Chapter 3: Reunion
The next day, Carole walked out of the exam room pretty nervous. She was confident of the answers she gave but she was still tensed like after any exam. It was a while before noon and she knew it would take some time before the results would be known. She walked around the first floor, hungry but too nervous to eat and without her weapon to go training. Surprising an interesting game of Triple Triad, she went to take a look when a girl's voice cleared her throat behind her.
"Excuse me… Could you tell me where the cafeteria is, please?"
Carole turned around, glad to have something to do until she caught sight of the girl. She was asian with shoulder length hair and was wearing the SeeD candidate uniform just like her. Both changed their faces, feeling old childhood memories from deep within coming back to the surface as they recognized each other.
"Mi… Mia-chan?"
"Carole-chan!"
The girls hugged each other and laughed together happily. Then they just held each other's arms and smiled.
"It must have been ten years, ne?" the asian asked.
"Maybe more… I'm so happy to see you, Miaka! Still using your nickname?"
"Yeah but no one called me Mia-chan except for you."
"You wanted to see the cafeteria, right? My appetite came back in a flash! I just past an exam and I'm waiting around for the results so let's go!"
"Lead the way!"
The girls went to the cafeteria and luckily got hot dogs. Then they went to sit down to tell what they've been in ten years. They were so busy chatting, laughing and having fun they didn't notice Squall entering the cafeteria with another guy stranger to most of the people around considering how they were looking at him, wondering who he was. They sat down at the table behind Carole, Squall facing her his back and his friend in front of him in a way Miaka could see him. The girl was staring at the guy when Squall's voice asking something to his friend a bit louder caught Carole's attention. She frowned and took her forehead in her hand some discouraged way.
"Not him…," she moaned.
Miaka was still staring.
"That guy is a dream…"
"Huh?"
Carole turned around and saw her friend was referring to the other guy. She examined him a little then turned back to her friend with a shrug.
"Anyone friend with such a pain must be a pain himself."
"Oh?"
Miaka looked at her childhood friend curiously, wondering why she was saying that.
"Forget it", Carole answered her face.
They kept talking a while when the intercom resonated.
"Attention please. Every students that took the SeeD candidate exam this morning are to go to the second floor hall where their results are shown. I repeat…"
Carole jumped from her seat.
"At least! I'll go get it. Coming?"
The asian shook her head.
"I'll stay and wait for you here. I already had that test in another Garden before so I'm already a SeeD candidate."
"Alright then. I'll come back to tell you how I did."
Carole walked to the exit and Miaka took her chin in her hands, still staring at the guy facing Squall.
"Dreamy…"
She was so out of it she didn't notice Squall was tracing Carole out of the cafeteria.
On her way back to the elevator to go down, Carole was smiling widely.
"I made it! I'm so great! I'll just have to study like that for the other exams and I'll be a SeeD really soon! Now I can even use my weapon!"
She was so happy she almost forgot about her friend.
"Oh, yeah! Gotta go back to Mia!"
She hurried back to the cafeteria where she found her friend still staring. She arched an eyebrow.
"That girl's weird…"
She took a peek at the guys and saw Squall's friend was so busy narrating his adventures he wasn't even seeing the girl staring at him. From what he was saying, he's been gone for a long time, going all around the world.
Like she was attracted, the SeeD candidate turned to Squall. He was looking happy to see his friend after all that time but he seemed bored from all the telling. His instinct brought him to look up and he caught sight of Carole. She felt her cheeks burning realizing she was staring at him. He turned to his friend.
"Excuse me, Gackt. Just a sec."
He got up and hurried to Carole. She frowned, knowing all too well that he was coming to her only to avoid the story telling session.
"Hi! How did you do on your test?"
His face was trying to look kind but his smile was cold. She thought of something to say that would not put them in an argument again.
"I past with high marks! I'm officially a SeeD candidate now!"
"Great!"
"And I must warn you I can now use my weapon, so be careful!" she threatened a funny way.
"Do you have it?"
"Well… at home," she answered.
Squall was really looking interested, making Carole wonder what was that all of a sudden.
