Burgundy stood in the small crowd of other successful A-class applicants, the ones who were enrolled in the PCA's formal education program (as opposed to the online courses that many connoisseurs took) and the ones who opted to receive their certification in person. She swallowed nervously as she awaited the head of the PCA to call her name so she could receive her official A-class license. She could hardly believe that this day had already arrived—she had returned to Unova less than a year ago, when she decided it was time to finish up her formal education as directed by the PCA.

Her gaze swept around the rest of the crowd, taking brief note of how few women stood in the crowd of graduates alongside her, searching for her family. Her parents, now in a better financial state then they ever had been while living in Unova, had made the trip to see her graduate. Their relationship—while technically mended through a series of conversations that were far too touchy-feely for Burgundy's tastes—still retained a certain degree of coolness, yet that only made Burgundy appreciate the gesture more. Inés, she knew, was also present, along with Georgia. As corny as it sounded, Burgundy was grateful that the most important people in her life were here today. For so long, she'd imagined reaching this day with only Georgia, if anyone, at her side.

Her eyes spotted Georgia's dark pink hair first, and through Georgia she quickly found the rest. Ruby and Winslow were practically hanging off Georgia, who looked less than amused at being roped into keeping an eye on Burgundy's younger siblings. When Georgia caught Burgundy's eye, however, she smirked and gave an encouraging nod.

Burgundy felt giddy. She'd made it—in just a few moments her name would be called and she would officially be an A-class connaisseuse. She fought to keep her composure as she shook hands with the head of the PCA and received her certificate. Unlike a few of her male classmates, she did not raise her fists in a gesture of victory as she stepped off the stage and rejoined her fellow graduates, but she couldn't stop the triumphant smile that spread across her features after being restrained all morning. She'd worked her butt off for this license, and unlike before her efforts had been solely for herself. She no longer felt the need to prove herself to anyone else—Inés had helped her with that. And, looking back, the desperation to prove herself better than Cilan and good enough to her parents only strangled her efforts, making her profession a chore rather than a calling.

"I am sure you will open up a shop that rivals mine in quality!" Inés predicted as Burgundy joined her friends and family after the head of the PCA made his closing remarks. "I look forward to it." Her eyes twinkled. "You've done well, chérie."

"I wouldn't be here now if it weren't for you," Burgundy replied, her cheeks flushing quickly as she realized how mushy her words sounded. Clearing her throat, she added, "But of course my shop will rival yours. To do otherwise would be a shame!"

"We're very proud of you, Burgundy," her maman said, patting Burgundy's cheeks affectionately the way she did when Burgundy was a young child.

"You'll give my Pokémon an evaluation, right?" Ruby interjected, her eyes sparkling in delight.

"Naturally," Burgundy declared. "You won't receive a finer evaluation anywhere. And that goes for you too, Winslow." Her brother only rolled his eyes in response.

"You finally did it," Georgia said, nudging Burgundy's side with her elbow. "About time, Burgundy." She linked her hands behind her head. "But y'know, I think I deserve some credit, too."

"I would've achieved A-class just fine, thank you," Burgundy refuted. Georgia snorted. "Although perhaps later than now." Georgia's expression abruptly shifted to mischief, and Burgundy narrowed her eyes at her friend. "What are—"

"I'll bet there are plenty of others who want to talk to Burgundy," Georgia announced loftily, already pulling Burgundy's family and Inés towards the reception hall. "Let's check out what kind of service the PCA has to offer, yeah? They better have something good to eat." Burgundy was left wondering what on earth Georgia was thinking. The only person she really knew well in her classes was a girl named Alice, whom she'd already shared mutual congratulations with. She had not spent a long time in the A-class formal classes, especially with the PCA shifting her around to try and accommodate her unusual amount of experience.

"Hello, Burgundy." She froze momentarily before spinning around in shock.

"C-Cilan!" she squawked, clamping her mouth shut in a belated attempt at preventing herself from sounding so horribly undignified. He smiled amicably, in his usual fashion. "What are you doing here?"

"You do attend the PCA branch located in my hometown," Cilan chuckled. "I thought it would be appropriate to attend this year's graduation." He paused. Burgundy shifted her weight discretely, waiting for him to continue. Of all the people she could have run into, she wanted to see him the least. Not because she harbored any ill-will towards the man she once declared her enemy, but because she envisioned their meeting being horrendously awkward.

And horrendously awkward this was.

"Congratulations, Burgundy," he said after an excruciating moment of silence. "You truly deserve you're A-class ranking. I feel privileged to see you achieve this moment. Like wine, this moment has been aged through the years to create a special flavor!" Burgundy pressed her lips together as he continued to smile warmly. He hadn't changed a bit—and in some ways she still appreciated that.

"Thank you," she replied stiffly, internally hating the way that her cheeks grew warmer by the second. She hoped—futilely, if her cheeks were as red as she thought they were—that he wouldn't notice. "I heard you received your S-class certification," she blurted out. His eyebrows knitted together, and she internally winced. Surely, he expected her to lash out at him for besting her once again.

"Ah, yes, about a year ago," he said haltingly.

"Belated congratulations." Burgundy felt nervous heat course through her veins, and she discretely wiped her palms against the fabric of her slacks. "You deserve it." Not quite an apology. She would need to give him one of those, too. Maybe one day she really would. His posture relaxed.

"An unexpected taste," she heard him mumble under his breath, and this time she was certain her cheeks flushed. "Thank you," he said in a louder tone.

"O-of course," she quickly added, wincing at her stutter, "I fully intend on catching up to you." She wondered if that statement was too close to the things she said all those years ago. But Cilan's gaze softened, and his smile brightened in a way she had never seen before.

"I look forward to it," he replied sincerely. "Rather, I eagerly anticipate the day you surpass me." Burgundy nearly choked at the way he referenced their previous relationship, which consisted solely of her hurling insults and announcing that she would trounce him, though she was sure she never phrased her intentions in such gentle terms. "I believe that moment will have a wonderfully bittersweet taste. Don't you?"

A/N: A huge, HUGE thank you to everyone who has stuck around and read this story to the end. Truthfully, I was really nervous about posting this because it's the first multi-chapter fic that I've ever completed, and in some ways I doubted whether I would manage to finish a story of this length (never mind the more ambitious projects I've been planning or working on).

I hope you enjoyed reading!

- Nox