Revelations and confessions.

Music for chapter: The Zombies - The Way I Feel Inside

The nightmares weren't getting better. If anything, they were worse, almost clearer now, filled with chains and eyes that watched him from the shadows. The next morning, Aullie stood in the shower until the water turned ice cold, but it didn't wash away the shitty feeling that something was crawling under his skin.

Shinku was stretched out on the windowsill when he got out, pretending to nap but obviously listening.

"Keeping this all bottled up is the opposite of healthy," the Void cat said without opening his eyes.

Aullie grabbed a towel and caught his own reflection in the mirror. He looked like shit.

"They need to know what they're getting into," Shinku continued, finally looking at him. "If you really want them to help you in the tournament, you've gotta stop acting like ass, thinking you can handle this by yourself."

Aullie sighed and rubbed his face. He knew Shinku was right. That's what made it so fucking hard.

Later that day, just as the sun was starting to set, he asked Haru, Aki, and Sora to meet him on one of the old training decks. It overlooked the southern ridge and was usually empty except for the occasional late-night sparring session. Seemed like the right place for this kind of conversation.

They all showed up together, which somehow made it both easier and harder.

"Alright, what's goin' on?" Aki said the moment she saw his face. "You look like crap, almost like you haven't slept in days. And that's coming from someone who pulls all-nighters studying."

Everyone looked at her skeptically

Aki coughed and looked away

"Okay, maybe some studying…and mostly playing games. But either way, back to you Aullie, why the scary face!?"

"Yeah, you've been acting weird man," Haru added, settling down on the stone platform. "Well…weirder than usual."

Sitting in a loose circle, and Aullie looked at each of them. These were his friends. His team. They deserved the truth, even if it made him sound completely insane.

"I can hear Shinku," he said. "Like, actually hear him talking. Not just cat noises."

Haru blinked. "Hold up man, just hold up…You can hear him, like... in your head?"

"Truth. It's been like this since my awakening, maybe a little before. I tried to convince myself I was losing it, but..." Aullie shrugged. "It's real."

Aki tilted her head, processing this. "Okay. That's... actually not the weirdest thing that's happened around here lately and honestly friggin' cool."

"He's commenting on this conversation as we speak," Aullie said, and couldn't help smiling a little. "He says Aki would be more impressed if I told her he could sneak into her room at night and cut her hair while she sleeps."

"Oh hell no," Aki said, pointing at Shinku. "You try that and I'll turn you into a very stylish fur coat."

Aullie laughed despite everything. "He says he'd look great in anything."

Even Sora smiled at that, though she stayed quiet.

Then Aullie's expression grew serious again. "But that's not the important part. There's something else, something big." He took a breath. "There's an ancient shrine buried deep under the academy, with some kind of Void creature or person or fuck I don't know, amalgamation…sealed inside it. And I think... I think it's connected to me somehow."

The laughter died away.

"Connected how?" Sora asked carefully.

"I don't know exactly, but when I was down there, I felt it. Like it wasn't just trapped in that shrine, like part of it was inside me too." Aullie's hands clenched into fists. "The entity told me I opened some kind of gate when I awakened and opened my affinity for Void, and now there's another Void beast being born somewhere and I need to find it before others do."

"Well crap," Aki breathed.

"The only way to find it before anyone else is to get into the Aether Dimension. And as you know the only way to do that is through the tournament and getting top fifty." He looked around at all of them. "I can do it alone, but would rather do it together as a team. But I also need you to know what you'd be signing up for."

The silence stretched out between them. Aullie felt his stomach twist, waiting for them to tell him he was crazy, or that this was too dangerous, or…

"Bro, you're a dumbass" Haru said, but he was smiling. "Why didn't you tell us this weeks ago?"

"Right?" Aki said, throwing her hands up. "I was already planning to kick ass in the tournament anyway. Now I get to kick interdimensional monster ass? Even better."

Aullie turned to Sora last. She'd been the quietest through all of this, just watching him with those thoughtful eyes.

"You don't look surprised," he said.

