"Hphm… Hphm… Where am I?" Acma stared at the moving gray medium in front of her. She couldn't make it out where she stood. "Is it the after world? Anyone's here?" She tried to voice out words but couldn't, thoughts trapped in her mind. She was uncertain if she could control any part of her body, or if she even had a body at all. She moved. Or floated. The gray medium fluidly shifted with her. "Is there an end to this emptiness? What am I?"

"Maaaa…. 'maaa…" Suddenly, a peculiar sound punctured the silence around her.

"What is that?" she wondered, attempting to turn toward the source of the sound. However, she realized once again that she was like a drifting petal on a chilling river, unable to dictate her destination. "Is this an endless time warp? Am I condemned to be trapped here forever? I wonder if there are others like me, if I can communicate with them. Perhaps there are souls that have existed for thousands of years..."

AHHHHHHHH.

"Clear!"

"AHHHHHHH!"

Abruptly, a bright light tore through the dark, fluid curtain in front of her, shocking her eyes with its intense brilliance.

Confused. Afraid. Acma could not anticipate what awaited her after being trapped in this void. The concept of Hell, devised by ancient people millions of years ago, held no validity in her magical world. But the vivid descriptions of it frightened her, and she never wanted to end up there.

"Acma! Do you hear me?"

A voice. Acma? That name sounded familiar. Was it her name? The voice, too, resonated with a sense of recognition. Fear mingled with urgency, yet it also emitted warmth and trustworthiness. Whose voice is that?

"She's back. Eyes responding but weakly. Let's seal her for another two weeks for the fibre grows. Another dose of corticosteroids please."

Acma couldn't make sense of the cacophony of voices that surrounded her.

"Please come see me again," Acma whispered quietly, then succumbed to the silent darkness once more.

"When will she wake up?"

"I've already told you countless times, I don't know. She could wake up at any time. But there's a teeny tiny chance it could happen in the next 10 minutes... Why don't you... um... take a shower?" Bruno tried to tactfully address Raddie's poor hygiene.

"Yeah, you're right... I'm just worried that she'll wake up while I'm in the shower, and I won't be the first person she sees..."

"Certainly, certainly…" Bruno nodded, pretending to listen to Raddie's ramblings. At first, having Raddie and others present in the typically empty lab had delighted Bruno. He had an audience to explain Esthar's latest technology on synthetic organs, which had been the subject of his thesis a decade ago. Finally, he had the opportunity to apply it to someone as historically significant as Acma Mirin.

However, as weeks went by, Bruno began to wonder if people had given up waiting for Acma to regain consciousness or if his explanations no longer interested them. The lab grew emptier, and he hoped it was due to the former. It has been four months since Acma had experienced her last shock, awakening the research team in the middle of the night to panically drain the fiber liquid just enough to administer the necessary electric paddle shocks to sustain her life. Bruno hesitated to call it "life" because it didn't align with the traditional meaning of the word, which encompassed a species being conceived and living until its final breath—the end of all metabolic processes. Acma's existence was something entirely different, although not the first of its kind under laboratory conditions, it was undoubtedly the first for a human. Bruno was determined that once this sleeping beauty awoke from her slumber, he would be allowed to coin a new term to describe this unique definition of life. He envisioned sharing it either on Esthar's Today or Timber Maniacs, whichever could reach a global audience and capture the world's attention by now. "Machivie" could be a cool name, with a hint of Latin in it.

"Bruno… are you listening to what I just said?" Raddie waved his hand in front of Brunos' thick glasses.

"Oh, yes, Raddie, I'm here… just doing some calculations in my head. What's up?" Bruno startled.

"Um…" Raddie was uncertain what Bruno had been daydreaming about, but his smile resembled that of a mad scientist from a movie. No matrix calculation could make a person that happy, not even an eccentric scientist like Bruno. "Do you mind watching her while I take a shower? I'll bring my teleradio with me." "Sure... just make sure you put it in a ziplock bag..." Bruno hesitated. Water resistance wasn't even in the top hundred features that came to his mind when he invented that device.

"Good point!" Raddie replied, concealing the fact that he had already dropped the device in a bathtub without informing anyone, and it still worked.

As Raddie walked away, Bruno savored the joy of breathing in fresh air again. It was half past ten in the evening, and he was alone in the lab, well, not entirely alone if one counted the comatose Acma. But no one could stop him from turning on some upbeat music to end the day. He turned towards Acma's partially filled liquid chamber, reaching for his music player that Raddie insisted on placing there for Acma to listen to, as if it would magically speed up her recovery and wake her up. What a superstitious kid!

