[You barely did it…]
“Hey, I did it, didn’t I? Stop worrying now.”
Alice’s voice was rather deep and worried but I simply shrugged my shoulders while continuing working while the phone rested on the table, letting both of us see each other through a video call. After we got the exam results, I barely had time to look over them when she suddenly contacted me, asking while more stressed than me. I massaged my forehead at how much of a worrywart she was, but then I remembered how I was as well before mother died, also being the type to stress over every test and exam as if it was something life-changing.
Thinking back at the old days, I smiled while sighing lightly as I gazed at her while she arranged her judo costume. It appeared that she was preparing for training at the moment.
At first, we barely called each other in fear of not disturbing, later to see that, while I could chat whenever as my work permitted me to do so, her training would only take place two hours every 2 days, taking one day for a break while I continued on making rings with the pliers.
Chatting for a while longer, I remembered about another subject and rested my hands for a moment while thinking aloud,
“So when you said was the competition? Next week?”
[Mhm. Next Friday, more exactly.]
“Meanwhile our deadline is this Saturday… Perfect! Like this, I have time to go visit your tournament and also go to Buhurt!”
“Hehe~ You gonna love it.”
Hearing the word Buhurt, uncle chuckled while lustering the armor and placing it together, both of us being almost done after working day and night. Our eyes had large bags underneath but wide smiles were visible on our faces, feeling excited about the upcoming event.
Meanwhile, Alice looked at us confused. She also observed how I was more and more tired by the day, and together with this tiredness, my excitement grew as well, leaving her unable to understand the cause. Her confused expression made me cough drily then just wave my hand with a wry smile,
“Err, nah. You don’t need to worry-“
“Hey missy!”
However, my uncle was of another mind as he interrupted me and appeared on the screen with a tricky smile on his face.
[Oh? Good day, Leon’s uncle.]
“Leave that. Do you wanna see your little boyfriend in shining armor?”
“What the heck are you telling her?!”
[Eh? Leon in armor?]
She seemed incredulous but her eyes were shining interested, making uncle grin slyly,
“Yes indeed! We’ll be going to a festival where he will have to dress like a knight in shining armor, fighting with a sword or halberd for his country!”
His pompous words together with his gesticulations left me baffled and instantly roared irritated,
“Stop bullshitting! Alice, don’t believe this drunkard! It’s just a place where stinky and burly men dress up in armor and fight each other like gorillas with metal bats. I’m sure you won’t-“
[I wanna go!]
At her shining eyes, I covered my face dispiritedly while my uncle laughed victoriously.
“Girly~! Be sure to bring your friends as well! And a camera! It will be a riot!”
“Just shut up, will you?!”
[Eh~? What, what? What will be a riot?]
Suddenly on her side Marina and Mira appeared on the screen while asking curiously, both wearing the same judo costume as her.
“Eh? Why are you two there?”
[How rude! Of course, we would try to learn some self-defense skills because we are just too cute and boys are hitting on us-]
“Yeah, yeah as you say.”
While Marina spoke out while as if stuck in the dream world, I immediately waved my hand uninterested, the girl freezing in place somewhat irritated. Mira then appeared on the screen beside Alice, livelier than usual, her eyes shining brightly,
[Leon! Is it true? We’ll get to see you in shiny armor?]
Hearing her question, my uncle was trying his best to continue working while laughing hard, his hands trembling while his hammering was chaotic. I felt how my pliers were slowly preparing to take flight in his head but I calmed down then just tried to explain composed,
“Look, Mira… It is true that I’ll wear steel armor, but… We are going there to basically massacre each other with swords, halberds, axes, shields, and so on other brutal medieval weapons. Understood? It won’t be anything like an expedition to admire armors and-“
[I wanna go!]
“Sigh…”
“Bahaha~! Wheeze~!”
Sadly enough, there was a supporting pillar behind my uncle, otherwise he would have crashed on the hard floor by how hard he was laughing and I would’ve got to feel a bit better after getting completely ignored by these three dreaming girls. In the end, I just decided to give up and continue focusing on my work with the deadline right around the corner.