She shook her head. "I'm not, really. I knew you were carrying something heavy, I feel like you've been carrying it since the awakening and it was getting worse and worse as time went on." She leaned forward slightly. "I was just waiting for you to trust us enough to let us help."

Something loosened in Aullie's chest. Not the fear, that was still there, probably always would be, but the crushing weight of keeping all this to himself, the certainty that he had to face whatever was coming alone... that started to lift.

"So you're all okay with this?" he asked.

"Duh man, you couldn't stop us if you tried at this point," Haru said firmly.

Aki grinned. "Hah, wouldn't miss it for the world."

Sora reached out and put her hand over his. Her touch was warm and comforting, and for the first time in weeks, Aullie felt like maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay.

"Together," she said simply.

Together. Yeah. Okay, he could work with that.

They stayed out there talking until the stars started to come out. Eventually, Aki stretched and yawned dramatically.

"Alright, I'm beat," she said, getting to her feet. "All this emotional revelation stuff is exhaustin'. I need food and sleep, in that order."

Haru stood up too, brushing dust off his pants. "Yeah, same. Plus I want to start researching some of this tournament stuff before we dive into it." He clapped Aullie on the shoulder. "Good talk, man. Seriously."

"Thanks," Aullie said, and meant it. "Both of you. For... everything."

"Don't get all mushy on us now," Aki said with a grin, she gave him a quick bear hug and eyed Sora meaningfully so that Aullie couldn't see. "See you tomorrow."

They headed back toward the dormitories, their voices fading as they walked. That left just Aullie and Sora sitting on the stone platform, the academy lights twinkling below them.

The quiet between them felt different now. Not awkward or heavy like it had been for a while. Just... peaceful. Like they could sit here forever and it would be okay.

"Hey," Aullie said, his voice softer now that it was just the two of them. "I meant what I said about needing all of you. But with you..." He paused, trying to find the right words. "It's different. Honestly, it's always been different when it comes to you."

Sora turned to look at him, and he could see something in her eyes that made his heart race. "You don't have to say anything you're not ready for."

"But I am ready," he said, surprised by how sure he sounded. "I think I've been in love with you for a while now, ever since you gave me your P.E. shirt in 7th grade to clean up my bloody nose after getting in a brawl with those snobby fucking royals. The fact that you, as a new student, were brave enough to help some halfie kid who just got into a brawl clean himself up, even when you knew doing that would anger those same royals…It just kind of cracked and mended my heart at the same time."

He stared into her eyes, smiled and just shrugged his shoulders

"I know I may have been evasive about it, and I'm sorry if that hurt you, but I just didn't think either of us were ready for something before the awakening. I was hoping things would slow down a bit, obviously they haven't, but I can't keep it in anymore. Especially knowing that at any point I could lose you and you would have never known the way I truly felt."

She moved closer, close enough that he could catch the faint scent of her shampoo. "So what do you want to do now?"

Instead of answering with words, he reached up and touched her face, thumb brushing along her cheekbone. She leaned into the touch, eyes fluttering closed for just a moment.

Their first kiss was soft, tentative, like they were both unsure how to proceed. But then Sora's hand found the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair, and suddenly it was deeper, more real, like something they'd both been holding back for years finally spilling over.

When they broke apart, neither of them moved away. Sora's forehead rested against his, and they were both breathing hard.

"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered.

"Good," he said, his voice rough. "Because I'm done pretending you don't floor me everytime I see you."

She smiled, the kind of smile that made his chest feel too small to contain everything he was feeling.

Aullie grabbed her waist and plopped her on his lap and squeezed her close, every few seconds peppering kisses on her cheek, neck and collarbone. Above them, more stars were appearing as the sky darkened, and below them, the academy was settling into evening quiet.

For the first time in weeks, Aullie's mind wasn't racing with nightmares or ancient prophecies or interdimensional monsters. It was just this, Sora's weight in his lap, the steady rhythm of her breathing, and the warmth of her hand resting over his heart.

It was perfect. And for now, it was enough.