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The absence of enemy action didn’t preclude the stress of it. Roche hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Ashbringer since that aborted jog, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t tensed in anticipation of it. The summer months bled slowly, lingering like the flies hovering around a bloated carcass left in the sun. She was uncertain of what she could trust, and she found herself reluctant to reply to texts for fear some tech savvy adversary was spying upon them all. 

If she had to endure this as she did before their disastrous trip to the Beach, Earthshaker would have cracked under the pressure. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind it would have taken everything from her and she’d have erupted with directionless rage before burning out long before their mysterious foes even revealed themselves. 

But things had changed, and they’d changed for the better. The Track Team was shocked to see a smiling Captain lead them about the track, and it was to a visible wave of relief when she started barking orders at them. Yet even beyond their ranks some took note of her head being held high, an easy smile on her lips as she walked without the tension that was so typical of her everyday interactions. 

Rumors were beginning to percolate when she was seen leaving school with the rest of them, side by side with the likes of Kiyo and Sylvia. As opposed to long hours on the track or disappearing entirely on Detention Club business. 

That was all to say when Roche turned a corner and saw Rei, she wasn’t the most dour person in the hall for once. Stranger still to even the see the girl outside of club activities, as Roche didn't share a class with the girl. As far as she knew, none of them did.

[color=orange]”Oh, hey there, Rei!”[/color] Roche said brightly, and she came alongside Rei, pressing her back to the lockers as she glanced sidelong at their absent leader. [color=orange]”You’ve been busy. What’s got you dropping by?”[/color]

It was likely this mess with the Light Girls, but a girl could hope that Rei may have started taking the threat of Ashbringer seriously, or maybe organized a more formal hunting trip for the Giga Miseria.