A week later.

"Let's go." Acma yawned.

"Are we almost done with this absurd duty? I think I'll have a psychological trauma after this anyway." Timeth shared as he put on his hood and face mask.

Acma did the same, and the duo walked into the training center's Secret Area as usual.

"Someone got to do it. Better our time than the precious time of our seniors. We're… helping Garden, one way or another. Think about it that way," Acma gave Timeth a few fake words of encouragement, feeling the responsibility of a leader convincing her comrade to go on a meaningless mission.

"Why are we here?" Trepie #23 asked Zyma.

"Just come and see our two-faced friend," Zyma replied.

"I thought you were kidding. And I'm risking my reputation coming here. You're not asking me out again, are you?" Trepie #23 teased.

"Come on, Trepie #23. We passed that stage long ago. Besides, you're on the Operation Committee. Your record is as clean as a diamond. No one would think you hang out with a monster like me," Zyma reassured her.

"Am I just your shield to get in this area?" Trepie #23 giggled.

"A very expensive one if you win," Zyma smiled.

As they stepped into the area, they noticed couples making out. Some opened their eyes to see who was approaching but quickly returned to their business.

Zyma scanned the surroundings but couldn't spot the ones he was looking for.

"Call out her name, maybe?" Trepie #23 tried to suppress her grin.

"Nah… I have to catch them in action. I'm a bounty hunter, remember? I can smell them… they must be here," he refused.

He walked towards the balcony, and that's when he heard a gasp and caught a whiff of a familiar scent.

"Found ya," Zyma muttered.

He drew out his scythe blade and swiftly cut through a nearby bush, revealing the couple he had been searching for. They were sitting close together in a small, confined space, jaws dropped.

"Aw… how cute. Game over," Zyma smirked, sneaking away his scythe and turned towards Trepie #23 in triumph. "See? I win. 1000 Gil please," then he turned to Acma. "And you, too. Your monthly payment starts now."

"Hold on…" Acma gasped and shook her head in disbelief. "Trepie #23... You're with him?"

Trepie #23 did not reply but giggled very hard.

Timeth noted something down on his sheet, murmuring. "Zyma, S20. Trepie #23, Operation Staff."

"Timeth, don't..." Acma interrupted Timeth's writing.

"Wait… What is it?" Zyma noticed the camera in Acma's hand.

He snatched it from her and realized that, in addition to the photo she had taken of him and Trepie #23, there were more pictures of other couples in the secret area.

"Give it back!" Acma demanded, taking the camera back from Zyma.

He then took hold of her wrist, and they began to put their martial arts training into action.

"What are you doing with this? Blackmailing?" Zyma asked. "Oh, come on! Stop dancing! You're bringing shame to your sensei in public."

After ten moves and a few screams, Acma found herself restrained. Due to her screaming, other couples in the Secret Area approached the gang in curiosity.

"What the hell? Let me go. You're interfering with my duty," Acma exclaimed in pain.

"I'm taking this as evidence. What kind of duty involves violating people's privacy, huh? Let's see what the Disciplinary Committee has to say about this," Zyma threatened, glancing at Trepie #23.

"Oh yeah? Do you even know where they are? Someone please tell this crazy man!" Acma yelled.

Timeth and Trepie #23 giggled in response. But their laughters got quickly interrupted as two Garden Council members rushed into the area.

"What's going on? You, and you. Headmaster's office. Now!"

Xu's office.

"That's what happened. He used a dangerous weapon in Garden, attacked me in front of everyone, tried to destroy evidence to his own offense. There are plenty of witnesses. Miss Xu, you have to do something!" Acma explained the scene.

Xu facepalmed. She lost count how many times she had to deal with this whiny Trabia transfer student.

"So, you were busted?" Xu asked.

"B… busted?" Acma asked, not understanding Xu's question.

"Acma," Xu looked into her eyes and explained, "I chose you and Timeth to be temporary members of the Disciplinary Committee for this duty because no one knows you are in the committee, and no offenders would run away from you. I can't let you do this work after you scream for the whole garden to know your duty."

"Miss Xu... I'm sorry."

"That's okay. Hand over your findings. I'll find someone else to replace both of you. Thanks for your work so far, anyway."

Acma handed over the sheet in feigned sadness. She did her best to hide her relief being released from this useless responsibility.

"So, about the task I gave you… who's his girlfriend?" Xu grinned.

Acma startled. She was hoping Xu would forget as she wouldn't want to throw Trepie #23 under the bus.

"What would you do with her?" Acma asked.

"Say it. I'll find out anyway. Many people were there," Xu pressed.

Acma sighed. "It's Trepie #23. Last photo in the camera."

"Well done," Xu said, and put 2000 Gils on the table. "You can go. Tell Zyma to come in."

"That's all, Miss Xu? What about his assault?" Acma gasped.

Xu let out a sigh and stood up, looking into Acma's eyes.

"Acma, I have high expectations for you. But you've caused more trouble than you're worth. Try not to create any more scenes with your mentor, or I'll postpone your SeeD exams. Understood?"

"Yes… Yes, Ma'am," Acma replied promptly.

Xu knew very well that the SeeD exam was Acma's weak point. She would be willing to spend an entire year in the Secret Area if it meant becoming a SeeD as soon as possible.

"Good. Now go."

Xu asked Acma to leave the room and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as Zyma walked in.

"So, Trepie #23 huh?" Xu initiated.

"We were just catching up," Zyma said.

"If it's really her, I'm not worried," Xu smiled. "Now, about Acma. Can you handle her?"

"She's the most annoying person I've ever met. She asks too many questions and complains about every little thing," Zyma quickly responded. "Xu, I beg you, assign me real missions. Give her to someone else! I can handle mentoring two guys at once, but she… she's a handful, please!"

