Chapter 31 - Leaving Office
3.11.1205 - Friday
"You only have yourselves to blame for this. Everything besides furniture better be in boxes by the time I return this evening." Vice Principal Heinrich announced.
"Yes sir." Rean and Towa responded.
"To make sure you two don't just leave, I will be locking the door. I have informed the staff to not let any of your friends up here, so don't think you can just call up one of them to free you two." Vice Principal Heinrich continued.
"We wouldn't dream of it sir." Rean and Towa responded.
"You have four hours before nightfall. I expect you to use this time wisely." Vice Principal Heinrich said he locked Rean and Towa inside the Student Council room.
"Sorry I got you dragged into this Rean." Towa said as she turned to Rean.
"No no, pretty sure this falls on me for not just taking you to your dorm room." Rean responded.
"Still, I was the first one to wake up. Even if I was still sleepy I should have at least woken you up so you could've made it to your classes." Towa continued.
"You say that as if I also didn't fall back asleep like you did. I think we should appreciate Instructor Sara and Sharon for backing up our story and you know 'defending our characters'." Rean responded.
The previous day had been rather odd for the pair. They somehow managed to sleep through the whole school day together. If that weren't bad enough, Vice Principal Heinrich had entered the Student Council room after the school day concluded to drop off some paperwork for the Student Council, and just so happened to stumble upon them sleeping on the couch together. Rean and Towa managed to avoid getting any serious punishment thanks to Instructor Sara confirming that she gave Rean permission to sleep there and Sharon admitting that she saw them sleeping on the couch in the morning but chose not to wake them up. It also helped that they had their clothes on underneath the blanket.
Vice Principal Heinrich wasn't satisfied however, and decided to punish Rean and Towa himself. Apparently, Prince Olivert had requested that all items in the Student Union building be placed into storage, as Thors was going to be given a face lift in preparation for Prince Cedric's arrival in a year or two. Seeing as the moving company they requested had to cancel that afternoon, Vice Principal Heinrich decided to force Rean and Towa to put everything they could inside the Student Council room into boxes as punishment.
"I guess we should hurry up. The more efficiently we work, the more likely we are to finish and relax!" Towa announced.
"Roger!" Rean yelled.
Rean and Towa spit the room in half, with each of them taking one side to focus on. Of course if some items were too high for Towa, then Rean would help her get them down.
Towa felt herself going through memory lane as she placed all the supplies she and the Student Council used since she joined during her first year at Thors. It was a rather bittersweet feeling knowing that her time as Student Council President was more or less over. The Student Council already held a meeting with her to help elect the next Student Council President.
Once she reached her desk Towa couldn't help but recall the first time she properly introduced herself to Rean. It wasn't exactly their first meeting, but it did cement to her that he would be involved in her life from that point on. Granted, not in a million years did she think that he would ever be that involved in her life. She then made her way to bookshelves around the couch. The same couch they had done so much together on like drink tea together, study together, and… sleep together.
Now that most of the stuff on her side was in boxes, Towa began to realize just how familiar she had become with the Student Council room. Her friends often joked that it was like her second dorm room, and admittedly they were right. It very much became a sort of secondary dorm room to her while at Thors, nothing compared to being the Student Council President. Now that it was practically over, she questioned what would be next for her. She wouldn't get a response from the NGOs she applied to for a few more days, and she wasn't sure what she would do once her internships ended.
The only certainty Towa could think of was Rean and her family being there for her.
Rean worked his way through his side of the room. Despite not being an actual member, he'd come to know the Student Council room quite well due to his frequent visits. A part of him knew that he would miss Towa being at the school, but he was ready to enjoy calling her and taking her out on dates when their schedules allowed it. She had already told him about her plans, and he gave her his full support.
It was a little difficult for Rean to accept that all his friends would be graduating soon, even everyone in Class VII. Apparently while he was away Principal Vandyke offered them advanced courses so that they could graduate a year early. The offer was extended to him, but due to being stuck in Crossbell for so long he was unable to graduate with them. Of course, the silver lining was that he had enough credits to miss as many days as he wanted the next school year. Not that he planned on becoming a slacker.
