Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Damian Desmond is a jealous guy.

Usually, it was about his father and older brother, as he always craved recognition from his father. He didn't want to be lose from his own older brother. However, after three months of studying at Eden College, he often felt jealous of some of the other male students, simply because they were close to someone he secretly liked, on several occasions.

Of course, it's none other than Anya Forger, the girl who caught his attention in the Entrance Ceremony, only for him to get a punch from her because of his own behavior that made the pink haired girl annoyed. Somehow, even though they were often bickering at each other just because of her status as a commoner, Damian couldn't help but feeling something different from her. He secretly had a crush on her, and he didn't want to see her getting along with any other boys at school, including his own friends.

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It was started when they were still in the first grade of Eden College. On the day they were back to school after the bus hijacking incident, some of their classmates from Cecile Hall and some fellow first graders from Wald Hall approached Anya and praised her because of her bravery at the incident, which somehow made Damian upset. Becky teased him and pointed out that he was jealous, but then he denied and told everyone there that Anya wasn't really that great as she just asked for more rations to the terrorists. He then made her cry with a few curses' words, but when he saw her crying, he then apologized and promised to her to buy some sweets.

However, his jealousy didn't end there, because right after that, as Damian said some insulting excuse for his apology which made him and Anya bickering at each other while the other students left them to their classroom, someone else who was a year older than them arrived there and walked to them.

"Hey, why are you both still here right now? The first period has started, right?" asked the older boy before he recognized Anya. "Wait a minute. Is that you, Anya?"

"Eh? Wha- Ah, the pool boy!" exclaimed Anya before smiling at the blonde boy. "Anya doesn't know that you also study here."

"No wonder, because I just recently started school again, after my leg healed." The boy smiled back. "Also, my name isn't pool boy. It's Ken."

"Oh, Anya remembers that the nurse called you Ken," said Anya enthusiastically. "Is Ken a first grader like Anya and Jinan?"

Ken shook his head, "I'm a second grader, from Rose Hall."

"Oh, and by the way…"

"By the way, are you also late like us?" Damian cut what Anya said. "No, you even just arrive here."

"Well, my parents already called the teachers and told them that I probably would be late today," replied Ken. "Now, why are you both still here?"

"Wait, are we late? But the others are…" Anya couldn't continue what she said as she just realized that the others already left her and Damian there. She couldn't help but shouted and started to run, "No! Anya needs to go to the class before the teacher realizes that she's late!"

"See you later, Anya! Be careful!" said Ken to the running girl.

"So, you're the one who was rescued by the Stubby Legs, right?" Damian crossed his arms as he glared at the older boy. "The one who made her get her first Stella Star."

"Stubby Legs? Are you referring to Anya?" asked Ken back. "More importantly, don't you want to go to your class?"

"I'll go now," said Damian as his hazel eyes were still staring at Ken sharply for a few minutes until he followed Anya to their classroom.

'What a strange boy. Is he Anya's classmate?' Ken thought. 'Are they best friends? It seems like, they call each other with special nicknames… Is he jealous?'

Finally, he shrugged before walked to his own class.

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Not so long after that, he was jealous with his own friend, Ewen Egeburg, only because he was joining her to play a paper rocket.

As Anya and Ewen shared their appreciation for 'the romance of space', Damian mumbled, "Hmph, all space exploration is spearheaded by the government. When I'm a politician, I'll make it so people can take trips to the moon whenever they want…"

Damian's voice was too soft when he said it, so of course, Anya and Ewen couldn't hear what he said. Becky even pointed it out by saying, "You better speak up if you want her to hear you."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Blackbell?" Damian denied. "I just want to tell my future plan to Ewen."

"Really? But you seem so irritated to see him play with Anya-chan," teased Becky. "Just admit it, Damian. You're jealous of them."

"J-Jealous? I'm not jealous!"

"Whatever, Damian. You're clearly jealous." Becky rolled her eyes. "I can see it from your eyes."

"Shut up!"

A few minutes later, the bell rang. Anya walked back to her seat beside her best friend, Becky, while Ewen walked to the remaining seats with Damian and Emile.

"Why did you talk with her, Ewen?" Damian protested. "Do you still mad at me and Emile just because of that news about the space exploration this morning?"

"No, Damian-sama. I can't be mad at you and Emile for a long time. We're best friends anyway." Ewen shrugged. "About Forger, I just talked with her because she can understand about 'the romance of space', and nothing more."

"Oh, alright then…" Damian sighed in relief.

As they sat down onto their seats, their teacher walked into the class to start the first period.

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In the second term of the first grade, the re-arrangement of the class made Damian felt a little bit uneasy, not because of his separation with Anya in almost all of the exam subjects – with the Language Studies became the only exception class since he was also in class F for that subject, but because of two students in Anya’s Biology Class.

No, it wasn’t Arnold Crowley, the boy who got the first place in Classical Language exam, who made him felt like that. It was because of two blond boys named Tertius and Freddy, who almost got involved in a small ‘war’ in their class, before Anya stepped in between them and vaguely resolved the problem. Both of them then spoke to her right when all of them were at the same corridor. It was right after Becky asked Anya about her Biology class. Damian expected that Anya would answer her best friend’s question right away, but surprisingly it was both Tertius and Freddy’s voices which he heard from behind.

“I’m Freddy from Hamilton Hall. It’s so great to know you, Anyacchi!” The short haired boy introduced himself first, then the Prince of Septevia presented a flower to Anya as he said, “Perhaps I could visit your home later today? I wish to study how Ostanians live!”

In the middle of them, Anya just smirked, and nobody around her had idea about what she thought about at the moment. Realizing that both of the boys were speaking to her best friend – along with the flower in Tertius’s left hand, Becky squealed, “My God, Anya-chan! You landed two boys in the space of one hour?!”

