Final Fantasy VIII: A New Generation (Part 2)

[Caije]

Shut in darkness, of his choice that was. He lay back on his bed, not crying just thinking, thinking of what he could of done to prevent it. Was there anything he could of done? Anything at all. He now knew it had been his fault the Resistance had been murdered, if he had not left Balamb none of this would of happened.

Resitch had now been shut in his room for a full week. Everyone was worried about him. The only time he went out was for Claire's funeral, squall had brought him there after the Burial to sit alone at the Grave. When he came back to balamb he Moved into his room and lay back on his bed. Lukas would occasionally come around, bang on Resitch's door and tell him to go to class. Resitch never responded. When meal-time came the staff would leave his dinner out by the door.

The SeeD exam would take place in 2 days and today was the day everyone should get there Results of their written exam. Resitch new he had to get up sometime. He lacked motivation. It was now 7.30 am. Resitch dived out of bed, washed his face and took a towel in for his much needed shower. He soaked his head and body in cool water. He was in there for about 20 minutes and when he came out he dried up and got dressed. Hearing the usual bell for the Cafeteria now opened. He slided open his door and began to walk the corridors. Some people gave him a small smile as he passed by, others ignored him completly, which Resitch found to great Relief.

Sitting down in the cafeteria which was packed now. he was lucky to find a seat to himself. Other students were laughing and all hyped up for today's results. None took any notice of Resitch sitting alone. The Instructors looked at him slightly as they passed through, afraid he was suicidal they nodded there heads as they passed, just to show that they were there for support if he needed any, he didn't though, he'd be fine by himself for the moment. Resitch sighed. "I need to know why....."

[Storm]

Lukas was sitting in the cafteteria, with a cooked breakfast infront of him. He sighed, moving some of the remaining beans in a circular motion on the plate with a fork. He was getting increasingly worried about Resitch's disappearance. He hadn't seen him since the beginning of the party, 7 days ago, and although he sometimes arrived at his friend's door to see if he was in, there was never any response. It was not the ideal time to get worried, as the final SeeD exam was in too weeks time, and he had to be in top physical condition. He had noticed his appetite had gotten smaller from stress, which was adding to his worries. He ate the remaining scraps from his plate, taking it to the counter before heading out at 7:00.

Lukas made his way to the training centre, already kitted out in his martial arts trousers, vest and gloves which he concealed in his pockets in the cafeteria. Training, along with reading, painting and meditating seemed to take his mind off his worries, and would help him excell in the field exam. Upon entering, he encountered a grat. "An easy opponant to start with," he smiled, preparing himself for a tackle. After a single tackle and a heel kick, the grat fainted, disintergrating into the ground. Grats were well-known for their easiness to take down. He grinned, making his way towards the back of the training centre, where the T-rexaurs lurked. Another grat appeared, whipping Lukas with one of it's tentacles. Lukas grabbed the tentacle, swinging the grat around and into the electric fencing. Another pair appeared, the first spraying a gas around the arena. Lukas covered his mouth as he rammed the grat with his head, knocking it into the other. He began to feel drowsy but managed to give the first grat a swift heel-kick before falling asleep. A tentacle-wrap from the second grat woke him, as he deleriously pulled himself away, wiping his eyes with his arm. Locking onto the grat, he slammed it into the ground. In the distance he heard a roar. Lukas grinned, casting a haste spell upon himself. The orange glow boosted his energy, relieving the remaining sleepyness, and making him faster. He ran towards the roar, encountering a T-rexaur. He grinned, locking onto his target. T-rexaurs were a nice challenge, so much more exciting than fighting grats, which fainted in a couple of hits. Instead, T-rexaurs took a long time to take down, especially when battling one single-handed. The huge prehistoric beasts gave Lukas a great adrenaline-rush, their ferocious appearance, along with their high HP and attack damage. His blue eyes were glowing wildly with excitement. He swung a kick at the T-rexaur's ankle, his fringe sweeping past his face like a dancing wildfire. Agility was the key to defeating the lumbering giant.

[Fehrant]

A week ago...

After the written exam was over, Selenia decided to waste no time. Determined after reading her grandfather's letter, she skipped the remaining, support classes, and visited this mage who was apparently able to release the power of her tattoo.

The place was not too far, although it had taken a couple of days to get there. The mage, who was an aged man by the name of Talos, kindly invited Selenia in, fully knowing the purpose of her visit.

