Summary:
Taking the advice of his squadmates, Kirsch writes a letter detailing all his sappy feelings for Zora. Chaos ensues.
Notes:
I spent all of my Monday writing this story, instead of writing what I had originally planned to write.
Levi, Cornelia, Barry, Pitney, Lovejoy, (These five are also in my Gladiolus'verse) Nelly, April, and Juniper are all my OC Coral Peacock characters. The rest of the Coral Peacocks are minor canon characters (i.e. Brad, Rick, Medio, Protobe, etc).
Please enjoy this absolute dumpster fire.
The Letter
By:
IAmStoryteller
It was the Coral Peacocks' monthly bonding squad dinner night. Other than regular tea parties given by Captain Dorothy, Captain Dorothy also insisted that the squad have bonding time without her. So, once a month, Kirsch ordered a bunch of food from that month's chosen squad member's favorite restaurant and they played games in the sitting room.
Of course, there were several games banned from these nights-like strip poker, regular poker, betting games in general, and trivia games. The truth and dare game was allowed but with stipulations that the dares couldn't be dangerous to one's well-being or anyone else and that super invasive personal questions weren't allowed if it made someone uncomfortable.
"Come on, Vice-Captain, Truth or Dare," said Cornelia Franklin (2nd Class Senior Magic Knight), with a shit-eating grin on her face. Today, Cornelia had her brown hair up in a big braid and she wore her "comfortable" clothes. For someone looking like a delightfully, cute, harmless person, Cornelia was a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing.
Never trust the cute ones.
Kirsch scowled at Cornelia. "Truth." Cornelia was rather devious, getting around the stipulations and Kirsch didn't fancy a dare from her.
Levi Roe (1st Class Senior Magic Knight and the third-in-command of the Coral Peacocks) whistled. "That's brave, Vice-Captain."
Cornelia grinned. "So, who's your crush that you've been sighing over lately, Vice-Captain?"
Kirsch grimaced. "I have no crush." Crushes were fair game in truth and dare, since it wasn't life-threatening or that invasive.
"Liar," every one of his squadmates.
Putting his hand over his heart, he said, as dramatically as possible, knowing that it'd annoy everyone in the room. "Why would I bother having a measly crush when I am the most beautiful person in the kingdom?"
"You're not," said one of the juniors, Pitney, who was sixteen and didn't know not to mention that ridiculous beauty ranking contest done by his terrible cousin Nebra on a whim when she had been bored. "Vice-Captain Yuno is the best-looking guy in the kingdom and Captain Roselei is the prettiest woman in the kingdom."
Cornelia and Levi groaned. They've heard Kirsch rant about the stupid ranking many times.
Kirsch made a disgusted face. "That wasn't even a fair contest. Licht, the Elf-King, is dead, why does he count? And how dare they put me after him and Yuno in the rankings of attractive men? Honestly, why does no one appreciate my beauty?"
"You didn't answer Cornelia's Truth question, Vice-Captain," said Protobe Collina, who was one of the oldest members of the squad and therefore refereed the games instead of participating, claiming that he was "too old for games." Kirsch was in the opinion that Protobe just didn't want to lose.
"Yeah, play the game right, Vice-Captain," said Lovejoy, another of his younger squadmates. Lovejoy was sixteen like Pitney and the two joined the squad at the last Magic Knight Exams, before the Spade Dark Triad debacle.
"None of you respect me," Kirsch sniffed.
"Stop stalling," said Levi. "Out with it. You know what gets said in Truth and Dare stays between us. It's like when you vacation in Raque, what happens in Raque, stays in Raque."
Rolling his eyes, Kirsch said, "Fine. I like Zora. Happy?"
Silence descended on the room. Levi and Cornelia were surprised. Protobe's jaw dropped. Pitney and Lovejoy looked at each other in horror, since they only ever saw Zora once and thought he was terrifying. Rick, Dmitri, Roland, Barry, and Brad all burst out laughing. Eighteen-year-olds Nelly Moran, April Messenger, and Juniper Kay, a trio of Intermediate Class Magic Knights who became best friends upon becoming Coral Peacock members three years ago, giggled. Everyone else just went very quiet.
Thank goodness, Captain Dorothy wasn't there.
Kirsch felt his face warm and he asked, annoyed. "What?"
Medio, bless him for being bold enough to say what everyone probably thought about the revelation, asked, "You like Zora Ideale? The same guy who beat you in the Royal Knight Exams and constantly calls you a "Royal Dumbass" and criticizes everyone he meets?"
"...Yes," said Kirsch, slowly.
"Him," Levi asked, incredulously. "Why in the hell would you like him? I don't think you two ever had a regular conversation."
"Is Vice-Captain a masochist," Cornelia wondered out loud.
"Shhh, there's children here, Cornelia," said April, covering Pitney and Lovejoy's ears with her Wool Magic.
"I'm not a masochist! And for your information, Zora and I have lovely civil conversations," said Kirsch, in his defense.
"Right, just not in front of other people," said Levi, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure that it's not in your head?"
Kirsch said, face warming, knowing that he was digging his own grave on the matter, "It's not! Zora's very clever and intelligent. And he's kind underneath all his sarcasm and biting words. He just wants the Magic Knights to be better, so he has high expectations."
"Oh my God, you seriously like him," Cornelia said. She grinned. "It also doesn't hurt that he's attractive if you're into the delinquent rebel type."
"I mean, I guess I get it," said Juniper, nodding her head. "Gotta admit, his abs are perfection on display."
"People, the children are still here," April hissed. Lovejoy and Pitney's ears were blocked by Wool so they just looked adorably confused, looking at the seniors.
"He's cool too," said Dmitri, with a sly smirk on his face. "A bit too cool for you, Vice-Captain."
"Well, he's a fellow red-head, so I guess I'll approve," said Levi, shaking his head.
"You're more ginger, Levi. Zora has darker red hair," said Kirsch, automatically. His face warmed. He covered his face with his hands and groaned, "I hate you all."
"No, you don't, you liar," said Levi and Cornelia, in response.
"Aww, Vice-Captain's in love," cheered Nelly. "We can help you win your man!"
"No. No. Absolutely not. Never. No. I never intend to tell him," said Kirsch. He flailed and nearly fell off his chair in the process like a fool. "Zora can't ever know. This stays between us!"
"He's in the hopeless pining stage," said Protobe, nodding and sighing knowingly. "Why, I remember when I just realized I had feelings for my dear Lois back in the day. It took me months to realize that she had been flirting with me. I bet you have more of a chance than you think, Vice-Captain."