"It's great that you can now concentrate on your studies and train to become a SeeD. I wish you luck."
He turned to his friend.
"Hey, Gackt! Wanna go for training? It's been so long since the last time we trained together."
"Sure!" the guy answered getting up.
The SeeDs walked to the exit, Squall waving discretely at Carole, stupidly standing there. She waved back discreetly too and started daydreaming. Was it because of that guy's presence that Squall looked different, not as cold as usual or was it her imagination tricking her? She could feel there was something different about him. Even though he was still looking cold, there was something in his eyes that changed.
Carole snapped out of it when she heard a sigh by her side. She turned her head to see Miaka there.
"That Gackt guy is a dream… He got the melting smile, the cool eyes, everything perfect…"
Carole smiled and elbowed her friend with a mocking smile.
"You're in love," she teased. "Why don't you go for it?"
"Oh, no! I feel like I'd faint if I try to talk to him."
She turned to her friend with shining eyes. Those eyes made Carole move a step backward. She really didn't like these eyes.
"Would you help me, Carole-chan?" she plead with a cute voice. "He's friend with Squall and you two look in good terms. Could you please?"
Carole sighed and scratched the back of her head.
"Well it's never the same with Squall. It's complicated. We're either acting friendly like we just did or arguing like hell most of the time…"
Miaka's face was so pleading and touching Carole couldn't resist.
"Alright, alright! I'll give it a try…"
"Dômo arigatou!" she exclaimed hugging her friend tight.
"But I can't guarantee of anything…"
"You're so kind, Carole-chan!"
"Hum, Mia… I can't…breathe…»
"Gone nasai! It's just that I'm so happy!"
They went to sit back and chat a little more.
"What about you?" Miaka inquired. "Got a boyfriend?"
Carole sighed and took her chin in her palm.
"Not yet and not before a while…"
"Why not? Don't you like anybody here? What about Squall?"
"I don't think he likes me much and that's understandable. I'm always mean to him…"
She suddenly slapped both her hands over her mouth, realizing she said something she wanted to keep for herself. Miaka just smiled.
"You're telling me to go for it and you can't do it yourself, ne?"
Carole looked away.
"I keep getting mad anytime someone is talking about him and I always say he's such a pain… I can't go for it… I just can't…"
She looked at her watch.
"Oh! It's already time for my first SeeD candidate class!"
"Oh, me too!" Miaka exclaimed looking at her watch too. "And I have to go somewhere before attending it. Well jya ne, Carole-chan!"
The asian waved to her friend with a big smile and Carole waved back before going out of the cafeteria and heading to the elevator to reach the second floor where her class was. She hurried there and entered. There weren't many people there until she noticed there was a SeeD in the class. She didn't know him and asked a girl at the front line what was a SeeD doing in a candidate class.
"It's because this class is special. Both SeeDs and candidates have to hear what the instructor got to say."
Carole wasn't sure to understand but still went to sit down in the third row. Then a movement coming from the door made her look up. Squall entered the class, followed by Gackt. Carole widened her eyes and quickly looked away as if she didn't saw him. The guys walked to the back of the class and sat side by side.
"What is he doing here?" the girl asked herself.
"Hi there!" a voice interrupted her.
Carole looked up and saw Miaka standing by her side.
"Mia! You're in this class too?"
"Hai! Isn't it great that we're in the same class?"
"Sure is but it can be only for once: look in the back," Carole said pointing behind her with her thumb.
Miaka looked what her friend was showing her and her eyes started shining. When she saw there was an untaken seat just in front of Gackt, she hesitated.
"No, no," Carole warned. "He will find out if you do that. Sit down here."
Carole moved aside and let her friend sit by her side.
"But… what are SeeDs doing in this class?" Miaka asked.
"Dunno," her friend answered with a shrug. "Something about the instructor got something to tell us all."
Some more SeeDs and candidates came in before the instructor arrived. He sat down behind his desk and called the names. When Gackt answered his name, Miaka felt like melting.
"What an adorable voice…"
"Shhh…"
Some students were missing, three or four.
"The missing students are youth who didn't pass the entrance exam."
"How can you fail such a stupid test?" somebody whispered.