‘And she looks so pleased with herself!’ Becky mentally added.

Damian couldn’t help but turned his head, shocked with what Becky said. His face was visibly red like a ripe tomato.

‘What’s with these two?! How can they just simply want to befriend her?! She’s just a commoner!’ Damian thought, ‘No, wait. What did that one with the strange hair say? Did he say that he wanted to visit her home today? No, I can’t let it happen. I must do something…’

“Blackbell…” Damian unexpectedly called the brunette and asked, “You’re in class A of Language Studies, aren’t you?”

“Umm, yeah. Why did you ask?” asked her back.

“I guess it’ll be good if you can be the tutor for both of your hallmates in class F.”

“Are you referring to both yourself and Anya-chan?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Can we start today? After school? At Forger’s house?”

“Eh?!”

“Damian-sama, are you sure? But Mr. Austin…”

“Jinan, do you want Becky to teach us Language Studies from today? At Anya’s house?” Anya cut what Emile said in disbelief.

“Well, you want to be her classmate again in that subject, don’t you?” Damian reasoned, “I also want Emile and Ewen to be my classmates again, so that we don’t need to be seatmates anymore in the Language Studies next year.”

“Jinan, do you hate sitting next to Anya that much?”

“Okay, fine. I’ll tutor you both.” Becky decided. “Anya-chan, you need to tell Loid-sama that we’ll come to your house after school.”

“Oui, Anya will tell Chichi.”

“Oh, Language Studies, huh? Can I join you guys?” offered Tertius.

“Me too! I also want to join.” Freddy agreed. “Can we?”

“Well, but Anya’s house…”

“We’ll join Damian-sama and these two there, so I don’t think you both can join us, because her house is just too small for all of us,” cut Emile. “Right, Ewen?”

“Yeah, I guess her house will be too full if you both join us.” Ewen continued.

‘What’s wrong with these boys?’ thought Becky as she glared at the duo, but then she sighed and concluded, “Then, Martha will take us to Anya-chan’s house after school.”

“Okay!”

Since then, they started studying together.

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In the second grade, it was Emile's turn, just because he and Anya were debating at lunch to decide the most delicious nuts caramel cake in Berlint.

"No, Emile, the most delicious one is the one that they sell at the bakery near the train station," Anya argued. "Anya used to buy it there."

"Hey, you're wrong. The most delicious nuts caramel cake in Berlint is the one from that luxurious patisserie in the shopping district," protested Emile. "Well, but it's reasonable for you not to know about it, because they sell it at a very high price, so you can't buy it at all."

"Why are you so confidence?"

Emile shrugged then took out a small piece of nuts caramel cake. "Why don't you try it yourself then?"

"Alright, Anya will try it, but Emile also should try this as well," replied the pinkette as she took the one from Emile and gave him the one that she brought there. "We'll prove which one is the most delicious from those two."

"Agreed."

"Wait, how can you both manage to bring those cakes here?" asked Damian. "It's still forbidden for us to bring any snacks or sweets to school."

"It's a top secret, Jinan. You don't need to know about it," Anya reasoned as she was going to try eating the one Emile offered to her.

Emile tasted the one that Anya gave to him and commented, "Hmm, not bad, but I know that mine is still the best."

"Oh, you're right!" Anya finally smiled. "This one is creamier, and the caramel sweetness isn't excessive."

"I know, right?" Emile smiled back. "But even then, I guess the one that you bring is also delicious, even though it isn't the best one."

'Why do they smile at each other just because of the nuts caramel cake?' Damian thought, annoyed. 'It irritates me somehow.'

As she reading Damian's thoughts, Anya asked him, "Jinan, do you also want to try the cake? Anya thinks we can share it with you, Ewen and Becky."

"No, thanks. Just share it to Ewen and Blackbell once they arrive here. The schnitzel I ate was quite filling." Damian tried to refuse it politely, but somehow, he gritted his teeth while saying that.

Anya frowned, didn't understand about what Damian really felt right now.

'Jinan is so confusing.'

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In the third grade, Damian was jealous with George Glooman, only because he exchanged his apple juice for Anya's carrot juice.

On that day, all students got a random box of juice along with their lunch, and unfortunately, Anya got a box of carrot juice along with her favorite omurice.

"Why do they just give it randomly? Anya hates carrots but now she gets carrot juice," the pinkette sighed. "Is there anyone who wants to exchange their juice for this carrot juice?"

"Here, give me your carrot juice," replied George as he approached Anya and took her carrot juice, then put his apple juice on the table to exchange it. "I hope you like apple juice though…"

"Oh, thank you, George," said Anya as her emerald eyes sparkled. "Anya likes apple juice."

"I'm glad to hear that then."

'What's with this acorn-head boy? How can he easily give his juice to her?' Damian madly thought.

Becky, who noticed that Damian was jealous, sighed before whispered to him, "If you're this jealous, then why don't you just swap your orange juice for her carrot juice?"

'Oh no, she's right. Why didn't it occur to me to exchange it?' Damian thought about what Becky said.

"Jinan must really like orange juice, right?" asked Anya out of nowhere. "That's why you didn't offer me to swap it with the carrot juice."

"Oh… yeah. Orange juice is refreshing, and I like it."

"But isn't it too sour? It's orange anyway." Anya took a sip of her apple juice from George before she added, "Don't you want to drink something sweet?"

"Nah, this orange juice is just good enough for me." Damian wryly smiled. "It's just a little bit sour, but I can assure you that I can feel the sweetness of this juice."

As he sipped his orange juice, Anya said, "Can Anya try your orange juice, Jinan? Then, you can try Anya's apple juice."

Damian choked at those words. "That's unnecessary! I don't need your apple juice."

