"Could've gone easy on me....."
"Suck it up, cadet."
"....."
Raven frowned.
The two were currently in the changing room.
They had accumulated quite the sweat.
All of a sudden, the air around Raven changed.
"Wait, Brandon."
Realizing how serious Raven's tone was, Brandon found himself curious as he tilted his head.
"Hm?"
"Get out of here."
What is he getting at—
Ah.
"You think I'm going to disappear again?"
"Yeah, changing rooms are cursed for you."
"Watch me disappear."
Clank—!
Brandon immediately closed the door and scoffed, leaving Raven alone in the changing room.
Beating Raven to a pulp.....
"Feels good."
Brandon looked around.
The duel matches had begun.
Since they were told they had the choice to leave after their matches were done, Brandon was just about to leave when someone called up to him.
"Brandon!"
Brandon turned around.
It was Cyrus.
"Oh, hey. Long time no see."
Just like Rachel, Cyrus hugged him.
"Good to have you back, man."
Brandon was startled at first, but returned the hug eventually, and tapped on Cyrus' back.
After a brief conversation, Cyrus returned to the row. His fight turn hadn't started yet.
Brandon shook his head with a smile and turned around.
"Brandon."
Another voice called out for him.
He turned around once more.
It was Reinhard.
"Yo, uh...."
Unlike Cyrus' directness, Reinhard seemed awkward as he scratched his cheek.
Breaking the awkward atmosphere, Brandon opened his mouth.
"What did one toilet say to the other?"
Reinhard curiously tilted his head.
"What are you—"
"You appear a bit flushed."
"...."
Reinhard's eyes widened.
However, Brandon seemed to have successfully broken the awkwardness as Reinhard covered his mouth, shoulders trembling.
"Pfft....."
"Good to see you again, Reinhard."
"You too....."
Reinhard approached him and the two hugged, tapping on each others' backs.
Pulling away, Reinhard flashed a wide grin.
"We should catch up after dismissal. We're planning on celebrating your return, come with us."
They were already planning?
That fast....?
"Sure."
Brandon nodded his head in agreement.
"Great. Oh, and check your phone. There should be a new group chat in your app by now."
"Hm?"
Brandon looked at his phone.
"Ah."
And it was there.
[Reinhard's opps.]
A group chat.
"Opps?"
The hell is that.
"Ah, don't mind the group name. A little joke from Claire."
".....Oh."
"Well, just check the group chat later. We still haven't chosen the location. But most likely, a karaoke place."
Brandon took in his words as he opened the group chat. There were about seven people in the group comprising of; Reinhard, Raven, Amy, Rachel, Claire, Sarah, Cyrus,
Seems like Sarah and Cyrus made it to the friend group.
"Hm?"
Brandon pushed a water bottle towards her, sliding it across the table.
"Oh, thanks."
"Mhm."
Gulp~
"Ah....."
Rachel put the water bottle down after chugging on it. Then, she wiped the glistening sweat all over her face.
After she was done, it was time to get down to business.
However, the atmosphere seemed awkward. As if Rachel had no idea where to start.
For that reason, Brandon cleared his throat.
"Kuhum...."
Then, he met Rachel's gaze.
"So, long time no see."
"Ah, yes."
Regardless, it was still quite tense.
"I heard you took your father's role."
"Yes, I did. But things aren't quite busy these days. I have a secretary to manage small matters for me."
"Oh? Same old Rachel shoving her work to other people...?"
"Eh...."
Rachel frowned.
"N-No, for your information, I've been attending business meetings diligently."
"Haha, I was kidding."
"Hehe~ I know."
Then, Rachel averted her gaze and looked down. Shortly after, she switched the topic.
Brandon had been waiting for this moment.
"Uhm, about that stuff between us in the past.... Can we forget about it and reset our relationship?"
Brandon's brows raised at her words. He had prepared all sorts of replies to whatever Rachel would propose.
Despite taking all of it into account, the fact that she opted for this decision had still taken him quite aback.
"We weren't really in a good place, and I kind of felt like I forced you to it. I was immature, I know. And I honestly regretted the decisions I made back then."
Brandon listened attentively to each of her words. Despite the fact that Rachel wasn't seeing him eye–to–eye, her message got through to him.
"We kind of rushed into it, and when you died, I didn't know what to do."
"Disappeared."
"Right, disappeared. Anyway, I hope we can start out as friends again. If something blooms, then we can take our time and develop things naturally—"
"Rachel."
Brandon cut her off.
"Yes?"
That was when Brandon began to explain his circumstances during his disappearance. The reason why he had never revealed his survival, and the time he spent with Amelia.
It was mostly because he needed a break. Time away from his friends to sort everything out. Of course, he omitted parts Rachel didn't need to know, such as the Sovereign's will and Belle's death.
Maybe from Rachel's perspective, it might've been an excuse. But regardless, he was honest.
"Oh, I see....."
"Yeah."
"Thanks for clearing things up. I remember seeing you two during the festival, you two look good together."
Rachel clasped her hands and stood up.
"Anyway, I hope things don't get too awkward between us later. You're coming, right?"
"Of course, it's a party for me, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Also, don't tell anyone, and don't say you heard it from me. But the party is actually planned by Claire."
"Eh?"
Now that was a bombshell. Even more surprising than the change everyone had.
"Hehe. I'll get going now. See you later."
"Mhm. See you."
Just like that, Rachel left.
A smile spread across Brandon's face as he stared at Rachel's departing back.
To his surprise, Rachel handled the news maturely.
However, his smile soon faded as he remembered.
'I'm sorry things ended up this way. But I'm not the man you're destined with.'
'And that man.... He's long gone.'
That man,
.....Was Brandon Locke himself.
***
Rachel stood by the gazebo entrance, leaning on the wall.
She breathed a sigh and looked up.
"I guess this is for the best."
That was all she could say to herself.
Truth be told, the feelings she had for Brandon now were quite different.
She was more glad to know that he was alive, than glad that she could reset her relationship with him.
As if the fact that Brandon was alive was enough for her.
"I really hope things aren't too awkward later."
She walked ahead and entered the changing room.
She was just about to enter the stall, when she stopped and gazed at the mirror.
Pulling the strand of her hair, she then went on to say.
"Should I dye my hair blonde....?"