"I've lived long," Talos said. "And I know your brother is not the first outcast of your clan. People don't take lightly having their magic sealed just because of a long forgotten feud, especially when your clan has one's strength in high regard. But enough of this old man's blabbering, I know why you have came here. Your grandfather and I have known each other for a long time also, so know that while I have several times been called to help perform the 17-years-old ritual, I hold allegiance to no one in particular. I clarify this, because what I'm about to tell you is very important, and this are just an old man's words, and not your clans', or anyone else's."

"As your grandfather has told you, I can release the power sealed in your tattoo. However, because this is not done through a formal ritual, and I do not have all the materials necessary --some of which your clan provides us, magic wielders-- there are going to be some complications. In fact, if your will to live is not strong enough, you might even die."

"I won't," Selenia interjected resolute.

"You won't," Talos conceded. "You certainly are a strong willed person, with a burden upon your shoulders you can only carry through sheer willpower. Let me tell you what will happen however. For two or three weeks, your tattoo is going to activate itself at its own volition, or during moments of intense emotions. This wouldn't be a problem, but you'll bleed during some of these "activations". It's going to be erratic, but you'll help it a bit by staying as calm, and relaxed as possible. You'll also suffer from headaches, weakness due to blood loss, lack of sleep due to the pain, numerous cuts through your body, blurry vision, dizziness, among other symptoms. Are you still willing to continue with this?"

"Yes." Selenia's prompt reply showed no hesitation.

Her tattoo was unsealed, and just like Talon described, the symptoms started to show on her voyage back to the academy. She had bandaged her body upper torso all the way to her neck, to cover the wounds, anticipate the bleeding, and also to not have anyone asking questions should her tattoo's pattern spread all over. Although if it reached her hands, or face, she would not be able to cover that. Aside from that, her clothing concealed it very well, and only bandages on her neck would be revealed, and her arms, if she did not wear her trenchcoat.

The trip back had taken longer, and the blood loss made her strength slowly slip away. By the time she had returned to her dorm, she looked paler, more feeble, and her face was but a glimpse of the pain she had been experiencing experiencing.

Present Time

The final SeeD exam was going to take place in two days. Selenia had remained in her room since her stay, ate little, and moved less. Bloodied bandages littered her room, her bed sheets were also sprayed with blood from her wounds as she writhed in pain trying her best not to scream. She intended to take the exam, even while at this state.

She would not visit the infirmary, or do anything that would make the instructors notice her condition. When feeling a little better, she decided to head to the cafeteria, to get some food in order to recover her wanning energy. She spotted Resitch gloomily sitting alone in the populated, noisy cafeteria, as everyone talked with anticipation about what the scores of their test could be. He seemed to be psychologically damaged, but Selenia would not sympathize with his circumstances, or anyone's for that matter.

Selenia ordered a sandwich to go. When she got the sandwich handed, however, in her wrecked, physical state the food slipped through her weakened fingers, and dropped to the floor. Luckily the plastic wrap made all the contents stay in their place. She picked it up, and left the cafeteria. Almost reaching her room, pain cracked through her body. Blood started to drip but it was not easily noticeable with her trenchcoat.

A drop of blood splashed on the ground, and she cleaned in with her foot quickly. She continued walking to her room, though the last part she had support herself with the wall. As she closed the door, she let the food drop, and took off her jacket. Blood dripped the floor, but now she didn't care to conceal it. Her eye pulsated with pain, and looking at the mirror she realized the tattoo had temporary spread as far as her face, while the intrinsic black patterns slowly changed into streams of crimson that rained down her face.

[Omega OwA]

The sun crept through all the windows of Balamb, marking the early morning. Kitere winced as he closed up the blinds. He slowly changed into his school uniform, grabbing a folder with a pen and notes, then left out of his dorm. Walking down to the cafeteria, he rubbed the back of his head, still swollen from the blow he had take in the training centre the other day. Once he entered the cafeteria, he saw Resitch sitting alone at a table. He had been trying to talk to Resitch about the deal with Ifrit, which he had forgotten during the party. Ever since, he has not seen him in any parts of the school. He would have pulled Resitch out of his dorm room and asked him what the hell was wrong, but Lukas had told him not to. Kitere would have taken the chance to find out what was making Resitch go into this depression, but he let it pass. As he walked up to the cafeteria line, he saw Selenia drop the sandwhich she had ordered, taking off quickly. Kitere noticed she looked a bit fragile, which was unlike what her usual state was. Everyone seemed different in some way.

