Balamb Town. Ma Smailes's house.

"Puss face!" Sean shouted as he opened the door, not seeing his brother anywhere in the house.

"Shh... Shh..." Raddie poked his head out and waved at Sean.

Sean frowned, took off his ochre jacket, and hung it on the coat hanger. "What the hell are you doing in my room?"

"Shh… Ma will hear you. Emergency! Come!"

Confused, Sean entered his room regardless. Raddie immediately shut the door, and Sean trembled as he saw the floor and walls stained with blood.

"Sorry, bro!" Raddie murmured.

"My Hyne! Did you just murder someone here?"

"I wish."

Raddie recounted how he had tripped while carrying 5 Fastitocalon-Fs, which had gotten loose, and he had spent hours cornering them back into Sean's room.8

"Why my room? And how could cooked fish get loose?" Sean yelled.

As Raddie scratched his head, Sean understood everything.

"You forgot to tell Ma Dincht that you wanted cooked fish, didn't you?"

"It wasn't my fault!" Raddie exclaimed. "Rascal Boy took the order and he didn't ask. How would I know there are options?"

"Yeah? How could you know? We've been Ma Dincht's neighbors for only 20 years!" Sean was baffled. "You can't follow a simple order. How can you call yourself a SeeD candidate? You will get yourself killed in the field exam."

The clumsy brother grinned. "I'm sorry. Please don't tell Ma."

"I'm surprised that I'm not surprised anymore," Sean sighed. "Where's the fish?"

Raddie pointed to a chest in the corner.

"Are you kidding me? That's where I keep Quistis' new battlewear! I'm supposed to give it to her today." Sean exclaimed.

"She may prefer cut-outs," Raddie mumbled.

Sean stared at Raddie, then gasped. "Oh no, Zyma's briefs are in there, too..."

"Eh… Why do you keep his briefs?" Raddie asked.

"Because we're gay," Sean replied sarcastically. "He asked me to dry clean his GF briefs. The freak has extras for everything. But this pair are his favorite."

"Oops!" Raddie smiled awkwardly. "Can you go to Fire Cavern and borrow Ifrit's?"

"No!" Sean shook Raddie's shoulders as if he was a doll. "He's much bigger than Ifrit when he transforms."

"We can sew a new pair. Ma has plenty of old nightgowns," Raddie proposed. "Do you think he likes pink?"

"Funny that you think Ma's nightgowns are fire resistant! And I prefer to be killed by a naked beast than one in a pink breechcloth." Sean released Raddie, then reached for the chest. "Let's see how damaged they are..."

"I wouldn't open it here!" Raddie stopped Sean as his brother was about to lift up the noisy chest's lid.

"Why?"

"The fishies… They're scary with teeth and such," Raddie wrinkled his face. "Can you help bring this chest to the trunk? Senior Zyma can deal with them at Master Miyagi's."

"Why..."

Sean then came to a realization. The fact that Raddie had not killed the tiny fish meant...

"Oh my Hyne! Raddie, you didn't trip, did you?" Sean's eyes darkened. "And inside this chest are not the Fastitocalon-Fs, right?"

"Yikes..." Raddie slightly nodded.

"Freaking Hyne!"

"Rascal Boy must have forgotten the 'F'!"

"Yeah? If you managed to tell him the whole word, I'd be as tiny as an ant!" Sean yelled. "Who could kill 5 Fastitocalons at once? Thinking of which..." Sean paused. "How did you manage to put all of them back in this chest?"

Raddie panicked.

"Raddie... Answer me!" Sean pressed.

The retired SeeD knew for a fact that this monster was always thirsty for blood. Raddie is strong, but there was no way a level-8 cadet could have handled 5 monsters at once.

"I... um... I'm very sorry!" Raddie knelt down and put his hands together, praying. "They all dashed at me at the same time. I had no choice but to sacrifice our best friend..."

Sean's eyes immediately fixed on the empty rabbit's cage on his desk. He screamed at the top of his lungs.

"BUGGY!"

Half an hour of running and punching in silence later...

"Brother, I can be your punching bag all day, but we gotta get the fish to Master Miyagi's soon," Raddie said with his two eyes purple.

Sean was flexing his muscles after exercising on Raddie.

"You drive to Miyagi's. Ask Acma to help you load the fish out with her Thundaga. Don't let Zyma look at the chest, and tell him I have some errand. Meanwhile, I'll go to a junk shop and find a replacement."

"Roger."

Sean tossed Raddie his car's key, but Raddie gave it back.

"I'll drive Instructor Aki's car."

"Why is his car in our garage?" Sean asked.

"He ran out of gas at the intersection and got hit and run. I just fixed the exterior for him and refilled," Raddie explained.

"Okay," Sean nodded. "But be careful; you're a new driver, and his car is as old as him. Remember to..."

