A bellowing roar came from the storm as it raged on ferociously and the air grew thick with danger. SF candidates scrambled to get away––any flames of determination and confidence to take on the vengeful apparition was extinguished and any desire to show off to the camera was decimated with desperation for survival. Alastor had just left your body and he was still this powerful? Maybe you should be a little nicer to him.

Cracks on the ground drew between your legs, causing your balance to become precarious for a moment. You whispered to yourself a quiet 'alright!' before taking off, diving headfirst into the storm. The wind screeched ghastly and you could faintly hear Amias's concerned shouts. Though you felt guilty, you had to ignore him and didn't spare a glance back.

"Don't you think people will be suspicious even if you attack me?" Alastor asked. "Why would a vengeful apparition leave the host's body in good condition?"

"I'll think of an excuse that'll explain that. Maybe I can play it off as I'm super strong––don't give me that doubtful look. Anyways, just continue to wreak havoc and we'll go from there."

Alastor didn't go easy on you. Yes, it was necessary to ensure that no one suspected that the two of you were working together. But it still didn't mean you enjoyed getting owned by someone younger than you. When you fought him in the game, you didn't think too much of the difficulty. Alastor wasn't some boss you could kill in one shot, but his attack patterns were easy to get the hang out of. And the more you provoked him, the more haphazard he was and the more openings there were to take advantage of.

During that point of the game, Alastor would've already completely lost himself. In the height of his vengeance, no rationale left and only waiting to be exorcised by the main character of the story. No one would remember him as anything else but the vengeful apparition, the first boss of the game. And admittedly, when you advanced further into the game you didn't think much of him as well.

"Well, it's definitely different now," you mumbled, raising an arm to shield a wave of strong wind. "Alright, now we wait––"

No need to wait, the ground underneath you split open and solid ground disappeared. Wait, wait––what was this––?! You screamed when you realised that you were falling. Hey, since you weren't good at acting at least the camera picked up on your genuine fear.

"Alastor, can you make it so that no one sees us? Like before where you summoned a whole bunch of rain around me."

"Obviously I can, what do you take me for? But the rain wouldn't be enough to completely make sure no one sees us."

"Is there anything else you can do?"

A ghost of a smirk touched his lips. "There is. Just trust me on this."

"Alastor, I swear to god when I get my hands on you––!"

You had to cut your complaint short when you saw solid ground rapidly approaching. You summoned Mochi and managed to land without an issue aside from being out of breath and having a heart rate going a million miles per minute. Looking up, you realised just how far you fell. How did Alastor create such a deep pit so quickly?

"When you get your hands on me you'll what?"

There he was. Arms crossed and leaning against the wall of the pit with an indifferent expression as if he didn't just make your life flash before your very eyes. With how you were about to act, you prepared to feel like a mother reprimanding a child.

"Alastor, you could've given me a heads up!"

Alastor coughed quietly and covered his lips with a hand. "Then the shock factor wouldn't be there."

"Did you just laugh at me?"

"No."

He definitely did.

Mochi looked at you and Alastor in confusion, glancing back and forth whenever the other person spoke. You giggled at his behaviour and patted him and the wolf leaned into your touch. Mochi's fluffliness was therapeutic, you were no longer frustrated at Alastor.

"Moving on, there is still an opening up there." You gestured to the sky. "What if people find us?"

"We're in the eye of the storm right now, so no one should be around. Time is limited, though."

That was the cue to act quickly. You summoned the book and Alastor watched you curiously. When the pen made contact with the paper, concerns and worries surfaced. You've never had a human apparition by your side. What if something went wrong? What if the process with Alastor is meant to be different from Mochi? Will he follow you like the wolf? Would he be able to defy you? You swallowed. Hopefully, you weren't unknowingly putting a restriction on him. You only wanted to offer a means of protection so that Alastor could live longer.

"What are you waiting for?"

"Well..."

"Don't worry about it and just do what you need to do," Alastor said. "Whatever happens is better than getting killed by those exorcists anyways."

This was his way of reassuring you, huh? You'll take it.

You began writing and the words flowed harmoniously with the pen; it was a sign that though you didn't understand or know Alastor's entire backstory, you could at least connect with a piece of it. After all, the desperation to keep one's humanity was a common theme explored in stories. As an author who wrote and read a lot, you found it natural to understand these things.

"Hey, big sister! Whatcha doing?"

Your heart almost leapt out of your chest. Who the hell––

A small figure appeared next to you. Light brown clockwork eyes stared at you expectantly as her short and messy ash blonde hair bounced energetically with her actions. Wait, short hair with shattered ends, ivory skin and antique clockwork eyes? She was one of the children you met earlier! Once the realisation sunk in, your shadow suddenly moved and two more children appeared from the ground.

The three apparition kids! Oh god, this isn't a video game. There is no pause button. How do I react?! What were they doing here so suddenly?!

You turned to Alastor and he gave you a 'I'm just as confused as you are, but I don't have enough energy to act as shocked' look. In return, you gave him a 'what the hell why aren't you at least doing something about it' look.

"Hey, hey, you didn't answer my question!" The young girl tugged the sleeve of your jacket before her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh! I can touch you!"

"You're getting distracted." One of the kids sighed. Those silver diamond pupils stood out too much for you to not recognise who it was. "I knew we shouldn't have come here."

The girl's twin brother raised a hand and stood on his tip-toes in order to better catch your attention. "Miss, miss! What's that book for?"

His sister nodded eagerly and pointed at Alastor. "Yeah! What are you doing with big brother?"

Alastor narrowed his eyes. "I'm not your brother. (Y/n), there's no time. You need to get a move on––"

"But we want to come with you!" The girl exclaimed, then proceeded to stick her tongue out at Alastor. "We helped her get to you, don't butt in!"

You swore you heard Alastor's patience snap. Before he could say or do anything, you quickly spoke up.

"Why do you want to come with me?"

"Uh..." She glanced at her twin brother and not-so-discreetly whispered, "Why do we?"

He not-so-discreetly whispered back, "We don't have anywhere to go."

She turned back to face you. "We don't have anywhere to go."

The kid with diamond pupils rolled his eyes. "You still owe me for bringing you here. Also, out of everyone, it's obvious that we'll go to the person who works with ghosts."

