The second day of their field study went by in a blink of an eye. Minus the eventful day they had during the first day in the capital, the only noteworthy thing that occurred was a request to help catch a rare boar roaming around on the highway. Funnily enough, both groups found the boar running wild in the area where Rean and Fie met Revenant. The two still felt pissed about him escaping their grasps, but they knew there was nothing they could do with so little info.
The bracers and RMP worked together to gather as much info as they could about the mysterious man. They looked through every file they had, used every connection they possessed, and even used the vast database of the Intelligence Division to try and gather any information they could find about Revenant. Even with all that, they did not find any info about him.
Both instructors did not know if info about the mad man existed or if it's just confidential even to them. But they could not help but let the feeling of frustration wash over them. The man's last words left Rean repeating it over and over, fearing that the next attack might come soon.
And his worries were all too obvious too. It was like he wasn't even trying to hide it! The times where he would space out while doing a request, Fie and the kids would notice. But they didn't mention it; they knew all too well that Rean wouldn't stop thinking about his worries, even if he said he would stop.
Instead of stopping him from worrying, Fie chose to lend an ear to her lover. She knew it was better to share his concerns than to keep it all to himself, distracting him from his duties. She was glad she did it; Rean felt a lot better; it's as if something heavy has been lifted off his chest.
The field study ended without any more issues.
They returned to the academy the next day and did their usual. Lectures, club activities, quizzes, and combat training were their daily routine. It felt like the students' load had increased with each passing day. Each day ended, and another began; the free day would come, and they used it to relax and have fun. Normalcy was what it is. No more life-threatening dangers... well, except the potential attack from that man. The students were living their lives, their lives as youths.
Watching the kids for so many weeks now, Fie felt a sense of accomplishment well up inside her. A smile graced her lips as she sat next to Rean in the faculty room, looking through all the tests Class VII did during the past weeks. She now understood the feeling her lover gets when he watches over those kids, a sense of pride for guiding and teaching them. She may have only been an instructor for what? A month or two? But she definitely felt like she has always been a part of the Branch Campus.
Her thoughts were cut short as Rean tapped her shoulder. She got up as the two made their way to Recette to eat an early dinner like usual. The days continued to progress as the students spent time with their peers, spending time with them as much as they could.
Club activities got busier with each free day. Almost every student would be hanging out at the academy to be with their friends, while some would spend their free day at the plaza. When the first free day Rean and Fie had arrived after their field study, the list of requests that would turn up surprised the two. The once three to two requests had become a single request on a piece of paper. This became the new norm for the couple as each free day would come.
With every day full of schoolwork, club activities, and fun with their friends, the days flew by as the academy reached... their last free day for the school year.
[07/ 30/ S. 1207]
-7:14-
Leeves, Heimdallr Suburbs
Rean Schwarzer, ever the early bird, was already getting ready to go to work, well, getting ready to take on the request for the day. He didn't mind having one request to do, but he sure missed doing more than just one. The task wasn't even given by Professor Schmidt, just the locals who live in Leeves. It made Rean (and Fie if she joins him) spend most of the day relaxing or doing rounds at the campus. Putting on his coat, he headed out of his room as he went downstairs.
His eyes wandered around the room, no sign of life anywhere. Nodding to himself, Rean had a feeling some of the kids were still sleeping while the rest are out and about. He went to his mailbox to see if the letter was there, and it was indeed there. The instructor opened the letter as usual as he checked the contents. Lilac orbs widened a tad when he saw the request for the day.
I request you to spend your time this free day however you see fit. You may help the locals, train at the Keep, relax at Recette or even ask me for a duel if you desire to train. I will be in my office like usual. The Panzer Soldats have been prepared if you would like to test them out. You will still be compensated once the day has ended and I will personally deliver your reward to the dorm.
- Aurelia Le Guin
"I guess I'll go out and see if anyone needs my help. Though, Principal Le Guin's offer is tempting." It wouldn't be the first time the countess has offered to spare with the Divine Blade. He found training with the Rakshasa enlightening each time, even if he did have a few broken bones after they finished. But even the instructor realized that his injuries have lessened with each duel, a sense of accomplishment filled him, knowing that he was getting stronger.
Rean pocketed the letter, looking back at the flight of stairs. A small smile made its way on his lips before he turned to the door and made his exit out of the building. As the instructor left the dorm, one Fie Claussell was heading down the stairs as she rubbed her eyes. Just like her lover, her orbs roamed around to see if anyone was at the lounge. She yawned as she did her usual, taking a little nap at the lounge until she felt like helping Rean with his tasks.
No one can really blame her. With only one request to do, Rean insisted that he can do it by himself, but she may help him if she felt like it. Her annoyance was clear, but she knew he was as stubborn as she is. So, he agreed that Fie would help him as long as she does what she wants during the course of her free day. That being a small cat nap in the morning. Rean certainly didn't expect she used a loophole, but Fie knew he can't complain since she technically did what she wanted during the free day.
The young instructor made his way to Recette, taking his time as he bathed in the morning sunlight. The residents of Leeves were roaming around the plaza, minding their own business as they went about their day. Children would play with their friends while the adults got their breakfast from the tavern or bakery. He waved to the kids as he passed by before entering the bakery.
He blinked when he saw a girl with familiar silver locks wearing her signature black hat. The girl turned around; her green orbs always made her be mistaken as his lover's sister. Not that she minds it.
"Ah, good morning, Instructor Rean."
He smiled and greeted her back. "Good morning, Altina. Were you about to get breakfast?"
"Yes. I'll be meeting up with Leonora and the others for some club activities later." Altina answered as an idea popped into her mind. "Would you like to join me in eating breakfast, Instructor? No, I mean, please join me in eating breakfast, Instructor Rean!" She corrected herself.
A lighthearted chuckle came out of the young man as he nodded his head. "Sure. Having someone to eat breakfast with is always nice."
Altina's lips curled into a wide smile as she gestured her instructor to take his seat on the table. He took his place, and the two looked through the menu, eyeing what food they wanted to eat. As expected, Altina ordered five stacks of pancakes with strawberry milk, while Rean ordered a breakfast sandwich with coffee as his drink.
Deciding to make some small talk while they wait, Altina started with a thought that was on her mind since the field study last June.
"Instructor Rean. I never got the chance to confirm this with you, but you will become a bracer after graduation, correct?"
Rean blinked twice or maybe thrice, almost as if he heard her wrong.
"Wha-what?"
"You will become a bracer after Class VII graduate, right?" Altina tilted her head, a bit confused at his reaction. "I heard from Fie while we were in the guild that you're planning to apply as a bracer so you can be with her, am I correct?"
"Y-Yeah. Did she tell you guys about it?" Rean didn't know that Fie would tell the kids that he was going to apply, but now he's curious if she told them for the heck of telling them.
"No. Miss Valestein and Toval asked about your situation, which I am assuming to be your plans to become a bracer. We were curious what the situation was, and then Fie decided to share it with us. Likely because we might misunderstand what that actual situation might be."
Rean gasped slightly but quickly recomposed himself. He should have known that Fie wouldn't share his plans with the kids unless she was put into a situation she couldn't walk away or brush it off. And knowing Juna, she would think that his situation, especially if it involved women, would be indecent if there was no explanation.
"Well, she's right. I'm planning to become a bracer after Class VII's graduation." Rean confirmed as his eyes gazed at the smooth oak table. "Like what I said to Fie, I only really became an instructor here because of my circumstances back then, but I'm glad I did. If I didn't, I wouldn't have seen you again or have met the rest of New Class VII."
"Instructor Rean..." A small frown crossed her face but disappeared when she saw his smile.
"I wanted to see you guys off until the very end. I'm sure what you learned from my classes might not be needed in the path you'll take, but I hope the things you've learned from Juna and the others stick with you." His chuckle caused her to smile as well. A little tear managed to prick on her eyes. "A-Altina?! Are you alright?"
He leaned over and cupped her cheek, a concerned look plastered over him. Altina just shook her head and smiled as she removed his palm from her and wiped her tears off.
"You're wrong, Instructor. I have learned so many things and valuable lessons from your classes and from you in general. You and the others taught me so much, and I'll always be grateful to you all. You all made me feel human."
She couldn't help but let her tears flow through her cheeks, but it wasn't because she was sad. She was happy and thankful for what the instructor and her friends have done for her. Rean smiled before wiping off the tears on her face, taking off her hat as he patted her head.
"Huh?"
"I'm glad you're my student, and I'm sure you won't have any problems once you graduate. You're one of my most level-headed students, after all." Rean stated as he returned her hat. "And I know you'll be able to watch Millium for me and to keep her out of trouble."
"I will do my best." She chuckled despite knowing the tendencies of her older sister. "I want to also help ease the workload of Jusis. From the stories Millium has told me, she spends most of her free time with him. While Jusis loves her company, I have a feeling his stamina cannot keep up with my sister's hyperactivity and doing the paperwork for his duties as a duke."
"Ahaha..." Rean didn't know what to say; everything she said was true. The poor noble was already busy with his duties as duke, while visits from a certain spy did help relieve his stress. Unfortunately, he really needs his sleep. "Knowing Jusis, he'll refuse to go to sleep until he finishes his paperwork."
"That is also what Millium said to me. If I'm by her side, I can at least help with keeping her company so that Jusis can get some much-needed rest." Altina stated matter-a-factly. She won't admit it, but she is happy that she can spend more time with the cheerful agent after graduation.
Liza soon delivered their food to their table. The two thanked the woman before she nodded to the two, telling them to enjoy their meal. Two nods were given as she smiled to herself before returning to the counter.
"Well, let's eat."
Altina nodded before smiling widely at the plate of pancakes, knife, and fork already in hand. "Understood."
