Erik kept pacing back and forth once again as he kept his gaze neutral and impassive as he held three towels ready to be thrown. He looked forward at all times as he spoke, "I call to the stand, James Klein, Eldrich Etaitini, and Alfred Tucker. We seek a briefing of your activities today.

Hunter looked at his fellow scribe and record-keeper tiredly as he took the mantle of temporarily subsuming a role he was accidentally brought into due to their similarities in appearances and mannerisms.

Hunter, however, was ready to keep records of the activities of the night.

James stepped forward first - once again in front of Mathias. A towel was swiftly tied around his waist as he stood rim-rod straight in front of the group. 'Am I a bailiff?' The boy thought with a reverberating sigh kept in his throat. He closed his eyes - not sure why he expected it to be any different.

"While I was accompanying Kira, I successfully kept thirteen guests from accosting her in my presence. I failed three times, two due to a forced separation, and again due to the appearance of Alexander O'Clair. The others were kept at bay."

"I'm glad. And the results of that?"

"She has since trusted me enough to at least not shake as much. I estimate a forty-percent decrease in her anxiety."

Erik nodded. "I also saw her hiding behind your back. I would like to remind you that there will be issues if the trust is broken so I will request that you speak nothing of significance of your discoveries that night. It will be a long-time before we should permit the active pursuit of Kira... do you all agree? Of which, I think you've earned the right to be the judge."

There was some murmuring in the crowd, but they nodded.

"We'll keep on top of the situation and every Sunday we'll ascertain whether or not there is a risk of further increasing her anxiety. In the mean-time, I request you, James, to try to maintain minimal contact. Not too much and in no place where she may feel cornered. However, keep contact enough so that she might feel other options outside of her current friend group - if only to allow her a chance to grow more independent."

"I understand. That was my intention."

"I see. Perfect. We're all on the same page." Erik turned to Eldrich who stepped up willingly. "I see you were expecting this. Eldrich, what the result of your findings?"

Eldrich took a short breath as he tried to quell the momentary anxiety. Once he began speaking of something related to intel, it wouldn't be an issue. "I-... I have accompanied Jasmine several times. Due to her pride, it seems she had originally presented me as a platonic friend.

"There have been several developments. I have seen several times where her expression broke, sometimes at 'normal' moments like in the cafe and sometimes for things that can be seen to be more abnormal. I am concerned that she is being forced to act as she is. I have no proper understanding of her personality behind all this, but there are discrepancies in her behaviour that seem stem from interactions with her mother if direct causal differences can be taken as evidence."

"A woman that's... well, you've all seen it," Erik commented and the group nodded.

It was obvious that they were to spare at least some attention to Jasmine's family after Eldrich's declaration of intent to survey was presented. Additionally, as Jasmine was attractive, there was a natural curiosity to see if it still applied to her mother.

They were guys.

And the logic, if operating under the assumption of Mathias' soft face, panned out before with Irina. Thankfully, she could be intimidating and her husband was fearsome enough to maintain Mathias' sanity.

"Yes, she is very much dead to the world. However, she obeys Mathers Thatcher to a 't', so the implicit assumption is that her discrepancies are due to a dissonance between her wants and her mother's expectations. There were two counts of physical abuse so I'd like to rescind the assumption of Jasmine's personality is as it appears."

"Two counts? And you stand as a witness?"

"I do."

"Understood," Erik said solemnly, rethinking his perception of her. "Continue."

"As I was with four of the company heads at the table, I've overheard some of their business chatter. My parents were summarily ignored after basic, cursory questions were probed. Their status as merchants mattered little since our family's business wasn't on the right scale. But it worked for this event. I heard some euphemisms that I believe to add credence to the general belief surrounding Kira. They were spoken during, as James mentioned, Alexander O'Clare's introduction to the Jessal family. I was unable to ascertain what the meeting was about, but neither the O'Clares, the Thatchers, or the Jessals were happy about it. Moments of minor relief, perhaps, but otherwise minor."

"True."

