Some Supportive Talks.

There were only a few days left before the next mission would start. Both Akame and Byleth had been doing their best to prepare for it. Thankfully neither of them has shown any more symptoms lately, Akame seemed to have fully returned to her top shape and Byleth hadn't suddenly collapsed out of the blue again. If this keeps up, they would be more than ready to head out on the mission when the time comes. Until then, all they could do was train and prepare for it. Byleth would make sure her class was ready, while Akame took Esdeath's lessons even more seriously than before.

But not all days where training, some times chores needed to be done. Akame had recently finished her chore of the day, which was to catch some fish for the dining hall so they could be used for the today's meal. Akame was walking around until she heard singing coming from the Greenhouse.

"That voice. Could it be?" Akama wondered as she headed over.

Inside she saw Bernadetta humming to herself " Hm hm-hm hm-hm... . Hm hm-hm-hm... Hm hm-hm-hmm... . La la-la la-la laa... Such a lovely flower. Watering them is so relaxing. Flowers are so much less scary than people".

"I didn't know you were a singer, Bernie" Akame said as she walked up to her classmate.

"AH! Ambush! I didn't do anything! You can't prove I was the one who did it!" Bernadetta freaked out for a bit.

"Calm down Bernie, it's just me!" Akame said with her hands up.

"It's just-! Oh, it's you Akame, what a relief" Bernadetta said as she slowly calmed down.

"Sorry I spooked you. I just heard you singing and got curious" Akame said.

Bernadetta blushed "You heard that? Awww, so embarrassing".

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Bernie. You got a nice voice, with a little practise, then maybe you could join Dorothea for an opera" Akame said.

"O-Opera? As in singing in front of so many people? AHHH No! I can't handle that!" Bernadetta cried out.

"Alright alright, I'm sorry. You really don't like people do you?" Akame asked.

"I..." Bernadetta began as she looked away.

Akame thinks for a moment before taking Bernadetta's hand "Come with me. I want to speak to you in privet. And before you freak out, I am not mad at you, and I am not going to hurt you".

"What? But I... Ah! Don't pull! I can walk on my own!" Bernadetta said as Akame pulled her along.

Akame took Bernadetta to a privet spot before turning to her "Alright, no one else is around but us. So whatever you tell me will stay between us until you are ready. Now Bernie, could you tell me why you are so scared of people? It took a while before you stopped being scared of me, which I am happy about. But you are still very reclusive to other people".

"I... alright I guess I can tell you. But promise me you won't tell anyone" Bernadetta said.

Akame nods "My lips are sealed, no one but me will know about what you are about to tell me".

Bernadetta took a deep breath "My father's obsessed with money. He's only ever seen me as bait for a rich husband. To train me to be a good, submissive wife, he'd do things like tie me to a chair and leave me there all day, challenging me to stay quiet. I tried hard to do as he asked. Honestly, I did. But it was never enough, and one time I made a friend with a commoner... but when my father found out, I heard my friend was badly beaten...".

Akame was shocked "Bernadetta... I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked. But I know how it feels to have parents that treats you as nothing but a tool".

"Really? But you and Jeralt seems to have such a nice relationship" Bernadetta said in surprise.

"We do, but he is not my blood father. He and Byleth adopted me after..." Akame began but stopped for a bit.

"After what?" Bernadetta asked.

Akame sighed "Only a few people knows about this... my blood parents also only cared about money. So they sold me for drinking money".

Bernadetta was utterly shocked "Y-your parents sold you!? That is horrible! Even worse than my father!".

Akame nods "Yes. I meant nothing to them other than to make some easy money. Hadn't been for Jeralt and Byleth saving me and adopting me. There is no telling what my life would've been now".

"I'm sorry that happened to you Akame" Bernadetta said, feeling a little guilty that she made Akame reveal something like that.

Akame put her hands on Bernadetta's shoulders "Don't be. I didn't tell you this because I wanted you to feel guilty. I told you because I wanted to. I trust you Bernie, and I hope you can trust me to be your friend whenever you need one".

Bernadetta couldn't help but to smile at that "Yes, you are my friend, Akame. And I do trust you".

Akame smiled back "Thank you Bernie. You have no idea how happy that makes me. Could you give me another hug? I liked the last one you gave me".

Bernadetta blushed but gave Akame another hug. Akame hugged her back, feeling like she had made another sister. A sister she would protect from all who would dare harm her. Including any evil dads, who she was tempted to kill.

Elsewhere Sylvain was humming to himself until he noticed someone resting under a tree. It was Leone. Sylvain still felt bad about what he said to her a while back and they haven't spoken since. So he figured this would be as good a time as any to apologize to her. He walked up to her and noticed her eyes were closed, but it didn't seem like she was sleeping, just resting.

"Umm... Leone?" Sylvain spoke.

