May 29

Luckily for both teens, they were able to get Rean back to his room without anyone finding out about their… less than comfortable night. While Rean felt himself with the desire to go against his better judgment and see would she do that for him again? He wasn't sure how Emma did it, but that was one of his most relaxing nights in years.

However, the thought of their newly found friendship being strained again for taking her out of her comfort zone was not something he was willing to risk. For the few days they had until their trip, the two students spent time getting to know each other until it felt like most of the awkward tension that was there before had dissipated.

"Gasped?!" He remembered Vivi's dramatic expression at seeing the pair hug one morning when she saw them at school. "Is my dear, Rean, already cheating on me? I guess I should've figured I could never beat Emma's killer figure~." She seemed to ignore his sigh and Emma's blush at the bold statement. The situation ended with Rean dragging the overly-energetic girl off before she couldn't embarrass poor Emma any further.

Now if only he could get things settled out with Machias…

Rean withdrew his Tachi back into its sheath after his first team up with Emma. Just a few flying felines and Grass Dromes. Rean's attention, however, was mostly on his companion's weapon. "Hey, Emma?" He called out to her before she could put it away.

"Y-yes?" She said obviously trying to hide her uneasiness.

Man, I really creeped her out…, Rean thought while rubbing his forehead. Now that I think about it though… I can't really recall exactly what happened.

"That's a pretty odd looking weapon you have. Is it a staff…? No wait, it's an orbment, isn't it?"

"O-oh?" She looked relieved. She was expecting him to ask something else. "O-of course, my weapon." She coughed into her hands. "You're right on both guesses. This here is what you call an 'Orbal staff'. It's still pretty new, however, and this is only a prototype. There aren't even many of them made right now."

"It shoots out… energy it looks like?"

"Yes," She nodded. "It's like attacking something with an arte but faster."

They didn't talk much after that. It was getting to the point where Rean was beginning to think that maybe she wasn't enjoying his company as she still seemed tensed around him.

Suddenly Rean held his arm out, stopping Emma in her tracks.

N-no, She panicked. I couldn't have done something to trigger him again did I?

When she looked at his expression she saw that his eyes were closed and he didn't seem to be paying any attention to her. This caused her to let out a sigh of relief. They had stopped a bit before entering a room in the labyrinth. It was possible that Rean had sensed a strong monster in it.

"I sensed no monsters so it must be the others." Rean turned towards her.

"That's great!" She nodded as they both entered.

"You needn't be concerned." They heard one of the students say. They walked in to see five of the other red-vested students. Both Rean and Emma assumed that it must've been the blue-haired girl to have made the comment.

All heads turned towards the duo as they walked in.

"Good to see you guys are alright." Rean smiled.

"I see you found him." The blue-haired girl said to Emma.

"It wasn't too hard. We did have a bit of an incident but it's alright now."

Rean quickly scanned the room. Everyone but Fie and Juisis was present. Elliot noticed Rean scanning the room. "I'm guessing you couldn't find her?"

"N-no, I did." He scratched the back of his head.

"So did it work out well or…?" The blond girl trailed off.

"Well, she told me her name… right before she jumped to a second story to get away from me."

"That's an… interesting way to do things." The foreign teen responded.

"S-she gave you her name though so maybe she's not too mad." Machias cleared his throat.

"A-anyway," Rean tried to change the subject. "I'm glad you met back up with everyone, Machias."

"Yes," He nodded. "I shouldn't have let that arrogant noble get to me so much. I hope I can have your forgiveness for making a fool of us… of um…" He cupped his chin. "If I may ask, could you two tell me your social classes?"

Rean froze for a slight second that only Emma caught as she gave Rean a sad look at his back.

"I-I know my earlier outburst may make this look bad but I just like to know my fellow classmates if that's alright."

Rean opened his mouth but quickly shut it tight. He was honestly going to attempt a half-truth. However, at this point, it didn't seem like it would change anything. Emma already knew who he was, and it was only a matter of time before the other found out as well so… might as well get it over with. "I'm a—"

"My name is Emma Millstein, I can't give out much information on my family but I'm no noble." She cut in placing a hand on Rean's shoulder.

"Oh, nice to meet you too, Emma." Machias nodded.

Thanks, Emma, Rean wanted to voice to her. Taking a deep Rean introduced himself. "My name is Rean Schwarzer. I'm the adopted son of the Baron, Teo Schwarzer. I don't have a drop of noble blood in me, so I hope we can get along."

"O-oh," Machias eyes widened slightly for a second. "I-I do as well."

"Right right… I think I've heard that name before." Elliot said. "I can't believe I didn't realize that."

"Yeah…" Rean said not completely following what Elliot said. He was just too busy trying to avoid Machias's gaze.

"Why don't we continue introductions?" The foreigner suggested, sensing how uncomfortable Rean is. "My name is Gaius Worzel, I'm from the Nord Highlands."