The girl nodded. "Yeah! We trust you the most! Quick! Quick! There's no time."

What the––am I about to adopt three kids?

There wasn't any time for questions. The more time wasted, the more likely people will reach the eye of the storm and see the huge opening in the ground Alastor made. Bringing along three additional apparitions with you? That definitely wasn't part of your plan. When you met the kids, the most you expected was some clues regarding their backstory to unravel more on the game's lore.

You got to writing. Doing this with an audience only made things more difficult. At least the kids weren't looking at the contents of the pages. Well, it was more like they couldn't. Alastor pulled the ash blonde twins back and glared at them. And if it weren't for the warning glance you gave the highschooler, you swore he would've thrown the kids away.

I wonder, what exactly is my power? It involved writing and understanding at least a piece of the character, but was that it? There had to be more to it that you had yet to explore.

"Don't think about that right now," you mumbled. Focus on the apparitions.

While writing, you had the main dot points in mind: Being experimented on, treated as an outcast, giving false hope and being oblivious to what is truly going; a false sense of security for the apparition children. For Alastor: the unjust nature of society, how it targeted the vulnerable, it targeted those who didn't belong. And because they didn't belong, it's easy to ignore what happens to them, good or bad. It wasn't your best writing, but it worked.

Finishing off the last line, the words illuminated. The kids looked at it in awe and Alastor shrugged. As soon as you closed the book, all the apparitions disappeared. The storm was gone; no more winds, no more rain, no more thunder. Just an eerie silence minus your soft breaths.

"I did it..."

You languidly leaned against the wall, slid down, stretched your legs out, heaved an exhausted sigh, and fought the urge to close your eyes and fall asleep right then and there. Your eyes looked up. Uh...since the pit is so deep, how am I supposed to get out of here? You checked the device on your arm and made a mental note of the timer. Oh, there's no rush.

"(Y/n)! Are you down there?!"

Amias's voice! You opened your mouth to yell back, but all that came out of you was a fit of coughs. Yup, exhausted. It didn't take long for Amias to teleport right in front of you.

His gold eyes lit up in relief. "You're safe..." But his relieved expression melted into one of concern when he noticed your dishevelled state and weary expression. From how worried he looked, you almost thought that you had lost gallons of blood or something. "Can...can you stand?"

"I mean––I can try."

"Wait don't––that was a bad question. Here, I'll help carry you." Amias gently assisted you, his movements were awkward but meant well. He carefully placed your arm over his shoulder and secured you. "Will you be fine if I teleported?"

"Yup, don't worry."

Amias teleported and you felt lightheaded for a moment. At least you didn't spill your guts from nausea. Also, it was either you didn't realise it before or it was just acting up now, but your body was incredibly cold. How did that happen? Yes, it was naturally chilly because of the weather and the apparitions that roamed the place, but this time you were actually shivering despite the AEI uniform. Was it because of your ability? You did feel the pen radiate a cool breeze when you wrote.

Amias noticed your body shivering. His eyebrows knitted together in concern and he was unsure of what to do. Suddenly, he pulled you into a hug. His arms wrapped around you and your eyebrows raised at the action. Woah... okay, unexpected. You didn't pull away, Amias was really warm, and basked in the embrace.

He let go, flustered. "S-sorry...you were cold and I didn't know what else to do."

"Oh." Ugh, he's so innocent. You smiled at him. "Thanks!"

"Miss Support! You're alive!"

It hasn't been that long since you've seen Caleb, but given everything that had happened it felt much longer than a few hours. The exorcist smiled cheerfully before his gaze fell to your hands. Without a word, he grabbed them.

"What did you do?" Caleb asked. "Your hands are freezing."

They do feel pretty numb. Yeah, probably the side effects of your abilities. Since you literally had to kidnap adopt four apparitions, you must've exerted more of your ability than usual. Interesting, so the abilities of a typical exorcist heat up their hands whilst yours was the complete opposite.

"Is there anything we can do to warm them up? The gloves we have on won't help," Amias asked. He looked ready to grab the sun if it meant you could be warm.

"Hold on." Caleb took off his gloves, threw them at Amias, and held out his hands. "Miss Support, will you do the honours of holding my hand?"

You playfully rolled your eyes and accepted his gesture. A warm fuzziness comfortably settled within you at the feeling of your hands heating up. Caleb was using his ability whilst being careful to not harm you. He squeezed your hand at your relaxed expression and a smile was on his lips, a smile of relief.

"How is it?"

"Warm."

"Oh! Be careful, don't fall for me because of this. Though, I can't blame you."

"I didn't know being a heater was an attractive trait."

"Harsh. But I guess being a heater in your eyes is fine as long as it helps you~"

Since you were so indulged in this moment of peace, you had forgotten that there were still other SF candidates around. Conversations floated around and you, unfortunately, heard bits and pieces.

"What just happened? The vengeful apparition is gone."

"Did that support member exorcise it? Seriously? There's no way."

"Hey...what if the vengeful apparition is still possessing her?"

"Don't listen to them, (Y/n)," Amias said.

You nodded in response. Hearing the words of the other SF candidates made you immensely grateful for Caleb and Amias. The first thing they did was put your well-being first, no questions, no interrogation, none of that. One of the SF candidates approached the three of you. He was a man who seemed to be in his late twenties.

"Caleb! You should get away from her. The vengeful apparition could still be there."

Caleb sighed. "Must be nice to be so oblivious."

The candidate's face scrunched up. "What? Don't get cocky just because you were part of the specialty force before!"

"He's using his exorcism abilities to warm my hands," you intervened. "I'm sure you know what that means."

The person's face flushed in embarrassment at such an obvious error. "Th-then, where is the vengeful apparition?"

"I got rid of it."

The man didn't buy it. Well, no one bought it. Sure some were less skeptical than others, there was obvious doubt in your claim. Well, there was no use wasting energy convincing them, you didn't need their approval or need them to sing you praises. Still, you couldn't help but angrily glare at everyone. Yes, their behaviour made sense given what kind of world this was, but it still didn't mean you weren't frustrated by it.

You've heard what they said about you. Them talking so lightly about your death, their unjust animosity towards you based on stereotypes, and their insults––honestly, you wished to punch one of them just to vent it all out.

