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“This coffee is adequate, thank you, you're dismissed.”
Aria watched her assistant close the door behind her and put down the cup, taking up the paperwork and grades she still wanted to double check. Teachers in the modern age were lousy and too passive when it came to constructive feedback given to the students.
“Honestly, how are the students supposed to improve when I'm gone? The staff will need a colossal overhaul before Amid gets to enroll here.”
…Her fingers clenched into a fist, crumbling the corners of the tests she was holding. She sighed.
She hoped to take her mind off of things. Most prominently the noise outside, she saw her juniors preparing the graduation ceremony exactly as she had instructed, down to the tiniest detail. Pride festered within her.
Today was the day. Her very own graduation day. She glared down at the piece of paper and started to notice more mistakes than before, more things to correct, more feedback to give.
“What the- This is all-!” She groaned, something she only did when in private and everything was getting to her. A small voice tried convincing her it would all be fine, but the louder other half only raised her concerns.
For the next two hours, she overhauled everything written on those tests and wrote down feedback to the best of her abilities. A step by step guide on how to improve in each and every area. She made sure to remember these and pass them down to her beloved little sister Amid.
Once she was done she looked up at the clock, noticing it was time for the ceremony. The school normally was more casual about a day like this, but put in the extra effort just for her, against her own wishes. She was a student like any other. Additional courtesy shown to her was unbecoming of a proper education system.
Still, when even the students insist, one cannot refuse.
VROOM
“What was that?” Aria asked herself, as if that particular engine sound wasn't all too familiar to her by now. She immediately stood up and rushed down the stairs, while following hallway regulations, not to worry.
When Aria exited the school building she noticed a group of students gathered at the school gate, blocking her view. There were a few (wow!)’s in there which only made Aria fear that her peaceful ceremony was already in jeopardy.
“Everyone! Step aside, what's going on?!” Just as quickly, a path was opened up in front of her to see what caused the commotion, not that she was surprised to see it was… “H-Huh?!”
The motorcycle she immediately recognised… but in front of it stood someone familiar yet unrecognisable.
“HA! See, told you I'd make it~” Arunka boasted, leaning against her bike as she held her phone against her ear with Peira’s voice on the other side. “I’ll give her your regards, sis, would've been nice to have you here. Tell Siggie I said hi, yeah?”
Arunka then pocketed her phone and turned her attention to Aria, surprised to see she hadn't chewed her out yet.
Aria analysed her top to bottom.
Arunka was dressed in a formal suit, with an overcoat hanging off her shoulders and a polite tie to compliment her overall outfit.
Her hair too was combed. The usual dead splits nowhere to be seen. The fragrance of her perfume was the last thing she noticed but did not lack a presence.
Or so she thought before looking closer and noticing that behind her was a bouquet of flowers.
“So, you're done gawking yet, Miss Discipline Committee President?” Arunka interrupted her, feeling a little self conscious about being stared at so much without a word. “I know I didn't exactly receive an invitation to be here, but hey, when did that stop me before?”
Aria was still silent. Her gaze stuck in that same expression that was unreadable to Arunka because she had never seen it before.
Did she hate her showing up that much..?
“Ack- Well, I wanted to come by to drop these off but I forgot I had something to do. I'll see you aroun-” She raised the bouquet of flowers, reflexively turning around to her motorcycle.
“No.” Aria reached out for her wrist, knowing full well Arunka would need no longer than two seconds to jump on her motorcycle and drive off if she let her.
Arunka flinched. “Hey! Don't go getting all aggressive in front of those kids, you hear?! I'm sorry for intruding on your special day! I'll leave if you let me?!”
Aria chuckled. “What nonsense.” She pulled Arunka closer and accepted the flowers with her free hand. “I was a bit struck by your appearance... However, that is no excuse. I'm sorry for not having adequately greeted you.”
“Is it that bad?” Arunka asked, second guessing nearly everything about herself right about now. “I asked the best people I know to fix me up for today… I don't really know looks like how I know engines.”
Aria felt a hint of pleasure after hearing that. If Arunka was a cat, her ears would most definitely be droopy right about now. And unnecessarily so.
