"What are you thinking about?" Akira's voice, full of curiosity, broke through her thoughts.
Turning her gaze back, she found him watching her expectantly. After a moment's pause, she let a faint smile tug at her lips.
"I was just thinking… if this were before, I would have tossed you straight into the river."
Akira froze for half a heartbeat, then burst into laughter. "Seriously? Then it's a good thing you've changed. Otherwise, I'd have to be on guard for my life every second."
Her eyes softened further. Reaching out, she tapped his forehead lightly with her finger. "You really do talk too much."
The gesture was so natural, so intimate, that even she failed to notice just how much the space between them had closed.
Akira blinked, then rubbed his forehead, his gaze lingering on Alfia.
"The moonlight tonight is so beautiful." He said again, his voice lower, more deliberate.
Alfia arched a brow. "Why say it again?"
'Is this some kind of proverb I'm unaware of?'
Akira tilted his head back, clasping his hands behind it, and gave her a sly smile. "Heh… who knows."
A gentle breeze stirred the riverside grass, carrying with it the faint fragrance of wildflowers.
Alfia inhaled deeply, feeling the serenity soak into her bones.
'Perhaps change isn't so bad. At least now… I have someone I can talk to like this.'
Her gaze shifted to him again. Under the moon's silver glow, Akira's youthful face was sharply outlined, and his eyes shone with that mischievous, almost uncontainable light.
"It feels good to have you as a friend." She said quietly.
Then she turned back toward the river, where the moon's reflection shimmered with a faint red hue. The night wind brushed against her hair, cool and fleeting.
Akira's lips quirked upward. Reaching out, he twined a lock of her hair around his finger, his smile turning teasing.
"Just friends?"
Alfia's cheeks flared pink instantly. Turning away, she tugged her hair free and replied with forced calm, "What else? What more do you want?"
Her heart thumped unexpectedly fast. Was it from embarrassment… or something she couldn't quite name?
Seeing her flustered expression, Akira's grin widened, but he didn't push further. He simply stretched his arms and looked up at the starry expanse overhead. And Alfia, almost unconsciously, followed his gaze.
After a while, Alfia's voice grew quieter. "Those people might attack tomorrow. Be careful."
She hesitated, then added, "And… don't rush into dangerous things."
A pause.
"You're only thirteen, right? Even my sister didn't get involved in… certain things… until she was sixteen or seventeen."
The corners of Akira's lips twitched as he asked, "What does that have to do with age? Are you underestimating me?"
Alfia answered with nothing more than a soft, knowing chuckle.
'If only you knew,I'm not some clueless kid, and my body's got gifts you wouldn't believe. Believe it or not, I could—!' Akira thought darkly.
He bit his tongue before the thought could become words. Some things were better left unsaid.
They spoke a while longer about how to handle the coming day, until the night deepened and the chill in the air grew sharper.
"It's late." Alfia finally said. "Go back and rest."
Akira nodded but lingered for a moment, his eyes locked on hers. "You be careful too."
Alfia stepped closer, brushing back his hair with one hand, and leaned down to kiss his forehead. Pulling back, she smiled faintly. "Mm. You too."
For a moment, Akira stood frozen, his heart thudding in his chest. Then, acting on a sudden impulse, he cupped her cheek and leaned in to place the lightest peck on her lips before stepping back.
Without another word, he turned and started walking away. But after a few steps, he glanced back, she was still standing there, unmoving.
Under the moonlight, she seemed etched in silver, her slender figure like a painting brought to life.
He smiled faintly. "See you next time."
Almost on reflex, Alfia lifted her hand. "See you next time."
Only after his silhouette vanished into the night did she touch her lips, a quiet smile curving her lips as she strolled along the riverbank, her silver hair flowing in the night wind.
These past days, Orario seemed wrapped beneath an impenetrable gray filter.
The continuous gloom pressed down on the city like a suffocating weight, robbing even the air of its warmth.
Thick, heavy clouds, symbols of this dark age, blanketed the sky, smothering both the sky and the hearts of its people.
There was no rain, no thunder. Only that endless, oppressive stillness. But today… today was different.
The suffocating gray was gone, replaced by a vivid sky so clear it looked as though a giant sapphire had been polished until not a single impurity remained. Fluffy tufts of white drifted lazily above, scattering like strokes of a painter's brush across the boundless blue.
For the first time in far too long, the sky was clear.
"Alright. Let's get the food distributed."
Hands on her hips, Alise beamed, her voice carrying through the bustling street. Excitement practically radiated from her face.
Lyra, standing nearby, gave her a sidelong glance and muttered with thinly veiled exasperation, "Why are you holding your head so high and puffing your chest out like that? Acting like you're the great hero of the day. We're the ones who are about to be run ragged."
"Of course I'm excited." Alise replied without missing a beat, her tone brimming with confidence. "The Guild may be the official organizer, but it's us adventurers who actually get to hand out the food."
She straightened her already slender chest under her armor, striking her most self-satisfied pose of the day.
"And with help from the Demeter Familia, Orario's biggest agricultural powerhouse, today's meal is going to be delicious. Everyone's going to love it."
As she spoke, she flicked a lock of hair behind her ear in what she clearly thought was a graceful, endearing gesture. Her bright smile blossomed again, unshaken by Lyra's sarcasm.
"I feel like I understand you but actually, I don't." Kaguya, playing the role of a refined lady, tilted her head and delivered the comment with an elegant smile.
Once again, she was reminded that their captain's mind was as incomprehensible as it was cheerful.
"Well, isn't that just Alise being Alise?"
Akira, standing beside Kaguya with his arms folded, spoke with a warm smile tugging at his lips. "Still, handing out food under a sky like this. It's a rare kind of comfort for the people, after so many dreary days."
His gaze swept across the street. Volunteer stalls stretched along the main road, the air alive with the enticing aroma of freshly cooked meals, vegetable soup made from chopped greens, warm oatmeal porridge. It was the smell of nourishment. Of life.
The crowd was already alive with chatter and laughter. And seeing those smiles, the girls couldn't help but smile too.
As always, Alise ignored her companions' complaints. She clapped her hands, her voice bright with energy. "Alright, that means today's going to be a day full of laughter. Come on, everyone, we can help with cooking or distributing food."
"I'm not very good at the whole charity thing." Lyra mumbled, scratching her cheek as she wandered toward the crowd.
"I'm shy, so I'll help with the cooking." Kaguya said as she headed toward the preparation tent, her elegance somehow intact even as she escaped from direct service.
Neze and the others followed suit, splitting up into smaller groups.
Akira took a step toward the long lines of waiting people. "I'll help keep the queue in order."
Nearby, Ryuu was quietly observing her companions when Alise suddenly called out to her.
"Ryuu! Come with me, and watch as I feed every last one of these poor, starving souls until they turn into the cutest little fat pigs."
Ryuu's expression didn't even twitch as she said, "Please don't. If you do that, they'll be protesting outside our Familia tomorrow. Anyway, let's just go where they need more hands."
Side by side, they moved deeper into the bustling street.
(End of Chapter)
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