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Lloyd: “After rescuing KeA from the Azure Tree, we returned safely to Crossbell City.”
Lloyd: “President–or rather, Mayor Crois–was officially placed under arrest.”
Lloyd: “In the meantime, Speaker MacDowell would serve in his place as Crossbell’s interim mayor.”
Lloyd: “But, the people of Crossbell were still reeling from the aftereffects of the Azure-Zero incident.”
Lloyd: “And so… the six of us Special Support Section mobilized once more before our inevitable goodbyes.”
—
Wazy: “Not even a day's rest for police officers, huh? Can’t say I envy you guys.”
Lloyd: “Wazy, you agreed to help us out on this one. You don’t get to complain now of all times.”
Randy: “Well, now. We wouldn’t even get any paid leave even if the city goes under.”
Elie: “Come on, you two. The Bracer Guild has had their hands full already. It’s only right if we help them however we can.”
Noel: “I agree with Elie. I can't sit still knowing the people of Crossbell need our help more than ever.”
Tio: “I would've really loved to have a day off, though. We've had nothing but action for the past few days…”
Lloyd: “Just bear with it, Tio. It's part of the package of being a police officer.”
Lloyd: “That being said, there really are a lot of urgent support requests today. Did we rack them up while we were on the Azure Tree?”
Randy: “Doesn't seem so. Looks like they were all just submitted this morning.”
Noel: “The Azure Tree just cleared up yesterday. It makes sense people are only now finding the time for support requests.”
Elie: “IBC administration, Arc-en-ciel renovation, St. Ursula machine troubleshooting, and delivering supplies to Armorica, Mainz, and the Cathedral…”
Elie: ”They're all really spread out, too. Can we even finish them all today?”
Wazy: “If that's the case, then why don't we spread out as well?”
Lloyd: “What do you mean?”
Wazy: “Look. There may be a lot of urgent requests, but none of them required all six of us to be together.”
Wazy: “We can split up and individually handle these tasks by ourselves. What do you think?”
Randy: “Oh, not a bad idea.”
Tio: “I fully agree.”
Noel: “That way, we can focus on clearing these requests without wasting too much time on each one.”
Noel: “Yep, I like it!”
Elie: “I have no objection either. Good thinking, Wazy.”
Lloyd: “Alright. Since everyone is in on it, we can start splitting up each request we want to take.”
Lloyd: “Wazy, you can go first.”
Wazy: “I'll take sending supplies to the Cathedral. I need to have a nice, long chat with Archbishop Eralda too.”
Randy: “I call dibs on the renovation.”
Randy: “I owe Rixia a fat one after her debacle with Shirley. The least I can do for her is help recover the damages done to Arc-en-ciel.”
Tio: “I'm going to St. Ursula. That troubleshooting request is most definitely made for me in mind.”
Elie: “Then, I'll go ahead and take care of the business at IBC.”
Elie: “I can't imagine the hole in management left by Bell and Uncle Dieter would be easy for them to handle.”
Noel: “…”
Lloyd: “That leaves the support requests to Armorica and Mainz.”
Noel: “(Come on, Noel Seeker. The time has finally come, you can't slip up now!)
Lloyd: “Noel, since they’re both delivery requests, I’ll let you choose which one you want to take.”
Noel: “(There’s no room for doubts anymore. It’s now or never!)”
Lloyd: “...Noel?”
Noel: “U-Um, Lloyd, would you mind if…if we do these requests together with my car?”
Lloyd: “Huh?”
Randy: “Oh-ho? What’s this? Looks like something happened while we weren’t looking.”
Wazy: “Sheesh, I didn’t know you two went that far already. I’m honestly impressed.”
Tio: “Congratulations, Lloyd, Noel.”
Elie: “N-Noel? What’s…?”
Noel: “I-I mean, look, both Armorica and Mainz are pretty far from the city, and carrying the supplies by yourself on foot or on bus would probably be too much trouble for you, so…”
Lloyd: “...”
Lloyd: “...I understand, Noel. I’ll gladly take you up on that offer.”
Wazy: “Wow, I’m speechless.”
Elie: “Y-Yeah, same here…”
Randy: “Lloyd and Noel~”
Tio: “...Sitting in a car~”
Lloyd: “Alright, cut it off. We have requests to complete here.”
Randy: “Be sure to tell us all the spicy details later!”
Wazy: “We’ll look forward to the heated retellings over dinner, Lloyd.”
Lloyd: “I swear…”
Lloyd: “Anyway, now that we’ve all chosen our tasks, it’s high time we actually get them done.”
Lloyd: “Special Support Section, roll out!”
Everyone: “Yeah!”
Noel: “(Huge success!)”
—
Lloyd: And so, each of us went on to tackle our respective support requests.
Lloyd: Noel, Wazy, and I procured supplies from Mr. Hayworth's house first.
Lloyd: Elie and Randy already went ahead to their destinations on their own, and Wazy eventually also left to deliver the supplies with Abbas.