After making the finishing touch by adding some color, embroideries, and polishing, we finally finished due time, two days before Friday.
Even so, I had no time to feel satisfied by the finished work, Alice’s competition now being up for the next event on the calendar. However, what I didn’t know and learned one day before the competition was that… It was happening in another city. More exactly, in the further West city while our city was in the far East of the country.
[I’m sorry! I completely forgot to tell you this!]
After finding out the news I remained baffled and Alice smiled wryly, apologizing with a bow.
“You forgot to tell me that the entire tournament was happening on the other side of the f****** country?! It takes 8+ hours to reach there with how shitty our trains are!”
[Forgive me, okay?! I’ll be sure to take you out for dinner once you arrive. It will be on me.]
“If you think it’s gonna be cheap just because you’re a woman, then you’re mistaken.”
[A-alright…]
While they went to a sports hotel that was reserved by multiple dojos from the entire country, I tried to search for the cheapest motel in that city. Happily, being still school-time and only October, the prices were still affordable, going to a motel that was quite close to the arena where the competition will take place.
The next day, I rushed to take my train and after 8 whole damn hours, I finally arrived in a strange city I’ve never been to before. I wasn’t sure where the motel was either, so I had to use the GPS from my phone, walking on foot another hour and a half, not wishing to waste money on a taxi.
“Haa~h…”
I crashed onto my bed after finally arriving and felt like just going to sleep even though it was only 8 PM… or rather, already 8 PM. Shortly after Alice called and told me to meet up at her Hotel, wishing to pay me back for coming all this way.
We were at the F City, a tourist city with the sea nearby and Alice’s Hotel was right at the entrance on the beach. Thankfully it wasn’t that far from my motel but if not for my rumbling stomach, I would’ve thought a while longer before agreeing.
“At least I’ll get free food after eating only sandwiches the entire day. God bless.”
I got out of my room and as I was locking the door, a group from another dojo was preparing to leave as well, everyone wearing casual clothes but with the vest that represented their dojo on them. Some dudes looked at me with a rather superior air on them, making for an eyebrow to rise on my face.
You cool cuz you’re with your gang eh? Look at this guy…
I shook my head then just went down the stairs. As I was about to leave the motel, a feminine voice pronounced my name with a shaky tone, seeming emotional.
“L-Leon? Leon, is that you?”
“Hm?”
I turned to see who called me and even I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows for a moment. My heart skipped a beat for a moment, but then it remained calm as I felt nothing else.
“Oh, Sylvia. What a coincidence.”
I was rather surprised to see that the one who called out to me was Sylvia, my ex-girlfriend.
I looked at the vest she was wearing that represented her dojo and asked seemingly curious out of politeness.
“Oh? You’re doing martial arts?”
“I-I’m doing Judo. But anyway that! Look at you! You changed so much! I can barely recognize you!”
Her eyes were sparkling as she walked around me, analyzing me from head to toes. I scratched my beard somewhat troubled then shrug my shoulders indifferently,
“Well, if you say so…”
“It is, it is! You changed your hairstyle, it looks more imposing now with the short sides. Your skin’s much darker and it’s so rough to the touch! Also, I feel like your shoulders and arms are overall bigger as well! Leon, you look… Manlier.”
She spoke out softly as she touched around my face and hands, her eyes sparkling while a slight blush appeared on her face. I felt a bit disturbed by how clingy she was but I didn’t let it show, as I only sighed and gently pushed her hands away. I smiled politely and waved at her while distancing myself, wishing to just get away as I felt somewhat awkward around her now,
“Alright, I need to meet someone now. See ya, Sylvia.”
“Woah-? W-wait!”
She wanted to stop me but I simply went on forward, waving one more time back without looking. Her eyes flashed with sadness while gazing at my distancing back, turning back to her group after being called out.
Well… that was weird.
I twisted my lips dispirited but then just forgot about it, activating the GPS on my phone to find Alice’s hotel. It was dark and the yellow street lights reflected on the wet rusty leaves moistened by the rainy cold days and humid air.
