Today is the warmest it's been all week, and Sakura says she's excited because she is able to wear the dress that her roommate got her for her birthday. The bottom half of her white and mint green vertical striped dress flutters effortlessly in the breeze. The top of the dress, compete with a pink lace collar and ribbon, is formfitting. Her pink tresses are curled nicely today, and Leo notices that there's a pink tinted sheen on her lips. Sakura is so happy that she does a little twirl, and Leo can't help but give a low chuckle. She looks lovely today.

Even so, he has to ask if she'll be cold later. Springtime weather is always so fickle. Sakura reminds him that they'll be dismissed from class by 1:30, so she'll have plenty of time to escape the drastic decrease in temperature that happens during the evening. When the two of them step inside their classroom, Leo can already feel a change in temperature already. It's a subtle change, but it's there.

Sakura gasps. "Th-they have on the air conditioning today? But it's not even that warm outside. It's only the beginning of April." Leo explains that this isn't the first time something like this has happened. One year, most of the academic buildings had the air condition on until sometime in late October. Another year, the heat wasn't turned on until multiple students and faculty members complained about it in December.

He smirks when Sakura scrunches up her face in response. How could the school be so negligent? Leo shrugs in response. He's stopped stressing himself over it last year. Their little conversation gets most of the class talking and complaining about the school as well, but the chatter stops when the professor walks in.

"No, no. Don't stop your conversations," he speaks. "As a new professor here, I'd like to know just how terrible the school can be." Their professor is genuinely curious, and most of the students don't hold back with anything they particularly dislike about the school. Leo and Sakura share similar looks before laughing. Who would have thought that they'd be the reason class was delayed for 20 minutes?

They're an hour into the lesson when Leo notices the goosebumps on Sakura's soft skin and the way she hugs herself. He shrugs off his navy blue blazer and hands it to her with a wink. When she takes it from him, Leo can't help but think about the way her hand grazes his own for a second before she mouths "Thank you," and shimmies into it.

Although it's a bit too big for her, she looks quite comfortable in it. A little while later, she quietly asks if he's cold. He gives a nonchalant shrug as a response. As soon as class ends, Sakura is the first one out of the building, since she doesn't want to be in that icebox of a classroom a second longer than she needs to be. Leo trails closely behind.

Sakura breathes a sigh of relief. "It's much warmer out here. I'm so glad." Leo admits that he kind of misses the air-conditioning. "You liked it? It was way too cold in there for me… Oh! Thank you for letting me borrow your blazer. It really helped."

After she hands it back to him, Leo casually slips it on and smoothens out any wrinkles. "Not a problem. By the way, I didn't know I missed your birthday."

"Oh, you didn't miss it," Sakura says. "My roommate just gave this to me as an early birthday present, since I'll be home on my birthday."

When she mentions spending time with her siblings, it isn't hard for Leo to picture them, and it makes his dreams that more bizarre. He briefly wonders if Corrin is at home waiting for her as well, but doesn't ask. "So, what would you like for your birthday?" He asks.

"Were you… planning on getting me something?" She asks. When Leo nods, she waves her hands in front of her. "No, no! I-it's okay, really! You don't have to–"

"I know I don't have to," Leo cuts her off, "but I want to. So, what would you like?"

Sakura hums in thought for a moment. "W-well, I've always wanted to visit Castle Town. I hear they have the best sweets there, and I want to try them."

"Castle Town, huh?" Leo says quietly. "I think you'd enjoy it. I had their signature chocolate cake once, and it was pretty amazing."

"Y-you've gone before!?" She cries. "Oh, you're so lucky!"

He smirks. "There's one in my hometown, so my family goes there on occasion. And we're also getting the wedding cakes there." Camilla and the mother-in-law-to-be couldn't argue against the cakes there being amazing, so the two of them settled on that when Leo proposed the idea.

"Woah, that's amazing… wait. Wedding cakes? As in more than one?"

