Whew, I'm glad I somehow managed to get this done in only three weeks. So just a heads up, when it gets to a certain scene (and you'll know which one):

Rean is Bold, Emma is italics, both will use both.

I also have this story posted on Archive of Our Own and this chapter has a different format for that specific scene. I personally prefer the one over there, but I tried to make due with this one. Don't worry, you won't lose any content for choosing to read it here.


October 21, S.1204 - Trista

Her eyes fluttered open.

The bright light of the sun seeped through the closed curtains of the glass pane. Its warmth wrapped her in a comfortable embrace that she was reluctant to remove herself from. Golden rays illuminated her surroundings, finally releasing her from her slumber.

Juna yawned, stretched, and took out a book to read.

It had been several hours since she left Crossbell. Travelling to and from Erebonia had always been rather tedious, especially during her trips to Ymir. Due to everything in Crossbell being pretty accessible through bus and boat, trains were reserved for exclusively out-of-state travel. But due to the sheer size of Erebonia, the railway was an absolute requirement if one wanted to go anywhere. She wasn't against it though. In fact, trains were pretty comfortable. The seats were soft to sleep on, the view outside was second to none, and the refreshments were always welcome.

The trips were also relaxing enough to finally catch up on her backlog of books, especially since she was making the journey alone. Her current perusal was one that gained recent popularity in the Empire. Red Moon Rose, an intriguing tale of a mysterious killing spree in the Vermillion Capital of Heimdallr that claimed the lives of many young women seemingly by the hands of a vampire. The whole collection was supposedly difficult to get a hold of, but thankfully her neighbor and head librarian Miles was able to procure the entire series. Juna knew she had to delve into something new before her trip.

The portion she read at the beginning of the trip engrossed her. Hook, line, and sinker. Myths and legends of the supernatural had a way to intrigue Juna. Spirits, witches, fairy creatures; you name it. They all fascinated her. Even during her Sunday School days, she was more than eager to read about the stories involving Aidios than learn about the importance of the religion.

"Next stop: Trista. Trista."

However, it seemed that her timing was far from impeccable.

She closed her book, barely even finishing a sentence, and put it back into her bag.

So why was she heading to Trista? Ever since the events of the trade conference, things went down hard in Crossbell. Investigations were led by the SSS and the bracer guild to eliminate large monsters that were recently appearing throughout the state. Red Constellation had also been showing up in various regions and eventually led an assault in the city.

With everything considered, she should've stayed behind to help with the aftermath.

But here she was, riding a train to the Empire (where, she must remind you, that last she came, she had to fight against literal terrorists), all to accept an invitation to a school festival. Considering it's mainly student run, it was probably gonna be crap anyway.

Maybe she just needed to remove herself for a bit. For a mental health break, or something. Kate said it was okay. Lloyd and the others said it was okay. Her parents said it was okay. Perhaps Dudley said it was okay? Probably through gritted teeth, but maybe even he knew she wasn't any help to anyone in her current state. Either that or Lloyd was trying to spare her feelings.

Ever since the deployment of the railway cannons at Garrelia, Juna had been off her game. Her grades were gradually falling, she was losing her focus at work, and she often froze whenever she walked near Bellguard Gate. Maybe her friends were right. Everything that accumulated the past two months have finally gotten to her, so she had to relieve that stress somehow.

She clasped her heart-shaped necklace tightly.

Crappy festival or not, at least she could have fun with Rean and his friends.

The iron wheels of the train screeched against the steel of the rails, bringing the locomotive to a gradual stop. Juna gathered her things and promptly made her way to the exit of the car.

The station was small, but cozy. Nothing compared to Crossbell's train station, yet it exuded a feeling of comfort that she would feel from the cable car station in Ymir. The small lounge carried a few magazines, most of which were outdated by a few months, possibly reused in the interest of the station's budget. Despite that, there was still plenty of up-to-date reading material to be had.

But the outside, damn the outside looked nice.

When Rean described it as "old-fashioned", he wasn't kidding. The stone roads felt way more at home here considering the small size of the town. Several shops and other buildings were centralized around a park that reminded her of the Harbor District back home. A general store, a cafe and inn, a boutique, a bookstore, and even a flower shop. If she listened carefully, she could hear the roars of water from the river up ahead.

A little further to the left was the supposed Radio Trista Station that hosted Rean's current favorite radio show at the moment. Amend Time…? No, Abend Time! That was it. Apparently it was some evening talk show? No matter how many times he tried describing it, it never clicked with her.

But sightseeing would have to wait! Right now, she needed to find a certain someone. A quick survey of the town later, she spotted the very person she was looking for.

"Hey Towa!" She waved at the smaller girl at the park. The class president took notice and ran up to the Crossbellan.

"Juna! Long time, no see! Glad you could make it!" Again with the bright smile. Honestly, if Towa lived in Crossbell with her, she wouldn't even need to be here on vacation.

"Same to you!" Juna looked around. "Wasn't Rean supposed to be with you?"

"Ah, about that…" Towa awkwardly laughed and scratched her cheek. "Instructor Beatrix had him go on an errand to help hand out the permission slips for the stands. He ended up running all over town to deliver them."

Juna sighed. "Sounds like him, all right."

The two shared a laugh.

"So is that the place I'm gonna be staying?" Juna motioned towards the inn. The homey and pleasant appearance of the cafe in front was nice enough to look at. She had heard that the meals they served there were great too, so it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Towa shook her head. "I got good news and bad news. Unfortunately, the inn is packed for the festival, even with most of the attendees coming from Heimdallr. For them, it's a short train ride, but some of them decided to book rooms regardless."

"Okay… but then where am I staying?" Juna asked with a furrowed brow. "Even for a short train ride, I'm pretty sure most of the places in Heimdallr are way out of my price range."

"That's where the good news comes in!" Towa gleefully clapped her hands together. "You can stay in my room for a while. My roommate recently moved out, so there's space available."

"Oh? Did she drop out? Seems like a weird time if she was a second year like you."

"Things got… complicated last month. She was actually a resident of the upper class dorms, but she basically barged into my room. I didn't really mind, so I just let her stay."

That must have been Angelica she was referring to.

"I… won't ask for the details." Didn't want to be rude, after all. "But I appreciate the offer, Towa! I'll take you up on it."

"Great! Let's get you settled in first. We're still preparing today and tomorrow, but you can check out Trista in the meantime."

Juna followed Towa's lead past the bridge and church building to the entrance of the academy entrance. From the little she could glimpse, the campus was much more expansive than the Police Academy she was more used to. The buildings looked a bit more traditional though, exemplifying its age dating back several centuries ago. Or was it that long? At least two.

Realizing that she was getting off track, she followed Towa down the ramp to their left, following the course of the river.

"Welcome to the Lower Class Dorms!" Towa gestured to the large building behind her. It was a couple of stories high. Its architecture was nothing notable even though it still looked nice to her. Despite the fact that Towa had to share it with many other students, it felt pretty… cozy (for a lack of a better word) to Juna. But still…

Calling it the "Lower Class" dorm felt so insulting. On her way past the academy entrance, she caught a glimpse of the "Upper Class" dorm. It certainly looked a lot more luxurious, with all the maids and butlers walking around and all, but they still had the same basic design. Plus the idea of calling anything "lower class" rubbed her the wrong way even if the term was technically correct. She was glad that Rean ended up in that special class or else he'd probably be stuck in that snooty dorm filled with people she could describe with a few choice words.

A quick visit to Towa's room later, Juna grimaced.

"Juna, you okay?"

"Well, it's not for another two days before the festival, right? Since the town's pretty small, there isn't much for me to do until it starts, is there?"

Towa pondered her predicament. "Well, some of the school facilities are off limits since they're getting ready for the events. You could probably do some shopping. The boutique here has quite the selection. Otherwise, the most we could do is take a tour around campus."

"Aren't you busy with preparations though, Towa? It can't be easy giving me a tour when you're the student council president."

"Oh don't worry!" Towa waved off her concerns. "I already made most of the approvals earlier, so the rest of the council can handle everything else. I can't guarantee a full tour, but I can give you a basic rundown of our campus. I'll show you around until we meet up with Rean."

"Well, if you insist." Juna hopped off the bed. "I'm ready to go!"


Thors was… really big.

From the three-story main building to the auditorium to the huge library, she'd struggle to find her way around the place just by herself. Of course, she could probably learn had she been a student. She knew Crossbell like the back of her hand, after all! But this being her first day here, Towa was a great help.

They saw it all. The field where they were setting up a race track, the cute little garden next to the gym and the humongous pool the gym housed, and they even checked out the engineering building. She got to meet Towa's friend George, who was more than fascinated by her Enigma II.

Upon leaving, Juna noticed a path that jutted out from the rest of campus, leading to a sea of trees behind the gates.

"Hey, Towa? What's back there?"

