Chapter 27 - Confessions
12.30.1204 - Thursday (Trista's Liberation)
Rean gave Towa a basic rundown of the Class VII Dorm.
First Rean showed Towa the first floor. Admittedly she was already familiar with it seeing as that's where she used to drop off requests for him on their free days. What was new to her was the kitchen, community washroom, and the guest room.
Next was the second floor where all the boys' rooms were located. Rean decided to show Towa his room. Luckily for him, everything seemed intact. He also made sure to check that his box of shame was still properly hidden while she looked around his room.
It didn't take long for Towa to realize that she'd already been inside Rean's room, but considering the circumstance of her previous stay she decided to act like this was the first time she'd ever seen it.
Finally was the third floor where all the girls' rooms were located. There wasn't much up there that Rean could show Towa however.
The two made their way back downstairs before Towa requested Rean to show her Crow's room.
Much like before, it was empty. Hopefully by the time Crow graduated he'd be able to buy himself more decorations. Rean did promise to bring Crow back with him after all, and Towa had little to no reason to doubt him at this point. Knowing Crow, he probably found some comfort in the Class VII Dorm if he had made sure to keep it intact all this time.
Things only got silent between the two once Rean's tour was over.
Rean wasn't really sure what to do next, but after taking a quick look at Towa he realized that she had something prepared. Something she wanted to get off her chest.
"Fie did say to let Towa take the lead I suppose. I'm sure she's thought up a politely worded rejection speech for me." Rean thought to himself.
Towa soon turned to face Rean directly.
"Heehee… It really is amazing just how dependable you've become. When I first met you, I had no idea I would end up relying on you so much. Even after, I never thought you could handle it all." Towa said.
Towa and Rean soon recalled their first few run-ins.
Rean felt rather embarrassed upon remembering just how much of a nervous wreck he was when they first met, and how he thought Towa was a first-year like him.
Towa herself questioned the odds of the two of them even meeting. It could have easily been Angelica and Crow that were in charge of greeting the first-years instead of her and George, and there was nothing stopping Instructor Sara from sending any other member of Class VII to help the Student Council. But in the end she and Rean met each other, either by pure luck, or Aidios' will.
"Haha… I suppose we both had weird first impressions of each other, didn't we? I'm not proud of it, but I totally didn't believe you were a second-year when we first met. That being said, you were quick to prove me wrong. You're so capable and reliable." Rean admitted.
"Heehee… Thanks. But there's something I want you to remember, Rean…" Towa responded.
"Like?" Rean questioned.
Towa tried to think her next words carefully.
"There's so much more I want to tell Rean besides just the fact that I reciprocate his feelings. I know he means well, but he shouldn't be trying to play the hero all the time. Especially after what happened when he tried to defend Trista a few months ago." Towa thought to herself.
After a deep breath, Towa continued.
"I really do think you're amazing, and not just because of all you did at the academy. You were chosen by Valimar, and you've gone through all kinds of scary experiences as a result. You've made a difference to the lives of so many, and you're surrounded by people who see you as their leader… but no matter what happens, no matter what you're up against… I don't want you to forget that you're only human like the rest of us." Towa said.
Rean was taken aback by Towa's comments. It was as if she always had a way to know what he was worried about. It happened on his first day, and it was happening again now.
"I don't really believe there are natural-born heroes out there who are superior to everyone else. And I don't think you're an exception. So don't feel like you have to shoulder everyone's problems by yourself. We're all here with you if you need us. There's no shame in asking for help or relying on others if you need to, okay?" Towa continued. She had made sure to look Rean in the eyes while she told him everything.
"Wow. Umm… Thank you for saying that. Really. Talking to you gives me a sense of ease in a way nothing else can… You're always willing to accept people for who they are, strengths, flaws, and all." Rean said in response.
"I don't know about that-" Towa tried to say before Rean interrupted her.
"It was only because you were there to support me that I was able to start accepting myself for who I really am. That I was able to try and keep moving forward as I am instead of losing faith in myself. So… thank you. For everything." Rean continued.
Towa could feel her own heart skip a few beats after listening to what Rean told her.
"Heehee. I'm happy to hear you say that. It's weird. Now more than ever, I feel so glad I was able to become Thors' Student Council President. If I hadn't, I might have never met you… And… I doubt I would ever have started feeling like this…" Towa admitted.
At this point Towa had given up on subtlety. No matter what happened, she was going to tell Rean everything.
"Like?" Rean questioned. Admittedly he had no clue what Towa was referring to.
Rean's response alone was enough to convince Towa that she would need to be as clear as possible. He was clear with her when he confessed back at the school festival, so she would have to return the favor tonight. Not that it stopped her from getting nervous.
"R-R-Rean… can you kneel down for a minute?" Towa requested nervously.
Rean was caught off guard by Towa's request, but he did as he was told. He saw no harm in kneeling for her.
"Umm… Like this?" Rean asked her as he got on one knee. Rean suddenly noticed how odd it was to see Towa tower over him.
