Chapter VI – Counter Rockets
Age-old counters strike…
When offensive rockets fly…
All because of one appearance.
"It's a pleasure to see you, too, Seifer," Quistis said with a hint of sarcasm, "but would you please let me go?" Remembering the last incident, she quickly added, "I do not mean 'drop me to the ground'."
"And if I refuse?" Seifer teased, pulling her slightly closer to him.
Quistis felt a minor blush creeping to her cheeks, and she looked elsewhere to avoid his eyes. "Hyne, Seifer, do you do this to everyone you knock over?"
"No, just you. And I didn't knock you over. You ran into me." Seifer raised Quistis to her full height and planted her feet firmly on the ground. "How's that, Instructor?" His hands went into the pockets of his trench coat.
"Much better, thank you." She was about to walk away but her curiosity got the best of her. "Seifer, what are you doing here?"
"Can't a man go on an extremely long stroll into another city?"
"What for?"
"I like to use that time to think about things, unlike the average dull-minded twat at Garden."
"What sort of things?"
"Well, right now, I'm wondering if you're really an Instructor again."
"I assume you received your schedule." Seifer nodded. "Then why do you need my confirmation? If it says I'm your Instructor, then I am. Do you not trust Garden?"
He shrugged and narrowed his eyes. "There are a lot of things and people I don't trust. Maybe some stupid Cadet found out I was back and was playing a prank on me."
"But of course. We can't have them outsmarting you now, can we?" Her sarcasm was impossible to miss.
"They wouldn't dare."
Quistis switched back to the original topic. "Is that all? If it is, then I shall take my leave of you." She turned away once more to go.
Before Quistis could blink, Seifer had gripped the upper part of her right arm. It wasn't a rough grip, but it was firm. "Instructor, I'm hurt," he said. Quistis found the sincerity of his tone unreadable. "Do you hate me that much to want to get away at the first opportunity?"
"Seifer, I thought we already went over this. I do not hate you." She put her hand over his and pried her arm out of his gloved hand. Quistis could've sworn she felt him loosen his hold a bit when their hands made contact.
"You say you don't hate me, but you don't really like me either, do you?"
"I did not say that."
"Oh? So you do like me?" The expression on Seifer's face told Quistis that he was thoroughly enjoying this.
"I didn't say that either. Why does it matter whether I like you? Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I find you aggravating sometimes? Maybe even most times?"
"And has it ever occurred to you, Instructor, that I find it amusing when you're aggravated?"
Quistis slapped a hand to her forehead. "Seifer, is it your life's goal to irritate me at least once a day?"
"Oh, is it ever."
"Hyne, give me strength…" Quistis muttered. "I'm heading back to Garden."
"So soon, Instructor? It's only seventeen-hundred. Still early. You could do some more shopping." Seifer looked at her bag and wondered what it contained.
"It's not early when the sun will be setting in half an hour, and if there's one thing I despise, it's shopping."
"Is that why you're always wearing that uniform?"
"The Garden uniform is mandatory, especially if you're a member of the faculty or a SeeD. Of course, you wouldn't understand."
She knew Seifer understood her inferred meaning: that he wasn't a SeeD. As expected, Seifer retaliated coolly, "I don't need fancy rags to prove that I'm just as much a soldier as any of you are."
"I'll believe it when I see it. Now, I still have lesson plans to review, so I should be going."
"The first day of classes is more than two days away. You have plenty of time."
"I'm not one to put things off, Seifer."
"Maybe it's about time you discovered the art of procrastination. It would help you be less uptight. Knowing you, you probably have everything done and redone at least three days before they're due."
Quistis ignored his comment. "Seifer, goodbye." She walked toward the Train Station that was now only a few feet away. Seifer ran up beside her.
"If you're leaving already, then I'm coming with you."
Quistis eyed him suspiciously. "You're not following me around, are you?"
"I'm not a stalker, Instructor. What do you think I am, a freaking Trepie?"
"Stalker, Trepie…there's really not much of a difference," the Instructor said, paying for her train ticket while Seifer did the same. He snickered at her comment.
"Did our stuffy Instructor actually crack a joke?"
What should have been a short train ride seemed longer than usual with Seifer sitting beside her. He surprisingly stayed silent the whole way. Before Quistis could fall asleep, the train stopped at Balamb. Upon arriving at Garden, Quistis headed for her dorm straight away, proudly remembering that she had already been moved to a faculty cabin. Just as she was about to slide her key card through the admittance slot, she sensed a familiar presence. She turned to see Seifer leaning smugly against the wall opposite her door.
"Seifer, may I ask what you are doing right now?" she inquired.
