Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cereza….

She heard someone calling her name in the distance. As she looked around, she found herself in pure darkness.

Cereza…. Come to me my dear.

“Mummy is that you?” 

Her voice was shaking as she frantically looked around for her mother.

“Mummy! I'm here, Mummy! Where are you?”

The yells and the crying— they wouldn't stop.

Suddenly, she felt insanely cold and woke up with a scream.

“Jeanne, what the actual fuck?” She was covered in water and freezing in her bed.

“You’re such a baby. What, you’ve never been splashed with water before?”

She grimaced at her best friend as she slowly got out of her messy bed.

“Did you forget, Cereza? Today is our first day at our new high school, Umbran High. After that huge fight with Valerie and her puppets, we got kicked out of our old school.”

Cereza looked at her ceiling thoughtfully.

“She totally had it coming. They kept picking on me the whole semester. I tried ignoring her until she thought she could push my buttons.” Cereza chuckled. “Did you see how black her eye got? I beat her ass pretty good, if I do say so myself.”

Jeanne rolled her eyes. “Yeah, causing me to jump in so they wouldn’t all jump you.”

Jeanne leaned casually against the door frame, looking around the room where she let her friend stay. There were cat figurines on the dresser, crumpled letters in the bin (presumably to her mother), music posters of her favorite artists hanging on the wall, and her stuffed cat, Cheshire, right next to her pillow. Jeanne felt a bit sad at the reality, considering her friend was basically homeless. Her mother was in prison, and the town hated her due to her mother and father’s bond. Though Jeanne's parents didn’t allow it, Jeanne found a way to sneak her in and convince them to let her stay for a bit. Their reaction was what you’d expect from the Umbran Clan. It resulted in a huge argument between the three, which led to Jeanne getting financially cut off for defending Cereza and, in their words, causing “shame” to the Umbran name.

Jeanne had a somber smile as she looked at Cereza combing and brushing her hair.

Cereza was humming a tune to herself as she looked in the mirror when she noticed how sad her friend looked. Overwhelmed with concern, she asked, "Jeanne, are you okay?"

Jeanne waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing, really.”

Cereza stared at Jeanne through the mirror. In her heart, she knew something was wrong but decided not to push it further until a later time. Cereza understood how hard it was for Jeanne, though; she tried her best to make sure Cereza felt comfortable. The night of the argument, Cereza had been leaning on the door, her ear pressed against it as she tried to make out the words Jeanne and her parents were saying. She knew Jeanne's parents didn’t care for her either, as they had made it apparent over the last few months by ignoring her and yelling at her for little mistakes she made around the house. Cereza felt like she and Jeanne were like Cinderella, and one day they would finally get that dream ending they both wanted.

After a shower and some nice warm, buttery toast, the two headed off to their new school in somewhat matching outfits. They both wore long-sleeve dresses, thigh-high stockings, and ballet shoes with a small heel. The only difference in their outfits was their respective colors and slight alterations to their hairstyles. Jeanne chose a beautiful royal red, while Cereza opted for jet black. Cereza wore her hair in a long ponytail with cat ears at the top, while Jeanne simply adorned the cat ears due to keeping her hair short. The two loved to match from time to time, while still keeping their own style intact.

Cereza looked down at the falling leaves as they walked, the beautiful colors standing out to her. "To be honest with you, Jeanne, I'm not too keen on staying here. Really, if I could just study and get my diploma on my own, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

Jeanne chuckled softly as she fixed the straps of her bag. "You must really love your alone time, huh?" She smiled and looked at her friend.

"But of course," Cereza stopped in her tracks and looked at Jeanne. "It's a bit odd trying to make friends with people when you know they truly don't give a fuck about you— always talking behind your back and causing you to get into constant fights."

Cereza looked down for a second, thinking about her past experiences. Every time I tried to make friends, they either just teased me behind my back or started fights with me around the school... Jeanne has always been there for me through and through—my best friend in the whole world. I hope to repay her someday for all she's done for me.

"Cereza, you know," Jeanne put her hand on Cereza's shoulder, "if you ever need anything, just talk to me, because you know—"

“‘I'll always be there for you,’" Cereza smirked.

Jeanne beamed at her best friend as they laughed the rest of the way.

Chapter Text

The girls walked toward the school, laughing softly as they held hands. A towering brown building with white stripes loomed before them, its weathered exterior revealing its age. As they got closer, their eyes were drawn to a sign that stood out, looking much newer than the rest of the school.

Jeanne's eyes narrowing at the bold letters. "Welcome to Umbran High," she read flatly. With a dry chuckle, she turned towards Cereza.

Cereza flashed her a grin. " Sounds inviting. Think they'll survive having us here?"

“As long as you don’t kill anybody,” Jeanne teased, poking Cereza’s nose before walking ahead.

As they stepped through the door, they spotted a woman sitting behind a desk giving off a unique glow. She greeted them with a wide grin, her fingers interlaced.

“What can I do for you girls?”

Jeanne looked the woman up and down before answering. “We’re new here and need to get our schedules, IDs—” She paused, tapping her chin as she thought. “—oh, and a tour of this rat hole of a school.”

Before Jeanne could say another word, Cereza flashed an apologetic smile and quickly clamped a hand over her friend's mouth, muffling her. Cereza knew Jeanne meant well, but her brutal honesty and blunt approach often gave people the wrong idea.

The woman wore a sickly sweet smile, as her voice rose to an exaggeratedly high pitch.

“Well, aren’t you just full of sunshine?” She leaned back in her chair with a creak, tilting her head slightly before gesturing toward the stairs. “Up on the second floor—first door to your right.”

As Jeanne and Cereza headed for the stairs, the woman suddenly called out in an overly cheerful tone, “HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, GIRLS! DON’T GET LOST ON YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOOL!”

Jeanne muttered under her breath as she and Cereza made their way up the stairs to the second floor. The moment they reached the top, they were met with a line of at least fifteen students stretching down the hallway. Groaning, Jeanne crossed her arms. "Great…. This is just what we needed right now."

Cereza looked at Jeanne with a sly grin, raising an eyebrow. “And people say I'm impatient,” she teased.

Jeanne paused cheekily. "You are, sweetheart. But let’s be real—you’re quick to crash out, while I’m quick to call out.”

Cereza tilted her head, her smile widening, but Jeanne’s sudden shift in tone caught her attention. “Though seriously, something about that lady felt off, didn’t it?” Jeanne’s voice lingered, as if she were weighing her words carefully.

Cereza laughed, shaking her head. “Not used to someone matching your energy, huh?”

A gleeful grin spread across Jeanne’s face as she playfully cupped Cereza’s chin and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Real cute,” her voice thick with lighthearted sarcasm, before releasing her friend with a playful flick of her fingers.

Jeanne sighed softly, thinking to herself, “I don’t know Cereza just... something about her doesn’t sit right with me-” She paused, running a hand through her short hair. “I’ll admit, I should’ve chosen my words better, but her energy just feels off.” Slightly shaking her head, Cereza gave Jeanne a knowing look, holding her hand.

“You’re overthinking it,” her calm and reassuring tone put Jeanne at ease.

The girls continued to giggle amongst themselves as the line moved forward, unaware it was their turn.

"Next in line!" A gruff voice startled them, snapping them back into reality.