The student council president looked in the direction Juna pointed at. "Oh, that's the way to the old schoolhouse. I'm guessing Rean already told you about it. Most of the student body hardly goes down that way and if they did, the building is closed off."

?

Oh, right. The old schoolhouse that Class VII would explore once a month during their free days. From the way Rean explained it, it was some sort of mysterious building that shifted its layout every time they cleared a floor. Weird.

And even as weird as the Sun Fort, Moon Temple, and Stargazer's Tower were back home, none of them just changed its physical form like that. Or, at least she didn't think so. Maybe it was made back in the Dark Ages? Otherwise, she couldn't possibly begin to fathom how it worked.

"Yo, Towa." An approaching voice said. "How goes it?"

"Hey, Crow!" she greeted back. Things started jovial enough, but her face suddenly scrunched up into an accusatory squint. "Didn't you say you had important business to attend to? What are you still doing here? You're not slacking off again, are you?"

The boy, Crow apparently, scratched the back of his head. "Man, I go for a short break and you go for the throat. I'll have you know that I'm working very hard. Why do I get chewed out the moment I take a little time to myself?"

Towa crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. But she ended up relenting and sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But just this once!"

"I accept this high honor, Madam Prez." Crow's eyes then turned to Juna. "And who's this? I haven't seen you around these parts."

Crow moved closer, inspecting her as if he was a scientist and she was a groundbreaking discovery. Juna backed away slowly with a nervous laugh.

"H-Hi! I'm Juna. N-Nice to meet you?"

"Don't bother her, Crow!" Towa lightly kicked the much taller boy in the shin. He recoiled back, nearly falling over on his rear. Juna didn't want to seem rude, but she almost let out a titter. "She's our guest and Rean's friend. So you better treat her with respect."

"'Rean's friend'? Oh! You're the one from Crossbell he's crushing on, yeah? Not gonna lie, didn't picture you to look like that, but somehow, I can see why you're his type."

"W-What?" Juna's face turned red at the comment. What has Rean been telling everyone to give that sort of impression about their relationship? For a person he barely talks about to his friends, they sure have all sorts of assumptions about her. Maybe she and Rean needed to have a little… "talk".

"Crow…" Towa cracked her knuckles with the darkest and deadliest stare she could muster. A dark aura surrounded her person, ready to unleash a hidden beast from within. The shadows of her bangs blanketed the upper portion of her face except for her blank and empty eyes. Juna couldn't even imagine that a girl of her stature could conjure such a scary expression, but it was enough to get both her and Crow's skin crawl.

"Ahaha… Just forget about that last comment. So where are you two ladies going next? It's starting to get a little late."

"We were planning on finding Rean and finishing the day one preparations." Towa explained, her expression reverting back to her sweet smile. The fact that she was able to do that so seamlessly more than startled Juna. "Juna will be rooming with me during the festival, in case you were wondering."

Juna nodded, still struggling to find words to say after that comment. This boy must've been Crow Armbrust, the second year that ended up joining Class VII back in August. Rean told her that he was a bit of a trickster, but stepped up to the plate when the situation called for it. He was also one of Towa's friends who tested the ARCUS during its development. Perhaps he could've gotten along well with Randy if the two ever met.

"Ah gotcha. If you're looking for Rean, I think I saw him go towards the old schoolhouse. Something about helping Old Man Heinrich. After he gets that sorted out, He's gonna head to Heimdallr to grab the outfits."

"Thanks, Cro- wait a minute…" Towa glared at Crow again. "Wasn't that your job?"

"Oops! Well if you look at the time! I don't want to keep you lovely ladies, so I'll just be on my way! Hope you enjoy the festival! See ya later!"

Without another word, Crow dashed off, quickly exiting their line of sight.

"Ugh, honestly. He never changes." Towa scowled.

"He was always like this?"

"For as long as I've known him. Always causing trouble. It was even worse when Angie was here to goad him." Towa sighed. "Still, at least he's got a good heart."

Juna giggled. "I'll take your word for it."

The two began their trek towards the old schoolhouse, hoping to meet up with Rean on the other side.

Crow peeked out from the corner of the building he was hiding behind. He watched the two girls make their way towards the woods. They were reveling in laughter, but whatever they were talking about, he couldn't hear a word.

He let out a melancholic sigh.

"So that's her, huh? Sorry, Rean. If there was another way, I would've taken it. Hope you can cut me some slack."

He chuckled.

"She seems nice though. Take care of her, will ya?"


Upon approaching the dilapidated building, the two were passed by a group of students grumbling about something. Juna couldn't completely make it out so she shrugged it off and continued forward.

Just as Crow said, Rean was standing by his lonesome in front of the old schoolhouse. His attention, however, was diverted elsewhere.

A wicked thought surged into her mind and her lips arc into a playful smirk.

She motioned to Towa to keep her voice down and keep themselves out of his line of sight. They carefully tiptoed their way forward, making sure to avoid any grass or other foliage that might have made too much noise.

The two glided atop the pavement until they finally approached their target, like a lion to its prey. One day, she's gonna have to thank Badeaux for his notorious sneaking skills. Oh, who was she kidding? She thanked him just for being cute. Never has she ever met a fluffier hunting dog.

She bared her fangs and readied her claws. In a single leap, Juna enveloped her entire form over Rean's from behind. She towered over him, hollering in his ear with a startling cry.

"Boo!"

"Oh hey, Juna."

Completely unfazed. Typical.

"You really had to pull off your sixth sense crap on me?"

"I've been doing this for longer than I've known you. I've gotten used to it."

"Ugh, can't you humor me for once?"

"Oh, I'm sorry." He cleared his throat. "Ahhhh, you got me. I'm sooooo scared."

Completely monotone too…

Juna threw her hands in exasperation. "Man, I come all this way and this is the welcome I get. You're lucky I made time to come here, buster."

Rean let out a light chuckle. "I'm kidding, Juna. It's good to see you again, really." He turned over to Towa, who was giggling at the exchange. "Thanks for taking care of her, Towa. I hope she doesn't cause you too much trouble."

"Hey-"

"Not at all, Rean. I had a great time with her in Crossbell and I wanted to return the favor. I don't mind letting her stay."

"Dear goddess," Juna groaned. "Can you two stop acting like my parents for a second? It's embarrassing."

The three shared a hearty laugh.

"So what have you been looking at, Rean?" Juna asked. "You were pretty distracted before we got here."

"Oh, that…" He held out a small notebook with a black leather cover. It was full of neat and color-coded tabs and paper clips holding specific notes. It didn't look like a student notebook, so it most likely belonged to a faculty member.

"Vice Principal Heinrich lost this and basically had me searching the entire academy for it. Those guys you passed by? They wanted to find a quiet place to look at it apparently."

"Why's that?" Towa tilted her head in confusion. "Vice Principal Heinrich is really strict when it comes to the rules. I don't think he'd have anything promiscuous or scandalous in his notebook."

Without hesitation, Juna snatched the notebook from Rean's hand and flipped through the pages.

"H-Hey, Juna!"

"What? It's not like I go here." Juna stated. "Don't tell me you aren't curious either. There has to be something in here that got those boys to go all gaga… Aha!"

Before the other two could present a form of protest, Juna found the exact culprit behind the previous students' secretive meeting: a small photo of a dancer in a rather… risque outfit.

"Ooh, well if you look at that!" Juna devilishly smirked. "Looks like your stick-up-the-ass VP is quite the Rixia Mao fan."

"...No way."

Rean leaned over Juna's shoulder in curiosity, his previous apprehension all but disappeared. She was right. In Juna's hand was a photograph of the Arc en Ciel's latest up-and-comer: the Princess of the Moon, Rixia Mao.

Juna had mentioned her a few times in her letters, but she was always described as much more meek and humble. However… this outfit… it screamed anything but those traits. Either Juna was lying to him or Rixia's acting skills went beyond superb.

"Rean, you've been staring for a while. Something caught your eye~?"

"...Huh?"

He turned to face Juna, who was wearing the widest of grins.

"Y'know? I had a feeling she'd be your type. Always pegged you for a boob guy."

"W-What?!" Rean's face flared while Juna cackled like a gremlin. "What gave you that idea?!"

"C-Come on, you two!" Towa implored, her cheeks mirroring Rean's. "There are more important things to worry about!"

Her plea fell on deaf ears through as the two friends continued to bicker.

"The way you handle a meat bun? Total boob guy behavior."

"What correlation does that have?!"

"I've learned from the best. I can read the signs."

...Huh, maybe she did learn something from Randy.

Rean sighed. "You're incorrigible…"

...And they kept going for another ten minutes.

Still going…

"Okay, that's enough!"

The sudden scream made the two physically spring out of their engrossing back and forth to slowly face Towa. A few startled birds resting in the trees flew away from its branches. Rean and Juna immediately agreed to shut up or else they'd be suffering hard consequences.

"So Rean, we heard that you're heading to Heimdallr to pick up the outfits?" Towa cleared her throat, doing her damnedest to change the subject. "If you'd rather not, I could get Crow to get them like he was supposed to."

