“I hope Aimee’s still here…,” Aya thought in her head as she wove carefully between students in the cafeteria, her eyes checking one table to another—until—

“Ayaaa~!”

A hand shot up from the far-left corner, flapping like a tiny flag.

Aya’s face brightened immediately. “Oh, there you are!”

She quickened her steps and made her way over. Aimee was already waving her over with both arms now, grinning like she’d just spotted a walking dessert.

But when Aya got close, her eyes dropped briefly to Aimee’s tray.

“…That’s all you’re eating?”

There were a few greens, a single roll, and a cup of juice sitting there looking rather lonely.

Aimee giggled, fluffing her ear feathers a little. “Of course not, silly. I was waiting for you! You think I’d eat yam soup and croquettes without my favorite bunny? Offer still stands, you know!”

“Well… I did say yes earlier.”

“Exactly~”

With a victorious nod, Aimee stood up, scooting out from her bench and leaving her bag behind to guard the spot.

“Let’s go before they run out!” she chirped, already taking Aya’s hand lightly and guiding her toward the serving line. “Fresh batch should still be warm!”

By the time they returned with trays in hand and yam soup steaming softly beside golden croquettes, Aya sat herself across from Aimee, adjusting her skirt as she did.

When Aimee picked up her spoon, her eyes were already on her friend. “So?” she asked between sips. “What did Professor Barlowe want with you?”

Aya let out a small sigh, her smile returning as she blew lightly on her soup. “Actually… I’m really glad you asked. I was planning to talk to you about it.”

“Oooh?”

“Well, there’s this big event coming up. It’s called the Concorde Summit, and Saint Maribelle’s been chosen to host it this year. It’ll be held in Rosequartz Town.”

“Rosequartz? That’s pretty far out, right?”

“Mhm! Eastwyn border.” Aya nodded. “It’s kind of a formal event, where all these important people from different academies gather to… well, discuss education stuff.”

“Wow. That sounds super official.”

“It is!” Aya smiled excitedly. “And… well, Professor Barlowe is putting together a culinary team for the event. A mix of upperclassmen from Advanced Culinary Arts.”

Aimee tilted her head. “And he asked you to join?”

Aya nodded. “Apparently one of the seniors who was supposed to go fell sick today, and Professor Barlowe said they needed a last-minute substitute. So he asked if I’d like to take the spot.”

Aimee’s eyes went round immediately. “Aya…! That’s huge!”

Aya giggled shyly. “I know… it’s a lot.”

“And what did you say?”

“I told him I’d think about it,” Aya said softly with another sigh. “He said I have until the end of the day to decide.”

Aimee narrowed her eyes a little, her spoon pausing mid-air. “…You sound kinda nervous about it. Isn’t this, like, an amazing opportunity for you?”

“It is. I know it is. But I can’t help feeling… nervous. I mean, they chose the upperclassmen for a reason. They’ve got more experience. More confidence. And here I am, just…,” she gave a small shrug, eyes down. “Jumping in. I still feel like I have so much to learn before I take on something that big.”

Before Aimee could even get a word in, a bright voice called out from just behind them.

“Well, if it isn’t Aya Ribbuns~!”

Both girls turned, and Aya’s eyes lit up as soon as she recognized who it was.

“Rory!”

There she was—Rory Brixton, all auburn fluff and casual swagger, waving like they were old friends reunited after years apart.

And next to her…

 “Raveena…!”

Rory waved back. “Hey, sugar whisk!” she grinned. “And hello to your very startled friend!”

Raveena gave the tiniest smile. “Hey,” she said under her breath, barely audible. She didn’t meet Aya’s gaze.

As they walked over to the table, Aimee… the sweet, small Aimee—sat frozen, gripping her spoon like it might defend her from imminent doom.

She was clearly trying not to panic at the sight of the Raveena Vesper, the walking, breathing rumor magnet of Saint Maribelle’s.

Rory noticed this, and with a slightly awkward chuckle, she gave Aimee a wave. “Hey there. Don’t worry, she doesn’t bite. Usually.”

At her friend’s remark that would normally earn her a quick slap on the back, Raveena surprisingly said absolutely nothing.

“Oh! I’m not scared like that,” Aimee said quickly, sitting up a little straighter. “Actually, I’m thankful. You two have been good friends to Aya.”

Aya giggled at Aimee, then turned toward the other two with a smile. “This is Aimee Heartfield—she’s in Culinary with me. And Aimee, this is Rory Brixton and Raveena Vesper. They’re the ones who helped tune the ovens, remember? From when Professors Vask and Barlowe introduced them to the class last week?”

Aimee nodded brightly. “Oh, I remember! Aya talks about you both a lot. Especially Miss Vesper.”

Raveena’s ears twitched twice as soon as she heard that, follow by a blush that slowly crept up her cheeks. “She… does?”

Aimee nodded again, completely earnest. “Yup!”

Now, with the quick introductions finished, Rory clapped her hands once. “So, hey—is it okay if we sit with you two? I mean, weekend or not, this place is still packed, and Raveena’s being picky.”

Raveena nudged her with an elbow. “Maybe we should just find somewhere else. Or go eat under that tree. We might be bothering them.”

“Oh no,” Rory groaned, dramatically tossing her head back. “I am not walking all the way to the courtyards just to eat on the ground and risk getting grass bits in my rice. That’s your weird forest nap thing, not mine.”

