As long as it didn't involve me directly, I used to think nothing could make me feel uncomfortable. And yet, leaning my back against the wall by the school gates, I felt nervous for some reason. This had to be the first time Mom had left me under the watch of the school guards while she went shopping.
Today wasn't Friday, and I had no specific reason to be here. During the summer, I historically lost all motivation to do anything. Actually, no. It felt like that during any season. So, when I went out into the city with Mom today, I wanted to break free from that tradition.
I wondered how Luisa would react to finding me here. Would she be happy? Or maybe confused? Or... coming out with her friends, would she pretend she didn't know me?..
I didn't want to believe such a possibility existed, but I knew next to nothing about her life at school. She told me about classes, how boring it was to sit through lectures, and that practical magic lessons were a breeze for her. That was where my knowledge ended.
What should I do if the worst really happened and Luisa just walked right past, leaving me standing here at the gates until Mom came back? Ignore her in return or call out?.. The answer, of course, was obvious.
The Yasciris had finished blooming long ago, and the red petals had been replaced by rather ordinary green leaves. Were these the kinds of colors I imagined when I thought about being born in spring? Something an indifferent passerby wouldn't even glance at? Perhaps...
Just like myself, all these dull colors failed to stir any interest. At the same time, countless identical leaves created a shadow and, together with the cool wall, saved me from the summer heat. Maybe beauty doesn't always have to be complex.
I sighed—seemingly a bit too loudly, because a girl walking past turned around to look at me.
She was a head taller. Just like her skin tone, her hair looked somewhat unusual: almost as black as mine, and as deep as Mom's night. Although her uniform resembled Luisa's, she wore it a bit carelessly. I also thought I caught the glint of earrings behind her strands of hair.
I didn't stare at her for long. Right after, she turned away too. Strange, why was she walking from somewhere else instead of out of the school? Maybe there was another exit somewhere? Or... was she a delinquent?
Then again, who cared.
A faint breeze combined with the pleasant rustle of the leaves overhead brought on a wave of drowsiness. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, as if trying to sweep the sleep out of them.
If another exit really existed somewhere, what if Luisa came out from there? I should probably ask the guard, but I didn't want to do that at all. He looked like a royal guardsman—no matter how hot it was outside, he just kept standing completely still in one spot.
While I was thinking about this, the rustle of cobblestones underfoot caught my attention. The moment I turned, my gaze locked right onto that same girl. Her eyes were wide open, and I couldn't help but flinch back. Or rather, I wanted to, but my back was already against the wall. For a while, we just kept staring at each other.
"You're... Hmm... you're Luisa's friend, right?" she asked hesitantly, practically poking her finger at me.
I went numb. My eyes couldn't focus on the finger right in front of my face. And yet, I tried my hardest to make sense of the situation.
If they went to the same school, I could guess how she knew Luisa. But was the building really so small that you could know everyone by sight? Or was it about Luisa herself? Could she have done something that made the students not even know the principal's name, while everyone knew hers? Well, that sounded crazy.
"Hmm?"
"I saw you two walking together the day before yesterday. And last Friday, you were waiting for her here. So?"
I really wished she could feel my reaction to her intrusion. And yet, she didn't. She didn't back down. On the contrary, it felt like she was pressing even harder just by being there.
So... what was I supposed to answer her?
"That's not true"—a lie. "Luisa is my friend"—but is she? "We are close"—which we are.
But...
A sharp smell of sweat hit my nostrils. It clearly indicated that the girl had either been running or spending a long time under the sun. So, she really was a delinquent? Maybe her skin was darker for the same reason?
In books, you often see school kids skipping classes on the roof or wandering the streets. But if you actually decide to take a step like that, even if you hide in the shade, you shouldn't be surprised if you end up sunburned.
No, wait. What am I even thinking about?
I finally raised my eyes to the girl's face, and it could hardly be called pleasant. It wasn't about her looks, but rather the way she was looking at me. If I were a bit older, the possibility of her grabbing me by the collar and demanding my wallet wouldn't sound so crazy anymore.
