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Late in a small room I am renting in Inazuma City, I light a single lantern to return to my studies. Taking it from the corner of my temporary room, I lay it on the far corner of my desk. Sighing as soon as my body sits on the red cushion on the floor, I try to open one of the books I ordered from a nearby bookstore to get more history on Inazuma’s different culture. Both of my eyes scan the first few pages; however, I did not recover any single information.
Is it because I’m tired tonight? This is unusual for me. Usually I would be up studying all night and napping throughout the day if I’m not working. That’s how it was back in the Akademiya days.
As my thoughts mention the Akademiya times, a reminiscence sigh leaves my lips. Without caring about how my back would hurt from this, I lean back, falling on the hardwood floor. Both of my arms extend across the floor as my (e/c) eyes just stare deeply at the ceiling. However, no matter how long I stare at the same dark brown wood ceiling, nothing comes to mind as to why I can not focus.
Growling, my body sits up. My hands lightly slap both of my face to snap myself out of thought. “What if I’m just hungry? Surely, it must be that. There are often times where I get lost in studies and get hungry at random times of the day.”
Standing up with that decision, I slide my room door open and walk down the hallway to the kitchen area.
Now that I think about it… I’m not the one who would remind me to eat and take care of myself. Alhaitham usually is there knocking at my office door during lunchtime in the Akademiya. If there were extra assignments for one of our classes and I was stuck in the classroom or library doing them, he would normally just drag me out to eat.
A smile makes its way to my lips as I think about the past. Thinking of food just makes me think of Alhaitham. Honestly, the smallest thing would make me think of him, even during my time here. He would stand out during classes to where most of the professors would get tired of him not showing up to lectures. Alhaitham was more of a see-it-in-person kind of student. Going out instead of being locked up in a classroom or office was more of his style of learning.
I turn on an open door that leads straight to the kitchen and dining area. As I step foot inside, I see the woman who let me rent out a room in this house while I’m doing my studies here. She sits at the square table on the floor, going over what I see to be mail. Her brows furrow in either stress or contemplation over what one of the mails. She does not seem to notice my presence, even as I walk up to her.
“Are you contemplating over bills or trying to contemplate what to eat as a midnight snack, Etsuko?”
Etsuko jumps in surprise as she turns around. “Oh! H-How long were you standing there for?”
“Long enough to find my roommate staring at all these mail in front of her. What seems to be the problem anyways? You never look like this during the daytime,” I question as I sit across from her on the floor.
“Oh, nothing that important,” she sighs. “Bills and other mail have just come in. Neither of us have been here for a few days since we went to Watatsumi Island to visit Kokomi. I didn’t think it would stack up this much.”
A laugh leaves my lips. “You realize that we were gone for far longer than a ‘few days,’ Etsuko. Besides some of them may be fan mail from the soldiers from that island. You did attract a few of them while we were touring.”
Her face grows red at the mention of soldiers. A typical thing that I have noticed since I started living with Etsuko. She may be just a simple tour guide for tourists who are visiting Inazuma since the ban has been lifted; however, she is a lover for any type of soldier around these parts. Though she never once flirted with a man, she always gets fan mail from them if they accompany us on our travels, which we had a few with us during our Watatsumi Island trip.
“Right! I forgot to mention this!” Etsuko claps her hands together before going through the mail once more.
“What did you forget this time?”
“Don’t say it like I normally forget stuff!” she retorts. “Anyway, someone sent you a letter while we were away.” Her hand brings out a light green and white envelope. “I’ve never seen this type of letter around here in Inazuma, so it must be from another nation.”
Seeing the letter in front of me, I knew that it was from someone in Sumeru. Someone who is in the Akademiya to be more precise. The stationery looks similar to a specific scribe that’s working there. However, it strikes me as odd that someone would send me a letter knowing that I was trying to do my research on the history of Inazuma.
“Does it say who made it?”
“Umm…” Etsuko turns the letter around. “From a guy named…Kaaav…Kav…eh? Is his name supposed to be a question?”
A laugh leaves my lips at her pronunciation of a friend’s name. “Oh, goodness. That made my night, Etsuko!”
“Well, it’s not my fault! At least I’m trying! Some people’s names are hard to pronounce for me.”
I take the mail from her hands, opening the envelope. “What did this architecture send to me now?”
Dear Y/n,
How’s it going over there in Inazuma? I heard from the brute that you are still doing your research over there . Well, to catch you up on events, there have been some changes in Sumeru. The sage of the Akademiya has been let go of and now the archon is no longer held captive at the top of the Akademiya. Not just that, but according to this brute, he was supposed to become a sage. Ha! Can you believe that? I surely don’t. Well, since it has been a couple of years since you left Sumeru City and with the recent changes, I thought it would be a marvelous idea to have you back. I’ll invite Tighnari and Cyno along with the brute! Just meet us at the tavern we always hang out at in about three days! Hopefully we’ll see you there!
