"I should invest in a damn alarm clock…" Ragna yawned as he entered the school building, arriving in time for the first bell. Celica hadn't been there to rouse him like usual because a headache confined her to bed; he wouldn't be surprised if the ruckus the other night was the cause. Ruminating on that night and his current scenario made him question his ability to save anyone if the need arose. Ragna could put up a decent fight, at least he still believed he could, but how would he reach them if the worst came to pass? He had survived out of sheer dumb luck and he could rule out any hope of someone else coming to their rescue if the chips were down.

He wanted to convince himself that what he and Noel had gone through was a fluke, but the possibility of it happening to Celica or Jin kept him anxious. How am I supposed to come up with a plan if I don't know what's going on? Ragna ran frustrated fingers through his spiky hair as he shoved his classroom door open. His aggressive entrance earned a few looks but they didn't stare too long; perhaps sensing his irritation and frustration, his peers knew today might not be the day to piss him off. Ragna noticed a certain blonde who had been absent yesterday fiddling with her fingers. Sighing, he plopped into his seat, causing Noel to shriek and jump in her chair, drawing the entire class's attention.

As the teacher entered and homeroom commenced, Ragna was admittedly excited for class to begin for once, willing to endure boring lessons rather than puzzle over that any longer. Even his teachers were surprised by (or possibly confused) how attentive he was in class, filling his page with notes even if it was fluff. When the lunch bell rang, something that typically elicited a sigh of relief from Ragna, anger bubbled up instead as the math lecture serving to divert his thoughts was cut short. He needed some fresh air and the roof sounded like a splendid place to take his mind off everything. Collecting his things and hurrying for the door, a tug on his shirt stopped him and Ragna looked over his shoulders at Noel meekly pinching his uniform. "Need something?" His aggressive tone made her recoil. He hadn't meant to sound snappy, realizing just how on edge he was.

"I-I…!" Noel's lips quivered as she tried to articulate. Ragna couldn't help notice her hiding something behind her back, but before he could ask what it was, she blurted, "I want you to go out with me!"

A pregnant silence.

"...What?" He blinked. Her big green eyes gazed intently at him, waiting for his answer. He noticed several students whispering amongst themselves and grimaced. The last thing Ragna wanted now of all times was attention. "Uh, listen… I'm not really…"

"W-wait!" Noel's face flushed and she quickly backpedaled. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I wouldn't ask you out. Never!" she affirmed.

"Uh. Ow?" While Ragna was pleased to know this wasn't an impromptu confession, the stern way she put it kind of stung.

"I just…" Her voice fell to a whisper as she revealed the item hidden behind her back: a lunch box wrapped in green cloth. "C-can we eat lunch together?" She timidly proffered it, her head lowered and eyes squeezed shut in wait for his response. "I was going to buy a drink, but if you don't mind waiting, I—"

"I want to be alone." Noel gasped as he sharply cut her off. "Gonna have to pass."

"O-oh, okay." Noel's arms hung limply at her sides, her expression downcast. "I'm sorry for, um, bothering you…"

Holy shit, why do I feel like I just kicked a fucking puppy? Guilt sucker punched Ragna in the gut with enough force to knock the wind out of him. He didn't mean to be so harsh with her, especially since she was one of the only reasons why he was still alive. Scratching his head, he groaned in defeat and turned toward the staircase. "I'll be on the roof if you still wanna eat with me."

She perked up instantly. "Great! I'll be there soon!" Noel promised before she took off.

"Guess I can kiss peace and quiet goodbye," Ragna sighed as he climbed the steps to the roof, greeted with a refreshing breeze and a surprise guest. The knowledge that he enjoyed lunch on the roof kept most students away, yet a brave soul sat on the sole bench by her lonesome, a squirrel beastkin who didn't look pleased to see him. Her amber eyes narrowed and she grumbled while putting away her food. As she stood up and headed for the exit, Noel came through the door.

"I-I'm sorry!" Noel apologized, almost bumping into her.

"It's fine." Makoto's gaze turned piercing and body language hostile as the blonde stared at her. "Is there something else you want from me?"

"N-no!" Swiftly stepping aside, the beastkin exited with an annoyed breath. Noel put a hand on her chest and exhaled in relief before closing the door behind her.

"That didn't take long," Ragna said.

