Shiroko looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Brushing her hair and donning the reverse cross hairpin before reaching out for the neatly folded and freshly laundered sky blue scarf.

Her hands rubbing the soft fabric, feeling every imperfection and new seams she had made from the days it had accompanied her.

Fixing up her uniform and tying her shoes, Shiroko slung over her one and only rifle before pushing her azure bike out of her house—walking side to side with her phone idly held on her left hand while her thumb danced around the keyboard.

Punching in the sentences on a blank account reserved for her notes and dailies.

"Scrambled eggs, 500ml of milk, 3 tomato slices - Breakfast."

She entered the message before moving to the second.

"Stop by the market after the morning run to buy what I need."

Message sent!

"Nn." Shiroko huffs with satisfaction. Pocketing her phone until it buzzed with a new notification.

"Shiroko?"

The younger wolf looked at the message strangely before she finally noticed what had she done. This isn't her memos, this is…

HansGünsche SCHALEHans

…Dammit.

"Sorry sensei, it was meant for my notes."

"Using MomoTalk as a reminder?"

"Yes."

"Wouldn't it be more efficient by using the notes application,
or the calendar?"

"Oh. Is It really? I've been using MomoTalk because it's easier…"

Everyone had their preferences, after all.

CashMoney02 is typing…

"By the way, sensei, are you… around Abydos, right now?"

"I'm close."

"Um, if you don't mind, do you want to come with me for a quick shopping trip to get what I need tomorrow?"

"Can do."

"Nn. I'll be waiting in the suburbs. Sector B. Block 2. My usual jogging path."

The path he took to Abydos was never less the same. Stepping out from the helicopter, Hans nodded at the pilot before taking a detour.

It wasn't so far from the school, just around 10 minutes on foot and by then Shiroko is already there. Waiting for him with her sports canteen held in her right hand.

"Nn, sensei. You're here."

"…Where?"

"it's not that far. We can just run there." Shiroko pulls her bike into a safe spot. Locking it into a fence before stretching.

"Let's go."

Before he could answer, Shiroko already broke into a sprint, with Hans immediately following behind. Matching Shiroko's own speed before stopping after what felt like a few good minutes.

"Phew. We're halfway there. Just another hour of running."

"…I see." He didn't even realize it's been an hour of non-stop running along.

Shiroko wiped her sweat before offering the same towel.

"Nn."

Hans shook his head.

"Nn!"

Before… eventually caving in. Wiping his brow, and returning in back to her, in which she folded before stuffing it inside her bag with haste.

Then a lingering thought came into her head.

"Hn… sensei. The closer one is just further ahead, but I wanted…"

"…A rematch?"

Her ears twitched, and her eyes lit up in competition.

"Hehe. We're on the same frequency, sensei. But that one time… in your- um… other form doesn't count."

He raised his eyebrow.

"Sensei, you ran on all fours. I can't."

"…Fair."

"The market is colored red-blue-yellow. You can't miss it, sensei." Shiroko pointed and prepares herself, lowering into a starting position.

Hans, meanwhile, didn't bother to do such a thing. He leaned his body forward… and then he was ready.

"GO!"

The two explode into a sprint, dashing from road to road into a straight line and then leaping from random obstacles that came into their way, matching his own speed with Shiroko's for a more fair competition between him and her.

It wouldn't be a fair match if he had used his top speed and bursts into mist. And it's been awhile since he last sprinted.

Plus, he wouldn't say no to his kin.

Their foot struck the asphalt in unison, kicking up dirt and sand below as the store's colors eventually came into view.

Red-blue-yellow.

Shiroko is already pushing harder than she had even done before. Her muscles were on fire, and it grows increasingly difficult to focus.

And yet… it doesn't feel awful.

Instead, she felt alive. Running alongside with him, feeling herself reaching her limit and beyond. She looked at him and he looked back at her.

Their eyes meeting together as his lips curled into a rare smile along with her.

"Nn."

The two increased their speed until they came into a full burst, passing the store before they could stop safely, slowing down their steps until it came to a halt.

Shiroko immediately put her hands on her knees. Gasping for air as the heat rushed from her legs into her whole body.

"Huff. Huff… huff."

Her sweat drips down from her forehead, down along her body, into her uniform, and some into the road below. She looked at Hans, who was standing in full glory. Sweaty, but not full on drenched like she was.

"S-Sensei…W-Who wins?" She spoke through her heaving.

"…Draw." He answers.

"I-Is that so…" Shiroko let out a small laugh before straightening herself. Stretching her arms before huffing for one last time and regaining her strength in an instant.

"Nn. It's a good workout."

He nodded.

