Ryu and Syr managed to run into the main room of the pub in the last second. If they would´ve been late, Mia would scold them and give them extra work. Freya secretely enjoyed it when that happened, getting scolded with her best friend was a nice experience. And Mia never held back to scold and punish Syr.

"So girls ears up, a storm is approaching the city and we have much to do. I´m not worried about the building but we need to stock up, who knows what might happen to the fields around the city. Also we´re understaffed, Runoa is with goddess Demeter to help secure the fields, as compensation we get some fresh vegetables and a nice discount for future purchases."

Mia grinned.

"Anya you clean floor, Chloe you do the tables. Ryu and Syr I want both of you to go shopping, we need some extra stuff and hurry, we don´t know who might buy everything they can just because it might rain a bit."

Anya sighed "The floor again?..."

"Said something?"

"No!"

Annya grabbed herself a broom, a mop and began to clean the floor, while Chloe got some cloth and a bucket from the kitchen.
"Let´s go, Ryu. I´m sure we will get enough."

Syr took a basket and her jacket, then stepped out of the front door, followed by Ryu. .

.
At the same time at Hearth Mansion, breakfast had just ended, Bell felt a bit better now that he ate something.

Naza passed the time after breakfast, helping Lily organize some books. The pallum decided which ones they needed for the meeting and which not. Naza put back the unnecessary ones in the book shelf.

"Lily must thank you Ms. Naza, most member of Lily´s familia don´t have the patience to help Lily with the books. They think it´s enough to listen to the guild advisers."

Naza smiled in her calm manner. "You treated us to breakfast and I´m the only one here who doesn´t go into the dungeon, it´s the least I can do..."

"Don´t put your light under the bushel. Your potions are one of the most important things we need, plus someone must guard the house when we´re in the dungeon."

"You´re too kind Ms. Lily."

"Ah we supporters must support each other."

Both smiled, it was a common pun between supporters. Naza stretched in the attempt to put back a book into a higher row of the shelf that Lily took before with a stepladder, said ladder gor used at the moment by Lily. She was a bit too small to reach the row. The sound of the opening door let her dog like ears twitch.

"You ladies need some help?"

Miach came into the small library and wearing his usual calm smile on his lips. When he saw that Naza trembled a bit, he stepped behind her.

"Here I´ll do it for you, my dear."

In an instant Naza blushed, with her sandwiched between the shelf and her handsome god, who took her hand this moment.

"L...Lord Miach..."

Miach took the book from her and put it into the row she couldn´t reach.

"Something the matter?"

When Naza turned around, his hand was still placed on the shelf, while he leaned forward smiling, their faces weren´t that much away from each other.

Is...is this a wall slam?!

Naza´s brain went overtime and her tail wagged like crazy. A moment later Miach reached with his other hand to her face.

My cheek?! What does he plan to do?! Oh please...do something to me...

His hand wandered higher to her hair.

Aah...my ears?...My hair?...M...Lord Miach...

Lily could swear she saw steam comming out of Naza´s head.

Finally Miach wiped away a dust flake that hung in Naza´s hair. He smiled and patted her hair. "You´re always so nice to everyone, my dear."

This time for sure steam shot out of Naza´s ears, as when she started to melt. Wordless they stared into each others eyes, Miach still leaned forward.

In the corner of her eye Lily saw Hestia through the door gap, at first she wanted to come in to get Miach back to the conversation between the gods but when she discovered the situation,
she was quiet like a mouse.

"I really feel more at ease with you around me, Naza. I hope we will stay together forever."

Haaaaaaa...a proposal?!

Naza was at a loss for words, this was the happiest moment of her life!

"I have to go back now, the others wait, until then ladies."

He smiled while going out of the room, Hestia dashed away before he noticed her. Lily remained silent for a few moments, while Naza tried to catch her breath.

"Does he...always do things like that?"

Naza released only a squeel before slowly sinking to the floor and metaphorical melting into a puddle.

"Wow..." Lily continued with her work, a bit red in the face herself. Miach seemed to be an unconsciously lady killer.

.

.

Haruhime had checked the kitchen cupboards, they could need a few more things. Almost everyone was busy right now except Bell who was cleaning, oiling and polishing his armor and weapons.
Haruhime left the kitchen and climbed the stairs to the first floor, arriving at Bell´s room she knocked softly. A muffled voice answered her.

"Come in."

Opening the door, Haruhime saw Bell sitting cross legged on the carpet, a white sheet spread out before him, the parts of his armor lined on it. He held a leather strip in his mouth, the reason for his muffled voice, his leg protection in the hand and oiled the buckle.

"Master Bell do you have time to do some shopping? I have no one else to ask."

He released the strip. "Ah of course, just tell me what you need."

