Author's Preface
Too many questions. Too many things to say. Yet none of them were said. All that came out of Akane’s mouth was-
“Huh?”
Unfathomable. The very idea of a special celebration between best friends, a celebration of a childhood dream, a goal that had been longed for…
“Yeah! They’re like, super knowledgeable and stuff. I think you’d learn a lot from them, really vibe, you know?” Rinne said with the most innocuous, genuinely warm smile.
That smile.
It brought Akane out of her daze.
“R-right,” she managed to murmur. “Then I guess that’s fine. I guess since our celebration was related to Horizon, you felt the need to… yeah, I guess I understand your logic. Somewhat.”
Akane nodded sagely as if she’d come to some internal grand conclusion. But Rinne just tilted her head, blinking slowly.
“Akane? You know we’re besties right?” Rinne leaned in a bit. “And I know you’re totally acting weird right now. Spill.”
Akane laughed sheepishly. Just slightly grabbing the glass of her already empty drink. And mustered up the most normal Akane smile she could.
“I’m just a bit shy about meeting new people,” she lied smoothly. “You know I don’t have many friends besides you, Rinne.”
“Heh.”
Rinne’s lips curled into a big grin - and she started to re-apply her lipstick, a shade of smoky dark red.
“That’s another reason why I invited them~” she giggled. “Networking is SO key. Remember what little Kairn said about Aegis? Bureacracy, yellow tape, all that?”
“Uh. Yeah?”
“Horizon is such a big deal, totally overwhelming. So doesn’t it make sense to schmooze with people who know what us freshies should expect? Oh - and so you can touch grass more.”
“I touch plenty of grass,” Akane retorted with a slight huff. “I go on morning jogs. I socialize with my sparring partners at the gym. I tell them-”
“Yoooo! It’s the ladies of the hour! Are we late?”
Before Akane could fully defend herself from the slander, a hearty voice called out from across the rooftop cafe.
Walking into the cool night space were two distinctive figures, already waving at Rinne specifically.
The man who spoke was human, pushing six feet in height, with curly brown hair, hazel eyes, and confidence worn on his skin.
Walking next to him with a slightly hunched posture, was a willowy, pretty Synapti woman.
Her skin had a faint greenish-white color. Eyes with no visible pupils. Soft pink moss sprouted along her exposed skin. And her left arm didn’t have a hand at the end - it had a long, curled brown prehensile root, like a tree’s.
Akane took a moment to take in their appearances.
They really screamed adult, to her. Not like the other kids at their high school. For a moment, Akane almost felt excited. She almost forgot the tension for a second.
“ ... they’re upperclassmen. From my dream school. Maybe… maybe they can teach me some things? Maybe they won’t be so bad. ”
Rinne’s eyes brightened, and she squealed with glee. “Heyyyy, you two! Come on, have a seat, have a seat! You’re fashionably on time~!”
They both leaned in to give Rinne a side hug as they came over, before taking a seat - Akane’s eyes immediately clocking how the man’s hand lingered a bit long on Rinne’s waist. Too long.
Akane’s polite smile didn’t reach her eyes. She sat up straighter, hands neatly folded in her lap.
He sat down in the chair closest to Rinne, extending his hand to Akane with an easy smile.
“Nice to meet ya, gorgeous,” he began, his eyes looking her up and down briefly. “ I’m Kellan Reeves, but you can call me Kell. Third-year at Aegis Horizon. Rinne told us a lot about ya~”
The woman immediately lay back in the loungechair, a dopey smile on her face, just choosing to nod.
“Heeeeey,” she spoke with a slow, almost tired drawl. “The name’s Comorae. We don’t have last names, as you surely know. Second-year… yawwwwn. Is this drink mine?”
Comorae was already reaching for the last drink on the table.
… okay. Maybe her optimism was misplaced slightly. Or maybe they just had rough exteriors.
It certainly was a lot of “maybes”, to Akane.
She fought the urge to roll her eyes, giving Kellan a firm and strong handshake.
“I’m sure she did,” Akane responded. “But yes. I’m Akane, Rinne’s best friend. Whatever else she said was good, I hope…?”
“Oh, definitely.” Kell chuckled. Though he quietly bit his lip and winced from the pressure. “S-strong grip you have there! You’re definitely going to the Vanguard Division, huh? Strong women are pretty hot.”
“More like dumb muscleheads usually,” Comorae remarked dryly, taking a sip of her drink. “Obviously not you Akane - I don’t even know you yet. But that’s them. Stupid usually, or idealistic and naive. Or both.” She shrugged.
Before Akane could fire back - Rinne leaned in, slightly blocking the line of sight, and bursting into genuine bubbly laughter.
