Dean's Note : Slight bad news… for some readers. I'm not entirely sure of a possible sequel. I don't see the appeal to it. Anyway, I'm just glad I finished this. Deepest gratitude to those who followed this story from the beginning. :')

The final chapter is actually a filler, and it's obviously a teaser too.


Chapter 50 – End Game

Setting : Dawn High School, Classroom B2

Time : Tuesday, 8.12am

Another typical day in Dawn High, and in the well-known classroom B3 the students were in their Mathematics period. The teacher in charge was Professor Xaldin, and today the exacting instructor had given the class a test.

"…" Xion was having trouble with an equation she had forgotten. By and large, she would normally ask her best friend for assistance, but Namine was absent since the girl had fallen ill. Xion asked the girl beside her for help since discussion was allowed.

"Oh no, Xion. I don't know the answer myself…" Yuna said, and resumed biting her pen in frustration.

"Any problem, girls?" Roxas asked from behind the two, who had just helped his more athletic cousin solve the arithmetic.

"Nothing, we're fine." Xion boorishly said, showing only a portion of her face to the blonde and looked away stubbornly. The short haired girl then stood up and walked up front to ask for help from Xaldin. Yuna on the other hand, who had become aware of Xion's behavior just now, chose to accept the assistance of Roxas'.

"Roxas, I need help in this. She showed her test paper to him.

"Okay, listen closely…" Roxas enlightened Namine in the matter. He was one of those whiz kids capable of explaining in the most simplest manner. In spite of everything, Roxas was the sole reason why Sora had come this far in terms of his education.

"… okay… alright. Hm." Yuna responded each time she managed to make clear of the intricate equation. "… right. Thanks, Roxas."

"No problem." Roxas said, and returned to his own work.

A few minutes later, having confirmed his students have finished the test, Xaldin told the teens to exchange their papers. He then gave them the answers as they check each other's work. At long last, it turned out only Roxas and Cissnei had a full score.

"Mr Young and Miss Strife. Congratulations."

Something about the way Xaldin uttered those words made Xion become upset.

"And… Mr Griffin. You have the lowest... Care to explain?"

Axel laughed. "Yeah, I'm good at that, teach."

"…" a punishing glare came from Xaldin, but since he was impressed with Roxas and Cissnei's results he decided to keep his cool. "Discussion were allowed in this test, did you not know that?"

"Uh… about that…" Axel grazed his slick hair. Just when Xaldin started to walk towards him, the bell rang, signing the crimson haired boy's escape.

"I'll let you go this time, Griffin. And again, well done the both of you." the mathematics professional said looking upon the two smartest students in the class.


Setting : Sports Ground

Time : 10.15am

P.E.. Class B2 and B3 share the same period, and as usual Sora and the rest of the boys went on for practice, while the girls had their own exercises. Roxas and Hope were jogging in the tracks and Yuna joined Xion for a chat under a tree.

"It's not bad, is it?" Yuna asked Xion about Namine's health.

"No, just a flu. Me and Sora are gonna visit her after school."

"I see… Hm. I'm pretty sure if Namine wasn't absent today, she would've joined Roxas and Cissnei as the toppers of that test earlier. Don't you think?"

Roxas and Cissnei.

Roxas and Cissnei.

Why did her heart boil in a fuming rage when she heard those two names?

"Hey, Xion? You okay? You've been acting strange lately…"

"H-huh?"

"I said, you've been acting strange, Xion. Are you okay?"

"U-um… Yeah. Yeah… I'm okay." Xion answered dishonestly. "Just worried about Nami, that's all."


Roxas was panting, trying to slow down his breathing.

"Woah, you look out of shape…" Hope said, settling down on a bench.

"I… think… you're right…" the spiky haired blonde said as he attempted to catch his breath.

"When was the time you worked out, Roxas?"

Roxas shrugged, and Hope realized what he meant by that. "Seriously, spending most of your time in a library isn't gonna keep you healthy."

"I know… I know…"

"I'm surprised Sora didn't help you in this." Hope said, handing over Roxas a water bottle. The blonde answered after taking a moment to drink his energy drink.

"Nah. Can't blame the guy. He had a lot of predicaments to deal with lately."

"Anyway… Can I eh… ask you something?"

"Yeah?" Roxas sat down beside the silver haired boy.

