Sylvia appeared from behind as she patted my shoulders with a lively voice.
“Eh? Leon? Someone you know?”
“Ah. Yeah, she’s my-“
“Friend! I’m an old friend of his, but I had to move out and so we broke our connections one year ago.”
She interrupted me out of nowhere then just sat down beside us, Alice looking at her surprised.
“One year ago…”
Her eyes flashed with understanding after glancing at my troubled expression, then a professional smile appeared on her face as she introduced herself calmly,
“Hello! I’m Alice, Leon’s classmate. At the moment we decided to go on a date as we still had the time. How come you’re here?”
The way she calmly turned the tables to Sylvia was incredible and I couldn’t help but show a thumbs-up under the table.
Seeing that Alice was rather easy to talk to, she immediately warmed up and chatted with her nothings as if they were sisters since forever, leaving me baffled to the side for a moment.
“I can’t believe what a coincidence! I never thought Alice Kurosaki, my senior and national champion in Judo, was Leon’s lover!”
“And to think that you’re already participating in a competition after only one year of training. I can say you’re very talented.”
“I heard that many times. It’s my first competition ever and I’m a bit nervous.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“Thank you!”
By the Gods! For how long will these two continue chatting?
I already became exasperated, but just like my father once said: When it rains, it pours.
“Hey Sylvia. When will you come back to our table? It started to feel lonely without you.”
From the nearby table, another two guys around our age appeared around me and waved at Sylvia, glancing at me but especially at Alice more intently, their eyes showing some interest.
“They’re right. After all, two separate groups should not bother each other for too long, am I right?”
I smiled calmly and asked while leaning back on my chair, sipping on the cup of tea. I could tell the two tried to intimidate me with their presence, but by leaning back straight and crossing my legs I showed how I couldn’t be bothered by them, both instinctively understanding as they furrowed their eyebrows.
“Wha~t? Jealous that your girlfriend gives me more attention than she does to you? My~ Leon, I never knew you were this childish~.”
Unable to read between the lines, Sylvia chuckled at me while the other two also smile mockingly. This time I felt pissed but before I could say anything, Alice quickly interfered and with serious eyes, she glanced at Sylvia,
“Sylvia, I’ll ask of you to not joke like this. I doubt there is anyone more mature here than Leon. After you left one year ago, Leon had to go through unimaginable hardships and went past all of them with sheer will. You said it yourself about how much he changed, but I guess you only saw the outer differences.”
“W-what…?”
“Wow…”
Sylvia’s face turned red from embarrassment after seeing her serious eyes and hearing her sharp words, meanwhile I remained baffled for a moment, not expecting to be deffended.
“I-I’m sorry…? I was just joking…”
Feeling the awkward pressure, she scratched the back of her head while forcing a smile, fidgeting nervously on her seat. Thinking that everything calmed down, this time it was the two guys behind me that started talking, one of them sneering amused,
“Alright missy, I understand you love your boyfriend here, but no need to exaggerate it like that. Am I right, bud?”
He patted my shoulder then I calmly shoved it away, glancing at him cynically,
“Maybe? But do I smell jealousy? That’s quite the pitiful feeling, you know?”
“Oy oy, watch it.”
The first guy who talked glared at me menacingly while the second one grabbed my shoulder tightly, trying to pressure me.
“Hey, stop it! We are inside a restaurant! Besides, there’s no need to fight, right?”
“Oh, I agree.”
Alice got up ready to fight but Sylvia quickly tried to calm things down as she quickly got up as well. I agreed with Sylvia while at the same time grabbed the guy’s wrist, pulling it away from me while gripping it tightly. The guy looked baffled at how powerful my grip was then I smiled amiably at him, holding his wrist strongly and giving him the impossibility to move as even his face distorted from the pain.
“Besides, it’s best not to do anything foolish that we might regret later, am I right sirs?”
Being in a blind spot, the other guy didn’t see my grip on his mate’s wrist, only continuously glaring at me. He then snorted and then turned to leave,
“Fine. I’ll leave you alone simply because Sylvia said so. You better be thankful.”
