🦊 🦊 🦊
WE ended up splitting up after that. Ektor and Macro had some other matters to deal with, and Angela had work to do. That leaves the food shopping to Claire and me, plus Rinny.
“Are you sure you don’t need to go with Ektor and Macro?” I ask Rinny.
“I’d much rather carry your bags than deal with stiff formalities,” he says.
“To be honest, I’m glad for your help because we’re going to end up with a lot of heavy stuff!”
“Leave the heavy lifting to me! Besides, if I go with you, that means I can pick out some stuff I like, too.”
“Hahaha! You’re so sly, Rinny!” Claire laughs. “I’m down with that. Feel free to tell us what you like to eat.”
Rinny seems overjoyed by Claire’s response, which is pretty cute. Claire is equally excited for the party, so I know whatever she makes will be amazing! Hehe!
“I’m pretty nervous but also excited to meet Marino for the first time, too,” I say. “What’s she like?”
Although she agreed to join the guild, I still haven’t had a chance to meet her. Plus, Claire hasn’t met Wells in person, either. Because of her game knowledge, Claire knows all about them already. Still, we can’t rely on her memories too much, considering the gaps I’ve noticed between what she says and how people actually are. Like Ektor, who might be a Reborn as well, and Candice, who clearly has her eyes set on a different partner than the person Claire said she ends up with.
In short, we need to take all of Claire’s knowledge of this so-called game with a grain of salt. Plus, if she gets too caught up in trying to follow the story, she’ll end up worrying herself sick. I don’t want that to happen to Claire.
“Marino’s… Hmm…a little strange,” Rinny says vaguely.
“There seems to be no shortage of weirdos among us,” Claire sighs.
“Haha! So true! As far as weirdos go, I’d rank her higher than Kiefer.”
Stranger than Kiefer? Now I’m getting nervous all over again, but in a different way than before!
As we shop for food, Rinny explains how Marino’s a lady with expensive tastes who likes to dress up. She apparently has a very unique style, making me more excited than ever to meet her. Rinny goes on to say that both she and Wells don’t act like a traditional couple, which I don’t understand.
What does that mean?
“Remember what happened with Wells?” Rinny asks me. “He’s a big flirt, right? He flirts with anything that wears a skirt. Most people would get jealous over that kinda stuff, but not Marino. Honestly, she doesn’t seem to care. She’s more amused by it than anything. She even asks him to regale her with stories of his exploits. She’s a very strange lady, that’s for sure.”
And yet, they still consider themselves to be a couple. Hmm… It’s very different from how I imagine two people in love might act. I assume most people are like Candice, who gets easily annoyed when they see the love of their life paying attention to anyone else. It’s hard for me to imagine an open relationship like the one between Wells and Marino.
“There are all different types of relationships in the world,” Claire says. “Love takes many forms, you know. This relationship works for them. Honestly, it’s no one’s business but theirs.”
“Oh? Is that how you think, too, Claire? I’m of the same opinion!” Rinny says. “I have a feeling Candice wouldn’t agree with us, though.”
“Candice has more starry-eyed romantic views on love.”
I see. The most important thing is that both people are on board. I’m impressed they were able to find someone else with the same viewpoint. I think their relationship is admirable. For now, I’ll simply observe them silently from afar and see what their relationship is like. Maybe I can learn something from them!
“You talk like you know all about it. Don’t tell me you’ve been in love, Claire?”
My thoughts are disrupted by Rinny, who’s grinning at Claire, teasing her.
Love?! Claire’s fallen in love with someone before?!
For some reason, I can feel my heart start beating excitedly in my chest as my cheeks turn red.
Claire’s warned me repeatedly not to fall in love, and yet here she is, ignoring her own words of caution! Well, perhaps it’s fine if she has a boyfriend. Maybe it’s only me who’s at risk of falling in love with someone. Still…I can’t even begin to imagine it.
“Wow…”
“Huh? How am I supposed to take that reaction?! Stop giving me that look of disgust, Claire!” Rinny complains.
It seems I’m the only one whose heart is fluttering.
Claire’s glaring at Rinny, clearly disgusted.
Huh? Wait, what? I’m so confused and yet so curious at the same time!
“I never thought I’d hear that line from the story coming from your mouth, and especially not at a time like this…” she mutters angrily under her breath, but I’m close enough to hear.
Oh, I get it. Rinny must say those exact words to her in the story. I remember hearing about Rinny’s route from Claire in the past.
Rinny says something super insensitive to Claire, causing her cheeks to glow red with embarrassment and anger. I only heard the story via Claire, but from what I remember, it was those exact words. The story is slightly different, and yet the words are somehow the same. I didn’t realize that was possible. Not like Claire’s in love with Rinny in real life, though. Maybe that’s why she reacted the way she did.
“All you ever do is mutter weird, incomprehensible things to yourself,” Rinny says moodily. “What story are you talking about? You never make any sense.”
“You heard me? Ugh, your hearing is too good…” Claire groans. “Well, it doesn’t matter either way. At any rate! No, I’ve never been in love. That’s just my objective opinion based on stuff I’ve heard.”
Rinny really does have amazing hearing. But apparently, he only picks up on bits and pieces of what she says. It’s difficult to understand based on a word or two here or there. Rinny, who’s quickly grown bored with the topic, ends the conversation with a disinterested “Mm-hmm.”
“You really are just like Ektor, Claire,” he says. “Ektor mumbles about weird stuff all the time, too.”
“He does?!” Claire seems surprisingly interested in Rinny’s seemingly off-hand remark.
That’s right. There’s still a chance Ektor is a Reborn! He probably ends up talking to himself about the story from the other world, just like Claire does.
“What sort of things does he say?” she asks, leaning closer to Rinny.
“Hm? You’re actually interested? I never know what he’s talking about, so I can’t tell you much more than he often mutters under his breath sometimes like you do.”
I see. He might not have heard exactly what Ektor says. Or it’s possible he does know, but is choosing to keep it a secret, just like we do.
Rinny seems confused by Claire’s obvious disappointment.
“Do you know something I don’t about him? There must be a reason why you’re so curious.” His tone changes from playful to serious as he peers into Claire’s face questioningly.
He’s surprisingly perceptive, ignoring the details and zeroing in on what she really wanted to know!
There’s not much I can do to help. I just wait for Claire’s answer anxiously.
“No real reason at all. I just hate being lumped in with pretty-boy jerks like him. We’re nothing alike, and saying we are is an insult,” Claire says bluntly, looking completely unphased.
“You really enjoy picking on Ektor, don’t ya?” Rinny replies, seemingly satisfied with her response.
That’s Claire for you! She got through that easy. What a relief! I think I might’ve been the most worried. My heart was beating out of my chest!