They immediately straightened up their posture, moving slow and deliberate as they took one step at a time. As they walked into the room, they were greeted by rows of panels, each occupied by a different faculty member. They made their way toward one of the panels, nerves bubbling beneath their calm exteriors.

A man, appearing to be around his late 40s, glanced at them over the roof of his glasses.

“Name and date of birth please,” he stated calmly.

Jeanne gestured Cereza to go first, ready to step in if her friend needed any extra help.

“My name is Cereza, and my birthday is December 19th,” she answered confidently.

The man typed quickly on his keyboard, scanning for her information. With a click of his tongue, he hit enter and printed out her schedule.

He looked up at Jeanne. “And your name?”

“Jeanne, January 6th.” her voice blunt and to the point.

The man repeated the same process, tapping away at the keys before printing Jeanne’s schedule and handing it over, the paper still warm from the printer.

He glanced at them both, his tone growing firmer. “You guys are actually late. Class starts at 7:30 sharp.”

"Thank you, sir," the pair said in unison, giving a cheeky little salute before spinning on their heels and marching out of the room.

Once in the hallway, they compared their schedules.

Cereza:

ID: 12191411

Eng: 7:30 am - 8:45 am

Mat: 8:50 am - 10:05 am

Sci: 10:10 am - 11:25 am

Gym: 11:30 am - 12:45 pm

Lunch: 12:50 pm - 1:05 pm

His: 1:10 pm - 2:15 pm

Jeanne:

ID: 01061412

His: 7:30 am - 8:45 am

Sci: 8:50 am - 10:05 am

Mat: 10:10 am - 11:25 am

Gym: 11:30 am - 12:45 pm

Lunch: 12:50 pm - 1:05 pm

Eng: 1:10 pm - 2:15 pm

"Bloody hell, we only have lunch and gym together," Cereza grumbled in frustration. "On the plus side, at least we get out earlier than at our old school. Just means we gotta get up earlier hmmm?"

"I think we can cope with that," Jeanne shrugged. "Though, it's a bit gutting we're not in the same classes, but maybe it's for the best." She glanced at Cereza, who raised an eyebrow. "Think about it. Every time we’re in class together, it’s pure chaos. We either end up dancing, listening to Spotify, passing snacks around, or setting people up with that friend of yours... what’s his name... the Italian fellow?"

"Oh, you mean Enzo?" Cereza smirked, tapping her chin. "Yeah, he was our go-to guy. Had a bit of a business going on, y’know? In exchange for doing his homework, he'd sort me out with ‘party favors’ for the other students. We'd make a few bucks, then off to do our own thing." She paused, her finger still on her chin. "Actually, now that I think about it, I believe he might be at this school too.”

On the wall to their left, a school map was pinned up. As they both glanced at it, they realized with a bit of exasperation that their classes were in completely opposite directions.

A soft sigh passed between them, quickly followed by a smile as their eyes met.

“Well,” Jeanne said, her hand reaching out to gently ruffle Cereza’s hair. “Off to our classes.”

Cereza smiled with a nod. “See you at gym.” 

Chapter Text

As she walked down the narrow hallway, Jeanne eventually found her way to history class, where she was greeted with a smile by a heavyset man with a bushy mustache. She stared at him with such disinterest that he visibly was uncomfortable.

"Well, class, this is our new student, Jeanne," clearing his throat before gesturing to the rows of desks. "Please, sit wherever you'd like."

Jeanne gave a lazy nod before glancing around the room as the teacher busied himself with a clunky old projector, fumbling with the slides.

“Today, we’ll be talking about the French Revolutionary War.”

Her mind was elsewhere, thinking about Cereza and how she was adjusting to their new school. She absentmindedly gazed out the window before spotting an empty desk. Sliding into the seat, she leaned back, crossed her legs, and let her mind drift to three years ago.

---

Three years ago…

Jeanne moved frantically through Avalon Park, scanning the area for any signs of Cereza.

"Damnit… where is that girl? I hope she's not in trouble with Valerie again. That girl is constantly on her back..."

Her thoughts were cut short by the sound of screams. Heart pounding, she rushed toward the commotion, only to be met with the sight of a full-blown brawl.

In the center stood Cereza, surrounded by nine girls. Five of them were already on the ground, while four more lunged towards her. Jeanne’s stomach twisted when she heard Cereza’s familiar voice cut through the chaos.

"That all you've got?"

In a blur of motion, Cereza dodged a strike, driving her elbow into one girl’s throat before delivering a roundhouse kick to another. She bounced lightly on her feet, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Then, as if summoned, ten more girls appeared, armed with bats, knives, and broken glass—all charging Cereza at once.

Jeanne didn’t hesitate. She shoved through the crowd and launched a kick into one girl’s back, snatching the bat from her hands before running up behind them, swinging at whoever stood in her way. A sharp pain shot through her ankle as one of Valerie's goons caught her.

"You fucking bitch," she hissed, before landing an uppercut that sent her attacker stumbling. But the fight was far from over.

Meanwhile, Cereza was holding her own—until one girl grabbed her from behind while another lunged at her with a knife. Jeanne barely had time to react before Cereza flipped herself backward, kicking the knife clean out of the girl’s hands and slamming the other into the ground.

However, before she could regain her footing, a metal bat crashed against the back of her head.

The sickening crack echoed through the park. She stumbled forward, dazed, just as Valerie stepped in with a vicious sucker punch to her face. Within seconds, Valerie and six others descended on her, mercilessly stomping her.

Jeanne saw red.

She tore through them, fists swinging, boots connecting, but by the time she reached Cereza, it was over. The damage was already done.

Her best friend lay there, bloody and motionless, unconscious on the ground. Jeanne's hands trembled as she grabbed a shard of glass, hurling it at the retreating girls, hitting a few as they scattered.

Dropping to her knees, Jeanne pulled Cereza into her arms, her vision blurring with tears.

"CEREZA… CEREZA… p-please wake up."

---

The blaring of the school bell jolted Jeanne from her thoughts. Blinking rapidly, she sat up straight, the weight of the past still lingering in her chest.

She sighed softly to herself, grabbing her bag before heading to science.

Cereza, things will turn up for us. I swear it on the Umbran name.

---

Cereza slowly made her way to English, only to be greeted by a loud, blaring voice that instantly made her regret showing up.

"YOU MUST BE CEREZA!"

Before she could even process what was happening, the lady grabbed her hand, shaking it up and down repeatedly.

Cereza felt her head spin, completely at a loss for words. Before she knew it, the teacher had nudged her forward to her desk.

"TODAY WE HAVE A GROUP ASSIGNMENT, SO HERE IS YOUR GROUP!"

The entire class collectively sweatdropped as they mutually decided that this woman seriously needed to cut the damn caffeine.

As Cereza finally adjusted to the chaotic atmosphere, she noticed she had been placed next to a blonde-haired girl with brown eyes and two boys who looked like they could be twins. They both sported bowl cuts and had a slightly athletic build. One look at them told her they had already had enough of this teacher.

The blonde girl turned to her, offering her half of a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.

"Thank you, I didn’t really get a chance to fully eat this morning. As you all heard from the lady, I'm Cereza."

"Nice to meet you, Cereza. My name’s Natalie, and these two knuckleheads are Reuben and Eric."

"Yo!" the twins said in unison.

