Terra really was not fond of walking in the rain.

She was cold, and wet, and the raindrops stung her skin wherever they made contact. Her glasses became barely usable, and when there was wind, her cloak nearly dragged her away with every gust. Sometimes her shoes would leak water through the soles; wet socks were possibly the most miserable state of being one could have.

If she wasn’t so determined to prove herself, she would have stayed in the cafeteria until the rainstorm passed. But she had a plan, and if she was going to be a good leader, she couldn’t let something as small as a little water stop her. Not anymore.

Even if every step left her more overwhelmed than the last.

As she walked past the library, she cast a quick glance up to the second floor windows, as had become habit for her in the past week. She could always see Adela studying when she was there, and seeing her friend in her element put a little smile on her face. Maybe she was here now, maybe not; she could be (and part of Terra hoped she was) still in class, or doing some physical training.

Terra, however, found her heart skipping a beat when she saw that familiar green and yellow sweater right where it belonged. It lodged in her throat when she saw she wasn’t alone.

Adela and Chika sat next to each other at the table, both with their heads down and concentrating on whatever they were working on. They were silent, but they weren’t fighting, and they weren’t shooting each other dirty looks. Chika muttered something, and Adela passed her a pencil sharpener.

They weren’t exactly getting along, but it was closer than Terra had accomplished this whole week. And they had done it without her.

The rain came down harder as she turned and hurried away.

 ---

“Why did you agree to come study if you’re just going to draw the whole time?”

Chika sighed as she passed the pencil sharpener back. “I already finished my homework,” she replied, voice quiet in thought of the other people on their floor.

“Okay?” Adela replied. “You’re not going to read ahead or prepare for any future lessons?”

Chika gently shushed her, taking note of the looks the other students were sending their way. “Lower your voice a bit.”

“Oh. Apologies. I didn’t realize.”

She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. “Besides, I don’t feel like I need to. It’s extra work I’m going to do soon anyway; why shouldn’t I take time to relax instead?”

Adela raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to get ahead? Don’t you get stressed out about falling behind?”

“Not really. If something happens, I can always catch back up.”

Adela’s brow pinched, and she shook her head. “I could never understand that. There’s at least more productive things you could be doing right now.”

Chika’s eye twitched. “Who says I have to be productive all the time?”

“You’d rather waste time?”

“Resting is not a waste of time,” she snapped. “Doing what you enjoy is not a waste of time. What do you care if I’m redesigning Team Byrd’s uniforms instead of reading?”

Adela’s eyes widened, and they flicked down to the paper Chika had been drawing on; a glare settled on her face.

“What was wrong with their original ones?!” she shot.

Chika stared at her. “Nothing! I’m just imagining what they’d look like if they were still active today! Aren’t you ever curious?”

“No. Team Byrd was exactly what they needed to be, when they were needed. They still are.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call them a ‘team’ now, with only two of them left,” Chika pointed out.

Adela clenched her jaw. “Why are you even staying here if you’re not going to study?”

“It’s raining,” she bluntly stated. “And it’s quieter here than it is at our dorm. Supposed to be, anyway.”

A low growl slipped out of Adela’s throat, and she snatched her phone before getting up and storming to the bathrooms. Chika let out a huff and dropped her head into her hands.

“So much for trying to get along,” she muttered.