I'M BACK BABY. Wow, I think I really needed that break. And with Reverie out and everything, I genuinely have been feeling the Trails bug. I got some art comms done, I keep coming up with new ideas, and I've actually had time to sit down and WRITE. What a miracle! There were... a lot of parts I struggled with when writing this chapter, but I was able to come up with something I'm satisfied with as I was flying to Japan for vacation. Turns out, if I didn't stick too close to the original script, I could make some pretty great stuff!
April 22, S.1206 - Field Exercise Camp
"Juna?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Were you going to tell me that you knew who the crazy lady was before or after you spent approximately five minutes and twenty-seven seconds ogling her back in town?"
"Please don't remind me… And I wasn't ogling her! Where did you even learn that, Altina?!"
"Perhaps you and the instructor have more in common than I initially realized."
"You take that back! I was just… admiring her assets?"
"Ugh, that's an image I never want to see again. Do us both a favor, Junie, and never say something like that again. The last thing I want is for Shirley to get any more ideas in her messed-up head."
"S-Sorry, Randy. But you gotta admit, she does look awfully different now!"
"In terms of looks, sure. But that personality of hers needs a couple whacks with a hammer, in more ways than one."
"...Isn't that a bit much?"
The man shrugged. "She could take it."
It had been a hectic couple of hours since the sudden attack on the Derfflinger the previous night. Juna still remembered the ringing in her ears after the explosion of the Panzer Faust made contact with the Soldats stationed outside of the armored train and the demanding battles against the archaisms that littered their camp.
Since then, it was difficult for anyone from the branch campus to go back to sleep. So they had taken the time to rebuild what they could have of the camp and prepare for a subsequent attack.
Or, at least that was what they should have been doing. Juna's mind kept wandering to those past few hours.
It had been a major error on her part for not recognizing Shirley back in Ordis. Granted, the jaeger's appearance had been notably altered, with her letting her hair out of her original ponytail. One would think that such a minor change would hardly make much of a difference (i.e. Rean's "disguise" being him with glasses on), but Juna would like to have a word with whoever made such a bogus claim.
…And no, it wasn't because she was ogling her!
However, due to that mistake, she couldn't warn the rest of camp of a possible attack. In a way, the carnage done to the camp was partially her doing.
Luckily, the injuries had been kept to a minimum. Wayne had to sit back from practice and Jessica got off with only a few bruises and broken bones. Whether it was because the society's machines were ordered to go easy on them since they were students or it was due to the teachers being there to provide support, Juna didn't know. Both possibilities did deal a devastating blow to her pride though.
But no one's pride was more harmed after all was said and done than Kurt's.
"It looks like you've accepted help from a member of the Arseid school. Is the Vander school一am I一not enough?"
"...That's right. You're not. The fact that you're one of my students aside, it doesn't matter how much talent you have or that you've managed to reach intermediate level at your age. I can't take someone who lacks confidence and conviction to such a dangerous place."
Needless to say, Juna wasn't a fan of Rean's demeaning attitude.
Not that she didn't disagree with his point of view, but it was never like him to put down someone's skills that harshly before. He always preferred encouragement over admonishment. Even so, he didn't even hesitate to stop them from helping. Instead, he leered at them with a passive gaze. The dismissiveness of his tone infuriated her to the point of marching out of his presence, grabbing Altina's arm before she had any fancy ideas about following him.
She glanced back at her classmates. While Juna was lost in her own thoughts, Altina had gone to help out Tita and Mint to prepare the Soldats for training. Meanwhile, Kurt busied himself with distributing training equipment to those in Combat Tactics. Out of concern, she went to help out her blue-haired companion.
"Hey, Kurt. You mind if I help out?" Without waiting for a response, she opened up a crate with practice weaponry, pulling out a jumble of practice firearms that definitely could've used a cleaning.
"I've a feeling that you would even if I said no." He shrugged. At least he could still bite back despite the state he was in.
"See? We're already learning about each other," she replied, hoping to keep things positive. "We've come a long way since orientation, that's for sure!"
"I suppose."
Juna frowned. "It's true though! Remember when we were at each other's throats then? Kinda hard to believe how far we've come since then in just a month. These combat links are pretty handy when it comes to building rapport, huh?"
"Is there something you need from me, Juna?" His eyes met hers. From the way he spoke, she would have thought he'd glare daggers at her but it didn't exactly look that way. She could only describe it as… broken.
Though her time with him was not nearly as long as it was with Rean, she knew that their instructor's words hurt him. Kurt must have already felt lost when he first came to the branch campus. While he was diligent in his training and studies, he usually tackled situations as they came. On that front, he was passive to a fault. The more she thought about it, the more Rean's words made sense to her. Besides, she had some experience with Ouroboros and she knew full well that they would be way in over their heads if they ran to help.
But none of that excused how harshly he talked down to Kurt nor how he pushed the rest of them aside for this mission.
Juna smiled. "It's almost lunchtime. You mind joining me?"
April 22, S.1206 - Luna Crest Apartments
"Rean, there is something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Because that's certainly not ominous," the recipient sighed. Despite his poor attempt at a sarcastic jab, the asker remained unperturbed. "Something wrong, Laura?"
"I would call it wrong per se, but I do have some concerns that I want addressed."
Rean put down his spoon onto his empty plate. It had been an eventful morning ever since he and his friends left the exercise camp. They trekked their way to the fortress to learn any information of the society's whereabouts within Sutherland from General Craig and were told to come back to meet up with Marquis Hyarms for formal permission for something they weren't quite sure of yet. In case things had gone south as soon as their talk ended, the group decided to pick up a quick meal to prepare them for the rest of the day.
"I think we all have something we want to ask you," the newcomer Fie added, "and I've got a sneaking suspicion that it's the same thing."
Elliot simply shot him a look, silently communicating that he agreed with the others. Knowing that this wasn't something he could weasel his way out of, Rean finally relented.
"Fine, but make it quick. We don't have much time."
The other three shared a glance, nodded, and allowed Laura to speak up.
"Rean, you're not okay."
"I'm perfectly fine."
"It wasn't a question." Laura spoke in a stern tone. She held back on raising her voice, but she stood firm to her assertion. "Elliot told us what he could, but he could tell something was different about you since returning from North Ambria." Rean turned to glare at his musician friend, but even he held the same conviction as Laura. He didn't even flinch.
"I've noticed some changes in your fighting style as well," Fie added. "I'm flattered you decided to pick up on some of my knife throwing tricks, but you're not using them to complement your usual tactics. No, it felt like you were compensating for something. And for once, I don't mean that in a dirty way."
"...So you noticed that?"
"I picked it up more than anyone." Laura continued. "It somewhat reminded me of my first impression of you when we first met. However, this time, it's much worse. Clearly your strength and stamina have improved, but you're still holding yourself back."
Rean let out a defeated chuckle. Even though it wasn't exactly a topic he wanted to bring up, he appreciated his friends' bluntness. It felt like he could finally lay out his worries for them to see without issue, even if he'd rather not burden them with the knowledge.
"I should've known you'd catch on. You've always been like that, Laura." Rean leaned back into his chair. Since they raced as fast as they could between the exercise camp and Dreknor Fortress, they found enough time to discuss things before they had to continue their mission.