Cereza giggled. "Hello, guys." She took a slow bite of the sandwich, munching quietly as a thought crossed her mind.

Got a sandwich on the first day? Man, wait till Jeanne hears about this.

"So," she asked after taking another bite, "what exactly are we doing for our group assignment?"

"Well, Ms. T just wants us to talk shit about why this article on grass is important," Natalie replied. "Personally, I wish she gave us anything else besides this. Like, why grass of all things?"

"Maybe she’s telling us she wants a connection," Reuben joked. "Me and Eric here can help her out with that. We got a buddy who’s involved with that type of lifestyle."

"Get out of town! I know a connect who happens to go to this school too," Cereza smirked.

The group shared smiles and laughed as they exchanged jokes, getting more familiar with each other. The conversation was lighthearted until Eric suddenly asked the daring question.

"So, Cereza, you got a boyfriend?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Natalie smacked him upside the head.

"Let the girl breathe, for fuck's sake."

Cereza laughed as Ms. T shot a glance their way, her slight annoyance evident at their interruption. They quickly quieted down, pretending to scribble in their notebooks before continuing their conversation.

"No, I never had a boyfriend before," she admitted. "I’m not opposed to getting one, but I’m a bit much to handle. He’d have to have some strong willpower to keep up with me."

Eric tugged on his collar, flashing a smile as he attempted to look cool. "Well, I’m all the man you need."

"Ugh, you are such an idiot," Natalie groaned, slapping her forehead in pure embarrassment.

Cereza smiled, finally turning her attention to the article. Once she finished reading, she quickly answered the assigned questions. Before she knew it, the school alarm blared through the halls.

"It was nice meeting you guys. I hope we can talk more later," she said, smiling at Natalie and winking at the twins before gathering her things and heading off to her next class.

I think things will turn up for Jeanne and me. I hope she’s alright.

Chapter Text

Cereza hummed her new favorite song as she skipped through the hall, bag in tow—until she suddenly felt a thud.

“Fuck, that hurt,” she mumbled, rubbing her head as she sat up. Extending a hand, she froze when she realized she had just bumped into a very handsome boy.

He had blonde hair, striking blue eyes, and a white coat that flared like a cape. It took all of Cereza’s willpower not to act a fool.

The boy, on the other hand, looked completely frozen in place, staring at her in awe.

“Hey, are you alright?” waving a hand in front of his face.

That seemed to snap him back to reality. A faint blush dusted his cheeks as he quickly stood up and took her hand.

“My sincere apologies,” he said, bowing slightly. “I should have been paying more attention. I haven’t seen you around before—what’s your name?” He smiled brightly at her.

For a moment, Cereza was too stunned by his good looks to even process his words. But quickly regaining her composure, she smirked.

“I’ll let you figure it out,” she teased with a wink before smoothly walking away.

Before she could take another step, a blur of red flashed past the boy’s face and tackled Cereza from behind.

“ Got you! ” Jeanne laughed, hugging Cereza tightly as both girls giggled.

Throwing an arm over her friend’s shoulders, Jeanne walked with her down the hallway.

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting something,” she smirked, eyeing her still-flushed friend.

Shaking her head quickly, Cereza huffed, “Nope. You weren’t interrupting anything. ” She turned her face away, hiding her embarrassment.

Jeanne smiled softly as she poked her playfully. “Finally found yourself a boyfriend, huh?”

“Haha, very funny,” Cereza rolled her eyes. “Yeah, he’s cute, but I hardly know him.”

“You could get to know him… if you give him a chance.” Jeanne wiggled her eyebrows teasingly.

Cereza was about to respond when Jeanne suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her playful demeanor shifted, and her voice grew quiet.

“Actually, I have to tell you something.”

Cereza turned to face her, concern heavy on her features. “What’s wrong?”

Jeanne hesitated before speaking. “That boy… he knows you. From the incident in the forest.”

Cereza’s heart skipped a beat. “I thought you were the one who dragged me back to your house?”

Jeanne sighed. “I tried , but my ankle was bruised, and I kept stumbling. He ended up finding us and carried you the rest of the way for me.”

Cereza stood still, processing the new information. Embarrassment crept up her spine as she replayed their earlier encounter.

“So why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

“I wasn’t expecting to see him here,” Jeanne admitted. “Plus… I didn’t want to bring up such a bad memory. I still get flashes of that day, and it breaks me, Cereza. I don’t ever want to see you like that again.” Her voice wavered, eyes filled with emotion. “I love you to death. I can’t lose you.”

Cereza felt tears well up as she pulled Jeanne into a tight hug.

“I love you too, Jeanne. You’ve always been so good to me. You’re the first true friend I’ve ever had… really, my only friend. I just want you to be happy.”

“Umbran Sisters,” they said in unison, holding onto each other.

After a moment, Cereza placed a hand on Jeanne’s shoulder. “So… he really helped me back then?”

Jeanne nodded.

Cereza turned, glancing at the boy by the lockers. She hesitated, then suddenly spun on her heel and strutted toward him.

Lukaon, as if sensing her approach, stiffened in place. He clutched his books tightly, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

“Hello again,” he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

“I didn’t get your name,” Cereza said with a small smile.

He straightened up. “Lukaon.”

“Lukaon, hmm.” Her voice trailed off as warmth crept up her face. Why is it so hot all of a sudden?

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she locked eyes with him.

“Thank you for helping me back there,” she said sincerely.

Then, before she could stop herself, she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

Lukaon turned red as a tomato, completely frozen as Cereza flashed him one last smile and strutted off to her next class.

From behind, Jeanne cheered, laughing “That’s my girl!”

Still holding his cheek, Lukaon smiled to himself as he watched Cereza disappear down the hall.

---

Cereza pushed open the heavy locker room door, stepping inside as the scent of sweat and fabric softener filled the air. She weaved through the crowd, her sharp eyes scanning the clusters of students chatting and tying their sneakers.

Finally, she spotted Jeanne, who grinned and waved her over.

The two fell into easy conversation, laughing as they changed into their gym clothes—matching sweatpants and cropped tank tops. Their discussion quickly turned to the latest game show they’d binge-watched the night before, as they tied their shoelaces.

But as soon as they stepped out of the locker room, they felt it.

Eyes.

Everywhere.

The silent, weighty stares of their classmates trailed them like shadows, making the hairs on the back of Cereza’s neck stand up. She and Jeanne exchanged a quick, knowing glance before sighing in unison and shaking it off. Without a word, they strode past the gawking students, heading straight for the coach, who stood at the front of the gym, engrossed in a conversation with another teacher.

The coach barely spared them a glance, flicking her pen lazily against her clipboard. “Cereza and Jeanne, I assume.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the pair responded in unison, standing a little taller.

“Today’s volleyball. You’re on the same team.”

They didn’t show it, but the news sent a rush of excitement through them. Subtly pumping their fists after being separated all day.

The coach gestured toward their teammates. “Line up. Let’s get started.”

Cereza and Jeanne took their places, quickly shaking off any lingering distractions. The game kicked off, and they moved seamlessly across the court, diving, blocking, and setting up perfect plays. Every time the ball soared through the air, they were ready.

But then Cereza saw him.

On the opposite team, Lukaon stood poised, his sharp blue eyes locked on the ball. His blonde hair barely shifted as he moved, focused and calculated. Then, in one fluid motion, he leaped into the air.