...Something about the glint in her eye made him think Crow wouldn't be able to survive that encounter. Best not to add fuel to the fire.

Rean shrugged. "N-nah, it's fine. The festival is supposed to be for us first years anyway, so it would be better if I was the one to do it. Besides, I think Angelica would rather I ride her bike than him."

Towa awkwardly laughed. "Yeah, you might be right."

"I only really need someone to load everything onto the sidecar. I'll probably ask one of my classmates to come with me."

"That sounds good." She nodded in agreement. "I'd offer to come, but in case something happens during preparations, it might be best for me to stay on campus. Besides, I could return the notebook back for you. I'll be sure to say you found it so you get the credit."

Rean sighed. "Thanks, Towa. He was really apprehensive about anyone looking at it, so he'd probably trust you the most." He handed her the notebook after taking it back from Juna's vice grip. A minor protest from her, but she didn't want to disturb the sleeping beast within the girl known as Towa Herschel.

"I still don't know who to ask to come with me though. Crow, Elliot, and I were all on the design team, but maybe if one of the girls saw the outfits firsthand, they won't want to kill us."

"Th-then how about I come?"

The two turned to Juna, who raised her hand in offering. Her arm was still shaking, but she maintained at least some composure.

"I don't have much else to do, so why not? Plus, I'm curious what kind of bike you two have been talking about."

Her eyes were also screaming to be as far from Towa as possible.

After a bit of pondering, Rean agreed. "It works for me. I'd assume everyone else is still working on their clubs' events so I wouldn't feel right if I bothered them. 'Sides, I think Juna would get a kick out of seeing the bike."

And it would be best to let Towa calm herself down before Juna's impending dread kicked in when she would be reminded that they're rooming together.

Towa clasped her hands together, glad that all the pieces fell into place perfectly. "That settles that, then! You two be careful on the way there, okay?"

"Sure thing!" Juna gave her the best peace sign. "I can't wait to see the outfits!"


Trista Highway

"Whooooooa!"

In all her time since getting her driver's license, Juna had never seen anything quite like it. The sleek feel of the frame, the purr of the engine, the compact design of the sidecar! They somehow stuffed all the workings of an orbal car and put it onto a bike! And she got to ride it!

Something about it kinda reminded her of horse riding back in Ymir. She wasn't able to get a good grasp on it back then, but she'd often ride alongside Rean during some excursions into the valley.

Bikes were rather popular in Calvard if Noel's bike magazines were anything to go by, but they were all just conventional, manual bikes. But somehow, through George's engineering genius and Angelica's strict specifications, they were somehow able to bring an orbal bike into existence. It wasn't even the final model yet, so it wasn't available on the market. And Rean got to test run it!

"Rean, you seriously need to let me give it a try!"

He gave her a quick look from the bike before diverting his attention back to the road.

"Sorry, can't do that. It took me a while to get used to it. We don't have much time before the festival either, so I can't risk letting you take the reins."

"Augh, fine." Juna relented. "I get that you're busy, but it's still a shame I couldn't at least give it a whirl."

"If you're really hung up on it, why not give it a try tomorrow?"

Juna looked at him quizzically. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Festival prep is still going on until it starts on Saturday. I'll be busy, but the Engineering Club isn't doing anything this year. You can ask George for some pointers."

"Well, I was thinking of how to kill time until the main event popped off. Sounds good to me!"

They continued to converse until finally reaching Le Sage Boutique in Heimdallr.

"Sorry to make you kids come all this way to pick these up." Howard, the owner of the boutique, apologized in a jubilant tone. "I think you'll be pretty happy with the way they turned out, though."

"Fantastic! I can't wait to see them." Rean beamed with excitement. Seeing as how he was part of the design team, how could he not? "We really appreciate you making these for us so quickly."

"It must've been one heck of an order, huh?" Juna added. He had to have made, what, eleven outfits in about a month? The man must've been a miracle worker.

"Haha, this was no sweat compared to what Crow put me through last year. He had me working like a madman."

Rean arched a brow, wondering what could've been more taxing. Last he remembered, only Towa, George, Angelica, and Crow were performing at their festival, right? He can only imagine how much Crow demanded of the poor boutique owner.

"Last year's concert was great, though, so you can bet that I'll be there to see if you kids can top that." He turned to Juna. "Hmm, hold on. You're not one of the performers, are you? You weren't in any of the pictures Crow sent me."

Juna shook her head. "No, I'm just visiting for the festival. This guy here promised me the time of my life, so I'm making sure he delivers on that."

"Oh great, that's just what I needed: more expectations…" Rean groaned.

"C'mon, lighten up! Even if you screw up, I'll still have a good time!"

"That is not making me feel better."

Howard guffawed at the display. "Well then, Miss. How about I interest you in something? We still have the prototype we used as the model for the final products, but it looks just as dazzling, I assure you. As a show of good faith, why not do me the honor of keeping it for yourself?"

"R-Really? Are you sure?"

Who was she to say no to a free outfit? Sure, Rean wasn't the most fashionable person around when it comes to his personal tastes, but he at least knew what does and doesn't look good on a person. Her necklace was a testament to that. She can only imagine what Crow and Elliot's fashion partialities were like, but at least Rean could keep a tight leash to make it something tasteful. Plus, if it was being made by a professional, how can it look bad?

Howard nodded. "I insist. All I ask of you is to enjoy the festival."

Rean put his fingers together in the shape of a frame, encompassing her image within it. He looked like an artist, ready to capture his vision onto canvas. "Y'know, I think it would look great on you! It might be a little flashy for everyday wear, but it might be good for a special occasion, right?"

He really knew how to flatter a girl, didn't he?

"In that case, I'd love to try it on! But, ugh, we probably don't have enough time, huh? Will it even be able to fit me? You don't even know my measurements."

Juna had something of a growth spurt recently. She had to make a huge change to most of her wardrobe and ended up having to donate her old clothes to the "When Nana Grows Up" Foundation. She had read—out of curiosity, mind you—that she was around the age when girls reach their adult height. Not very encouraging considering that she was still half a head shorter than Rean, but that was a whole other issue.

And—while a little off topic—there was no way she was trusting Rean with her measurements!

"Oh, not to worry. We can take them now and alter the dress as needed. We should have it ready before the festival concludes."

Rean and Juna exchanged a glance. The two shrugged with a subtle smile on their faces.

"Go for it, Mr. Howard." Rean nodded. "I'll wait outside in the meantime."

With sparkles in her eyes, Juna excitedly bolted into the back rooms, nearly knocking over one of the other employees. After sending Howard a wave, Rean walked out of the store with a case in tow. Without much else to do, his thoughts began to wander.

After the recent events in Crossbell, Rean felt guilty for taking up Juna's time. He had asked her to come to the festival a few months ago—right after the deployment of the railway cannons—in the hopes of cheering her up. It sounded rather dumb in hindsight. They hadn't even decided on what their class would be doing for the festival.

Then she had to deal with terrorists attacking Orchis Tower.

Then she almost had to see his failure.

He could never forget that haunting sight. He and his group just finished off a pair of powerful archaisms, still a ways off from the control area. The sound of the cannons still rang in his ears, a loud, cacophonous boom as he yelled at the top of his lungs, lamenting his screwup.

By some miracle, it was only a blank.

Rean couldn't apologize to her enough. For almost letting her down. For almost getting her and her family killed.

But now Crossbell was in a state of turmoil. The entire city was devastated by an attack from jaegers. Luckily, they were routed by the SSS, CPD, and CGF without many casualties, but Rean felt like he shouldn't have pulled Juna away from that. She deserves just as much as any Crossbellan to help out. More so than he could say about himself.

Was he just distracting her from her greater goal? She appeared to be in a good mood, so maybe he's just worried over nothing. He just… really wanted to cheer her up.

Because there was no one else as concerned for Crossbell's future as much as Juna Crawford.

Chirp

Rean looked overhead, curious about the sudden noise. It shouldn't have been that notable, seeing as how he was in the capital city. Pedestrians and animals were a staple to the populated mess that was Heimdallr. However, this chirping captivated his attention. It was distinct. Alluring. Exotic.

Chirp

The source was a bird sitting on a lamppost not too far from him. The bird, however, was far from the usual variety he'd see in the city. Its plumage was a deep blue with a matching gradient across its wings. The long tail feathers were also composed of the same azure color and accompanied by yellow feathers of the same length.

Upon noticing Rean's gaze, the bird immediately took off, flying around the corner towards the west.

He had been so concentrated on the creature that he didn't hear the door behind him open up.

"Rean?" Juna eyed him curiously. "You okay? You seem spaced out."

"Oh! Sorry about that." He chuckled. "I just got distracted by a strange bird on that lamppost, that's all."

Juna raised an eyebrow. "I didn't take you for a birdwatcher. What was so weird about it?"

