Chapter 34 - Back to School

10.24.1205

"This should be fine." Rean said to himself as he picked up a snack at the school store.

After paying for his snack, Rean made his way to a nearby table inside the Student Union building.

"You know what they say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Rean joked to himself before biting into his apple.

It wasn't long before Rean felt someone walking towards him.

"Good afternoon, Schwarzer." Patrick greeted.

"Oh hey Patrick." Rean greeted.

"Mind if I take a seat here?" Patrick asked as he pointed towards a chair in front of Rean.

"Go right ahead." Rean answered.

Patrick quickly took a seat before placing his lunch on the table.

"I see you're still penny pinching your lunch." Patrick noted as he saw Rean finishing his apple.

"Yup." Rean responded once he was done eating.

"How in the world you can survive the school day with only an apple is beyond me." Patrick retorted.

"Haha. Wanting to save money is quite the motivation." Rean explained.

"What in the world are you saving up for that you've had to buy the cheapest food on the menu since April?" Patrick asked.

"I read about this really great restaurant in Heimdallr a few months back. It's a bit out of my price range, so I've been saving up." Rean admitted.

"Look at you, finally looking into making your debut into high society? Patrick teased.

"Hold your horses buddy. It's nothing like that. If anything, it's the opposite." Rean responded.

"Oh that's right, you're already seeing someone right now correct?" Patrick remembered.

"I don't blame you for forgetting, we haven't really publicly announced our relationship yet. Mainly since we haven't had the time to sit our families down and get their blessings." Rean noted.

"Trust me, I know how difficult it can be trying to get a family member's blessing to start a relationship." Patrick said as he eyed Rean.

"You do? I'll give you a hint about who I'm seeing if you do the same." Rean teased.

Patrick froze in his seat as he questioned whether or not to even to clue Rean in on the fact that he had feelings for Elise.

"Even if I only give him a hint he'll probably figure it out with that sixth sense of his. Although, if I phrase things vaguely enough he might be able to give me some advice." Patrick thought to himself.

"I-I'd love to. You should go first, seeing as while unofficial, you are already in a relationship." Patrick announced.

Rean thought about how best to describe Towa without making it painfully obvious that he was talking about her.

"Well the woman I'm seeing isn't a student and she's quite mature." Rean vaguely revealed.

It didn't take long for Patrick to notice Rean drifting off as he started to daydream about the mystery woman.

"He's 19, but with how he's acting he might as well still be in Sunday School." Patrick thought to himself.

Rean quickly snapped out of his daydream upon realizing that he wasn't alone.

"S-Sorry. Anyway, I've done my part. So, who tickles your fancy?" Rean asked in an attempt to steer the conversation away from himself.

"Well… she's very sweet and polite. Unfortunately she's very difficult to approach. Mainly because she goes to a different school and her brother is quite the barrier." Patrick admitted.

Rean mulled over Patrick's words.

"In hindsight I'm rather lucky to have fallen for someone as approachable as Towa. Aidios only knows how quickly I would've chickened out if I had to deal with her having an older brother. Honestly, I'm surprised Angelica, George, and Crow didn't try to do anything to stop me from pursuing her. If anything, that talk with Crow was what made me realize how I felt about her. I suppose I should try to do the same for Patrick. He seems to be far more aware of his feelings than I ever was about Towa after all." Rean thought to himself.

"Patrick, there's no reason to feel threatened. With our Arcus units long distance relationships are easier to deal with, no matter where she is. Be it Celdic, Roer, Ordis, Raquel, or even Heimdallr." Rean told him.

"You say that as if you have experience." Patrick noted while trying to avoid eye contact.

"Well, it's what I do with who I'm seeing, or I guess I should say reading. No wait, she sends me pictures from time to time, so I am still technically seeing her. It isn't the same as seeing her face to face, but it does close the gap between us." Rean continued.

"So that's why you refuse to turn off your Arcus unit. One of these days one of our instructors is going to catch you, you know." Patrick teased.

"That's a risk I'm willing to take." Rean countered.

Rean and Patrick then looked at a nearby clock and realized that their lunch break would be over in ten minutes.

"Well I don't want to distract you from having your lunch. I think I'll go for a quick walk around the school." Rean said as left the table.

"Are you sure?" Patrick asked as he saw Rean make his way to the exit.

"Yup. Oh by the way, I don't think that girl you like from St. Astraia's older brother is that much of a barrier. I think you just need to prove yourself to them before they let you interact with their sister." Rean responded before leaving the Student Union building.