Kitere ordered his breakfast at the counter, which consisted of toast, two fried eggs, and a carton milk or juice. He brought it outside to the courtyard where he munched at his toast. It seemed just another beautiful day, the clouds freely taking the sky and the lonely trees looking as they had been for the past years. Kitere ate the last of his breakfast and trashed it away, then sat down once more. He did not feel like going to class today. So much had already happened. First the unexpected and sorrowful attack on the Garden, then the attack in Esthar at Laguna's funeral, and finally the Guardian Force issue. The students and SeeDs had also been informed that Instructor Grant Dotson had been murdered. Everyone had to be on the lookout, daily. There was something going on. All these events mean something will happen that will devastate the entire island, but what could it be? He got up walked inside the building, going up the stairs onto the second floor, where his first class of the morning was. He was never fond of this class. All they ever did was read a chapter in the textbook, then take notes on it. After this, they would watch a video and answer questions on it. Kitere needed something that would wake him up this early in the morning. The class was dull and he was glad when it finally ended. Kitere dropped off his supplies back at his dorm and went back down past the cafeteria outside. He wanted some fresh air before heading into the Training Centre which was where his next class was being held.

[Acheron]

He brought it on himself

That's what Noelle tried to tell herself during the past week. For the most part, she didn't have a hard time considering that Dotson had come down with saying that he was going to turn her in but she knew very well, even from the tone of his voice, that he wasn't going to let her leave that basement alive. Her life or his, she didn't hesitate to think that anyone else would have done the same thing as she; plus she to this Garden in order to complete a mission, a mission that she had been working on for years and she wasn't about to let some visiting professor ruin everything for her. All those years of sneaking around, playing coy when cornered, it couldn't have been thrown away for someone who wanted nothing more than the blood of what he thought was a spy. In the end, or at least in the final moments of Dotson's life, Noelle was hoping that he died with the satisfaction of knowing that a student, someone who had been at her profession for a far shorter time than he, had easily outwitted him. The first 48 hours after the murder were the most chaotic; most of the students spent the nights awake due to the fact that a murder happened in what they believed was the safest and most peaceful place that they could think of. Many of them wailed as even though Dotson was a visiting professor, he was one of the more popular around. As everyone was so wrapped up in his murder and being interviewed by the other Instructor's, Noelle counted the seconds of the days.

She spent her time doing everything she could to make it look like Dotson's murder actually mattered to her, along with getting ready to move along from being a student at the Garden. When she wasn't hanging around with friends and finishing the last assignments for the last classes that she would ever be taking, Noelle could be found packing up most of her things to move out of the Garden. While most of the SeeD's lived in the Garden after passing the field exam, there were some of them who decided to live outside which normally helped with thier assignments. Either way, Noelle and her friends spent the week like they normally did and she even would eat lunch sometimes with Lukas and Sakuya, anything to keep the image of just being another student up.

[Caije]

When he finished the last of his meal with a struggle, Resitch decided to go to the Infirmary, his last few nights had been tossing in his bed trying to relax so he could go asleep. Waliking inside of the Infirmary he met with the New doctor. Dr. Esyam had worked in the Infirmary for little over a week. he looked quite angry as he let Resitch into a room.

"So your one of the trouble kids.....," He spat.

"Excuse me?" Resitch asked confused.

"Don't play dumb with me, I know you and your troubled student-pals sneak into the infirmary, Steal stuff and then go, whats worse is that because I never locked up, then I'm the one to suffer, Dosent make it easier when-" He continued to Ramble on as Resitch was engaged into deep thought.

"That's quite enough Dr. Esyam," Dr. kadowakai's voice came from behind Esyam. He left the room in a fit of rage. "Forgive him, all this discussion about Dotson's murder and Blood theft, has got him worried...,

"Blood theft?" Resitch asked.

"Oh, you didn't know? Well last week, The blood tests I took for my Yearly Flu infection, well There was a Theft of Squall and the rest, even's rinoa's was stolen."

"Why would somone want Blood?"

"Who know's, we've had to Lock up everything past 6pm now. Now there's a curfew around, didn't you- oh, yes I heard...." She quickly changed the Subject as Resitch's head began to face the floor.What brings you hear..."

"Can't sleep, I was hoping you could give me some pills....,"

"Of course, go easy on them, they can send you out for a day if your not careful, Wouldn't want you to miss your SeeD exam."