"Did you swallow your tongue?"
It took just one brief glance from the guard for the girl to raise her hands and take a step back. I should probably thank him later for taking Mom's request so seriously.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to hurt her."
Now, with her head lowered and her sighs, she didn't seem like the person I had imagined. It must have been the height difference that made something about her gaze so frightening.
A bit rough around the edges, but completely ordinary. That's what I think.
Soon, the bell rang, signaling the end of classes. It was loud enough to be heard even outside the school. How curious. Its sound felt a bit like someone burping into a saxophone or something like that.
Hearing the bell, the girl sighed even louder. Her shoulders slumped as if she had missed her bus.
"See you," she said, raising her hand.
A couple of seconds later, I raised mine in return. My hand swayed from side to side, like the leaves of a tree.
"See you, huh?"—clenching my fingers, I repeated to myself.
Would that really happen? Were we actually going to meet again? Considering I came here at least twice a week, that possibility couldn't be ruled out.
Wait, did I even say anything to her at all? It felt like I hadn't...
I probably should have corrected her right away and said that Luisa and I weren't friends. That word simply wasn't capable of holding the kind of relationship we had. At the same time, I still hadn't found the right word to describe what was between us.
While I was pondering what I should have said, the girl turned around. Maybe she had forgotten something?
She walked up to me, and pretty soon she was standing in front of me again. The way she guiltily twirled her hair around her finger while looking off to the side created an image of a completely different person. I don't know why, but it was strange to see her like this, and at the same time—impressive.
"Hey, um... sorry if I scared you," she said.
I don't know if it was the right decision to think about this after the fact, but she had enough courage to apologize. Unquestionably, it would have been better if she had started the conversation just as politely. Well, who cared.
"You didn't scare me, I was just... caught off guard."
Little by little, I felt my cheeks begin to burn. What was it in my words that made me react like that? No idea.
My ears were ringing. It felt like something was pounding inside my head. It would be great if strangers stopped striking up conversations with me when I was alone.
"Oh, so you actually know how to talk?"
Then why did you keep pestering me if you weren't even sure I wanted to speak?—I wanted to say.
The girl glanced briefly at the guard, as if wanting to make sure everything was fine, and then at me.
"So are you friends or not?"
It seemed that having finally gotten a response out of me, the girl began to press again. More gently than at first, but still.
"Something like that."
I was forced to admit the fact. Though I wasn't trying to hide anything. I had decided for myself that it would be better for Luisa if no one knew she associated with a child.
At the same time, I was contradicting myself. The moment we walked down the street together—even without holding hands or talking—there was always a chance that someone might see us.
Reflecting on myself, fitting in with others—none of this had anything to do with Luisa. All of it was likely just my own prejudices that I was trying to project onto others.
"Huh? And what is that supposed to mean?"
It looked like my answer didn't convince her. She looked like a she-wolf that had caught a turtle in a hare's skin.
For a second, I wondered what other word I could possibly choose. The whole problem with relationships was that as soon as you tried to define them, they became harder to explain. It was like bringing your own puzzle piece to someone else's mosaic. No matter how much you tried to fit it in, the desired picture wouldn't form.
"Well, it's..."—bringing a hand to the back of my neck, I sighed.
"Is it really that hard for you to say you're friends? You don't look like sisters at all."
As the realization hit me that my words wouldn't get through to her, I stopped trying to explain anything.
I was starting to get annoyed by the way she kept pushing with her questions. It was as if she had already decided everything beforehand and was now just letting me know her vision.
I suddenly wanted to ask her to leave, but before I could, groups of students began gradually exiting the school grounds. At that moment, I no longer cared about the girl. It would be foolish to miss Luisa just because of an argument with some stranger.
But the girl herself didn't seem satisfied. As more students gathered near the gates and the guard's attention shifted away, her hand came down on my shoulder. It didn't feel like she wanted to hit me, but she was definitely trying to get my attention.