“HAHA! Oh, boy pleaaase! Most Vanguards are pretty dumb not gonna lie. But my Akane is like a supercomputer,” Rinne began smugly. “She could bench press a hovercar and manually calculate the Hawking radiation decay rate of an artificial micro-singularity while blindfolded.”
There was a slight pause at the table. A moment to let that run on sentence breathe.
Before everyone burst into laughter, even Akane.
“You really have been studying,” murmured Akane, covering her mouth as she giggled. “Good job, Rinne. And thanks.”
“... she said my Akane…” the black-haired teen felt something flutter in her tummy.
Kellan eased into a smirk, sitting back with an arm around his chair. Comorae fell into a slightly eager expression, even leaning forward.
“Can she now? Maybe we’ll have to talk later. I’m in Crucible Studies myself - I can totally speak laps around dumbasses like Kell.” The pink moss on her body almost seemed to brighten.
Kellan just rolled his eyes. “Yeah, maybe. But dude, you’d definitely get us all into a trade embargo or worse if you sat in a meeting room. Relief & Diplomacy ain’t no JOKE babyyyy~!”
“... yeah probably. And then the universe would be destroyed by the war. Heh.”
Meanwhile, Rinne was looking rather proud of herself. A cheeky grin on that pretty caramel-colored face, her lipstick almost glowing under the dim lantern light. She kept the flow going.
“Okayyyy~! We’re all having fun now! But you know what’s more fun?” She glanced around the table for dramatic effect. “A nice bonfire, and some more drinks!”
“Hell yeah, get me STARTED baby!” Kell cheered.
The outgoing Rinne had already stood up, gesturing for the others to come along. She tugged at Akane’s arm, dragging her along.
“Ooh. This spot is perfect~! Guys, take a seat. Lemme hit up Uncle Roy for the specials, hehe. I’ll be quick. Play nice~!”
Rinne winked - mostly at her best friend - and then skipped off the bar.
“This girl… why’d she leave me with them?!?”
Akane sighed, but took this chance to survey the spot she’d chosen.
It was a nice chill seated area around a warm blue fire, with cushy blue beanbags and floor pillows. From this spot, the lighting was even more dim and atmospheric. Just the warmth from the bonfire mixing with the natural moonlight.
She sat down, knees hugged close to her chest, using one of the floor pillows. Then ran a hand through her long black hair, adjusting her jeans a bit to make sure she didn’t expose anything on accident.
Kellan took a spot on her left, and Comorae sat on the right. Surprisingly even Kellan had a respectful distance between them.
…
A slight bit of awkward silence. So Akane turned to check on her best friend.
Rinne was chatting with Uncle Roy animatedly, who seemed to be pouring and making drinks for the four of them.
“Please don’t take too long.”
But what was there to do? Even if it’d been a rocky but pleasant start, she had to make conversation.
To prove she did in fact, touch grass. That she was capable of making friends with these strangers!
“Alright Akane. Step it up girl. They’re not bad people. Let’s try something topical and light?”
The dark-haired teen steeled herself. Took a deep breath. “So-“
“So did you talk to Rexley about the project?” Comorae interrupted accidentally, already halfway done with her colorful cocktail.
“Yeah bro. She dipped on me. Told me the professor wasn’t chill with our plan. So we had to scrap the mock proposal.” Kellan rolled his eyes like this Rexley had committed a warcrime.
“Ugh. That’s the worst. Professor Dziique is too much of a hardass. But like, I guess that's part of his culture…”
“Yeah. Lame. At least Flux studies are cool. I’m lagging on my combat lowkey.”
Akane’s eyes lit up.
“Oh!” she interjected, a small eager smile on her face, leaning in. “Flux studies are interesting. I’ve been working on how to incorporate more projectile constructs and gunplay into my combat. I… wouldn’t mind a spar or two.”
Both upperclassman immediately turned to stare at Akane. The expressions on their faces were… slightly sheepish.
“Y-yeah? Uh, that’s cool I guess. Maybe someday?” Kellan suggested. “I’ll uh, get back to you on that. For sure.”
…
“… so are we still gonna hit up that party tomorrow?” Comorae asked, curling up comfortably on her pillow. "You know Darnell was hosting it. They were saying that…”
Akane’s face flushed red hot from embarrassment. She leaned back, just quietly just playing her bracelet - a small knitted friendship bracelet. The letters A and R inscribed on a small section.
" Do they really have nothing to say to me? " Akane thought to herself. This really wasn't she thought would happen.