"He doesn't," interjected, all at the same time, Roland, Medio, Brad, Rick, and Dmitri, who all had been witness to Kirsch's embarrassing loss at the Royal Knight Selection Exams some many months ago.
Medio shook his head. "Zora might be civil with the Vice-Captain now since we are all colleagues, but he does not have a high opinion of nobility in general. There's no way a proud peasant like Zora would ever date Vice-Captain."
"Harsh," said Barry Morton, the resident medic.
Kirsch winced and said, weakly, "You didn't have to be so blunt about it, Medio. And mean, Barry." Medio was right in his assessment. Kirsch knew that Zora would never return any feelings for him. It was a sad fact that he resigned himself when he realized his feelings for Zora in the first place.
"Then," said April, sternly, "you have to write out your feelings in a letter that you don't send. Get all of the sappy, lovey-dovey feelings out on paper and then, give up on him, Vice-Captain. You shouldn't pine after a hopeless crush. You deserve better than that."
"I don't know about that," said Kirsch, hesitantly, wondering how the game of Truth and Dare devolved into helping him with his non-existent love life.
"That's a great idea," said Cornelia. "I mean, I don't want to hear you crow about Zora's good qualities, so writing them down would be cathartic for you. Do it!"
"Yeah, Vice-Captain, do it," said Juniper. "You'll feel better."
"That's so sweet, actually," said Nelly.
"Then, you have to burn the letter. It's evidence," said Levi, knowingly.
The rest of the squad agreed, except Protobe, who shook his head. Protobe said, "I think you're all wrong."
"You're just a hopeless romantic, Protobe," said Rick, poking Protobe in the face. Protobe batted Rick's hand away from his face.
"I guess I should try," said Kirsch, reluctantly.
"We can help you," said Pitney, cheerfully able to hear again since April released her Wool Magic.
"I'm not sending it," said Kirsch.
"But it's going to be your ultimate and only confession. You should make it as great as possible," said Lovejoy, actually agreeing with Pitney for once.
"The kids are right," said April, arms crossed and giving him a stern look. "Put everything into it. We'll help."
"Sometimes, I'm not sure if you all hate me, or if you love me," said Kirsch, touched that they wanted to help him.
"It's both," the entire room chorused.
It took five days, a lot of yelling and needling (from Cornelia and Levi), laughter (from everyone else), and tears (Kirsch, all the crying was him), but Kirsch wrote his sappy confession letter. He really poured his heart and soul into it. It was mortifyingly embarrassing, especially if Zora ever saw it. Kirsch would never be able to look Zora in the face again if Zora read this letter.
Sitting at his desk in his Vice-Captain's office, Kirsch held the five-page letter in his hands and sighed. Mostly everything that he felt was in these pages.
Still, it didn't feel all-encompassing. Words could only express so much when it came to love.
His squadmates were right. He should ceremoniously burn the letter and let go of his feelings, but he couldn't do it right now. He needed a bit more time. As silly as it sounded, he wanted to enjoy having these feelings, all the good, and bad parts.
Kirsch sighed and took out an envelope from his desk drawer. He neatly folded the letter and placed it inside the envelope. He picked up his pen and wrote Zora's name on it. Of course, he wasn't sending it, but a letter needed an envelope and a destination. He picked up the packed envelope and put it in his desk drawer.
He'd deal with it later.
"Hey, Vice-Captain, we need you in the training room. Lovejoy and Pitney are trying to murder each other again," yelled Levi, bursting into the room. "Rick and Brad started a betting pool."
"I see," said Kirsch, rolling his eyes. "Let's go."
Kirsch rushed out of his office with Levi at his heels to stop their juniors from hurting each other. The two kids were always at each other's throats, except in rare cases where they got along because they shared a brain cell. A Vice-Captain's work never ended.
Levi sat in the greenhouse as Captain Dorothy poured him tea. Cornelia ate some puff pastries. Today, it was quiet in the Coral Peacock Headquarters. They had gotten a list of missions from the Office of the Wizard King (i.e. Marx, as Lord Julius had gone off on an adventure without telling his assistant again), so most of the squad were on teams out on the missions. Levi, Cornelia, and Kirsch were at home with Captain Dorothy, who always insisted on having a tea break. Their illustrious Vice-Captain was nowhere to be found, no doubt, the guy was in his office fixing the errors on the paperwork handed in by the other squad members.
"Where's Kirsch," asked Captain Dorothy, awake for once.
"Dunno," said Levi. "I'm not his keeper."
He was Kirsch's keeper. Kirsch kept this squad alive and running smoothly, but it was Levi who had to look out for Kirsch since he usually took the most work on himself and never once complained about it. Sure, Levi gave Kirsch a hard time now and then, but Levi had concerns about Kirsch overworking himself, especially since he was clearly avoiding burning the letter as Levi suggested.
Cornelia shrugged. "He'll come when he's ready."
Captain Dorothy nodded, sleepily. "He's such a good boy."
Levi and Cornelia snorted. Everyone knew that Kirsch was Captain Dorothy's favorite.
Speaking of Kirsch, they all heard him scream louder than they had ever heard him. "WHERE IS IT?" Kirsch came flying into the room, red-faced and furiously near tears.
Levi and Cornelia stood up immediately. Levi asked, "What happened?"
"Where's the letter," asked Kirsch, fists clenched and face getting redder.
"Um, you lost it," Cornelia gently asked.
"No, it's gone from my desk. I swear to God, I will murder the person who took it," said Kirsch, seethingly.
Levi had never seen him this mad before. "Breathe, man, I'm sure you just misplaced it."
"What letter," asked Captain Dorothy, tilting her head in confusion.
"There was a letter addressed to Zora in my desk that wasn't supposed to be sent, because it just happened to detail all my undying feelings of love for him," screeched Kirsch.
Levi patted Kirsch on the back, while Kirsch panicked.
"Shit," Cornelia cursed. "That's not a good thing." Levi and Cornelia, having the privilege of being Kirsch's closest friends, as they were two people that were the same age as Kirsch and joined the Coral Peacocks at the same time as Kirsch, were the only ones that read the letter's contents in its entirety. "We'll find it, Kirsch."
Kirsch sniffled. Levi grimaced as he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Kirsch so he could wipe his face.
And then, Captain Dorothy said, suddenly, "Oh, that letter! I sent it out. I thought it needed to be mailed. Was it really a love letter? That's very cute of you, Kirsch."
Kirsch collapsed into a nearby chair and put his hands over his face, rocking back and forth. Cornelia poured some water for the poor guy, as Levi dealt with their Captain.