“Leon!”
A tall hotel painted with blue on white appeared at the end of the beach while at the entrance three young girls waved at me. With a wide smile on her face Alice jumped in my arms and the other two quickly followed, making for my body to feel three times heavier as all of them hugged me together. My face was plain while I looked confused at the other two, Alice also seeming a bit awkward.
“… Why are these two here?”
“Ehm… They insisted on coming.”
“”Hello~!””
Marina and Mira greeted me with wide smiles, making me wonder if I seriously have to take them as a bonus after getting together with Alice. This thought alone made my face pale, a headache making me wish to turn around and leave at this point.
As if reading my mind, Alice also showed her dissatisfaction and pulled me closer to her and away from the other two while pouting cutely. The message was loud and clear: Enough it’s enough, both of you!
“Wow~ someone became possessive~.”
“…”
Marina chuckled amused but still backed off while Mira looked intently, deciding not to be left out and grab my other arm.
“Hm?”
“Huh?”
I looked baffled at her and even Marina was stunned by her daringness.
“M-Mira! What are you doing?!”
This time Alice was really pissed and before she could say anything more, I yanked my arm free and Marina grabbed her away from me.
“Mira, you’ll come with me, okay? Any more than this and we’ll just turn into pests for them, come on.”
Although Marina loved teasing us, she still knew when to draw the line, trying to explain to Mira while sweating from the awkward feeling that became heavier by the second. Mira on the other hand was still in a daze as she continued to look at her hands, recalling the moment when I freed myself from her. She looked at me dispirited with wide-open eyes but I shook my head while smiling calmly,
“There can be only that much skinship between friends, Mira. Try doing this with your Mr. Right, not a fool like me.”
“… I- I’m sorry…”
Understanding the message, Mira’s eyes turned watery but tried her best not to cry, forcing a smile as she apologized. Her lower lip trembled from the overflowing emotions and unable to hold them in any more, she just turned and ran away, surprising Marina and Alice.
“W-wait! Mira?!”
Marina immediately turned to run after Mira while Alice was a bit confused as she looked back and forth at me and her. Seeing her so confused, I chuckled amused then gently pushed her back, signaling to Alice while she stared at me with helpless big eyes.
“Go after her. You’re her friend, aren’t you?”
“… Please wait a moment, Leon.”
Ten minutes later, Alice came back with an awkward smile and after seeing my calm gaze while shrugging my shoulders, she simply sighed then shook her head troubled.
“Did you really need to be so direct with her?”
“Believe me, I wrecked my brain quite badly to come up with a more sensible way of rejecting her.”
“I understand but-… Did you need to be so direct and decisive about it?”
I saw guilt in her eyes while a sense of pity made her heart hurt. I stopped then looked deeply into her eyes, with a confident smile thinking back at the clingy little girl.
“Look, Alice. You saw yourself just how assertive Mira is. She might seem small and frail, but she’s undoubtedly strong as well. She’ll recover in no time with you two by her side.”
Thinking back at the school trip when she made a whole group agree with her into locking Fatty in the balcony for two hours, made me understand that only a fool would still think that she’s just a helpless and cute little animal, quite the decisive and strong character being hidden underneath that cutesy face.
Finding my thoughts more and more justified, her worries left her and looked at me lovingly,
“Sigh… What will I do with you?”
“We’ll live and see.”
She smiled dearly then hugged my arm, walking together along the sea on the paved road while feeling the cold breeze of the sea. The cold wind didn’t affect us while the streetlights illuminated our path, going forward towards the streets filled with coffee-houses, restaurants, and bars. We went on for a while until we decided to enter a family restaurant that was still open. However, just as we sat down, I observed a group beside us that was quite similar to the one I saw back at my motel, but with no jacket with their dojo’s symbol.
No, wait. It is the same one…
I had a bad feeling and just when I thought that…
“Leon! Hello again!”
A familiar voice called my name and I felt how my shoulders fell almost instinctively.
