Bonus Story: A Hands-on Examination Is the Only Way

Bonus Story:
A Hands-on Examination Is the Only Way

SHORTLY AFTER THE performance-fight at the theater, Rishe assisted with the aftermath, still in her songstress costume. Every time her mind wandered, she found herself thinking about the gift she planned to ask Arnold for. But if she kept thinking about it, she would be unable to focus on anything else, so she tried to stay busy helping out.

Rishe mainly found herself performing first aid on the spies and preparing them for transport, but she did occasionally bump into Arnold as he bustled about with his own tasks. Each time she did, he would stop her and ask her about her condition.

This was another moment that they ran into one another in a deserted hallway behind the stage.

“Rishe.”

“Ack!”

Rishe jumped when Arnold grabbed her wrist. She’d tried to simply give him a nod and slip past him. He must have found her awkwardness suspicious, so he curled his fingers around hers, preventing her from making an escape.

“You’re not pushing yourself, are you?”

Waaagh…

His touch was so gentle. Rishe found herself strangely preoccupied by it. She gulped. His hold on her was loose, but she didn’t think she’d be able to escape his grasp nonetheless.

To make matters worse, he pushed her against the wall, pinning her there.

“O-of course I’m not! I’m full of energy! You can see that, can’t you?!” Rishe managed, but Arnold didn’t seem to agree.

“Hmm.”

He pressed the back of her hand to the wall, not letting her run away this time. With his other hand, he took hold of her chin and asked in a low voice, “Then why are you so nervous every time you run into me?”

“Th-that’s just—”

Rishe glanced up at Arnold on impulse and regretted it immediately. Even in this dimly lit hallway, Arnold’s countenance was dazzling. Normally, this was where Rishe would find herself getting lost in the sea of his eyes, but today she found herself staring at his lips.

What I’m about to ask him is…

The moment her thoughts turned to kisses again, her cheeks flushed and tears sprang to her eyes. She was reminded just how insane the thing she planned to ask him was. She’d planned to concentrate on the cleanup work, building up her courage—but each time she ran into Arnold, her emotions were thrown into disarray.

I-I can’t say it! At the very least, I’m not going to be able to say it now!

She wormed her way out of Arnold’s grip and averted her eyes. Arnold lowered his voice even more.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

“I’m not!”

“You seem to have changed gloves at some point.”

That was because her hands were the most likely part of her to get dirty during their work, so she’d switched out the gloves she was borrowing for her own pair. There was no deeper reason. She tried to explain that, but it sounded like a poor excuse even to her ears. Her past recklessness was impeding her credibility here. Arnold did trust her, but when it came to matters of her own health, he was particularly strict.

“If you insist…” She did feel bad for causing him worry. Rishe closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable embarrassment. “Feel free…”

“Feel free to what?” Arnold asked with a frown.

“I figured this would be the only way to get you to believe me if my words couldn’t convince you,” Rishe explained. She leaned back against the wall and peeked at Arnold. “Please inspect my body in whichever way will satisfy you, until you’re convinced…”

“…”

His hold on her tightened. Her fingers twitched, and he quickly let his grip go slack.

“You are just…”

“Hm?”

Arnold started to say something but then stopped, resting his forehead on Rishe’s shoulder and sighing instead. He seemed awfully tired.

Now that she thought about it, Arnold was more or less serving as the supreme commander of this operation, so he would obviously be more worn out than anyone else.

“W-would you rather not?”

“…”

“Just so you know, you can’t take these gloves off without undoing these ribbons here…”

“…”

They were long gloves, so the ribbons keeping them on were tied at her upper arms. Still looking sullen, Arnold reached out for the spot Rishe had specified. His fingers brushed the ribbon and untied it in one fluid motion.

Wow…

He hooked his fingers into the end of the glove and slowly slid it down Rishe’s arm.

Wh-what is this?!

Rishe felt restless as the cloth glided down her skin. They were just gloves, but Rishe shuddered at the sensation of someone else removing a piece of her clothing.

“Nngh…”

“Hey. Don’t run away.”

“Well, it tickles!”

Rishe wanted to beg him not to be so gentle with her, but he didn’t hear her silent plea. The scowling Arnold peeled off Rishe’s glove and inspected her bare arm. Her shoulder, her squishy upper arm, the soft skin on the inside of her elbow. Her forearm, wrist, palm, and fingertips. He observed each area carefully to make sure she wasn’t wounded.

She regretted the suggestion she’d made at last. Is it just me or is this situation really embarrassing?!

His complete silence flustered her all the more. He’d removed her second glove now and was checking her other arm. He turned her around and checked the backs of her arms too. Eventually, he spun her to face him again.

“Is that enough?”

“No.” Arnold narrowed his eyes. “I can inspect you in whichever way will satisfy me until I’m convinced, right?”

“Ah!”

Arnold grabbed one of her wrists and pinned her to the wall again. Even if one of her arms was free, Rishe couldn’t exactly put up a fight against him.

He stroked her cheek. Her shoulders lurched from the chill of his fingertips. Arnold had definitely noticed how hot she was. His fingers traced her flushed cheeks as if to illustrate that fact.

“I-I’m not hurt there,” she asserted, hunching over to escape his ticklish touch.

Yet Arnold just said, “I know.”

“Urgh!”

Then why hasn’t he stopped yet?!

Next, he touched her ear, which tickled even more. Arnold ran his fingers across her skin, slowly confirming she was free of injuries. Then his rough fingers reached somewhere Rishe hadn’t been expecting.

“Hwah!”

His fingers brushed the left side of her neck. It was where she’d been hit by a poison arrow in the past, and where Arnold had kissed. There shouldn’t have even been a scar anymore, yet Arnold seemed to know exactly where the injury had been.

“Agh, stop it, Your Highness!”

Rishe almost wanted to cry from the sensation of his rough fingers brushing against her skin.

“I’m sorry for worrying you! I promise I’ll tell you what it is I’m hiding later, so please!”

“…”

“I-I really can’t take any more tickling right now!” Rishe protested, half crying.

Arnold whispered, “You really haven’t pushed yourself at all?”

All Rishe could do was frantically shake her head.

Arnold sighed and finally released her hand. Then he brought his lips up to her ear again and whispered, “I think we’ll make these regular inspections. You shouldn’t have told me I could do whatever I wanted.”

“Nnngh…!”

Just as she suspected, she’d said something she shouldn’t have. This was another one of his “punishments.” But what sort of face would he make when he found out she planned to ask him for an even more inappropriate gift after this?

Can I really ask him to practice kissing me?

She had no idea. She almost decided not to, but quickly banished the thought.

I have to. After all, it’s…what I want.

“Rishe?”

Arnold looked down at her inquiringly, so she told him she’d explain later. Then, when she informed him that she could not tie the ribbons of her gloves herself, he sighed and helped her put them back on.