Levi stared at their Captain in disbelief. "Since when do you handle the mail, Captain?"
"Kirsch works so hard for me, so I thought I was helping," said Captain Dorothy, looking concerned.
"I want to die," moaned Kirsch.
"None of that," said Cornelia, forcing the cup of water in Kirsch's hand.
"Cornelia's right. Captain, how did you send the mail," asked Levi.
"Oh! Just the Basic Ground. The First-Class Spatial charges are outrageous," said Captain Dorothy, closing her eyes in thought. "I gave it to Mr. Rowell, who always delivers our mail."
Levi sighed in relief. "Kirsch, get yourself together. We still have a chance to catch up with the delivery person and intercept the letter before it gets to the Bulls in the Forsaken Realm." Levi and Cornelia pulled Kirsch out of his chair. "We're going out, Captain."
"Oh, yes, lovely, have fun," said Captain Dorothy. "I'm gonna nap."
The trio's first stop was the post office in the closest town nearby Coral Peacock Headquarters. Kirsch managed to get himself together, much to Levi's relief, but there was still that frantic look in Kirsch's eyes. The three Senior Class Magic Knights entered the small post office where a bored-looking clerk sat at the counter. Miss Ally was the worst post office clerk, always unhelpful and rude, and always painting or filing her nails, but she never got fired.
"Miss Ally, where's Mr. Rowell," asked Levi, politely. Levi held Kirsch's arm, just in case he decided to become a crazy person and go into the back of the post office in search of the letter.
"On his route," said Miss Ally, unhelpfully.
"Listen, there was a letter mistakenly sent from the Coral Peacocks Headquarters and we need it back," said Cornelia, stepping towards the counter. "It's a piece of sensitive Magic Knight business."
Miss Ally rolled her brown eyes and sighed like they were interrupting her spa day. She pulled out a clipboard. "Here, this is Rowell's route. Do what you want, just leave me alone."
Cornelia took the clipboard and said, "Thank you, Miss Ally. Have a great day." With the information in hand, they left the stifling post office. Cornelia quickly browsed the detailed lists. "It's like 2 pm, so Mr. Rowell should be almost to the Inter-Realm Mail Distribution Center in Kikka."
"Let's go," said Kirsch.
They flew there on their brooms and arrived just as Mr. Rowell, the kindly, portly middle-aged delivery person, exited the distribution center. "Ah, it's Miss Cornelia, Mr. Levi, and Vice-Captain Kirsch, I saw that Dotty was awake today. Good for her."
Kirsch asked, "Did she give you a letter addressed to Zora Ideale?"
"Yes, she did. Just delivered it in there," said Mr. Rowell. "Did you forget something?"
Kirsch looked ready to cry again, so Levi and Cornelia thanked Mr. Rowell and rushed Kirsch into the distribution center. Cornelia went to the counter to speak with the clerk while Levi checked on Kirsch.
"Kirsch, buddy, breathe," said Levi, in a sympathetic tone.
"Levi, if Zora gets that letter, promise me that you'll remember me when I run away to become a monk," said Kirsch.
"You're not going to do that," said Levi, reasonably. "You'd never last wearing brown monk robes."
"I'd make it work," said Kirsch, eyes darting to see if Cornelia had any luck with the clerk at this place.
"You'd last an hour," said Levi. He patted Kirsch gently on the back. "We're gonna get the letter. Chances are that Zora's not even at the Black Bulls' base."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right, Levi. Thanks for keeping a level head," said Kirsch, smiling wetly.
"Someone has to," said Levi, lightly.
Cornelia came back to them with a frown. "Since the address was in the Forsaken Realm, they sent it immediately via spatial portal to the distribution center in Hampshire. We had better move it."
By the time they made it to Hampshire, the letter was already out for delivery, but the delivery person should be in Sosshi, a small town. It was way too close to where the Black Bulls' base sat regularly. Kirsch's stomach was in knots, his chest was tight with anxiety and he could barely concentrate on flying he was so distracted. Levi and Cornelia were doing their best to keep him calm by shouting words of encouragement at him, but the thought of Zora reading the letter sent Kirsch into a panic every time.
Sosshi was a very small town that had been the location of the first interaction between the Eye of the Midnight Sun and the Magic Knights, specifically Asta, Noelle, and Magna of the Black Bulls.
They finally caught up with the delivery person, a young harried-looking woman named May.
"Sorry, I already did my stop at the Black Bulls' base," said May, shaking her head when Cornelia and Levi questioned her. Kirsch breathed in harshly as May continued to speak, "I usually stop there before Sosshi, if I get mail for them. The small girl took the letter."
"Small girl?"
May nodded. "The one that's always eating."
"Oh, thank God, Charmy has it," said Kirsch, sighing. With any luck, Charmy would probably forget she had it and Zora would never get it.
"Guess we gotta get to the Bulls," said Cornelia, sighing. "Dealing with them always gives me a migraine. No offense to your cousin, Kirsch."
Kirsch already was on his broom. "Let's go."
The Black Bulls' base (AKA Legolant Manor) was easy to spot. Kirsch hoped that Zora wasn't home. Please be on a mission, Please be on a mission, chanted Kirsch in his head, as he, Levi, and Cornelia landed in the front of the Black Bulls' base. Kirsch breathed in and out and smiled as reassuring as possible to his friends.
Cornelia and Levi smiled hesitantly back. How were they going to get the letter without spilling the details of the contents? Surely, the Black Bulls would give them the letter back, right?
The Black Bulls had an open-door policy, but Kirsch still felt it was impolite to just barge into someone else's home, so he knocked on the door.
The door swung open. It was Finral that answered the door. Finral's eyes widened at the sight of the three Coral Peacocks, and then, Finral gave Kirsch such a look of pity. "I figured you'd be by. Come in. Hello, Miss Cornelia, Levi."
That greeting boded ill, Kirsch thought to himself.
Kirsch entered the Black Bulls' base and he was subjected to the entire squad, except Zora and Nacht, staring at him with looks of disbelief, grins, and looks of pity on their faces. Kirsch glanced around the room. Grey hid behind Gauche, who was in the corner with a Marie doll, with Gordon next to Gauche with a scrapbook of some kind. Captain Yami sat at the head of the table. Vanessa lounged on the couch in her bra and underwear. Nero, in bird form, sat on Asta's head with the miniature version of the Anti-Magic Devil Liebe. Asta and Noelle were sitting on the same couch as Vanessa. Henry was far enough away in the kitchen, staring curiously. Magna and Luck were glaring at Kirsch. Finral watched with pity on his face.
