After seventh and eighth period, Alexander was drained.
He walked out into the afternoon sun with his bag slung over his shoulder and a distant gaze.
Beside him were Karl and Elizabeth, with Hinata trailing.
Jules was absent, saying he'd catch up after chatting with Mimi and getting his and Alexander's bags from their dorm.
"Alexander, I'm gonna go check up on Anna, yeah?"
He tapped his shoulder, and Alexander looked over it with a tired smile.
"Yeah, I'll meet you at practice." He paused, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, and tell Louise I said hey."
Karl chuckled.
"I doubt that'll go over well, but sure."
He gave a quick wave before jogging into the distance—blending with the crowd of students buzzing around the campus grounds.
Left with Elizabeth and Hinata, the group approached the student council hall.
"Alex," Elizabeth called as they walked, "could I join your next study session with Louise?"
Alexander raised an eyebrow, "I don't think that's a good idea, Louise practically despises you."
Elizabeth pouted playfully, her arm still linked with his as they strolled.
"It's strange seeing you two close. A day ago you couldn't stand her, now you're studying together?"
Her voice carried a hint of curiosity mixed with something sharper. She tilted her head, her pink eyes searching for hesitation.
Alexander sighed, "It's not like that, we aren't best friends or anything.
It's just… André showed me that Louise isn't all bark, and that she's key to helping me build my future."
Hinata raised an eyebrow.
Elizabeth's pout deepened, becoming a little less playful.
"She's key to your future?"
Alexander stopped—caught off guard by the shift in her tone.
He turned to face her, Elizabeth's grip tightening a fraction more.
Alexander knew he had to choose his next words carefully.
"Elizabeth, I did not say that."
His words were slow and disarming.
"She's helping me learn about the politics of my homeland, how to build a Pathfinder house, and the more practical side of things."
Elizabeth's expression softened slightly, though her eyes flickered with doubt.
"Mhm, you say that." Her grip loosened, "but how can I know she isn't trying to manipulate you?"
She sighed, averting her gaze. "It's like you forgot I'm here. I have access to so much, and you choose her? It doesn't add up."
Alexander shook his head, "Elizabeth no, I'm not choosing her, that's not what I'm saying."
Elizabeth held his gaze, "Then what are you saying? Because it sounds like I'm being sidelined, why is Louise's help worth more than mine?"
"It's not." Alexander quickly replied, his voice firm but gentle.
He leaned closer, "You are everything to me. I know I'm a little weird at times, but trust me, I value you more than I can express."
Elizabeth's pout lingered, but she didn't interrupt.
"But, when it comes to building my house, I can't take a shortcut. It has to be on my terms, and Louise's help… It's not what you're thinking."
He hesitantly smirked, "She's not as sweet as you are, and she isn't as gentle.
She just throws the books at me and tells me where to read.
Everything I learn is by hand, and because of that, I'll never forget it."
Elizabeth's expression softened.
The sharpness in her eyes dulled to something more vulnerable.
"Always the cautious type, it's what I like about you," she teased, poking his chest.
"But, don't think for a second that this is over. If she tries anything—you tell me, okay?"
Her grip tightened and Alexander chuckled nervously.
"Yeah, of course."
He held her close, closing his eyes while breathing a sigh of relief.
Elizabeth returned the gesture, the scent of vanilla wafting in the breeze.
During this moment Alexander thought back to Louise's warning.
"…Stay away from Elizabeth. She's
dangerous."
He internally scoffed.
Elizabeth? Dangerous? She's the furthest thing from dangerous.
She was certainly intense, but that's what good friends do.
They worry about you, tease you, push you to be better.
And sometimes… They're a little possessive.
But that's normal, right?
Hinata cleared her throat, stepping closer.
"Your highness, the council meeting is about to begin, should I inform your sister that you'll be late?"
Elizabeth sighed as she pulled away from Alexander.
"No, no, I'm going…"
She whispered, squeezing Alexander before completely pulling away.
"Alex, you're coming to pick up after practice, right?"
Elizabeth's tone was light but insistent, her pink eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Alexander nodded.
"Always, and hey… do you wanna share your dorm tonight?"
His question was laced with hesitation and hope.
He hadn't planned on asking, but felt it was necessary to offer a concession after turning down her help.
Elizabeth's eyes widened, a genuine spark of delight breaking through her composed facade.
"Do you mean it?"
She asked, biting her lip.
"Yeah," Alexander affirmed, "I mean, it wouldn't be the first time… or the second."
Elizabeth giggled.
"Mhm, then let's make it a third."
With a playful wink, she turned on her heel and strolled towards the council building.
Hinata followed at a respectful distance behind.
Alexander watched the duo disappear into the hall, before tightening a fist near his heart.
For the first time, he felt real excitement.
The kind that made him want to charge into a burning building and save a child.
"That can't be normal…"
Alexander muttered to himself with a smirk.
He back-jogged a few steps, before turning into a run towards the practice field.
— — —
Reaching the field, Alexander spotted his teammates already warming up.
Raphael stood on the sidelines, his arms crossed as he looked at the setting sun.
Almost like he was bathing in the dimming golden rays.
As Alexander approached, Raphael slowly opened his eyes.
"Ah, there you are… little brother."
He grinned, tilting his head until his dark gaze swallowed Alexander whole.
Alexander paused in his tracks, his expression cautious.
"Raphael, I heard you had something special, care to elaborate?"
Raphael's grin widened as his eyes shone with a glint of amusement.
A chilling breeze whipped past him, sending the freshly cut grass swaying as he uncrossed his arms.
"Oh? Don't tell me you already forgot… "
He chuckled, stepping forward with an uneasy grace of someone who owned the world.
"…seems your little girlfriend scrambled your mind, want a reminder?"
He stopped a foot short of Alexander, looming over him.
Alexander looked up to meet his gaze—his heart thumping as his fists tightened.
Raphael's shadow engulfed him, the air thick with the scent of pine.
"Forget what?"
Alexander asked, his voice steady amid his racing mind.
He squared his shoulders despite the knot in his stomach.
The rest of the team continued their warmups—stealing glances in Alexander's direction.
Raphael's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Maybe you need a little reminder…"
He reached a hand into his coat, his movements slow and methodical.
Alexander clenched his jaw as the sound of ruffled paper echoed in the tense silence.
Raphael slowly pulled his hand from his coat—Alexander narrowed his eyes.
Raphael chuckled, revealing a stack of stapled pages and a pen.
Alexander dropped his shoulders with a blink.
"Huh?"
"It's the quiz, you little shit." He pressed the packet to Alexander's chest with a shove.
Alexander stumbled back a step.
He looked down at his hands to see a series of open-ended questions about the last match.
They were meticulous: asking for breakdowns of field positions, key players, strategies, and mistakes…
Suddenly Alexander recalled Raphael's last words.
"Good, I'm quizzing you after this."
He shook his head, looking up at Raphael.
"You were serious?!" He asked in disbelief.
Raphael laughed maniacally, "Of course I was serious, now get to work!"
He leaned back with his cackling, "Oh, and we're doing this weekly—every wrong answer is another hour of running!"
Alexander swallowed hard as Raphael spread his arms wide.
"Shit."