"Yes," Leo sighs. "They couldn't decide on what kind of cake they wanted, so we're having two different flavors. That, and it turns out that my sister's mother is allergic to the cake they originally wanted." As if they don't have enough drama already, Leo's father decides to invite all of his ex-wives. And Xander, who still feels bad about not telling him about his engagement, obliges him. It's not so bad though. It's all coming out of his father's pocket anyway.

Sakura lets out a small giggle, but then quickly covers her mouth. "I'm sorry," she says. "I shouldn't be laughing. Something like this isn't very funny, i-is it?"

Leo shakes his head. "No, no. Go ahead. I'm sure I'll be laughing about it in three years' time as well." For right now, this wedding in nothing more than a big headache. He prays aloud that his own wedding never turns out like this one.

"Y-you want to get married?" Sakura asks with widened eyes.

"I don't think I like that tone of yours." When Sakura catches the lackluster look he throws her, she quickly tries to backtrack, and says that she doesn't mean it like that. Of course she doesn't. She's just surprised since his views on romance is so cynical. He can't really argue with that. However, her words get Leo thinking.

Maybe they're not as cynical as he originally thought.

Niles is the first one to barge into Leo's room as soon as his conversation with his sister ends. He runs his hand through the silky, silver strands of his hair, leans against the doorframe in what one would call a seductive position, and winks flirtatiously at him.

"Hey there big boy," Niles purrs. "I couldn't help but overhear you have a plus one for your brother's wedding. You inviting anyone?"

Leo doesn't even meet his gaze. "Certainly not you, if that's what you're implying."

Niles gasps, and his art of seduction crumbles away. "Oh come on! Your family really knows how to party! Don't you remember the time I went with you to your little sister's birthday party, and her mom–"

"Yes, I remember," Leo cuts in hastily. He'd been hoping to forget about what transpired that day, as the memory gives him second-hand embarrassment. "See, this is why I'm not inviting you. You'll just start trouble, and that's the last thing we all need."

"Me? Start trouble?" Niles asks as he rests a hand over his chest. "Why, I'd never!"

Leo turns in his chair to say something to Niles, but the two of them are temporarily distracted when Odin decides to pop in. "What's this about trouble I hear? Can we make it double?"

"Get out," Leo hisses through gritted teeth, and Odin lets out a hearty laugh.

"Aww, don't be like that Leo! I really wanna go to the wedding too!" He beams. "I bet the food there's gonna be so good, I mean, rich people always get the good stuff! Unless it's those weird, tiny stuff they serve on giant plates. Cause my aunt has those at her dinner parties and man do those things taste horrible."

Niles scoffs. "You can't just ask to go and then complain about the food you've yet to try. You get what you're served. Sheesh, the entitlement!" He cries. "Leo, is this really the man you want to take with you on your brother's most important day?"

A sigh of exasperation escapes Leo's lips as Niles and Odin bicker over who gets to attend the wedding with him. "Please stop. None of you are invited to the wedding."

"What wedding?" And to make matters worse, Laslow decides to make an unexpected appearance in Leo's room too. When Odin fills him in, his eyes practically shine in delight. "Leo! I have to attend this wedding! Do you know how many cuties I could pick up at a wedding reception?"

"None, because you're not going either." Leo rubs his temples in an attempt to calm himself down. "You all would just cause unnecessary grief."

Odin is about to protest, but Laslow slaps a hand over his mouth. "Well, if we're not invited, who is?"

Suddenly, the conversation he and Camilla had last month starts to replay in his mind again. Sure, Sakura is the best option out of four that he has to choose from, but Leo doesn't have the heart to ask her. Camilla also said that he needs to think on what it is that he wants from Sakura.

He's still unsure about "romancing" her, but the thought of spending more time with her isn't such a bad idea. "None of your business," he finally answers. The boys seem to take this as a sign that Leo already has a date, and let out wolf whistles and congratulatory applause. Niles, who dons a wicked smile, asks who she or he is, and Leo has to reiterate that it's none of his business.