Suddenly, Towa walked over to Rean and put her arms around him.
Rean couldn't help but get flustered as a result. Not helping matters, Towa also began to gently rub his head.
"Don't worry. I'm sure everything will work out just fine. We might not be heroes, but that's all the more reason we'll see this through to the end without giving up. And we'll do it without losing a single one of us along the way." Towa softly told Rean.
"Heh. Right." Rean nervously responded.
Rean and Towa stayed in their current positions for a little while longer.
Towa had grown to enjoy just how flustered she could make Rean by just rubbing his head, and Rean rather enjoyed how soothing Towa's head rub was for him.
However, both knew what they had to do now. They had delayed the inevitable for long enough. Towa would finally have to give Rean a proper response to his confession.
"R-Rean?" Towa nervously asked.
"Y-Yes?" Rean nervously responded.
"I have one more request for you. Y-You wouldn't mind doing one more thing for me?" Towa informed Rean.
"Of course. W-Who would I be to refuse a request from my captain." Rean shyly responded.
"Rean… Can you tell me again what you tried telling me back at the school festival?" Towa requested.
The events of the school festival replayed in their heads. They had danced by the fire, and even though the fire did a decent job of hiding how red their faces had gotten. Both knew that they were nervous about being so close to each other. Of course, Rean's failed confession soon followed. Despite the fact that he was a stuttering mess, Towa already knew what he tried to tell her. She didn't know why, but she wanted him to say it again. Either so she could answer him immediately this time, or because a part of her selfishly wanted to hear him say those words again.
Rean closed his eyes and took a deep breath, but before he could fulfil Towa's request, she laid her forehead on his own causing him to open his eyes and stare into her own.
"Rean… I want you to look me in the eyes again when you say it, and I'll do the same…" Towa informed Rean.
"Captain Towa... I love you." Rean confessed.
"Rean… I love you too." Towa confessed.
Rean and Towa let their words sink in for a few minutes. But no matter how many minutes passed, neither were fully sure if what was going on was real. They both felt nothing but bliss, as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
Neither wanted to move out of fear of breaking the harmony they were in, but Towa soon noticed that Rean was starting to wobble. It was clear that he wouldn't be able to kneel down for her much longer.
Seeing no better way to take advantage of her current position, Towa began to lift Rean's Chin. Luckily for her, he was more than willing to do whatever she wanted him to do.
They longingly stared into each other's eyes as Towa brought her lips closer to Rean's. It didn't take long before their lips locked on to each other. If their first kiss in Celdic was bliss, then this kiss was something that was beyond description. Their kiss would have lasted all night if they could, but soon they both needed to catch their breath and reluctantly separated their mouths. Of course, once they caught their breath they continued from where they left off.
Both Rean and Towa had been harboring their feelings for so long that neither were really sure if they could seal them back up again.
Of course, one look outside the window was enough to remind Rean and Towa how late it had gotten. They could see the night sky illuminated by stars and the moon. Although that wasn't enough to stop the people of Trista from celebrating.
As much as both of them knew they should go sleep back onboard the Courageous with the others, they both wanted to just be by themselves.
"R-Rean would you mind if we just stargaze together on the rooftop for a while before heading off to bed?" Towa asked shyly.
"I'd love nothing more." Rean answered as he stood up.
As the two made their way up to the rooftop, Towa decided that she needed to hear something specific from Rean.
"Rean, I suppose we're dating now r-right? As in, I'm y-your girlfriend and you're my b-boyfriend?" Towa asked.
"I suppose we are Captain Towa." Rean responded with a proud smile on his face.
"Don't we have to discuss this with our families then? Seeing as you're a noble… we'll have to go through all the stages of courting huh?" Towa brought up.
"Yeah, we're gonna have to deal with all that stuff at some point… But we'll do it together." Rean responded.
"By the way, seeing as I'm your g-girlfriend, can you just call me by my first name? None of this President or Captain stuff, I want you to just say my name." Towa informed Rean.
"Sure thing Captain Towa." Rean responded.
"Rean…" Towa teased.
Towa couldn't stay too mad, but from the looks of things it was going to take a while before Rean could manage to call her by just her first name.
"S-Sorry, about that. I'll try to do better… T-T-Towa." Rean nervously said.
Towa could only find Rean's attempt to call her by just her name rather endearing.
"W-Well T-Towa, the night is still young. Shall w-we?" Rean said while opening the door to the Class VII Dorm's rooftop and offering his hand to Towa.
"Heehee. Sure thing Rean." Towa immediately responded as she took Rean's hand.
Author's Note
Looks like they finally did it. Rean and Towa finally (successfully) confessed to each other.
By the way, if you want to read about how Rean and Towa spent their first night together, might I recommend reading Trails to Eternity: Intimate Intermission. Unfortunately, that story will only be published on Archive of Out Own since after rereading the Rule & Guidelines I've concluded that it would be safer to not upload it here. Sorry.
Preview - "Yeah… Like we promised." _ said.