Resitch left with a fake smile as he took the bottle of Sleeping pills she handed him. He Left the Infirmary thinking of there discussion. "Noelle was in the Infirmary, maybe she.......".

"Could all students who took the written exam please Report to the Quad, I repeat, Could all students who took the Written exam please report to the Quad for your results. Thank you!"

[Storm]

Lukas ran behind the T-rexaur, dodgeing it's sweeping tail and delivering another kick into the achilles tendon, causing the monster to flinch, its knees crashing to the floor. This gave him the oppurtunity to climb it's back. He took a leap onto it's lower back, using it's raised vertebrae as standing pegs, much like the the ones used on climbing walls. The T-rexaurgot up, begining to swing around as Lukas clung on, slowly pulling himself further up it's back. The T-rexaur swung itself into the fencing, which made him almost loose his grip. There was a low-voltage circuit through the wire, which gave him a bit of a shock. Procceding up, he pulled himself onto the T-rexaur's head, pulling another heel-kick on the bricge of it's snout, between the eyes. Swinging his leg around, he kicked it in one of the eyes. The T-rexaur ferociously swung it's head, causing Lukas to loose balance and fall to the floor, landing on his hands and toes. The impact upon his hands was painful, even the thin layer of padding within his gloves didn't seem to help. Clenching his body for a few seconds, the T-rexaur swung it's tail, throwing Lukas towards the fencing. He was beginning to regret not stocking up on cure spells, but he couldn't give up the fight. The haste spell had worn off, and he was now about 100m away from the monster, giving him enough time to re-cast the spell. The energy began to reflood his veins, as the T-rexaur approached him. He raised his hands, drawing out the cold from the surroundings, summoning a large orb of ice. "BLIZZARA!" The ice beam pummelled into the beast, slowing it down further and causing good damage. It appeared to be tiring out. He focussed another spell, this time Fira, a large fireball which appeared to cause extra damage as the beast's body went from extreme cold to extreme heat. It's lower body was charred, the hind legs getting wobbly as it hesitantly approached Lukas, head down ready to bite him. Lukas ran up, jumping onto it's lowered head as it tried to bite him, pummeling it in the nose ridge. A loud crack caused the beast to groan, its eyelids slowly closing as it fell forward. Lukas hit the ground as the monster fell beside him. Panting hard, he sighed with relief that the T-rexaur had been brought down.

"Could all students who took the written exam please Report to the Quad, I repeat, Could all students who took the Written exam please report to the Quad for your results. Thank you!" An announcement sounded. Lukas sighed, looking down at his body. His white vest was covered in dirt and wet from the sweat his body had released during the battle. He sighed. He hated unexpected formal meetings, especially when he was dirty from training. He caught his breath for a moment, before running over to the Quad. Other students were heading there, none of whom he particularly knew well. However, once he entered the area, he saw a familiar face.

"RESITCH!!!" He shouted, running over to his friend. His trademark wide grin spread over his face, he couldn't believe his eyes. However, Resitch's expression looked somewhat distant. Lukas couldn't exactly tell if he was happy to see him or not. His expression somewhat troubled, which caused Lukas's smile to disintergrate back into his face. Something was wrong.

[cetra_aeris]

Sakuya enjoyed reading, and usually tended to do so when she was nervous. She had never returned the book she'd found, and read parts of it occasionally. Now though, she often found her self scanning the shelves and gathering books to read. Sveral titles and genres were included in her selection. Almost anything baout past SeeD exams and field battles as well as just books of intrest.

She was walking down the hallway from her dorm now to return some of the books she'd checked out when the Library had closed. She was dressed in her school uniform this morning, for the simple reason that when she woke up she realized that the rest of her clothes were dirty.

She didn't feel out of place though, as many of the students wore their uniforms when they didn't have classes. She never would get used to wearing skirts though, even after wearing them for classes.

She reached the Library and set her arm load of books on the counter with a smile. The girl working behind it looked at her with an odd expression. "If you'll check them in I can put them away.... I think I know where they all go." The girl nodded and began checking in the books, seeming relieved that she wouldn't have to put them away.

As she did so Sakuya stared of into the Library, going into another on of her now frequent daydreams. Most were memories really, others thoughts on the written and Field exams.One memory tended to peck at her brain more often than most, that being the Costume Dance that had happened a week ealier. She couldn't seem to get it out of her mind, not that it bothered her really. Infact, she found her self wanting to laugh out loud as she remembered some of her and Lukas' conversations.

