kitsuneLovers94: In a nutshell, yes. With the threat itself over I'll begin filling in the holes of the things not mentioned before. I am aware it's a rough landing, but I didn't want to just info-dump everything and turn to the next page. The reviews have made it clear they're here for the fluff, but I can neither pretend the arc didn't leave something for the characters, and I think I can settle it through the same methodology the fic had before: Just serious talks in between having Hachiman tease and be teased by the characters.

Meeting outside like this felt incredibly awkward. Not only because of the whole dark magic incident. But because Hachiman wasn't used to visiting anyone but Claes and Alan. The same could be said about taking visits (only those two ever visited, alongside Keith, Stuart and sometimes both if they coincided). Their presence in Hachiman's life was constant enough that he had no qualms when they arrived unannounced, and would do the same if Sophia wasn't quick enough to tell him to correct his attitude.

Where was he going with all of this? Nowhere, really. He was just trying to distract himself from the fact that Hunt had invited herself to his home the next day from the 'incident' at the Claes' manor.

"...Sophia sure's taking her sweet time." Hachiman commented, suppressing the need to awkwardly laugh like he wasn't nervous at all.

"Did you two make up already?" Hunt raised an eyebrow, her usual teasing tone nowhere to be found.

"We didn't fight." Hachiman clarified "I was the one that told her to find protection in advance, and there wasn't much she could do so…"

Indeed. Back when the prince and Hachiman first went ahead to confront the Ascart patriarch, Hachiman took some time to talk to Sophia. He didn't reveal the plan, he knew all too well she would have tried to stop them, but did worry about her safety so he wanted her to protect herself. He wasn't sure where he got the light-infused amulet, he suspected but hadn't asked.

In the end, the fact that she did nothing about the dark magic didn't matter. He wanted her to keep herself safe, and something told him she would have found a way to free him when she realized her elder brother was too useless to defend himself.

She was a crafty girl like that.

"I see. That's great." Was that jealousy? Hachiman heard from Claes that Hunt's sisters were… Annoying. Had even teased her about it when she got in his nerves, but he never thought it would be that bad "It really is, Nicol-sama. Don't give me that look."

"Force of habit." Hachiman shrugged.

"I bet." Hunt chuckled "Seems like Nicol-sama is feeling better today. Yesterday you were…"

"Yes." Hachiman shook his head. Having his memories unlocked by Campbell's magic hadn't hurt. What did was the realization of what was happening, and how much he had screwed up.

"See, this is what I don't get." The girl took a demure sip of her tea, keeping her eyes on Hachiman all the while. He felt like a lion had locked in on her "Maria-san says you passed out immediately after she used her magic on you, but as Radea-sama was telling us what happened, Nicol-sama was awake… Insensate, but awake."

Yes, he was having an existential crisis.

Hachiman shook his head, earning himself a scoff.

"I… Owe you an apology. All of you, I mean." Hachiman sighed, looking down and balling his fists while he contemplated his words "For putting you all in danger. I understand if…"

"Well, yes." Hunt interrupted him, crossing her arms below her chest with the expression of someone looking down on him "What you and Gerald-sama did was incredibly moronic. Not even Katarina-sama would attempt to face the Prime Minister knowingly and willingly, not after knowing the Ministry was involved at least."

Hachiman blinked, imagining Claes bursting into the magic research department and demanding to speak with his father.

A pregnant silence followed, and while Hunt's expression relaxed somewhat she still looked deep in thought.

She wouldn't… Right?

"Did you really come all the way over to chastise me?" Hachiman murmured, trying to get the picture away from his mind.

"Of course I did." Hunt stretched her back, making herself look a bit taller. Though not much, since she was sitting "Alan-sama is a pushover, and Katarina-sama is way too kind. Someone has to put Nicol-sama in his place and it just so happens I have my schedule free."

"Gee, thanks for thinking so much about me."

"It is my pleasure." She cradled her cheek as she gave him the demure version of a mocking grin "It's not an everyday occurrence to see Nicol-sama actually feel sorry for his nonsensical behavior."

Her expression remained for a couple more seconds before it transformed into a mask of seriousness.