Lloyd: Noel briefly went to Tangram to borrow her armored car while the division car was still being repaired. Tio tagged along with us until we dropped her off in St. Ursula.
Lloyd: Right now, I'm alone with Noel as we make our way to Armorica…
—
Lloyd: “(...)”
Noel: “(...)”
Lloyd: “(I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but this is most certainly a date…)”
Noel: “(What in the Gehenna were you thinking, Noel Seeker!? You clearly weren't prepared for this at all!)”
Lloyd: “(Crap, what do I even say to her? There's gotta be something in here somewhere!)”
Noel: “(You're the one who asked him out! You should be the one starting the conversation!)”
Lloyd and Noel: “...Ah!”
Lloyd and Noel: ”I-I'm sorry!” / “I apologize!”
Lloyd and Noel: “Huh?”
Lloyd: “W-Wait. Noel, you can go first. I don’t want to disturb you if it’s something important.”
Noel: “On the contrary, Lloyd! If it’s something urgent, then we can’t afford to delay it for any longer!”
Lloyd: “Listen here, Noel…”
Noel: “Lloyd, I insist!”
Lloyd and Noel: “...”
Lloyd and Noel: “Pfft, Hahahahaha!”
Noel: “I swear, what are we even doing?”
Lloyd: “We really are in the same boat. In the same car even, haha.”
Noel: “It's not everyday we get to be alone together like this.”
Noel: “Even if we do, we almost only talk about work and more work. Nothing left for personal topics or simply just chatting.”
Lloyd: “True enough. A lot has happened, especially within just the past few days or so.”
Lloyd: “Having a moment to relax ourselves like this is as important as work itself.”
Lloyd: “After we’re done with these requests, why don’t we go have a meal at Long Lao? It’s my treat.”
Noel: “I would love to! It’s been a while since I had the Peerless Fried Rice!”
Lloyd: “That’s decided, then. It’ll be just the two of us.”
Noel: “Hooray!”
Noel: “...Huh?”
Noel: “J-Just the two of us??”
Lloyd: “I don’t suppose I can get away with excuses anymore, can I?”
Lloyd: “I’m asking you out on a date, Noel.”
Noel: “Wh-Wh…”
Noel: “Whaaaaat!!??”
Noel: “Um, w-what brought this on, suddenly?”
Lloyd: “It’s just, I feel like it would be a waste if we don’t spend our time alone together on something more than just support requests.”
Lloyd: “This is the least I can do to make up for it. I hope it isn't too much…?”
Noel: “No, no! If anything, I'm really happy you think that way, Lloyd!”
Noel: “(Oh, crap! He’s much more dangerous when he's doing it on purpose!)”
Noel: “(Calm your nerves, Noel Seeker! He's still the same Lloyd Bannings you've always known!)”
Noel: “(Just because he’s aware of it now doesn’t change the fact that he—)”
Lloyd: “Ah, we’re almost at the village.”
Noel: “Wh- Huh? Oh, right. We better start preparing to deliver the supplies.”
Lloyd: “Yeah, I agree.”
Lloyd and Noel: “...”
—
Lloyd: We shortly made it to Armorica Village. We spoke with Chief Tolta and dropped off the supplies to the villagers.
Lloyd: The support request went rather smoothly, but there was almost an awkward air between the two of us while we were there.
Lloyd: After that, we went straight to Mainz, in what would be the longest car ride in our lives…
—
Noel: “...”
Noel: “...”
Noel: “*sigh*”
Lloyd: “…? What’s wrong, Noel?”
Noel: “Nothing. It’s just…”
Noel: “...I apologize, Lloyd. For what I did back in Castle of Mirrors and Bellguard Gate.”
Lloyd: “Noel… You’re still hung up about that?”
Noel: “Looking back, I still can't believe how naive I was back then.”
Noel: “I endlessly doubted myself, whether my decision was right or not.”
Noel: “And yet, I was personally responsible for arresting everyone and even bringing you to prison.”
Noel: “I know you and the rest of SSS don’t already think too much about it now, but it’s just…”
Lloyd: “...If anything, I should be the one apologizing, Noel.”
Noel: “Lloyd…?”
Lloyd: “Back then, when you arrested us at Castle of Mirrors, I said something that was quite uncalled for to you.”
Lloyd: “I was caught in the heat of the moment, and without realizing it, I slipped out a “How could you” in a rather hurtful tone.”
Lloyd: “I keep thinking about that moment over and over again, and I should’ve noticed that you were already hurting back then.”
Noel: “Lloyd… That’s…”
Lloyd: “And yet, I couldn’t—no, I didn’t help you with your pain at all.”
Lloyd: “I won’t make excuses. This should’ve been a long time coming now, but I’m really sorry, Noel.”
Noel: “...No, I probably deserved that.”
Lloyd: “Noel…?”
Noel: “In the end, I was the one who couldn’t do anything. I knew I was betraying the SSS, yet I chose to continue down with it regardless.”
