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nyandereneko) wrote2019-10-09 08:00 am
nyandereneko) wrote2019-10-09 08:00 am
Entry tags:
Hopeless
Word Count: 2,900
Summary: Nishiki stops by in the middle of one of Nova’s training sessions with Setsuna, and the turn their conversation takes ends up leading them both closer to a confession than either one is prepared to handle.
*Author’s Note*: For the record, I’ve never played Fates and I’ve only watched a few support convos and scanned some wiki pages to try and get a feel for these characters, so I apologize if Setsuna seems way off compared to her canon personality. But Nova’s specialty is usually bows or staff-like weapons in settings like this, so Setsuna was the perfect person to be her tutor. I also had a lot of fun writing the exchanges in this one…Nishiki is a soft boy, one of my favorite ones to write I think. I just love him a lot!
It was a bright, sunny day; the perfect setting for an afternoon of training outdoors. Nova had been making great strides in honing her archery skills over the past few weeks, as hard as it was for her to see and even accept her own progress. Allegedly, those around her could see it as plainly as they could see the clear blue sky overhead, and they were intent on doing their part to encourage her and convince her of the legitimacy of her improvement. While she appreciated their support, she found it difficult to go any easier on herself. She had a lot to live up to, and a lot to overcome, and she didn’t want to let any sense of arrogance or cockiness keep her from remembering what she was doing this for in the first place…or rather, who.
“Alright, do you think you’re ready to give it a try?” The support in her instructor’s voice felt unwarranted, but she knew it was necessary to press on despite her misgivings.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied a bit predictably, too distracted by everything she was trying to keep in mind for this exercise to do or say anything more.
Nova supposed it might actually be fair to cut herself some slack, considering the nature and status of the teacher she was learning from. Serving as one of Lady Hinoka’s esteemed retainers, Setsuna happened to be quite adept with a bow…and completely hopeless in paying attention to her surroundings. The young Laguz had already heard a variety of tales about the retainer’s inability to avoid falling into any trap she came across, no matter how obvious its presence may be; several instances even managed to double as cautious warnings of what one should watch out for themselves.
Redirecting her attention on the task at hand, Nova took a deep breath and drew her bow. Firing an arrow so close to Setsuna’s head at this range…well, the woman was known for making it out of a myriad of risky situations unscathed. But Lady Hinoka wasn’t here to get her out of this one today, and no one would truly be able to fix any consequences that resulted from taking an arrow to the face. Even Nova knew the healing magic she and Sakura practiced had its limitations, and reconstructing a face or preserving a brain pierced by an arrow were well beyond the realm of possibility. But somehow, subconsciously, she had more faith in herself than that. She was much more likely to botch the shot before she could send any arrows hurtling towards her instructor’s oblivious expression.
“What’s going on here?”
He startled her with his arrival, and Nova was luckily resourceful enough to aim her arrow upward before involuntarily losing her grip. Nishiki caught her before she could stumble backwards from the force of the shot, and Setsuna abandoned her stance to ensure the rattled Laguz really was okay. She shook her head a few times to clear the adrenaline induced fog that’d seized her, looking over her shoulder to see the man who’d inspired her to undertake such training in the first place standing confidently at her side. She swore she could even decipher an amused twinkle dancing in his dazzling honey eyes.
“We were just in the middle of a training exercise,” Setsuna explained, eyes warily searching the sky. “Nova, you wouldn’t happen to recall what the trajectory of that shot was, would you?”
The young girl tipped her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you know what they say…what goes up must come down. And that arrow will eventually make its way back down to us. It’s the where and when that we should really be concerned about.”
“Oh! I…I wasn’t even thinking,” she lamented guiltily, perking up her ears as she, too, began to anxiously scan the sky.