“Oh, you have no idea~.”
“Tsk.”
I released the other guy while answering back sarcastically, my cynical smile pissing them off even more. Sylvia then sighed relieved and glanced at me annoyed,
“Leon! Since when are you so cocky?! They both have been practicing Judo for more than 6 years! You can’t win against them!”
“Hah! And who are you to tell me that? You think just because I’m forgiving enough to still talk with you, you can suddenly become all familiar with me?”
“W-why are you suddenly like that? I only said that for your own good.”
“You better worry for them, Sylvia. I know and saw very well what Leon is capable of. He doesn’t need others to worry for him.”
This time Alice patted her shoulder and spoke out again, making Sylvia look unbelieving at both of us, only to turn and leave back to her place feeling ridiculous.
After she finally left, Alice sighed a breath of relief and sat back down, then looked at me and observed how I was still pissed, trying to drink some tea to calm down while my left leg stomped the floor repeatedly. She reached out to my hand and with a soft gaze, she smiled calmly.
“Are you still angry?”
“You’re asking me? You almost started fighting there.”
I couldn’t remain mad anymore as I simply chuckled, grinning amused after remembering how she got up in a hurry, her gaze sharp.
“The guy who touched your shoulder… I saw how he prepared his position to throw you. If he continued anymore, I was prepared to take action.”
“I could tell that he prepared something, but no need to worry now. Rather, that guy might have it hard for a while.”
Alice was for a moment confused, only to suddenly see more people at the other table stare with big eyes at that guy’s wrist, a purple print being visible around his wrist.
“Y-you’re really too merciless sometimes. It looks like he’ll have to take it easy in the tournament tomorrow, or he’ll seriously injure his wrist even further.”
She smiled wryly as she felt a bit bad for that guy. His other friends didn’t seem to resent me as he did it with his own hand, coming here and starting troubles.
They are from a Dojo after all. At least this bit of discipline should they have.
Seeing how none came again for trouble, I nodded satisfied. After our pizzas came, we ate for a while until Alice had to go to the bathroom. As I was eating while waiting for her, I saw a little silhouette rushing towards the bathroom as well.
What the heck is she thinking…?
I sighed tired and couldn’t help feeling a headache, shaking my head and just sipping some more tea.
.
In the bathroom, Sylvia waited for Alice until she finished, smiling at her apologetically the moment she went out to wash her hands.
“H-hi again. I’m sorry for what happened just now. My seniors at the dojo can be rather impulsive at times.”
Seeing her, Alice nodded back out of courtesy then went to wash her hands speaking with a neutral face,
“Hello. No need to worry now. Your senior got what he deserved.”
This answer made Sylvia’s smile twitch then she looked away while not sure what to do with her hands, feeling a bit awkward.
“E-even if you say so, he might lose tomorrow because of that injury… I think it was too much.”
“Not our fault. He wanted to throw Leon, of course he won’t just sit still like that, right? I suppose even you can tell that he’s not such a naïve person as to let others take advantage of him.”
“… He was nothing like what he’s now.”
Alice turned towards Sylvia with an interested look and observed her saddened and melancholic distant gaze. With a sad smile she then started talking,
“He used to be always gentle and sociable, always with a warm and cute smile on his face… Now he looks just so… cold and distant. Nothing like the person from before…”
“Maybe if you all didn’t leave him in his moment of need, he wouldn’t have needed to close his heart like that, don’t you think?”
Pissed by her words and gaze, Alice rebuked her while wiping her hands with a tissue.
“… I know. I was too weak back then. And I was afraid for my own well-being. But now, it’s different.”
She then looked at Alice with resolution and spoke out again seriously,
“I must apologize once again.”
“For?”
“I lied to you. I wasn’t his friend, but his girlfriend… You don’t seem surprised…?”
After confessing, Sylvia expected to see Alice’s shocked or at least surprised face. On the other hand, her eyebrows barely rose for a bit, making a face as if saying: thought so.
“The way you talked to him and looked at him made me aware of that, together with how he got so pissed after you started scolding him of your own accord when normally he doesn’t care what others tell him. I’m sure there was something more than friendship between you two, but I suppose it’s in the past now after seeing how he simply wanted to push you away faster.”
