Sky Gray Days✰ (2/2)

Earlier the same day, Gray could be seen walking through the halls of Gloria High’s third floor right before school was about to get out. As he stopped to check something on his smartphone, Nina and Alice quickly ran by him on their way out, prompting a nearby teacher to lightly scold them.

Nina: “See you tomorrow, Gray!”

Gray: “O-Oh, you too! Take care!”

Alice: “Try not to fall down any manholes on your way home, dork.”

Gray: “Come on, that was one time!”

As a brief sigh exited his mouth, Gray felt a familiar presence behind him that soon walked up and stood beside him. The girl possessed long, messy green hair and unique purple eyes that were as sharp as a knife. She wore a similar uniform to Nina's and Alice’s, but with the addition of a tan cardigan and a pair of black tights. While everyone around her eyed her anxiously, Gray glanced over at her like he would anyone else.

Green-Haired Girl: “There they go again, huh?”

Gray: “Seems like it. Full of reckless abandon as always.”

Green-Haired Girl: “Are you going to follow them this time?”

Gray: “Do you really think I should? I don’t want them to think I’m a stalker or something…”

The green-haired girl smiled and chuckled lightly.

Green-Haired Girl: “I think you’ll end up looking like a stalker regardless, so I say you should just go for it. I couldn’t care less about what those two do every day after class, but I think you should find out for certain if it’s really getting to you.”

After taking a deep breath, Gray started to run down the now-empty hallway in order to catch up with the girls.

Gray: “Thanks for always knowing what to say, Eliza! You’re a lifesaver!”

Eliza: “Just come back in one piece, alright? I’d rather not go to a funeral if I don’t have to.”

Gray: “Haha. What kind of edgy response is that? Anyways, take care!”

Eliza: “Bye-bye.”

With Gray now gone from sight, Eliza stood in the empty hallway as the afternoon sun shone through the building’s many windows.

Eliza: “Well, that’s about what I expected.” (You owe me forever, Nina…)

✰✰✰

Gray: (Surely this is enough distance, right? Ugh! This is way more stressful than I thought!)

As Nina and Alice walked down a nearby sidewalk, Gray could be seen hiding behind trash cans and signs to shield himself from sight. He was obviously doing this poorly, but they hadn’t caught on yet, so it’s fine.

Gray: (Now then, where are they headed? I doubt it’s somewhere easy to find, so I should definitely—)

???: “Gray?”

After slowly turning his head to the side in horror, Gray noticed a bespectacled girl with shoulder-length dark blue hair and silverish blue eyes to match. She was wearing Gloria’s girls' uniform, with the addition of replacing her sweater with a stylish black vest. While initially just confused, many different thoughts began to race through the girl’s head after noticing Nina and Alice in the distance.

Gray: “H-Hey, Emma. I know this looks really bad, but I promise I’m not doing anything creepy or weird. I just literally cannot go another day without knowing exactly what their club actually does. And I really want to help out. In fact, can you help me?”

Emma: (S-So sudden!) “I-I mean, I guess I could, but what Nina and Alice do can be pretty dangerous. I absolutely shouldn’t help you since they trusted me not to blab, but letting you go on your own would likely put you in even more danger, so I’ll come with.”

Gray: “I have a habit of handling myself in bad situations, but I’d still really appreciate it. Hope I’m not interrupting anything…”

Emma: “I was just finishing up shopping for painting supplies, but don’t worry…”

The blue-haired girl pushed up her glasses, causing them to reflect the sun’s light and make her look really cool.

Emma: (W-Why am I doing this?! Sara is going to kill me! Like, dead as physically possible!) “This mission is as good as finished! …We should really get some disguises, though.”

Gray: “Hmm… Lame tourists or angry bikers?”

Emma: “Definitely the former.”

After finding a nearby thrift store and each buying a pair of sunglasses and two ugly beach hats, Gray and Emma began to trail the girls as Alice peeked back at them from a distance.

