Xu initially disapproved of Seifer's presence with Quistis, but her best friend's rapid recovery caused Xu to overlook her annoyance. Miraculously, Quistis' limbs stopped rejecting her body, and she gradually regained mobility. It began with one finger, then two, until she could walk with support in just a few weeks. Quistis couldn't help but wonder if Seifer had secretly shared his Knight Aura with her while she slept, although Seifer adamantly refused to take credit for her progress. He visited her nearly every day, albeit mostly after curfew, much to the annoyance of Instructor Aki, who eventually gave up on issuing warnings to the former Head of the Disciplinary Committee after a month, as everyone seemed to have grown accustomed to Seifer's presence.

One weekend morning, Seifer entered the infirmary and learned that Quistis had successfully convinced Dr. Kadowaki to let her stay in her own dorm room. Shortly after her nap, she resumed training in the training center, working to regain her muscle strength after months of sedation. By evening, she was able to walk without the aid of crutches. Seifer listened intently to Dr. Kadowaki, shaking his head in disbelief, easily picturing Quistis throwing punches in the training center. Two Sorceresses couldn't defeat her because none of them could be as tough as herself.

Seifer made his way to Quistis' dorm room and hesitantly knocked on the door, debating as usual whether to greet her with rude remarks or kinder words.

Zip.

The door slid open.

Their eyes locked. Seifer was momentarily taken aback by Quistis' casual yet radiant appearance. She was wearing her favorite white sweater, the outfit that had always left him awestruck. She smiled as if she had been expecting him and asked, "Good weather for fishing?"

Seifer smiled and gestured for her to go ahead.

"I'm impressed by your enthusiasm for this dull sport," Seifer chuckled, imagining her elegant presence among eccentric old fishermen who could talk about the old days endlessly. "Let's go to Ma Dincht's to get my gear."

"You're staying at Zell's house?" Quistis exclaimed, surprised. She had heard from others that Seifer had visited Balamb quite regularly, but she never imagined he would be so close to Zell's family.

"That chicken-wuss is still stuck at the Deep Sea Research Center with his double-spy girlfriend. Ma Dincht seems to be considering adopting me instead. Her underground business needs a lot of muscle, after all," Seifer explained.

Quistis thought of a mocking response in her mind, something like "Well, well, look at the rebellious boy, making a home in his hometown." But she kept the words to herself, realizing that they hadn't yet teased each other in recent days, and talking friendly no longer felt awkward.

As the two walked out of Balamb Garden, they ran into Squall and exchanged a few words. Quistis could sense that their relationship had greatly improved, having become comrades during critical moments while fighting Elutia. Their five-year-old scars had faded significantly.

Seifer drove Quistis to Balamb on his motorcycle, this time avoiding any potholes. Quistis leaned against his back, feeling the warmth from her changed man.

Quistis wasn't aware of what Seifer told Ma Dincht about their questionable relationship, but Zell's mom didn't seem surprised to see her at the door. Seifer and Ma Dincht briefly discussed her business before he excused himself to spend the rest of the morning with Quistis. They walked together to Balamb's harbor, enjoying each other's company and the peacefulness of the town in silence. Balamb had been a place where they had spent a lot of time as students at Balamb Garden, but the training and the separation during the Sorceress Wars had created a distance between them.

Quistis took a deep breath, letting the wind caress her beautiful golden hair, and sat down next to Seifer, who was busy setting up their gears.

"So... is this your next step? Helping out Ma Dincht with her business?" Quistis asked, looking kindly at Seifer's focused face as he attached some moving worms to the fishing rods.

"Not exactly... it's just the beginning... I'm just starting out, that's why I haven't told you or anyone about it yet. But damn, this town is so small, it's embarrassing that people already know what I've been up to," Seifer sighed, feeling a hint of embarrassment.

"I think that's very brave of you, stepping out of your comfort zone," Quistis encouraged him, thinking about how she had no idea how to operate outside of Balamb Garden.

Seifer continued to tell her about his initial encounters with potential clients in Delling. He was inspired by her persistence and courage, so he told himself that asking a few questions couldn't kill him. The first fisherman he approached turned out to be surprisingly patient, spending two hours explaining how his business worked and even inviting Seifer to come back for more guidance. The second one was an asshole, telling Seifer to eff off, but Seifer couldn't care less. As he continued talking to random people, he realized there was a need for someone like him who had traveled the world to connect businesses. His first cargo was small, consisting of a few medium-rare Octaphaneas monsters found only near Winhill's coast. But after a few trips, he realized, the very familiar Ma Dincht was one of the busiest suppliers in Balamb who conveniently needed to scale up her operations now that her sons were scattered around the world.

"Sounds like you've been busy," Quistis commented, now able to explain why Seifer only visited her late at night. Did he only take short trips in order to visit her?