Having that kind of talk with one of his students certainly gave him an appetite, and talking about the future was a serious topic in itself. It could go from lighthearted to outright depressing, depending on the person. Rean was just glad that Altina already knows what path she will take after graduating.
A hungry growl came out of his stomach; the silver-haired girl looked up to see her instructor with an embarrassed blush. It was obvious he was hungry as he began munching his sandwich. The girl giggled before returning her attention to her plate and snarfing down her favorite food in the world. Each piece she sliced was quickly devoured as she quickly finished one whole pancake. Even if Rean has already seen her eat pancakes numerous times, he's still getting used to seeing her eat the breakfast item at a ridiculous speed.
Breakfast was pleasant as the two conversed some small talk while eating. The two talked about the swimming club and how Altina's skills have improved compared to a year ago. The girl told stories about Millium's adventures during one of her mission, laughing and sighing at her shenanigans.
Eventually, the two finished eating their meals as Rean paid for the food, even though the girl insisted on paying.
'Instructor Rean is always so stubborn when it comes to these things... but it wouldn't be him if he acted differently.'
A half-lidded look rivaling Fie appeared on the girl's face as she stared at the man. Rean could feel a drop of sweat running down his forehead, a familiar stare directed towards him. As soon as he got his change, he thanked Liza once more before leaving the café with Altina, ignoring her half-opened stare.
"I guess I'll see you around. Enjoy the rest of your free day, Altina."
"You too, Instructor Rean."
She bowed before the two went their separate ways. Altina walked to the academy for club activities while Rean went to Nyo-Sui-An to perform some maintenance to his fishing rod. And maybe he'll look around to see if he can find a souvenir to give to his parents; they did have eastern products for sale.
Entering the store, Rean was greeted by a familiar mint-haired girl, looking through the items as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Musse?" Said girl turned around, her surprise was slightly apparent, but her joy was hard to hide.
"Instructor Rean, fancy meeting you here~." She greeted in her usual tone. "Have you come to purchase a few eastern items? They have stocked up some new tea if you're interested, Instructor."
"I may take you up on that suggestion. But I really came here to have my fishing rod checked." Rean said with a hint of embarrassment in his voice, causing the young girl to giggle. "Are you here to get some stuff for your club?"
"Hehe, actually, I came here to purchase some tea for my grandparents. They ran out of green tea, so they asked if I can buy some for them once I get back home, and Nyo-Sui-An has all sorts of tea leaves. I took this chance to buy some for my personal use."
"Gotcha. I take it you'll be heading to Ordis after graduation?" Rean asked, but he already knew the answer.
"Correct. I will resume my duties as a duchess full-time after graduation. Don't miss me too much, Instructor~." Musse sang; the mirth in her tone was apparent. She didn't expect his answer, though.
"Haha, I'll try." He scratched his cheek as he smiled. "I know you can handle anything that comes your way. Just remember not to push yourself too much."
Her teasing facade dropped when his eyes showed concern for her well-being. A genuine and soft smile appeared on her face as she rubbed her left hand with her thumb. The duchess knew that the man would not stop worrying about the welfare of everyone, but that's the man she admired. She knew her teasing would eventually come to an end after hearing about Rean's relationship, but the mint was just glad that he did not think ill of her when she would continue her teasing.
"I promise I won't push myself too hard. I can't have you worry about me all the time, but I wouldn't mind having all of your attention." She chuckled softly.
"I hope someone reliable will be your aid. At least that way, I won't have to worry about you being dizzy when you used that brain of yours." As he said that, Musse's smile grew wider. Rean noticed her growing smile and smiled back, thinking to himself that she found a capable assistant.
She has indeed found one, and they were a capable bodyguard too.
"If you are free right now, would you like to have some tea with me, Instructor?" She offered as she held several packs of tea. "I want to hear someone else's input in green tea. They have different varieties here, and I want to give my grandparents the most suitable one."
"Of course, I'll do my best to help you with that. Let me just buy some stuff and get my rod checked first."
"Understood~."
Rean went through the shelves and picked some eastern sweets and tea for his parents. He went to Old Man Rod, paying for the items before asking him to check his fishing rod. The instructor smiled when the older man found no issues with his rod; the owner even told the black-haired man that he could improve the handle for a better grip, which Rean happily agreed to let him do.
It only took Old Man Rod a couple of minutes for the adjustments to be made. He returned the rod to Rean before thanking him for shopping at his store.
"All right, I'm ready. Where do you wanna go to prepare the tea?"
"We can do it at the dorm."
"Let's go then."
He led Musse out of the shop, thanking Rod once again before strolling back to the dormitory.
The two entered before Musse went to the dining hall to prepare the tea while Rean went to his room to set his purchased gifts aside. Noting that it was already past eight, the instructor knocked at his lover's room to check if she was still at the dorms. As he expected, there was no response. She was most likely doing something else and has already finished her catnap by now.
He walked downstairs as he waited for Musse in the lounge. The smell of tea brewing flooded the room; a line of smoke could be seen coming out from the dining hall. The scent was refreshing, sweet, and it even had a slightly roasted fragrance to it.
Whatever tea the duchess was making, Rean knew it was going to taste phenomenal. His foot started tapping the floor by itself; the excitement he was feeling was leaking out in the open. No one can blame him, really. Anyone can figure out that he was a sucker for eastern teas, mostly likely because of his master's influence.
Musse came out of the door with a tray in hand. Rean got up, about to help her, when she shook her head. She smiled softly before putting the tray on the table, letting the wonderful aroma surround the lounge. He knew that the duchess was skilled at preparing tea, but the arrangement on the tray was just beautiful. Colorful sets of eastern sweets were placed neatly on the plate as two cups filled with green tea were laid on the tray. No words were shared for a moment; the mint let her instructor admire the arrangement, smiling to herself all the while.
It took a few minutes before Rean returned to his senses. "T-This looks amazing, Musse. You're not a member of the Tea Ceremony Club for nothing." Musse's giggle was the only response he received before he took his teacup from the tray. "Is this your personal tea set?"
"It is, yes. The traditional eastern tea set I would normally use is in the club room. Kairi and Maya are using it right now to improve their skills in tea making." Musse was the one who originally taught them how to prepare tea for a tea ceremony. Rean wasn't surprised that she wouldn't need to be at the club room all the time. The sound of his stomach grumbled caused the man to chuckle sheepishly; it wasn't his fault that the tea and sweets made his hunger come back. "Heehee, shall we start then, Instructor~?"
"R-Right!"
Rean took a sip of the tea as Musse did the same. His taste buds were greeted by a delicate sweetness that danced around the tongue. A subtle roast and bitter flavor balance the sweetness that lingers on the drink. The instructor and duchess' face light up, even she couldn't keep up her poker face when the flavors were so divine. It was high quality, it wasn't too sweet, and it had something that relaxed the nerves. He would definitely suggest this for Musse's grandparents. Both of them took a piece of the eastern sweets; Rean grabbed the green matcha mochi while Musse took the strawberry mochi.
Popping the sweets on their mouths, the two took their time enjoying their treats. They were almost certain that the tea would suit these confections. Sipping more of their beverage, both released a satisfied sigh.
"This is great, Musse. I think your grandparents are really gonna like the tea you bought for them." The girl nodded as she set her cup aside.
"I agree. The flavor isn't too bitter that you won't need to rely on sweets to counter it. Its sweetness is delicate, mixed with a slightly roasted taste." Every word that came out of her lips made her smile wider. Finding an enjoyable tea for the elderly was quite the task; one must be aware that the flavors must be balanced so they can stay healthy while enjoying the tea. "I'm sure this tea will help my grandparents relax and enjoy tea time even more now."
Rean nodded as both continued with their own peaceful tea time. Raven and mint managed to finish the plate of sweets, Musse having to refill their cups with the tea. The peaceful silence was good and all, but even the duchess wants to have a chat with the instructor. Of course, the reason being the plans Juna and the others told her and Kurt.
"The others may have already asked about this, so I will keep it brief." The instructor rubbed his neck, already knowing what she was going to say. Looking straight to the man's lilac orbs, a smile tugged her lips. "I wish you the best in the Bracer Guild, Instructor."
That was far from what Rean imagined her to say, and boy did he show it. He did a double-take, eyes blinking twice as confusion ran its course through his mind. This made the mint's smile grow and a giggle escaping her. Noting her giggle, Rean rubbed his neck. He can confirm now that he wasn't dreaming.
"Thanks, Musse. Did Group A tell you about it?" The girl simply shook her head, earning her a raised brow from the man. "Wait, what? How did you—"
"Don't get me wrong, Instructor. Kurt and I discovered it from the others, but I am the only one who technically knows the reason why you're becoming a bracer at this time." The girl stated before elaborating further. "Since the school year is coming to an end, you have decided that it was time to leave the academy. The only reason you became an instructor was because of the circumstances back then, and now that the main problem has been dealt with, there was no reason for you to stay here." Everything she has stated was true, but Rean didn't dare interrupt her.
She chuckled when she saw how Rean was listening to her attentively. Catching her breath, she continued.
"But knowing you, Instructor Rean, you decided to stay until we graduate, correct?"
"Yeah?"
"With everything settled, nothing is stopping you from becoming a bracer. That is the most effective way for both you and Instructor Claussell to be together all the time. I also have a feeling that you have a small debt to pay to Toval." She hit all the marks with that one. He did always feel guilty about declining Toval's invitation; his situation wasn't exactly ideal for him to become one. But now, he can repay the arts expert for all his help by becoming one of them. It was one of the reasons why he wanted to become a bracer.
Besides, Rean already knew that the tasks were essentially the same as what he was doing at the academy. The instructor chuckled at her reasoning as he clapped his hands.
"I should have expected you would figure it all out."