Raddie left before Sean even finished his words.

"...use the hand brake," Sean sighed. "When will you learn to listen to full instructions?"

"Geez! What the hell!" Nida swore as he swerved to the side and came to a complete stop. "Stop pushing my wheel. We almost got hit!"

Aki got defensive. "You were too far to the right of the lane. I just wanted to fix it to be in the exact middle..."

"First of all," Nida took a deep breath, containing his anger. "There's no lane on this rural dirt road. And second, would it kill you to just tell me to move over instead of grabbing the wheel? I'm the one driving here..."

"But you'd do it wrong!" Aki snapped.

Nida closed his eyes and put his head on the wheel. Parenting can be hard, especially when he is now the parent. After Aki reached 60, he grew more forgetful and agitated. Perhaps the latter was a cover for the former.

Grumpy. Blameful. Unsatisfied.

Nida became the one in charge of Aki's well-being. What did he get back in return besides disdain? Nothing seemed to please the old man.

Nida recalled being treated the same way by Xu recently. The thought of Xu being his own father's female version scared him. Was it why he was attracted to her in the first place? Shaking this strange idea out of his head, he returned to his usual calm and composed demeanor.

"Would you like to drive?" Nida offered.

"Fine! Let me show you how a real man drives, Instructor Nida!"

The older instructor sprang out of the car, then swapped places with his son.

"Seatbelt!" He instructed.

"I know! Stop telling me every single time! I'm 23 already."

Aki pressed the gas, signaled properly to no one from behind before re-entering the lane.

"It feels like just yesterday to me, son."

Nida glanced at Aki's graying hair and the further wrinkles on his hands as he gripped the wheel tightly.

"I promised your mom I would protect you before she passed," Aki continued, trembling.

"Oh, please, not again," Nida tried to interrupt Aki to no avail.

"For all my life, I've given you the best care, though you may not feel it. I truly did my best. And I have no regret seeing you now, an equal to the Legendary SeeD squad. Hyne forbid if I meet your mom soon, I can see her with my hunchback straight, knowing I have completed my job and hers. I have been both a mom and a dad to you and all of students at three gardens. I know my love was divided, but you have to be lieve you always has the bigger share, Nidachan. But tell me... My eyesight may not be as keen, but I can't help but notice…"

Aki paused slightly, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead, then asked. "What's been troubling your mind today, son?"

Nida was taken aback by his father's sudden question.

"I... uh..."

"Come on, I'm all ears," Aki said. "Whatever is left."

"Um… I have to tell you something," Nida muttered. "Well, actually, hypothetically, I'm in love with someone I'm not supposed to... It's been exhausting to keep it in the dark. 'Cause it's not approved by our community's standard."

"Like… not a female?" Aki immediately inquired.

Nida was about to say no, but a loud engine noise from behind with someone's shouting interrupted him.

"Dad..."

"I see... That makes a lot of sense," Aki didn't seem to notice the noise. "I suspected since you were engrossed in reading 'Ranma 1/2' fan fictions…"

"What? Dad!"

"Fantasies make you soft, no matter how strong our Aki lineage's genes are…"

"Dad! Pull over!" Nida yelled, then yanked the wheel to avoid a collision with a mad car from behind.

Master Miyagi. Zyma's room.

"Here you go, boy!" Lina gave Acma a mirror to showcase her makeup skill.

"Oh my goodness! You are a genius makeup artist..." Acma opened her mouth wide and moved her face, now of a young man, in different angles. "I know you can morph, but this makeup skill is top-notch!"

"Yeah? I actually only use makeup for disguise. I don't dare to show off my innate ability. My boy friends would freak out knowing that I have Gerogero's genes," Lina said as she cleaned up her makeup kit. "Put on the wig... No, wait," Lina paused. "Clothes first. Take off all your clothes."

"Now?" Acma asked.

"Yes. While I'm here," Lina explained. "I'm not sure if I'll be back for dinner. And your guy's clothes are really long for you, I may need to alter them." Lina pondered at Zyma's limited wardrobe of only green and black attires.

"Okay..." Acma reluctantly unbuttoned her cadet uniform. "Um... I've told you that I have wings, right?"

"Oh yeah," Lina's interest was piqued, and she immediately sat back on the bed with Acma. "Can I see them?"

"Don't get too excited," Acma smiled awkwardly. "Timeth helped me trim them once a month. They're no different from tree trunks."

"Ooh... are they oozing? Do you feel pain?" Lina was disgusted by the sight.

"A little. They try to get out," Acma sighed. "Timeth is back to Trabia for two weeks, and I have no one to help me treat them."

"What can I do for you?" Lina offered.

Lina helped Acma apply antibiotics cream to the wing base.

"They look very nasty. I assume you can't see Dr. Kadowaki with these, huh?" Lina asked.