Bell closed the oil can he got from Welf and whiped his hands clean with a cloth. After closing his door, he followed Haruhime to the kitchen, got a big shopping bag from her and a list with the items.

"The gods said they would be busy for a few more hours so you don´t have to rush."

Bell smiled to her. "Alright."

He looked through the grocery list. "..Then I´m off."

Bell waved to Haruhime and stepped to the front door.

.

.
Ryu and Syr were still on their way to the market place. Orario was a really nice place these days, especially compared to the dark times that Ryu had seen. They came across playing children of which some greeted Syr like they knew her and also a few other people and gods.

Just how big is her fanclub?

Syr walked alongside Ryu. "So Ryuu...what is vexing you?"

"Syr I.."

Ryu´s eyes roamed around without looking at anything in particular. She gathered her thoughts and courage. "I..."

The words just refused to leave her tongue.

"Ryu...you like Mr. Bell...do you?"

Thank to whatever god or goddess, Syr helped her say it. "Ye...I think I do...but.."

Syr tilted her head and looked at Ryu from the side. Ryu´s expression a bit discomforted, with a shade of red under her eyes and at the tip of her ears. "But ?"

"I shouldn´t..."

Syr had a puzzled look. "And why is that so?"

Just a bit teasing won´t hurt...teehee.

"I mean...you like him...don´t you Syr?"

Now it was for Syr to blush a bit. "Ah that...uhm...yeah."

Both had an awkward look on their faces.

Ryu stammered. "S...see? If you l-like him then.."

"You shouldn´t ?"

"Yes."

"I´m asking again...why?"

"I can´t..."

Ryu took a few deep breaths to calm down. They talked quiet enough so no one around could listen.

"I can´t take him from you."

Syr giggled. "I see no problem here."

Ryu looked perplexed. "Huh?"

"I mean...if you like him..."

Ryu blushed more by these words.

"I see no problem ...I´m in no position to forbid you anything."

"But Syr.."

"I think it´s just fair if we both try...don´t you?"

Take the hint

Freya kept a close eye onto Ryu´s soul orb, whenever she spoke Bell´s name, it pulsed stronger. Ryu was head over heels for Bell.

Syr continued. "Mr. Bell has a free will, if his heart decides there isn´t much I can do."

"But...but don´t you want him for yourself?"

Syr held the basket she had with her behind her back, both hands around the handle, while looking at the sky. No she also stammered a bit.

"I..do. But..."

"But?"

Syr turned her face to Ryu and showed her a smile brighter than the sun. "I also want my best friend to be happy."

Bang! Right into the heart. If Ryu were a man or swung the other way, she would have fallen for Syr a long time ago, but instantly the moment she saw that smile. Ryu was at a loss for words. Syr nudged her shoulder against Ryu´s a bit.

"You thought I would be mad?"

"Uhm...yes."

Syr could see Ryu´s long ears drop a bit, quite the adorable sight. She leaned over and whispered in Ryu´s ear.

"I would never be mad with you."

Ryu heard her blood murmur in her ears. Her heart danced a staccato in her chest. It was finally out, she said it in front of Syr.

"A-And...what now?"

Syr put a fingertip on her lower lip. "Hmmm how about a proposal?"

"What kind of proposal?"

"We both try, fighting fair and square and...if he actually falls in love with one of us...the other one will support the chosen...how about it?"

For Ryu that sounded like a good solution.

"O..okay...if I...if he chooses you...I will support you with everything I have."

Syr leaned over and tapped Ryu´s forehead lightly with her own. "And so will I."

Inside Ryu, her heart blew up the chains her brain had tried lay on it and roared victorious..after all leave the matter of feelings to the heart and not the brain.

.

.

Ryu took another series of deep breaths and tried to calm down her raging heart.

Syr chuckled. "Ryu...you turned bright red!"

The elf turned her head to Syr but in that moment Syr´s face lightened up as she saw someone a bit away behind Ryu.

"Ah Mr. Bell!"

Smiling and waving for the young man, Syr noticed that Ryu panicked a bit, right now seeing Bell might be to much for the young elf. So she hid behind Syr, facing away and tried to calm her breath just as Bell came over to them waving.

.

.
A bit earlier.

.

Bell seriously wondered what was wrong with him, he felt so weird. It had started when he woke up in the hospital bed and saw Ryu a bit later. He was so happy that she was well and awake again. Then he felt even more weird when they strolled through the city, where he saw Ryu in all her beauty, wearing that white dress.

And finally, the evening of the party.

He didn´t understand what happened right now. In the past when Bell went to bed, he had dreams of fighting together with his friends, protecting them. Or he dreamed about Ais, how he chased her and tried to stand next to her.

But now...