"Moron…" Carole muttered.
The instructor either ignored the comment or didn't hear.
"I suppose you're all wondering why are there SeeDs and candidates in the same class."
A wave of question and comments followed. The instructor asked for silence.
"Because today is not a real class, it's just to tell you how the nexts will be and give some information about what is to come."
"It doesn't explain why are we all mixed up," somebody said.
"If you can stop interrupting me, I'll tell you."
Silence…
"Good. This concerns all of you. This year, the field exam will occur differently: the leader of the team will be a SeeD."
Annoyed whispers spread in the class.
"I really suggest that the SeeDs help the candidates with their studies and training as for now, they can use the training center as they please."
"All right!"
"But it's still important that you SeeDs don't neglect your own training and studies. That would be all for now. You can leave."
Some students hurried outside, talking about training, and some were thinking it was stupid to have forced them in this class for about just ten minutes. Carole was one of them.
"How dumb," she said getting up. "Why do the SeeDs have to be leaders for the SeeD field exam?!"
Miaka shrugged and got up along with her friend.
"I was wondering the same thing."
Carole turned around and found herself face to face with a brown haired boy with a scar between his blue eyes. He was looking annoyed, a hand on a hip. Carole quickly turned away when she felt her cheeks burning from the closeness of the boy.
"Whatever… Hey, maybe I'll be leader of your team!"
He said it with such a funny voice, Carole faced him and frowned funnily.
"Yeah, you wish!"
Behind Squall, Gackt cleared his throat to remember his presence to his friend.
"I'm
sorry, Gackt. This is Carole Marceau, new in Garden."
Gackt stepped forward and
shook hands with the girl.
"I'm Gackt, Squall's best friend. I didn't know he had girls for friends."
"I'm not really his friend. But he already helped me to study yesterday."
"That's great!"
Miaka elbowed her friend and whispered something to her while Gackt was elbowing Squall with a wink. Squall shrugged with his 'whatever' along.
"And this is my childhood friend from Esthar I met again this morning, Chan Sue Anne but as far as I can remember, I always called her Miaka."
"Like Miaka Yuuki?" Gackt asked shaking hands.
The girl was feeling like fainting.
"Yes, that's it," she answered.
"Sounds familiar…"
The teens looked at each other for a moment, not knowing what to say. Until Gackt snapped.
"What do you say we go to the cafeteria for a snack? I'd like to know more about you and how you ended up with that nickname, Miaka. Mind if I call you that?"
She quickly shook her head, her eyes shining more than a sky full of stars and clear from any clouds.
"And I can tell you about the missions I had in the past."
"Here he goes again," Squall commented slapping his forehead.
"I'd love to!" Miaka exclaimed ignoring Squall.
"Great! Let's go then!"
He preceded Miaka out of the classroom. Once she was out, Gackt looked back in to Squall still standing in with Carole, both staring at the exit.
"You guys coming?" he asked before leaving.
"I…I don't know," Carole said feeling nervous."
"I haven't seen him for a while and I want to go but I don't think I'll survive another telling session."
Carole turned to him, her heartbeat fastening.
"You want me to come?" she proposed.
Squall shrugged an indifferent way but his eyes couldn't lie.
"It seems you know me well but I don't know anything about you, where you come from, where you live… I… I'd like to know you…"
The girl had to look down when she had to hide her blushing face. She couldn't believe it. It was all so sudden, almost surreal.
"As we were said that SeeDs should help candidates and maybe we'll train and study if you wish, I just thought I should know you better."
Carole's hopes went thin all of a sudden. It was work, duty related, not for his own interest.
"Something wrong?" he inquired seeing her disappointment.
She looked at him with a smile too big not to be fake.
"Not at all. Let's go, they're waiting."
She got out of the class and turned around to see Squall still there.
"What are you waiting for? Come on!"
Squall shrugged.
"…Whatever…»
He left the class too.
Half an hour later, the little group was still in the cafeteria but Gackt has kept the talking all to himself. Squall was bored out of his mind and Carole not really interested by a guy too proud of himself. Only Miaka wasn't looking annoyed. In fact, she looked pleased, in complete admiration.