“I don’t know what you two are so worried about,” Nishiki spoke up, giving Nova a light push forward before holding out his hand. The arrow came plummeting back down, making a noisy approach as it sliced through the air, whistling as it went. In a matter of seconds the arrow returned to the space from which it’d been launched. The kitsune chief was the one to catch it easily and confidently with one hand. “See? Not so dangerous after all.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Nova replied sheepishly. “If I’d tried to catch that it probably would’ve ripped right through my hand, or struck me somewhere else. I know better than to let my guard down, and more than that, to not let my focus slip long enough to let something that reckless or dangerous happen in the first place.”
She turned to bow apologetically to both her teacher and her liege, but the individuals she’d startled with her sudden desire to atone quickly reassured her such a gesture wasn’t necessary.
“It’s a mistake anyone can make,” Setsuna reminded her. “I mean, think about all the dangerous things I get caught up in on a daily basis!”
“In that case, maybe you’re not the best person to teach her the proper ways to avoid danger,” Nishiki quipped, and Nova couldn’t help feeling utterly foolish for letting her seniors joke around about something like this. It wouldn’t have been an issue if she’d just paid more attention…or rather not let her attention be so unacceptably derailed by virtue of a certain someone’s simple presence.
“To be fair, I’m teaching her how to shoot a bow, not how to dodge one.”
“Setsuna is a wonderful teacher,” Nova chimed in, stepping over to slip her arm around her friend’s shoulders. It was a bit of a reach, considering her meager height, but nothing she couldn’t handle. “She’s the only reason I can handle a bow at all! Lady Hinoka’s been giving me some pointers, too, even if this style of fighting isn’t her forte.”
“It sounds like your training is progressing smoothly, then,” Nishiki observed, crossing his arms thoughtfully. “Maybe someday you’ll be even more formidable on the battlefield than me.”
Nova couldn’t help blushing at his roundabout praise. “Well, that’s kind of the goal, isn’t it? If I’m going to be your retainer, I need to be at least as skilled as you, if not more, when it comes to combat. You need someone reliable who’s going to be able to watch out for you on every side, and even have the flexibility and proficiency to fight alongside you…I want to make sure I’m the absolute best retainer I can be.”
Her modest confession only brought a deeper flush to her features, but the words came out of their own accord. She had to make sure he knew how serious she was, how dedicated she was, and how honored she was to be considered for such a position at all. Of course, it wasn’t like it was common for the kitsune chief to take any retainers in the first place, which only made the situation more significant and special in her eyes. She was a stranger to this land and its people, a lost soul that’d just happened to cross paths with someone that was willing to offer her infinite kindness. She wanted to make sure she returned that kindness in full, and more than that…she didn’t want to stop seeing the smile that illuminated the face of the one she owed that hope and kindness to the most.
“I can assure you that even at your current skill level, you’re more than proficient enough to suit me,” Nishiki replied, and his words of admiration made her heart skip. “Although, I hope you won’t forget that I would have been happy to ask you to stay even if you didn’t intend on serving me in a professional capacity. I’m flattered it seems important enough that you wanted to take the initiative to improve yourself. Your progress is impressive, and inspiring, and I can’t wait for you to show off some of your more complicated talents for me.”
“Show off…for…you?” the suggestion practically short circuited her brain, but she did her best to recover her bearings. “Yes, of course! I’ll make sure to put a demonstration together that’ll show you everything I can do, even better than you can imagine. I promise you won’t be disappointed. And if you are, it’ll just be an incentive for me to train that much harder.”
He responded with a smile that made her heart flutter like a butterfly’s wings. But that wasn’t the end of his response as he unexpectedly reached out and gave her hair a pet. Right between the ears, and sometimes even giving them a passing stroke, Nova felt like her face was going to explode. Setsuna could see the thrill mixed with trepidation beaming from her expression just as plainly from where she stood, and she knew better than to interfere in an exchange like this. Instead, she busied herself with collecting a few of the other stray arrows that’d been scattered around earlier in their lesson.