Kirsch found his letter in Charmy's tiny, grubby hands, but the letter was open.
They opened the letter.
They read the letter.
They read the letter.
God, kill me, now, please, thanks, thought Kirsch as he steeled himself and said, "Can I have my letter back?"
Charmy said, "No. This is for Zora."
Kirsch breathed in and out and resisted the urge to scream. With Levi and Cornelia at his back, he felt a bit more confident than he felt.
As the tittering amongst the Black Bulls began, Noelle said, haughty, "I'm surprised at you, Kirsch. I thought you'd have better taste in men than Zora."
"Noelle, you're my favorite cousin, now get Charmy to give me the letter," said Kirsch, smiling.
Noelle leveled such a look at him. He cursed the day that Noelle looked like a spitting image of Aunt Acier, because Kirsch's mother looked very similar to Aunt Acier. Looking at Noelle was staring at a smaller version of his mother. He wondered if this was how Nozel felt every time he looked at Noelle too-to be reminded of a long-gone mother. She said, matter-of-factly, "That's a lie. I know your favorite cousin is Captain Mereoleona. I'm Mimosa's favorite cousin."
""Ey," said Magna Swing, glaring at Kirsch menacingly. "You think you're good enough for my bro Zora?
"Yeah, yeah," Luck agreed, glaring. "We're gonna have to fight you, Vice-Captain Kirsch!"
"Listen, I just want the letter back. I'd appreciate it if you never mentioned this to him, like ever," said Kirsch, almost pleadingly. "Where is Zora anyway?"
"Oh, Zora's on a mission with Vice-Captain Nacht," said Asta, helpfully. Asta was the only one that didn't seem like he was amused with the situation or giving him looks of pity.
Asta was suddenly his favorite person.
"Asta, please, please, can you help me get the letter back," asked Kirsch, knowing that Asta was far too kind-hearted to refuse.
"The letter was really sweet! Very romantic. If you want to ask Zora out, you should get him flowers, Vice-Captain Kirsch," said Asta, earnestly and obliviously.
Kirsch held his heart because that was really sweet advice and he couldn't get mad at Asta for it. "Captain Dorothy accidentally sent it."
"So, it wasn't ready yet," asked Magna, eyes narrowing. "You can't be half-assing things if you're gonna date Zora. He deserves a good boyfriend."
"I'm not going to date Zora, Magna! He doesn't even like me," Kirsch snapped. He wasn't going to cry in front of the Black Bulls, no, he wasn't, especially not with his cousin Noelle there and Captain Yami there, who said nothing but just watched this catastrophe unfold.
"Alright, alright, stop bullying our Vice-Captain," said Levi, holding up his hands in a placating manner. "Hand over the letter, Miss Charmy. It's evidence that has to be burned."
"No," said Charmy, munching on a muffin. "Zora put me in charge of any mail he gets while he's gone. It got mailed here, so it's his now."
"But you read it! You opened his mail and read it," Kirsch protested.
"We had to know what it was before we gave it to him," said Luck.
Magna had his arms crossed. "There were some big claims in there, Vice-Captain Kirsch. Very heartfelt I admit, but words are one thing, actions are another. Would you fight for him? Would you fight with him? Can you take care of him? You know Zora is pretty difficult most days and he likes his time on his own. How do we know that this isn't just some passin' fancy? You royals are pretty flighty."
Noelle threw a small water ball at Magna's head for the jab at her.
Kirsch made a face and said, "Magna, I told you. I didn't intend to send it."
"Yet. You didn't intend to send it yet," said Luck, tilting his head like he was figuring out Kirsch's weak points to attack. "Otherwise, you are just half-assing it and don't really mean it."
Kirsch said, "That's not-"
"Alright, that's it," Cornelia snapped, cutting Kirsch off. "Magna, Luck, you wanna fight? I'll take you on. I won't hear the slander about my Vice-Captain. He worked really hard on that letter! His feelings are real. And what makes Kirsch not good enough for Zora, huh? Who's to say that Zora ain't good enough for Kirsch?"
"We say," said Magna and Luck.
"Outside, if you're gonna brawl," said Captain Yami.
Kirsch glanced at Cornelia, who was fuming mad on his behalf. She did care about him, who knew? "Cornelia, don't…"
It was too late. Magna, Luck, and Cornelia went outside, and yelling began.
"Well, Cornelia has Rain Magic, she'll be fine," said Levi, grabbing Kirsch by the arm to steady him before Kirsch went outside himself to fight Magna and Luck. "Focus. Charmy, the letter, please. You're being mean to Kirsch."
"I can't. It's Zora's mail," said Charmy, stubbornly.
Kirsch went closer to Charmy, bypassing her sheep, and he knelt to look her in the eyes. Vanessa whistled in the background. Kirsch sensed the mana of three angry elemental magic users outside. Levi's calming mana helped off-set Kirsch's anxiety just as a smidge. He needed to get the letter and get himself, Levi and Cornelia out of here before things got dicier. "Charmy, if you give me that letter, I will give you my mother's recipe book."
"Kirsch, no, you can't," said Noelle, shocked, eyes wide. She argued, "That's one of the only things you and Mimosa have left of your mother's! Charmy, just give him the letter. If he's willing to trade you Aunt Nickole's recipe book then he's serious."
"Nickole Vermillion," asked Charmy, eyes glinting with interest.
"Yes, my mother," said Kirsch.
"I heard stories of the famous Winter Festival dinner she made to impress the House Head Maximilian Vermillion, so he'd approve her marriage to his son," said Charmy, salivating. "It's got those recipes in there?"
"Yes, everything," said Kirsch, nodding eagerly. "Dinners, desserts, breakfast, drinks. She learned how to cook when she decided that she wanted to have kids so she'd be able to feed us. Please Charmy, I'll go get it right now, if you agree." Charmy didn't need to know that the recipe book would be a copy, since Kirsch made copies for himself, Mimosa, and Crimson Lions Vice-Captain Randall to use. He'd just give her his copy and then make another copy using Mimosa's. The original was locked away in a box in his room.
Charmy pursed her lips together deep in thought and said, "Deal."
"Thank you, Charmy," said Kirsch, standing up. "Finral, can I ask you to open a portal for me?"
Finral nodded apologetically. "Yeah, of course." Finral always had the other Magic Knight bases' coordinates memorized, so he opened one to the Coral Peacock Headquarters.
Before Kirsch stepped into the portal, he looked at Levi and said, "Help Cornelia fight Magna and Luck."
"You got it."