"Ten, ten, ten, ten..." Bruno sang along with the song, losing himself in the seemingly tranquil silence of the night.

"Bruno, I can hear the music... I'm so sorry... just so you know, I'm listening. Please, keep the music on!" Raddie's voice through the radio filled Bruno with shame and disappointment.

"Fine... I hope you like millennial music..." Bruno replied, reaching up to adjust the volume knob without looking. "I'm going to... AHHHHHHHH... BAHHHHH..."

Something moved and brushed against his other hand resting on the chamber's wall.

"Bruno?" Raddie, whose hair already soaked in soap, hastily grabbed a towel and rushed back to the lab. He encountered a couple of startled Estarian soldiers along the way but he did not care. "Lab! Lab!" He screamed. It took the soldiers a few seconds to realize what was going on before they ran with him.

"Bruno? What is it?" Raddie asked, nearly at the lab door but unable to wait any longer.

"Machivie…" Bruno replied. Raddie couldn't tell if he was crying or smiling at that moment.

…

Time seemed to freeze as Raddie opened the lab door and saw Acma's pink flesh arm touch Bruno, who was sitting next to her chamber and mumbling something in her ear.

Bruno turned around and saw tears streaming down Raddie's face like a burst dam on a stormy day. He felt frightened and uneasy at the sight of the warrior's look.

"Hey, mate… Take it easy, she's not able to see yet, so technically I'm not the first one she sees… It's all yours, alright?" Bruno leaned back slightly, not wanting to abruptedly stand up and potentially hurt Acma's fragile hand which still held onto his.

"Acma… you're awake…" Raddie rushed towards Acma's fluid chamber, crying like a little boy. Her eyes were shut, and her eyelids still attached to each other, just like an underdeveloped fetus in a womb. Yet, her mouth stayed slightly open and moving. She was breathing through her mouth.

"Hello, sunshine…" Raddie had practiced this sentence so many times. He wanted it to be the first thing Acma heard in her new life. Instead, Bruno seemed to ruin it with something that rhymes with "Anchovy". That eccentric scientist had a lot more to explain to Raddie.

Acma breathed vigorously and then slowly inhaled.

"Is her O2 ok?" Raddie frowned, turning his head slightly toward Bruno, his eyes fixing on Acma's mouth.

"98 - it's perfect. Her lungs fully matured with the last corticosteroid dose a couple of weeks back. Her vocal cords are too short to make any sound, though. I'll administer some other medication to speed up the process, I should have done that sooner, just never thought about that." Bruno then noticed an unusually steady and even pace between her breaths. "This badass SeeD… surely knows Morse code, yeah?"

Raddie's eyes lit up, and he hastily grabbed one of Bruno's lab notebooks from his desk.

"I'm ready, Acma. Say that again…"

... .. .-. .. -.

"What's that? 5? H? I?"

G

"Hi, pig?" Raddie laughed, his belly still soaked in lavender soap. He was certain Acma intended to greet him with "Hi, bacon," but he forgave her playful insult if it meant saving her breath. "Very funny, Acma coma. I'll keep this sweaty smell on until it annoys you out of your lazy rest."

Raddie hovered his hand over Acma's and Bruno's, making eye contact with Bruno to ask for permission to hold her hand. "Can I? Is it safe?"

Bruno nodded, carefully lifting his hand and Acma's together and placed hers into Raddie's.

"Call us if you guys need anything..." He walked out and signaled the bulky Estharian soldiers, whose faces had been filled with tears for who knows how long. "Whole-hearted soldiers!" Bruno silently exclaimed, closing the door behind him to leave the couple to their priceless moment.

"Here we go... The connection test is complete," Raddie announced, his fingers deftly adjusting the small screen in front of Acma. "We should now be able to make video calls from here to anywhere equipped with these video conferencing devices."

"That's... incredible," Acma exclaimed, her eyes widening as she gazed at the view of Balamb Garden's front gate. "It can transmit signals across the world? How long was I in a coma again? This technology feels like it's a century ahead. And how did they solve the problem of maintaining a signal across densely magical areas? Oh..." Acma paused, realizing that after she returned most of Earth's magic to Hyne, the dense magic problem had resolved itself. "It's because there's less magic on Earth now… I didn't expect this amazing side effect. Just imagine how we can connect people from different tribes in rural areas!"