"Well, it's not because I'm sick or I'm not taking this seriously. It's more complicated than that."
"Of course. I know better than to make harmful assumptions like before. I had originally thought that you were trying to match your students' strength, but this feels more like a mental block than a physical one."
Elliot's eyes widened. "Ah, that makes sense." The latter interjected. "Your… 'Spirit Unification', you called it? You haven't used it at all when we were fighting the monsters on the highway."
Fie nodded. "Yeah, that crazy power of yours would've made the trip go a lot faster. Did it stop working?"
Rean shook his head. "No, it's definitely still there. It's just that - ever since the Northern War - I've been having trouble keeping it under control."
"So it comes back to the Northern War after all… It looked like it was a difficult subject for you to talk about before the award ceremony a few months ago, so I didn't ask about it. But we have to know, what happened?"
A sigh escaped Rean's lips. The muted sound of air flowed through his teeth as his mind wandered to those days. The last thing he wanted to do was recall that time, but…
"I'll have to come clean about it sooner or later. Instructor Sara already knows, as does Altina. You guys deserve to know too."
And so Rean divulged everything. From his sudden recruitment during the school festival, to his brief visit in Alster, to the true intent of the war itself. He recounted all the archaisms he felled to the jaegers he had to subdue in combat. The only thing he made sure to keep quiet was meeting his grandparents back in the rural town. He wasn't opposed to revealing that information to his friends - in fact, he'd be delighted to share that with them - but he thought it best to stay on topic.
"...Then they let loose a huge archaism into the city. It looked like the same model as the one we fought in Roer, but as large as a Divine Knight. I had no choice but to call on Valimar to protect the capital. I managed to hold it off in time for the citizens to evacuate but it had me on the ropes. If not for Altina…" He bit his tongue. "Well, after that, I don't remember much. I used my Spirit Unification and passed out soon after. Instructor Sara said I was out like a light for three whole days. In that time, the army was able to occupy the entire country and annex it like it was another business venture."
Rean averted his eyes. He didn't want to meet his friends' gazes. "Apparently, whatever happened after I blanked out, it was worse than what happened to me in the Infernal Castle. It made the times I used it in the old schoolhouse and against Viscount Arseid look like play fights. After that point, I couldn't control my power any longer. I've been suppressing it ever since and that was most likely what affected my sword arm. Sorry if that disappoints you, Laura."
Laura shook her head, shooting Rean a brief glare before converting to a gentle smile. "You fool, what do you take me for? Your wellbeing matters much more to me than your skills with a blade. I can only apologize for not checking up on you earlier."
"That goes for all of us," Elliot added. "I'll make sure to provide the best support you could ask for so you won't even need to use it!"
"Thanks, Elliot."
"And Laura and I will pick up any slack to make up for the lack of power. We can't risk you using it again if it causes you to pass out like that."
"You're the best, Fie."
"You know it."
"Then it's settled." Laura affirmed.
"Yeah. However, if the time comes, I won't hesitate either. If anything were to happen to you guys or my students, then I'd use it in a heartbeat."
Rean almost surprised himself when he heard his voice so full of conviction. Deep down, he knew he felt afraid, but he'd be lying if he wasn't willing to risk everything to protect those he loved.
"Then we'll make it so it'll never reach that point." Laura said. Afterwards, she let out a deep breath and her expression suddenly shifted to something different. "Speaking of, you mentioned your students."
"Well, technically, you mentioned them earlier too."
"That's besides the point." The swordswoman coughed into her fist. "That girl in your class. Not Altina, that is. Is she…? I noticed that she was wearing the hairpin you bought from Celdic."
Rean blanched. He was trying his best to not let this topic crop up, but he knew one of them would figure it out sooner or later. He just so happened to meet up with the three of the four classmates who met her that day during their field study in Heimdallr.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"So you noticed too, Laura? I thought the same thing when I met her at the cathedral. The pink hair is kind of a giveaway."
"What are you guys… Ohhhh. I get it now. I knew that girl looked familiar." Fie's smirk widened. "Too bad for you, huh Rean? Having your dearly beloved as a student? Unless you're willing to risk it all then…"
"...We are not talking about this."
Derfflinger Car 3
"One for Kurt and one for Allie!" Juna placed down two mugs in front of her classmates, a brew of black coffee in front of Kurt and warm milk for Altina. Take your time and enjoy." She said with a bow, adopting a faux waitress persona for the two.
"Ah, thank you."
"Thanks. Though, out of curiosity, what do you mean by 'Allie'?"
"Oh that? Just a little nickname I wanted to give you. You like it?" Juna's smile only grew wider. From what she could tell about the young girl, she hadn't had much of a childhood. Perhaps giving her a cute name would be a good starting point for her to act more like a kid on occasion.
"You're starting to sound like Millium now." Altina sighed, but took a sip of milk anyway. "Oh well. I don't particularly mind. Call me whatever you'd like."
It was… a start.
"Glad you're on board then! Well, if you two don't have any more requests how about we-" Before Juna could grab her own meal and drink, she saw a shuffling of blue out of the corner of her eye. Footsteps followed towards the door. "Kurt?"
He held up a hand as if he knew what she was going to say. "Don't worry. I'm just going to train. I appreciate the meal, but I don't have much of an appetite right now."
Juna's mind flashed back to a few hours ago when Rean ordered them to stand by. From all the years she knew him, she never saw him that cross with anyone. Sure, he was tall but that was the first time he ever looked imposing.
"If what Re- If what the instructor said back there really bothered you then-"
"I'm fine." Kurt's sharp voice cut through the tense air. With a hefty sigh, he turned back to Juna, his eyes tinged with red and his voice growing meek. "I know he did it to keep us out of danger. Based on our performance the other day, it would be ridiculous for us - for me - to join him. What he said wasn't wrong."
Juna watched as Kurt clenched and relaxed his fist multiple times over the course of their conversation. It was as if his own body couldn't bring itself to decide whether to deny or accept Rean's claims. Part of her wanted to run over and give him a hug. The other part of her held back, because she knew exactly how he felt.
That feeling of utter helplessness. That no matter what you tried to do, it would never be enough. Everything around you crumbling down with the debris and no amount of comfort would be enough to bring you back to your feet. She hadn't felt that since… well, since the annexation. And it was only after all that… she came face-to-face with the person she put all the blame on. The very same person that was causing Kurt's grief at this very moment. The only difference being that Kurt was actually smart enough to think things through while she stood her ground and remained stupid and impulsive.
"Even so, I can't help but still feel pathetic." Kurt clenched his fist one more time, this time his eyes were filled with determination and conviction. "But this is simply because I'm not good enough as I am now. All I can do is accept it and let it fuel me for next time - provided there is a next time."
Now that was unexpected. Juna raised a brow, repeating the boy's words in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to chuckle. Perhaps the two of them weren't so different after all. And not just them, but Rean too.
"Boys are so bad at this sort of thing," she said with a sigh and her hands on her hips.
"Huh?"
"Listen, Kurt. I get that you want to sound all tough and grown up and thinking that accepting the way things are is the best way to go about it, but the look on your face is telling me a different story."
