Sky Gray Days✰ (1/2)

It’s not a particularly long story, especially considering how much has been lost over the ages. Nevertheless, we find ourselves here, reminiscing about a time that no longer exists.

Around three hundred years ago, a nameless galaxy was visited by the Millennium Carnival, a living galactic phenomenon with a penchant for creation. Utilizing the natural Stasis Energy that floated through space, the Carnival rebirthed the solar system into what we know today as the Millennium Starbelt. Even after being born again, our galaxy wasn’t particularly large. In fact, the only celestial bodies that inhabit it are its many stars, Lumen, our planet, and its moon, Edensfiel. However, after creating the Millennium Starbelt, the Carnival vanished forever without a trace. No one really knows what happened after that to lead to today, not even how humans arrived here to begin with. That is all we know of the past, or, at least, for the most part.

With the use of the Stasis Energy that the Carnival spread throughout our planet, humanity has been able to expand its technological advancements to heights once thought unreachable. Stasis-based technology also paved the way for a fully unified world, entirely free of war between provinces. That being said, peace is never free, especially in this case. It is only after achieving technological mastery that we realize just how fragile our utopia was…

They, the Asterisms, made that painfully obvious.

Seemingly born from the very Stasis that made our current reality possible, these enigmatic monsters care not for the livelihood of any living creature. Their species, which vary drastically in appearance and behavior, seem almost ripped out of fiction itself. And even though they fade to dust after being defeated, their sheer number makes them a constant threat to countless regions all over Lumen. While some are borderline harmless, certain types of Asterisms can cause catastrophic damage under certain circumstances. Be that as it may, they have never taken a single human life since their arrival. Regardless, they are still seen as a genuine threat that must be dealt with daily, especially in major cities. But the question remains: how can a human kill a monster?

The answer, believe it or not, is very simple… Weapons.

It didn’t take long for the Axis Foundation, the leading organization when it comes to Stasis-related research, to start manufacturing weapons that utilize the natural Stasis particles that exist inside our bodies. This development process eventually gave birth to the Stasis Frames, the absolute pinnacle of Stasis-based weaponry that can only be used by Adepts, those with above-average energy levels. With the power of the Frames, the Axis Foundation and many other groups have been able to fight back against the Asterisms and the threat they bring to our daily lives. However, despite their limitless potential, Adepts are still people with lives to live and dreams to pursue. Even if some may think otherwise, the future will decide who will remain on the right side of history.

There is no such thing as a perfect Adept.

There are no perfect humans.

…

……

*clears throat*

???: “S-So, what’s the verdict? Too serious or not serious enough?”

It was morning, and two girls could be seen riding the train while discussing something of the utmost importance. While they both wore similar school uniforms, the shorter of the two possessed shoulder-length ash brown hair and reddish hazel eyes that appeared almost entirely red at times. The taller of the two possessed bright green eyes and long blonde hair that was tied in a single braid. With a somewhat anxious look on her face, the blonde-haired girl eagerly awaited her friend's response. Not that she had any reason to fear in the slightest.

Ash-Haired Girl: “Hmm… As far as endings go, I’d say you knocked it out of the park.”

Blonde-Haired Girl: “...Y-You’re being serious, right? Like, a hundred percent honest?!”

Ash-Haired Girl: “Mhm, of course. Honestly, why would I lie to you— Uwaghh?!”

Without warning, the blonde-haired girl hugged her friend tightly and giggled to herself.

Blonde-Haired Girl: “Hehe. I knew you’d love it!”

Alice: “Y-Yeah, why wouldn’t I? This isn’t the first time you’ve made something amazing and expected everyone not to like it, Nina.”

Nina: “I knowww… I just can’t help but get a little nervous when it comes to projects! Ugh! They make me wanna implode!”

Alice: (How she always has this much energy so early in the morning, I’ll never know.) “Did you have Gray proofread it near the end? Those last two lines sound like something he’d say.”

Nina tilted her head and smiled sheepishly.

Nina: “Yep, he did. W-What, is it really that obvious he helped out?”