Alice: (That dork, did he seriously convince Emma to help him track us?) “Hey, Nina, wanna race to the mission spot? Walking like this just isn’t getting me fired up enough, so…”

Nina: “Duh, of course we can! On your mark!”

And with that, the girls took off. Upon noticing, Gray and Emma attempted to catch up to them, but they were entirely unable to due to their comparatively pathetic stamina.

Emma: *pant* “D-Did Alice spot us? Maybe our disguises weren’t as good as I thought…”

Gray: *pant* “N-No, it’s not that. Alice is just freakishly perceptive, so it was only a matter of time… Huh?”

As he looked around, Gray noticed that the surrounding area was entirely still and grayscale. Everything was stopped in time, including Emma.

Gray: *sigh* “It's been a while, hasn’t it? Just a few days, but they’ve honestly felt like an eternity.”

???: “Heh. What, did you miss me?”

Standing in front of Gray was a humanoid figure cloaked almost entirely in shadows, all except for a pair of square glasses that shone brightly. Their voice was staticky and hard to make out at times, further adding to the mystery.

Gray: “Not exactly. As much as I appreciate your help, there’s still something about you that rubs me the wrong way.”

Bespectacled Shadow: “Fair enough, fair enough. Believe me, if the fate of our entire planet wasn’t resting on your and I’s shoulders, I’d be slacking off way more often.”

Gray: “There you go dropping another bombshell on me. Anyways, where do I need to go to find those two? You’re here to tell me, aren’t you?”

Bespectacled Shadow: “Sharp as always. Yeah, just take a right down that alley until you see a weird-looking manhole and— Oh, my bad, I forgot those are a sensitive topic for—”

Gray: “Aggghhhh! Don’t even think about it! See you never!”

Seconds later, time returned to normal. After Gray explained that he “had a hunch” about a secret manhole to Emma, the duo walked down the dark alley and found what they were looking for.

Emma: “...D-Do we seriously have to go down there?”

Gray: “I hate it too, but I’m about ninety-nine percent sure this is where they went. Here, I’ll give it a shot…”

However, due to his somewhat dainty constitution, Gray was unable to move the manhole in the slightest.

Gray: *pant* “Y-Yeah, it’s completely stuck.”

Emma: “Actually, I think I have the perfect solution…”

After taking out a light blue and white trinket from her pocket, Emma summoned a singular blaster whose mere existence made the surrounding area colder. Upon firing its beam at the manhole, it quickly broke into pieces, granting the duo a way downward.

Gray: “Woah… As cool as that was, I think you’re too sweet to have such a cold weapon, Emma.” (Aghhh! That sounded way too much like a pickup line!)

Emma: “A-Ahaha. For the sake of my nerves, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.” (That was absolutely a pickup line!)

✰✰✰

Not long after they started climbing down the ladder, Gray and Emma found themselves inside a small, dimly lit metallic room. And after a nearby light switch was turned on, it became clear where they had arrived.

Emma: “Is this place… What I think it is?”

Gray: “During the last years that the Void Research Program was still operational, several scientists opted to build their laboratories underneath the city to avoid investigation. This caused a whole mess of issues, but for one reason or another, the city just sealed the labs off and called it a day. That is how this place came to be, the Lost Otherside.”

Emma: “Hehe. That’s a surprise, I didn’t expect an answer that good. You really are above the ordinary, Gray.”

Gray smiled sheepishly as he looked around the abandoned room.

Gray: “I wouldn’t say that, but thanks regardless. Now, there has to be another entrance somewhere— Uwaghhh!”

Emma: “W-What’s wrong?!”

Gray: “N-Nothing! Just got startled by a little something, that’s all.”

After walking over to where Gray was standing, Emma noticed a humanoid robot hanging from wires on the wall. It was seemingly broken beyond repair.

Emma: “I wondered if we were going to see any Hollow Shells. This play may still have power, but it clearly met its expiration date. I can’t sense a single Stasis Particle inside it. Same with you, actually.”

Gray: “Aw, really? None at all? Not even a little sprinkle of salt worth?” (I mean, that does make sense considering everything…)

Emma: “Hehe. See? Above the ordinary.”

