Chapter Text
knock knock
“Freminet~ wake up.”
A gentle shake followed the voice.
Freminet stirred, barely. The blanket shifted, but he didn’t open his eyes.
Behind Lyney, a quiet sigh.
Lynette stood near the bedside, still in her nightwear, watching the scene with her usual calm expression. Without a word, she reached toward the nightstand, picked up a folded newspaper—
SMACK.
“Ah—!”
Lyney flinched, turning sharply. “Lynette… what was that for?”
“You’re loud,” she replied simply. “He’s sleeping.”
Lyney placed a hand over his chest as if wounded. “I was being gentle.”
“You weren’t.”
A pause.
“…And we’re not leaving yet,” she added, already turning away. “There’s time.”
Lyney straightened, regaining his composure almost instantly. “Ah, but the earlier we go, the fewer people there will be. Imagine it, an entire rink, nearly ours.”
“That assumes you can skate.”
“…You wound me.”
“You’ve never gone before.”
Lyney hesitated.
“…That’s not the point.”
From the bed came a quiet, strained voice
“…my ears…”
Both turned.
Freminet slowly pushed himself up, one hand still gripping the blanket, the other rubbing his eye. His expression was soft with sleep, slightly dazed.
Lyney lit up immediately. “Freminet! Perfect timing.”
“Good morning…” Freminet murmured. “Why are you shouting…?”
“We’re going to a skating rink today,” Lyney announced brightly. “With the Traveler. Exciting, isn’t it?”
Freminet froze for just a second.
“…A rink?”
“Mm.. hm!”
“…I see.”
He lowered his gaze slightly.
Please… not that one.
Without another word, he slipped out of bed and began gathering his clothes.
Behind him, Lyney was already drifting into his own imagination.
“Just picture it! The Traveler and I gliding effortlessly across the ice. A performance without a stage…”
“Lyney,” Lynette said flatly, lifting her teacup, “you can’t skate.”
“…Details.”
Freminet quietly changed, pulling on a black turtleneck and a light jacket, then a pair of loose jeans. He adjusted his mask down to his chin and grabbed his bag, checking inside it carefully.
“OxygenPods… skates… phone… charger…”
He paused.
“…protective gear…”
Everything was there.
“…Freminet?”
He looked up.
Lyney was staring at him.
“…What?” Freminet asked, a little unsure.
“You look… different,” Lyney said, tilting his head slightly. “More… casual.”
Lynette glanced over.
“…You look like you belong somewhere else.”
Freminet hesitated.
“…It’s just clothes.”
Lyney’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile forming.
“…Is our dear Freminet hiding something?”
Freminet looked away.
“…No.”
A pause.
“…I just go out sometimes.”
Lynette watched him for a moment longer than usual.
“…I see.”
She didn’t push further.
But something about that answer lingered.
Not long after, the three stepped out into the streets of Fontaine.
“Now then,” Lyney said, stretching lightly, “we’re meeting the Traveler near Chioriya Boutique.”
“You know where that is?” Lynette asked.
“Of course I do.”
“You’ve only been here a few years.”
“…Details.”
Freminet walked slightly behind them, quieter than usual.
His hand slipped into his pocket, pulling out his phone.
The screen lit up.
20+ messages.
From: Lionfish 🦁
Freminet blinked.
“…That many?”
He opened the chat.
GAMING:
< Good morning!! ☀️
< I’m so excited for today
< I have a HUGE surprise for you
< I almost told you but I didn’t
< because that would ruin it
< did you eat yet??
< if not here 🧇🥓🍳
< I have to leave soon :((
< OK I CAN’T HOLD IT
< I’m going to Fontaine today
< BUT I’m not telling you the surprise
< Remember Chongyun and Xingqiu??
< THEY’RE DATING
< ILYSM
< <33333
< wait that was cringe
< how do I delete messages
< oh I did it
< anyway
< are you going to the rink today?
Freminet stared at the last message.
“…He’s coming here?”
His grip tightened slightly around the phone.
“Today…?”
“Freminet?”
He looked up quickly.
Lyney had turned around, walking backward now, watching him.
“You’re falling behind.”
“…Sorry.”
Freminet slipped the phone away.
If he’s coming… then…
His gaze lowered again.
They’re going to find out.
Ahead, the city opened toward the plaza, where the familiar path to the rink lay beyond.
And somewhere along that path
A surprise was already waiting.