Alice: “Extremely obvious. That dork’s always writing down overdramatic stuff like that. He’s been doing it since like, middle school.”

Nina: “I may have only known him for a few weeks, but that does sound like textbook Gray behavior. Hmm… I wonder what he does on the weekends?”

Alice: “Honestly? He’s usually holed up in his room on his computer, and when he’s not doing that, he’s usually grocery shopping or baking.”

Nina’s face immediately lit up upon hearing the word “baking” come up.

Nina: “N-No way, he bakes?! That does sound nice, though. Y’know, having a nice stress-free weekend like that. Makes me a bit jealous, to be honest.”

Alice: “Trust me, he’d be way more jealous if he knew about all the Asterism-related missions we go on. He’s been pretty much obsessed with them since we were kids.”

Nina: “Hmm… If he likes Asterisms so much, do you think he’s ever read one of those visual novels that has a cast of monster girls? Oooh, I wonder which girl he romanced… I’m thinking either a slime girl or a demon nun with a huge chest.”

Alice stared over at her friend with a playfully deadpan expression.

Alice: “...Are you sure you aren’t just projecting?”

Nina: “J-Jeez, why would you think that?” (Cover blown, abort mission!)

Alice: (She’s so hopeless sometimes…)

After exiting the train with Nina, Alice looked up at a near-stationary comet that was floating in Lumen’s atmosphere.

Nina: “Pretty cool, right? Too much sunlight will hurt your eyes, though.”

Alice: “...Nina, how long did you say Vega’s Comet was gonna be here?”

Nina: “Hmm… It's been here since last Thursday, so maybe a few more days? Why do you ask? You don’t exactly strike me as the type to fixate on celestial bodies.”

Alice: “I haven’t for a while now, but your project got me thinking… How is Vega’s Comet special compared to any other ordinary star?”

Nina thought for a second before looking over at the ash-haired girl.

Nina: “Well, for starters, it’s the only comet near our planet that passes by every hundred years, so if you miss it, you’re likely never going to have the chance to witness it again. It’s sad to think about, but I’ve always appreciated how rare it is. After all, that makes us pretty lucky that we get to see it in our lifetime, right?”

Alice half-smiled before letting out a brief sigh.

Alice: “T-That all may be true, but it still creeps me out a bit. I don’t know why, but it does.”

Nina: “Hehe. I think you’re just a bit of a scaredy cat…”

Alice: “...At least I’m not afraid of cucumbers.”

Nina: “C’mon, you said you wouldn’t bring that up again! They’re more dangerous than you might think, y’know!”

Alice: “Whatever you say, Madame President.”

✰✰✰

???: “Yeowzers! Maybe it’s just me, babe, but this play is one hell of a vibe!”

Inside a local obligatory fancy restaurant, a swanky-looking man could be seen sitting with his date at a round circular table. The establishment usually had live music, but no one was on stage at that time, for one reason or another.

Swanky Man: “Man, who would’ve thought Endless Ivory was gonna sell out five weekends in a row! I really might be the greatest director to ever do it… Babe? Are you good? You’ve barely touched your gourmet tikka masala.”

However, as the swanky man looked over at his date, he noticed that his date was wearing a very ominous skull-like, horned mask. Creepy red eyes and all.

Swanky Man: “...You’re so hot, babe…”

???: “Sorry, folks, but it seems we have a faker on our hands!”

???: “Shadows creep and crawl, but what do they eat? We’re about to find out!”

As the stage lights flashed on, two girls could be seen posing on the stage wearing top hats. They seemed equally into their roles at that moment.

Nina: “Perhaps pancakes? Perhaps chocolate cake? Perhaps a divine beatdown straight from the heart! A symphony of passion and violence!”

Alice: “Heroine Alice of the Paranormal Research Club, transform!”

Nina: “Heroine Nina of the same club, transform! And make it snappy, production!”

After striking a final pose, the two girls burst into laughter moments later.

Nina: “Y’know, I bet we could be magical girls if we tried hard enough.”

Alice: “Keep on dreaming, Madame President. N-Not that I would mind, of course.”

