(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Checking in with everyone

Like Kellen had predicted, Sakura had come to visit at around lunchtime.

She wasn’t allowed to just storm into the building, so Kellen was called on his cellphone by the front desk. Kellen answered the unknown number, confused as he sat in his office typing away, until he heard her voice on the other end and the soft, calm voice of the receptionist.

"Guide Woods, we have someone here who claims to know you. Does Captain Sakura ring any bells?" The receptionist kept her tone neutral, even as Sakura spoke in the background.

"Kellen! I need your help!" Kellen sighed, dropping his head into his hands. Brent had already gone off to eat with some of the Espers that he was in charge of. Gathering intel, basically, so Kellen had planned to head up for lunch a little bit later. Turns out, he didn’t have much choice.

"Send her to the cafeteria. I’ll be up there shortly."

"Understood, Guide Woods." The line went dead and Kellen sighed again, before finishing his thought he’d been working on and getting up.

Maeve was still in the office when he was closing his own office door. She looked exhausted, and Kellen could understand why after his briefing from Hill in the morning. Stopping in, he knocked on her door before he left.

Maeve glanced up, noticed it was Kellen, and a small smile split her face.

"Ah, Kellen. How are you feeling? I heard there was a big commotion at the photo shoot yesterday? Something about you crying and Captain Thatcher panicking?" Kellen’s face went red. He could not believe that was how the rumour was spreading. He bet either Brent or Gwen had a role to play in that. He’d get them back later.

"I’m doing much better after we had a chat yesterday. How are you doing? How many researchers on our side got hurt?" He asked, and Maeve sighed heavily.

"A lot. Most of the Peach and Nemesis Guild researchers were pulled back to go over their results. Ours were on their way to take more samples. They’ll recover, and no one lost any limbs, but they are traumatized." Kellen winced. That was never good.

"Well, we’ll make sure they have the best teams to help them get through it. Let me know if you need any help." Kellen told her, and Maeve smiled at him, her eyes tired.

"Thanks Kellen."

"Did you want me to pick you up anything from the cafeteria?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"No. I’ve already put in an order for delivery. Thanks for checking in on me." Maeve told him, and he nodded, before heading out. No doubt Sakura would be up there already.

~

Kellen was right that Sakura was already in the cafeteria, and she looked like a mess.

Well, Kellen thought she did, but she was very well put together for anyone who didn’t know her.

Sakura was wearing her Captain uniform, in all of its pink glory, with her long hair done in two thick, pink braids, and her makeup done in a way that made her eyes pop. He had no idea how she did it, nor did he care.

She was wearing ridiculously high heels that he also had no idea how she walked in, and she was anxiously pacing near the entry to the cafeteria. A visitor badge was clipped to her chest, just over her heart, and showed she was allowed to be here. Not many people would have told her no, but it was a nice procedure that she had followed. She was respectful, even if others got a different first impression of her.

When she saw Kellen stepping out of the elevator in his Field Guide uniform, she paused, and her eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at him in shock.

"Why are you wearing that? Aren’t you a part of the Saturn Guild? Did something happen?" She demanded, and Kellen found that he didn’t miss her rapid-fire questions. He chuckled.

"No, nothing happened. Guide Jameson and I are training a new batch of Field Guides and we rotate who wears the uniform. Today was my day to do so. Now, shall we grab a bite to eat to calm your nerves while we talk? You seem to be on edge, Sakura." She worried her lip, before she nodded and followed Kellen to the line. It wasn’t long because it was later in the afternoon, but that did mean that most of the tables were full and had big, big ears.

Sakura worried her hands, twisting them and playing with her fingers as she followed after Kellen, even after he shoved a tray into her hands. She glanced around nervously, and Kellen caught a glimpse of Brent laughing and chatting with another mixed group of Guides and Espers. Sakura noticed where his gaze was, and chuckled slightly.

"Is that Guide Jameson?" She asked, and Kellen nodded. He was wearing the normal Guide uniform, but anyone could tell he was a little bit different compared to the others. One thing that was concerning was his size. He was skinnier again, and Kellen wondered what he could do besides getting him an IV drip that could help him. The way the Guiding Division was functioning couldn’t carry on. It was going to kill Brent and Casper.

"The one and only." Kellen agreed, and she smiled.

"He’s a cutie. Is he a good partner in crime?" She asked, and Kellen nodded.

"He should be. I trained him." She chuckled.

"Ah, then he must be really good if you’re keeping him around." She said, nervously glancing around the space. Kellen kept an eye on her, having a feeling he knew why she was being so nervous.

She worried that he was going to be mad.

It was a silly worry, but she was always one to do so. Kellen hid his smirk from her as they reached the beginning of the selections for lunch and Kellen began to pile his tray with food. When he couldn’t fit any more plates on his tray, Sakura shoved her tray in his direction. Meeting her gaze, she smiled at him, and Kellen sighed before using what she had offered. Kellen ended up shoving his drinks into his leather holster and when they had finished grabbing everything they needed, Kellen found them a table a little bit away from others.

Sitting down, he began to lay out his food in order and Sakura watched him, her eyes sparkling.

"It’s good to see some things never change." She muttered, and Kellen glanced up at her, slightly confused. She rested her head on her hand, her elbow against the table as she watched him work. "You were like this in high school too. Meticulous. I liked to watch you back then too. There was something so...relaxing about watching you. Like, no matter what changes around you, you will remain the same." She closed her mouth, before she opened it again. "You didn’t even care when I transitioned." Kellen shrugged his shoulders.

"Who am I to judge you, Sakura? All I had to do was learn a new name and some pronouns. You’re the one who had to go through all the thoughts and feelings. It was the least I could do." Sakura’s face crumpled easily, and Kellen sighed. "It’s not a big deal, Sakura." Kellen told her, and she shook her head, inhaling slowly to stop herself from crying.

"I don’t know. Live a normal, regular life?" Kellen suggested mildly, and Sakura hiccupped. Despite her crying, it was nice to see her as herself, and not the fully performative creature she put on for others. This full of doubt, sobbing creature was who Kellen remembered the most from high school. Not the clingy, self confident Esper who ran a Guild. _{frёewebηovel.cѳm}