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Whenever Lemon Zest would train, he always goes by himself. Just far away from everyone, away from curious eyes. But sometimes, there may be someone who would want to watch him shoot arrows bullseye on the targets he set up. The blond wouldn't mind to show off his skills to an audience. Though he prefers training by himself, just in case an arrow would accidentally hit someone that he might mistaken as an enemy.
And so he went off again on his own, setting up the targets on the tree trunks in the small open area in the forest. The blond never puts the same targets on the same location every time. One lying above, another below, a couple were around his height, just small round wooden targets that were a bit worn down by multiple usage.
Despite preferring to wander around or gazing up to the sky, Lemon Zest wouldn't mind to train every once in a while. He could imagine his brother immediately scolding him if he dares to not train for a long time. With a sigh, he picks up his bow and starts shooting at the targets.
Just like when he was young. It felt easier to feel that tingle up on his arms when he pulls for another shot. Does his thing in a quick manner, direct shot to the center of the targets. No mistakes made.
But then he hears something approaching him.
"OH HEY LE-"
The blond shoots an arrow towards the direction of the voice impulsively. And it took a split second to realize that it wasn't an intruder but rather someone who called him name in a friendly manner.
The arrow flew to the newcomer, went past him with just a few centimeters off from the face, and hits the bullseye of the target.
"Ah!" The blond gasped. "Are you alright?" He still asked despite his eyes can clearly observe the other is seemingly unharmed.
Crushed Pepper wasn't expecting an arrow zooming towards his direction to be a greeting. He just went by holding a large dimsum basket when he saw the blond doing training and he decided to stop by.
Then the arrow sped past him, just close to his face. Ruby eyes widened at that unexpected moment. And when the arrow hit the target, he turned around and stared at it as if he had moved a bit, he would be lying down to the ground.
"Uhh hello?" Lemon Zest asked, now approaching the redhead cautiously. "I'm sorry for suddenly attacking you like that. It's just a minor-"
"WOAH HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!" Crushed Pepper exclaimed too loud that the blond was stunned in surprise.
"Ah, I was aiming at the target."
"THAT WAS SO AMAZING! AND YOU ALSO HIT THE TARGETS PERFECTLY AT THE MIDDLE TOO?! NO WONDER YOU'RE AN ELITE KNIGHT!" The compliments didn't stop coming. "MAYBE YOU CAN ENTER IN ARCHERY COMPETITIONS TOO. YOU CAN EASILY WIN THOSE GAMES."
"Ahahaha..." Lemon Zest laughed at the last comment, knowing how many times he wound up entering those competitions and win immediately. "You never run out of things to say, huh? Thanks but seriously are you alright?"
"Hm? Oh yeah! I'm fine!" The redhead nodded, voice lowered down to his normal volume.
"Really? I really almost about to hit your head with an arrow."
"I mean yeah it did surprised me. I wasn't expecting an arrow to greet me hahaha!" He the looked behind again, to the arrow that was on the target. "But I know you wouldn't intend to kill me after all. Plus I saw your face while shooting, your eyes were focused just away from me. So I know you weren't really aiming at me."
"Oh uh..."
"I should be the one apologizing for disturbing your training. I should have asked-"
"It's alright. I should apologize too because I could almost kill you with my mistake."
"Mistake? You hit the target, shouldn't that be counted?"
"I could've hurt you. If it were someone else, they would scream and tremble in fear."
"At least it's only me then!" The redhead laughed.
"Yeah... Yeah... Well why are you here by the way? I haven't properly asked you." The blond paused.
"Oh uh... OH RIGHT." The redhead remembered the dimsum basket he's been carrying. "I was just stopping by. Maybe offer you something to eat because you have been out for a while. Maybe you're hungry." He sat down, opening the basket and reveals a bunch of large meat buns still steaming.
"I..."
"I thought about just finding a place to eat when I saw you so I stopped by. So please, have one!"
"I'm... Not really..."
"Here." The redhead placed one bun on the blond's hands. "You should take a break from your training. It's better to eat while it's still warm."
Lemon Zest looked down at the bun that was handed to him. It was still steaming as if it was freshly made. Knowing the other is still watching him, he decided to take a little bite. The bun is warm, he felt it on his face. The filling is just the right amount and tastes delicious. He could recognize there's a bit of spiciness too, not too little to notice and not too much that he'll had to ask for water. The blond finally smiled as he takes another bite.
"How was it? You know, I made them myself." Crushed Pepper asked.
"Hmm? You made these?"
"I got curious and asked how to make them. I may have added some spice in it haha..."
"It's good. The spiciness is just right. I thought it would be too intense if you're the one making it."
"I thought so... But I might pass by someone who doesn't have the same spice tolerance as me so I restrained myself."
"Aww...that's kind of you..." The blond reacted, realizing the redhead has anticipated meeting others while looking for someplace to eat and thought about them. That's why he approached him. Now he felt more guilty about almost shooting him on the face.
The redhead sensed the disturbed feelings the blond had. "Hey, don't be so down. I'm okay right? You haven't done wrong." He reassured again.
"Why didn't you dodge yourself from that arrow? I know you can block it. Why didn't you?"
"I told you. You never intend to kill me. And I trust you."
"Hahaha... Such a simple answer."
"You should finish eating. It would make you feel better." The redhead smiled as he was about to turn around, picking up the basket. "I should be on my way so that you can have-"
"...... Pepper?" He hears the other call his name weakly.
"Hm?"
"I... I would like... I wouldn't mind you staying here..." Lemon Zest trailed off trying to say the right sentence.
"Really?"
"You can eat here with me. I would like to have some company with you."
They both sat under the shade of a tree as they opened the dimsum basket again. The blond got another meat bun after finishing the one he had earlier. The redhead eats a bit slower than how he usually eats as he observed the targets around them, each with a couple of arrows struck at the bullseye.
"You're really are amazing. You did this by yourself..." He remarked while picking up another bun.
"You keep praising me like that and I'll be flustered around you." The blond replied.
"Well what I'm saying is true though. I saw you train sometimes."
"So it was you who kept watching me." Lemon Zest remembers. That feeling of being watched from afar. But instead of finding it out, he let it slide. Somehow he felt a bit more secure when he noticed that.
"Sorry, I wasn't supposed to look but I got curious. And I didn't disturb you that time because I figured you'd want to be alone."
"It's alright, at least I finally figured out you were my admirer."
"Hahahah if you put it that way, it makes it look like something else!"
"Hahaha!"
They both laughed at that comment. But then they find their hands held together.
"You're an excellent fighter, Lemon Zest." Crushed Pepper whispered. "I really mean it."
From that way of saying that, it felt enough for the blond to lean against the other's shoulder. "Hehe... Thanks for being here..."
"No problem..."
They stayed there for a while, finishing up the contents of the basket and took a rest. But on the next day, it came as a surprise to the others that the two went into the forest together and ended up training together instead of separately.
And no one bothered to ask.