"Well, I make time to help you pee. That's how busy I am. But the fun part is still ahead."

Seifer continued to talk about his business plans for the next few months, including traveling longer distances to more prosperous harbors and even to underserved tribes. His voice was filled with enthusiasm and excitement, punctuated by exclamations that showed he couldn't believe this change himself. Suddenly, he was no longer afraid of his future. While it may not be as stable as having a set position in the military for life or as daring as being a Sorceress' Knight, this adventure sounded more exciting and challenging, something that a man who was beginning to make sense of his life needed.

"Hey... thanks for listening... again, I'm not exactly clear on how to achieve all of this yet, but... it's a cliché thing to say, but whenever I think of us, of you, when you fight, I tell myself, 'heck, what could kill me?' Certainly not shame, not fear of failure. Thank you," Seifer said, looking at Quistis with admiration as she attentively listened to his plans.

Four years ago, Edea had visited Quistis, and although their conversations revolved around other matters, Quistis believed that Edea's true intention was to seek her help in bringing Seifer back to the group. Quistis wasn't sure how, but Edea had insisted that she was his only hope, given their long-lost connection that had been forgotten due to GF junctioning. Quistis realized how wise Edea had been, as having this openness with Seifer had made her realize that only with each other could they be truly vulnerable. They didn't have to hide their insecurities about the future from friends who either looked up to them or worried too much about them.

"You are more than welcome. I'm glad you have things figured out... sort of... but that's the fun part, right? It's all about the journey, not the destination," Quistis replied with a smile.

Seifer nodded, feeling grateful for Quistis' support.

"Does that mean you'll be away from Balamb more often?" Quistis asked, then quickly added a valid reason that wasn't solely attributed to her own interest. "The Garden Committee discussed inviting you to stay a couple of times, but I guess that's no longer an option?"

"Very likely," Seifer replied, turning to face Quistis. "I'll make sure to come back whenever I can, you know, in case you need my singing to pee."

Quistis chuckled at his remark. It hadn't even been a full day since the last time he teased her.

"Um... Actually, there's something I want to tell you too," Quistis said, her expression returning to neutrality. "Vice General Gavin... the other day, he offered me a high-ranking position in the Galbadian army. I'm considering relocating to Delling City."

Seifer's face became serious, but he didn't interrupt her.

After the face-off battle with Sorceress Elutia, the leaders of the Galbadian army conducted a thorough internal investigation and realized some critical failures within their organization that had led to Martine's concentration of power. They decided to make changes by inviting officers from around the world, especially Balamb Garden, which had made significant contributions in the recent Sorceress Wars.

Quistis confessed her insecurity to Seifer. It turned out that she was not their first choice for the job. Selphie had been considered, but she turned it down at the last minute because she felt too attached to Balamb and Trabia Gardens. As Quistis awoke intermittenly from her sedation, although Galbadia sent Gavin immediately to offer her the position, Quistis was uncertain if she deserved job. For the majority of her life, she had been at Balamb, where she had faced harsh criticism about her lack of leadership skills just a couple of years ago. Being alone in a strange and notoriously aggressive environment like Galbadia scared her.

"Do you think I should go?" Quistis sought Seifer's opinion.

Seifer looked away, gazing at the still water, and then looked up at the blue sky on just another nice day in Balamb. He took his time to internalize her words and put himself in her shoes. Despite having become a Legendary Heroine long ago, she still questioned her ability to deal with people. He found her cute insecurity endearing, always thinking she wasn't pretty despite having dozens of Trepies, always thinking she wasn't good enough by comparing herself not to her younger self but to unrealistic individuals. She was the best version of herself, and even if she wasn't considered the best by others, that shouldn't be a reason for her to feel insecure.

"I think you should go. And you'll do great. Remember what you told me when we left Trabia? Politics is a complex system, and maintaining it to function daily is already a difficult task. But as you can see, Galbadia's system is already broken, which is undoubtedly dangerous given its influence on the rest of the world. Yes, they didn't seek you out first, probably because you were in sedation and Selphie was their first choice because they wanted changes to happen as soon as possible. I don't know about Selphie, but I believe you are the missing piece they need with just the right balance. Someone who can be daring at times, yet insecure at other times, smart yet humble, outstanding yet relatable, ambitious yet focused, persistent yet open-minded. You've turned me around, someone who didn't even want to take on the task in the first place. Galbadia would be blessed to have you. You are really needed there, Quisty."

Quistis felt tears welling up as she listened to Seifer's words and looked into his compassionate eyes. Daring yet insecure, there was no better description of her than the one he had just said out loud. She felt happy to hear his encouragement and to hear such mature words from her once lost friend.

"Thank you… for your kind words," she whispered.