"There wasn't much of a line. Oh!" Noel produced a small juice box from her brown paper bag and presented it to him. "I got you something, too. I don't know what you like, so I decided to get apple juice. Everyone likes apple juice! ...Right?"

He was about to say she didn't have to, but held his tongue and accepted the juice box. She was trying so hard. "Thanks. I'll pay you back tomorrow."

"You don't have to. It's just a f-friendly gesture. Yeah!" Noel nodded to herself.

"Uh, yeah. Okay?" Ragna sat against the fence as Noel took her spot across from him, opening up her lunch consisting of several sandwiches. It was then he realized he'd forgotten his lunch at home and groaned as his stomach rumbled.

"Do you… not have lunch?" she asked, unable to ignore borderline monstrous growling in his gut.

"I had a big breakfast," he lied. "I'll be fine for the rest of the day." Total bullshit; he was starving and his stomach was ready to digest itself.

"O-okay." Noel smacked herself on both cheeks, then, with determination on her visage, proffered a sandwich to Ragna. "You can have this!"

"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks though."

"I insist," she pressed. "It has ham and… stuff!"

"Stuff?"

"G-good stuff!"

"I'm more concerned about what this stuff is," he replied, stone-faced. They obviously weren't poisonous if Noel could eat them without issue, but the last thing he wanted was indigestion. Seeing her eyes glisten, he resigned himself and accepted the sandwich. Before the day was done he resolved to figure out how she manipulated him so easily.

"I… hope you like it."

"So do I." Ragna murmured a silent prayer and took a bite, the lettuce in his sandwich making a satisfying crunch. He felt self-conscious as Noel watched him with wide, intense eyes, but all things considered… "Not bad."

"Really?!" Her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Yeah." It wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. The bread was soggy, too much mayonnaise, and far more lettuce than meat which he could barely taste, but it didn't make him want to barf. He finished it and patted his stomach. It should sustain him for the rest of the school day.

"I'm glad. It was close to its expiration date, so I was scared it might not be good!"

All emotion left his face. "Wanna run that by me again?"

"Oh. The ham was going to expire tomorrow, so I used it in the sand— oww!" Noel whined as a now-livid Ragna pulled on her cheeks.

"Give me a heads up before I fucking devour food, yeah?!" He tugged hard as Noel's arms windmilled, the girl whining and apologizing before he released her. "Damn idiot…"

She whimpered, rubbing her cheeks. "Oww, Ragna, that really hurt!"

"Was feeding me near-expired food all you wanted?" Ragna's brusque inquiry made Noel flinch and go quiet. "You were absent yesterday. I can guess why. But if you want to talk about the shit we went through the other day, count me out of it."

"...It's the opposite." Her chest tightened and her throat went dry. "I was terrified to leave my house. I couldn't hide at home because of school, plus with all I felt…" Noel paused momentarily. "I felt school was perfect."

"Perfect?"

"I thought that someone who understood me would be the best to talk to," she replied after a beat.

"Huh." Ragna never thought of it that way. Among his small, small, pool of friends, there wasn't a single person he could confide in about what truly bothered him, keeping all his anguish and fears bottled up inside. But he got the feeling she meant to say something else entirely, yet refrained for some reason, and whatever it was made her conflicted.

"I needed to see you, see if you were okay. I'm glad you are." Noel wore a rare smile.

Ragna grinned after a moment. "Y'know that sounds like a confession, right?"

"D-does it?! It isn't. I swear!" Noel exclaimed, throwing her hands in all different directions. "I just wanted to share a lunch with you, honest!"

"I know, I know. Seriously… you're too easy to rattle," he chuckled.

"W-well, you're a b-big jerk!"

"Say it with more feeling next time." Her face had gone totally red. This girl was a rollercoaster of emotions and Ragna almost felt bad for teasing her. Almost. "I'll make it up to you. How about I make you something for lunch?"

Noel shook her head. "You don't have to. It's fine."

"I like paying my dues. Besides, you didn't have to share. Seems like the least I could do."

A grin appeared on her lips that Ragna would have described as coy if it didn't look like she was struggling. "Are you trying to impress me with your cooking?" A wind blew between them as he simply stared at Noel. "Please react."

"Are you actually an idiot?" Normally that line would've elicited some response from him, but with how timid it came across, Ragna just pitied her.