Rean couldn't be prouder of his friends. It filled him with joy seeing them move on to the next part of their lives. Of course, that meant that he was the only one without a solid plan once he got out of Thors. But he wasn't worried, it only meant that he hadn't found his calling yet. In due time he was sure some sort of opportunity would arrive. He still had a year to think things through after all. He even bought a large Zemurian history textbook while he was in Crossbell. It was so large that he was sure it was going to keep him busy for a few months. Not that he knew many jobs that required a decent knowledge of Zemurian history.
In the end Rean was happy with where he was now, back at Towa's side.
After a single hour, Rean and Towa had managed to put everything into boxes.
Seeing as they had three hours to themselves, Rean and Towa decided to sit down on the couch and catch up on recent events. They've already shared some things during lunchtime, like Towa's NGO internships or Rean's second year at Thors, but they still had so many other things they wanted to talk about.
Rean mainly shared stories about some of the more positive things he did while in Crossbell. Mainly getting assigned to watch over Altina and frequenting a noodle stand. Towa shared what had happened with Instructor Beatrix, her final grades, and the requests she did while he was away.
Despite the smile Rean had while talking to her, Towa could tell that he was holding something in. It didn't take a genius to know that he had taken Crow's death pretty hard, especially after promising her, Angelica, and George that he'll bring him back. Not helping matters was that he was sent off to Crossbell immediately afterwards. Unlike others, he hadn't been able to properly grieve.
Towa was starting to see it eating away at Rean, she knew that he needed an outlet. Seeing as they would have the room to themselves for three more hours, she decided that now might be the best time to let it all out.
It didn't take long for Rean to notice that Towa was deep in thought about something, and he decided to ask what was on her mind.
"Is something wrong Towa?" Rean asked.
"Rean, is something the matter?" Towa responded.
"Oh, no. I'm fine." Rean lied. He should've figured that Towa was able to pick up on what was on his mind.
Towa immediately stood up in front of Rean with a determined look on her face.
"W-What's this all about?" Rean asked.
"I know that you're a boy and all, and I do think you've grown a lot during your year here. No, I probably shouldn't even call you a boy anymore. You're a grown man now..." Towa announced.
Before Rean knew it, Towa was clasping his hands.
"But that doesn't mean you always have to stand and endure everything life throws your way, okay? If it gets too much, it's all right to sit down and let it all out. Whether you're a boy or a grown man doesn't change that. It's okay, Rean." Towa continued.
Rean took Towa's words to heart. There was so much he'd been keeping inside the past two months, that he probably would have continued holding in if it weren't for her.
"I-I'm so sorry…" Rean whispered as tears began to fall from his face.
Towa immediately let go of his hands wrapped her arms around his head to comfort Rean.
"I'm so… so sorry… I promised I'd bring him back… I promised… I'd make him graduate with you… but I couldn't do it…" Rean continued.
"It's okay… You did everything you could… You made sure he knew how we all felt… and you let all of us know how he really felt, too… So don't get so worked up about it, okay?" Towa responded.
The pair stayed like that for a few more minutes. Towa decided to let Rean let out everything he's been holding in.
After a few minutes, Towa sat back down next to Rean.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want anyone to see me like that." Rean said.
"It wouldn't be the first time seeing you like that, and if it happens again I'll be there to comfort you again." Towa reminded him.
"Have you finished getting everything ready for the next Student Council President?" Rean asked in an attempt to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Yup. My days of being president are almost done. The first-years taking over are really smart, though. I barely had to teach a thing in the end." Towa answered.
"Still, it must have been hard work getting through it all. You're going on a tour of various NGOs after graduation once you receive their responses right?" Rean commented.
"Yup. I already told you the plan. I'll be interning at multiple NGOs in lots of different fields. Politics, economics, engineering, and medicine. After that, I'm still not sure what I want to do. I'll probably join either the army or something related to the government, I suppose." Towa responded.
"Well, I'm pretty sure they'd both love to have you. There's no chance either one would say no to you. Especially since taking a year off hasn't made them any less determined to recruit you. Though after all you did with commanding the Courageous, it's no wonder you're so in demand." Rean assured her.
"I don't know… I don't think I did anything special, really. Still, I feel like it'd be best in the long run for me to see the world from a variety of different perspectives. I don't know what path I'll choose, but I want to step onto it with a firm decision on how things should be. I think that's the best thing I can do for this country's future! Heehee. Maybe I'm being a little over dramatic there, though." Towa confessed.