Despite this, they go one to guess who this mystery guest could be. Niles and Laslow rapidly fire out names of people they know as Odin thinks to himself. Then he repeatedly snaps his fingers as he tries to describe her appearance, since he doesn't know her by name. All it takes is for him to say "The shy one," for Laslow to put on a shit-eating grin, as Niles so colorfully put it.

"Leo, you dog you!" Laslow cheers. "You're actually taking Sakura as your date? I suppose I can't be too upset then."

"I can't believe this is the first I'm hearing about this," says Niles. "You've gone and gotten yourself a girlfriend, and I'm the last to know about it?"

His lips curl into a scowl. "She's not my–! Look, can you all be quiet so that I can get a word in for once? Without you all jumping to conclusions?" They boys are silent, and Leo gives his thanks before continuing. "I haven't invited Sakura."

"Yet," Odin says before Laslow and Niles shush him.

Leave it to Odin to do the one thing Leo asks them not to do. "I'm not inviting her," he insists. "Listen, Sakura is… a delicate subject. And I'd appreciate if you guys didn't bug me about her. At least until I sort some things out."

"Delicate how?" Niles asks. "Does she have a boyfriend already? Or do your families have bad blood between them or something?"

He ignores the first part of the question, and isn't sure how to answer the second part. In his dreams, they certainly do, but Leo doesn't think it's wise to talk about it right now. In reality, he doesn't think there's anything going on between their families. He doubts they even know about each other outside of his dreams. "No, it's nothing like that. She's just… different."

"Niles please," Odin says. "Couldn't it be that this gentle maiden is a delicate topic because our buddy's heart, shrouded in darkness, yearns for the light that is Sakura?"

Leo really hates when Odin speaks like that. "Theatrics aside, I have to agree with Odin," Laslow says. "I don't think you're as in tune with your feelings as you think you are. And Niles, why does everything always have to be so dark and dramatic with you?"

"I'm just a sucker for pain and suffering," he grins. "Well, when she isn't a 'delicate' topic, let me know. Poking fun at you is what I live for." With that, the three of them leave Leo's room and begin to talk about other things, like their plans summer vacation. Leo, however, is finally relieved to have them out of his hair.

Leo's time with Sakura on their trip to Castle Town is different than any other time they've spent together. When they're ready to go, Leo jokingly offers her his arm and asks, "Shall we?" He's surprised when Sakura loops her arm around his, and gives a small nod and a gently laugh.

They've never been this close before, where he can feel just how soft her pale skin is and the quickening of his heartbeat when she gives his arm a light squeeze. Her lips are moving, but Leo doesn't hear a word she's saying. Instead, he takes in the expression on her face. Her smile is wide, and full of life. Her eyes, as kind as ever, squint ever so lightly, and her cheeks are a rosy red.

She looks happy.

His thoughts of her stop when she asks if he's alright. He's kind of spacing out. He assures her that he's perfectly fine before she asks him to guess what she's learned today, and no, she didn't learn it in class. He asks, and she says, "My mother's decided to throw my father a surprise birthday party. Apparently, I was the last one to know."

Leo smirks. "I mean, I can see why, seeing as though you like to spoil things for people."

Sakura opens her mouth to argue, but quickly stops herself. Instead, she hangs her head low. "Th-that's exactly what my brother said…" She mumbles. Leo doesn't have a hard time figuring out which one could have said it. It has to be the rude one with the long, silver hair.

"So, why a surprise party?" In the words of his own father, Leo would say that her father is a bit "too old for surprises."

She hums in thought for a moment. "Well, I think it's because my father never likes to celebrate his birthday, and he's always working so hard. My mother thought it'd be a good idea to invite some friends and relatives to surprise him – ones he hasn't seen in years." Sakura tells him that their family and friends are visiting from various countries, and although she's usually nervous about large parties, she's kind of excited to see old faces again, as well as a couple of new ones.

Her enthusiasm is enviable, and Leo wishes he had even an ounce of it for Xander's upcoming wedding. "It seems like your father is a very popular man, and lucky too, since he has all of you to plan this for him."