“I hope you know you’re impressive enough as you are,” he reassured, and she deliberately kept her flustered gaze hidden from his view. “You’ve been impressing me ever since you came here. I mean, you made it all the way across the border on your own, and with hunters hot on your tail. I’m sure you would have survived even if I hadn’t shown up, although I’m glad I was able to lend a hand. You shouldn’t have had to suffer through what you did, but you don’t seem any worse off for it, which is a relief. I mean, I wouldn’t mind taking care of you if you weren’t okay, and you don’t need to feel obligated to push yourself for my sake.”
If he didn’t stop talking, she was positive her legs were going to buckle. He’d be lugging her back to camp after knocking her out with nothing but his words, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to endure that kind of embarrassment just yet. If she wasn’t formidable enough to handle his compliments, how could she possibly expect herself to be competent enough to handle herself in battle? They were just words, nothing more, and words of encouragement at that…somehow that only made them more effective against her, especially since she’d always been the type that was easily swayed by such flattery. When the words were kind, and coming from someone she cared about, she could do little more than dedicate all her energy and focus on keeping her emotions and reactions in check.
“If doing this makes you happy, then I’m happy to support you,” he continued, and somehow she finally gathered the strength to face him. She instantly found herself rethinking that decision as she took in the dizzying beauty and gentleness of his expression, one that was imbued with the full force of his natural charisma and charm. “Just try not to push yourself too much, alright? Setsuna always gives me glowing reports about you, and from what Sakura’s told me, your healing abilities are as remarkable as ever. I know that’s kind of your specialty, so if you ever feel like focusing on that instead, don’t give it a second thought. I’d be ecstatic to have you fighting by my side, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t worry me just a little. Not that I don’t think you’re capable, I just…there’s a peace of mind in knowing the people you care about are safe, right?”
Nova knew Nishiki cared about a lot of people--his village, his friends, the people of this kingdom that were just as proud to be a part of it as he was. Still, she couldn’t seem to help letting the phrase go to her head just a bit. Her ears perked up, a reaction he not only saw but felt with his hand still settled softly on her head. He hadn’t removed it, and she was keenly aware of that, but she didn’t really have the heart (or the desire) to tell him to stop. She knew as well as anyone that it probably would have been more proper for her to dismiss his action instead of letting it drag on. What could she say? She was defenseless against the doting nature of his touch.
“If that’s the case, it’s all the more reason I should be there with you,” she pointed out, letting her guard down a tad too much. “I mean, if my healing really is that useful, wouldn’t it be best if I was already there to tend to any wounds you incur as soon as possible? I’m just as worried about what happens to you, and that won’t change whether I’m fighting with you or fixing you up after the fact. But please, don’t go out of your way to give me a chance to use those abilities. The less I have to use them, the better things are, really. I don’t mind getting a little bit better at fighting if it helps me prevent situations where I’d end up having to put you back together instead.”
She’d probably said more than she should have again, but the words were already out. Nishiki’s ears twitched with a mixture of delight and pleasant surprise, and he figured it would be best to keep those details to himself. He’d already said enough, and clearly so had she, even if he wasn’t really keen on letting the conversation come to an end. They weren’t alone, though, and they were starting to lose themselves to a degree that would have been embarrassing to display in front of any unfortunate onlookers.
This kind of atmosphere was a bit more acceptable when it was just the two of them, and part of him was already feeling bad for poor Setsuna having to listen to it all. Despite the fact that their unspoken feelings for one another weren’t exactly unknown by those around them, he knew it was still probably beneficial to not let things get unreasonably out of hand. Giving her head a final pat, the chief turned his attention to the archer, whose face happened to be giving away all the observations she’d been making during their little back and forth.
“As much as I’d like to stay and watch, I think I should be getting back to my own duties. I still have a few matters to take care of before dusk. Maybe if you finish up before then, you can come and help me out? If you feel up to it, that is. I’m sure you usually end up about as run down as I do after a full day of training.”