Raddie smiled warmly at Acma, admiring her thirst for knowledge and scientific discoveries despite just escaping Death granted by Hyne. "Indeed, my dear instructor. But before you return to your lab and handle test tubes, make sure you can use your sausage fingers to hit these buttons on the screen."

Acma nodded, her excitement undimmed. "Can we test it out now? I see a couple of locations lighting up here, which means they're ready to accept video calls?"

"Certainly," Raddie agreed. "How about we call Miss Trepe? I haven't seen her since she moved to the Galbadian army…"

"Let's do it! I'm dying to hear her voice!"

"Okay... Let's see... G... A... L... There we go, dialing," Raddie said, his gaze fixed on the loading screen as anticipation filled the air.

"GALBADIAN MILITARY COMMUNICATION CENTER SPEAKING. MAY I HAVE YOUR NAME AND UNIT?" a loud voice boomed through the speakers. Raddie quickly adjusted the volume to avoid disturbing the whole Esthar hospital wing.

"Yes, hold on one sec... Okay, better. Uhm... Hello, Officer! This is Radiante Smailes, I'm a SeeD at Balamb Garden. I would like to make a personal call to Miss... ah, to Vice General Trepe. We're calling from Esthar."

"Thank you for calling. Please hold while I verify your voice signature and location," the voice on the other end responded.

Acma and Raddie exchanged excited glances, their faces beaming with anticipation.

"Verification complete, Mr. Smailes. Please hold while I transfer your call to Vice General Trepe's residence unit," the voice confirmed.

"Thank you!" Raddie exclaimed, turning to Acma, who was brimming with happiness and amazement.

"That's so cool, Raddie!"

"Just wait until you talk to Miss Trepe. There are even more surprises," Raddie replied, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see."

Suddenly, the other line came alive, but it wasn't a female voice that greeted them.

"Smailes? Who's that?"

Raddie signaled Acma to respond to the voice, feeling a little down that the guy didn't remember his last name.

"Eh... This is Raddie Smailes and Acma Mirin. We're looking for Miss Trepe. Is this her residence?" Acma responded, the video screen still loading. She was puzzled as to why a man could appear in Miss Trepe's house at this hour.

"Click on the rectangle? Ok... Ok, got it." The male voice faded in the background. The screen quickly lit up, revealing the person on the other side…

"Senior Seifer?" Acma gasped, her mouth dropping open. "What are you doing there? In Galbadia? In Miss Trepe's residence unit?"

Seifer smirked at Acma, enjoying her surprise. "Welcome back to the land of the living, kid. Surprised to see me here?"

Acma's astonishment lingered as she turned to Raddie, seeking an explanation.

"Please give her some time to adjust. She just woke up, a lot of things to catch up on," Raddie said, gesturing with both hands in a heart shape to indicate that Seifer and Quistis had become more than just acquaintances.

"Great to see you're both okay now, kids. We would've loved to visit you when we heard about your recovery, redhead, but we've been quite busy making babies here," Seifer teased in a casual tone.

"What's that supposed to mean? You're with Miss Trepe now?" Acma exclaimed. "When? How? Why? Where is she?"

"In the bathroom. I'll go get her. And hey, stop acting so surprised." Seifer narrowed his eyes.

As Seifer disappeared into another room, Acma turned to Raddie, demanding an immediate explanation.

"The hell! You knew all of this and didn't tell me until now?" she questioned, her tone filled with a mix of frustration.

"Sit back and enjoy the show. There's more to come," Raddie replied, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he found amusement in Acma's reaction.

"Acma? Oh, thank Hyne you look well!" Quistis approached the video screen with Seifer visible in the background. "I'm sorry I can't travel all the way to visit you in person. I hope your recovery is going well."

Acma's mouth dropped open even wider as she noticed Quistis' slender figure attached to a prominent roundness at her waistline.

"Miss Trepe... are you...?" Acma hesitated, not wanting to be rude in case Quistis had simply gained weight due to Galbadia's renowned cuisine. But Senior Seifer didn't seem to joke about 'making babies'.

"Yes, Seifer and I are expecting. That's why we can't fly there," Quistis revealed, a warm smile on her face. Seifer wrapped his arms around her from behind and planted a quick kiss on her head.

