“Come on, Marino. You know you gotta be more careful,” Wells warns her. “Ektor doesn’t joke around.”
“I’m well aware. If looks could kill, I’d be dead!”
Marino seems oddly amused for someone faced with such a deadly stare. Far from flustered, she seems to be teasing him. Even Wells seems a bit put off by her attitude. She really is something.
“Don’t look at me like that, Ektor,” she says. “I promise I’ll mend my evil ways. She was just too cute for me to resist! I won’t do it again.”
“You promise?”
“I swear. I love all of you too much! How can I be sad when there are so many cute girls for me to dote on? Besides, I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to make you hate me.”
Ektor finally relaxes at her seemingly sincere words.
Whew! It would be a shame if we worked so hard to put this party together and it was ruined before it began by some hurt feelings. Which also means, maybe he can finally let go of me…
“Um…Ektor? If you could let me go, that would be great…” I quietly say.
“Huh? Oh! Ack! S-Sorry!”
I’m so embarrassed that he’s still hugging me! It’s not that I hate him! Urgh! I’m just too anxious.
After calming down, everyone takes a seat around the table while Claire and I head into the kitchen to get the food. The salad and bread were already lined up on the table, but we wanted to wait to bring out the rest of the food, such as the hot soup and meats, to make sure they were still warm. I was about to reach for a tray piled high with individual bowls of soup when another pair of hands beat me to it. Looking up in surprise, I’m met by Marino’s eyes and her gorgeous smile.
“I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to startle you,” she says in that silky voice of hers.
“Uh! It’s fine! You just caught me off guard.”
“Let me help you as a way of apology,” she says with a soft smile. And with that, she walks off with the tray of soup bowls.
She’s so nice!
“Don’t worry about her, Miku,” Claire whispers to me as she slices the meat. “She can be scary when she’s angry, but once she’s taken someone in as a friend, she’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”
“Do you know this because of the game? I see. When it happens in real life, it’s a little frightening…but I think I understand a bit better now.”
She’s scary when she’s angry? I guess that kind of makes sense. Generally good-natured folks tend to get the angriest when pushed too far. Kiefer seems the same way… I experienced it myself!
Claire arranges the sliced meat on another tray, which I carry to the table. I put it down carefully in front of Candice, and she immediately latches onto me.
Huh? What’s wrong?
“You’re so mean, Miku. Letting Ektor hug you like that…”
She’s glaring at me, her cheeks puffed out with anger. My heart’s ready to burst with how cute she is! I gently pat her cheek.
“Don’t worry about it. He was just rescuing me. He’s very reliable, you know. I can tell you really like him a lot.”
“Ugh… It’s true! I can’t seem to stay angry at you!”
“You’re such a sweet girl,” I repeat over and over while petting her. I can tell she enjoys it by the way she keeps her ears pulled back, giving me better access to the top of her head, and how her tail is wrapped around my leg.
Hee-hee… She’s so easy to read! I love how no matter what emotion she’s feeling: happy, annoyed, or anything, I can always tell right away.
Since I’m here, I decide to sit next to Candice.
“She’s such a player…”
“You noticed it, too, Macro? It’s true. She’s always like that. She’s just completely oblivious to it.” Claire sits down next to Macro just as he mutters to himself.
Come on, you two! Don’t badmouth people when they can hear you! You make it sound as if I’m going around flirting with everyone! I’m just being nice!
“Hahaha! That’s what I love about Miku! She’s just so innocent, it’s a deadly weapon!”
Even Kiefer’s teasing me… I don’t think I’m that dangerous. I just want to be friends with everyone! And even I understand that kind of thinking might be a bit naïve.
“Can we dig in yet? I’m not sure how much longer I can stand staring at this amazing feast without eating it.” Angela interrupts our conversation, her eyes glued to the main course and drooling in anticipation. I guess she’s pretty hungry. I feel like I’ve seen a similar scene before! She really loves food!
“Hahaha! So true! We should start eating before the food gets cold. Okay, everyone! Raise your glasses!” At Ektor’s signal, everyone raises their glasses in their hands. Aside from Claire, Candice, and myself, who are drinking fruit juice, everyone’s glasses are overflowing with ice-cold ale.
They must all have a high tolerance for alcohol.
“For the first time, we’ve managed to get everyone together in one place! It’s thanks to each and every one of you that we were able to rank up to the highest tier! I’m sure we’ll have more work than we can handle soon, but for now, let’s celebrate our success!” Ektor exclaims.
“Wow! What fine words from such a big-mouthed, bratty kid. It brings tears to this old man’s eyes!”
“If you don’t have anything nice to say, Wells, don’t say anything at all.”
Wells is clearly making fun of Ektor’s speech, although a part of him seems touched by his words. Even I’m touched!
Just as the thought crosses my mind, Wells lets out a loud “Oof!”
“No one wants to hear what you have to say, old man. If we don’t finish this toast soon, we’re going to drown in a sea of drool from both Angela and Rinny,” Marino warns him.
“Sheesh! How many times have I told you to watch where you’re throwing those things!” Wells cries. “Those heels of yours are like deadly weapons in your hands…er, feet.”
“Would you like another?”
“I’m fine for now, dearest princess.”
It seems as if Marino stamped down on Wells’ foot under the table.
That sounds painful! Are they really a couple? The way they’re acting doesn’t make it seem that way.
“Ektor, hurry up!”
“Seriously! Another two seconds and I’m going in.”
“Meat… Give me the meat…”
“Hahaha! The three carnivores are about to break!”
Macro, Rinny, and Angela look like they’re about to dive into the feast spread out before them. Candice is laughing heartily, but I’m starting to feel bad!
“All right, all right! Fine! Okay, everyone! I’ll be counting on you in the days ahead! Cheers!”
Ektor’s greeted by a chorus of cheers from everyone around the table. Angela, Macro, and Rinny immediately gulp down their ale before reaching for the meat. Their enthusiasm is something else! But this kind of thing is nice. The party feels so different from anything I ever experienced back in my village, and my heart fills with warmth and excitement as I sip my juice.
Hee-hee… Yummy!