"But how can Anya know that the orange juice is sweet if she doesn't taste it by herself?" Anya wailed. "Please, let Anya taste it."

'What does she want from me? If I let her drink my juice and I drink hers, it means… we indirectly kiss?' Damian thought. 'No, calm down. It just will happen if she uses my straw to drink my juice, or if I use her straw to drink hers, so if we use our own straw, it'll be fine.'

Damian sighed before he finally said, "Fine, but use your own straw."

Anya nodded, then both of them took out their own straw from their boxes of juice. Damian put his straw into Anya's apple juice while Anya put her straw into his orange juice, made Becky disappointed a little bit.

'You're so silly, Damian.'

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When they were in the fourth grade, he was jealous with Bill Watkins, but this time, it wasn't just a baseless jealousy, because the huge boy also had a crush on Anya as well.

Anya Forger, who now became an Imperial Scholar after she got her eighth Stella Star in the final term of the third grade, was crowned as the pink rose of the Cecile Hall. She wasn't the first Imperial Scholar from her grade though, since it was Damian who got that title almost two years ago, but at least she was the first one from her fellow female students.

One day, while the gang were studying together in the school library, Bill helped Anya taking the book she needed for her classical language assignment.

"Here's the book, the pink rose of the Cecile Hall," said Bill as he gave the book to Anya. "Fortunately, I'm tall enough to help you take this one from the highest shelf."

"Thank you, Bill." Anya took the book from him with smile on her face. "Any-… Uh, I'm so grateful to have you as my friend."

"It's such a pleasure to be your friend, Forger." Bill smiled back. "You look so cool wearing that robe."

"Of course, Bill. I'm an Imperial Scholar now." Anya thought for a moment before she asked, "By the way, when will you become an Imperial Scholar like me, Bill? Aside from my first Stella Star, I got my other Stella Stars along with you, and we always got it in the term finals, so… you only need one more Stella Star to be an Imperial Scholar, right?"

"Yeah, I'll try to get my eighth Stella Star in the upcoming midterm exam, but if I can't get it there, I'll keep trying to get it."

"I know you won't ever give up."

"Well then, I guess you need to do your assignment now, right?"

"Oh yeah, my assignment. Thanks for reminding me, Bill," said Anya before she walked back to the table where she was studying with Becky, Damian, Emile and Ewen. "See you later, then."

Apparently, Damian saw them there, as he was taking a history book nearby when Anya was talking with Bill. Right after Anya walked away, Damian approached Bill.

"Do you want to tell me that you're jealous of me, Damian?" asked Bill before Damian could say anything.

"What do you mean, Bill Watkins?" asked Damian as he was hiding his jealousy. "We're still fourth graders anyway. I just come here to take a book."

"Don't lie to me. I know you saw me talking with Forger just recently, and I can see your jealousy from your eyes."

"Oh, seriously, what happened with my eyes?" Damian growled. "I'm not jealous. Blackbell told me about the same thing long time ago, and now… you…"

"Anyways, now I want to be serious." Bill's expression changed before he added, "I also have a crush on her."

"Bill, you…"

"Probably, she's just my friend right now, but as the time goes on, I'll gradually make her like me," Bill exclaimed. "Don't worry, Damian. I just want to help you so that she won't ever ask you to bring her to your house anymore. Is that what you want?"

"Uh, I…"

"Ah, I need to do my assignment now. See you later, Damian."

He couldn't answer as now he knew that he was jealous with a right person this time. Bill was his rival.

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In the eleventh grade, Damian finally confessed his feelings towards Anya, and she accepted it.

It was just a simple confession at the Stella Lake, but at least he did it. He admitted his feelings which had been in his heart since the beginning.

"But then, why do you suddenly want to confess it to me?" asked Anya to Damian right after he told her about all of his old jealousy, a few days after they started dating.

"Well, I heard that Bill had a plan to confess his feelings to you this weekend, so I decided to confess my feelings before he does," Damian admitted. "It's enough for me to feel jealous of everyone around you."

"I see." Anya smiled. "Now you just love me too much. You even started calling Chichi as your father a few days ago."

"Oh, come on. Not that again," Damian sighed. "Do you want to laugh at me because of that?"

"Of course not, Damian. I don't want to laugh at you," Anya genuinely said. "Anyways, I think your jealousy is a bit… cute? Well, we even started our study group because of your jealousy, so I guess… it isn't really disturbing at all."

"Really?"

Anya nodded before she added, "Even so, I think there's also one moment of your jealousy that you missed from your explanation."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Arnold Crowley. You were also jealous of him in our first end of term gala, right? He was also my classmate in class F of Biology, along with Tertius and Freddy back in the second term, but you just mention your jealousy towards those two, and not him."

"Well, but then I let him dance with you in the eighth end of term gala, so I guess, I don't really jealous of him?"

"Oh, alright." Both of them then kissed at each other and smiled.

'Damian is a jealous guy, but he's a cute jealous guy.'

Chapter Text

"The results for the second midterm were just posted on the board outside!" shouted someone in front of the class right after the homeroom class was ended.

"Well then, I guess it's time for us to see it now," said Becky, not only to Anya, but also to the three boys who sat down right behind them. The four kids responded what she said with a nod, then all five of them wasted no time to run to the information board.

"Oh, my overall ranking is getting better again!" exclaimed Becky. "I'm 30th now!"

"That's great, Becky!" Anya smiled. "Anya also did it better this time."

"Really? Let me see…" Becky checked her best friend's ranking. "Wow, it's 100th this time!"

"Well, that's good to hear though, my ranking is still much better than you both, because I'm 5th now!" Damian proudly said. "Now I'm sure that I'll get my eighth Stella Star this time."

"When did you not get a Stella Star from History, huh?" Becky sighed. "I guess I'll just check the National Language's ranking now."

