[attr="class","likedo"]

[attr="class","likedo"]

''Right.. Back then. Yeah, we did.'' She smiled shyly, looked down at the ground as she brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. She was normally so composed in her every day life. Whether she was on patrol as a hero or counseling for UAU, she always tried to be a kind, yet composed person. It had worked well so far, but every time she was around Felix, something felt different, like she suddenly felt a lot more vulnerable, obsessing over every little thing. How was he doing? Did he sleep okay? Was he eating healthy, or skipping out and buying cheap instant ramen like her? It was embarrassing how much space he occupied in her mind. Would he find it creepy if she told him? Maybe it would make him angry, she was the one that left America after all.

He looked cute like that, reminiscing... Wait, was she staring?? ''Oh- you do?'' She blinked her eyes, swiftly trying to recover. ''I see he's as busy as ever, doing well too I presume? Otherwise he'd probably stop by my office more often.'' She teased with a little grin. To be honest she was relieved she didn't see Auden that much, not because she didn't want to speak to him, but because she only wanted the best for Felix's brother. Not seeing the student counselor surely meant Auden was doing just fine, right? She followed Felix, taking off her shoes as well before entering. ''Thank you.'' She looked at the glass and took a seat. ''We could. Are you hungry? I'm fine either way.'' She picked up her glass and took a sip. They could be talking about literally nothing for hours and she would still be having the best time of her life. Seeing him doing well, being invited home like this, it was more than she ever deserved for how she broke things off. The fact that she got to see him smile so often, at work or outside, meant the whole world to her. She was going to think back to this moment, sitting at his island table with a glass of water each over and over again later that night. It was easily the highlight of her week, if not month! ''It's a nice place you've got here. Lucked out on the location too.'' She looked around, taking in all the details of their interior. Which decorative touches where Auden's and which were Felix's? Did they have similar styles, or did they put their mark on the house in their own way?

Felix

''As always!'' She snickered, already feeling energized just by being by his side. Felix had that kind of air about him, as if he always brought out the best in her just by looking her way. As they took off, Sadako did notice how he was driving carefully, something she silently appreciated. Did he remember that she was a bit of a cautious person? It was funny, how little things changed between them and yet, here they were, several years older than when they first met. Her, still as hopelessly lovestruck as ever. Would it be too weird of her to pop the question tonight? Would she come across as desperate? She was the one that decided to end things and go home after all...

''A bit?'' She asked, pulling her own helmet off and taking a nice gulp of fresh air. ''That was fantastic! I can't remember the last time I've been on a motorcycle, I just commute everywhere these days. The last time was probably...'' She thought back to America and felt a faint blush coming on. ''W-Well a long time ago!'' She grinned, secretly hoping she would get the opportunity to hug him again later. ''So, this is your place? You're living big! If it's as nice inside as it looks outside, I'm glad we went to your place and not my little crammed apartment.'' She looked down at the helmet for a moment, before handing it to him. ''Uh, where do I put this? Just on your bike? Do we bring them inside?'' She smiled, holding the helmet up.

Felix

''I understand.'' Shirei's nerves were getting to her. No wonder she was getting nervous being caught essentially skirting the rules with two members of the school faculty present. Sadako wished she had noticed sooner, not just Airi's plight, but Shirei's too. Unfortunately she wasn't omnipotent, as much as she would wish that was her quirk. It would have made her job a whole lot easier. ''And I appreciate the way you have been trying to help your friend. It's clear that you had her best intentions in mind.'' Her smile was soft, but her tone turned more serious with her next words. ''However, the recovery and betterment of a patient's wellbeing is best left to professionals who can make sure they recover without hurting themselves, or others in the process.'' She glanced over at Hebiru briefly. This was her student intern after all.

