Notes: Rivals No More will now be a single fic, rather than the original plan to make it into a trilogy. This should let me better focus on the story and characters. It also means the entire story will be Mature rated, rather than Part 1 being T rated, and Parts 2 and 3 being M rated, meaning I introduce more mature themes sooner, rather than much later. This should avoid the tone whiplash seen in the original game.

I trimmed down the Class G roster, for reasons which I'll go into after the chapter.

That being said, I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Hubert relaxed at his seat within his office. He appreciated the peace and quiet the space provided, as much as he liked the vibrant and chaotic energy of Class G. When his colleagues offered condolences on having them as his homeroom class, he'd remark that he wouldn't trade them for anyone else. He was also quick to remind them of his talents as a scout for potential students.

On the table was the Class G roster:

Zeri Avan Hardins Cosette Colhearth Lotte Netzel Nichol Martin Anisette Nelson Marion Siegbahn Erik Kampmann Reiner Tristan Coleen Celsius Noel Willoch Rene Randall Magari Raymond Moen Alexis Hilden Joachim Osen Morris Lling Mischlitt

Everyone was accounted for.

There were a few students Hubert wanted to recruit. Juliana was at the top of the list, but he recognized the improbability due to her standing within Class A and the school as a whole. At least Noel was now a part of the class, thanks to Zeri's efforts.

He gathered his materials, left his office, and made his way to the homeroom.

Zeri looked outside through the window, like he normally did before classes began. While his classmates were as lively as usual, he kept to himself unless someone approached him. When he looked over to observe his classmates, he noticed how outgoing Nichol was with the others. Compared to his withdrawn nature from before Franca's transfer to Class A, he was a different person.

"Yo, Zeri!" Avan waved over Zeri.

"Hiya," Cosette added in.

"Hey there," Zeri responded.

"Avan told me about what you pulled off the other day," Cosette said. "You did great!"

"It was nothing," Zeri replied. "I did what needed to be done."

"Nichol's in much better mood and the class looks like a happier place," Cosette pointed out. "You should hang out with him sometime, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

"With Franca gone, it'll happen. So many people to hang out with. I never expected to be this… popular? Is that the right word?"

"You could say so, Mr. Popular."

"I guess." Zeri felt unsure about the nickname Cosette gave him, but he didn't object.

"Oh yeah, I talked with Noel earlier! She seems like a good person and had a lot of good things to say about you. I didn't know you two go back."

"We go way back. Probably a story for another time, though."

"There's so much Avan and I want to learn about you, I bet you have some interesting stories."

"Yeah!" Avan jumped into the conversation. "Y'know, you should open up more, there's more personality to you than meets the eye!"

Zeri asked himself, was he that special? Avan and Cosette sure thought so. It wasn't like he wanted to bring attention to himself. He wasn't a braggart, unlike Juliana. Still, people were fascinated by him.

Meanwhile, Zeri considered himself a keen observer of different personalities. People in general fascinated him.

Take Avan, for example. He was loud and outgoing, sure, the kind Zeri shouldn't like to be around, but they became good friends. Maybe he underestimated how opposites attract. They did a lot of activities together, especially intramural sports, since they were athletically inclined. Sure, Avan didn't have the capacity for the more intellectual pursuits which Zeri liked, but he was more than willing to help him out with his studies. Zeri couldn't ask for a more reliable friend like Avan.

Then there was Cosette. Zeri wondered how he became friends with Cosette. He shouldn't be compatible with her, but he recognized her outgoing and carefree personality. She reached out to him anyway. That's how people make friends, without relying on first impressions, right? Maybe he worried too much about being awkward around others, like he was around Aliasse. Cosette easily took a liking to the young girl, though.

Unsure about how to respond to Avan, Zeri said, "I'm working on it." The statement was true.

Zeri then looked past Avan and Cosette to see a certain pink haired woman enter the classroom.

None other than Juliana.

Time slowed down. His surroundings faded to gray, but color remained only on him and Juliana. While they were no strangers to crossing paths, Zeri entered this zone whenever he sensed something important was about to happen, when his feelings toward Juliana were strong enough to pull him into this space.

He thought about the way she walked with confidence, the presence that showed who owned the yard, and the pink hair that flowed along. He thought about how she always stood tall, with her head held high above all others. Her stature gave her the ability to look down on anyone, regardless of their size.

Yet, he wanted to look into her blue eyes.

Why did he think so much about how she looked?