"Alright then, now we check our own strongest subject ranking first, then we check the other strongest subjects," decided Damian before five of them dispersed to check their rankings in their own strongest subjects.

"I know it! Finally, I can be an Imperial Scholar!" exclaimed Damian cheerfully. "I keep my position as the highest score in History for our grade!"

"Wow, that's great, Damian…" Becky sighed and mumbled, "and here I am, who doesn't get any Stella Stars in this midterm because I just can be the fourth highest in National Language…"

"Well, it seems like, it's only you from five of us who got a Stella Star in this midterm, Damian-sama." Ewen shrugged. "I just can be the eighth in Science."

"I'm just tenth in Foreign Language!" Emile growled. "I still can't get any Stella Stars until now!"

"Calm down, Emile. I'll help you study in the preparation for the second term final then," assured Damian, before he realized that Anya was still in front of the Classical Language ranking board. He walked to her and asked, "So, Forger, how's your Classical Language's score this time? Did you get your sixth Stella Star?"

Anya sighed, then shook her head as she replied, "Anya is the third highest this time."

"Damn, it's just too close!" commented Damian before he continued in his mind, 'Why can't she just keep up along with me?'

"Anya guesses you really got your eighth Stella Star, right?" Anya smiled. "Congratulations, Jinan!"

"Oh, yeah. Thank you," Damian sighed as his cheeks blushed.

"Congratulations, Damian-sama!" Emile and Ewen shouted in unison. "You finally did it!"

"Huh, why is it so hard for me to get more Stella Stars?" Becky complained. "When will I become an Imperial Scholar like Damian?"

"Calm down, Becky. Anya knows you can collect eight Stella Stars and become an Imperial Scholar someday. We just need to keep doing our best."

"Well, that'll be easier for you, Anya-chan. You already have five Stella Stars in your hand," replied Becky with a little envy. "Somehow, you and Damian can easily get your Stella Stars, while it's really difficult for me to stay in the top two in National Language…"

"Cheer up, Becky. This is not the end of the world. We're still in the second grade anyway. We still have eleven grades after this."

"I know it though…" said Becky with a soft smile. "It's just that, I also want to get as many Stella Stars as you both got."

"Well, somehow, that's also what I want as well," admitted Ewen.

"Same here," Emile agreed with his best friend.

"By the way, Forger, can we talk for a moment?" asked Damian. "I need to ask you about something important."

"Alright, what is it, Jinan? Should we talk about it somewhere else?"

"Not really. I just want to say… I just can't believe that you didn't get any Stella Stars again in this midterm."

"So? Jinan, Anya tried to study as hard as she can, but as you can see here, Anya just could manage to get the top three in the Classical Language's midterm exam."

"Why couldn't we always get our Stella Stars together, like in the term finals?" Damian complained. "Honestly, I wanted to be Imperial Scholar with you, because it would be great for us if we both got our cape at the same ceremony. I don't want to be alone. I mean, from all four of you, it's only you who already got plenty of the Stella Stars."

"Well, but you'll be alone there anyway, because the competition in the other subjects is much tighter compared to the competition in History. You can manage to always be the first one in your favorite subject, while the top two in the other subjects are always changed, every single exam," Anya sighed. "Anya's Classical Language's ranking fluctuates. Last year, in the first term final exam, Anya got the second highest, then fifth in the second midterm, but then Anya suddenly got the Stella Star in the second term final exam, because Anya was the top scorer there. This year, it was changed again because Anya got the fourth highest in the first midterm, then the highest one in the first term, only to be moved to the third highest this time."

"Tch, why couldn't you just get the first or the second highest instead?"

"…"

"Why don't you just keep getting the Stella Stars with me? It's so lonely to be the first one alone," Damian admitted. "I still want to have lunch with you all."

"About having our lunch together, did the teachers say to us that you still could take your lunch with us at the canteen if you're the only one who already become an Imperial Scholar?" Anya reminded.

"I know it, but still, it's uncomfortable for me to be Imperial Scholar alone."

"So, Jinan, what do you want then?" asked Anya.

"You better join with me soon," Damian sighed. "I'll be waiting for you."

"Alright then, Jinan, Anya promises to you to become an Imperial Scholar as soon as possible," Anya finally said. "Then Anya will join you and prove that she can do it well."

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In the second term final exam of the second grade, Anya, Becky, Damian, Emile and Ewen got their sixth, third, ninth, first and second Stella Stars together.

In the first midterm exam of the third grade, only Damian who got his tenth Stella Star alone.

In the first term final exam of the third grade, Anya and Damian got their seventh and eleventh Stella Stars together.

In the second midterm exam of the third grade, only Damian who got his twelfth Stella Star alone.

But finally, In the second term final exam of the third grade, Anya got her eighth Stella Star, fulfilled her promise to Damian to become an Imperial Scholar, while Becky, Damian, Emile and Ewen got their fourth, thirteenth, second and third Stella Stars together.

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"Jinan, look at this! Anya finally gets her own cape and becomes Imperial Scholar!" said Anya proudly as she showed off the cape which she was wearing to Damian. "We're matching now."

"Well, I know it, and I can see your cape clearly as it's still too big for you to wear it," teased Damian.

"Hey!"

"Anyways, if you're an Imperial Scholar now, why are you still so childish like that?" asked Damian. "Why are you still calling yourself with your own name?"

"Eh? Is it forbidden for Anya to call herself like that now? Should Anya use first person pronoun to call herself?"

Damian nodded. "It's to prove that you're mature enough to become an Imperial Scholar."

"Oh, alright then. Any-… I'll get used to it. I'll prove to anyone that I'm mature enough to become an Imperial Scholar like you."

"I know you can do it, Forger."