She sighed. "I'm bad at this."

"There is such a thing as trying too hard. Don't tell me you've never had friends before or some shit."

"I've had friends!" Noel pushed her two index fingers together and averted her gaze. "I just haven't had any in a while. Until now."

"The hell does that mean?"

She pointed at him, still looking down. "You."

"Me?" As if there was anyone else on the roof with them.

Noel nodded and knotted her fingers, her cheeks burning. "I'd like to think we're friends. Friends share lunches and talk about silly things. We also understand each other, right?"

"Well, yeah…"

"Then we're friends! Y-you're my friend." The zeal in her voice took Ragna by surprise, and realizing her sudden forwardness and close proximity, she swiftly sat back down. "We are, right? If we're not that's okay, too! I don't want to force you or anything…"

"It's got nothing to do with that." Her proclamation brought back some memories from his childhood. Ragna didn't have many to happily reminisce about when it came to family and his school experiences, but one stood out among the rest. It was the day he was "saved."

"Then we are friends?!" Noel's eyes glittered.

"Son of a…! Y-yes! Yes, we're… friends. Happy?" Ragna cringed so hard as he spoke, feeling heat rush to his face. Noel, on the other hand, felt no embarrassment from the extreme level of corniness. She leapt to her feet and jumped in place like a kid who got exactly what they wanted for her birthday. He didn't realize it, but he smiled while watching the blonde hop in place. There was a certain familiarity to the action that he couldn't put his finger on.

Once their classes concluded for the day, the newly formed duo left campus together. Ragna observed how strangely Noel walked alongside him down the halls, swinging the same arm and leg, kind of like a robot. She was an extreme version of a socially awkward girl. They garnered glances and whispers, their peers suspicious of why they were hanging out together and wondering if they were dating, although that rumor probably came about because of Noel's ridiculous statement during break. He had a mind to tease her about the gossip but Noel was already flustered enough; anymore would be overkill and the girl might collapse.

"I take the train home," Noel announced as they reached the school gate, dejected they had to part ways so early.

"If you want, I can walk you," Ragna proposed.

"Won't that take you out of your way?"

He shrugged. It wasn't like he was in a rush to head home. Judging by the way she perked up when he offered, Noel only asked as a courtesy instead of genuinely feeling like a hindrance. "Let's just say I need a good walk," Ragna added.

"T-thank you, then!" Noel smiled big as they started toward the station, but stopped as an unfamiliar voice addressed them.

"I see you two have finally gotten a grasp of yourselves."

They both spun around in search of the speaker, finding a blonde girl in a black dress standing directly behind Noel who definitely wasn't there before; it was like she'd emerged from the shadows. "Who're you?" Ragna demanded.

The devious smile that spread across her lips made their hair stand on end. "Right. Quite rude of me. My name is Rachel Alucard," she greeted.

"Alucard?" That wasn't a last name Ragna was familiar with.

"Maybe she's a foreigner?" Noel surmised. Last name aside, her attire was also out of place. "Do you need help?" she asked, even though the girl's air of superiority made her feel foolish for offering.

"I suppose you could say that. It would be far easier to cut the banal questioning of who I am if I were to tell you that I know what you have experienced, where you were, and how you got there."

"Wha?" Noel took another step back, and Ragna, far more on edge than before, stuck his arm out to shield her.

"The hell does that mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said. Did I stutter?" Rachel regarded him like he'd asked the dumbest question in human history, as if this particular subject was anything but abnormal.

"If you know, does that mean you sent us to that shit hole?"

She rolled her eyes. "One time is amusing. Two times is annoying." Ragna was about to ask what that meant, but the girl in black answered, "No, I am not responsible for your fate. I do, however, possess the answers you seek."

Noel found her voice. "S-so you know what that place was?"

"Indeed. I care not to repeat myself if you care little to listen."

"Then why the hell did you wait so long to come to us?" Ragna remained on the defensive, his hand hovering above Noel's arm in case he had to grab her and run.

"I decided to wait until you calmed before I approached you. This seemed the best way to preserve my sanity. The last thing I wish to deal with are your mental instabilities," Rachel replied. "If you would like for me to inform you of your situation, do say so now."

Ragna and Noel exchanged looks. "What do you think?" she questioned.