Alice smiled amiably but her eyes weren’t laughing. Seeing this, Sylvia felt pressured but then she gritted her teeth and shook her head with a sneer.
“I doubt he truly wanted to get rid of me. He was in love with me since forever and barely had the courage to confess when he finally got the chance back then. I was the one who broke up with him, and so now I want to restart everything again.”
“… You think you can just do as you wish after leaving him when he needed you the most?!”
Slowly but surely, Alice became more and more annoyed until she couldn’t hear any of this anymore, shaking her head and massaging her temples as to calm down,
“I can’t hear this stupidity anymore. You’re ridiculous.”
She forced herself to not just shoulder-throw Sylvia on the hard floor inside the bathroom, just turning to leave,
“I know I am… I can only blame my weak past self. But now… now I’m stronger. Now I can protect both myself and Leon if needed-“
Hearing this, Alice couldn’t help sneering, crossing her hands while glancing at Sylvia’s seemingly naive thinking,
“He doesn’t need my protection, you think he’ll need yours? Don’t kid yourself. What he needs it’s a strong woman able to at least take care of herself as to not worry him. Do you think that simply by learning a few moves you become stronger? You are talented, but that’s nowhere enough to deal with what he has to handle.”
“Violence shall be the last resort. We are no longer living in the medieval times where the fist ruled all. But I guess it’s too much for you to understand?”
Sylvia smiled mockingly but Alice shook her head, looking at her like at a naive little girl.
“Violence as last resort? You’re aware that he might be unknowingly hunted by gangsters, right? Gangsters aside, punks and thugs are hunting him almost all the time nowadays. And you’re saying that violence shall be used as a last resort?”
Sylvia spoke out resolutely while Alice answered her instantly, a deep frown on both their faces. After that Alice sighed then with a confident smile she declared,
“Fine, if you really think you’re so befitting of him, then let’s make a bet. Let’s meet on stage at the competition. If I win against you, you will forever disappear from his life and never get in contact with him again, you’re only a scar to his heart, not a happy memory.”
“You’re not the one to decide what I am for him. As for the bet, I agree, but if I win, you will have to break up with him.”
“You really think I’ll lose in front of a newbie?”
“Your arrogance might be your downfall, who knows?”
“I know. And it won’t happen.”
Alice then simply turned again to leave with a confident air about her, pushing her chest forward as if already victorious. Sylvia was then left behind while gripping her fists tightly, a resolute gaze in her eyes.
After Alice went out of the bathroom, she couldn’t help but sigh after seeing one out of the two guys that visited us just now, sitting on her seat while staring arrogantly at me.
“You hear me bastard? I want you to go now to my buddy and apologize. I already know the Motel you’re staying together with the room’s number, so don’t think I’ll let you off the hook just like that-“
“You know? You are sitting now on my girl’s seat. Do I take it as you want to be my girl now? If so, then I’ll have to refuse, I don’t swing that way. Now please leave before she comes… or before I lose my appetite while looking at your broken face.”
“Pfft hahaha~! What did you say, you f*****?”
He got up with a red face and burning eyes, but then I did the same, pointing my fork at his face completely pissed.
“What’s up, f*****? Wanna have a go? I’ll cook you for Christmas.”
“Just try it, you grilled punk.”
“Ahem…”
A light sound resounded beside us, attracting both our attention to Alice who wore a small smile on her face. Seeing her just standing there, I glanced at the bastard and made him a sign with my head to move. Annoyed, he scoffed once then took a slice of pizza from her plate and left in a hurry, leaving me to stare baffled while my blood began to boil.
“Alright. He’s dead.”
I got up and wanted to shove that slice of pizza down his throat, but Alice then grabbed my hand with a wry smile, shaking her head tired.
“Just leave it, Leon.”
“Why are you stopping me? Even if he gets to throw me a few times, I know how to land so I won’t injure myself! I just need to land a few strikes then-“
As I was talking while fuming, she suddenly grabbed me by the collar then pulled me closer, making me shut up by sealing my lips with hers, making all my rage to simply vanish.