"I'm Elliot Craig," He greets more to Emma since he has already done to Rean. "Nice to meet you, Emma." She responded with an agreeing nod.

"I'm Alisa R.," The blond girl said. "Sorry but I don't want to give out my last name." She said when Rean raised an eyebrow at her. He shrugged at her response.

"I'm Laura Arseid, A pleasure to meet you both." Both Rean and Emma almost took a step back.

"Arseid…?" Emma repeated.

"That must make you the daughter of the radiant blade master." Rean couldn't hold back the strange feeling building up in his chest. "Being the daughter of someone like that, not to mention the look in her eye… she's most likely the strongest out of any of us here." Rean commented under his breath.

"Well, it would seem that we have two students missing," Laura commented. "I suggested we continue working in the teams we have already formed. That way we have three groups to look for the last two."

"Sounds like a plan." Rean nodded along with Emma.

"I still don't like the fact that we're just letting two ladies go off on their own." Machias crossed his arms.

"Heh," Laura smiled. "Shall I again show you the reason why I believe the two of us will be just fine?" She placed her hand on her sword hilt.

"T-that's okay." He shook his head.

The students spilt off again after that to look for the rest of their classmates. Eventually, Rean and Emma found Jusis surrounded by a group of monsters. They turned their heads to look at each other just before giving each other a nod then running over to their classmates.

"Ha!" Rean slashed one of the flying felines as Emma took out a Drome.

"You don't mind if we join you, do you?" Rean asked as he and Emma took a spot next to him as the rest of the monsters closed in on them.

"Humph," He didn't bother to look at them. "Do as you wish." He replied as he took out a feline in swift succession with Rean and Emma both joining in the battle.

Jusis was definitely skilled enough to take down all the creatures by himself, so having two other skilled students alongside him only sped up the process. During the battle, both Rean and Jusis sensed another party now watching them.

Jusis sighed as he eliminated the last Drome. "Would anyone else like to just show up?" He asked as he turned to the trio of Elliot, Gaius, and Machias.

"Grrr…" Machias could only growl under his breath at him before quickly darting his eyes to Rean then back to Jusis.

"Good to see you guys are okay." Rean greeted.

"Oh!" Emma gasped slightly as she turned towards them as well. "When did you guys get here?"

"We're sorry to have watch but…," Gaius crossed his arms as the trio walked over to them. "We just wanted to admire your skills. You guys are certainly more than just capable."

"We also ran into Fie, Rean." Elliot scratched his cheek.

"How is she?"

"It sounded like she already reached the end…"

"She reached the end… then came back?" Rean nearly laughed at how ridiculous that was.

She's pretty skilled for her age, Rean thought.

"I don't believe I've introduced myself to you," Gaius said to Jusis. "My name is Gaius Worzel. Nice to meet you."

"E-elliot Craig, forgive my rudeness!" Elliot straightened his posture to show the noble more respect.

Jusis sighed in annoyance at the red-head.

However, he ignored that feeling to act on something else. Turning his head to Machias he said. "Wow, I'll admit you've really shown me up, haven't you?" The tone of his voice changed to one that sounded slightly mocking.

"Just what're you going on about now?" Machias voice told that he was already annoyed with the noble's presence.

"Oh, nothing bad I assure you. Just that after you made such a big scene on finding the entrance on your own, I was worried that you wouldn't be able to swallow your pride and rely on others for help. I'm assuming after you stormed off you came to your senses then wandered back to apologize like a good boy."

"Y-you have a lot of nerve to talk about wandering back like that!" Machias fired back. "Look at you! You have just as many people helping you as I do!"

"Humph," He rolled his eyes. "Hardly the same, these two merely joined me in a single battle they put themselves in."

"Oh, But I guess I should be honored that you think that such a 'stuck up noble' such as I, could be as humble as you and admit their… shortcomings let's say."

"You really have some nerve don't you?!" Machias balled his fist. "Nobles are so full of yourselves it's a wonder why you don't pop." Rean flinched slightly. "You're one of the highest ranking nobles too, so you're must be so used to having everything handed over to you! You must just love looking down on the rest of us! The people who aren't as fortunate as you!"

"Tsk. You're certainly one to talk…" He sighed as he placed a hand on his hip. "I don't need a lecture in rank from the son of the imperial governor."

"What?" Rean questioned as everyone's head turned towards Machias.

"Ohhh, no wonder your last name sounded so familiar." Elliot sound.

"I had no idea…" Emma said.

Then Jusis began to explain the situation about Machias's father. How Carl Regnitz is the first commoner to hold such a position. Rean took note of the look of dismay Machias had on his face as the high noble began to speak of his family. Machias was quick to dismiss the words from Jusis by stating how his father earned his position through hard work. This however made Jusis counter with the information that Machias father happened to be close friends with the Chancellor.

