I had perfectly nice boots back then, Gautier. That's all your own fault for not noticing them.

[ Claude plasters on a shit-eating grin as Sylvain looks back at him. That arm around him is awfully useful for sensing the movement foretelling it happening so he can make sure that's what the other sees rather than anything else. Also, maybe it is worth grinning over a little, since - ]

Or for not making your appreciation of them in general a little clearer. Maybe you could've skipped a few months here in the meantime to make up for the academy.