Oh another thing, please don’t tell Alhaitham that I stole his stationery from his desk. I knew that you would know that this letter would come from here if I used it.
From,
Kaveh.
I roll my eyes at the last part from him.
Of course I would know that this is Alhaitham’s stationery. Even though that scribe is not usually at the office, he’s picky about his stationery and almost anything on his desk…besides applications, of course. Alhaitham would never send me a letter about something like this unless it was urgent for me to come back.
“What does it say? You keep rolling your eyes and giving a small smile that I’m now curious to know,” Etsuko says with excitement and curiosity in her tone.
“It’s just my friend from the Akademiya. He wants me to come back for a little reunion in three days,” I explain to her with a short smile. “However, as much as I want to go, I still have to-”
“Oh, no you don’t!” Etsuko cuts me off, lightly slamming both of her hands on the table. She leans half of her body over so her face is close to mine. “You’ve always put your research first. All the trips we do take, it’s always for your research and that alone. Nothing is ever for you to let your hair down. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity while you are still researching. Just go have fun in Sumeru with your colleagues.”
“B-B-But what about the bills?” I stutter my words at her sudden change of mood and at how close she is to my face. “I’ll be gone, so I can’t pay for the room I am renting.”
“As if I’m worried about that! I’m not your typical roommate who demands pay every day. Besides, you have been working everyday without any break. Consider this as a vacation!”
Knowing her, she won’t back down from this idea. Taking a deep breath in and letting it out, I finally give in to the idea of me going. This resulted in spending the majority of that night packing my suitcase and bags for the vacation.
The next morning, Etsuko brought me to Ritou to where I would be departing for Sumeru City. With this, I would get there the morning of the reunion. As my suitcase and bags were loaded by a crewman, Etsuko hugs me gently.
“I’ll see you back here in a few days?” She asks as she pulls away from me.
A small laugh leaves my lips. “I have to. I still technically live in your house. The rent has to be paid one way or another. Speaking of which, what will you do while I’m gone?”
“Well, I do have a few tours around the area. I’ll find something to do while you’re gone. Don’t worry so much about me!” Etsuko winks. “Be sure to tell me all about your trip when you come back.”
We both share a last hug before I board the ship. As the boat leaves the dock, the two of us wave as to each other.
The day of the reunion, just like I had predicted, the boat finally docks in Port Ormos. Getting off the ship, one of the crewmen gives me my luggages. With a small smile, I bow my head lightly before heading my way out of the port. Looking around, a lot of nostalgia hits me like I had been hit by a Sumpter Beast. A few things have changed since the last time I was here. Such as the variety of shops, how lively it has now become, and the different ships that are coming and going now.
Looking at the sky, I realize just how long I still have to go from here to Sumeru City. A sigh leaves my lips at how long of a walk I would need to do. Not just that, but there could be some rogues on the way to Sumeru City. Just because things have changed for the good does not mean that the evil around the area has disappeared within a second.
“Hey,” a deep, feminine voice calls out. “Are you, Y/n?”
Hearing my name from her lips, my body turns around to see a female Eremite. My eyes widen at the female with her looks. She does not look bad, not at all. More the opposite.
“Yes…? How do you know me?” I ask her, approaching her with my luggages.
Her sky-blue color eyes slowly look me up and down, most likely checking if I am really who I am. Though I have no idea how she would know how I look since this is the first time I met her.
“An architect named Kaveh sent me here to pick you up, saying that an old friend of his will be visiting soon. Though he didn’t say how soon, he sent me here two days ago,” she explains to me, noticing my confused look on his face. “I’m Dehya, an Eremite. From the look on your eyes, you already knew that.”
A small smile returns to my face knowing that someone sent another to get me from here. At least this journey will not be lonely. “I’m just happy that someone is here to travel with me to Sumeru City. I was afraid of going alone and someone was going to try to rob me. I really do hate to admit it, but I haven’t fought anyone since I left Sumeru City years ago for this research. All my combat skills have gone down the drain.”
Dehya puts a hand on her left hip. “So that’s why he sent me here. No wonder he was urging me to do this for him. Even when I joked about the amount to pay me, he did not hesitate to pay it all,” she mumbles lowly under her breath.
An eyebrow raises at her comment. “Excuse me, but what do you mean?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing. Let’s get going. You do have a reunion to get to. At this rate, we may just go straight to the tavern. I’m sure your old friends will get you to a hotel later on instead.”
Nodding my head, the two of us start our journey from Port Ormos to Sumeru City. Along the way though, Dehya asks me many questions about what I’m researching and how it was like in Inazuma. I try to keep it as detailed as I could, but not too complicated to where she couldn’t understand. Each time I explain the scenery or the times were in battle to keep me and Etsuko safe, I could see her eyes light up with excitement.
