At last, after a few moments of hesitation or surprise, William forces himself from her embrace. His whole face is red from awareness of what he did.

“Hehehheheh... Well.. s-sorry...” He mumbles as he can't put proper sentences together.

“Thank you... I will cherish this moment. Here is yours!” Ellie lifts her head, and a momentary kiss on his cheek is left on William's face.

“Is that right?”

“Yes, it is William. Now, go!” she smacked his back. “Go get some rest, so you have some energy tomorrow, or whatever you have to do in the future.” Ellie shoo him away while trying to hide her flustered expression with her available hand and hair.

Grabbing his shoulder first, she ends up dragging William into the hallway where Mi-Yung shot him from. The door shuts close before he even has a chance to say goodbye.

Still a bit red, William hears... No. He sees the familiar face who is resting by a wall, not so far away.

“M...mmmm... Mi-Yung!? Was that intentional?” William blurts out his question, while even more flustered than before. Being seen is really more awkward than not.

“Who knows?” Mi-Yung asks in amusement while giggling ever so slightly. Her little prank, try or however she can even call it ends up as a success.

Somewhat awkward of an awkward one, but doing so ends any regret in William's or Ellie's heart. As someone who knows about them, helping them figure out some things leaves her in a better mood. For hers' or the sake of this pair.

After all, as a Walker, she is used to longer nights than any normal person, while this little thing has been her small idea. She has plenty of energy for another day, but a 3rd one sounds more like a stretch, but a not-that-bad one.

“I... am not commenting on it,” William mumbles as he escapes his head in another direction, so the gaze of Mi-Yung isn't noticeably drilling through his face.

Walking toward William, Mi-Yung forces his head in her direction with a motion of her fingers. He turns to face her. If not, his neck would snap.

“Good job today. Are you feeling good about your chances for the Academy?”

“T-that? I don't know any Trials or what they have. I don't know.”

“Figures. Alright. Let's go home. You are tired like a normal person would be. We have nothing to gain here any longer, so let's leave.” Mi-Yung tells, patting his head in small motions, and walks forth to the real direction to leave the Institution. She isn't even talking about her forceful meet-up with Ellie, as this is his problem, and not hers.

With that, William glances at the closed wooden door, which has a sign by a wall.

Ellie's name and her position are etched on a small wooden board that tells her big achievement.

“Ellie... I hope you did not make the mistake of liking me. It's your decision and I am fine with it, at this point.” he thinks to himself, before following Mi-Yung outside of the building.

Beyond the door, still flustered, she crouches down with her back against the door. Even her face is a bit wet behind her hidden expression. She feels great, somewhat. Totally fine... yet it makes her weird, while something is there else as well. Though, she doesn't feel a fraction of regret, as William could end up being away from her one way or another.

Could she take it? Being away from the person she likes, or... even loves? She doesn't believe the latter word, as it's too strong. It's something she heard about, but not experienced. Her small, and some would say, questionable romance is her first while understanding it even harder since this is no book, but reality.

“No... No. You've decided Ellie. You have your life, and this current life isn't the least bad! I am closer to the Walkers as one could get! Hell! I am even going to teach the future generation!” Ellie murmurs, gritting her teeth and hugging her knees on the ground.

This decision, or whatever she feels inside, isn't a problem. It's a surprising, but nevertheless pleasing, feeling in her heart. It is something that won't disappear even with the 6 weeks that passed since the moment she met William for the first time.

It feels a bit surreal for her to feel this, but as with all things, time will heal or enchant these feelings.

All of a sudden, she gets back to her feet in a quick motion. Her eyes show resolution, even though they are a bit red, after some tears.

“I am not afraid of the future. I have it good, while some don't. That's right. Right?” Ellie says while clutching her fist, as this day, will be the embodiment of her life. A small episode, in a long day, and even time of life, to some extent.

In the hallways of the Institution of the Emblem. Mi-Yung, at last, leads William from the building complex that is a bit too difficult to walk through. Although there are signs for everything, they mean nothing to William as he doesn't know what any departments even mean. The only one he recognizes was the exit sign of the main entrance, which Mi-Yung follows until they reach the entrance.

A breeze of the wind flushes William's face. He tries to pull his tattered sleeve across his Emblem, but it still doesn't help much at all. Too much of it is destroyed.

Noticing it, Mi-Yung comments. “Don't worry about it. Some people show their Emblem, while others don't. You will survive the walk to the West district from here, won't you?” She teases the brand-new Walker, who doesn't know any better but complains nonetheless.

“I don't care either way. It's more of an annoyance, how things are getting destroyed over this small thing. It makes me mad because of my clothes... I cared about them for 6 weeks, and they end up like this? Wouldn't you be angry about that?”

