Epilogue

One month later

\\

"Soul! Get up! We'll be late!"

"…"

"SOUL!"

"Mrhgn."

The apartment was blissfully quiet for the moment. She might've distracted herself with breakfast. Soul buried deeper into his pillow. Let her chop him. At least it would give him a few more minutes of shut eye. Zzz….

What felt like seconds later, heavy weight crashed into him.

"AHHG!"

"Wake up. You. Lazy. BUM!" Maka screeched, punctuating each hit with a pillow. She maneuvered herself to sit on his waist.

With energy he felt like he should never exhibit first thing in the morning, he futilely reached out and attempted to grab the small pillow, eyes determinedly shut. He looked so silly that Maka laughed at him.

"Soul, you're not even trying," she said, holding the pillow high above her.

"I don't care!" he grunted, still flailing. Maka proceeded to shove the pillow lightly onto his face. He automatically gave up and surrendered, arms flopped open on his sides.

"I'm dead," his voice muffled. She snorted and lifted the pillow away. He opened a tired eye and squinted at her.

"Breakfast is ready, dead boy," she informed him.

He wordlessly raised his arms and beckoned her into a lying down hug.

"No."

He shook his arms again, insistent.

"Soul."

"Two minutes," he bargained. He knew she was a little tired. She tossed around a lot last night.

She gave him the stank eye before sighing. She shifted her weight and laid on his chest, his arms enveloping her. He breathed her in and relaxed, rolling them on their sides. Maka fingered the top of his scar absently.

Today was his first day at Shibusen and she was nervous. The Eibon experiment completed successfully and Soul recovered for a week after the transformation. That was one month ago. Soul felt like he had more energy in comparison to after his collapse, and after the following week Stein gave him the okay to leave the infirmary. Lord Death gave him the option of enrolling at the Academy; the following semester started within a month. Soul naturally accepted, wanting to get his powers under control quickly.

Since the academy only had courses up to high school level, he dual enrolled at Maka's university while taking his weapon courses in order to graduate with a Shibusen degree. It was a new beginning for him. And for her.

In the days leading up today, Maka felt out of sorts with herself. For a long time, she always rejected the idea of being a Meister. But now, she can't help but be interested in this new part of Soul. A lot of special information about weapons was only available to their students and the general public only knew the limited information in order to enroll. Unless she bugged Soul (which she could), she would only know what he brought home, which he made perfectly clear that he was only doing the bare minimum (unless it was about controlling his powers). Now, the student within her wanted to know more.

She hasn't mentioned it to Soul and she doesn't plan to until she made an official decision. A loud snore jolted her out of her thoughts. She squinted and pinched his nose. Several seconds later, he coughed and choked while she shoved him off the bed.

\\

"Will you be okay, Soul?" she asked.

He revved up his bike, prepared to leave after he dropped her off. "Yeah? Why wouldn't I? S'not far."

"Well…" she wavered. She actually didn't know why she asked him that. Maybe she ought to ask herself that question. "Just call me if you need anything. I'll take a bus over."

"I can handle it, relax," he gave her a half grin. "Spent two weeks there, I feel like I know half of the place already."

"Okay," she replied, still feeling hesitant but didn't want to worry him. She waved at him meekly, waiting for him to drive off.

He pouted, puckering his lips. Maka's cheeks pinked and they kissed goodbye.

Leaning back, he studied her face and said, "Let's take one day at a time, yeah? I don't know what will happen, but we'll figure it out. I don't plan on finding a Meister right away if that's what you're worried about."

"I'm not!" she lied adamantly. It did make her feel better though.

"Sure and I like people."

"Okay, geez go! You'll be late," she urged him. "Have a good day."

"Love you."

"Love you too." And they kissed again.

While she watched Soul roll away in the distance, the idea of Meister Maka didn't sound so bad after all.