"We were totally surrounded by the five ruby dragons. Everything seemed lost when I cast heroes on all of us and we managed to defeat them!"
"You're so brave…," Miaka said.
"You lie so well," Squall whispered only for Carole to hear.
The girl giggled by Squall's side. Miaka was close to Gackt who has found in her the perfect public.
Gackt started telling another story and as Squall recognized it, he knew it would take some time. He turned to Carole, putting an elbow on the table and holding his cheek in his hand.
"Tell me," he started. "Where do you come from? Where do you live? How come Miaka is your childhood friend and you just found her? Tell me everything."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, go ahead! You know a lot about me but I don't know you at all."
"You already know about my temper, that's more than enough…"
"Come on…"
She almost jumped from her chair when he placed his hand over hers on the table. She looked at him and their eyes locked. They both stared a while, unable to break apart. They finally did in the same time and Squall took back his hand.
"You asked for it so don't blame me if it's boring you and I'll slap you if you fall asleep…"
Squall nodded and Carole started.
"I was born in Esthar and I grew up with Miaka from 3 to 6 years old until my family was called to move on the Lunar Base for work. I was sad but as a little kid, I just had to forget about her and I guess I did. My sister Rachel was 4 and a few months after our arrival, my brother Robert was born. Two years later came my brother Pierre."
"You sure got a big family," Squall said with amazement. "But… how come you were on the Lunar Base for so long? I thought they were changing the crew every six months!"
"It was supposed to be the case but because of Robert's birth, we were being tested as if kids can adapt in space for a long time."
Squall nodded, understanding.
"Well, by ten, I met Audrey, on the base with her parents and big sister for work too. We worked together and became best friends for five years. She was going back on Earth every six months, but always coming back later. But then she had to go back permanently. We didn't know if we would ever see each other again. The next day, another family replaced hers. A guy two years older than me, his sister, about my sister's age, and their parents. I became best friend with the guy and we sure had good times up there."
Squall looked at her a while.
"You loved him?"
"I think it's none of your business but, well… I don't know. Maybe but being friends was enough for us."
"What happened then?"
"The Lunar Base had to be evacuated because of the Lunar Cry. I escaped in a pod with my bros and sis and my parents in another one with other workers. My friend escaped with his family and I never saw him again. Don't even know if he's still alive…"
To change the subject, Squall asked her what was her job and her parents' on the Base. Her father was engineer and her mother a nurse in the infirmary. Her brothers were the crew's children and watched to see how kids can live their whole life in space. Carole and her sister were mechanics, sometimes even assisting in space with spacesuits until Carole appeared to be a sketcher. She was drawing the moon from different places in the base to show the different angles. Making sketches of some rooms was also a way to improve them so she was some kind of designer.
"So you did different things up there. I can't remember if I saw you while I was there…"
"Maybe not because I only saw you from afar. I've heard of you for a while and for being close to the control room, I heard of your arrival."
She kept silent the fact that she has expected him and that she had followed him in the Base for a while, staring at him.
"What happened after the evacuation?"
She was out of her thoughts thanks to Squall.
"I stayed with my sister and brothers until we were collected by the Air Station crew. We found our parents and we hurried to Esthar. We made it there just in time because few minutes later, the city was full of monsters. I was so mad for not knowing how to fight! I was feeling out of place too because I haven't been there for ten years but my brothers! They were scared to death!"
"It's obvious! They grew up on the Base."
"And the monsters all around the city wasn't helping it at all. I promised them I would be strong to protect them from any monsters."
"So that's why you're here?"
"Yeah. Cid made an exception for my case since I'm already 17. Usually, at this age you can't enter Garden. Anyway my parents thought it would be good for my bros to become SeeDs too. So when the city was cleared, we moved in Balamb Town."
"So that's where you're actually living."
"Miaka called yesterday and when I tried to know who could have called me from Esthar, I remembered her but I couldn't believe she was still remembering me. And I really wonder how she found me…"
"I never forgot you and when I heard the Lunar Base crashed…"
Carole and Squall turned to Miaka and Gackt staring at them. Miaka and Gackt have been silent for a while, listening to Carole.