Patrick sat in silence as he realized that Rean figured out that he liked Elise.


Rean's afternoon classes came and went.

Rean stared out the window out of boredom. Normally he disliked not focusing in class, but he made an exception for Vice Principal Heinrich's history classes. Mainly since he already learned everything during the advanced courses last year, and because Vice Principal Heinrich always found a way to make things boring.

"I swear that the history textbook I've been reading is more exciting." Rean thought to himself.


Before long the school day came to an end.

"Alright, I should probably head back to my dorm now." Rean said to himself as he made his way to the front gate.

But before he could leave he sensed someone running towards him.

"Rean I need your help!" the person yelled as they ran towards him.

"Oh Prez, is something wrong?" Rean greeted.

Much like his first year at Thors, Rean continued to assist the Student Council with any troubles they faced. He'd even given the new Student Council President her own nickname.

"Sorry to bother you, but the Student Council is going to have a meeting in a few minutes and our designated note-taker left earlier today because they felt ill. I was wondering if you could substitute for them?" the Student Council President asked.

"I'm getting a weird sense of déjà vu." Rean joked.

"Jeez, I get sick and miss one meeting and no one lets me forget it. How do you know I was the designated note-taker last year? You weren't even in the Student Council!" the Student Council President ranted.

"Because I was asked to substitute for you." Rean revealed.

"Why am I not surprised that President Herschel asked you to substitute for me? She always seemed rather fond of you y'know." the Student Council President teased.

"Haha. Anyway, didn't you say the meeting is going to start soon? Shouldn't we head to the Student Council room now just to be safe?" Rean asked.

"Oh you're helping? Good, follow me!" the Student Council President responded before leading Rean to the Student Council room.


By the time the meeting ended it was already nightfall.

"Sorry the meeting lasted longer than intended. I'm sure you had other things planned." the Student Council President said as she started apologizing to Rean.

"Don't worry about it Prez. I had nothing planned for today." Rean informed her.

"If you say so. Goodnight Rean." the Student Council President said as they locked up the Student Union building for the night.

"Goodnight Prez." Rean said before making his way to the Class VII Dorm.


The walk back to the Class VII Dorm was no different from any other day. Although due to it being nighttime already most of the shops were already closed.

"Dang it, my coupon expired today. I knew I should've come here in the morning." Rean thought to himself upon realizing that the store he planned to visit had already closed.

With that Rean walked back to the Class VII Dorm.


Rean soon got to the Class VII Dorm, but before he could go inside his Arcus unit started ringing.

"Hello, Rean Schwarzer speaking." Rean greeted.

"Good evening Rean." Towa responded.

"Wait Towa!? You're usually asleep by now, why are you calling me at this hour?" Rean asked.

"Heehee. I used to be asleep at this hour, but today was the last day of my tour. I'm on my way to Heimdallr as we speak." Towa revealed.

"Really!? That's great, I'll see if I can take the train there and visit you as soon as I can." Rean said, not bothering to hide his excitement.

"Actually before that, I was wondering if we should finally get around to organizing that meeting between our families." Towa noted.

"I suppose now would be the best time to do it. I'll send my folks a call tomorrow." Rean responded.

"And I'll tell my aunt and uncle when I get home tomorrow." Towa added.

"Well then, it sounds like you still have a long trip ahead of you. Goodnight Towa, see you soon." Rean commented.

"Thank you. Goodnight Rean, see you soon." Towa responded.

Rean soon hung up as he wanted Towa to get as much rest as she could get.


Once he put his Arcus unit away, Rean opened the door and entered the Class VII Dorm. Within seconds of entering however he was given a surprise hug.

It took Rean a few seconds to realize who exactly was hugging him.

"Long time no see Rean." Towa greeted.

"T-Towa!?" Rean asked in confusion.

Before Towa could answer however she felt Rean return the hug.

"Heehee. I hope you don't mind that I took a quick detour to see you." Towa responded.

"Not at all Towa." Rean assured her before tearing up.

Rean was never really sure what day he'd be able to see Towa again, so seeing her there now was more than enough to make him feel a sense of ease he hadn't felt since she left. Judging by how tight Towa's hug was getting, it was safe to assume that she felt the same way.


Author's Note

Hope you all enjoyed the beginning of the Cold Steel III Arc!

Apologies in advance if it takes a while before Rean and Towa become instructors at the Branch Campus.

Preview - "Good afternoon dear. It's been awhile since you've last visited. I do hope you don't plan on taking Rean out to the forest again." Lady Schwarzer teased.