To Our Limits And Beyond

What Of My Fragments?

It wasn't the first time that his heart raced so wildly over someone.

Not even the first for the same person.

Leugi stood alone for a minute for the sake of his heart, counting deep breaths and wiping streams of sweat running down his chin. His face is as puzzled as it can get. His cheeks are blushing still. His lips frown in disorientation, and his eyes stare in confusion towards the direction Gale disappeared into. Leugi's heart knows fully well what it is, but his mind simply cannot accept it.

It denies the existence of his reaction, even more so its reason.

It wasn't the first time that his heart raced so wildly over someone, not even for the same person.

That is why he unconsciously pushes himself away, and into another circle of confusion.

"You never learn your lessons, don't you?" he clinches his shaking fist and bites his lip, reminding himself of something.

Perhaps he's been through those cracks before? Perhaps he's scared of something there?

Nobody but him knows and understands.

He takes one more deep breath before moving once again. His eyes move away along with his well-postured body, swerving towards the opposite direction. Leugi winds up his hair, then pulls out his phone to contact the whole WriClub.

"Congratulations, everyone.

Thank you for your help with the interview.

Let's meet in the cafeteria for a short discussion.

I'll treat you to lunch."

Seen.

Reacted to your message.

Replied: Got it, pres. Congratulations, everyone! Good job!

In the cafeteria...

"Thank you for coming, everyone. Once again, congratulations on our successful club interview. I know I'll be the face they'll see, but I appreciate each one of you. So go on, treat yourselves to these cupcakes I bought."

Leugi cuts his speech short with his usual smile, noticing that his members keep on glancing towards the box of cupcakes he bought for them. Right after he finishes speaking, they each grab a cupcake of their own, even fighting over some of the unique-looking ones. Meanwhile, their presidents watch them in feigned silence. He still feels the rush of blood inside of him, along with the bitter aftertaste of his fear and regret. His mind is still occupied by flashbacks and warnings, and his heart still feels this reckless pull of fate.

He must distract himself.

"Not gonna take one, pres?" Dawn pops out beside him and asks. In her hand is a cupcake with one tiny bite on it.

Leugi looks halfway towards her, then shakes his head. He smiled, however, with a face that saw relief. Instead, he calls the attention of everyone around the table. They all dropped their chitchats and cupcakes as soon as he asked for their attention, a sign of respect that not many of those present had shown anyone else.

"Now that we've established our presence as the WriClub, I'm sure everybody might think that we're all set. But we actually still lack something."

"Which is a club adviser," says a curly-haired young man with his mouth full.

"Exactly. But don't talk with your mouth full, Alphonse."

"Oh, my bad. Oh wait, I talked again. Oh, for god's sake..."

"It's fine, Alphonse. Anyway, I want to know your opinions about this matter... preferably not with your mouths full."

Alphonse stiffens his posture, then starts chewing faster. Meanwhile, the rest of the members take the spotlight.

The Writing Club consists of nine members, with Leugi as the head and brain of the group. Dawn raises her hand in a gallant manner first. It is expected, as she is the vice president and second leader of the group.

"I, personally, think there's only one person who fits that role perfectly."

"You mean Phoebe?" asks a short-haired girl with a sarcastic smile.

"I think we can all agree on not making her the adviser," replied a noble-looking guy; also their member.

Before they can all start turning the conversation into a live debate, Leugi cuts them off like a father to his children.

"Now, now. I asked for opinions, not a noisy exchange. Although I agree with Weiss about not making Ms. Phoebe our club adviser. We all know how she is," he follows, turning to Rose.

"Well, it was a good joke, to say the least," Rose replies with the sarcastic smile on her face, still grinning at herself.

Leugi sighs. He'd always known that leading a group of talented people would also mean handling their ego. It was never really easy with all the different personalities, but he's come to like them anyway. Leugi was about to continue with their discussion, when he saw someone from a distance.

No, not Gale.

Someone who exists in the same way as her.

Leugi's chest lightens. His worries dissipate slowly, just like the rest of the group after seeing her.

She was not her, but in a battle of reading rooms...

"Ms. Rouge!" he calls out. Dawn smiles upon hearing the name, and the other members fall into silent agreement.

Meanwhile, the fairly tall lady from afar panics, looking around frantically. She doesn't seem to know who's calling her, or where they are. It took her a couple more seconds to notice the whole group smiling and waving at her, and only then did she run towards them, rushing steps in a clumsy manner that almost made her slip and fall just in front of the table. She squeaks, then hurriedly fixes herself. Then, she clears her throat and stands before them.

"W—what is it, students? Do you need any help?"

"We want you to be our club adviser, Ms. Rouge. Of course, only if you'd like."

The professor spaces out. The words then echo in her head, and she blushes as soon as her brain processes what they were talking about.

"You see, we had a short discussion about it. And we would rather be in the hands of someone who knows us well, after all. Someone who will actually care, especially about the club and even literature itself. And you checked out all the boxes, ma'am," Leugi adds.

Ms. Rouge blushes even more, nearly to the point of tearing up and crying. She nods at them with a genuine smile.

"Yes, of course, my students. It would be my pleasure."

...Avelaigne Rouge, 25 years old. Known worldwide as The Peafowl Archivist, head of the world's largest anonymous writing organization...

An article by Leugi Mellins, from 10 years later.