The blonde-haired girl giggled to herself as she hugged Alice from the side.

Nina: “Y’know, maybe my eyes haven’t adjusted, but where did everyone go?”

Alice: “They’re still here, it’s just…”

As Nina faced the crowd, she soon noticed that every person at every table was replaced by a mannequin-esque puppet. The room also seemed to have a dark miasma floating near the ceiling.

Nina: “C-C’mon! Did we seriously get trapped in a Distortion already?!”

Alice: “We got played, but it was kinda deserved if you consider that we were basically messing around the whole time.”

Nina: *sigh* “Might as well get this over with. Show yourself, Maskwalker!”

Suddenly, part of the dark miasma from above spiraled down and transformed into a lanky, shadow-like monster that donned a horned skull mask. Upon spotting the two girls, the beast let out a piercing sound that resembled a shriek and a roar simultaneously.

Alice: “Feeling a bit daring today, huh? Let’s get this over with, Nina!”

Nina: “Yeah! Time to put the hurt on!”

After digging her nails into her palm, Alice swiped her hand to the side, forming a crimson axe with the spilled blood. Upon reaching into her pocket, Nina took out two odd-looking dice and threw one into the air. Seconds later, it transformed into an energy-powered blaster that fell into the blonde-haired girl’s grasp.

Alice: “...Just one?”

Nina: “Thought I’d challenge myself a bit today! One blaster for one meddlesome shadow!”

Alice: *sigh* “Just don’t expect any more back up than what you usually get. Besides, it looks like we’re getting more than we bargained for…”

Nina: “Huh?”

In response to the Maskwalker’s cry, several monsters fell out of the lingering miasma above, one type resembling a creepy stuffed rabbit and the other a large, dark blue raven with red eyes and sharp wings.

Nina: “Hopplins and Helravens, huh? Not the most lackluster cavalry money can buy, but still annoying!”

Alice: “No rest for the weary, I guess!”

And with that, the girls got to work. Their combined talent was more than enough to mow down and fend off the monsters. They were more than used to this, after all.

Alice: (She’s a little faster today, huh? Looks like someone finally started going to bed at midnight.)

Nina: (She’s a bit more forceful today, isn’t she? Maybe Pandora left another mess?)

As the last raven-like monster hit the ground, the Maskwalker attempted to sneak attack Alice. However, Nina was able to slide under her partner and launch a charge blast, destroying the shadow’s left arm entirely. Now enraged, the Maskwalker let out a shrieking howl as it eyed the girls wearily.

Nina: “Hehe. Didn’t expect that, did you, buster?”

Alice: “This isn’t over yet. Aerial maneuvers, Nina!”

Nina: “On it!”

After reeling back, the Maskwalker slammed its remaining hand into the ground in front of it, causing a shadowy shockwave to be launched forward. However, upon taking Alice’s hand, Nina charged her blaster fully and used the blast to launch her and the ash-haired girl into the air. In response, the wounded monster leaped into the air after them.

Nina: “Remember what we practiced?”

Alice: *sigh* “I still think it’s a bit flashy, but why not?”

While diving toward the Maskwalker, Nina launches a ball of energy at the monster, allowing Alice to morph her crimson axe into a sword. As the energy orb struck the shadow, the ash-haired girl sliced both it and the Maskwalker at the same time. After Alice and Nina landed safely on the ground, the duo posed as the energy ball exploded, defeating the monster instantly. Seconds later, the skull-like mask fell from the cloud of smoke right into the blonde-haired girl’s hand.

Nina: “And just like that, another nightmare shattered!”

Almost as if the narrative itself was responding to the girl’s words, the surrounding Distortion shattered, thus bringing them back to the restaurant’s stage. While initially started by the sheer number of eyes on them, the duo bowed to the audience as they clapped and cheered.

Nina: “Hehe. Time for an encore?”

Alice: “Honestly, as if you even have the energy for one.”

Several minutes later, the girls could be seen sitting at a table in the back of the restaurant with stars in their eyes. This was understandable when you consider that they had just been given free dessert by the head chef.

