The tournament's time was nearing.

Cid woke up from a good night's rest, the first ever in a long time.

'The last night…'

He spent the whole night frantically compiling techniques… Alright, not the whole night, he actually got interrupted by someone he didn't expect…

Cid was carefully developing his Mobfu Technique: Fall with Style, Version №14, when one beautiful blonde elf jumped into his room through the opened window. All his expectations about a new stage play were crushed the moment he got hit with a question:

"Master Shadow, forgive me for interrupting you from your plan revision," Alpha glanced at the stack of papers on the table (these were previous iterations of Mobfu Techniques and some writings on Alexia's heroine plot), "however, it has come to my attention that you continued your relationship with Alexia Midgar, even though we've already accomplished the goal of finding out the Cult's hideouts through using her as a bait."

"Mm, yeah?"

'Can't see where she's going with that, but I think she will explain it in a moment…'

"So…" Alpha inhaled deeply, "as you said before, you were not interested in her as a true romantic partner, only needing her to bait out Cult forces," and then focused her sharp gaze on him," however, now you actually continued the relationship with her. May I inquire for what reason would you need to do that?"

'Oh shit-oh shit, I forgot to tell them about new members! Gotta fix that real quick…'

"Ah, you see, Alpha," profound-look-№3, go! "it has come to my attention that Alexia…" 'Think, head, think, and I'll buy you a nice hat!' "is actually a descendant of one of the heroes that fought Demon Diablos in the past, or, to be precise…" 'Come on, come on…' "she's the descendant of the human hero, Freya."

Alpha stared at him, unblinking. 'Don't tell me she didn't like the new lore!' Cid was almost sweating bullets.

"That's… interesting information for sure," her strained voice made him flinch a bit, "but that doesn't explain why would you have to be her romantic interest in order to stay close. As far as I am aware, merely being in her inner circle would be enough to keep an eye on her. Even more: we could simply send some of our forces in order to make sure nothing out of ordinary happens to her again, thus eliminating the need for you to be with her personally and allowing you to focus on more important tasks. This is why I wish to know why you made that choice. If we overlooked something, I wish to fix it so Shadow Garden can be more of use to you, Master Shadow," she slowly walked closer to him.

Alpha's face was merely inches apart from his own, and contrary to the last time when she accepted his (non-existent) reasoning, looks like this time she wanted to dig out the information out of him to the last minuscule detail.

"Alpha. Are you doubting my decision?" and judging look.

Well, he can't just say that he simply rolled with flow and made everything up on the way, alright! That would completely break his character!

"I would never doubt you, Master Shadow," The First Shade voice somewhat wavered, "but I ask of you once again to trust us more. Your well-being is our top priority. We wish to know more so we can serve you better. I wish to know more so I can serve you better," she cupped his face in her hands, "So, please… Trust us. We have grown up. We now are strong enough to take care of ourselves. We are no longer scared little girls that depended on you for survival…"

'Wait a minute, is this goodbye? Like, for realsies?! Did I really piss her off that much?!"

"And…" Alpha gulped, "I think… I think it's about time for you to rely on us more. I understand, you have your own worries. You may think it's beneath you to dump them on us when just a couple years ago most of us couldn't fight a wolf properly. But it's not."

She stopped for a moment to take a breath.

"Cid, it's not beneath you. To us, even though you call yourself Shadow, you were that shining light that saved us all. You took your time to teach us, to make us a shelter and prepare supplies when we were the most vulnerable. Now, it's our turn. Cid, you're not alone. We are all here for you. We stayed precisely because we care about you, no matter whether you're our glorious leader Shadow leading us in battle against Cult of Diablos or a kind and caring Cid that supported us at our lowest."

Alpha gently put him in a hug.

"Cid, please, tell me… What did you wish to do?"

She could see him hesitating. She felt his hands clenching and relaxing. She saw his gaze running around the room, trying to avoid making contact with her own. Alpha really didn't want to take him like that at his lowest, but it was important for both him and Shadow Garden to release the burden that weighs him down. And important for her, too. She did not wish to see her saviour crumble under the weight of everything he carries, all alone.

"The truth…" she heard his hoarse voice. It was so strange to see her almighty Master being so… vulnerable.

"Alright. Here's the truth."

He finally looked back at her.

"I had no clue what I am doing."

And truth hit her like a falling tree.

"When Alexia asked me to prolong our relationships, I initially refused, just as I wanted," yes, that's what he said back then, "But I wasn't ready for her to break down in front of me. I tried- I wanted to say "No" to her again, but then I realized I couldn't- that I could do better. 'That's a hero material right there,' I thought, 'being shunned away by everyone. Surely I can aid her both as Cid Kagenou and Shadow,' I thought…"

Alpha listened closely to revelations, tightening her grip on him.