"I don't know. We can't possibly trust her, right?"

"If you wish to speak about me, do not whisper in front of me." After only taking their eyes off her for a second, Rachel stood right next to them, leaning on the school gates. "If I wished to harm you, I would have done so already." There was no malice in her statement, not an iota of subtlety; she stated it like a cold, hard fact. The smile she adopted made the comment far more chilling than it already was and the two took a reactionary step back. There was no way they could trust this random girl who popped up out of the blue, but… "If you wish to remain ignorant, do speak up. It is bliss, as the saying goes."

Noel was the first to respond. It wasn't a hard choice for her to make. "I want to know."

"Are you serious?" Ragna glanced at Rachel, who gave him a friendly smile, but it also felt mocking. "Think this through. You can't really go along with her, right?"

"It's not that." Noel couldn't turn down an opportunity to learn the truth. "I came to school because I wanted to forget about it all, but I just can't. No matter how hard I try, it's impossible. At the very least, I want to know what happened to me and the world around me."

"Yeah, but…"

"Have you decided yet?" Rachel interjected.

"I… Argh, screw it!" Ragna took a deep breath and slumped his shoulders. Noel had a point; they didn't have to trust Rachel with their lives or anything, but if they could get some answers now, that might help them later down the line. "It's better to know what's going on than not. Besides, after what we went through, there's nothing you can do that can rival that living hell."

Rachel tittered, and for a moment, her eyes flashed at Ragna with intent from his last comment. He immediately regretted his words, but it was too late now. "Shall we be off, then?"

"Off?" The moment Noel voiced her confusion, the space around them shifted into something brand new, something preternatural. A massive manor towered before them and beneath their feet was an array of beautiful roses. Once the two students had processed what just happened, they could only gape at their new surroundings.

"Come now," Rachel called to them as she headed toward the manor, its massive double doors creaking open to welcome its master back home. Everything about the place seemed sketchy but they had little choice but to press onward as the girl shot an impatient look at them. Steeling themselves, they followed Rachel and a delightful fragrance wafted up their noses upon entering the home, the lavish interior resonating differently with Noel and Ragna.

"This place looks so nice," awed the former.

"This place looks so damn gaudy," grumbled the latter.

Rachel paid them no mind as she guided them through her home, up the stairs, and down a couple halls until they reached what they'd consider a lounge. Spacious and luxuriously furnished, the room possessed a perfect view of the rose garden below. Under any other circumstances the ambient atmosphere would be a perfect place to relax with one's thoughts. Following a moment of deliberation and a sharp glance from Rachel, Ragna and Noel closed the door behind them. Rachel took her seat at the head of a small table while they sat beside one another on the long sofa. "It's so soft…" Noel commented, sinking into the comfortable leather.

"Is now really the time?" Ragna deadpanned.

"S-sorry."

"You don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything," he told her.

"O-oh… I'm sorry," she said regardless.

"Listen…"

"Shall we begin now?" Rachel addressed the pair with a tinge of annoyance at their inane back and forth.

"Yeah. But first you're gonna tell us where the hell you've taken us. Then we go from there," Ragna replied.

"This is my home," she answered simply. "Though the address of my residence is not in your world, as you can see."

"Then…" Noel eyed the room. In spite of the supernatural means by which they found themselves at the opulent residence, nothing in Rachel's manor was outside the realm of what she might find in an antique shop. "Where are we?"

"We are currently in a space known as the Boundary, a dimension that exists outside your world, which is rather ideal for me. Creating this space in your world would prove far more troublesome."

Noel's eyes widened. "You made all this?!"

"Indeed," she answered as if it was no big deal.

"Why would it be more troublesome?" Ragna wondered.

"As you can see, my residence isn't precisely what you humans call 'ordinary.' The last thing I need is to be bothered," Rachel replied.

"Humans?" Noel was afraid to ask, but she'd muttered it aloud and earned their attention, so, put on the spot, she voiced her thoughts anyway. "You say that like you aren't human yourself. Aren't you?"

"No, I am not. But does that truly surprise you?" Rachel reclined in her chair with a knowing smile observing her guest's growing suspicion. "Let me be upfront with my intentions. I approached you two for assistance, and concluded this to be a fair exchange of services."

"Help with what?" Ragna pressed.