She gives a coy smile. "I just really hope he likes it, and is surprised. A-and I hope he doesn't catch on to what's going on, because I'm always the first he asks, and I always crack under pressure!"

It's all so easy for him to picture – Sakura always being honest with her father because… well, how could she not be honest with him? She's honest about most things. "Yeah, you are a terrible liar. I suppose that's why he picks on you first."

Sakura frowns. "Y-you're not making me feel any better, Leo…"

"I'm only telling you what you need to hear," Leo says before he pulls away from her hold on his arm. Like a gentleman, he holds open the door to the pastry shop for her, and the smell of icing and freshly baked cakes immediately fill his nostrils. Sakura is practically glued to the display case, and her eyes look over each and every treat carefully.

Leo, who comes up behind her, shoves his hands in his pockets and asks if sweets are so serious that she has to push her face into the display case. Sakura argues that it is serious, but removes herself from the display case to look at the sweets from afar. "W-wow… those macarons look really good… Oh, but the doughnuts look great too. Ah, but you said the chocolate cake was amazing! I can't decide!"

"I can decide for you," he says. "That strawberry shortcake looks good. You could always try that."

Her brow begins to furrow. "I don't know… it looks a little too plain."

Plain? Leo frowns. He shrugs it off though. "How about that custard pudding over there?"

"Hmm… it's a little small though."

Leo lets out a small sigh. "Hey, I'm trying to make an effort here," he says in a dull tone of voice. She apologizes, but says that she'll let him surprise her. "Are you sure? You weren't exactly a fan of my last two suggestions."

"I'm positive. I'm sure I'll like whatever you pick out this time!"

"Even if I pick out that plain looking strawberry shortcake?" He asks.

She pauses to think it over. "Y-yes, even the strawberry shortcake." Although she says she's alright with it, her eyes are screaming "please don't buy it." When she leaves to find a table for the two of them Leo looks over the display case one more time. It's only when his eyes drift past the counter that something catches his eye.

Sticky buns are carried from the kitchen to the display case, and one by one, the baker carefully places them inside. That seems like a good purchase. Leo orders two of them, and they baker puts them in one of their smaller carryout boxes, decorated in lace and has bakery name written in cursive.

With a plastic fork and knife in hand, Leo carries the box of pasties over to Sakura, who claps her hands in delight upon seeing the box. "Oh, thank you so much! I can't wait to see what's inside – it smells really good!" She must be delighted that it doesn't smell like strawberries.

Slowly, Sakura opens the box, and the smile on her face broadens once she realizes what he's brought her. As it turns out, sticky buns are one of Sakura's favorite treats, and she's so glad that he thought to get them. When he hands over the plastic utensils, asks if he wants to try, but he respectfully declines.

Not even two minutes pass before Leo realizes that the pastries he's just purchased are all gone. He stares at the empty carryout box before looking at Sakura's blushing face. The crumbs and honey linger around her mouth. "You… you ate them already?" He asks, in total disbelief.

She looks away from him, and her cheeks turn a few shades darker. "…I can't help myself around sweets," she mumbles.

"Apparently," Leo says as he hands her a napkin. "Your face is a mess." She gasps, grabs the napkin, and hastily turns away from him as she grumbles about how embarrassing this is. An unexpected laugh leaves his lips, and when she looks back at him in shock, he has to apologize. "I've just never seen you look like that," he says. He has to bite down on his bottom lip to keep from laughing again.

"I… I could say the same thing about you," Sakura counters with a smile on her face. The crumbs are gone for the most part. "This is the m-most I've ever heard you laugh!"

Is it? He can't help let out another chuckle, and Sakura giggles as well. Soon the air is filled with laughter, and neither of them know why their laughing anymore, only that it's happening. Once again, Leo takes in the happy expression Sakura dons. It's such a stark contrast to the anxiety and sorrow he sees on her face the second time she enters his dreams.

Leo knows that there's something off about that shoddy excuse for an archduke. He's too carefree, too casual, but Leo despite his speculations, Leo doesn't want to cause Corrin any more grief. Though, now that he's readying his tome, he regrets not speaking up about something so painfully obvious.

