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After announcing herself as Kenneth’s friend Latte needed to find something to do with him. While he was more comfortable talking to her about stuff, he still wasn’t a very talkative person. And while she was perfectly capable of talking enough for both of them, she didn’t always want to do that. So she had to find something that they could do together. That was not an easy task. They were pretty different people, and she had to find something that didn’t involve any contact. So she decided that it would be best to make a list.
1. Writing
As a Duke Kenneth had a lot of work to do, and Latte had a very active fanbase that wanted new books to read. So Latte decided to try and combine those two. So one day she had Bishot teleport her to the Duke’s home. The butler opened the door, and she informed him that she was there to spend time with her friend. The butler was shocked that this person was the Duke’s friend, but let her through nonetheless.
To say that Kenneth was shocked when Latte bust her way into his study was an understatement. Without a word she pulled up a chair on the opposite side of his desk, and set down her writing materials.
“Latte?” Kenneth asked, very confused. “What are you doing here.”
Latte huffed. “We are friends now right?”
“Correct…” Kenneth said hesitantly.
“Well as friends we need something to do together. So I figured that we could work together.”
“..ok.” Kenneth decided that Latte was a very strange person that he would never fully understand, and went back to his work. He was rather curious as to what she could be working on. She didn’t have a job that he knew of, and he knew that she didn’t handle her family's finances or anything. So he decided to ask. “Latte?”
She hummed in response.
“What are you writing?”
Latte’s head shot up in shock. She probably should have realized that he would ask that. But alas, now she found herself in a predicament. Kenneth was her friend, but there was no way she would ever tell him about her books. There was a reason that she used an anonymous name. She quickly started packing up her stuff and headed for the door. “Ah, I’m sorry. I just remembered that I have something to do. Ummm, I have to meet up with Arwin. Yeah! That’s it! I have to go see Arwin. Can’t keep the Master of the Magic Tower waiting you know.”
She quickly ran out of the room, and headed home. She had to think of something else.
2. Shopping
When she got home Latte tried to think of more options. But she found something wrong with each option she thought of.
Shopping wouldn’t work. Sure she could probably get him to go once. She could make him hold her shopping bags. But it wouldn’t work as a continuous activity.
3. Dancing
That one was crossed out as soon as she wrote it. Latte didn’t even know why she had wrote it down in the first place.
4. Going for a walk in the park
That one had potential, but it had the same problem she was originally having. She would have to do a majority of the talking. She would probably have to do even more so. Latte doubted that Kenneth would be willing to talk about anything personal in a public place.
5. Chess
Now this one had potential. It was an activity that they would both be able to participate in. They would be able to talk during it, and it could be conducted in a private area so that he would be comfortable being able to talk. It would be perfect.
Turns out that it was not.
It did work, just not like Latte thought it would. Latte had only played chess a few times before, and it turned out that she was not very good. They played a few games before Latte got upset and had to go for a walk to cool off. He had beat her in 5 moves. She wasn’t just losing, she was being destroyed.
Latte determined that while chess is an activity that they can do, just like monopoly in her past life, it can only be handled for so long.
So it was back to the drawing board.
6. Sword-fighting
It turns out that sixth time's the charm. After the whole chess debacle, Latte had her doubts about this one. And so had Kenneth.
“Latte if you get so upset about chess, I doubt you are going to be much better with sword fighting. I’ve been training with the sword almost since I began walking, you will not be able to win.”
“No, no Kenneth, you don’t get it. You see the difference is that this one is active. When I get frustrated I need to exert energy. So while I get frustrated from losing, I’ll be able to work that frustration off. Plus this will help be able to keep me in shape.” At least that’s what Latte kept telling herself. She was kind of nervous about this one, but it was the best thing that she could think of. There were way more pros than cons with it.
Pros:
- It was an activity that they could do together
- They wouldn’t necessarily be touching, since they would have swords between them
- Kenneth was most comfortable with a sword, so even if they did touch it might not be as bad of a reaction
- It would be a way that Latte would be able to stay in shape
- Kenneth is probably the best teacher she could ask for
- Latte would be able to learn how to protect herself
Cons:
- There is no way that she would ever be able to win
- She’s pretty clumsy, so there is a chance that she could get hurt
“Fine, but if you get hurt you have to keep Arwin from hurting me.” Kenneth said with a resigned sigh.
Latte gave him a strained smile, “I’ll do my best. He can get pretty overprotective.”
Latte was right, Kenneth is a very good teacher. He insisted that it would be a bit before she was ready to actually fight him. So instead he instructed her on the basics like how to hold the sword and some basic forms. Even though they hadn’t actually fought, Latte found herself rather sweaty and tired by the end of the lesson. Before she left, she insisted on staying and cooling down. So the butler went and got them some iced tea and cookies while they sat under the covered porch. Latte talked his ear off, and Kenneth occasionally threw in some comments of his own. As she headed to her carriage Latte called out that she would come over at the same time next week. Kenneth nodded with a small smile as he saw her off.
When Latte got home she took a shower and collapsed on her bed. With a big smile she grabbed her notebook off her nightstand. She circled number 6 and starred it. Sword-fighting it is.
Every week the two meet up at Kenneth’s for the lessons. Latte slowly starts to improve. She’s a far way away from even having a chance against Kenneth, but now she is able to at least somewhat protect herself. After the lesson ends, the two always relax under the porch with tea and cookies. Sometimes they even play a match of chess if Latte is feeling up to it.
Arwin learns about the lessons after their first time actually facing off against each other. Latte had had plans to go to the Magic Tower after, and Arwin was not happy when she showed up with bruises and a scratch on her cheek. She had to quickly pull him into a kiss to calm him down. He still didn’t like the idea of his love getting hurt, but Arwin did, somewhat reluctantly, agree that Latte needed to know how to protect herself.
For her birthday Kenneth gives Latte a sword that he had commissioned for her. Latte was incredibly touched, and promised that she would treasure the sword for the rest of her life.
A few years later while going through her old stuff, Latte finds the notebook. While flipping through it, she finds the list. She rips the page out of the notebook and puts it in her box of momentos. That page is what helped make Kenneth her best friend. It helped her find her love of sword-fighting. If she hadn’t been training with the sword, she wouldn’t have been able to push Kenneth towards Felix. She had many things to thank this page for. It deserved to be kept as a memento of the best friendship she has ever experienced.