“I’ll make sure not to work her too hard, then,” Setsuna added, giving the chief a playful smile. “Besides, I’m sure it would give Lady Hinoka some much needed peace of mind if I returned to the palace before sunset as well.”
“It’s settled then. Good luck with the rest of your practice!” Nishiki called as he waved goodbye, slipping into the woods and transforming into his furry four legged form, which always made it that much easier for him to traverse the dense mountain woods.
Setsuna didn’t miss the pang of longing that flashed in Nova’s eyes as he went. “So, have you said anything to him yet? About how you feel? Or was he the one that was actually brave enough to make the first move?”
Fur puffing up as though she’d been spooked, the bashful girl turned to her tutor with excuses already piling up on her tongue. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Of course I haven’t--”
“It’s fine, I didn’t expect to get a positive answer,” the archer replied, muffling her laughter in her sleeve. “But, for the record, you aren’t exactly discreet. Not that that’s such a bad thing. It’s not like he’s that much better about it, so at least you’re in the same boat.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Nova continued hesitantly, unsure if she was truly prepared to pose such questions--and receive their answers--at the moment. “Actually, nevermind, it might be better if I don’t know.”
“You’re both utterly hopeless,” Setsuna teased with another laugh. “But it’s kind of cute. And I don’t actually think Nishiki is as oblivious as he seems.” He’s probably just doing it for her sake…which is understandable. Chasing her away too soon would surely torment him more than the minor inconvenience of having to wait things out. “But, oh well. I suppose that doesn’t actually have too much to do with our training, does it? I apologize for getting off track.”
“Hang on a second, I think I might want to know what you--”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Really,” Setsuna gave her pupil a supportive smile and guided her back into position. “I’m talking to myself more than anything. Now let’s get this training session out of the way so you can get back to doing what you’d really rather be spending your time on.”
Admittedly liking the sound of that proposition, Nova resumed her stance, a new fire of determination blazing in her eyes. “Alright. You’re the master, after all. I’m ready, just tell me what comes next.”
Summary: Nishiki stops by in the middle of one of Nova’s training sessions with Setsuna, and the turn their conversation takes ends up leading them both closer to a confession than either one is prepared to handle.
*Author’s Note*: For the record, I’ve never played Fates and I’ve only watched a few support convos and scanned some wiki pages to try and get a feel for these characters, so I apologize if Setsuna seems way off compared to her canon personality. But Nova’s specialty is usually bows or staff-like weapons in settings like this, so Setsuna was the perfect person to be her tutor. I also had a lot of fun writing the exchanges in this one…Nishiki is a soft boy, one of my favorite ones to write I think. I just love him a lot!
_____
It was a bright, sunny day; the perfect setting for an afternoon of training outdoors. Nova had been making great strides in honing her archery skills over the past few weeks, as hard as it was for her to see and even accept her own progress. Allegedly, those around her could see it as plainly as they could see the clear blue sky overhead, and they were intent on doing their part to encourage her and convince her of the legitimacy of her improvement. While she appreciated their support, she found it difficult to go any easier on herself. She had a lot to live up to, and a lot to overcome, and she didn’t want to let any sense of arrogance or cockiness keep her from remembering what she was doing this for in the first place…or rather, who.
“Alright, do you think you’re ready to give it a try?” The support in her instructor’s voice felt unwarranted, but she knew it was necessary to press on despite her misgivings.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied a bit predictably, too distracted by everything she was trying to keep in mind for this exercise to do or say anything more.
Nova supposed it might actually be fair to cut herself some slack, considering the nature and status of the teacher she was learning from. Serving as one of Lady Hinoka’s esteemed retainers, Setsuna happened to be quite adept with a bow…and completely hopeless in paying attention to her surroundings. The young Laguz had already heard a variety of tales about the retainer’s inability to avoid falling into any trap she came across, no matter how obvious its presence may be; several instances even managed to double as cautious warnings of what one should watch out for themselves.
