Solaris shook her wrist a bit, hissing a bit she started to feel it ache. Putting her pen down, she stretched her arms a bit, glancing at the sole other occupant of the Stardust Garden. Ryuu remained the picture perfect image of a cool and calm elf, idly filling out forms at such speeds, her pile put Solaris' one to shame. The captain let out a dry snort. To think they had the easy job too. 'All' they had to do was take stock of the Astraea Familia's assets and how much they managed to save up after all the expenses. Expenses like organizing a ship, which Lyra was in charge of, dealing with the guild for permission, courtesy of Alise and Astraea, and maybe the biggest pain in the ass, organizing everything in the Far East itself. While Kaguya hasn't been there for a long time, she still had her own connections. Not to mention that Haruhime out of all people helped grease a lot of wheels, what with being the adopted daughter of the strongest and baddest dragon in human form that was Oryou.
Well, and Ryoma was there too, Solaris supposed. He was kinda a small ink splatter in the large scheme of things in her eyes. Though that might just be the Rakian in her speaking. Peacekeeping was nice and all, but the world ran on conquest, of any kind really. Maybe someday that might change, if cool idiots like Bell kept popping up, but until then? Solaris groaned, cracking her neck as she leaned back on her chair, stretching her legs out as she crossed her hands behind her head. Kojiro was off doing…something with Arash. Maybe they were meeting up with Hans? She didn't quite recall. Either that or it was just them doing weirdo stuff.
"Solaris, you are allowed to take breaks, but stop doing that with your moneybag. It's distracting."
She blinked before realizing she was swinging said bag around by the string. She laughed awkwardly at the flat look she received from Ryuu before pocketing it.
"Sorry. Didn't even realized I was doing that."
All that office work was making her squirm. She just wanted to grab her chains at this point and slap the crap out of some monsters. Some non intelligent, target free, monsters. Either that or jump into Knossos. She missed out on that the last time due to her stupid, idiotic, retarded actions back then. Last she heard from Loki that their latest raid attempt bore no fruit. Sure, they pushed through new rooms, but quickly had to back off again due to those plant monsters, some 'hybrid' (and wasn't that funny to find out) and a fuck load of sniper dragons. Solaris flexed her fingers. Part of her wondered how well she could face tank those attacks. After all…the lasers were super heated.
But were they more super heated than her? Super heateder? Heck, maybe she could figure out how to throw lasers herself. It was just a matter of compressing her flames, instead of turning up the heat. She giggled to herself. New goal to strive for, got!
"Solaris."
"Yes, yes, I'll refill my ink and-"
"No, I just had a question." Solaris blinked. Looking up with a raised eyebrow, she saw Ryuu folding her hands with a deep frown. "Do you know where Bell is?"
…The fire user read a book about this once. The expression of the elf didn't reach that level yet, buuuut…maybe she should give the future captain of the Hestia Familia a little warning. Before he might get shanked while he sleeps, or get fed something that should never be fed to someone. Clearing her throat and her mind from impurities, she shrugged casually.
"I sent him to the local school."
"...You don't mean the School District, correct?" Ryuu asked, her eyes arrowing. Solaris let out a snort, twirling her finger at the ceiling.
"Did you see a flyin' city over our heads? No. Just a regular one for kids and what not."
As if Solaris could afford sending Bell to one of the weirdest structures mortalkind managed to pull off. She was sure many mages, engineers and what not would salivate at the secrets the flying ship, capable of holding an entire city worth of people, possessed. It wasn't like money as a factor in throwing Bell at such a place for training and experience and what not. But time? Time was definitely not their ally. Not only would she rather die than miss out on Bell for several months, maybe even years, there was also the fact that the waiting list was ludicrous. Those guys flew all over the world with their fancy flying ship. She heard the waiting list was so bad that unless you were a certified genius, you would be lucky if you got one of six spots. She never went there. While curious, she was never the sort of gal to study too much. Hands on experience, freedom, all of that was more her jam. Anyway, her answer didn't seem to satisfy Ryuu enough, who let out a thoughtful hum, yet with a frown still in place.
