"Is this the one?"

The hustle and bustle of Garreg Mach's marketplace hummed around them as Sylvain stifled a hearty yawn, the third one within the space of ten minutes judging by Felix's counting. Professor Byleth hovered over an expansive table of wares, picking each item up and examining it with mild interest. Every so often he'd stop and glance over his shoulder as if assessing his two former students before returning his attention to the inquiring shopkeeper.

"I thought you said this was important, Sylvain," Felix grumbled. "I had plans after stable duty. Plans that didn't consist of shopping."

Sylvain yawned for the fourth time and stretched his arms behind his head. "Hey, this isn't exactly my idea of fun either. But the professor insisted we needed gear for this month's campaign, and who am I to say no? Now that we have reinforcements, this is the time to reassess our stock."

"Is this the one?"

The jangling of coins rattled behind them, and the shopkeeper's chipper voice rose above the marketplace's clamor. "Wow, thanks a bunch!"

The professor tied up his coin purse and turned to another nearby stall.

Felix tsked. "How long does this typically take?"

"Heh… now do you see why I asked for some company? Besides, this isn't all bad…" Sylvain gestured out to the crowd, "I personally enjoy a little bit of people-watching myself."

"Uh huh." It went without saying that 'people-watching' most likely meant women-watching, knowing Sylvain.

"Glad to see you're feeling better, Felix. It was getting boring without you around."

"I'm sure you'd have found something to entertain you."

"Maybe," the redhead shrugged, "although I guess you were overdue. I feel like it's been ages since you were sick like that. In fact, the last time I can remember…"

"If I recall, you got me sick."

"Hey now, all of us got sick! But if you want someone to blame, you can blame Ingrid. Contrary to whatever she read in her favorite book, training in the rain is not the best way for a knight to grow stronger. We just all happened to find out the hard way."

"Hmph."

Felix sat himself atop a nearby barrel. The professor's shopping excursion seemed to draw on endlessly, and now conversation was starting to stray towards the past and the simpler days of their youth. Although Sylvain's company wasn't wholly disagreeable, Felix would prefer not to dwell on those happier times, as it undoubtedly would lead them to discussing less happier times...and those topics were better left untouched.

"Speaking of… Does Ingrid seem different to you lately?"

"Huh?" Felix blinked.

"I mean, well, you've known her as long as I have, and you've got a good eye for detail. Did you notice anything?"

"Not really. She's less reckless in battle, but I would assume that comes with training and maturity."

"I don't mean in that way, it's more like…"

"Her proficiency with the lance has improved."

"No. Her appearance."

"Oh. That." Felix rolled his eyes, his voice flat. "She cut her hair. It's probably more efficient when flying."

"I take it back, you really don't have an eye for detail," Sylvain chuckled to himself before running a pensive thumb along his chin. "I dunno, she just… she's prettier than I remember."

"You realize she's not around to hear your bad pickup lines, right?"

"No! I just—ugh," Sylvain groaned to himself. "I can't explain it. But if I say something, it's going to come across like I'm just being an insufferable flirt."

"It's Ingrid. She already knows you're an insufferable flirt."

"Heh...I can always count on you to be direct," Sylvain answered after a moment. Their conversation settled into a comfortable, quiet lull as the sounds of the market took over.

When was the last time we just sat together like this?

Too long. Not since before the war. Felix didn't like to admit it, but if he had to pick someone to waste time with indulging in the professor's shopping spree, Sylvain wasn't the worst choice. Certainly better than the wild boar and his rabid dog—

"Hey hey," Sylvain's elbow jabbed against his side. "What do you think they're up to?"

A flash of red shimmered in his peripheral vision. Across the marketplace Felix caught sight of Mercedes leaning over a stall with Annette in tow, both staring down at whatever goods were on sale with keen interest. The redhead bounced on her toes with enthusiasm as she struggled to see over her taller friend's shoulder. Mercedes lifted some unknown item from the merchant's table to examine, and Annette wiggled closer to get a good look. The two finally settled on a decision and passed payment to the shopkeeper.

