like the usual endings.

So next chapter won't be a usual reacting chapter, but a series of three vignettes; one about Flora and that ravine incident I keep referencing, one about Scarlet and Ryoma and one about a surprise that you won't be expecting! Maybe. This will also happen at the end of Act 4, to give me a break from writing the plot. I really hope that these vignettes explain a little bit more about some things in this story. After all, there's quite a few things I do that won't have relevance for quite a while.

Also, I've been thinking of writing a short series of sidestories about characters who I really like and feel need a story told, but don't have time for them in the main story of Corrin Reacts, like Charlotte and Orochi. This would be called Corrin Reacts Gaiden (hardi-har-har), and it'd be all about the characters in the Reactsverse who I feel need some love. Please, tell me what you guys think about this story idea in your comments. This idea really has been following me for a while and I want to see what you guys think of it.

So, I hope you enjoyed that, leave your ideas, comments, criticisms, reviews, thoughts and suggestions, and I hope you have a GREAT day! Until next time!