Disclaimer: If I were to own the Cold Steel series, Claire would have gotten a lot more bonding scenes and Laura would have been the childhood friend.

Strawberry

"Are you sure about this, Instructor Makarov?" The young blond asked, her face marred with worry as she watch her fellow instructor tinker gives his staff a twirl.

"Well, someone has to look after the other kids" The science instructor grunted "Pretty sure Sara will have her hands full with Class VII, and I doubt Thomas – despite him still holding back a lot – could both watch out for the kids and fight whatever's coming"

"… You're sensing it too?"

"That's something big is going to happen?" Seeing the nod from the other instructor let the man breath a sight of relief. "And here I thought I was the only crazy one"

When he heard no reply, the smoker turned around, only to see Mary trembling, her blond hair covering her face. The man flinched, scratching his head awkwardly. He was never good with woman, especially true with whoever it was he … sort of like.

"H-hey. U-uh didn't mean to say you're cra-"

"… come back … "The blond muttered, her trembling intensifying

"H-hey? " Makarov panicked "W-what's wrong?"

"Come back, alright?" When she looked up, Makarov flinched when she saw the tears starting to form at the corner of her eyes "Don't just sacrifice yourself for them, come back with them too, alright?"

"Guk" Another secret that he would never tell anyone: Makarov was weak to tears. It was how he got roped into taking care of Mint despite the fact that it would have been safer for the girl to go to school elsewhere. "I-I will"

"Promise me"

"… "Staring into those earnest eyes shining with tears born from worry, Makarov only had one respone "Alright, I promise"

What happened next shocked the both of them. Whenever someone asked her, Mary would just turn into a crimson mess and run away. Just like she did right right now.

Makarov stood, frozen as the music instructor disappeared behind a corner. When George called for him, the man hurriedly head over to the Courageos, his mind replaying the scene over and over. Had anyone been watching, they would have noticed that his mouth was slightly curled up into a smile.

Later, when he and Thomas joined the fight to help the students, the sweet taste of strawberry motivated Makarov to fight extra harder, if only for the chance to savor it once more.