The duchess just clapped her hands together and giggled with her usual tone. "That's all I really have to say." Musse grabbed Rean's empty teacup as she returned it to the tray. She got up and lifted the ceramic platter. "Thank you for spending time with me, Instructor. I enjoyed it very much~."
"Thanks for the tea, Musse." Rean got up and took the tray off her hands, causing her to take it back before Rean stopped her. "At least let me put these back. Consider it as a thank you gift."
"Oh... fine. Typical Instructor Rean."
Sharing a laugh, Musse bowed to Rean before taking her leave as the instructor went to the dining hall to clean the plates.
Cleaning the dishes was not that difficult considering he only hard to remove the stains that some of the sticky sweets created. Rean finished cleaning and drying the dishes before he headed out once more. He looked at his ARCUS to check the time, finding that he spent roughly an hour having tea with Musse. Since he started hanging out with two of his students, why stop now? He soon found himself walking towards the academy field. A certain pinkette was practicing tennis with her clubmates.
He didn't expect to see his silver-haired maiden, smashing tennis balls after tennis balls at the kids, though. The wildest part is he almost got hit by one of her smashes, the tennis ball barely grazing his cheek.
"Oops. Sorry about that, Rean."
"S-Since when were you this good at tennis?" The girl shrugged, making Rean sigh before he picked up the ball. He turned his attention to Juna, who scratched her cheek in an embarrassed manner. Understandably so, she wasn't sure if she wanted to tell the man she was the one who thought his lover how to hit the ball like that. But she didn't know Fie had that much strength in her swings!
"Sorry, Instructor Rean. Fie wanted to help out with training, so I taught her the basics... I didn't know she could do that to the ball, though." Her averted gaze was all Rean needed to figure out she was telling the truth.
"How about you join us for a game?" Came Fie's voice, the instructor's eyes wandered to her, and only now just noticed what she was wearing. The silver-haired maiden wore the tennis uniform the club uses, except it had lime green highlights all over. It was the same as the ones Juna and the others had, but Rean couldn't take his eyes off Fie.
The uniform showed off her assets in all of their glory: her slender and smooth arms, her curves, and Aidios, her legs were damn fine. The instructor himself didn't even realize what he was doing; he was too captivated by the sight of Fie in a tennis uniform that he lost his senses. Fie seemed to notice his silence, his eyes all on her. A smirk made its way on her countenance as she walked over to her lover slowly, swaying her hips as her skirt rustled. Pocking his nose, Rean stopped googly eyeing his girlfriend.
"Were you checking me out, babe~?" Her mischievous nature was clear as day; Rean's face burned with a red hue when Fie pointed that out. "I don't blame you. This is the first time you've seen me wear something like this~."
"No, no, no, no! I didn't mean to!" Instinctively looking away, the black-haired instructor's blush grew redder. To make matters worse, he felt a half-lidded look from a certain pinkette coming from behind her lover.
"Seriously, Instructor Rean? You can do that in a more private area, y'know?" He winced, but he didn't have an argument knowing that Fie would probably turn him even redder. Her cooing certainly didn't help as she leaned over to his ear, whispering sweet nothings. The things she was whispering could literally get him fired or make people think he has a fetish, specifically, in seeing her with different types of costumes.
His palm met his face as he tried his best to get rid of the blush. Rean's eyes went to Louise and Jessica, probably begging them to help him get out of Juna's stare. They seem to notice his pleading eyes, chuckling to themselves before the Schleiden noble rested a hand on the pinkette's shoulder.
"How about we do teams? You and Instructor Rean versus Instructor Fie. Louise and I can switch between rounds."
"Eh? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"
"I don't mind." Fie chimed in, gaining the attention of the others. Her mischievous smirk was as wide as ever as she spun her racket around. "I wanna see if I can destroy Rean at tennis~."
Her statement caused multiple sweatdrops to occur from the others.
"Well... what do you say, Instructor Rean?"
Ignoring Fie's reason for wanting to have a match with him, Rean agreed as he took off his coat. Juna and Fie took it as their cue to head to the tennis field while the black-haired instructor went to get a racket. The other two members decided who gets to play first with a game of rock paper scissors. Winning with her rock, Louise was the first to play with the bracer. Jessica went to the middle of the field to officiate the match, glancing at both teams to see if they were ready. They confirmed to her that they were before they did a coin toss. Juna's team called heads while Fie's called tails. The coin flew and spun in the air before the blue-haired noble caught it.
It was heads.
Juna's team would serve first.
The game started off with Rean's serve, Fie immediately hitting the ball back. What came next surprised her. In seconds, Rean and Juna switched their positions on the court as the pinkette went for a speedy attack, catching their opponents off guard. Louise barely managed to stop them from scoring, but she failed to see the instructor almost instantly perform a jump smash, earning them the first point of the game.
"Wow..." was all Fie could say as she returned to her position. The initial moments of surprise from the bracer were rare but not unwelcomed. The platinum blonde-haired maiden giggled, gaining Fie's attention.
"Whenever Instructor Rean teams up with Juna, the two are unbeatable. They've always teamed up whenever he wasn't training us." Louise couldn't remember how many times the pair won a match anymore. That was how amazing their teamwork was. But this only served to boost Fie's competitive spirit as her eyes lit up with determination. "Um, Instructor...?"
"They won't be unbeatable for long," Fie smirked.
"R-Right!"
Rean did a kick serve, causing the ball to bounce high. Fie's chartreuse orbs glinted with her determination as she jumped her highest before doing a smash of her own. The force of the impact was so strong that the ball came flying down to the court. The tennis ball landed violently on the ground before being bouncing off the court. Since neither Rean nor Juna managed to hit it back, Fie's team earned a point. If they were being honest, they were more concerned by how powerful Fie's jump smash was. The pinkette knew she had a strong swing, but that was even stronger than her practice swings. They wouldn't be surprised if the bracer's volley could create craters on the ground... or gaping holes on a test dummy.
"Fifteen-all!"
Jessica's voice snapped the Schwarzer noble and Crossbellian from their ridiculous state of shock as they shook their heads.
"Okay, I'll ask again, but I'll change it up a bit. Since when were you this good at tennis, and how did you do that!?" Instead of answering Rean, Fie just smirked at him smugly. "Did you know she was this good, Juna?"
"N-No! Well... I knew she could swing hard, but that was totally unexpected..."
"Ugh... I guess we have to go all-out." Read said as he got into position in front of the girl. "Remember how you felt the last time we played together, and we can beat them."
Those words gave the pinkette her confidence back as she stepped back to let the instructor take the front. She lets out a chuckle before lightly slapping her cheeks; her eyes were now on fire with the determination to beat their opponents. As the match resumed, Louise did a flat serve as the ball flew like a bullet. The upbeat Juna returned the ball in seconds before Fie got another opportunity to do a jump smash. Jumping high, the bracer performed her jump smash for a second time. Quick as a flash, Rean went to the exact location where the ball was about to land and returned it with a drop shot. Fie and Louise ran to try to hit it back, but even they didn't expect the amount of control the instructor had.
"Shit...!"
The ball went over the net and fell to the ground, leaving the bracer on her knees while the girl's face planted to the ground as she fell from trying to return the ball.
"Thirty-fifteen!"
Fie helped Louise get back up before she looked towards her lover. A confident aura radiating around him. She chuckled at his skills, even though she was a bit annoyed he wasn't going all-out from the beginning. Lilac hues met chartreuse green; both showed no signs of letting the other win. It was like the two's fighting spirits were reaching their peak. While their reason for trying to beat the other was... a little ridiculous, both instructors weren't backing down no matter what. Their partners knew that, and they knew they were going to be playing for a while...
...
"Darn it..."
"Hey, no need to sulk, Fie. It was pretty close."
Indeed, it was; Rean and Juna won by two sets, only beating the bracer's team by one more. It wasn't traditional, but the blue-haired spearwoman knew that the four would be playing all day if they did five sets of the game. And yes, she did play on the second set, and it nearly took them an hour to finish! The tennis club members' stamina was slowly being eaten away by the two monsters on the court. Rean would attack every time Fie would, and even though the black-haired instructor's team had amazing teamwork, Fie's team made up for it with her super smashes. The whole match took them three hours to finish, and it was already noon by the time they were getting ready to rest.
Louise and Jessica bid the others farewell as they went to the dorms to rest for a bit before getting some lunch at the tavern.
"Dear Aidios! You two are too much! I can't feel my legs anymore..." Juna whined as she laid on the ground, panting heavily.
"S-Sorry, Juna. I know we got carried away..." An apologetic look accompanied the swordsman's words as he and the bracer lifted her before they carried her to the bench.
"Yeah, our bad. I knew Rean was stubborn and wouldn't give up, but that applies to me too..." Fie chuckled, scratching her cheek Rean style. She felt guilty that they forced the three to keep up with them and their monstrous stamina; they didn't realize the others were starting to slow down because of their exhaustion. "I'll treat ya to something later if you want."
"Really?! I want some pastries from Recette then!"
"Gotcha. We'll get some later." She didn't mind. Fie was already planning to get some once she finishes eating her lunch. "How many requests do you have left, or should I ask, what request is it since you probably only have one? I was planning to help you earlier, but I couldn't find you. So, I decided to help Juna and the others with their tennis training."
Sighing to himself, Rean just gave the note to his girlfriend. She took the piece of paper before reading the contents in her mind, confusion visible on her face.
"So... are you just walking around the town to see if anyone needs some help?"
"Probably. I might take up Principal Le Guin's offer to a duel, though."
"I can fight alongside you if you want."
"It's fine, Fie. I want to test the current me against her by myself." The black-haired instructor stated while he chuckled.
Why did she have a feeling he would say that...?
