Free Pride x Familiar by Albert Ruckholdt Page B

to answer that. She Awakened last year, and ever since
transferring to Galatea she’s been in a different class from
me.”
    They were going to walk right by us.
    I glimpsed Alistair giving me a concerned look
as if to say ‘this is your chance’.
    I heard Caelum ask, “You never tried making
friends with her?”
    “No, I have no reason to be friends with
her.”
    He sighed loud enough for me to hear. “Well, it
sounds to me like you have a problem with her.”
    “Caelum, I do not have a problem with Maya
Khayman. I just haven’t had a suitable reason to interact with
her.”
    They drew abreast of us, and a moment later I
watched them walk by. Their shoulders weren’t quite touching but
there was a degree of familiarity between them that wasn’t close to
intimacy.
    They were like sportsmen, or tennis
partners.
    Yes, that’s right. Like a mixed doubles pair
that had been playing together for a long time.
    For a little while I studied them as they walked
down the path.
    Who was I kidding? They were definitely closer
than sporting comrades. Just look at the way she’s holding her head
high as she walks beside him.
    And look at the way he appears concerned for
offending her sensibilities.
    Damn, I was simply kidding myself.
    Siobhan stabbed through my melancholy thoughts.
“Haruka! Snap out of it! He’s getting away.”
    I shook my head. “No, it’s okay.”
    Siobhan cursed. “I had to wait half an hour with
you. No way this is okay!” She stepped onto the path, and cried
out, “Caelum Desanto.”
    “Siobhan, don’t—”
    Too late. Caelum and Caprice both stopped
simultaneously. They both turned quickly in perfect unison. They
both shared matching expressions.
    Ugh…this was too much to take.
    They’re in perfect harmony with each other, like
a pair of champion ice-skaters.
    There I go again with the sporting
analogies.
    Siobhan didn’t let up. “Hey, Desanto. Pay
attention to your surroundings.”
    He gave her a confused look, until his gaze fell
on me. I turned away but not before I saw his expression fall.
    Siobhan almost screamed. “Hey, don’t you walk
away from her you damn Familiar!”
    What? He’s leaving?
    I turned to look down the path in his
direction.
    He had come to a stop again, but he was looking
in the direction of the open gate and thus with his back to me. A
couple of feet away, Caprice was watching him with a bemused
expression that was rare to see on her face.
    He slowly turned around and our eyes met.
    His mouth opened. I saw his lips move. But no
words came out.
    He struggled for a long while, a pained look in
his eyes, an almost tortured expression on his face.
    Then he turned around in a hurry and resumed
walking down the path.
    Siobhan yelled out, “Hey—”
    “Stop it,” I begged her. “Please, Siobhan. Let
him go, please.”
    Siobhan cried out, “Bastard. Ah—gods damn
him!”
    My legs turned rubbery. I had to sit down
quickly on the edge of the path or I’d have collapsed hard to the
ground.
    Alistair rushed toward me in concern.
“Haruka?”
    “I’m okay. I’m just feeling faint.”
    I rubbed my eyes and my fingers came away
moist.
    Damn. I’m losing it. Please, please don’t let
him see me like this. Please dear gods.
    I wiped at my eyes but it only seemed to make
things worse.
    There was nothing I could do to stop the
tears.
    I felt Alistair wrap her arms around me as she
knelt behind me.
    “Haruka…you’re not fine. You’re very, very far
from fine.”
    I nodded and gave up trying to stop my tears
altogether.
    I didn’t bawl, but I came close.
    Really, really close.

Reflections – 4.
    The Symbiote can be classified into eight
distinct strains.
    These eight strains form the basis for the eight
Prides that Aventis fall into.
    The known Prides are as follows.
    The Avenir Pride, known for its prominence in
the domain of finance and business.
    The Sora Pride, known for its prominence in the
domain of business and entertainment, recently dabbling here