"Beyond that, I lack conclusive evidence. Raul Poniac's words and the preceding outburst by the four generally point towards negative relations, but also to their industries insofar as the Thatchers are concerned. Since there are already plenty of those rumours, it's unlikely to pose an issue for attendants, but there were comments made about money-lending."

"And we'll treat it as speculation, but that is true. I believe that it is time to congratulate you both on doing very good jobs. James, you helped secure a potential asset and current liability. I do hold great expectations for Kira, but I know our advances with our school-activities will be harder on her than the rest of us. Eldrich, I commend you for exposing yourself to Mathers Thatcher. Your involvement may be problematic in the future for you, but I think the information you brought to light adds a new dimension to Jasmine than we were once unaware of."

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The boys in attendance clapped ceremoniously. Even Jack and Tanner joined in it. One remained shaking, however.

"Now... finally. We have abstained from finalizing the judgement. Alfred to the front."

Alfred was pacified by the notion that Mr. Shields said they were not being punished for any issues that might have occurred at the exhibition.

Except Erik was pacing. Just that alone put in him on edge. Even if it became a stock-habit of him when he made declarations in front of the boys in the baths.

"Come on, it won't be too bad," Jack laughed as he pulled Alfred to the middle.

"H-huh?!"

"Alfred Tucker," Erik said stopping in his stop, still facing forward and away from the boy. "You stand accused of endangering the class."

"I-I...!"

Erik raised his hand as he turned to pace the other way - never looking at Alfred. "You need only listen. I understand the initial incident involving your mother and Hana's was before the banquet. I see no point in punishing you here. But...- Hunter read the request."

Hunter nodded and grabbed the journal. "I hereby request Alfred Tucker, student of the first-year Scylla class, to release any and all information pertaining to your night with Hana. Cooperation will be rewarded and resistance will be punished so as to pay amends for psychological damages for the others that were indirectly - or directly - threatened by Mr. Shields which may have delayed their ability to socialize freely. That is all."

"W-?!"

It was only a request in name. It was an order.

Mathias noticed Alfred was interrogated by the boys. Since everyone was in a pleasant mood after finishing such a draining event, hanging out with friends and the opposite sex, and otherwise relaxing as all issues started to fade away, it was very mild harassment. Less as a means to obtain information and more to sate their curiousity.

Of course, when it was five boys against one, with the others overseeing it, it seemed very much like bullying. Mathias hoped that Alfred would be fine. Even he was interrogated by members of both sexes before and, while uncomfortable, it was occasionally necessary in hindsight. Most of the time it was not. At all. However, it wasn't his problem to deal with. He dealt with enough today.

Considering what they've been through in training, the rough-housing could not even be called horse-play. And it was against the definitively most durable one among them all - including James.

----

Meanwhile,

----

The four girls were sitting on the two beds they pushed closer together. Since it would just be easier that way, they saw no issue with it and just shifted things around a little to accommodate them all.

As they ate pastries.

"... I didn't even think to grab any!" Wendi laughed as she grabbed another Ayla stole from a banquet.

"Yeah! They're really good. I didn't want to eat too much since I was in the dress, but... now!"

Jennifer cheered as she snapped up a few from the plate they borrowed from the cafeteria.

She kicked back her legs into the open air as she laid down on Mathias' bed across from Lisanna and Wendi.

"Hey, hey. We should do this more often! I think we should make this a tradition!"

Lisanna looked troubled. "I-I don't want to bother him too much..."

"It's fine, isn't it? We told you, it won't be a big deal. Plus, we'll be the ones asking - Wendi! It's your turn next time!"

"Eh?! I-I don't want to!"

"Too bad! You're officially the next in line! Also, it was your idea in the first place!"

"I-it might have been, but... still! And ays who!?"

"Says me! Right, Jen?"

"I don't see a problem with that," Jennifer giggled.

"And then it's Jennifer!"

"H-hey!" Jennifer reacted to Ayla's cheer. "I-I d-"

"So it is! Lisanna, hey!"

"Uh, what?"