“Where's that usual confidence you tire everyone around you with on a daily basis?” Aria praised her, telling her she looked great. “Unusually so. What's stopping you from adapting this into your regular fashion style?”
“You kidding? I'm sweating bullets over here!” Arunka panted, fidgeting with her tie to loosen it up a little. She was glad she lasted long enough to make it to Shadewood fully dressed but couldn't wait to undress as soon as possible. “Shouldn't we go inside? Your kids seem to be waiting for your permission.”
Aria looked over her shoulder and gestured for everyone to get back to work.
“Walk with me. I have just the thing to cool you off.” Arunka didn't need to be asked twice and immediately followed behind her obediently. “If it wasn't for this look we both know I couldn't have allowed you inside these walls.”
Arunka took that as a compliment and dropped herself on the couch inside the Committee’s room. It was only them now so she didn't think twice about etiquette.
“...Any preferences?” Aria asked, offering both cold beverages to her guest. “Ice Coffee or Soda?”
“Both, if possible.” Arunka laughed, reaching for the soda, but both drinks ended up plopped into her lap. “Umm…”
“Suit yourself.” Aria nodded, sitting down next to her, almost ready to continue with her work.
“...What are you doing?” Arunka asked, immediately chugging down the Soda. She hung her arm around Aria and leaned in, seemingly unaware of her surroundings.
“Feeling a little physically affectionate today, Miss Street Rebel?” Aria said out loud, but her banter was ignored and Arunka repeated the question, hoping the paperwork wasn't what she thought it was.
“They still have you working on your last day? Wait, that can't be right.” Arunka quickly recognised that hand writing and the implications of Aria's expression.
“Before you say it out loud, yes, I am doing this of my own volition. There's never a lack of opportunities when it comes to improving Shadewood.” Aria continued to scribble and correct the papers.
“I can barely read the original answers… Are you sure you're okay?”
“Never have I ever felt better.” Aria retorted, ignoring that feeling of Arunka's tightening embrace. “You know full well the only thing I can leave this school as when I'm gone is perfect before Amid enrolls.”
“You may have mentioned it once, or twice.” Arunka replied, her eyes fixating between the papers and Aria's eyes. (Or a hundred twenty seven times, in total.) She thought. “But who's counting?”
“...Is something at hand? Why do I sense concern in your tone?”
Arunka averted instantly and tried to laugh it off by opening the ice coffee and chugging that down just as fast. Her reflexes never failed to surprise.
“You'll take a break during summer vacation, right? Maybe we can-” Arunka paused for a moment, thinking carefully about the words that were about to leave her lips and how they might come across.
Aria turned to her. “What are you proposing?”
“I don't know, what are you into? I've always wanted to visit Cidonia… I'm down for anything though.”
Aria shook her head and smiled as if it was a ludicrous joke that was told to her on purpose. “You're tagging your entire crew along to Cidonia? I'm astonished, I'll admit. Where did you find the funds?”
“You mean my fam? They're not coming with…” Arunka took out her phone and logged into an app Aria recognised. It was an international boat trip service. “I just so happened to have won two tickets for this cruise ship to Cidonia. Peira already went traveling with Sigret and Hwayoung will be working part time during the summer so that leaves you–”
“I'm your last resort, is that it?” Aria crossed her leg and sat back against the couch. “What convinced you that I'd be available, hm?”
“Aren't you?” She pouted, her eyes brimming with a newfound emotion Aria found difficult to act normal around, especially given how she was dressed today…
Aria scoffed, swallowing the enjoyment of seeing her plead with such puppy eyes, as if trying to convince her to go on this silly trip. “...Act your age. For once.”
“Hmm?” Arunka covered her mouth behind her hand and licked the last drop of ice coffee on her palm. She didn't understand the purpose behind that comment until she locked eyes with her host.
What Arunka lacked in brains, she made up for in intuition.
“Acting cute won't help. You can stop.” Aria insisted, but it was too late, the smirk on her friend's face was all-knowing. “I'll have you know I already organized a detailed vacation together with Amid..!”