"Why?"
"Perspective. Also a break from all this. Also also, to brush up on his math skills." Solaris let out a small, amused snort. "Apparently he never attended a proper school. Funny, isn't it?"
Came with being raised on a farm in the boonies. Ryuu couldn't help but smile wryly herself.
"It is a privilege not many can afford. Such institutions are not everywhere nor are they available to everyone."
Some people had good home schooling due to the traditions and experiences of their family. Others were lucky if their cities build up their own schools, like Solaris did thanks to Lord Quirinus. Which naturally led to some people just having not as much of a…foundation as others. With that in mind, it was a miracle Bell ended up as well as he did. His grandpa must have been a smart cookie, all things considered. Either that or Bell was just carried by Kojiro…Solaris frowned at that. On second thought, that couldn't have been it. Kojiro sometimes felt like even more detached from civilization than even Bell. The current captain crossed her arm.
How the hell did they not cause a blood feud with that lacking of an education? Damn, turned out Bell must have had that Luck skill even before the Falna. Groundbreaking news. A miracle of the gods.
"Hehehehe…" Feeling Ryuu's stare, she cleared her throat before clapping her hands together. "So yeah, that's where he is." She raised an eyebrow at the elf. "Why, you wanted a date with him? Didn't you just go on one?"
And wasn't that both boring and funny at the same time. Boring, because the two just entered a fancy place to eat and stayed there the entire time. Solaris and the rest of Stardust Garden were naturally on anti cockblock duty, with her dealing with Hestia. The goddess swore to this day she just wanted to watch and not interfere. Naturally, those chains of hers were tight and unyielding in their grasp that day. But it was still funny just for one fact.
Bell still had to go around in a wheelchair. And since it was a date, the only one who would push him around was Ryuu. Who showed quite the teasing side in flat out pampering her lover. Hand feeding him, playing with his hair as she shoved him around. Heck, one time they saw Ryuu bend over on purpose right in front of the poor guy to pick something up she just happened to drop. Oh no, how silly of her. Solaris let out a giggle at the memory.
Love sure changed people. Not that she would get it, what with having zero interest in that kind of stuff, but now she knew why people read romantic comedies. Anyway, that all came back to bite Ryuu in her big bubbly booty when they came home, with Alise and the other girls, goddess included, proceeded to surround her with glowing eyes and dragged her off to tease her in return.
The elf blushed in the present, realizing what Solaris was thinking about. With a flick of her finger, a piece of bread slapped against the captain's forehead, who yelped at that move.
"Well, yes, but I'd have liked to have more than one. We will leave soon, so I wanted to make…some more memories."
Now Solaris could say a lot of things. A promise to give them more time with each other. Encouraging her. But really?
Sometimes the sugar got too much for Solaris, so for once, she decided to be petty. With an emotionless expression, the fiery girl shrugged.
"Kay."
"At least sound like you mean it!"
"Please insert a hundred valis, thank you," Solaris droned out, trying her hardest not to crack a smile. Hah, Alise was right, Ryuu was the most bullyable elf in existence!
That was the last she could think about before agony gripped her quite literally. The blushing elf held the skull of Solaris with a vice claw, and began to squeeze with a growl. Amidst the pain, Solaris could swear she was seeing steam escape the elf's mouth!
"Owowowowowow, skull, skull, skull, it's cracking, it's cracking, givegivegivegive!"
/
Bell did not know what he expected when Solaris more or less threw him out of the house to get "some gods damn basics into his skull". He imagined stern looking people in suits and glasses, standing before blackboards and a massive hall of seats, like a music theater or something. Instead he was…well, for one, they weren't even inside a room in the first place. The school did their lessons outside, on a somewhat spacious area, with plenty of stairs to seat the children on. Yes, children. Solaris did not send him anywhere where adventurers would study up on the dungeon or anything. Instead, he was sent to where youngsters would learn the basics of the basics.
