While the bombings right after their victory put a bit of a damper on their collective mood, Hestia Familia was still having a good time when they returned home. The Sakamoto Family stayed as long as they could, not only out of worry, but because of how attached their baby became to them. Despite being a rather aloof woman, Oryou had zero defense against her son. Not that Bell minded. It was a good distraction from the chaos that reigned in the city, or rather the Entertainment District. While they tried to pretend nothing was wrong, they all realized that they wouldn't get the reward Hestia demanded for. Still, he was glad that there were survivors, not exactly decent people, but that did not matter. Under the custody of the Ganesha Familia, Bell hoped that Diego and the other two would be safe.
Another great news was that Welf actually decided to remain in Orario. He didn't want to join their Familia however, much to Solaris' annoyance, but Bell could understand. The man was a blacksmith through and through. With the War Game serving as a sort of advertisement. Hephaestus accepted him with open arms. It was not everyday someone of a higher level changed Familia. Bell only had faint memories of the impromptu celebration involving their Familia, Welf and the Sakamoto Family. It went straight into the night, the joy and tears more than enough to serve as painkillers for the day. Some might think that after their celebrations with Artoria and co they would have been tired out, but their energy seemed essentially endless.
Of course, then the next day arrived and they were practically bound to their beds, which were all moved into the living room on Solaris' request. Apparently she didn't want to lie around in her room alone. They had to move some couches here and there, to create a makeshift sick room, but it worked out, with their beds all lined up next to each other. Thanks to that, they could all groan at each other in pain, as their bodies were covered in bandages and slings and what not for their various cuts, burns and broken bones. The Astraea Familia would've stuck around, but given the poor state of Eris' territory apparently, they had to leave early as well. Haruhime was a bit concerned about having no guards while in this state, but Arash assured her he would keep a look out for the Stardust Garden. Having received the word of the Archer, the Renard seemed mollified enough. However, before they all left, Kaguya put a certain book on the side. All of their eyes widened when they realized what kind of book it was.
"Better read it once you recovered. We don't want you to practice while in the bed."
"O-Of course!"
To say Haruhime's eyes were glued on the Grimoire was an understatement. Part of Bell wondered what elicited this 'reward'. Then again, Kaguya was a good and nice woman, underneath that rough exterior. Not to mention that Haruhime's race was proficient in magic. If he understood her right, those green flames didn't burn away Mind, but absorbed it. If the magic she received had good synergy with that...
Anyway, they didn't receive any visitors. Well, aside of Syr, who could only stick around for a short time before she had to go back to the Hostess. After bringing her food, she did spend some time chiding him, but Bell could tell from the way her eyes glowed that she wasn't actually angry. Right now he was chewing on the food, while glancing at his captain. Solaris actually pouted, poking around on her food. Apparently she was still down from the hour long lecture she received from Astraea and the others for her behavior during the War Game. At least it looked like it actually stuck, since she seemed somewhat guilty.
Suddenly however, she sighed. Then she reached into her pillow, opening up it cover, before pulling out a small sack with a couple of pipes. Kojiro and the others shared a look in confusion. Solaris in return smirked weakly at them as she opened up the sack to reveal a bunch of green stuff that Bell could not identify.
"Solaris, are those drugs?" Kojiro asked, raising an eyebrow. Haruhime and Bell gasped as their captain shrugged nonchalantly as she put her secret stash into one of the pipes.
"Painkillers. Weed. Whatever the term is." She gave them a pointed look as she put the pipe into her mouth. "Look, I am not going to lie in this bed for the next week or so doing fuck all!"
Bell could understand that sort of anger. After all, Artoria looked them dead in the eye, told them she could technically heal them... and proceeded to not do that, citing that they should use this excuse to rest up and properly process what they went through. Honestly the White Fool believed she was just being sadistic that night. Anyway, Solaris snapped her finger, lightning up the weed before inhaling a good chunk of it. Then puffing out the smoke, she never looked that blissful before as her eyes were half lidded.
"Ahhhh!" She glanced at them before waving her other pipes at them. "Want some?"
It was either the pain or the potential boredom once they ran out of books to read, but Bell and the others only hesitated for a moment before accepting. He and Haruhime choked and coughed on their first attempt before being guided by Solaris and Kojiro to huff and puff properly. After that... well, Bell wasn't sure how to describe it. He felt at ease? The pain subsided at least and he just felt like chuckling and giggling a bit. Kojiro seemed the least affected by it, but Kojiro was Kojiro, the big big brother that ate all the swallows. Slay. Ate. Both the same. Then there was fluffy Haru, who just swayed back and forth, her cute ears twitching a few times. Meanwhile their captain Sol-Sol blinked repeatedly after another deep huff. Then she turned to them, one eye opening and the other eye closing, back and forth.