"I should have known you would say that... but if you change your mind, shoot me a message." Fie stretched herself before kissing the usually dense man's cheek. "I'll see you later."
"Yeah, see you later." He gave a warm smile to his beloved and saw her off. His eyes went to the Crossbellian, who was currently passed out. So that's why he didn't hear her speak up during the two's conversation. In normal circumstances, she would usually tease or scold Rean for being... Rean. 'We really did go overboard...'
As the young man was about to carry her to the infirmary to rest, the pinkette woke up as she rubbed her eyes.
"Ugh... Instructor Rean? You finished your talk with Fie...?" She asked groggily while rubbing her eyes.
"Just finished, actually." He answered as he offered his hand to help the girl get up, which she accepted. "Sorry for exhausting you three; I didn't expect us to be so into it."
"Well, duh. You and Fie are always in your own little world whenever you two do something together." And there was the teasing he expected. Her smug smirk was beaming with the embarrassing truth. Rean blushed and just scratched his cheek like usual. "But if I'm being honest, I'm really fine with it. It was nice getting to play with you again, Instructor."
Rean ceased his cheek scratching and met her emerald optics. "The feeling is mutual. I'm glad I was able to team up with you again."
She nodded and smiled before getting up from the bench. "I never got to say this, but I wish you luck once you finally become a bracer, Instructor Rean!" The man wasn't surprised anymore, considering this was the third time today, but he smiled wider at her nonetheless. "I know Fie can keep you in line, but you better take care of her and yourself; and try not to make her worry whenever you pull a Rean, okay?"
"Roger that, Miss Crawford." He saluted with a grin, causing her to grin back.
"Heh, good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go change and get me some lunch!"
The pink-haired girl sprinted off towards the academy building as Rean chuckled. Checking the time, he pulled out his ARCUS.
'I should probably grab some lunch. Playing like that really burned the food I ate earlier...'
The rooftop door opened to reveal one Ash Carbide, an annoyed look glued to his face. Closing the door, his eyes went towards the guy he was looking for all morning. The Vander swordsman was leaning on the railings with his arms rested on the metal fence, his light fuchsia orbs gazed at the sky, blue as his hair and uniform.
"Tch. This is where you were all this time?"
The hardworking swordsman recovered from his dazed state as he turned his head. "Ah. Hey, Ash."
"Don't 'Hey, Ash' me! I've been looking for you all morning, and you were at the rooftop the entire time!?" The blonde's half-lidded eyes were filled with exasperation as stretched his neck. The teen walked over to him and lightly punched his friend's arm, letting a groan escape his lips. "You said you wanted to have a chess match with me yesterday. Did you forget or something? I doubt you're the type to ditch someone."
"Oh... yeah, I'm sorry. It slipped my mind is all." Kurt sighed as he looked back at the sky in thought. "I just have a lot of things in my mind right now..."
"I guess I can't be angry anymore..." The delinquent clicked his tongue before glancing at the pretty boy's face. His face softened, curious as to why he was so deep in thought. "Graduation is tomorrow, and you're probably thinking about what you'll be doing once you graduate, huh?"
"Yeah..." was all Kurt could answer.
His tone made the usual hothead quirk a brow. It has been a long time since he heard the hesitation in his friend's voice. He was acting like he was two years ago, and that bothered Ash. No, it annoyed him. He wondered what happened to the young man who snapped him out of his sorry state during the Great Twilight had gone.
"You sound pretty unsure. You're going to travel the world, right?"
"You are right, but after that, I'll be working as... someone's bodyguard." Kurt did not want to fully reveal the identity of his employer without her permission, but there was more to it than that. "I'm not sure if I'm capable or even qualified to be her bodyguard; I feel like I'm not fit for the job..."
"That's bullshit, Kurt."
Eyes widening to the max, the Vander turned his head to look at the delinquent with a confused look. Ash's crimson orbs stared deep into his light fuchsia ones.
"You're scared. You're scared that you'll fail the person you'll be protecting. The fear and doubt you placed on yourself aren't real... no, you want it to be real. It's like you're making excuses for yourself so that you won't fear disappointing whoever your employer is." Ash grabbed Kurt's collar; each word was like a bullet to his heart. "This isn't the Kurt Vander that snapped me out of my sorry ass state a year ago. You're fully capable, and you know it! And if that's not it, just fucking say no!"
The blonde growled. The swordsman could only listen to his scolding as his eyes widened.
"If you think you're not qualified, stop. Everyone here in this academy knows that's bull. If you're just using that false doubt as an excuse to not be a bodyguard, just refuse the position instead!"
Finally letting go of his collar, Ash turned his back and rubbed his neck. Kurt stood there, completely still, as his mind digested the blonde's harsh but truthful words. He remembered nodding at the offer, but he wasn't sure if he was the right person to be the duchess' bodyguard or assistant. He felt like someone else should do it, even though the teen realized why he must have been chosen. In the back of his mind, he knew he was just making excuses for himself. Kurt realized that Musse trusted him with her life. Not just in his abilities as a swordsman; but also because he was one of her closest friends.
He was done giving himself doubts. The trust Musse has for him, was enough for him to stop running away in fear of disappointing or failing her.
Ash noticed the silence that was lingering around him for a solid five minutes. He turned his head and saw Kurt with his head hung down.
"Hey, I didn't grab your collar that hard... you okay?" The swordsman still didn't respond. "H-Hey."
"Pfft... ahahaha!" Kurt wrapped his arms around his stomach as he laughed like he never laughed before, startling Ash. "You sounded like Instructor Rean, ahaha!"
"Don't point that out! Never mind that, what the hell, man!? I thought I hurt ya when I grabbed your collar!"
As soon as Kurt calmed down from his laughing, he shook his head. "Don't worry, something like that won't hurt me that easily." He chuckled. "Thanks, Ash."
"Huh? For what?" The sudden thanks made the delinquent raise a brow.
"Well, you have to figure that out by yourself. You did switch to Rean mode after all." Kurt grinned as Ash groaned in annoyance. "But seriously, thanks."
"Whatever. Glad you're back to yourself, smartass." He returned the grin as he offered a fist bump, to which the dual wielder accepted. "We can play some chess later. My mind's pooped from snapping you out of your doubt."
"Ahaha, my apologies for that." Ash just gave another annoyed look and leaned over the railing with his back. Kurt did the same but with his arms resting on the metal piece.
No words were further exchanged; only peaceful silence lingered around the rooftop. The two enjoying the breeze that would occasionally pass; and the radiant beams of light that the sun would shine upon them. The doubt and turmoil in Kurt's heart were no longer there; it was replaced with the peace of mind that Ash gave him. Even though the swordsman knew that his instructor would have probably done the same, he was glad his friend was the one to clear his doubts.
With his mind in the right place, he was confident that he won't lose himself in his doubt ever again.
"So, Ash, you'll be traveling the world as well, am I correct?"
"Yeah. You'll be training, and Schwarzer will be traveling the world with his little fairy. Unlike you two, I don't have any specific reason as to why I'm leaving Erebonia. Let's just say I felt like roaming around Zemuria; I might see something interesting if I do." He grinned devilishly at the thought of seeing something that might catch his eye. Whether it be a monster or a person, Ash knew he'll have a great time.
"I see..." A knowing smile appeared on Kurt's face. "What if I gave you reason?"
"The hell do you mean?"
"Since I have no doubt you'll still be fighting anything that stands in your way while traveling... how would you like me to travel alongside you?" Kurt turned his head to face Ash. "I'll join you in your journey of self-discovery!"
...
It took a minute before the Vander's words sunk in the blonde's mind. "Self-discovery— what?!"
"I assume that you wandering around the continent is your journey of self-discovery, or am I wrong about that?" The smug smirk on the pretty boy's face made a vein pop on the blonde's temple. Since when did he learn to do that?
"You're dead wrong! I'm not going on a journey like that!"
"Whatever you say."
Ash groaned as he facepalmed to himself. He started walking over to the exit as he waved to Kurt without looking back. "Do whatever you want. Just don't get in my way, pretty boy."
"I'm confident I won't." The baby blue-haired swordsman smirked as he watched his friend wave his arm, leaving him by his lonesome.
As the Hamel survivor started walking downstairs, he saw the black-haired instructor heading up.
"Schwarzer?"
"Hey, Ash. Were you just up on the rooftop?"
"Why do you think I'm heading back down?" Ash asked rhetorically.
"Gah... fair point." Rean rubbed the back of his neck at the obvious sign.
The young teen shut his eyes as if he was in thought. Several things flooded his mind as a brief silence took place at the flight of stairs. The instructor kept his mouth shut, waiting for his student to say something. He wasn't one to leave him when someone wasn't done talking. At least he thinks he isn't done...
"Schwarzer," said Ash.
"Hmm?"
"I want you to have a bike race with me." His crimson eyes were dead serious, while his face remained neutral. Rean couldn't help but wonder the reason why the teen looked so serious. If he recalled correctly, the other times he asked for a bike race, there was always a smirk or a cocky grin plastered on him. This was the first time he saw Ash ask him for something as simple as a race with such seriousness in his tone.
Rean wasn't one to back down from a race, though. A grin crossed his face as he met the blonde's serious orbs with his own.
"You're on!"
Both riders were on their bikes, motors roaring as they revved their engines. They both agreed to race with the Vermillion Capital as their finish line. As the two exchanged looks, Ash Carbide extended his arm as he formed a fist.
"I'm definitely gonna leave you in the dust, but I'm not too much of an asshole to not wish you luck." The cockiness in his tone was honestly refreshing to hear as the instructor did the same with his arm extended.
"Of course. But don't get pissed if I beat you." The influence of dating a certain bracer also gave Rean a pretty... cocky smirk.