"..."
"There's nothing wrong with just saying 'I'm frustrated I got left behind'. No one should be okay with being tossed aside like that. Allie and I feel the same way."
She turned to Altina, silently nudging her to support her claim.
"'Frustrating' may not exactly be the way I would describe it, but I do share the opinion generally speaking. I've supported Instructor Rean in his missions over the past year. Though I am technically his student now, I remained unconvinced it was a good reason for excluding me."
So that was the extent of their relationship then? Juna wondered to herself. Out of all the students in school, Altina seemed to be the most attached to Rean. It was clear from orientation that the two were already acquainted with each other, but she found it difficult to determine how much.
"And I am positive he would not have been as successful had I not been there for him."
"Wow, bragging much?"
"Merely stating the facts."
Kurt scratched the back of his neck, averting his eyes from the group. "I know all of that. I do." He then balled his fists, his nails digging into his palms, almost drawing blood. He slammed it down onto the metal booth that he and Altina shared not even a few minutes ago, startling the two girls. "But even so, what am I supposed to do? I let my pride get in the way and this is where it led me."
Those words resonated with Juna. Whether it be the desperation or the acceptance of defeat, she felt like she dealt with a situation like this before. Her lips curled into a grin, inwardly scoffing at her own hesitance.
"You do something about it, that's what." Juna stated matter-of-factly, putting her hands on her hips and raising her chin upwards with all the confidence in the world. Her positive demeanor caught her classmates' attention as she continued. "The worst thing you can do about something that upsets you is absolutely nothing. Even if it seems hopeless, you struggle and struggle and keep struggling until you get where you want to be. At least, that's what I've learned from the people I admire."
She held her hand over her chest, thinking back on fond memories. All the time she spent with the Special Support Section was never for naught. They served as a beacon of hope for Crossbell's future even when their backs were against the wall. She recalled back to the time she first read about them in the paper. One thing led to another and things snowballed from there. Not bad from her old neighbor Lloyd.
Of course, she'd be remiss to dismiss her admiration of her best friend too. In spite of his current attitude towards her specifically, Rean was always someone who refused to give up. Time and again, he had shown his problem solving abilities through his cleverness, resourcefulness, and resilience and that sort of attitude bled into Juna's way of thinking. She always held a positive front, but Rean was the one who taught her to look at things at every angle and act accordingly. It was a shame that she had forgotten those teachings, but it was another thing to add to her list to not give up on.
"So, Kurt. What do you want to do?"
She stared at the young man, her eyes demanding an answer. Off in the corner of her eye, she could make out Altina approvingly nodding her head, as if she was also on board with whatever plan Juna had cooked up.
And soon enough, even Kurt gave in.
"Okay, you got me." He raised his hands in mock defeat. "You're certainly optimistic. Or at the very least, refreshingly blunt."
"I've been told that on occasion, yes."
"Then I'm assuming you have a plan?"
"A plan? That… might be in contention."
"...Then I'm assuming that's a no?"
"I kinda do and I kinda don't? I honestly didn't think we'd get this far."
Altina shook her head. "Unbelievable. It's almost impressive you managed to convert your optimism to pure adrenaline."
"Watch it. I know where you sleep."
"Heehee, well if that's the case, I think I might have something you three might be interested in."
Juna jumped up, a sweet voice from behind sending shivers up her spine. She turned around to see an innocently giggling Musse while Juna's cheeks glowed red with embarrassment.
"Musse! Don't do that!"
"Aww, how can I resist? You left yourself open after all."
"Ah, forget it. So did you need something? I know I owe you and all."
"Oh, quite the opposite. Like I said, I happen to overhear a little something that you three might be glad to hear as well."
The three arched their brows at the mint-haired girl. None of them were able to parse why she was offering her help, but it didn't seem like they had any other options.
"And knowing you guys, I'm willing to bet some mira that it's gonna be fun." A new voice, arrogance riddled within, came from behind. At the door from the next train car stood Ash, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed like he was some stereotypical bad boy. "Count me in."
"How long were you waiting to jump in like that?"
"Heh. I looked pretty cool there, didn't I?"
"No. No, you didn't."
"You keep telling yourself that, buddy."
"Major Arundel has you beat, I'm afraid."
"I bet he practiced that in the mirror this morning to get it juuuuust right~"
A vein popped on Ash's forehead.
"I hate all of you."
"So here's the plan…"
…
…
…
…
"...What was that?"
"What do you mean?"
"All you did was point at the Soldats, pointed in another direction, and then slammed your fist into your palm."
"...Was that not sufficient?"
"It… got the general gist across, but I can't exactly say it would qualify as a 'plan'."
"Like, I get it Egret, you want to make it feel more like a heist - which, don't get me wrong, I'm all for - but maybe try being a little more specific next time."
"Ah boo, all of you are no fun."
Musse pouted, huffing at the rest of the group. Juna may not have been known as a world-class detective like Lloyd and his brother, but at least she could tell the young girl wasn't actually upset about the innocuous exchange. As Kurt said, her animated motions did highlight the plan pretty well, but perhaps Juna underestimated how childish Musse could be at times. Once this was all over and she and Rean were on better terms, Juna had to repay her in one way or another. She owed her big time.
"Well, with us joining Combat Tactics for Soldat drills, that's probably the best we're gonna get. We'll hijack one once we're at the designated area and find Instructor Rean as soon as we can!"
"You can leave that part to me," Ash said confidently, digging his thumb into his chest. "Doubt Orlando would be surprised if I was the one to do it. Fuzzball here already knows where he went, yeah?"
Musse narrowed her eyes. "Do not call me that."
"Then all you guys gotta do is lead the way there. Easy peasy."
"Speaking of which," Kurt turned to the girl mentioned, "how do you know that the instructor went in that direction, Musse? He never even came back to give his report from Saint-Arkh. And last we were there, the area was completely barren."
If Juna knew any better, she would had thought that the mint-haired girl would find some way to deflect in a playful manner, attributing her finding as intuition or some sort of lucky guess. Musse had an impressive silver tongue, manipulating her words to come off as innocuous yet omniscient and still somehow getting away with it. However, she saw her expression darken and her mood somewhat sour.
"It might be best if you didn't know, Kurt." Musse said with a somber tone with a hint of bitterness and regret. "Not yet."
The tone shift was jarring, no one knowing how to respond. Even Ash didn't bring himself to come up with a witty response.
What was that about?
"..."
Yuri? Is everything okay?
"It's fine. Perhaps you and your class should get going. I see Randy gathering his class already."
Juna inwardly sighed. Whatever was behind that closed-off fence must have been some sort of international secret if even Musse had it in her to act that seriously. Well, she wasn't going to find out just by standing there.
"Let's go. We got a plan to pull off and an instructor to save."
April 22, S.1206 - Hamel
"Is something the matter, Rean?"
Laura's query took Rean by surprise. It was an innocent enough question, one only birthed from a place of concern, but it somehow shook him to his core.
"I… I don't know. There's something about this place that just… feels eerily familiar."
They stood within the remains of Hamel, a village in which they learned of its ruin thanks to their newly acquired bracer ally. From what he could imagine, it was once a humble yet thriving hamlet, a peaceful home that deserved none of what it got. He had never heard of the settlement's name until just a few hours ago and yet something in his heart told him that he had been here once before.