"Fortunately, students in research track don't have to undergo medical exams. Plus, I have unlimited access to antibiotics in Miss Trepe's lab. I self-injected some anti-growth hormones, but they help very little."

"You're a late boomer. Does your sister have wings, too?"

"Yes, she has them since birth. Weird, right? We're identical twins. But because of that, they crushed her legs," Acma sighed.

"Well... you're the luckier one then," Lina commented.

"I know," Acma agreed.

Knock! Knock!

"Are you two done yet?" Zyma asked from outside.

Inside, Acma instinctively grabbed her clothes to cover her body.

"We're changing clothes!" Lina called out, then reached for a piece of garment in Zyma's wardrobe. "Can we use the yellow jumpsuit?"

"Oh..." Zyma paused a little. "Sure. Lasso as a belt. That'd work."

Lina took out the garment and laid it on Acma's body.

"Why do you have this small size in your closet?" Lina asked.

"It actually belonged to my Dad. He's on the shorter side. Then I wore it until I was 8," Zyma explained.

Lina whistled quietly and wiggled at Acma.

"Um... I think I'll find something else. I don't want to ruin it," Acma muttered.

"It's alright. Just help me wash it when you're done. Quick. Dinner's not going to cook itself," Zyma said and then left.

"Well, well," Lina tapped Acma's shoulders lightly. "Such special treatment."

"Oh, please!" Acma quickly put on Zyma's jumpsuit. "Does it make my wings show?"

"You're good," Lina shook her head. "But now I understand why you don't want to confess your feelings with him. I don't think you can hide your wings from him if you two are in a relationship," Lina put on a knowing smile.

"What are you thinking about? I'm not yet 17!" Acma exclaimed.

"Only on paper. You're about…" Lina suddenly gasped. "Oh, Hyne! What's the date today?"

"Ha ha."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't forget, I swear!"

"It's alright! No one's supposed to know my real birthday."

"But really, Acma. I bought you a gift two weeks ago. It sits in my room right now. You'll love it."

"It's alright, Lina. Don't tell anyone. I don't want people to know, especially Selphie, that I lied about my age to stay in Trabia Garden."

"Of course! But nevertheless, this is worth celebrating!" Lina wiggled her eyebrows. "Nothing stops you from being a real woman now."

"Lina, please! Stop polluting my mind! I've been exposed to a lot of weird stuff from that perv already," Acma forcefully closed her eyes and shook her head. "But on that note, have you noticed that you and Zyma actually get along very well together?"

Lina shrugged. "Maybe. I mean, he's cool. If I didn't already have a boyfriend per continent that I spy on, I'd get a Zyma. Gotta take advantage of his secret shop items."

"Oh, trust me, half of these are fake," Acma snorted.

After a while, the girls came out to the kitchen. Acma was greeted by continuous laughter from Zyma as expected.

"What?" Acma squinted her eyes.

"The beard," Zyma explained. "It looks perfect on your grumpy face. And the bang completely covers your protruding forehead. You may consider going with this look permanently. Now, " Zyma opened his locked cabinet and handed Acma a potion, "work on your voice. Your high-pitched Trabian accent haunts me even in my sleep."

"How much?" Acma sighed while reaching for her wallet.

"200," Zyma replied.

"Wait," Lina took the bottle from Acma's hand. "I use this a lot. It only costs 100 Gil. You're ripping her off!"

"Trust me, Lina. I've been down this route so many times," Acma shook her head and took out some bills. "Don't let him start. It's fine."

"No, It's not fine!" Lina said.

"Ladies," Zyma immediately seized the opportunity to explain. "If there is one thing I have learned in my many years of academic administration…"

"Administration? You?" Acma squinted her eyes.

"True story. I laid down the first bricks of your dormitory when I was 10," Zyma tilted his head to Lina for confirmation.

"Sure," Lina shrugged. "What is it that you learned?"

"It is that the best way to build partnership is by negotiating. People like to negotiate," he explained.

"Oh, no one likes to negotiate." Lina cut him off.

"Everybody likes to negotiate." He immediately responded.

"Might be a few people might like to negotiate."

"Most people like to negotiate."

"All right, some people like to negotiate."

"Alright then! Some people like to negotiate," Zyma exclaimed in triumph. "Ah, you're a hard SeeD, Lina. Good negotiator, too."

Realization seemed to come to Lina.

"Did he just..." the white SeeD mumbled.

"Yes, you just got played, " Acma answered, "Better just meet him half way to save time." And she handed 150 Gils to Zyma.

"Oh, I love doing business with you!" Zyma smiled at Acma, "Drink two shots."

"Two shots?" Lina read the voice potion's label. "Usually I just drink one..."

Zyma hissed. "I may have diluted it a little."

Lina rolled her eyes and looked at Acma, who had put on an I-told-you-so smile.

"See? Half of it is fake," Acma said, then taking the voice potion from Lina.

