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Lunch period at Eden Academy had barely started, and already Anya was practically vibrating with excitement.
The courtyard was unusually sunny for early spring, and the group had spread out over the grass, school bags acting as makeshift pillows, half-eaten lunches scattered between them. A soccer game was happening somewhere in the distance. Birds chirped. Emile was aggressively peeling an orange like it owed him money.
''Okay,'' Anya said dramatically, sitting up and waving her hands like a traffic officer, ''everybody shut up. I have important news.''
''We weren’t even talking,'' George pointed out, sipping from a juice box.
''I am now,'' Anya replied with authority. ''Emergency broadcast. Becky, drumroll, please.''
Becky, lying on her stomach with sunglasses pushed up into her hair, sighed but tapped her fingers lazily on her lunchbox anyway.
Anya grinned wide. ''They’re making a live action Spy Wars movie. Based on season one.''
The group collectively blinked at her.
''That’s it?'' Emile asked. ''That’s the emergency?''
''It’s not just any movie!'' Anya said, grabbing a grape and pointing it at him accusingly. ''It’s the live action of the most iconic episodes ever made. It’s got real explosions. Real fights. Real Ostanian agents getting kicked into walls!''
''Are the penguins in it?'' Bill asked. He wasn't a big fan, but his father had made him read the manga.
''YES, AND THEY LOOK AMAZING.''
Ewen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ''I dunno. Live action adaptations are hit or miss. Like, remember the Power Princess movie from last year? That was a crime.''
''This one's different,'' Anya insisted, eyes shining. ''It's being directed by the same guy who did the animated show, and they got the voice actors and the live action cast to show up at the premiere. In Berlint. On a real red carpet. With snacks. And merch. And maybe spy-shaped cookies.''
Emile looked mildly intrigued. ''My dad has taken me to so many premieres I wasn't even interested in... but the cookies sound cool.''
''But wait—how are you going to see it?'' Damian asked, raising a brow. ''Will it be out for regular theaters soon?''
Anya puffed out her chest proudly. ''My dad's trying to get us premiere tickets. But he can only get two.'' She paused dramatically. ''One's for me, obviously. And I wish you all could come. But my dad said I get to pick whom I go with.''
That got everyone's attention.
Becky immediately sat up straighter. ''Wait. You're not picking me? I'm your best friend!''
Anya gave her an apologetic look. ''But you don't even like Spy Wars.''
Becky gasped. ''So rude—and accurate. Continue.''
George leaned forward, grinning. ''So who's the lucky person then?'' Though all of them knew.
Anya turned to Damian, face suddenly a little pink. ''I was kinda hoping... you'd come with me?''
Damian blinked. ''Me?''
''Yeah,'' Anya said, trying to sound casual but absolutely failing. ''You actually like the show. And you always remember the cool gadgets and plot twists. And you don't fall asleep during the dramatic parts.''
''It was one time, I swear to—'' Becky started.
''Because those parts are the best,'' Damian said instinctively. Then, realizing what he'd said, he cleared his throat and sat up straighter. ''Of course I'll go. Are you kidding? This is, like... the coolest thing ever.''
Ewen made a dramatic choking sound. Bill whistled.
''With Anya?'' Emile added with a sly grin. ''As, like, a date?''
Damian's face turned a shade of red usually reserved for emergency stop signs.
''It's not a date,'' he said quickly, because he didn't want to make Anya feel uncomfortable, though he totally wished it was. ''It's just—it's a really cool event. And we both like the show. And she invited me. So I said yes. That's it.''
Anya tried to act cool too, but her ears were turning pink. ''Yeah. It's not a date or anything. Just a once-in-a-lifetime, super awesome, possibly red-carpet-walking best-day-ever thing we're doing together.''
''Which sounds suspiciously like a date,'' Becky muttered under her breath.
Damian shot her a look, but didn't argue.
''Anyway,'' Anya said, smoothing her skirt like it would help settle her nerves, ''we don't have the tickets yet. Papa's still trying to get them. He says it's gonna be hard, since it's a fancy industry event. But he thinks he can pull some strings through work.''
''Please, for heaven's sake, let her father get the tickets,'' Bill whispered to Becky, who couldn't contain her excitement either at this 'not-a-date' date.
''Wait,'' Damian leaned a little closer, voice softer now. ''You really picked me first?''
''Are you kidding? Of course I did,'' Anya looked at him and smiled—genuine, a little shy, but warm. ''Yeah. I mean, I couldn't imagine going with anyone else.''
Damian felt like his heart might explode. He couldn't stop the stupid and lovesick smile plastered on his face. ''Then I guess I better get a suit ready.''
Anya laughed, her heart doing that weird flippy thing again. ''We're gonna get to meet the voice actors. I'm so excited!'' She strode happily through the hall.
Damian leaned forward, already caught up in the planning. ''Do you think they'll have props from the show? Maybe they'll let us do a VR mission or something.''
''If they don't, that's a missed opportunity,'' Anya agreed.
Their heads were close now, speaking fast, finishing each other's sentences, lost in the world of Spy Wars and possibilities.
Becky and Bill were walking right behind them. Becky whispered, ''I think I just witnessed the nerdiest flirtation ever.''
''I think we're all witnesses to history,'' was Bill's reply.
After school, Anya found her dad at his desk at home, reading a file with his usual composed expression.
''Papa,'' she said, standing in the doorway.
Loid looked up. ''Hm?''
''Did you get the tickets yet?'' Her voice was filled with hope.
Loid smiled gently. ''Not yet. The event's invite-only. It's going to take some strings to pull.''
Anya's shoulders slumped, just a little.
''But,'' he added, ''I have a few contacts who might me able to help. So don't give up just yet.''
She beamed. ''Okay. Thanks, Papa.''
''Anytime, kiddo.''
After Anya left the room, humming to herself as she padded down the hallway, Loid Forger let out a quiet breath.
He closed the file he'd been reading—a new patient's medical history—and reflected on his mission. The mission he'd had for years, since Operation Strix ended. Because keeping his family—Yor, Anya and Bond—happy and safe had always been his priority. Operation Strix stopped mattering to him at some point he wasn't even aware of.
He stood and crossed the room, pulling a thin folder from a locked drawer hidden beneath a false panel in the bookshelf. Inside was a series of contacts—media handlers, VIP coordinators, low-level politicians, and one event security chief who owed him a favor from a distant mission.
''Time to call in a few debts.''
He pulled out a pen and started jotting down a list of names.
Anya flopped onto her bed, face-down into the blanket, her feet kicking in the air.
Don't give up just yet, her Papa had said.
She smiled into the pillow.
He's totally gonna get those tickets, she thought. After all, he was Westalis' best spy.
Still, her stomach fluttered at the thought of standing next to Damian in a fancy theater, dressed up, maybe sharing popcorn or whatever snacks they gave at fancy premieres. Would it be weird? Would it be fun?
She hugged a pillow to her chest.
''Ughhh,'' she groaned, face hot. ''Why am I nervous?''
Her mind flicked through possibilities. What would she wear? Would she trip on the red carpet? Would Damian—
Her thoughts stopped dead.
Would Damian bring me flowers?
She sat up suddenly.
''Nope. Brain, too loud,'' she muttered.
Then she reached for her Spy Wars first volume—the one her dad bought her when he had just adopted her—and hugged it tightly to her chest.
''Focus, Anya. First the tickets. Then panic.''