Commencement [1]

"Hey, is it me or Luna and Shiki aren't around?" Daryll intoned in between Rei and Remus' bickering in the cafeteria.

Rei glares at Remus once more before turning her attention completely to Daryll. "They're probably together again, if Luna's not with us, she'll most probably be with my brother." She replied, scooping the mash potato on her tray.

"I won't even be surprised if they announced that they're a 'thing'." She  jested.

"Blegh, as if Shiki's interested in romance. Also Luna doesn't even seem to show a tiny interest in anyone. How the hell would they be a thing?" Remus waved his hand dismissively as he reached the glass of water on his side and drank.

"What do you know? You'll never know what will happen! Besides, they're like low-key lovers, like they won't interact in class but then all of a sudden they're together after!" She enunciate.

"Sure, sure, delusional red head." He replied sarcastically waving his hand at her, which made Rei to be irritated.

Before Rei can even jump on Remus and make him go bald, Daryll spoke up. "Oh there they are!" He exclaimed pointing his finger somewhere.

At the entrace of the school's cafeteria, Daryll was pointing his forefinger on Luna and Shiki along with their classmate whose name can't be remembered.

"Huh? Isn't that, what was his name again? Ezier? Ezzy?" Guessed Remus.

"He's Ezra, you idiot." Rei retorted, rolling her eyes.

Remus sighed, pausing for a while before opening his mouth to speak. "By the way, shouldn't you be with. . . Austin? You two seem to be getting along these few days."

"Oh yeah. .  . I was about to ask you the same thing!" Intoned Daryll, apparently agreeing on the statement of Remus.

Rei only smiled it off and just completely ignored them as she went back to the previous topic they were on. "Kinda odd to see Ezra with my brother and Luna."

"Luna with Shiki together is weird enough." Remus pointed.

Meanwhile, Shiki, Ezra and Luna has now ordered and sat on a vacant table available.

"I'm this close on actually doing something very reckless." Luna said, her thumb and forefinger almost touching. "We only have today left."

"It's fine, we'll manage." Shiki reassured.

"We know their location thanks to you, besides we are half way through the plan." Ezryn affirmed.

"Just halfway— what if professor won't allow us? What if we couldn't finished it? What if we're already late—"

A lot of negative thoughts ushered through Luna's head. Thinking that Rinalyn would already be gone before they could even rescue her, along with Hikari. She couldn't bare the thought that, Rinalyn would be killed just because they had found that she was only pretending to be Luna. That they had took the wrong captive.

Luna flinched as she felt a hand reached her rested hand on top of the table. It was Ezryn.

"It's ok, whatever you're thinking, they won't." He said, squeezing Luna' hand as his sign of comfort.

Luna nodded as she flashed a small smile in return greatful how Ezryn was trying to lift her mood, but eventually got back to her senses, eyes panning down to their hands. She soon withdraw laughing awkwardly.

"Oh sorry." Ezryn awkward

"Um, anyway, we should probably finish our lunch and go back. . .?" She uttered unsure of her words.

Shiki panned his gaze to the two, feeling the somewhat awkward air in between of them. Ignoring them, he continued to dig in to his lunch.

". . . I'm, uh, I'm gonna go grab some drinks." Ezryn immediately stood up funny as he excused himself and run-walk to the vending machine at the corner.

Luna sighed, suddenly feeking Shiki's gaze unto her. She then lifted her head, and Shiki was looking at her dully; unable to decode whether he is judging her or probably disappointed in her. His face was truly unreadable, but he's clearly omitting something behind his stoic expression.

"What?" She raised a brow.

". . . Are you germaphobic?" He asked.

Luna was stunned yet let out a chuckle after and replied. "Germaphobic? Me? Why would you think of that— wait was it because I withdraw my hand from Ezryn when he's clearly just trying to comfort me? Is that it?" She concluded.

She then continued,"Don't you know reflexes? Or maybe I'm just uncomfortable with being touched so suddenly? Like c'mon. I'd bet that if someone were to hug you behind, you'll send them flying."

Shiki just looked at her with his same expression as his mouth opened but then closes, eventually ended up him sighing in defeat and just continued eating.

***

"Oh no, not this again." Aella muttered as she saw a slumping Agapius in the corner. Obviously reminiscing about something she's too familiar with.

With a groan of disbelief, Aella intended to pull the dull Agapius away.

"Are you seriously still going on with that? Hello..? We kinda have a problem still here, so, Snap! Snap! Hurry up with that!" She exclaimed sassily snapping her fingers in front of Agapius closely.

"You know you're not helping." Agapius pointed out.

But what she babbled on abiut was true. They have a problem right now that needed more focus. He shouldn't be here reminiscing about a bitter past. Agapius needed to get himself together, his host needs him the most at the moment.

Agapius is already aware of how much of an irresponsible handler he is.

"Aella..." He called out.

"What?" Aella raised a brow, uninterested on what her companion is abiut to say.

Agapius hesistated, eyes focused on his feet as he deeply sigh. He then slowly lift his head and turn to Aella, eyes glinting with so much emotions she couldn't read.

And when Agapius opened his mouth and uttered, Aella's heart seem to have dropped, frowning by what this deity just told her.

"I'm thinking of stepping down from my position."