Head Chef: “Bwahaha! How does crème brûlée and chocolate mousse cake sound as a reward, you two?”

Nina: “Ah, thank you so much, chef! It all looks so good… I think I might pass out on the spot…”

Alice: “You didn’t have to do all this, but it means a lot. I’ll make sure Madame President over here doesn’t eat herself into a sugar coma.”

Nina: “Jeez, Alice, I’m not that bad…”

After laughing to himself yet again, the head chef walked away as he waved to the girls.

Head Chef: You two enjoy, now! Keep up all that darn hard work!”

Nina: “You can count on it, sir!”

Alice: “Thanks again!”

Upon taking the first bite of her crème brûlée, Nina nearly melted into the seat itself. After seeing her partner’s reaction, Alice took a bite of her dessert as well.

Alice: “W-Woah… I thought you were overreacting, but this is insane.”

Nina: “See, Alice? Being local celebrities has its perks!”

Alice: “Emphasis on the ‘local’ part of that statement. I doubt anyone outside of northeast Estella City has even heard of the club. Especially if you consider that we’re already a pretty small subsidiary of the Foundation.”

Nina: “H-Haha, fair point. But y’know? I don’t exactly mind how things are now. After all, not being swamped with missions all the time is always nice!”

Alice smiled and took another bite of her cake.

Alice: “The peace and quiet have been nice, yeah. Although Sara did say that we should have a new club member by the time Vega’s Comet arrives. Which is right now, by the way.”

After nearly choking on a bite of her crème brûlée, Nina glanced over at Alice with a sheepish smile.

Nina: “Y-You’re right, it is! Yup, one hundred percent! Any ideas? Besides the usual, of course.”

Alice: “Hmm… What about Eliza? Emma’s position at the Foundation keeps her from joining officially, so she’s off the list.”

Nina: “Eliza is really talented… But she also hates my guts for no reason, so I doubt she’d even consider joining.”

Alice: “That’s… Yeah, you’re right. I’d ask Pandora, but she’s never around the dorm enough for me to even have the chance to talk to her.”

Nina took another bite of her dessert as she racked her brain for answers.

Nina: “Oh! What about that friend that you and Gray went to middle school with?”

Alice: “Kieran? Honestly, we’d probably have better luck convincing Eliza. He’s smart and talented, but he wouldn’t be caught dead helping people out like we do. It’s just not who he is.”

Nina: “Ugh! This is too hard! Why is everyone we know either too busy or too standoffish?!”

Nina sulked as she took the last bite of her crème brûlée, which did not make things better. That was, until she finally thought of an answer.

Nina: “Oh! I know we just brought him up, but what about Gray? You said before that he’s pretty enthusiastic about Asterisms, so I can’t imagine a world where he wouldn’t be thrilled to join.”

Alice: “He is a huge dork when it comes to them, but…”

Nina: “...But?”

While it was clear something was on her mind, Alice quickly shook off whatever feeling she was experiencing.

Alice: “It’s nothing, don’t worry. He’s a pretty odd guy, but I know for a fact that he would give us his all. Besides, I’m pretty sure he’s read tons of stuff online on the Foundation’s website, so he can probably use a Spark Buster just fine.” (Not that he would even need it, but still…)

Nina: “Hehe… I guess it’s decided, then…”

With a confident smile on her face, Nina sat up and posed while Alice let out an embarrassed sigh. The entire restaurant looked at her and giggled to themselves.

Nina: “Just you wait, Gray! Get ready for a future with no stops and no breaks!”

Alice: “People are staring, Madame President.”

Nina: “E-Ehehe… My bad…”

✰✰✰

???: “So, let me get this straight… Not only did you, a civilian, intentionally involve yourself in an EXTREMELY dangerous Asterism-related mission, but you’re also a complete mystery on top of all that. Now then, Gray, do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Sitting at a long, circular table in a heavily windowed yet dimly lit room overlooking Estella City were two individuals. The clearly more nervous of the two was an androgynous teenage boy with medium-length brown hair and sky blue eyes. He wore a school uniform that appeared to be the male variant of what Nina and Alice were wearing earlier, with the addition of a tan cardigan instead of the usual sleeveless sweater. The more slightly annoyed of the two was a tall, sharply-dressed woman with darker blue eyes and long black hair that was tied in a high ponytail with a purple scrunchie. Despite clearly knowing that his interrogator wanted answers, the boy seemed distracted by something else entirely.