Whatever it was, Annette's excitement was visible judging by her mannerisms. There was something endearing about the way she clenched her fists and rose up on her toes again to look at their purchase.

He wondered if perhaps she was already crafting a new song about the item they just purchased. Maybe she'd sing for him. Perhaps there would even be an accompanying dance. He liked the thought.

Felix felt his friend's eyes turn away from the crowd and look back at him, as if Sylvain could sense the distracting sensation rising in his chest. His throat was dry. Felix answered after a moment's pause with all the cool indifference he could muster. "Shopping, obviously."

"Let's go say hello. Maybe the professor wants to buy more gear for them too."

"No—" Felix realized his objection was far hastier than he intended. "If the professor wants to buy them something, he can take them out on his own time."

Sylvain cast Felix as judgmental look. As if on cue, Byleth's coin purse jingled again, and the shopkeeper cheerfully accepted his payment. "Wow, thanks a bunch!"

"Yeah, I'm not sitting through fifty more transactions. After all, you did just say I'd find something to entertain myself," Sylvain grinned. Before Felix could object again, his friend was already waving down the girls.

"Hey, fancy meeting you two here!"

Mercedes waved back and glided across the marketplace with Annette bounding along behind her. Even in the bustling crowd she somehow managed to move with a manner of grace and poise that seemed almost unnaturally smooth. "Sylvain! Felix! How nice to see you both. And of course, you too, professor," Mercedes offered a courteous nod. Byleth wordlessly waved back before resuming his shopping.

"Find any good deals? What've you got there?"

"Oh this?" Mercedes held up a small parcel wrapped in paper, "A new shipment of tea arrived. We were planning on trying some with Ingrid. Annette suggested we host a small get-together before the next battle. Would you like to come?"

"M-Mercie, I just meant between us girls!" Annette protested as she tugged at her friend's sleeve. She darted a nervous glance over at Felix. The two locked eyes. His throat felt dry again. She immediately looked away.

"But Annie, wouldn't it be so much more fun with everyone?"

"Nah, that's okay," Sylvain laughed. "I'm always down for tea with with such beautiful company. But I think Felix here has other plans."

"Don't answer on my behalf," Felix snapped. "But yes, I'm busy."

This time Mercedes was watching him. It felt almost as unwelcome as Sylvain's smug stare. "That's too bad. Maybe we can have one all together after the next battle then to celebrate?"

"Fantastic idea, Mercedes!" Sylvain nodded. "Only if your stupendous baking makes an appearance, of course.

"I don't see why not, provided we can spare the ingredients. I'm sure I can come up with something," Mercedes giggled.

Annette tugged on her friend's sleeve again. Her expression was flustered, and she was still making every effort to avoid eye contact with Felix. "We should get going, Mercie. Ingrid is probably wondering what's taking us so long."

"Oh dear, you're right. Where did the time go?" she offered an apologetic nod. "Please take care, you two," Mercedes smiled one last time, then turned and disappeared into the crowd. Annette hesitated and cast one last look over her shoulder before scampering off behind her friend. Felix studied her retreating form. The hair at the nape of her neck curled slightly. He never noticed it before.

"So..."

"What."

Sylvain leaned over and rested his elbow atop Felix's shoulder with carefree abandon. "I've been meaning to ask. Did you take my advice?"

"You feel the need to impart all sorts of unwarranted advice, and none of it is very useful. You'll have to be more definitive than that."

"About the earworm, of course."

Felix swallowed.

That conversation was months ago. Why bring it up now?

"C'mon, we've got a battle coming up! I know last month you had a perfectly legitimate excuse, what with getting sick and all. But this time around you can't afford to get distracted," Sylvain teased and nudged at his ribs again, then paused. "Wait a second, don't tell me you still think this is all attributed to magic."

The earlier twisting sensation in his chest quickly morphed into an embarrassed churn. "No. It's not. I already confirmed that."

"You did?"

Ugh. I walked right into that one.

Letting Sylvain know he had to ask Mercedes about the validity of his song magic theory was an even more embarrassing thought. "It doesn't matter. Don't you have more important things to worry about?"

"Worrying about my friends is plenty important!" Sylvain pulled back and put on a display of mock offense. "How could you ever insinuate it was anything less!"