"We'll see about that."
As the two continued their smirking contest, they fist-bumped each other before snapping their heads to the road. Hands gripped tightly on the handle, the sound of their engine was the only thing breaking the lingering quietness that surrounded them. Student and instructor glanced at each other one last time.
"Ready?"
"Damn right I am."
Three
Two
One
"Let's go!"
Twisting the grip of their bikes, they both went full throttle as they sped off. The tires burned the ground as the smell of rubber left their starting point; a cloud of smog accompanied the burnt rubber smell. The road wasn't complex or anything. Except for a few turns, it was an easy ride towards the capital. One would expect monsters to pop out while they raced, but whether it be Aidios' blessing or if Crow's Lady Luck did something, the two were just glad they didn't have to avoid any monsters that would obstruct their drive.
Rean had gained the upper hand as his drift was a lot smoother than Ash. The blonde growled to himself in annoyance. He was the better drifter in his class, but he still couldn't beat Schwarzer. The amount of distance between them was not that large that it would cause his mouth to spit profanities out of frustration, but it still bothered the teen. Yes, he knew Rean was riding a bike ever since he was a student, and maybe because he was taught by the Iron Horseman— Angelica Rogner herself, the instructor became crazy good with his bike, but he's still gonna blow past his ass! The black-haired swordsman sneezed while driving but still kept the lead. He felt like someone thought of him (which did happen) as he felt a strange shiver.
The delinquent was slowly closing in at the man, only a few arges left. He gritted his teeth as he pondered his next course of action. Ash had the choice of switching gears to outspeed Rean, but the chances of the instructor doing the same were high. It didn't help that the man was still in the lead, crossing that choice of his mind. His other one was a gamble, and the chances of it actually succeeding was fifty-fifty. They were close to Heimdallr once they made one last turn. The blonde had to drift, but he can't drift for too long so he can immediately change gears without the possibility of him crashing. His shortest drift was six to seven seconds. And he's pretty sure Rean's was around four to five seconds. That was already pretty short! He had to take the chance if he wants to take the lead.
'Do or die!'
As the turn was getting closer and closer, Ash started drifting as he burned rubber-like there's no tomorrow. He passed Rean since he was circling around him with his drifting, the instructor's surprised face was hilarious, but he couldn't laugh right now. The blonde's hands moved as if they had a mind of their own, switching the gears of the bike as soon as Ash stopped the drift. The young teen accelerated further as he kept his words.
He really did leave Rean in the dust.
The instructor drifted but was greeted with dust and smoke, coughing as he watched Ash speed off to the capital. He had all the reason to be upset that he lost the lead, but Rean couldn't help but smile when he saw Ash driving off with a satisfied grin on his face. But even though he knew he lost, he still attempted to catch up as he switched gears just like his student. A speed boost that helped him slowly catch up to the smirking delinquent who already stopped at the finish line.
"About time." Ash mocked as he watched the instructor's bike slow down.
Rean being Rean, only chuckled instead of giving a retort. He was never one for giving snarky comeback. Well, maybe if he was feeling snarky that day or if he was talking to the Azure Chevalier. The instructor parked his bike and got off his seat.
"I didn't expect you to drift early and switch gears. I doubt you didn't think of the possibility of crashing; I see you weren't joking around when you said you'd leave me in the dust."
The blonde's smirk widened. "Told ya. And of course, I knew the danger! But sometimes you just have to take a gamble, right?"
"Right." Another chuckle escaped the man as the teen's expression softened while he closed his eyes. "Ash?"
Opening his eyes, Ash's once smirking face did a complete 180. A soft smile stitched itself across his lips, and his eyes softened to a degree that made him look so sincere. This was rarer than Crow actually having mira to pay for dinner! Rean wondered why the sudden change in the teen's expression. His mind went places as he tried to think of the reason until it hit him.
"Thanks for racing with me, Schwarzer. I'd be lying if I said I expected to actually win considering how skilled you are with a bike." Ash said as he sat on the edge of his bike seat. The orbs that were once filled with confidence and slight arrogance were now filled with sincerity and... Rean swore he saw a tinge of sadness in those orbs. "I'm glad I was able to steal a win, even if it's just once before we leave."
And Rean's assumption was right as he remained silent.
"Your girl told Group A about your bracer thing. Just gonna say this right now, it was Juna that told Group B. So, if one of them happens to bring that shit up, you know who's responsible." Rean already had a feeling that was the case, but at least the blonde confirmed it for him. "Anyways, the others probably gave their piece already, so I'll keep this short and sweet..."
Ash took a deep breath as his eyes locked with the Schwarzer's. Rean felt himself smiling when he saw a mix of the delinquent's smug grin and soft smile combined.
"Good luck with being a bracer and keep your sappy ass speeches to a minimum. Also, don't return to your habit of sacrificing yourself when shit goes down just because we're not there to watch you all the time." Rean chuckled at the teen's attempt to wish him luck on his next career path. But what came next shocked him. "Thanks... for everything you taught me... Instructor Rean."
Did he just call Rean... Instructor Rean? The black-haired man was stupefied to the point where his face just said it all. Ash was not used to calling Rean properly like that as he scoffed, clearly embarrassed, and he definitely wouldn't do it again. Despite how shocked and in utter disbelief he was, Rean felt overwhelming joy at hearing the delinquent call him an Instructor once more.
After managing to recover (somewhat) from his surprise, Rean stared at Ash, who was rubbing his neck, slightly irritated. Can anyone blame Ash? He just thanked the instructor in such a way that was totally out of character. And him calling the man 'Rean' instead of 'Schwarzer' was really embarrassing considering who he was. That's why the blonde is irritated, he's too damned embarrassed about calling him that, but his tone showed that he meant what he said. As a smile plastered itself on the black-haired man's face, the irritation of the teen vanished as he scoffed with his hands buried in his pockets.
Walking up to the blonde, Rean patted his shoulder.
"You're welcome, Ash. I learned a lot of things from you too, both mundane and important things in life, so thank you." He rolled his eyes, but the instructor could tell he wasn't really annoyed. The amusement in his crimson eyes was a sign. With a fist already formed in his right hand, he offered to return the fist bump the teen gave earlier. "I should probably save this for graduation, but considering the path you'll be taking, I believe you'll need the extra luck."
Damn, he was perceptive. But this was Rean he was talking to. His mind worked in a way that he could deduce almost anything with some information lying around, or Musse told him since she probably already knows everyone's career path. Ash felt a smile make its way to his countenance as he fist-bumped the instructor... one last time.
"My luck ain't that bad compared to your luck with women before you were dating Claussell, Schwarzer."
"Ugh... you really had to point that out at the end, huh?"
"I am me." The snarky remark left the blonde's lips as he looked back at the road towards Leeves. "Ready for me to win again?"
Rean sighed and smiled at the same time. He knew this would happen and got on his bike. "We'll see about that." He smirked as he started his engine.
A matching smirk was present on Ash's face as he did the same. It was the delinquent who counted them down this time which the black-haired man didn't mind. As he gave the signal, both accelerated as they drove off to Leeves.
With a triumphant grin, Rean parked his bike in front of the dorm as Ash followed. The blonde's face was definitely peeved, and it wasn't because the instructor won the race back to town. It could have gone either way, but as luck would have it, Ash's little stunt earlier messed his bike quite a bit. The orbal bike's tire and the engine were damaged, likely from how the blonde drifted. It was quite clear where his irritation was coming from. Getting off their bikes, the two parted ways. Ash went to the tavern to have a quick bite while Rean walked to the academy to check on the principal.
He made his way to the academy when he noticed a certain swordsman walking towards the clubhouse. A determined look was plastered on the teen's face. Rean had a nagging feeling to follow his student, and follow he did as he followed him inside. Knowing the Vander, the light blue-haired swordsman would probably head to the training hall.
And that's what he just did. The sound of sword swings and battle cries was heard from the training hall. Rean chuckled and entered the room; a strong gust of wind blew away as he entered.
"Ha!"
Kurt spun a complete three-sixty as his body was surrounded by a heavy gale, his dual blades cutting through the training dummy. A content sigh escaped the dual wielder's lips as he resumed his stance. The sound of clapping caught his attention, his head turned to see his instructor approaching him.
"Instructor Rean. It's nice to see you." A bow accompanied his greeting. "Are you here to train as well?"
"Not exactly. I saw you heading to the clubhouse, and I assumed you'd be training. You had a pretty determined face as if your resolve's been strengthened." Rean glanced at the training dummy and chuckled. "You certainly showed the dummy your resolve, that's for sure."
Chuckling back at Rean's statement, Kurt smiled. He never thought someone would actually notice the change in his expression; then again, he couldn't hide the relief and confidence he regained after his talk with a certain delinquent. An idea slipped in his mind now that the instructor was here with him. Kurt thought it was the perfect time to...
"Would you like to have a duel with me, Instructor?" As soon as Kurt remembered what Juna shared with him and Musse, the teen couldn't let this chance to ask for a match slip by. Especially since tomorrow was graduation day. "Please consider this a duel between fellow swordsmen, instead of student and instructor. I have said this to my mother during our last field study in Heimdallr, but right now... you're the person I want to show how much I have grown the most!"
"Kurt..." Touched by his student's words, the black-haired swordsman responded to his feelings by unsheathing his blade. "Of course! How can I call myself your instructor if I don't take my student's request seriously? I'll be giving it all I've got as an Eight Leaves practitioner. As one of the Divine Blades of my school."
Kurt couldn't be happier to hear those words. The grip he had on Roland's swords tightened as he took his position across the training hall. His radiant purple-blue aura surged around the Vander's body as he took his stance. Rean duplicated his actions but raised his tachi above his head. The hardworking teen knew what was next. With a cry, the instructor activated his Lucid Spirit Unification; shockwaves were made just from the amount of power the man was producing. The ground where the Divine Blade was standing was shaking; his fiery lightning aura was an evident sign of his strength.