Time slowed.

He was weightless, his white coat flaring behind him like a hero in an action movie. Then—smash.

The volleyball crashed onto the court with stunning precision, an effortless, almost poetic spike.

Cereza stood frozen, breathless.

She barely caught herself in time, diving at the last second to recover the ball, sending it flying back over the net. As she scrambled to her feet, her eyes found Lukaon’s.

He was already staring.

Their gazes locked, the world around them fading into nothing.

“Cereza!” Jeanne’s voice yanked her back into reality as she grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her. “Get your ass back in the game!”

Blinking rapidly, Cereza snapped out of it, quickly returning to her position.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the net, Lukaon hadn’t fared much better.

His teammate, slapped his shoulder, exasperated. “Hey, man! Get your head in the game!”

Lukaon barely reacted, still caught in the moment. “My apologies, Enzo.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just focus.”

And focus, they did.

Both teams kicked into high gear, neither willing to back down. Cereza and Lukaon became locked in a silent challenge, trading powerful spikes and lightning-fast saves, their rivalry pushing the intensity of the match higher and higher.

Then, the final countdown began.

Five seconds left.

The ball rocketed toward Cereza. Without hesitation, she sprinted forward.

Jeanne, already anticipating her move, crouched low and cupped her hands. In perfect sync, Cereza stepped onto them, and with a mighty push, Jeanne launched her into the air.

Cereza soared, time slowing once more as she reached the peak of her jump.

With all the strength she had, she swung her arm forward—

Smash.

The ball struck the court like a meteor, sealing the victory.

The gym exploded with cheers, their team rushing forward in celebration. Jeanne grabbed Cereza, shaking her wildly. “That was insane!”

Breathless, Cereza smiled, catching her breath as she glanced across the net.

Lukaon stood there, hands on his hips, watching her with an unreadable expression. Then, slowly, he smirked.

“What a girl.”

As Cereza and Jeanne strolled down the hallway, hand in hand, they were immediately met with the sight of a massive lunch line snaking its way through the cafeteria. Students shifted impatiently, the air buzzing with chatter and the scent of freshly baked bread.

The two girls stopped in their tracks, turning their attention to the menu board overhead:

Sandwich - $5.00
Chicken Wrap - $5.50
Pizza Slice - $3.50
Dumplings (4 pcs) - $2.90

Cereza clicked her tongue. “Damn, didn't know we had to pay for lunch.” She scanned the room, eyes darting past the crowd until she spotted him—Enzo.

A wicked grin spread across her face. Without hesitation, she dashed toward him at lightning speed, skidding to a perfect stop with a dramatic drift, bowing slightly with her arms stretched behind her like a proper swordsman.

“Well, well, well. My sweet pal. How have you been?”

Enzo flinched. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he tried his best to look anywhere but at her. “Yeah, well maintaining I suppose…” he trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.

Cereza wasn’t having it.

“Enzo,” she said sweetly, extending her hand toward him, palm up. “I’ve decided I want my payment. Now.”

Enzo groaned, already knowing resistance was futile. “You think I’m made of money or somethin’?”

Cereza’s eyes sharpened into a deadly stare, pinning him in place.

Enzo swallowed hard. His hands trembled as he reached into his pocket and begrudgingly slapped a few crumpled bills into her hand. “There,” he grumbled.

Cereza grinned victoriously and turned on her heel, stuffing the cash into her pocket. But before she could walk off, a familiar voice chimed in behind her.

“Enzo, I got the dumplings and sandwich for us—”

Lukaon’s sentence came to a screeching halt the moment his eyes landed on Cereza.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them thickened, charged with unspoken words.

Cereza gave a casual nod. “Lukaon.”

Then, just like that, she strutted away, her presence leaving behind an unmistakable weight.

Lukaon stood frozen, his food tray still clutched in his hands as he watched her retreating figure.

Meanwhile, Enzo finally snatched his sandwich from Lukaon’s grip with an annoyed grunt. “Fucking finally,” he muttered before taking a huge bite.

Lukaon barely noticed.

Oblivious to Enzo’s grumbling, his mind reeled as he recalled the first time he had seen Cereza—really seen her—covered in blood, clinging to life in the forest that night.

That night in the forest…

The moon hung high above the treetops, casting silver light over the forest trail. Lukaon walked alone, his heart heavy, his mind a storm of emotions.

Father, forgive me. I couldn’t protect you.

His fists clenched, gripping the edge of his coat as frustration boiled within him. His fingers dug into the soft fabric, nearly tearing it apart.

Then—

“CEREZA! PLEASE WAKE UP! PLEASE!... PLEASE…”

The desperate cries sliced through the silence. Lukaon’s breath hitched. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the sound.

What he saw nearly knocked the air from his lungs.

A girl, battered and bloodied, lay barely conscious on the forest floor. Kneeling beside her was another girl, struggling to keep her balance, her own body trembling with exhaustion.

The moment Lukaon took a step forward, the blonde girl snapped to attention, instantly moving in front of her injured friend like a shield. Her red eyes burned with suspicion.

“What do you want?” she hissed.

“I heard someone crying,” Lukaon explained, his voice steady but laced with concern. “I came to see if everything was okay.”

The blonde girl—Jeanne—didn’t budge. She sized him up, wary and defensive.

“This doesn’t concern you.”

Lukaon took another step forward. “Please,” he insisted, his gaze flickering to the girl barely clinging to life. “Let me help.”

Jeanne hesitated. She didn’t trust him, but she also wasn’t stupid. In her current state, she couldn’t carry Cereza on her own, and every second wasted meant more blood spilling from her best friend’s wounds.

With a heavy sigh, she finally spoke. “Fine. Help me get her to my house.” She limped toward him, her steps uneven.

“If you try anything,” she warned, eyes gleaming with unspoken threats, “I will kill you on the spot.”

Lukaon nodded solemnly. Then, without another word, he bent down and gently lifted Cereza into his arms.

That was when he saw her clearly for the first time.

Even beneath the blood and bruises, she was breathtaking.

Despite the scars.

His mind swirled with questions—who did this to her? What kind of fight had she been in?

Before he could think any further, a weak cough escaped her lips. Lukaon’s grip tightened around her instinctively as she struggled to speak.

“Jean… ne… I diw iiittt…”

Jeanne immediately hushed her, pressing a comforting hand against her nose. “Hush now,” she whispered. “Save your strength.”

The journey back felt endless. Lukaon walked in step with Jeanne, careful with every movement as he carried Cereza in his arms.

By the time they reached Jeanne’s house, the blonde girl fumbled for her keys, glancing over her shoulder to check if her parents were home. When she saw the coast was clear, she pushed the door open and turned to Lukaon.

“Thanks for carrying her,” she muttered, still catching her breath.

“Not a problem,” Lukaon said, but his eyes flickered toward Cereza one last time.

“You can put her down,” Jeanne continued. “I’ll take care of the rest.”

Lukaon hesitated, but nodded. He gently placed Cereza onto the couch, taking a step back as Jeanne rushed to her friend’s side.

As he turned to leave, he paused at the doorway, glancing over his shoulder. Jeanne whispered softly to her injured friend, her voice filled with unwavering devotion.

“It’s okay, Cereza. The nice boy helped me bring you home. You’ll be okay.”

