Hey, sorry for being mega late on this one. I'm back in the office 4 days a week, so between this, Japanese studies, and trying to have some time for myself to relax, and some other stuff that I'll bring up at the end, time slipped away from me.

Anyways hello from my hotel room, because I straight up booked a hotel so I could get away from life for about a while and do nothing but write and edit.


Chapter 4: Batter Up


"Ha, ha…"

Under a summer haze, my feet rhythmically hit the pathway, breaking in the new sneakers.

Up ahead is the figure of Lady Vert, who is jogging along in a light green tank top and matching running shorts that show off her lean legs, occasionally looking back to wave or cheer me on.

It's… certainly a motivator, I guess. Not so much that it's Lady Vert cheering that really gets me going, but more so that I feel rather self-conscious at everyone's stares.

No doubt there's already a hundred articles and photos hitting the web right now.

I'm not exactly in shape, per se, but with my somewhat active lifestyle due to being on my feet all day, along with doing most of the heavy lifting around the shop, it hasn't been too bad keeping up.

But, if Lady Vert were to really pick up the pace, I'll certainly be left in the dust.

Really, though, what was she thinking, knocking on my door at seven thirty in the morning and asking to go for a run? I was already awake, but very confused. Not that I had any reason to say no, really.

We headed out, and I assume Lady Vert had this prepared in advance or had it planned, due to giving me some new sneakers that were my size. We ended up walking to the park to break them in, then hit the pathway in the park that goes around the entire park. Due to it being summer, there's definitely a lot more people out and about here, too.

"It's just a bit further, keep your head up~"

I'm too tired to give a response, so I try to flash a thumbs up while running.

It's another ten grueling minutes before I see Lady Vert slowing down, to which I'm all too glad to match. My heart's beating so hard I think my bones are going to shatter and as Lady Vert falls back to my side, I suddenly become very aware of how terrible I must smell with the gallon of sweat soaking into my clothes.

"Congratulations~"

"Th… thanks…"

I manage to breathe that response out, with Lady Vert catching me in time as we hobble along, with me leaning on Lady Vert, also becoming very aware of a strangely sweet smell coming from her.

"You know, we could have stopped sooner."

"Er, well, I guess I felt pressed to keep going."

"Ufufu, it's fine, you know. But, it was pretty manly to watch you push yourself."

"Haaaaa… well, I didn't come this far with my shop by giving up, either, Lady Vert."

Lady Vert giggles at this, "Ufu, what a brave response. Vert is fine with me, too."

"Alright." I say, finding enough strength to no longer need to rely on Lady Vert. "It… felt pretty good to push myself this far, though."

"It's good to push your boundaries every now and then." Lady Vert then smiles. "Shall we do this again?"

"...maybe not this week."

My response is met with an amused laugh.

"Well, let's aim for next week, then, hehe. But, as a reward for making it this far~"

Leading us off the path and by a bit of trees, there's a folded up picnic blanket and matching cooler tucked away. Haaa… I wonder if it was necessary to run all the way up here. Maybe we should have biked.

"He-ooooooh-paa!"

Lady Vert makes an incredibly cute sound as she spreads the blanket. I look around and find some rocks to hold it down, before Lady Vert puts the cooler down on top to weigh it down as well.

Inside the cooler, as Lady Vert opens it, are some sandwiches and some bottles of lemonade.

"What summer without a picnic?"

"Hmm, a barbeque might be good, too."

"Ufu, but you need more people for a barbeque. Or would you like it if it were just… me~?"

I reflexively turn my head away as Lady Vert leans in quickly, smiling.

"Mou, is there something on my face?"

"Ah, uh, no, just…"'

"Hmmm~?"

"She's clearly having too much fun with this, really.

"Too close!"

Lady Vert giggles, pulling back. "You have to be more direct, Elliot, or a girl might get the wrong idea~"

"Sorry…"

"Hehe, it's okay. You'll learn."

I hope I can learn quickly, I think to myself.

"Well, never mind that, let's eat!"

With that, the two of us sit down and dig into the cold chicken salad sandwiches and ice cold lemonade, under a clear summer sky. There's the more-than-occasional passerby who waves, and I can't help but wonder if this spot was intentional.

If there's any way to get me used to being in the spotlight, I suppose this is a low stress way of doing it. After all, it's mostly harmless, outside of Lady Vert nearly giving me the occasional heart attack via her teasing.

After about twenty minutes, we clean up, but before I can get up, I hear Lady Vert stretching loudly before she lies down, looking up at the sky

"La—er, Vert?"