Despite the vast amount of energy that Rean's aura was unleashing, Kurt couldn't help buts smile wide. This was their final duel for a while; he wasn't going to half-ass this. The dual wielder crossed his swords in front of his chest, his aura concentrating around him. Kurt showcased his bravado with a battle cry of his own. His muscles expanded slightly as azure lightning started to crackle around the boy. It was his final stand!
"I see you've finally perfected your own Blade Dance," Rean smirked, noticing his student's build get slightly bulky. 'I have a feeling that his increase in muscle size isn't gonna slow him down...'
"It was thanks to you and Father that I was able to make this craft my own." Kurt was able to smirk back but remained focus on keeping his aura in check. This is going to be the first time he's using the perfected technique in actual combat.
Both swordsmen drew their swords back, burying their food deep in the ground. Words weren't uttered as the sound of their auras surrounding them was the only audible sound that filled the looming silence in the training hall. Five seconds pass. Thirty seconds pass. Finally, a minute has passed.
Yet no one made the first move.
...
That was until Kurt breathed to catch his breath from controlling his aura.
Rean started off the duel by darting towards the Vander. The warriors clashed blades before they both traded swings. Block, parry, dodge, block, parry, dodge, and counterattack. The two repeated that sequence for minutes as they tried to wear each other out. And Rean was right about the boy's speed not being debilitated from his improved muscle mass; Kurt managed to keep up with the instructor's speed with only the smallest amount of difficulty. How did the Divine Blade found out about this?
The Eight Leaves practitioner noticed the Vander's breathing slowly becoming uneven and heavy. Just from that, Rean realized that his student's perfected craft was not as perfect as he wanted it to be. The increase in Kurt's parameters was clear to see, like someone cutting cheese, but the drawback to using the technique was just as obvious. The dual wielder's Blade Dance was putting a huge strain on his body by pushing its limit to the max, even breaking the human body's limiter. Rean saw this firsthand during their duel against Aurier. While it did give the boy a huge boost in strength, his body exhausted itself to the point that he almost fell to the ground if his mother didn't catch him.
The power Kurt has now was equivalent to having a body of the bulkier members of the Vander family while retaining his incredible speed from practicing his family's dual style.
'I have to end this before I collapse...!' Kurt could feel his body getting heavier, and he bet that Rean already noticed the weakness of his craft. His blades crackled with lightning as he fired a stream of lightning energy at the Schwarzer, forcing the man to dodge.
The black-haired swordsman felt a vast amount of energy flowing through the boy's blade, making him flash a smile.
"So, this is gonna be your final act to me?"
"Yes. I will put everything into these blades of mine... I will show you the power of the dual blades of Vander!"
Those eyes that Kurt displayed, Rean could hazard a guess why the boy was pushing himself, pushing himself knowing his body might break while they fought.
Kurt was just like the others. This was his way to show his thanks to the Instructor. Rean refused to waste his fellow swordsman's efforts by trying to avoid his attacks, but instead, he challenged the teen to surpass him. His black Zemurian ore weapon ignited as it responded to the Divine Blade's heart.
"Show me what you got, Kurt Vander!"
"With pleasure, Rean Schwarzer!"
Bolting towards each other at superhuman speed, the two engaged their blades once more. The blazing flames versus the azure lightning. The force of their impact against each other sent shockwaves across the training hall, causing the very room and maybe even the building to shake. They were both swinging at each other with a force that made the ground crack. The sound of blades clashing against each other filled the training hall, along with the sound of their auras flaring throughout their body. The instructor and student returned to their position before the duel started, panting heavily as if they were about to collapse. Using the last of their energy, the two smiled at each other before taking their last
"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
A burst of light was all that was left as soon as their blades came into contact with each other. The outcome of the duel has been decided.
...
Both swordsmen were lying on the ground, trying to catch their breath as their vision was filled with imaginary sparks. Their weapons were knocked off their grasp, and they may have broken a bone or two. For people known to be quite calm and calculating, the two were both idiots for clashing against each other in a power struggle to the point that the shockwaves from their blades and aura caused damage to their bodies. Yes, they unintentionally hurt each other with pressurized air. In the end, Kurt was the one to fall on his knees first, with Rean following him a few seconds later.
Five minutes passed after that, and the two were lying on the ground, completely worn out.
"I think... ha... you've shown me what you're capable of, Kurt," Rean said with an exhausted smile. "And even though you fell first, I think you're the winner of this duel."
"Please, Instructor Rean..." The Vander cut in with a chuckle. "You have bested me in this duel. And even though I lost, I hope I was able to make it a memorable fight for you.
"Kurt." Rean sat up from the ground, still panting. "You said I'm the person you wanted to show your growth the most, and you've certainly shown it to me. You showed me more than what you displayed in your bout against Lady Aurier this time around; it's like you have discovered a new resolve that was added to your strength."
'Ahaha, as expected from Instructor Rean. He somehow always sees through me every time.' Kurt mused with a small smile.
"And don't worry about if you gave me a memorable fight or not," Rean started that made Kurt sat up from the ground. "I can't forget an incredible duel against the Duel Blades of the Vander school." He grinned as Kurt's eyes widen a bit.
Feeling his heart swell up, Kurt hung his head as his lips curled upwards. Rean might have said that he treated Kurt like they were rivals as fellow swordsmen a few times in the past, but this time, he felt as if he finally caught up to his instructor, even if it was only by a small amount. The Vander felt like he was seen as an equal; tears were in pricking the corner of his orbs.
"You honor me with those words, Instructor. Thank you..." His head looked up to see a smiling Rean, offering a fist bump. The teen's smile widened as he accepted, hitting his fist with the instructor's. "I'm glad I was able to give you my best fight before we went our separate ways."
Already knowing the reason for his request, Rean just kept his smile as he nodded.
"Thank you for guiding me, guiding all of us during the school year. I don't think I can be the man I am today without your guidance." The baby blue-haired stood up from the ground, fighting back the strain he was feeling throughout his body as he bowed to the instructor. "Thank you."
Seeing his fellow swordsman bow made Rean get up as he placed a hand on Kurt's shoulder.
"You're welcome, Kurt. Though, I owe you my thanks as well."
"Huh? I don't... understand."
"Like you said, you wouldn't be the man you are now without my guidance, right?" Kurt nodded at his question. "Then I wouldn't be the man I am today without you. Of course, Fie, New, and Old Class VII shaped me as a person. But you, Kurt, somehow reminded me of myself back then. I don't want to sound like I have favorites, but I feel a connection with you. Maybe that's why I taught you everything I learned from my master."
Rean made the boy completely speechless and wide-eyed. Kurt wasn't as emotional as his other classmates, but the words that came out of the man caused him tear up slightly once more. Tears of joy threatened his light fuchsia orbs as he smiled and bowed his head again. The teen continued saying his thanks as Rean patted his shoulder. Once Kurt no longer felt the pearls of water pricking his eyes, the two sat down and discussed the art of swordsmanship while recovering from the duel.
After parting ways with Kurt and a short trip to the infirmary to patch himself up, Rean headed to the principal's office to report what he did in his free day. He did initially want to have a duel against the Rakshasa, but considering he just had one with his student... he wasn't that stubborn and stupid. He also wanted to ask why the Principal gave him such a strange request, even though he didn't mind having an actual free day to rest.
Arriving at the door of the Rakshasa, Rean knocked at her door. A commanding voice echoed on the other side.
"Come in, Schwarzer." Rean's just going to ignore how she knew he was the one who knocked. Oh, who was he kidding? This is the Golden Rakshasa, after all.
"Excuse me."
With Aurelia's permission, the instructor entered her office. The amethyst-eyed swordswoman sat on her desk, busy as ever as stacks of documents rested beside her. Her speed made quick work to each paper as she placed the finished paperwork on the other side of her desk. A bead of sweat ran through Rean's forehead; not even Towa could finish that many documents on her own and at that pace.
"Don't just stand there. Take a seat, Schwarzer." Aurelia ordered without taking her eyes off the paperwork.
"U-Understood!" He did what he was told and waited for her to finish her paperwork. As if the woman knew what he was thinking, she spoke up.
"Feel free to tell me what you want to discuss. I assume it has something to do with the request I gave you this free day?"
How many times has Rean said to himself that he shouldn't be surprised by the swordswoman anymore? Yeah, he lost count too. Principal Le Guin chuckled when she saw the instructor's slightly surprised face, but it disappeared as quickly as his Gale. With Aurelia's approval, the instructor asked why she would give him such a request.
"Yes. I don't mean to be rude, Principal Le Guin, but your request for me today was a little... odd."
She expected him to say something like that. Smirking slightly, Aurelia finished the last few documents in a flash before looking at the man, arms crossed and amusement visible in her eyes. She immediately took notice of the bruises and scratches around the instructor as her smirk widened. The principal had a feeling that Rean wouldn't ask for a duel this time, but she decided to play the ignorant card.
"Oh? I recall putting some suggestions on what you can do this free day. Have you come to request a duel against me?" The words slipped out with evident mirth in her tone. The instructor's face paled as he coughed, covering his mouth with a hand. His reaction was worth playing ignorant if her light chuckle was any sign of it.
"That's not even funny, Principal..." A half-lidded look similar to Fie's plastered itself to Rean. His lover definitely had an influence on him; a deadpan tone lingered around his words. He didn't mean for that to come off as rude, but that's what happens when you date someone as blunt as Fie. While Aurelia didn't let another chuckle come out, her eyes gave away that she found his expression amusing. "I just finished sparring with Kurt earlier. I'm in no condition to have a duel with you right now."