Redirecting her attention on the task at hand, Nova took a deep breath and drew her bow. Firing an arrow so close to Setsuna’s head at this range…well, the woman was known for making it out of a myriad of risky situations unscathed. But Lady Hinoka wasn’t here to get her out of this one today, and no one would truly be able to fix any consequences that resulted from taking an arrow to the face. Even Nova knew the healing magic she and Sakura practiced had its limitations, and reconstructing a face or preserving a brain pierced by an arrow were well beyond the realm of possibility. But somehow, subconsciously, she had more faith in herself than that. She was much more likely to botch the shot before she could send any arrows hurtling towards her instructor’s oblivious expression.
“What’s going on here?”
He startled her with his arrival, and Nova was luckily resourceful enough to aim her arrow upward before involuntarily losing her grip. Nishiki caught her before she could stumble backwards from the force of the shot, and Setsuna abandoned her stance to ensure the rattled Laguz really was okay. She shook her head a few times to clear the adrenaline induced fog that’d seized her, looking over her shoulder to see the man who’d inspired her to undertake such training in the first place standing confidently at her side. She swore she could even decipher an amused twinkle dancing in his dazzling honey eyes.
“We were just in the middle of a training exercise,” Setsuna explained, eyes warily searching the sky. “Nova, you wouldn’t happen to recall what the trajectory of that shot was, would you?”
The young girl tipped her head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you know what they say…what goes up must come down. And that arrow will eventually make its way back down to us. It’s the where and when that we should really be concerned about.”
“Oh! I…I wasn’t even thinking,” she lamented guiltily, perking up her ears as she, too, began to anxiously scan the sky.
“I don’t know what you two are so worried about,” Nishiki spoke up, giving Nova a light push forward before holding out his hand. The arrow came plummeting back down, making a noisy approach as it sliced through the air, whistling as it went. In a matter of seconds the arrow returned to the space from which it’d been launched. The kitsune chief was the one to catch it easily and confidently with one hand. “See? Not so dangerous after all.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Nova replied sheepishly. “If I’d tried to catch that it probably would’ve ripped right through my hand, or struck me somewhere else. I know better than to let my guard down, and more than that, to not let my focus slip long enough to let something that reckless or dangerous happen in the first place.”
She turned to bow apologetically to both her teacher and her liege, but the individuals she’d startled with her sudden desire to atone quickly reassured her such a gesture wasn’t necessary.
“It’s a mistake anyone can make,” Setsuna reminded her. “I mean, think about all the dangerous things I get caught up in on a daily basis!”
“In that case, maybe you’re not the best person to teach her the proper ways to avoid danger,” Nishiki quipped, and Nova couldn’t help feeling utterly foolish for letting her seniors joke around about something like this. It wouldn’t have been an issue if she’d just paid more attention…or rather not let her attention be so unacceptably derailed by virtue of a certain someone’s simple presence.
“To be fair, I’m teaching her how to shoot a bow, not how to dodge one.”
“Setsuna is a wonderful teacher,” Nova chimed in, stepping over to slip her arm around her friend’s shoulders. It was a bit of a reach, considering her meager height, but nothing she couldn’t handle. “She’s the only reason I can handle a bow at all! Lady Hinoka’s been giving me some pointers, too, even if this style of fighting isn’t her forte.”
“It sounds like your training is progressing smoothly, then,” Nishiki observed, crossing his arms thoughtfully. “Maybe someday you’ll be even more formidable on the battlefield than me.”
Nova couldn’t help blushing at his roundabout praise. “Well, that’s kind of the goal, isn’t it? If I’m going to be your retainer, I need to be at least as skilled as you, if not more, when it comes to combat. You need someone reliable who’s going to be able to watch out for you on every side, and even have the flexibility and proficiency to fight alongside you…I want to make sure I’m the absolute best retainer I can be.”