Gray: “H-Honestly, I think you spoil me more than I deserve. Anyways, I’m pretty sure that machine over there is an elevator. It’s still lit up, meaning Nina and Alice likely went that way.”

The duo turned and looked at the elevator, readying themselves for what they might find at the bottom.

Emma: “Let’s go give them a hand, shall we?”

Gray: “Yeah, let’s.”

After firing up the elevator, Gray and Emma stood idly as the machine slowly but surely descended. Outside of the glass was a chasm that seemed to stretch for miles and miles, sunlight leaking out of its cracks.

Gray: “...How in the world does Estella City not collapse with all this underneath it?”

Emma: “They likely use stabilizing pillars since they aren’t hard to build. Doesn’t make it any less creepy, though…”

Gray: “Yeah, for sure…”

There was a good thirty seconds where no words passed between the duo.

Emma: “How did you find out? About the club, I mean.”

Gray: “I always kind of wondered, but watching them in action last week basically confirmed it for me. I kinda knew something was up at that point.”

Emma: “That’s more than fair. I love those two to death, but they aren’t exactly the type to do things discreetly… Or even quietly, for that matter.”

Gray: “Haha. Fair point, but I’m glad they take pride in what they do… Which begs the question, what exactly do they do, Emma? What is the ‘PRC’, anyway?”

While initially somewhat hesitant, Emma spoke.

Emma: “Last year, President Selinda approached the girls and offered them the chance of a lifetime. They would be a team, an unrivaled duo that would take on Asterism-related missions that were either too short or too overwhelming for anyone else to deal with. And after an entire summer of grueling yet memorable training, the girls became what you see today, model Adepts that appear to be able to handle just about anything. However, they’re both still human… And normal teenage girls at that. I’d love to help them out, but it just… Wouldn’t work, sadly. But yeah, that’s what the PRC is, Gray. It’s Nina, Alice, and all the heart they put into what they do.”

Stunned at first, Gray soon glanced over at Emma and smiled.

Gray: “Thanks for not leaving me in the dark, it really means a lot. Also, when you said that it wouldn’t work to help them out, is that because you’re also part of the Foundation?”

Emma: (W-Why is he so perceptive?!) “Y-Yeah, I’m a junior agent, actually. I’m not quite as strong as either of the girls, but we were all trained by the same amazing lady.”

Gray: “Huh? That’s nice. What’s she like, anyway?”

Emma: “Oh, Sara? She’s a huge softie, trust me. She may act all tough and intimidating, but deep down, she’s about as kind as they come. I don’t know what you plan on doing after today, but if you want to help Nina and Alice long-term, you’ll have to get Sara’s approval.”

Gray: “Y-Yeah, got it.” (Surely there won’t be an interview, right?)

After finally reaching the bottom, Gray and Emma stepped out of the elevator and looked around. The surrounding area appeared to be a mix of both an older facility and the chasm they saw on their way down.

Gray: “Hmm… they should be around here somewhere, shouldn’t they?”

Emma: “The elevator was already turned on, so I can’t imagine where else they would have—”

???: *pant* “Gray…? Emma…?”

About twenty feet away from the Gray and Emma was Nina, who had just taken a sharp turn around a nearby corner.

Emma: “See? I knew we were on the right track!”

Gray: “Where’s Alice? Did you two—”

Nina: “W-What are you guys doing here?! Run—!”

Suddenly, a massive shockwave struck where Nina was standing, causing her to retreat to where Gray and Emma were standing. As the dust settled, their assailant revealed itself. An animated suit of dulled silver armor, its eyes, cape, and body surging with an overwhelming azure glow. Its blade seemed to demolish everything it came into contact with, even bending the air around it to its will. After making eye contact with the knight, Gray’s head began to throb as he held it.

Nina: “G-Gray, are you—”

Gray: “I-I’m alright, I promise. In any case, what on earth is that thing? It’s not an Asterism, is it?”