They both naturally leaned toward each other, closing the distance between them. Seifer felt his heart race faster, briefly glancing at her soft lips. He moved his hand, wanting to touch her hair and bring her head closer for his convenience.

Zshhh.

Suddenly, Quistis let out a small scream. Her fishing rod moved vigorously and staggered her. Seifer quickly abandoned his rod and helped her reel in the unknown hungry creature from beneath the sea, cursing in his mind for the first time he expected a game.

"A mother Fastitocalon-F for your first catch. See, you have talent for this sport," Seifer said, skillfully presenting the angry fish to Quistis. Despite having trained with this creature many times before, she still found it quite intimidating after its transformation.

"What are we going to do with it?" Quistis sounded uncertain if this monster would make a good dish.

"Don't you know? Ma Dincht is an expert at handling this fish. Come, she'd be more than happy to show you her skills... probably in the basement, though," Seifer replied.

Quistis followed Seifer, smiling as she realized that even after all this time, she was still learning something new about the town and the people she had grown up with. Galbadia no longer scared her, for she had never been afraid of learning new things.

"Good night, Vice General Trepe!" Quistis' coworkers waved as they left the office. It had been two months since she had moved to Galbadia. Things hadn't been easy at first, and even after relentless learning and attempts to fit in, she still felt there was a lot more to do to establish herself in this bureaucratic institution. The people here spoke a different dialect, which Quistis quickly mastered, but she wondered if their words truly reflected their intentions. She spent every weekend reading past records, reports, and research papers, trying to gain more context about this vast organization. With General Caraway's support, she easily gained access to these documents, but it was up to her to extract the information she needed to propose some 'reforms'.

Adding to her slow adjustment, Quistis wasn't met with a warm welcome from the Galbadian officers, most of whom were men. She was used to female-dominant worlds like Balamb, thanks to the fact that female bodies are better magic conduits for Hyne's mythical cores. More power always meant more control. Here, power resided in machine guns, placing greater emphasis on physical strength and precision. Quistis wasn't afraid of intense physical training, but her body, many times injured badly, needed more time to regain strength and dexterity. Nonetheless, she never believed that using muscles alone could solve problems. Something had to change in Galbadia, and she needed to find a way to set a precedent, especially while the failure of the Galbadian army to stop Martine and Sorceress Elutia was still a hot topic.

Stepping out of her comfort zone turned out to be less enjoyable and interesting than someone had promised her.

Seifer.

He hadn't responded to any of the letters she had sent to Ma Dincht's residence. He had promised to write to her when they had parted ways on the day she left for Delling. Line communication, though made possible by Acma's effort in channeling Earth's magic back to Hyne, was still quite expensive outside of the army and government institutions. Quistis wrote her first letter three weeks after settling down in Delling, not wanting to appear needy. But two more weeks passed without any replies, so she wrote a few more, now cursing herself for doing so as she imagined Seifer smirking at her perceived neediness.

She needed him. She could admit that to herself. However, he seemed to be doing just fine without her. Another one-sided love?

Love?

Love.

Quistis sighed as she gathered her documents, contemplating taking them home again tonight in hopes of gaining ideas to strengthen her presence in Galbadia.

Then, the ringing of the phone on her desk shattered her thoughts.

"Trepe speaking." She picked up the phone.

"Good evening, Madam. You have a direct call from Balamb Garden. Please hold while I connect the lines," the responder replied.

Quistis was confused as to why someone from the Garden Committee would be calling her at this hour. Could it be something urgent that couldn't wait until morning?

She almost froze when she heard the familiar voice from the other side.

"Hey, bestie… Miss me?"

She didn't answer immediately, attentively listening to the man's rushed breathing. It was clear that he had just run a long way to hijack the communication room in the garden, a place he knew inside out.

"Who's this?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

The voice on the other end chuckled.

"Oh... that hurts, Trepe. You're calling that Gabe guy your bestie now?"

"His name is Gavin. You should remember people's names instead of making them up!" Quistis nagged. "At least he responds to my memos instantly."

"Ah, I see. You're mad because I haven't replied to your letters. You know I'm terrible at writing. So, I decided to call you instead..."

"Right, we all know how brilliant your talking is."

Seifer couldn't hide his laughter on the other end.

"Listen... I miss you like hell. I'm finally here, waking up Squall in the middle of his fun with Rinoa to get on the line with you..."

"Oh geez… you wouldn't…" Quistis rolled her eyes, imagining Squall and Rinoa waiting outside the communication room.

"...anyway, tell me, you sounded stressed in your last letter. These stupid Galbadian reds and blues like to challenge your orders a lot, huh?"