His heart pounded. Feelings he barely understood tempted his mind to delve further, but he refused to be lured into a haze of uncertainty and irrationality. It was in contrast to the personality he crafted, in which logic and reason stood above all else. Familiarity meant comfort.

With a deep breath, the zone faded away and he returned to reality.

By then, Juliana stood in front of the classroom, ready to make herself known.

"If I may have your attention!" she shouted.

All fell silent.

"My name is Juliana Everhart, the heiress of the Everhart family. I am the Chair of Class A and the student council president. I am a proud noble and I am destined to one day lead the masses."

Reiner stood up and shouted, "Of course we know who you are!"

She looked at the meathead. "I want to remind all of you who is in charge, in case you forget, or you don't want to admit."

Rene joined in the heckling. "Nobody else looks like you!"

Juliana then looked at the sporty girl. "Of course nobody else looks like me, and I take pride in it."

Avan interjected. "What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have better things to do?"

She crossed her arms, prepared with her responses. "Of course I do, but I want to see how you group of failures have been faring lately. When I'm the greatest, it's easy to lose sight of the people around me. I want to remedy that. Let me find a desk to lean against, so I feel like a part of this class."

Zeri looked at Juliana with contempt because she wasn't doing it out of any genuine reason. Why else would she seek this kind of attention?

Juliana approached Nichol and leaned against his desk. The poor boy whimpered, not used to being this close to a woman of her caliber. When she noticed his nervousness, she rested her arm around him.

"It's okay, Nichol, you can relax and look at me." He nodded and became calm. "Franca raised you well. It's a shame she's no longer in this class, but rest assured, she's in good hands over in Class A." She paused and looked over to his classmates, then continued. "Where she'll excel and not be held back by this sorry excuse for a homeroom classroom." She looked back to him. "I'd enjoy putting my foot on your back, like your older sister does, but you need a break."

Zeri wanted to feel bad for how she put the boy in the spotlight, in front of everyone. He definitely did not envy Nichol, not at all, he kept telling himself.

Juliana leaned closer to Nichol. "Let me take over from your sister. I can train you better and help make you into a man. You're an obedient boy who would do anything I say, right, Nichol?"

"Of course, Juliana."

She petted his head. "You're a good boy, you know that?"

He turned away, flustered.

Juliana looked back at Zeri. "Unlike a certain someone I know."

Zeri knew Juliana wanted to treat him this way so badly, but because she was unable to, she took it out on Nichol. Could this even be humiliation, though, with the way he was not objecting? He looked comfortable. Was he enjoying her treatment?

Avan stood up and shouted, "Nichol, are you going to let her step all over you like this?" He was not afraid to speak his mind.

Juliana retorted, "Hardins, it's impolite to speak over other people. I was talking to Nichol."

Nichol spoke up. "It's okay, Avan, I don't mind. I'd rather be around her than my sister. She can't be that bad, right?"

Zeri knew Juliana wanted a reaction out of him. For all the hard work Avan and Zeri put in to get Franca away from Nichol, only to have Juliana take her place? Avan saw it as elaborate taunting, but Zeri read into it further. It was a display of the power he never had. She liked being dominant, the kind who wanted people to bow before and treat her like a divine being. He knew how much she wanted to break him in, to put him in his place so badly, to make him into her pet. Why then, did she treat Nichol this way? She never struck him as the type to actually care about others, without an ulterior motive. Was she actually looking out for him? She probably wanted to act like an older sister to the younger brother she never had in her life, he gathered.

"As much as I want to give all my attention to Nichol, it would be rude if I ignored the rest of the class. Hardins, since you spoke up, I will start with you. I admire your enthusiasm, which you share with your older brother. But everything else, I don't know. How Zeri does deal with such a loudmouthed ignoramus?"

Avan didn't like being insulted, and he sure didn't like being insulted in an elaborate manner. "You take those words back!"

"Keep shouting, Hardins. Keep making an idiot out of yourself. Only an idiot would run around campus with a stick and flashlight at night like some madman."

"I couldn't sleep!" Avan paused when he recalled what she referred to. "Wait a moment, how did you know?"

Juliana sighed. "I saw you from my window the other night. I hope you found whatever you were looking for."

Avan nodded. "I did, as a matter of fact."

There was that, she guessed. Realizing she wasn't going anywhere in her conversation with Avan, she looked at other people to comment on.

"Joachim, I heard about how you forgot to bring practice rounds for your weapon. Seriously."

"Hey, I got lucky and found someone else's weapon they dropped in the grass by accident."

"No wonder why your class is such an embarrassment with the drills."