Soon, the sky had grown dark and the two of us had made it right in front of the tavern. I gently take back my luggage from her hand that she had taken from me in the middle of our trip here. Like I was back in Inazuma, my body bows out of habit.
“Thank you, Dehya, for escorting me here. This was a fun trip, and I had a fun time chatting with someone on the way here.”
Standing straight, I could see the question in her eyes at my action. “Though I have no idea why you bowed, you’re welcome for me escorting you. This is part of my job that I was paid for. Have fun.”
She waves her hand before heading off in the opposite direction. Smiling, I turn back around to look at the tavern. Taking a really deep breath and exhaling it, my hands lay on the handle. The anticipation of seeing old friends run through me.
It’s been years. I haven’t even sent any of them mail due to how busy I have been, and they mostly have been as well. I’ll get to see them all again.
With that thought, my hand opens the door.
Walking inside, I can smell the familiar scent of Sumeru’s specialties, different from the ones in Inazuma. Looking around, I recognize the owner, Lambad.
“Lambad…? Is it still you…?” I ask, squinting a little at him.
Lambad stares back at me with a confused look. “Are you a regular here…? You look…familiar…”
“Well, I could imagine. The last time you saw me was when Kaveh threw me a farewell party two nights before I had left for my journey to Inazuma,” I giggle at his confusion.
His eyes widen in realization as he said that. “Y-Y/n…?! You came back?!”
“I came back for a few days,” I tell him. “Kaveh sent me a letter that we should do a reunion since it has been a few years since I left.”
“Ah, that reunion,” Lambad sighs. “Those four always scare me together, especially when they drink too much.” He shakes his head as if remembering some things that had happened. “They are in the back. I put them there so they won’t bother other customers. It is good to see you again though, Y/n. Enjoy yourself.”
“I will. Thank you, Lambad,” I reply, bowing my head lightly before walking to the back.
Making my way to the back, the nervousness from seeing my friends slowly starts to sink in. I try to take deep breaths to calm down, until I hear voices. Familiar voices.
“You brought me out here…just to attend some reunion?” A very familiar voice rings out.
Hearing him makes me stop in my tracks. My heart starts to speed up. Trying to calm myself down, I get as close as I can to the table. There, I see Cyno, Tighnari, Kaveh and Alhaitham all gathered around. Kaveh on the left, Cyno on the right, Tighnari who is facing my direction, and Alhaitham’s back is towards me.
“Look, you’re always in that office or off somewhere! We don’t even know where you are half the time so this is the only way to bring you out!” Kaveh replies loudly with complaints.
“So you decide it would be best if you said that there was a surprise for me?” Alhaitham questions as he leans back in his chair, crossing his arms in the process. “I thought you would learn a few things by now. Clearly, you haven’t.”
Tighnari props his head on the table with one hand. “Well, what if, for once, he was not lying about the surprise?”
Cyno, being the quiet one and observing the entire conversation, glances at me. The two of us make eye contact. However, after knowing him for a while while studying in the Akademiya, I already knew that his eyes were telling me to stay quiet until the right moment comes by.
“Well, that would actually be a surprise for once in his life,” retorts Alhaitham, earning a scoff from Kaveh,
He puts his drink down. “I’m full of surprises! Don’t say that I’m predictable!”
While Alhaitham’s attention is on Kaveh, Tighnari glances up, seeing me standing there. A small smile appears on his lips as his ears twitch. “Well, it seems that your surprise from Kaveh seems to have arrived.”
“And what is that exactly? More drinks that Kaveh has decided to make me pay for?” Alhaitham questions.
That’s when Kaveh then notices me. A huge grin appears on his face as he stands up from his seat with open arms. “Y/n! You finally came!”
He walks over to me, engulfing my body in his arms for a hug. I return the hug to him. “If anything, I’m glad I could make it. It’s been a long while since I left Sumeru.”
“It’s good to have you back,” Kaveh says before pulling away from the hug, but still having his arm around my shoulders. “So, Alhaitham, got anything to say?”
Alhaitham, who turned in his seat to see me behind him earlier, looks at me. The two of us make eye contact, bringing heat to my cheeks. Unable to keep contact, my eyes look away slightly.
Don’t…Don’t look at me with your eyes… I have been thinking of you lately for the last few months.
Instead of saying anything, Alhaitham stands up from his chair. He walks up to where me and Kaveh are and pushes Kaveh away. That action alone causes me to look up at the scribe in shock.
“She can’t take a seat at the table if you’re all over her,” Alhaitham comments as Kaveh complains in the background.
“She’s my friend! I am allowed to hug her, you know! She doesn’t belong to you!”
“You didn’t go to a hotel yet to put your stuff down?” Cyno questions, speaking for once since I came here.