"Guys. Guys. Guys."
"What, what, what?" Bell asked, slurring a bit. Captain Mummy rolled over a bit, staring at them with a scared look. Bell frowned. What ghost made her scared? He was gonna chase it down and throw salt at it!
"I-I gotta share a secret. I-I dunno if you c-can handle it."
"Shoot," Brojiro said. Haru jumped a bit in her bed before furiously shaking her head.
"Don't shoot, I can't catch it."
Bell grunted in agreement. He couldn't catch Sol's arrows right now. He narrowed his eyes. Arrows? Were they arrows?
"Alright. H-here it goes." Solaris took a deep breath. "I do not like Argonaut."
Haruhime and Bell have never looked so offended before as they gaped at their captain for her blasphemy.
/
One would thing the massive crowd that gathered around the Stardust Garden was the first thing that would catch their eyes. However...
"What in the... ?"
"Is that smoke?"
To say the Astraea Familia plus Hestia were utterly confused when they returned this evening was one way to put it. At first the goddess of the Hearth panicked when she saw the smoke, wondering why Arash didn't do anything, but apparently he looked through the window and decided nothing was wrong. Soon enough they also realized why the smoke was there when they got closer to the door and heard the... commotion.
"-I get it-!" "N-n-no-" "You don't-" "Let me finish-" "You said Argonaut is depressing!" "C-c-cause it is!" "It's a c-come-" "It's called Sad clown sy-" "Sad clown?!" "What's funny about a sandba-" "I-it is admirable-" "Always losing?!"
Opening the door after ignoring and pushing their way through the people, they all grimaced a bit when the smoke hit them right in the face. It was then that they smelled it, the herby stench. Ryuu's eyes widened before they all rushed in. The state of Solaris, Haruhime and Bell was one of disarray. Their bandages were messy and their hair was all over the place. Their faces were red from exertion as they seemed to have been yelling at each other the entire time. Meanwhile Kojiro was relaxing, eyes closed as he mediated in peace, tuning out his surroundings. Anyway, Bell and the other two girls turned to them in surprise. It was then the three broke out into goofy smiles.
"Eyyyy, Justice gals!"
"Goddess!"
"Hello~!"
C-cute. That thought went through all of their heads as the ladies blushed a bit. Of course, any joy Ryuu had in seeing Bell like that (and the others of course, while would she exclude them) she crossed her arms with a glare.
"Did you guys smoke drugs in here?!"
It spoke of their delirious state that they nodded with no hesitation whatsoever. Solaris even presented her own pipe with a small giggle.
"Want some puff?"
"No!"
"Sure."
Ryuu snapped her head at Lyra with a face of disbelief.
"Lyra!"
She in turn raised her hands in exasperated self defense.
"What, it's been stressful!"
"Guess that's one type of painkiller alright... " Kaguya muttered, frowning at Haruhime in disapproval. Shaking her head with a sigh, she crossed her arms as she pointed over her shoulder. "Sorry to interrupt your little session here, but could you do something about the crowd out there?"
"What crow?" Haruhime tilted her head, only one eye fully open while the other is half lidded. "Where are the crows?"
"Oh, Brojiro can cut them down!"
"Yeeeeaaah~!"
"Oh my-" Ryuu turned to the others in outrage, stomping her foot down. "Someone sober them up!"
Kaguya raised her hand casually before walking by.
"I got it."
She put her hands into her pockets before pulling out what seemed to be a sack. Then without warning she threw the contents at them, a white substance that seemed similar to salt. Suffice to say, the three kids immediately choked, whether by the projectiles themselves or the smell. Kojiro opened one eye in amusement, as he was spared from that attack. Alise blinked before turning to Kaguya with a raised eyebrow.
"Kaguya, why do you have that?"
"I drink a lot," she responded with a drawl. She shrugged without care at the glare she received from Ryuu. "It's always handy to have an emergency sober up tool."
"Did you know it would work on that?" Lyra asked, putting a fist against her right hip. Once more, the Far Eastern woman waved her hand dismissively.
"It's basically a detox item against mental effects, relax."
