It was a few days after their debrief that Mikoto received her apology letter from Louise. Apparently as punishment for her outburst in front of Princess Henrietta, Louise was going to do 'community service'. In other words helping commoners do chores for 5 months.

Louise was also going to receive counselling for her mental state. Currently she had an inferiority complex hidden behind a superiority complex. It was only when Mikoto had brought it up with Osmond, and he'd called someone to evaluate her did anyone actually take any notice. How no one had realised it beforehand was beyond her.

Now though, Mikoto was reading over Tabitha's shoulder as they walked through the school grounds. Guiche was complaining about Montmorancy not believing him or something, she didn't care.

They stopped walking when Kirche spotted Saito talking to Siesta. Personally Mikoto didn't understand what Kirche was so upset about, Saito was free to hang out with whoever he wanted. Not to mention he was free to date whoever he wanted.

Though having observed him around Louise, Kirche and Siesta she'd determined that he'd be happiest with Siesta. If he decided he wanted to start dating of course.

Louise was too controlling and confrontational for a mellow guy like him. Every time she saw them together they'd always end up arguing.

As for Kirche, Saito found her figure attractive, but he was a teenage boy so that was normal. The thing was whenever she saw them together Kirche was flirting and Saito always looked really uncomfortable. Always searching around for an excuse to get away from her when it got too much.

Siesta on the other hand was ideal for him. Every time she saw them together they were happy, and were always comfortable with each other. Most importantly Siesta genuinely cared for Saito, whereas Louise and Kirche didn't. Siesta liked Saito for Saito, whilst Kirche lusted after him because he defeated a weak mage despite not having magic. As for Louise, she didn't love him. She treated him like she owned him, he wasn't a person in her eyes. Not to mention she cared far too much about appearances, unlike Saito who didn't give a crap.

"There he is cheating again!" complained Kirche as they began marching over to them.

"He can't cheat on someone he's not, nor has any intention of dating," she stated. Kirche's obsession was really getting old, and she didn't want her to destroy Saito and Siesta's relationship. If it got to that point she would interfere.

Kirche had actually turned to her in shock.

"How can you say that Mikoto? I am obviously the perfect fit for him," she folded her arms underneath her breasts, making them more pronounced.

"2 dragons!" Saito half yelled regaining their attention, and preventing Mikoto from answering.

"Yes the first one disappeared into the solar eclipse, but there was a second dragon. You see that's the one my great grandfather was on," explained Siesta.

"Really? Your serious? What happened to the other dragon?"

"It's a family heirloom and it's been enshrined somewhere. Though I've never actually seen it."

"Siesta!" Saito grabbed her hand, "can you take me to your village? I want to go!"

"O-Oh, yeah."

"Did you hear that?" whispered Kirche from behind a group of bushes, they'd hidden in for some reason.

"Yeah, hidden treasure," answered Guiche.

"Tabitha, Mikoto what do you think?" asked Kirche.

"Not interested," said Tabitha, not once having pulled her nose out of her book.

"Nor am I," said Mikoto still reading over her shoulder.

"Yeah well you can bet I'm interested," grinned Kirche, turning back to where Saito and Siesta were.

Mikoto frowned, knowing they were going to get roped along with Kirche's hare-brained idea.

Finding Saito and Siesta wasn't difficult. But Kirche decided she wanted to be dramatic so made them land a bit away, wherein both she and Guiche dismounted.

Kirche had even made them bring her salamander thing with them. No doubt Guiche's mole was following them underground as well.

Safe to say Saito wasn't impressed when they showed up, and she wasn't impressed when Kirche practically threw herself on top of him.

Before she did anything however she'd need to talk to Siesta.

They landed and one quick explanation later had them following Siesta's map to the mouth of a cave.

"Is this the cave?" asked Saito.

"Oh I'm so excited," cheered Kirche.

"Look I didn't come here to play around," glared Saito.

"Well neither did I," proclaimed Guiche, "I came with pure intentions, to find treasure so Montmorancy will think better of me."

"Oh yeah? Well it doesn't sound all that noble to me," said Kirche.