"You know, just curious, but… Since you joined the board, you've been spending a lot of time with Cissnei. I was wondering… are you two dating?"

"… heh." Roxas laughed. "Sora asked me the same question the other day."

"Well?"

"… okay… but don't tell anyone about it."

"Got it." Hope said, also there was profit for him if he shared whatever Roxas was about to tell him.

Roxas sighed. "Me and Cissnei… let's just say… we were dating… but then Kairi's problem came to the spotlight. I had to tell Cissnei that it wasn't time for… us, you know? I needed to be there for my family."

"Oh." Hope assumed that Roxas and Cissnei acted as professionals. "Cissnei didn't mind?"

"No. Well, it seemed so." Roxas said. "No need to worry about it. Cissnei's an independent girl. She'd be the last person I'll have to worry about in the world."


Sora took a break from practice to check on Kairi. He found the girl sitting on a chair whilst instructing the other cheerleader. Kairi was wearing casual clothes instead of a cheerleader attire since she had to cut down her time as a cheerleader, but still the crimson haired girl fulfilled her duties as the squad's unrivalled captain.

"Hey."

"Oh, hi… Keep it going, girls." Kairi instructed her team and walked at a intermediate pace towards Sora.

"How're you holding up?" Sora asked.

"I'm fine, don't worry. Just the…" Kairi rested a hand on her head and continued. "… usual headache."

"Take the pills, yet?"

Kairi nodded. The medicine she needed to take did help her to some extent. "You're going to Namine's later, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Can I come too? I'm worried…"

"Sure. Don't worry. I already called her mom. She said Nami's only got a small flu. Nothing too serious." Sora enlightened the concerned cheerleader.


Setting : Lightning's Tuition, Alexandra Street 42

Time : Friday, 1.55am

After school ended, Roxas and Cissnei came for their part time job. Teaching at their English professor's privately held tuition. Primary students attend the centre, and Roxas teaches Mathematics whilst Cissnei shows her expertise at English. Lightning's younger sister, Serah, tutors students on art.

The pay from Lightning was reasonable for a two hours service. Later on, after having their jobs done, Roxas and Cissnei left the centre ran by the sisters and decided to spend a little more time together. They got into Roxas' recently bought car. Terra saw that since Sora owned a car, Roxas should too.

"Okay…" Roxas put his hands on the steering wheel and tapped his fingers. "… how do we kill time?" starting his start, Roxas started to drive his car.

"…" no answer came from the girl. She was biting her faultlessly shaped lips, fingertips faintly trembling. It looked as if she was hesitating from saying something to Roxas.

"Hey. Cissnei." Roxas tried to get her attention.

"H-huh?"

Was she not listening to him, Roxas thought. "What do you want to do now? Shall I drop you home?"

"I thought… you would know."

"Me, huh?" he was not sure what to tell her. "… I don't know… maybe I should just bring you home."

"What!? No!"

Roxas slightly jumped at her sudden outbreak. "Woah. Okay… Calm down."

"E-excuse me."

"No, it's alright. … If you… if you have something to say, go ahead. What is it?"

"… can we… no…. Never mind… I'll go home." She said, but she definitely hesitated.

Something was wrong with her, no doubt. Roxas did not bother trying to figure out what it was, so he decided to do as she wished and drop her home.


Setting : Robertson Residence, Namine's room

Time : Saturday, 10.41am

Sora came to visit his sick girlfriend again. Namine was slowly getting well, but not entirely. She was lying on her bed covered in sheets, and next to her was Sora sat on a chair.

"Didn't I tell you not to visit me? You might get sick, Sora."

"This body never gets sick." The boy winked and said.

Namine shook her head and sniffed. "Anyway… tell me you're test score for yesterday's Maths test. You may have escaped last time mister…" she sniffed again and resumed. "… but this time you're telling me."

"E-eh…" Sora lurched. He quickly forced a smile and said, "Never mind that, Nami. Let's just…"

"Sora." She called his name in a stern approach. "You know I'm bound to know it anyway. Why not just let me know now?"

"… You'll be… disappointed. I don't want that."

"Please?"

There was no resisting to her unintentional puppy look and tempting voice.

Sora sighed and told his girlfriend, "… 61. It's a goddamn 61 percent."

"Okay." Namine said nodding her head. She took a moment to sneeze with a tissue just about silently.

"I know. You're disappointed. The worst part was… Professor Xaldin let us discuss… and I still got a lame score."