“… Now I feel dumb.”
After she released me I looked at her for a moment only to sigh and fall back on my seat dispiritedly, understanding that all my frustration wasn’t worth it as we were on a date. Seeing how my shoulders fell, Alice chuckled amused then she sat down to eat.
“Seeing you so angry, I simply couldn’t remain pissed anymore. As for him taking a slice, please don’t worry. I don’t mind making a donation to those in need.”
“Woah. When did you start burning people?”
I laughed amused and couldn’t help feeling proud of her. After we finally finished eating, we just left after paying and had a casual walk. There was a long stone bridge along the shore and on top of it there were more stalls with food and drinks, some of them still remaining open. The streetlights were filling the place so it was well illuminated while benches were along the edge near the sea, letting the pedestals observe the sea. At the moment the sound of waves resounded not so loudly while a cold smell of salty water filled the place. As we chatted, Alice started a subject that made me want to just bring a lemonade and sit down to listen intently. Alice did the same then we continued,
“She said what?”
I massaged my forehead with an irritated smile and Alice nodded just as annoyed. She told me about what happened in the bathroom between her and Sylvia, and I couldn’t help remaining baffled.
“Indeed, and so I made that challenge.”
“You little… Don’t make challenges with me as a trophy!”
I gently pinched her cheeks but she then just giggled, feeling ticklish from my gentle pinches. After she laughed some more while I felt only pissed, she then asked with a curious look,
“But still, putting this challenge aside. Would you return to her? You do have this possibility.”
Although she tried to sound unconcerned, I could still tell that she was worrying and even regretted telling me about this. I then scoffed while clicking my tongue annoyed, looking at her like at some idiot,
“What a dumb question. She left me once, I have no guarantee that she won’t do it again. I wouldn’t agree even if I was alone. Now that I have you, I don’t even want to listen to this dumb idea. It’s just ridiculous. And dumb. Ridiculous and dumb. Just forget about this altogether.”
“Alright, alright. God, you get mad so easily lately.”
Seeing me react like this, Alice couldn’t help laughing but then I turned and raised her chin, surprised by my firm gaze.
“And whose fault do you think it is? Lately, I had to control my feelings and desires when around you, or else I would’ve turned into a fool for you.”
“Leon, you dummy…”
Unable to control herself, she came closer and gently bit my lip, surprising me but not letting me retreat as she continued to kiss me better, entangling her arms around my neck and pulling me closer. She gently held onto my hair while embracing my head and kissing me deeply, almost taking my breath away. I was surprised by how aggressive she was, but nevertheless I let her do as she wished, even answering willingly. When she finally stopped kissing me while both of us were short on breath, she still didn’t release me but whispered sweetly in my ear,
“I do wish for you to turn into a fool… Like this, we will be two… as I was a fool for you since day one.”
“… We’re helpless.”
Hearing this, I just sighed amusedly and pulled her closer by the waist, resting my head on her shoulder as she embraced my head. We continued to stay like this for a bit then chatted for a while longer, only to decide to get back as it was already late.
After our short date ended, I walked her back to her hotel while I returned back to my motel. The moment I arrived at the motel the two punks from before waited near the entrance, stopping me from entering. With arms crossed, both seemed imposing and walked closer the moment they saw me,
“You. Come with us-“
“HELP! THIEVES! THEY’RE TRYING TO TAKE MY MONEY!”
“What the-?!”
Having no will to deal with them, I just started shouting gibberish and the two of them quickly ran away as if instinctively, leaving me alone while I was holding my stomach from laughter.
“Where? What thieves?!”
The guardian of the motel quickly came outside after hearing my shouts and I immediately pointed towards the direction where those two punks ran to. Finding it too troublesome, the guard just asked me if they took anything or if I’m alright, trying to do the minimum work.
Well, at least they left me alone for now.
I smiled amused then went up the floors towards my room while feeling tired. However, just when I thought I could go to sleep, in front of my room there was Sylvia, sitting down like an abandoned puppy and seemingly waiting for me.