"In these alternate realities, these Fractured Worlds," Rachel answered him.

"Is that what they're called?" Noel pondered.

"Yes. As the name suggests, these worlds are broken and separate from your own. Running amok in these alternate worlds are monsters known as Nightmares. I am sure you have become intimate with these beasts."

"...More than we care to be." Ragna clutched his arm and Noel shrunk into the sofa, all the memories of their near-death experiences with those monsters rushing back to them in a tumult of emotions. "The hell are these Nightmares? Do they just live there?"

"Yes. Nightmares are composed of Seithr, a natural substance within the Boundary. These creatures are tasked with a particular duty, which is to watch over and safe-guard the Distortion. The very heart of said world."

"Is that what that big monster was, a Distortion?" Noel's mind flashed back to the final enemy they encountered, recalling how different it was compared to the others they faced in that abominable world. "I could sense something was there but didn't know what it was. It felt like a strong will, a desire. When I finally saw it, I had this feeling that if we beat it, everything would go back to normal."

"And you were correct. A Distortion is the cause of a Fractured World, and once you eliminate it, so too does that world disappear. In fact..." she eyed Noel with intrigue, her delicate lips forming a pleased smile. "You appear to possess a high aptitude for detecting abnormalities. Is that the reason you remained in your home? Because you could tell there was something amiss in your world? You wished to figure out what was going on around you."

"I…" A lump formed in Noel's throat that prevented her from speaking until Ragna placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She looked up into consoling eyes.

"Don't answer if you don't want to, alright?"

"Yes. Please do not provide the only person who is aware of the machinations of that world with vital information that could assist you in the future. It is quite dangerous." Rachel's tone oozed so much sarcasm Ragna wanted to toss her out the window, but he restrained himself. "I can respect your skepticism. Only an idiot would take information from a stranger as gospel. However, as I have told you, my goal is to work with you, not against."

He frowned. "So that's why you've been stalking her?"

"Stalking? Hardly," Rachel returned with a mocking laugh. "I checked in on both of you. I must say you both surprised me. Her exceptional awareness aside…" Ragna arched a brow as she giggled behind her hand, his face boiling red once she shared what tickled her funny bone. "I did not expect to see you running out of your home in your undergarments in the middle of the night. I must say, it was quite entertaining."

"Fuck off!" he spat. The last thing he needed was to be ridiculed by Rachel for worrying about his friend. "The hell were you doin' stalking us, anyway?" Ragna demanded.

"To see what kind of people my potential conspirators are," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Why us? Are we the only ones you can ask?" Noel asked.

"As of this moment? Yes. You two, at least that I know of, are the only ones who have obtained your Drives and returned alive. I would be a fool not to capitalize on that fact."

There was a moment of quiet as they considered her words, apprehensive of the manner she addressed their experience. Her guard still up, Noel pointed out, "You said we're the only ones who made it back. Does that mean there are others like Ragna and I?"

"Many more," she replied. "I am sure you have an idea, Noel."

Ragna studied her upon Rachel's suggestive tone, slowly watching the blonde's face deform into that of a horrific realization. He figured Rachel was doing something to her, but from the amusement on her face and attention in her gaze, she was waiting for Noel to share what caused her current discomfort. "The murders…" she finally spoke, shuddering. "Are they really 'murders' like what we hear on tv?"

His brows scrunched. "The hell does that mean?"

"Before, I didn't really have much to go on, but… knowing there were more people like us, and we're the only ones who survived, it makes me wonder if all the cases so far, and the reason why the police haven't tracked down any suspects, is because there is no suspect," Noel broached, quiet unfurling throughout the room.

"C'mon, Noel, that's…" Ragna was ready to dismiss it as conjecture, but he trailed off as he mulled it over. He never considered that the murders and the Fractured Worlds were somehow connected. All the cases on the news have been nothing but abnormal, and some were described by reporters as far too gruesome for any human to commit and still remain at large. He now mirrored Noel's horrified expression, looking at Rachel who appeared cool and collected. "Then… Everyone is…"

"In danger? Quite so. Gravely, I might add." Her carefree tone raised his blood pressure up to unimaginable heights.

"Do you think this shit is funny?!" Ragna shot out of his chair, knuckles white and eyes wide with rage, intent on wiping that smug grin off her face.