"I dunno exactly. Normally I wouldn't have paid attention, but I've never seen a bird with feathers that color before… It was a really deep blue, almost like lapis lazuli."

"Huh, doesn't sound like any bird I know." Juna put her forefinger and thumb onto her chin, adopting her thinking position. "Normally you'd only see pigeons in the city. A blue bird sounds like it'd stand out too much, especially in Heimdallr."

"Yeah, maybe that's why it stuck out to me." Rean decided to change the subject. "Anyway, how did the fitting go?"

"It went by in a flash!" Juna beamed. "Mr. Howard sure knows his stuff! He said that the costume shouldn't need to be adjusted that much, so he should be finished in two days. Then he can give it to me after the big event."

Sounded like a plan to him. How convenient that Juna wouldn't be receiving the outfit until after the concert was said and done. He wanted her to be just as surprised as everyone else in the audience to see their unveiling.

"Oooh, what do we have here?"

A woman wearing a form-fitting pin-striped shirt and a small denim jacket approached them. From her stylish cap and glasses, Rean recognized her immediately.

"Vit- I mean, Misty!" He greeted the woman.

"Hmm?" Juna tilted her head in confusion, somewhat recalling the name.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, Rean? Thanks for not using my real name. If people here in the capital were to overhear you, I'd be drowning in fans in no time flat."

"Haha… Sure. Mum's the word." He elected to ignore the playful glance coming from Juna's direction. "Fancy meeting you here, though. I assume you're here to shop?"

"You guessed it! This store does have a branch in Trista, but this one has a much better selection. What about you? Why are you lugging two suitcases around?"

A lightbulb turned on over Misty's head and a mischievous smirk graced her lips. "Heh. You two getting a jump-start on a romantic weekend getaway?"

The two of them took a bit to register her comment, slowly turning red all the while.

"N-No! It's not like that!" Juna denied, unable to maintain eye contact with either Rean nor the woman known as Misty. "Friends! Just. Friends."

"Sorry, let me explain…" Rean told her about the school festival and the upcoming concert. Though he may have unintentionally came off annoyed. Whether it was because of Misty's assumption or Juna's defensive reaction, he couldn't tell.

"Wow! A concert, huh? That sounds like a blast! I'd love to drop by the festival and see it myself. Hmm… I might be able to go if I can free up a bit of space in my schedule…"

Rean chuckled. "It'd be great to have you. Although, I can't imagine a professional like you would be terribly impressed."

"Oh, don't be silly. Great music comes from the heart." Taking a moment to appreciate her words of encouragement, Rean noticed her bright smile. Guess she spoke from experience? "...Whoops. Lost track of the time. I better get going! Bye for now! Be sure to tune in tomorrow!"

"Of course! I always do."

And there she went, walking through the doors of Le Sage and letting them close behind her.

"Well, you two were awfully chummy, huh?" Juna less asked but stated with a sly grin. "I guess I was right on the money. And she's older than you? Really going for the double whammy there."

"What the hell are you talking about…?" Rean replied with an unamused expression. He had no idea how she managed to form her views on his taste in women, considering that they're hardly ever around each other anymore. Maple didn't tell her something weird the last time Juna came to visit in February, did she?

"Nothing, nothing," she brushed off. "So who was that, anyway? She has 'fans' now, does she? You got some friends in high places for someone who could barely talk to me the first time we met."

Rean sighed. She never let him live that down. "That was Vita Clotilde, the famous opera singer. But on her off time, she guises herself as Misty, the talk show host for 'Abend Time'."

"Oh yeah, that show you're always telling me about."

"Wait, that was the Vita Clotilde?! As in the Azure Diva?!"

Rean immediately covered her mouth with his palm, stopping her from yelling anything else.

"Be quiet, you idiot!" Rean said through hushed tones. "She's trying to keep her identity a secret!"

"MPHF! 'M HORRY!" Rean released her from his hold. "I'm sorry, geez! I just… didn't think I'd meet anyone that famous is all. Still, the whole secret identity thing is so cool! She's like those superheroes from those theater shows Ken and Nana watch!"

And you, Rean wanted to say, but kept his mouth shut.

"...Hang on, did she say tomorrow? Abend Time only airs on Sundays though."

"Maybe she forgot what the day was? I know I do that pretty often."

"I guess so? Still, you'd think a person with a busy schedule would know better."

"Oh well, it doesn't matter that much."

Now that he was no longer caged by his thoughts, he noticed how dark it was becoming. With the sun setting, the sky glowed a soft orange. Even if they leave now, they would probably be back in Trista by nightfall.

"We should get going soon. Let's load the cases into the sidecar and I'll drop you off by the dorms."

"Aww, no fair!" Juna pouted. "I wanted to see you guys practice!"

"No can do. Can't give you a preview when it's the whole reason why I invited you here."

"Ugh, fine."


October 23, S.1204 - Thors Military Academy

BAM

With one last whack of the comically sized toy hammer she was provided, Juna defeated the evil menace known as Evil Mishy. Rean watched from the sidelines almost impressed that she had once again made the leaderboards for the top scores. Juna had always had a competitive streak to her—her beating his old snowboarding times was a testament to that—but she was playing a game involving her favorite mascot. Of course she'd be excited.

Or maybe she wanted to let out some steam.

What Misty wanted them to tune into yesterday was a pretty shocking development: the formal declaration of independence of Crossbell. It was a complicated point of contention. Juna should've been happy, seeing as how independence would free Crossbell from suzerainty and would be in total control of its inner workings. But the declaration held no legal authority whatsoever. Erebonia and Calvard were well in their rights to not acknowledge the bold manifesto by Mayor Crois.

Maybe Juna just didn't know how to feel.

They didn't know all the details. The "Crossbell Defense Force" was certainly something new. Was it something to be wary of? Will Juna even be safe on the way home? Too many thoughts plagued his mind.

Maybe Millium was right. They should just focus on the festival. Towa did say he should use all the tickets by the end of the day, so he might as well do that before their concert tomorrow.

He also promised to spend the entire day with Juna as he did his patrols around campus. She was even willing to help out with any requests he might get throughout the day. It was the least he could do.

Noticing that she received her second Mishy plush prize, Rean waved over at her.

"So, you got everything out of your system?"

"A lot more than that, that's for sure. Whew, I thought I'd be tired after Super Stallion, but this one felt really good! Maybe I should ask Dad to add our own Mishy Panic to MWL…?"

"Err... sure. Can you even do that? Your dad doesn't have that much executive power, does he?"

"Maybe! I don't know the specifics, but he can totally bring it up to the higher ups."

…Best of luck, Uncle Matthew.

"So where to next?"

"We could always use a break. I heard Class IV is doing an Eastern teahouse. We should check it out."

The way Juna shot up in excitement reminded him too much of Millium. "Lead the way!"


"Whoa, this kinda reminds me of East Street."

The former classroom was utterly transformed into an Eastern garden, including various flourishes like bamboo, wooden fences, stone garden lamps, and rocks put together to imitate an eastern pond. How did they lug everything in here?

"They really got the aesthetic down to a tee, that's for sure." Rean nodded approvingly. "It's really impressive."

"I feel relaxed already!" Juna agreed. "But we don't want that ticket of yours to go to waste, right? Let's find a place to sit."

Lucky for the two of them, there was an empty bench right nearby. They ordered two cups of green tea and a small serving of sweets and sat by the calming sound of running water.

Wait, water?

This was a classroom, right?

Well, whatever this room used to be, Juna didn't seem to mind.

Her face mildly scrunched up upon tasting the tea, but after taking a bite out of their sweets, she gladly drank some more.

"I kinda forgot how good these were. They're pretty close to how Shanshan makes them and they pair really well with the tea too."

"I'm surprised you could tell. You usually don't like bitter stuff."

"I remember you saying that Eastern philosophies emphasize harmony, right? The bitterness of the tea is offset by the sweetness of the treats. Alone, they're overpowering but together, they're an unstoppable team."

"Wow, you actually remembered." Rean japed, causing Juna to pout. "But yeah, it's something like that. Still, you wouldn't have minded having some sweet tea too, right?"

"I… wouldn't say 'no', if they were offering…" Juna murmured.

"And as sweet as this display is, it's time for some fortunes!"

Two girls approached them. Both had long pink hair, one with braided pigtails hanging off both of her shoulders and the other who wore her hair down. From a quick glance, Juna was able to determine that two girls were the twin sisters Rean had told her about.

"What my sister's trying to say is: 'We're sorry to intrude on your conversation, but would you like to draw a fortune?'" Linde said apologetically.

"Draw a fortune? Isn't that…?"

"If you were about to say, 'Part of Eastern culture,' you nailed it! You pray to the Goddess and She tells you your fortune." Vivi boasted. "It's a special bonus service we're offering to those of you who use your precious tickets to come in here."

Rean glared at Vivi skeptically. There was no way this was her idea, was it? The way Linde shook her head though confirmed his thoughts.