Nina: “You’re right, it’s not. Most Asterisms have a certain feel to them that grows stronger when they’re angry or startled. But this knight… it isn’t like that at all. Every inch of it is burning and raging like a soul set ablaze. I’ve never seen anything like it, not even close.”

Everyone was silent as the stalemate with the knight continued.

Emma: “M-Maybe we can try the elevator? It wouldn’t hurt to—”

In an instant, the knight launched a blade of wind in Gray and company’s direction, forcing them to duck under it. And while everyone remained unharmed, the elevator was entirely cleaved into pieces.

Nina: “Aghh! What is your deal?! Only stupid jerks destroy exits, y’know!”

Gray: (She’s way more fired up than I thought…)

The stalemate continued as the knight eyed the trio wearily.

Gray: “...Alice is safe, isn’t she?”

Nina: “We got separated a bit ago, but I doubt she’ll run into anything she can’t handle. To be honest, we’re likely way worse off than she is.”

Emma: “Nina… Is there even any point to trying to fight that thing?”

Nina: “Nope, not even a little bit. Alice and I combined could only scratch its armor a bit, let alone deal meaningful damage.”

Gray: “Then…”

Suddenly, the knight let out a resounding roar that caused several Helravens and cycloptic, cloaked Asterisms called Stalkers to its aid.

Gray: “...What’s the game plan?”

For a moment, Gray’s voice echoed inside Nina’s mind as they both stood beside one another. Without even realizing it, he had arrived exactly where she wanted him to be. By her side.

Nina: (Jeez… Looks like you didn’t have to do any recruiting after all, Nina. He wouldn’t be here unless he wanted to, after all.) “Hehe. The plan?”

After throwing up both dice and summoning her twin blasters, Nina’s weapons began to orbit around the trio before transforming into two jetpack thrusters, one attaching to Nina’s back and the other to Emma’s.

Nina: “We’re blasting out of here, full throttle!”

Gray: “Uwaghhh!?”

As Emma began to fly away, Nina quickly picked up Gray in a bridal carry and followed suit. In response, the knight and other Asterisms began to follow in hot pursuit.

Emma: (Alright, Emma, time to stand your ground! Even if there isn’t any ground to stand on!)

Due to Nina giving up her weapons for mobility, Emma took it upon herself to use her frost blaster to fend off the approaching threat.

Gray: “She really doesn’t give herself enough credit, does she?”

Nina: “She definitely doesn’t, but don’t try to change the topic, silly. As awesome as it is to have you here, I would’ve preferred you just ask me directly if you wanted to help out. I was going to ask if you wanted to join anyway, y’know.”

Gray: “T-That’s so unfair! How was I supposed to know that?”

Nina: “Hehe. What, you can’t read minds?”

Gray: “O-Obviously not! Also, I could have just held on to your back while we escaped. I feel like some kind of hopeless damsel in this position…”

Nina tilted her head slightly.

Nina: “And what’s wrong with that? You’re totally pretty enough to pull it off. In fact, for the sake of my focus, I’ll have to block out that mental image for now…”

Gray: “R-Right.” (Did she seriously just say that?!)

Nina: “Also, on the topic of making it up to me for sneaking around, how about we go clothes shopping someday soon? Emma’s always busy after class nowadays, and Alice couldn't care less about buying new clothes, so I’ve been in desperate need of a new shopping buddy.”

Gray: “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind at all. I can’t say I have an acquired taste for that kind of thing, but I’ll try my best.”

???: “Honestly, there you guys are!”

After smashing several Asterisms away, Alice joined up with Gray and the others, a small pair of crimson bat wings sticking out of her shoulder blades.

Nina: “See? I knew she’d be okay!”

Gray: “F-Forget that, how are you flying?!

Emma: “W-Wouldn’t that be super painful?”

Alice: “Eh, not really. It’s a bit awkward to do, though, so I doubt I’ll use this technique again unless I have to. Also, dork, what the hell are you doing here? I knew I saw you and Emma earlier, but I tried to convince myself you wouldn’t be that stupid.”

Gray laughed nervously and glanced to the side.

Alice: “Yeah, you’re that stupid.”