A nervous smile comes to my lips. “Yeah… Dehya did go to Port Ormos to get me, but we still just arrived here not too long ago. I can get into a room later though! It’s no big deal!” That’s when I remembered something and look towards Kaveh. “Which by the way, thank you, Kaveh, for sending Dehya to come get me. I was nervous about traveling to Sumeru City from Port Ormos.”
However, Kaveh doesn’t give an answer. Instead, his facial expression turns into pure confusion. “What are you talking about? I did not send anyone to go get you. The only thing I sent was that letter.”
“W-Wait…huh…? I-If you didn’t send Dehya…then who-”
Tighnari then chuckles from his seat. “I believe the one who sent her is standing right next to you, Y/n.”
Shocked with this new information, my eyes glance up towards Alhaitham, who just has this expressionless face. I could not read him at all. “You…got Dehya to get me?”
Alhaitham was silent for a few seconds, not saying anything.
“Well, this is a surprise. Alhaitham is doing something that’s not for himself for once? How shocking.” Kaveh teases as he takes a drink from his cup.
Instead of answering, Alhaitham just takes my luggage with one hand and my hand with his free one. Without saying anything, he starts to lead me out of the tavern.
“H-Hey! She just got here!” Kaveh yells.
“Stop your yelling,” Alhaitham answers him over his shoulder. “She just got here with her stuff still in tow. It would be best to put them somewhere and come back. We are just leaving and coming back.”
Without waiting for another one of Kaveh’s comments, the two of us leave the tavern. Outside under the night sky, a blush creeps on my cheeks at Alhaitham’s hand on mine. He holds it securely enough to where I won’t be able to slip it out.
“So…you never answered me if you were the one who sent Dehya for me.” I break the silence between us.
Alhaitham stops in his tracks. He still does not say anything until he turns his body to look directly at me. “If I did…what difference would it make?”
“A lot,” I smile at him. “It would mean a lot that…you cared enough to sent someone for me.”
I finally look into his turquoise eyes, full of gratitude that shows my feelings for him beneath the gratitude. He stares back before giving a rare sigh.
“I…did sent Dehya after you. I knew Kaveh has sent for you as a surprise to me, but I knew since he could never keep his mouth shut,” he admits. “By the look of things, the journey with you two went smoothly I’m guessing?”
My head nods. “She and I did talk. We had hoped to make it to a hotel for me to drop my stuff, but we decided to go straight to the tavern. We don’t have to go to the hotel now.”
“Who said anything about going to a hotel?” Alhaitham asks. I look up at him in shock. “You’re here…after years of being gone. It’s fine if you stayed at my place.”
“A-Are you sure…? I wouldn’t be bothering you at all?”
“Why would you bother me? Besides…” Alhaitham begins to lean down closer to me. “I do want some time with you…without the annoyance of my roommate.”
Before I could say anything, his lips touch mine gently. At first, I was shock at the sudden touch of his lips, but soon, my eyes close, returning his kiss. After a few seconds, we both pull away but not too far from each other. Close enough to where we could kiss again.
“You forgot that when you left for Inazuma,” he whispers huskily.
“Wha…What do you…”
He kisses me once more. “You really think I haven’t noticed how you felt towards me? It was as obvious as it could be, still is now.”
With my face red, I look away from him. “S-So…you like me back then…?”
“I have been,” he puts a hand on my chin, tilting it up to make me look at him. “Probably before you started having feelings for me. Back during our days studying in the Akademiya.”
As if nothing else matters, we both share a kiss under the stars, right there on the empty and quiet street in Sumeru City. My arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer as if I could not have enough of him, deepening the kiss that he happily accepts. We kissed for who knows how long. Reluctantly, we separated our lips, knowing that we both want more of each other.
Hand-in-hand, we walk to his house which is a few minutes walk from the tavern.
“That reminds me, how did Kaveh manage to write to you?” Alhaitham questions with pure wonder. “All I’ve seen him with is tools and some wood. No kind o f stationery at all.”
I give a small giggle. “Well…he went to your office and used your stationery when you weren’t there. He knew that I would recognize it instantly if he did.”
And that’s when I realize something…
Oh, crap. Didn’t Kaveh tell me in the letter to keep quiet about it…?
“So that’s how he wrote to you…” he mumbles. “Well then, I’m glad I took his keys. When we leave the party early later, I’m locking the doors.”
I laugh at his comment. “You would find any reason to keep him out of the house, huh?”
Alhaitham gives a small smile. “Well, he shouldn’t have touched what isn’t his. That goes for both my stationery…and you. Besides…” He leans in closer to my ear. “We have years of catching up to do.”
A blush creeps on my face once again as he pulls me to his house.
Alhaitham cups my cheek as he kisses me passionately. “Welcome home.”