Chapter 2: A Screening Reunion

(1 week after the meeting at the Imperial Summer Palace at San Francisco)

Ashford Academy, Neo-Tokyo

"And I am back again… have I really graduated already?" a tall, blonde woman smiles and asks her blue-haired friend.

"You didn't really want to graduate right, Prez? I mean, you did find a job you like, but I know deep down you didn't want to because you miss the days of hosting parties whenever you want," answers Rivalz Cardemonde, the blue-haired boy who, despite calling the woman "Prez," is actually the sitting Student Council President of Ashford Academy.

"Milly! Long time no see!" a red-haired girl waves her hand to the blonde woman noticeably, seemingly happy to see her friends again.

"Kallen! Long time no see! How are you enjoying school here? Having a lot of fun in the Student Council?" Milly Ashford, the rising TV anchor of K-TV and heiress presumptive of the Ashford Academy, asks.

"Not bad… at least we don't have to do all those crazy stuff that would happen when you were here, or if we do, we do it in a much more controlled way," answers Kallen with her eyes slightly rolled.

"Hahaha you just hadn't spent enough time as a student council member when I was here, Kallen!" laughs Milly. "But I suppose it is all good now as you don't need to play the sick girl persona anymore, and you can go by the name you prefer."

"Yes… and I can now fully appreciate the student experience without worrying about all the troublesome stuff like secret operations or wars," says Kallen with a smile, "all thanks to the peace we have now."

The three friends keep chatting as they walk into the academy's auditorium. As they push open the doors and walk into the auditorium, they find themselves joining a group of people who have also received invitation from Empress Nunnally.

"AHA! How are you my ex-fiancée?" a tall, bespectacled man asks cheerfully before his ears being pulled by a blue-haired woman.

"Need I teach you how to behave normally, Lloyd?" asks Cecile Croomy, Lloyd's assistant.

"As lively as usual I see, Earl of Pudding!" Rakshata Chawla, Lloyd Asplund's long-time rival, quips while standing beside Cecile.

"As close as usual for the scientists," says Milly with an amusing tone. "By the way, where is Nina? I thought she is working with you."

"She is running an errand today and will be arriving late," explains Cecile, "The Empress' invitation says it will be an all-day event, so I am sure she will join us at some point of time."

Kallen giggles at the light-hearted exchanges among the scientist and then look around the room. There is Cornelia li Britannia, the purple-haired warrior princess, chatting with Nunnally amicably while Gilbert G.P. Guilford, her devoted knight, standing beside her; Zero is standing behind Nunnally and holding the handles of the wheelchair. There is Kaname Ohgi, the former Deputy Leader of the Black Knights and currently the Prime Minister of Japan, having a great time drinking a glass of champagne and chatting with Shinichirou Tamaki, now a cafe owner. There is Kyoshirou Tohdoh, the stoic Japanese general known as "Tohdoh the Miracle Worker" to the general populace of Japan, sitting beside Nagisa Chiba, Tohdoh's wife who is infamous for her stubbornness. There is Tianzi, the former Chinese Empress and currently the Symbol of Unity of the United States of China, chatting happily with Kaguya Sumeragi, the Chairwoman of the United Federation of Nations. And then there is Anya Alstreim, the poker-faced pink-haired girl who was the Knight of Six, silently playing with her phone while Shirley Fenette, the always cheerful orange-haired girl, somehow seems nervous of not knowing what to expect while sitting next to Anya. Gino Weinberg, the tall blond guy, keeps moving around the room and chats with whoever seems to be willing to entertain him.

'Hmm… why is Shirley sitting next to Lady Alstreim? Do they know each other?' Kallen muses. 'Maybe I should go and say hi to see how she's doing…'

But before Kallen can make her move, Zero starts to clap his hands loudly to draw attention, and then hands a microphone to Nunnally.

"Greetings everyone!" says Nunnally, "Thank you for accepting my invitation and make the time to come all the way to Ashford Academy. I am sure many of you may be wondering why I invite you here at this time."

"Indeed, Your Majesty," replies Ohgi, "I am happy to see everyone again of course, but is there a reason why you get us all here?"

Suzaku steps forward and starts speaking with the modified metallic voice. "Indeed there is, Prime Minister Ohgi. Her Majesty invited all of you here for one important reason: to learn the truth."

"The truth? What are you talking about, Zero?" asks Cornelia with a small frown on her face.

"Your Highness," answers Suzaku, "by 'the truth', I mean the truth behind everything that has happened in the past two years, specifically the events related to Lelouch vi Britannia." Suzaku speaks as he flashes the three discs on his hand.

The auditorium falls silent. Cornelia's face remains calm, but anger can clearly be seen by anyone who is looking at her face. "What about the demon emperor? I see no reason why we need to bring him up in this otherwise enjoyable occasion."

"I agree," spats Chiba, "why should we mention that despicable man who saw and used us as nothing but pawns?" Chiba then realizes that she is actually agreeing with a Britannian Princess, Princess Cornelia who had been a fearsome oppressor to the Japanese no less, and thus gets even more infuriated given how she has unwittingly agreed with someone she hates. "Kyoshirou, I think we should leave…"

"I agree as well, there is nothing more we need to know about the man who didn't trust us as comrades," says Ohgi, the earlier jolly mood has all but disappeared. "There is simply nothing more for us to learn about Lelouch besides the fact that despite we gave him the chance to explain himself to us when he was exposed by Prince Schneizel on the Ikaruga, he simply called us as nothing more than pawns and abandoned us. I am sure General Tohdoh would agree as well."

To Chiba's and Ohgi's surprise, Tohdoh actually has a different thought. "I believe the Empress had us all here for a reason, and a good one," says the stoic and serious man, "as much as I disagree with the actions taken by Lelouch vi Britannia in abandoning the Black Knights, I believe we should seize any chance to learn more about the man. If for nothing else, we can learn about the horrible deeds he has done and we avoid making the same mistakes again in the future."

Cornelia thinks about what Tohdoh has just said. Her emotional part keeps reminding her that the monstrous brother of hers has done the unforgivable of murdering Euphemia, something Cornelia is still mad about until this day; but her rational part actually agrees with Tohdoh and, additionally, Cornelia also wants to learn exactly what has led to the demonization and eventual demise of her once treasured brother. '…and by the truth, does that mean the mystery behind Lady Marianne's death will also be revealed...?'

"I agree with General Tohdoh, we should stay and watch what these discs have to offer." The regal princess concludes. "What do you think, Guilford?"

"I concur, Your Highness," answers the loyal knight. Most people in the room also nod their heads silently to show their agreement.

Nunnally chimes in as she sees an agreement is reaching. "Alright, I think we are in agreement, then. I have also received messages from Jeremiah, Villetta and Nina, saying that they will be running late and join us later. Is that right?"

"Yes, Jerry has several deliveries to make this morning," answers Anya.

"Villetta is taking our son Naoto to get a scheduled vaccination and will come later," says Ohgi.

"Yep, Nina is running an errand and will arrive late," says Lloyd.

"Good, let's get started then," announces Nunnally.