Joachim shrugged his shoulders. "No use in worrying about everything."

Juliana was dumbfounded at his lack of urgency. Did he just accept things as is? Oh well, time to go after someone else.

"Erik, you think you can punch your way out of your problems."

"Don't go there," he scowled at her.

"What, you want to challenge me? You should know better." Nobody would dare put a hand on Juliana. Except Zeri, but it was complicated.

"Nah, not interested. I already deal with your classmates provoking me."

"Nobody believes you, Erik. I keep my classmates under control, and if I found out, I'd take appropriate action."

"Well, do a better job. Don't take their word for everything. Nobody listens to me, like you said. Go on, talk down to someone else."

The so-called delinquent wasn't taking crap from her.

"Clearly, this isn't working, so I'll go back to the front of the class, me standing above all you losers."

Zeri waited for Juliana to be in his direct line of sight. She had her fun. Now was his time to intervene.

"Juliana, how you grace us with your presence once again. Your thoughts on my classmates were most insightful."

Leave it to him to press her buttons. "You dare speak to me like that, Darcsen. I know what's beneath those platitudes."

"To insult you outright would be unbecoming of a gentleman of my caliber. It's boorish behavior I avoid in front of a lady like you."

"I never expected a Darcsen to have such class until I met you."

"Let's face it, you give me the time of day because I'm the only one who's on your level."

"That's why I'm talking to you like this, yes."

"If that was the case, you should have skipped talking down on the others and go right to me, though I appreciate your effort in better knowing my classmates."

"You keep interesting company."

"I keep wonderful company, thank you very much. They may be all sorts of characters, but it's never dull with them, especially Avan. You only wish you had such company."

"You know it!" Avan shouted in approval. "Tell 'em, Zeri!"

"Yeah!" Rene shouted too.

"Right behind you!" Reiner joined in.

Zeri looked back at his classmates. He expected to be perceived a fool for standing up to the most popular person in the school. The truth was that he wasn't used to people like Avan rallying behind him. He looked at Magari, who nodded and smiled. Her reassurance always empowered him.

"I'd pry into your class, like you do with mine, but I have more productive ways in which to spend my time. And no, dumping Franca into your class to get rid of her was never my intention. It was to make sure she was in the right place."

Noel chimed in. "Yeah! I heard about Franca's reputaiton, but she can't be all that bad, right? People have all sorts of sides. You may take them at face value, but they have their reasons for how they act. Zeri, Juliana, me, we're all like that! I'll let you both get back to your conversation. You got this Zeri, and don't worry about me, Juliana, I feel at home in Class G, I'm good here!"

Zeri wondered if Noel knew more about their relationship than even he understood. She was very familiar with them. After all, she was in their same social circle, before she went off and did her own thing.

He thought back to the ball from before the school year started, when he and Juliana had their private encounter, where they showed sides to each other they barely showed to anyone else. They were used to being alone, but it was different. The encounter was so unusual, it felt like a dream.

When Noel mentioned people having all sorts of sides, Zeri also thought about Aliasse, the mysterious girl with silver hair and red eyes. The childlike innocence. He then thought about Clementia's indifference as a mother figure toward her. Aliasse most likely had a lonely side she wished to hide from everyone. What kind of past did she have? That would mean actually getting to know her well. Zeri wasn't sure how to do it.

"Glad you're doing well, Noel," Juliana said to her.

"As am I," Zeri added.

"She's the only reason I can sit at the same table as you for tea."

"Don't forget Alexis and Marion," he quipped

"Because otherwise I'd feel too awkward around you."

"It's what happens when we are on our own." The awkwardness of their meeting at the student council room came to mind.

"I never know what to think of you."

"And I don't know what to think of you either." It was true, but he refused to reveal their true familiarity. To do so would make them feel insecure.

"Makes me wonder how we'll be around each other for the rest of the school year." She had a very good idea, but she also knew the unpredictable nature of their relationship.

"I wish to not antagonize you all the time. Let me compliment you, as much as it pains me to do so. Sometimes, I get the impression that you treat your classmates like pawns, but you're better than that. At least you don't use other people as pieces to get at me."

"You sound like you wanted Nichol to be in Class A instead. Are you sure you wanted him gone instead of Franca?"

"Nonsense. I made the right choice in bringing peace and order back to Class G, whatever it means within this chaos."

"If you think I'm going to take advantage of Nichol, you're sorely mistaken."

"You wish you could take advantage of me."

"Do you want me to treat you like a dog?"

"Preferably not in front of my classmates."

"Bark for me."

