"Nippon Banzai!"

Euphemia laughed as she pulled her two partners into a room. "It worked!"

"So far," Zero cautioned, but he sounded fond. "Don't get overconfident, Euphie."

"…'Euphie'?"

The mask was faceless, but Suzaku could feel the irritation radiate from the form in front of him. "You don't have a monopoly on that nickname, Kururugi."

Suzaku bristled, but Euphie just laughed again. "Stop squabbling you two. Honestly…" She tapped Zero's mask. "There's no point in this anymore."

There was a long pause as Suzaku held his breath and Zero hesitated. "…very well."

Suzaku's eyes narrowed as Zero revealed his face. "…I suspected…"

"Really? When exactly?" Lelouch sneered, then looked a little ashamed. "Sorry, just… you were lying to me too."

…touché. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah. Me too."

"Now hug!"

Both Lelouch and Suzaku stared at Euphemia in consternation, then turned back to each other. Suzaku still looked somewhat suspicious, but hopeful.

"Do you think this can really work?"

"I wouldn't have signed on if I didn't," Lelouch admitted, bringing Euphemia back into the conversation. "It won't be easy."

"Worthwhile things never are." Euphemia smiled, watching the body language between the two boys relax as they grew used to each other.

Suzaku smiled back first, but Lelouch was the first one who spoke. "Together, we can do anything."

Suzaku's smile turned into a grin. "Yeah."