Chapter Text

Long time ago, at Authen's Residence in Covenia…

"I'm Ann-ya," replied the little girl to her guests as she slowly stood up and patted the woman's hands. "Nice to see you, Auntie!"

"Eh? Ann? Anna? Anya?" The woman, Melinda, puzzled. "Which one, sweetie?"

"Your name is Anna, baby." Amanda giggled, before turned her attention to her best friend's son and asked, "So, this is Damian, right? Nice to meet you here."

"Nice to meet you here, Auntie," greeted the boy.

"Alright then, Damian, can you play with Anna here? There's something that I want to talk with your mother in my room," asked Amanda.

"Okay, Auntie. I'll play with her here."

As the two mothers, Melinda and Amanda, walked into a room, Damian turned to Anna and said, "Let's we play something here."

"Sure!" Anna smiled. "What will we play?"

"Oh, I know." Damian opened his waist bag and took out a green toy car. "We can drive my car together. Your name is Anna, right?"

Anna nodded, "Yes, and you're… Dummy an?"

Damian chuckled before he corrected, "It's Damian though, but you can call me Dami. It's way shorter and easier, right?"

"Alright then, Dami. How can we drive your car here?" asked Anna.

Damian carefully held his toy car and put it onto the floor, pulled it back a little and then let go, letting them automatically move forward as far as they could.

"Look, Anna!" told him while pointing to his toy car. "My car goes super-fast!"

"Wow, Dami! It's so fast!" Anna clapped her tiny hands. "Can Ann-ya play too?"

"Sure!" Damian took his toy car and handed it to Anna. "Here you go, Anna! You can drive it now. Just pull it a bit and let it go."

Anna tried to follow what Damian did to make the toy car move forward, and she did it. She giggled as the toy car moved so fast on the floor.

"Thank you, Dami! Ann-ya like your car. It's cool and green!"

"Well, green is my favorite color!" Damian looked at Anna's large eyes before he added, "Like your eyes. It's pretty green… How about you, Anna? What's your favorite color?"

"Hmm…" Anna put her right hand under her chin, as if she was thinking so hard, before she replied, "Yellow! Ann-ya like yellow!"

"Oh, yellow is bright, like a sun," Damian commented. "Your smile is like sunshine!"

"How about my hair?" asked Anna.

"Your hair is pink, and it's so pretty," he genuinely said. "You're so pretty, Anna."

Anna's cheeks blushed. "Thank you, Dami! You're nice to me."

Damian smiled. "Anna, do you want to be my best friend? We'll play together every time we meet. My mother said to me that we'll come here often."

Anna nodded. "We're best friends!"

They didn't know that apparently, after their first meeting in that house, they wouldn't see each other again for a very long time, as Anna was kidnapped a few days later and her mother, Amanda, fell into a coma.

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Seven years later, at Authen's Mansion in Berlint…

"I remember it, Anya," exclaimed Damian as he was watching TV with Anya and Becky in the living room after they took their dinner with the Authens and the Forgers. "I remember about our first meeting."

"What do you mean, Jinan? Do you want to say that you remember everything that happened when we met in Covenia?" asked Anya. "I tried to remember it, but I can't. I don't remember anything about what happened before the kidnapping. I do remember about what I saw in our shared dream, but… that's all. I don't remember anything about what we did next, right after I tried to introduce myself to your mother."

"Well, I remember it now." Damian took a green toy car out from his pocket before he explained, "We played this car together in the living room."

"A toy car?"

Damian nodded. "A green toy car. Then, I told you that my favorite color is green."

"Favorite color?" Anya frowned. "Did I tell you my favorite color then?"

"Yeah, you told me," Damian replied. He then thought for a few minutes before asked back, "Do you want to know if your favorite color has changed or not?"

"Yes, I want to know."

"Then, I'll count from one to three then you both should tell the color at the same time," said Becky, who then counted. "Alright, one, two, three…"

"Yellow!" Both Anya and Damian shouted in unison.

"Wow, it doesn't change." Damian smiled. "You still like yellow, and your smile is still like sunshine."

"What?"

"Uh, nothing!" Damian quickly looked away from the girls to hide his red face. "I just want to say that yellow is a bright color, like a sun."

"Oh, alright."

Becky, who could hear what Damian said clearly and notice that his face reddened, smirked and said, "Eh, so Anya-chan is like your sun, right Damian?"

"Shut up, Blackbell! It's just about yellow and the sun," Damian denied.

"I see, I see." Becky nodded in satisfaction.

Damian sighed, then continued, "By the way, my mother and I initially would often come to Covenia to visit you, but… as you were kidnapped and your mother was in a coma, we couldn't have chance to meet again there."

"Did they tell your mother about the kidnapping back then?" asked Anya.

Damian nodded, turned his head back to face the girls, especially to Anya. "They told her, and… now I remember that I was so sad to know that you were gone. I really worried about you."

"Jinan…"

"I was going to bring some Lego bricks for our next meeting when they called my mother that you were kidnapped, so I blamed myself that I couldn't protect you, and I didn't want to go with my mother anymore…"

"But now, did you still blame yourself for what happened with me?" asked Anya. "We can meet each other again anyway, and also, Grandpa Siggy already told us about that Simon Strauss."

"I know, and I don't blame myself anymore now." Damian finally smiled. "I guess, we can say that you're my first best friend, because I met you before I met Emile and Ewen in kindergarten."

"I see, Jinan." Anya smiled back.

"Yeah, I also can see it. I can see that you both are soulmates." Becky smirked. "I mean, if you weren't soulmates, I don't think you both would be able to meet each other again."

"Eh? Becky, do you think so?" asked Anya.

"Blackbell, what did you know about soulmates, huh?" Damian glared at the girl with pigtails.