Sara: “...That’s not saying anything, y’know! What, are you thirsty or something? I got you water, and the good stuff too! Not that we have any other kind, but you get the point!”

Gray: “I-I mean, I guess I’m a little distracted? Today was super tiring, but… Ultra Omega Final Buster…”

Sara: “Hah? Sorry, you said that under your breath. Can you repeat yourself, real quick? Pretty please?”

Gray: “O-Oh, it’s nothing, my bad… Phantasmal Endless Fury…”

Sara: “...H-Hold on, those are attacks from Gungear, did you see the new episode too?!”

Suddenly, both Gray and Sara’s faces lit up at the exact same time.

Gray: “Ugh! It was so insane! I’m still not over that scene at the end with Fernal Fractal…”

Sara: “Hell yeah! Do you actually think they’re gonna redeem him?! Even after the Massacre of Aldis-Argovia?!”

Gray: “I really hope so… He’s such an awful person, but I can’t help but feel like he deserves a second chance after losing so much…”

Sara: “You do have a point… Agghhh! It’s just too good! W-Wait, we’re still getting the new movie this year, right?! If it got canceled, I might actually die!”

Gray: “I’m pretty sure! A new studio picked it up, so we might even be getting another one next year!”

Sara: “Y-You’re kidding?! I’m gonna die! I’m actually gonnaaaa die—!”

Suddenly, Sara halted her gushing and intentionally fake coughed, thus signaling that the conversation was over.

Sara: “Anyways, shall I start with the questions? I know this might seem like an interrogation, but I’m more or less just trying to get a read on you. Nina and Alice seem to put their faith in you, but I’m the type of gal who needs to see everything herself. So bear with me, okay?”

Gray: “N-No, I totally get it! Plus, it’s not every day that I get invited to the Foundation’s HQ. Sorry, what I’m trying to say is I’ll meet you halfway. No lies attached.”

Sara smiled and folded her hands together.

Sara: “Alrighty. For starters, how did you find out about the club originally?”

Gray: “Hm? Originally? What do you mean?”

Sara: “Alice mentioned before that she thought she saw you watching her and Nina fight off a Blazer in Harmony Park last week. Since this obviously happened before today’s events, can I assume you were already suspicious of the PRC and its activities?”

Gray laughed nervously and glanced to the side.

Gray: “I would probably say I was more curious than suspicious, but I doubt that matters if I’ve ended up here regardless. Well… Here, I’ll just paint you the full picture…”

✰✰✰

Gray: “So, now that we’re done with our errands, how about we go hang out at Flambey’s for a bit? They brought back their honey-infused milk, you know.”

???: “Mreow?”

In Harmony Park, a recreational garden located in the center of Estella City, Gray and his cat April could be seen taking a leisurely stroll. Despite clearly being a feline, April possessed unusually large, ringed yellow eyes and a maple leaf-shaped tail. Her meows also sounded a bit off, for some reason.

Gray: *sigh* “No, you cannot have four bowls. You can’t even drink that much milk anyway, so don’t even try to guilt-trip me.”

April: “Mreow…”

Gray: “Those baby-doll eyes won’t work on me, silly. Try them out on someone less used to your masterful tactics of manipulation— Uwaghh!”

Suddenly, Gray and April felt the ground shake as something exploded in the not-so-distance.

Gray: “W-What in the—?!”

April: “Mreow…?”

Gray: “N-No, I did not have extra spicy ramen last night! Crude jokes aside, we should probably go check things out!”

April: “Mreow!”

Gray: *sigh* “Sure, hop on!”

With April now perched on his shoulder, Gray arrived on the scene and immediately hid behind a conveniently large bush.