"Ooh, this could be fun!" Juna cheered. "I heard they do this all the time in the Eastern Quarter back in Calvard."

Rean shrugged. If Juna was interested, he might as well join in too. Where was the harm, after all?

Linde motioned to the two small boxes she and her sister were carrying in their hands. "Now, then, please choose which kind of fortune you'd like to draw. My fortunes are luck-related, hinting at the things your future has in store…"

"...and mine are about relationships, telling you all about who's gonna set off your fireworks. Rowr ❤." Vivi seductively growled.

Ignoring her playful attitude, Rean went for the relationship fortune.

"You sure about that one?" Juna asked. "Didn't think you were all that interested."

"I'm just a bit curious is all. Doesn't hurt to check, right?"

"I guess not… I'll take one too."

"Aren't you two the adventurous ones? Your treasure awaits!"

"Ugh, Vivi, you're so embarrassing…" Linde glared.

Unfurling the sheets of paper, Rean and Juna began to read them to each other.

"Let's see here… 'Your match is one whom you already share a close rapport with. Keep them close and they'll illuminate your life brighter than any star.'"

"Mine says… 'Your bond is already one forged in steel. However, it is important to fully understand how your partner is feeling. Pushing them away can only lead to disaster.' That's interesting, both of our fortunes mention someone we already know."

"I noticed that too. Other than that, it just seems like pretty generic advice." Rean chuckled. "'One whom I already share a close rapport with', huh?"

Juna giggled. "Maybe it's someone from school. Don't think I haven't noticed you're basically Mr. Social Butterfly now. Is it one of your classmates?"

"You think?" Cue a flashback of Alisa smacking him across the face. "I'm not sure about that one…"

"Oh right, didn't Princess Alfin say she wanted you to be her date at a dance or something? What if by some hand of fate, you became the empire's prince consort?"

"I'd… rather not think about that." Rean muttered as Juna proceeded to laugh hysterically. "W-What about you? Who do you think your mystery person is?"

Juna ceased her series of giggles, having trouble coming up with a suitable response. "Haha… who knows?"

"Oh come on, you have to have some sort of idea."

"No clue what you're talking about." Juna attempted to do the best fake whistle she could muster. Emphasis on attempt.

"That guy you went to Sunday School with?"

"What? No! He got really clingy after I hit puberty. Guy's a total creep."

"That cute girl who lives in your apartment building?"

"I thought about it for a while, but she didn't seem that interested. So I left it at that."

"Your old swim instructor?"

She looked at him incredulously.

"Dude. He's like forty."

"I'm just trying to cover all my bases here. Your dad would freak out if his precious princess got snatched up by the wrong person."

"Sounds like he wouldn't be the only one…"

"So that leaves… Lloyd Bannings?"

"Look, I admire the guy, but he doesn't need another girl fawning all over him. Can we stop playing Interrogation already?"

Rean sighed in defeat.

"Fine, fine. We still got a few more attractions to see, so let's keep going. Let's check out Gate of Avalon. I'm sure you're gonna love playing Blade."

"Oh that card game you told me about! Sounds great! You know, I tried finding a deck back home but no one sold it. Not even Ms. Imelda in her antique store."

"It actually came from Jurai. It only got popularized over here thanks to Crow. I figure a card game would be far from an SEZ's main import."

"Yeah, I guess not." Juna agreed. "Let's try it out then!"

The two finished off their visit to the teahouse by tying their fortunes on the side of the room and headed off towards Gate of Avalon. The two were so lost in their conversation that neither noticed the whisperings of a familiar pair of twins.

"So, do you think that's her?" Vivi asked in Linde's ear.

"Whom do you mean?"

"You know! The girl Rean's head over heels for!"

Linde's expression grew flat at her sister's accusation.

"Vivi, that's rude. Rean has already said that they're only friends. It's not our place to pry."

"Okay, but you can't tell me those two don't have crazy sparks flying between them. Fie tells me that Rean talks about her all the time! You have to be at least a little curious!"

"I-I… Admittedly, I do have some interest. Some!" Linde reiterated after seeing Vivi's wide grin. "But that's not our business, okay? Let them have their fun."

Vivi puffed her cheeks. "Fine…"


Things grew hectic once they attended Gate of Avalon. Juna quickly picked up on Blade and creamed the competition. She tactically played her cards at the right time and overcame every opponent in the tournament. Even after a close match with Rean, the only person who was worthy of giving her a challenge was the Blade Master herself, their wonderful dormitory maid Sharon Kreuger.

He'd have to have a long talk with Crow once this was all over.

Next stop was the Stella Garten.

If they thought that the teahouse's atmosphere was impressive, the Stella Garten's was practically otherworldly. The walls and ceiling were covered in some sort of spherical dome. Probably. It was hard to tell since it looked like they were outside in the middle of the night. Somehow, they managed to fit an entire hedge maze and stone planters and pots with various kinds of flowers into such a cramped classroom. They even brought in actual butterflies to complete the garden aesthetic.

Class II definitely knew how to show off. It must have hurt their pride to an extent, literally being second place to Class I.

Rean and Juna followed the path laid out for them, eventually making it to the center. According to Bridget, there was a device that would transform the room into something ethereal. Rean had a hard time grasping such a concept seeing as how the room was already plenty beautiful, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

With a click of the button laid out for them, the sky above them illuminated. The stars shined brighter and the lights melded together as if a sparkling mist decorated the air, enveloping the sky and played with their senses even though there was not a cloud to be seen. Had Juna not suggested they sit down on a nearby bench, he would've stood there for hours.

"This is amazing…" Juna gazed at the sky in awe. "How do you think they managed to fit everything in here?"

"I… have no clue. And frankly, I'm not sure if I want to know. It would probably ruin the magic of it. The mystery adds to its appeal."

"That's… oddly romantic of you." A quick glare from him. "But I get what you mean. The night sky. The bright lights. It kinda reminds me of all the times we watched the fireworks at the harbor. Remember?"

"How can I forget? Every year at the Crossbell anniversary festival… You, me, and Elise. We'd watch the fireworks with such fervor that the time just passed us by. I almost forgot that we didn't do that this year."

Juna gave Rean an endearing gaze, one full of pride. She was glad about the drastic change in Rean's demeanor. His attitude somehow transformed into someone who finally found a home and a place to be himself. He was such a far cry from that socially distant boy who could barely look other people in the eye.

Even during his visits to Crossbell, Rean hardly ever talked to anyone but her and her family. He was acquainted with some of her friends, but never long enough to be anything more. He held himself prisoner, scared to open up to anyone else. It was a miracle they were able to become friends all those years ago.

Part of her was envious. Being unable to provide that emotional support for him. All she really did was spout some motivational drivel from time to time and nudged him in the right direction. She laid the groundwork, but his friends and classmates were the ones to truly bring Rean out of his shell.

The way he naturally interacted with his fellow students. The rapport he shared with his classmates. In all the letters he ever wrote, he talked about how important each of his field studies were and what strides he managed to make in forming and repairing any bonds between his friends. Though she had still yet to meet all of them, Juna could envision how their quirks and dynamics would work.

Alisa was the most tech savvy of the group. Her business sense was second to none and she had the determined personality to boot.

Laura shared his passion for the art of the sword and they worked together to push each other to greater heights.

Elliot, while rather timid in personality, had a great affinity for music. It wasn't unlike her and Rean who also loved music and practiced to an extent (even though it was mainly him who was skilled with an instrument).

Jusis and Machias both carried pride for their upbringings—even if that causes them to clash. But in spite of that, their rivalry helped them in forming a bond that cannot be replaced.

Emma, Gaius, and Fie were considered foreigners in Erebonia, but it was just that position that gave Rean the insight to explore other perspectives and new ideas outside of what he knew.

And while Juna didn't know much about Crow and Millium, she knew Rean held them in high regard as well.

Juna smiled softly.

"Thors is pretty amazing."

Rean nodded. "I'm glad I decided to come here. Being able to see all sorts of perspectives and make new friends. I couldn't ask for more."

"Hmm… Maybe I should consider attending in the future. Ooh, maybe I'll be part of the next generation Class VII!"

Rean had a double take.

"W-Wait! What about the Police Academy? Joining the CPD? The SSS?"

Juna giggled at Rean's overreaction. No matter how much things change, part of him would always stay the same. That was fine. There were parts about him she liked anyway.

"Kidding! Man, you should've seen the look on your face!"

"...Unbelievable. You're going to be the death of me, I swear."

"Relax! Can you imagine all the moving expenses? I like it here, but not enough to justify that."

Rean exhaled in relief. "And we'd love to have you, but you better not do something you'll regret for a joke, got it?"

"Yes, mother." she teased in a mocking tone.

"I'm serious!" He groaned. "What am I going to do with you…?"

Grinning at his misfortune was the most she could do.