Acma felt a mix of happiness and surprise, the latter emotion outweighing the former. Throughout their journey, Seifer had made numerous disrespectful comments about Quistis, attempting to hide his true feelings from her. And Quistis, in Acma's observation, had been rather slow to recognize Seifer's hidden affection behind his contradictory words and actions.

"I'm thrilled for both of you. I always thought you made a great pair," Acma said, placing her hands over her synthetic heart. "I apologize for my surprise... I thought my matchmaking attempt had completely failed when we were at Mount Evalescent. But this is wonderful, beyond wonderful! Congratulations to you both!"

They exchanged a few more words about Quistis' new job at Delling City, the research technologies being used on Acma's body, and the possibility of Acma returning to Balamb as a research instructor once she fully recovered.

Eventually, Seifer abruptly excused Quistis, noting that it was late in their timezone and she needed to rest. The instructors reluctantly ended the call, and Acma immediately turned to Raddie, demanding more information.

"Tell me everything you know about them! Or else I'll crawl to Balamb and demand answers from the Trepies myself!" Acma shook Raddie's shoulder in frustration.

"Well, technically, you can call Balamb Garden from here without physically being there, but I understand what you mean," Raddie chuckled, realizing how deeply this news had shaken Acma's intellect.

"Tell me now!" Acma exclaimed with urgency.

"Alright, alright," Raddie raised his hands in surrender and took a seat, preparing to share a detailed account. "But let me warn you, the information I gathered comes from various sources, some of which may have conflicting details. Take it with a grain of salt, okay?"

"Any version you know. Please!" Acma sat down next to Raddie, her eyes filled with anticipation, as if she were about to watch a highly anticipated TV show.

"Here we go…"

After the epic battle with Antarra, where Ellone sent Acma, Seifer, Antarra, and unintentionally, Shrewdya to the future, most of the fighters from both sides were dead.

Seifer's last memory of Quistis was her using his own Hyperion to pierce her heart, sparing him from using his cursed Knight Aura on her dying body. Witnessing her death, Seifer recklessly volunteered to come with Acma to fight Antarra in another time period. After that battle was settled, although he came back through the time portal, he chose to live as a hermit with his heart broken and never returned to Esthar or Balamb.

"So he did come back from the time portal? I thought he didn't make it. We were all memory erased, probably by Ellone, to avoid tampering with the past," Acma exclaimed. "You can skip the part about Quistis and the Phoenix Pinion, though."

"I know you're eager for the fun part, but let me organize my thoughts. You came back from time travel, switched places with your twin sister Antarra for a few months, then Hyne, and ended up in a coma for a year. I'll try to skip over what you already know as much as possible, okay?" Raddie responded, and continued as Acma nodded in gratitude.

Seifer spent a year in seclusion, believing Quistis was dead. Just one month before the one-year anniversary of the war's end, he decided to sail to Balamb. However, a storm disrupted his plans, and he found himself in Fisherman's Horizon, where he ran into Sean, Raddie's older brother.

"What a small world! Did Sean tell Senior Seifer that Instructor Trepe wasn't dead, but instead sedated because her limbs reject to be attached then? And did Sean strip Senior Seifer of his clothes and accessories? If I were your brother, I wouldn't have missed the chance to enrich my magical antique collection!" Acma's eyes gleamed as she reminisced about exchanging war artifacts with Sean back when he was at Balamb Garden before opening his own antique shop at Fisherman's Horizon.

"Actually, quite the opposite. Sean was at a loss after the encounter. But no spoilers, it's an important detail in this romance though."

"Yummy… keep going, Raddie!"

Raddie and Sean are brothers - their family owns the Gas Station at Balamb town.

As Acma had known, after Seifer entered the time portal, the Phoenix Pinion activated and revived Quistis. The Phoenix offered her a ride to revive anyone she desired. True to her nature, Quistis hopped on the mythical creature to save people from both sides, including their enemies. She didn't take the time to let Selphie reattach her limbs previously severed by the possessed Seifer and carefully preserved by Shrewdya. Quistis's tireless efforts took a toll on her body, and even Seifer's previously transferred Knight Aura drained off. After everything was over, despite intensive care, her joints, connected to her severed limbs, threatened to detach, prompting doctors to sedate her for months at a time. Whenever she regained consciousness, she inquired about Seifer's whereabouts. It was believed that her grief hindered her recovery.

When Seifer finally reached Balamb using Sean's motorboat, he hurried to the nearest florist and purchased an enormous bouquet before sprinting to Balamb Garden at lightning speed.

