Jordan and Cecilia told them their plans, to go to Valencia island, and how them splitting up, would also split up the enemy.
"You are not going anywhere without me coming along." Akihiro says.
"No, dad, you're needed here." Jordan looks his father in the eyes.
"No, Jess can hold down the fort while us three are gone. Have faith in your mother, won't ya?" Akihiro crosses his arms.
"You just had to put it like that, didn't you?" Jordan sighs and grins. "Alright, Dad, I know you won't back down on this account, so there's no need to argue further."
"Good, son. I'm glad you know me so well." Akihiro nods.
"Whenever you're ready, dad. We'll be leaving soon, I'm just going to cook up some pizzas, spaghetti, and some meatballs." Jordan smiles.
"Good to know. And will Cecilia be cooking anything, also?" Akihiro asks.
"Yeah, she makes some pretty good sandwiches. I think they taste delicious, but for some reason other people aren't seen for two days after they eat them. No idea why, they never made me sick in any way." Jordan scratches the back of his head.
"I wish that they would at least be nicer to me. At least I can make their meals look utterly beautiful." Cecilia crosses her arms.
"Not as beautiful as you are, Cecil." Jordan smiles.
"Of course not." she giggles.
"I see you are also bringing a side of cheese." Dylan and Akihiro say in unison.
"Always." Jordan grins, then walks up to Dylan. "You know what you are going to say, right?"
"Yes, I know what to do." Dylan nods.
"Good." Jordan shakes his brothers hands and hugs him, then hugs his mother. "See you soon, Mom, bro."
"Be safe, you two. If you get hurt, then I will not allow you to go alone again while in times of crisis." Jessica warns him.
"Yes, mom." Jordan nods.
"Alright, I'm ready. Let's go, son, and future daughter in law." Akihiro grins.
"Okay then, let's go." Jordan replies, unfazed. Akihiro looks at him, slightly disappointed.
"What's wrong future father-in-law? You wanted a better reaction?" Cecilia smiles.
"Y-yeah…" Akihiro crosses his arms.
"Too bad, honey, now go." Jessica giggles.
"Alright…" He looks down, slightly and walks out the door, behind them.
"So…" Jessica looks back at Dylan and Laura. "I expect you two to be back by 2:00 and don't do anything that I wouldn't do… not a good example… um… don't do anything Chifuyu wouldn't allow you to do."
"Chifuyu wouldn't allow us to do anything that has to do without being in 50 feet of the school, or in this case, base." Dylan looks her in the eyes.
"Just don't do anything naughty, alright?" Jessica's eye twitches.
"Yes, Ma'am." Dylan says quickly.
"Good, now come hug your mother." Jessica smiles.
"Yes, ma'am." Dylan hugs jessica, then walks out the door, Laura behind him the whole way, trying her best not to stare longingly at his hands.
-an hour later, on the island- "So, Cecil, what do you think they're doing right now?" Jordan asks.
"Considering him, he either has already confessed again, and asked her how she felt, or he is being too shy and they recently started maybe putting their hands near each other." Cecilia giggles.
"Hopefully the first situation is true." Jordan lays back on the ground. "Hey, Dad, you okay? I honestly didn't think that you would have that reaction. Well, I guess I got the steel stomach from Mom. Now what does that have to say about your cooking?"
"You..." Akihiro smiles, but then covers his mouth to stop his bile from escaping his lips, and then releases it after turning around. "You really are our son... Aren't you..?"
"Yup. Without a doubt." Jordan grins.
"That's good..." Akihiro sighs, taking a napkin to wash his face.
"Well, you two, we should probably get going now." Cecilia picks up the empty basket and activates her IS in sync with Jordan. Jordan then lifts up his arm, seeing a message icon appear, he opens it, and, for a split second, hears Dylan's, Laura's, and his mother's voice.
Just then an axe with an eye in the middle practically materialises in between Cecilia and Jordan, along with its wielder.
-55 minutes earlier at The Malt house-
"So, Laura, what do you think?" Dylan looks around, slightly nervous. They were going to have a nice dinner, just talk, be comfortable, and then I can just ask her calmly if she really does love me.
"Um..." Laura looks around "elegant is the word that comes to mind."
"Yeah. I wonder what the food is going to be like. Hopefully it's good. Either way, today's going to be amazing..." Dylan trails off.
"Yeah..." Laura smiles softly. "It will be." Cecilia had told her what was going to happen, and Laura was ecstatic. Today was the day that they would become official. Laura tried her best to not show that she was excited. Yes, she was completely enamored with Ichika before, but that was only because of Chifuyu, at first. She had always seen Dylan as an ally, and outstanding teammate, and their connection was always there, but she always had mistaken his actions as wanting to be a better teammate. If she were to be honest, she loved him a while after their meeting. He was strong, driven, serious, and he was extremely passionate about his goals. However, it was only until Jordan and Cecilia started teasing them that she started to think about him in that light. And, recently, she had been chiding herself for not noticing that she loved him back. Now, she didn't have to worry, because she knew for certain that he held feelings for her, and was starting to act on them. She was silently thanking Jordan, and openly thanking Cecilia.