Gray: “Aghh! Let’s just get out of here!”

Nina: “One one-way ticket back to the surface, coming right up!”

And with that, the quartet began to fly upward to escape back to the city. In a fit of rage, the knight devoured two Helravens, allowing it to grow a pair of wings and begin their pursuit.

Emma: “I-It can do that?! How is that even remotely fair?!”

Alice: “Regardless, it looks like we’re gonna have to blow through the top. I really hate dirt, but I can’t imagine any other options.” (Unless…)

Nina: “I doubt we currently have the firepower for that either, but still…”

Gray: “...Nina, let go of me when we get close to the top.”

After initially thinking she just misheard him, an expression of utter shock and confusion swept across the girl's face.

Nina: “D-Drop you?! A-Are you crazy?! I thought you were supposed to be all level-headed and reasonable!”

Gray: “Just trust me! I promise I’ll be fine!”

Upon glancing back at Alice, Nina received a quick yet reassuring nod.

Nina: “Aaahhh! Okay, I’ll do it! You better not get hurt, though, got it?!”

Upon getting extremely close to the chasm’s ceiling, Nina flung Gray upward, launching him into the air. As he floated mid-air, something that the bespectacled shadow had said before flashed through his mind.

Bespectacled Shadow: “If the time comes that you need to let that fire inside of you loose, just know that you’ll never be able to return to how things were before. Your life, your friends’ lives, and so many others will be altered forever. The moment you accept the power that’s been gifted to you is the moment you stop being human for good. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Beyond the horizon, the many stars of Vega will burn through the night sky.

Gray: (Honestly, where do they get off saying something like that?) “As if any of the emotions I’m feeling right now are non-human… Only I can decide what I am! No one else!”

With both of his eyes now glowing a similar azure to the knight’s, Gray pointed his hand upward and released a huge amount of energy, launching a massive beam that blew an even larger hole through the chasm’s ceiling. While everyone, including the knight, watched in awe, Alice smiled proudly before picking up Emma and escaping, also returning Nina’s other Ether back to its owner. After only a few seconds of freefall, Nina grabbed Gray and flew inside a nearby broken sewage gate. Despite them both breathing heavily, the knight was unable to find them and promptly gave up the chase at last.

Nina: “Phew… I guess that’s mission accomplished, for now at least.

Gray: *pant* “I’m really sorry about all this, Nina. You’re right, I should’ve just asked you directly instead of avoiding everything like I always do. None of this would’ve happened if I just—”

Suddenly, Gray’s words were cut off by a warm sensation spreading through his body. Nina’s embrace was more than enough to make the chaos of the previous encounter fade into the background.

Gray: “...I’m sorry.”

Nina: “Silly, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m just… Really glad you’re okay. Just tell me if you need anything from now on, kk? I’m always here for you.”

Gray smiled warmly and hugged her back.

Gray: “Still, you can be a little mad. I was acting pretty stupid, after all.”

Nina: “Hehe. Maybe so, but I promise it’s fine. Y’know, I’d much rather you tell me about that Frame of yours. You’re just like Alice, though, right? Where your Frame is something inside of you as opposed to just being a cool weapon?”

Gray: “Pretty much, yeah. It’s way weirder than even Alice’s situation, like, almost crazily so. Here…”

Gray stood up and offered Nina his hand, and she took him up on the offer a second later.

Gray: “I’ll tell you the whole story while we look for the exit, sound good?”

Nina: “Aww, story time with no popcorn?”

Gray: “Nooo… That does sound really good, though.”

With Gray’s smartphone flashlight and the surface light to guide them, the duo walked as they looked for a nearby exit out of the sewer.

Nina: “An accident, huh?”

Gray: “Mhm, and a pretty nasty one at that. Two years ago, someone was about to get hit by a delivery truck, and I pushed her to the side and, well, you can piece together the rest. Mom, my sister, and pretty much everyone else thought I wasn’t going to make it. However, by some miracle, a mysterious professor who used to be a part of the VRP performed what the other doctors referred to as a “miracle surgery” on me. I don’t know exactly what he did, but it had to have been something with my heart, since it hasn’t beat since.”