He aimlessly wandered around the burnt buildings and debris-ridden roads, only to have a wooden object brush against his legs. It was a toy sword, not unlike the ones he was familiar with in his younger years. He recalled the few times he and Elise practiced swordplay back in Ymir. Juna often watched them, cheering for his sister when she was supposed to be neutral.
But it was just that. A toy sword wasn't proof to explain why he felt attuned to Hamel. Did he come here when he was younger, when he was still under Osborne's care? He couldn't come up with any sort of explanation as to why a notorious man such as he would visit such a remote location with his toddler son (…That thought still shook him to his core, but he ignored it for the time being). It didn't sound like Kasia, his birth mother, traveled much either.
"Well, I can't speak for you," Laura started somberly. She turned her gaze towards the ruined homes and let out a defeated sigh. "But this sight is a grave reminder of what happened to Celdic during the civil war. The damage is obviously worse, but… that image is still seared into my memory."
Rean shook his head. "No. This is different. This feels- Gahhhh!"
A sudden beat boomed within his chest. He fell to his knee, barely able to keep himself upright with his arm. His other hand clutched his heart in an attempt to calm the quaking tremors in his body.
"Rean?!" Laura ran over, steadying her friend. The man was shaking, as if his own body reacted to the very ground they walked on. "Are you okay?"
The pounding of his heart subsided as quickly as it emerged. Rean's breaths stablized, if not a bit heavy. Not unlike the times he… No, best to push those moments out of his head. The scars on his arm only just healed, after all.
"Y-Yeah, I think I'm fine now." He stood up, all the pain dissipating like the fog in Legram. "I-I don't know what came over me."
Laura shot him a skeptical look. She was used to him hiding how he truly felt behind his honeyed words, but he assured her he was telling no lie this time. He felt as if the pain was never there at all.
"Trust me. I'm okay."
"If you say so. But, what do you think that was?"
Rean glanced at the ruins of the small town once more. None of the burned down architecture looked out of the ordinary. If he tried imagining the village in its proper state, he would not have been able to point out anything that would make it stand out from any other Erebonian hamlet. What was it about this place that felt familiar?
"I think my… power is resonating with this place. It's not as bad as what happened in the Infernal Castle but… I don't know how to really describe it."
Laura's eyes narrowed at him. "You don't think you'd lose control over it again, do you?"
"No. It feels too light for that. But I'll stay cautious from pushing myself too far."
The tension in his body completely evaporated as swiftly as it formed. The pain never felt severe enough to be a concern; as if it was only meant to serve as a warning of sorts.
"You better. Otherwise, you'll have a lot to answer for."
"Knowing you guys, I'd never live it down." Rean chuckled. Seeing Fie, Elliot, and Agate from his peripheral vision, he motioned in their direction. "C'mon. They're waiting for us."
The plan was set in motion.
Juna, Kurt, and Altina watched on as the entirety of Combat Tactics practiced with the Soldats. They made sure to stand away from the pack, ready to make their move when needed. Each student piloted the huge mechanical marvels, clashing with each other and maneuvering around the heavily forested areas. It was technically impressive, sure, but it bored Juna to tears considering how long the process took.
With only two Soldats on hand, the comparatively larger Class VIII took much longer to switch out between pilots. Besides that, Juna wasn't exactly stoked to watch two giant robots duke it out when she was so used to how she saw them back in Crossbell.
Ignoring her dormant distaste, she shook off those thoughts. It was best not to linger on for as long she wanted to remain at the branch campus and as Rean's friend.
"We're still working on that part."
Shut up.
She had to admit though, driving a Soldat was pretty cool. Nothing like driving an orbal car or boat. She wasn't as much of a speed junkie like Noel or a mech-head like Wendy, but she could at least appreciate a fine piece of machinery when she saw one.
"Oh look, Ash is finally up. And lucky for us, he's facing off against Sidney."
"Please don't say it like that. I don't think I can handle his self-esteem being damaged even more during one of my study sessions."
"Hmm? Lucky how?" Juna responded lamely before snapping her fingers. "Oh right, the plan!"
Altina stared at her blankly. "Did you seriously forget?"
"I was, uh… ruminating?"
"Not about the Sanguine Ogre, I hope."
"I told you that was an honest mistake!"
Kurt sighed. "Aren't we supposed to wait for Ash's signal? Come on, you two. Pay attention."
"Ugh, fine. As if I'm excited to watch more giant robots fighting."
"Wasn't this whole thing your idea in the first place?"
"I just… have other thoughts on my mind. That's all."
Kurt glanced at her. She was afraid of his reaction to her inattentiveness, but felt relieved the moment she saw that there was no judgment in his eyes. Only concern.
"Then allow me to apologize for making you follow through with my selfishness. I can give you time to gather your thoughts before the operation starts."
Juna felt the guilt seeping into her soul. She did bring up the whole 'take action' approach to Kurt because she genuinely wanted to help him with his situation. In spite of their initial meeting, they both have come to respect each other as classmates and even view each other as friends. Pushing him to stand up for himself, especially when his situation mirrored hers to an extent, was the least she could do.
However, she could hardly deny that she also wanted to help out Rean above everything else. Maybe it was a way for her to wipe her conscience clean so they can start anew, or maybe she wanted to put him in her debt so that he could listen to her for once in his life. Or maybe she just wanted to help him out because they were friends. The only thing that she knew was that her feelings were complicated on the matter.
She shook her head. "You're not making me do anything. I want to help you, Kurt. It's the least I can do for being such a pain since orientation. That said, I think I'll take you up on that offer. The nerves are probably getting to me."
"Don't worry about it. You're helping me out, so it is only fair that I help you back. We're friends, are we not?"
Her eyes widened the slightest bit, taken aback - but not completely taken by surprise - that he would assert their relationship as such. Still, she was glad that she was truly making new friends in Erebonia given her initial impression. "Yeah, thanks," she replied, the side of her lips creeping upward. Without another word, Kurt left the group, observing the mock battle between the Soldats.
"You two have grown quite friendly with each other."
Juna glanced back at Altina. Her hands were both behind her back, adopting an innocent pose as if her tone didn't bely the meaning behind her statement.
"What? I can be cordial with other people, you know."
"So can Instructor Rean, yet he's somehow seduced most of his schoolmates."
"I feel like you have a very skewed view on what you consider romantic when he's your only point of reference…"
Juna chuckled at the younger girl's muted pout. It was clear that Altina didn't have much life experience, so she couldn't hold her assumption against her. If anything, it only made her want to pat her head and comfort her like she did with her siblings.
"Speaking of, I noticed something back at camp." Altina said, analyzing Juna carefully. "And I think the same thing happened the other day prior to meeting Laura in front of the gate."
Juna arched her brow after fighting back the urge to pet the girl. "What are you talking about?"
"You called Instructor Rean by name."
Juna paled. "...What?"
"I said-"
"No! You don't need to repeat it!"
Shit, she was too careless! She tried her damnedest to refer to him as "Instructor Schwarzer" for the past few weeks that she actually had to practice in front of a mirror! All that years training in the academy down the drain!