Challenging Magna Swing and Luck Voltia to a fight to defend the honor of her Vice-Captain was the stupidest thing she had ever done and that included the one time that she tried to dye her normal brown hair blond to impress a girl when she was seventeen and instead made her hair green. Back then, it was Kirsch who spent the time getting Cornelia's hair back to brown even if they hadn't gotten along in those first few years as comrades.
"Kirsch can't date Zora until he fights us," said Luck, zipping around the front yard of the Black Bulls' base.
Cornelia threw a blast of cold rainwater at Luck, who shivered. "Zora is a grown man who can make his own decisions, Luck!"
"He's not the best with people, so we have to watch out for him. Besides, what if Kirsch's hurts Zora's feelings," said Magna, throwing a fireball at Cornelia, which got blocked by an unseen barrier.
"Levi," said Cornelia, smiling at her friend as he ran outside to her side.
Levi's Barrier Magic would help immensely.
"Two-on-two, let's go," Luck and Magna roared.
"Bring it," yelled Cornelia and Levi.
Zora flew far ahead of his asshole Vice-Captain. Nacht and Zora had been sent on a mission together and never again would Zora agree to it. They argued with each other the entire time, they almost let the spy from the Diamond Kingdom get away because of it, and Nacht wouldn't stop for food like a normal person would on an eight-hour mission. Thoroughly annoyed, Zora couldn't wait to get back home and get some food and sleep like the dead for the rest of the day.
As he flew closer to the base, he saw the lightning, fire, and...was that rain, clashing in front of their base. Were they under attack by an enemy? Zora whistled to get Nacht's attention and pointed aggressively towards the base. Nacht merely nodded. The two flew faster, only to find that Magna and Luck were fighting two Coral Peacock members.
Zora rolled his eyes. Nacht frowned and used his Shadow Magic to stop all four from moving, clearing the air of mana discharge. The front yard was wrecked...again. At least, Charmy's garden was in the backyard and safe. She'd go on a rampage if someone destroyed her garden. Magna, Luck, and the two Coral Peacock members struggled against Nacht's Shadow Magic, as he and Zora landed.
Zora knew these two members of Kirsch's squad-they were Levi Roe, the Barrier Magic-User, and Cornelia Franklin, the Rain Magic-User. These two were Kirsch's best friends. The Coral Peacocks members stopped squirming so Nacht released them, but Magna and Luck kept fighting against the magic.
"Did we have joint trainin' with ya guys," asked Zora.
Cornelia and Levi looked at each other. Levi said, "No. We had to pick something up that got delivered here wrong. Things got out of hand."
"Sorry about those idiots," said Zora. "Suppose yer annoying dumbass Vice-Captain is inside?"
Cornelia glared at him with great intensity. Did Zora do something to piss this woman off? He didn't think so. Cornelia said, snappish, "He is, not that it's your business."
"Down, Cornelia," said Levi, smiling placatingly.
Nacht said, "Is everyone an idiot?"
"Shut up, devil-fucker," said Zora easily. "Let Magna and Luck go now." Nacht waved his hand and Magna and Luck collapsed to the ground. Nacht disappeared into the shadows, not wanting to deal with whatever was going on at the moment.
"Zora! Wait until you hear…" started Luck, but he was cut off.
"Shut up, you inconsiderate buffoon," snapped Cornelia.
"Hey, you wanna go again, Cornelia," asked Magna, in defense of his boyfriend.
Zora sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and stated, "Calm the fuck down, what the hell is going on?"
"Nothing," said Cornelia and Levi, quickly.
"Right," said Zora, tone dripping with sarcasm. "Whatever, let's go inside and calm down. I need an early dinner."
Zora made the four walk in front of him to get them back inside. It was only several feet, but he had to throw stink bugs at them to make them behave. Inside, the entire squad was there, as well as Kirsch who was trading a book for some papers with Charmy. Must be the delivery mix-up, mused Zora.
"I'm back," said Zora. "Why were these four battlin' in the front yard?" He gestured to Magna, Luck, Levi, and Cornelia.
"Zora! Welcome back," cheered Asta.
Zora smirked. "Yeah, Yeah. Oi, Royal Dumbass, control yer squadmates. Henry, the yard's wrecked by the way."
"Again...why…" said Henry, sadly.
"Hi, Zora, bye, Zora, we were just getting ready to leave," said Kirsch, quickly, not looking at Zora. Kirsch's face was red. Did he have a fever? Kirsch walked quickly to grab Levi and Cornelia. "Bye, Black Bulls. Remember what I said!"
The three Coral Peacock members fled the house.
Zora shook his head and asked his squadmates. "What the fuck was that?"
Kirsch sighed in relief as they arrived back home, the letter in hand, all five pages of his love confession to Zora. Levi and Cornelia looked exhausted from fighting Magna and Luck. It worked out. Sure, he had to threaten the Bulls into silence by threatening to get Captain Dorothy to give them all nightmares. Technically, she couldn't do that but they didn't know that. It might not work and he'll have to have an awkward conversation with Zora sooner rather than later, but at least he got the letter back.
Medio and Barry spotted Kirsch, Levi, and Cornelia as they entered their headquarters. Medio asked, "Where were you guys? Captain made a thousand pancakes again, while she was unsupervised."
"We cannot consume that many pancakes...again," said Barry.
Kirsch sighed. "Long story. Let's go see the damage." Destruction of the letter would have to wait.
Zora yawned, using the towel to dry his wet hair as he stepped into his room. Charmy was sitting on his desk. "Yes, Charmy? I ate dinner and dessert. Please stop trying to feed me extra portions."
"This is for you," said Charmy, handing him papers. "It's a copy of the letter."
"What letter?"
"The one that Kirsch sent you," said Charmy, patiently as if he was a child (not to mention that Zora was older than her). "He wanted it back so badly, but you told me to not lose your mail."
Zora raised an eyebrow. He wiped his unmasked face with the towel and then threw the towel in the hamper. He took the papers from her. "Why would Kirsch send me a letter, if he can just come and talk ta me?"
"Read it and find out."
"Was this why Magna and Luck kept lookin' at me funny during dinner?"
"Oh, yep."
"Is anyone gonna tell me what happened earlier?"
"Nope," Charmy said, skipping out of the room.
Zora sighed and sat on the edge of his bed. He began to read.
"Alright, ya mother-fuckin' shit-heads, what did ya do, what did ya do," yelled Zora, as he threw stink bugs in every single member of the male Black Bulls' rooms. They all screamed in terror and coughed like they were hacking up a lung, escaping their rooms to the hallway. Zora got to the base of the stairs that led to the women's quarters floor and yelled, "CHARMY, VANESSA, NOELLE, GREY, NERO, GET YOUR ASSES DOWN HERE TOO!"
