Chapter 4: Leo Gets It Together

Update:
Leo – Status: Nearly the birthday boy
Sakura – Status: Wanting ice cream

Niles – Status: Dying of heat (or exaggerating)
Elise – Status: Looking for a room
Hinata – Status: Dating Oboro again
Young Dwyer – Status: Janitor's son
Selkie – Status: Technically an adult
Corrin – Status: Still wearing that sweater
Oboro – Status: Told to shut the [BLEEP] up by Luna
Camilla - Status: Doting
Shura - Status: Doesn't know anyone besides Camilla and Elise
Velouria - Status: Whatever, man
Luna - Status: Out of sight, out of mind

Odin Dark – Status: Pocket change
Benny Lee - Status: Making it rain (coins)
Subaki - Status: The cleaning lady's tip
Evil Exes #4-7 – Status: Unknown

Month: June

Leo and Niles trudged home together in the blazing summer heat. "Leo… don't drop the groceries…"

"You're the one… who keeps dropping 'em!"

"Okay, got me there."

They both walked into their apartment, which was even hotter than it was outside.

"Aaaah!"

"Guuuuh!"

Leo slowly put the groceries on the counter. "I'm starting to think I should've gone to Oboro's birthday party with the others."

"Her birthday's in November," Niles told him.

"Whatever, then! I don't know, she throws a lot of parties! I don't want to argue!" Leo shouted.

Niles sank into the armchair. "By the way, we need to talk to the landlord soon."

"Ugh, that guy…" Leo fell onto the mattress. "Why do we both need to?"

"Because after you accidentally offend him, he'll be more likely to listen to me and my bargains."

"You're the worst."

Niles smirked. "Save it for the landlord, big guy." He took off his sunglasses and grabbed the remote. "By the way, how are you and Sakura lately? You break out the L-Word yet?"

Leo looked over. "What?"

"The L-Word. You know."

"You mean… 'lesbian?'"

Niles sighed. "The other L-Word."

Leo blinked. "…Lesbians?'"

"'Love', Leo. I'm talking about 'Love.' I wasn't trying to trick you."

"Oh." He winced. "Um… Not yet."

Leo and Hinata carried large boxes in the heat, hating every minute of it. "Whyyyyy?" Hinata moaned.

"Come on, why can't you be more like Effie?!" Elise shouted. She motioned to a woman in a pink tracksuit carrying boxes with great ease. "She doesn't complain!"

"Probably because she knows this means she'll have an apartment to herself," Leo jabbed.

Hinata nearly dropped his box. "So which sister are you moving in with again?"

"Camilla," Leo and Elise answered at once.

"Oh."

Hinata and Leo went into the apartment. Hinata went upstairs second, so instead of following Leo, he was distracted by Shura's open bedroom. The older man rested on his bed. "Who're you?"

But the nervous man gasped. "Whoa! You have a recording studio in your room?!"

Shura looked around his bedroom. He did have such equipment. "Yeah. One of my friends left it here and never came back for it. I don't really know how to use it or anything…"

"Can the Rockin' Troopas record an album with this?!"

"I dunno!"

Leo and Sakura sat together on the back porch of Sakura's place. By this time, Sakura had started wearing summer clothes, a white shirt and red long shorts. Leo insisted on his polos and jeans. "You wouldn't overheat if you wore something lighter," she said.

"Everything I have is a polo or jeans…"

Sakura frowned. "I should take you shopping sometime… or you could find a new job."

"I've tried to!"

"Do… I could ask if Oboro could have an opening…"

Leo sweat for reasons other than heat. "No, that… that would not go well. You know, you try to look after me a lot. Why?"

"What?" She stared incredulously. "B-because I care about you! W-wouldn't you do the same for me?"

Leo blinked. "Well… yeah. Say, why do you care about me anyway?"

"Why would you ask that? We're together, of course I would care about you."

"Yes, but… it's been a few months now, I thought we should talk about something like that." He shrugged. "I don't know… What do we like about each other?"

"Well… You're very smart… and you say what needs to be said. You're honest."

Eyebrow. "I'm honest? I don't think a lot of people have said that about me… Let's see, what I like most about you is…" He struggled for a moment. "It's not that I can't think of it, it's just hard to put into words!"

She pouted.

"Don't look at me like that! Uhh…" Leo ran a hand through his hair. "You… you're… nice."

"…Oh."

"Oh?! It was a compliment!" The young man was growing frustrated with himself, resulting in a sigh. "No, you're right, that's not doing you justice… I don't know what it is, but it's just… I've felt happier ever since I met you. Before then, I was just kind of going through the motions."

"Really?" Leo nodded. "Hmm. I think I remember that dream of yours where we met, you felt pretty upset."

"Hold the phone, I thought of something." This caught Sakura's attention. "When is your birthday?"

"O-oh… It happened a few days after you fought Owain. I turned 20…"

"What?! You should've said something!"

"Well I didn't want you to make a fuss… Besides, you said you don't have a lot of money, so it's just as well."