"Besides, I want to make sure we're not getting a repeat of all this. Dan-sama might be Nicol-sama's father, but I know all too well we can't always ignore when duty calls."

He didn't want to think about it, but Hunt was right. Nothing guaranteed his parents wouldn't just do it again if it came down to it. His mother did assure him nothing like that would happen but… Just who did that to their own son? He knew from the beginning, when he reincarnated, that this seemingly perfect family couldn't be true. That there was something hidden deep beneath.

The stalking servants were one thing, but it seemed like Hachiman had lulled himself into a false sense of security. In the end, every single person in this world had a mentality completely alien to Hachiman. So thinking that their so-called love for him would stop him would be… Would be too much to ask from them.

A bitter smile creeped on his face.

"I'm sorry, Nicol-sama." Hunt lowered her face for a moment "I do not mean to trouble you more but…"

"Yes, it's for the best." Hachiman took a lungful of air, trying to shove those thoughts away "Caution is never unadvised."

"Indeed." He didn't need her pity but… Well, somewhere in the middle of regreting and wanting to disappear he stopped thinking about these things.

His skin crawled, and giving his back to the manor now felt incredibly uncomfortable. But he at least remembered to watch out for anyone suspicious, just in case.

"Worry not." Hunt's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, but she was trying "No one wants a repeat, so we'll try to babysit Nicol-sama to the best of our abilities."

Hachiman cradled his head, elbows keeping himself from slamming his face on the table.

"I'll never live this down, will I?"

"I had to fake passing out, Nicol-sama." Now she had a bit of venom in her words, but Hunt was still holding back a lot. Which was honestly worse than her usual barbed comments now "Even if you were to send a written apology in magically enhanced slime-ink, and adorned with golden thread I'd still not forgive you."

"Yes, I suppose I'd be the same." Hachiman rested his chin on the table, putting aside his cup with his arm to avoid an accident "And Alan, and Campbell, and Claes…"

"Please, we both know Alan-sama is a pushover." Hunt reminded him "And… Well, Katarina-sama did seem a lot more troubled than usual. Maria-san…"

"She could have gotten hurt." Hachiman lamented "If there's someone entitled to never forgiving me, it's her."

"I won't forgive you either." Hunt reminded him with a pout "But you are correct. Something tells me Nicol-sama had no intention of going to apologize today, which is awful but not unexpected of you."

Hachiman clicked his tongue.

"It's too soon, she probably doesn't want to see my face." Not like he expected her to anytime soon.

"I'm sorry? It's not up to you when to apologize." Hunt frowned "What kind of weak-willed man thinks that way? I knew Nicol-sama made bad decisions, but please tell me you are joking."

"I…"

"No, never mind." Hunt interrupted him "I don't know what would be in worse taste. Just promise me you will go when I'm gone. Right when my carriage is leaving, I want to see Nicol-sama departing to the Claes manor. No buts, no ifs."

Hachiman cringed, almost hearing Sophia scolding him just like Hunt was doing. Difference was, his little sister would be even more mad since Hachiman had told her he wasn't feeling well.

Which was true, but not in the way that would physically impede him from going.

"Alright." Hachiman raised from his position again "I can do that."

Hunt merely raised an eyebrow.

"I will do that." Hachiman added.

"That's how it should be." Hunt nodded "If it hurts you pride, then you are doing the right thing. Apologies are supposed to have meaning like that, by showing the offended party one is truly repenting from one's mistakes."

"Shouldn't I bring a tribute or something?" He remembered his tutors mentioned something like that before, but as an Ascart he had never had to do a true apology like that.

"Well, unless Nicol-sama plans to cut his hand or something…" Hunt took another sip from her tea, letting Hachiman picture how that would go "A gift might not be the best solution."

Well, that wasn't two different subjects at all!

"Like, what? Flow一?"

"No flowers." Hunt stated dangerously "I don't want Nicol-sama to give anyone flowers."

"Okay, alright. Got it." Hachiman raised his hands without thinking "No flowers."

"Indeed." Hunt released her built up tension in a sigh "Goodness gracious, this man…"

"It's just that I've never given anyone a gift." Technically untrue, but the only girls he had gifted something to were Sophia and Claes. Both of them were pretty much in the same tune, so Hachiman had never had any trouble with them.