It just hits a little too close to home.

Someone suddenly spoke up. "What if the vengeful apparition is working with her?"

It took a lot of your willpower to not immediately refute their statement and accidentally draw suspicion to yourself.

"For someone who did nothing the entire time, you sure love to talk badly about others. Miss Support went in and took action while you guys were doing what? Enlighten me." No one spoke up and Caleb laughed. "Maybe next time I'll hold your hand, then maybe you can make yourself useful. Or do you need me to offer you words of consolidation, too?" He smiled, green eyes glowing in amusement. "Well?"

Everyone zipped their lips immediately. Some looked away frustrated and ashamed whilst others were just genuinely angry. Damn, you were going to do your best to not give Caleb a chance to reprimand you like that.

A beep came from your device. You let go of Caleb's hand––not before thanking him, of course––and checked your device to see that the 24 hour timer had stopped and the word 'complete' was flashing in white. Silence stilled the air and everyone was suspended in momentary disbelief.

"The SF trial..." Someone muttered. "It's..."

"IT'S OVER!"

An onslaught of cheers shook the ground. You looked around and observed that a little below half of the candidates were alive. Since there were far more people selected as candidates in comparison to last time, it was obvious that the amount of people here far exceeded how many people were in the previous SF.

Someone raised a question. "What was the point of the 24 hour timer if it was going to end early?"

A person with dark red hair stepped up, confidence dripping with each stride. Oh, it was her. She was the woman from Lyle's offence team and the person you ran into after meeting Jade. "They tricked us with the 24 hour timer. After all, it never said that the trial would last for that long. It was just a timer."

Murmurs swept the area.

"That's true..."

"Brynn has a point..."

So, the redhead's name was Brynn? You'll be keeping that in mind.

"Does that mean we all passed?"

"All of us in the specialty force?"

Chatters surfaced, more questions were raised and more speculations jumped around. You sighed at the noise. You were simply tired and wanted everyone to stop talking. You weren't exhausted to the point of collapsing for three days thanks to Alastor, but some rest would be great.

Amias tapped your shoulder. "(Y/n) are you okay?"

You felt bad for constantly worrying him. "I'm good, thank you."

"Miss Support, need me to shut them up for you?"

"Caleb, I think worrying about what you're planning to do will add to the stress."

"Aw, you know me so well," he mused. "So, is that a yes––"

"No."

"Duly noted."

The blue holographic screens in the sky flashed and displayed a line of text followed by a voiced announcement that reverberated through the air.

"There will be a banquet taking place in a few hours. Transportation will shortly arrive."

The announcement acted as a confirmation for many that the SF trial was over. Finally ready to get out of the city and delighted by the good news, excited chatter rose about the banquet. Some were discussing what they'll be wearing while others were excited about passing the trial. Caleb's expression didn't change and Amias adorably looked confused.

"What's a...Uhm, what would the banquet have?" Amias asked.

"The usual expensive food, expensive wine, important people." Caleb shrugged. "Don't know why people are getting excited. The SF trial was much more exhilarating, right?"

Amias was at a loss for words. "U-uh. Yes?"

"Glad you agree!" Caleb chirped. "Miss Support, how are you feeling?"

You sighed for the millionth time today. "A shower and a nap is all I crave right now."



===



The comfortable mattress and fluffy blanket enveloped you into a peaceful bliss as you happily indulged in your much needed nap. The warmth of the blanket, the silent room with nobody to disturb you and no apparitions after your life. Truly, this was the best––

"Big sister, rise and shine! It's been an hour! Wake up, wake up!"

"Hey, don't shout!"

"But you're shouting too!"

You internally groaned. Right, you were now a mother of a bunch of apparition kids. You wrinkled your nose at the thought. But I'm still in my early twenties, I'm not that old. Groggily, you sat up from your bed and yawned. The ash blonde twins were sitting across your bed, looking at you with youthful and expectant eyes. Thank god you knew from playing the game that there are no cameras in the room or else you'd be a paranoid mess right now.

"Uh... good morning?"

"It's night, silly!" Sam giggled. "Hey, hey. You're going to a fancy dinner, right?"

Before you knocked out and slept, you gave the apparition kids names. You didn't think there was anything wrong with naming them child one, two, and three, but they insisted on actual names. Alec and Sam were the names of the twins, the sister being Sam and the brother being Alec. For the kid with diamond eyes, he insisted on giving himself a name.

"How about Elija?" he asked.

You shook your head. "There's a dude named Elias already."

"Luke?"

"There's someone named Lucas in my support team."

"Fine! You give me a name then."

"Bob."

"No."

Tired from the back and forth banter, Alastor suggested the name Copper on a whim. The kid liked it and went with the name. That was when you noticed that the two apparitions resembled each other a little too well. You pray that Copper didn't learn from Alastor and started showing more attitude towards you.

You got out of bed and went to the bathroom.

"What are you going to wear?" Sam asked, light brown eyes twinkling with eagerness. "I can't wait to see you all dressed up!"

Alec followed behind his sister and curiously looked over her shoulder. "Are we following big sister to the party?"

Alastor, who had made himself comfortable on the sofa, scoffed. "Obviously not. Exorcists will be at every corner."

Since you weren't in a life threatening situation and had light in the room, you could observe Alastor's features a lot more closely. Of course, he had his signature red eyes that he narrowed like every three seconds. Short dark brown hair with bangs that sometimes fell over his eyes when he tilted his head. His golden brown skin was covered in bandages and you wished that your abilities could've magically healed them, but at least the bandages on his neck were no longer stained with blood.

"But we can disappear! Like poof!" Sam made exaggerated hand gestures as if it made her point more valid.

Alastor rolled his eyes. "They can sense you."

"Oh."

You pulled out a suit from your wardrobe and Sam circled around you to get a better look.

"Ohh, that looks cool!" She beamed. "You don't like wearing dresses?"

"I like them, just not this time. Anyways, I'll be dismissing you guys now. Please don't pop up out of nowhere."

You learnt that, similar to Mochi, you can dismiss the apparitions. However, unlike Mochi, they can summon themselves out of their own will. You learnt this the hard way. Actually, maybe Mochi can do the same but never found a reason to just yet.

