"Brady, Noire, glad to see you two could make it," Professor Stahl says as Brady and I enter the archery room, the two of us getting stares from the other club members.

"H-Hi Professor," I say.

Professor Stahl brings us to the other side of the classroom, where there is one unattended target. "Here, you two can practice with this one, we are just firing practice shots today, this Friday is when we'll get into some real stuff," He explains.

"What do you mean real stuff?" Brady asks as he walks over to the target, "Is this, metal?"

"Yes it is, you see these arrows are specially tipped with magnets on the ends, this way we can safely practice without risk of harming anyone in the room, everyone here is a beginner so this is the best option. This Friday we'll be outside so we'll be shooting real arrows at real targets, I only had the real thing out last week when you two arrived because it was a short meeting and we weren't shooting." The Professor explains as he gets the supplies for us. "They weigh the same so it's just like the real thing, so I'll be expecting one more bulls eye outta you Noire."

"And I won't be able to crack the blackboard this time," Brady muttered under his breath.

The Professor went to go attend to some other students, "Well, ladies first," Brady said, offering the first shot to me.

"Why thank you," I say as I pick up the bow and grab an arrow, despite the metal tip it did still feel the same as the arrow from last week. I do my best to remember everything from last week, beginner's luck or not I must have been doing something right to get a bull's-eye on my first shot. I exhale, pull the arrow back, and release.

While not a bull's-eye, it's surprisingly close, only two lines away from the middle, "Wow Noire, you're a natural!" Brady exclaims. While I may chalk the first shot up to beginner's luck, I'm beginning to think Brady might be right.

"You, you really think so?" I ask, thinking I may have just discovered a talent I never knew I had.

"The evidence is there, I know so," Brady said, the continuous praise making me feel a little embarrassed.

"T-Thanks Brady, now I believe it's your shot," I say, handing Brady the bow.

"Alright, no bad shoulder is keeping me from gettin' this thing right down the middle," Brady says with a surprising amount of confidence. He gets in position and does a similar set of motions. He exhales, aims the bow, pulls back, and releases.

The arrow goes straight toward the edge of target, causing it to spin out and hit the wall, almost the window. The two of us simple stood there in silence until I finally broke it, "Well, it was a lot closer this time," I mutter, regretting saying anything.

"I guess some progress is better than no progress," Brady utters, trying to look on the bright side as he hands me the bow.

We both continue taking shots at the target, while never getting a second bulls-eye; I kept inching closer and closer, practically surrounding the bulls-eye. Brady on the other hand kept grazing the sides of the target, causing some laughs from the on looking club members, which only seemed to make him frustrated, causing his shots to get sloppier. Until eventually, he managed to get the arrow to stick to hit the target, sticking to the very edge, but finally sticking nonetheless.

Brady let out a sigh, "Finally, I don't know why this is so hard, you make it look like a breeze Noire," He says as he hands me the bow.

"You're thinking about it too much Brady," That's what I say, but I truly don't know why I am doing as well as I am.

I get up to take my next shot, exhale, and pull back, when suddenly, "Noire look out!" The next second I see Brady quickly get in front of me.

"Gawk!" Brady utters as I see his shoulder move back as he falls to one knee, "Ah come on! Same friggin' shoulder!" Brady exclaims.

Professor Stahl and most of the club members come and surround us, "Brady is everything alright!?" The Professor asks.

"What does it look like teach?!" Brady replies

"How does it feel?" The Professor asks.

"I'll live if that's what yer askin'", Brady says.

"Still, Noire can you take him to the nurse's office?" The Professor asks.

"Y-Yes sir," I say as I help Brady back to his feet and the two of us exit the room.

Not only was I speechless over what just occurred, but Brady didn't necessarily seem like talking either, this combined with his bandaged nose didn't seem to put him in the happiest mood, but I needed to ask.

"B-Brady, what happened back there?"

"W-Well, while you were taking your shot, I spotted an arrow that must have bounced off of something or whatever, and it was headed towards you, and everything else just moved on its own."

I hadn't realized an arrow was coming my way, and I didn't know Brady was so selfless, my face quickly started to redden. "I-I don't know what to say, Brady, t-thank you, i-is there any way I could make it up to you?"

"It's fine, it was the right thing to do, I couldn't just watch and let it happen," Brady says. "But getting this shoulder hurt again sure isn't doin' me any favors, this and all those trashy shots I took, sucks that I don't seem to be talented in the places I wanna be talented in."

The final sentence he said got my attention, "What do you mean by that Brady?"

Brady let out a sigh, "You know they don't lock the music room after school?" He said.

"I didn't but," I utter as Brady suddenly begins walking in a different direction, "B-Brady, the nurse's office is this way."

"I'll live, I was just in for a bad shoulder not too long ago, it's not that bad, I already know what she's gonna tell me anyway," Brady said as I catch up with him.

Not quite sure what he's planning, but the two of us approach the music room, just as he said it was unlocked and there was no one in the room. "Let me show yuh somethin' Noire."

I simply nod and take a seat. Brady goes and grabs a violin, "But Brady what about your shoulder?"

"Doesn't matter, I've been taught how to play on both sides." He said. I had never seen Brady so serious before, frankly I have no clue why exactly he is showing me any of this.

Before I knew it, Brady began playing. Needless to say, it was unlike anyway I have seen Brady before. He seemed so serene, so at ease, and the tune he played was so unexpectedly fantastic. Me not being one for this type of music, still looked on in awe as he played, seeing a side of Brady I never knew existed. I smiled and enjoyed his tune up until he finished playing.

"Brady, that was incredible, how long have you known how to play violin?"

"Eh, my Ma forced me to learn when I was a kid, I didn't want too, but even though I don't care for it, I was good at it, and still am. Don't tell anyone about this alright Noire, not even Severa or Inigo know about this."

"I-I promise, but why keep it a secret? You're so talented, why not share it?"

"I, I have my reasons, well I'm probably going to head home, are you going to go back to the club?" Brady asks, quickly changing the subject.

"B-But, shouldn't you get your shoulder checked out, I don't know how hard the arrow hit you, but its better safe than sorry. I-I'll go with you if you want," I offer.

"I'm sure I don't need it, but if you insist," Brady says as he puts the violin back down and the two of us make our way to the nurse's office.

Nurse Aversa wasn't surprised at seeing the two of us enter her office, throwing salt in the wound as she commented on how we were her two most frequent visitors. After assessing the damage she said Brady's shoulder was still in good shape, it would just be sore for the next week or two and he should be careful applying any pressure on it. Afterward the two of us exit the school.

"You're not gonna go back to the club?" Brady asked.

"No, there probably isn't much time left anyway," I reply.

"Sorry about that, didn't mean to drag you all around with me."

"N-No, I don't mind, besides I'd be the one who have to be in the nurse's office if it weren't for you, I can't thank you enough for that Brady, plus I may have not been able to hear you play."

"Heh, don't mention it Noire, so I'll probably see you tomorrow?"

"Definitely, see you tomorrow Brady," I say as the two of us part ways to head home. While the first real Archery Club meeting for Brady and I didn't go exactly as I may have expected, I really enjoyed it. I think I am really starting to like spending time with Brady.