"Biggs and Wedge? Seriously, Seifer, learn people's names…"

"Whatever. Tell me…"

Quistis was surprised by Seifer's preparedness to listen to her rants. She looked around to make sure no one was nearby and spoke in a low volume, telling him how she was constantly interrupted in meetings, how her proposals were bounced back and forth among office desks without proper review, and how her coworkers talked behind her back, questioning her competence as a leader and fighter or dismissing her as nothing more than a decorative piece. She had managed to form working relationships with a couple of kind women, but the predominantly male environment was getting on her nerves, and she felt, rightly so, that they looked down on her. The respect she and other female officers with magical abilities received at the gardens no longer held true here.

Seifer listened attentively, allowing her to vent without judgment or comments.

"Seifer... none of the leadership principles I've read seem to work in this situation. What would you do?" Quistis found it strange to ask someone who had almost never followed orders in his life.

"Quistis, it doesn't matter what I, Xu, or Squall would do. I'm sure you'll eventually find your way. You have spent only two months in assessment, it could take much longer. Don't think of it as an easy homework assignment that could be done overnight. These men are very different from those you have worked with. Why? Do they have a different communication style? Different decision-making processes? The problem might not be you, but simply that they think and act differently. Besides, it seems like they haven't even given you a chance to be heard or consider your ideas. I suggest finding a common ground with them first. You know what? Now I remember. These Galbadian guys, they like duets. Sounds silly, but that's what worked for me when I took over as their temp leader under Edea. Some guys gave me a tough time, for more obvious reasons though, but I settled them by my gunblade. Well, don't take that idea literally, though. No offense to your Save the Queen, Quis, but you can't swing it fast enough against machine guns..."

"A duet, huh?" Quistis's brain lit up, although she agreed with Seifer that her whip and forbidden magic wouldn't help in this political context.

"Yeah... But again, don't take it literally. I doubt they'll let me help you pee if you end up in a Galbadian hospital. Listen," Seifer didn't let Quistis protest, "I have some business in Delling this weekend. I want to see you."

Quistis was surprised that he had waited that long into the call to drop her the news. Suddenly, she felt excited about the weekend, no longer burdened by the dragging Monday.

"Great. Do you want to stay at my place? I just need to inform the receptionist," Quistis casually suggested.

There was a momentary pause on the other end before Seifer replied, just before it became too awkward.

"If that works for you, yeah, I'll stay there."

"Great."

"Great... Um, okay, okay... one moment..." Seifer seemed to get distracted by a voice in the background. "Puberty boy and his princess want to sleep. I have to go now. I'll see you this weekend, yeah?"

"Yes, see you!" Quistis tried hard not to say 'bestie' in her goodbye this time.

"Good night. Don't work too hard!"

And he ended the call.

Quistis felt a rush of emotion she couldn't describe in words, but quickly, she focused her mind on an attack plan that Seifer had given her some ideas for.

Seifer disembarked from the train at Delling City, making his way to a florist to purchase a bouquet. He kept this habit to brighten her mood given how stressful her relocation had been, and tonight would be even more special as it would be a surprise for her that he had arrived a day earlier than planned.

He meant it when he said he missed her like hell. When he learned that his last delivery of the day was rescheduled, he didn't want to waste anytime and caught the first train came to his sight. When he had visited her at Balamb Garden, the constant presence of people in the hallways served as a reminder that he didn't belong in her world. He felt like a coward for not expressing his feelings to her, allowing their differences to hold him back. Deep down, he knew Quistis wasn't the kind of person to look down on him. So why did he care so much about what others said?

He tightly gripped a precious item in his pocket, something he had believed was lost forever. Luckily, fate intervened when a thunderstorm compelled him to cross paths with the bacon boy's brother at Fisherman's Horizon where he successfully retrieved his property.

"Really? Raddie… you make that object sound so mysterious! What Sean could possibly have that I haven't seen? I knew it! You weren't honest with me when I asked if Sean had stolen something from Senior Seifer's dorm room!" Acma complained.

"Hey, you're ruining my flow. Just sit back and enjoy the masterpiece. I promise you won't be disappointed!" Raddie retorted.

"Fine... but make it quick!" Acma rushed, but was certain that Raddie probably wouldn't change his storytelling pace.

For the past two months, Seifer had resisted the urge to respond to her letters, knowing that his writing was terrible. His spoken words were even worse, but at least he hoped they wouldn't sound as bad in person. When he had called her earlier this week, he had hinted that they could meet up, and she had immediately suggested registering him as a guest to stay at her residence unit. Seifer was well aware of the residence unit in Delling City, as he had briefly served as the dummy head of the Galbadian army when he was with Edea. He imagined her walking back and forth from the study room, patching the whiteboard with notes. She would probably be too busy to take advantage of the cozy dining room, which he would be happy to use and show off the culinary skills he had learned from Ma Dincht.

He stopped at the visitor's gate to sign in.