"Spare me the melodrama."

"Fine, fine," his friend offered a lazy, apologetic wave, then slowly trailed off and looked back across the crowded marketplace as if searching for something. "You know, speaking of Annette...Ingrid's not the only one who's looking different, eh?"

An emotion akin to irritation wriggled its way to the surface of his consciousness. There was something displeasing about the thought of Sylvain making observations on Annette's appearance. Hearing Sylvain pass judgment on the beauty of other women was always bothersome. Yet hearing his opinions on Annette in particular felt… wrong.

"Five years changes everyone," Felix grunted.

"Yeah, but talk about change. I mean, her personality hasn't changed, but the rest of her..." Sylvain turned away from the crowd, his smile practically twinkling in the sunlight, "You know, maybe I should ask her out to dinner."

That wriggling irritation prickled at him with a fresh surge of indignation, its barbs sharp and impossible to ignore. Felix rose from his seat. It didn't matter if the professor was still shopping, his patience was at its limit. "I don't have time for this."

"What! Come on, you can't tell me her hair is more...aerodynamic too!"

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response."

"You're wasting your youth, Felix," his childhood friend sighed. "Maybe I'll ask the professor to pair us up for this month's battle. It's been a while since I had an adjutant. And as much as I appreciate Cyril's can-do attitude, I wouldn't mind someone easier on the eyes instead—"

"I'm already serving as Annette's adjutant this month."

If there was any possible way to rewind time, Felix desperately wished he could. Sylvain's scrutinizing stare was back, along with an unsettling eyebrow quirk. But even worse, his friend didn't even seem surprised by this sudden admission. Almost as if he had known all along. And that felt worse than accidentally announcing his upcoming battle assignment for reasons Felix couldn't identify.

Sylvain leaned back against the stone wall. Slowly. Casually. Like he was savoring this new tidbit of information. "Wait a minute. I must've misheard. You mean Annette is your adjutant, right? Just like last month?"

"No."

There's no point in lying. He'll find out soon enough anyways.

"No... what?"

"I'm her adjutant."

"You? An adjutant? Has that ever happened?"

"...No."

"Geez, no wonder you're in such a sour mood," Sylvain ran a hand through his hair and chuckled. "I don't think the professor has ever given you that kind of assignment before."

"He didn't. I requested it."

If Sylvain wasn't relishing this news before, he absolutely was now. A new smile unfolded across his friend's lips. "Heh. I thought so."

"What?"

The redhead shrugged. "I always make an effort to check with the professor before battle just to see who he's planning on stationing me next to. I have...preferences, so I like knowing ahead of time. So when he made mention of your assignment, and I didn't hear you raising a ruckus...well, let's just say I put two and two together."

Felix felt his eyebrow twitch. He'd been played like a fiddle, and he didn't appreciate it one bit. "I can't believe you. Pathetic. I knew I shouldn't have wasted my time with this."

"Hey, I'm not knocking your choice! After all, I admire your dedication. All this effort just to dispel an earworm...I'm impressed. You two pair up, she sings, you get that song out of your head, and then you can move on with your life, right?"

Dispel...

That's why I'm doing this, right?

The reasoning behind Felix's decision to serve as Annette's adjutant had gotten muddied somewhere along the way. Was is out of pride? Watching Byleth's silent reaction during their tea party following his insistence at harmonizing was just the catalyst. It was natural to want to prove the professor wrong. It was natural to want to surpass his former teacher's expectations.

It's only natural.

But there was something unnatural about how breathing suddenly felt optional in Annette's presence.

And there was something unnatural about how badly he wanted to hear her sing again.

And there was something unnatural about how uncomfortable he felt hearing Sylvain compliment her appearance.

And there was something unnatural about how much his mind continued to stray back to their sparring session the other day, the memory of how close her face was to his, and how bewilderingly okay he was with that detail.

This…

This isn't natural, is it.

The professor's conversation with the shopkeeper punctured the lingering silence between the two men.

"Is this the one?"

Byleth's coin purse tinkled one last time.

"Thanks a bunch! Come back soon!"