He crossed his arms and glared out to the distance. "Man I need a job…"

DON'T YOU WISH YOUR GIRLFRIEND WAS HOT LIKE ME? DON'T YOU- In addition to the ringtone, the pure heat of the apartment stirred Leo from his slumber. Drenched in sweat, he felt his skin sticking to the mattress before he raised his arm to reach for his phone. "Niles… why did you change my ringtone?"

"Hey Leo, I'm at work right now."

"But you called me…"

"Yeah, I'm telling you there's a heat wave warning… or whatever. Our apartment is an oven, so you need to get out of there today."

"Ugh… fine…"

"And remember, we have to meet the landlord soon!"

"Uuuuuugh."

Leo did not fare much better while he lazed on a bench at the mall. The underground location was quite novel, but plenty of heat still wafted in. However, his heat funk did not prevent him from noticing a certain blonde woman in a red tanktop. "Hey… you… I know you."

She looked back. "Huh? Wait, you're… Leo, is that you?"

"Yeah. Scarlet, right?"

Name: Scarlet
Status: Friend from high school

"Yeah. Um… How's it going?"

"Pretty good, I guess. I'm unemployed and it's hot, but my sister and I are in a band again, and I'm seeing someone."

"Huh. This is gonna sound forward, but you sound a little different than before."

"What are you talking about?"

Scarlet shrugged. "You usually didn't talk to me unless you had to."

Leo shrugged. "That… No I'm pretty sure we've had casual conversations."

"I definitely remember that we didn't. But whatever, man, it's in the past now." She went to sit beside Leo on the bench. "So how is Elise doing anyway?"

"Oh, she just moved in to our sister's place. Our oldest sister. If you're not busy, we might be able to see her."

Scarlet grinned. "You know what? Why not!"

Leo and Scarlet entered Elise's new place, and found Young Dwyer lying on the couch, playing his 3DS. "Young Dwyer?"

"Hey Leo."

"Uh, are my sisters here?"

"No."

"Really? Where are they?"

"The new restaurant, Black Bottom," Young Dwyer explained. "Hinata and I came to record with Camilla's roommate, but they've been together for hours and won't let me in."

"Oh… I guess we're going to Black Bottom, Scarlet."

Scarlet shrugged. "All right."

"Later, Young Dwyer." Leo and Scarlet left. When he was alone, Young Dwyer looked up at the door.

"Maybe I wanted to go, too…"

Black Bottom

Every piece of furniture, all the walls and floor, even all the decorations and employee uniforms were nothing but black. It made all the guests really stand out, making it easier for Leo to recognize Elise, Camilla and Oboro at a table together.

"Hey Elise, hey Camilla, hey… Oboro?"

Oboro glared. "What, I can't spend time with people besides Hinata?!"

Scarlet chuckled at the hostility. "Nice first impression. Anyway, it's good to see you again Elise!"

"Scarlet?! Oh my gods!" Elise had an aisle seat at the table, so she managed to stand up and hug Scarlet, the freckled woman laughed and returned it. "It's been ages! What's going on? What've you been doing? Why are you back in Windmire? I missed you!"

Camilla smirked. "So this is the famous Scarlet."

Scarlet nodded. "And you're Camilla, right? I remember Elise talking about you."

"How long are you staying in town, Scarlet?" Elise asked.

"Haha, until the summer ends. I'm taking over my Gramps' family business over in Shirasagi. Hoshido."

"Wow that's so cool, Scarlet! I know you always wanted to do that!" the young woman gushed. From there, Elise had Camilla and Oboro make room for Leo and Scarlet. Elise then proceeded to talk Scarlet's ear off about all manner of things, and Scarlet enjoyed every moment of it. At times, Camilla would join in, but not once was Leo made part of the conversation. In fact, he and Oboro both began to feel like the odd ones out. Leo then shivered at the idea that he and Oboro had common ground.

"Hi Leo." Sakura's voice snapped Leo out of his zoning. "What are you doing here?"

Leo turned to find his girlfriend. "Huh? Oh, Sakura. I ran into an old high school friend, and reintroduced her to my sisters. How'd you know I was here?"

"She didn't. Duh," Oboro explained. "I invited her here. We talk sometimes, and so do your sisters. Sakura doesn't just show up to be your girlfriend all the time, you know!"

"She's not wrong, Leo… A-anyway I just got here from the shoe store," she told Oboro. "You know, the shoe store? Where I have my job?" Sakura spared a glance at Leo. "And like you want a career in fashion, Oboro? And to save up, you're working three different jobs?" Her eyes drifted back to Leo.

Leo put his head on the table. "I get it, I get it!"

"Leo, don't put your head on the table," Camilla said, finally acknowledging his existence again.

At Niles' work the next day, he reclined on the wall by a water cooler. "So that's when I took the nomads' request to drive them to the bowling alley. We had a good talk, he told me about all the spells he liked to cast on himself, and my buddy, haha, he just sits there shotgun, all nervous the whole time. Ah, what a night." Vvvvvvvvvvv Niles pulled out his phone. "Oh, speak of the devil. Hello?"

The other workers went their own way, freeing Niles to speak. "Niles, it's Leo. Say… there aren't any openings at your place, are there?"

The man smirked. "Well, well, well. Look who finally comes looking for work."

"Niles, please."