"Hey, don't ignore me," she looked at me, narrowing her eyes.
I had heard somewhere that everyone had their own value system. If the difference between them was that vast, there was no point in trying to act like you gave a damn about the person you were talking to. There would always be a few topics where your opinions wouldn't align. And forcing your own wasn't the best choice.
I stared back at her, as if silently trying to tell her to finally back off.
"If you're going to skip classes, don't do it right in front of the school, you beggar."
What a sound observation, I thought, turning toward the voice.
A guy was standing a few paces away from us. From his words, it sounded like he and this girl knew each other. In a way.
Was this what she called "friends"?
He didn't seem to notice me at all. His gaze was entirely fixed on the girl. It was hard for me to judge her social status, but he really did look at her as if she were wretched.
At the same time, something about him caught the eye immediately. His uniform was the same color, but the way he stood... there was something pretentious about it.
"Damn it..."
The girl's hand slid off my shoulder instantly. Because of how her head dropped, her hair fell over her face, covering it almost completely, as if she had been doused with water.
"I wasn't feeling well."
Her voice trailed off as she spoke. It was as if she were trying to imitate a sore throat or something like that.
"Do you take me for a fool?" raising an eyebrow, he proudly cocked his chin up. "It's the end of the school day, and you're in your school uniform."
His arguments were hard to dispute. But even though I was grateful to him for shifting her attention to himself, I wasn't sure this pride of his was deserved.
"I just..."
Robbing her of the chance to finish, the guy quickly walked over and grabbed her by the wrist, as if he knew she might try to run.
"You just what? You even dragged a boy along with you. School is no place for this."
A boy? Who was he talking about?
I even scanned around with my eyes but didn't find anyone. Or rather, not quite. There were plenty of students, but none of them fit the description.
"Are you the reason she's skipping?"
At that moment, for the first time since the beginning, the guy looked straight at us—right at me. Wow, and here I was hoping I had managed to blend into the wall.
No, wait. Was I that very "boy"? I involuntarily raised a hand, pointing at myself.
"You're coming with me too."
I stepped aside before his hand could reach me. Had he really failed to see a girl in me? It felt as if, while looking right at me, he didn't see me at all.
If I thought about it, hadn't I already found myself in a similar situation before?
Well, whatever the case.
"I'm a girl, actually."
"Huh? What difference does it make?"
What did he mean, "what difference does it make"? I highly doubted someone like him would like it if someone mistook him for a girl.
Who was the one sighing—me or that girl? We were both so stunned by his tactlessness that I didn't fully comprehend what was happening.
"Are you completely stupid?"
He had looked sullen to begin with, but upon hearing my words, his expression turned utterly sour. As for the girl, she looked as though she didn't even have time to react.
Maybe I had misinterpreted the situation and inadvertently gotten dragged into some sort of jealousy scene? Hmm. No, didn't seem like it.
Then again, how would I know?
"Who are you calling stupid, you idiot? Do you even know who you're talking to?"
"I do. A stupid person."
"You! Why, I... You're the idiot here!"
This time, without a doubt, I was the one sighing. Continuing the argument was pointless. I wouldn't be surprised if it degenerated into a petty exchange of insults. I didn't want Luisa or Mom to catch me doing something like that.
Taking a deep breath, I leaned back against the wall and turned away.
"What? Giving up? Coward."
He was so noisy. A "shut up" almost escaped my lips, but I stopped myself just in time.
"Now, let's go."
Realizing that I wasn't going to engage in a war of words, he apparently tried to grab me again. This time, I was too distracted to step aside. His palm clamped around my forearm. His grip was tight enough to make me wince as he dragged both the girl and me along with him.
"Hey!"
"Benneford, where do you think you're dragging my daughter?"
Before the annoying guy could take more than a few steps, he bumped straight into Mom. He even recoiled, nearly stepping on my foot.