He never realized that the distance from the center of Balamb Garden to the infirmary could feel so long. As he walked briskly, trying to maintain his usual nonchalant posture, students turned their heads to look at him and murmured things he didn't want to hear. He contemplated whether he should conceal the bouquet under his coat, regretting buying such a large bouquet and struggled to hide it. Having been manipulated twice by different sorceresses, despite managing to overcome the last and making significant contributions in defeating Sorceress Antarra, he couldn't be certain of how others would judge him. Not that he cared. But Quistis? Would she care being associated with him?

On top of that, he had damn well severed Quistis' limbs when he was possessed. During Antarra's occasional "rests," when he was free from her control, Seifer couldn't take his eyes off Quistis's bleeding joints crudely sealed by Shrewdya's healing magic, which intensified whenever Shrewdya engaged in battle. He would rather endure the pain himself than see Quistis suffer.

I took inspiration for Shrewdya from this little girl in Balamb Garden.

"Shrew… never comes back?" Acma sought confirmation as Raddie mentioned their long gone friend.

Raddie nodded. After Ellone first appeared following the time travel, Antarra and Acma were discovered outside Esthar, their magic depleted. Everyone understood the implications. The only remaining candidate for the Future Sorceress was Shrewdya. Who could have imagined that the little girl who used to roam around Balamb Garden in a pink dress, collecting cards, would one day turn her back and become a sorceress herself, in a different time.

"At least... that means she's possibly alive... I... miss us..." Acma choked back tears.

"Me too." Raddie reached out and hugged Acma, his mind wandering to the times when the whole gang would have lunch together in the cafeteria and discuss SeeD exams. Suddenly, Timeth transformed into Griever, and Shrewdya into a dark sorceress. But at least they were together, even if not in human form. "Anyway, let's get back to Senior Seifer..."

Timeth and Shrewdya become initial forms of Griever and a future sorceress, respectively

Seifer greeted Dr. Kadowaki, who almost dropped dead at the sight of him, but then gave him a pat on the shoulder, like a mother reuniting with her long-lost grown-up son. She informed him that Quistis had just awakened from another sedated sleep. He nodded his thanks and knocked on the door.

"Dr. Kadowaki? Please come in, I need you..." Quistis's soft voice called out.

Seifer slid the flowers through the door first, wanting to make a memorable entrance.

"Who's that?" Quistis was puzzled. In the first few months of her treatment, Trepies came and went with lots of flowers and teddy bears which at some point annoyed Quistis that she yelled at them for celebration mood given the tragic deaths of some during the war. She didn't expect any flowers soon.

Seifer stepped in, trying to be as normal as possible, not wanting to scare her. For the whole year, she had believed he was a ghost.

"Hey... Great to see you're... well, alive. I thought... well, I thought you might want to see something colorful. Damn, this place is as gloomy as always," Seifer said as he approached her, clumsily holding the large bouquet over her, almost hitting her face. "How are you feeling?"

Quistis was petrified at the figure standing in front of her, thinking she was hallucinating from too much medication.

"What? You don't remember your favorite student?" Seifer regained his playfulness, happy to be back on the more familiar ground.

"You..." Quistis instinctively raised her hands to catch the bouquet, not to smell it, but tossed it onto the bed and reached out to grab Seifer's arm. "Is this real? This isn't a joke!"

"I'm real..." Seifer stretched his face to show her there was no mask, and then touched her face, soaked with IV fluid, to convince her she wasn't dreaming. "Hyne! Quistis, you've surely gained some weight. Too much cafeteria food and lying down lately?"

"You dog..." Quistis felt certain this was Seifer as he made his rude remark. She quickly grabbed the bouquet and relentlessly hit him with it. "Why didn't you come back? I thought... go die in hell!" She screamed out the half-truth. The other half was that she was so happy to see him back in one piece.

He was happy to receive her punches, as long as she was alive and had the strength to strike back. He could be her punching bag whenever she wanted.

"Hey, watch out for your casts..." he stepped closer and hugged her as he saw she almost lost her balance. "You can give me a few kicks when you're back in one piece, okay? I'm sorry, I thought... the last time I saw you, you finished yourself with my sword, remember? But it's been almost a year, and I figured there would be a memorial or something. I wanted to put some flowers on your grave, only to find out there was none..." Seifer patted Quistis' head and ran his fingers through her loose hair, his favorite style of hers.

I had no reason to come back. It would be too painful.