"Hm… you should join me sometime on my daily runs, sensei."

"…Perhaps." He stroked her hair before walking towards the store, since they had run past it.

"Nn."

The trek to Abydos with the younger wolf mirrored on how they first met. She was pushing her bike, and him carrying something on his hands. This time, it was her groceries instead of iron crates filled with bullets.

Meanwhile, Shiroko filled in the conversations with her new plans for bank heists and routines that he gladly gave his tips. Other than bank robbery, the way she beamed when Hans said that SCHALE had a gym she could visit gave made him feel… a little giddy for her excitement.

"Nn. We can treadmill together, and… maybe you could teach me some moves."

"Shiroko, sensei! Good morning!"

Nonomi's voice came along when they arrive at the school. Waving her with that generous smile of hers.

"Morning, Nonomi." Shiroko greets back, and Hans waved his hand.

"Hmm… have you two had been running all morning?" Nonomi asked.

"Nn. Sensei is a good running partner. We bought groceries together. What about you, Nonomi?"

"I've been checking up on the master with Serika before she went to part-time job. He's recovering well enough. Tomorrow he'll be back in tip-top shape! Both of you should visit him again. He's been asking for you, sensei~."

"…Sure."

"We'll be doing that soon. Ah, I'll be putting these away and take a quick shower." Shiroko sprinted past with her groceries in tow. "See you later."

"See you Shiroko! By the way, sensei, how is Gehenna? I heard you've scolded the Pandemonium Society!"

"It's… eventful. There had been… a little… rivalry with… the Prefect Team. I hope... they had given… them a little… time for respite."

"They needed that. The rebuilding of… well, their 'blunder' did really take a lot of their energy, even with our help. I'm still a little sore from it too…"

"You all did… a good job." Hans gave Nonomi a reassuring shoulder pat.

"Fufu! Oh, I've been doing a little shopping too! It's mostly just supplies for Abydos, but it wouldn't hurt to check around the mall in the DU! We should go together later!"

"I'll… think about it."

Nonomi beamed her signature smile.

"Alright! Hehe. Anyway, should we head in and wait for everyone else?"

He nods again.

"Let's go!"

Entering with Nonomi right beside him. Humming a tune—until a loud bang came from a nearby room, catching the duo's attention and interrupting whatever tunes she was humming.

"What was that?"

Hans pointed to the room at the end of the hall and the duo ran to it. Listening to the voices that came from the other side. A conversation, muffled as it was by the walls.

Two voices rang out. One was laid back,

"…Ow… Ouch… that hurts."

And the other was filled with rage.

"Don't you dare act like you don't know anything."

The voice, the smell… it's already obvious who was on the other side as Nonomi bursts into the room with urgency in her voice.

"What is going on here!?"

"It's not a- huh?"

"Sensei, Nonomi?"

The younger wolf and the pink haired senior jumped to attention. Gazing back and forth between the confused blonde and the silent adult.

"…It's between me and Hoshino." Shiroko defended before glaring back at her senior who is… clearly sweating bullets. "Leave us."

"Hm… nope~! No can do." Nonomi leapt and pulled Shiroko into a bear hug, cushioning the young wolf's head into her generous chest. Engulfing Shiroko with her warmth and flowery smell of her uniform.

"Hmph?!"

"There are no secrets in Foreclosure Task Force. If you don't explain right now…" Nonomi spoke slowly, laced with motherly wrath no child should've ever wanted to see.

"U-Um… mm…" It's now Shiroko's turn to sweat bullets as she pushed her head up to meet the blonde's emerald eyes.

"You'll be punished~."

"U-Um…"

"Ehh… Nonomi, don't be too harsh on our little Shiroko." Hoshino yawns. "She caught lil' old me trying to sneak some sleep around. It's not fair if you ask me, considering how lazy I am."

Then she winked at Nonomi.

"You don't have to get so angry, considering Shiroko always takes things seriously. Either way, I think it's time for the meeting. See you youngsters at the clubroom." Hoshino waved at her before zipping past the two and Hans. Sneaking a look to him before she left.

"Hoshino…" Nonomi released Shiroko from her hug as the trio was left bewildered. Looking back at the door, she had just exited.

Shiroko then made her move. Tightening her scarf around before leaving as well.

"…She's definitely hiding something, isn't she?" Nonomi whispers. Raising her hand to clutch this… ache in her heart. Grasping at her cardigan with a pained expression. Powerless for this… kind of thing.

A sudden warmth in her shoulder snapped her back into reality. It was Hans, nudging her with that kind gesture of his. Nonomi couldn't help herself but to lean into him. Grasping his body for support as she hugged him for a quick second.