Juna sat up and stretched, letting out a strained moan as her body relaxed from sitting down for so long. Though, she couldn't really tell how long exactly. The starry sky was still up above, so it took a while to remember that they were still indoors.

"So, how about some dinner?" Juna suggested. "It's probably around that time now."

"I'd love to… but I gotta check out all our instruments before the concert tomorrow. After that, I'm gonna hold one last meeting with my class and call it a night."

A tad disappointing, but she understood.

"Okay. You kick butt out there, all right?" She held out her hand.

"Only way I know how."

He high-fived her back.


The next day

So things got complicated.

After splitting up for the night, Rean headed to the auditorium with his classmates while Juna met up with Towa to crash for the night. Fast forward to their after dinner meeting, Class VII heard the ominous tolling of a bell coming from the old schoolhouse.

With the threat of the academy festival being cancelled looming over them, Rean rallied his classmates to complete their investigation of the ancient building and to leave their mark in the history of Thors Military Academy. All of them promptly followed his lead.

...Though he had to admit, he couldn't seem to perfectly place his finger to where he got his enthusiasm from.

Cue the exploration of a very long dungeon later, they fought against some strange shadowy creature in the end of a blank white void.

Later they have a scare that the concert was cancelled (One of them was gonna have to throw Instructor Sara outside if she ever comes back home drunk), and then find a giant gray doll just… standing there.

Well, to be more accurate, it was kneeling, but it was still really big and really weird.

Whatever it was, something inside made him react. It was subtle, but he could feel it.

However, that hardly mattered compared to the show they were about to put on.

Class I's operetta was gonna be a hard act to follow. Both Patrick and Ferris managed to push down their haughtiness—something neither Rean nor Alisa wanted to comment on—and performed wonderfully.

After getting their nerves together (and Rean subtly threatening Angelica should she try anything on Juna and Elise), Class VII was ready to roll.

"Thank you for your patience, everyone."

Rean eyed the audience. Right in front were their family members and friends. Angelica, George, Sharon, Ms. Irina, Gwyn, Viscount Arseid, and Rufus on one side. Prince Olivert, Governor Regnitz, Alfin, and Elise on the other. And right next to his sister…

Juna shook up and down like a piston in her chair, barely able to contain her excitement.

He had to apologize earlier since it was decided that he and Emma would perform a duet, something he promised he'd do with her. She didn't seem to mind at all. "Practice makes perfect, right?" she told him.

Still… Four songs was way too much to expect from them. The two they originally planned? Elliot meticulously masterminded so that all the elements would meld perfectly. The encore Crow snuck in during practice? Pushing it, but it made sense.

It was until his parents mentioned his love of music during their trip to Ymir that Crow and Elliot concocted the idea of throwing in that additional song in.

...He was gonna kill them for that.

"Next, our academy's very first Class VII is proud to present a concert."

The duet between Jusis and Machias went even better than expected. The original idea was to display the purpose of Class VII: the unity between people and blurring the lines of social class. No one represented the divide better than them. But in spite of all that, their impeccable teamwork shone through their performance.

Emma's solo was enchanting. Out of all their stage outfits, Crow made sure Emma would stand out the most, even among the girls. The way Millium and Fie played off of her as her backup vocalists and how the stage made her sparkle in the spotlight. As embarrassed as she was initially, it was like she was made for this role.

Then it was his turn.

He handed off the guitar role to Crow (who had to agree to participate if he wanted Rean to do this in the first place) and took out another microphone.

He and Emma exchanged one last look before turning to the crowd.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Let's do this.

The crescent moon, so high in this dark lonely sky

An ocean of obsidian, tangled in the light

So make a wish now upon a shooting star

And watch it fly across the night, into the beyond!

If this unwritten tale, without a single word

Could somehow own the night – the moon, only a blur.

The hidden masterpiece you hide where none can see

Would take to the sky like a bird set free.

Tomorrow, we'll spread our wings and find where we belong

You dream to see the world one day – Would you mind if I tag along?

Rean stretched out his arm as if to invite the audience to join in.

Listen close, and you can hear-

Emma mirrored him with her opposite arm.

-as it's suddenly drawing near,

Your wish is coming true!

Millium and Fie joined in with their backup vocals, harmonizing with the tune of the song as Rean and Emma repeated the chorus.

The crescent moon, so high in this dark lonely sky

An ocean of obsidian, tangled in the light

So make a wish now upon a shooting star

And watch it fly across the night

Ah, until this whole dream has come to an end!

Emma continued her graceful arm movements in pacing of the song as she sang out each lyric. Each word that left her lips enchanted the audience. It could even be described as magical.

So if we lose our way because the map we drew

Is quickly blown away, lost to the desert wind…

Rean followed her lead, his motions more rugged and harsh, all of which emphasized the deepness of his singing voice.

I pray a light appears to guide our drifting souls

Into an age to last a thousand years.

You've fallen prey to desolation time and time again

But I only remember how carefree you were back then.

All the things we long to hold,

-as our cards begin to fold,

The duo stretched out their arms once more, but this time in a diagonal position facing inward between them, to the beat of the music. They formed a cross in the front of the stage and elongated their arms outward in sync.

Appear within our reach!

Rean and Emma exchanged a look and tapped their feet as the song increased in tempo. With each bombastic line of the song, they hopped rhythmically as they sang. Millium and Fie joined in the dancing as well.

Let's break away the veil of this dark and endless night

Your tears will fade into days that still lie ahead

If you could take what's reflected in your heart

Beyond the dawn you'd set your sight

Ah, this swift gale of wind will carry us there!

The tempo of the song marginally slowed down, giving Rean and Emma time to rest from their physical movement. Rean glanced at Juna, who was absolutely beaming from the edge of her seat.

My relentless beating heart burns on inside my chest

And I feel the flames growing wild!

Rean stepped forward to the front of the stage as the instruments behind him began to quiet down. He gazed over the audience as he delivered a powerful performance with all eyes on him.

I only wish I could see – Take a glimpse into your dreams

Those clear blue eyes, like cloudless skies, gaze at a new world.

The pace of the song picked right back up and Rean stepped backwards to line himself up with Emma once more.

The crescent moon, so high in this dark lonely sky

An ocean of obsidian, tangled in the light

So make a wish now upon a shooting star

And watch it fly across the night

Ah, until this whole dream has come to an end!

We'll break from this dark and endless night

Your tears will fade into days that still lie ahead

If you could take what's reflected in your heart

Beyond the dawn you'd set your sight

Ah, this swift gale of wind will carry us there!

The four vocalists posed forward as the song came to an end and was greeted with clamorous applause. Some even went as far as giving them a standing ovation (not surprising since this was intended to be the final song in the line up) and even Juna couldn't wipe off the silliest grin Rean had ever seen on her face. Elise had to physically hold her back lest she embarrassed herself any further.

The adrenaline rush of his first ever performance though was overwhelming. He wouldn't have ever imagined that his old lute lessons would prepare him for such an experience. He loved music. Absolutely adored it. Maybe nowhere near as much as Elliot did, but the fact that a few vibrations in the air was able to produce something people find enjoyable sparked wonder in him.

And he did just that! He made that something with his friends on stage!

He turned back to his classmates. Emma, Fie, and Millium took time to catch their breath. Alisa, Gaius, Laura, and Crow wiped off the sweat from their foreheads after putting their instruments through the wringer. Machias threw out a thumbs up from behind the curtains and Jusis offered an approving nod.

Yeah, his friends were pretty amazing.

"Encore! Encore!"

?

"Encore! Encore!"

Oh.

Oh yeah.

He forgot that was a thing they were supposed to be doing.

From behind, Crow shoved the orbal guitar back into his hands and snatched the microphone out of his grip. He pointed to the guy above to put the spotlight on him.

"Ladies and gents, you've been a wonderful crowd."

Everyone in Class VII had their eyes grow wide. They clamored to take their respective spots on the stage, preparing for their finale.

"...And we've heard your cheers loud and clear. So without further ado, I give you our fourth and final song."

The lights dimmed, leaving the spotlight solely on Emma.

Rean positioned his fingers on his guitar accordingly, as did the other members of the band, all prepared for the final act.

"I swear… I wanna steer my way-"


"Rean, are you okay?"

"Yeah, you look half-dead."

He scoffed. "Well, I certainly feel half-dead, so at least I look the part."

It's been a few hours since their performance. Since that time, they found out that they won the popularity poll for best attraction and even got a pretty roundabout congratulations from Patrick to boot. If Alan was there, he'd probably be laughing his head off at how embarrassed the Hyarms noble was acting. With the little time he had left, he met up with Elise and Juna and relaxed at the corner of the field.

They loitered at their comfortable spot, watching the bonfires and various dancers surrounding them. Rean caught a glimpse of Prince Olivert and Princess Alfin sillily twirling to the music. Somehow, they were able to look graceful all the while. He could only hope he looked that good while he was on stage.