Lukaon exhaled, finally stepping out into the cold night air.

His gaze lifted to the sky, stars twinkling like distant memories.

Father, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.

But I was able to help someone else today.

I hope to make you proud one day.

And with that, he disappeared into the night.

Chapter Text

Cereza strolled up to her best friend, crumpled bills in hand, looking more shy than usual. Jeanne clocked it instantly. That look on her face could only mean one thing—she’d seen Lukaon again. Jeanne secretly rooted for them. Cereza had never dated before—either because boys were too intimidated by her cool, elegant vibe, or… for the obvious reason.

Her birth. The cursed child.

Jeanne hated how the village treated her. They didn’t know Cereza the way she did. Cereza, who would give and help without a second thought. She watched silently as Cereza picked up their lunch from the vendor.

Cereza got herself a turkey and cheese sandwich loaded with lettuce, tomato, and jalapeño. For Jeanne, her favourite: a bacon, egg, and pepper jack on a toasted roll. She handed it over with a smile, only to find Jeanne eyeing her with a look of concern.

“Jeanne? What’s wrong?”

Jeanne shook her head. “Sorry, I was just thinking to myself.”

“You know you can always talk to me. What’s up?”

“I just want you to be happy, Cereza.”

Cereza laughed softly, placing her hands on Jeanne’s shoulders.

“Not this again.” She looked her friend in the eyes, that signature bright smile lighting up her face. “I am happy, Jeanne. You’ve changed my life and blessed me with so much. I’m content with where we are. And it’s only going to get better for us—I promise.”

Jeanne shook her head with a laugh as they turned their attention to their sandwiches.

“You almost made Enzo shit himself with that stunt you pulled.”

“Whaaa—” Cereza said mid-bite. “I did a job for him and he had to pay what was due.”

The two girls munched their food in peace for a bit, enjoying the quiet.

Jeanne smirked as Cereza took another bite. “So, I saw you bumped into you-know-who again.”

Cereza nearly choked. She turned away from her friend in total embarrassment.

“Sheesh, give me a break. Yeah, I bumped into him—but there was no conversation.”

“Well, I’m sure he likes you.”

“Yeah, right,” Cereza muttered dismissively.

“I saw the way he stared at you in gym,” Jeanne teased, nudging her flushed friend.

Cereza’s face lit up like a furnace. Her glasses fogged up from how warm she’d gotten, and before she could even argue—

“Oh hi, Lukaon!” Jeanne beamed with a mischievous grin.

Cereza entered full panic mode. She didn’t even bother looking up—no way she was letting him see her like this.

Lukaon smiled brightly at Jeanne. When his gaze landed on Cereza, his voice softened.

“Hey, Cereza.” He fiddled nervously with his fingers.

“Hey,” she replied quickly, still facing away.

“I just wanted to say you did amazing in gym today. I hope we can compete again one day.”

“Sure.” She avoided his eyes but then suddenly paused, brain catching up to something.

Wait… he called me by my name. I never told him my name. Did he overhear Jeanne and me talking? Or did that snitch Enzo tell him?

“Actually, Cereza, I wanted to ask if you can meet me after school. I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Her heart practically launched itself out of her chest. She fought to keep her cool, but it was tough.

Lukaon looked just as nervous. He was always shy around her, but he was clearly serious about talking to her. Probably about that night. He worried about her even though they barely knew each other. And she… well, she couldn’t ignore how special he seemed either.

Cereza met his gaze dead-on, taking a deep breath.

“I’ll meet you after school… if that’s what you want.”

Jeanne, silently screaming inside with joy, smiled from ear to ear.

“So when’s the date?” she chimed in.

Both Cereza and Lukaon turned tomato red. Cereza slowly turned to her friend, the look of death in her eyes. Jeanne just laughed and waved her hand like it was nothing.

Lukaon glanced between them, nervous again, unsure of how Cereza felt.

Before anything else could happen, the bell rang. Cereza quickly gathered her things, gave Lukaon a polite bow, grabbed Jeanne’s hand, and headed for the hall.

Lukaon watched her go with a quiet sigh, then picked up his bag and walked to his next class.

Cereza hugged Jeanne and whispered, “If I didn’t love you, you’d be so dead.”

Jeanne smiled, “Your boyfriend won’t let you,” she teased, poking Cereza’s cheek before skipping off to English class.

--

Cereza sighed and walked into history, only to be greeted by—

BOOM.

The sound shook her ears. She covered them instantly. “What the fuck is going on!” she yelled over the blaring noise.

“YOU MUST BE OUR NEW STUDENT. GO SIT NEXT TO THAT YOUNG MAN WITH THE BLONDE HAIR TO THE LEFT.”

“CAN YOU TURN THE SOUND DOWN?”

“I’M HAPPY YOU FEEL PROUD BUT PLEASE SIT DOWN.”

It was hopeless. The speakers were way too loud, and the teacher with the bushy moustache—Mr. Royce—pointed to the left. She followed the direction and groaned internally.

Oh brother.

Lukaon.

He looked up and saw her.

Oh brother.

Cereza is going to sit next to me.

He tried to stay cool, fiddling with his fingers, but the blush on his face gave him away instantly.

Cereza strutted to her seat and sat beside him, poise and focus on full display. She masked her panic like a pro—Lukaon didn’t notice a thing. Well, except for how incredibly beautiful she looked. He couldn’t stop staring.

She turned to look at him. Their eyes met.

He looked away, quick.

Aww man, you're totally freaking her out.

Cereza’s face burned. She could feel him looking and immediately got flustered.

What if he’s not even staring at you? You’re staring at him and probably look like a fool. Keep it together.

--

Meanwhile, in English class, Jeanne was suffering.

Some sweaty dude kept talking to her, and she was seconds away from jumping out the window.

“Respectfully, I’m not interested in Precure. I did not dress myself like those characters.”

“What about Sailor Moon?” he wheezed, puffing on his inhaler.

She almost slapped him… until he mentioned Sailor Moon. Her eyes narrowed.

“Who’s your favorite scout?” she asked, turning around dramatically in her chair.

“Haruka.”

Jeanne recoiled. “You like that grimy bitch?!—”

Suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder. She lazily looked up at the teacher.

“Ms. Jeanne, I know you just got here, but can you please keep it down and pay attention? We are talking about—”

“Emily Dickinson and her impact for female writers. I am aware, Ms. June.”

The teacher blinked in surprise, then slowly returned to the front of the class.

Jeanne leaned back and whispered to the sweaty dude, “How much you wanna bet on how many people favour Michiru over Haruka?”

“Oh, you’re on.” He offered a handshake.

She accepted it… then immediately wiped her hand on the desk.

Gross, but worth it.

---

Back in history class…

Lukaon finally mustered up the courage to speak to her.

“So, Cereza, how are you doing today? Are you liking your first day so far?”

Cereza didn’t want to show how flustered she was, so she kept her eyes forward and answered coolly.

“Yeah, it’s pretty decent so far.”

“Well, if you need any help, I’ll happily show you around.”

She turned to look at him, and he met her gaze. Their eyes locked, the air between them heating up. She felt super hot inside, but neither looked away. The moment was perfect—until—

BOOOOOOM.

Gunshots. Screaming. Absolute chaos.