"I was revived instantly by Shumi Elder's gift, I told you, honesty paid off!" Quistis' voice still carried a hint of anger but was much more smitten.

"I know... I'm sorry... it's quite late to say this, but I'm glad you didn't listen to my stupid advice back then to steal more Ultimas. Otherwise, so many would have been dead for real." Seifer held Quistis more firmly.

Quistis breathed in the sea air around Seifer.

"Where did you go for the whole year?" she asked.

Alone. Nowhere. Snow. Ice. Somewhere reminded me of our trip from Trabia to Mount Evalescent. He recalled internally.

"You know... had some fun here and there, enjoyed life... like you told me to before you stabbed yourself with my sword and traumatized the hell out of me just to look at it." Seifer lied. She didn't need to know the details.

"Let me guess..." Quistis looked up to see his face. "Fishing during the day, visiting naughty bars, drinking booze at night?"

"Sorta… You got me." Seifer brushed it off.

"Sounds like heaven to you."

Hell. But again, she didn't need to know that.

Quistis detached herself from Seifer, not quite surprised at how he had spent his time, despite her giving up her life for his. Seifer thrived on adventures, and it must have been boring for him to return to a laid-back life.

"Get better, okay? I'll show you some new places I've discovered." Seifer offered.

"Thanks, that sounds really interesting, but..." Quistis looked at her right hand and both legs hidden under bulky casts, unwillingly and forcefully attached to her body. "... carrying a cripple into an adult bar wouldn't lighten the mood."

"Oh, Quistis… You'd be amazed at how weird stuff…"

"Okay, okay, I know what you're going to say, please don't! Eww!" She used her only functional hand to cover her ear.

Seifer cursed internally that his dumb brain couldn't think of anything appropriate to say. On the way to the infirmary, he had concocted some fancy words on his way, like expressing how relieved he was that she was doing well, or how beautiful she looked. However, at this critical moment, those kind words mysteriously could not escape his mouth. He was certain it was because he had become so accustomed to exchanging combative words and rude remarks with her that nice words felt weird.

Before Seifer could utter another word, Quistis broke the silence.

"Where's Dr. Kadowaki?"

"She's out for lunch. Would you like to see her?" Seifer felt a pang of sadness, thinking that Quistis was genuinely upset by his presence.

With a look of disappointment on her face, Quistis hesitated to explain.

"I don't think I can wait... I… um ... I need to use the bathroom," Quistis said, covering her face. Her last few words faded to an almost inaudible whisper.

Seifer chuckled, feeling relieved that she didn't seem to be avoiding him.

"Okay," he paused, looking at the in-unit restroom and assessing her giant casts, "how can I help?"

"Maybe call someone else?" Quistis suggested.

"Hey, I amputated three out of four of your limbs. You can pee on me, you can shit on me if you want. Just give me your arm, I'll walk you to the bathroom," Seifer offered.

"I'd rather die!" Quistis exclaimed, her face clearly uncomfortable. Seifer was sure part of the reason was due to her full bladder. She wouldn't have mentioned her need to urinate to him if she could have held it longer.

"Cause of death: bladder explosion. Quite a figurative eulogy for a Legendary SeeD who has survived two sorceresses, don't you think?" Seifer returned to his sarcastic routine.

"Can't wait to see my ass and confirm to the whole world that I have none?" Quistis stared at Seifer. She also felt relieved that they were back to their usual enemy vibe. She was uncertain how to face him after what he had done to her during the battle with Antarra, sacrificing his Knight Aura to give her a chance at life. She also wasn't quite sure how to express her gratitude, and it seemed Seifer faced the same dilemma. The bouquet could be his way of seeking forgiveness for attacking her while possessed.

Seifer smirked back. "You read my mind. But seriously, I swear I won't peek. I'd rather pay to see the real stuff at Darling Dolls."

He lied. How could Darling Dolls be more fun than watching Quistis being uncomfortable.

"You better keep your word," Quistis sighed, reaching for Seifer's assistance to get to the bathroom, and Seifer quickly accommodated her. His body warmth felt different this time—safe, reliable. The fact that he had returned to Balamb just to put flowers on her grave showed an unusual care from him. Quistis hoped that their adventure had somehow brought him closer to his true self. She wondered if he felt the same or if he would continue to stay now that he knew all of his victims during possession survived and were living well.