"Y-YOU SON OF A-!" Machias growled as he walked forward to the noble.

"I think you went a little too far there, Jusis." Rean narrowed his eyes slightly at the noble. Everyone turned their eyes towards Rean, obviously surprised at his words. "Bumping heads with Machias is one thing but insulting his father like that is crossing the line. You're better than that."

"R-rean?" Machias couldn't believe he was hearing this.

Jusis sighed. "Yes, perhaps I was a little out of line." He turned away from the group. "I guess I will leave you all to find your way out of here together."

"Wait," Emma halted him. "Why don't you come with me and Rean?" All eyes besides Rean's widened at her. She felt herself shrink a bit at the attention. "If you come with us then we'll have another team to get through this dungeon. Plus it'll be a lot faster wouldn't you agree?"

"…" Pausing for a moment, Jusis replied. "I supposed, why not?" He shrugged.

Knock knock

A knock on the door pulls Rean out of his thoughts.

"Rean?" He hears Emma call for him. "Are you up?"

Rean smiled. "Yeah." He answered as he walked up to the door and opened it to meet the class president face to face. "Ready to go?"

Emma held her hands together over her stomach. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Sorry that you have to deal with all of us," Rean said as they made their way down the stairs. "This can't be easy for you."

"Oh, it's not so bad…" She said to him with closed eyes. If that wasn't telling enough that she wasn't completely okay with the situation then the sweat trailing down her forehead really wasn't helping her case. "I think it might be fun enough if I'm with you…" She mumbled.

"You say something?" Rean tilted his head.

"O-oh," She blushed at her eyes widened. "H-hey look," She pointed in front of them to see Jusis and Machias turning away from each other in the living room. "L-looks like things aren't going too well right now."

Rean sighed. "Oh well…" He walked over to his two classmates.

Why do I keep dropping my guard around him…, Emma sighed to herself as she caught up with Rean.

"Morning. You two are up early." Rean greeted them.

"I hope you both slept well," Emma added with a smile.

"…"

"…"

Both refused to greet them back for a few seconds before Machias. "Look, I think we can all agree that this setup was a mistake. Let's just skip the friendly banter since I doubt it will lead us anywhere important."

"Humph." Jusis scoffed. "As stubborn as ever aren't you 'mr. vice class president'?"

"Oh, I'm sorry…" Machias growled slightly as he turned to face the noble. "Did you want to start already?"

The incoming fight was interrupted by the class president coughing into her hand. "W-well now might be time for us to head to the station. We don't want to be late do we?"

Rean raised an eyebrow at her. "Leave? But what about, Fie?" He questioned noticing the absence of the youngest classmate."

Emma gulped as her eyes darted to her side. She was really hoping that Rean wouldn't ask about her absence but it seemed she had no choice anymore. "She… decided to get a head start."

"Head… start…?" He repeated.

He had a feeling he knew what she meant.

Fie really didn't want to be here when you got up, Rean.

Rean sighed. The fact that made that realization worse was how Fie constantly overslept… She must've really wanted to avoid him if she took such a drastic measure as to wake up before him.

"H-hey, look!" Rean didn't have much time to feel sorry for himself as he watched Emma point towards the table which now rested a white letter on top of it.

Shrugging, the four students walked over to the table. Rean picked it up and began to read it.

Dear my precious students~,

Rean was really thinking he was getting too used to his Instructor's carefree demeanor as her voice played off in his head as he read the letter to his friends.

I really wanted to be able to see you all off on your trip but an old friend of mine paid me a visit and asked me for a favor. Now I need to go pick it up. Don't worry though~! I'll be giving you guys(Group A) a special gift that might make your situation a little more bearable.

Kisses~!,

Sarah

Jusis was the first to speak. "How did this woman get this job."

"Special gift…?" Rean questioned aloud, earning shrugs from his classmates.

Rean was now especially glad that his dorm was so close to their destination, the train station. The silent tension between the noble and vice class president was very unnerving. Though, now that Rean thought about it. Their quick walk to the station only meant that he would eventually need to find a way to get on solid grounds with Fie. Considering the girl made it a tough challenge for most people already to get close to her…

Rean gulped as he saw his chances.

"Yo!" A cheery voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Rean was so lost in his thoughts that he almost walked past the station.

Rean shook his head trying to get his bearings. Turning his head to the direction of the caller he saw his upper-classman, Crow Armbrust, walking towards him. With a quick observation search, Rean saw two cups of tea resting on the table.

"Good to see you all ready for action this early in the morning!" Rean hated to admit it but his upper-classman's energetic attitude was a bit contagious. Maybe he could learn a thing or two from his optimism and carefree lifestyle?

Rean pointed at the table with the tea. "Are those…?"