"Ooh. What are you willing to do for it?"

"Look, if you don't have any positions available, then just say so!"

He was enjoying this too much. "Oh I know plenty of positions, Leo, but you never want to see them."

"NILES!"

A sigh. "No, no openings here at the office. Tough luck, guy."

"Ugh… Fine."

"What do you mean you don't have any more openings?!"

"I'm sorry, Leo. But it's exactly as I said. No more openings," Camilla stated. The siblings were in the empty video store again, with Leo hassling Camilla during her shift. The boy put his hands on the counter.

"Why not? You gave Elise a job!"

"Yes, and I had to jump through a lot of hoops for the manager to okay that." She narrowed her eyes. "It's literally nepotism. I can't pull it off twice. Besides, business is dreadfully slow lately. We might even have to let Elise go if things don't pick up."

"What? Does Elise know?"

"Of course she knows! Leo, give our little sister some credit! She's looking for a job too!"

Leo sighed in defeat. He marched on out of Greg's Videos, unaware of the large fox prowling in the bushes nearby.

Dusk Central State University – Gymnasium
(Fencing Classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)

The gym at DCSU was pretty nice. Two-stories, with workout equipment and an indoor track on the entrance floor, with stairs leading down to more equipment, and three basketball courts. Hinata sat on the bleachers in the gym, wiping his sweat with a towel.

"I dunno man. I've seen you fence, you're not that good."

"Ugh! Fine, if you won't let me help with your classes, then is there something in this gym I can do?"

The fencing instructor shrugged. "I dunno… I think the cafeteria could use a new cook. I've had their food, it sucks! Your cooking's pretty good, though!"

Leo nodded. "I do discriminate food based on which ones will give me the most stat gains. And the highest taste ratings… But there's no way this school could have a budget like that. And besides, I dropped out… I did drop out, right?"

"You did," Hinata shook his head. "Dude, I'm sure if you'd just apply, it could work!"

"So you want to be a cook?" asked one of the workers in the university's cafeteria.

"Yes. Uh, when would, uh, when would be a good time for an interview?"

The worker shrugged. "Whatever, man. The food sucks anyway, you can have the job. Come in for orientation at noon tomorrow, we'll get you started the day after."

Leo was about to comment on how easy this had worked out. How it was a little too easy, and that own ease should have been a red flag. But before he could say anything-

CLASS CHANGE!

Leo

Lv. 20 NEET to Lv. 1 Cook

HP +4
Str +6
Mag +2
Skill +9
Spd +0
Luck +1
Def +2
Res +5

Gained the ability to equip Cutlery

Leo shrugged. "As they say, I have to seek new challenges."

Hinata slapped him on the back. "Hey good on you, Leo! You just get a job! Let's go celebrate when I get off work, huh?"

"Yeah…"

Leo waited for Hinata's shift to finish for the day, and the two left campus together. But on their way, they passed through some tall grass and a large Kitsune popped out. "Grrr! You're in trouble, Leo!"

Leo had expected Selkie's voice, but this was a masculine Kitsune. "What do you want? Are you one of Sakura's evil ex-boyfriends?"

"That's not important right now!"

Name: Unknown
Status: Random Boss Encounter (the worst kind of random encounter)

"Uh, Leo just got a job, so can this wait?" Hinata asked.

Leo put a finger to his chin. "Then again, if I'm wounded from fighting this thing, I can probably prolong the time before I have to start coming in."

"Dude!"

"Wow you really are a jerk!" the Kitsune said.

Leo glared. "I don't have to justify myself to you! Who even are you?" Instead of answering, the fox pounced. Leo and Hinata split up and evaded the attack. When enough distance had been ensured, Leo's hands glowed. He thrust his arms and created tree branches to hold the fox in place. "Now wait there!"

"Aw man! This wasn't even a fight! You're just gonna leave me like this? You're so lazy!"

"So where'd you want to go, Hinata?"

"Pizza Fang!"

"Ugh, I don't really care for that place."

"C'mon, man!"

"All right, fine!"

Young Dwyer sat on his couch, this time not playing a video game. He watched Hinata packing up some band equipment. "Why didn't you tell me about Pizza Fang? I was in the area." Hinata only shrugged. "And how come you guys don't practice anymore?"

"We're recording, man!"

"You and one of Elise's roommates. How come Leo and Elise don't help with that?"

"They… Sometimes they do!"

"Why only sometimes?"

Hinata changed the subject. "Look, the drums are over there anyway, so there's no point going back and forth! If you wanna come over, you could just ask!"

"Muh…"

After orientation, Leo united with Niles to meet with their landlord. They made their way up to his office, a cluttered room with more than a few cat-themed decorations, a wall map of a tropical location, and a photo of a young, purple-haired girl on the desk. Their landlord was a tired man in black and red. Like Corrin, he appeared to have albino traits. He slouched in his chair. "Niles. Leo. Why are you here?"

The newly appointed cook anxiously put his fingers together. "Well, about our rent…"

"What rent?" the landlord asked. "You guys signed a one-year lease. On the 28th of July. It'll be up in a little over a month."

Niles stared, under his sunglasses. "Oh yeah… We did do that, didn't we?" Leo furrowed his brow in thought.