" There's no place for me to jump in. To speak. But… " uglier thoughts began to creep in. " Am I uninteresting? I always get praised for being a genius. For being good-looking, fit, decently dressed… ”
She hugged her knees closer to her chest, already zoning out fully from the conversation. Until-
“Heeyyyyy! I’m back! And with hella drinks~”
Rinne came back while balancing four new bright cocktails between her fingers. She placed them down with a big eager grin… and plopped down right next to Akane.
The dark-haired teen looked down. And felt her best friend’s hand giving small comforting strokes to her thigh.
But Akane’ smile didn’t reach her eyes, even as she took the glass and sipped it slowly. “Mmm. It… it is pretty good. What did Uncle Roy make for us?”
“Ooh, you won’t believe it!” Rinne was already moving her hands, making some Rinne-like gestures with them. “He was whooosh! And then like, bang! Totally cool! Uncle Roy’s like a bartending wizard I think?!?”
Comorae and Kellan were already back to laughing, their bodies already turned to face Rinne. Smiles on their faces, light in their eyes.
“Uh, huh. Total wizardry bro,” Kellan teased, picking up a metal spoon and waving it around like a wand. “ Meteus Megistus! Woo!”
"Dude, you are so dumb,” Comorae snickered, her new drink already in hand. She took a sip, and then raised a brow, staring at Rinne’s hand.
“But like… I gotta ask. What’s the deal with you two? Lovers, besties, something in-between? Just a uh, bodyguard?”
Silence.
Two faces had very different but similar reactions.
Both went bright red. Both stopped taking a sip from their new drinks.
“W-we’re just best friends!” Akane blurted, the loudest she’d spoken all night. She unconsciously started tugging at her bracelet again, her ears also burning up.
“HAH!” Rinne let out a mischievous snicker - as she leaned over, arms wrapping around Akane. “Wouldn’t you like to know, Rae? Jealous? Maybe we’re both!”
Smooch.
Just a single kiss on the cheek. Something normally a bit innocent, open-ended on the intentions.
But it sent Akane’s chest into a swirl.
“OH MY GOD.”
“ARE WE DATING?”
“IS SHE JOKING OR-”
“… her boobs are really pressing against me…”
All the while - Rinne still had that smug look. “I mean like, why would I not be close to her? Besties isn’t something I say lightly, btdubs.”
“Right, right,” Kellan chuckled. “I mean - even when we met at that party, and you got hella wasted, you kept hyping up your bestie. Saying she shoulda been there.”
“Huh?!? Is that true?”
Akane turned to look at Rinne, that small involuntary pout on her lips almost reminding Rinne of a puppy.
…
“M-Maybe! UGH! I say a LOT of things when I’m drunk! My bestie knows!” she huffed indignantly, and chose this moment to bury her face into Akane’s shoulder.
“Mhm,” said bestie confirmed. “Rinne had a fake ID in sophomore year. She secretly brought a few bottles of mist-sake to my 16th birthday. Then she got so drunk she confessed to my parents about everything.”
“BRO! That’s so HER!” Kellan burst into loud laughter, slapping his thigh in agreement. “She’s a Celebra City party girl one minute and then total sappy softie the next when she’s drunk.”
A sagely nod came from Akane - and the four of them kept chatting on into the night. Loud chatter from Rinne and Kellan. Snarky cut-ins by Comorae. And some quiet intelligent one liners by Akane.
A comfortable rhythm, as the alcohol settled into their bloodstreams.
The sun had completely disappeared from the sky. A few of the tables had gone empty by now, but Uncle Roy’s Cafe still had plenty of customers. The man himself had disappeared somewhere, and a younger looking man also with tattoos and shaggy hair had taken the bar - family, probably?
Some holographic Tiki torches illuminated the four now, setting their faces with a soft, almost romantic glow.
“So I was telling Rinne about my stocks, and-”
BZZZZZZ.
“Hold up.” Kellan took out his sleek white holophone and swiped up. His brow furrowing with slight intensity.
Rinne had finally untangled herself from Akane, but had a slight sleepy look in her eyes, her voice slurred, “Come on! What’s more… important than our friendship, huuuh?”
Kellan looked back at the three women with his eyes wide. “Dude, holy shit. The Senate just voted. We’re not sending troops to Dessica-IV.”
“For real?” Comorae snorted, lightly flicking the side of her empty glass. “I mean, duh. It’s obvious we can’t send resources to them. It’s all a plan by the government. I’m not dying for some stupid shit like that.”
…
“Huh?”
The look on Akane’s face was pure shock - slow blinks, her hands gripping the chair tighter. “But doesn’t that go against everything Aegis stands for?” Her eyes narrowed. “Walk the Frontier. Hold the Line?”
