Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt: Hunter x OC

Ceremony

"I was going to surprise you all with it, but I just can't wait to show you," Omega said brightly, standing from her seat at the long table on the patio and disappearing inside the house for a moment. Curious glances were passed back and forth between the family, and Hunter relished the fleeting sense of normalcy. When she reappeared, holding something behind her back, all attention returned to her. With a flourish, she produced a smooth piece of wood upon which hung a beautiful dress. It shimmered as it reflected the glow of the string lights above, earning an authentic cacophony of "ooh"s and "ahh"s from the table.

"That's some nice work!" Phee exclaimed, watching Omega's smile grow even wider. "Got some details in there, I see?"

"Yes!" Omega gushed, pointing at various parts of the dress. "There are little tributes to each of you in it!" As she explained, Hunter felt a strong sense of admiration as he watched her proudly review all her hard work and creative effort. The others were beaming just as much, delighted with the way she'd brought them all together in one representative piece.

"It is truly a work of art, Omega."

"Thanks Tech!"

"It's... It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Wrecker said, his booming voice shaky with emotion as he wiped a single tear from his eye.

"Wow, Omega, you've outdone the Kamino armory," Crosshair said, but his face was undeniably soft as he radiated awe and gave her a meaningful nod, to which she responded with a wink.

"You did good, kid," Phee said warmly, as Echo echoed the sentiment from his seat beside her.

"And I got seats in the front row for all of you!" she continued, holding the dress up to her front and giving a little spin for all to see.

"We'll be there," said Hunter.

* * *

The Advancement Ceremony for the students was the culminating event of their school year, which they had spent in various job shadows and internships as they prepared for their adult lives. Since the years on Xylo were 400 days long, it had given Omega ample time to explore many options, and she had enjoyed every single one. The Ceremony was a formal affair at the school, where a large stage was erected for the students to parade across after a select few shared some heartfelt thoughts about their time. Almost everyone on the island was there, to support the young adults as they joined society in a new capacity, and the air sparkled with joviality and unity as the crowd found their seats.

The school staff was seated in rows across the back of the stage, with the picturesque views of the expansive hills behind them leading down to the sea, and Hunter felt a twist in his chest as he spotted Lyra, tucked between some of the teachers and mentors of the program. He'd been surprised that she was able to return to her position after having disappeared for a few months on Keytoll, but she'd been resourceful in her communications with the right people and had salvaged her job through it all. She was dressed like the rest, in a somewhat pompous uniform that he would have laughed at if her presence weren't such a burden to him. They hadn't spoken for nearly a week, since he'd unceremoniously left her house after everything had fallen both apart and together.

"Thank you all for coming!" the headmaster began, and the multitude of voices quieted as he held up his hands. "We are so proud of our students for all their efforts this year, and we would like to also extend our gratitude to all of you for encouraging and supporting them in their endeavors. We will begin with a few student reflections, followed by some awards from the teachers, and then we will bequeath each student with their traditional Xyloan lei."

Students shared, the audience clapped, and Hunter watched Omega's patient, joyful face beaming from her seat on the side of the stage. Where her future would take her from here, he didn't know, but he was overwhelmed with pride and gratitude to have been a part of her life the way he had. As the proceedings continued to the awards, he felt his stomach churn as Lyra stood behind the podium. He could feel her anxiety from where he sat, and he noticed how carefully she kept her gaze moving in a general scan across the crowd, avoiding direct eye contact with any one person.