The Reine operation not only liberate the city but also alleviate the mistrust between Riley and Claude. But as spectacular the result was, the operation didn't resolve all that lingered between them. For instance, how Claude yelled into the radio every time she ordered a barrage in the first live fire exercise to integrate the grenadiers into the squad.

"Short rounds, short rounds, check your fire."

"It's not short rounds. You're giving the wrong coordinates." Riley yelled back into the radio and almost slammed it to the ground. Statics filled the channel for more than minutes before Claude came back with completely different coordinates, targeting a different area in a different location two mountains over.

"Are you serious? These coordinates are completely off!" Riley said.

"It's the right one." He cut off short his answer and let statics be her friends again. She gripped the radio a little bit too hard as she turned around and shouted out the order. As she expected, even the logical no-nonsense Jascha found it hard not to frown.

"This is a new target, right? Didn't they call to adjust fire?" Connor asked.

"Just send the shots." Riley grunted and turned on the radio again. Sure enough, ten seconds later, Claude sent in another 'check your fire'.

When the exercise was over and the squad regrouped, she went straight to Claude and found him in his quarter.

"Technically, I'm still your superior." Claude said almost defensively as Riley stormed toward him.

"Permission to speak then. What the hell is that call to fire? Who's the observer that gave us those coordinates?"

"Ok, calm down. Let's not point fingers here."

"I'm not pointing fingers. We need better observers. Else our mortars will hit friendlies. I can teach whoever they are, but I need names. Even if it's you."

"Let's… let's talk about this tomorrow? I need to report to HQ." Claude said and slipped by Riley, leaving her alone in his quarter.

The one good thing about having a forward logistical base, aside from never running out of supply, was regular weekly shower and hot food. Riley never went through training and so was not yet accustomed to the lack of accommodation. She understood that she needed to get used to it, but for the time being, she enjoyed the services, especially after the frustrating day.

"Be fair, you stepped out of line, too. He's your superior, you know." Kai said.

"Technically, I'm his equal. We're not even in the same chain of command." Riley puffed up her cheeks. The girls in the next shower stalls laughed out loud Riley could hear it echoed.

"Maybe that's why he's acting weird. Doesn't know how to handle his girlfriend being in the same squad." Rita said.

"What? I'm not his girlfriend."

"Sure looks like it. He can't even talk straight when he's near you. And you just can't wait to jump him."

"Riley, ignore the poor soul. She's just too lonely to not play matchmaker." Brittany chimed in. "There's not much to do around camp, aside from drinking and gossiping."

"Yeah, Kai told us plenty about Claude's childhood, but we never heard anything about his girlfriend." Rita said.

"I'm not his girlfriend."

"Didn't say you were. Guess someone's being jumpy. Oh Brittany, when will my childhood friend join squad E?"

"Shut up."

Perhaps it was her, but the shower in Riley's stall got steamier.

"Anyway, while we were at the field today, who gave Claude the coordinates for fire mission?" Riley asked.

"Changing the subject, are we?"

"Drop it Rita. It was between Neige and Aladdin. Aside from the tank squads, us snipers are the only ones familiar us calling coordinates. The rest were never trained for that. They got team leaders to read maps for them as well. I guess that's something we can ask the higher-ups to train regularly." Kai said.

"That makes sense. We didn't have a lot of infantry and artillery coordination before."

"Aww this is getting boring. I'm out of here girls. Vancey's throwing a drinking tonight with some boys in our squad and others. Don't let Claude know you're coming."

Rita left the stall before Riley had a chance to respond while the others cracked up laughing.

Routine exercises continued for days. Claude had put in a report to delay more life fire exercise. Instead, he presided over the grenadiers' firing exercise, which Riley took to be his lack of confidence in her squad. Which pissed her off. There were also regular field training exercises that put her squad under his direct command. Despite her suggestion to put the grenadier squad some distance behind the main force, Claude ignored her and let her squad march alongside the main group. At least, her squad morale was getting high and they got along well with other members of squad E. Before she realized, even she referred to herself as a member of squad E and no longer a separate specialist squad. But what remained untangled was Claude. During today's field exercise, Riley lagged behind a bit and pulled Raz aside.

"What's his deal?" Riley whispered.

"What do you mean what's his deal?"

"Oh, don't play fool. He's avoiding me. I can't talk to him about the way he's handling the grenadiers. I can't even find him outside of training. Did he say anything to you?"

"No."

The way Raz scratched his chin and averted his eyes did not inspire her confidence in his word.

"Don't test me Raz. I have two untested high-caliber mortar rounds right here and I'll enjoy shoving one up yours."

"Woah, okay. Didn't expect that out of you. But no, do you really think he comes to me about his girl's problem?"

"So there really is a problem. What do you mean girl's problem?"

She could see sweat started forming on his brow as he swallowed dry, his Adam's apple jumped like an emergency alarm.

"Speak or I'll tell Kai you try to steal her laundry." Riley gritted.

"Did not! Okay, fine. He did come to me."

"And?" Riley grinned.

"Remember that one day when you stomped on his face because he looked up your skirt?"

