Monday's lesson came quickly, but this time, it felt different.
I had moved two rows forward—to the second row from the front. It was as if something inside me had clicked after Sephiroth's silken touch at the end of the last lesson. I chalked it up to simply not having been touched in that way for months—maybe even longer.
Whatever the reason, that click gave me the urge to pay closer attention to the General during class.
Before, I never would have noticed the sharp precision of his eyebrows, the silky softness of his hair, or the subtle curve of his lips. But today, instead of fully absorbing his lecture on the Meteor Materia and how he'd wielded it during the Wutai War, I found myself distracted—fixated on the way those lips moved, on the glimpses of his chest exposed by his uniform.
I shook the thoughts from my head. 'What are you doing, Cloud? Stop checking out your instructor... I won't think of him that way.'
It took a considerable effort to refocus on the lesson, but once I did, the remaining time flew by.
When class ended, as everyone packed up, I glanced toward the whiteboard only to notice Sephiroth approaching me, a small piece of paper in hand.
"Here. I forgot to give you this last time. It's a reminder about our Field Training."
I took the paper and read it. *Thursday, 2 PM. Sephiroth.*
'As if I'd forget that...' I thought but thanked him nonetheless.
"By the way," he added, "you registered your cellphone number during the entry period, didn't you? I might need it to contact you if a mission comes up spontaneously, so you won't waste your time going all the way to the training center in the mountains."
I shook my head. "No, I just got a new phone. Want me to call you now so you'll have it?"
It only hit me afterward whom I was speaking to. The General himself... Though it wasn't like we'd be texting each other casually.
"Sure," he replied, jotting down his number.
I fumbled with my phone, feeling clumsy under his watchful gaze, but eventually saved his number and gave him a quick call to confirm it.
"Okay, got it. I'll see you tomorrow, then. Unless you have questions about Thursday?" He slipped his phone back into his coat and began fastening his black cloak.
"Uhmm..." My mind raced as I tried to think of something intelligent to ask. I knew I had plenty of questions, but my brain was stuck on a loop of 'You have Sephiroth's number!' Shaking myself out of it, I quickly blurted, "Do I need to bring special armor, or just use my Third-Class uniform?"
Sephiroth turned his gaze toward me slowly, and for a moment, I was entranced by the faint, blue-green glow of his eyes.
"For now, your uniform will suffice," he said. "After your Second-Class exam, you'll be issued additional armor for real missions with enemies who will try to kill you. But don't worry; I'll make sure you're well-prepared." He smirked, and I couldn't help but return it with a nod.
"As for weapons, you'll start with training swords for the first few lessons. After that, you'll choose your own weapon—katana, broadsword, spear, or whatever suits you best."
I nodded enthusiastically. "I've got one from Zack, so please let me know when I can use it. Anyway, I'll head to the dorms now. See you tomorrow!"
He gave a brief nod and mumbled, "Get there safely," as I cheerfully bolted out the door.
Wednesday arrived with a groggy start—I'd overslept.
'Woah, I hope that doesn't happen tomorrow... Though even I should manage to wake up by 1 PM.'
I rolled over to check for my roommate, Kunsel, but his side of the room was empty; door open. "Probably off seeing LOVELESS again..." I muttered, dragging myself up to study for the rest of the day.
"Materia and Magic... Ugh, this is boring. I can't wait to wield my sword tomorrow. It's been way too long."
I glanced at the broadsword Zack had given me. It was wider, longer, and probably heavier than the standard SOLDIER weapons. But Zack, knowing me well, had picked something perfect for his "Spike." We'd trained together enough times for him to know my style.
After snapping the Materia book shut, I decided to call it an early night at 10 PM to ensure I'd wake up on time.
Thursday's class passed uneventfully until the end.
"So, who's up for pizza after class? I'll order twenty—let's say twenty-five," Sephiroth announced, casually grabbing his phone.
The room erupted in cheers, the usually serious classroom now brimming with excitement. I blinked in disbelief. Pizza? From him? It felt a bit surreal as I didn't see the special occasion, but I wasn't about to complain and joined in with the cheering.
"Seph sure is a cool guy!" someone near me remarked. I couldn't help but agree, though the casual nickname threw me off. 'Seph?' It seemed out of place for someone like him, but hearing it made my stomach flutter. Maybe one day I could call him that too...
While we waited for the delivery, the training room began to shift. Without realizing how or when, a plush, bed-like sofa appeared in the middle of the room, though the other students ignored it. When I looked back around, Zack and Sephiroth were already lounging on it, their ease with one another sparking a pang of jealousy in my chest.
Sephiroth leaned back, one arm draped casually around Zack's waist as they talked in low, comfortable tones. My heart sank at their closeness, a bitter ache twisting inside me. Unable to hold back, I strode over and boldly plopped down beside Sephiroth, positioning myself on his right.
Only then did I notice how his hand rested lightly on Zack's hip. The jealousy flared hotter, but I fought to keep my expression neutral. Determined not to be left out, I slid closer—just enough for my thigh to brush against his.
For a moment, Sephiroth didn't react, but then, as if sensing my silent plea, his arm shifted. Slowly, he wrapped it around my shoulders, his hand resting on my upper arm. My pulse quickened at the contact, a giddy warmth blooming in my chest.
The two continued their conversation, their voices a low hum I couldn't focus on.
My gaze flicked to Sephiroth's hand on Zack, then back to my own shoulders, and an irrational surge of boldness overtook me. Leaning over Sephiroth, I tried to wedge myself further between them, my heart pounding louder than ever.
Without warning, a firm hand cupped my chin, halting my movement. I froze as the other arm pulled me closer, pressing me against Sephiroth's side. When I looked up, I found myself caught in the glow of his eyes—intense, otherworldly, and utterly captivating.
The vivid green light shimmered like liquid fire, drawing me in and making the world around us blur into nothingness. My breathing hitched, and my eyelids felt heavy as his face inched closer to mine. I couldn't think, couldn't move—just watched, mesmerized, as he closed the distance.
Warm lips pressed against my own, and a hand slid up into my hair. For a moment, I froze, unsure how to respond, until...