Two years ago, Naoko was sitting in front of Alexander and Mei at the bar.
The wooden table between them was marked by old dents and impossible-to-remove stains. Alexander held some papers in his hand, reviewing them with a furrowed brow, while Mei watched in silence. Naoko, on the other hand, kept her back rigid and her hands clenched over her lap, avoiding raising her gaze.
Suddenly, Alexander dropped the papers onto the table with a sharp thud.
—I can't let you fight here —he said, seriously.
Naoko gave a small start.
—W-why…? —she asked in a low voice, staring at a random spot on the floor.
—It doesn't matter that we are a tavern —Alexander continued—. Even so, we have values.
Naoko raised her head a little, just enough for the trembling in her chin to be visible.
—I… I know how to fight well —she murmured—. Please, reconsider…
Alexander shook his head while getting up from his chair.
—Even if you are better than other children your age, this is another league. This is no place for a girl.
Naoko clenched her fists against her legs.
—Wait! —she shouted, surprising even Mei.
Alexander stopped in his tracks.
Naoko lowered her gaze again. Her shoulders began to hunch, and small droplets fell onto the fabric of her clothes. She made no noise at first, but her hitched breathing said it all.
—P-please… —she sobbed—. Please…
Alexander sat back down, this time without haste, resting his arms on the table.
—I'm listening —he said.
Naoko took a deep breath, though her voice was still trembling.
—Let me do it —she whispered—. I want to help the old man… He does so much for me. He gave me a place, he looked after me when I had nothing… and I…
Her words broke for an instant.
—I want to give something back to him —she finished.
Alexander looked at her in silence.
—Even if it means getting hurt? —he asked.
Naoko wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and nodded without hesitation.
—Yes.
Alexander stood up again.
—Then let's do something —he said.
Naoko blinked, confused.
—P-pardon…?
Alexander stood in front of her and pointed to his own stomach.
—Hit me. As hard as you can.
Naoko's eyes widened.
—W-won't there be a problem…? —she asked, almost in a whisper.
Alexander smiled, confident.
—Of course not. I can take quite a few hits.
Naoko's face lit up for an instant. Her eyes sparkled with a contained hope, as if someone had just opened a door she had been watching from afar for a long time. She stood up immediately and adopted a boxing stance—firm, even if it was just to throw a single punch.
Alexander frowned slightly.
There was something about that position. It wasn't clumsy or improvised; the weight well-distributed, the shoulders relaxed, the feet ready to drive forward. It was not the stance of someone without talent… or without training.
—Whenever you're ready —he said.
Naoko's expression changed instantly. Timidity vanished, replaced by silent concentration. Without warning, she threw the punch.
Alexander managed to read the movement, but it still seemed too fast for someone her age.
The impact came.
A dry, deep thud.
Alexander took several steps backward, bringing his hand to his stomach as he sharply exhaled. The pain was real. It wasn't a random hit; it was the hit of someone who knew exactly where to strike.
Mei's eyes widened in surprise.
Naoko took barely a second to react. She dropped her head abruptly and began to apologize over and over, bowing nervously.
—I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…
Alexander took a deep breath and then placed his hand on Naoko's head, gently ruffling her hair.
—I think we can make an exception —he said with a smile.
…
—Hey, Alexander… is it really a good idea for Naoko to fight that guy? —Zein asked, tense—. He's about twice her size.
—Don't worry —Alexander responded with a proud smile—. She's quite strong.
Kiomi looked away, clearly uncomfortable. Lyra covered part of her face with her hands, leaving just one eye exposed. Zein kept trying to say something, but no one was paying attention to him anymore.
The referee raised his voice and started the match.
«I don't want to embarrass Alexander in front of them… and I don't want to look bad either, » Naoko thought, clenching her fists.
Both combatants advanced and touched knuckles in a sign of respect.
The fight had just begun.
From the start of the fight, the blonde took the initiative. He advanced relentlessly, throwing wide punches into the air, trying to corner Naoko and force her to respond. His fists cut through the space with force, but none found their target. Naoko only retreated, slipping out of reach, turning her body just enough for each blow to graze by.
Shouts soon filled the place. Some demanded that the blonde connect a hit already; others yelled at Naoko to defend herself, to attack. Even so, the exchange remained empty. No punches landed. The blonde's breathing began to grow heavy, his brow furrowed more and more, and his frustration was evident in his tense shoulders and erratic way of attacking.
«I should end this soon, » Naoko thought.
In a blink, she stopped retreating. She advanced.
Her body moved with clean, precise speed. A short jab with her left arm opened the blonde's guard, deflecting his defense just enough. Before he could react, Naoko rotated her hip and threw a hook directly to his chin. The impact resonated dryly.
The blonde fell on his back as if his strings had been cut.
The silence lasted only a second before the crowd erupted in mixed cheers and boos.