Yet, more often than most her mind went to the slow dance they had shared which caused her to blush and her heart to pound. Like it was doing now...

"Could all students who took the written exam please Report to the Quad, I repeat, Could all students who took the Written exam please report to the Quad for your results. Thank you!"

Sakuya jumped a bit at the announcement, embarrassed for no reason at all. "Uh, Sorry!" she said running out of the Library. "I can't put them up now!"

She took a deep breath and calmed herself outside the Library before continuing towards the Quad. She smiled, glad to finally get to know her results. She ran to the quad the rest of the way. She walked in slowly, looking around for those she knew would be there. She didn't see anyone at first, but she heard Lukas.

"RESITCH!!!"

She turned towards where it was coming from, laughing slightly at how excited he sounded. She walked over slowly. She waved when she was closer, smiling. "Hey! Restich! Lukas!"

[Fehrant]

"Could all students who took the written exam please report to the quad. I repeat: could all students who took the written exam please report to the quad for your results. Thank you!"

As the voice echoed through the speaker phones, Selenia was turning in bed violently one way and the other, with her arms tightly wrapped around her as she writhed in pain. Without a shirt, her skin covered in bandages, small ponds of red spread through the cloth material. The tattoo pattern was no longer in her face, but now cuts replaced it, thin lines that looked to be the act of a sword.

The pain temporary receded, and she stopped moving, her breathing slowly calming down. She got up from the bed, feeling every cut in her skin ache, especially the recent ones on the side of her face. Her mind now became aware of the announcement, but it made no difference. Her grade could wait, and her condition had nothing to do with it. She wasn't anxious at all to find out. In fact, it was more of an ordeal than anything else.

Her eyes scanned the room absent minded. They fixed themselves on the sandwich she had dropped a moment ago, feeling a bit hungry. She stood, and went to pick it up. A knock on the door came, just as she was about to reach it.

"Selenia, are you there?" Asked a familiar voice. "It's me, Zack. I was passing by and thought we could go pick up the grades of the exam! Besides... I haven't seen you in a while."

Selenia raised an eyebrow puzzled, trying to understand why Zack would bother with her. She walked back a few steps leaving the wrapped up sandwich where it was, and picked up her shirt, which had some blood stains on the back. She donned her shirt, now the bandages showed as some type of undershirt over her arms, and part of her neck. Opening the door, she was greeted by Zack's smile, which quickly melted into an expression of concern as he took a better look at her.

"What... happened to you?" Zack asked taken back by surprise, and suddenly worried to see a strong character looking feeble, and in physical distress.

Selenia closed her eyes as if considering something. "Don't worry about it; I'll go get my scores later. Don't concern yourself with me."

Zack wanted to ask more, but when Selenia opened her eyes, his words stuck on his throat. His eyes bored into hers uneasy, but hers looked firmly, despite her weak appearance.

"Don't concern yourself with me," she repeated one more time as if to answer to his thoughts.

Zack's faced chagrined, and he walked away to go see his score with his head slumped, and a heavy heart. Selenia's door closed, and he looked back, feeling remorse for not being able to do anything for her. "I have to do something. I have to do something. I have to something!" He kept repeating in his mind, but it only made him feel worse.

[Acheron]

"Could all students who took the written exam please report to the quad. I repeat: could all students who took the written exam please report to the quad for your results. Thank you!"

Noelle was in the middle of putting gifts for friends and family back in Galbaldia into a package when the annoucement went off. She was just finishing putting the last strip of tape over the large box on the floor when the sound had blasted through the speakers in the common room. Noelle rubbed her ears a little bit as she placed down her tape on top of the box, then sat down on her bed for a moment. She still had her bedding, her computer out and a few other things around the room but soon enough even those would be gone. The scheduling would be working out in her favor, the field exam would be coming up in a few days and the next day, those who passed would be sworn in as SeeD's, Noelle wasn't worried about passing and she was sure that a key group of people would also be passing too. While she wasn't sure about how all of them would do on the written exam, Noelle knew that Resitch, Sakuya, Lukas and as long as Squall didn't step in the way, Selenia, would be taking the field exam in a couple of days. The field exam was supposed to be one of, if not the hardest test during the students tenure at the Garden but Noelle didn't doubt any of their skills for a moment, them along with another young man named Kitere would eventually be meeting her on the battlefield but on different sides.

