Connection

“Haah…”

I sank onto the sofa, the fatigue from today's practice gradually dissipating, my eyelids growing heavy.

“I want to die…”

“Try not to…” A familiar voice came into the room, a grassy aroma permeated the room.

“Ohh, you learned how to brew tea…” I slowly push my body up, “Owowow…”

“That’s what you get for making fun of me,” Celicia sulks as she places the tray down.

"In what way?" I tried to stretch my arm, but the numbness rendered it nearly useless. Fortunately, my left hand wasn't as injured, allowing me to slowly pick up the tea. "Thanks for the tea, by the way."

“…You’re welcome,” Celicia mutters, followed by her sitting down next to me.

Awkwardly, I brought the tea to my lips, allowing the bittersweet and comforting aroma to waft through my throat.

“It’s really good…” I muttered as my body began to relax.

“I-I see…” Celicia puts both of her hands on her face, slightly covering it.

“I might fall asleep from this…” My eyelids grew heavy, and my mind began to slip into unconsciousness.

“…Hey Yuuma, what have you been doing these past few weekends?”

“Geh…”

“Why are you always tired whenever you get back home?”

“Uhh…”

“I didn’t want to pry on your business, but have you been overworking yourself?” Celicia gets closer.

“…Noo…” I look away from her.

“Yuumaaa…” Celicia pressed her tone, “What. Have. You. Been. Doing?”

“…”

“If you’re overworking yourself again,” Celicia cracks her knuckles, “I’m going to have to take some drastic measures on you…”

“Okay, okay! I’ll explain!” I slightly back off at that sight, “I’ve been… doing some combat training…”

“Haah…” Celicia drops her head, “You could’ve told me about it… You’re making me worried…” Celicia sulks.

“…Sorry.”

“Sorry is not enough!” Celicia flicked on my forehead.

“Ow!”

“I want an explanation! It’s the least you should do for making me worried!” Celicia pouts as she looks away from me.

Even when she’s mad, she still looks cute…

“W-Why are you smiling?” Celicia abashedly replied.

“Nothiing~” I gather my thoughts and continue, “I was doing some combat training with Siofra these past few weekends.”

“Hm? Since when did you become close with Siofra?” Celicia tilts her head.

“Three weeks ago, I think…”

“Hmm… So you got close with her huh…” Celicia said, giving me an absent look.

“…Anyway, the reason why I decided to do combat training was because I want to be able to stand next to you.”

“…?” Celicia tilts her head. She continues, “What do you mean?”

“When compared to you, I’m physically weaker than you, which means that I won’t be able to help you if something bad happens…” I answered, keeping my gaze locked on her.

“…? But why? It’s not like we’re going into war or anything…” Celicia's expression became more confused.

“It’s just a personal thing,” I reassured her, “I just… want to be on equal ground with the person I love…”

“…”

“…”

“…Eh?” Celicia muttered, her face becoming more red.

“…Oh.”

“W-What do you mean oh?!” Celicia fumbles over her words, her face becoming redder, “O-O-One more time! Say it o-one more time!”

“H-Hey! Now you’re making me embarrassed!”

“You just nonchalantly said it, so why are you embarrassed?!”

“Because you suddenly reacted like that!” I said as my face grew hotter.

“…”

“…”

Both of us avoid eye contact, each of us looking at our palms.

“…Yuuma,” Celicia muttered.

“…Yeah?” I slowly bring my head up, and eventually, my gaze locked onto her.

“Why… did you fall in love with someone like me?” Celicia asks, her face slightly flushed.

“Why…?” I scratch my right cheek. However, I don’t look away from her, “Well… You’re really pretty… you’re also kind, and… y-you’re the reason why I want to change…” I explained, with every word making my face hotter.

“I-I see…” Celicia twirls her hair, her eyes jolting back and forth from the floor to me.

“…”

“…”

“Yuuma…” Celicia stretched her hands.

“…” I grab both of those hands, feeling her warmth and sweaty palms, “Can I… get your answer?”

“…Yeah.” She nods, “I also love you…”

“I see…” I tighten my grip, my heart feeling as if it’s floating through the clouds, “I-If it’s okay… why did you fall in love with someone like me?”

“Pfft… Are you copying me?” Celicia blurts out.

“T-That’s not it… I’m just… curious, you know?”

“Yeah…” She nods, “I also get what you mean…” She tightens her grip.

“Hehe…”

“Hahaha…”

Both of us laughed out loud, filling the empty living room with our combined happiness.

“…”

“…”

Both of us lean forward, embracing each other, feeling each other’s warmth.

