Episode 6: So That Your Smile Never Breaks — A Small Sign
The seaside of the port town of Elnea was peaceful today as well.
The sea breeze rustled her hair‚ and the sound of waves washing over the sandy beach echoed pleasantly. The laughter of tourists mixed with the cries of seagulls‚ as if the entire town was playing a single piece of music.
"Aria‚ look‚ look! The seagulls are dancing!"
Iris suddenly spread both arms and ran off.
Her feet kicked up sand as she dashed toward the water's edge. Without a care for her shoes‚ she plunged her feet into the waves and laughed.
"…They're not dancing‚ they're just walking."
"No‚ they are! Look‚ pirorin♪"
Iris lightly waved her fingertips‚ and a small magical sound rang out.
The seagull shook its head in surprise‚ and the next moment—it began stepping in mysterious dance moves.
"…This is definitely your fault."
"Ehehe‚ the seagulls are really getting into it too!"
Aria placed a hand on her forehead and sighed.
However‚ a faint smile had appeared at the corners of her mouth.
She plunged her feet into the waves‚ her skirt fluttering as she chased the seabirds.
Her figure was wild and free‚ uncontrollable like the sea itself.
(…Even though I should be getting dragged around‚ for some reason my heart feels light.)
Aria tapped her fingertips rhythmically.
It was a habit of hers when thinking‚ but now it was simply keeping rhythm in time with Iris's laughter.
"Aria‚ come too! The waves are cold and feel so good!"
"…My shoes will get wet."
"Then just take them off!"
"…Don't say it like it's that simple."
In the end‚ Aria also took off her shoes and stood at the water's edge.
The cold water enveloped her feet‚ and the sea breeze stroked her cheeks.
Iris's laughing voice beside her rang out more vividly than the sound of the sea.
(…Walking side by side like this isn't bad at all.)
Deep in his chest‚ a small warm feeling was beginning to sprout.
Iris‚ who had been running around the beach‚ suddenly stopped.
She breathed with her shoulders‚ placing a hand on her chest. Her breathing was slightly ragged.
"…Hmm‚ maybe I ran a bit too much."
She smiled and gave a light cough.
Her gesture was bright‚ as if to say "it's no big deal."
"Are you okay?"
Aria involuntarily stopped and gazed at her profile.
Her hair swaying in the sea breeze‚ and the shadow that showed for just a split second behind her smile.
But the next moment‚ Iris was spreading both arms and laughing again.
"Hehe‚ the sea wind is strong so I just choked a little! Look‚ the seagulls are still dancing!"
"…No‚ they're just flying normally now."
"No way! If you look with the eyes of your heart‚ they're still stepping!"
(…The eyes of the heart sure are convenient.)
Pressed by her smile‚ Aria stopped pursuing the matter deeply.
Yet a small unease remained in his chest.
That brief shortness of breath. That brief cough.
It felt like they faintly hinted at something hidden behind her brightness.
However‚ Iris dashed toward the water's edge once more.
Her back was as free‚ dazzling‚ and light as always—impossible to catch up to.
(…Just my imagination‚ huh.)
Aria tapped her fingertips.
The sound blended into the rhythm of the waves and disappeared.
After running around the beach‚ the two stopped by a park in the port town.
As they sat on a bench in the shade of a tree‚ the rustling of the sea breeze calmed a little‚ and the laughter of the town's children echoed.
"Phew~‚ I ran too much. Aria‚ sit sit!"
Iris plopped down heavily on the bench and stretched both arms wide.
Aria sat beside her‚ tapping her fingertips while deep in thought.
"…There it is again. Aria‚ you always do that 'tap tap' when you're thinking‚ don't you?"
"It's a habit."
"Then I'll try it too!"
Iris imitated Aria‚ tapping her fingertips on the bench even though there was no desk.
Moreover‚ her tempo was strangely good and the rhythm far too lively.
Then‚ the children playing in the park started dancing to the sound.
It was like an impromptu dance party. Applause even broke out.
"…Hey‚ stop. My habit is turning into the town's entertainment."
"Ehehe‚ it's fine! Let's name it 'Aria's Tap Tap Dance'!"
"…Absolutely not."
Aria's face turned red as she stopped Iris's hand.
But the heat in her cheeks wasn't just from the sea breeze.
(…Being laughed at like this isn't bad.)
Her innocence was slowly breaking down the walls in his heart.
The fingertip "tap tap" was gradually becoming their shared rhythm.
"Aria‚ you can smile more. Look‚ the kids are having fun too!"
"…If I smile‚ they'll dance even more."
"That's fine!"
Iris's smile was brighter than the sea and warmer than the town.
Aria instinctively looked away‚ but deep in her heart she felt a small light.
After finishing their walk and break in the park‚ the two entered a small cafe on a street corner in the port town.
The wooden sign read "Today's Recommendation: Sea Breeze Chiffon‚" and a sweet aroma drifted through the air.
"Wow~! Sweets! Aria‚ we have to eat some!"
"…I'm not really into sweet things."
"It's okay! 'A little' means 'you can eat it'!"
(…What aggressive logic.)
In the end‚ she was pushed into it by Iris‚ and colorful cakes were lined up on the table.
Iris picked up a fork‚ smiling brightly as she spoke.
"Here‚ Aria‚ 'ahh~n'!"
"…No‚ I'll eat it myself."
"No way! This is the 'Friendship Ritual'!"
Aria reluctantly opened her mouth and took a bite.
At that moment—
Pop!
A small burst of magic occurred‚ and Aria's hair stood on end.
Furthermore‚ the spoon floated gently and began spinning around on the table.
"…Wh-what is this?"
"Pfft… Ahahahaha! Aria‚ your hair looks like a 'port town seagull'!"
"…This is definitely because your magic got mixed in."
"Ehehe‚ the cake was really getting into it too!"
The customers in the store began to buzz‚ and the children clapped saying "Amazing!"
Aria's face turned bright red as she desperately grabbed the floating spoon.
(…This is embarrassing. But what is this warmth?)
Iris was laughing so hard that tears formed in her eyes.
Looking at that smile‚ Aria felt another small light ignite deep in her chest.
The port town at dusk. After leaving the cafe‚ the two walked side by side along the seaside path.
The sky was dyed in crimson‚ and the waves sparkled gold. The laughter of tourists gradually faded‚ and the town was wrapped in a gentle afterglow.
"Today was so much fun!"
Iris said with a smile. Her voice sounded softer than the sea breeze.
"…It was fun‚ yeah."
Aria nodded slightly. While tapping her fingertips‚ she searched her own heart.
There‚ a "moving heart" certainly existed. The time spent with her was shaking her more vividly than magic.
(…So this is what it means to put emotions into magic.)
Suddenly‚ Iris stopped walking.
She was breathing a little with her shoulders. But she quickly put her smile back on.
"Aria‚ next time let's eat an even bigger cake!"
"…No‚ I'll pass on that."
"No way! The Friendship Ritual continues!"
She laughed brightly and started walking again.
Watching her back‚ a small unease spread through Aria's chest.
The shortness of breath earlier. The shadow behind her smile earlier.
It might be his imagination. But his heart was quietly stirring.
(…I need to watch over her more carefully.)
The sea breeze passed between the two.
For the first time‚ Aria became aware that her own heart was truly moving.
It was the budding of new possibilities for magic‚ and also the beginning of friendship and admiration.
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