"Oh, what a lovely couple you two are. What will you be having today? We're having a couple's discount." The waitress asks.
"O-o-oh, w-we're n-not-" Laura starts.
"I'll take the grilled monkfish, crab claw, and clam bouillabaisse please." Dylan says quickly, and, blushing, looks gently into Laura's eyes, making her blush as well.
"So he is starting to think of us as a couple..?" Laura looks at him, slightly surprised, mostly elated.
"And you, young miss?" The waitress turns towards Laura.
"I'll have the 'best of irish' platter, please." She answers.
"Alright, we'll have that done soon, in the meantime, what will you have for drinks?" The waitress smiles.
"I think I'll just have some water, we're not at the legal drinking age yet." Dylan answers.
"Then I guess that's what I'll have also." Laura nods her head.
"Alright, two waters. I'll get those for you in a second." The waitress writes down the orders.
"She was quite excited." Laura smiles.
"Yeah, heh, maybe you'd make a good waitress also." Dylan laughs slightly.
"Oh, you only want to see me in the uniform, don't you?" Laura blushes slightly, giggling.
"That may be part of it, but I still believe that you would do well as one." Dylan turns away his head.
"Alright. After all this fighting is done, how about you, Charlotte, and I get a job as a waiter and waitresses? That would be a nice experience." Laura blushes, nervously.
"Really, that's what you want to do with me over the summer when we're possibly going to be-" Dylan looks back at her, then stops abruptly, blushing intensely.
"Together..?" Laura finishes, hesitantly.
"... Laura... I love you. You know that... I have a feeling that you feel about me the same. However, I want to know the truth, rather than go off of my own thoughts and perceptions." Dylan gently holds her hand. "This may be a stupid question, but, Laura Bodewig, do you love me back? I love you and want to be with you as much as you'll allow me to be."
"Ich liebe dich." Laura repeats, hiding her wide smile.
"What does that mean?" Dylan holds her hand slightly tighter.
Laura pulls him into a kiss. "I love you. That's what it means."
"Oh..." Dylan pulls back, surprised.
"Too bold for you?" Laura smiles.
"No, considering how you practically forced Ichika to marry you." Dylan relaxes, tapping Laura's shoulder with slight force. Laura laughs, holds her shoulder, and returns the gesture.
"So, we're official now?" Laura's face goes to a slightly more serious countenance.
"Yes. I do believe we are." The words sound like heaven to Dylan, knowing that he's finally with the woman of his dreams.
"And this is our first date?" Laura squeezes his hand, slightly.
"Yeah." Dylan intertwines his fingers with hers.
"When did you fall in love with me?" Laura puts one hand under her chin.
"I have to admit, when I first met you, my mind was more on the mission than my teammate. Then Lieutenant started saying weird things about you and I, which made me start thinking about you."
"Then I guess we both need to thank lieutenant, then." Laura smiles.
"How about you? When did you fall for me?" Dylan looks into her eyes.
"I can't pinpoint an exact time, but I started to think about you in that light when Jordan and Cecilia started teasing you and I." Laura returns his gaze.
"Then we have a lot of thanks to give." Dylan laughs a little.
Soon, the food came, they ate, and just talked for a little bit about where they want to go next, and then, about thirty minutes later, they left to get back to the base. It took them twenty minutes to get there, and once they did, they saw Jessica standing in front of the gate.
"What? You guys are back so early? I was kinda hoping that you'd stay out a little later." She tilts her head.
"Says the one who doesn't want us doing anything naughty." Dylan grins.
"I'm still a mother who would love being a grandma, okay?" She laughs, mischievously, causing Dylan and Laura to blush at the thought. "I'm just kidding of course."
"Jordan really is your clone, isn't he?" Dylan rolls his eyes.
"Your brother is more than just a clone, and so are you." Jessica puts her hands on her waist.
"Yeah, yeah." Dylan smiles.
"So, what did you two do? Are you two official now?" She looks at them both, eyes sparkling.
"Yes, Mrs. Wheeler." Laura holds Dylan's arm, pulling her body close to his.
"Please, Laura dear, call me mother in law, I'd love to hear that." She puts her hands behind her back, and grins.
"I highly doubt that you'll survive long enough to legally be called mother in law, Jessica Wheeler." A laser blast hits just beside Jessica's feet.
"So, you came to us, then?" Jessica glares behind the couple.
"You'd think that we'd let you skimper away so easily?" Ralem opens up the exhaust on his crossbow. "That's not how phantom task works!"