"Fasten a collar around my neck and keep me on a leash. You think I look good with one on."

"The mental picture gives me great satisfaction."

"Keep dreaming."

"What I would love to see you absolutely humiliated, for you to taste your own medicine. On your knees, with no choice but to submit to me. You ask for mercy, I see it now. I walk over, order you to strip your clothes and be on all fours, so I can put my foot onto you back. How about you wager your pride on the line?"

"You could wager your pride as well. I wonder what you would be without it. You lose, I get to treat you the same. You submit to me, I put a collar and leash on you, and you cling to my legs. I wonder if you'd find true enjoyment in it, if I awaken something within you. Finally, you call me by my name, Zeri. If only there was something to wager on."

"I didn't know you were the dominant type. Good to mention you're into that stuff." Juliana was taunting him, wanting him to get flustered. The only reason she didn't call him a pervert, she was genuinely curious about him.

"Just because I'm passive doesn't mean I'm submissive. What I said is all hypothetical. I'm simply taking your words and turning them against you, nothing more."

Juliana felt disappointed. While it was easy for her to talk in great detail about what she'd do to him, she wanted to hear him talk about the things he'd do to her. Maybe she wanted him to get out of character, maybe he was into the same things she liked. Zeri was clearly holding back.

What was she thinking? Those thoughts were meant to be explored in private. Really, she shouldn't have those thoughts to begin with. It was unbecoming of her aristocratic status, she told herself.

"Sure, I believe you."

She needed to change the topic before she started squirming and rubbing her legs together.

Focus, Juliana.

"Anyway, the true reason I'm here is to talk about the Laevatein Cup. You all know what it is, right? Raymond, I'll call on you."

He stood up. "The Laevatein Cup is an annual mock battle tournament held every year at Lanseal. A time honored tradition that has existed since the foundation of the academy. To win the Laevatein Cup brings high honor and prestige."

"And who won the cup last year?"

"Class A, ma'am."

"Who has never won the Laevatein Cup?"

"Class G, ma'am."

"You're a good student, Raymond."

Zeri was amazed at Juliana's ability to assert control over her classmates like it was nothing, between taking Nichol under her wing and acting like a teacher toward Raymond. No wonder why she was on such high standing at the school.

"See, Darcsen, you're dealing with a class of losers. Class G has a legendary reputation for performing horribly in the tournament. Now, why am I bringing this up? I know how much you want to get to me, how much you want to prove on the public stage that you can keep up with me, or dare I say, that you're better than me. To do well in the Laevatein Cup is your only path to me. Problem is, there's no chance in hell. Class G will get eliminated within minutes. You'll sit there in shame as you watch every other class perform better than yours."

"I take issue with your visions of grandeur," Zeri said.

"I wish you were here last school year to see Class G, when they almost overcame the curse. Yes, it was thanks to Leon. He was brilliant. Though their team was eliminated in the semifinals, they competed admirably. But I must ask you this, Darcsen, can you carry Class G all the way, can you make them look competent? Will you bring out the best in Avan? If you want to get to me, you have to make sure he and everyone don't drag you down. You want to get your hands on me, trust me, you really do. You want to put me in my place. Keep dreaming, though."

Juliana dared to provoke Zeri's primal side. Beyond his cool exterior, there rested his savage, inner beast, who existed in opposition to his principles in life. It contained the emotions, the feelings he refused to make a part of his persona, but still sought release. The voice in his head tempting him to go astray. It wanted to retaliate, it wanted to lash out, it wanted him to truly humiliate her.

Did he want to go about humiliating her in front of everyone? No, that was not Zeri. The inner beast wanted to lock Juliana in the same room as him, with nowhere to escape. He'd tear off her clothes. He wanted her to beg for mercy, to plead for forgiveness, for the way she treated him all the time. She'd have no choice but to submit to him.

Did she know who she was getting involved with?

He wanted to claim her. He wanted her all to himself. He desired her more than anyone else in the world.

The thoughts could have gone much further, but he stopped himself before he could feel great arousal. Not here, not in public.

Zeri shook his head. He was a man of reason. That she was a woman shouldn't sway his thoughts. She was his rival above all else. This was about proving himself, nothing more, right?

"Yes, Class G lives up to its reputation, not only in the Laevatein Cup, but also in the regular drills. We'll do poorly, but that's to be expected with most of us in the inexperienced lot. Class G may lose often to Class A, but you learn from the best. We aren't as idiotic as you think."

"Let's go Zeri, let's go!" Avan chanted, with a few others joining in. Zeri's words resonated with his classmates.

