Chapter 392 - Striking Contrast

To everyone's surprise and unparalleled delight, all the graduating students, teachers, school officials, and the guest speaker found themselves drinking and eating at the huge hall in one of the outer buildings of the Cedar Palace that day. It was a total treat – something that none of them would ever forget.

"Are you happy with your surprise?" Ryuu whispered in Alinea's ear.

After four hours of entertaining the guests, they were not waving goodbye to the last of them. Only the people who lived in the Cedar Palace plus Suzuki Aki, Asou Chiaki, Maki Yuuka, and Ali's friends from school were left.

"Hmmmn…" Alinea's lips twitched as she faced her husband coyly. "Was this your idea?"

Ryuu didn't answer her directly. Instead, he turned to the yard where the car of the last guest just left. "It's the last time you will be with your classmates."

"Hmm..."

Although most of the time she had spent in Senior High had been bad due to Okada Koharu's lies, Alinea had to admit that she had somewhat formed a good connection with her schoolmates after everything was cleared. With their young age and naivety, she did not put the past against them anymore. Also, they treated her nicely after so she was okay with them.

No, she wouldn't miss her classmates. But it was really nice to have this party as a closure to their relationship. Who knew, in the future, she'd meet some of them again? But even if not, she had this day to look back on.

She gave her husband a sly look that made him look at her with a brow raised before her face broke into a grin. "Good job, husband," she praised him before standing on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

Surprise registered on Ryuu's face at his wife's impulsive act, but it was a happy kind of surprise, evident on the small curve at the end of his lips. Due to the many guests coming today, the Koutaishidenka had reverted back into his poker face and had been quiet at the party, but Ali didn't mind.

The guests didn't mind either. They were already used to Homura Ryuu's stoic face. Also, they had a more popular poker-faced guy than the Koutaishidenka these days.

Kazehaya Sora.

"Ali!"

Alinea turned around to see her friends coming towards her.

"You guys…"

The group went earlier to walk their parents to their cars but they all would be staying at the Cedar Palace tonight. Why? It's because tonight was the last night they would be able to get together for a while. Tomorrow, the Homura House's main people would go into seclusion; at least, it's what they had announced to the world. In reality, they would all go and cross the portal back to Ged.

"Ah, today's so funny," Rin announced with a giggle.

"Why?"Alinea was so busy going around and talking to many different people with her husband so she was not able to stay with her friends during the party.

"It's because of the bipolar twins," Midori chirped, mimicking the nickname coined by the guests. As to whom the nickname was for…

"Bipolar twins?" Alinea asked, but Ryuu who was fast placed a hand on his mouth, and Ali who turned to him saw his shoulder shake. "Why are you laughing?"

"I'm not," Ryuu denied immediately as he stood straight but there was still amusement in her eyes.

"They're talking about your father and uncle," Miharu answered with exasperation. As the most mȧturė one in the group, she was the only one who was not giggling over the nickname.

"Why would they…"Alinea was going to ask why they tagged her father and uncle the bipolar twins as her eyes searched for them in the room. But her voice trailed off when she found them.

At the far side of the room, Kazehaya Gin stood next to Sora as they talked with Yayoi and the Fuuma. The twins stood close to each other and it made one think strangely. Both men had the same height, body built, and face but those only made the difference between them glaring. One was pristine looking in his all-white ensemble while the other looked like a lost parrot with all the colors. Also, while her father was quiet and mostly devoid of expression, her uncle was…

A chipmunk on energy drink…

Even after remembering everything, Alinea still didn't change her opinion on Kazehaya Gin. She faced her friends with a giggle.

"Oh yeah, bipolar twins," she agreed making them laugh.

That night, Ryuu and the others let Alinea spend time with her brother, Chiaki, and her friends. Ryuu and Gin saw the preparations for the travel, while Perun went to spend the evening at the Maki's House as per Eito's request. As to what he'd do there, only the King of Heaven knew.

"We'll walk you back to your room," Aki told Alinea and the latter didn't protest.

With a childish grin on her face, she hooked her arm on Aki while she hooked the other on Chiaki's. The three of them trudged the length of the wooden corridor leading to the private quarters in comfortable silence.

Alinea knew that there were so many things that her brother wanted to tell her – so many things he wanted her to know. But she understood that it's hard to express all the emotions with just words. She knew because she felt the same.

Tomorrow, she and the other would leave for Ged. She would literally go into a battlefield to slay monsters. Fear, it was only natural to be felt. Her brother was afraid but his silence told her that even if he was scared for her, he believed in her, and that gave her a warm feeling.

Soon, they reached the room she shared with Ryuu. She knew her husband had been inside a while ago, but he didn't come out to give her more time with her brother.

"Chiaki and I," Aki began as he studied Ali's face. "We're going to have a western wedding."

Alinea smiled. "That's nice!"

"You're going to be our maid of honor," Chiaki suddenly told her, surprising her.

"You have to be back for the fitting of gowns…okay?" Aki told her after.

Although his words were supposed to be light, the last part of his words came out in a crack as his eyes reddened and tears began to fall. Fear, worry— Ali could see those in her brother's eyes, but he chose to hide them and not to keep her from leaving. Instead, he's secretly asking her to return safely as he put on a smile in spite of the tears as he reached out and patted her head.

"Don't eat too much and get fat," he added, trying to be comical, and Alinea laughed as she threw herself in her brother's arms and gave him a hug.

"I won't. I'll be back before you know it…"