His eyes wandered even further, seeing the other pairs enjoying themselves to the slow music. Some he expected (there was no way Alan and Bridget weren't going together) and others… well best not to think about it. But at least there was one constant among them all.

"Haha… Looks like everyone's having fun, though." He turned to Elise and Juna. "Shall we join them?"

"As fun as that sounds," Juna awkwardly laughed. "I think three's a biiiiit of a crowd in this kinda event."

"So what do you propose we do?" Rean's eyes shifted between the girls. After watching the royal siblings' display, he would've felt guilty not sharing the same revelry with his own sister, but he didn't want to leave Juna alone by herself either. Though it was rather cumbersome just standing around during an afterparty too.

Elise took notice of Rean's looks, sighed, and composed herself. "If you're worried about me, please don't be. You've given me more than enough of your time already today. Between showing me around and your incredible concert, you must be exhausted. If you really want to dance, why not ask someone you'd rather be with instead?"

"Are you sure, Elise?" Rean asked.

"I insist. And if we still have time afterwards, maybe then I'll consider honoring you with a dance." Elise replied with a wink.

"...When did you get so snarky?"

Juna whistled. "Damn, Elise. That was smooth~! Too bad you had to waste such a good line on this bonehead."

"Hey!"

The girls giggled.

"Ugh, if you two are done teasing me," Rean stepped back and faced Juna, silently thanking Elise for the opportunity. He draped his arm over his chest and dipped his body into a formal bow. "May I have this dance, Lady Crawford?"

Catching on to the impromptu roleplay, Juna playfully fanned herself and adopted her fake noble accent. "Oh my, what an honor, Lord Schwarzer! It would be my pleasure."

Rean offered his hand and Juna gently placed hers into his. He led her towards the nearest bonfire as she returned waves with Elise.

"And remember, Juna! If he tries anything funny-"

"Go straight for the nads! I never forget!"

"Wait, what?!"


"Geez, it's always something with you two…"

Rean and Juna moved in sync, with one of his hands on her waist, and the other entwined with hers. His movements were sluggish at best, still exhausted after his performance. Without skipping a beat, Juna made sure to match his pace.

"You know how it is," she giggled. "Give us a rege and we'll take the whole arge."

"That's for sure… I'll have you know that we were only intending to do two songs, not including that encore. If it weren't for my parents giving away the fact that you got me into singing, Crow and Elliot would've never thought of making us do a third one." He glared daggers at her. "So that makes you partially the reason why I'm dead tired right now."

Juna scoffed. "Oh hush. That was my favorite part of the whole event! I'll be happy to take credit for that. Heck, if anything, you should be grateful. I heard there's a lot of appeal to a guy who knows how to sing. You've always been a bit of the mysterious, brooding type. I dunno how I feel about it, but apparently some girls are into that. Add an artistic side to that and you'd be a hit out there."

"That's not something I'm trying to do."

She promptly ignored him.

"Plus, you proved you actually have some fashion sense. Those outfits were killer! You guys didn't stand out as much, but the suits were really stylish. And the girls' outfits? Absolutely perfect! Believe it or not, I'm excited to try out mine as soon as I can!"

"Thanks, I suppose… That aside, that whole 'Go straight for the nads' thing...?"

"Oh, that? Well, it never hurts to have some insurance. It also comes in handy when some creep decides to hit on me."

"But against me?"

"Haha, sorry about that, Rean. We say it more as a mantra. We don't mean to direct it at you, but I guess you wouldn't really know that. If it really makes you uncomfortable, I can stop."

He felt a physical pang on his chest. Like a beast struggling to release from its cold prison.

He had felt it during their trek throughout their last investigation of the Old Schoolhouse. He was able to hold it back, even against their fight against that great shadow in the depths. Laura, Gaius, Jusis, Emma. They all noticed that he was keeping it at bay.

Millium, on the other hand, tried to keep his spirits up. She must've noticed too. She wasn't a part of the Imperial Army's Intelligence Division for nothing.

Maybe he can't in good conscience tell her to stop.

Juna detected his change in demeanor.

Her eyes turned stern.

"Rean, you're thinking about it again."

His mouth opened to retort, but no words escaped his lips. She could read him like a book.

What was he supposed to say? Nah, it's good to make jests about you possibly needing to protect yourself in case I freaking lose it due to my mysterious and crazy chest demon that's been possessing me since childhood. How was that supposed to make either of them feel comfortable?

He turned away. "I-It's nothing. I didn't mean to..."

"Let's just take a break, all right? You're clearly way too tired here."

"My bad… This was my idea and I had to go and kill the mood."

"Well, there's that…" She turned her attention downward. "And there's also the fact that you've been stepping on my feet for the past minute."

"Huh?"

Just as Juna described, his sneakers were right on top of her shoes.

"S-Sorry!"

"Good thing I decided to wear my worn running shoes today. With all the walking we did these past few days, I was planning on replacing them anyway."

No hint of annoyance or anger in her voice. Just as Rean remembered from that day.

Juna gestured to a far off ledge they could rest on while still keeping an eye at all the partygoers. With Rean's movements still rather languid, Juna decided to take the lead to bring him over to sit.

"Whew, I am pooped!" Juna laid on the grass, her feet hanging over the elevated ledge. "And all I did was watch you guys perform."

"..."

"Hey, Rean?"

"...Yeah?"

"Don't worry too much about it, okay? Remember what I told you?"

"...'No matter what happens, you'll always be Rean Schwarzer. No one else.'"

"...Actually, I was gonna repurpose the 'You kick butt out there' line from yesterday. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have assumed you thought I meant that. Wait, that's not the point here." She shook her head rather violently, trying to get herself back on track. "How do you still remember that?"

"Forgive me if I have a memory ingrained in me right after I thought I possibly traumatized my sister and you after we just met."

"Okay... fair. But the point is, you shouldn't keep haunting yourself over that. You're carrying so many burdens on yourself as is."

"I'm no-"

"Yes, you are." She sat back up. He could see the genuine sparkle of her emerald eyes as they made contact with his conflicted lilac. "You told me you were gonna protect Crossbell, right? Don't get me wrong, that makes me happy to hear you say that but… you're still only eighteen. None of us are expecting you to be the perfect role model adult. Not your friends, not Elise, and especially not me."

"I'm not telling you to not worry about it at all. You probably understand that thing about as well as I do," she pointed at his chest, "which is not at all. But don't forget we're here for you. And if whatever that is takes over again, you'll be damn sure I'm gonna be the one to bring you back. That's a promise."

"...You know, I wasn't really expecting this sort of heart-to-heart based on you practicing safety maneuvers against vagabonds… But I guess anything can happen when you're around."

Her eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rean laughed. "I meant that as a compliment. Nothing's boring when you're around, that's for sure."

Her face turned slightly red and crossed her arms.

"Man, that's the last time I ever say anything nice to you! If that's the response I get, I don't know how you can do it all the time!"

He laughed even harder. Hard enough so that even Juna couldn't resist joining in.

"...Thanks, Juna."

"What are friends for?"

He smiled. "I know I talked about it before, but I'm really glad I took the chance of enrolling here at Thors. My original reason to come was pretty half-hearted, but it's been great here."

Rean ruminated about his time at Thors. The last several months of participating in field studies, getting to know his classmates, learning more about the world around them, and goofing off during their school days.

When he first came here, he felt… estranged. Like he didn't belong; not unlike how he felt at home. His bad initial impression on Alisa, Laura's enmity towards his indecisiveness, and Machias' hatred of his pseudo-noble status… They all felt like distant memories to him now.

Now, everyone in Class VII felt like friends. Family, even.

And it didn't feel that much different from… his relationship with Juna.

"I've been meaning to ask though, how's everything back at the police academy?"

"Not bad! Great, actually. I've been earning a lot of credits since enrolling. It's only been a few months, but I should be the newest rookie in the force by next year!"

"Whoa, no kidding? You finally kicked those bad study habits of yours?"

She smacked his arm and glared at him. "I happen to have the best study habits, thank you very much! When you're around the best the force can offer, you have no choice to be even better than them."

"I don't doubt it." Rean laughed, rubbing his now slightly sore arm. "Anyone catch your eye?"

"Ugh, not this again. No. I don't have time to participate in a promiscuous love affair with my classmates. Unlike you, who's probably gotten all the girls to fall all over him because your dumb babyface. You've probably seduced some of the guys too."

"And pray tell, what do you mean by that?" Rean asked with a raised brow.

"Do I have to spell it out for you? There's a reason why you and that Emma girl worked so well up on stage. You guys got chemistry! Either that or you really are into the bustier type." Juna continued before Rean could protest. "Or maybe you like that you share that sword commonality with Laura! Or maybe you're into your total opposite like that Alisa girl! Ooh, if you got any good stories with the guys, I'm all ears!"

"You've barely even seen me talk to them! How would you know?"

"You talked about them so much in your letters that you having the hots for all of them isn't out of the realm of possibility. Plus, I've known you long enough to know how you operate. Call it 'Childhood Friend Intuition'." Juna grinned smugly.