Nina was silent.

Gray: “It’s funny, really, no heartbeat? Am I even alive at that point—”

Nina: “Gray.”

Gray: “...Sorry, I didn’t mean to word that so depressingly.”

Nina: “It’s fine, but you shouldn’t talk about yourself that way. I can promise you one thing, the girl whom you saved that day… She would never want you to feel that way. You’re just as alive as everyone else, I promise.”

While initially shocked, a sheepish smile swept across Gray’s face.

Gray: “R-Right, you’re totally right.” (Aghh! I knew I got too gloomy! I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so serious…)

✰✰✰

After finding another manhole, Gray and Nina made it back to the surface at last. It was still perfectly light out, for the most part.

Nina: “Wooo! Finally, some fresh air!”

Gray: “Looks like we’re in another alley. Honestly, did the VRP really have to be this secretive? I know they did some genuinely terrible things, but all these underground tunnels just feel so overboard.”

Nina: “Those wackos definitely had some kind of subterranean infrastructure fetish, that’s for sure. Also, Gray, how exactly does your Frame work? Like, in general.”

Gray: “It’s pretty finicky, to be honest. I’ve only ever used it one other time before today, but using it in small bursts tends to help with my energy output. I get awful nosebleeds if I use it too much, like, I don’t know how I didn’t get one from today’s blast.”

Nina giggled and smiled over at Gray mischievously.

Nina: “Hehe… I don’t know why, but that’s really cute to me. I could carry you all I want if you were incapacitated like that…”

Gray: “P-Please don’t go all sadistic on me, okay?”

???: “Well, well. Look what the metaphorical cat dragged in!”

Initially standing in the shadows, the speaker soon revealed himself. He was a young man slightly taller than Gray who possessed dark brown hair and reddish hazel eyes similar to Alice’s. He was sharply dressed and donned a crimson scarf that draped behind him. On the boy’s shoulder was a smaller, purpler Helraven with an even more terrifying glare.

Nina: *sigh* “Really? Of all the times to show up, Mika.”

Gray: “Mika? Do you know him, Nina?”

Nina: “His name is Mikael Ravenkov. He’s a former agent of Nova Works, which are basically the Foundation’s shady rivals. I don’t exactly know what he gets up to now, but I doubt it’s anything good.”

Gray: (Shady rivals? Isn’t that a bit cliche?)

Mikael: “Nina, you wound me! Regardless of my past, I am simply an antagonist making my presence known… Oh, who’s the new guy?”

Mikael glanced over at Gray, causing the atmosphere to skyrocket to levels of awkwardness once thought impossible.

Gray: “O-Oh… I’m Gray, if you were wondering. Sorry for the super weird first impression, I actually shouldn’t even be here… B-But your bird is really cute! I’ve never known anyone with an Asterism as a pet, so that’s a first.”

Mikael: “Edgar is pretty great, so thanks for mentioning— Wait, don’t change the subject! I’m here for a reason, after all! Come forth, Kaiju Shell!”

After hearing a mechanical roar above them, Nina and Gray came face-to-face with a crocodile-like white robot.

Gray: “Wh-Wha…”

Nina: “Let me guess, you stole this from the Foundation or HallCo, didn’t you?”

Mikael: “The latter, but close enough! That geezer Hallman’s been out of town lately, so I took the golden opportunity to snatch this new prototype. Its AI is way too aggressive, but I’m sure it’ll calm down after some trial and error. You two are the trial and error, by the way. Anyways, bye-bye for now! Try not to get torn to pieces!”

Nina: “Hey, get back—”

However, the mechanical crocodile barred Nina’s path as Mikael briskly strolled away.

Gray: “You know, believe it or not, I’m pretty sure I have enough energy for one last attack. I’d obviously need some help, but it’s not like I’m out of luck on that front, am I?”

Nina: “Hehe. Yeah! Let’s wrap this crazy day of ours up, partner!”

