„Oh. I know you. You are Bolearis, Ethel's man, from Colony 4."

(Xenoblade Chronicles 3)

###

Hot water was showering on his head, running over his neck and shoulders, running down his back. Bolearis put his head back and let the water run over his face. Training had been especially tough today, thanks to Ethel. Sometimes Bolearis was wondering if there was any difference for his team leader between training and combat at all.

"Sparks, Bolearis." Maybach took the shower next to him and turned on the water. "Girls as team leaders. I swear. They can be a pain in the ass."

He turned his head and looked sideways at Bolearis. "I mean, just look at Solon or even Dinzel." He made a vague gesture to the left side of the boy's bathroom, where Solon and Dinzel had joined them for a shower after today's training session. "They aren't even half as demanding as team leaders as our girls are."

"Well, that's Ethel for you", Bolearis commented drily. He was used to her pushing him the extra mile every time. She had been like that from when they first had met as little kids in the playground. "I have to keep up with her or…"

"Yeah", Maybach agreed. "She's a bit suicidal when it comes to fighting. If it wasn't for you, one of the boys would surely beat her up every time we train."

"Well, she is not much of a tactician, that much is true", Bolearis agreed.

Ethel had always been the reckless one, acting on impulse, embracing the fight as if it was some kind of fun. And he, indeed, had been her shield since early childhood, taken the blows meant to hit her every time and taking the blame for them getting in trouble afterwards, too.

"I don't envy you, you know", Maybach went on. "Sure, Oleshandra can be demanding as hell, too. But at least we are only in the medical corp. If we will be lucky, we never will be in any close combat at all."

He broke of and turned off the water. Solon and Dinzel had finished showering and were coming over to them.

"So, you guys", Solon beamed at them. "Still standing? Yes?" He gave Bolearis a pitying look especially. "Anyone for a drink at the canteen, then?", he went on.

"Sparks, I really need one for sure", Maybach agreed.

Bolearis shrugged.

"What?", Dinzel asked looking suspicious at his comrade. "Better things to do than hanging out with us?"

"Don't be like that", Solon said. "The boy needs a break after being beaten up by you, for sure."

"Pah", Dinzel grunted. "His fault if he gets in my way. Never was aiming at him anyway." He looked straight at Bolearis. "Which reminds me. You asked her out?"

The abrupt change of subject took Bolearis aback. It took him a moment to realize what Dinzel was actually asking him. When realization hit, he felt hot and cold at the same moment. "W…hat you mean?", he asked, well aware of what the other boy had had in mind.

"Ethel. For next week's homecoming, of course", Dinzel shook his head. "Because if you haven't, I will."

"Surely she will say yes", Maybach had to laugh. "What makes you think she will go out with a boy that's trying to beat her up every time we are training?"

"Yeah, that surely will impress Ethel", Solon agreed.

Bolearis wasn't so sure about that being a laughing matter. In fact, it might well be the case. Maybe she'd find a guy like Dinzel attractive. The attacker type, going for the kill, embracing the fight. She certainly did not feel that way towards him, who had been protecting her all his live.

Without knowing Dinzel had hit a spot there. Ethel and he had been inseparable since early childhood. He had grown very fond of her, and then way beyond the older they were getting.

In Bolearis' heart there was only on girl and would remain there forever. Ethel was all he ever wanted, all he could think of. When he closed his eyes, it was her face he did see. And when he was sleeping and dreaming… well, sometimes looking into her eyes the morning after, he was a bit afraid that she would know, that she somehow could see what his dreams last night had been like.

They had turned eighteen by now, both. Ethel being half a year older had already last year in winter and he in spring just some weeks ago. They were grownups now by law, they could date each other, if they wanted to…

Truth was, Bolearis actually had approached her, trying to find out whether she felt anything similar for him, too. One of the older boys, Mwamba, had told him a good way to find out, if a girl had any romantic feelings for you or at least was inclined to get into a relationship.

So, when Ethel and he had been in his room at the academy, preparing for the written exams, he had sat next to her on his bed. She had been sitting there with one of her books in her lap. He had looked over her shoulder and slipped his arm around her. Ethel had reacted by boxing him in the ribs and laughing at him, in absolute amusement.

"What was that all about?", she had asked him afterwards.

He hadn't even been able to answer that with more than a stuttered sorry. She had smiled and shaken her head in disbelief.

Nothing had changed between the two of them afterwards, for which Bolearis was thankful beyond belief. But it was painful proof, that whatever Ethel felt for him, was not the same emotion he felt for her. Maybe she considered him being close to her like a brother. More than a best friend, certainly, but in another way. And Bolearis was well aware, that nothing would change that attitude of hers. His love would remain unanswered forever and he would not dare pushing her again, in fear of losing what they had.

He realized that Maybach, Solon and Dinzel were all looking at him, the conversation had come to a halt. Bolearis shrugged and went to get his towel to dry himself, to get dressed and get going.

"You can ask her out, Dinzel, if you want to", he told the other boy. "Nothing to do with me…"

He left the showers before one of the other boys could say another word. He dressed quickly and left the changeroom alone.