"So, I take it we'll have a match tomorrow then?"
"WHA-WHAT!? We have to prepare for the ceremony tomorrow!"
"We'll have our duel relatively early, so we don't disturb the students who are still sleeping." Le Guin got up from her seat and grabbed a bottle of wine near her bookshelf. "How about we discuss that request from earlier over a glass of wine?"
Rean was left flabbergasted by how the Rakshasa had total control over the conversation. She didn't even give him time to respond to her statement about having a duel at an ungodly hour. She brought out her personal wine glass as she started to pour them their wine. The instructor noticed that the alcoholic beverage was the gift he gave to his boss when he went to Calvard. Noticing the man's gaze at the bottle, Aurelia smiled as she set down the bottle on her desk.
"Now then, do you want to hear the reason for me giving you such a request?" She began as she took a sip from her glass. "Before that, may I ask you a question?" The instructor nodded. "Did you spend some time with New Class VII today?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah." Rean answered, slightly confused as he took a sip of his wine. "I didn't hang out with them as a class, though. It was a coincidence that I met some of them while I was walking around town and at the academy." He began telling Aurelia about what he did with his students. The Golden Rakshasa's smile grew wider with each passing minute as she listened attentively to the man. He also mentioned how Class VII thanked him for being their instructor; and wishing him luck with his plans to be a bracer.
This brought a soft smile to the principal and one that definitely caught the black-haired swordsman off guard. Aurelia Le Guin was many things. She was a woman who took her job and responsibilities very seriously, whether it be as a general or as the principal of the Branch. She was a warrior who craved to fight strong and skilled opponents whenever she got the chance. The air around her was intense, even in doing something as normal as holding a class. If there was a fight, she would encourage or join the brawl instead of diffusing it. As long as the student's lives are safe, she didn't really care what the students do. If they decide to make a contest on who can catch Rean first, she'll probably approve it in a heartbeat while Towa tries to convince her not to. That was Aurelia Le Gun.
But Rean really, really should have known that his boss had a more lighthearted side. From her rare teasing to the recently discovered soft smile she can produce.
"Why do you ask, Principal?"
"Because I wanted to hear if you spent your free day with your students."
"Eh?" Aurelia decided to elucidate more in her statement.
"I wanted to hear if you spent the day with your young lions because that was the main goal of my request: Spend the day with your students." She began as she closed her eyes. "Though I did not want the kids to think that you only wanted to spend time with them because of a request, so I decided to make the instructions slightly vague. That way, you would still act normal around them and not be bound by my request."
That certainly wasn't the answer Rean was expecting. He raised a brow as his confusion worsened, signaling the countess to continue with her reasoning.
"Graduation is tomorrow, Schwarzer." With that statement, the instructor had a clue where she was going with this. "I can tell Class VII wants to spend time with you as much as possible; that is why I decided to make the request without making it obvious what you should do today. And yes, it may have been better to give you no requests at all, but I also needed you to come to my office of your own free will."
"Yeah, I was about to say..." Thankfully, the black-haired instructor's expression wasn't as perplexed as earlier. And she was right; he might blurt out to the kids that the principal requested him to spend time with them. That definitely wouldn't be right; that might hurt their feelings. "So, is the suggestion for a duel just bait for me to come here?"
"Yes and no. I would happily accept your duel if you request for it, Schwarzer." Her soft smile was replaced with a smirk. Yup, good ol' Aurelia was back. Rean groaned as his boss chuckle at his distress. "I didn't want you telling your students after all. They might expect something if you do."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The answer to that is right here." As if on cue, a knock came from the other side of the door. "You may come in, you two."
"Thank you, Principal Le Guin."
"Thanks."
The doorknob turned as the wooden frame opened. One Towa Herschel and Fie Claussell walked in as their eyes spotted the black-haired instructor?
"Rean? What are you doing here?" Both women asked in unison.
"Fie? Towa?" Rean gave curious looks to both of them before looking back at the swordswoman. "Did you ask them to come to as well?"
"Correct. I have asked them to come to my office at short notice as opposed to informing them earlier, though." She stated as she gestured the two women to take their seats beside the male instructor.
"Um, Principal Le Guin? Is this related to tomorrow?" Towa was the first to ask for clarification.
"Indeed. While it is related to the graduation of the students, the matter I would like to discuss with you three is about today."
"Today? I thought we already finished all the paperwork for that yesterday..." Fie furrowed her brows. She really did not want to relive the gruesome hours of checking vast amounts of documents in preparation for tomorrow. She hated paperwork the most that came with the job, but it was something she had to get used to as an instructor of the academy. Even if it was something she wouldn't do every day in the guild: they had guild receptionists for that.
"No. I wanted to ask and discuss what we can do for the students before tomorrow's inevitable parting." She closed her eyes as the three gave her their full attention. Aurelia piqued their curiosity when she said that she wanted to do something for the students, especially when they knew that tomorrow might be full of emotions.
"Oh! How about we throw them a dinner party?" Reliable as ever, Towa suggested as her excitement danced around her orbs. "We should make something for the students! I know there isn't a lot of time left before everyone comes back to the dorm, but I know they'll appreciate what we made for them!"
"Brilliant idea, Herschel! I'll quickly arrange for some dishes to be delivered into the dorm." Le Guin grinned as she snapped her fingers at the idea. Her gaze went towards the pair of lovers. "You two will be in charge of what we will be cooking for the students!" She declared as she pointed her fingers at the two.
"Why us?"
"Do we have to...?"
Rean and Fie questioned as they looked at their boss. Aurelia understood why they would be confused, especially the young bracer, but she had her reasons for choosing the two.
"Yes, you do, and why I chose you two is because Claussell here is the future housewife of Schwarzer. I assume she has a variety of recipes in her arsenal for dinner. Schwarzer is also a capable cook, and I have seen your skills firsthand whenever I would come to the cafeteria. I know you have recipes that you have collected over the years."
Aurelia smirked as she saw the couple flinch, proving that her hunch was right. She already knew about Rean's large collection of recipes, but she wasn't a hundred percent sure about the bracer having her own personal recipes. Now, seeing Schwarzer's slack-jawed expression and Claussell's blank look of indifference with a slight blush on her visage, the principal was certain she was right about the two. The petite instructor glanced at the pair and chuckled; pink hues colored her cheek at the mention of the bracer becoming her coworker's housewife.
"Fine... I'm not even gonna ask how you knew that..." Fie conceded as she sighed, blushing slightly as she looked at her lover. "But Rean's more of the cook than me."
"Well, since the cat is out of the bag, you're the one always cooking food for me whenever I come over to your place. You even asked if you can take over kitchen duties in the future." The bracer glared at the man's remark. He was supposed to keep that part a secret! Rean just gave a laugh and patted her head, instantly calming her down but pouted right after. The other women in the room joined the man's laughter, much to the fairy's annoyance.
"Ehehe. We'll help anyway we can!" Towa got up from her seat as she grabbed the lovers' hands, placing her own on top. "Right, Principal Le Guin?"
The silver-haired countess nodded as she followed. Her hand on top of Herschel, Claussell, and Schwarzer. And as much as they would want Professor Schmidt to come and join, they know he would rather do his research than do something as cheesy as a team huddle.
"Of course. Now, let's recap on what our roles will be for tonight's feast." Aurelia started. "I will be ordering a few dishes so we won't be cooking for too long, and Herschel and I will assist Schwarzer and Claussell with the main dish they will cook for the students."
"Understood! I'll get Celestin and the others to help, and I'll tell them that they can't tell this info to the students. I'll also inform Professor Schmidt about the party if it's okay with you, Principal?" The countess nodded at Towa's idea. She also told the brown-haired instructor to tell the professor it was her idea if he gets too stubborn.
"I'll leave what we'll be cooking to Fie." This earned the instructor a half-lidded look from the bracer before she responded to him with a sigh. "Don't worry; I'll still help. I was planning on making a few desserts and side dishes anyway."
"You suck sometimes, y'know that?" Her annoyance was plain to see, but she wasn't going to disagree with the man. It wasn't like she did not want to cook her own recipes for the kids, but she knows the attention she'll get when they find out about this will be troublesome...
"It would seem we have come to an agreement." The instructors nodded their heads, confirming their understanding of the plan. "It is currently 16:25. We have an hour and thirty-five minutes before the students return to the dorm. I will give an announcement about having to exterminate some pests in the building so they won't return early."
The others sweatdropped and nodded. It was a little over the top, but it totally fits the Golden Rakshasa's style. The four raised their hands with a cheer before departing to do their respective objectives. Aurelia stayed in her office as she began making calls for food to be delivered at the dorm, along with preparing to make her announcement. Towa went to inform Celestin and the Thors alumni about the plan and went to notify the grouchy professor. Rean and Fie made their way towards the dorm and went to the kitchen. The bracer had an inkling on what they can cook, and she's going to need everyone's help for it.
Tonight's dinner will certainly be eventful.
"Ugh... I can't believe we can't go back to the dorm because of a few bugs." Juna grunted as she walked with New Class VII back to the plaza. She wasn't too happy when she heard the announcement about the dormitory being disinfected and bugs that needed to be eliminated, considering her body is still sore from playing with her two instructors.
"It is currently being taken care of. I am sure it won't take long before we can enter the dorm again." Altina tried to lessen the pinkette's annoyance with reason. The silver-haired agent did find it odd that the principal made the announcement this late in the day instead of the early morning. The girl brushed it off since there were more important things to discuss. "Are you all ready for tomorrow?"
Kurt gave a quick and subtle glance at the duchess. She answered his gaze with a small nod and smile before nodding back. "Yes. I think... no, I know I'm ready for tomorrow's graduation."