"I-I'll be fine sensei." Her muffled voice came out before she left his warmth. "Let's go. Everyone is probably waiting for us."

The duo left toe in toe. Never looking back.

"Sorry I'm late!" Serika opened the door with tiredness in her tone, and her clothes disheveled. Then behind her, came Ayane who is in the same situation as Serika. "S-Sorry… both of us were caught in a little… problem."

"Yeah… said the one who accidentally- "

Yet no comments were made. Not a single voice came out to greet them.

"Huh…? Um, but why is the atmosphere a little… tense?" Serika asked.

"O-Oh, it's nothing. Just a little problem that came before." Nonomi waved her hand.

"I-Is that so?"

"Yup." Hoshino shrugs. "Anyway, care to tell this geezer?"

"Oh. Um, Ayane accidentally sold high grade metal for-"

"Serika…! I told you I didn't know!"

"Well, you should've checked! It's a good thing I noticed it and we're able to get our buck!"

"Uu… A-Anyway! Enough about me! Um, let's get this meeting started!" Ayane claps her hands, eager to change the topic from her blunder. "Sensei, can you start the topic?"

Nodding, Hans placed The Shittim Chest down. "…Arona."

"Yup! So, let's get this started!" The AI rubs her hands.

"…Head Prefect… said something of… Kaiser activities in the… desert." Hans started, then Arona continued. "Yeah! So in our free time, Hans-sensei and I scouted with aerial drones, and here is what we found."

The tablet shifts, and a blurry image appeared on the screen.

"What the… is that- some sort of base?" Serika narrows her eyes in which he answered with a nod.

"…Kaiser PMC."

"W-What? What are their military branch doing there?!"

"What else?" Hoshino spoke up. "…They're looking for something. Isn't that's right, sensei?"

He nodded. "…Head Prefect… said, and we confirmed. There had been… activities around."

"But what are they looking for? Oil?" Ayane asked.

"Abydos don't have that sort of resource. If we did, this entire district wouldn't be in debt." Hoshino bit her lip. '…did I- miss something? Did they know something that the council did not?' She mumbled to herself, racking her memories to remember.

"Is there something we can do about it?" Shiroko spoke up. Ready for a skirmish, if she had to.

"Unless you want to break into the highly guarded base… there's nothing we can do." Arona solemnly answers.

"Ugh!" Serika slammed the desk. "If that could give us answers, why the hell not?! We know the desert like the back of our hands! Let's see what are they really up to ourselves!"

Hans shook his head immediately. Shutting the idea down before anyone could support it.

"W-But why?!"

"It's… too risky." The captain folded his arm. Curling his lips into a frown as he answers. "…The district… belonged to Kaiser. You'll be… trespassing… and risk yourself… of being caught."

"Then we won't! It's just a quick, in and out!"

"I'm sorry… but I agree with sensei." Ayane spoke up to disapproving gaze from Serika. "Look, this is nothing like the… ahem. Heist mission. We're lucky that we're able to escape by then. But how long till our luck ran out?"

She looks down.

"The district is theirs, and there's nothing more to know. We already know what's out there and what they're doing, and to risk it just to find out what they're searching? I don't think that's worth the trouble. "

"B-But…"

"Sorry, Serika. It's a good idea, but Ayane is right. It's not worth it. We'll just get ourselves into a bigger mess considering they still had… leverage on us." Hoshino shrugs. Yet there is… disappointment in her eyes.

"…Then… what should we do?" Serika looked at him.

Hans was silent this entire time. He kept his gaze down before eventually nodding.

"If you're curious… I can… do it for you."

"W-WHAT?! Sensei, you said it yourself! It's illegal and risky! Are you changing your mind?!" Serika shouts.

"…No. Risky… for you. I know… a way."

"What if you get caught, sensei?" Hoshino narrows her eyes. Is he really contradicting himself? After all of that "too risky" excuse to Serika?

"I have… a plan. Do you… trust me?"

Hoshino nodded.

"But we're coming with you."

The plan started in motion. Their jeep drove a few kilometers away from the military base before coming to a stop. It was far enough for them to scout out the base, but not enough for the automatons to see the students hiding behind the sands.

"So… what's your plan, sensei?" Hoshino whispers. Curiosity still etched into hers, and the others.

"I can't believe you spoke all of that crap but- " Serika grumbles.

Hans gestured for her to be quiet. Looking around the area before kneeling down… and leaping out from his cover.

"What the…?!" Serika peeked her head before Shiroko pulls her back into the cover.

"Trust in his plan."

Ayane peeked with her binoculars. Expecting sensei to be up and around and yet…

"What…?"

Instead, in his place was an adult white wolf.