"Not at all. After how much you've done for this academy, I can only imagine how much you could do for this country. Just try not to overwork yourself, okay? I'm with you all the way, but I'll always worry, you know." Rean told her with a blush on his face.
"Ahahaha… Thanks." Towa rescinded with a similar blush on her face.
It was still rather difficult for them to process that they were a couple. Despite everything they've done since confessing.
"Anyway, all this means is that I'm only going to be serving as Student Council President until the end of the week. After that, I'll be just like any other student until graduation day, so that's how you're going to have to treat me! Of course, I'm also your g-girlfriend." Towa announced.
"But how will you ever survive the rest of your school days without all that extra paperwork? All kidding aside, it's going to be lonely not seeing you at that desk every time I swing by or missing out on the extra Free Day work. Maybe I should keep our Mishy plush in my dorm room and hug it whenever I'm down or miss their mother." Rean teased.
"I-I'm sure you'll be just fine! You'll probably be busy enough as a second-year without Student Council Stuff. I-I mean, I think it's sweet to know that you'll miss me that much, but…" Towa responded. She didn't know that she was capable of being jealous of a plush.
"I'm sure I'll be really busy, too, but knowing I was helping you out meant it never felt tiring for me. Still, if you're okay with me keeping our Mishy plush in my dorm room while you're traveling, maybe I can take them today. Even if I'd prefer to be hugging their mother." Rean continued teasing.
"A-Anyway, moving off our Mishy plush… Was there anything else you wanted to talk about? We are locked in here for at least three more hours." Towa asked as she tried to hide her jealousy.
"O-Oh, I was wondering if you were free next Tuesday?" Rean asked.
"Y-You mean my birthday? Sure, I-I'd like nothing more than to spend it with my b-boyfriend." Towa answered.
"Then it's a date!" Rean announced.
"Is there anything else you want to do while we're locked in here? There is something I want to do, but I think it's in the supply closet." Towa asked.
"I've got nothing in mind, go right ahead, but aren't there just cleaning supplies in there? You know, like wet wipes, a broom, and a mop?" Rean responded.
"Oh, you probably couldn't see them because of how dark it is inside, but I keep some books in there. I'll go get them." Towa revealed as she made her way to the supply closet.
Rean saw as Towa closed the door behind her into the supply closet.
"Why am I not surprised she keeps books hidden away in a supply closet?" Rean thought to himself.
A few hours later Vice Principal Heinrich returned to let Rean and Towa out.
"I hope this taught you both a lesson in respecting the school grounds." Vice Principal Heinrich told the pair as he looked around the Student Council room.
"Yes sir." Rean and Towa responded.
"You two don't seem that bored considering you've been stuck in here putting things in boxes." Vice Principal Heinrich asked.
"We just happened to finish early and read some of my spare books I had in here." Towa responded.
"You two would find reading a book together fun." Vice Principal Heinrich commented.
"Permission to leave?" Rean asked.
"Permission granted." Vice Principal Heinrich said.
Rean and Towa soon left the Student Council room, but not before Towa picked up their Mishy plush.
"Shall I walk you to your dorm?" Towa asked.
"Actually I was wondering, would y-you mind if I walked you to your dorm?" Rean responded.
"O-Oh… I suppose us being a couple takes priority over me being your upperclassman and you being my underclassman huh? I-I suppose if my boyfriend wants to walk me and our Mishy plush to my dorm, then sure. Lead the way Rean!" Towa announced.
The walk to the Lower-Class Dorm had been shorter than either Rean and Towa would've liked.
"Alright, goodnight Towa. Oh, and you two Mishy. Do let your mother rest." Rean said as he started to walk away.
"Wait Rean, you forgot something!" Towa yelled as she ran towards him.
"What did I forget To-" Rean tried to ask before Towa interrupted him.
Before Rean knew it, Towa had pulled him down by his tie and gave him a kiss.
"Haha. Goodnight Rean. Sweet dreams." Towa said as she ran back to her dorm.
Rean soon made his way to the Class VII Dorm, still trying to process his and Towa's most recent kiss.
"Haha. I can get used to this." Rean thought to himself.
Author's Note
I hope no one minds if that final Bonding Event happens slightly earlier than in-game.
Preview - "I'd say when she receives an invitation to their wedding." _ bluntly answered.