Bell was not sure if he should feel offended or not. He decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe she just wanted him to see lessons and knowledge from a different angle. And well, it certainly helped, to ask the 'obvious' questions. Often he withheld himself, figuring what he'd ask was too stupid. Children didn't have such inhibitions. Naturally, some questions were a bit weird, but that was just part of being young, right?
"Do monsters make babies in the dungeon?"
"Is it true that if you get a Falna you can fly?"
"How big are your boobies?"
"For the last time, that is not a question to be asked! Hmph!"
Bell laughed awkwardly, only to quickly avoid the death glare he received from the teacher…who just happened to be Lefiya Viridis out of all people. Not only that, Aiz was further in the back, hands resting on her lap and sometimes tilting her head with curiosity. Bell had no idea why they were here too…but seeing Lefiya adjusting her hair and smiling as she proceeded to answer the questions in a non demeaning manner, he could only assume it was to relax. He smiled at her when she wasn't looking. She most definitely needed it from what he heard about Knossos. His eyes wandered and met Aiz'. The two quickly averted their eyes, awkwardness filling between them.
While their talk was a good one that night, it didn't change that there was still…a gap between them. Disappointing, really, but what could Bell do? Not only that, the air was still strained, as the children held more admiration for Aiz and Lefiya than they did for Bell…somewhat. Not that they were throwing glares at him or tomatoes at his head, but sometimes they just had that weird look, the very same they would have that led to Lefiya having to simplify her words. Maybe they thought he was weird for protecting the Xenos. Maybe they were just disappointed nobody from the Astraea Familia was here. Thoughts like these ran through his head, wondering what those children thought of him.
However, then one of the girls got his attention when she raised her arm and pointed at Aiz,
"Oh, oh, oh! Who would win in a fight between the Royal Gale and you, Miss Aiz?"
Everyone's heads turned towards the Wind Princess, who blushed a bit at the attention. Lefiya, usually the first to admonish people for pointing at people, puffed up her chest with pride and flicked her ponytail backwards.
"Obviously Miss Aiz would win!"
"I mean, I feel they are pretty equal…" Bell muttered, scratching his right cheek with a wry grin. That was the wrong thing to say, as the elf shot a glare at him, putting her hands on her hips.
"You're just saying that because she's your girlfriend!"
The children collectively had glowing eyes as they let out an amazed 'ooooh' sound. Great, more attention on his love life, he got enough of that at the Stardust Garden! Frantically he waved his hands before himself and shook his head in denial.
"N-no, not just because of that!"
"So you admit it's a factor!" She shouted, smirking victoriously as if she won a sparring exchange. For some reason, something in Bell's heart heated up. Maybe a consequence of standing up for the Xenos, against all the adventurers of Orario and facing Asterius…but at this moment, Bell was not satisfied to just be the better person and shrink away! With a slight narrowing of his eyes he pointed at her.
"What about you then?! Aren't you biased as well?"
Lefiya blinked at him with wide eyes. So did Aiz. Both girls had never seen him throw back words like that. The elf's mouth twitched profusely before it was settled in a deep frown as she waved her hand dismissively.
"I am speaking facts, thank you very much!"
"I think you're both wrong."
""What?""
They both stared owlishly at the individual concerning this debate. Aiz had her hand raised politely before putting it back down on her lap, eyes closed in consideration.
"In a straight fight, I might be able to take Ryuu. I'd give myself…sixty percent odds. I'm better at fighting monsters, so usually it's a race against time of me overpowering her with my magic before she gets to develop her momentum." She shook her head slowly. "However, her strength doesn't lie in a straight fight."
"Whooooaa…."
She opened her eyes, only to see excited, sparkly eyed children giving her all of the attention. Those children included Lefiya and Bell who scooted over a bit closer to her. With all those looks, Aiz looked around, like a confused large predator surrounded by helpless little kittens.
"Uhm…"
"Please, continue. It's pretty interesting."
"I want to hear this too!"
With the encouragements given by both Bell and Lefiya, Aiz cleared her throat, just realizing how easy her voice carried through this area of Orario.