Her modest confession only brought a deeper flush to her features, but the words came out of their own accord. She had to make sure he knew how serious she was, how dedicated she was, and how honored she was to be considered for such a position at all. Of course, it wasn’t like it was common for the kitsune chief to take any retainers in the first place, which only made the situation more significant and special in her eyes. She was a stranger to this land and its people, a lost soul that’d just happened to cross paths with someone that was willing to offer her infinite kindness. She wanted to make sure she returned that kindness in full, and more than that…she didn’t want to stop seeing the smile that illuminated the face of the one she owed that hope and kindness to the most.
“I can assure you that even at your current skill level, you’re more than proficient enough to suit me,” Nishiki replied, and his words of admiration made her heart skip. “Although, I hope you won’t forget that I would have been happy to ask you to stay even if you didn’t intend on serving me in a professional capacity. I’m flattered it seems important enough that you wanted to take the initiative to improve yourself. Your progress is impressive, and inspiring, and I can’t wait for you to show off some of your more complicated talents for me.”
“Show off…for…you?” the suggestion practically short circuited her brain, but she did her best to recover her bearings. “Yes, of course! I’ll make sure to put a demonstration together that’ll show you everything I can do, even better than you can imagine. I promise you won’t be disappointed. And if you are, it’ll just be an incentive for me to train that much harder.”
He responded with a smile that made her heart flutter like a butterfly’s wings. But that wasn’t the end of his response as he unexpectedly reached out and gave her hair a pet. Right between the ears, and sometimes even giving them a passing stroke, Nova felt like her face was going to explode. Setsuna could see the thrill mixed with trepidation beaming from her expression just as plainly from where she stood, and she knew better than to interfere in an exchange like this. Instead, she busied herself with collecting a few of the other stray arrows that’d been scattered around earlier in their lesson.
“I hope you know you’re impressive enough as you are,” he reassured, and she deliberately kept her flustered gaze hidden from his view. “You’ve been impressing me ever since you came here. I mean, you made it all the way across the border on your own, and with hunters hot on your tail. I’m sure you would have survived even if I hadn’t shown up, although I’m glad I was able to lend a hand. You shouldn’t have had to suffer through what you did, but you don’t seem any worse off for it, which is a relief. I mean, I wouldn’t mind taking care of you if you weren’t okay, and you don’t need to feel obligated to push yourself for my sake.”
If he didn’t stop talking, she was positive her legs were going to buckle. He’d be lugging her back to camp after knocking her out with nothing but his words, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to endure that kind of embarrassment just yet. If she wasn’t formidable enough to handle his compliments, how could she possibly expect herself to be competent enough to handle herself in battle? They were just words, nothing more, and words of encouragement at that…somehow that only made them more effective against her, especially since she’d always been the type that was easily swayed by such flattery. When the words were kind, and coming from someone she cared about, she could do little more than dedicate all her energy and focus on keeping her emotions and reactions in check.
“If doing this makes you happy, then I’m happy to support you,” he continued, and somehow she finally gathered the strength to face him. She instantly found herself rethinking that decision as she took in the dizzying beauty and gentleness of his expression, one that was imbued with the full force of his natural charisma and charm. “Just try not to push yourself too much, alright? Setsuna always gives me glowing reports about you, and from what Sakura’s told me, your healing abilities are as remarkable as ever. I know that’s kind of your specialty, so if you ever feel like focusing on that instead, don’t give it a second thought. I’d be ecstatic to have you fighting by my side, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t worry me just a little. Not that I don’t think you’re capable, I just…there’s a peace of mind in knowing the people you care about are safe, right?”