Bell and the others recovered from their little session. With the expressions back to being strained due to the pain having returned, they listened to the others repeating themselves. Bell scratched the back of his head in confusion.
"Who are they?"
"Potential recruits!" Hestia giggled as she put her hands on her hips, nodding in excitement. "I'm still working out how to do procession and what not, gotta keep things orga-"
"I got this."
Without further ado, Solaris rolled off the bed, grunting in pain before she began to crawl forward. The others glanced at each other in confusion before the girl dragged herself up a window. However, before opening the window, she stopped herself. Glancing back, she cleared her throat before scratching her bandaged cheek awkwardly.
"You... probably wanna know what I'm about to say?"
"Oh look, she is learning," Kaguya said in a sarcastic tone. Shaking her head, she narrowed her eyes at her. "Solaris, what will you say?"
"Our debt."
Naturally they all gaped at the words. Hestia threw her hands up in the air.
"Why?!"
Frowning, Solaris raised her hand to count of from it.
"One, I'm way too high to care right now. Two, if I could move, I'd test them physically and we'd end up with the same fat zero. Three, they'd find out anyway. I ain't a liar. Four... " She looked away, almost shyly. "I like it small."
Bell bit his lip. To be honest, that was more thought she put into this than he imagined. Hiding their debt didn't sit well with him either. And he wasn't sure he could trust anyone that would leave the moment they heard of their financial situation.
"Hmmmm... !" Hestia grumbled before turning to the others. "What do you think?"
"We would need our own base if we got more people," Haruhime commented, lips pressed together as she played with her hair as her introvertness shone through. Bell nodded, frowning a bit himself.
"I... kind of agree? Lying feels wrong. And I like what we are having at the moment."
"Besides, Astraea Familia seems to be doing fine with their small number as well," Kojiro added. Said Familia flinched a bit. At least the swordsman looked a bit apologetic while Alise was the first to recover, shaking her head.
"Yeah, see, we are kind of the exception?"
Still, the objection was half hearted at best. It wasn't her Familia after all. They all turned to Hestia, who had the final say in this. She sighed, shoulders a bit hunched..
"Well, if that's what my kids want... " She waved her hand weakly. "Okay, knock yourself out."
"Coolio." Alise put her back to the window. Opening it up, Solaris lazily leaned forward. Cheers and mutterings of excitement sounded. It was then that Solaris cleared her throat before lazily throwing her thumb over her own shoulder. "We got a six hundred million debt." She smacked her lips lazily. "Which of you scrubs wants to stay now?"
Dead silence. Bell and the others, even Kojiro, couldn't help themselves but slowly but surely turn to a certain set of blades lying in the corner. Their wielder wheezed at the number. He was carrying around such wealth this entire time?! What if someone found out and wanted to rob him?! Suffice to say, their 'visitors' reacted the same way. They all shared a collective look before they left. Every single one of them. The wind blowing through the streets sounded almost sad. With a small giggle, Solaris rolled back on the ground, before flopping her way to her bed like a seal.
"Efficiency, thy name is Solaris Crozzo!"
"Don't sound too proud of yourself," Hestia muttered weakly, almost sobbing at the utter rejection she received. Astraea patted her head with a motherly smile before clapping her hands together and turning to the others.
"Before I forget it, we had a Denatus today! "
Hestia Familia blinked before sharing a look.
"Huh. That time already?" Solaris asked in wonder. Bell tilted his head. Has it been three months already? Or did the gods do it early because of the War Game? Well, whatever the reason, his heart shivered with excitement. They snatched the papers away that Alise presented to them. Each of them read their new title, before cheering in excitement. They all ignored the strained smile Astraea had while Hestia actually began to sob in the corner. Surely out of happiness Bell assumed.
"This is so awesome!"
"What an honor!"
"Oh, to be the bird that looks down upon Artoria right now... "
Bell turned to Kojiro, who saw Bell's new title. He tilted his head in confusion as his teacher just chuckled quietly.
"Huh?"
Little did they know, across the city and across the world, a few individuals were laughing their guts out. The Freya Familia took a few steps away from their author, the soldiers of Rakia awkwardly laughed with their leader, the Amazons were too busy lying on the ground, beaten black and blue to react and the Far East was too busy for a couple to enjoy this for long. At the same time, way back in the Dragon's Valley, a certain woman choked on her drink, her water shooting out her nose when she heard of the news. Despite her attempts at erasing that memory from every single one of her familia, it would remain in their heads forever, no matter how much blunt force the Radiance applied on them.