"Mr. Almasy... Our records show that you are cleared for tomorrow. May I ask the reason for your early arrival?" The female clerk spoke pleasantly to the handsome man while still adhering to protocol.

"Yes, um... I was wondering if you could help me. Please don't tell her... I want to surprise her," Seifer explained, lifting up the bouquet in one hand and a tiny, shining object in the other.

The clerk's eyes lit up, and her excitement was evident as her lips widened. She handed him an access badge and immediately allowed him to proceed to Quistis' room.

So much for security, he thought.

But Seifer changed his opinion as he noticed a couple of cameras equipped with real guns in a small hallway. The Galbadian army was no joke after all.

As he made his way towards her door this time, he no longer had to debate how to talk to her. Their recent conversations had been filled with affection, none of rude remarks. He couldn't tell if Quistis felt the same way about him as he did about her, but he had a feeling that tonight would be a critical turning point in their relationship.

He knocked.

"I'll get the door, it must be Wedge and Biggs," a male voice responded.

The door swung open, revealing a man standing there with his mouth wide open in shock at the sight of Seifer.

The man was Gavin.

Gavin in boxer shorts. Otherwise naked.

"Who's that?" Quistis' voice came from inside the room.

The bouquet in Seifer's hand dropped to the ground. For a brief moment, he hoped that he had knocked on the wrong door. He felt a whirlwind of emotions in that instant.

"Ehhh... Vice General Trepe, it's Mr. Almasy," Gavin stammered, stepping back and keeping his eyes fixed on Seifer, ready to defend himself if the hot-tempered knight made a move.

"What?" Quistis asked, her voice tinged with shock.

Without waiting for her to come outside, Seifer strode quickly. Fight or flight, he preferred the latter, unable to process his emotions.

"Seifer... Wait... Didn't you say you'd arrive tomorrow?" Seifer heard Quistis' voice as she caught up with him, her hands grabbing his arm. "Can you wait for me for like an hour? I have to finish this…"

Seifer angrily turned around and pushed Quistis' arms away, noticing her unbuttoned jacket.

"Oh now you take hourly appointments? Take the whole freaking night if you want, you…"

Seifer paused just before he spit out the worst insult he could think of at the woman he would die for, regretting that he hadn't confessed his feelings to her sooner and made their relationship official. From her perspective, they were just friends. And her being with Gavin was in no way cheating. He had no right to insult her. Although he didn't know how to release the pain and anger consuming his every cell in that moment.

"Mr. Almasy, come join us. You'll understand," Gavin said, standing near the doorstep, covering his body for fear that someone passing by in the hallway might see him, gesturing for Seifer to enter Quistis' room.

"Can he? Are you sure?" Quistis sounded surprised.

"They said yes. And with all due respect, Vice General Trepe, please trust me on this. You wouldn't want your boyfriend to leave now without a proper explanation. Come!" Gavin's invitation only confused Seifer even more.

Who else was in the room, and more importantly, what were they doing?

Quistis regained her grip on Seifer's arm, who had stopped resisting as he was utterly perplexed.

His anger also subsided slightly as he observed Quistis' reaction, expecting her to correct Gavin and clarify that Seifer was not her boyfriend. But she didn't say a word. She held onto his arm even tighter and pulled him closer to her side, leading Seifer in the direction of her room, following Gavin.

"It's not what you think it is. And please, don't tell anyone about what you see tonight." She whispered.

"What happened in there?" Acma asked, her face turning visibly red.

"Quiet, don't interrupt my storytelling," Raddie smiled, deepening his voice to imitate a radio narrator. "Seifer looked into the room, his mouth falling open, leaving him speechless. Inside, there was a group of naked men..."

"Oh my good Hyne! Raddie… stop that fake thriller voice and tell me quickly!" Acma pleaded.

"...and fully dressed women. Clothes were scattered on the floor," Raddie continued, deliberately slowing his pace to highlight the suggestive details.

"Oh my… you're killing me!" Acma covered her face with both hands, desperately trying to hide her flushed cheeks from Raddie. "What were they doing?"

"Use your imagination," Raddie teased, his tone mischievous. "Just adults being adults, Instructor Acma Appropriate!"

Acma couldn't help but burst into laughter. "What else could it possibly be? Adult, adult, adult?" she blurted out, using a code that their peers often used to discreetly refer to a particular activity, wanting to keep its meaning hidden from Instructor Aki.

"No! You have a dirty mind!" Raddie laughed out loud, successfully luring Acma into his playful trap.

Acma tried her best, but couldn't help her mouth from widening further. "I know there must be something else because of your vague language, but I can't think of anything else. My mind is stuck on that dirty path!"

"Okay, one last hint... They were holding rectangular objects with different numbers, and the higher the number, the better. Commander Leonhart is known for carrying big numbers in his pocket," Raddie mischievously smiled.

