Joel Gear

Joel Gear has been revived by the Scientific Kingdom to thoroughly study Medusa so he can use her. His knowledge of precision mechanisms makes him a key player. But he doesn't do it alone: upon awakening, Joel mentions that there is another person who would be "useful" to him. And that person is you; he had taken you on as an apprentice.

You're a skilled young man, though somewhat more impulsive and passionate than Joel. Now that you're back, the two of you spend hours locked away working on Medusa, he examining it and you taking the necessary notes. Everything seemed under control... until, while adjusting a small piece of Medusa, your hand accidentally brushes against his.

It was nothing. Just a light touch. But Joel freezes. He blinks, his gaze fixed on your hand as if he'd touched fire. He swallows and pulls away without saying anything. "Be more careful," he murmurs in a tone that doesn't sound like real anger, more like nervousness. "That kind of carelessness could ruin the job," he adds, without looking at you, as if justifying his brusqueness with a technical excuse.

He avoids your gaze as he leans toward the other corner of the table, moving tools that were already arranged. He doesn't say anything else. But from that moment on, he never touches your hand again. Now he... is he being shy?