2F.

About thirty students anxiously awaited the test results, knowing they could be announced at any moment. This year, the Garden Committee had incorporated metrics from the battle meter and replayed them using simulation software developed by Timeth. It was a more lightweigth version of the one in the training room but still effective.

Apart from Zyma's squad, two other squads had been sent on different missions. The number of SeeDs chosen this year was expected to be higher then the last. However, three spots was already guaranteed to mission leaders as all missions had been successful with minimal injuries.

Some students couldn't contain their nervousness and hovered around Zyma, hoping for any information. He unsurprisingly took advantage of their vulnerability to sell items at higher price as usual.

Opportunistic jerk.

A member of the Garden Faculty emerged from the hallway. He wore a big, flat yellow hat that covered his entire head and a high-necked cloak. It took Acma months to realize that Garden Faculty members were actual humans with questionable fashion tastes, not headless creatures.

"The new SeeDs... Please go upstairs when you hear your name. The order is purely alphabetical by first name."

First name? Please... Acma pleaded. She had always been first in that order.

"Berith..."

B? No... Her heart sank in that moment.

"Aaron Berith."

A lowerclassman jumped up, tugged his hands around his hips, and skip-hopped towards the elevator.

Oh, for Hyne's sake!

"Mirin. Acma Mirin."

She let out a sigh of relief. She had never loved her fake name this much before.

Elutia... I'm one step closer to our freedom.

She walked forward, trying to wipe away tears of effort.

"Whoohoo! Congrats!" she heard Raddie applaud.

"Thank you!" she turned around to see Raddie. "I'll see you upstairs. Good luck!"

But Raddie didn't make it this time.

3F.

"These are the ten students who passed last week's exams," announced the Garden Faculty, facing the new Seeds who lined up in two rows.

Xu stood up from her desk, congratulating the students. "First of all, congratulations. However... from now on, as members of SeeD, you will be sent all over the world. We are proud to introduce SeeD, Balamb Garden's mercenary soldiers. Seed soldiers are combat specialists. But... that is only one aspect of SeeD. When the time comes..."

Garden Faculty cut her off, "Headmaster, it's almost time for the meeting. Please keep this brief."

He stepped closer to the students. "SeeD is a valuable asset to Garden. Its reputation relies solely on each one of you. Handle your missions with care."

Then he turned to Xu. "Is that all you wanted to say, Ma'am?"

Not waiting for Xu to reply, he turned back to the students.

"Here is your SeeD rank report."

Xu frowned, then walked up to each student, returning their battle meter along with their initial SeeD rank.

"Psst... Psst... Stay in your lab for a year. We really need you there," Xu whispered to Acma when she reached her.

"This concludes the Seed inauguration. Dismissed!" announced the Garden Faculty.

The new SeeDs exited the office, congratulating each other on their success.

Richye had also made the list. Zyma had surely not let personal matters interfere with his reports.

"Richye... Congrats. You did great," Acma approached him, trying to be friendly.

"Of course..." Richye murmured. "Don't talk to me."

He quickly ran away as if he had seen a ghost.

"What a treat!" Zyma smirked, walking up from behind Acma, acting nonchalant as if nothing had happened, as he usually did.

She played along, not wanting to escalate their fight. They were never a couple, after all. It would be weird to have a fight as teammates.

"What did you do to him?" she asked Zyma.

"Let's just say he's one of our shop's most loyal customers. I have a paper trail to prove that if I'm a sugar daddy, he's definitely the sugar baby, not you," Zyma replied with a smirk.

"Oh," Acma chuckled. "Poor guy, no pun intended."

She looked at his triumphant face. "Thank you. And... congratulations. Although this was within your reach, but hey… freedom," she waved her hands awkwardly, hoping to make her meaning clear.

"Thank you. I hope you achieve whatever you want and free your sister too," he replied.

"Hey..." Acma called him back as he was about to leave. "Can we talk in your room? I want to pick up my stuff and continue our conversation about Xu and your shop," she lowered her voice at the end.

"So, that's all from my side. Basically, I didn't know Xu's intention for me being your mentee was to gather as much information from your network as possible. You're quite an asset to Garden. She's afraid the resources will diminish with your departure, and once you become an independent contractor, anyone can hire you, potentially affecting Garden in some way," Acma explained, pausing to see Zyma's reaction.

Zyma remained unfazed. "I knew all of that since she mentioned the mentorship," he said calmly.