He can't dwell on it, however. It's just as Corrin said, they don't have time to waste when lives are at stake. If he's to be honest with himself, Leo didn't think he'd see the day where he'd actually go out of his way to save the lives of his enemies. Given the circumstances, it only seems fair. Unlike Zola, he isn't willing to stoop to dirty tricks to come out on top. Such cowardly behavior doesn't befit a Nohrian prince such as himself.

So instead, he fights against those in his own army, because although it looks wrong on paper, it feels like this is what he should be doing. The pages in Brynhildr flip over each other as the wind rushes past him, and that familiar feeling of magic tingling in his fingertips comes to him so easily as he vanquishes his foes. Never has Leo considered himself a rebel, but it certainly feels that way as he walks in his brother's footsteps, just several paces behind him.

A smirk appears on his lips. For an older brother, Corrin is a terrible role model. However, Leo would be damned if he didn't admit to himself that Corrin, who has the devil's own luck, possesses some of the qualities of a great leader. When he and a few other troops are finished routing the enemy soldiers at the rear, Leo makes his way to where his siblings are, but not before a sniffling sound catches his attention. It's coming from the room where the Hoshidan siblings are locked up.

Leo can hear some sort of banging, as if someone is throwing a blunt object into the wall repeatedly. A low voice speaks out. "What are you doing?"

The noise stops. "What does it look like I'm doing?" A voice much harsher replies. "I'm trying to break out of this stupid place."

"Takumi, you know that isn't a good idea," says another. "You've no weapons, and we're alone. What will you do once you get out? The Nohrian soldiers will kill you on sight, you do know that, don't you?"

Takumi speaks again. "Well, there's no use putting off the inevitable, is there? I'd rather go out like that than just sit here like an animal and wait to be slaughtered!"

Someone gasps sharply, while another person lets out a sigh of exasperation. "Would you cut it out already? You're not exactly making this situation any better."

"Sure, because a situation like this, where our traitor of a brother and his family imprisoning us, could possibly get better! Thanks, Sister. I feel so enlightened!"

"You know what? I've had it up to here with you–!"

"Hinoka, Takumi. Stop." The low voice speaks up again, but this time, in a more stern voice. The room is quiet once more, save for someone's soft sobbing. Leo can guess whose it is. He feels that he's heard enough from them, and there's no point in eavesdropping, not like there was to begin with.

Just as he steers his mount to the direction of his siblings, someone calls out, "milord." The crying immediately stops, and Leo speculates that it's most likely out of fear. He looks to his left, only to see his retainer who approaches him casually. He doesn't have much to report on, and only asks if his lord is feeling alright.

Leo appreciates it. "I'm alright. Thank you, Zero. For now, we should keep moving." And they do. Leo reaches his siblings just in time to aid them in taking down Zola and his cronies, and Leo takes it a step further by ridding him of his pathetic life. He anticipates Corrin's questions, though he did think that his brother would have learned by now that they are indeed fighting a war.

Even so, Corrin's innocence and compassion is enviable.

"A rat like Zola must be cut down upon defeat for the good of all. What would you have us do? Accept him as an ally only to suffer betrayal later?" Leo asks as he takes in the contemplative look on Corrin's face. "The scoundrel would have just bided his time until he could blab to Father or Iago. But the dead can't speak, can they?"

Leo's comment more or less drives the point home that things are better this way, and Corrin begrudgingly accepts it. Believing the matter to be settled, Leo turns to leave, but not before he hears his brother say, "Leon... You would have made a really frightening enemy..."

The comment makes the corners of his lips twitch upwards slightly, but he pretends he doesn't hear it. "Hm? Did you say something?" He asks, and Corrin, who is a terrible liar, awkwardly says no. The thought of Corrin being frightened of him makes him want to laugh, but at the same time, Leo truly is relieved they aren't enemies. He can't bear to think about the two of them standing opposite of the battle field from one another.