“Sure. Sure. Whatever you say. Let... shit... Great.” Mi-Yung stops her words, as she is facing William's back, outside of the entrance. She notices a familiar figure emerge behind them. Not by her eyes, but by her feelings.

One, that is bothersome, but she expected him to appear one way or another.

“Hello there, sir Kaufman.” Mi-Yung greets his approaching figure, who stops before the pair. The same old cowboy hat and jacket are on him. William watches him too, but in a surprise, because it's been a while since he has seen him.

“Mi-Yung. William.” He nods, and gestures with a flick of his hand, by his hat, and stops right before them.

“No Richards this time?” Mi-Yung asks while looking around in clear frustration.

“That fella has other things to worry about, while I personally don't care too much about him. He is not of my type, if you are getting what I mean.”

“I get what you mean quite well. Here I thought you would come early, but you didn't. What do you want to hear?”

“You don't have to care about this, Mi-Yung. Your task as a proxy ends today, as the boy's choice is the Academy, or so I heard. That isn't that surprising, as the invitation has been acknowledged by Margaret. That in itself is great, but... I am wondering. Still do...” Kaufman says while placing his palm to rub his trimmed beard.

“I have no idea what an old man such as yourself is wondering about.” Mi-Yung continues to say, without a speck of politeness.

She is adding some tone of threats to her words, as she is still unable to see through Kaufman's intentions.

“Yea. yea. I am not interested in talking to you, Mi-Yung. I would like 1 on 1 conversation with the other one. Will you give me that pleasure, William?” Kaufman says with half a smile while ignoring whatever Mi-Yung is trying to do.

Stepping forward, Mi-Yung stands on her own before a bit smaller-looking Kaufman than herself. While he is indeed Rank 8, Kaufman still looks like a regular man, with no features or muscles that are visibly different. No other body type is very prevailing on him, that would even indicate his incredible achievement.

What does it mean to reach Rank 8? That means different things while interpreting the System are needed to achieve this defiling rank. Killing multiple Rank 8s Dark beings? Sounds plausible. Reaching Rank 8 skills with different kinds of power? Could be hard, and take time, but it's manageable. Evolving the Arcanite, and understanding the structure of Emblems and the System? That isn't that easy, and there is much more to this than even the general public view of the Walkers knows.

Staring at this man before him, William is hesitant, because Mi-Yung still acts as fierce as before. Standing before him and Kaufman, she still acts like some bodyguard or a guardian. He is sure there is some drama between them, but what kind? That, he doesn't know. However, through her motions and problems, Kaufman appears completely unbothered. Ss if he doesn't care about any drama at all, she is there to not talk to her.

For all he could say, he may as want a simple conversation and that's it. Yet, that is not something Mi-Yung wants to hear, as his words could hold different meanings.

Frowning so much, Mi-Yung is hesitant, as the hand that is rubbing his chin is his left hand. Gloveless, his Emblem is open to see.

A globe that is glistering with matter, light, and dangers. It is within his hand, forced into the other side of the palm.

“I will be forcing my hand if I have to. Literary. Mi-Yung.” He tells while a threat behind his words is noticed even by William.

“I have no problem with the conversation if Mi-Yung will be present.” William steps forward while trying to calm this situation down.

Kaufman stops with his rubbing and gives a customary nod to William.

“See? He is trying to haggle. Is he like his father? I wonder.”

“I suppose,” Mi-Yung says, while clenching her fist. The pressure that she feels isn't... great. It's terrible. Facing an old monster like Kaufman is indeed a challenge that she can't do at the moment. It is also possible that she will never reach that point since the upgrades are getting steeper and harder to accomplish.

“I don't know about it, but I still want a private conversation.” Kaufman shakes his head. Still insisting on 1 on 1 conversation, he tries to haggle and force Mi-Yung away.

“I swear I won't force any words from myself. You can have whatever topic you can have with him. I don't care unless I am there.” Mi-Yung insists.

“Lies are indeed quite honest in your case. Very well, let's have a talk on that bench. How about that?” Kaufman states while pointing to a distance. There are some seating areas underneath small patches of grass, while trees make some natural protection against the sun. The bench is right beside the tree, at the side of the pavement.

Walking there by himself, William looks at Mi-Yung with the obvious intention of helplessness. He wants to sleep for god's sake... and here is another obstacle that is preventing that from happening. He doesn't want to follow his problems or words. Yet here he is, forcing that to happen, while he would fall asleep in a moment.

“Talk won't hurt. Let's go hear him.” Mi-Yung reassures William, while it was mostly for herself.

Being first on the bench, Kaufman leans back, while on his left is William and Mi-Yung on the right. She is hesitant, but casually sitting there with no intention of going against her words. She will be silent, while not proactive in their conversation.

“I see your new Emblem. Wanna talk about it?” Kaufman asks with a glance at William, who is scratching his right arm in return.