Nova knew Nishiki cared about a lot of people--his village, his friends, the people of this kingdom that were just as proud to be a part of it as he was. Still, she couldn’t seem to help letting the phrase go to her head just a bit. Her ears perked up, a reaction he not only saw but felt with his hand still settled softly on her head. He hadn’t removed it, and she was keenly aware of that, but she didn’t really have the heart (or the desire) to tell him to stop. She knew as well as anyone that it probably would have been more proper for her to dismiss his action instead of letting it drag on. What could she say? She was defenseless against the doting nature of his touch.
“If that’s the case, it’s all the more reason I should be there with you,” she pointed out, letting her guard down a tad too much. “I mean, if my healing really is that useful, wouldn’t it be best if I was already there to tend to any wounds you incur as soon as possible? I’m just as worried about what happens to you, and that won’t change whether I’m fighting with you or fixing you up after the fact. But please, don’t go out of your way to give me a chance to use those abilities. The less I have to use them, the better things are, really. I don’t mind getting a little bit better at fighting if it helps me prevent situations where I’d end up having to put you back together instead.”
She’d probably said more than she should have again, but the words were already out. Nishiki’s ears twitched with a mixture of delight and pleasant surprise, and he figured it would be best to keep those details to himself. He’d already said enough, and clearly so had she, even if he wasn’t really keen on letting the conversation come to an end. They weren’t alone, though, and they were starting to lose themselves to a degree that would have been embarrassing to display in front of any unfortunate onlookers.
This kind of atmosphere was a bit more acceptable when it was just the two of them, and part of him was already feeling bad for poor Setsuna having to listen to it all. Despite the fact that their unspoken feelings for one another weren’t exactly unknown by those around them, he knew it was still probably beneficial to not let things get unreasonably out of hand. Giving her head a final pat, the chief turned his attention to the archer, whose face happened to be giving away all the observations she’d been making during their little back and forth.
“As much as I’d like to stay and watch, I think I should be getting back to my own duties. I still have a few matters to take care of before dusk. Maybe if you finish up before then, you can come and help me out? If you feel up to it, that is. I’m sure you usually end up about as run down as I do after a full day of training.”
“I’ll make sure not to work her too hard, then,” Setsuna added, giving the chief a playful smile. “Besides, I’m sure it would give Lady Hinoka some much needed peace of mind if I returned to the palace before sunset as well.”
“It’s settled then. Good luck with the rest of your practice!” Nishiki called as he waved goodbye, slipping into the woods and transforming into his furry four legged form, which always made it that much easier for him to traverse the dense mountain woods.
Setsuna didn’t miss the pang of longing that flashed in Nova’s eyes as he went. “So, have you said anything to him yet? About how you feel? Or was he the one that was actually brave enough to make the first move?”
Fur puffing up as though she’d been spooked, the bashful girl turned to her tutor with excuses already piling up on her tongue. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Of course I haven’t--”
“It’s fine, I didn’t expect to get a positive answer,” the archer replied, muffling her laughter in her sleeve. “But, for the record, you aren’t exactly discreet. Not that that’s such a bad thing. It’s not like he’s that much better about it, so at least you’re in the same boat.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Nova continued hesitantly, unsure if she was truly prepared to pose such questions--and receive their answers--at the moment. “Actually, nevermind, it might be better if I don’t know.”
“You’re both utterly hopeless,” Setsuna teased with another laugh. “But it’s kind of cute. And I don’t actually think Nishiki is as oblivious as he seems.” He’s probably just doing it for her sake…which is understandable. Chasing her away too soon would surely torment him more than the minor inconvenience of having to wait things out. “But, oh well. I suppose that doesn’t actually have too much to do with our training, does it? I apologize for getting off track.”
“Hang on a second, I think I might want to know what you--”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Really,” Setsuna gave her pupil a supportive smile and guided her back into position. “I’m talking to myself more than anything. Now let’s get this training session out of the way so you can get back to doing what you’d really rather be spending your time on.”
Admittedly liking the sound of that proposition, Nova resumed her stance, a new fire of determination blazing in her eyes. “Alright. You’re the master, after all. I’m ready, just tell me what comes next.”