Meet her in the Bathroom

The days were getting shorter and greyer. Outside the window, the trees were covered in white. Most classrooms were empty as many students returned home for the holidays.

Charlotte was about to rush out of the classroom, but Zoe stopped her by the collar.

“Waah!” She cried. “What was that for?”

“We still have to clean the bathrooms, remember?”

“What? But it’s holidays.”

She started complaining like a child.

“We’ve been doing it for months. Come on, one more day.”

“Alright, alright.” She accepted reluctantly.

They left their belongings in the classroom, except for Bastion. Charlotte was carrying Bastion on her back.

“Don’t you want to leave that?” Zoe asked, pointing at the staff.

“No, I can’t leave him alone.”

They reached the first floor, where Alysia and the prince were already waiting.

“We apologize for the delay.”

“There's no need to worry. I’m actually glad to see both of you doing better.”

“Thank you.”

Zoe simply smiled.

“Let’s do it as always—”

“No,” Alysia said without looking at them. “This time I want to work with Charlotte.”
The three of them looked at each other.

“What are you planning, Lens?"

Zoe stood in front of her.

Alysia didn’t let herself be intimidated. She looked her straight in the eyes.

“As overprotective as ever. Careful, Hufgens, you might become a nuisance.”

Zoe clicked her tongue.

“It’s alright, Zoe.”

“But Charlotte—”

“I also need to talk with her.”

Zoe sighed and didn’t say anything else.

“It’s decided then. Good luck to everyone.”

Each pair put up a sign to keep people from entering. They brought with them various cleaning supplies to complete the punishment they had been assigned months earlier.

The two of them were cleaning in near silence. The only sounds were the rustling of the wet rags and the scraping of the brooms.

Charlotte was watching Alysia out of the corner of her eye. Wanting to break the ice, Charlotte took a deep breath.

“How did the other exams go?” Charlotte finally spoke.

“Great.”

“Happy to hear it.”

Charlotte felt like she was going to die of embarrassment, but she held back her inner screams and kept cleaning.

“Is it true what you said? Is there a chance to bring him back?“ Alysia asked, as she continued cleaning.

“To be honest...” she said, sighing. “I don’t really know…”

“I thought so.”

She had her back turned, and Charlotte couldn’t see her face.

“I understand what you’re feeling.”

“Understand? Why would you care…”

Both of them stopped cleaning,

“You’ve been through a lot, haven't you? I’m sorry.”

Alysia raised her arm to her eyes, hiding them.

“It’s alright… You don’t have to hold it in.”

“I couldn’t even say goodbye to him…” Her voice cracked.

Charlotte listened to her carefully.

“I-I… Can’t g-go on…”

Charlotte felt a heaviness in her heart. Her mouth opened, but no word came out. She was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

For a moment, she saw Bastión leaning against the wall. She rushed towards him, took him, and gently approached Alysia.

“Miss Alysia?”

“L-leave me alone.”

Alysia lowered her head, trying to cover her tears.

“Someone has something to say to you.”
“What?”

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her anxiety and held Bastion up to her ear.

“Alysia… I’m Bastion.”

Charlotte was speaking on his behalf.

“What are you doing?”

She ignored Alysia and continued repeating what he was saying. “You know I was never good with words…”

“Then stop…”

“I can’t…” She paused. “Not until…”

Charlotte waited for his words.

“Until you smile as you used to.”

“Just stop!”

Charlotte kept listening closely to what Bastion was saying.

“You've always been very distrustful…” Charlotte repeated it word for word. 

“Shut up!”

“Do you remember the accident on the river?”

Alysia finally turned around. Her eyes were filled with a sea of tears.

“How do you know that?”

“Finally caught your attention.” She repeated.

Her rapid breathing prevented her from saying a single word.

“Everything is fine.”
“N-no, it’s not.”

They went silent for a few seconds.

“You’re right, today is not. We’ll have to see tomorrow.”

Alysia approached them.

“What about you?”

“I’m right here.”

Charlotte paused.

“Even if you can’t hear me.”

Alysia, who had been carrying such a heavy burden, fell to her knees and wept uncontrollably. She wasn’t covering her face anymore, couldn't stop sobbing, and the tears were streaming down her face like a waterfall.

Charlotte fell to her knees beside her and, on impulse, hugged her. Alysia, without saying anything, accepted the hug.

Now calmer, Alysia wiped the tears from her face with the paper Charlotte offered her.

“So he’s in there,” she asked Charlotte directly.

“Yes.”

“Do you think there’s a minimum chance?”

She kept her head down.

“I’m not sure…” She hesitated. “But maybe it’s possible.”

“And you’re the only one who can communicate with him?”

“I think so.”

“I see.”

She was sitting hunched over, hugging her knees, and hiding her head in them.

“I’m sorry…for everything. I was an idiot…”

Charlotte looked at her out of the corner of her eye. She seemed like a completely different person to her, as defenseless as an animal trying to protect itself.

“I have an idea.”

“Eh?”

She took Alysia by the hand and lifted her off the floor.

“I want you to have him.”

With both hands, she offered her the staff.

“What are you doing, Charlotte?” Bastion stepped in.

“Maybe you weren't meant for me…” she said, looking at the staff. 

“But—” Alysia tried to argue. 

“It's a Magica staff. You use one to channel Magica, don't you?”

Alysia was speechless.

“Besides, he’s more important for you.”

Trembling, she accepted the staff, and a bright flash blinded them both. When she opened her eyes, the staff was no longer just a simple stick with roots.

It now had blue details like water, and the tip featured a strange ornament of the same color, along with an eye symbol in that same spot.

Alysia felt a warm light enveloping her. For a second, all her worries vanished, and her tears dried up.

“Are you sure about this, Charlotte?” asked Bastion.

“Yes…”

“Could you help me talk to him sometimes?”

Alysia blushed.

“Of course.”

A huge smile spread across Charlotte’s face.

Zoe and Arthur had already finished cleaning their respective bathrooms. They stayed outside and happened to witness the scene.

“It looks like they figured it out.”

The prince peered out cautiously.

“I never imagined I'd see her like that.”

“Neither did I. Maybe you can see her with other eyes, Miss Zoe.”

Zoe was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

“Maybe… It’s just…”

“I understand your feelings. You care a lot about Miss Charlotte.”

Arthur leaned against the same wall and stared intently at the ceiling.

“I do… But I can't help but feel sorry for Miss Lens…”

There was a certain melancholy in her voice.

“I'm glad to hear that. Many members of the nobility look down on others.”

“I know, and I hated it.”

Arthur turned to look at her with a gentle smile.

“So that makes two of us.”

“The best thing to do is to help them clean up what's left.”

Once inside, they offered to help them. Alysia kept her head down, trying to hide her reddened eyes. Without saying another word, the four of them set about cleaning the bathroom. Despite the silence, the atmosphere felt lighter and even warmer.

“I guess I owe you an apology too.”

At one point, Alysia and Zoe ran into each other.

“There’s no need to—”

“I’m sorry.”

Zoe paused to think for a few seconds.

“I can't forget what you did, but it's a good start, Lens.”

“I agree, Hufgens.”



The sky had cleared, and the moon was peeking out from behind the clouds. The temperature kept dropping.

“So, you managed to solve things with Miss Lens.”

“For the moment, I did.”

Charlotte and Zoe were walking down the hallways.

“I’m glad for you. You even hugged her, unlike me,” she said sarcastically.

“Wait, are you jealous?”

“Of course not.”

“Okay, here it goes.”

Charlotte gave her a big hug from behind.

“No matter what, you’ll always be my best friend.”

“Alright, alright, now let’s go have dinner.”