"You're not declaring your love to anyone." Hunt pointed out "And even if you were, please don't do that before or during an apology. That's just a terrible decision for everyone involved."

"Please, I know that much." Hachiman rolled his eyes "I'd have to be stupid to even try."

"Eh?" That got Hunt's attention "Oh, well yes. Katarina-sama is…"

"They're living together already." Hachiman pointed out "I can take a hint."

Another pregnant silence followed.

"I'm sorry…" Hunt caressed her eyes "What did Nicol-sama say?"

"You saw them." What was she even on about now? These two were as good at hiding it as a pair of fireflies in the dark "I'm not stupid, despite what Hunt might think."

Hunt's expression receded, like she had suddenly become a doll bereft of feelings. She stared without blinking at Hachiman for a few seconds, which stretched to the point Hachiman actually felt spooked by her. It occurred to him that maybe there was dark magic around, that they had fallen into a trap, but Hunt blinked and Hachiman realized that thought was completely stupid. He would have fallen under the influence too, and Dan wasn't home. So that wasn't really the case.

"Huh." Hunt murmured after a few minutes of having ceased to function normally "I guess I can see it, Katarina-sama has always been particularly clingy with Maria-san…"

"Don't tell me you just realized."

"Nicol-sama," Hunt glared at him as she usually did at the Academy "Tell me something. You do know my marriage with Alan-sama will lead nowhere, right?"

What? What was up with the change of subject?

"Well, yes." Hachiman replied, testing the waters "Alan did mention something along the lines at some point."

Hunt nodded.

"Do you know why?"

"You are more like siblings than a couple." Hachiman shrugged "Alan said as much and I'm not blind."

Hunt replied by rubbing her chin.

"It honestly should not be a surprise at this point, but Nicol-sama really knows nothing about relationships." Excuse you? Hachiman would have you know he has two lives of experience! From watching others from afar, but still! "I see why Nicol-sama is so intoxicatingly handsome, it is the only saving point you have."

That… Sounded like an insult…

"I'm a great mage." Hachiman knew it was incredibly lame to bring it up, especially since his so-called great magic was nowhere near Keith's own, but he couldn't just let this woman walk all over him.

"Nicol-sama has a total of two good points." Hunt conceded "Seriously, what am I ever going to do with you?"

"If you dislike me so much, you can get out of my house right now." Hachiman crossed his arms.

They stared down at each other for a moment before Hunt giggled.

"Indeed, it might be for the best. Since I hate Nicol-sama's demeanor so much." She downed the rest of her tea cheerfully. Almost the same Hunt he remembered from the Academy and their time listening to Alan play at the palace.

"Your tongue is way too sharp for a so-called lady." Hachiman rolled his eyes, a bit of a smile peeking on his face "But… I'm still grateful… Thank you for coming to see me Ma… Ma…"

"Stop." Hunt raised a hand, her smile smaller but still present "It is fine, Nicol-sama doesn't have to force himself. When things settle down, and Nicol-sama has collected his thoughts…"

The lady looked at the garden surrounding them, her expression serene.

"I know patience." She finished.

Hachiman stared at his tea cup.

"You are too good for Alan." He wasn't sure where that was coming from, but gratitude didn't come easily to him. And words always seemed to fail him when he needed to use them the most.

"And you aren't half bad yourself." Hunt replied "Do your best, Nicol-sama. I wish not for any more regret, and if Katarina-sama means half as much as she does to me… You should see her ASAP."

"...And Campbell?"

Hunt turned to him, a bit of a smirk on her lips.

"Just look pretty and authentic. It is ultimately up to Maria-san to forgive you or not." Her smirk fell out "And for the love of everything sacred, don't ever mention what you think she's doing at Katarina-sama's place. That's something you'll have to talk with Katarina-sama alone, but do not mention it to Maria-san. You hear me?"

"...Yes, m'am." Hachiman hunched over.

This woman was way too much for Hachiman to handle. But she was cunning where Claes was strong so… Hachiman could show sincerity by listening to her.

Besides... She wasn't half-bad looking when she was having fun with him. He could see himself getting used to it.