As Seifer put Quistis's uninjured arm around his neck and tightened his arm around her waist, he savored the scent of her hair, despite the lingering smell of pain medication. She was alive and fighting hard, and Seifer suddenly felt proud of her, even though she was not, and probably would never be, his.

"You sure can handle the rest?" Seifer asked after helping her onto the toilet seat, her body still fully covered by her patient gown.

"Yes, thank you. You can close the curtain now." Quistis blushed.

Seifer stepped out.

"Seifer… can you keep talking?"

"About what?"

"Anything… I don't know… or sing. Yes, can you sing out loud?" Quistis insisted with a strange request.

"Why the hell would I sing? I never sing! Wait a sec..." Seifer paused. "You don't want me to hear you pee? That's really childish of you!" She wasn't entirely wrong though. Seifer would surely tease her once she started.

"I can't pee knowing that a man is listening... especially you!" Quistis exclaimed. "Please, for the sake of my bladder!"

Seifer could have teased her a bit longer, but he also worried about her internal organs, so he decided to follow her request this time.

"Fine. Shit, I know no songs." "Just ramble out loud! Quick! You normally don't shut up, do you?" Quistis urged.

"Hey, beggars can't be choosers. Let me think... Okay, you'll love it." Seifer began a cacophony of vulgar words from a catchy song he had heard during his time bouncing between bars after the second Sorceress War. It was a song that drunken men would sometimes sing to challenge each other in the restroom. Seifer couldn't help but feel strange that the memories from his darkest times post Ultimecia no longer made him feel unpleasant in the moment.

Well, here we are, in this awkward space, You need to pee, and I'm in your chase. I never thought I'd be your bathroom guide, But hey, let's make this moment one wild ride!

I'll sing a song, to keep your mind at ease, While you relieve yourself, and do what you please. So take your time, let it all flow free, While I'm here, serenading you, with glee!

Seifer heard the expecting sound ongoing as he sang the second verse, struggling to hold back his laughter to save Quistis from embarrassment. When he finished the song, he could tell that the bathroom activity had stopped.

"Seriously... you didn't just come up with that on the spot, did you? Who wrote this inappropriate song? It's kind of catchy, but the lyrics are unbelievable!" Quistis exclaimed, her amusement evident.

"A masterpiece, isn't it? I can write down the lyrics. It would be wonderful for you and Xu to have a duet in the girls' room," Seifer suggested playfully.

"Oh yes, us, the headmaster and instructors love singing vulgar songs at school. Thanks for your consideration," Quistis mocked in response. "I'm done. Can you come back in?"

Seifer assisted Quistis in settling back into bed.

"Do not tell anyone about this, or I'll kill you," Quistis threatened Seifer.

"My life is yours..."

Seifer's words caught in his throat as he unintentionally uttered, though he truly meant it. He noticed a slight change in Quistis' expression, and quickly followed up. "I mean, your weight is already killing my back. Get back on your feet soon, okay?"

Quistis murmured her thanks, uncertain of how to reduce the awkwardness that lingered between them. Neither she nor Seifer were accustomed to exchanging friendly words, and they both seemed to silently agree to postpone any weighty discussions for later.

The silence was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Who's there?" Quistis inquired.

"Hi, Instructor Trepe. It's me, Vice General Gavin from Galbadia. We met at the Military Gallery last year. May I come in?" Gavin introduced himself.

"Please, come in." Quistis felt a sense of bewilderment as to why a general would seek her out. She recalled conversing with Gavin a few times during the event, noting his competence, righteousness, and mature demeanor.

Gavin entered the room and realized the ex-knight's presence.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had a guest. If it's not a convenient time to talk, I can come back another time," Gavin apologized to Quistis while extending his hand towards Seifer. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Almasy. I've heard a lot about your heroic battles. Initially, I was on the other side, unfortunately, but we quickly changed sides and supported Balamb halfway through."

Seifer paused momentarily before shaking Gavin's hand. He vividly remembered Gavin, who was one of the lower-ranking officers when Seifer served as the appointed leader of Galbadia during the second Sorceress War. He held a neutral impression of the man, who seemed to follow orders without displaying much emotion.

"I can wait outside. Quistis, do you need anything from the cafeteria?" Seifer kindly offered.

Surprised by Seifer's considerate gesture, Quistis nodded. "Yes, some real food would be nice, thank you."

"Thank you, I'll be quick," Gavin responded as Seifer left the room.

