A/N: Told you I'd have another update soon...and I lied. Forgive me?

Disclaimer: It never has and it never will be mine.

"Mom, have you seen my athletic leggings?" Kaya called, looking through her dresser, towel clutched tightly around her body. "The pink ones with the purple stripes down the sides?"

"In the dryer, Baby!" Nilto called back. "I'm taking them out now."

Kaya squealed and raced to the laundry room, taking the leggings from her mother's outstretched hand. She kissed the exorcist on the cheek, grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you, Mommy! You're the best!"

"I know, Princess, I know."

Kaya sprinted back to her room, closing the door, and throwing on the leggings and a matching purple and pink sports top. She grabbed her cheer shoes and laced them up before running a brush through her wet curls, using a low-level Fire spell to heat her brush and dry her hair quickly. The curls were then pulled into a high, tight ponytail and fastened with a pink cheer bow.

Kaya Randak was one-hundred percent girly-girl.

Subtle make-up was applied next. She never wore a lot, just enough to enhance her natural beauty. Her mother always told her to be happy with who she was and how she looked; she was perfect just the way she was. Kaya was happy. She was loved and she was protected.

Throwing on her pink hoodie and grabbing Paulo's jacket, along with her cheer bag and phone, Kaya raced back down the stairs.

"Bye Mommy, bye Daddy, bye Damian!" She called, grabbing her keys from the hook by the door.

"HOLD IT!"

Kaya squealed and came to a screeching halt. She turned to her mother. "Mom, I'm going to be late!"

Nilto handed her a breakfast sandwich, a banana, and a bottle of water. She kissed her firstborn on her forehead and smiled. "Love you."

Kaya grinned and bit into the sandwich. "Love you, too!" She said, hurrying out the door. She hopped into the cab of her truck and started the engine, shifting easily into first gear, and made her way back into town to the Shinra Educational Facility. She ate the rest of her breakfast as she hurried to the gymnasium.

"Am I late?" She asked one of the other high school cheerleaders.

"Nope, but you weren't here to pick which grade you wanted, so you got stuck with the kindergartners," she told her sheepishly. "Sorry, Kaya."

Kaya jumped up and down. "Are you kidding?!" She exclaimed. "I love the kindergartners! Where are they?"

The other girl pointed and Kaya bounced over to them. "Hi guys!" she gushed happily. "I'm Kaya! Are you ready to have some fun?!"

Her enthusiasm was addictive, and the five-year-old girls and boys quickly returned her smiles and laughter. The first thing she did was take her face paints out and put the Fighting SOLDIERS logo on their cheeks as well as the jersey number of their favorite football player. She, of course, plastered a 47 on her cheek for Paulo.

Secondly, she had them stretch their arms, legs, backs, and necks so they wouldn't hurt themselves. She couldn't bear it if one of the little angels were to get injured.

Finally, she taught them one of her favorite cheers. "Okay, guys, are you ready?" She asked, getting into position to show them the movements to go along with the words they just memorized. "Ready, okay! SOLDIER fans, help us out with Go, Fight, Win! Come on! Go, Fight, Win! Go! Fight! Win! Huh! Go, fight, win, yeah!"

The cheerleader watched proudly as her mini-squad tried their best to mimic her movements. She repeated it for them probably a thousand times before the pizza arrived for lunch, but she didn't care. Kaya was having a blast.

Before they got covered in tomato sauce, Kaya gathered her group together and took a selfie with them, sending it immediately to her friends, her parents, and her social media page. She would send it to the kids' parents if they wanted it when they came to pick them up at the end of the day.

Happily, Kaya grabbed a slice of pizza and munched away, excited for the rest of her afternoon.

Paulo dropped the gil he got for the recyclables in a box for the Midgar Children's Society before heading home. The charity took care of abandoned or abused children, placing them with compassionate people until finding them permanent homes. It was a charity that was important to him.

Pulling his Jeep next to his father's Jaguar, Paulo stepped out and made his way to his apartment. Quietly, he unlocked the door and slipped off his shoes, leaving them in the entryway.

"Dad?" He called softly. "I'm home."

Tseng stepped out of the kitchen, cup of coffee in hand. "Good morning, Son," he said warmly. He scanned the dark-eyed boy up and down. "Where is your letterman jacket, which I just purchased?"

Paulo grinned sheepishly. "I gave it to Kaya."

"Is that the socially acceptable thing to do?" Tseng asked.

"Yes," Paulo nodded. "She's my girlfriend so she gets to wear my jacket. My class ring will go to her as well."

"Do I need to have it made to her ring size?"

"No, it needs to fit me," Paulo explained. "She can get a ring snuggie to make it fit her finger. She's already given me her class ring."

Tseng looked as Paulo held up the chain around his neck, a dainty platinum ring swinging from it. "I see," he said. "I must admit, high school culture baffles me."

Paulo laughed. "It's a different beast, that's for sure."

Tseng gestured for Paulo to follow him into the kitchen, setting the pot of coffee on the table along with another mug. "You played well last night," he commented.

"Thank you," Paulo replied as he prepared his coffee. "We're still undefeated. We should be in the top position for playoffs."

"I see another championship trophy in your future," Tseng told him with a smile. "There were scouts in the stands last night."

"Really?" Paulo asked. "Who were they scouting?"

"Azrael, of course," Tseng began. "Bryce was mentioned as well as Denzel. There was some talk of Ethan Nadair until they saw him on crutches. Robby West, and you."

Paulo grinned. "Did you hear what they said about me?"

"They had never seen a center more attentive to his quarterback," he told him, returning the smile. "They said it seemed like you could anticipate what he was going to do before he did it."

"Awesome!" Paulo exclaimed, unable to stop grinning. "I really want a scholarship to MU. If football can get me there, great!"

"Even if you don't get a scholarship, we can easily afford tuition," Tseng reassured him.

"Yeah, but Dad; this is something that I can earn myself," he explained. "It's not about being able to afford it. I know we can and I'm thankful. I'm thankful for everything I have as your son; but I want to earn my education myself."

Tseng nodded, pride shining in his black eyes. "I understand, Paulo," he answered. "I do. Keep at your studies and keep practicing. I have faith in you, Son."

"Thanks, Dad."

A/N: Another one down!