Chapter 88: You Who I Want To Protect
Luna helped me perfect my tea before she ended up leaving through the magic crest. I'm still a bit nervous about not having her watch me make tea, but she did say that she'll stop on by sometime tomorrow. For now though, I do think I can at least make a decent tea for Charlotte.
Because of Charlotte's condition, she can't really have a bath or shower, but it's not like she stinks anyways. I did wipe her down with that cloth quite well after all. As for me, I ended up bathing by myself before hopping into bed with Charlotte, however, I did decide to give her a bit of space as I worry that I might accidentally hurt her in my sleep. Also the stormy weather and the lightning still seemed to be going on, which didn't seem to bother Charlotte at all. As for me, it took a while for me to finally go to sleep.
Which leads us to today-
"Almost. Remember to be more direct with your grabs."
"Yes!"
I'm outside once again with Lisa as she teaches me more hand to hand combat training. The ground is still a bit wet from all the rain from last night which does make for a bit of a slippery practice. Lisa though seems unfazed by it. Charlotte's also outside with us, but only sitting down on the bench as she watches over us.
"Ah!" Suddenly, right as I thought I successfully countered Lisa's attack, she followed it up with a kick to my side, breaking my posture in the process, allowing Lisa to counter attack.
"Fufu. Come on Shiro. Remember, you want to figure out what your opponent would do. You did well to block my strikes with my hands, but you also need to pay attention to the feet as well."
"Y-yes..."
It was such a fluid movement from her, almost as if she expected me to stop her strike. I still have a long way to go, especially since I know this isn't all that Lisa has to offer.
Watching her fight back when Charlotte first got injured, her moves were incredibly fast, unlike how she is now. She's definitely going easy on me.
"You want a break?"
"No, I can keep going."
"Hmmm~ I like it. Alright, let's go for another thirty minutes."
"Okay."
The thirty minutes honestly felt like two hours. I am seeing myself improve as time goes on, but I feel like with every improvement I do, Lisa just goes a little more harder on me. Especially considering how I'm now caked in mud...
"Haah~" I exhale as I take my seat at the bench alongside Charlotte. Lisa sat on the other side of her.
"You did great, Shiro."
"Thanks." Getting Charlotte's praise really does cure my fatigue in an instant... I almost want to go back up again, to improve more in order to be able to protect Charlotte better. But Lisa said it's not good to strain yourself.
"Be sure to clean yourself up in the bathroom, hehe."
"Nn. I will."
"You don't mind if I join you as well right, Shiro?" I guess Lisa is a bit dirty herself. I don't really mind so-
"Nn. I don't mind." That said, I'd prefer to bathe with Charlotte, but apparently Charlotte needs to keep her wound dry for now. I guess I can just wipe down her body again like last time, so it should be fine.
And so, after getting ourselves cleaned up in the bathroom, Lisa and I enter the bath together.
"Aaahh~ Nothing beats a bath after a workout~" Lisa breathes a sigh of relief as she submerges her self up to her chin.
I don't really trust myself leaning back like Lisa. I'm not sure what would happen if I fully put my head under. So instead, I opt to just continue to only submerge myself down to just above my breasts.
"Hey." Suddenly, Lisa calls out to me.
"Huh?"
"You prefer being in the bath with Charlotte, right?"
"...Yes." I wanted to lie since I do enjoy bathing with Lisa as well, but I feel a bit different when it's with Charlotte. Like I don't think Lisa would be okay if I just suddenly started leaning up against her like how I do with Charlotte.
"Fufu. Well, once she heals enough, you should take baths with her again."
"Huh? But she said-"
"And like I said, not everything that Charlotte says is correct." Lisa cuts me off, but I do remember her saying that before... "I'm sure Charlotte would also like that, so just ask about it when she gets better, okay?"
"O-okay..."
I feel like every time I take a bath with Lisa, she always has something to talk with me about, mostly regarding Charlotte. It makes me feel like maybe I should keep what is said here to myself which puts me in a bit of an awkward position.
"So?"
"Hmm?"
"How do you feel about Charlotte?" I feel like I've already answered this, right?
"I think Charlotte's amazing... She's someone who I don't want to part with. I want to support her just as much as she supports me, even if I'm not that great. I feel like I'd lose myself if Charlotte... Wasn't around..." I recall when Charlotte was on the verge of dying again. "She's someone who I want to protect."
"Fufu, don't bring yourself down like that. You support her more than enough I think."
"Really?"
"Mhmm. That kid hasn't been smiling this much until you came along. So give yourself more credit."
"Okay..."
"Hah!" Suddenly, Lisa splashes water my way, getting it all in my face as I quickly open my eyes in surprise. "Hehehe~ So Cheer up, okay? Luna will be here soon."
"Y-yes!"
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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