Episode 8:The Reason Rinne Steals the Cake on the Rooftop (and My Blushing)
A few days after the subjugation mission‚ at dusk. Standing on a rooftop in the port town of Elnea‚ the sea breeze strokes my cheeks‚ and red light glides across the tiled roofs. In the distance‚ ship lights flicker‚ and the faint bustle of the harbor echoes.
Aria sat on the edge of the rooftop‚ tapping her fingertips rhythmically. Scenes from the mission flashed through her mind: the fangs of the magic beast‚ her companions' voices‚ and the moment her own magic protected them. The lingering aftertaste still remained deep in her chest.
（……It ended safely. Still‚ I don’t know what will happen next. Be cautious‚ stay calm……）
While lost in such thoughts‚ the rooftop door burst open with force.
「Aria! How’s the view?」
The moment Rinne jumped out energetically‚ a strong gust of wind blew through‚ and her hat floated gently into the air.
「……It flew.」
「Eh‚ wait a second!」
Rinne panicked and chased after it‚ but the wind-borne hat rolled across the roof. Aria sighed‚ stood up‚ tapped her fingertips rhythmically to focus‚ and quickly reached out.
But the hat slipped past his hand and landed in Rinne’s grasp.
「Yay! I win!」
「……Was it a competition?」
「Yeah! Hat Catch Championship!」
「I’ve never heard of that event.」
The two of them chased each other’s hats on the roof‚ laughing like children. The sea breeze blew strongly‚ stretching their shadows long across the twilight sky.
Aria suddenly noticed that her heart felt lighter. Rinne’s presence was gradually melting away the tension from the mission.
（……As expected‚ I feel calm when I’m with her.）
Before she knew it‚ the rhythmic tapping of her fingertips had stopped.
After descending from the rooftop at dusk‚ the two walked along the streets of the port town and entered a small general store. A wooden sign read “Friend of Daily Life‚” and inside were gloves‚ old music boxes‚ and oddly flashy patterned mugs lined up. Mixed with the sea breeze‚ the scent of wood and herbs drifted through the air.
「Wow‚ look Aria! This mug has three fish faces lined up!」
Rinne lifted it happily.
「……Why three fish? The fish faces are more the main character than the drink.」Aria frowned.
「But I think it suits you‚ Aria!」
「……My face isn’t a fish.」
「Ehehe‚ but I can imagine you seriously drinking‚ surrounded by fish!」
Aria thought to herself （……I don’t want to be surrounded） while tapping her fingertips. Rinne seemed to enjoy his reactions.
The elderly female shopkeeper approached and smiled.
「You two young ones get along so well. Are you buying matching things?」
「Eh!? N-no‚ um……」Rinne waved her hands in a panic.
「……I’ll pass on the matching fish cups.」Aria replied calmly.
「Fufu‚ you’re blushing‚」 the shopkeeper laughed and returned to the back.
Rinne’s face turned a little red as she picked up gloves from the shelf.
「How about these…… Do you think they’d suit you‚ Aria?」
「……They’re just normal gloves.」
「But I thought if I gave them to you when you looked cold‚ you’d be happy.」
Her voice was a little quieter‚ mixed with seriousness. Aria didn’t notice her intention and simply answered‚ “Well‚ not bad.”
（……Rinne always adjusts to me. Maybe I’ve been supported by her without realizing it.）
In the warm atmosphere of the general store‚ their interactions continued with small laughs and just a hint of embarrassment.
In the park of the port town‚ food stalls lined up in the evening‚ carrying sweet scents. Aria and Rinne walked side by side and bought fried bread. It was covered in plenty of sugar‚ and just holding it made their fingertips sweet.
「Aria‚ here‚ “Aaahn”!」
Rinne held out the fried bread.
「……No‚ I’ll eat it myself.」
「No way! This is the Friendship Ritual!」
「……Your definition of a ritual is way too loose.」
Aria reluctantly opened his mouth and took a bite. The sugar spread through his mouth‚ making him frown without thinking.