Acma's imagination ran wild, picturing what Commander Squall could possibly have in his pocket with big numbers. Her blush deepened, unable to escape her own biased assumptions.

"Raddie, I give up, alright? Please enlighten me!" Acma covered her mouth, readily awaiting the grand revelation.

"Ok… I knew you couldn't come back from that… so they were all playing…"

"Hurry up, Vice General Trepe! It's your turn! We don't have all night," a man commanded, also dressed quite scantily.

"Alright... Sorry for the wait," Quistis hastily sat down, facing the man. "I see what you've done there. Nice move." She quickly drew a card from her deck and confidently placed it on the table's placemat. With a few flicks and flips, the board turned completely blue.

"What the..." the man uttered, nervously looking at his hands, unable to find a good card to turn the duel around. "Fine... I forfeit."

"Good game, General Iannu!" Quistis smiled, gathering her cards back.

General Iannu stood up, reluctantly reaching for his khaki pants.

"That won't be necessary, General!"

Seifer heard a familiar voice and saw a familiar figure. It was Rinoa's dad - General Caraway. What was this esteemed man doing here?

"Vice General Trepe, you have truly proven yourself. On behalf of Galbadia's leadership, I assure you that from now on, anyone who shows any disrespect towards you or your orders will face discipline. You have my word," General Caraway, fully dressed, declared.

Seifer was amazed at General Caraway's ability to maintain a straight face considering the circumstances. Seifer couldn't help but turn to Gavin and demand an explanation in a whisper. In a few words, Gavin filled him in on the situation. Some officers had been giving Quistis a hard time, and things had escalated to the point where her supporters and opponents decided to settle the matter through a modified version of Triple Triad, with higher stakes. Gavin and Caraway were actually on Quistis's side but played as if they were opposing her, giving her an opportunity to organize this face-off. As the sole player on the supporter's side, Quistis had only lost one match out of thirty, which explained her unbuttoned jacket.

Seifer couldn't believe what he had just heard. He had certainly heard crazier stories, but never within such a highly respected organization. And his girl, who had always been rigid and followed the rules, had unquestionably accepted this absurd challenge head-on. He facepalmed, watching as the group was dismissed one by one from Quistis's residence unit until only he and Quistis remained.

They stared at each other for a while. Quistis wanted to clean up the room as she couldn't stand the mess, especially the men's tobacco on her kitchen tabletop. However, she knew Seifer would explode if she didn't say anything to him.

"Sorry for making you witness all of this, I thought you'll arrive tomorrow," Quistis murmured, unable to meet his gaze directly.

Seifer remained speechless. He wanted to confront Quistis but couldn't gather his thoughts on how to begin.

"You're not mad, are you? Please say something... bestie?" Quistis put on a smile, observing Seifer's face closely this time.

"Gavin told me... How could you propose such a reckless way to resolve conflicts? I'm at a loss for words," he said, pointing to her unbuttoned uniform, which she reflectively closed.

"I... I was inspired by your words the other day... I tried everything I could by the book, but nothing worked. These men were giving me a hard time... and then I found out they regularly played cards to build connections and gain respect... This is my expertise, I was confident I could win... But I couldn't find a way to challenge them... Anyway..." Quistis stammered, pausing occasionally to avoid saying anything that might further upset Seifer. She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing. Their reactions made it seem as if she were a cheating wife being caught by her husband, which made no sense given their existing relationship status.

"This is very foolish... What if they... Surely you've heard the horror stories in the military, how women are treated in situations like this? I'm..." Seifer didn't want to scare Quistis, as he couldn't imagine any of those things happening to her, but he couldn't stand the thought of her repeating such actions in the future. "I'm just worried about your safety. You have no idea what a group of horny men could be capable of in this context," he placed both hands on her shoulders, "Please, Quistis, please promise me you won't do this again, or at least let me be there with you next time, please!"

Quistis's body trembled slightly under his grip. She could see the genuine concern in his face, and she searched for any signs of jealousy.

"I promise, this is the first and last time. But on the bright side," she removed his hands from her shoulders, "it worked out perfectly as I planned. Thank you for your... indirect suggestion the other day."

"Quistis... I didn't tell you to... how could you twist my words like this? Are you serious?" Seifer was uncertain about how to feel. Perhaps he was angry at Quistis' nonchalant reaction, as if she hadn't done anything wrong, and he felt he was being unfair. He had expected a different outcome for the evening and never anticipated this strange turn in their relationship. "Never mind, I need some time alone. Sorry for yelling. Who am I to judge you anyway? Good night!"

Seifer headed to the door, but Quistis grabbed his arm again.

"Wait. Where are you heading to at this hour?" Knowing Seifer, Quistis tried to think of a joke to deescalate his anger. "You aren't going to see some real ass at Darling Dolls, are you?"

