Extra Chapter: Happiness in Both Hands

Extra Chapter:
Happiness in Both Hands

 

WE WERE EXACTLY three weeks into our summer break, which meant it was officially halfway over. Still, I felt like I’d used my time to the fullest. Little by little, I was getting stronger.

I walked home from work, debating what to do with my afternoon, when I found Leila in my living room.

“Hiya,” she said. “Sorry to barge in like this.”

“I haven’t seen you in ages!”

“Sorry for always dropping by unannounced,” she said. “Your mother said you would be home soon. She told me to come in.”

Nice save, mother! Everyone else was out at the shop, so it was just the two of us.

“I take it you’re here to train me,” I said.

“Well, I did make a promise.”

“It’s really not that big a deal,” I told her. “But let’s go out into the yard.”

It was pretty shabby for a noble’s estate, but there was enough space for us to train, at least. I started with some warmups, but Leila made a funny face.

“You know, Noir, you’re plenty strong already. Are you sure you need me to train you?”

“I do,” I insisted. “I’m not strong enough to win fights on brute force alone.”

When I had enough LP to use Get Creative, Editor, and Bestow, that was a different story. But on my own, things could quickly get dicey.

Leila looked skeptical. “Really? Well, whatever. Let’s get started.”

“Yes, please.”

I asked her to train me in hand-to-hand combat—no weapons. I wanted to know so much! How to throw a punch, effective points to target, throws, locks, and feints. But I also didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew. For now, we just focused on proper punching technique.

“Form is important, of course,” said Leila. “But it doesn’t have to be perfect in a real combat situation.”

That made good sense. There were plenty of situations where you might be forced to throw a punch in less than ideal circumstances.

“But,” Leila said. “As long as you know the basics, you can put them to use in practical ways, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You’re so stiff!” she laughed. “Just relax, we’re friends.”

I threw another punch, and another, and we kept going like that for a while. After all, I was only going to get good once I’d done it as many times as I’d swung my sword. I needed my body to remember the movement. When I got tired, my form started to slip, but Leila just took my hand and gently corrected it.

Maybe I should start calling her “master.” No, wait, I already have a master…

I was sweating buckets, but I had to keep going if I wanted to get stronger.

“It’s already past noon,” Leila said. “Maybe we should take a break.”

“Sure! But…would you teach me some throws first?”

“You really are into this! Sure, let’s try it.”

We started to grapple.

“First,” she said, “and this is like, super basic, try to pull me toward you and sweep my legs out from under me.”

“Got it.”

I did as I was told and downed her repeatedly. Just like we’d done with punches, we repeated the action again and again.

“You really are a hard worker, Leila.”

“I am?” she asked, sounding surprised. “Noir, you’re the one who’s always working.”

That wasn’t true. Not really. With all the skills I got from Olivia, everything was much easier. Of course, I was putting some work in, but still…

“I just mean you work so much harder than I do,” I said. “Even though we’re the same age. I really admire you.”

“Well,” said Leila. “I feel the same way. You were so kind to my little brother. There aren’t many people who would do what you did for him. It meant a lot to me.”

“Oh, you’re embarrassing me.”

“Good!” she said. “But it’s the truth. I really can’t thank you enough. Anyway, back to training!”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll keep it up!”

I was really fired up, but…I was also exhausted. When I tried to swipe her feet out from under her again, I slipped.

“Whoa!”

“Eek! Hey?!”

My technique was awful. While I did manage to knock her down, I also landed on top of her.

Oh no!

I was so worried about crushing her that I grabbed hold of something I definitely shouldn’t have.

Squish.

I had made a serious error in judgment. I panicked and tried to get up, but somehow ended up giving her a good squeeze.

“Ouch!”

“Ahhh!” I cried. “I-I’m so sorry!”

I pried myself off her, apologizing profusely. Leila’s face was bright red. She covered her chest and got up.

“I-I-It’s not your fault,” she said. “You’re exhausted…”

“Y-yeah…”

We were too embarrassed to make eye contact after that. I hadn’t even known Leila for very long. What if she thought I was a jerk now?

I glanced around guiltily, freezing solid when I saw Emma staring at me from one of the windows.

“I saw that!” she said.

“Wh-when did you get here?” I asked. Nope, I had to do better than that. “It’s not what it looks like!”

“Not what it looks like my butt!” Emma said. “You were totally copping a feel!”

“I was not!”

“And it wasn’t just once. You did it three times!”

Did I really? My memory was so hazy. Maybe my hand did something evil while I wasn’t paying attention? Fortunately, Leila came to my rescue.

“It really was just an accident,” she said. “We were training.”

Emma didn’t even look at her. She just stalked over and stared me right in the eye.

“You could’ve just told me.”

“What?”

“You should talk to me before you do stuff like that.”

Oh no! This was all such a grave misunderstanding. I could see the pity in Emma’s eyes. I was sure this was going to end badly, but then…she grabbed my right hand and placed it on her own chest.

“There!” she said, triumphant.

“Wh-what?!” I said. “Emma what are you doing?!”

“You’ll get LP from this too, right? Ah!”

LP…? Y-yeah, that’s what this was about. Totally that. Emma was always so thoughtful. And it really did feel nice. Just then, a shout rang out through the yard.

“Eeeek! What are you doing to my Noir!”

“Lola?”

Lola was standing in the doorway, carrying a lunch box for some reason. She tossed it aside and came running. When she reached me, she grabbed my left hand and placed it on her chest! Was this…some sort of new trend I’d missed out on?

“What do you think, Mr. Noir?!” said Lola.

“What do I what?” I asked, bewildered.

“Good? Bad? Be honest.”

“It’s good? Very good.”

What else was I meant to say? I was dumbstruck. And, before I could get out of this whole situation, more tragedy unfolded.

“Sir Noir, I was wondering if you would care to join me for lu—huh? Lola, Lady Emma, what on earth are you doing?!”

Now there was a normal reaction. Good on you, Luna! But when she saw where my hands were, she looked down at her own chest.

“So any woman will do? You know, I’m a woman, too, so…”

“I-I have an explanation for this…” I stammered.

“I see,” said Luna. “It’s the LP, isn’t it? Then leave it to me. Excuse me.”

Luna went around behind me and pressed up against my back.

I give up. What is even going on anymore?

Even Leila was at a complete loss for words.

Why does this always happen to me?

“Brother dearest,” a voice called from inside the house. “Come see! I got a perfect score on my test! Praise m—what’s going on here?”

“Oh, h-hi, Alice, it’s a little complicated to explain but—”

“I understand,” she said. “I see exactly how it is.”

Did she understand? Really? Because I sure as hell didn’t.

Alice went inside, only to come back out with our father’s sword and a terrifying look in her eyes. Nothing good could come of this.

“Duel me for my brother! I, Alice Stardia, announce my intent!”

There was no way to stop this. I was doomed. Best just to give up and let it happen.

It was certainly one of the more exciting days of summer break.

Looking back on it, I decided that the one thing I would remember was the happiness in both my hands.