Chapter Text
“Cooome on, Shin! You can do it! Come to big brother!”
Rei beckoned him forward with arms wide open and a brilliant smile on his face.
Shin just grunted. Both in irritation and strained effort.
They were in the exercise room of the Temple Ship’s medical block. Shin was on the parallel bars, practicing walking as part of his physical therapy after awaking from his hundred years of sleep.
His body felt so heavy. When he’d started, he got lightheaded and dizzy just trying to stand up. And even now, he became exhausted so quickly.
“Ahh, this reminds me of when you were just a baby and learning to walk,” Rei cooed. “You were so adorable back then! Such an angel.”
“Shut. Up.” Shin growled from between gritted teeth, trying to concentrate on taking his next step.
“...I don’t think torturing him like that is going to help, Rei,” said a familiar silverbell voice in exasperation.
“Le–” Caught by surprise, Shin lost his balance and toppled to the floor.
“Shin!” Lena rushed over from where she’d been standing in the doorway.
He winced. It wasn’t a bad fall, but he wasn’t really used to feeling pain.
Lena hovered over him worriedly. “Are you okay? I’m sorry I surprised you.”
“No, I’m fine.” He managed to sit up. “What brings you here?”
“Oh, I just wanted to check on you.” She knelt next to him. “It seems you’re making progress.”
“Not as much as I’d hoped,” he sighed. “It’s frustrating not being able to move the way I want to.”
“Well, you’re not alone in that,” Lena smiled. “The other Eighty-Six all struggled with this too. So don’t worry.”
Meanwhile, Rei watched over them with a soft expression. “Well, I guess I’m not needed here anymore. I’ll leave him to you, Lena.”
“Huh?!” Lena said with a start.
“You were still here?” Shin glowered.
“So mean!” Rei just laughed and left the room.
And so, Shin and Lena were left there alone.
“Um,” Lena said awkwardly. “Would you like to continue? Or should I take you to your room?”
Shin thought it over. The thought of continuing his physical therapy while Lena was in the room sounded embarrassing. He sighed. “I think I’ll call it a day.”
“Sounds good. You don’t want to overdo it either.” Lena went to get his wheelchair and wheeled it over. Then she leaned down, preparing to scoop him up in her hands. And paused.
They stared at each other. Neither of them had quite thought this through.
“O-Oh, right. You’re big now…” Lena’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“It’s alright. I can do it myself.” He tried climbing to his feet.
“No, no! I can help!” Lena knelt beside him again. “You can, uh, take my shoulder?”
Reluctantly, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She wrapped one arm around his waist and got to her feet.
Lena wobbled a bit at first, as if his weight caught her by surprise. Also, needless to say, their bodies were quite close. Though it wasn’t as bad as being hugged against her bosom, which he’d had no choice but to endure back when she was his Handler.
As she lowered him onto the wheelchair, the sweet scent of her perfume wafted over him. It was a scent he’d grown used to, and even somewhat missed while they were apart. And now in his own body, he somehow felt even more aware of it. He glanced at Lena next to him.
Her face was bright red.
Once he was seated, Lena sprang away.
An awkward silence fell again.
“Thank you,” he said.
“N-No problem. I was just…returning the favor.”
“Hm?” Puzzled, he tilted his head.
Lena looked away, her face turning even more red.
“The last time we fought your brother…I felt like you were there supporting me. So…”
“...Ah. I do recall something like that.” Though in the heat of battle, he’d been more focused on keeping Lena alive and defeating his brother than anything.
Lena did a double take. “You do?! I just thought that I was seeing things…or feeling things?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh…? Feeling what, exactly?”
Now steam was practically rising from her head. She sputtered incoherently for a moment. And then he couldn’t hold back anymore and laughed out loud.
Lena narrowed her eyes, realizing she was being teased. “...You jerk.”
“Sorry.” He couldn’t help it. And if he was allowed to wish for things now, then surely he could partake in this simple pleasure.
Just being a boy, in the company of a cute girl.