"I am as well. The majority of the student body have been preparing their belongings so that they won't have trouble packing tomorrow." Musse said as the group stopped their stroll. "Hmm? Have you all not organized your things for tomorrow?"
The Crossbellian's face went pale in the most comical manner possible as she placed her hands on her cheeks. "Crap! I forgot about packing!"
"I have been so busy with some thoughts I would think about during the whole week; it must have slipped my mind." Allie sighed, a bit disappointed that she, of all people, forgot to prepare. Can anyone blame her? Today was the last free day they can spend together. The girl was already emotional since the last week of school started. Now, it was the second to the last day before they all depart to take on their own paths. She has grown more emotional during her stay at the academy, and it was all because of Rean and Class VII that she was able to be herself.
"It's not like you two are the only ones who forgot to pack." Ash finally chimed in; his arms rested behind his back like usual. Altina wasn't the only one who had her mind preoccupied during the whole week; the delinquent was busy planning what he can do with Schwarzer before. Luckily, he was able to race with him, even though they did tie at the end. "We can just pack once we can go back to the dorms."
The others seem to agree with him. Well, Juna and Altina did. The Vander and duchess had already packed and organized their personal belongings since they had more items that needed to be stuffed into bags and boxes. The other three weren't really worried about wasting their time in panic packing for tomorrow because they'll be doing it later. It's not like they were going to do anything else tonight... right?
The mint noticed a group of people wearing pest control uniforms (which were actually the people who came to deliver the food Aurelia ordered. She was also the one who ordered them to wear a disguise) enter the building with bags in hand. The initial thought of the duchess was that it contained their equipment to exterminate the bugs, but it was far too small, and some looked like a package of sorts. This raised questions in the girl's mind as she placed a hand on her chin. After a few minutes of standing idly around the town plaza, Musse was snapped back to reality by Juna while the fake pest control workers began leaving the dorm.
"Are you okay, Musse? You've been awfully quiet."
"My apologies. I was thinking about why the pest control was carrying small bags to hold their equipment..."
"That is a bit odd..." Altina admitted before a voice gained their attention.
"Hey, guys! We can go inside now!"
Turning their heads, New Class VII was greeted with the face of Stark and the rest of Class VII and IX.
"Really?"
"Yeah. The principal just announced it to the students who were still in the academy. She said something about all of us should head to the dorm together."
Stark explained to Juna and the others as they nodded. They all walked over to their dorm together and entered the building. They quickly noticed the door to the dining hall was opened. The students exchanged looks of confusion as to why it would be left open. All of them knew that the instructors always closed the door when they would leave or enter the dining hall, and unless the pest control were the ones who left it opened, it was anyone's guess why the door was agape. Their curiosity got the better of them; they all walked into the dining hall, their jaws dropped the moment they entered.
Various plates of mouthwatering dishes were laid on each table. From meat dishes that glistened from the light of the room to the freshest fruits and delicious greens bundled up into a salad. The students could only stare in shock, confusion, and slight... who were they kidding? They felt major hunger for the food in the room. Their gaze noticed multiple pots on the center of the table, broth boiling with raw meat and seafood beside the container. The aroma it gave out sent multiple growls to the students' stomachs. Their desire to eat increasing the longer they stayed in the room.
Just as Sidney was about to get a plate, Aurelia stepped out of the kitchen with the three instructors and Hyarms butler. The Class VIII student froze before running off to hide in Kurt's back. All of the student body sweatdropped at the teen's reaction but dismissed his behavior as they looked at their principal.
"Um, Principal Le Guin?" Being the bold Juna Crawford, she wanted to ask what this is all about. She wanted to ask why there were this many foods in the dining hall. "Is there some sort of occasion tonight...? We can't help but notice... all of this."
Aurelia just smirked with her hands on her hips. Her amethyst eyes scanned the room, counting the heads of the students before nodding to herself. "Tomorrow is the day, you young lions, will leave this academy to pursue your dreams and take on the path you have chosen with your head held high. You have overcome many challenges over the past years, and you have proven time and time again that your abilities have helped the citizens of Erebonia as well as defending them from danger. As your principal, I would like to show my appreciation for your efforts with this feast!"
"Wait! Is this for all of us!?"
"No way! That's awesome!"
"I can't wait to dig in!"
The students all cheered as the faculties' smile widened.
"Now! People of Leeves, please come and celebrate this feast we have prepared for the students with us!" Aurelia declared as several footsteps started to form, getting louder and louder before the door of the dorm opened. The townsfolk, along with Professor Schmidt, entered the building as they went to the dining hall. As they entered, praises were sent to the kids, their faces flabbergasted and shocked from their kind words.
"All right, everyone! Please grab a plate and dig in!" Towa's statement was followed by cheers from the crowd. "All of the dishes here were delivered here from Heimdallr, but the hotpots on the tables were prepared by the faculty!"
"You can all thank Claussell for the hotpot. She was the one in charge while we merely assisted her."
Fie naturally groaned at Aurelia's attempt to give her the spotlight, and it worked. The surprise faces of the kids were hilarious, but they all began thanking her for her contribution. She appreciated it, but she preferred her quieter presence. It was simpler that way. Of course, Fie wasn't going down like this. With a mischievous smirk on her visage, she pointed at the black-haired instructor.
"And this handsome instructor of ours was the one who made the side dishes and desserts~."
"Fie! You didn't need to point that out!"
"Payback~."
Obviously, they all began thanking the man as well. Rean tried to brush it off, but he knew he was going to have a tough time. He gave a slightly annoyed look to his lover, only for him to receive a peck on the cheek from the bracer. Ignoring Class VII's surprise, the others roared their support over the gesture as the Divine Blade slowly turned into a tomato. The playful bracer snickered at his embarrassment before gesturing everyone to start eating. They immediately grabbed some plates as they went to get their food. The room easily got filled with the residents of Leeves joining them. It was packed, but it wasn't unpleasant.
The students went to their friends, joking and having fun as they ate. With each bite of their food, they thanked the principal and the black-haired instructor. Everyone decided to try the hotpot Fie and the others prepared, and as they first tasted the broth, their palates were drowned by the amazing flavors of the ingredients. Their taste buds detected chicken, pork, beef, and an assortment of spices and herbs. After tasting the broth, it was time for them to eat the meat, seafood, and vegetables with the broth! Cooking the meat first, they popped it into their mouths and praised the faculty, especially Fie. The residents of Leeves felt the same as they gave their thanks to the faculty for letting them join the celebration.
Even the more stoic students couldn't help but express themselves on how amazing the hotpot was.
Class VII found themselves bonding over their food: Altina complimenting Rean's delicious strawberry parfaits. Juna and Musse discussed how delicious the sandwiches and salads were. Ash and his old Class VIII buds were eating proteins left and right, chatting about their training regime (mostly because of Wayne). Kurt certainly enjoyed the hotpot the bracer and the others made, saying that it reminded him of a family dinner.
Towa and Aurelia decided to finally join in, leaving the couple by themselves as they watched everyone eat with smiles on their faces.
"I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. Wasn't sure if they liked the broth I made." Fie admitted as she scratched her cheek. "If it weren't for you, Aurelia, Towa, and Celestin picking out the best foods that go well with the broth, I don't think they'll enjoy it as much."
"You should give yourself more credit, Fie. Besides, it was Principal Le Guin who got the ingredients and equipment for the hotpot. I think it was all because of her that it was a success." There was no doubt that the Golden Rakshasa had ways to obtain the items they needed for tonight in a flash. And after telling her what they needed, she brought the components for the hotpot in fifteen minutes.
The silver-haired instructor made the broth while the others began taste-testing it with different types of meat, seafood, and vegetables. While the rest gave helpful inputs, it was Rean's palate that they listened to when they were putting the food beside the hotpot. That's why Fie was currently giving her lover an annoyed stare, telling her she doesn't give herself enough credit when he was the same! With a flick to his forehead, Fie poked her partner's nose.
"Give yourself some credit too, stupid. We listened to your suggestion on what food would go well with the broth, and now everyone's enjoying our dish. And don't say, 'It was nothing', you were the one who made the side dishes and desserts all by yourself."
Rean couldn't fight back against her facts, only groaning and nodding his head as he conceded to her. With a triumphant smirk on her face, she grabbed her lover's arm.
"Come on, let's eat with the kids! I'm sure they wanna chat with you as much as possible tonight.
"Yeah... let's go!"
The two made their way to get their plates, totally spent on people watching earlier. Why didn't they eat with Aurelia and Towa earlier? It was because they wanted to see the smiles on those who ate their food. As the two got their dinner, they went over to the kids and chatted the night away.
FL: We're so sorry! We researched about tennis just for this but we definitely suck writing that part :')
CR: Lmao. Same
FL: But it has been so fun!
CR: Yup... Peace. Gonna work on my CrowXFic now
FL: Nooooooooo! We still have work to do :(
CR: I was kidding... I still am working on more than that!
FL: I hope the readers will get excited then!
We hope you enjoyed the tenth chapter! We had a great time writing this and all of the comments for the previous chapters were great motivators for us, we thank you! Unfortunately, this will be the last chapter we'll upload for a while. Don't you worry, this won't be abandoned since we have already planned the other chapters to come. Since Haji (now known as Trails into Reverie) will be coming out in 2023, we decided to take a break with this fanfic. But don't think we'll resume writing in 2023! That's just too long lol.
We will be uploading new chapters if we do get the time, but for now, The Path We Walk Together will be taking a backseat for our other planned fics to get some attention from us. Thank you for all of those who decided to read and kept on reading our very first planned fic. I'd like to think we got better in writing the more chapters we made. We hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Until next time!
P.S.
Currently working on another ReanXFie fic and some other stuff! :3