"Yeah." The older man shrugged. "So if you want to stay, you can move to a month-by-month plan. Or you can get lost by July 28th."

"Hm. That's not long after my sister's birthday," Leo noticed.

"I don't really care. So yeah. Now get out of my office." No longer paying attention to his tenants, the landlord opened his desk drawer and pulled out a sack lunch. He ate, heedless of Leo and Niles' presence, thus they left.

On the elevator ride down, Niles and Leo looked at each other. "So… I have some things to do."

"I, uh, yeah me too," Leo said.

They both walked out of the building and went their own ways. "Uh… seeya, guy."

"Yes…"

Leo uncomfortably walked down the sidewalk. He had no real destination, but he figured some alone time would do him good. But his aimless walking was cut short when a familiar figure dropped in front of him from a nearby rooftop. "Leo, we meet again!"

"You're real?!"

Leo was face-to-mask with the pink and white woman from his dream several weeks ago. She still wore that white coat in summer, but also pink workout clothes underneath. The enemy drew her katana. "That's right! I told you I'd come back for you! So your name's Leo, isn't it? Then it's time for me to skin this cat!"

"I bet you were up all night thinking of that one," Leo taunted.

"Sh-shut up!"

"Look, I have work tomorrow, can we do this after or something?" If Leo could see the samurai's face, she would probably be glaring at him. But she quietly put her sword away and walked off. He stood still for a few moments, processing this. "…That actually worked."

While Leo was mildly enjoying his lunch break, a certain somebody sat down across from him in the cafeteria. "Shak'ra?!"

"Hi Leo."

He swallowed. "Hi. What brings you here?"

Sakura smiled. "I thought I'd come visit you. You didn't tell me you found a job!"

"I didn't? Oh, I guess not. Wait, how'd you-"

"Niles texted me."

"Of course… Yeah, I found it. I was gonna tell the boss that this was too easy, but the level-up distracted me."

She grinned nervously. "Oh. That's for the better, then. You… kind of have a habit of not filtering yourself."

"Is that really a bad thing, though?" Leo asked. "You like my honesty."

"Well… sometimes it's good to be… diplomatic."

"Eh. I prefer when people are honest and cut the- CRAP!"

"Why are you yelling?" Sakura asked, as Leo moved under the table. She turned around and caught the mystery samurai approaching the table. "Hana?!"

The samurai lifted her mask. "Sakura."

Name: Hana
Status: Teleporting Samurai

"Tell your boyfriend to stop hiding under the table!"

"I'm on break, that doesn't mean I'm done with work!" Leo yelled from under the table.

Hana narrowed her eyes. "This is a school, why are you even working here?!"

"Summer classes do exist, you know! Wait…" Leo emerged, standing up. "The two of you know each other?"

"Of course we know each other!" Hana yelled. "Now are we going to fight or what?!"

"What for? Are you with that Fox?" Leo redirected his attention to Sakura. "That reminds me, a Fox attacked me the other day. Is he one of your Evil Ex-Boyfriends?"

"Exes. A-and no."

"Okay, why do you keep correcting me when I say that?"

Sakura furrowed her brow. "Um… I'd think… it would be obvious why…"

"Uh, yeah!" Hana added.

Leo blinked. He looked over at Hana. Then at Sakura. Then Hana. Sakura.

No Clue - Gets It
(Creeeeek)
No Clue - Gets It
(Ding!)

"You and her?!"

"I-I was just bi-curious!" Sakura explained.

Hana drew her sword. "And now I'm bi-furious! I was just a phase to you!"

Leo tugged at his collar. "Uh, I'm still technically at work!"

"It's gonna be hard to make food when I your arms off!" Hana threatened. She put the mask back down and Sakura threw her purse at Leo.

"Here, hide in that!"

"What?!"

"If you can't fight right now, hide in there!"

"Prepare yourself!" Hana cried, swinging her katana. Leo winced and stuffed his face into the bag. Suddenly, the bag swallowed him whole. Sakura grabbed it and ran out of the cafeteria. "What?! Seriously?!"

Sakura ran down the paved path before shifting her weight to her heels. Wheels emerged from her shoes, allowing her to skate along the path. Leo stuck his head out the bag. "Aaah! It's deceptively large in the- Whoa! What's going on?!"

"We're running!"

"Aah! W-well thanks for getting me out of that!" Leo said. He turned to his head to find Hana running after them. "So far, anyway!"

Sakura focused on getting off the pavement and navigating the parking lot. "Leo do you see a crystal ball in there?!"

"Uh, let me check…" Leo retreated into the bag. The interior had him floating in some type of nebula. Miscellaneous objects were scattered around, but he did ultimately find a crystal ball. "Bingo." He grabbed it and stuck his arm back into reality. "Here it is!"

"Thank you!" Sakura grabbed the crystal ball and focused.

FLASH!

Sakura and Leo found themselves in an abandoned courtyard. Grass had grown everywhere, and there were busted dragon statues. "O-okay, you can get out of the bag now…"

Sakura set the bag down and allowed Leo to get out. Afterward, he took in the scenery with a whistle. "Wow. Uh, where is this?"