"Where is sensei?" Ayane lowered her binoculars before Serika raised her own.

"Where did that wolf come from? Is this sensei's plan?" Serika narrows her eyes. Looking back and forth in disbelief with the binoculars. The wolf was seen skulking. Walking carefully on the sides of the walls… before it leapt up and into the base.

"I-Is this sensei's plan?! Did sensei train that wolf?!" Nonomi beamed. Eyeing the curious wolf as it made its way inside until it left her sight. "Aw… Its gone."

"Do you know anything about it, Shiroko?" Hoshino eyed her junior carefully, in which… she replied her question with a shrug.

"It's his secret. He never told me." A half truth. Sensei indeed never told her, but he had shown her. "…Just like you did."

The senior went silent then. "…T-That's unfair Shiroko."

Serika leaned to Nonomi and whispered into her ear. "Did… something happen to them? I feel like it's… a little tense."

The blonde shook her head, with… something creeping into her heart.

"I don't know."

The wolf dashed and crept through the facility. Leaping up and down as the white mist gradually seeped out from its form. Waving. Curling. Shifting like it had a mind on its own.

"Do you think those brats will give up?"

"Pff. Eventually. We just gotta bid our time. I heard that suit guy had a plan for it."

"Huh. Well, I hope he had something for that… 'sensei'."

"Shh! Shut up! I really got the himmie jimmies just by mentioning that adult!"

"O-Oh. Well, I don't think he's too tough. What can he do against all of us?"

"Yeah. Your funeral."

Its red eyes followed the guards before it jumped down and returning to what it was before. Pure white mist moving through the cracks and crevices of the doors. Entering deep into a hallway before stopping at a door labeled,

ARCHIVES.

The mist dissipated, and his hand pressed on the button. Opening it with a quiet hum. He looked around for a second time. Wandering across, trying to find what he seeks upon the sheer amount of folders and lockers.

'No.'

'Not this one.'

'…I don't think so.'

The fair way for him is to seek through the closer dates to find any remarkable things they catalogued. He flipped and flipped until his eyes met with a blue folder.

A Blue Archive, so to speak.

Flipping through it, the wolf skimmed through the sentences until his eyes caught on a particular page.

"…Utnapishtim"

"A fool's dream,
a fool's ambition."

An antediluvian relic.

Hans never participated in the Impergium, or having enough information what exactly they did to cull mankind. Merely watching aside as the great flood swallows the first city, leaving barely a handful of men and women lucky enough to survive into the antediluvian era inside of these massive ships of wood, bound together with hopes and dreams.
Atarahasis was one of these ark crafters, along with his lineage, Utnapishtim. Then… there is also that old man, Noah who claims divinity. Pure bull in the eyes of Garou, of course, but men had their faith. Hans never asked or knew what "exactly" the flood is. Perhaps the Garou managed to convince Gaia, or maybe another was in play.

But what matters is,

"…Kaiser is looking for this… relic. For one reason… or another."

"Ugh, really? A legendary ship that came before the great flood?" Serika mumbles. "Destroying our school for just a legend?"

"I dunno. They seem really sure it's real by the documents sensei's dog had brought." Hoshino flipped through another page before yawning. "This kind of stuff makes my head hurt~. By the way, sensei, can you bring your dog here next time?"

"…Someday." He dodged the question. There's no need for him to revert back to his natural Lupus form.

"If there is nothing else on the table… let's wrap this meeting." Ayane fixed her glasses. "We'll continue later in the afternoon."

"Yeah. I gotta take care of Master Shiba's newly rebuilt place. See ya later!" Serika packed her bags and dashed out.

"Uhe~ I'm going for a nap…" Hoshino stood up before lazily leaving as well.

"I'll be in the library. See you guys later." Ayane was next.

"Then I'll go to do some shopping. Sensei, do you want to come with?" She crept closer to the captain. "Or do you want to do it on another time?"

"…Alright."

Nonomi held his hand and prepared to head out. "Sensei. Please wait for a moment." But they're stopped in their tracks.

"I… need to talk about something private. Nonomi… um…"

"Fufu, it's alright, Shiroko. I'll be waiting outside." With a click, she left as well.

"…Sensei."

The younger wolf bit her lip and reached into her pockets, pulling out a crumpled paper, folded harshly to fit right into her bag.

"I found this in Hoshino's bag."

All bold, all caps.

Just by looking at the first sentence, the rest of the letters were irrelevant to read.

RESIGNATION LETTER

Takanashi Hoshino,

Foreclosure Task Force
Abydos High School

"She never been away that long. There are times when we can't contact her, but she always… ALWAYS comes running if there is trouble. No matter what."

She clenched her fists.