"It's a nice day, isn't it?"

"Mhm."

"There's no harm in enjoying it for a bit."

I sti a little off to the side, crossing my legs as I look down the hill, where a light breeze causes a small blizzard of summer flower petals to flow down below, time to the beat of cicadas humming. Leanbox is quite the green colored city, as even the city streets were lined with trees along the sidewalks, and there aren't parks like this in either Planeptune or Lastation, and while there were large fields in Lowee, being covered with snow means it lacks this vibrant green of Leanbox.

After a few minutes, I glance over, finding Lady Vert seemingly asleep, her hands folded on top of her stomach, chest rising up and down.

...really, they're all so beautiful, they're almost out of this world, with their beauty and grace. Sometimes this all still feels like a dream—that I can be friends with them.

Well, I suppose I'll just watch over her for now.

Perhaps ten or so minutes tick by before I hear Lady Vert start to sir.

"Good morning."

"Hmmm… Elliot…. ah."

"You fell asleep. I can't blame you, it's a wonderful day."

"Hehe, well, I suppose I was just a bit tired. Were you fine?"

"Yep."

"Hmm…"

I don't like the sound of that as I try to quite get up, but a hand on my shoulder stops me.

"It's only fair to pay you back~"

"N-no, it's fine."

"Ple~a~se?"

Gah, that level of charm is unfair… who could say no to that?

Quietly ceasing my resistance, I let Lady Vert sit up before I suddenly find my view going skyward, and my head rapidly sinking into something soft. Wait a second, this is—

"Hehe, there's no need to be so tense."

"S-sorry."

"Are you nervous?"

"Just a bit…"

I can feel Lady Vert smile, but I can't see her face from the angle.

"It's okay, it's fine~ Everyone at the Basilicom was nervous on their first day. But it's okay to make a mistake."

"Well, it's one thing for you to forgive a mistake, but…"

"Hehe, the media isn't nearly as forgiving, huh?"

"Yeah..."

"It's quite the burden you have to bear, but… I think in time, you'll learn to ignore them. You can't live your life according to what others will think of you, after all, since you won't be able to live for yourself."

"True enough, I suppose…"

"Well, hehe, it's good you'll be here for a while, then. After all, it means we can cause a bit of media craze that you'll have no choice but to ignore them~"

"Er… let's not go too wild, please…?"

"Ufufu, how far is too far~?"

"That's…"

"It's okay, I'll make sure they don't write anything like us being a couple. Noire getting the wrong idea would be bad, hm~?"

As expected, Lady Vert's female intuition is scary. I don't even have to be a bad liar, just by hearing my response, she read me like an open book.

"I, er…"

There's no response but a prodding "Yes~?"

"...that would be bad, yes." I mumble, wishing I could skin through Lady Vert's lap and into the dirt.

"You can't hide anything from me in that field, ufufu~ It's okay, I won't dig up all of your secrets."

"That would be appreciated."

"Though, speaking of secrets, is it true that you played baseball?"

"Well, I guess I wasn't very open about it, but yes."

"Hmhm, I see… I was wondering why you never brought it up."

"Not a lot of reason too, maybe."

"What did you play as?"

"Ah, I was okay as a pitcher. Couldn't really get the timing right with the bat consistently enough."

"I seeeeee…"

"That sounds like you have something in mind."

"Well, it would be nice to see you return to form. Besides, you might as well add it to your bachelor portfolio~"

Bachelor… portfolio…?

"A nice, refined, famous gentleman who can cook, prepare a variety of drinks, dance, and can play sports? You'll have to have Noire beat back the hordes of women chasing you~"

"Er, I'd rather avoid having to do that…"

Lady Vert giggles, to which I can only sigh.

"Well, you have some time. It might be fun."

"Maybe."

"Just let me know if you need anything~"

"Is there anything I have to give in return?"

"Only that you let me watch you practice."

"That seems a little… easy."

"Oh, and maybe a picture or two. I'm sure they'll come in handy, ufufu."

I decide it's a smarter idea not to question what Lady Vert will use those photographs for.

"Though, speaking of things I need to give you…"


I inhale, thinking on the weight suddenly put on my shoulders.

What Lady Vert gave me was a pair of letters. One clearly aged with the discoloring and feel of the paper of the envelope, and the other relatively new. Both of them from…

Melanie…

The older one is still unread, as Lady Vert told me to read the newer one first, which explained what the other one was. Apparently, it was a letter Melanie wrote to me back in college after we had broken up, but had never sent. After I went public, Melanie had gathered the courage to give it to Lady Vert, and asked her to give it to me, saying I should read them.