Aya laughed. “It’s alright. We don’t mind. We can share.”

Aimee nodded in agreement. “Yeah! It’s not like we were talking about a big secret or anything.”

“Well then!” Rory grinned, already sliding her tray onto the table. “Permission enthusiastically accepted.”

Raveena also had moved to take the seat beside Aimee, but Rory smoothly plopped down first.

“Oops,” the fox-folk said with a mischievous grin, “guess you’re next to Aya~!”

Aya flinched at the small tease, feeling a little flustered, before scooting slightly to make room. “Oh! Raveena! Here—um, I’ll slide over.”

Raveena hesitated a second. Then sat down beside her slowly. “…Thanks, Aya,” she murmured.

“You’re welcome!” Aya replied, and with that, the four of them ate their brunch. All while exchanging different topics for a nice, table conversation.

And by the time bowls were emptied and trays cleared, the table was a mess of juice boxes, napkins, and last bits of their previous conversation.

Raveena and Rory had eaten from their own dorm-packed lunches—some kind of pan-seared fish with mixed root stir-fry on Rory’s plate, while Raveena had kept things simple with rice, meat, and crisp vegetable shreds neatly packed in a folding tin.

Aya and Aimee, meanwhile, had long since demolished their yam soup and croquettes, sharing giggles over the way the croquettes made little “crunch!” sounds just before melting.

Eventually, the four stood and made their way into the hallways together, where they walked shoulder to shoulder—well, two shoulder-to-shoulder, and two with a bit of awkward spacing—chatting about everything and nothing.

Then all of a sudden—

Fwip… flap, flap—whack!

“Agh—!” Rory yelped, flinching back as a charm-post crane nearly jabbed her right in the eye. “Who—why—?!”

Aya gasped before bursting into laughter, and Aimee nearly doubled over beside her. Even Raveena tried her best to hold back an out-of-character laugh.

Rory caught the crane mid-flap, grumbling, “I swear, if this is another club meeting reminder with sparkles on it—”

She unfolded the little message and scanned its contents quickly. “Welp. Sports club needs me.”

“You’re skipping out already?” Aimee pouted.

“Not by choice,” Rory said dramatically, tucking the note away. “They need me for team strategy talk, which is code for 'Brixton, carry the whole group through practice again.'”

“Sounds important, though,” Aya said with a giggle.

Rory wagged a finger as she backed away, narrowing her eyes towards the three, especially Raveena. “Don’t have too much fun without me, or I’ll know. You especially, roomie.”

“Whatever, Rory,” Raveena muttered with a sigh.

Now, with a wave and a “Later, nerds~!” Rory was off. And then it was just the three of them.

Aya. Aimee. And Raveena.

As they wandered the hallways still. Aimee, as always, filled their otherwise quiet walks with words, bouncing from pastry ideas to a funny story about a first-year who tried to ferment tea in a locker.

Aya would always respond warmly to her stories, she could relate the most given that she was a fellow strand student. While Raveena, on the other hand, could barely relate.

Despite that, she kept her usual calm pace behind or just to the side. She answered when asked. Nodded when prompted. Sometimes contributed with a small comment that made Aya giggle all over again.

And it wasn’t a problem. Not really.

She was fine like this.

Even if the conversation swirled more around her than with her, Raveena didn’t mind.

Eventually, somewhere between Aimee’s twelfth story and third idea for a citrus tart, the hen-folk paused mid-sentence with a sudden gasp.

“Oh no—my homework!”

Aya blinked, surprised. “Homework?”

“I left it half-done in the dorm—if I don’t finish it now, I’ll forget I ever started! I’m so sorry Aya! And I’m sorry to you too, Miss Vesper!”

Before either of them could say anything more, Aimee was already halfway down the hallway, calling out, “Thank you for the food-walk gossip! Byeee~!”

Aya waved back, smiling. “Good luck, Aimee!”

And Raveena raised a hand for a brief goodbye.

And just like that, the hallway fell quiet again, save for the faint sounds of other students walking and chatting in the halls.

Aya peeked up at her companion, noticing that Raveena had gone quiet again. Not the usual kind of quiet, either.

It was a little… different. And she’d already noticed this as soon as they finished eating.

Aya tilted her head, walking backward a few steps, then gave a little hop to stop just in front of her.

Raveena blinked at her sudden movement.

Then Aya looked up gently. “Is something wrong, Raveena?”

“It’s nothing,” Raveena answered, shaking her head and smiling faintly.

“Really?” Aya asked, peering up with tiny suspicion.

“Mhm,” Raveena nodded. “It’s just… food coma.”

Aya giggled. “Ah, I see. Well, I’d better not keep you too long then. You should get back to the dorms and rest.”

Raveena quickly waved a hand. “Oh—no, it’s not like I’m tired. Just feeling a bit… slow, I guess you could say?”

“Nay~? Then… do you want me to bake you something later? I can! A small snack to perhaps boost your energy?”

Raveena chuckled. “Thanks for the offer. That’d be nice. But maybe… some other time. I’m still really full.”

“Oh! Okay then,” Aya smiled. “Next time it is!” then she turned to resume walking—

“Ah, Aya?”

Aya paused her steps immediately before looking back at Raveena. “Yes?”

“…Actually, there’s something I want to talk to you about. If… that’s all right?”