"Haha, in Albion I was a hero. Rescuing all those soldiers wouldn't have been possible had I not been there."

"Albion," frowned Saito, "wonder what they're doing now." He violently shook his head obviously trying to clear the thought from his mind, "Lets get moving."

Kirche walked in front with her salamander lighting the way, whilst Mikoto walked at the back. Her radar was active scanning the surroundings for anything dangerous. They'd been walking for about 10 minutes when Kirche started complaining.

"Geeeez, how long is this tunnel?"

Mikoto glanced behind and carefully slowed her steps so as not to alert the others. Of course Tabitha glanced back at her briefly but quickly turned back to the front. Good, she wasn't the only one aware someone was behind them.

"I don't know, no one ever comes here. Not even the villages," answered Siesta as their voices got fainter.

When they were a good distance away she turned and shot back down the tunnel, running onto the roof as she did so.

Stopping only when a torch came into view. She waited crouched on the cave's roof as the person came into view.

Blinking in surprise she let herself drop behind him, grabbing Colbert's arm when he swung his staff in her direction.

"Colbert," she greeted neutrally, "what brings you here?"

"Mikoto?" Colbert breathed clearly surprised, "I could ask you the same?"

"I asked first."

"I was searching for the ruins of the dragon, supposedly they're hidden around here somewhere."

"Sounds like we're after the same thing," said Mikoto walking in front of them, "Tabitha, Kirche, Saito, Siesta and Gramont are up ahead. Siesta has a map, apparently it's called the robe of the dragon and her great grandfather came here on it."

"Wait are you saying Siesta is someone who has blood of another world!"

Mikoto nodded.

They quickly met up with Saito's group and after a quick explanation continued on their way.

Eventually they came out on a cliff overlooking a forest inside a canyon.

"What is this?" wondered Colbert aloud.

"It's amazing," commented Kirche as they continued through the forest.

"Yes, just the place for hidden treasure," added Guiche.

"Okay so where is is?"

"According to the map it's right around here," said Colbert and they stopped and looked around.

They found what Mikoto could only describe as an air hanger.

"Good, doesn't look too hard. We should be able to use magic to open that," said Colbert examining the lock.

Mikoto however followed Tabitha to a stone tablet slightly away from the hanger.

A grave, she mentally corrected herself. In Japanese.

"Tabitha, Mikoto, whatcha looking at?" called Saito running over only to freeze at the writing on the grave. Slowly he bent down and ran his hand along the grave. "Navy Ensign Takeo Sasaki rests here in another world."

Tabitha glanced at Mikoto and she nodded confirming the unspoken question.

"Here it is, we found it!" Colbert's voice echoed out of the hanger.

Saito immediately rushed inside, whilst Mikoto and Tabitha followed at a calmer pace.

Saito had frozen just inside the hanger staring at what was most definitely not a dragon.

"A world war 2 Japanese fighter plane," mused Mikoto walking past Saito, and effectively snapping him out of his trance.

"Yes," confirmed Saito touching the plane, "it's a Zero Fighter."

"It's under a magician's spell so it'll stay stable," said Colbert inspecting it.

"To think it actually existed," said Sieata walking to stand next to Saito.

"You know, I remember the first time I saw you Siesta. It was a very strange feeling, sort of nostalgic. You see your black hair and eyes, it's your Japanese blood."

"Yes I remember the first time you addressed me Siesta," said Mikoto joining their conversation, "you called me Mikoto-san, you used a Japanese honorific."

"Japanese?" asked Siesta.

"Yes, your great grandfather, Mikoto and I all came from the same world."

Mikoto nodded when Siesta turned to her.

"Saito, Mikoto, I'm not positive but it might be possible for you to return to your world," interrupted Colbert. "2 robes of the dragon appeared during the solar eclipse, and 1 disappeared right back into it. So why couldn't this one return the same way?"

"They say my great grandfather was flying around in the sky for a long time after the other robe disappeared. He kept flying for a long time until he had to land," said Siesta.