When Seifer came back, Gavin had already left. Quistis chose not to disclose the details of their discussion, but Seifer could perceive her seriousness after their conversation. He didn't press her for more information though. Their worlds were starkly different. Quistis was currently Instructor Trepe, a high-ranking military officer, while Seifer remained a homeless thug trying to find his place in this world without sorceresses.

"Where have you been exactly? Dr. Kadowaki mentioned you were at Fisherman's Horizon," Quistis inquired as she enjoyed the bland meal. The last time she encountered Seifer there, he was engrossed in fishing.

"Just catching up with some old friends, trying to find some work... With Martine in prison, I'm currently unemployed, remember?" Seifer reluctantly responded though trying to sound casual, aware of the gap between them.

"If you want, I can speak with the Garden Committee. I've heard they are revamping the Garden's operations now that monsters no longer possess much magic and can be tamed... We still need well-trained soldiers to restrain them."

"Nah... I'll figure something out on my own," Seifer interjected. "Please don't worry about me, Mom. I've got this. Someday I'll show you." Seifer reassured her, his mind set on becoming her equal.

"Okay... My offer still stands. Whenever you want to talk, I'm here to listen," Quistis stated the same thing she had told him almost two years ago at Fisherman's Horizon, her expression resolute and full of belief. Seifer still didn't know how to respond to that, but unlike before, he now had a clearer vision of his future, especially one that shaped around her.

"Okay, I know… Hey, get back to sleep, doc said you still need to rest." Seifer took her empty bowl and covered Quistis with a blanket.

"Will you come back tomorrow?" Quistis reached out for his arm.

As their skin touched, Seifer couldn't help but feel the warmth emanating from her hand. He wanted to tell her that, of course, he couldn't imagine a day without seeing her face. But not now. Not yet.

"I will, if you promise to rest. When you're able to walk a bit, I'll take you to the beach. Deal?" Seifer couldn't help but smile warmly.

Quistis playfully extended her uninjured arm, mimicking a fishing motion. "You can teach me how to fish. I'm in a perfect condition to stand still with a single arm holding the rod," she said, her face brightening with a mischievous smile—a sight Seifer hadn't seen in a long time, perhaps since their carefree childhood.

"That's quite a convenient cheat. Oh, right, gotta go now. See you tomorrow, bestie!" Seifer couldn't help with spilling out the word "bestie". Their childhood bond seemed to naturally rekindle. "Are we besties or what?" Seifer raised his fist, expecting a reciprocating fist bump.

Quistis happily smiled back and bumped her fist against his. "Besties forever!"

Seifer momentarily furrowed his brow, but quickly regained his smile and walked out of the room.

Quistis watched him leave, pondering her own words. Did she really say "forever"?

"Raddie, speed it up!" Acma exclaimed, "You're narrating at a snail's pace. How did they go from that to... this?" Acma gestured towards her stomach, hinting at Quistis' pregnancy.

"Hey, I'm setting the stage. You're just too impatient. It's a great story, I promise!" Raddie reassured Acma, finding her reactions priceless.

"So, what exactly did Senior Seifer do at Balamb and Fisherman's Horizon then? What's his plan for making a living if not joining the military?" Acma inquired.

10525

It turned out that Seifer had always been fascinated by sea creatures. Ever since his childhood spent at Edea's lighthouse, he developed a deep love for the ocean and became adept at identifying various sea creatures affected by magic. Initially, his restlessness made him unsuitable for the patience required in harbor fishing. However, Raijin and Fujin converted him. During his journeys after the second Sorceress War, he had already made connections with locals in different towns who were passionate about fishing, who, this time, had become potential customers for his seafood business.

"Are you telling me that Senior Seifer... our hot, rude, hot-tempered rebel has become a fisherman slash businessman in the seafood industry?" Acma summarized, her disbelief shattering her image of her former crush.

"Yeah, sort of. I'm not exactly sure how he labels himself, but that's the general idea based on what I've heard from various sources," Raddie explained slowly, sensing Acma's incredulity. "Wait, are you disappointed? What's that about? You don't think being a fisherman is a respectable profession?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant. Why would you think that?" Acma objected, didn't want Raddie to label her as superficial, although she couldn't deny that it was an unexpected change from being a powerful Sorceress Knight to being an ordinary person dealing with fish and running around restaurants all day. "Anyway, please continue. Now I understand why you don't want to rush through details. What happened the next day? Did he come back to see her and take her fishing?"

"Indeed, the pursuit continued from that day..." Raddie took another sip of coffee, slowly recounting the love story.