They both jumped, covering their ears from the deafening noise. But through all the madness, they started laughing together, realizing they reacted the exact same way—hands clamped over their ears, caught in this ridiculous moment.

“Hey, so what exactly did you want to talk about after this?!” she shouted, just loud enough for him to hear.

“It was about the time I first saw you, actually!”

Her nerves loosened just a little. She was still tense, but at least now she had an idea where this was going. Deep down, she had a feeling Jeanne was right about him. Not that she’d ever admit it out loud. 

Still… something about Lukaon intrigued her. It wasn’t just his looks—though, let’s be real, those didn’t hurt—it was his honesty, his gentle vibe, and how skilled he was. She never had a boyfriend before, and the idea of it made her a bit nervous, unsure how anything like that would even go.

Lukaon was in the same boat. Relationships? Nonexistent. And Cereza? She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever laid eyes on. Her sass mixed with that hidden kindness made her unforgettable.

He noticed the little things—how she helped guide students even though she barely knew her way around, or how she handed dumplings to someone who was short on change, despite barely having enough for herself. She moved with grace and quiet confidence. 

Then there was how she played volleyball, fully locked in, working in perfect sync with Jeanne. Everything about her just... pulled him in.

And now, sitting beside her, he was blushing like mad just thinking about it.

Cereza, trying to calm her racing thoughts, popped in one of her earbuds and casually held out the other one to Lukaon. No words, just the gesture.

He smiled shyly and reached for it, but as their fingers brushed, they both almost dropped the earbud. Lukaon just barely caught it, laughing nervously as he scratched the back of his neck and slipped it in.

The music started. A random playlist—nothing too serious. But then—

“Chest Pain” by Malcolm Todd.

Both of them blushed immediately at the lyrics. Cereza fumbled for her phone, trying to switch the song.

Next: “In My Bed” by Rotimi.

She turned completely red and buried her face in her hands, praying the floor would just swallow her whole. It was like the universe was mocking her.

Last-ditch effort—she skipped again.

“Papi” by Todrick Hall.

She banged her head on the desk, defeated, and slowly slid her hand to her phone to shut off Spotify entirely. She didn’t dare look at Lukaon.

But when she peeked out of the corner of her eye... his hair fell messily over his eyes, and his face was just as red as hers—maybe even redder. Honestly, it was probably the most flustered she’d ever seen him.

Yeah. She immediately regretted ever sharing her music.

---

Jeanne sat in her small little group, joined by the sweaty kid (as she so lovingly dubbed him), a brunette girl, and a boy with shaggy hair. The shaggy-haired one—named Chris—whipped out a deck of Yu-Gi-Oh cards and started passing them around.

Jeanne grinned, already holding Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician like a boss. She was wiping the floor with everyone.

“Ugh, fuck—she got my Yado Karu!”

“Hahaha, bow to the queen, boys! Woooo!”

Jeanne was enjoying herself a little too much, especially with how Ms. June just sat there at her desk, scowling hard. Eventually, she stood and cleared her throat like she had something important to say.

“Ms. Jeanne, will you please finish the assign—”

“Done.” Jeanne slapped the paper in her hand without breaking focus from the duel. She had a $40 bet on the table and no way was she letting Chris walk away with her dough. Not like she had money on her to begin with. 

The brunette—dubbed Edith—was snorting Dorito crumbs from laughing too hard at the whole Ms. June vs. Jeanne showdown.

“Something funny, Ms. Edith?”

“Yes, actually, there is.” Edith looked down, then cackled harder. “Your fly is down, Ms. June.”

Ms. June zipped up fast and glared at them like they were the bane of her teaching career.

“I want all of your assignments,” she snapped, holding her hand out.

Chris and Edith handed over their papers without a word.

“And what about you, Mr. Howard?”

The sweaty kid—apparently named Howard—took another puff from his inhaler and then passed his completed paper forward with a little wheeze.

Ms. June looked like she wanted to roast them all, but as much as she hated to admit it... every paper was correct. So correct, in fact, she couldn’t even nitpick.

Much to her eternal suffering.

---

“AND THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY, YOUNG FOLKS! TOMORROW WE’LL SEE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN 4K! MAKE SURE YOU HAND IN YOUR ASSIGNMENTS ON THE WAY OUT! HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!”

Cereza and Lukaon winced in unison, heads throbbing from all the yelling—not just from their teacher, but the screaming audio in that blaring documentary too.

As Cereza packed up her things, Lukaon found himself just… smiling at her. She noticed, smiled back, and that alone made his heart do backflips.

Every time she looks at me, I end up looking ridiculous.

“So,” he said, clasping his hands together by his desk, “if you need help with notes, we could study together. In the library, if you want.”

She turned and gave him a curious look that made him start to fumble instantly.

“O-o-r—rr—we can study somewhere else.”

Her head tilted slightly, curiosity deepening. He panicked.

“I-I didn’t mean anything improper! I was thinking more like… the park or cafeteria. Somewhere you’re comfortable!” He rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward grin.

She softened, her voice a bit shy. “Sure, we can study.”

It was the first time a boy had ever asked to study with her—and it left a funny little flutter in her chest.

“Great!” Lukaon replied, just a bit too enthusiastic. “I can carry your bag for you, if you want.” Wanting to move past his awkwardness.

She appreciated the offer but gently declined. “No thanks, but thank you.”

The two walked out of the classroom together, still smiling like absolute dorks, both sneaking glances at one another. 

As they reached the corridor, Cereza paused.

“I’m going to check if Jeanne’s out yet. I’ll meet you outside after I make sure she’s alright.”

“No problem,” Lukaon replied, wanting to go with her, but deciding to respect her space. After all, he was going to see her again in just a moment. He watched as she headed down the hall.

Jeanne strolled out of her class with a proud grin and $40 in various bills. Spotting Cereza, she waved her over, wiggling the money.

“I totally got bank for us, Cereza. We should be good on lunch for the week.” She handed Cereza twenty.

Cereza tried to give it back, but Jeanne wouldn’t budge. “I worked hard for this, and you will take half.”

Cereza sighed with a small smile. “Alright, alright, fine.”

“So, you off to meet your pretty boy?”

“Yeah…” she paused, catching what Jeanne had said. “I’m off to meet Lukaon, yes. But don’t get your hopes up—he just wants to talk about the incident in the park.”

Jeanne’s smile faded, the memory surfacing again. But Cereza reached for her hands gently.

“Hey, it’s okay, Jeanne. Really. I don’t mind talking about it. Maybe now I’ll understand more about why he helped me.”

Jeanne nodded slowly. “I’ll wait till you guys finish. I’ll be in the library—and before you say it, no, I’m not going home without you.”

Cereza pulled her into a tight hug.

“I know you can take care of yourself,” Jeanne said, looking her in the eyes. “But if anything happens, I’ll be there in a flash.”

“I know you will.”

They smiled warmly at each other. Jeanne gave her hand a squeeze and led her to the school entrance. Just before heading back to the library, she poked Cereza’s nose one last time.

Left alone, Cereza took a deep breath and looked around—there he was. Lukaon stood off to the side, hands in his pockets, looking effortlessly handsome. She found herself staring.

And as if he could feel it, Lukaon turned and met her gaze, smiling brightly and waving her over.

Regaining her composure, Cereza walked toward him with confidence, eyes locked with his, ready for whatever conversation was about to unfold.