Gray: “Wait a minute, is that…?”

About twenty feet away, Nina and Alice could be seen standing face-to-face with a tall, three-eyed humanoid Asterism that was currently set ablaze. After summoning their weapons just like before with the Maskwalker, the girls engaged their enemy.

Gray: (Nina and Alice fighting a Blazer in a public park?) “And with Stasis Frames, too? Is this what they do every day when they leave school so early and abruptly? They’d have to be working with the Foundation, wouldn’t they?”

???: “Right on the mark, Greenhorn.”

Gray: “Huh?!”

Sitting beside Gray in the bush was a bespectacled woman who appeared to be in her early 30s. She possessed long yet unkept blonde hair and hazel eyes, donning casual clothes in addition to an oversized lab coat. While clearly calm despite apparently appearing out of thin air, the bags under her eyes made her appear far sleepier than she acted. A walking enigma, this one.

Gray: “U-Umm… Thank you? Sorry if this comes off a bit too blunt, but who are you?”

Bespectacled Researcher: “Oh, little ol’ me? I’m a researcher associated with the Axis Foundation, so don’t worry about me potentially stalking your friends or something. What about you, though? Are you a stalker? Nah, there’s no way, you’re way too pretty to be a stalker!”

Gray: “...T-Thanks again? I’m one of their friends from school, by the way. I just sort of… Stumbled here, I guess? No intentional stalking whatsoever!”

Bespectacled Researcher: “Hmmm… Yeah, I gotcha. My whole life has been a series of decisions driven solely by curiosity, so who am I to judge? Besides, that glimmer you have in your eyes tells me all I need to know about you.”

Gray tilted his head and smiled sheepishly.

Gray: “Somehow I think I know what you mean by that… It’s complicated, alright? I’d tell you the whole story, but now would kind of be an awkward time, wouldn’t it?”

Bespectacled Researcher: “Ooooh! That’s even better! I doubt I’d be this interested if it weren’t complicated. But enough of me for now, shall we enjoy the show?”

Gray: “Y-Yeah, might as well.” (I can’t tell if she’s crazy or some kind of philosopher… Both. It’s both.)

In the distance, Nina and Alice continued to battle the Blazer as it launched fireball after fireball in their direction. However, after gaining enough distance, Alice tossed a handful of blood in the enflamed Asterism’s face, solidifying and blocking its eyes that also acted as its heat vents. This caused the Blazer to unnaturally grow in size due to the internal pressure.

Alice: “You’re up, Nina! Blow it sky high!”

Nina: “On it!”

After charging both of her blasters, Nina let off an energy beam that launched the Blazer into the sky, causing it to explode in a blaze of glory seconds later.

Bespectacled Researcher: “See? Quite the show, wasn’t it?”

Gray: “Understatement of the millennium, but yeah…”

✰✰✰

Gray: “So yeah… That’s basically how it all went down.”

Sara: “Eccentric researcher, huh? Believe it or not, Gray, I’m like a hundred percent sure that was President Selinda that you were talking to.”

Gray: “H-Hold on, you mean the head of the Axis Foundation? What was someone so important doing hiding in a bush, anyway?”

Sara: “It’s just how she operates, really. She can be a real oddball at times, but I wouldn’t rather work for anyone else. What I’m trying to say is that despite her irregular way of doing things, she really is an amazing friend and a genuine genius on top of that. Not to mention her great judgment when it comes to people, which makes me even more curious about you.”

Gray laughed nervously and gently scratched his cheek with his index finger.

Gray: “I’m really nothing special, okay? You could find people like me all—”

Sara: “Sorry, buster, but I’ll be the judge of that. Which leads us to my second question: Who are you, Gray?”

Gray: “Who am I? Wait, do you just want me to tell you about myself? Like some kind of introduction?”

Sara: “Mhm! Exactamundo! I just want to get to know you better, that’s all. Consider this our ‘Government-mandated bonding’ or something like that.”

Gray laughed briefly to himself before glancing back over at Sara.

Gray: “Alright, give me your best shot.”

Sara: “So, what’s your home life like? And what about your hobbies?”