Wait. Benne-who?.. How did Mom know him? This whole situation was starting to feel like the setup for some kind of joke.
"Auntie? Daughter? Her?"
Quickly letting go of my hand, he pointed at the girl for some reason. Even though I could only see his back, judging by the way his finger trembled, he seemed very nervous. However, I think at that moment, Mom's and my expressions matched almost perfectly, enough for anyone to guess exactly who she was talking about.
As for my "new sister"—she pulled her head into her shoulders, as if hoping she had a shell on her body. Seizing the opportunity, she moved to the side, trying to hide behind my back like a chick. It was a bit strange to watch someone taller than you try to conceal themselves behind your back.
So, if she was a chick, what did that make me?..
Well, let's not dwell on that.
"How many times have I told you not to call me 'Auntie'?" without hesitating for a single second, Mom reached out and flicked his forehead. "I'm talking about her."
Mom pointed directly at me, without turning her head or moving her eyes. Of course, I hadn't moved from my spot, but had she really remembered exactly where I stood with such precision? Or was this another one of Mom's superpowers?
While I was thinking about this, a flash of green caught my eye. This time, it didn't belong to the leaves—it was Luisa. She was watching the conversation from a distance and seemed very eager to understand what was going on.
I was about to walk over to her, but the moment I moved, the fabric of my t-shirt tightened, pressing against my stomach. This girl. Why was she holding onto me? At the same time, the look on Luisa's face began to change.
Was she angry? At whom? At me? Or at the girl?
Even though it didn't matter, looking at Luisa, I realized I had done something wrong. Only, what was it?
Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something—but she changed her mind. She simply turned away and stood next to Mom.
"Well, I'm off. Thanks."
I felt the pressure on my stomach ease, and the fabric rested against my back again as the girl finally let go of my t-shirt. Right after, she slapped my shoulder. It felt like she did it harder than necessary on purpose, causing me to stumble. But by the time I turned around, her back was already toward me, her hand swaying from side to side.
Was she mocking me just now or what? Looking at her retreating back, my face twitched slightly.
"You turned out to be nicer than you seemed at first glance. See you."
She said it loudly enough to be overheard. Her behavior resembled that of a mischievous cat—the moment the attention shifted away from her, she immediately flicked her tail and left.
What a problematic girl.
Placing a hand on the back of my neck, I let out an incredibly long sigh. If I had actually considered the possibility the first time, now I definitely didn't want to meet her again.
But what if she really was Luisa's friend? Does that mean I'll have to tolerate her? But... Luisa had never mentioned her friends to me even once. Does that mean we are... drifting apart? And the fact that she's avoiding me now...
I was a little afraid of where these thoughts might take me, so I decided to put them aside for now.
The singing of birds reached my ears. I wondered why their symphony sounded so much louder here than near my house. Was it because of the trees filling the school grounds? Probably.
Speaking of home. What did that guy even mean by calling Mom "Auntie"?
.
When the carriage arrived for the boy, Mom stopped lecturing him. Looking at him at that moment—with his face flushed and his head lowered—he seemed less unpleasant. Except for being unreasonably noisy, perhaps. But that girl was a different story entirely.
Comparing her to a cat had been a mistake. How would Luisa react if she found out I practically considered them the same? Even if I hadn't meant it that way, it would sound like exactly the opposite.
Thinking about it now, she was more like a snake. Not that she spat venom or tried to swallow me whole like a fledgling that had fallen from its nest. Rather, she was slippery and completely impossible to read.
What did she mean by saying I wasn't so bad after all?..
More importantly—Luisa hadn't uttered a single word since that moment. At least, not to me. And whenever I tried to speak, Luisa's scowl was more expressive than a thousand words. It felt like testing the bottom of a dangerous river with your foot, only to suddenly realize you were already up to your neck in water.
It seemed life wanted to give me a clear demonstration of what happens when you do something unnatural to yourself.