---

Chapter Text

Cereza and Lukaon walked side by side down the road. She moved with quiet elegance and determination, while Lukaon strolled with a shy air, clearly focused on the talk ahead. Just as they turned the corner, Lukaon stopped in front of a small ice cream shop.

“Before heading to Lumen Park, I wanted to get us some ice cream. It's the best in town—well, at least I think so.”

Cereza smiled, though there was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. As much as she loved the idea, she didn’t want to spend Jeanne’s hard-earned money on something frivolous. Jeanne had worked to get her that cash, and even if she wouldn’t have minded, Cereza wanted to use it wisely.

Still, they stepped inside—and were immediately greeted by a familiar face.

“Natalie?!”

“Cereza!” Natalie beamed. 

“You work here?”

“Yeah, I’m here all the time after school. It’s a family thing.”

Cereza laughed at the coincidence. Natalie’s smile grew even wider when she spotted who was with her.

“Lukaon! I didn’t know you and Cereza knew each other.”

“Y-y-yeah… well, we’re starting to,” Lukaon replied, scratching the back of his neck.

“You two look good together,” Natalie teased.

They both blushed. That was the second time someone had made a comment like that. Neither of them really minded… even if they weren’t sure where this was going yet. Cereza had never thought about dating anyone, and Lukaon wasn’t sure what she wanted. Still, he liked her, and he figured he’d at least get to know her better before assuming anything.

“If you’re not taken, I know some people who’d love to date either of you,” Natalie teased again, leaning on the counter.

Cereza and Lukaon shook their heads in sync, which only made Natalie grin more.

They definitely like each other.

“So, what’ll it be?”

“I’m fine,” Cereza said politely, gesturing for Lukaon to go first.

He looked at her, then at Natalie. “I’ll take two scoops of Cereza’s favourite flavour… on her favourite cone.”

Cereza choked, caught off-guard. “Wha—?”

“It’s my treat,” Lukaon said, smiling. “I want to try your favourite.”

She let out a sigh, half-exasperated, half-amused. “Two mint chocolate chip, waffle cone.”

Natalie nodded and got to work. Lukaon stood, hands tucked in his coat pockets, eyes forward. Cereza eyed him curiously. The gesture felt oddly formal… but kind. Sweet, even.

He’s a pretty nice guy, hmm.

While they waited, Cereza popped in her earbuds and chose a song herself this time. She played Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra, quietly humming the lyrics.

Lukaon peeked at her from the corner of his eye. She was softly singing to herself, and he strained to catch the notes—but her voice was so quiet, almost like a whisper.

“Here you go! Two mint chocolate chip waffle cones.”

“Much gratitude, Natalie.”

“Tell Ms. Morgana I said hi! Hope to see you both again soon.”

Lukaon paid and handed Cereza her cone, waving to Natalie with a smile. But Cereza noticed something in his expression… a hint of sadness beneath the cheerful mask.

As they walked toward the park, he kept that soft smile on, but she could feel it. The weight behind it. She knew that feeling—wore that same smile herself. Only Jeanne ever seemed to notice when she did.

Her thoughts drifted. 

Morgana… Was that the same Morgana Natalie mentioned?

Cereza remembered telling Jeanne about her time away from the village. She’d run off after everything happened, hiding with a woman named Morgana who’d taught her how to fight, how to survive. Morgana was tough but kind. She trained Cereza hard, and one day, Cereza had even outsmarted her in a spar. But then Morgana got a call—something urgent—and said it wasn’t safe anymore. That she had to go. Jeanne begged her parents to take Cereza in after that.

Still, Cereza kept writing to Morgana. And Morgana always replied.

As they reached Lumen Park, her cone started to melt, so she quickly devoured it to avoid any mess. Lukaon had already eaten most of his. He led her to a quiet bench with a view of blooming roses and lilacs. They sat, leaving a small space between them, finishing their cones in silence.

“Cereza,” Lukaon said, suddenly serious, “I wanted to be honest with you.”

She turned her gaze to him, nodding for him to continue.

“At school, I acted like I hadn’t seen you before. But… I did. At the park.”

Her eyes stayed on him, not interrupting.

“I heard someone calling for help, so I ran. I saw Jeanne… bruised. And a girl on the ground…” His fingers clenched his sleeves, voice shaky. “It was you. Covered in blood.”

Cereza blinked as her hand instinctively went over his. That night felt like a blur.

“I was horrified. Jeanne was crying, trying to carry you, but she could barely move. So I helped. I carried you to Jeanne’s house and laid you on the couch.”

She was stunned into silence.

“I… I thought, even covered in scars and bruises… who would hurt such a beautiful girl?” he said, barely above a whisper.

His eyes widened as he realised he’d said it out loud, and his cheeks turned bright red.

Cereza’s heart skipped a beat. She looked down, suddenly shy, her grip on his hand tightening.

“I just… I just want you to be safe. I know it’s not my place to ask. I just—please, take care of yourself.”

“Thank you,” was all she could manage.

They sat in silence, surrounded by flowers and the gentle warmth of spring.

Then she looked at him again.

“But I have to ask… why did you help me? Most people would’ve left me for dead.”

Lukaon took a deep breath.

“Where I lived, my birth caused chaos. My dad was murdered… just for loving my mother. She was banished. But before they came for me, she told me to run—to stay with Antonio Redgrave. He took me in.”

Cereza’s heart twisted at the familiarity.

“I still sneak visits to see her… even though she warns me not to. Says it’s dangerous. But she told me stories—about a girl she once trained. Clumsy, but fierce. Cried a lot, but never gave up. Said she wanted to introduce us, but then something happened. Something dark. She had to send that girl away to keep her safe.”

Cereza froze, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Morgana… His mother was Morgana.

Lukaon blinked in surprise at her tears. He didn’t know why she was crying, but he instinctively pulled her close.

And Cereza, wrapped in his arms, realised something so unbelievable, so powerful—it could only be fate.

Morgana’s son… was the boy who had saved her.

--

At the library…

Jeanne strolled through the rows of books, scanning the spines for something interesting, when a familiar voice called out from behind—one that instantly set her on edge.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

She spun on her heel, eyes already narrowed.

“Believe me, Valerie, you don’t want to do this. Not here. Not now.”

“Oh, but I do.”

Valerie launched a punch, but Jeanne ducked effortlessly. In one smooth motion, she tripped Valerie, snatched a thick hardcover from the shelf, and smacked it across the side of her head. Valerie stumbled, seeing stars.

Like Voltron, her goons appeared from the shadows and swarmed Jeanne, backing her into a corner.

Things weren’t looking great, but Jeanne wasn’t out of moves. She grabbed her bag, dropped into a runner’s stance—hands on the ground, knees bent, feet behind her—then launched forward. She leapt off a chair and began springing off the heads of each goon like she was Sonic the Hedgehog, bouncing her way out of the corner.

The girls collapsed, groaning and holding their heads.

“After her!” Valerie barked.

Jeanne grinned and sprinted down the hallway. A quick glance back showed Valerie and four other girls in hot pursuit. With a sharp turn, Jeanne drifted around the corner—just as Howard was opening his locker.

Without missing a beat, she shoved herself inside it, held a finger to her lips, and shut the door.