"Juna dear? I think you may be overreacting."
…Okay, she might have been exaggerating a tad, but that didn't mean she couldn't complain about it!
She found herself in an unenviable position after all. While they were going through a rough patch, there was no doubt in her mind that Juna considered Rean a good friend. Her best friend. She wanted to do everything in her power to make it so that he saw that too.
However, she also had to consider her stance at school. Sure, she wasn't exactly thrilled to be here, but things could get… problematic if it got out that they were childhood friends. If they go back to how they were before, great! But do that in front of other people? They might as well throw professionalism out the window! What if rumors spread? What if he showed favoritism?!
She briefly glanced at Altina, who responded with a tilt of her head.
Okay, maybe that last one wasn't as much of an issue as she anticipated.
But still…
"Juna, you know you do not have to answer any inquiries if it makes you uncomfortable." Altina said, breaking the pink-haired girl out of her brief mental breakdown. "I've been told that I can be rather… blunt with my questioning."
Juna stared wide-eyed at the younger girl, but nothing about her expression screamed that she was being anything less than genuine. A little confused, sure, and a lot bit worried, but more concerned about Juna's wellbeing than her own curiosity. That was more than enough to get Juna to calm herself down.
"Thanks, Allie-"
"However, know that my primary mission is to protect him. I have taken a liking to you, Juna. Please do not do anything that would jeopardize his life."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
Before any more words could be exchanged (and potentially make things more awkward), a loud crash shattered their ears. Turning back towards the sight of the mock battle, Ash's blue Drakkhen loomed over Sidney's fallen magenta Drakkhen on the ground. Based on positioning, Ash had finished the fight by hooking his weapon onto his opponent's leg and tripping him over.
However, before Randy could even call for the next participants, Ash immediately booked it towards Parm.
"What the hell- ASH GET BACK HERE!"
"Sorry, Teach, but I got some big plans for this bad boy!" Ash goaded. "Don't worry, I'll bring it right back!"
"You'll bring it back right now, ya little shit!"
Juna and Altina watched, dumbfounded, as the chaos unfolded. The other students struggled to help Sidney stand the fallen Drakkhen back up. Whatever damage it took must have at the very least jumbled the controls.
"DAMMIT!" Randy cursed, slamming his fist onto the remaining Soldat. Whatever he hit, it was just enough for Sidney to take back control and get back on his feet. "Everyone in Combat Tactics, return to base! We'll regroup and chase after Ash afterwards!"
"S-Sir!"
The students began to scramble back into position, preparing to march back to camp. Poor Sidney was shaking when he ejected out of his Soldat, but at least he was still well enough to keep walking. As a safety measure, another student took the reins on the return trip.
"I… guess that was the signal?"
"I suppose so."
They saw Kurt run back up to their position. He nearly keeled over from how fast he ran, but there was no helping it considering how short of a window Ash gave them in the first place.
"Let's get going. Altina, you're up."
"Roger. Come, Claiomh Solais."
Altina's combat shell manifested in thin air, whirring and beeping before wrapping its arms around the three students. A clear hexagonal barrier surrounded them before completely shrouding their physical bodies. The trio had become completely invisible.
"Whoa, I didn't think that'd actually work."
"Claiomh Solais's stealth functions are second-to-none and are a key reason behind my many successful missions." Altina remarked, a rare tinge of pride coming from her voice. "However, it will not conceal us for very long nor will it hide our voices. We should rendezvous with Ash quickly and quietly."
Kurt and Juna nodded, weirdly being able to tell even with the invisibility cloak on.
"This time, it's our turn to help out the instructor."
Steel clashed upon the open field with Duvalie intercepting Laura's attacks with her shield and Shirley effortlessly parrying Agate's behemoth of a blade and Fie's swift movements. Within a split second, Rean was able to cut in and swat away a long-range shot aimed at Agate.
"Nice save!"
Rean shot him an affirmative grin before returning into the fray. The battle between them and Ouroboros had been dragging on for quite some time now. It was strange to say the least, considering that they had all been mourning in front of a grave just a few minutes earlier. Shirley was surely no stranger to a change in dynamic.
Now they were facing off against Red Constellation's war hounds and the Stahlritter's Sleipnir units. He already had experience fighting with Duvalie a few years prior and it was enough to know that she earned the title of "The Swift'' for good reason. And while only Fie had any knowledge against Bloody Shirley, he could tell she was fighting as ruthlessly as any jaeger he knew, maybe even more so. They had to finish this now lest something even worse happened.
"Agate!" Rean called. "Give me a boost!"
"You got it!" The red-headed bracer pulled out his ARCUS and channeled his energy into it. "Let's go, Crimson Break!"
The six combatants were enveloped in a fiery red aura that imbued itself into each of their weapons. The sword in Rean's hands grew heavier in weight - fitting of the power of a Brave Order utilized by the Heavy Blade - but strength also coursed through his body, making the difference nothing short of miniscule.
He drew his blade back, sheathing it as he steadied his breathing. In one simple motion, he dashed forward, penetrating through the enemy's defenses and knocking them down with the power of the mighty Gale. With their combined speed, Fie was able to follow-up Rean's lead flawlessly.
"Finish it off, Laura!"
"Understood." The blue-haired woman mirrored Agate's earlier actions with her own ARCUS. "Rise, Valiant Hearts!"
With the power of Laura's Brave Order, the weight of their weapons grew lighter as Agate's order washed away. While their strength was still increased, Laura's order sharpened their weapons to an even greater degree.
Before their opponents could pull themselves back up, Laura rushed forward in a blue light. Her movements were swift, seemingly impossible so due to the massive blade she wielded, but natural to her Arseid sword style. Each motion produced afterimages of herself, as if leaving an illusory but tangible mark on the enemy with every swing. With one last overhead slash, she proved to Rean her mastery of the Arseid school with its ultimate technique he knew all too well: The Radiant Phoenix Slash.
At the end of it all, the Sleipnir units exploded into smithereens and the military monsters drew their last breaths. Just as incredible as it was when her father used it against him in their duel when they went to Legram.
However, even after taking a direct hit from Laura's strongest attack, neither Duvalie nor Shirley looked any worse for wear. They stood back up, dusted themselves off, and assumed their fighting stances once more.
"Not too shabby!" Shirley exclaimed, her voice filled with bloodthirsty glee. "Any later than that and I might've found my head sliced clean off!"
Duvalie shot her partner an incredulous glare. "You are way too nonchalant about that…"
"Comes with the jaeger territory," the wild red-head shrugged. Following her playful banter, Shirley's expression went back to its carnal stance. "'Sides, I'm having way too much fun here! Sylphid and Heavy Blade are definitely givin' me a kickass time! Even the musician is making this fun. Although…" She turned to Rean; her blazing red irises searing into his skin. "Hey, Ashen Boy! I'm less than impressed with you. Why don't you stop holding back? I could always…" Shirley revved up her weapon, causing it to roar to life, "lend a hand."
Rean bit his lip. The look in her eyes made it clear that this girl was far from pulling any jokes or japes. If this fight went on for any longer, he might be forced to tap into his power. However, based on the aftermath the other day, it wouldn't look pretty for him once all was said and done.