"First off, I resent that initial comment. Man, that's gonna make things feel so awkward around them."

Juna giggled at her evil deed.

"Second, is this about that 'mysterious, brooding type' thing you mentioned earlier? Or is that part of your 'intuition' too?"

"Are you kidding? You basically hit me with it using a ten-arge pole. You might have grown out of that edgy outfit you keep in your closet, but you were totally playing up that distant 'I don't care about anything' persona when we were kids."

"How did you-"

"You're gonna have to thank Elise for that one."

"She did what?!"

The two continued to carry out their routine of playful bickering hitting on a variety of topics. They would imagine that if anyone else was watching the display, they'd label them as one heck of a comedy duo. But they didn't mind. They kept at it until both of them could barely contain their hysterics.

They continued to double over, completely letting go of the heavy atmosphere of the earlier conversation.

"But come on, you gotta admit that I'm not like that anymore."

"Hmm… Maybe not. Less moody, more… sensitive? Your humor's gotten a lot less dry since we were kids, at least."

"Gee, thanks." He rolled his eyes, much to Juna's amusement.

The two sat silently for a while, enjoying the evening breeze and even stepping out for a bit to get a cold drink from one of the open stands.

As serene and tranquil as the silence between them was, Rean knew that these good times had to come to an end.

He didn't want to, but he thought it best to finally bring up a topic he had been dreading.

"You know, I thought I'd be the one to comfort you." He paused. "...After everything that's happened in Crossbell, I mean."

It hurt him to mention it to her, but what kind of person would he be to just let her ignore it? He couldn't just let her bottle that frustration in.

He knew more than enough about that.

She paused and pulled her legs against her chest. "Yeah, that's… a lot to take in."

"You've been avoiding talking about it since yesterday, but how do you really feel about it?"

"...I don't really know. I guess, as a Crossbellan, I don't really mind the prospect of independence. It certainly beats the alternative of being under the Empire and Republic's thumbs forever."

His face turned serious. "But?"

"But… everything's been happening so fast since the trade conference. The attack on Orchis Tower, the weird monsters popping up everywhere, the jaeger attack on the city, and now the sudden declaration of independence. It feels like everything's been planned. Premeditated for a while now."

"You think something's been happening under the surface?" He already knew the answer to that. He just wanted—needed—to hear her say it.

"I'm practically positive at this point. Even Mayor Crois himself was pushing for independence right at the end of the trade conference. Even though I called it sudden… he's been thinking about this for quite some time. There's too much happening for it all to be a coincidence."

The pieces fell into place.

Late last month, Rean and his classmates were invited back into Valflame Palace for an audience with the emperor due to their involvement with thwarting the Imperial Liberation Front in the Sachsen Iron Mine during their field study in the Nortia Province and their involvement at defending Garrelia Fortress and Crossbell the month before.

They were congratulated by both the Reformist and Noble Factions, led by Osborne and the Four Great Houses respectively. But once those formalities were over and done with, they went at each other's throats, criticizing their roles in the crisis. Apparently, the ILF was being supported by members of the nobility and because of that, they couldn't come out into the open. Meanwhile, the reformists were busy with Crossbell's push for independence.

Even though both sides couldn't directly oppose each other due to these other matters, it became clear that a looming upheaval was about to envelop Erebonia.

And naturally, Crossbell was most likely fated to be caught in the crossfire.

Now that Crossbell had its own share of problems to deal with, what was to become of the fates of their two countries? With whatever that was going on there, it was only delaying the inevitable here.

And what did he think about Crossbell becoming an independent state? It was like a second home to him, so he wouldn't have minded terribly much that it became part of the Empire from that standpoint. But after getting to know Juna—after witnessing how much pride she had for her homeland—it wouldn't sit well with him knowing that it was simply absorbed into a larger entity.

She deserved to live in the only Crossbell she knew: her Crossbell.

Amidst his thoughts, he was suddenly interrupted by the clamoring of the adults in the area. The students were no longer dancing. He noticed Captain Claire's visage grow more serious as she left Elise's company to join with the royal siblings.

"What's going on?" Juna asked.

"I don't know…"

They both left their spot on the ledge to reunite with Elise. The increasing worry on the girl's face was evident.

This couldn't be.

Things were happening far too fast.

He watched on as Elise and Juna speculated on the events currently unfolding. He saw the faces of the supervisors around them grow increasingly grim.

He hated it when his premonitions were spot on.

...

Before long, Princess Alfin approached them, all of her earlier enthusiasm lost.

"I'm really sorry, Elise. My brother's requested that we return to Heimdallr right away. As we're going back by car, I thought I'd offer you a ride home."

"B-But…"

"...Elise, I think you should go back with them for now." Rean agreed. "I'll call you later to make sure you're okay."

"Well, all right…"

Alfin nodded and turned to Juna.

"I apologize to you as well, Juna. I don't think we can personally take you all the way back home, but I can at least ask Lt. General Craig to escort you safely. Since he's stationed at Garrelia Fortress, you should be able to get back without much issue."

"W-What do you mean? What happened?"

"It's… probably best that we discuss that later."

Juna casted a worried look at Rean. He reciprocated, worried that whatever happened would be devastating. However, he came to a decision.

"Whatever's going on, it's best you don't get involved. Accept her offer, Juna."

"B-But that's not fair though! You can't just leave me here in the dark while go do your whole hero act!"

"You know I can't let you do that!" He held back from raising his voice. "You have no stake in this, so please. Go home."

The pleading in his eyes was evident, but Juna kept pushing.

"You can't just say that! Erebonia is just as much another home to me!"

"And what about Crossbell?!"

The tension between the two was palpable. Juna wanted to retort, but Rean interrupted her before she could.

"Remember what you said earlier? Something big is happening in Crossbell. The whole reason you entered the police academy in the first place was to be its shield. You can't just abandon it to get pulled into our problems."

"I…"

"Look, Juna," he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I get that you want to help. I appreciate that. But we don't know what we're dealing with here. There's no point into dragging you into our country's problems when you have so much to worry about back home."

The gears turned in her head. Her countenance shifted into a multitude of expressions, going from indignant to confused to worried and, finally, to defeated.

"...I understand. I'm sorry, Rean," was what she said, but he could tell she despised his demand.

He saw that she lost the sparkle in her eyes.

She turned to Alfin, both her and Elise gazing at the two with concern. Juna clutched onto her necklace tightly and offered a sad smile. Her tone was strained. "Thank you, Your Highness. I accept your offer to return to Crossbell."

"...Very well."

With a small curtsy, Alfin led Elise and Juna to where Prince Olivert and Captain Claire were standing and marched with them up the stairs. Rean watched as the other chaperones from their class walked right behind them.

"Rean!"

His ears perked up to the mention of his name, its source coming from the gathering of his classmates and friends.

"Does anyone have any idea what's going on?"

They all shook their heads, most recounting only the reactions of their respective guardians. No one was able to discern what occurred except for its negative connotation. They continued to discuss the topic amongst themselves.

Machias nudged Rean and spoke up, quietly enough for only him to hear.

"I overheard that quarrel you had with your friend. Is... everything all right?"

"...Yeah. I understand her feelings, but there's no point in bringing her into whatever this is. She seemed mad at me for suggesting she go home though. She'll get over it, I hope."

"Don't worry about it, Rean." Machias smiled. "I might not know her as well as you do, but I'm sure she will."

Rean returned the gesture, but half-heartedly at best.

Then they received the news from Principal Vandyck. By some mysterious force, Garrelia Fortress had been wiped off the map. Completely erased from existence.

Rean turned his attention towards the sky.

He balled his hands into a tight fist.

Beyond the dark clouds engulfing the country, he briefly saw the moon shine red.


First things first: the song I had Rean and Emma perform was Lapis Lazuli, the ED from Arlsan Senki. The English lyrics are by AmaLee and she has a video where she covers it with Miku-Tan on YouTube. I highly recommend listening it even if you've never watched the show.

Second, I really can't escape these meaty chapters, huh? As of now, we're finished with all the chapters that cover the events of Cold Steel 1. There were a few scenes here that were really fun to work with due to how Rean and Juna banter with each other. This is the first time I really get to showcase that since they've never been in a chapter with just the two of them.

And finally, as glad as I am for being able to get this done and up within record time, the next chapter might take a little longer than previous ones. The reason being that I'm going to replay through all of Cold Steel 2 in order to get a better grasp of what I want out of Rean's portion of the next chapter. I was able to get by with this far because I was following a guide to make sure everything lined up correctly. But if I want to achieve what I want out of the next part, then I feel like I'm gonna need to do a little more intimate research. Juna's portions will be mostly original though, so I won't need to replay Ao's final chapter before Geofront releases their translation patch. So, thank you for understanding.

Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you can, since every amount of feedback I've gotten has only made me want to write more.