—Get up, bastard! I bet on you! —some shouted from the back.
The referee approached the fallen man and began the count. One… two… up to ten. The blonde did not move. Then the referee turned to Naoko, took her arm, and raised it, declaring her the winner.
Zein and the others watched without being able to say a single word. Alexander, on the other hand, looked at them with a calm, almost amused expression, as if saying "I told you so."
—I thought she would put on more of a show, to be honest —Mei commented, resting her cheek on her hand.
«Did I overdo it? » Naoko thought as she looked at her unconscious opponent on the ground.
Then she looked up at the audience, searching for Zein. When she found him, his expression of astonishment disconcerted her. Their gazes crossed for just an instant. Naoko didn't know how to react, so she climbed out of the ring almost immediately.
A short while later, the bar was almost empty. Many had left to make it to their work shifts or to return home to rest. The atmosphere had returned to a strange calm, heavy with recent echoes.
Naoko was standing in front of her opponent, bowing over and over while she apologized. The blonde man, with a carefree smile and a piece of ice pressed against his chin, gestured to her that there was no problem at all.
The rest of the group was sitting at a nearby table, each lost in their own thoughts.
It was then that Kiomi remembered what Alexander had said about money.
—Hey, Mr. Alexander —Kiomi spoke up, breaking the silence.
—Just calling me Alexander is enough —he responded with a relaxed smile.
—I want to work here —she said, without wavering.
—What? —Alexander raised an eyebrow, surprised.
—Yes, I want to work. I don't want to feel like a burden. I want to at least do something and not let you support me the whole time —she added, clenching her hands on the table with restrained strength.
—I would also like to work here —Zein intervened, slightly raising his hand.
—I don't know… —Alexander murmured, bringing a hand to his chin, clearly hesitant.
Then Mei approached from behind, rested a hand on his shoulder, and leaned in toward him.
—I don't see why not. We are short-staffed —she said with a quiet but firm smile.
—I would also like to work! —Lyra exclaimed, suddenly standing up.
—Not you —Mei responded instantly, pointing at her without the slightest hesitation.
—Eh? Why? —Lyra asked, slightly puffing out her cheeks.
—You are too young to work in a bar like this —Mei answered, not backing down one bit.
—It's not fair… —Lyra murmured, making an exaggerated pout.
—I know someone who could give you a job in a nearby bakery —Alexander said, leaning toward her with a knowing smile.
Lyra's eyes lit up instantly, as if a spark had been ignited inside her.
—And you, Kio? Don't you want to work too? —Mei asked, turning toward her.
—I don't want to… —Kio responded, sagging onto the table as if all the energy had escaped her body.
From a distance, Naoko watched them. They talked without a care, sharing those kinds of simple moments that seemed to fill the space with a strange warmth. For a moment, she wished she had caught Zein's attention, if only a little.
After hesitating for just a few seconds, she decided to leave. Without saying goodbye. Without a single word.
But before she could fully walk away, something happened.
Lyra suddenly began to cough, first lightly, then increasingly out of control, until she ended up leaning forward and vomiting. Kiomi and Zein did the same shortly after.
Alexander and Mei moved at the same time, quickly surrounding them, followed by Kio, who no longer seemed so tired.
—Kio, did you not take the necessary measures to prevent this? —Alexander asked as he knelt beside Zein.
Upon checking his body, he frowned. Reddish, irregular spots were beginning to appear on the skin, and in some areas, the skin looked raised and sensitive to the touch. The heat radiating from him was abnormal. Kiomi and Lyra soon showed similar symptoms; Kiomi barely managed to lean on the table before vomiting, followed by Zein, who had to turn his face away to avoid dirtying the floor. The air felt heavy, almost harsh in the throat.
—I can heal them with magic —Kio said, her voice tense, taking a step forward.
—No —Alexander stopped her immediately—. The type of healing magic you use will only worsen the symptoms. This is not a normal wound. We need a specialist.
—The trouble is that the only doctors who know how to treat this are on break for the holiday —Mei added, looking at the three of them with evident concern—. I don't think there are any open right now.
At that moment, Naoko approached with hesitant steps, pressing her fingers against the edge of her clothes.
—U-um… I know someone —she said, raising her voice slightly—. I'm almost sure he's open.
—Who!? —they asked almost at the same time.
—Ah… well… do you remember Chuy? —Naoko asked, glancing at Alexander.
Alexander's eyes widened a bit.
—That's true, Chuy can help us —he said, though he immediately frowned—. Are you sure he's open right now?
—Yes… right before coming here I stopped by for him to check me —Naoko responded, looking down—. I wanted to know if I was ready to fight again after what happened in my last match…
—Take us to him, please! —Kio said, approaching suddenly, far too fast.
Naoko gave a small start, feeling her so close.
—S-sure —she responded, nodding nervously—. Let's go.