The twins nodded obediently. Sam cheerfully waved you goodbye and Alec gave you a soft smile. The twins vanished into a bright yellow light, Copper melted into one of the shadows, and Alastor turned into a dark red mist before vanishing. Talk about dipping in style.

You sighed. That was too much energy used up already. "I still can't believe I have to look after four kids now."

Alastor suddenly appeared again. "Not a kid."

You jumped in surprise. "Question, is it not tiring to go in and out of my book? Actually, what kind of space do you guys go to?"

You couldn't ask Mochi since you couldn't communicate with animals, unfortunately. But you were curious about what happens when the apparitions get dismissed into your book for a while now.

"Dunno, it's hard to put into words." He was thoughtful for a moment. "Think of it as sleeping, but very lightly. Your consciousness is still on guard. I can hear what's going on outside and with focus I can probably see what's going on as well."

"Interesting..."

Alastor nodded. "I'll be leaving for real now. Don't die."

Finally, you were alone. You got dressed, freshened up, and did your hair. You checked yourself out in the mirror. You had to admit, wearing a suit and tie made you feel a hundred times more powerful. You wore the style that you were most comfortable with appearance wise and practical wise. After a nod of approval and double checking that you were ready, you left your room.

There's still time left, I should go and meet up with my support team.

You navigated the building. At around this time, they would either be together in the resting area––which was exactly what the name suggested. You opened the door to the room and smiled in relief at the familiar faces.

"Hey guys, I'm alive––"

"Support leader!"

Cue you being tackled with Ness and Lucas's hugs. You laughed and returned their embrace. It felt like years since you've seen the two after everything in the SF trial. Lily stood behind them, unsure of whether to join in the embrace or not. You gestured her to come closer and she let out an adorable squeal when you pulled her into the group hug.

"Do you know how terrifying watching the SF trial was?! Very terrifying! What were you thinking jumping off that building?" Lucas scolded.

"Okay, but she totally girl-bossed the trial. Imagine getting possessed by a vengeful apparition several times in your life and being completely fine and having the strength to continue fighting," Ness said. "Our Support leader is too good for the speciality force."

Lily nodded. "I'm glad you're safe! I was worried."

Ness hummed in agreement. "Yeah! Lily teared up several times––"

"Ness!" Lily snapped. Her voice was too gentle for it to sound threatening. If anything, her frustrated expression only made her cuter.

The other members gathered around and said several praises, leaving you in a grateful but flustered mess at how you were being bombarded with an avalanche of positivity.

"I never knew you had an ability! The wolf looks so cool!"

"When you got possessed by the vengeful apparition, I swear my heart stopped."

"You even exorcised the vengeful apparition! That's amazing."

"Okay, but did you see the part where she took care of that huge swarm of apparitions?"

No accusations of working with an apparition, no questioning and prying; just friends being concerned for your wellbeing and supportive of your accomplishments. You melted blissfully at the warm atmosphere. You truly loved your support team, it was a shame that you won't be their leader anymore.

A whistle left Ness as she eyed your attire. "Damn, look at you being all proper and stuff." She grinned and winked at Lily. "She looks hot, right Lily?"

Caught off guard by the sudden spotlight, Lily blushed and meekly nodded. Ness laughed heartily and took the opportunity to further tease the poor girl.

"Anyways! You've made it pass the trials, congrats!" Ness exclaimed happily. "Let's all take a photo to commemorate. Anyone have any clue where Amias is?"

A new presence walked in the room. "Did someone mention me?"

Amias in formal attire? Hell yes. The male was wearing the typical black and white suit––seems like protagonists were always defaulted to the basics––but, he still looked great. His lean frame was emphasised and the black dress pants really showed off his long legs. His hair was styled as usual; a mid ponytail done neatly. You've seen him like this when you played the game, but of course in real life it hits a lot differently.

Amias's gold eyes shone brightly when he saw you. "(Y/n)! Did you get enough rest? Don't push yourself okay? Do you need me to––"

"Amias, I'm fine," you said. "Also, you look great in a suit!"

He was surprised for a moment before showing a bashful smile. "Th-thanks." He glanced at you and his cheeks flushed lightly. "I think you wear these kinds of clothes better than me."

Ness grinned and nudged Lily. "You've got competition~"

You glanced at her. "Competition?"

Lily pushed Ness aside. "Nothing!"

While Ness was pushed away, Lucas joined in. "C'mon, it's pretty obvious at this point."

"Stop! Stop!"

You laughed at the three. Poor Lily, always getting teased by Ness and Lucas.

"Anyways! Who would've thought we'd be here?" Ness said, looking at you. "If you asked me a year ago this would happen, I would be baffled. You've changed a lot, huh?"

"What kind of person was (Y/n) in the past?" Amias asked.

Actually, I'm curious as well. What kind of person was the previous (Y/n)?

"(Y/n) was always in the library and rarely talked to us. She wasn't a bad person. Actually, she was super nice, just distant. But now look how much she has changed." Lucas dramatically wiped away a fake tear. "I'm so proud."

"Guess I finally had character development," you joked, pushing aside the fact that the previous (Y/n) resembled exactly who you were in your previous life.

"B-but, don't take it the wrong way! We didn't think badly of you. In fact, your serious expression when you were focused on reading was..." Lily paused. "Uhm..."

Lucas and Ness grinned and both leaned towards Lily. At the same time, they said, "Oh? You were watching her?"

"Not watching! I happened to pass by and...and..." Lily groaned, embarrassed. "Please don't misunderstand, support leader."

"Don't worry. But, as an apology, you have to call me (Y/n) now~" you said. "No more calling me support leader."

"U-uhm. If it's fine with you...then okay..."

"Of course it'd be. I don't see the problem" You laughed. "Oh, also! Lucas, you're going to be the new support leader, right?"

Lucas cheekily grinned and held up a peace sign. "It'll be fine. I'm cute, apparitions won't hurt me."

Ness folded her arms. "Nah, I'm cuter."

"Funny joke, you should do those more often."

"(Y/n), me or Lucas. Who's cuter?" Ness asked, expression serious.