"Not on my watch!" Fie charged in, attempting to intercept Shirley's massive weapon before she could goad Rean any further. But before they could clash, Fie's honed senses immediately alerted to danger and she jumped out of the way; narrowly dodging a bullet coming her way.
"What was that?"
"One of the Red Constellation's snipers." Agate clicked his tongue. He tightened his grip on his blade, blocking another incoming shot from a different direction coming from a woman with long purple hair wielding a bow. Behind her was another woman with brown hair tied in a ponytail, bringing up the total enemies to match their own. "Looks like we're back to where we started."
Duvalie smirked, nodding her head at the two other women in the distance. Judging by their distinctive matching armor, Rean could only postulate that they were the other members of the Stahlritter.
"Well, well Ashen Chevalier," Duvalie addressed his title with sweet venom leaking from her tone, "I suppose you'll have to take a rain check on that victory lap of yours. We'll be the ones who walk away victorious today!" Gunshots could be heard in the distance. "OH COME ON!"
Judging by Duvalie's crestfallen expression, one thing was certain. Those volleys were not on their side. Following the gunfire came two waves of energy slicing through the air. The bow-wielder of the Stahlritter stepped aside, elegantly avoiding the attack and focused her attention to her attacker. "Well, well. Seems like we have more guests."
The other member pulled out a long halberd, intercepting an aerial attack from behind the trees. Sparks flew when the weapons collided, only subsiding to reveal the perpetrator.
"Is that… Kurt?!" Elliot exclaimed.
"Wait… if he's here then…" Rean's gaze shot towards the back, seeing a blur of pink and silver from behind the trees. "Crawford, Orion! What are you all doing here?!"
"Apologies, Instructor," Kurt repositioned himself, vaulting off the halberd and back onto his feet. Before the woman could retaliate any further, Altina flew in, slicing the air with Claiomh Solais's bladed arm. Joining them was Juna, deflecting a flurry of arrows coming from the bow-wielding knight. "However, we found it in our best interest to join you here today."
"I gave you a direct order to-!"
"An order we cannot obey." Altina interjected. "We have received valuable information and decided to provide support. As it aligns with the objective of our class, we are to make judgment calls based on the situation. Such is required of Special Ops missions."
"That's not-"
Despite the distance, Juna halted Rean's attempted justification with a determined look. "We talked about it amongst ourselves and we all came to the same decision. Just like you did with your own classmates, we want to carve out an identity for ourselves! We may lack skill and resolve, but as far as we know, this is what we want to do!"
Mouth agape and astonished, Rean watched Juna as she and her classmates fought against the two Stahlritter in an effort to hold them back. For a brief moment, she resembled a shining beacon for those around her. He was so flabbergasted that he almost couldn't hear Duvalie stomping the ground and yelling obscenities behind him. The only reason he broke out of his trance was thanks to Laura firmly gripping onto his shoulder.
"You know… They aren't too far off from how we acted." Her expression softened with her tone. "Perhaps you were worrying too much."
Laura's comforting touch put Rean's mind at ease as his expression softened. He broke a wistful smile as he watched his students engage in combat against their Stahlritter opponents. "The grass really is greener on the other side, huh? Guess this is what it feels like to be a proud parent."
"Alright pops, don't get too in over your head there," Fie teased. "Last thing you want is to get lackadaisical like Sara was."
The three stared at her.
"What? I remember the vocab words Emma taught me." The three raised their brows. "...Some of them."
Rean let out a sigh. "Let's just get this over with before Duvalie blows her casket off any further." He looked back at Juna and the others, releasing a brief chuckle. "Besides, I want to have a word with them once this is all over."
"A good word, I hope." Elliot joined in, his melodious laughter merged with Rean's. However, it came to a sudden halt when a peculiar sound rang in his ears. "Hey Rean, do you hear that? It sounds like… whirring wheels."
He closed his eyes, attempting to locate the same sound Elliot heard. While his senses were keen due to his Eight Leaves training, Rean could not exactly brag that his hearing was as well-tuned as his musician friend's. After a few more moments of separating Duvalie's groaning from everything else, he did indeed hear the sound of moving wheels.
The moment he did, the wheels screeched to a halt. The sound of heavy metal echoed in the ravine and with it, came a familiar voice.
"'Scuse me! Pardon me! Giant ass robot comin' through!"
…
Rean facepalmed.
"Oh, you have got to be shittin' me."
"First, you ignore my explicit orders to stand down. Then you go AWOL from training and stole a Panzer Soldat for unauthorized use! If you were actual soldiers, you'd be in front of a court-martial right now!"
To say Rean was upset would be nothing short of an understatement. His eyes burned with fury under his furrowed brows. His hands held firmly on his hips as he glared at his three students who struggled to get a word in edgewise. They winced with each passing word that escaped his lips, his tone rising with each statement.
"I will accept full responsibility for this." Kurt finally spoke up, finding a brief reprieve within Rean's reprimanding. "It was on my whim that I wanted to come to your aid and Juna and Altina went along with it."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on! We all agreed to do this!" Juna crossed her arms and glared at her classmate. "If someone's taking the fall for it, we take it as a team!"
"I agree with Juna. You didn't force us into this position, so it is only fair that we all take our share of the blame."
Rean's eyes shifted between the three as they all made arguments on who should receive the punishment. It would have been amusing had he still not been furious with them, but he couldn't exactly bring himself to stay mad for too long. His lips curled up into a slight smile as his own experiences of disobeying his instructors flashed into his mind. It seemed that, no matter what, Class VII would always be fated to go above and beyond. Even if that meant going against orders and protocol.
Besides, the looks Laura, Fie, and Elliot were shooting him probably signaled that he was being a tad too harsh and far too hypocritical.
"No matter who is taking the blame, all that matters is that this is something I cannot overlook as your instructor. Beneficial or no, this won't go unanswered. That goes for all three of you."
The students slumped over, both in relief that Rean finally stopped lecturing them and in defeat that there was no way of worming their way out of punishment.
"But I have to say, your transgressions aside, I was very impressed with you all."
"...Huh?"
At long last, Rean relaxed his body and made his smile of pride more apparent. In turn, his students mirrored his actions minus the expression as they were left even more confused after his following laughter.
"You all held down the Stahlritter quite excellently, especially after Carbide created that opening with his Soldat. I've only fought one of their members myself and she wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Crawford, it would be far from an exaggeration to say it was your leadership that gave you an advantage in that fight. With the Stahlritter's leader occupied, you kept up the offensive against two seasoned fighters while playing to everyone's strengths."
"O-oh! Uh, thanks?" Juna arched her brow, somewhat blown away that this was probably the first normal exchange they've had in ages.
"Orion, you did excellently supporting your classmates as they held the front line. Your analytical skills and management of arts in rear support complimented the team's weaknesses where they counted, which lead to you all making more informed and deliberate split-second decisions. A valuable skill to have in any situation."
"I-I appreciate it." Altina stumbled, clearly off-put by Rean's sudden change in demeanor.
"As for you, Vander, I was impressed with you most of all."
"I-I'm sorry?"