"Well, I watch 'Berlint in Love', so I know everything about soulmates, and you both are exactly like one of the supporting couples. You even shared your dream," Becky reasoned. "Not to mention that you both like to flirt each other."

"No, Becky. I told you before that we're not flirting, and I don't have any crush on Damian." Anya shook her head.

"You can say that Anya-chan, but Damian here…"

"Stop your nonsense, Blackbell! Stop watching 'Berlint in Love' or any other drama series on TV!"

"Huh, whatever. I'm just saying the truth." Becky shrugged.

Suddenly, they heard the opening music of 'Spy Wars', which successfully shifted Anya's attention away from the conversation. Even so, Damian couldn't help but think about what Becky said.

'Soulmates, huh?' He thought. 'Even so, she doesn't have any crush on me…'

He finally sighed and focused his gaze on the TV.

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A few days before the Graduation Party…

When Damian talked about his plan to get Anya engaged with him, he suddenly remembered about what Becky said when they stayed at the Authen Mansion back then, about him and Anya being soulmates, similar with what Ewen said to him a few minutes ago, so he said, "By the way, Ewen, I guess you and Blackbell are also soulmates, because she also talked about me and Anya being soulmates several years ago for the same reason."

"Oh, really?" Ewen smiled. "I'm glad to hear that then."

"Hey, don't you want to ask her to get engaged with you as well?" asked Damian.

"Nah, I guess it's just not a perfect time for me and Becky to get engaged yet," replied Ewen. "We want to pursue our dreams first."

"Alright then, future astronaut!" Damian saluted to his best friend. "Let me know when you're ready to ask her to get engaged with you."

"I definitely will tell you, Damian."

"Speaking about soulmates, now I wonder if I and Elma are soulmates too…" Emile shifted the subject. "What do you think, guys?"

"Hmm, it's really possible, Emile. I mean, just look at your name," Damian opined. "Basically, her name is your family name without an 'N', so… if you and her are getting married someday, her name will be Elma Elman."

"You're right, Damian!" Emile flicked his fingers. "I think we all can conclude that each of us are soulmates with our own girlfriend, in our own way."

All three of them then sighed, before they talked about something else.

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"Big bro Dami, did you propose my big sis in your Graduation Party tonight?" asked Alfred as he was in a car, on the way home with his parents, his older sister and her boyfriend. "Why do you follow us home, then?"

"Well, from now on, I and your big sis are engaged," replied Damian. "Also, I want to see Alice in your house."

"Do you want to stay over?" asked Alfred. "You can sleep with me then."

"Actually, that's what I'm planning to do," admitted Damian. "I want to show you something, Alfred."

"Wait, don't say that you want to show him the same toy car which we played in our first meeting…" Anya guessed. "Do you put it in your pocket?"

"Yeah, I bring it here." Damian reached his pocket and took the green toy car. "I guess I can play it with Alfred this time."

"Really? Can I play it with you, big bro Dami?" Alfred smiled happily.

"Of course, you can, Alfred. We'll play this toy car tomorrow, with your big sis and Alice." Damian nodded.

"Are you sure, Damian? Alice will throw it as far as possible, so we must be careful to play it in front of her," said Anya. "She somehow likes to throw almost all of her toys."

"I see. I guess we just need to be careful though…" Damian assured, right when the car reached their destination.

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Five years later…

"Big sis, you look so beautiful today," said Alice who was now five years old. "Your white dress makes you look like an angel."

"It's a wedding dress, Alice," corrected Anya. "Thanks for your compliment anyway."

Today was an important day for both Anya and Damian, because it's their wedding. It's the day when they were getting married.

"Alright, so… who'll bring you to the altar between me and Albert?" asked Loid.

"How about you both? I mean, both of you are my fathers, and…"

"Well, I guess it's obvious who's more worthy of walking down the aisle with you, Anya." Albert took a deep breath before he continued, "It's you, Loid."

"Uh, me?" asked the former spy, confused. "But you're her biological father."

"I know, but you're the one who brought her back into my life, after the kidnapping and all… You're the one who can provide security for her." Albert smiled. "Moreover, as most of the guests know, you are her father, so it'll be more natural for them to see you walk her down the aisle."

"Alright then," Loid sighed in defeated. "Let's go, Anya."

Anya nodded, then they started walking as they heard the 'Wedding March' started playing.

As they reached Damian, he whispered to his bride, "You look like a goddess, my Queen."

"You too, Damian. I mean, my King," replied Anya. She smiled brightly, "We're the sun for each other."

"Wait, did you hear…"

"We'll talk about it later. Now I'll let you and Chichi talk for a bit."

"Hey!" Damian hissed, but then turned his head to Loid and whispered, "Thanks for bringing my bride ... my soulmate to me, Sir."

"You're welcome, Damian-kun," replied Loid. "I know you can take care of her with your love."

Chapter Text

In their whole life, Anya and Damian were dancing together countless times, but there were some of them which were just too memorable for them and their relationship…

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Their first dance was in their first end of term gala.

They still remembered anything that happened around that first moment, started from the moment when the party was announced. Becky then encouraged Anya to ask Damian to dance with her, but then Damian nervously refused her invitation.

Coincidentally, on the same day when Becky asked Anya to go pick out their dresses together at a boutique, Damian asked Jeeves to bring his best suits from the Desmond's Manor to his dorm.

'That way, I don't have to bother choosing what suit that I'm going to wear to the party,' he thought. 'I'm sure, Jeeves has a good taste.'

He wasn't entirely right to think about it though, as Jeeves brought two sets of suits to the dorm. The butler reasoned that both of the sets he brought were just equally great and he also wanted to see the boy confidently choose it by himself.

He finally decided to wear a set of white suits, which looked like a stark contrast to the black dress which Anya was wearing. Apparently, some students noticed it as they whispered to each other about the two.

