Episode 4: Rinne‚ My Childhood Friend‚ Smiles Awkwardly Today as Well
The harbor town's market was lively today as well.
The smell of fish‚ the aroma of freshly baked bread‚ the voices of street vendors‚ and for some reason‚ the meowing of cats echoed like a trio. Laundry fluttered in the wind‚ and in the back alley‚ a seagull and a cat were staring each other down. The winner had yet to be decided.
Aria Adel was walking along the market street. In his hand was a shopping bag. The contents were mostly preserved foods and‚ for some reason‚ dried fish that was 30% off. Even if he couldn't use magic‚ he could still react to discounts.
（……These dried fish‚ I feel like they were 30% off yesterday too）
While quietly retorting at the "Today Only!" sign on the fish shop‚ he headed toward the next store.
"Ariaaa!"
The voice flew through the air‚ cutting through it.
When he turned around‚ there was a cheerful girl—Rinne.
With a tool bag slung over her shoulder and‚ for some reason‚ a green onion in one hand. She ran over with a full smile.
"Morning! Were you doing 'ton ton' again today?"
「……No‚ I'm not right now.」
"I see. Then instead‚ 'pon!'"
Saying that‚ she lightly tapped Aria's head with a pon.
The sense of distance typical of childhood friends. No hesitation‚ no shyness—just natural skinship.
「……What kind of ritual is that?」
"The 'Let's do our best again today' ritual!"
（I've never heard of such a ritual）
Aria readjusted his bag with a wry smile.
"Shopping? Or are you buying tools again?"
"Yeah‚ today it's screws and nuts and... I came because I smelled something delicious!"
「……Hasn't your goal changed?」
"It hasn't! They say‚ 'If you're hungry‚ you can't even turn a screw‚' right?"
「……Who says that?」
"I do!"
（Self-contained proverbs are pretty strong...）
While exchanging such banter‚ the two began walking side by side down the market street.
Amid the hustle and bustle of the harbor town‚ Aria's steps felt just a little lighter.
Rinne walked beside Aria‚ twirling the green onion in her hand round and round.
In the midst of the market noise‚ she stole a glance at his profile.
（……He really has become a bit more adult-like）
He used to be more defenseless‚ always had bed hair‚ and fell over a lot.
Now he smiles quietly and sometimes looks into the distance.
Lately‚ those eyes often seem to be following "someone"—
"By the way‚ I heard that girl Iris has been coming to the training ground a lot lately?"
Rinne said it as casually as she could.
The hand twirling the green onion spun just a little faster.
"Yeah‚ her magic senses are amazing. She uses it like playing music. It's interesting to watch."
"Heh‚ heeeh～…… Music‚ huh. Magic music…… Hmm……"
The green onion spun even faster.
It looked like it might fly away‚ so Aria gently stopped it.
"The green onion's going to break."
"Ah‚ sorry! I almost made the green onion jealous!"
（No‚ I think the green onion has nothing to do with it）
Rinne laughed it off.
But deep in her chest‚ there was a sharp sting.
（……I've been by Aria's side all this time）
Even when his magic went out of control and no one could approach him.
Even when he shut himself in the library and wouldn't talk to anyone.
I've always been right there beside him.
「……Oh‚ look‚ look! These fish are three for 120 rils!"
As if changing the subject‚ Rinne raised her voice in front of the fish shop.
Then‚ with a strangely serious face‚ she began counting on her fingers.
"Per fish…… um…… 40 rils? No‚ divided by three…… um……"
「……Aren't you bad at calculations?」
"N-No‚ I'm not! I was just thinking from the fish's perspective!"
「……The fish's perspective?」
"'We're being divided by price……' It's a bit sad‚ isn't it!"
（……Her natural airheadedness is getting deeper）
Aria couldn't help but laugh.
Rinne laughed along with him‚ but behind her smile‚ there was just a faint trace of something else.
（……This isn't the time to be laughing）
But she couldn't say it.
Because she was afraid of breaking this relationship.
"By the way‚ you mentioned Iris's magic performance‚ right?"
When Rinne brought the topic back‚ Aria's eyes sparkled.
"Yeah. It's really mysterious. There's no construction formula or chant‚ but the magic 'flows.' It's just like music."
"Heh‚ heeeh～…… Music‚ huh……"
（That topic again～～～……!）
While keeping a smile on her face‚ Rinne screamed a little inside her heart.
Aria's "innocent interest" was sometimes sharper than a blade.
And he didn't mean any harm at all. On the contrary‚ he was purely moved.
"But Iris is a bit weird‚ isn't she? Yesterday she was shooting magic while saying 'Powaaan~' too."
"'Powaaan~'……"
Rinne's mouth twitched.
It was one of the "Iris quotes" that Aria had been saying a lot lately.
（……I've been watching Aria's magic all this time too）
But she couldn't say it.
Instead‚ she gripped the green onion in her hand tightly. The green onion faced its second crisis of the day.
"Rinne?"
"Eh‚ what!? Did the green onion speak!?"
"No‚ it's me."
"Ah‚ yeah‚ I knew that!"
（……Your face said you didn't know）
Aria tilted his head at Rinne's behavior but didn't pursue it any further.
That was the true essence of his "denseness."
"Rinne‚ you've really been the same since way back. Energetic‚ cheerful‚ and somehow…… reassuring."
「……Eh」
At those words‚ Rinne's heart skipped a beat.
But the next moment—
"Like the taste of miso soup from home or something."
「……Miso soup……」
（Is that a compliment? It's a compliment‚ right!?）
While keeping her smile‚ Rinne weighed miso soup and Iris on a scale in her mind.
In the end‚ the green onion won. Probably.
The misunderstandings were quietly‚ but surely‚ sprouting.
The market street was bathed in the light of evening.
The stall cloths fluttered in the wind‚ and the fish shop guy was shouting‚ "Today's mackerel is fresher than magic!" Magic lost again.
"Well‚ I should head back soon. I still have some library organizing left."
Aria said that and readjusted his bag.
Rinne nodded with a "Yeah." But her voice was just a little quieter.
（……I want to stay with him longer）
She couldn't put it into words.
But in her heart‚ she kept repeating it over and over.
（I want to stay by Aria's side longer）
It doesn't matter if his magic doesn't come back.
It doesn't matter if he admires someone else.
Even so‚ I—
"See you later‚ Rinne."
As usual‚ Aria lightly waved his hand while tapping his fingertips with a ton ton.
His figure melted into the sunset.
「……Yeah‚ see you later.」
Rinne kept a smile on her face and gently pressed her hand to her chest.
At that moment‚ a voice came from behind.
"Hey miss‚ you forgot your green onion—!"
"Ah‚ the green onion!"
When she hurriedly turned around‚ the fish shop uncle was holding the green onion high.
Next to him‚ a cat was trying to play with the green onion‚ and a seagull was watching.
The peace of the market was maintained today as well in a delicate balance.
While receiving the green onion‚ Rinne quietly made up her mind.
（……I won't lose. I have to become able to tell him properly too）
That determination was still a small spark‚ but it was definitely lit.
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