"Yet when the Prefect Team attacked, where is she? I tried to ignore it, but it kept coming back. So I rummaged through her bag. I… know it's wrong to do it, but… I just wanted to understand what is she hiding from us. I-I'll accept any punishment, sensei."

Punishment?

Shiroko flinched when he saw his hand to move, thinking that he might… but… sensei will never-

Pat.

When she felt the familiar grip on her shoulder, all of her worries blinked away. "…Be there… for Hoshino. That… is your punishment."

"Thank you, sensei."

The warmth moved from her shoulder and onto her head, ruffling her hair side to side as she felt her cheeks to rise in temperature. She is glad… that her worries were nothing more than baseless negative thoughts.

He ruffled her hair until he felt like it was enough before leaving the classroom to meet up with Nonomi.

"...See you… later."

"N-Nn! S-See you later."

With him leaving. Shiroko stood alone, before eventually leaving as well.

Perhaps a good jog will clear her mind.

Nonomi held Hans by the hand as they strode around what could be summed as a "high-class paradise" where the wealthy could find anything their heart desired. New expensive clothing collections, high grade materials, first class exquisite restaurants…

Hans… really can never get used to this kind of thing in the past, even to this day. No matter how many times The Major had dragged him out to attend and guard him around these places.

Other than going back down upon memory lane intermingling with the new, Hans was surprised to see how many finely suited establishment owners recognized Nonomi as their best customer.

"Miss Nonomi! We have a new parfait ready on our menu just for you!"

"Miss Nonomi! New arrivals just came! Do you want to take a look?"

And Hans is a little afraid to ask how.

"The Grand Kivotos Mall is not too far away, sensei. After shopping we can… oh! Right!" Nonomi snaps her fingers. "There's a new café opening nearby! I heard the cake there is to die for. What about it?"

He really can't comment much on it. Nodding in agreement, her arm looped through his own and she dragged him around and beyond the district.

Nonomi leads him through many stores and shops inside the mall. Raising her gold tinted credit card, this entire district is her playground with him along with the ride as a bystander. Albeit the strange, and sometimes jealous stares from adults and wealthy students alike that probably recognize his status and name.

Or just… him being an adult being dragged along by a student in a shopping spree. What was the term again? Something about sugar.

Nevertheless, Nonomi very well did go all out.

Weeks worth of snacks and fresh foodstuffs for the kitchen, extra ammunition and explosives just in case, new books and magazines for Ayane, barbels for Shiroko, a fluffy fresh blanket for Hoshino, a book of accounting and business startup for Serika…

And the list goes on. It's a good thing she would have all of this delivered straight to Abydos, because Hans is running out of hands to carry a lot of them. For now at least, he carried just her designer clothes and makeup in a neat little white paper bag with "Chou-Fleur" written on it.

French for… cauliflower.

"Sensei, let's go there!" Nonomi pointed at a store of sharp dresses and suits even for a formal space or maybe a party. She's probably looking for another one to add to her collection.

Quickly enough, a staff attended to her.

"How can we help you?"

"You see, um… I'm looking for…"

She whispers into the machine's ears, and he immediately claps in understanding. "Oh! It was you! Hehe, I'll take a look!"

"Thank you!" Nonomi waved her hand, and the staff went to the staff only room. The student in question passed a grin at her teacher, who's in the dark at her plans, though expecting something to happen, eventually.

"…Nonomi…?'

"Fufu, just wait!"

Not a second later, the door opened, and the staff exited with a box—and within is what looks like a white shirt with a matching double-breasted suit along with a blue tie.

"Try it on!"

"…"

…Since when…?

"Is there something wrong?"

Begrudgingly, he took it to the dressing room and inspected it. No matter how you see it…

It's the same set of expensive clothes The Major wore on Millenium's last war.

…

Even though there are no hard feelings between the master and the dog, it still felt unnerving to wear what basically The Major's own.

Huh.

It fits.

"Wow! It suits you, sensei!" Nonomi clapped with pride in her voice.

"I concur. You look dashing." The staff followed, agreeing with Nonomi.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Hans doesn't feel anything much about wearing this. Maybe he felt fancy? No. It's just the absolute indifference he usually felt for anything thrown in his way.

"Well, let me pay for it~" Nonomi raised her golden card- but Hans clasped his hand around it and shook his head.

"Sensei?"

He started to undo the buttons-

"Sensei, please. It's my gift for you. You promised to let me treat you, remember?"

His hand stopped undoing the buttons but then he reached for his own wallet. "Even so… I can't… make my students…"

"No." It was her this time who held his credit card. Grasping it so tight, he could feel the card to almost bend into two. "It's my choice, and I will pay for it."

