181 – Late
The festival seems to prefer the moon to the sun. I feel a little more free just by being able to cover my worries and troubles with the night light, even for a moment, rather than the sun that clearly reveals people’s emotions.
A street mixed with the moonlight and the lights streaming from the makeshift tent. The rest of the day is short, but when you hear the smell of burning sauce and the sound of conversation mixed with someone’s laughter, the atmosphere naturally permeates.
I am not a person who fully enjoys festivals. It is the one who takes a step back and enjoys the atmosphere flowing outward. That alone is enough to enjoy a kind of sense of belonging without any responsibilities or problems.
After Luna bought her favorite drink in a bit of excitement, she looked around for something to eat for dinner. There are many good options. From skewers with a variety of seasonings to choose from, cube-shaped steaks that are easy to eat, and noodle dishes that you will be disappointed if you fall into a festival.
After thinking about it for a while, someone carefully tapped me on the back. Looking over my shoulder, I met warm brown eyes. It was Navie holding a large cotton candy in her hand, as if she was enjoying the festival.
Perhaps she changed her style because it was evening, her hair in a ponytail looked very good in a white dress that looked cool in the butterfly.
“Hello, it seems you are alone today?”
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Nabi, who often saw her with her members and Luna, must have been curious about it.
“Luna didn’t eat dinner. So I’m going to buy you something to eat.”
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Navie smiled and introduced me to a place that sells popular desserts in the North.
“I was just on my way to buy something to eat.”
There was a long line of people in front of the store. They lined up with Navie at the back. Waiting doesn’t guarantee the taste, but today, Navier did it instead.
“I’ve had it a few times before, and it was the best. Should I say that I was moved by the food for the first time?”
As if remembering that time, trust came from the brightly smiling figure of Navie. I unconsciously nodded her head. Come to think of it, it was Navie who enjoyed dessert even in the carriage. If so, I think you can expect it to your heart’s content.
While I was thinking that, Navier turned her head and said to me.
“Oh, we don’t sell strawberries.”
“… ?”
When she made an expression that she did not understand what she was talking about, Nabier tilted her head slightly as if wondering about my reaction and asked.
“I heard that strawberries don’t suit your constitution?”
Only then did I recall the conversation I had with Navier in front of the strawberry dessert in the carriage. He said he would remember his excuses, but they must have been empty words.
“… It did.”
At my late reply, the observant butterfly must have noticed something incongruent, and she glared at me with her doubtful eyes.
I wondered if it would be better to go out confidently at a time like this, and as we looked at each other with a confident expression, for some reason, the butterfly’s face seemed to heat up slightly. It was as if the light of the night was shining on her white skin.
Turning her body around for a moment, the silent Nabi opened her mouth as the number of people in front of her gradually decreased.
“The recommended menu here is apple millefeuille, peach pie, grapefruit tart, and lemon saberrand grape pound cake.”
“Variety.”
In that case, I plan to buy by type. Anything left Luna didn’t eat will be taken care of by Jjam Tiger, who’s been lying like a corpse on the bed in the club room lately, so there’s no problem.
As if to continue her conversation, Navier brought her up about her match today.
“… I enjoyed the game today. I’ll admit, she didn’t make her first year combat division chief by her knack.”
“Did you not admit it until now? I guess it’s been a while since I became a senior.”
When I asked in a playful way, as if feeling sad, the butterfly pursed its lips.
“Because you’ve never been properly attached to someone else. Do other kids think so too? It’s not like I became a senior through a fight like this. Of course, if you include the performance you showed in the duel and today’s match, everyone now admits that you are the head of the combat department.”
Is that so? Well, if there is a problem sooner or later, it’s obvious that they will curse at me, as if it never happened. I don’t even care about such light recognition.
“By the way, what is your relationship with Eli, who competed with you?”
Eye to eye met. I feel speechless at questions that pierce without context and catch me off guard. With a face as if she noticed something, Nabie is looking into my eyes as if demanding an explanation from her. She is also very observant. I raised my hands in surrender.
“We were childhood friends who lived in the same neighborhood since we were little.”
“Is that the end?”
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Navier did not miss the opportunity to investigate what he was trying to end with a simple explanation. It would be a good idea to ignore and keep your mouth shut. However, I opened my mouth to see Nabier’s eyes asking for an explanation.
“Her brother’s girlfriend, and someone I used to have a crush on. So we sorted things out, but thanks to the triathlon we were forced to become a team.”
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Navier blinked her eyes and turned her gaze into the store. Her silver hair in a ponytail moves to and fro along her head. She almost reached out her hand inadvertently, wondering if this is how it feels for a fish to look at a swaying hook.