Crow's calm demeanor broke for a second and the older teen quickly tried to hide his embarrassment. "W-well you see I was supposed to meet a fine lady at this time but you know… plans change."

You got stood up, Rean clarified in his head.

"That's not funny," Crow said reading Rean's thoughts giving the younger teen a bored expression.

Slightly taken back, Rean changed the subject. "Y-you're up awfully early yourself."

Crow sighed. "Well my dear 'friend' Angelica, said she'd set me up on a date for this time. Though now I think about it… she probably just wanted me to see all of you guys off."

The time of the date didn't tip you off before?, Rean thought again.

"Enough about me though. Looks like you two patched things up." He directed his attention to Emma. "Sooooo, tell me. What sort of moves does a guy like Rean do to make the heart of a beauty bookworm swoon."

"M-m-moves?" Emma gulped as a red hue formed on her cheeks. "W-what do you mean by that?"

"Stop embarrassing her," Rean warned with half-lid eyes.

"Heh," Crow chuckled. "Sorry, just a joke. Though it looks like not all your problems are solved." He directed his gaze to the other two males that still had their arms crossed and turning their gazes away from each other.

"…"

"…"

"I'm also guessing you couldn't make up with Fie?"

"This situation… isn't what we were hoping for." Emma answered.

"Well, I'm sure you guy'll figure out something. Make sure to get me a cool souvenir when you get back!" He smiled.

"Good morning!" Another cheerful voice called out to the group.

Turning towards the direction of the school, they were greeted with the sight of their other upper classman. The hard worker, Towa. She came to a quick halt as she neared them. Panting slightly, it was obvious that she had rushed out to get here.

"I-I'm so sorry!" She suddenly apologized. "I can't believe I almost missed you guys. I just had to do a lot of paperwork last night so I overslept."

Overslept!?, Rean and his classmates all thought. What time does she usually wake up…?

"You didn't have to do that, Towa." Rean sweatdropped.

"Oh, don't be silly!" She smiled brightly. "I just really wanted to see you guys off so I can wish you good luck!"

"Heh heh," Emma laughed nervously. "I guess there is such a thing as 'too selfless'."

"Rean~!" A cute voice, trying it's best to hide its devious intent called to him.

"I know that voice." Rean sighed.

Looking back towards the direction of the school. They were now graced with the figure of a familiar pinkette, running in an overdramatic romantic run. Waving her arms frantically in the air like a wife who has just reunited with their husband after many years of being apart.

"What are you doing here?" Rean asked her immediately as she stopped in front of him. He was well aware that her intentions couldn't be anything good if she was up this early.

"Hehe!" Despite Rean's uninterested gaze, that didn't seem to dampen her mood in the slightest. She was still giving him an overlarge smile. "Oh Rean, is that any way to talk to your loving girlfriend, who has woken up so early just to see you off?"

"Girlfriend?" Crow questioned clearly interested.

"G-girlfriend?!" Emma repeated, slightly panicked.

"N-no!" Rean quickly objected as he turned to face Emma. "S-she's just talking about those pretend dates we go on for her request!"

"O-oh…" Emma simply responded turning her gaze to the side.

Damn it…, Rean thought as he saw the cat grin on Vivi's face. She got me…

"What's in your bag…?" Rean quickly pointed to the bag she was carrying on her shoulder in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

"I'm glad you asked!" She said as she dug through it with great vigor. Soon she pulled out a… bento box? "This is for you!"

Slightly bewildered… Rean accepted it.

"I hope you think of me when you eat it~." She winked.

Machias and Jusis shared a sigh.

Wait a minute…, Rean thought.

"Take a bite," Rean demanded as he handed the food back to her.

"…" Vivi paused. "H-huh?"

"Take a bite first." He repeated with half-lid eyes. "That won't be a problem will it?"

"O-of course not!" She replied, taking the box from his hands. With shaky fingers, she moved to open it… slowly… steadily… careful-"Y-you know what?!" She suddenly stopped her action as she threw the box back into her bag. "T-this is the wrong bag!" She quickly pulled out as a new box from her bag. "This one is actually yours!" She quickly shoved the box into his chest. Barely giving him enough time to hold onto it securely.

"Mhm…" Rean nodded.

"W-welp I'll see you later!" She turned and ran off. "M-make sure to bring me a souvenir!"

"…You have good taste." Crow said.

That made me feel a little better about this, to be honest, Rean laughed. Things are starting to look up.

I take it back…, Rean sighed as he found himself sitting across from Fie who hasn't taken her gaze away from the window of the train as soon as they sat down. This is gonna be a long trip.

Phew, glad to finally have this done and posted. I hope you enjoyed yourselves for the most part and now luckily the setups are done so goodbye to flashback! In the next chapter, a more noticeable divergence will take place that I hope you guys like, we might even dabble a bit more into the connection between Rean and Emma's childhood, but until than I hope you guys have a great day.