Leone opened her eyes "Oh, hello there Sylvain. You need something?".

"Uhhh, yes. I need to apologize" Sylvain said.

Leone stood up "For what? Wait, are you still hung up on the little rant you had when we were searching for Flayn?".

"Yeah, I was a jerk and I snapped at you, even though you did nothing to deserve it. I'm sorry about that" Sylvain said, and it sounded like he really meant it.

Leone smiled at him "Apology accepted. I have a bad habbit of sticking my nose where it dosen't belong. So you are not the first to get mad at me for that. Still, do you mind telling me why you are such a skirt chaser? Why not just find a nice and beautiful girl and stick with her".

"You are not the first to tell me that. Well, I guess I do owe you an explination. I do like girls, but they don't really like me. Most girls only want me for my Crest. When they look at me, they don't see a man, they see a tool they can use to make crest babies. That's just what people care about these days" Sylvain explained.

"Well, I can see where you're coming from. But don't you think it's a little unfair to put all girls in the same group? What if you broke the heart of someone who really did want to be with you for who you are? And not just your Crest?" Leone asked.

"Alright I do admit that maybe it is a little unfair for me to believe all girls are the same. But if such a girl exists, I am yet to meet her" Sylvain said.

Leone shook her head "Sylvain, you are not the only one who's had people coming after you because they want something from you. I mean, look at me. I am hot if I do say so myself. But looking like this does at times attract unwanted attention. Most men I've met only wanted me for my body, and didn't care one bit about who I was as a person. Men, and even some women has tried to use me so they could get some beautiful children".

"Sorry Leone I didnt... Wait, women has come after you?" Sylvain asked.

"Oh yes, plenty. Not sure how they planed to have kids with me, but boy did they talk a lot about it. It's rare for a commoner like me to get the attention of nobles, but most of that attention is something I can live without. When I find the man to spend my life with, I want him to want me for who I am. Not just because of my curves. I don't mind women, but I simply prefer men" Leone explained.

"Wow... I never expected we would have something this big in common" Sylvain.

"Who would've guessed? Well, I am heading back to my room now. But if you wish to talk again, look me up" Leone said.

Sylvain smiled "You know, I might take you up on that offer one day".

Leone smiled back "If that's the case, care to walk me to my room? Maybe we have more stuff in common that we can talk about".

"What kind of man would I be if I refused that? Very well, I will accompany you" Sulvain said.

Leone giggled and they walked away together.

Meanwhile, Chelsea was sitting by herself, enjoying some candy "Mmmm, nothing like some good sweets to take your worries away".

"Chelsea" Came a stern voice from behind her.

Chelsea jumped, almost choking on her candy before turning around "Lord Dimitri? Geez, I think you just took a few years of my life".

"Sorry about that, but I need to talk to you. And it can not wait" Dimitri said.

"Of course your majesty. What do you need to talk about?" Chelsea asked.

"Care to explain why I found Ingrid crying in a corner? And why your name was the only thing to come out between her sobs?" Dimitri asked, his tone making it very clear he would not let Chelsea leave until she explained herself.

"Oh, that. Well I was listening to her going on and on about how great a noble knights are. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, until she brought up Glenn. She said he was an ideal knight and died as the perfect knight" Chelsea answered.

"I am aware of what she thinks about Glenn. But I have a feeling you weren't to happy with what she said" Dimitri guessed.

"You're damn right I wasn't happy about it! The way she worshiped his pointless death was utterly sickening. I was tempted to slap her for making his death sound like a good thing. But I settled for giving her a much needed reality check, a reality she's been refusing to face" Chelsea explained.

"Chelsea, I am aware that Glenn was just as important to you as he was to us. He was the older brother you never had and he treated you as such. I am not happy about his death either, I was there, I saw his face, all the terror and regrets he must've felt in his final moments. So I understand why you would be upset. But there was no reason to be so cruel to Ingrid, remember she is hurting just as much as any of us" Dimitri said in a less harsh tone.

"Then she should face reality! Glenn is dead, and there was nothing good about his death at all! He died to soon! He still had so many things to live for, so much more to give! But now he is dead! And everyone acts like it was a noble one! There is no such thing as a good death, other than dying from a old age, after they've given everything they have to offer! If you are here to tell I should apologize to Ingrid, then I regret to inform you I will not apologize for being right! Ingrid is the one who should beg for forgiveness from Glenn for peeing all over his memories like this by worshiping his needless death! Now if you excuse me" Chelsea said before storming of, refusing to give Dimitri the chance to respond.

Dimitri watched her leave before he sighed "I believe Ingrid is not the only one who hasn't moved on from Glenn's death yet...".

Dimitri decided he would talk to both Chelsea and Ingrid later. And he hoped their friendship could be restored.

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A shorter chapter to focus on my own support conversations between characters that needed more attention.

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Tell me what you think.