"Sora, it's alright. It's an improvement."

"Improvement?" What do you mean?" Sora asked intriguingly.

Namine laughed. "I… well I asked Roxas some time ago all of your test results from your previous school."

"Come again?"

"I needed that if I'm going to tutor you. … That reminds me… I'm supposed to be tutoring you right now…"

"It's no big deal. You gotta get better soon, then I promise I'll listen to everything you say. I'll even study as much as you want me to." he said in an honest method, meaning every single word he uttered.

The sixteen year old sportsman noticed his girlfriend trying to reach for his hand, therefore he did it himself.

"… I love you." Namine spoke out of the blue.

"H-hey. What's wrong?"

The blond haired girl shook her head. "Nothing. Just wanted to say that…"

"… I love you too…" he brushed Namine's hand with his fingers fondly. "get better soon. Okay? … I'll come visit tomorrow." Sora got up from his seat.

"W-wait."

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"S-stay. Talk with me…"

"… okay." Sora smiled and went back to sitting. Her voice was enthralling, almost begging for his presence. That was reason enough for Sora to stay with her for the rest of the day.


Setting : The Strife Residence

Time : 12.26pm

The Strife siblings were having lunch, homemade by Cissnei herself.

"Ahem." Cissnei cleared her throat and said, "I'm going out later, and I might be late."

Cloud nodded his head. "… I have a night shift anyway." The robust older man said. Even though his younger sister was the person he loved the most in the world, Cloud had given Cissnei a curfew.

"Not asking where I'm going, aren't you?"

"… where?" the spiky haired blonde asked after a delay of silence.

Cissnei managed to keep out a laugh. She said, "I'm going out with Roxas."

"… him again?" Cloud had been hearing

"Is there a problem? You don't trust the boy?"

"I haven't even met him."

"Do you want to?" Cissnei asked.

Cloud shrugged coolly. "… maybe. If you're comfortable with it. I just… want to make sure you're happy. That's all."

"He's a good boy." Cissnei reassured.

"… I'll be the judge of that." Cloud said. A guy dating his younger sister needs to possess the right qualities.

"So my judgment's not right, is it?" Cissnei asked with a cute smirk.

"No, that's not it. … It's… I don't want to see you cry… ever again."

"C-Cloud…" the room suddenly seemed to be in despicable all of a sudden. The past almost came back to haunt Cissnei again, but she kept a hold to herself.

"Roxas… you sure about him?"

"I think… no. I know for sure." Cissnei reassurance came again.

"Alright. … But he's still meeting me one day."

'Unbelievable guy.' Cissnei smiled to herself thinking about her brother. It was obvious Cloud was being defensive to her. After all… he should be after what had happened to his sister.


Setting : Daylight Beach

Time : 6.55pm

Walking side by side, Roxas and Cissnei enjoyed the tranquility of the beach in this hour. Cissnei would have to go back before seven-thirty, and she was a girl who honored the rules set by her older brother, including given curfew.

Roxas looked upon the endless view of the sea. To be frank, he significantly enjoys days spent with the girl next to him. She was an exact mirror of himself, someone Roxas had never met before in his life.

It was getting late.

"We better get going."

"Wait… N-not yet."

"What is it? Cissnei, you have to talk to me. Something's been bothering you for the past few days and don't think I don't care about you. I do. So tell me what's wrong."

"… it's complicated, Roxas…"

"I can take 'complicated'. Trust me." Roxas tried to convince the troubled cherry haired girl. "Cissnei?"

His words were comforting.

That was it. Cissnei braced herself and collected enough bravery to utter the next few words.

"Okay… Roxas… There's something I have to tell you… and I've been hiding it for a while now…"

"…" Roxas quietly listened to the girl, and for unknown reasons fear began to emerge in him.

"You've…. You've made me feel happy… appreciated…" the stunning girl said. "You filled an empty hole in my heart."

Roxas realized what she was about to tell him, and it was what feared him.

"C-Cissnei…" before he could say anything, Cissnei placed a finger on the blonde's lips.

"Roxas…" she called his name, almost sounding akin to a whisper of agony. A tear escaped Cissnei's eye, but she was smiling elegantly.

Facing the boy, Cissnei went on. "I…"

"…"

"… I love you, Roxas." their lips sealed when Cissnei kissed Roxas softly.


Dean's Note : The End?