"How do I sound?" Acma tested her baritone voice.

"Oh! This is music to my ears! Please, take all of my voice potions! On the house! Life-time subscription!" Zyma exaggerated.

"Is it safe to consume every day?" Acma asked, squinting her eyes.

"Absolutely," Zyma assured.

"Really?"

"Yes, very safe. For me. Now," Zyma patted Acma's head, then changed the topic, "Let's get back to business. You get the biggest pan from the lower cabinet. Lina, prepare the food coloring for the batter."

"Where's Trepie #23?" Acma asked as she opened the lower cabinet.

"She's in the garden picking carrots," Zyma said. "Oh! My lovely owl!" Zyma exclaimed as he reached his arm out the window to catch a white owl.

"Another owl?" Lina asked. "Why don't you guys use emails?"

"Don't get him started!" Acma sighed.

"Glad you asked," Zyma smirked as he looked at Lina while untangling a tiny piece of paper from the owl's feet. "Emails rely on electricity, which means unreliability. Birds, on the other hand, can fly across continents and deliver mess..."

He paused as he read the note.

"What? What does it say?" Acma asked.

"Auto reply: Out-of-office." Zyma facepalmed. "Do not reply to this owl."

Lina giggled, then leaned in to whisper to Acma.

"Okay, he's a jerk, but he's fun. I seriously consider dumping Kierhyn to clear my schedule for this guy, if you don't mind."

"You want to dump the White SeeD Leader for this clown?" Acma narrowed her eyes. "Be my guest! Maybe that'd make my life easier."

"Your words! Don't murder me behind your wheel if he ends up in my arms," Lina warned.

"You have my blessings," Acma reassured. "He hates every single thing about me anyway."

Zyma approached the girls.

"What took you so long to get a pan?"

"It got stuck on something," Acma explained as she tried to pull out the pan.

Zyma rapped on her head. "Don't bring shame to your sensei after all of our physical trainings!"

"Ahhh..."

The pan finally came out, along with a piece of rotten bamboo, and so did an army of mice.

Lina and Acma screamed and jumped onto Zyma's arms and back, respectively. He almost lost his balance, taking a few steps back with the two girls clinging to him.

"Geez... Call me old-fashioned, but if you ladies want to act like my wife, there are a couple of steps you skipped."

"Like what?" Lina immediately asked, arms still wrapped around his neck.

"Huh?"

"What exactly are the steps before I can act like your wife?" Lina smiled confidently, asking in a flirty voice, her eyes fixed on his.

Zyma did not reply. Acma stopped clinging on his back and tried to glance at his blushing face.

"Ahem..." Zyma put Lina back on the ground, looking around randomly. "I'll... uh... go find some mouse traps."

He glanced at Lina, about to say something, but didn't, before walking away.

Acma couldn't help but look at Lina like a heroine, who smiled victoriously. "Oh... My... Hyne! How did you do that? I've never seen him looking so defeated!"

"Told ya, I can get any guy within an hour," Lina winked.

"Words come out of your mouth so smoothly," Acma praised, then saw Zyma come back. "Let me try. Sensei!"

"What?" he asked curtly.

"What are the steps…" Acma asked slowly in her modified baritone voice. "…before… um.. I… I mean, we… can act like your wi… ves?"

Lina facepalmed internally at her friend's lousy effort.

"Lucky you that you're in disguise. Otherwise, I'll file a sexual harassment report to Aki!" Zyma smirked.

"What? But she just said the same thing!" Acma pointed to Lina.

"Right," Lina slowly poked her index finger on Zyma's arm. "What are you gonna do with me? Will I be punished, too?"

Zyma blushed again and tried to avoid Lina's eyes.

"Ahem… I'll… uh… get more mouse traps."

With that, he vanished into the storage room again.

Acma's jaw dropped. "Lina! You're a Goddess! You shut him down twice in a row in under 5 minutes!"

"I'm one of the best in the Intelligence unit for a reason," Lina nodded, then looked at her watch. "Too bad, I have to go now. I'll show you more of my moves later."

Lina patted Acma's back before heading for the door, not forgetting to say goodbye to Zyma.

"I gotta get going. Bye, Z!"

"That's quick?" Zyma dashed out. "Please come back if you can."

"I will!" Lina blew a kiss, its recipient unknown.

Acma glanced at Zyma, who now wore an involuntary smile. After Lina left, Zyma turned to Acma.

"Did she just hit on me?"

"You tell me!" Acma shrugged and snorted annoyingly.

"Hey!" Zyma grabbed her hand as she turned away.

"That counts as one minute," Acma quirked her chin at their holding hands then immediately pulled her hand away from his grip. "Work on the mice, please."

"Are you mad at me for something? What did I..."

A loud shout interrupted Zyma.

"Acma! Senior Zyma! Help!"