A few minutes before the dance started, some girls approached Damian and asked him to dance with them, while some boys approached Anya to ask her the same. Damian noticed one of the boys who asked Anya to dance with him as his brother's junior in Cline Hall, Arnold Crowley, who became the top scorer in Classical Language in this term.

'So, this one asked her to dance just because both of them were the top two in Classical Language? What a ridiculous reason to ask her to dance with him…' Damian thought as he took his boutonniere and threw it to the said boy, shouted, "Who the hell are you, and what the hell kind of dumb reason is that?!"

The boy, Arnold, asked him back, "Who, sir, are you, and what gives you the right to interfere?!"

"N-Nothing… but still!" replied Damian as his face reddened. Becky sighed before she added, "Actually, Anya asked him to dance first. Sorry about that."

Arnold was convinced with what Becky said, but then Emile stated that Damian wouldn't accept Anya's invitation, encouraged Arnold and the other boys to ask Anya to dance once again, but then Anya refused all of them as she said, "Sorry, but Anya really just wants to dance with Jinan."

Hearing what Anya said, Damian's face was getting redder like a tomato. As they looked at each other, the girls who approached Damian kept pressuring him to choose one of them to dance with him, but then Emile and Ewen stopped them and made a little competition for the girls, including Anya, who later became the winner.

Their dance was awful at first, but then they could manage to dance better, even though not really well. Anya then explained to Damian that her father made her practice her dance a lot with him, which Damian responded with his statement that he was taught by a dance instructor that the Desmonds hired. Damian then praised the Forgers a little bit before he exclaimed that he won from her because he learnt to dance from a pro.

Damian then remembered that in the final part of the small competition which Emile and Ewen made, which was the quiz about Damian, Anya could answer one of the questions correctly. It was about him who was drowned at the pond by his dog when he was four years old, the incident that only Emile, Ewen and the Desmonds could know. He then asked Anya how she knew about the incident then wondered if she read his mind or something, which was replied with an unexpected confession from Anya that she could read people's minds.

Then a few hours after the dance, they shared a same dream about their forgotten first meeting in their early childhood…

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Their best dance in the elementary school grades was in their sixth end of term gala, right after Anya got her eighth Stella Star and became an Imperial Scholar.

"Should I really wear this tiara here?" Anya asked as she pointed at the tiara on her head, "Well, I know that it's the school traditions for a new Imperial Scholar like me to wear it once in the end of term gala, but still…"

"At least, it's right after you became an Imperial Scholar, Forger," Damian calmly replied. "You became one in the term final, so it was just a few days after you got your cape, while I needed to wear the crown in our fourth end of term gala back then, a few months after I got mine in the second midterm of the second-grade last year."

"I see. The time gap is just too long, even though it's just a few months." The pinkette nodded. "Even so, no one else who became the Imperial Scholars in both the second midterm and the second term final in that time beside you, so you still be the one who could steal the attention from everyone back then, with your crown and anything."

"I know," sighed Damian. "Well then, let's we dance now."

During their dance, Anya noticed that some of the other students paid their attention to her and the tiara on her head. For some moments she couldn't help but feeling like a princess.

"You know what? I think you look good with that tiara," said Damian genuinely. "You… seem like a princess."

With that, Anya's cheeks blushed a bit, as she replied, "Thanks for your compliment, Jinan."

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Their simplest dance was at the Stella Lake, a few days after the eighth end of term gala.

"I can't believe that you prefer to spend your school break at the dorm," Anya commented in disbelief as she walked away from the dorm building with Damian. "Why don't you spend it with your mother and your brother?"

"I'm just too embarrassed to see them now, that I didn't get any Stella Stars this time. My ranking was going down, while Demetrius still managed to get three Stella Stars at least."

"I don't think your mother would care about that." Anya shook her head. "If anything, she just wants you to spend the school break with her."

"Whatever. I just want to be alone for now." His hazel eyes were focused on the maroon dress which the pinkette was wearing. "By the way, did you wear that dress in the eighth end of term gala a few days ago? Why do you wear it again today?"

"Well, I just want to. Is it wrong?" She shrugged. "You didn't come to the end of term gala anyway, so I want to dance with you today."

"Huh? Dance with me?" Damian frowned. "But for what?"

"Well, even though you didn't get any Stella Stars in the term final, you still have right to dance." Anya smiled as they finally arrived at the Stella Lake. "Let's we dance without music here."

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Their most honest dance was in their ninth end of term gala, when there was no more secret between both of them.

"Alright then, I guess you've been practicing your dance since last week, so you won't step on my foot again today," commented Damian during their dance.

"Of course, Jinan. Chichi helped me again in my practice, so I can dance well now."

"I see." Damian chuckled before he whispered, "I heard that your adoptive parents got married for real yesterday. Is it true?"

Anya nodded, "You know, even the boss lady really forced Chichi to retire like what you said at the hospital."

"Oh, really? I'm glad to hear that then." Damian paused before he asked, "Then, how about the Authens? My mother told me that Auntie Amanda was already discharged from the hospital two days ago."

"Yeah, Chichi and Haha picked me up from school on Friday, then we visited Mama at the Authen's Mansion," Anya explained. "Surprisingly, Papa finally calls me 'Anya'."

"Ah, I remember that Uncle Albert still called you 'Anna' the last time I met him." Damian nodded. "But wait. Did Auntie Amanda call you 'Anna' as well?"

"Well, she did, but right after you guys went home from the hospital last week, she decided to call me 'Anya'," replied the pinkette with smile on her face.

"So now, you decide to not use your old name ever again," Damian concluded before he asked, "But why?"

"I don't know. It just reminds me of the kidnapping, and… I just don't want to remember about it again," Anya sighed. "I just want to have a peaceful life with my big family."