"I-it's the Astral Plane. This place is a good hub for traveling quicker." She winced. "When we first met, it's because I accidentally passed through your dreamscape while going between the planes."

He smiled. "So we have this place to thank for us meeting each other."

"That's nice. Because it's the last place you'll see each other!" Hana's voice disturbed Leo and Sakura from their conversation. "Did you forget that I can travel to the Astral Plane too?!"

"So that's how you showed up in my dream!"

Sakura gasped. "She tried to attack you in your dream?!"

Leo shrugged. "I didn't think she was a real person, though. I mean, she stopped attacking me when I asked."

"Because of the League's rules," Hana explained. She lifted her mask again and pointed her katana. "The Evil Exes must all take turns. It's stupid, but then again, so's the whole league!"

"Well, at least that means I don't have to fight, like, two of you at a time," Leo said. Hana chuckled. "What?! I could if I had to, I just don't want to! Listen, I need to get back to work! Can we put this off?!"

Hana glared. "You can't avoid this forever! You already beat the last three exes, you knew what you were getting into!"

"I'll fight you another time! But-"

"Do you know how hard it was to make it to Windmire?! Why do you think it took this long for me to show up after you beat Subaki?!" Hearing that, Leo paused.

"Hm. It was longer than usual, now that I think about it."

"Yeah, cheap ol' Tochika wouldn't lift a finger for my travel costs!" Hana spat.

That name rang a bell to Leo, but he was not sure why. "Who's that?"

Hana rolled her eyes. "Izana Tochika? Owner of Duke's Palace? Hello!"

"H-he… he was my last boyfriend…" Sakura told Leo.

"Oh. The seventh. But wait, what about that Fox? Is he your henchman?"

"A Kitsune? I don't even know any! Ah, whatever. I'm not in the mood anymore." Hana put her mask back on and sheathed her sword. She fished a crystal ball out of her white coat's pocket and pointed with her free hand. "But next time we meet, we will fight!"

FLASH!

She was gone. Leo sat crisscross on the grass. He rested his head in his hands. "Ugh, this is giving me a headache…"

Sakura sat down beside Leo and put a hand on his shoulder. "Well… It'll get better. It… it has to. Once you beat her, you'll have beaten most of them!"

"It's not just that," Leo said. "My lease is up soon, and this job and Niles' aren't going to be enough to pay rent." He winced. "Uh, I wasn't supposed to say that out loud."

"Oh my!" Sakura looked Leo in the eyes. "Um… I-I don't mean to sound forward… and, uh, it's okay if you say no! But, uh…" Leo raised his eyebrow. "I-if you can't find a place… I… c-could let you stay… on my couch. Or something!"

"O-oh. Sakura, you really don't ha-"

"Leo, you're putting yourself in constant danger b-because of my exes! At least let me help you in… in some way!" Sakura pleaded. Leo let out a sigh.

"Sakura, that doesn't matter to me though. Because… well…" She raised her eyebrow. "I'm… I'm in lesbians with you, Sakura."

"…What?"

Leo blinked. "Uh, never mind, my tongue slipped." He stood up. "I need to get back to work. Uh, how do we leave?"

Sakura stood up with him and held his hand. She still held her crystal ball and focused its energy.

FLASH!

That afternoon, Leo was able to clock out. When he did, he noticed Sakura again sitting at one of the tables, writing in a notebook. "Sakura? You're still here?"

"Mhmm. I had today off anyway. That's why I was able to come in the first place. Leo, I've been meaning to ask… How do you know Scarlet?"

"Huh? Where's this coming from?"

"When you stormed off from Black Bottom, y-your sisters and Oboro and I, we all talked with Scarlet. Sh-she was talking about how you're suddenly nice to her." As Sakura spoke, there was a bit of purple haze around her head, but Leo was more confused over her words than anything else.

"What? We were just friends in high school."

"You hated each other, though."

"No we didn't! We started a band together! I told you that part!" Leo raised his eyebrow. "Seriously, why are you asking?"

Sakura shook her head. "I just feel like there's something you're not telling me. Maybe it has to do with… with your blank memories, but I don't see how that'd work. Because there's something else that was… off."

"And what was that?"

"You told me how you saved Elise, you saved her from a bully. But… Elise and Camilla had no idea."

"Well I don't know what to tell you, Sakura. I remember some things, other things I don't." Then the purple haze formed into a small flame over Sakura's head.

"Why won't you take me seriously?!"

"Huh?!"

"Y-you won't let me help you, with your home or… or tell me why you're lying about your past! A-and you made fun of me and Hana, and-"

"In my defense, that last one was because I was trying to say something else."

Sakura clenched her fists. "Mmmm! I'm going home!"

As Sakura stormed off, Leo wondered if he should mention the little flame over her head, but decided against it. "What is… she so upset about all of a sudden?"

That night, Leo walked home- "TURN OFF THE LIGHT!"

"AAAH!"

…

Leo shivered, holding himself as he sat in the armchair. Niles sat up on the mattress, noticeably not wearing a shirt. He winced with his good eye. "So… As you can see, I'm going to need the mattress tonight. And I still haven't found the earplugs."