Dressed in her Garden uniform, Noelle left her dorm room and made her way down to the Quad. Lucy and Taylor had both been out for the day, as Taylor lived in Balamb so it was easy for her to escape and head out onto the beach for the day. She didn't have a clue where the boys were but it really didn't matter as the two of them had cared less and less about the written exam scores as the days went by. Noelle was able to get there before a massive crowd amassed but she was able to spot Lukas, Resitch and Sakuya who had also arrived at the Quad, only a few seconds before Noelle. While the group of them gathered up, Noelle didn't want to be an intrusion and interupt their conversation; so she went ahead of most of the crowd to one of the tables where she would be able to pick up her exam from one of the Proctors. As she got closer she could see that the person at the table she was headed for, was Instructor Trepe. Noelle approached Quistis with a smile and it was matched by Quistis, it made her feel a little less nervous was Trepe placed the written exam in Noelle's hands.

"So this is it Ms.Verseau isn't it? After you look at this piece of paper, it's the field exam and then becoming a SeeD, right?", Quistis seemed intrigued.

"Well nothing's a given Instructor, the field exam is pretty hard from what I hear so I..."

"You'll do fine Noelle, you know you will and I know you will. I'll be looking forward to seeing how you do with your friends out there.

As much as Noelle wanted to continue talking to Quistis; plenty of students were rushing up to the front and the last thing that she wanted to do was make life much harder for Quistis. She hadn't noticed that she moved over to where Resitch and the rest of his group was when she started opening up to look at her exam score. Noelle looked up and down the pages, there had to be some mistake, she studied forever and getting a score that she did just blew her mind, it really couldn't be true. She closed her exam booklet with a smile, her years were truly about to be over at the Garden for in a couple days she'd be out for the field exam but for today, she had scored 100% on her written exam.

[Caije]

Resitch slightly smiled as Lukas ran over to them. Then Sakuya appeared and stood beside them. Just as Resitch was about to tell them about Claire Noelle came from behind them. Resitch let out a deep sigh before saying anymore.

"Well, Why have you been shut away in your room lately?" Lukas asked concerned.

"Claire's dead." He stated briefly and he looked at everyones depressing. "Along with, Donnie, Raijin, Fujin and Seifer, all killed by the Galbadian's."

Everyone stayed silent for a while. Resitch held back his own tears and turned from the group. He approached Quistis who was handing out the Results. The crowd had died down Since Resitch had Entered. He was handed his results and he opened the Envelpe they were in. It wasn't as he expected it. In fact it was better. C+, a C- was all you needed and Resitch had done it. He turned to the rest of the group and approached Noelle.

"Can we talk later?, I need to ask you somthing...." Resitch smiled pleasantly.

"What about?" She asked.

"Somthing about your father...." He said as he turned towards Lukas. lukas was still staring at him since he broke the news.

"Man, Resitch, I- I don't know what to say, I'm sorry..." He stuttered without looking Resitch in the eye.

"It's Razor Deiling and his pawns fault, this was just the motivation I needed...." He lied. He wanted to pretend to everyone that he could manage. He didn't really care but everytime he slept he saw her, in his reflection all he saw was himself and her, together.

"If you need to talk about it..., I, uh, I'm here."

"Lukas, please, I can manage..." Resitch forced a smile. "Get your results, I want to know if you passed...."

[Storm]

Lukas nodded, cautiously turning away from the others. He had to see his results, but he was equally worried about his friend's safety. He felt he did the exam well, but he always got nervous whenever he was about to see something important. Quistis smiled, handing him the small brown envelope. He smiled nervously, continuing doing so as he approached the rest of the group. Sakuya began to laugh at his expression as he slowly tore open the envelope and took out the slip of paper.

98%, A+. Lukas grinned manically, jumping in the air. The lost marks were most likely from the small mathematical question they sneaked onto the paper, which Lukas was never good at. Still, it was much higher than he expected, which made him extaordinarily hyperactive. He hugged Sakuya, then turned around to Resitch and tried to hug him. Resitch pulled himself away, with a kind of anctious, worried smile.

"Hey, you're smiling now!" Lukas laughed. "Well done mate, "

He peered down at Noelle's paper, who had gotten 100%. Lukas gasped.

"How the hell did you manage that?! Cheater!!!" He said, pulling a fake-angry face before hugging her. "Well done!"

He looked back at Sayuka, eager to see what she had achieved.

"Go get yours then! We read all the GF stuff together, so you must of done brilliantly."