I hadn't quite summoned the will to read the other one, so instead I went out for a walk in the Basilicom, ending up in a small garden of sorts which looks over the twinkling city of Leanbox.

Part of me doesn't want to read the other one at all—it should be in my past, and there's no need to open up those partially closed wounds.

But, on the other hand…

...I trust Melanie. She wouldn't have given them to me if she didn't think I really needed to read them. I'm sure she's only looking out for me. But it's still a bit frightening.

As much as I'd like to say it's all behind me, the fact that history could repeat if I were to reveal my potential feelings for Lady Noire.. I can't help but think back on those days again, and the event that caused this letter to be written.

"You're going somewhere I can't."

It was a cowardly way of doing things, in hindsight. But neither of us wanted to hurt the other, so we weren't willing to say those words of closure. So, I can't help but wonder if that letter will give me the sense of finality I need.

I breathe in, taking in the air of Leanbox again. It's a wistful sort of sigh that I let out, I suppose.

"Elliot?"

I turn around, finding Lady Vert dresses in some oddly conservative light green pajamas, as she steps into the garden.

"Oh, sorry. Did I wake up?"

"No, I was already awake."

"Work?"

She pauses, as if considering her answer. "...yes, let's call it work."

Somehow, I don't believe her, as Lady Vert steps up to face Leanbox as well. I turn back around, leaning on the railing.

"I was taking a short break, is all, when I noticed you left your door open. So, I went looking for you. It's about what I gave you, isn't it?"

"Women are seriously scary sometimes…"

Lady Vert giggles at this, but I'm being fully serious here. Women's intuition is seriously frightening.

"Did you read them?"

"Only one of them. I'm still unsure about reading the other."

"Hmm, I see. Facing the past is hard, hm…"

"Yeah…"

"Well, she seems like a good girl. I doubt she'd try anything bad against you."

"That's what I was thinking, too. Somehow, I'm just afraid it will.."

"Are you scared it will change things?"

"Not really, I think we both know there's no chance we'll ever try to get back together, but… I don't know how to explain it."

Maybe, it's…

"...maybe," I pause, trying to find my words, "it's… it's like acknowledging I never moved on from that moment properly? Or maybe it reminds me too much of my own circumstances right now."

"Hm?"

"Ah, it's.."

Well, Lady Blanc did say Lady Vert was here to help. There's no harm in telling her, especially when she reads me so easily.

With that, I tell Lady Vert the story of just what went down between Melanie and I, up until that day in the rain where we let go of each other.

Lady Vert attentively nods, and at the end of it, seems to understand my predicament.

"That is a pretty tough spot to be in, hm…"

"I guess it's only because I have so much I want."

Lady Vert chuckles at this, "Well, that isn't wrong, per se, but I'm guessing that there's something where you've wondered about something drifting away?"

"Mhm."

Lady Vert smiles, probably already knowing who it is

"Well, if that's the case, then… I believe it's very important that soon, you find the courage to read that letter. There are two rather distinct possibilities: Either she was pained by your drifting apart, or wasn't. If it's the former, then I think it will give you a sense that you don't want things to end that same way, and might give you the inspiration to find the path you're looking for. If it's the latter, then I believe you can rest easy, knowing that things will eventually turn out all right, even if you made a mistake on that day"

"Ah… maybe, yeah."

"You don't sound fully convinced."

"It's just… even if it ends up okay eventually, that still took years, and eve now I still feel like I did something wrong."

"That's true enough. But, it's a comforting thing to know, isn't it? That it'll be okay. You have to believe in others' ability to bounce back, you know?"

"Mhm."

"And, since I know you're always thinking about others, think of it as paying back everyone's belief in you~"

Ha… I guess I'm not hard to figure out.

"Thank you, La—er, Vert."

"Hehe, no problem. Think you can sleep, now?"

"I can try, but I'm feeling oddly energized."

"Is that so… then, I have an idea. Go and get changed, will you?"


Ka-THANK!

With a powerful swing, the baseball is smacked, flying right into the other end of the batting cage.

"It's hard to believe that a batting cage is open this late…"

"Fufu, well, I have a bit of an… active nightlife, so the city somewhat follows my lead."

"Well, I can understand a club, but a batting cage feels niche."