"Ugh…"

Niles shrugged. "Hey, you can crash on Sakura's couch or something, can't ya?"

"We… I think I messed up. I'm not really sure. She was upset. And I used the wrong L-Word."

"Wow." He clicked his tongue. "Well you can't stay here. Other Leo is not going to want to stay in the bathroom forever."

"I know…" Leo stood up and trudged over to the door. Niles raised his eyebrow.

"Leo? Did… you remember someone you could stay with?"

"No." He opened the door.

"Then where are you going?"

"Anywhere."

At Black Bottom, Leo sat by himself at one of the tables. It was nearly closing time, when a certain freckled woman joined him. "Well if it isn't Leo!" Scarlet grinned. "What's up?"

Leo blinked. "Did we… Were we ever friends?"

"No, not really."

"I… I remember that we used to be friends. Sometime after I saved Elise from a bully, you and her both wanted me to join your band," Leo said. "That's what led to me and Elise being in the Rockin' Troopas right now."

"Huh. So that's how you remember it?"

"What? How do you remember it, then?"

Scarlet tapped her fingers on the table. "Well… I might've provoked you, but we got into a fight after. And the principal thought he could have us get over our differences if we were forced to spend time together."

Leo shrugged. "Well, we're friends now, so-"

"It didn't work. It turned out I already knew your sister, Elise. She and I started hanging out more, she saw my dad's drums and got more interested in them, one thing led to another and we had a band." She scratched the back of her neck. "I don't really remember how you came into the picture, but I moved after a while. Honestly, I was surprised that you were so… civil, back in the mall."

"Huh… That seems…" He put a hand to his head, wincing. "I have a headache now. But wait, why did you make fun of me? Or how? Or… any detail."

"Honestly, I don't remember. Something stupid, probably. I was a hothead then. Still am, to a degree. You were too."

"Hmm… So, I don't remember any of what you said. But I believe you. Is that strange?"

"I dunno, man. So why're you here? I'm meeting someone once they get off work."

Leo rested his elbows on the table to massage his temples. "I don't know. Sakura and I had a… I don't know what happened, but she was mad at me. In fact… it was about you. She thinks I'm keeping a secret about us. But I just have a weird memory, that's all!"

Scarlet quirked her eyebrow. "You? And me? Pffffft! Hahaha! As if!" She reached across the table and ruffled Leo's hair. "You're actually not so bad, Leo. But I'm not interested."

"H-hey, neither am I!" He blushed. "I was going to use the… the 'L-Word' earlier, but I messed up."

She winced. "Ooh. Not the kinda thing that can be messed up lightly."

"I know. In fact, that made it a little worse." He sighed, smiling. "Sakura… She just… I don't know, she just motivates me with her presence. She's friendly, she tries to see the best in things… She's shy, but isn't a pushover either." Then Leo's smile faded into frown. "But there's also those Evil… Exes. And most times, it was Sakura who dumped them, not the other way around. And not always in the nicest way. She's more complicated than she looks."

"Wow. I don't really know what to say, man." Scarlet racked her brain in search of wisdom. "Everyone… everyone has baggage, Leo. But, uh… if you really care about each other… you'll… stick to it? Uh, not the baggage, the, uh, relationship. Ugh, I'm glad I'm not a public speaker."

Leo stared at Scarlet for a moment. "…You know what, you're right."

"I am?"

"This time I'm going to do it right!" Leo stood up. "And… thanks for helping me out. I'm sorry we apparently didn't get along that well."

"Eh. Better late than never."

With a nod, Leo left. He passed someone on the way out. "Hi Young Dwyer. Bye Young Dwyer."

Left in the doorway, Young Dwyer sighed. "Great… Now who am I going to eat here with?" Suddenly, his eyes met Scarlet's. "Hey. Wanna split something?"

"I'm meeting someone soon."

"For crying out loud…" Young Dwyer walked right back out.

Leo barged into Stahlbucks. "Corrin, I'm in a hurry but I'm also really thirsty, can I order a-"

"Leo?!" Selkie stood behind the counter.

"Huh? Selkie, what are you doing here?"

She brought attention to her apron and nametag. "I work here now! It's a summer job!"

"Oh…" He awkwardly walked over to the counter. "Uh, can I get… whatever, as long as it's bitter. Uh. You can add sugar if you… really wanted to, though."

"Okay!" She went right to work. "So what's going on, Leo? Things have been… Actually, things suck! River City Ransom broke up last month, and their drummer punched me! Then I heard their guitarist exploded into coins!"

Leo nodded. "Yeah, I did that to him. He was a tool, Selkie."

"Huh…" She turned around. "I sense another Kitsune…"

"Where?!" Leo got defensive, but Selkie smiled.

"Oh, outside. But it's just my dad, I think. He's been looking for some guy."

"Like me?! He's been looking for me, Selkie!"

Selkie gasped. "Oh! Oh nooo… I know what it is, too! Last week, he found out about you dumping me! I guess he's just in Parent Mode or something. You know how crazy parents are!"

He gulped. "Yeah, everyone's gone crazy lately, it seems. I need some kind of disguise…"

The Kitsune barged into the store. "There you are!"