"...I..."

"Sensei. Please. It's…" She kept gripping on his credit card, as her voice fell into a whisper only he could hear.

"…The only thing I can do."

'To forgive the past, and keep you here."

Then silence.

And he finally nodded.

The two sat silently at the new café. Nonomi poking her tiramisu gently with her spoon, watching Hans as he sipped on the black coffee he orders.

"It's supposed to be a gift, you know. I can't make you pay for it." Nonomi huffs, trying to change and start up another topic.

"…Nonomi… what do you mean… back then?"

"A-Ah…! It's n-nothing. I'm…"

"…Nonomi."

He really is… quite an adult. Nonomi chuckles before finally caving in. Braving herself to speak out of her heart. "There you go again, sensei. You… never really let anyone pamper you, huh?" She giggles before speaking another piece of her heart.

"…Sensei, I too am jealous of you."

His hand stopped right when the ceramic cup touched his lips.

"Hehe, I sound like Serika right now… aren't I? even though I said about taking care of us back then." She gave a mocking laugh to herself. "Sensei. You're just… so reliable. I… um..."

Nonomi scrambled for her words.

"…I just can't help myself."

Her smile grew somber. Like she felt sorry for herself to feel this way about him.

"Everything just went so smooth ever since you got here, it's just… everyone had been relying on you so much… And I almost feel like…"

She trembled.

"…I'm just not enough."

"…Nonomi?"

She flashed him a quick smile.

"Hoshino worked hard to be our leader. Giving us morale before you came, and she even got into nightly patrols, you know? That's why she's so sleepy all the time.

Ayane worked hard to make strategies, making sure everything in our school is in working order, gather us for a discussion, be patient with us when we messed up, and reading everything and to help in our debt.

Shiroko worked hard to protect us and thinking outside the box. Often I saw her in her morning jog and bike around fighting troublemakers, helping civilians, and… if it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have the transport log.

Serika… she is probably the second most hardworking person there is just behind Hoshino. The grueling part-time jobs she took no matter how badly it pays, sacrificing her free time just go get an extra penny out in a day, and often… taking her own pocket money just to pay our monthly fees.

…And I… I can't do any of that. I'm… I will always be watching their backs no matter if I'm a senior or not.

Sensei, I want them to rely on me! And...! I-I want to stand by them side-to-side. S-So… that's why I always be the one first to give them the only thing I have. M-My money and my shoulder for them to lean on."

…

"Yet… you already gave them that and more until… hehe, everything I had is… nothing. There is nothing else I can offer them. Am I… really that selfish for wanting that, and at the same time, wanting you to keep supporting us until we graduate? If- if this… um, will drive you away from Abydos- I…"

'Will never forgive myself more than ever.'

"Nonomi."

Hans reaches out for her shoulder, clutching them with that fierce fire in his crimson eyes.

"S-Sensei?"

"…No. You're… not. You're… not selfish."

"But…"

He kept his grasp. Unyielding as his lips parted once more.

"It means… you're… human.

Nonomi… everyone… had their roles, something… they excel at… and something… they fell on.
You… are the glue that… holds Abydos together. To be… their light when… in the darkest hour. Don't you see…? They already do… rely on you more than you probably realize and… longer than they on me. Not because… of the money… it's because… you're Nonomi.

How… they lie next to you… holding on you for strength before I came… and after. The role… you have… is irreplaceable. Not… by me… not anyone, because the only one that can do it… is Nonomi."

The blonde was silent. Her body shook from his grasp and his words.

"…My oath… will never be broken, no matter what… I will… stand by Abydos. Put… faith… that I will give you relief… and I will put my faith… you'll be the pillar… for your friends until… the end."

Nonomi finally relented. Her hands raised, and she pulled him into a hug. "Uugh… uu…" sniffling and whispering something into the newly bought white shirt.

"I was being stupid, aren't I? Hehe… I guess I wanted to hear that from you. Thank you, sensei."

Hans shook his head and stroked her back. Patting it gently as she leaned into his shoulder. No more words needed to be exchanged as she sobbed into his shoulders. Her bottled up emotions and doubts she hid behind her gentle smile and warmth exploding after this one exchange between the teacher and student.

He couldn't recall how long had she held onto him. Clutching him, and letting his hand to stroke her back. Creating circles again and again until her sobs died out into small sniffles.

That is when she finally rose up from his soaked shoulder. Wiping up whatever remains of her tears still pooling up in the corners of her eyes with the back of her hands and letting it to seep into her beige cardigan.

Once again, her emerald eyes met his crimson, though now… her own eyes were almost as red as his iris.

"Hehe."