"I wanted to make sure my Instructor got to her quarters safely. I'd be so hurt if something happened to my beloved Instructor so close before the first day of classes." He gave her a smirk. "Now that that's done, I'm going to my dorm, unless you've got other plans," Seifer replied suggestively. Quistis frowned and shot him a small glare. "You think I'm following you, don't you?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"Oh? Well, you wanna see something, Trepe?" Without waiting for her reply, he took something from his pocket and swiped it on a device in the wall. The door beside him automatically opened.
Quistis's eyes widened then quickly darted to the floor. A metal stripe ran from her right to Seifer's left and another ran across the hall about five rooms down. Oh, Hyne, why me? Cid must have arranged this for me to keep an eye on him.
It was a Balamb Garden policy implemented after the War, which Seifer had already noted and memorized. All staff, including high-ranking SeeDs, now resided in dorms scattered throughout Garden's residential section. There is at least one staff member for approximately every ten dorms (five on the left wall, five on the right). During times of emergency, staff members are responsible for everyone residing within their two metal lines. Quistis was the only faculty member between her set of lines and, as luck would have it, Seifer Almasy was right across the hall.
Seeing the irritated look on his Instructor's face, Seifer snickered. The Instructor narrowed her eyes at him and turned so that her back faced him. She grabbed the envelope sitting in her mail slot and opened her door. "Let's hope you won't be the one responsible for those emergencies."
"Instructor, that's harsh. Don't you trust me?"
She didn't dignify that with a response. "Good day, Seifer." She finished and stepped into her dorm. The door slid closed noiselessly, shutting her off from everything outside.
Quistis sat down at her desk and massaged her temples while attempting to open her mail at the same time.
.
..
...
To Instructor No. 14 (Q. Trepe):
Enclosed is a list of Cadets that will be attending your class, along with their respective ages. Seating rules have changed, and students will now sit from front to back in reverse alphabetical order (Z in front, etc.).
The class will no longer consist of the original fifteen (15) people but fourteen (14), as one of the students withdrew their registration. This will be the only set of students you teach until further notice. First day of classes is Thursday, September XX.
— Headmaster Cid Kramer, Balamb Garden
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...
...
Abram, Ferris (16)
Ainsworth, Maxwell (15)
Aki, Talman (18)
Almasy, Seifer (19)
Barton, Tara (15)
Burg, Boyd (16)
Joaquin, Arianne (17)
Norton, Maya (15)
Peen, Kurt (16)
Ralston, Mariah (16)
Towers, Edgar (15)
Virgo, Calis (17)
Warren, Aidan (15)
Wishart, Nathaniel (17)
...
..
.
Quistis frowned. Talman Aki… Instructor Aki's only son? I never thought he would let his son apply for Garden so late. I've heard he's quite the snob. She mentally arranged the students in a hypothetical classroom and, according to the new seating protocol, Seifer will be sitting with Talman. Those two together? This could be worse than Quezacotl's Thunder Storm.
By Wednesday afternoon, the hallways were filled with excited chatter. Talk of the wedding of Balamb Garden's Commander and the current Sorceress was everywhere. For girls, the event was romantic; for the male population, it was an excuse to drink, eat free food, and (try to) get girls.
Yes, practically the whole Garden was invited.
Except for one person.
Seifer sat on a bench in front of the Training Centre with an ankle propped up on the opposing knee, and both of his arms draped over the back of the bench, purposely taking up more space so that no one could sit next to him (not that anyone wanted to). He casually watched each passerby and scoffed whenever he heard someone talk about the Almighty Commander. The Instructor having a fan club is easy to believe, but Puberty Boy? He laughed inwardly.
She had two hours left and nothing to give for a wedding gift.
It can't be too hard. There must be something.
Her mind drifted to other small details. President Loire is coming. I must remember to ask him about Dr. Odine's latest research. I'm sure President Loire knows something. I still cannot believe Squall's father is the President of Esthar. They're such polar opposites. Then there's Rinoa and General Caraway—Quistis stopped. That's it. She ran to a drawer at her desk and pulled out a few sheets of paper.
She rushed out of her dorm and headed for the Quad. Quistis was relieved to see Selphie, who was barking orders and taking care of some decorations.
Selphie spotted her friend in no more than two seconds and ran up to her. "Quisty! Aren't you supposed to be getting ready? Everything starts soon!"
"I was trying to get ready, Selphie," Quistis replied, "but I didn't decide on a wedding gift until now." She showed Selphie the sheets of paper. Reading the title at the top, Selphie gasped.
"Oh, Quisty, this is perfect! Especially for Rinoa!"
"I hope this won't make her sad or —"
"I'm sure she won't, Quisty!" Selphie turned to look at the work her crew had done on the Quad. She sighed proudly. "Boy, it really brings back memories of that concert we had in FH!"
"Of course, Selphie. Do you think you can place this in the program?"
"Totally! I'll do it right now!" The lively brunette gave the sheets back to Quistis and bounded away, whistling a nameless tune.