His small smile doesn't last very long, because at the dining table, he's come to the realization that Archduke Izana really is excitable. Disgustingly excitable. It also doesn't help that the Hoshidan royal family sits across from them with various expressions ranging from frustration to self-pity. Leo can feel his brow crease in annoyance as he listens to Takumi shout at Corrin across the table. Where exactly are his manners?

"So he needs your permission to express concern?" Leo sighs. "Hoshidans are the worst. I'd drop the attitude if I were you. After all, we just saved your sorry lives."

"Let me make something perfectly clear," Takumi speaks with a scowl and narrowed eyes. "I feel no gratitude for what you've done. Saving us was the natural thing to do, even for Nohrian scum."

Already tired from exchanging just a few words with the Hoshidan prince, Leo does his best to ignore the rest of the bickering and awkward conversations that continue through the course of the banquet, but it's a little hard to when his sister yelling about Corrin being her brother instead of Sakura's. He has to wonder is she's truly put the whole comparison mishap with Azura past her. It certainly looks like she hasn't and Leo thinks that maybe she and Azura should speak about it again, just to be on the safe side.

As he looks across the table once more, he doesn't miss the way that Sakura tugs on Takumi's sleeve for some sort of comfort.

When dinner is over, they're all free to do as they please. Leo is thankful for it, even if it is only for a few hours. He's not sure where his siblings have run off to, but he's content in the courtyard with a book. At least, he's content with it for about five minutes. Someone's deep breathing and footsteps keep him from being able to concentrate.

He so desperately hopes that the person approaching isn't the one with the sharp tongue and attitude problem. When he catches sight of who it is, he's slightly relieved to know that it's not Takumi. However, it's not any of his siblings either, so Leo doesn't feel all that comfortable. But neither is she.

One look at him is all it takes for him to be able to read the anxiousness of her face and see her pupils shrink in fear. "I-I'm sorry, I d-didn't know anyone w-was out here," she says with trembling hands. "I'll g-go now…"

His eyes return to his book once more. "It's fine. You can stay."

"A-are you s-sure…?" She asks meekly.

Leo nods. "It's not like I own this place anyway. You're free to do whatever you please, so long as you abide by the rules. Don't let me tell you how to spend your time here."

"Um, o-okay…" she mumbles, before strolling through the courtyard. She keeps her distance from him, and through his peripheral vision, he can see her sit down by a patch of wild flowers. Thankfully, she isn't much of a talker, but the air around them still feels tense. Perhaps he should have asked to be alone.

He debates on whether or not he should say something to ease the tension between them. For once, Leo decides that he should take a page from Corrin's book and attempt to be somewhat sympathetic. "Zola is gone now. Permanently," says Leo casually. "You don't have to worry about him anymore."

She looks startled, as if she's surprised that he's even speaking to her. He doesn't blame her though. He's surprised at himself for speaking to her. "O-oh, d-did you mean the a-archduke's impersonator?" She asks. He nods. "I see… um, l-like Ryouma said earlier, th-thank you all for rescuing us. Y-you have our gratitude…"

"You need not thank us," says Leo. "It's just as Marx said, had our situations been reversed, we're sure you would have done the same." She affirms the statement, and the two of them fall into another silence. This time, Leo doesn't feel the need to say anything to her, and can properly focus on his reading.

One blink is all it takes for the lovely courtyard that he relaxes in to completely disappear. His mind feels hazy, and when he finds that Sakura isn't with him, he calls for her in a low voice and waits for her to respond. When she doesn't, it finally clicks that this isn't his dream anymore.

And for once, he's glad that it isn't, because they're starting to feel like nightmares. He so clearly remembers how terrified she looked – almost the same exact look as when he first tried to talk to her. Sakura felt so distant, and he did as well. Leo knows that in his mind, he'd been begging himself to say something to her. He can't stand to picture the sight of her quivering lips and how her voice trembles, and yet for some reason, he hardly reacts to it in his dreams.

And the crying, Leo thinks before slapping his hands on his face. He's sure that he never wants to hear her like that again. He never wants to have these dreams again.

But of course they don't go away. Overtime, they only grow worse.