*WARNING!* Contains mild B1 and B2 spoilers (which two characters will be introduced next). Read at your own peril!
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And now, back to the side-story:196Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQi8R4WlnQ
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The party was killing time between missions, Marie watching TV while curling, Tenshi and Megumi playing cat’s cradle, and Charles and Isaac sitting back to back behind the couch, working their way through a stack of manga.
“Hey Charles…” Isaac bent his head towards him, placing his volume down. “Have you ever…hugged a girl before?”
“Seriously?” Marie called out from the front of the couch. “Is this what passes for “guy’s talk” these days? At least work your way to first base.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Charles grinned confidently, ignoring Marie and setting his volume aside. “I still hug my mom!”
“Doesn’t count!” Marie called over her shoulder. “And seriously, what are you, five? What self-respecting adult hugs their parents, man?”
“Ah yes, the eternal conflict, since time prehistoric;” Charles nodded sagely, rising to his feet. “The war between the Hugger’s, and the Don’t-Hugger’s.”
“I don’t even have to ask which side you belong to,” Isaac quipped.
“Damn straight, I’m a Hugger born and bred!” Charles boasted. “Grew up on a diet of familial hugs, and took the skills with me to adulthood! You might say I’m…heh…” he grinned proudly. “…something of a pro-rank Hugger.”
“Yikes, that’s not gonna win you any points at parties,” Marie shut off the television, grimacing at him.
“Hey, don’t be that way!” Charles threw his arms wide. “Hugs are essential to bonding. Hell, even most animals cuddle!”
“Curious,” Tenshi approached him. “I would request to indulge in this “hugging” myself.” She looked Charles in the eye. “For science.”
“C’mere, you!” Charles scooped her into a bear hug, alternating between patting her back and rubbing her head. “It’s all gonna be okay, big bro’s got ya!”
“Er…you don’t have to force yourself, girl,” Marie piped up.
“On the contrary, I find the stimulus quite appealing,” Tenshi calmly assessed, her hair being tussled. “He was not boasting emptily of his proficiency with embracing. He has a certain technique to him which alludes to multiple past partners.”
“Oy now!” Charles pushed her back, suddenly self-conscious. “Don’t go turning my wholesome hugs into something twisted!”
“I think it was twisted the moment you became involved with it,” Marie criticized.
“That does it.” Charles gestured to Isaac. “You. C’mere. We’ll show them the power of a bro-hug!”
“I’m not really…” Isaac sighed. “Well, can’t leave a bro hanging. Let’s do this, you big lug.” He rose to his feet.
“Atta-boy!” Charles threw his arms around Isaac, repeating the calming motions he used on Tenshi. “There there,” he whispered. “There there.”
“What are you making me watch here?” Marie asked, a look of displeasure on her face. “Do you guys need a room, or what?”
“Shhh!” Megumi pulled at Marie’s skort hem, pointing at the two. “I think its working!”
Marie looked up to see tears pouring down Isaac’s face.
“Woah, yikes,” Marie shrunk back, earning a kid-sized punch from Megumi.
“Not even…not even my own brothers ever…hugged me!” Isaac sniffled out between hiccups.
“Well, no duh,” Marie shrugged. “I’ve got twice the siblings you got, and we wouldn’t be caught dead snugglin’ like that!”
“It’s okay bro, let it all out,” Charles continued his work, ignoring the nay-sayer.
“I…I’m good now.” Isaac pulled himself away. “Thanks, man. I needed that.”
“Hey, anytime!” Charles grinned smugly at Marie. “I’ve got 19 years of practice, you’re not gonna find that just anywhere.”
“Me next! Me next!” Megumi jump-skipped over to Charles, bounding into his arms and locking her little legs around his back.
“Woah, a leg log, is it?” Charles grinned down at her. “That’s a pro-level move, I can tell you’re no stranger to hugs!”
“Gumi loves group hugs!” She beamed up at him. “With me, mama, papa, and sissy!”
“Atta-girl,” he patted her. “Convert the world to Hugger’s, one hug at a time!”
All hugged out, Megumi detached from Charles, turning to look at Marie.
“Well?” she grinned. “You’re the last one!”
“Oh…doggonit…I’m not just…” she threw up her hands. “Aw hell, twist my arm why don’tcha. Fine, but just for a little bit.” She approached Charles, smirking up at him with a look of challenge. “Ready for a hug with big sis, baby boy?”
“My hugs welcome all!” Charles threw his arms wide expansively, tugging Marie into an embrace.
“Oy, watch it!” she complained. “Hey, this is kinda…” she paused.
“…not bad,” she mumbled out.
“One more for the Hugger’s!” Charles grinned in triumph.
“Hey, I’m not saying I…” Marie looked up at Charles.
“Oy.”
“Hmm?” Charles replied.
“Why are you looking away?”
Charles’ head was contorted at an uncomfortable angle, looking somewhere behind and above him.
“Well, it’s like this:” he explained. “Y’know, after Tenshi’s comment…” He coughed. “I’m kinda feeling awkward around girls my age. Y’know?”
“HUH?!” Marie exclaimed, flushing as she pushed him away. “You bastard, what are you turning this hug into?!”
“Hey, cut me some slack!” Charles twisted even further away. “I was putting 110% into keeping this kosher, honest!”
“A man among men.” Isaac tipped his imaginary hat. “Well done, solider.”
“Impure thoughts…begone!” Megumi dashed out, driving a kick between Charles’ legs.
“MotherF…!” Charles doubled over, grimacing in pain.
“Feeling better now?” Megumi patted his knee.
“You know what?” Charles struggled back up. “Thanks Megumi, that did me the world of good.”
He looked Marie up and down. “In fact, now that my eyes’ve cleared, I really can’t see what I was so self-conscious about. I’m mean…” He made a gesture. “It’s Marie, after all.”
“Yeah, true.” Isaac nodded. “It’s just Marie, after all.”
“Ohhhhhh?” Marie clenched a fist. “Would you…care to…elaborate on that, gentlemen?”
Isaac and Charles locked eyes, sharing a knowing nod.
“Run awaaaaaaay!” Charles yelled, dashing for the door.
“Way ahead of you, bro!” Isaac threw the door open, slamming it after them.
“You think a flimsy door’s gonna stop me?!” Marie bellowed, chasing after them. “DOORCRASHER!” she intoned, splintering the door into kindling with a flying kick.
“And thus, the war between the Hugger’s and the Don’t-Hugger’s is fated to carry ever onward,” Tenshi narrated.
“I dunno, don’t you think we’re just a liiiiiiitle bit closer?” Megumi smiled up at Tenshi.
“Perhaps,” Tenshi smiled softly back, looking up at the shattered door. “By one-hundredth of a percent.”
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