"Ragna, wait!" Noel grabbed his hand, stopping him from taking another step toward Rachel. "That won't solve anything. We should listen to everything she has to say first."

Ragna heaved a breath and sat back down. Taking his anger out on her would be meaningless; it wasn't like Rachel, to his knowledge, was the cause of it all, and he didn't come here for that. He calmed before addressing the girl who appeared to be having far too much fun at their expense. "Is that the truth? All the killings around our city, are they from that world?"

"Yes. The victims were all taken to a Fractured World, and unlike the two of you, were killed by the Nightmares. A rather gruesome fate if I say so myself."

"That means you're like us? You have a Drive?" Noel wanted to confirm.

"That I do," she answered.

"Yeah, about that… I gotta know– what the hell is a Drive, exactly?" Ragna inquired.

"It is the manifestation of your soul. Its power. It feels natural to you, does it not?" Ragna and Noel exchanged a look before nodding. "As it should. It is a part of you. And it is that power I require."

"Okay, but how're we supposed to help you? What do you want?" he followed up.

"I wish to be rid of these worlds," Rachel responded. "I shall clarify that I harbor no heroic or altruistic intentions. I am doing this for my own sake. However, I possess no desire for world domination, destruction, or suffering, either. Do believe me when I say I feel no joy in watching innocent people suffer, when they are not even granted a choice in the matter. Tis a cruel joke by fate."

That might have been the first time they heard a modicum of sincerity from her since the conversation began. All the amusement or gaiety in her voice had disappeared and replaced itself with a palpable sense of melancholy. Whether she truly meant those words or not was uncertain. "Can anyone be sent to these Fractured Worlds?" Ragna hoped there was some kind of criteria that would exclude his loved ones, but Rachel's answer made his heart sink.

"Anyone. It matters little who. Be they an elderly or child."

Noel grimaced. "That's terrible!"

"So anyone…" Celica, Jin… they really are all in danger. Ragna balled his hands into fists, his nails biting his palms.

"How did all of this happen? Where do these Fractured Worlds come from?" Noel questioned.

Rachel chuckled, adopting a sardonic smile. "It is quite ironic, actually. However… I believe I will save that for when, or if, you trust me a little more."

Ragna crossed his arms. "That's awfully considerate of you. Didn't think you had a single nice bone in your body."

"This is business, nothing more. Back to the matter at hand– do you wish to lend me your strength?"

"What if we say no?"

Rachel shrugged. "There is nothing I can do about that. Such is free will."

Ragna was left stunned, and Noel just as much. "Seriously? After all this, you'd just let us walk outta here?"

"Do you think of me as some two-bit villain? If you are not inclined to aid me, you are of no use to me. You may take the information I have given you and do whatever you wish with it. I have little interest in holding either of you hostage. Simply be warned these 'cases' have become far more commonplace," Rachel informed.

"Commonplace?" Noel echoed.

"More and more people are beginning to fall prey to these worlds. I advise you to keep those whom you cherish close. You never know when they may slip through your fingers."

Rachel's final words still echoed in their ears after two hours, the hustle and bustle of the diner they sat in not even serving as adequate white noise. Noel had no appetite and stared at her burger; meanwhile, Ragna lazily dipped a fry into his ketchup and watched it drip off the end in a poor attempt to keep himself occupied. "Do you think..."

"Hm?" Ragna looked up at Noel as she began to say something. A conflicted expression clouded her face, one that he also wore.

"Do you think we should've said yes?" Noel had denied her; they both did. Rachel didn't chastise them or anything. Once they'd given their answers, she got up and left, and the next second, they were back outside the school gates. Just like she said: if they weren't going to help her, they were of no use to her.

"I don't know." Ragna didn't trust Rachel as far as he could chuck her, but something in his stomach churned when he turned her down. "All I care about is keeping the people around me safe. I've got no interest in being a hero. Do you?"

She shook her head. "No. I just think I should've considered things more." They knew the truth, and the worst part about it was nobody would believe them even if they went public with it all. They'd be considered lunatics and thrown in some asylum. If people believed them in some hypothetical scenario, could human conventions stand up to the Nightmares?

"That Rabbit was as creepy and sketchy as they came. Like hell we could really trust her." At least, that's what he told himself.

"Rabbit?" Noel contemplated his words for a second. "Do you mean Rachel?"