Name: Kaden
Status: Frenzied Fox Father

"Gah!" Leo evaded the fox's pounce and ran out the front door, but Kaden would not give up so easily. "Crap, crap, crap, crap!"

"I'm gonna get ya!"

"Uh, Leo! What about your coffee?" Selkie called.

Outside, Leo gritted his teeth and tried to run faster. "Uhhhh…"

"I know what you did to Selkie, Leo! How could you?!"

"Stop chasing me!" Leo ran across the street, nearly getting hit by a truck. Kaden hopped onto the hood and leapt off to give chase.

"Are you just gonna run away from all your problems?"

"Mmmmm!" Leo felt his head getting hotter. Kaden observed purple lights glowing around Leo's head. "You're giving me a headache!" Leo ran down the sidewalk and went into the park. "Maybe I can lose him in he- Aaah!"

An alternate Leo stood before our own. He was wreathed in several purple flames, and had striking ruby eyes. Leo glared at him. "Not today!"

He punched his doppelganger, making it dissipate, and continued his evasion.

Leo finally seemed to lose Kaden, and already repressed his memories of seeing that alternate version of himself. He made it to Sakura's house and hurried up the stoop. Out of energy, he opted to ring the doorbell instead of knock.

"I'll be right there!" Sakura's voice was audible. Within twenty seconds, she answered the door. "O-oh. H-hi Leo… Why are you out of breath?"

"It's… a long story… Sakura, I had a talk… with Scarlet, but-" Sakura glumly averted her eyes. "Sakura, please! I didn't… mean… to lie! Apparently I just…" he was beginning to catch his breath, so he stood upright, "I just misremembered those times."

Sakura nodded. "I… I figured it might've just been your memory. I'm s-sorry I snapped like that. I usually don't do that, but… I don't know. My head was hurting..."

"Sakura, is that guy here?!" Hana's voice called from inside. Leo winced.

"Uhhhh?!"

"Leo, it's not like that! She just… appeared on my back porch earlier, a-and-"

"Fooooound you!" Kaden taunted. Leo gulped, as Sakura got a look at the Kitsune.

"Who is that?"

"Selkie's dad going on a rampage! Inside!" Leo shoved Sakura into the house and followed after. He closed the door and locked it, then the two backed away from the door. "Phew…" He cleared his throat. "So, anyway-"

Kaden broke through the door, making Sakura and Leo both scream. However, Leo smacked himself in the face to regain his composure. "Got ya now, Leo!"

Leo whispered to Sakura. "Hey. So that samurai's upstairs?"

"Uhh, why?"

"I had an idea."

Kaden crouched down.

"Yes!"

"Good. Ahem… Come and get me, Fox!" Leo aimed for the stairs and began to ascend, as the frenzied Kaden gave chase. Leo hurried and found an unmasked Hana on the back porch, sitting at the table, directly across from the doorway. "You…"

"You."

"And me!" Kaden tried to pounce Leo from behind. But the boy smirked and dropped to the porch planks. This made Kaden about to pounce on Hana instead of Leo. The samurai glared and held out her sword's sheath to try and block Kaden's front paws. "Whoopsy!"

Kaden's weight proved too much, and he shoved himself and Hana through the railing and into the yard below. "Gaaah! Lousy Leo! Just fight me already, coward!"

Up on the balcony, Leo and Sakura watched the two others. Leo sighed. "Yeah, I've been kind of a coward lately, huh? Or maybe a lot longer. I don't know."

"Leo?"

He looked over to her. "Sakura, I know that you have a lot of baggage. But I care about you too much! Just like you care about me!" Finally, he put his hands on her shoulders. "You know what I like about you? It's not just that you're nice, but you also see the bright side of everything! You're firm in your beliefs! You make me feel like I'm not just a bitter old soul!"

"I-I do?!"

The man let go of her. "I want this to work because… I'm in love with you."

Suddenly, a fiery sword emerged from Leo's chest and into his hand.

LEO EARNED THE POWER OF LOVE!
Guts +8
Heart +10
Smarts +3
Will +12

"Aha!" Leo dropped down into the yard, where Kaden and Hana waited. "All right. Who's first?"

Kaden scrambled over to the fence, leaving Hana alone with Leo. The samurai shrugged. "Tch. No problem! I've been waiting for this!" She drew her sword and threw the sheath aside.

BOSS: HANA

"I'm ready when you are," Leo said.

"About time!" Hana ran at him with her sword. Leo smirked and did the same.

The fighters both leapt into the air, swords raised. Leo swung first, wounding Hana before they both hit the ground again. Hana landed on her knee, and collapsed onto her abdomen, while Leo landed on his feet. He turned his head back. "Having fun back there?"

"Aaah… You're not a coward and a jerk anymore… Now you're just a jerk. But you'll never... beat the twins!"

"Twins?"

Hana exploded into a spray of coins, forcing Leo to shield his face from the makeshift shrapnel.

KO!

+4000 pts!

Sakura exited her back door and went to stand by Leo. "I-I missed it…"

"Yeah, and it was awesome!" Kaden unexpectedly said. Leo and Sakura both turned to find Kaden in his human form, clad in a blue trench coat and matching pants, crouched on Sakura's fence. "I knew you had it in you, Leo! You just needed a little push!"