Ayla jolted forward - still laying down. She casted Air Step so she could slide over to the other bed. Wendi rolled out of the way, but the pastries were protected in her hands. Ayla turned herself and clambered beside Lisanna.

"Wh-what is it...?!"

Ayla was just peering at her. "Nothing! Just admiring you. Hey, I know we decided that the top four were Erik, Mathias, Tanner, and Jack, but you never said who you - Lisanna - thought, right? You agreed with the picks, but never gave us a vote!"

"Uh... th-that-"

Jennifer smiled disarmingly, "it's fine, isn't it?"

"Oh! Mathias picked you, Jen. It was after we told him me, Wendi, Lisanna and Stacy and Jill... eh, because he was with Tanner and Jack. And... why are you blushing?!"

"Uh, that... I-I didn't expect it."

Lisanna grumbled, "why is the talk about him-"

"So you'd pick Mathias! It's official."

"Wha-?! Why is it 'official'!?"

Ayla blinked. "Because it was my survey and thus I am the moderator, the judge, and the jury! I have heard your opinion loud-and-clear, Lisanna!"

Ayla snickered as she rode the air back the other bed.

"Hey! I don't think you picked anyone either, right?!"

Ayla blinked and matter-of-factly said, "isn't it obvious? Objectively speaking, it'd be Erik. He's annoying, but still."

"Oh? Annoying?" Wendi pried with a smile. "Is that all?"

"Yup! Has been for a couple of years!" Ayla cheered unfazed by the bait. "Wendi, how about you? Is there anything that is... 'is that all?'-like for you."

Wendi quirked her head. "Honestly, I don't think so. I don't know anyone here, really."

"Any you might want to get to know?"

Wendi giggled, "I don't know. I'd tell you all if I did, but...!" Wendi snatched the last pastry and smiled as Ayla looked at her curiously.

Ayla's eyes suddenly widened.

"Wai-!"

Wendi broke it in two and gave half to Lisanna who took it thankfully - and stuffed the rest in her mouth. She chewed deliberately slowly as Ayla's mouth slowly widened, aghast at her losing the last battle for food. The very food she rightfully stole.

"I'll tell you all if it happens, but I don't know. I think it'll be an interesting next couple of weeks though. Hey, hey. Since the others are probably going to be delayed, what should we do next time! I don't want to fall behind now!"

Ayla grumbled before laughing. "Yeah, fine!" She rolled on her back and faced the ceiling. She stopped right beside Jennifer who was just looking over. Reaching upwards, she said, "after this, it'll be hard to top it."

"We still have a test Tuesday, though," Jennifer said, poking Ayla's cheek.

"I know! I don't want to know - but I know! Anyways, we have an ace up of sleeves for a fashion show but since it sounded like the academy's seen that kind of thing before, it'd be boring. I do want to do something athletic next."

Lisanna looked to the side. "I mean, if it's just a simple one, we can probably turn the training field into a simple obstacle course. No magic, maybe?"

"Hmm... maybe, maybe... wait! If we talk to the headmaster, we can probably get him to set up a really, really big one! Since we have some money, we just pay him or whatever, and then have it go up, down, around, in bright lights or pitch black!"

"... Considering what they have, we can probably add magma, ice, mud, and... uh, no sand, but something else?" Lisanna offered.

"Hmm, hmm! I like it. We'll talk to everyone to see how they feel about it. I'm not the best at it, but it sounds fun anyways!" Wendi added.

Jennifer poked Ayla again. "But first we have to study. I don't mind going to the cafe, but we should try to see if there is somewhere else since the cafe turned out really nice. There has to be more to the city, right?"

"I know a few restaurants! We have enough in the class-pool to have dinner there and then afterwards go to the cafe for studying-cake!"

"Yeah! I'll get to see Ali - ah, I can't get enough! Oh! We need to tell Kira to invite her little sisters!"

"Hmm, okay! But you do that!"

Wendi nodded excitedly and the group talked at lengths about their day, their plans, and their preferences for all things sweet.

Long into the night.

And the long week finally concluded as everyone found themselves exhausted and each pair of eyes faltered before silence took over the dorms.