You glanced at the two of them. Lucas had fluffy short grey blue hair, the hue matching his eyes, and pale skin. He kind of reminded you of a cloud on a peaceful rainy day. Ness's skin tone was a warm beige and she had honey blonde hair coupled with orange highlights that matched the colour of her eyes. She reminded you of the sun. Aesthetic wise, the two were the complete opposite of each other.

Yeah, you couldn't decide. You thought they were both cute. "Hey, hey. You can't just put me in the spotlight like that."

Ness and Lucas shrugged and both said 'fair' at the same time.

"Vanessa, are you going to be the new vice leader?" Amias asked.

"First of all––call me Ness. Second of all, yes." She clapped her hands. "Alright, alright! Everyone gather around the two SF members, it's time for a photo!"

Ness took out a selfie stick and everyone got into position. Amias was pressed up against you and he whispered a soft 'sorry'. In response, you pulled him closer. After all, everyone needed to fit in the camera. He tensed for a moment, but soon relaxed. The warm smile on his lips illuminated his gentle features. How can someone look so soft was beyond your comprehension.

"We'll miss you two!" Ness said.

"Don't forget about us when you join the specialty force!" Lucas added.

"C'mon guys, it's not like I'm leaving the AEI," you said. "I can still go on operations with the team. Plus, I'll drop by when I can."

All the other members added in their own comments of congratulations and reassurance. A pleasant fuzzy feeling washed over you at how sweet and comfortable the atmosphere was. Graduating from being a support leader, huh? You weren't in this world for long, but you felt truly at home here.

A genuine smile on your lips, you looked at the camera.



===



Currently, you were being driven to the banquet. Leaning against the window, you watched as the monochromatic city blurred in front of your eyes and contemplated all the events thus far. You honestly didn't expect to gain some apparitions as allies and things technically went as well as it could've. However, you couldn't help a good chunk of it was thanks to luck. You were grateful that nothing incredibly bad happened, but you still felt uneasy.

"(Y/n), are you okay?"

You were so lost in thought that you had forgotten that Amias was in the same car as you. "Yup, just thinking a little."

"Uhm...if you feel comfortable, you can always talk to me." He smiled. "I may not know much, but I'll do my best."

Amias really was the definition of precious. "No need to worry so much, but thank you."

Even though you were sitting in silence with Amias, you didn't feel awkward. It was probably because you've played the game for hours on end as him.

"How was the SF trial?" you asked.

You would've liked to address how you knew about his holographic screen and ability, but now wasn't a good time to bring it up. After all, the driver would hear everything.

Amias was silent for a moment. "Reassuring."

"Yeah, I thought it was tiring, too––wait, reassuring?" You shot him a perplexed look. "What do you mean––"

The car stopped and the driver interrupted you. "We're here."

Curse the plot convenient interruption.

"Oh, (Y/n)! Wait there."

Before you could say anything, Amias got out of the car and rushed over to your side of the vehicle. He eagerly opened the door and you stared at him, baffled.

"S-sorry, that was awkward. I wanted to get the door for you."

You blinked once, twice. Then, you burst out laughing. That only caused Amias's embarassesed blush to deepen.

"Don't take it the wrong way, that was just so cute." You kept laughing even as you got out of the car. "Thank you, Amias. Truly, the epitome of a gentleman."

Amias sheepishly chuckled. "As long as you're happy."

You and Amias were directed inside the building and you've never felt more important in your life. Walking into a building all dressed up in a suit alongside the protagonist of the game? Hey, you were human. Of course you'd indulge in this moment.

Upon entering, a cool air enveloped you. Music danced in the air and the mix of laughter and chatter choreographed well with the lively atmosphere. Chandeliers dangled from above, sparkling ambitiously and spilling the place with a golden light. The area was rich with bright colours, the prominent hues on the warmer side. It was the complete opposite of the monochromatic city outside.

Amias was in awe just like you. You giggled at his cute expression as he excitedly observed the area. Meanwhile, you searched for familiar faces and eventually spotted Jade and Sara. The moment you saw them in their clothes, you had to stop yourself from openly fangirling.

Jade's long dark blue hair was done up in a high ponytail as opposed to her usual loose low hairstyle. She wore a dark blue suit and pants with a black dress shirt and tie. The warm light from the chandeliers made her almond skin glow ethereally; elegant and serene, she was like a peaceful midnight sky.

Sara, whose light brown hair was usually done in a high ponytail, had her hair done in a low braid. She was wearing an unbuttoned burgundy suit with a black dress shirt and stockings followed along with a skirt that matched the colour of her suit. The red-purplish hue of her suit complimented her champagne pink eyes, she gave off a classic yet playful vibe.

Sara was the first to notice you and Amias. She tugged Jade's sleeve and dragged her over.

"(Y/n)! Amias You two look stunning!" The brunette exclaimed.

Her enthusiasm naturally elevated your energy. "Thanks! You and Jade look great, seriously mistaken you two for celebrities for a moment."

Jade smiled. "Thank you. The two of you look lovely."

"I like what you did with your hair," Amias commented. "It's different from usual."

Amias must've encountered Jade before the SF trial given how the two were acquainted. Looks like that went according to the game.

"Sara helped me with it," Jade responded.

Sara nodded. "Yup! We ran into each other when I saw her struggling with it."

The four of you engaged in light chatter for a few more minutes near the entrance before entering the banquet. The scent of food dominated your senses and acted as a reminder of how hungry you were from running around in the SF trial. Yup, your plan was to devour everything in sight.

Someone suddenly bumped into you. Dark red hair and brown eyes, it was Brynn. She looked at you and scoffed before walking away. Honestly, she looked great in her dress. However, you were worried about the heels she was wearing.

"I'm going to get some food," you said.

Sara, Jade, and Amias nodded and you separated from them. Though, Amias looked like he really wanted to go with you. You were tempted to drag him along, but it was going to be embarrassing having him by your side as you stacked a bunch of food on your plate.

You then ran into a familiar face; Finn. Man, since you didn't see him at all during the SF trials, it felt like centuries since you've last talked to him. When you got a good look at Finn, your eyes widened. Muscles. The fact that he didn't wear a blazer and had the sleeves of his white buttoned shirt up to his elbows didn't help hide his physique. His dark brown hair was parted to the side and his orange eyes glowed with warmth.