Now he saw Ryu in his dreams, saw her smiling to him. When that happened, he felt his heart throb. Bell never felt this way before, which was really strange. Thinking about Ryu now felt different from thinking about Ais. As if his feelings were different, sadly Bell didn´t have enough experience to figure it out.

He had to think what to do, was there someone he could ask? If possible he wanted to ask a man, maybe Takemikazuchi or Miach? Miach looked like he was an expert to feelings.

Bell heard a voice calling out for him, he saw Syr and Ryu with shopping baskets standing at the entrance to the shopping street. He smiled when he saw Syr, but when he looked at Ryu, his heart jumped up and his cheeks felt a bit warm.

"Ah good morning you two."

"Good morning Mr. Bell, you´re out for shopping I guess?"

"Yes, we need some stuff, but not much."

"Are you in a hurry?...Ryu why are you hiding behind me? You´re rude to Mr. Bell."

Syr pulled lightly at Ryu´s uniform. The adressed turned around, her face was nearly as calm as ever.

"Good morning B...Mr Cranel."

"Ah morning R...Miss Ryu."

He smiled to her, then faced Syr. "To come back to your question, I have time on hand. Do you need help?"

Syr´s face brightened. "That would be wonderful! Mama Mia asked us to buy more ingredients than usual and we could need the help of a strong man."

Her smile alone was enough to convince everyone and Bell smiled slightly abashed at the sight. "I-I would gladly."

Syr nudged against Ryu a bit. "How wonderful right, Ryu?"

"Y-Yeah...thank you Mr. Cranel."

Hearing Ryu thank him now triggered a different reaction in Bell, compared to his reaction to Syr. He felt happy. Ryu finally got her expression under control. Seeing Bell so shortly after having that talk with Syr was not easy. Maybe her blood had rushed to her head? She could have sworn she heard low voices in her head.

Go for it, Lion!

Don´t let him get away!

Do it you silly elf!

Hurry up, young one!

More voices than one...and all female...

It turned out running into Bell was a good thing for Ryu and Syr. The amount of ingredients they had to buy would´ve been to much for the two to carry. Bell beeing a cavalier took the biggest bags while Syr and Ryuu each took one bag and the basket they had with them.

"Is your arm alright, Mr. Cranel ?"

Ryu allways called Bell "Mr. Cranel" when they were not alone, but why? Because something like calling him by his first name, should be something when they were alone, or openly when they would be lovers.

Lovers...

"Miss Ryu?"

"Your arm...is it not too heavy?"

"Ah not everything is allright, thank you. A few bags are not a problem to carry. And I can´t let you carry them."

Ryu looked at him. "Why not?"

Bell got a serious face. "Because my grandpa said.."When you go shopping with a girl you have to carry her bags so she can enjoy looking at the store windows! This way you make her happy, Bell."...something like that."

Right next to them Syr giggled and even Ryu had a light smile on her lips. "How chivalrous of you Mr. Cranel."

Bell would´ve rubbed the back of his head right now if his hands weren´t full.

.

.

After a quarter of an hour they arrived at the Benevolent Mistress, where Syr directed them around to the back door, there she knocked a few times with her shoe. Anya opened the door seemingly completed her task of cleaning the floor...or taking a short break...until Mia would notice her.

"Welcome back, Nya...ah white hair! Come in come in!"

The airheaded catgirl moved aside to let the three pass through the door. They placed everything on the main countertop, where Mai, the chief cook, checked the bags. The head of Chloe appeared in the kitchen door.

"Did meow hear the nyautiful butt, Meow?"

"Chloe, that´s rude!" Syr scolded her with an slightly embarassed look on her face.

"What are you all doing in the kitchen ?"

Mia appeared from a side door and Chloe froze instantly, trying to duck back to safety.

"Ah boy, what brings you here?"

"Mr. Cranel helped us carry the bags."

Mia gave him a pat on the shoulder while grinning. "Ah good boy, good boy."

Then she held her right index finger under his nose. "But no flirting with my staff again, yes?"

"Eh?!" Bell became bright red in an instant. "I-I w-would never..."

"It´s all right boy."

Mia looked at him for a moment.

"Hmm when you´re already here I have an idea."

"Hm?"

"Are you busy tomorrow?"

"No, actually not."

"We could need help here. One of my girls is away and the girls could need help."

Syr threw a begging glance at Bell, while Ryu remained calm.

"Alright...I think ?"

"Not for free of course, it comes with a meal later."

"Around what time?"

"Let´s say three hours after noon."

In the moment Bell wanted to wish goodbye it came to his mind.

"Aaargh! I forgot my own purchases!" And rushed out of the door. "See you tomorrow!"

Syr smiled at Ryu.

"Aren´t you happy?"

After a few seconds Ryu nodded with a light smile. "Yes.."

"Hey you girls! Back to work!"

""Yes ma´am !"".