"What? You... how about the fact that she always asked me about your... personal life? Like the time you brought Trepie #23 to the Secret Area..." Acma trailed off.

"I know what you mean. Attachment," Zyma replied.

"Yes... she wanted to know if you had any deep personal attachment to Garden..."

Zyma smiled knowingly.

"Wait..." Acma had a sudden realization. "Don't you think... we're part of her plan? To create an attachment for me… to guarantee you'll return to Garden?"

Zyma shook his head. "Honestly, that was my first thought when she mentioned the mentorship program, too. But you were absolutely not my type. And she knew that. Also, for a long while, I thought Timeth was your boyfriend. So no, I don't think she planned it that way. I'd be impressed if she did."

"Great to hear… So, are we cool? And what about you and Xu?" Acma asked cautiously.

"Yeah. Don't worry about me. I owe Garden my life. I wouldn't have survived or been reunited with my mom without Garden. We're cool," Zyma assured her.

"Alright, haha," Acma laughed awkwardly. "Great."

As Acma was about to excuse herself, holding all of her books and a foldable table in her hands, Zyma spoke up.

"I'll be going on regular missions starting today. I'll get longer ones after the Garden Festival. Could come from other clients. I can't assist you any more. That's what I tried to say the other day. You take care," Zyma said.

Acma nodded. "You too. Um... I'm sorry that… See, it's my fault again…"

Knowing she would have a hard time expressing her recent outburst of tears, he interrupted. "Aye, aye… Don't blame yourself. It's normal for you to react that way since I'm a real jerk. 'Us' would have been different if we were perfect, right?"

Her heart weighed heavily upon hearing his words.

Zyma continued. "Look at us. You're great, Acma. I've never had a breakup this civil without objects flying or screaming."

"Technically it wasn't a break up," Acma bit her lip, then frowned. "But flying objects? What did you do to your ex-girlfriends?"

"Not throwing Shurikens, I swear," he laughed. "Just the stupid things I do, insensitive jokes I tell. I'm sorry for making you cry. Really."

"You're forgiven. Um… it's so weird to say this now but… I... I really like you as a person," Acma laughed with a touch of pain, sensing that he had moved on based on his openness. "I guess I've become another trusted friend of yours, like Trepie #23. We'll be here whenever you want to come home."

"I'd love that. Reset?" Zyma suggested.

"Reset? To when?" Acma asked, surprised.

"To the first time we met."

"When you threw Ifrit's briefs at me?" Acma chuckled, concealing her pain, and he joined in.

"I liked you from that very first moment. I just didn't know why," he confessed. "And I want a reset to that day because I had not hurt you or made you cry. So… Deal?"

"Deal," Acma feigned a smile.

"Good pupil," he suddenly placed his hand on her head and gently patted her.

Only then did Acma realize how much she missed his touch and their chaste kisses when they visited his GF cavern. Her heart longed to let go of all pretenses and hold him back, but her mind told her otherwise.

He noticed her hesitation.

"You know…" he said.

He didn't say anything further. But she didn't miss what was on his mind.

"I... I can't..." she looked down at the ground, avoiding his gaze.

"Of course. Nah..." he shook his head, dispelling any illusions, and quickly regained his nonchalant composure. "By the way, I left my card in your drawer. Keep it off your deck, will ya?" Without waiting for her confirmation, as she appeared visibly confused, he left and closed the door. "Goodbye, Acma."

A week later.

"And please welcome to our stage, Sir Laguna!" Selphie exclaimed, jumping high in her yellow sundress, as energetic as ever.

Dressed in a T-rex costume, Raddie held a foam machine gun and wiggled along to the fast beat of "Man with the Machine Gun." Some of Raddie's classmates playfully threw empty bottles at him, including Timeth.

"Timeth!" Acma was surprised by her best friend's out-of-place action.

"Have fun, Acma!" Timeth smiled mischievously, then found another bottle to throw at Raddie.

Acma laughed and shook her head. She decided to leave before Raddie returned, knowing that he would drag her around the night stand booths.

She retreated back to Quistis' lab and used her SeeD badge to secretly open some hidden cabinets. Quistis was busy organizing the Garden Festival, so this was the only time Acma could freely explore Garden's secrets. She hurriedly searched through the files and took pictures, knowing that she had to return to her dorm in an hour to get dressed for the SeeD's banquet.