"What?" Leo shook his head. "You…were trying to help me?"

"Yeah! I mean, it didn't go exactly as I wanted, but hey! And now you have one less of Sakura's exes to worry about! Welp, time to go!" Kaden hopped down, sprinted across the yard, then hopped the opposite fence.

"…That was… strange," Sakura said. Leo walked over to Hana's discarded sheath and placed the Power of Love inside. "Oh, and she left you a case for your weapon!"

"Yeah." He turned around. "So… twins…"

Sakura blushed. "Y-yeah… You're probably going to have to fight them together."

"Of course…"

"Oh, and… something else."

"Hm?"

Sakura nervously brushed some hair behind her ear before quickly kissing Leo.

"I… I love you too."

Achievement Unlocked: Huey Lewis Approved

Leo and Sakura held hands as they supervised Hinata and Elise carrying Leo's boxes across Sakura's front yard.

"You don't really have a lot of stuff, Leo," Elise told him.

"So why are you complaining?"

"Leo, be nice…"

Leo smirked. "Yes dear."

Hinata and Elise rolled their eyes at the pet name, while Leo and Sakura laughed.

Niles stood proudly in the center of the old apartment. "You know, it looks a lot different now. …No, wait, no it doesn't. Still, I'm glad things are working out for you and Sakura," Niles said into his phone.

"Yeah, me too. I really think this might be the start of something… something special."

Niles shrugged. "I meant more because Other Leo and I signed up for a new lease and you'd be kinda SOL if you didn't have any other places to go. But hey, whatever works for you." He flashed a dirty grin.

"…I hate you, Niles."

"Call me some time, we can do lunch."

Leo sighed. "Yeah, sure…"

Black Bottom – Scarlet's Farewell Party

Scarlet, Leo, Sakura, Elise, Camilla, Shura, Hinata, Oboro, Young Dwyer, Selkie, Niles and Corrin all sat together at a large table. Elise held up a glass. "To Scarlet! Good luck with your new family business!"

"To Scarlet," everyone else said, with varying levels of enthusiasm.

"I don't even know this person," Shura said under his breath. Hinata put a hand on his shoulder.

"So? Free food!"

Niles looked at Corrin sitting right next to him. "Corrin, you've kept to yourself the last few weeks. What's up?"

Corrin shrugged. "Eh. Nothing really happened, I've just been busier lately. Selkie works at my place now, did you know?"

"Hi Niles!"

"Where's Other Leo?" Corrin asked Leo's former roommate.

"Eh, he has work."

Young Dwyer gave a small smile and spoke to no one in particular. "I'm just glad I was included for once."

"So Scarlet, what does your family do?" Sakura asked.

She shrugged. "Ah. It's just a lot of business stuff. I wouldn't want to bore ya."

"You know, I'm glad we were able to bury the hatchet," Leo told her. "Let us know if you come back."

"Will do!"

Later on, Leo and Sakura walked down the sidewalk, hand in hand. Leo smiled. "You know, I think you're rubbing off on me. Because I feel optimistic for once."

"Does it hurt?"

Leo looked over at Sakura, and she broke into giggles. "Wow. A joke from you. That's a new one."

"I guess you're rubbing off on me too!"

He smiled. "I guess that makes us official."

"Hmhm! I suppose it does."

[CHAPTER 4 CLEAR! WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE?]

Post-Script A/N:

So starting with this chapter, and for the rest of the story, we follow more in the comic's direction than the movie's. But that's not to say there aren't still nods or elements to the movie version.

In this chapter, we take another look at Leo's faulty memories. It was shown last time that Elise and Camilla remember things differently. Apparently so does Scarlet. Just what happened to Leo's memories? This goes into changing the Scott-Kim-Lisa dynamic with Leo, Elise and Scarlet.

Today's characters are Hana and Kaden. Hana's very protective of Sakura, so she seemed like a fitting replacement for Roxy in this adaptation. And since Mr. Chau is Knives' father, of course Kaden would play the role of Selkie's father. Who else could? The landlord is a non-Fire Emblem character, a cameo from Pokemon Sun & Moon. If you've played enough of the game, you'll recognize him. Also, that's right- Izana is Gideon. Izana will be our final boss in a few chapters. Movie!Gideon just had such a fun personality that Izana seemed to work for this. There are also reasons later on. And Nega Leo. He's based more on the comic iteration of Nega Scott, so unfortunately, I couldn't fit in the joke from the movie about Nega Scott.

Throughout Volume 4, Scott and the gang frequent a restaurant called Sneaky Dee's. I needed to think of a restaurant, and one of my friends talked about a new restaurant called Black Bottom, so I just used that. I know nothing about that place. Watch it end up being a strip-bar or something and then this chapter becomes awkward. Speaking of awkward, Niles' anecdote by the water cooler is actually based off a thing me and one of my friends did once. I was the Leo in that situation, just sitting awkwardly the whole time. Though my friend wasn't actually any more into it than I was. The university layout is more or less me describing the university I attended.

I think this might actually be my favorite chapter so far.