And for the very first time today, her lips came into a genuine, gentle smile Nonomi had given to her most precious people.

A smile that shines brighter than the sun.

"I'll do my best, sensei."

Her voice lowered into a whisper even lower than his. So gentle, so smooth, it was… almost unreal. Then… she did something he had never expected anyone to do for him.

Closing the distance, Nonomi landed a small peck on his rough cheek. Freezing the old dog from the unexpected gesture.

The sudden warmth of her soft lips upon his face, tinted by that light pink lip gloss that now had marked his cheek. Nonomi herself was a little embarrassed and feeling her face to heat, but as she left his arms, she was back to her usual self as if she hadn't just…

"That's my second gift for today."

There it was again. Her bright smile that could light up entire skyscrapers. Picking up her spoon, she cut the tiramisu in half before sliding the plate into his side of the table.

"Let's enjoy the rest of the evening, sensei~!"

Everything went on relatively well. Nonomi's spirit was still over the moon when they arrive back in Abydos while Hans' memories would still return to that kiss she had landed. His hand would absentmindedly trail back to where the mark had once been a few minutes ago, yet still warm with her affection. Lingering into the back of his mind.

…He was… extremely conflicted though Nonomi doesn't seem to mind at all. Keeping that sweet and motherly smile on her lips while she clung onto his arm like a cicada.

From day one, his intuition was correct.

She was the most dangerous one out of the bunch.

Though even if the event had passed, the aftermath still follows him back at Abydos. Considering the high spirits she had, the rest of the FTF looked at him with suspicion.

Is this what they call… a woman's intuition?

"Uhe… Nonomi you seem happy…"

"N-Nonomi! Stop clinging to him already! Hey!"

"Sensei, if Nonomi could cling to you, I will do so as well."

"Sensei… u-um… what on earth happened?"

"Fufu~. It's just our secret, isn't that's right, sensei?"

…And Nonomi is not helping at all. Even more so with that wink, she gave to him.

Though, eventually, it all clears up as the hours fly by. The evening meeting went on and leaving nothing but basic recap on what had they discussed before it went off the rails completely into just them chatting about anything that the sun could cover.

It was comfortable.

"Alright, I guess that's for today!" Hoshino claps loudly. "It's late!"

"O-Oh. I guess it is. I didn't even realize it…" Serika huffs. "Ayane, let's go back."

"Right. See you guys tomorrow!"

Now there's only four.

"Mm. I'm going home too. Thanks for today… sensei." Nonomi whispers before leaving.

Then… three.

"Hue… I'm going to stay for a little-"

"Hoshino." Shiroko cut her.

"H-huh? What's up, Shiroko? You're not going home."

"No. We need to talk." The wolf spoke sternly.

"Hmm…can this wait till tomorrow? I think I already know what are you going to say."

"…Nn." She nodded at Hans and he nodded back before pulling out the folded resignation letter and showing it to her.

"W- I can't believe you dug through my bag, Shiroko! Don't you know that's bad?!" She pouted, spreading her arms to say her shock and half hearted betrayal she felt.

She just need to keep her mask on.

"And sensei, since when you two got close enough to understand each other without saying a single word?! Shiroko is sure surely going to be supervillain if you keep advocating the cool crime of stealing!"

Hans shook his head, and Shiroko narrowed her eyes. "This… isn't about Shiroko." Shiroko looked at Hans before patting him by his arm. Giving him a determined nod before she left.

Leaving only him and Hoshino in a private conversation.

"This… this is about you."

"Uhe…" Looking back at the door where Shiroko had just left them to their own devices before she met his eyes.

"Mind going on a walk with me, sensei?"

The pair left the classroom, and he walked right beside her at the silent halls of Abydos Highschool. Silent all the way as her hands trailed across the dusty, and sand filled windowsill with a melancholic look upon her face.

"Ugh… there's so much sand around here. There's not enough of us to keep this building clean. If only the storms will calm themselves down." Hoshino comments. Dusting the rest of it with a dirty cloth found nearby on one of the tables.

"These years with the school under my belt… and nothing had really changed. The school that I first walked into all of these years ago is buried under, and all the upperclassmen I used to look up to are long gone." She shrugs.

"This? This isn't even the main school building." Hoshino spreads her hands. "This is just an annex building we ran into after every other building was lost because of the desertification.

Then again… if we didn't, I wouldn't have met Nonomi, Shiroko, Serika, and Ayane. I guess… I feel really attached to this place."

"... Yet you wish to leave." Hans finally commented.

"Hehe... it's... well, to explain it, sensei..." Hoshino sighs. "For the past two years, I've been receiving offers from very weird people."

He raised his eyebrow.