"O-okay…" Calming herself with a deep breath, she focused back on her thoughts. "Ryuu is a jack of all trades, so to say. But her terrifying strength lies in mixing it all together so well, it is akin to facing an army on your own." She raised her hand to count of from it. "Tools. The environment. Tricks, psychological warfare."
Bell hummed thoughtfully. A part of him couldn't imagine the upright and straightforward woman actually…do such things. Using the environment, sure, but mostly for her own footwork and agility. It felt more like a Lyra thing to do, to 'cheat' like that. Then again, Lyra was usually more of a "prepare a lot of trinkets and then just improvise" in mid battle. Ryuu felt more…methodical. To know a path to victory from the get go. Or develop one in the middle of combat when she decided a target deserved no mercy.
That had to be the difference. No mercy. She would never have such an approach during sparring. Only in the most desperate and darkest moments would she pull out all of the stops. Bell wasn't stupid. Sometimes, when Ryuu thought nobody wasn't looking, one could see the dark miasma that was chained down deep inside her heart. Maybe…maybe she could pull something like that off.
"I remember one time in particular when I wanted to fight her with her 'full power'."
That was when she recounted her tale. How, when they were younger, Aiz wanted to face Ryuu with her full power. With nothing held back. Naturally, Ryuu was hesitant to do so against an ally, leaving a bad taste. But the Wind Princess was known to be stubborn. Over and over, she would follow and chase down Ryuu to make her demands, until at last, she had conceded. On the condition that there would be healers on site, just in case.
They settled on an agreed location, outside of Orario, somewhere in a forest. It was only when Aiz arrived did she realize what "all out" meant for Ryuu. For when she first stepped foot into the dueling grounds, she realized it was not such a thing.
It was a killing field. Traps triggered, setting off explosives, flashbangs and armaments being thrown at her. Disorienting her, Aiz could barely make out Ryuu making a move, turning into nothing more than a formless phantom floating and flying between the trees. No matter how much brute force Aiz applied, she would never hit her target, instead just setting off more and more traps, as Ryuu dove in and out to hit her vital points. With her sword, with sticky fluids to hinder her, even throwing sand at her eyes. Then there were all the wires, offering even more mobility and attack angles and options to Ryuu, while restricting hers in return.
To say Aiz was dominated was an understatement. Ryuu Lion was utterly untouched when she pressed her foot against Aiz' chest, a cold look on her face before she blinked it away, concerning returning when she offered a hand to help Aiz up, while Riveria already cast her magic to heal Aiz.
The Wind Princess let out a calming breath, rubbing her chest before opening her eyes. She smiled shyly at the wide eyed looks she was getting.
"On paper, she is weaker than me." She recalled her lessons with Kojiro. He put it best, when he described her more akin to a monster, who would reduce herself to zero for her goal. She glanced at Bell, feeling the ache in her heart lighten just a bit before she shook her head. "But the weak have their own way to defeat the strong. Never forget that."
Silence filled the area, stretching out, before the kids exploded with excitement.
"That's soooo coooool!"
It took a while to allow Aiz reprieve from the swarm of little ones trying to get more details out of her. Luckily one of the adults in charge of the school managed to pry them off the dazed adventurer, giving her and the other two adventurers a much needed break.
"You're pretty good with kids, Aiz," Bell said as the children learned their numbers eagerly. Apparently they came to the conclusion that they needed math to pull anything close to what Ryuu did. Aiz blushed a bit, averting her eyes.
"I-I wouldn't say that…"
"Nonsense, they are eating out of your palm!" Her happy expression gave away to a pointed look of suspicion. While Aiz was looking away, Lefiya pointed at her, then at Bell, before subtly shaking her head when the elf pointed the thumb at herself. "As they do with you, Bell!"
"You could've kept that smile before turning to me…" Bell muttered before scratching the back of his head. "And I think they are a bit more conflicted about me."
"Pah. They are children. They might not understand, but your fight with the mo-I mean Xenos was the most memorable moment for them." Her eyebrow twitched, causing Bell to frown a bit. "No way they are thinking about anything but your 'awesomeness'. Wheelchair or not."