"How long have you been listening?" Carole inquired.
"A while."
"Since we're talking, can you tell me how you found me?"
"Hai! I heard about the crash and the first thing I thought was that you were on the base. I was afraid you could have died but I learned nobody died. I knew you would come back to Esthar because you still had a home there but the monsters kept me trapped in my house and when it was over, you were already gone. I knew you came because there wasn't anything left in your house. I made some research and I found you."
"Glad you did. I'm sorry I didn't go to tell you I was back before leaving for Balamb!"
"Forget it. The important thing is that we are together again."
Gackt smiled and turned to his old friend.
"Hey, Squall! We didn't have much time for our match this morning, what do you say we have another?"
"Sure!"
The guys got up.
"Hope to see ya again, Mia," Gackt said.
"Uh… Hai! Sure!"
Squall turned to Carole.
"You better train hard before I decide to train you," he warned.
"Sure, yeah!"
Without a smile but without a frown too (pretty unusual), Squall left with Gackt
Carole turned to her friend to ask her something only to see her with shining eyes tracing Gackt.
"He called me Mia…"
"Hey, Miaka…"
"He hopes he'll see me again…"
"Mia-chan!"
"Oh, Gackt…"
"Chan Sue!"
Miaka suddenly snapped out of it and turned to her friend, totally lost. Carole couldn't help smiling at her.
"You know, I think you got a chance with him."
"Really? You think so? Lucky!!"
She looked really excited a while before looking at Carole with a serious face.
"And I think Squall doesn't dislike you either."
"Bah… He only wanted to avoid the telling from Gackt just like this morning…"
"Not so sure. He was really listening to you."
"Can we talk about something else?"
There was a silence. Miaka didn't know what to say and she knew her friend was upset. She thought about what to say but Carole talked first.
"I got it! Let's go to my house and get my gunblade. Then we'll go to the Training Center. What do you say?"
"Why not?"
"Let's go then!"
When the girls got up and headed for the exit, Carole noticed for the first time the rope tied on Miaka's belt against her thigh.
"Hey! You got one of those new weapons!"
"Oh you mean this?"
She showed her the rope with the balls at each end. At the junction of the ball and the rope, there were feathers all around it.
"Pretty cool!"
"Yup," Miaka said putting her weapon back in place. "When I'll upgrade it, it will be possible for the balls to spin and the feathers along with it, becoming razor sharp. And what you said you got? A gunblade??!!"
"Yeah, a gunblade."
"I bet it's the Sunset."
"You know?"
"I'm a fan of Weapons Monthly."
"You too? Great!"
The girls giggled and talked some more on their way to Balamb. Carole took her gunblade while Miaka talked a little with her friend's parents. Then the girls went back to Garden.
Not far outside Garden, two men were sitting on the grass. Both had sweat on their faces and in their hair causing it to stick on their faces. Both were breathing fast.
"You sure are good, Squall!" Gackt said. "You improved!"
"You too."
Gackt started thinking about the conversation with the two girls in the cafeteria.
"That Asian girl was pretty cute, don't you think?" he asked.
The word 'Asian' only made Squall think about Rinoa. He shook his head and shrugged.
"Yeah, whatever…"
Gackt turned to him.
"Guess you're not the romantic type."
"I don't want to talk about this now. I'm not ready…"
"I'm not pushing you, Squall. When you're ready, I'll be here to listen to you."
"I'll be here…" those words, Squall really meant them when he said it to Rinoa. He wrapped his arms around his knees and rested his forehead on them.
"Something wrong?" Gackt inquired with concern.
"I don't feel well… My heart ache. I miss her so much…"
Gackt didn't ask who Squall missed like that, knowing he would tell him one day. He just wrapped a friendly arm around his friend's shoulders to comfort him a bit. Squall was feeling like a little helpless boy… and he didn't like it, not at all…
Back in the Training Center, Carole and Miaka managed to avoid T-Rexaurs and still train with easier beasts. Carole was amazed at her friend's skill and Miaka was surprised that the gunblade didn't seem as heavy as she thought it was.