"(Y/n)! It's been a while." He chuckled. "Well, it hasn't even been a day. But given everything that's happened, it feels like centuries since I've last spoken to you."

"The feeling's mutual." Damn, your plans of grabbing every single food in sight was ruined since Finn was here. "Are you not cold? Though, don't get me wrong, you still look great."

Finn shook his head. "Nope, thanks for the concern, though. I'd say your clothes really suit you."

You stared at your suit and then back at Finn. "Did you––"

"I don't know, did I?"

Oh my god.

Finn stifled a chuckle and changed the topic. "So, how are you feeling?"

"Pretty good. The nap I had worked wonders."

"I'm glad. Sorry if this comes off as rude, but I can't help but feel a little concerned."

You raised an eyebrow. "Is it because of the vengeful apparition? Don't worry, Caleb used his exorcism abilities on me. You can trust that I'm (Y/n)."

"I was more so worried about your well-being. An apparition can't replicate how cute you are, so I'm not worried about it impersonating you."

You stared at Finn in disbelief. "Did you just flirt with me?"

Finn tilted his head innocently. "I see Cecil do it often, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Did I catch you off guard?"

Ugh, he was teasing you. "No."

The brunet gave you a knowing smile. "I see. I guess I have some work to do."

You sighed and shook your head. "Don't. Just keep being the dad of the group. I don't need two Cecils."

"You see me as the dad of the group?"

Oh whoops, you accidentally let your inner Anomalous fan slip out. The fanbase saw Finn as the father figure of the main cast.

Luckily, you didn't have to explain yourself. Some people approached Finn and you took the opportunity to excuse yourself. It wasn't even a minute before you saw a whole crowd form around him. Damn, he's popular. In fact, from afar you also saw Cecil with his own crowd of people. Why is everyone so popular?

Once you've gotten your food, you sat down on one of the circular tables and happily indulged. Yes, you should be socialising and forming connections with the VIPs at the banquet, but you needed a full stomach first. Plus, you really didn't feel enthusiastic with the idea of social interaction anyway unless it was with the cast of characters you knew.

Your moment of peace was short lived when a few people approached you and sat on your table without a word and just started a conversation out of nowhere. What the actual heck?

"You're the support member that survived the vengeful apparition, right?"

"You're a hot topic at the moment. Say, are you interested in featuring in a magazine cover for our clothing line?"

"No, no. You should advertise for us instead! We have..."

You answered politely, but gave them the shortest responses you could. Did they not take the hint? Were they not bored by now? You had finished your plate and they were still talking. You wanted to get up to grab more food, why can't they leave you alone??

Since you didn't want to potentially anger these people and cause a scene, you sat and suffered in silence with an enormous appetite. Eventually, they left. You were about to zip out of your seat to get more food until someone tapped you on the shoulder. You held back a groan, thinking it was another stranger trying to talk to you, but turns out it was just Amias.

"I wasn't sure what you liked to eat but..." Amias, like the angel he was, had brought you a plate of food and sat next to you. "Here."

You stared at him for a moment. "Amias, I love you so much right now."

A tinge of pink dusted his cheeks. "I-I mean you looked hungry s-so..."

You giggled at his flustered state. Okay, maybe I shouldn't carelessly throw that word around.

"Miss Support!"

"Oh, Caleb! I was wondering when you'd show up."

Caleb plopped himself on the seat across yours. "Had to talk with some boring people, but now I'm here. No need for tears~ Your knight has arrived."

He was wearing a black dress shirt, one button on the top undone, and black dress pants. His dark green tie was a little loose and his hair was fluffy as always. Even in a setting such as this, his carefree and laid back attitude didn't shy away.

Caleb leaned forward and grinned. "You look good in a suit. Maybe I should sign a petition to make it our uniform so I can see it more often."

"Nah, sorry," you said. "The sight is too special for that."

Amias nodded. "You're right."

"Amias, you're not supposed to agree so readily. My ego will grow."

The three of you continued to talk. Well, it was more so you and Caleb bantering and Amias making small comments here and there. Several times, Caleb tried feeding you food and several times you've refused the gesture whilst Amias glanced back and forth, unsure of how to intervene. In the end, you and Caleb unanimously agreed to just feed Amias instead. Amias, having no clue what was going on, just accepted.

You quickly excused yourself to put your plates away. Unfortunately, more people approached you. Great. Just great. And from the looks on their faces, you had a feeling they were part of the media.

"Do you work with apparitions?"

No introductions, no small talk, just getting straight into it, huh? "No, I don't."

"Aw, c'mon. You can tell us. We promise not to spill your secret."

Yeah, right. "I said, I don't work with apparitions."

"Okay, okay, fine. Then, what happened when the vengeful apparition possessed you?"

"Right, right. Did you recall traumatic experiences? How realistic was it? What were the after effects?"

I get that I'm the only person known to have survived a vengeful apparition's possession...but these people seriously don't know what boundaries mean. How were you going to work your way out of this one?

You didn't need to ponder over that question for long when a tall woman stood beside you and placed a hand on your shoulder. A wine glass in her other hand, she took a quick slip before laughing. "Sorry boys, but I'll be stealing her. Ta-ta~"

That laugh sounds familiar. Loud, but pleasant to the ears because of how unrestrained it was. You glanced over and confirmed your suspicions on who the person was. At the sight of who they were dealing with, the men grumbled and walked away. Clearly annoyed, but didn't protest.

"Sorry for the abruptness, hon." She cocked her head to the side, her shoulder length magenta hair following her movements. "But you needed to get away from those slimy men, right?"

The woman's eyes, which was the same colour as her hair, held a tender and motherly gaze. She wore a tight fitted dark red dress that accentuated her curves and you had to remind yourself several times that her eyes were up there.

You smiled appreciatively. "Yeah, you really saved me there."

"No need to thank me. When a fellow girl needs saving, why wouldn't I step in?" The woman extended a hand. "I'm May. I'm assuming you're (Y/n)?"

I already know who you are, and I love you. "You know me?"

"Why wouldn't I? Cecil has mentioned you on several occasions. Seems like you've caught that playboy's eye. Be careful now." She chuckled playfully and glanced over to her right. "Ah, I see that another newbie has fallen victim to the press."