"I guess you can call it headhunting. I've been offered many times before, and... today as well." Hoshino looked wary. Mistrusting, like she had been before. "The man… I just call him Black Suit. I don't know who he really is, but there's one thing for sure—Kaiser is afraid of him."

"…What did he offer?"

Hoshino sat on the windowsill. Keeping that mask on as she shrugs and jumped down from it.

"Well, aren't you curious? Eh… I'll tell you and the others tomorrow."

Yet he won't budge. He raised his hand as if to block her way from leaving.

"Sensei."

"…"

"Please, move your hand away. This old man is exhausted, you know?" She yawns.

It remains firm.

"Sensei."

No movement.

…Hoshino grinds her teeth.

"…Fine."

Hoshino closed her eyes and glared back at him. "In exchange, they will slice the debt in half. There, satisfied?"

"…"

"Can you let me go now?"

"Are you… considering it?"

She felt something to rise up. No… keep it cool. "No." She reached for the resignation letter and tossed it into a trash bin. "See, problem solved." She gave him the laziest smile she could muster yet…

He could still see through her.

"…That means nothing."

Letting out a shaky breath, with her anger close to be tipped over. "What do you want from me?"

"…Truth."

Once more, silence.

Until Hoshino broke it.

"…Uhe… I really can't get anything past you, huh? Seriously, sensei… you're scary." She reverted back to the lazy persona without effort. "Yes. I'm considering t to accept it. I'm… going to accept the proposal tomorrow."

"It's… not worth it. You… know this, Hoshino. You're... being played."

"I'll... take my chances." Hoshino admits. "But what else am I supposed to do? Do you have any ideas, sensei?"

Hans shook his head. "But… there is always… another way. You can't... take this all by yourself."

"Perhaps. But I'm still doing it. Uhe, with you here, maybe a miracle will happen." Hoshino grins. "Well, just like you did to Nonomi. You worked your magic again and again sensei… and I'm sure it's going to be a ride to see."

Her mask slips, and her expression grew hard and calculating.

"This is my choice. I will take Black Suit's offer. Don't stop me, sensei."

Her glare met his eyes, anger, determination, righteous sacrifice mixing into her expression.

"…Everyone… will stop you."

"Heh. I'm sure my cute underclassmen will." She shrugs. "And I'm sure you'll be with them, right?"

He nods.

"If that's the case..."

Finally, it fell down.

Silent.

Relentless.

Ironclad.

"The next time we'll meet…
It'll be our last."

He nodded again before his arm fell down... and Hoshino started to walk past him.

"Hoshino."

She stopped in her tracks.

"Negotiate… for more than just half. If it was you they truly want… then you have the leverage." Hans whispers. "Until then... I will... make sure you came back."

A smile crept onto her lips.

"Yeah."

Casting a backward glance, she presented him with that unforgettable, unsettling smile.

"See you, sensei.
And… thank you for everything."

Author's note:
We're nearing the climax of Abydos. Are you prepared?

I hope I don't make Nonomi's confession seems rushed. I did to put a little hint back in the earlier chapters, but either way, I want to develop her as her own character even more later on than what Vol 1 Ch 3 did to her. Don't worry, I'm not done yet.

Also, Gomen, Shiroko.

Tell me what you think and see you on the next chapter~

Some terminologies from THE WORLD OF DARKNESS in this chapter and before!

(At least on what I can remember)

Garou: Werewolf

Fera: Other were-beasts. Like the Mokolé which are Werelizards and Rokea which are Weresharks. They're fucking awesome.

War of Rage: An ancient war before history, in which the Werewolves attacked other shapeshifters because of many reasons that is still quite... unclear. Some say because they wanted to know the secrets from the other Fera, or trying to subjugate them, believing the Garou was the best of them all (pure bull)

Triat: The 3 great spirits. Weaver, Wyld, Wyrm. In short, The weaver creates order from Wyld's chaos, before it was destroyed by the Wrym. Creating a cycle of rebirth.

The Weaver was the first to go mad, encasing everything in webs to make sure it's order was never destroyed (Yes it's a fucking spider) including the Wyrm that it restrained until it goes mad as well. Causing the Wyrm to destroy everything.

Gaia: Mother Earth

Ahroun: one of the five Auspices under which a Garou may be born. The Full Moon makes the Ahroun the living weapon of Gaia.

Lupus: The natural wolf form of Garou.

Hispo: Basically a bigger wolf form of a Garou

Crinos: The full on werewolf/warform of a Garou.

Namebreakers: Mages. They're humans with with infinite power to alter creation, basically Gods.

Impergium: The culling of the human population practiced by the Garou in prehistoric times.