Once the chanting calmed down, he continued. "I have Class G behind my back. Juliana, I hope you have people you can rely on, people who will have your back. The last thing I want to see is for you to fall short. You have the Everhart name to live up to. We're both competitive people. It's in our nature."

Zeri closed his eyes, to still his mind. When he opened his eyes, his calm and collected demeanor gave way to his special kind of intensity, in which dry wit no longer mattered, just that he meant the words he said.

"I'm a student of the game. I've come this far in life for a reason. I know more about you than anyone else on campus. I've studied you thoroughly and will continue to do so. You claim that you're the best, but to prove yourself, enough to say my name in front of everyone, is another story."

He was done listening to anything she could say to him. Time to close the distance, to leave no doubt. He stood up and slowly walked toward her. It was enough to keep her quiet, unable to predict him. He stopped mere inches away. Their blue eyes met each other, as he stared into her soul.

"You will acknowledge me, Juliana, one way or the other."

To the rest of the class, Juliana looked unaffected, but Zeri knew she was barely holding herself together, that she stood on the verge of vulnerability. When he stepped closer toward her, she bit her lip, overwhelmed by his presence. She began to move a leg, wanting to escape, but jerked it back. Truly, she was at the mercy of what Zeri had to say.

He leaned into her ear and whispered. "Sometimes I wonder when you'll push me too far. I want to hate you, like you told me the other time you got into my face. I have every reason to, but there's a better word to use. I resent you. For who you are, for what you represent, for how you're handed the things in life I desire so much. I wish I got into this school sooner. I resent how you got in so easily."

Juliana gulped and nodded because she had no other choice. She trembled before the beast within Zeri.

"Be glad I'm a man of reason. I wanted to bring up your inability to sing since you're so embarrassed about it. Some of our mutual friends already know. Compared to what you use against me, it's all I had. You tell me about humiliation? You know how much I've dealt with in my life because of who I am. Look into my eyes and heed my words. I know where to find you, when I need you. Juliana, you need me more than you realize."

Her body unfrozen, she took several steps back, looked away from Zeri, and darted out of the room, to save face before she broke down. As she disappeared down the hallway, he wondered if he went too far.

The inner beast didn't care.

He looked back to the rest of the class, where he was brought back to reality and to his more normal self.

"Take it up for my man, Zeri!" Avan stood up with his fist in the air and encouraged everyone to give him a standing ovation.

Anisette applauded. "Zeri, that was quite the performance! I didn't know you had it within ya! You and Juliana should star in a play or something like that!"

Zeri never fancied himself an actor, but even he wasn't lost on how their public lives were like a stage performance. They were self-aware, but then there was their complicated relationship behind the scenes. How could he even describe it? The relationship wasn't a romantic one. Was is it one with restrained intimacy, that belied their rivalry? He had a character to play, and so did she.

Hubert looked on, glad to see Zeri accepted by all of Class G. While he was initially concerned about how he'd be treated at the school due to his Darcsen heritage, he was glad to be proved wrong. He only wished that Zeri was brought into Lanseal sooner, but it was outside of his control.

Still, though, he couldn't help but wonder.

Did Zeri and Juliana realize how much of their personal lives they revealed to everyone? It was like they wanted to have a normal conversation, but were unable to. How many of his students caught on? Noel was probably the only one. It went over the heads of everyone else. He understood how two strong personalities clashed, but he also saw two people dealing with their insecurities.

Were they afraid of hurting one another by getting too close?

He wished he could do something about it.

What would it take for Zeri and Juliana to become honest with each other?

That he could not answer.

End notes: The story is officially in full gear. It's been a long time coming, but with the Laevatein Cup introduced into the conversation and their beef out in full form at Lanseal, we are finally here.

Early in the planning of Rivals No More, I drafted my own Class G roster so I could focus on the characters I wanted to write. At the same time, I wanted the roster to be balanced across all combat classes. Some characters were very easy cuts, like Inghild and Vicky, while some were more difficult. On the whole, I'm happy with the Class G draft. There's the possibility Hubert may recruit some other students into Class G later on. I'm making Hubert look a bit like Byleth in that regard, yeah?

With the change to a Mature rating, I went all out with Zeri and Juliana's sexual tension. Canon I hardly knew ye.

Not gonna lie, this fic is difficult to write because I don't really have a lot of people I can brainstorm with or bounce ideas off of. That and the large scale of rewriting the entire story. I make do, though. I put my heart and soul into it.

We are in go mode.