Soon, all members of the Black Bulls, except Nacht and his devils and Yami, were in the men's quarter's floor, glaring at Zora, since it was way past bedtime.
"What's all the stinkin' yellin' in the middle of the damn night," Captain Yami roared, sticking his head out of the door of his room but then he saw Zora holding a letter and then said, "Nevermind." Captain Yami went back into his room. Zora had a whole different conversation in mind for his Captain later.
Zora glared at everyone. "Care to tell me why the fuck did ya read my mail?"
"We were just making sure that it was safe," Vanessa piped up.
"Right, not just because yer nosy assholes," Zora snapped. "What happened earlier with the Coral Peacocks?" No one answered, but there were a lot of guilty-looking faces. Zora rounded on Asta, who would be the only honest one. "Asta?"
"Charmy opened the letter since it didn't have a return address and read it but when she found out it was a love letter, she read it to everyone, and then we found out that it was Vice-Captain Kirsch who sent it," said Asta, nervously. "Then, Vice-Captain Kirsch, Miss Cornelia, and Mr. Levi showed up, wanting the letter back. Vice-Captain Kirsch seemed pretty upset. Magna and Luck tried to give him the shovel talk, but then Miss Cornelia challenged them to a fight. Then, Vice-Captain Kirsch agreed to give Charmy his mom's recipe book for the letter, which is when Mr. Levi went outside to help Miss Cornelia fight Magna and Luck. And then that's when you came home."
Zora nodded. "Thank you, Asta. You and Liebe can go back to bed." An annoyed and half-asleep Liebe dragged Asta back to their room, leaving Zora with the rest of the Black Bulls. "Magna, Luck, what did ya say to Kirsch?"
"Now, Zora, ya think we overreacted but we didn't," said Magna.
"Magna, d'ya remember when we were training for six months? Remember the time you…" started Zora. Magna lunged and covered Zora's mouth with his hand. Zora licked Magna's hand. Magna didn't move his hand though.
"Shut up, I get it. We just questioned his intentions with you, that's all," said Magna, growling.
"What does he know that I don't," asked Luck, curious.
"Nothing, Luck, he knows nothing," said Magna.
Zora bit Magna's hand hard enough that Magna yelped and let go of Zora. Zora looked at Finral. "Finral, I expect everyone to do something to apologize to Levi, Cornelia, and Kirsch, right?"
"Yeah," said Finral. "I'm on it. Can we go back to bed now?"
"No way," said Vanessa. She grinned. "So, what are you gonna do about that letter, Zora?"
Zora replied, "None of yer damn business."
Kirsch couldn't burn the letter.
It sat on his bedroom desk (never leaving it in his office again), mocking him. He wasn't ready to let go of his feelings for Zora. Perhaps, Protobe was right, and that Kirsch held on to the hope that maybe Zora might like him a bit someday and that's why it was hard for Kirsch to let go. Kirsch laid on his bed and used a pillow to hit himself in the face. He sighed.
Harried knocking on the door startled Kirsch, he jumped out of bed on instinct. He rushed to the door to find Levi, who looked out of his depths and worried. "Levi?"
"Kirsch," said Levi, gently, "Zora's here and asking for you."
Kirsch's heart skipped a beat and then broke a bit. It only had been several days since the letter mishap. He supposed it was too good to be true that the Black Bulls would keep their mouths shut for that long. Kirsch asked, "How do I look?"
Levi cringed. "Your hair's a mess and you're wearing your comfortable ugly pajamas."
"I don't have time to change and fix my hair," said Kirsch, glancing down at his gray too-big sweatpants, the tye-dye too-big shirt that Mimosa made him when she was seven, and his ugly pink slippers that Mereoleona sent him for his birthday last year.
"I think not. Cornelia is stalling, but you know her temper," said Levi.
Kirsch said, "Remember me."
"Don't be so dramatic."
Kirsch walked down the stairs like a man on death row to the executioner's table. Levi followed behind him. He reached the front hallway of the Coral Peacocks' headquarters to find Cornelia speaking with Zora, who looked increasingly annoyed. Kirsch clenched his fists and breathed deeply. He walked over and said, "Evening, Zora. Thanks, Cornelia, you can go."
Cornelia nodded. She and Levi went to the kitchen, leaving Kirsch alone with Zora.
"Can we talk outside," asked Zora.
Kirsch nodded. They stepped outside and stood on the front porch. "So, what's up?"
"Read yer letter," stated Zora.
Kirsch's heart stopped. He stopped breathing too.
"Charmy made a copy," said Zora, as a way of an explanation. He mumbled, "I ain't good with fancy words and stuff, but it was real flatterin' of ya ta think of me." Kirsch blinked in surprise. Zora was nervous. Zora's peasant accent only got thicker as he spoke. "I, uh, shit. What ya said 'bout me not likin' ya ain't true. I think yer a good Magic Knight once ya got yer head outta yer ass after me n' Asta n' Mimosa beat ya in the Royal Knights' Exams. Yer a good guy, bit weird though, and still a bit of a dumbass royal, but ya can't help that. I'm sorry my idiots gave ya such a hard time. It was real brave of ya to write yer feelings down."
Kirsch's eyes welled with tears. He doesn't hate me. "I didn't want to put all my feelings on you, Zora."
"I know, that's why ya worked so damn hard to get the letter back," said Zora, pulling out something from his pocket.
It was Kirsch's mom's recipe book that he gave Charmy.
"This is yers. Noelle told me that yer mom died when ya and Mimosa were real young and yer dad was so upset he threw out most everything that belonged ta her and this was one of the things that ya saved that had been hers," said Zora, giving Kirsch the book back. "Ya shouldn't let somethin' like go."
Kirsch took the book gingerly and even though it was only the copy, it was so sweet of Zora to get it back for him. "Thank you."
Zora cleared his throat and awkwardly said, "Anyway, I was wonderin' if ya wanted to go get somethin' ta eat, sometime, with me, if ya want, it's whatever if ya don't. I don't know ya that well to be sure about a response, but I'd like to get a chance to know ya better to give ya one."
A grin broke out on Kirsch's face. "I'd like to get food with you. Are you free this weekend?"
Zora looked startled as if he didn't expect a "yes." "Yeah. Saturday."
"Mrs. Granvorka makes the best tato pancakes and apple streusel," said Kirsch, smiling. "Can I meet you there?"
"Yeah, I know where it is. Saturday at noon?"