「……It’s too sweet.」
「Ehehe‚ your face has gone into ‘Sugar Shock’ mode!」
「Such a face doesn’t exist.」
At that moment‚ Rinne accidentally dropped her spoon with too much force. It flew on the wind and stabbed into a child’s hat.
「Eh!? The spoon went on an adventure!」
「……It’s just an accident.」
「But it became the hero of the hat!」
「……Your definition of a hero is also way too loose.」
The two continued eating the fried bread while laughing. However‚ there was something slightly heavy in Aria’s heart.
「……When I use magic‚ I’m still scared. Memories of my past rampage flash through my mind.」
Tapping her fingertips‚ she squeezed out the words.
「But when I have companions…… I feel just a little more at ease.」
Rinne gripped the fried bread tightly and nodded with a serious face.
「If you’re scared‚ Aria‚ I’ll be next to you laughing.…… I hope that makes it even a little lighter.」
Her voice was bright‚ but deep in her chest there was a stir. Her one-sided feelings mixed into her words of encouragement.
Aria didn’t notice her intention and simply murmured a small “Thank you.”
The twilight in the park was wrapped in sweetness and warmth.
Night in the port town. When they returned to the rooftop‚ the starry sky spread out. The sea breeze was colder than during the day‚ and the town lights twinkled in the distance. Aria sat on the edge of the roof‚ tapping her fingertips. Rinne sat beside her‚ quietly looking up at the night sky.
「……Aria‚ are you thinking about something?」
「……Yeah. Just a little.」
Aria exhaled and gazed at the night sky.
「I’m…… still scared when I use magic. Memories of my past rampage come back. If I put emotion into it‚ it might become stronger. But I worry that it will lead to another rampage……」
The words were short‚ but they felt like they were wrung from deep in his chest.
Rinne listened silently. Her profile was serious‚ illuminated by the light of the stars.
「But when I have companions…… I can see just a little hope. Maybe putting emotion into magic can become strength instead of fear.」
Aria continued gazing at the night sky while tapping her fingertips.
Rinne nodded slightly and opened her mouth as if choosing her words.
「If you’re scared‚ Aria‚ I’ll support you by your side.…… Even if I’m clumsy‚ in my own way.」
Her voice was sincere‚ hiding her one-sided feelings while showing her strong will to support him through actions.
A short silence followed. Yet the weight felt strangely comfortable.
Finally‚ Rinne smiled slightly and said.
「But if you do go on a rampage…… I’ll splash water on you to stop it!」
「……That’s not magic‚ that’s firefighting.」
The two couldn’t help but laugh together. The night wind carried their laughter away‚ melting into the starry sky.
The night port town was quiet. After descending from the rooftop‚ the two stopped in an alley before returning to their respective beds. The sea breeze was still a little cold‚ and their shadows lined up under the streetlights.
「Today…… we laughed a lot‚ didn’t we?」Rinne said while adjusting her hat.
「……Yeah. From the Hat Catch Championship to the Fried Bread Hero‚ all of it was your ideas.」Aria gave a small wry smile.
「Ehehe‚ but when you laugh‚ Aria‚ I feel happy too.」
Rinne’s voice was bright‚ but the stir of her one-sided feelings deep in her chest wouldn’t disappear. She kept her smile to hide it.
Aria tapped her fingertips while thinking to herself.
（……Rinne’s presence is supporting me without me realizing it. Just having her by my side makes me feel like I can move forward little by little.）
「See you tomorrow!」Rinne waved her hand.
「……Yeah. Good night.」Aria replied shortly.
The night wind passed between the two‚ leaving a sense of security and the lingering feeling of something missed. Rinne’s one-sided love continues‚ but Aria still hasn’t noticed those feelings.
In the distance‚ the harbor lights swayed‚ twinkling as if signaling the prelude to the next story.
（……I should also keep an eye on Iris’s condition.）
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