"I could tell from your engagement with the Stahlritter alone that there was a major change in your sword hand. Once you checked up on Carbide and assisted me within the Soldat, that only confirmed my suspicions. You wielded your blades with so much more determination and confidence now, even if you weren't entirely sure of why that was. But if you want my opinion, I think you do know why now. It's just a matter of putting it into practice."
Kurt was dumbfounded. It had only been a few hours, but it appeared that Rean's entire opinion on him had completely reversed. His crossed arms and confident affirmation said it all. Kurt turned to his classmates, both of which looked as proud as their instructor did.
"...Thank you, instructor!"
Rean nodded sagely, glad that he could be a source of confidence building and support to his students as Sara had been for him. However, his smile soon morphed into a devilish smirk, a habit he might have developed thanks to a certain minx within the branch campus.
"Now that the reviews are over and done with, let's discuss your punishment for disobeying orders. I think cleaning the cafeteria, kitchen and all, for the next week should be suitable."
…
"WHAT?!" The trio recoiled in shock, absolutely mortified about their instructor's proclamation.
"H-Hang on! I thought we were having a moment and everything!"
"I agree. You cannot just sing our praises one second and immediately divert to such a harsh punishment."
"I… can't say I'm surprised, given what we did, but even you must see the absurdity of your own heel-turn, instructor!"
Rean walked away to regroup with the rest of the staff, cackling along the way. He had no intention of abusing his position as a teacher, but he had to admit that he had some fun messing with his students. He waved at them, not even bothering to look at their betrayed faces. "If you have any qualms, you can take it with Principal Le Guin! But let me warn you all, she's quite the fan of 'building character'."
The sound of their groaning became music to his ears.
Later that night
"One hell of a day, huh?" Randolph remarked, pouring himself a drink. He cursed under his breath that Major Irving had prohibited any alcohol aside that of the medical variety in the Derflinger, but he managed to deal with a decent cup of coffee.
"Tell me about it." Rean drawled. He splayed his entire upper body over the counter.
"Rean, don't lie on the counter." Towa scolded. "People eat there."
He made a mental note to wipe it down before going to bed. "Sorry. It's one thing after another when it comes to government work."
His co-worker chuckled. "Can't say I envy you. You definitely have it rough. How do you take your coffee, Schwarzer?"
"Cream and one sugar, please."
Randolph nodded. "And you, Herschel?"
"Same but with three sugars."
With a quick hand, the former jaeger placed two steaming hot mugs in front of his fellow instructors while sipping a bit of his own. "Well, everything turned out alright and no one got badly hurt. We should take the small victories when we can."
"Yeah, that's something at least." Towa nodded. "Plus, we know that the society must be up to something if they had an Aion with them. It's all a matter of figuring out what they plan to do next."
"Knowing those snakes? Who knows?"
"Yeah…" Rean sipped his coffee, barely contributing to the conversation. Today's events with Ouroboros was definitely on his mind, but it wasn't the sole point of interest that fogged his mind.
"Is something the matter, Rean?" Towa tilted her head in his direction.
"Let me guess. It has something to do with Junie."
Rean shot up from his seat, nearly spilling the hot liquid in his mug on his very white clothes. Thank Aidios Randolph managed to catch it before anything could happen or else he'd spend a better part of a year cleaning off the stains.
"Am I… that easy to read?" He must've been for a practical stranger like Randolph to tell immediately.
"Nah, I just had a feeling. You're not the only one who knows a thing or two about that little pink hurricane." The redhead chuckled to lighten the mood. "I'm faintly aware of the history you two share after all."
"O-Oh." Rean replied, a splash of red forming on his cheeks. "I'm guessing most of what she told you wasn't exactly pleasant to hear."
"Oh Rean…" Towa gave her younger colleague a sympathetic look. Part of him wanted to laugh, considering that two of his co-workers are fully aware of the bond he and Juna used to share. It was like another cruel joke from the goddess herself.
"I won't sugarcoat it, she was pissed after the annexation. To say she had a hint of venom in her voice whenever she said your name would be an understatement."
Rean winced, but he knew it wasn't unwarranted.
"But she seemed to have softened up since attending the branch campus. Personally thought she'd be more apprehensive being here, but looks like she's adjusting just fine. And she doesn't go out of her way to complain about you anymore either."
"Hold on, what?"
Randolph continued, completely ignoring Rean's inquiry. "Don't get me wrong, I think the punishment you gave them was well deserved, but what I'm trying to get at is maybe you two should try to meet halfway, yeah? It seems like it would do you both some good. She and her friends were only trying to help, after all." He took a sip. "Not that I can talk, considering how badly I went off on Ash."
"I agree with Randolph." Towa chimed in. "And it's not just with Juna. I've noticed that by pushing her away, you've been keeping all of the students at arm's length. Sure, we have to maintain a certain degree of professionalism, but how can we be supportive of them if we don't work hard to get to know them?"
Rean met eyes with his two colleagues. Listening to their stances and looking into their expressions, something within him… broke. It felt like a large weight was lifted from his shoulders. It may not have been completely gone, but it certainly felt lighter. He looked back into his coffee, watching as his reflection within the now cooled brown liquid staring back at him. A small smile graced his lips.
"Haha, it seems so simple in hindsight, huh? Man, what have I been doing?" He lifted his head to look back at the grinning faces of his colleagues. "Thank you Towa, Instructor Randolph."
"My pleasure!"
"'S no problem. 'Sides, I'd rather you both call me Randy. The only people who call me Randolph are my family and the less said about them, the better."
"Are you sure about that? I did sorta…"
"Annex Crossbell? Nah, after today, I could tell it wasn't really your fault. Sometimes you just gotta do the best you can with the cards you're dealt, ya know?"
"Ha, fair enough. Thanks… Randy."
The three continued their conversation, branching off from their original topic and exchanged stories prior to their current situation. Rean and Towa recounted many of their school memories, even bringing up the concert Class VII conjured up during the school festival. Rean's mischievous side also re-emerged as he recounted Towa's own concert a year before, which earned him a light slap upside the head. Randy meanwhile looked more fondly back on his memories with the SSS. Whether it be small moments like lunches he had with the team and teasing his old CGF colleague or the bigger cases like his encounters with the mafia.
Before they knew it, one of the train doors slid open, revealing a very drowsy Juna Crawford without her uniform and her hair untied.
"What are you three still doing up…?" She said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"We can say the same thing to you, Crawford. It's past curfew."
Juna almost shot awake, noticing that Rean was the first to speak. She scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "I just… needed a pick-me-up after today. It'd be hard to sleep otherwise. It'll be just a minute." She pouted as she mumbled those last few words, dragging her feet towards the fridge.
Towa and Randy exchanged a look and nodded, instantly reading each other's minds.
"You know? Junie's right. It's been a long day and I really need to get some shut-eye." Randy stretched his arms over his head. "Night everyone. Gonna catch those z's and sleep like a log tonight!"
"I should be going too. Rean, do you mind staying back and cleaning up? You still need to wipe down the counter after all."
Before he could voice his protests, he found two additional mugs in his hands, both drained of their rejuvenating concoction that would've surely kept the two instructors awake for longer. He attempted to glare at them, only to find them already on the other side of the second train car.