Her shoulders shook. Her fingers twitched ever so slightly, as her lips trembled. Concern filled Bell's heart, ignoring the small red on her cheeks, instead pressing his lips together.
"...Are you okay?"
Lefiya froze, as Aiz turned to her as well. Then, she let out a loud scoff, too loud.
"Of course I'm not okay. Filvis is-"
"I don't think this is about her," Bell interrupted her. Lefiya stopped once more before narrowing her eyes at Bell.
"Oh, you know me that well?"
"I mean, your mood plummeted the moment you mentioned my fight with Asterius, so I assumed it was about me?"
The elf's eyes went wide, as did Aiz'. Lefiya opened her mouth on instinct, wanting to deny it…but in the end, her shoulders slumped when Bell just kept looking at her, with no judgment, just worry.
"So arrogant…But you're right." She gave him a tired, raised eyebrow. "You really don't get it, do you?"
"Uhm…"
Was she also mad he almost died? Or was she angry he stood up for te Xenos? Before his mind could create all sorts of ideas, his eyes met Aiz' as Lefiya lowered her head. The Wind Princess slowly shook her head, giving him an encouraging smile. Then Lefiya took a deep breath, eyes pointed at the ground.
"I declared myself your rival. Your opponent in this race of becoming stronger, more skilled, to reach the summit of the world with all those other amazing people like Aiz."
"I don't-" Aiz stopped herself when Lefiya let out an ugly laugh. She looked up at Bell, appearing so incredibly tired as she was hunched over her knees.
"But see where that got me? I made myself a clown."
"What do you mean?" Bell asked, swallowing the objecting shout he was about to make. He wanted to hear her out. In response, she closed her eyes, clenching her fists.
"How could I possibly declare myself your rival after…seeing that? That…breathtaking fight? How could I be anything but a stranger, a spectator to you, after all of that?" She whispered, her voice in agony and wonder alike as she remembered the duel. "I could…and will never be able to give you such a fight. Which means I never stood a chance."
She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off any forming tears. She looked at Bell with a smile that was filled with self loathing.
"I'm nothing to you compared to that Asterius. To everyone else." A strained giggle escaped her. "I'm just a mage. I need protection all the time. If I were ever faced with such a scenario, I would crumble like a piece of paper in a rain storm." A sniffle, and at that point, Bell pushed himself up a bit from his wheelchair, while she ignored his action as she stared at the ground once more. "I wouldn't be surprised if you even forgot my name some-"
"None of that is true!"
She jumped a bit, staring at him wide eyed as he saw the fire behind his eyes. He took a calming breath, trying not to make a scene, working hard to relax his fist. Then, once he figured he was calm enough, he tapped the side of his temple.
"I admit, I don't always think about you up here." He then pointed at his chest with a small grin. "But I always have you in my heart."
"W-w-w-wha-"
He ignored her stammering, her flushed face, as well as whatever Aiz' reaction was to this. He was focused on speaking from his soul, as he let out a light laugh.
"Sure. You aren't a warrior like Kojiro, or Aiz, or I, or anyone else. But so what?" He pointed at her before pointing at himself. "We aren't rivals based on that. That'd be unfair, to you most of all." He felt the magical energy flow through his body, the warm feeling, the power that made dreams into reality. "You are my rival when it comes to magic. You are the standard I compare myself to. Not to Aiz, not to Ryuu, not even to Miss Riveria."
"How-"
He shook his head before her indignation could properly form.
"Every time I cast magic, a part of me always wonders, 'what if Lefiya were in my place'? How much easier she could dispatch large enemies? How much she could take out armies and still have more than enough to keep going? How many more alternatives she has compared to me?"
She was so much better than him, so much more wide spread as a mage than him, it wasn't even funny. She could've destroyed that Leviathan Copy with ease. If she was given time, she could've even destroyed Asterius with one go. No matter how weird she treated him, how much she threw verbal abuse…it didn't change the fact that he respected Lefiya. Thus, he nodded at her once.