"Yeah. You didn't notice those ribbons of hers? Might as well be damn bunny ears." Ragna said, sticking his two index fingers up to symbolize ears.

"...Heh. Hehe!" Noel broke into a fit of giggles. "I guess they did. A little bit."

"It was impossible not to notice. I just wanted to grab her by those damn ears and chuck her out the window," Ragna laughed, performing the motion.

"Stop! Don't say that," she chided, giggling all the same.

"You can't say she didn't get on your nerves, too. Acting all haughty and shit." He grinned as Noel looked away and sipped her soda that was surely watered down by that point. They smiled at each other, feeling a sense of ease wash over them for the first time in days. "I think I get what you meant. About wanting to see me, having someone to talk to about this."

Noel clenched her cup with both hands. "When I went home, I couldn't sleep. I was up all night, huddled under my blanket, too scared to sleep. I didn't know what to do. If I went to sleep, maybe I'd go to that... Fractured World again. If I stepped outside I might end up there."

"Yeah, that Rabbit mentioned something along those lines. That you could 'sense' something wrong with the world? Is that what you were trying to say on the roof?" Ragna noticed her body language react negatively to his question, shrinking in her chair as she averted her gaze from him. "If you don't wanna talk about it, don't. Sorry for bringing it up," he quickly apologized.

She shook her head. "No! It's… not like that. I just don't really know how to explain it. It's kind of like…" Noel trailed off, spending a few seconds to find the right words. "It's like the world is… 'fragile'. Like I can fall through it any time. And these weird 'shifts' differ depending on the place."

Ragna studied her, trying to make sense of what she was saying. "You mean like when we were first transported?"

"Exactly. I can't see them, but I know they're there. It just feels like the world is on the brink of breaking apart at the seams." The ominous words left the two students in silent contemplation. Ragna folded his hands tightly, pondering whether denying Rachel was the right call to make. The world breaking apart, reality ending, how was he supposed to handle all this? And for Noel to be able to sense it must be immensely taxing on her, so it was no wonder she was so antsy. "But!" Her voice broke through his doom-filled meditations. "Knowing that there's someone else like me makes me feel… happy."

"Happy?"

"Yes. I know I'm not alone. There's someone close to me I could talk to. When I saw you come into class, all held together, it... I don't know."

"I wouldn't say I was together," Ragna chuckled in self-pity. "I was so damn terrified, but I couldn't just hide away. I've got a couple of somebody's I wanna keep safe. I need to know if they're okay. But talkin' to you, I can finally get this shit off my chest. Guess I should thank you, so, thanks, Noel."

"No, no, I should be thanking you. You helped me when we were talking to Rachel, and you, um..." Noel pushed her finger into a napkin and circled it in place, blushing slightly. Knowing what she was about to say, he offered a hand.

"No need to get too cheesy on me. How about we call it even?"

"S-sure. Oh!" Noel hurriedly took her phone from her pocket and gasped at the time. "Oh my gosh! I need to get home, I can't stay out too late."

Ragna checked the time and scrutinized her. "It's not even eight yet." He recalled their return from a Fractured World and Noel scurrying off. He had assumed it was just her being awkward, but she must have a curfew. Talk about a strange thing to fuss over.

"Money, money..." Noel rifled through her bookbag for her wallet and Ragna sighed.

"Don't worry about it. I'll cover it."

"You will? A-are you sure?" She didn't want to dine and dash on him, especially since she could pay for her meal.

"Positive. Call it a friendly gesture."

The girl beamed. "Thank you! I'll pay you back when we see each other again, but..." She paused and Ragna raised a brow at her conflicted expression. Seemingly deciding to keep it to herself, Noel thanked him again and bolted out the door.

"Those must be some strict parents," Ragna said aloud. Maybe we've got more in common than I thought. Though he hoped Noel actually got along with her folks.

Here ends this month's chapter. I decided to put more emphasis on establishing the building relationship between Ragna and Noel. Initially this chapter was meant to exclusively focus on explaining what was going on, but that piece felt shallow and info-dumpy, so I scrapped it and went with this instead. I'm pleased how it all turned out.

Thanks again to Wild Blue Sonder for reading over my work. I can't stress how fabulous a writer they are, and I recommend anyone to check them out.

Till next time!