"Did not!"

"Shh. Anyway, that makes him realize that he doesn't know how to treat you. As an officer, he cares for the squad as far as his professionalism allows. What he said, I don't understand what he means by that. But he also says that he wants to be close to you like how he is toward Kai and me. But he also can't play favorites because that will affect the others. He ranted a lot but I was sleepy that day so I don't remember everything. OK, okay, I lied, I didn't pay attention to all this mushy stuff he said. Are you happy now?"

"Good enough. But that doesn't explain why he doesn't talk to me about the grenadiers."

"How am I supposed to know? I'm not him. Stop grinning, you look creepy."

"Am not!"

Riley hid her face and teeth away from Raz and tried to put on her normal face before looking at Raz again.

"Thanks anyway."

"Don't tell Claude I said any of that. By the way, do you really have untested munitions in your loadout?"

"Yeah? Why would I lie about it? I'm testing a prototype. I'm bringing them along so I can fiddle with them when we have our break."

Riley grinned again and patted on the mortar munition case as if showing off her prize babies. The next thing she knew was a loud bang deafening her ears and white blinding her eyes.

Riley woke up to find herself on a bed in the infirmary. Empty beds lined up until the end of the aisle where a nurse slept on her desk. The dim lights in the room blinded the window until she got used to it and realized it was dark outside. She tried moving a little and let out a groan. Her legs felt stiff.

"Are you hurt?"

"Claude? You scared me."

Claude stood by her bedside, hastily wiped the side of his mouth but only after she spot the shining drool on his lip.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to. I just got here. Are you thirsty? Hungry? Should I get a nurse?"

"No, it's fine. I'm fine. What happened?"

The way Claude cleared his throat and put on a frown reminded Riley of her teacher in Vinland. She felt herself shrank a little, slipped a bit deeper beneath the blanket.

"What were you thinking bringing untested munitions to the field? Whatever you brought exploded and knocked you out cold. You're lucky that it was non-lethal."

"Lucky? Of course I know it's non-lethal. I designed it…. Sorry."

Riley completely retreated behind the blanket, pulling it over her nose and peaking out like a shy teenage girl. Finally, Claude uttered a smile.

"Well, you should rest. I reported to command. I told them that it was an expired mortar round. Minerva would chew the hell out of me so don't tell anyone about your experiment. We will have tomorrow off for you to recover, ok? I'll tell Kai and Raz you're fine."

"Wait."

Riley reached her hand out of the blanket and grabbed Claude by his sleeves. Perhaps it was sudden, or that her fingers touched him, but despite the dim light, she could see his face blushed redder than the Imperial flag.

"Y..yes?"

"Have you been avoiding me?" Riley asked. The student-teacher dynamic got reversed completely so quickly Riley had to hold back her laughs looking at his face. "Don't lie to me Claude. It takes an operation for me to trust you. You don't want to bet on the next one to regain my trust."

"Ok, yes, I'm sorry. I've been avoiding you." Finally, he said.

"Care to explain?"

"It was… I just…. I want to prove that I'm a reliable leader. That I'm no longer the shy kid running behind you in the Starchild Festival. And now, suddenly I'm your superior officer. I feel like I didn't deserve it. But I am also responsible to others, not just you. And now we have this issue with the new class and I don't know how to deal with it."

"And you thought you can find a solution on your own?"

"Yes." His voice grew softer.

"Did you?"

"No." He murmured. Riley grinned.

"Hey, I said I trust you. And I'm giving you this chance to prove that you've changed. But being reliable and being stubbornly stupid alone are two different things. I'm part of squad E now, right? Rely on me as well. You can come to me when you need. Maybe I'll help you with your girl's problems as well."

Riley cracked a hearty laugh as Claude's face couldn't be any redder.

"I do not have a girl's problem." He meekly defended himself. "Jokes aside, what do you propose for our problem? I thought about bringing the grenadiers to the frontline to act as supporting mortar. It will help with setting coordinates. But we will lose the artillery firepower. Then there's the safety concern that you raise."

"How about I go to the frontline with you?"

Perhaps it was because of his reddened face that Riley felt a spark of warmth in her cheeks.

"I mean, I'll go to the frontline and act as supporting mortar and observer for the artillery. I can send coordinates for artillery fire missions and use my mortar for smaller targets. How about that? Keep the grenadiers off the frontline while you get your personal howitzer."

"Brilliant!"

Riley cocked her head and grinned.

"That could work. No, that will work. I will draft a protocol and send it up the chain for approval. If things go fast, we can put it to practice the day after tomorrow." Claude said.

"So?" Riley puffed up her cheek.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I should have talked to you."

"That's right. You do have a "me" problem. Don't wait until I blow up my legs to talk to me, alright?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Claude finally laughed comfortably and Riley joined in the chorus, waking up the nurse sleeping on the other end of the room. Claude gave one look at her and Riley could tell they screw up.

"Well, I should really let you sleep. It's already late. Get well soon. I'll need you on the field."

Riley swore she could hear Claude added 'with me' as he turned around and left. Regardless, she went to sleep unable to hide a grin.