Gray: “Hmm… Well, I live with my mom and my adoptive sister in a small neighborhood in northeast Estella. Mom tends to be at work for the most part, so Noelle and I usually handle cooking and chores. In terms of hobbies… I guess I’m online a lot? Either playing games or watching long-form videos about really obscure topics. I also stargaze and bake, the latter I do almost daily. That’s about it, if I’m being honest.”

Sara: “Gotcha… W-Well… That’s almost it…”

Gray tilted his head yet again.

Gray: “Almost?” (N-Noelle, I swear, if you told her—!)

Sara: “You see, I ran into your sister on the way here and she kinda blabbed about something I assume you’d want to get private.”

Gray: (I knew it!) “L-Look, I know crossdressing and cosplay isn’t exactly something people my age do, but I just…”

Sara: “Hey.”

Sara’s voice was calm and comforting, to the point where all the erratic emotions filling the room immediately vanished.

Gray: “...Sorry.”

Sara: “It’s okay, I promise. While I obviously don’t condone your sister spilling such a big secret, I’m kinda glad she did? Usually, when boys wear more feminine clothes, they’re doing it for two reasons. One reason is that they enjoy wearing that kind of clothing, despite their gender, and the other is usually if… Y’know, dressing like that matches how they view themselves mentally. One is more of a hobby, and the other is a core part of someone’s gender identity. I just want to refer to you properly, the way you want to be viewed.”

The room was silent.

Sara: “S-Sorry, was that too much?”

Gray: “N-No, not at all! While I don’t exactly know how I feel fully, I guess you could say I fall more into the second category. But until I figure everything out, you can just refer to me as you’ve been, okay? I promise I don’t bite when it comes to stuff like this.”

Sara: "Phew, I’m glad that went well. I always get worried I’m gonna say the wrong thing or not bring up a good point… Y’know what I mean, right?”

Gray: “Hehe… You know, Sara, I think you should give yourself more credit. You’re still a youngster at heart when it comes to staying savvy.”

Sara shot Gray a deadpan look and pouted slightly.

Sara: “Watch it. I’m a youngster in both heart AND appearance, so don’t you forget it!”

After noticing that Gray was starting to crack up a bit, Sara also laughed to herself. However, their laughter was soon interrupted when the black-haired woman’s smartphone buzzed on the table.

Gray: “Go ahead, I don’t mind.”

As he watched Sara respond with almost childlike glee, Gray began to wonder just who exactly she was texting.

Gray: “Hmm… Is that your partner texting you? Maybe not, but you do seem pretty ecstatic.”

Sara: “Yeah, it’s my girlfriend. We met at a Gungear convention, and it’s been stars and hearts ever since. She’s been through a lot, so I try my best to always be there for her. It might be a bit selfish, but I always hope that she cares about me just as much as I care about her. That’s not too crazy, right?”

Gray: “...Sara?”

Sara: “...Yeah?” (Ack! I blabbed too much!)

Gray: “You’re pretty great, you know that?”

While initially shocked, a smug expression soon swept across the woman’s face.

Sara: “As much as I appreciate it, is this your way of apologizing for pretty much calling me old a minute ago?”

Gray: “W-When did I call you old—?!”

Sara: “Okay, onto the last question! As you already know, Gray, both Nina and Alice utilize Frames that take absolute advantage of their fighting style. Nina’s Twin-Ethers allow her to blast Asterisms at any range while also granting her extra mobility with its ‘Aerial’ mode. Alice’s Blood Moon, however, exists only because it was placed inside her during an operation. Nina’s still one hundred percent human, but Alice isn’t. She has become something entirely different, but have you as well?

Gray didn’t respond as he desperately thought of what he should say.

Sara: “...I wondered since your profile is blank in our database, but I guess VANADIS does make exceptions every once in a while. Those only exceptions being missing individuals and anyone who has undergone intense Stasis-related surgery. Exceptions like Alice… And you, right?”

After a bit more silence, Gray took a deep breath before looking over at Sara.

Gray: “Mhm. And me…”