"Leanbox is a pretty active city, so sports things like this aren't as niche as you might think. Besides, it's a fun hangout spot, too."

Ka-THANK!

Lady Vert pauses as she swings again, netting another clean hit.

"But, um, I still don't get the reason for coming here."

"Ufufu, there was no real particular reason, it's just—" Ka-THANK! "—we're here to get you so tired out that all you'll think about is sleeping!"

I can't help but chuckle a bit as Lady vert swings one more time, netting herself a perfect 100% hit rate. With that, we switch places, and I weigh the bat in my hands. Not too heavy, I guess, but it's been a while.

"Do your best, Elliot."

"I'll try."

Since we know roughly where the ball is going to be, I don't have to worry about an inside versus outside pitch. I line myself up, putting my feet, hips, and shoulders perpendicular to the plate. I stay on the balls of my feet, knees slightly bent. With this, I'm able to turn my head so both of my eyes would be right where the pitcher is.

Readied up… really though, for something to tire me out, I'm incredibly juiced up from all of the tension.

THOONK!

Trying to time it, I swing, but a little too early, sending the ball into the sides of the cage instead of straight down the way.

Sheesh, this is a lot tougher than I remember. Lady Vert made it look really easy, but I suppose that with all of their combat ability, things like listening for sounds and sudden movements is secondhand.

Deciding to shrug it off, I get ready for the next one.

The next few ones aren't any better, but on the sixth—

THAAAAANK!

Swinging just a bit better, a satisfying sound echoes out as I hear the rattling of the nets on the other side catch the ball.

"Oooooooh!"

I don't want to say that I'm excited, but it felt good to hit one again. Usually I'm pitching, bu tit's fun to swing a bat every now and then.

Though, I don't have too much time to get excited, as I have to line up for the next one. Haaa… here we go!

Somehow, I find my rhythm, not getting a satisfying smack every time, but as I start getting a feel for things again, I start making small adjustments and slowly reach a comfortable state.

Feels.. pretty freeing, huh.

"Hehehe, that's a nice look."

"Ha—wah!"

With Lady Vert distracting me, I swing too late, completely whiffing that one.

"You've got an oddly determined look on your face. It's cute~"

I try to refocus and I swing again on the next one, hearing a good thunk sound. Maybe it's a nice reminder of simpler days. Or maybe…

"...you know, I was never quite able to hit a home run in high school." I say offhandedly, after another good swing. "Maybe I'm just subconsciously thinking that I can do it now. After all, I've done so many things that a year ago, I would have thought were impossible."

"Hehe, true enough."

"Well, maybe I can do it now. On a little league field, anyways. No way can I do it on a professional level."

"Ufufu, it's still a home run, isn't it?"

"Feels a bit like cheating,but it's a start."

With my last swing at the end, I give it a good whack, sending the ball straight over the protective L-guard where the pitching machine is

"Tired yet?" Lady Vert asks as we switch places.

"Not yet."

"Then, let's keep going."

It isn't until maybe two in the morning that I start to feel the least bit sleepy, but not really until three that my body starts to feel fatigued. Lady Vert, on the other hand, is going absolutely strong, but is satisfied at wrapping it up around that time as well, so we call it a night.

Despite knowing I'm going to end up regretting this by waking up incredibly sore later, I feel a lot better. Ah, geez, this better not become a regular occurence, or fixing my sleep schedule is going to get trashed, and adjusting back to my normal one is going to hurt.

Well, one day at a time, I suppose.

Hopefully, I'll be able to clear my mind for a bit.


A little shorter than I thought it was during my writing on physical pages, but haha, guess that's how the cookie crumbles. Next chapter was definitely one of the harder ones, as you can expect Uni to drop by. Trying to have Uni be somewhat antagonistic but not to the unbelievable level is a really delicate balance.

I want to say I'm back to regular updates with this, but I really just have too much to juggle. I'm looking to actually move closer to my job, as this 1.5 hour commute time for just one way is a real killer. Moving in closer should give me some time back to get back to writing.

One thing that also kind of slowed down this chapter was that I've also been doing a lot of prep work for NaNoWriMo, as I really want to finish and publish a book, and I really want to actually finish well this year. That, and amusingly enough, I've been working on recipes for breads, as I want to try opening up a bakery. It won't be a building, obviously, but I think I'd like to get started by having a food truck to sell breads in the morning or something like that.

Granted, that's all going to take a while, but hey, you know, it's a lot happening.

See you guys all next time. I can't say I know when that'll be, but thanks for sticking with me.