"So don't beat yourself down like this. Please. You look better when you are confident."
She breathed heavily, her face impossibly red. Her mouth moved, yet no sounds came out. Then, at last, what felt like an eternity, she finally let out a sound.
"...PERVERT!"
Bell didn't know what he expected, but he should've probably known better. Still, his heart was betrayed once more, his expectations lying in ruins, as he yelped at the accusation, the pointing finger accompanied by the tomato colored face and quivering lips.
"What?!"
"Pervert! Disgusting leech! Idiot!" She hugged herself, unconsciously squishing her assets up a bit. "Isn't the Royal Gale enough for you?! Is this what you are aiming for, my maiden body as well?!"
"Eeeeeeehhh?!"
How did she get that idea from what he said?! How was that her main take away?! He wasn't thinking about such things at all until she put the idea into his head! Said idea being…being…
…Not that objectionable? It wasn't like Lefiya was disgusting to look at or anything. Quite the opposite, she was one of the more beautiful women he knew, overlooked by others, but definitely having her own charm. Not only that, as much as they clashed, he…liked how they interacted. There weren't many who pushed against him like she did. Clashing for the sake of it sometimes, with no hard feelings behind them. Bell even considered it refreshing compared to other interactions. A contrast to his daily life.
It was then that Bell realized he had made a terrible mistake.
He created an awkward pause by remaining silent, which could be taken as quiet admission. Lefiya backed away even more, eyes at the verge of bulging out of her head as she started to hyperventilate.
"S-s-s-say something! Don't take me so seriously, I'm j-joking! Like always!" Her heavy breathing intensified. "You aren't actually interested in my body, right?!"
"Always remember, women love to put down traps with no right option left. So if it's a choice between backing away or moving forward, it's obvious what a man should do! GO STRAIGHT FOR THEM, BELL! OFFFEEEEEEEEENSE!"
NOT NOW, GRANDPA!
"Since when were you two this close?"
"Gah!"
"Eek!"
The two blushing idiots stared at Aiz. Who saw their reaction, and just ever so slowly…lowered her head with her shoulders slumping in that very same pace.
"...You forgot about me…"
""N-no! Of course not!""
"You are even in sync…" A gloomy cloud appeared over her head. "I get it…I'm just a third wheel…"
It was that day that Bell realized how much it took to get a depressed Aiz out of her slump. As in monetary wise. His wallet was weeping, future Solaris ready to break his back, but at least the Wind Princess was happily munching away on some potatoes. He looked at Lefiya, who shrugged helplessly with her own empty wallet.
Why Aiz was so obsessed with potatoes, that was a question lots of people had no idea about. If nothing else, it gave them some time to take a breather. Much much calmer and more agreeable now, Lefiya adjusted her hair, a half hearted glare sent at Bell.
"Honestly though." She waggled her finger at him. "You really should mind how you act around other women! You could break Ryuu's heart like this!"
"I mean…She is kind of open to other women, but yeah, I should be more careful and-"
The turning of their necks was audible to his ears with how loud they cracked.
"Wait, what?"
Shock was written all over their faces, causing Bell to freeze up like a mouse before a mountain tiger.
Aaaand Bell made it worse once more. He repressed the urge to let out a whine, if only barely. Was that meant to be a secret? Bell realized he and Ryuu never said it was meant to be one, but was it one of those 'left unsaid, because it's obvious' things?! Gah, why was dating so hard?! With a bright smile, Lefiya slammed her hands down his shoulders and gave them a light, bone crushing squeeze as she let out an innocent laugh.
"Explain now please~!"
Aiz was stock still, but if looks could hurt, Bell was already dead by the sheer emotionless intensity they possessed. So caught like this, what could he do but be honest?
"She…She said that if it makes me…well, us, happy, she is open to more…people in the relationship…? I-I am paraphrasing of course, so…"
He tried. Tried so hard to put Ryuu's words in a good light. But now that he recounted the event…There wasn't a good way to put this without making his girlfriend sound like someone who'd be whoring out her boyfriend. Who sounded like one of those perverts who got off with watching their lover be with someone else. Mentally he sent a heartfelt message for forgiveness towards the elf, for ruining her reputation.