"Sounds good," said Kirsch. He refrained from laughing nervously because he was getting a date with Zora.
Zora nodded.
"Thank you, Zora, for respecting my feelings," said Kirsch.
Zora averted his eyes, his ears were bright red, and said, mumbling, "S'what any decent person would do."
"Still, thank you."
"Yer welcome."
"You look nervous, Zora, honey," Mrs. Claudia Granvorka, the owner and head chef of Claudia's. She was the loving wife of the Captain of the Purple Orcas, Kaiser Granvorka. As it turned out, Claudia and Kaiser had been friends with Zora's dad Zara back in the day and when Zora became a proper Black Bulls, Kaiser had invited Zora over for dinner with his family. It was awkward at first when they kept inviting him over, but Zora was happy to know that his dad had an actual friend in his squad.
He showed up an hour for his date with Kirsch, because he couldn't stand his squad (especially Magna and Luck, god, just because they were the only couple in the squad didn't mean that they knew what normal dating was) "helping" him. He snuck in the backdoor of Claudia's to hang out with Claudia and her sous-chefs. Zora frowned. "I'll be...fine."
"Be more enthusiastic," said Claudia's sous-chef, the energetic pastry chef blond-haired Jessica, cheerfully. "Tell us about your hot date, Zora!"
Zora made a strangled noise. How did he ever convince himself that taking Kirsch on a date was a good idea? What if he led Kirsch on by mistake? He didn't want to hurt Kirsch's feelings. That'd be awful!
"Jess, go easy on him," said Claudia. "I'm sure that it's going to go well."
"Okay, yeah, but seriously, tell us who," said Jessica.
"Kirsch Vermillion," Zora muttered under his breath.
Holy shit, I'm gonna go on a date with Kirsch. Zora's mind screamed at him. Was this a mistake? No, no, it wasn't. Kirsch looked happy when Zora asked to get a meal together.
"No way. He comes here with his squadmates," said Jessica. "He's super pretty. Good for you. Hey, if things work out, do you think you can introduce me to his friend Cornelia? She's a cutie."
"He's a good sort. Definitely has the best of his mother in him," said Claudia, nodding in approval. "And Jessica, ask her out yourself, don't drag Zora into your nonsense."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Zora, honey, just take a deep breath and be yourself. Things will work out."
"Thanks, Mrs. Granvorka."
"Did Captain Dorothy really make ya a thousand apology pancakes," asked Zora, incredulously.
They sat across from each other at a table near the kitchen. Kirsch suspected that Mrs. Granvorka placed them there so she could keep an eye on them. Kirsch nodded, sighing. "Yeah, when she's left alone, she gets ideas. Not as bad as Mackenzie has it with Captain Rill, but Captain Dorothy has a big imagination."
"If it makes ya feel any better, Charmy made me three dozen apology cakes," said Zora, grinning fondly at the memory. "And then she ate all but one."
"Sounds like her," said Kirsch.
It was easy being here with Zora. Easier than Kirsch had thought. Bonding over their zany squads helped bridge the initial awkwardness. Good food helped, especially since Mrs. Granvorka kept bringing them food that they didn't even order. He knew he shouldn't get his hopes up too much, but it really was lovely.
He wanted this forever. Just to sit and talk with Zora, was that too much to ask?
God, he was so screwed.
"And then, I got one slice and then, the idiots ate the rest," said Zora, with a sigh.
"That sounds about right. Sometimes, if I have the time, I'll make my mother's Sunday dinner menu for the squad, it gets devoured in minutes. There are never leftovers," said Kirsch, shaking his head.
"Leftovers don't exist in the Black Bulls' base," said Zora. "Charmy tells me that yer ma's cooking is legendary."
"Hah, it kind of got blown out of proportion," said Kirsch. He launched into the actual story about his mother and how she and his father met and fell in love, but she was a Silva and he was a Vermillion, and their fathers hated each other. It was a whole thing. His mother, who had been nothing but a serious Magic Knight for a long time, had learned how to cook for when she became a wife and mother because she felt that she wasn't good at verbal and physical affection enough to show her love. As a challenge, she offered to make the Vermillion House Winter Festival dinner on her own to prove herself. That spring, Kirsch and Mimosa's parents had gotten married and the rest was history.
"Wait, so, wait, ya mean to tell me that she was a strong-as-fuck, competent Magic Knight Captain and a royal herself and she still had ta prove herself," asked Zora. "Yer Vermillion and Silva grandfathers sound like assholes."
"They are," said Kirsch, rolling his eyes. "They're wrinkly, old men who complain about the old days and yell at Fuegoleon and Nozel whenever they push the reforms through Magic Parliament."
"No wonder those two are so serious and borin' all the time," said Zora.
"Glad it's not me," said Kirsch, wrinkling his nose.
"Though, you'd do it if ya had to," said Zora.
Kirsch blinked several times and said "Yes, I would, but really glad it's not me. I've my hands full with…" Kirsch sighed.
"What's wrong?" Zora asked, eyes narrowing.
"Our squads are here," said Kirsch, putting his hand on his forehead. He sensed the mana of the Black Bull squad members and a bunch of the Coral Peacock squad members. They were outside the restaurant, most likely making menaces of themselves. "You think we can murder them and get away with it?"
"We won't be so lucky," said Zora, glaring off in the distance. He smirked. "Hey, Mrs. Granvorka, can we go out the back?"
"You got some uninvited guests, I see," said Mrs. Granvorka, sighing and getting her broom. "Go off, honeys."
"We're safe for a bit until Luck realizes that we've left," said Zora, as they were several blocks away from Claudia's, after they escaped out the backdoor. Zora grinned at Kirsch, as he led Kirsch down the street. There was an ice cream place around here somewhere, run by one of the Blue Rose girls' moms.
"I'd say that I can't believe them, but this is par for the course," said Kirsch. "They're so embarrassing."
"I can't wait to see the look on their faces when Mrs. Granvorka chases them off with her broom," said Zora, snickering.
Kirsch laughed. "Serves them right."
Zora liked the sound of Kirsch's laughter. Did Kirsch realize that they were holding hands? Because Zora knew. He had grabbed Kirsch's hand on impulse when they were doing their grand escape and Zora found that he didn't want to let go. Kirsch hadn't said anything, so was it okay?
"There's an ice cream place around here," said Zora.
"Wainsley's mothers, right? I remember. Levi, Cornelia, and I went for ice cream after every mission before I became Vice-Captain," said Kirsch. "It's that way." He used his free hand to gesture north.
Hand-in-hand, they went to get ice cream.