"At least, that's how I justified it. But the truth is, I didn't have a plan. I just went with the flow, in the spur of a moment. It is way after I realized that since I took the path, I must know how to walk it…" Cid hung his head.

Alpha slowly patted his back and took a look at the papers. 'Training arc… Bonding arc… No relying on external power… Support her as friend…' sure enough, that's what it was. That was everything he came up with to help the princess. 'And… "Justified?" Cid, it's almost like you're trying to hide your kind big heart behind a shell of someone that uses everyone to his own advantage, just like some children… do…"

Realization hit her.

'Hah, I forgot…'

She forgot that, despite being unmatched in field of combat and magic and possessing deep knowledge rivaling that of their best minds, he was still young. Not just young, he…

'He's younger than Gamma… Eta…'

The only ones of similar age with him were her, Beta, and Delta: coincidentally, the ones he got along the best with. He didn't try to impress them with something just so they wouldn't be disappointed with him, now did he?

'And the way Cid's expression turns in delight the moment he hears about Delta coming… Could it be because he knows he doesn't need to show off as some omniscient being around her and he can just be… himself?'

"...and that's how it is, Alpha," she saw a sigh escape his lips, "I might have planned ahead some parts of our play, but quite frequently I meet setbacks like these, then I'll just roll with it and try to think of the fly… You still want to stick with me, even though that image I painted the whole time was broken?"

Hah, it turned out he's no less dependent on them than they are on him…

"That still doesn't change anything, Master Shadow," she gently ruffled his hair, "You were the one who put his time and effort when everyone else discarded us. Even if you're not as all-knowing as we thought, you're still our glorious leader. We built Shadow Garden, our family, together. And we will stay together until the very end."

She could feel his body slowly relaxing against hers.

"We may have put you on a pedestal way too high… But it's alright. Now you can rely on us more. If there's something you need help with, please, remember to ask our help," Alpha slowly broke the hug and smiled at him, "No need to keep everything on your shoulders anymore."

She glanced at the clock.

"And… I think you need a proper rest for tomorrow," her beautiful sky-like eyes were filled with warmth as she collected the papers into a neat stack, "After all, we have an important mission on our hands."

Alpha immediately put a finger on his lips upon seeing him trying to say something.

"No, not now. I'll explain everything to you tomorrow. You're tired. You need rest. And don't worry; I will not tell everyone else about it. At least, not until you decide you're ready. We can do it, together. I will help you to get through it, Master Shadow. You can come to me, anytime."

She slowly leaned in, circling an arm around his neck and lifting her face up to his while sneaking a letter into his pocket.

"Let that be our little secret, Cid," blush crept on her face as she distanced herself.

'And I am sure nobody would object you not being that perfect being everyone imagined you to be. On the contrary, I think they all will be delighted to know they can be of help to you. To be able to share your burden, to comfort you. Just like me.'

Alpha gave him one last smile before leaping through the window, into the night.

'We will never leave you, Cid. Never.'

He should admit, he did not expect it. He always thought girls were playing with him out of pity and gratitude for their saving, but it seems like Alpha genuinely thought of him as a friend even outside of their roleplay… That's what friends do, right? Support each other in hard times? Wait, if you look at it from that perspective…

'I should've thought about it sooner. I mean, I understand that my thought process is unlike most people, but even then I should realize that everyone wants to live a fulfilling life, being fed, clother, protected… Exactly what I did to the girls back then! No wonder Gamma was so insistent on repaying me: after all, what's more precious that one's own life? It was nothing for me but a mere test of my abilities, but it was everything for them: as Alpha said, they found a new family in me and each other. Even now, they continue to support each other. And me. Has I been too cold to them outside our Eminence roleplay? Had to be, considering Alpha decided to personally drill me about that… Hmm, I gotta give them something good as an apology next time. Maybe take them out in the wild like good old times?…'

He played with letter Alpha gave to him. 'This will be our secret tet-a-tet place…' and coordinates. 'This is where Shadow Garden's base is located. Yes, you're supposed to know about it, but I decided I am going to give you a full report about everything so you won't feel left out of the loop…' huh, so they actually had a roleplay base but thought he knew about it? Neat… Oh, it's where that Mist Dragon was?… Great choice, actually. He would pick it, too.

As Cid slowly read through the letter, he came to know more and more about everything that girls came up with during the years. It's almost as if the Cult of Diablos was real and they actually were fighting it! He has to commend her persistence: even during their heartfelt talk she still didn't forget about Shadow Garden's story, just for his sake. He really needs to make amends with her and everyone else later.

'Though…'

He rubbed his lips.

'Is there a lore reason for her to kiss me? Is she jealous of Alexia?'

Alternative titles: "Cid's first reality check", "Alpha shows that she's alpha by stealing Cid's first kiss", "Alpha becomes overprotective"