Gray: (I guess I really did end up getting recruited, huh?) “On your mark!”

As the Kaiju Shell prepared a laser blast from the cannon inside of its mouth, Gray began to siphon the remainder of his energy while Nina charged both of her Ethers.

Nina: “Y’know, the rest of the way forward will likely be infinitely more insane than today. As much as I’d love to have you with Alice and me, I don’t—”

Gray: “I’m right where I want to be, promise. Besides, you can only live day-to-day for so long before you stumble upon something new. I doubt I’d ever be able to face myself if I didn’t take advantage of this moment. Basically, I’m here to stay. If you’ll have me, of course.”

Glancing over, Gray noticed that Nina was tearing up slightly despite keeping her somewhat dazed expression.

Gray: “N-Nina?”

Nina: “Hm? Oh! Sorry, was totally thinking about something else for a sec! So, ready to let it loose?”

Gray: “Ready as I’ll ever be!”

At the same time that the Kaiju Shell fired its beam, Gray and Nina both let out a battle cry before letting their’s go as well. While they clashed for a second, the duo’s blast soon overtook the Shell’s, knocking it back into Mikael, who was still taking his sweet time.

Mikael: “C-COME ON!! ALREADY?!?!”

Nina: “And don’t. Come. Back!”

And with that, the mechanical crocodile, the meddlesome boy, and his mysterious pet were launched into the distant skies.

Gray: “What an odd guy. Well, I guess that’s one problem taken care of for now.”

Nina: “Ah! G-Gray, your nose is bleeding a bit.”

Gray: “No worries, this isn’t even a bad one—”

Suddenly, Gray felt Nina embrace him yet again.

Nina: “...This is fine, right? I’m not being too assertive, am I?”

Gray: “Y-You’re fine. It just shocked me a bit, that’s all.”

???: “What, are we interrupting something, lovebirds?”

As Gray and Nina quickly turned around, they noticed Alice and Emma standing outside the alleyway, the former donning a smug grin while the latter looking away bashfully.

Gray: “Y-You guys?”

Nina: “Ugh! Jeez, you two, way to make me feel like some kind of pushy social butterfly!”

Alice: “Just because you read eroge inside a blanket tent in your free time doesn’t mean you aren’t either of those things. Now, wanna go get some food? Emma won’t admit it, but she’s definitely starving.”

Emma: “Bad wording! I’m not that hungry!”

After smiling at one another, Gray and Nina joined the others as they walked to their new destination.

Gray: “Now that I think about it, I really don’t know what that knight’s deal was.”

Alice: “Eh, I’ve more or less accepted that some things solely exist to give Nina and me more work.”

Emma: “Regardless, I’m just glad it’s gone for now.” *rumble*

Alice: “See? I knew you were starving!”

Nina: “Four extra stacked orders of pancakes, coming right up!”

Gray: “J-Just a normal stack will do, actually.”

Alice: “Says the killjoy of all time.”

Gray: (Says the person who’s afraid of cucumbers.)

Alice: (He better not be thinking what I think he’s thinking…)

✰✰✰

Gray: “There, that’s everything.”

Sara twiddled her pen before smiling satisfyingly.

Sara: “As mundane as your life may seem, Gray, I doubt I’d ever run into someone even remotely like you for the rest of my life. So, you wanna join? The club, I mean.”

Gray: “...More than anything. I promise I won’t be a burden either. I’ll carry my own weight and—”

Sara: “I already know, silly. Go tell them, okay? I can’t imagine the anticipation Nina must be feeling right now.

Gray smiled warmly and dashed out of the large meeting room.

Sara: “Well, Prez, looks like you hit the nail right on yet again.” (We still need to talk about you sneaking off and hiding in bushes instead of doing paperwork, though.)

After exiting the meeting room, Gray was immediately met with Nina’s anxious face and Alice’s, which was significantly less anxious. However, a simple smile was enough to give them the news. As both girls and Gray hugged one another and laughed, the former noticed the bespectacled shadow walk away, glance back at him, and then disappear into thin air.

And with that, reality’s farewell has begun.