He sighed and moved over to the sink, washing the three ceramic cups and preparing paper towels to wipe down the puddle of sweat he left on the table. He took a moment to glance at the kitchen's other patron's actions. Juna had turned on the stove and placed a mug of milk over the surface. To the side, she was opening a small container of cinnamon.
Looking at her now, avoiding his gaze, it was a miracle she even somewhat resembled her old self. This was a girl who brought him out of his darkest times. A girl that he broke apart. And a girl who took those pieces and rebuilt herself from the ground up, determined to change the world. After everything she had been through, she still maintained her positive outlook to make the best of any situation. He looked at this girl and wondered, "Do I deserve to call myself her friend?"
He wouldn't know until he tried. To break the awkward silence, he finally spoke up.
"I see some old habits die hard."
Juna's eyes shot to his position, becoming as wide as saucers. "Are you… are you talking to me?"
Rean scoffed. "Do you see anyone else here?"
"No and that's what bothers me! Now you want to talk to me? What's with you?!"
He chuckled. "I ask myself that quite a lot these days. Still, I'm surprised you haven't outgrown cinnamon milk after all this time. You used to drink that all the time that I would've assumed you'd gotten sick of it by now."
"Well excuse me for having a childhood favorite! Unlike you, I actually like the same stuff from when I was a kid."
"Ouch. I can't help but feel that was a bit targeted."
"You'd feel right!"
He turned off the sink and shot her a playful smirk. "In that case, why don't you make me a mug too? Maybe I just need a reminder."
"Maybe I will!" Juna's sleepy state was completely forgotten as she snatched a clean mug from the cupboard and prepared the cinnamon milk in the same way she did with the first one. Once she was done, she huffed as she handed him the warm drink. Rean snickered to himself as he took a few sips while wiping down the table he so graciously grew intimate with. Once the cleaning was done, he sat back on the same stool as before and downing the rest of the beverage.
"So? How was it?" Juna took the seat next to him, taking a few sips of her own milk. The look in her eyes made it clear that she didn't expect much, but that became her own undoing.
"Just how I remember it. In fact, I think it might be better than your mom's."
"...Huh?"
Rean put the mug down and turned to Juna. The flabbergasted look on her face was more picturesque than anything he had seen in quite some time. The smile that formed on his lips was warmer than even the milk he just consumed. Without even thinking, he fell back onto his own old habit.
The pat on Juna's head was a sensation that felt nostalgic for the both of them.
"I'm sorry, Juna. For being so cold to you. It's been a rough year and a half and I… Well, I unfairly took it out on you. You were in your right to lash out at me for what I did to Crossbell, but that didn't mean I needed to take out my own frustrations like that."
His voice was gentle as was his hand brushing through her hair.
"...not fair."
"What was that?"
"That's not fair!" Juna shot up from her seat much like how he did earlier. However, it was his turn to catch the mug before any more spills could happen. "You can't just apologize to me out of nowhere after treating me like a stranger for a month!"
"I'm… sorry?"
"That's what I'm talking about! Ugh, you can be so frustrating sometimes, ya know?"
His mind flashed back to his old classmates. "So I've been told."
"And what's worse…" Juna sighed. "I was planning on apologizing to you."
"Juna… You know you don't have to…"
"Yes. Yes, I do." She sat back onto the stool, averting her eyes from his gaze and crossing her arms over the countertop. "I never tried to understand things from your side. I just blamed you for everything because it was easier to. Your face was plastered everywhere. On the newspapers, the flyers, and the jumbo screens because you were the 'Empire's hero'. Once there's a person that's given credit, then all logic flies out the window. A person is easier to blame than a faceless government."
Rean wanted to interject, but Juna was pouring her heart out. He couldn't find the appropriate opportunity to interrupt.
"And when I saw you again on the highway… I just… lost it. I never felt so powerless in my life and the only other person there? It was you and your Divine Knight. I became scared and I lashed out at you when you just wanted to help. I ended up putting my pride as a Crossbellan above our friendship. I should have trusted you and at least heard you out."
"Juna…"
"So that's why… I wanted to make things right between us. Or… at least somewhat better. Honestly, anything would be better than this… situation we're in now." She walked over to one of the booths in the train car, pulling out a gift bag with Saint-Arkh's department store's emblem emblazoned on it. "Oh thank Aidios it's still here."
She pulled out a box from the bag and handed it over to him.
"This is for you."
"Juna… you know you didn't have to-"
"Well, I know that now!" Juna looked away, embarrassment burning a hole in her face. "Look, I asked around for advice and I heard a physical gift would be the best way to get us to talk, all right?! It would be something to talk about rather than dancing around the topic like we've been doing for a month!"
Rean arched his brow, wondering who in the world gave her such advice. Concluding it didn't matter that much, he opened the box to find…
"An action figure?"
Inside was a small figure of a person. The build looked male, but given the manufacturing of action figures, he couldn't exactly pin down the identity of the character. The only features he could make out were the animalistic features of the costume and dark gunmetal-colored armor they were wearing.
Rean looked up to see Juna puffing her chest out with pride. "Not just any action figure. It's the Iron Wolf from Crossbell's new Beast Rangers line-up! They've been all the rage in Mishelam lately but they haven't really caught on outside of Crossbell yet. But their shows are awesome! They have these super wicked super moves that they unleash whenever they're facing a tough enemy and they've even made a radio show about them! Ken and Nana dragged me to one of their shows once and I was hooked! The Iron Wolf is the leader and he-"
"Pffft hahahahaha!" Rean roared in laughter, trying desperately to hold it in lest he woke up everyone else in the train.
"Hey, what's so funny?!" Juna put her hands on her hips as she glared him down with a pout. "I'm serious here! They're really cool!"
"No, no. I'm not denying that." Rean spoke between breaths, still struggling to hold in his laughter. "It's just… It's so you, Juna."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing bad. In fact, I'm glad. It feels like you haven't changed a bit since we last talked like this."
"You know, you'd sound a lot more sincere if you weren't holding in your laughter like your life depended on it."
He couldn't even bring himself to deny it as his laughter kept on coming. It was only a few minutes more before it died down but to Juna it felt like an embarrassing eternity.
"You done?"
"Y-Yeah…" Rean wiped a tear from his eye. "Yeah, I think I'm done."
"Remind me to never do anything nice for you ever again."
"I'm sorry. See? I'm super duper sorry." Rean apologized, clasping his hands together and interlacing his fingers and getting on his knees like a beggar. He even quivered his lips and pulled the puppy dog eyes! "Pwease fowgive me~"
Juna rolled her eyes. "Ugh, gross. I'm leaving."
So she said, but neither of them seemed willing to go back to bed. It had been a long time since they both had this much fun.
And the angst arc is over! ...ish. Yeah, I'm glad I can have our two main leads finally interact with each other normally again. I was originally thinking of pushing it off until the end of Crossbell, but that probably would've dragged it on for too long. At this point, I really want to focus more on the original content, the things that happen in between major story events. Of course, I'll still write what's important as time goes on, but this is a romance fic first and foremost so I have to treat it as such. I'm so glad I finally got this out to y'all and I greatly appreciate your patience! Thank you so much and see ya next time!