Howard blinked, completely baffled. He looked like he might cry—or pee himself—especially as Valerie stormed up with a visible black eye and murder in her eyes.

“WHERE IS SHE!?”

“W-w-who a-a-are you talking about?” he stammered, clutching his inhaler like a lifeline.

Valerie grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the lockers.

Inside the cramped locker, Jeanne bit her knuckle to keep from bursting into laughter.

“WHERE IS THAT FUCKING BITCH!?”

Howard wheezed, barely managing a breath before Valerie scoffed and released him.

“Fucking useless.” She turned to her squad. “Let’s go. She couldn’t have gotten far.”

Once they disappeared down the hall, Howard let out a shaky sigh and puffed his inhaler. He cautiously opened his locker door.

Jeanne popped out with a giant grin, pulled him into a tight hug, and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Much appreciated, sweat boy.”

Then she darted off down the hall, excited to tell Cereza everything that just went down.

Howard blinked once.

Then fainted.

---

Cereza felt embarrassed—crying in Lukaon’s arms of all places. She tried to pull away, but he held her closer.

“It’s alright… just let it out,” he whispered.

With her head resting against his chest, she finally gave in, letting the tears fall even though she hated the idea of showing that kind of vulnerability.

Lukaon gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, his eyes locked on hers with quiet concern.

“Don’t be afraid to cry… if you need to.”

Cereza didn’t respond. She just let his words sink in, heavy but comforting. After a moment, she slowly pulled away, her gaze falling to the blooming roses and lilacs in front of them.

“…Thank you.”

Lukaon gave a small nod, though guilt still weighed on him. He hadn’t meant to upset her—he only wanted to understand her better. But he kept those thoughts to himself.

Cereza stood up and turned her back to him. “I’m going to head back and get Jeanne so we can go home.”

As she took her first step, Lukaon instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“Please… forgive me. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

She turned to him, a flicker of raw emotion slipping through the walls she usually kept so high.

“You actually gave me peace.”

The honesty of her words caught him completely off guard. His grip loosened, and he let go of her hand without realizing it.

Cereza offered him one last soft smile before heading back toward the school. Lukaon, still stunned, trailed behind her at a quiet distance—just to make sure she got there safely.

Cereza knew he was following. She didn’t look back, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

He’s really Morgana’s son… and he actually cares about me…

As she opened the front doors of the school, she was suddenly tackled by a blur—Jeanne came sprinting out and collided with her, nearly knocking her over. But before she could hit the ground, Lukaon rushed in and caught her, steadying her gently.

Cereza blinked, caught in yet another unintentionally romantic moment.

Jeanne, catching her breath, raised an eyebrow with a sly grin. “Well, well—”

“Don’t say a word,” Cereza warned through gritted teeth.

Jeanne lifted her hands in mock surrender. But her expression turned serious as she leaned in slightly.

“She’s here.”

Cereza’s eyes narrowed immediately. She knew exactly who Jeanne meant.

“She tried something—but I got her back,” Jeanne said, a proud glint in her eye. “Left a nice mark too.”

Relief and worry twisted inside Cereza. “We left to avoid her… and now she’s come crawling back.”

“I know. Honestly, I was more worried you’d be the one starting the fight.”

Cereza let out a breath of ironic laughter, recalling their earlier conversation. Jeanne always knew her too well.

Lukaon stood silently nearby, piecing things together quickly.

Jeanne glanced at him, her expression darkening as she took in Cereza’s puffy eyes.

“Your eyes… he made you cry, didn’t he?” she asked, narrowing her gaze at him like a hawk.

Cereza waved her hands in defense. “He didn’t make me cry, Jeanne. But I do need to talk to you—back at the house.”

Jeanne studied her for a moment, then nodded. She grabbed Cereza’s hand and gave Lukaon the classic “I’m watching you” gesture with two fingers.

Lukaon chuckled nervously, raising both hands in surrender.

Cereza looked back at him one last time. “Let’s talk tomorrow.”

Lukaon smiled. “Definitely. You can talk to me anytime.”

Cereza let out a quiet laugh that tickled his ears. She lightly squeezed Jeanne’s hand, and the two girls walked side by side down the path towards home.

---

As they stepped inside the house, they were met with silence. The usual warm welcome Jeanne had grown up with was long gone. Still, she felt a different kind of warmth now—just having Cereza by her side.

Cereza, on the other hand, was quietly wrestling with guilt. She was grateful, of course, but that guilt never left. The unshakable feeling that she'd torn Jeanne from her family.

They made their way to Cereza’s room—once the guest room, now her space. Cereza sat down on the bed, legs crossed and uncrossed as her fingers fidgeted. Jeanne grabbed a water bottle from the mini fridge and flopped onto the beanbag chair, arms and legs spread out like a starfish.

“So…” Jeanne said between sips. “What made you cry?”

Cereza hesitated, bracing herself. “He’s… Morgana’s son.”

Jeanne did a full spit take. “What the fuck?!”

“Yeah…” Cereza sighed. “I couldn’t believe it either.”

Jeanne sat up properly now, all humour gone from her face. She got it. She really got it. Morgana wasn’t just some mentor—she was everything to Cereza. And now, finding her son like this… it was surreal.

“It gets worse,” Cereza muttered.

Jeanne leaned forward, alert and serious.

“His father was killed for loving her,” Cereza said, voice trembling. “And because it was too dangerous, Morgana had to send him away. She gave him to a man she trusted, someone who could raise him safely.”

Jeanne’s guilt deepened. She’d assumed Lukaon made Cereza cry—but this? This was heavy.

“It reminded me of my parents,” Cereza whispered, her eyes welling up again. “It’s like I was looking at a mirror. Morgana pushed me away to protect me too. I hated her for it… but now I get it.”

She broke down, the tears finally spilling over. Jeanne got up and wrapped her arms around her, gently stroking her hair.

“I know, Cereza. I know.”

Cereza grabbed a tissue, blowing her nose with a watery sniffle. “It broke me down, Jeanne. He went through so much. I felt so helpless. I wish… I wish I could’ve done more for him.”

“Cereza…” Jeanne said softly, “we can only move forward. The best way to help him now is to be there for him. That’s what matters.”

Cereza nodded, eyes glassy but focused.

“My mum was arrested the moment I was born, and daddy was exiled somewhere far away. I sneak in to see her when I can, sitting outside her cell and talking to her for hours. I slip my drawings and diary entries through the gaps. They won’t even let me send her letters anymore.”

She gave a sad chuckle. “I write to Daddy and Morgana too. I promised myself I’d work hard—save up enough to travel and see him one day. If he came here, they’d try to kill him.”

Jeanne watched her, eyes full of pride and love.

“You already know, Cereza—whatever happens, I’ve got you. Always.” She paused, then added, “And if this boy really is your old master’s son… then I’ve got him too. We help him, together.”

Cereza wrapped her arms around Jeanne tightly, heart full. “Thank you, Jeanne.”

“Don’t get soft on me now,” Jeanne teased with a smirk.

They laughed, hugging again with their eyes shut, finding comfort in each other like they always did.

“You hungry?” Jeanne asked.

Cereza opened her mouth to say no—but her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Jeanne picked up the phone and dialed the pizza shop. “Shouldn’t be long. I know your favourite toppings,” she said with a wink, already turning to place the order like the bestie she is.

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