“To say that the relationship has been sorted out… Did you even break up?”
“Well, that’s how it is. Because she pretended not to see her even when she passed by. I thought it would be better for both of us to break up. Because each of them has a lover.”
I came to buy dessert, and suddenly I had to explain about friendship. The more I thought about it, the weirder it was, but she thought it was the price of forgetting her date with Navier.
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Navier thought for a moment, then turned around to meet her gaze. It’s kind of sharp eyes.
“I guess you were the only one who thought so.”
This is an accurate point. Maybe she noticed something in her in Ellie, or if her observant Navier was good, she might have noticed something I didn’t see.
“Maybe.”
I smiled bitterly and answered in a weak voice.
“Be careful. I guess Ellie isn’t the type of person who cares too much about crossing her line. It feels a little risky.”
“… Thanks for the advice.”
Certainly, Ellie is dangerous. When she is by her side, I feel insecure, not comfortable. It’s like having a bomb next to you that you don’t know when it will explode. Thanks to that, I was able to breathe more.
Finally, the line was over, and I bought two of each type recommended by Navier.
Leaving behind the words that they would support tomorrow as well, Nabier left.
I moved to the club room again, and unlike other places, I bought beef jerky at a shop that was walking around in front of the store with an anxious face, as if I hadn’t received a single customer.
The dried jerky at the festival, the owner has no sense. He hurried his steps while munching on the jerky he had given him to taste. The taste was mediocre.
***
Luna was waiting for me sitting on the sofa after tidying up her desk as if she had finished her work. She took out the things she bought and put them back into the storage room, leaving only the things Luna and I were eating.
Luna chose cube steak and dessert. Since I had dinner, I was content with dessert.
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Navier’s recommendation was not wrong. Maybe the power of observation works not only with people, but also with food.
When I met Navier by chance and explained that it was her recommended dessert, Luna, who had tasted the grapefruit tart, expressed her joy by trembling her shoulders.
A taste that is exquisitely harmonized with sourness and sweetness. This is enough to eat as much as you want without thinking about the calories.
I cleaned up the food and wiped the table. Looking at the clock, it is past 10pm. Luna now has to go back to her dorm.
“Ross, can I meet Ellie tomorrow?”
Since she had been thinking of taking her to the dormitory, she was taken aback by the sudden request. It is also not normal for Luna to meet Ellie.
I wet my lips.
“Why?”
At my question, Luna held out a book in which she had drawn her spells for several days. It is a face full of embarrassment.
“It seems like I’ve only been receiving from Ross… I also wanted to help this time. So I thought of a new type of detection magic to use in her second match, the Labyrinth.”
I feel bewildered. When she finds out that she has been studying alone in the club room in order to help me, she feels as if she has hit her heart with something.
A festival was being held outside, but Luna was working hard for me in the club room on the 2nd basement floor. Her heart is so pretty, her heart beats wildly.
“I’ve been blocked for a while, but I was inspired to see Ellie use synthesis magic in today’s match. So, fortunately, I was able to complete it….”
For some reason, Luna added in a crawling voice while looking up at me as if she were paying attention.
“A little… I hope this helps.”
It’s too much. If you ask me that way, my answer has no choice but to be full of sincerity. I smiled brightly, showing my happy feelings without hiding it.
“Thank you so much. The way you worked hard for me, and the way you wanted to help. All.”
There are too few words to express my feelings, but I couldn’t help it because I was trying to express my feelings urgently.
Luna smiled brightly as if she had been complimented on my answer. Seeing that innocent look, I couldn’t hide what happened with Ellie any longer.
“Luna, I have a confession to make.”
Looking straight into Luna’s blue eyes, he told the truth about what happened with Ellie. And she apologized.
“Sorry for telling you so late.”
I waited for an answer to come. But Luna just looked at me with troubled eyes and didn’t say anything.
Facing our eyes, the silence was long.
Finally, Luna smiled slightly and opened her mouth.
“It’s okay. Ross said he didn’t want it, and he definitely refused…. I trust Ross.”
Saying that in her watery voice, Luna looked at the clock hanging on her wall and took care of her hastily.
“Poem, the time is already like this. Hurry up and get some rest. I’ve held it too long.”
I had a selfish thought that it would be better if someone cursed at me. But she just smiles as Luna says she understands me as always.
“I’m going alone today…. Ross, take a break too. Then, see you tomorrow.”
I tried to catch Luna as she was rushing out of her club room.
However, I couldn’t take my step when I saw Luna waving her hand at me with her lower lip quivering as if she was trying to hold back her tears, and forcing her to look okay until the very end.