You followed her gaze. Oh, it was Amias.

"I'll go quickly save him, give me a sec."

And just like that, May brought back Amias and grinned like a proud mother.

"Th-thanks." Amias sighed in relief. "I didn't know how I was going to get out of there..."

"Aw, aren't you two just adorable." May laughed. "That's it, I'm adopting––"

"May, you're not causing trouble again, are you?"

There he was––Cecil. The guy was a fine line between professional and ready to enter the first bar he sees. He wore a black vest as well as a black dress shirt with a few buttons undone at the top. Literally one more button was all it took for his chest to be exposed. Not to mention, his jade green hair was done in a high ponytail. Not that there was anything wrong with that, he just looked too good with that hairstyle to where you wanted to unjustly criticise him for it.

"Course not, you always assume the worst," May responded.

An arm was abruptly placed over Amias's shoulder, causing him to stumble a little. Caleb suddenly joined the circle of people. "Hey, this place looks fun. Oh! And here's Miss CEO."

"Do you know May?" Amias asked.

"Of course he does, she's the main sponsor for the specialty force," Elias said literally out of nowhere. Your heart almost jumped out of your chest when he was suddenly beside you.

Sara nodded. "That's how we have a training facility to ourselves and everything"

Again, you were caught off guard when Sara appeared as well. You knew that the siblings naturally masked the sound of their presence out of habit, but they seriously need to consider the impact it has on regular people like you.

You noticed Elias was wearing the same coloured blazer as Sara. You can imagine her excitedly pleading for them to match and him agreeing regardless of whether he liked the colour or not. Unlike Sara, the red hue gave him a regal aura. His brown hair was also slightly slicked back with gel. It wasn't a lot of it which gave his hair some volume and fluffiness. Elias was the dictionary definition of professional looking.

"Yes, keep showing me off so I don't need to brag." May turned to Amias. "I still see myself as the mum of the SF team, for a lack of better words." She winked at you and Amias. "And it looks like I'll be adopting two more children, right?"

Since the group was getting crowded, everyone decided to settle on a table. Cecil sat next to you and it took all your willpower to not accidentally glance at his chest. It didn't help that May sat on the other side and you had to use double the amount of willpower to not accidentally look over as well. My god, you needed to stop hanging around attractive people. And believe it or not, May was in her early forties but she literally didn't look a day older than late twenties. Just what the heck was her routine?

"Excuse me for a moment," Elias said, eyeing the entrance. "I need to talk to someone."

Sara followed his gaze. "Oh, me as well."

May glanced over her shoulder and realised who they were referring to. "Formalities, huh?"

"Regretfully so."

It was Elias and Sara's mother and father. Elias maintained a friendly smile when he greeted them, but not the kind of smile you'd show to your family. It was a practised one you'd offer to your superiors at work. Sara greeted them with a lively smile and attitude. The conversation was brief and the siblings returned soon after.

Now that you've glanced around the room and noticed how many eyes were on your table, you realised how much the group stood out. It was literally most of the main cast plus you. At one point, you accidentally made eye contact with Lyle. He was sitting with his offence team––well, what's left of it, which was surprisingly the majority. Unsure of what to do, you awkwardly waved at him. He scoffed and looked away.

Well, that just happened.

"Who were you waving to?" Amias asked.

"Lyle, he didn't wave back to me."

"Oh." He pondered for a moment. "Then, you don't need to pay attention to him. Pay attention to me instead."

Did he just––Amias looked at you so innocently you almost thought he didn't say the last bit.

"Hey, now. Is that flirting in front of me? Out of all people?" Cecil asked, incredulous. "Can I join?"

You rolled your eyes. "Of course you'd say that. Anyways, what were you guys talking about?"

"How successful I am."

"I see. Anything important, though?"

Caleb snickered. "Miss Support, when did you get that attitude?"

May swirled the wine in her glass. "I like it, though. Cecil deserved that." She took a sip of her drink. "We were just talking about Cecil's bar. Oh! If you want drinks, just come to me. I can force Cecil to get you a discount."

Amias looked confused. "Cecil gives discounts?"

Cecil feigned a hurt look. "Hey, hey. Is it that surprising?"

Everyone nodded their heads, even Elias who was only paying half attention to the conversation.

Cecil shrugged. "Well, you guys aren't wrong. May is one of the few that can snag a discount from me. She helped start the business in its early stages. I may like money, but I'm also fair––why is everyone giving me doubtful looks. Just how bad am I to you guys?"

May hummed proudly, ignoring Cecil's last sentence. "It's a mum's job to support her kids' dreams."

Honestly, May was a better parental figure than most of the biological parental figures of the main cast. She gave off an air of confidence and reassurance, someone you could ask for help and didn't feel pressured to please. She didn't show up as much as you liked in the game's main plot, but she was still a presence you appreciated.

Caleb grinned. "Okay then, mother. My dream is to live a life full of luxury without needing to go to work."

"Hon, say that again and I'll disown you."

He pouted. "Seems like I'm the neglected child."

"Start a business like Cecil, then we'll talk."

"Hold on, this doesn't feel like motherly behaviour."

"I'm an opportunistic mother."

"You can open a cafe," you suggested. "I'll help out."

May snapped her fingers. "Now we're talking."

"A cafe, huh?" Caleb grinned. "Can I make you work overtime?"

"I'll fire myself if you do."

Elias suddenly decided to join the conversation. "That's called quitting, (Y/n)."

"Don't worry, Miss Support. I'll make you the boss so you can fire yourself."

You blinked. "...Thanks?"

You caught a glimpse of Jade looking around, most likely finding a place to sit. Sara noticed as well and waved her arm up in the air to get Jade's attention. May's eyes brightened at the unfamiliar face as she polished off who knows how many glasses of wine she had by now. How was she not even a little tipsy?

"Ho~ Another victim to my motherly clutches," she whispered not-so-subtly.

"May, don't scare her like that." Sara giggled. "This is Jade! I got to know her recently. I did her hair."

Jade made it over to your table and smiled at May. "It's nice to meet you."

"Aren't you a polite one? Come sit!"