Xu smiled, pleased with his response. "Sorry, but you'll just have to put up with her. Consider it a challenge for you. I've noticed her strength and dexterity stats have improved significantly."

"From single digits..." Zyma interjected.

"That's good enough," Xu interrupted. "Train her, and you can go solo whenever you want after the SeeD exam."

"Sure. But I bet she won't survive the defense training anyway."

Xu looked up and grinned at the mention of her favorite word: bet.

"Stakes?"

Zyma left Xu's office, a smile forming internally. Knowing Xu for so long, he understood that if he had said he was fine working with Acma, she would have seen through him.

"What did Miss Xu say?" Acma asked.

"Nothing. She said she's happy with your improved stats, so I guess we're stuck with each other for a while," Zyma shrugged.

"Poor me..." Acma rubbed her bruised wrists.

"I'm sorry. Does it hurt?"

"A lot."

"Ointment?"

"No, thanks. I'm broke."

"On the house," Zyma chuckled, ignoring her resistance as he pulled out an item from his hand.

"What's wrong with you snapping my camera back there? I told you to stop."

"It's just a natural instinct to protect people's privacy.''

"When did you start caring about other people's privacy? What about my own privacy? That camera could have my pictures," her voice grew increasingly louder.

"I'm sorry, but even if there are your pictures, there's nothing to peek at, kid."

Tch… jerk.

Zyma extended his hand, palm up.

"What?" Acma asked, confused.

"Is your brain made of memory foam? Our bet. You owe me 1000 Gil," Zyma smirked.

"What in the world? Timeth and I didn't do anything."

"Sitting in a bush with zero distance between you. Sure," he said sarcastically.

"How could it possibly be a romantic activity?" Acma questioned.

"The view. The atmosphere. It looks pretty romantic to me."

Acma shook her head in disbelief, but she couldn't resist asking a burning question. "We'll revisit that, but are you and Trepie #23 a couple?"

He shrugged.

"Yes or no?" she pressed.

"Why put labels on things?" he replied.

"Because it's part of our bet. You have to bring a physically tangible girlfriend to the Secret Area."

"Which I did," he stated.

Acma rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"Is she tangible?" he asked.

"Yes," Acma murmured, expecting some dubious explanation.

"She stepped into the Secret Area, yeah?"

"Yes..."

Acma expected more questions, but he stopped.

"And?" Acma emphasized. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"She is."

"Oh…" Acma gasped and paused. "How come I didn't know about it? She's my suite mate. Her room is opposite mine."

He shrugged. "Why don't you ask her yourself? You're not going to believe me anyway. Besides, it's not part of the bet if she is my girlfriend by your definition."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Zyma explained slowly. "She's a girl, and she's a friend. Girlfriend!"

Acma scoffed in disbelief. "What kind of logic is that?"

"Let's stick to the bet, word for word," Zyma offered his palm again. "I brought a physically tangible girlfriend to the Secret Area."

"By that definition, then Timeth can also be my..."

"Boyfriend! That's another 500," Zyma interrupted, smirking.

"This is unfair! Shameful word play!" she exclaimed.

"Don't blame me. I offered to draft a contract, but you refused," Zyma remarked, moving his fingers to signal her to hand over the money. "Come on, Cadet Mirin. I'll keep you here until the SeeD exam if I have to."

She sighed. "You won't let this go, will you? Holding me hostage with my SeeD exam again. Such an abuse of power. Fine..." She took two 500 Gil bills from her pocket and forcefully placed them in his palm.

He smiled victoriously, but then his smile slowly faded. He sniffed the bills.

"Wait a second... You claimed to be broke and wanted to pay 1000 Gil in installments. Now you pay in full with fresh 500 Gil bills?" Realization dawned on his face. "You cunning little rat. How much did Xu give you?"

She turned away and attempted to run, but Zyma twisted her hand.

"Ouch... let me go!" she shouted.

"You... You lured me in this bet to make more money from Xu? Unbelievable!"

"I didn't do anything wrong," she retorted.

"Bad pupil, you betrayed me," he accused. "You two-faced!"

"Excuse me! You're the one initiating the bet!" She screamed in frustration. "This school is so unfair! I just want to focus on my studies and training. Instead, I'm being taken advantage of by my mentor and forced into weird tasks by my headmaster. Just patrolling? No, no, no. We had to categorize the levels of intimacy among the offenders, using a list of verbs that neither of us could find in the dictionary. And we got judged by doing our duty. Do I look like I ever have a choice here? Please, give me a break!"

Zyma looked at her the whole rant, carefully analyzing the situation.

"Aye aye... Here… Geez, taking money from you is so unpleasant," he snorted and gave her one of the the bills.

"Um... thanks?" Acma took the bill back, perplexed as to why some one who cherished money like him would return it.

Regardless, her eyes fixed on the other bill in his hand.

Sensing her greed, he snapped. "Don't overstay my welcome. This is for Trepie #23 being my girlfriend."

"I'll ask her for confirmation. This is not over," she retorted.

"Be my guest," he smirked. "I'll get that 500 if I catch you with your boyfriend again before our bet terminates."

"He's not my boyfriend! By the universal definition of a boyfriend."

"Very well… Since you're not acknowledging him as your boyfriend, let's split our study meetup spots between your room and mine then," Zyma suggested.

"My room? What the hell?" Acma was taken aback by the idea coming out of nowhere.

"I can't turn on the light in my room for too long. It would destroy certain items. Plus, the zombie powder affects my sense of smell."

"What about the library or the Training Center? You know, where everyone actually meets for studies," Acma protested.

"See you tomorrow."

"You're kidding, right?"

And with that, he jumped out of the window from the third floor and disappeared.

"Oh! For Hyne's sake!"