Seifer was frozen, unable to hold back a smile despite his anger just moments ago.

"No, thanks. I've seen enough men's saggy boobs for tonight. I'm traumatized for life," Seifer responded, turning to Quistis, who seemed happy that she had defused the situation. "This Gavin... he seems to be with you a lot. Are you two seeing each other?" He asked the question he had intended to ask. Although Quistis referred to Gavin as a friend, Seifer knew that a friendship between a single man and woman was usually just a cover for a man's normal desires.

"No! Of course not!" Quistis quickly replied, surprised by Seifer's directness. "He's just a nice person. Besides, somehow everyone thinks I already have a boyfriend." Quistis explained, staring at Seifer and releasing his arm, certain that he no longer planned to leave.

Seifer smiled at her words, feeling reassured.

"And you didn't even bother correcting them?" Seifer smirked, moving closer to Quistis' blushing face.

"Do you... want me to correct them?" Her eyes met his, longing to hear him confirm his feelings or put an end to this prolonged chase.

"Seifer took out a shiny object he had prepared for the night. "I meant to give this to you for a while. I've been struggling to find the right moment…"

Seifer wrapped her hand around the ring.

Quistis opened her palm and looked at the beautiful, golden ring with scratches that showed the passage of time. He had given her a sacred gift from his late mother.

"Thank you! It's beautiful," she said, holding the ring with her fingers. "Can you help me put it on?"

Seifer felt a wave of happiness wash over his heart. He assisted her in putting on the ring, which fit perfectly on her ring finger. Looking at her content smile, he grabbed her waist, bringing her closer, and kissed her passionately, releasing all the love he had held back for this moment. It was worth the wait.

(Someone posted this fanart in Final Fantasy 8 Fans Facebook group, and I, samaqi, took inspiration for this Strip Triple Triad scene from there.)

"Aww..." Acma exclaimed, captivated by the romantic scene described by Raddie. "And let me guess what happened next. Adult, adult, adult?" Her mischievous smile accompanied a nod of her raised eyebrows.

"I can't believe your mind is filled with such dark thoughts, Acma!" Raddie playfully teased. "They never revealed the details, but yeah, even a five-year-old would agree with you: adult, adult, adult!" He joined her in nodding mischievously.

"Those moves from General Caraway and Vice General Gavin, though. Impressive political maneuvers, but lacking in human decency. I wonder who came up with that filthy idea in the first place?" Acma pondered.

"Well, adults think differently than us. Lesson learned: combining different expertise leads to unique advantages. Who would have thought gambling could help someone advance in their military career?" Raddie stood up, stretching his legs. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Instructor Acma Not-so-appropriate, I have an early appointment with Bruno tomorrow."

"You've decided to transfer here and work with him?"

"Yeah... I'm just waiting for the final approval from Miss Xu. It's tough seeing so many of our friends leave, but she understands I need a break from all of this," he replied. "But hey, this has nothing to do with you being here, so don't think too highly of yourself!"

Acma smiled, knowing he was a terrible liar by nature. Although his feelings weren't as strong as they were before they left Balamb, Acma felt grateful that he no longer held a grudge against her for indirectly injuring his beloved friends when she assisted Martine's troops to attack Balamb.

"Raddie... thank you... for everything," Acma expressed, looking into his eyes to convey her gratitude.

Raddie paused for a moment, then nodded. "My pleasure, instructor. It's us, no need say thanks." He glanced around the room, ensuring he had gathered all his belongings after spending the entire day there, and prepared to leave. "Good night, Acma!"

"Good night, Raddie!"

Raddie's version was not complete, of course. Here's what really happened post Strip Triple Triad :).

"Please, Quistis, please promise me you won't do this again, or at least let me be there with you next time, please!"

"I promise, this is the first and last time. But on the bright side. It worked out perfectly as I planned. Thank you for your... indirect suggestion the other day."

"Quistis... I didn't tell you to... how could you twist my words like this? Are you serious?" Seifer was uncertain about how to feel. Perhaps he was angry at Quistis' nonchalant reaction, as if she hadn't done anything wrong, and he felt he was being unfair. He had expected a different outcome for the evening and never anticipated this strange turn in their relationship. "Never mind, I need some time alone. Sorry for yelling. Who am I to judge you anyway? Good night!"

Seifer headed to the door, but Quistis grabbed his arm again.

"Wait. Where are you heading to at this hour?" Knowing Seifer, Quistis tried to think of a joke to defuse his anger. "You aren't going to see some real ass at Darling Dolls, are you?"

Seifer stopped walking, unable to hold back a smile despite his anger just moments ago.

"No, thanks. I've seen enough men's saggy boobs tonight. I'm traumatized for liìe. This Gavin... he seems to be around a lot. Are you two seeing each other?"

