Chapter Text
Donning a gown and cap, Alice stood in the line feeling just a bit on edge. Four years of work for this moment…
“Alice Nouzen.”
Oh god, I might be sick…
She made her way up the steps slowly, legs weak, hands trembling. She could feel the eyes on her. Those old anxieties she could never completely shake whispered that they must be judging her, for her hair color, for some other reason, but she stamped out the thought.
Alice let her eyes flick towards the seats, in the front row sat her fellow graduates, waiting for their turn. But behind them… one group stood out in particular, sitting as close to the front as they could get. Their bright colors of black, silver and red were unmistakable. Hiding amongst the crowd was another person trying not to stand out… after all a member of the royal family attending a random graduation ceremony might cause a fuss.
Alice felt the nerves fade.
“Congratulations.” The man said with a smile, handing her the degree she’d worked so hard for. He shook her hand, and then she moved to step off the stage. But not before casting one more glance at the crowd—and their faces beaming up at her, clapping harder than anyone else.
~~~
“I’m so proud of you!” Lena said, squeezing her daughter in a tight hug.
“Congratulations, little Nouzen.” Her Uncle Vika said, still in disguise.
“Thanks Uncle Vika.” She smiled, “we’re heading to dinner, do you want to—”
“No, that's alright. I wouldn’t want to butt in on your family outing. I’ll be going home now.” He patted her head, nodded to her parents, and turned to leave. But before he did he said one more thing.
“It seems there’s someone else who wants to see you.”
Yes when she allowed herself some breathing room, that allowed Alice to finally acquire some friends.
“Yuki! Billy!”
Her new apartment brought her two new neighbors, much kinder than the first. And they all happened to attend the same university. All those late night study sessions and trips to the nearby cafe had led to something special.
Three years with them, the fact that it was coming to an end…
“Alice! Trying to sneak off without saying goodbye?” Yuki pretended to look hurt.
“Of course not. I’m gonna miss going to class with you guys.”
“You’ll keep in touch right?” Billy asked. There was a note of sadness in his expression, more so than Yuki’s (and… something else, something she couldn’t address at the moment.)
Also… she wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“Ah, it’s good to finally have some faces to the names.” Shin said, a… pleasant smile on his face, almost exceedingly pleasant.
“A- you must be Alice’s fa-father— nice to meet you mister—”
“Shinei.”
Shin reached out, offering a handshake, and Billy hesitatingly accepted.
“Mr Shinei… it’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Alice talks about you a lot, William.”
His smile turned into something colder, the grip becoming vice-like.
“What exactly is the nature of your relationship to my daughter?”
The boy’s eyes widened, his cheeks going slightly red. Shin was reminded of Daiya, in a way.
“Uh- um, we’re just friends, um, sir!”
“I see…”
“Knock it off, Dad!” Alice swatted his arm, also slightly red.
Shin let go of the boy’s hand, though the red eyes lingered on him. Billy began to sweat. Lena pulled Shin back by the arm.
“Darling, we don’t want to scare them off from talking to her.” She turned a sweet smile towards the pair.
“Call me Lena, good to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, miss Lena.” Billy said, shoulders sinking slightly in relief.
“Are you really the Reaper and Bloody Reina?” Yuki asked, curiosity getting the best of her.
“Yes, that’s correct.” said Shin, he then added with a chuckle, “but those days are long over.”
“Still, you’re like, actual heroes! That’s so cool!” she beamed, causing both Shin and Lena to smile back. “Alice, you’re so lucky!”
“I know,” she smiled, but then the smile faded, “we better go…”
The three of them hugged. Alice was keenly aware of Shin’s eyes on them, but she chose to focus on the moment.
“See you guys back at the apartment. I’ve still got some time before I move back to Giad, so…”
“Awww this is harder than I thought!” Yuki said tearfully. Billy didn’t say anything, but she could still easily read his expression.
It was only when she was walking away that he spoke.
“When you do move… I’ll come visit you sometime.”
Alice glanced over her shoulder, and smiled at him.
“I’d like that.”
Shin cleared his throat. Alice swatted him again. She only addressed the situation as she was climbing into the car.
“We’re just friends, Dad.”
“Uh huh, sure, dear.”
And yet she still had to deal with her brothers’ teasing and obnoxious kissing sounds the whole ride.
~~~
“Erich, get off your phone. You too, Rei. For goodness sake, it’s just one moment of time with your family.”
““Sorry, Mom.””
Lena huffed. Shin patted her back to soothe her. It was a scene Alice had witnessed many times, but after four years of it being a rare sight, it felt all the more precious.
“Alice, do you know what you’re going to do now?” Shin asked.
“I’m not sure… find a place back in Giad, try to find a job. I’d eventually like to teach history.”
War history, to be precise. And speaking on that subject…
“Once everything is settled down, I can finally start the publishing process for my novel!”
With her life being as it was, it had taken some time to finish, but she kept at it. She even interviewed her aunts, uncles, and of course her father, to get their perspectives on certain topics. All that work and now at last…
“I said it before, but I really am so proud of you, Alice.” Lena said,
“We both are.” Shin added, and her brothers nodded their agreement.
“Have you… looked at any places yet?” Lena asked casually, stirring the ice in her drink with her straw.
“No, I plan to start soon though. Only a couple months until my lease is… what are those looks for?”
They were both smiling at her, almost… expectant.
“Mom, Dad, I can’t. I couldn’t possibly…”
“And why not?” Shin countered, “Your room is exactly how you left it.”
“Besides… your poor old parents are getting lonely! Left with two grumpy teenage boys embarrassed by our very existence.” Lena added, and Shin nodded solemnly.
““Hey!””
Both them pretended to be upset… until they couldn’t take it anymore and started laughing, eventually coaxing their sons into doing the same.
I love this… I really do.
Once they settled down,
“If you really don’t mind…”
““Not at all.”” They were beaming by this point, how could she say no?
“Alright then…”
“Wonderfull!” Lena said “oh we should probably give that room another cleaning before you come… maybe get some new bedding…”
Shin nodded along as Lena continued to plan. Occasionally chiming in. Alice and her brothers took playful jabs back and forth where they pretended to be annoyed by the idea, but she could tell they were happy.
Four years of work paid off at last, the future looked bright and best of all…
Alice Nouzen was going home.
The End