"I can't believe we lost them," Cornelia snapped. "This is your fault, Magna and Luck."
"No way, it's you and Levi's," said Magna. "I can't believe you don't trust our Zora with your Vice-Captain."
"I can't believe that you don't trust our Vice-Captain with Zora," Cornelia countered.
"Left," called Luck, causing the group of four to turn left.
Only Levi, Cornelia, Magna, and Luck managed to escape the might and wrath of Claudia Granvorka, who currently had more than a dozen Magic Knights scrubbing her restaurant's bathrooms clean with tiny brushes. Cornelia made a mental note to apologize to the others later for abandoning them to their fates. Luck was the only one with good mana sense among them so he was leading the way.
"Right!"
Cornelia hadn't meant to drag Levi and the others to spy on Kirsch and Zora's date, but sue Cornelia for being worried. Kirsch may seem like had everything together, but he was really a person with a gentle heart, and Zora wasn't exactly known for being delicate.
She just didn't expect to see the entire Black Bulls squad there to spy on the date too. And by everyone, even Vice-Captain Nacht came with them, but Cornelia suspected that he had been forced to go with the others by Captain Yami, who decidedly wasn't there. It's a pity that Kirsch had a good mana sense, not as good as Luck's mana sense but still pretty good, and then Kirsch and Zora fled.
"Oh, man, they got ice cream," complained Luck. "Magna, I want ice cream too."
"Shh, we can't go in there. Zora'll murder us," said Magna, putting Luck in a headlock.
Cornelia rolled her eyes. "You two flirt weird."
Levi said, scolding, "Cornelia, be nice." Levi elbowed Cornelia and pointed at the scene in the ice cream shop.
Cornelia looked through the window of the ice cream shop where Kirsch and Zora were speaking animatedly over ice cream sundaes. She scowled, and said, "I guess Kirsch's happy, I think it's gonna work out."
Magna and Luck stopped play-fighting or flirting or whatever they were doing to look. Magna scowled too. "Guess, Zora looks alright with hanging with that guy."
Levi said, "Alright, you three, I think we breached their privacy enough for one day. I'll buy you guys funnel cake at that stand I saw down the street, let's go."
Magna and Luck grinned. Luck said, "Levi, you're alright! Hey, do you want to fight again?"
"Not today," said Levi. "Funnel cake first."
Levi dragged Magna and Luck off while Cornelia stayed behind for a moment to watch. She'd keep an eye on Kirsch and Zora's relationship, but for now, she'd leave them be. Zora had better not hurt Kirsch or he'd have to deal with her.
"I had a lot of fun," said Kirsch. Zora insisted on dropping Kirsch off at the Coral Peacock headquarters and Kirsch wondered if this was something one of the Black Bulls told him to do. He'd bet anything it was Asta or Noelle who told him to escort Kirsch home, which was silly but sweet.
"Me too," said Zora. "So, uh, do ya want to do it again sometime?"
Kirsch smiled widely. "I'd like that a lot."
Zora nodded his head. "Cool, cool. So, I'd better go. I've traps to set at home to get back at those fuckers."
Kirsch laughed lightly. "Have fun."
"Have fun giving your idiots a bunch of chores," said Zora, smirking.
"Oh, believe me, I will," said Kirsch. He reluctantly let go of Zora's hand and before nervousness stopped him, he leaned over and kissed Zora on the cheek.
Zora's ears turned red as he averted his eyes. "Uh, yeah, g'night."
"Good night, Zora."
"See, it worked out, Yami," said Dorothy, standing on the roof of the Coral Peacocks' base, next to Yami, who had been quite pissed at Dorothy for the stunt she pulled earlier that week with the letter.
"You're a lucky brat that it worked out. Bold of you to invade your Vice-Captain's privacy like that," said Yami, with a sigh, taking out a cigarette stick and lighting it with his lighter. He grumbled. "Zora likes the guy but he ain't good at recognizing his feelings other than anger and depression. You're lucky that Zora didn't fucking run."
"He respects Kirsch too much to do that to him," said Dorothy, cheekily. "Kirsch will be good for Zora and Zora will be good for Kirsch. You know it."
"It'd have been better if you let the idiots figure it out themselves," said Yami, taking a drag of his cigarette.
"And if I left it up to them, they would have been old men before they sorted it," Dorothy countered.
"Maybe," said Yami. "Don't pull shit like this on my squad again, Dotty, I swear to fuckin' God."
"Relax, Kirsch's the only one with feelings for one of yours," said Dorothy. "They're cute together."
"Gordon's making a wedding scrapbook already," said Yami, sighing. "I'm leaving before Zora actually murders half my squad."
Dorothy giggled.
Dear Zora,
I'm writing this letter
Zora,
I like you
Zora,
It's hard to put in words how I feel about you but I am going to try my best.
When we were first met, I thought you were an arrogant peasant and you certainly thought I was a useless royal. But we were both wrong, weren't we? I am glad that I faced my sister, you, and Asta in that match at the Royal Knights' Exams. I learned a lesson that I hadn't wanted to learn, blinded by my own superiority.
You're a clever, kind person, who just wants to protect people and it's one of the many things I admire about you.
God, Kirsch, buy a ring, would you? - Cornelia
I like you. Very much. Honestly, I'm falling in love with you, which scares me because I know that you won't return my feelings. I don't even think you like me, which hurts but I understand in a way.
Too depressing, be more positive - Levi
I think it's a good place to start. To tell you what I like about you.
I like that you take care of your squad. It's important to me that squadmates take care of each other. And I like that you get that.
I like that you let my sister take care of you when you get injured. Mimosa really is fond of you, so that's one reason why I knew you were a good person. Mimosa is an excellent judge of character.
You're good with kids. I've seen you with Gauche's little sister and those kids from Nean. You say you don't like kids, but you're really good with them. I want kids someday.
Are you proposing to him and asking if he wants kids someday? Moving too fast - Medio
I like that you're not afraid to speak your mind.
Your passion and drive to fix the Magic Knights are admirable.
You're really handsome. Your hair draws my gaze to you all the time even when I don't want to...your eyes are really beautiful too
Oh no, he's starting to wax poetic, I'm out - Dmitri
CAN YOU PLEASE STOP WITH THE COMMENTARY? THIS HARD ENOUGH! I GET IT I'M SAP FOR ZORA.
Day 1 of writing the confession letter ended with Vice-Captain eating all the cookies and crying in the pantry. - Lovejoy
But it's a good start. I'm sure we'll help him write a great love letter to Mr. Zora! - Pitney
~fin