''Shirei-san. I'm going to tell you what I think we should do next. Whether we do is up to Hebiru-sensei.'' She took a breath, her tone of voice softening once more. She wasn't a strict teacher after all. She was a guidance counselor, and while she needed to be firm with students on occasion, ultimately her job was to help them and make them feel safe around her. ''You're not in trouble. I appreciate your ambition, but it might have been a little outside of the scope of what your job here as intern entails. I think you have a good eye for the humanity trait, and you care for others. Which is exactly why I suggest you make an appointment with me. We do four sessions at first, one every two weeks, and then we go from there. However, you cannot continue to try to treat Airi. You can support her as a friend, but you must draw a clear line between work and your private friendship. Airi is in capable hands, Hebiru-sensei is looking after her, I'm looking after her. She's going to be okay.'' Sadako's decision could ultimately be chalked up to seeing Shirei as misguided. Someone who was still young and trying to improve herself, but either applying herself in the wrong way, or going about things a little too quickly. It was relatable, in a way. Sadako could see part of her younger self in Shirei.

''Now, whether any of this will happen,'' She looked to Hebiru, ''depends on Hebiru-sensei.'' She was under her watch and employment after all. It would be rude of Sadako to go around making decisions on Hebiru's intern.

Yanai Hebiru

She was moments away from texting her little sister Rin for advice. How embarrassing was that?? How the tables had turned.. Sadako had only ever been in love with one person and his name was Felix. She was capable of finding others attractive, sure, but even in all the years they were apart her heart never beat like that for someone else, almost as if she had put a lock on it. Knowing that it could only belong to him. She was foolish, naive, maybe immature? Any other woman her age would have moved on by now, wouldn’t they? So why was she so desperately clinging onto her attachment to him..

She smiled when she noticed him, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she ran up to meet him. “Hi Feli!” The fact that he still called her Saddy made her heart beat faster. There was something about the way he said it, as if hearing his voice say it made her feel like she mattered and was someone special in a sea of endless stars. “So adventurous! ~” she cooed, smiling right back as she put the helmet on. They were older than when they first met in America, but all the things she loved about him were still reflected in his eyes. He wasn’t just the same old Felix, he was somehow more handsome, more stunning and breathtaking than ever before. Hopping onto the bike she slipped her arms around his waist. “Lead the way, Felix!”

Felix

“That’ll be impossible.” She chuckled as Iphi nudged her with her elbow. Sadako blushed faintly at Iphi’s cheeky yup. Her crush on Felix had never been a secret. They had been dating before after all, and Sadako was full of regret when they first started uni. She didn’t remember how it happened, but she was pretty sure she got drunk one night when they were first getting to know each other. There she told Iphi her whole sob story and how she left the guy she loved, all the while still loving him. Things only started getting awkward years later when Felix came to Japan and started working at not only Ouros, but UAU too.

“So trueee..” she chimed in with a blissful sigh, only opening her eyes to suppress a giggle as Iphi launched into one of her encyclopaedic lectures. She could only imagine what having a mind like hers would be like and she had to admit, she was a little jealous of Iphi’s power. Not because she hated her own chains, no, but any lazy bones like herself could see the value in having an intellect that great. It probably would have made slacking off easier for her. Not Iphi though, nothing could make Iphi slack off. She admired that about her. A drive that could rival even the most fierce shonen protagonist. “Really? It’s that old?” She tilted her head, honestly surprised by this revelation. She grinned back at Iphi as she ‘snapped out of it’ and happily accepted her tea, blowing on the top of it.

“Rin? She’s great. We text multiple times a week, she’s been busy moving in at the dorms just like we did once.” She took a sip of her tea but still burnt her tongue a little. “Ow!” She murmured, putting her cup down gently. “She hasn’t been to my office for counselling. She also hasn’t been checked into the infirmary, I checked with Hebiru-san personally.” It was clear that Sadako cared, and was still a bit overprotective. It was hard not to be, she had grown up with Rin and knew how sensitive her sister was. To make matters worse they were pursuing the same career path, and Sadako knew all about how the world would try to make her feel bad for choosing this life, simply because she was a woman. It was something Sadako and most likely Iphi too had both had to persevere in the face of. Rin had a tough life ahead of her.

The movie featured a couple of famous actors, some of whom you saw the faces of everywhere, regardless of genre or movie. Of course Sadako even recognized the lesser known actors, being that her quest to scare Iphi had turned her into a bit of a movie buff. She felt a shiver travel up her spine as the spirit in the movie crawled out of a hole in the ceiling. Then, all she could hear was the tense music and the screams from her TV as she pulled the pillow up to cover her face. Was Iphi scared? She couldn’t help but sneak a quick peek.

Iphigenia Pavlina