"Huh? Is that Zach and the others? What are they doing outside?" Alan asked tracing their sight. Kazuna and Senri looked at each other unaware. Running towards them Alan called, "Your highness, Orion, everyone, what are you doing here outside in the cold?" Standing before him the high schoolers smiled.
"You're finally here. Geez, what took you so long?" asked Aigou embracing him. Alan turning around gazed at Kazuna with veins popping on his forehead. "Nothing… nothing at all." he replied ironic. Kazuna evading his gaze stretched his collar a little while Senri smiled awkwardly.
The high schoolers eventually realized something was off however ignored it. "Say, why are you standing here out in the cold?" Alan asked worried. Isa smiling walked forward, "I was wondering… it's been so long since, we all last met and gathered around. How about we talk for a while?"
Alan slightly confused yet surprised gazed at the highschoolers who nodded in endorsement. Soon smiling he replied, "I am glad it was something like this. Geez… you made me worried for no reason. You don't have to be so tense just to ask for a talk. Let's go."
"Yeah, let's go at the high ground over there or else those brats might worry." Noah pointing towards a little hill which rested beside the dorms building. Alan agreeing made his way towards it with the others.
Aaron halting in between turned around rushing inside the dorms. "Little brats." he called.
Poseidon and Xavier who were setting the cups around the table eyed them with Ryan, Adam and Feng wondering. "Yes?" Poseidon asked. "We are outside at the high ground which you can see from the window so don't get worried alright? Take care then." Aaron ended closing the dorm's door and leaving.
Xavier, Poseidon, Feng, Adam and Ryan eyed each other dazed. "I wonder if it was necessary to tell us about that?" asked Xavier in wonder. "Yeah… I don't think it matters to us whether they go to the mountain hill or the high ground." replied Ryan sarcastically.
The others hearing his words eyed him with slightly astounded. "You didn't had to say it like that…" told Feng speechless. Ryan rolled his eyes uninterested, "It not like it matters."
Poseidon looking at the cups which were settled on the table pondered.
"What is it?" Xavier asked noticing his confusion. Poseidon shaking his head spoke, "It isn't something serious. It's just that I was wondering… doesn't the number of cups look fewer this time?"
Xavier looking at the fourteen cups smiled, "Hm. They do look few…"
The highschoolers reaching the sloppy hill settled around in a circle. Alan stepping in the center settled amid it. Orion who was curious suddenly settled inside with his back against Alan's.
"Huh?! What's with that? I want to sit like that!!" cried Aigou looking at Senri and Isa who sat beside him. The highschoolers shook their heads hopelessly. "Hehe! Finders keepers!" Orion grinned at Aigou mischievously. Nagi shoved his glasses up in disbelief.
Aigou with his cheeks puffed cried, "Geez… he is such a cheater!!" Senri and Isa with the others including Alan smiled. "Really… it's alright. You can sit like that next time." Ren consoled.
"No way!!" Aigou rejected standing up as he walked towards Alan, keeping his head over his lap, gazing at the sky above. Alan blinked his eyes looking below at him slightly confused. "Hehe~" Aigou smiled lovingly. Orion grasping Aigou's sight eyed him annoyed while Aigou made faces back at him.
The highschoolers slammed their foreheads shocked while others evaded their gaze. "Unbelievable…" whispered Elias speechless. Isa suddenly chuckled, "Haha!" the highschoolers including Alan stared at him. "Your highness…?" Alan asked in surprised. "My bad… I couldn't keep it in. It usually happened back then in the past. So when I saw it happening today I just couldn't keep it in."
Isa told getting up walking towards Alan too sat closer to him. Alan blinked his eyes astonished. "So why not reminiscence that time?" Isa asked caringly. The highschoolers looking at each other soon getting up.
Some sitting close to Alan and the others lying beside him gleamed. Alan speechless stared at them. "Move over their Orion, let me sit as well." Aaron urged as he too sat behind Alan with half of his back supporting him.
Alan gazed at them wordless. "Pat my hairs a little. Okay?" asked Noah winking his eye beside him. "Alan… just for today. Can we meet your real self?" asked Nagi staring at starry sky. "Yeah… just for this moment, don't force yourself in hiding who you really are." Continued Ren.
"You know… the time might not be the same as before however, the moment and people surrounding you are. So… relax yourself a little Alain." Senri whispered as Zach nodded. Kazuna looking at Alan stared silently. Alan stared at the ground below soon whispering, "Geez… you guys are so unpredictable…" "Alright… if that's what you wish." Alan spoke.
Soon a soft breeze blew as he gazed at the boys before him. His serious expression breaking into a soft one with a demeanor changing into a polite one he gleamed.
A smile unlike any other he gave out before, shined under the warm welcoming moon.
He greeted, "Hello everyone… my name is Alain. It's been a while since, I last met you. How have you been?"
His voice lighter than his usual strong, loud tone echoed around. The highschoolers astounded gazed at him silent.
After a moment of silence Isa laughed, "Pft, haha!" Elias staring at Ren too laughed including Senri, Aigou, Nagi and Noah.
"W-h-at?" Alan stuttered surprised. "No… nothing. Nothing at all. Welcome back my lady…" Isa greeted back wiping his tears.
"Hello, Alain…" replied Zach. "Hello, Alain." Waved Senri. "Hello! My little Alain!!" cheered Aaron happily. "Cheers!" pointed Orion and Elias. "Hey! Welcome back!!" cheered Aigou as Nagi nodded.
'Welcome back. My dear…" said Noah. Kazuna sighing hard smiled lightly, "Must've been hard keeping it all inside right? Great to see you out of your shell." Alan hearing their greetings stared at the ground below.
Silent for a while a huge sense of relief took over her. "Thank you… everyone." She whispered. "So tell us, how was it? Those two years without us?" asked Ren curious. Alan sighed, "Not good. I kept missing you all ever since I left for America. However, finding that pain in the neck didn't make anything easier for me either."
Isa gazing at her seriously asked, "Still couldn't find him?"
Alan shaking her head replied, "Nope. More like there wasn't even a single trace of him back at America as if he never existed."
"Sigh~ the same thing happened back at Australia. Vice-captain Evan might've not told you however, even under the eyes of his people searching around we also couldn't find a single trace of him." Ren told. "You were looking for him in Australia as well?!" Alan asked stunned.
"Of, course we were. When Aaron went to Britain recently, he even searched over there." Nagi added as Aaron agreed. "Meanwhile, the government under his highness's command is also continuously trying to trace his whereabouts up until now." continued Orion. Isa smiled nodding.