At this point in the game, Jade wasn't familiar with anyone besides Amias and Sara, so she refrained from engaging in the conversation and simply listened in. Of course, Cecil and Caleb made her feel welcomed given their personalities and she found herself growing comfortable quickly. You smiled at how friendly everyone was to each other.

"Jade was so nice during the SF trial!" Sara beamed. "I was feeling super thirsty at one point and she gave me a water bottle. Not to mention she complimented my hair..."

And there she goes. You sighed to yourself, amused at the brunette's antics. When it came to praising and talking about others, Sara could go on and on. Jade just quietly listened to Sara, a tender smile on her face. Damn, no wonder so much of the fanbase shipped the two characters so much.

"Also! Did you know how cool (Y/n) was? Not only did she bring out out a beautiful wolf she also––"

Your cheeks went warm and you coughed into your hand awkwardly. "Sara, I think you should stop there."

Amias frowned. "But I was enjoying myself."

But Sara was just talking about me, though?

Sara nodded. "Okay! But let me know if you want me to continue."

"There's no need for that," you said, cheeks heating in embarrassment.

Sara giggled before jumping to a different topic seamlessly. A social butterfly who keeps a conversation lively, that was her alright. It wasn't long before another person joined your table; Finn, after finally escaping the clutches of his popularity.

"Look, the eldest sibling is here," May commented.

Finn sat down next to Caleb. "Happy to be here. (Y/n) did mention that I was the dad of the group. Thoughts?"

"Hey, wait. You're the eldest brother when May is here," you clarified. "She exerts more dominance over you. You don't deserve the parent role."

May laughed. "She knows what she's talking about."

Everyone kept talking and at one point Sara must've noticed that Jade wasn't speaking a lot. She skillfully directed the flow of the conversation and gave Jade an opportunity to speak. You had to mentally take a breather at how wholesome that act was. The discussion then shifted to childhood fears. You don't know how it happened, it just did.

"I used to have a small fear of heights to where I couldn't go up the stairs," Jade mentioned.

"Ah, stairs," Finn said. "They're always up to something, huh?"

The table was quiet. Oh no, Oh no. Not Jade being a target for Finn's horrible puns. You internally screamed at the horrible, horrible joke.

Elias calmly said, "Finn, refrain from engaging any further in conversation."

Cue Finn stifling his chuckles and nodding obediently at Elias's words. You had to admit, the fact that Finn would laugh at virtually anything was endearing.

Caleb suddenly snapped his fingers. "Ohhhh, I get it! Because stairs lead up––"

"Caleb, shut up," Elias snapped.

"Yes, sir."

"Jade darling, continue with your story," May said. "How did you overcome your fear of heights?"

"Oh, I made sure to not feel intimidated anymore."

"How, though?" Sara asked.

Jade looked at her, confused. "I stopped being afraid."

"Yes, but how."

"I got over my fear."

Sara was silent for a short moment, a confused smile on her face. For once in her life, she was speechless. "I'm proud of you!"

Jade smiled. "Thank you."

I'm confused, but if Jade's happy, then I'm happy.

Conversations remained enthusiastic. Everyone laughed and had fun, you felt your cheeks grow sore from smiling so much. I never really experienced this in my previous life. You had people you called friends, but you never felt truly comfortable with anyone. Socialising felt more so a chore to keep up appearances if anything.

Suddenly, chatter in the restaurant died down and everyone's attention was to the front. The chairman was here and he looked intimidating as ever. There was a moment of silence before he spoke.

"I'd like to offer my congratulations," he began. "The trial truly displayed some exceptional talents."

As the chairman continued his speech, workers went around the tables and poured glasses of wine. You didn't bother to thank them.

The chairman raised a glass. "A toast for the success of the living."

No mention of the dead during his speech, huh?

You saw Jade's expression. She did a good job at hiding her displeasure, but it was noticeable if someone was paying attention. Sara was a little more of an open book, averting her eyes away from her grandfather with a conflicted look. Most of the SF candidates eagerly drank the wine. You raised your glass, brought it to your lips and paused for a moment. Well, no point in resisting. With a smile, you looked at everyone on the table.

"Good luck," you whispered.

Everyone exchanged knowing glances. May offered everyone a smile of reassurance, though there was a glimmer of regret in her eyes. Amias looked a little lost and you subtly gestured to the glass of wine with a serious expression. That was enough for him to take the hint.

You glanced down at the drink. A toast to the living's success, huh?

You drank the wine. Barely a minute after the liquid went down, your vision became hazy and your body grew tired. Knowing very well you were going to pass out, you leaned against the chair and closed your eyes, falling into a deep slumber.



===



You woke up to an incredibly uncomfortable hard surface. You groaned, your body heavy and your head a mess. Where were you...Ah, right. You passed out at the banquet. A slight shiver passed you when you registered the cold temperature. Looking around, you found yourself alone in a vast open area.

You were outside the city.

"It's not like I didn't expect this, but drugging us then throwing us outside? Talk about brutal."

You stood up, stretched your arms, then checked your wrist. Good, the device was still there. You went over to the personal timer you set for yourself and checked how many hours there was left. The SF trial started in the morning and ended late afternoon. You were given a few hours to rest and the banquet lasted late into the night. Looks like you've got a less than half the day to find a way back to the city.

There was a 24 hour timer for a reason. The SF trial didn't end early like a good majority of the candidates assumed. After all, did the chairman ever announce that the trial was over? He mentioned success, but never about the success of making it to the specialty force.

Surviving outside the city walls and finding your own way back, that was the next phase of the trial. It was cruel, as many would say, but admittedly it was a much better testament of one's strength and capabilities than what happened in the abandoned city. Well, a better testament of one's strength and capabilities plus luck. It wasn't like you could complain no matter how unfair or harsh they made the trial. Saying that you agreed to participate in the trial meant they could throw anything at you. Those who let their guard down and didn't prepare had already lost, unless lady luck decided to play favourites.

You loosened your tie, unbuttoned the top part of your shirt, and sighed, a trail of mist slipping past your lips.

"Well, time to continue the SF trial."







A/n: This was such a fun chapter to write! Albeit, it was 10k words and a pain to edit, but I got to write a lot of character interactions so I'll take this W

Also, an excuse to write about women in suits? Yes, this is why I decided to become a quotev author.