"Oh yeah, you really have a big family now." Damian chuckled. They continued chatting while dancing until the music ended.

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Their hottest dance was in their 21st end of term gala, as it was when they had their first passionate kiss, a few months after they started dating.

Anya looked stunning in her midnight blue dress, her hair cascading in soft waves. Her boyfriend, Damian, who looked handsome in his classic black tuxedo, couldn't take his hazel eyes off her.

'You're so beautiful as usual, Anya,' he thought, realizing that his girlfriend could read his mind. 'It makes me love you more.'

As the night progressed, they found themselves on the dance floor, swaying to a slow, romantic song. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble.

"Anya, can we have a real kiss tonight?" Damian whispered. "A passionate kiss, I mean."

'Eh? Well, our first kiss at the Stella Lake was just a short peck though… Even Becky said that we could do better than that, but…' Anya couldn't help but looking at Damian's lips. 'Should we?'

"Well, I guess… we can try," replied Anya.

Without another word, Damian leaned in, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a tender, passionate kiss, igniting a spark that had been building for years. The world around them disappeared, leaving only the sensation of their first intimate kiss, filled with love and longing.

As they pulled away, both breathless and smiling. Anya rested her forehead against Damian's as her heart racing.

"That was… amazing," she whispered.

Damian grinned. His eyes shining with happiness as he admitted, "Actually, I've wanted to do that for so long. I wanted to kiss you like that at the Stella Lake, but… I just can't."

Anya giggled as her cheeks flushed, before she replied, "Me too. I hoped you could kiss me like that after your confession, but you just gave a short peck on my lips…"

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting so long."

"It's okay, Damian. I understand."

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Their most memorable dance in Eden College was in their Graduation Party, as they were engaged.

It all started from a conversation between Damian, Emile and Ewen. Damian wanted to give something special to Anya, then Emile suggested him to ask her to get engaged with him. Damian then made a plan to make it a surprise for her, with the help from Emile, Ewen, Becky and Elma. Meanwhile, Anya wanted to surprise him by wearing a replica of the black dress which she was wearing in their first dance long time ago. Both of the surprises worked, as all people in the Graduation Party agreed to celebrate their engagement there.

One hour before the Graduation Party ended, both of them sneaked out from the ballroom to the courtyard, after both of them told Loid and Yor that they would go home with them and Alfred, who now attended his second end of term gala. Damian decided to stay overnight at the Authen's Penthouse tonight, as Melinda and Demetrius had to receive some special guests at Melinda's Residence, who none other than Demetrius's Fiancé, Della Duncan, with her family.

"Oh, I see. They want to prepare Chounan's Wedding, right?" concluded Anya after Damian explained about his family's plan for tonight. "Why don't you just help them tonight?"

"Nah, I guess they just want to talk privately tonight, and the preparation will begin tomorrow." Damian shook his head. "I also want to interact with your younger siblings, Alfred and Alice."

"Alright then, I think there's no harm in you staying at my house." Anya smiled, "We're engaged anyway."

"I know you'll agree." Damian smiled back. "I really want to be nearer with your big family, so I can be a good son-in-law for all of your parents."

"Whatever you say," Anya rolled her eyes. They then made out a little bit before it was time for them to go home.

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Their best dance in their whole life was in their Wedding Reception.

Anya smiled up at Damian as they swayed to the rhythm of their favorite song, before she asked, "Can you believe we're finally married?"

Damian's hazel eyes gazed into her emeralds as he replied, "It's like a dream come true, Anya. You look absolutely stunning tonight."

Anya's cheeks blushed. "And you look incredibly handsome, Damian. I still can't believe this is real."

"Neither can I." Damian chuckled softly, then asked, "Remember when we first met at school? Who would've thought we'd end up here?"

"Oh yeah, I remember you asked my father's profession, but when I told you that he was just a psychiatrist, you then bullied me, saying that I was just a commoner and anything, then I punched your left cheek." Anya rolled her eyes. "I tried to apologize on the next day, but you just shouted and ran away with your tomato face."

"Well, actually… I already felt something different anytime I saw you in that time, so… it's not that I didn't want to accept your apology, but… I just couldn't believe that my heart was beating that fast just by seeing you, a commoner," Damian admitted as he sighed. "But recently, I realized that I already loved you from the moment when I saw you looked at me in the entrance ceremony. I even thought that you were cute when you walked away."

"Really? I just remember you thinking that I was fascinated by your good looks," said Anya in disbelief, but then she noticed something and added, "Oh, but I noticed that you thought about something else after that but I just wasn't interested in reading it."

"Wow, so you didn't care when I thought that you were cute." Damian clicked his tongue before he sighed and shook his head. "I can't believe that you just ignored it."

"Well, sorry about that, but you were just a jerk back then, so it couldn't help." Anya shrugged.

"Oi!"

"Don't worry, Damian. At least, you finally can admit your true feelings towards me." Anya giggled. "You even already assumed Chichi as your own father, even before he really becomes your father-in-law."

"Yeah, I remember Blackbell laughed at me when we told her about it, along with Emile and Ewen," Damian sighed again. "But anyways, here we are now, dancing as husband and wife."

Anya sighed in relief before rested her head on Damian's shoulder, then said, "I'm so glad we found each other, Damian. You've made me the happiest person in the world."

Damian held his wife closer as he replied, "You've done the same for me, Anya. From now on, I promise to love and cherish you every single day."

"Oh, Damian." Anya looked up at her husband with tears in her emerald eyes. "I love you, forever and always."

Damian kissed Anya's forehead before he repeated what she said, "Forever and always."

As the song came to an end, they shared a tender kiss, surrounded by the applause and cheers of their loved ones. It was a moment they would cherish forever, a beautiful beginning to their journey together.