"Of course, his timing must have been off. The solar eclipse must have ended whilst he was flying, so he couldn't return. In other words if you fly this robe into the solar eclipse you just might be able to get back to your alternate world."

"So there's a chance that I can get back?" asked Saito, his hands shaking.

Mikoto glanced at Siesta and could easily see the conflicted expression on her face.

So as everyone else began preparations for transporting the plane, she quietly called Siesta outside.

"What did you want to talk about?" asked Siesta as they stopped in front of Sasaki's grave.

"Do you like Saito?" asked Mikoto knowing she was really bad at stuff like this.

"Of course I like Saito, why d'you ask?"

"I mean are you in love with him?" asked Mikoto blushing slightly.

Siesta also blushed, and stuttered out something Mikoto couldn't decipher. Eventually though she nodded shyly. "I-I think so. Do you? I-I mean are you...?"

"I am not in love with Saito."

Siesta actually breathed a sigh of relief, before adopting a look of confusion.

"Then why-"

"I'm sure you've noticed, Kirche and Louise's attempts at seducing him." Siesta pursed her lips and nodded, whilst Mikoto rubbed the back of her head awkwardly, "Well if you ever need someone to distract them or something, just let me know."

Mikoto stiffened when Siesta tackled her into a hug.

"Thank you," muttered Siesta happily as Mikoto awkwardly pat her on the back.

After a few seconds they parted.

"Now all that's left is to convince him to stay," mused Mikoto.

"Oh, that's right. Saito is leaving," Siesta whispered sadly.

Mikoto hummed, "I'll try and convince him to stay, I mean it's not like there won't be other ways back."

Siesta looked confused, "Don't you want to go back as well?"

Mikoto smiled bitterly, "No."

She turned to Tabitha as she approached, "We're leaving."

Mikoto nodded and they made their way back to the group.

"What were you talking out?" asked Kirche as they approached.

Mikoto shrugged but otherwise ignored the question.

"We're going to need some help transporting the robe back to the school," said Colbert.

"I can carry it," volunteered Mikoto, stepping forward and magnetising the plane.

"Are you sure, it's pretty heavy and we do have a ways to go."

"It's fine."

Mikoto levitated the plane above the trees and began walked back where they came from, followed by everyone else. She ignored the chatter, trying to think of a way she could convince Saito to stay.

Eventually they got back to the cave.

"What now? There's no way the robe of the dragon will fit through this small cave," stated Kirche.

"You guys go through it," said Mikoto approaching the cliff and taking a step, magnetising herself to the cliff. "I'll go over it." She walked up, not sparing the wide eyed people below a glance.

"Did you know she could do that?" asked Kirche to Tabitha.

Tabitha glanced at her for a moment before walking into the cave.

It took a while but Mikoto made it over the cave to where everyone was waiting with Sylphid.

Once she landed in front of them, having jumped off the side of the cliff, they all mounted Sylphid and flew back to the academy.

They caused quite the stir when they landed and Mikoto placed the plane in the courtyard. It wasn't long before multiple students of all years came to gawk. Even the teachers showed up, along with Headmaster Osmond.

As they stood around the plane, Mikoto, Tabitha and Sylphid sat against the tower, reading.

"Are you leaving?" asked Tabitha quietly.

"No," answered Mikoto just as quietly, smiling slightly as Tabitha relaxed slightly.

It was the next day when Mikoto approached Saito who was sitting in the fighter plane.

"Yo," she greeted, climbing onto the front.

"Hey Mikoto what's up?"

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"You won't regret leaving?"

He frowned, "Is this about Louise?"

"No, it's about Siesta. Will you regret leaving her behind?" Saito lowered his head. "Don't feel that this will be your only opportunity to get back. There will be others. Once Valliére masters her magic, you'll be able to come and go whenever you want."

"You really think Louise would do that for me?" asked Saito sceptically.

"Valliére is receiving counselling for the psychological damage magic society has caused. Given time I believe she'll come around."

"I'll think about it," Saito eventually settled on.

With that she jumped off the plane and began walking in search of Tabitha.

Whether Saito stayed or not was up to him, she didn't have the right to force him.