The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
The sun climbed overhead, and it was time for lunch.
By the way, Tina had gone back home ahead of everyone else and prepared the meal for us.
Sora tried to help too, but everyone stopped her with all their might.
It was a bonus from gym class.
“Alright, alright—this is my special lunch set! Everyone, dig in!”
The freshly baked bread was fluffy, soft like cotton, and when you bit into it, a gentle sweetness spread through your mouth.
The main dish, steak, had been well seasoned and grilled together with herbs.
The rich flavor of the meat was brought out to its absolute limit, making it impossible to stop eating.
Then there were the sides: mashed potatoes and stir-fried vegetables.
Both were delicious enough to open a restaurant with.
And to top it all off, apple pie made with sweet apples, and apple juice.
Both used apples, yet their flavors were completely different, and strangely, neither was cloying.
If anything, they stimulated the appetite, making you want even more—an irresistible taste.
“Nom nom nom!!!”
Kanade and Tania were devouring their food ferociously.
They ate as if they wouldn’t leave even a single crumb behind, much to the amazement of Rifa sitting next to them.
“Hmph… I really wanted to help too, you know.”
Sora ate while looking a little dissatisfied…
“…Luna. Is Sora not aware of her own cooking skills?”
“…Indeed. She even prides herself on being rather good.”
“…How terrifying. I never thought I’d truly fear another of the strongest races.”
“…Because I am good at it, you see?”
A little distance away, Luna and Iris were staring at Sora with eyes full of awe and fear.
“Del…icious.”
“Nina, you’ve got sauce on you. Please stay still.”
“Mm.”
Nina and Nokia shared a heartwarming parent–child moment.
“Oof…”
“Finia, what is this little dog saying?”
“I-I need more meat… is what she’s saying.”
“I see. What a glutton. But… hey, why are you staring at my steak? I’m not giving it to you, you hear?”
“Woof!”
“S-Sakura?!”
Sakura targeted Al’s steak.
Al ran around the house holding her plate.
And Finia watched the whole thing in a panic.
Yeah.
Pure chaos.
“Rain, want another serving?”
“I’ll take some.”
“Gotcha.”
Tina poured me more apple juice.
The cup floated gently in midair as a pitcher filled to the brim with juice tilted.
“This apple juice is homemade, right, Tina?”
“Sure is. Freshly squeezed, one hundred percent fresh. Though I adjusted the sweetness a bit with sugar.”
“And it still tastes this good. You’re really great at cooking.”
“Hehe, thanks. That makes me super happy.”
Tina smiled brightly, resting her cheek on her hand as she gazed at me.
Her smile was warm, and somehow, it made me feel happy.
“Hey, Rain. By the way, why’d you suddenly bring up studying?”
“It started with Al, but…”
We went to the Eastern Continent.
Then the Northern Continent.
Then the Western Continent.
Lately, things had been incredibly hectic.
Of course, we took breaks in between, but…
Even if the physical fatigue had faded, the mental exhaustion might not have.
“So I thought… maybe we need events like this too.”
“Wouldn’t studying just tire you out more?”
“Haha… maybe. But doing things together like this is fun, right?”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“That’s why I wanted to create more and more opportunities like this. Someday, we might not even be able to have these small, happy moments anymore.”
The demons’ activities were gradually intensifying.
Meanwhile, Reez and Monica were scheming in the shadows.
And we still didn’t know where Arios, Mina, and Aggas were.
From here on out…
I didn’t know when, but I had a feeling a massive storm capable of shaking the world would arrive.
That’s why, before that happens, I want to create as many memories as possible.
I want to do all sorts of things, without regrets.
When I finished saying that, Tina’s expression softened.
“That really sounds like you, Rain.”
“Does it?”
“Yeah. That part of you…”
She stared straight at me.
Her eyes seemed moist…
And carried a gentle warmth…
For some reason, I couldn’t look away.
No.
Maybe I wanted to keep looking at her.
“That part of me…?”
“…I think that’s one of your best qualities.”
Tina said that with a soft smile.
“I see.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that Tina feels something for me too…?
How embarrassing.
…That’s just wishful thinking, right?
“Well then.”
Tina stretched with a big motion.
Even though she’s a ghost, maybe her spirit still gets stiff.
“Guess it’s time to clean up.”
“I’ll help.”
“Thanks. And also…”
Tina glanced sideways with dead-fish eyes.
“…Sora’s trying to make dessert, so I’d really appreciate it if you stopped her.”
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