“Yuuma…” Celicia whispers in my ear, “I’m not a confident person, but you gave me a reason to push through… But, you’re also on the same boat as me, right?”

“Yeah…” I nod.

“Then…” Celicia hugs my neck, resulting in our distance drastically closing in, “Let’s row the boat together…”

“Yeah…” I touch Celicia’s right cheek, her warmth permeates through my hands.

“…”

“…”

Both of us touch our foreheads together, staying completely still as if time has stopped for both of us.

Ahh… I wonder what it is about her that makes me feel… safe…

---

“Your movements are becoming sluggish! Be more confident!” I yelled out to the Otherworlder.

“Okay!” He breathed in and out, and then he composed himself and got ready to go against my father again.

“…”

I wonder if this is a fair matchup…

I know I was the one who told him that he needs to fight against someone stronger than him, but maybe it’s a bit much on him…

My dad told him that it was better for him to use daggers since it’s versatile and light, which would help him fend off and kinds of bandits.

“Hey Sofi, isn’t this a bit hard for him?” Celice stands next to me with two water bottles in her hand. Her right hand stretched one out.

“Ehh, I’m sure he’ll be fine…” I grab the water bottle that Celice gave to me, “Thanks by the way,” I reply as I walk towards a nearby bench.

“You know his stamina isn’t as strong as us, right?” Celice sits down next to me.

“…I’m sure he’ll be fine…”

“Sofi…” Celice glared at me. 

“Ghh…”

Since when did Celice become this scary?! What happened to my sweet tomboy who always needed my protection to not get into danger?!

“Yuuma! Are you okay?” Celice stands up from her bench and shouts out.

“I-I’m fine!” The Otherworlder replied, his face drenched in sweat followed by his face painted in red.

“…Uncle Scalan!” Celice shouts out whilst waving her hand, “Can he take a short break?!”

“Yeah! I was thinking of that as well!” Dad yelled out.

Dad then said something to the Otherworlder, followed by Yuuma limply walking over here with his shoulders slumped, his arms limp, and his face completely lifeless.

He then slumps on the bench, losing every strength of his body which leads to him sitting in an awkward position.

“Haah…. Haah…”

“Geez… I know you asked me to keep an eye on you, but you should learn to keep yourself in check, you know?” Celice gave him a bottle of water and gave him a small towel.

“T-Thanks…”

As the Otherworlder is chugging his water, he couldn't position it properly, which leads to some of the water landing on his face.

“…”

What a waste of good water…

Once the Otherworlder finished, he wiped off his face with the towel Celice gave him.

“Haah…” The Otherworlder placed the towel on top of his face, a smile appeared below it.

“You know Yuuma…” Celice interjects, “You looked pretty lame out there.”

“Pfft!”

“I heard that!” The Otherworlder yelled out.

“Whaaaat~?” I lean in, “I think you misheard.”

“…I’m too lazy to argue, so I’ll just stay quiet,” The Otherworlder replied, but he continues, “Still though… I looked lame huh…”

“That’s right!” Celice suddenly grabbed the towel and ruffled the Otherworlder’s head.

“H-Hey…” The Otherworlder lightly chuckled.

“But… you look really cool when you were training…” Celice placed her hands on the Otherworlder’s face, both of them looking at each other.

“W-What do you mean?”

I’m with him on this one. I have no clue what you’re talking about Celice.

“Hmm… You do look really lame when you’re just flailing around…” Celice then closes in on his face, and a gentle smile appears on her face, “But… Seeing you try so hard makes me think you’re really cool. That’s why I fell in love with you after all…” Celice lets out a massive grin.

“I-I see…”

“Hehehe…” Celice then hugged his head, both of them laughing.

“…”

Am I… being a third wheel here?

I’m not entirely sure what I should be doing now…

“But…”

I’m really happy for you Celice. I don’t fully trust this Otherworlder yet, but if you decided to trust him, then I can’t really say anything against that.

After all, he’s not that bad of a person.

‘If something bad happens, I want to be able to assist her.'

Someone who can say that clearly shows that they have the ability to acknowledge other people’s strengths and weaknesses and respect those aspects.

If he were to say that he wanted to protect Celice, I would’ve fought him to see if he was remotely qualified or not. Not that I need to do that of course…

“However…”

This is where your true battle will begin.

Will both of you be able to acknowledge and accept the sheer difference both of you share, or will both of you crumble due to it?

The result of this final obstacle both of you will go through will be the determining factor on the kind of relationship both of you will end up in.

“If possible…”