Noel: “You probably should’ve been harsher to me, Lloyd. It’s only right for what has happened to you and the others.”
Lloyd: “...Honestly, it’s not as if I’m the type to enjoy dishing out abuse, you know?”
Lloyd: “After that night in Merkabah, I realized some of the things I said when we met in Bellguard also came off rather manipulative.”
Lloyd: “Pretending like I know how you think and feel, and going as far as putting words in your mouth.”
Lloyd: “Even saying things like “You’re all mine” without considering how you would’ve taken it…”
Noel: “...”
Lloyd: “...Sorry, I probably should’ve realized that sooner.”
Noel: “Pfft, it’s fine, Lloyd.”
Noel: “It was shocking when I first heard it, sure, but I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for them.”
Lloyd: “That so…?”
Noel: “For the longest time, I thought my purpose being here is to selflessly protect and serve Crossbell, and that’s all there is.”
Noel: “But when I– No, when you confronted me that day, it made me finally realize just how wrong I was.”
Noel: “Hearing you say those words made me feel almost validated for the doubts I’ve been having while in the CDF.”
Noel: “That it’s okay to believe in my own conviction, and it’s okay to stand alongside everyone in the SSS.”
Noel: “I realized what I wanted in life is not to simply protect and serve Crossbell.”
Noel: “But to also do it with you, Lloyd. To go wherever you go, no matter what happens.”
Lloyd: “...”
Lloyd: “W-Wow… I’m honestly honored, Noel. I didn’t expect to hear all that from you.”
Noel: “I’m serious here, Lloyd! It’s not something you can just gasp at and then move on!”
Lloyd: “I know, I know. I just need to take some time to process all of that.”
Lloyd: “Still, though. I’m really glad that’s how you feel, Noel.”
Lloyd: “How do I put it…”
Lloyd: “...Thank you, Noel.”
Noel: “Is that really all you can say to me…?”
Lloyd: “Hey, it’s not like I’m doing it on purpose, you know…”
Noel: “Still, I’m shocked how close you got me that day from everything you said.”
Noel: “Lloyd, you haven’t been secretly peeping my diary, have you?”
Lloyd: “N-No way! I wouldn’t even begin to dare to imagine, I swear!”
Lloyd: “It’s just… I can’t help but admire you, Noel.”
Noel: “Huh?”
Lloyd: “To me, Noel Seeker is a strong person.”
Lloyd: “She always wears her heart on her sleeve, so straightforward and earnest in everything.”
Lloyd: “At the same time, she’s never afraid to stand her ground when she needs to.”
Lloyd: “No matter how insurmountable the barrier may seem, it’s like the word ‘giving up’ doesn’t exist in your dictionary.”
Lloyd: “I’m almost too ashamed to admit it, but it was seeing that resilience that kept me going for so long, that gave me the strength to overcome the barriers we face in SSS.”
Lloyd: “This is probably a bit long overdue now, but–”
[The car suddenly stopped]
Lloyd: “...? Noel? Did something happen?”
Noel: “*sniff* That's not fair, Lloyd…”
[Noel jumped from her seat and hugged Lloyd from across the seat]
Lloyd: “Whoa!”
Lloyd: “U-Um, Noel…?”
Noel: “*sniff* You can’t just say all that like it’s nothing…”
Lloyd: “Ah…”
[Lloyd wrapped his arm around Noel, hugging her back]
Lloyd: “Haha, sorry. The words sort of just came out by themselves.”
Noel: “You’re gonna get yourself into trouble for that one day, Lloyd.”
Noel: “…Tell me, Lloyd. With everything that has happened now behind us, where do we go from now?”
Noel: “Will you… give me your answer?”
Lloyd: “Well…”
[Lloyd took out Noel’s dog tag]
Lloyd: “We went through so much together.”
Lloyd: “The liberation of Crossbell City, rescuing Kea from the Azure Tree.”
Lloyd: “It wouldn’t be possible for me to overcome all of them without you by my side”
Lloyd: “So, if you don’t mind, I want to always be by your side, Noel. No matter what the future of Crossbell may hold for us.”
Noel: “*sniff* Thank you… Lloyd…”
[Noel took out Lloyd’s dog tag, and they both compared it with each other’s]
Noel: “Lloyd, may I…?”
Lloyd: “It would be my honor.”
[Lloyd closed his eyes in anticipation. Noel slowly moved her head closer towards Lloyd’s, and they eventually kissed. The two shared a silent embrace, wrapped in each other’s arms with their lips locking. It was a moment of pure bliss—an eternity in mere seconds. They knew letting go wouldn’t spell the end of this moment, but deep down, neither wanted it to end]
Noel: “...I love you, Lloyd.”
Lloyd: “I love you too, Noel.”
Noel: “*sniff* You kept your promise…!”
[Lloyd and Noel learned True Brave Hearts. Their bond reached to a new level]