Jem sat on the bridge of the Sun Dorm, her legs dangling over the water. She turned her face towards the sun, her eyes closed as the salt breeze wove through her hair.
"You're going to get a sunburn sitting in the direct sun like that. Or plummet to your death, one or the other," she heard a voice say from further down on the bridge.
She turned to look at Zero. "Oh, as though you're any better. I'm completely smothered in baby sunscreen, which is over 100 SPF, thank you very much."
"So you're greasy and sitting on a ledge, that's smart," he chastised. "Get down from there."
She sighed and turned. He took a several steps towards her, offering his hand so she didn't make that fatal slip. She took it and hopped off, then turned into another gust. "Oh, isn't it wonderful? I just love that salt air," she said, closing her eyes and turning into the wind.
"You really love the ocean, don't you?" he asked.
"No, Zero, I hate it," she replied sarcastically.
He ignored the sarcasm. "Do you know how to sail?" he asked.
"Mm-" she replied, turning to him and opening her eyes. "My nanny started to show me a little when I was young, but that was a decade ago."
"Well, would you like to learn?" he offered.
"If you're the one teaching me," she replied, raising her eyebrows.
"I'll teach you if you help me make dinner each night I do," he compromised.
"I'll help, but you'll have to teach me how to do that, too," Jem conceded.
Zero turned away and started walking, "Come on," he said over his shoulder, "the academy's marina is this way."
From the window back at the headmaster's house, Yuuki watched the two of them walk away over the bright stone bridge. If either of them were ever around anyone, it was only the other. She was happy for Zero, but she didn't understand why he was so distant with her. As she watched them, part of her felt very lonely.