"Hm? Maybe Bell is thinking about me. I have this fuzzy feeling in my chest…"
"COOLCOOLCOOL, LET GO THEN, MY SKULL IS ACTUALLY CRACKING FOR REAL FOR REAL, OWWWWW!"
Back to Bell's situation, he couldn't help but blink as he remembered something. Back when Ryuu teased him with that wedding dress. Then he raised an eyebrow at Lefiya.
"Wait, you were there when Ryuu said-"
"I dismissed it as a hallucination, obviously!"
…The worst part about this was that Bell couldn't blame her too much. Ryuu was about as idolized as none bar Riveria among elven kind. As Lefiya ran her hand through her hair, having to accept this reality, Aiz just kept…staring at him. If only she could make a facial expression. A frown, a blush, anything, really! At last, she would nod slowly, face still emotionless.
"I feel conflicted."
"W-why?" Bell asked, a crack in his voice. Yet instead of elaborating, she looked away, still maintaining that poker face.
"...No reason."
Was that good? Maybe it was good. Yes, Bell decided that was good. Because if that was bad, his paranoia would quite literally kill him.
"She definitely is a keeper. You lucky bastard…" Lefiya rested her chin on her palm as she looked away, red coloring her face. "Then again, I might be lucky too…?"
"Why would you be lucky?" Bell asked, raising an eyebrow at that. Her eyes shot wide, freezing, before she let out a mocking, stammering laugh.
"W-what does it matter to you?!" She leaned forward with her hands on her hips. "Haaaaaah, did you think I would be interested in that degeneracy?! To be between y-y-y-you and Lion?! Think again!"
"What degeneracy?! Why are you so mad again?!"
"How can someone be so stuuuuuupiiiiiid?! Hmph!" Lefiya crossed her arms and turned away. Bell couldn't help but bristle up, trying to become a bit taller as he pushed himself up the wheelchair handles.
"If anyone's stupid, it's you! You never explain yourself!"
"I don't have to! And don't call me stupid, stupid!" Lefiya countered, pressing her forehead against his, glaring at his own glare.
"You said it first, stupid!"
"You guys are leaving me out again…" Aiz muttered, but this time it wasn't heard by the two as they held a deeply intellectual debate with each other.
"Meanie!"
"Bully!"
"Idiot!"
"Anger issues!"
"Mommy issues!"
"How does that make any sense?!"
"It just does, mommy issues!"
"Are you fighting?"
This time, the two were pulled out of their little conflict. The children looked at them with those innocent shining orbs they called eyes. No judgement. No anger. Just curiosity. It took the wind right out of their sails. Bell leaned back in his wheelchair, clearing his throat, as Lefiya laughed awkwardly, adjusting her dress.
"No! We just have…" She struggled to come up with an idea, before she snapped her finger and pointed at the sky as if she was a genius. "Disagreements!"
"Oh, I know that! Mommy says that disagreements are signs of love!" One girl clapped her hands in excitement. "Are they your girlfriends, Mr. Cranel?"
Aiz, Lefiya and Bell choked on their own spit. What the devil were the adults teaching their children in Orario?! Quickly, the young man shook his head in a panic.
"N-no, they aren't!"
Aiz' shoulder slumped, the dark cloud over her head growing ever more black. Meanwhile Lefiya's cheeks puffed up in indignation before smacking the back of his head with her staff.
"Don't deny it so fast! Are we so undesirable?!"
As Bell yelped amidst the laughter of the children, he felt like crying as Lefiya showed no mercy. What was he doing wrong?!
/
"Ah, welcome back…Why do you look so tired?"
"...Social interaction is hard."
"Do you want a lap pillow?"
"Yes, please…Uhm, what's wrong with Solaris?"
"Oh, she's just a little bit dead, don't pay her any mind."
"Gfffblrr…"