Arunka got on her knees on the couch and hovered over her, keeping silent while refusing to break their mutual gaze.
She fixed her tie and tucked her hair behind her ear, looking at Aria as if she was transparent. She may as well have been. At this moment, she couldn't keep anything from her.
“Walk me through this detailed vacation of yours. I'm all ears.” She demanded, her hands resting on both of her shoulders. “Who knows? I may even hand over the tickets so you and your sister can do something extra special~?”
As expected, Aria folded under the pressure and shut her eyes. “You caught me in a lie. Fine. Have it your way.” She tried pushing Arunka's face away but couldn't overpower her strength, not when she was this excitable. “Now would be an adequate time to get off, Miss Rebel..!”
“You promise?” Arunka mumbled.
Aria sighed and pulled at the accessory on her arm, her Proof of Authority as she called it. “I swear by it on the integrity of Shadewood, now are you satisfied?”
“Hmmm… Just one more thing.”
“Just make it quic- Argh- What are you doing?!”
Arunka dropped herself down on the couch and took her in a hug, nuzzling into her and laughing as she blushed while trying to punch her off. “Ouch! Haha- That tickles- Ouch! Hug me back, won't you? Isn't that easier than all this violence?”
“I should have known better than to trust a good for nothing rebel like you!” Aria gritted her teeth, hesitantly opening up her arms and wrapping them around the older girl's waist. “Now, are you finally done?”
“Mmm… Just two more minu- Okay, okay, stop charging your fist, I'm getting off!” She laughed as she gave in and helped Aria up and fixing her clothes, mainly because she figured the ceremony would start in a few moments. “I’ll be cheering you on, okay?”
“...” Aria did not succeed in keeping the blush on her face away from those prying eyes.
“Don’t be mad, a little scuffle like that is nothing compared to what I go through with my family on a day to day basis~” Arunka mused. “I’ll make it up to you on that trip of ours, how’s that? Looking forward to it yet? You promised, remember?”
Aria looked stern. Opting to lean in and clenched her hand into another fist, making the older girl slightly nervous, wondering if she went too far with her jokes. She instinctively closed her eyes, expecting the punch to barely miss her and hit into the couch.
Consequently and surprisingly, something made direct contact with her face. But there was no punch. It would’ve been lights out for her if she took one of those signature punches face first. No, on the contrary, it was a lot… More gentle. On her lips. Right there.
Arunka was never deathly afraid of anything. But right now… She was never more against opening her eyes. Instead just letting whatever feeling she felt on her face last for as long as it would or could.
“Be less obvious on our trip.” Were the last words she heard before a door closed shut and the flowers on the table had disappeared. Only a few minutes later did she open her eyes when a familiar voice started her speech through the speakers. Arunka reached for her lips, still tasting that lipstick print from before. She let out a chuckle. Then that chuckle turned into a laugh. Before inevitably turning into a wide grin.
“SCORE!” She yelled, jumping up and throwing the overcoat over her shoulder and rushing down the stairs with no concern for hallway regulations. She must have skipped at least forty steps but she could not care less because after today she’d no longer have to meet Aria in a rule stricken place like this.
A few weeks later Peira happened to catch a glimpse of Hwayoung’s phone when she scrolled through her social media. “What was that?” She asked, surprised to see her look at a picture of Arunka with sunglasses. “Huh. She actually went there… No wonder the streets are so quiet lately.”
“Yeah, guess so.” Hwayoung shrugged. “I was surprised to see her work overtime. I guess this explains it. She needed two of them.” She yawned and pocketed her phone, having long since noticed the reflection of Aria in Arunka’s sunglasses. “Sheesh. You finally got what you were working towards all those years, eh? I should tell Adin next time I see her to thank that friend of hers because his dress up plan worked.”
Little did they know, Arunka was currently suffering under the hand of an extremely tight pinch on her cheeks for posting so many pictures online and secretly revealing who she was with. It was all intentional, even if she insisted otherwise.
Fortunately for her, each pinch and injury would be treated with utmost care and imprinted with her favorite thing in the world besides her engines… Making it all worth it.