It was Kellan who laughed this time. “Dude, it sucks, but it’s triage. If we send a fleet over a border dispute with The Frost Imperium, we’re all getting super fucked. We’d totally win the war, but I can’t bring myself to care that much about some random frontier planet.”
Before the tensions could rise even further - Rinne sat up, some of the drunkenness disappearing from her eyes.
“Huh? Border dispute? Voting? War? What’s… going on?”
Kellan scoffed. “Oh right. Most high schoolers probably don’t keep up to date. Dessica-IV is a planet waaaay on the border. Maybe like, one billion in population size. Light work.”
“Yeah,” Comorae spoke up, already rolling her eyes. “And like, they’re not part of any big civilization like our Dominion, the Frost Imperium, or even that little Federation.”
Akane shook her head, her voice slowly rising, “-and that’s exactly why we need to help them. It’s not right! The strong have to p-protect the weak, we should help out people even if we’re not allied with them, and-”
“And that’s not our business,” Comorae interjected with a shrug. She sat up fully, sighing. “We can’t just intervene in everything.”
Kellan nodded. “Just let it go, dude. Not like you or any of us can change that shit anyways.” He let out a laugh, arms folded behind his head, a grin on his lips. “I’m just invested ‘cuz I might get extra credit for debating on it in class. Need it to keep doing my extracurriculars~”
“Hah! Yeah. It’s like, not that big of a deal,” Comorae snickered. “You’ve got to chill out, girlie. Aegis Academy really isn’t like that.”
Rinne glanced between everyone, giggling awkwardly. “Y-yeah! We’re still celebrating and vibing, ‘Kane. They’re just messing with you, since you’re so sincere when you get worked up.”
Comorae was already laying back down, dopey smile in place, nuzzling her green cheek against a beanbag. “Yeah, totally. It’s not that deep. Trust your seniors.”
Akane bit her lip.
That feeling inside her was burning up more.
Anxiety. Distaste. Hate. Rage. Indignation. A whole torrent of burning, spiraling, vehement emotions. Like something in her stomach was telling her to scream, to hit the table, to-
No . Not that.
She took a deep breath. Glanced at her best friend’s hopeful, if slightly worried look.
And Akane put the mask back on. An apologetic, easy smile. “S-sorry. You guys are the upperclassmen, and it’s not a big deal. Let’s just finish our drinks.”
“Cheers to that!” Kellan held out his half-empty glass with a big grin. Everyone else raised their glasses in unison…
… and conversation flowed again, if a bit slowly.
A few more minutes of chatting between Rinne, Kellan, and Comorae. Akane’s fake smiles. Then finally, the two upperclassmen stood up and stretched.
“Shiiiit. Well, that was fun,” Kellan drawled, chugging the last quarter of his drink. “It’s gettin’ late though! Got a paper that’s actually due tomorrow at 1300 system time. Then we got a party at night.”
He leaned in for a tight hug with Rinne, patting her back. Lingering just a moment. Then a small wave at Akane. “Nice meeting you too, hot stuff. Hang later maybe~?”
“Yeah, it was cool,” Comorae yawned, the moss on her body dormant and slightly faded. “I get extra sleepy at night… you know. Thanks Rinne~”
Her turn for a half-hearted one-armed hug, and then a nod to Akane, awkwardly reaching and not reaching for a handshake. “Uh… yeah. See you.”
“BYEEE YOU GUYSSS! Get back safeee~!” Rinne waved brightly. She hadn’t lost that smile just yet. Still in the usual cheerful mode.
“Yeah. Nice to meet you,” Akane responded curtly, gripping her own wrist a bit tight.
The two upperclassmen left the rooftop cafe behind, leaving just Rinne and Akane there.
They hadn’t even disappeared from sight yet before Akane walked over to the railing. Leaning over with a rigid expression, eyes looking up to the moon. A full moon, the pale light catching the way her eyes twitched.
… the exuberant extrovert was quiet for once - Rinne slowly treading over. Her smile had faded somewhat, half-happy and half-concerned.
“‘Kane?” she called out quietly. “You feeling okay? Did you actually have any fun, or-”
“No.”
Bright blue eyes that usually felt like warm sapphires - had frozen over to an icy, almost venomous gaze. They stared piercing daggers into Rinne’s light greens.
“I don’t like them at all, Rinne,” Akane began. “I’m not sure how you’re even friends with people like that. That’s not what my dream means.”
The cold night breeze swept across the cafe, and Rinne’s bare arms.
She hugged herself, shivering - and didn’t meet Akane’s gaze.
“… oh. I guess you’re right…”