"No! Of course not!" Quistis quickly replied, surprised by Seifer's directness. "He's just a nice person. Besides, somehow everyone thinks I already have a boyfriend."

"And you didn't even bother correcting them?" Seifer teasingly lowered his head to take a closer look at Quistis' blushing face.

"Do you... want me to correct them?" Quistis met his gaze, hoping for a clear answer to put an end to this prolonged chase. Two months of waiting for his response made her realize how dependent she had become on his presence. She had told herself so many times to keep her distance, not to be fooled by his irresistible charm, because she didn't want to hear him mock her feelings for him. She hated being hurt that way. But now, with him standing right in front of her, she sensed that losing him would be a greater loss than exposing her true feelings. Whatever his answer might be, she was ready to take the risk.

He smirked and remained silent, enjoying the moment of suspense as Quistis dropped the ball in his court again.

Knowing Seifer didn't want to answer, Quistis pressed him further. "Well, correction may be needed, if one keeps going to spend the night at Darling Dolls looking for real stuff there." She averted her eyes, glancing at the door once again as she mentioned the naughty bar.

Seifer felt a surge of happiness as he detected a hint of jealousy in Quistis' voice.

"Would she even let him go check out other girls?" Seifer asked.

"She? Him?"

"You know… Just some hypothetical couple?" Seifer played along with Quistis' usual pronoun game.

"Doesn't sound like a happy couple... I mean, if she invites him to stay over the weekend, and he'd rather see someone else in the middle of the night. Poor girl, dumb jerk," she emphasized her last words, narrowing her eyes at him.

Seifer was taken aback by Quistis' scolding. "Maybe she hasn't given him enough signals. She only cares about work and surrounds herself with other high-achieving men. Many naked tonight," Seifer responded, feigning concern while struggling to conceal his amusement.

"Well, he also describes her quite often as annoying, ugly, bitching, having no ass, the last woman on Earth he'd touch... So... quite a lot of signals, mostly negative…"

"Hey, hey, cut the guy some slack," he interrupted her, "She's got this fan club, showering her with compliments and she always complains about how annoying they are. She should know better than anyone else that he means the opposite: she's the most stunning woman, inside and out. He's been smitten with her since they were kids..."

Since then? Quistis' eyes twinkled, surprised to hear that Seifer had long held feelings for her.

"... and as for the 'no ass' part, well, she's definitely on the rear-action side..."

Quistis chuckled heartily at his rude but unfortunately appropriate remark in this context. It was Quistis' turn to be silent for too long.

"What about her? Does she feel the same way about this perverted, rude, annoying, rule-breaking, pain-in-the-ass guy?"

"She's not entirely wrong about him though," her hand covered her laughter, "So, he did check out her ass? Shocking!"

"Yeah… What a pervert!" Seifer gladly accepted the label, as long as it made her laugh.

Quistis looked prettier than ever when she laughed. Seifer decided to seize the moment and moved closer to her lips.

"Well… Would she consider him rude if he kisses her now?"

Quistis didn't answer but looked at his lips with an anticipatory gaze.

Seifer lightly touched her lips with his, testing the waters, and then stepped back to gauge her reaction. She half-closed her eyes and held her breath. When she opened her eyes, confusion filled her face as to why he had stopped doing something that felt so good.

She used her hands to pull his trench coat's collars closer to her. Content at her invitation, he immediately grabbed her waist, bringing her closer, and kissed her passionately, releasing all the love he had held back for this moment. It was worth the wait. Her unique scent drew him in deeper and deeper into her welcoming lips. Seifer ran his hand through her hair, messing it up to intensify the taste of her. She let out a moan, and he followed suit.

He gently parted her eager lips, his hands swiftly removing her familiar hair pin, allowing her hair to fall naturally onto her shoulders. His hands moved her hair away from her uniform's shoulder plates, revealing two shining stars on each side—a symbol of her rank as a Vice General—a striking contrast to her alluring appearance, beckoning him for more lip tasting.

She wanted to ask him to continue, but Seifer understood that this woman would never let go of her pride to voice such a request, especially when she saw that he also couldn't hold back any longer. His hands glided down her collarbone and moved to her shoulders beneath her uniform.

"Yeah?" he asked, his question vague as he slightly lifted her uniform, exposing her bare shoulders.

"Yes…" Quistis whispered, half shy and half determined, nodding and taking a deep breath, anticipating a memorable moment in their relationship.

Seifer swiftly shoved her uniform off her shoulders, and continued to passionately kiss her as he lifted her in his arms, carrying her into the bedroom. Quistis wrapped her arms around his neck, unwilling to disconnect from his lips.

They finally put an end to their game of hide and seek.

(samaqi: Ok, you all know from where I take this incest inspiration from. Squall and Rinoa are NOT siblings!)