Since words were having no effect on Luisa, and I lacked the courage to take her hand, I decided on a desperate move—to pinch her. As it turned out, just touching her back was enough to make her shriek.
"Are you stupid or what? Oh, sorry..." Luisa quickly took back her insults before switching her attention to Mom.
Mom didn't even seem to notice. She was mumbling something to herself, bending her fingers as if checking against a shopping list in her head. The moment she realized she was being watched, she immediately snapped out of it, smiling at Luisa.
"No need to apologize when you're right."
"Huh?.."
It was hard to tell which of us was more shocked by Mom's statement.
It was mean of her to side with Luisa over her own daughter. Well, not that I would have acted any differently myself. Probably.
"Right. I forgot to buy something here. Watch over my hopeless daughter so she doesn't get into trouble again."
"Mom!"
Ignoring my protests, she placed a hand on my back and literally pushed me toward Luisa. Mom looked a bit tired, yet it seemed the atmosphere between us was exhausting her far more.
Without resisting, Luisa nodded and took my hand. Come to think of it, quite a few people had touched me today. And even though she was upset with me—despite that—her palm squeezed mine just as gently as always.
Mom's abilities always manifested at just the right moment. No, maybe that wasn't it. I only noticed them when I truly needed them. I only managed to notice the efforts of others when I could no longer cope without them on my own.
It seemed the hardest task for adults was to tolerate and accept the selfishness of children. To help resolve childhood "catastrophes" and not even receive gratitude in return. I was sure it took a colossal amount of energy.
Such thoughts raced through my head as I watched Mom's retreating figure. Right now, the only thing I could do to thank her somehow was not to let the chance she gave me go to waste.
Before saying anything, I squeezed Luisa's hand a little tighter, trying to get her attention. She didn't react at all.
In that case, what would Luisa want to talk about? I highly doubted this was the right moment to ask how her day at school went. No, that wasn't it.
Carefully, I touched my cheek, as if trying to keep my thoughts in place.
"I'm sorry for causing trouble."
Not knowing the specific reason for Luisa's irritation, I had no choice but to hope for luck. I was at fault. There was no doubt about that. But there were too many reasons for me to choose just one.
Still holding my hand, Luisa finally turned to me, casting her eyes down.
"Trouble? What an interesting name for making acquaintances behind my back."
Huh? What was she talking about?
Not fully understanding what Luisa was trying to say by that, my shoulders instinctively tensed and my back slouched.
"I didn't..."
"Yeah."
Leaving me no chance to reply, she turned away again, making it clear by her appearance alone that the topic was closed.
Unsure of what I should say now, I cleared my throat, as if hoping this gesture could somehow replace words. Then I tried again. But just like the first time, my thoughts resembled grains of broken glass, no longer able to take any shape.
Luisa didn't take her eyes off the building opposite us. There weren't even any signs on it to catch one's eye. It was, honestly, a bit hurtful—that she wasn't looking at me.
Hurtful? Really? I could feel my cheek warming up at the thought. At the same time, as was often the case, I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.
Because of all this commotion, Luisa's eyes had grown a little moist. They glistened so brightly that they truly resembled emeralds. It was... magical.
Since my words couldn't pierce her armor—and it wasn't as if I could find them anyway—I did what I wanted most. Letting go of her hand, I hugged her from behind.
Seeing nothing but her back, it was hard for me to judge how she reacted. I felt her stomach tense up when my arms wrapped around it. At that moment, she was a bit like a hedgehog—no matter how sharply her needles pricked, she remained just as soft in places.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Nothing."
"Doesn't feel like nothing."
In response, I only let out a brief "mhm," not moving an inch. While I pressed my face against her back, my ears felt warmer and warmer. It seemed they were so red they were practically tingling.
Well, there was nothing surprising about that. It really was hot outside. Just like mine, Luisa's back felt a little damp. Come to think of it, had I ever caught her scent so strongly before? And yet, it didn't irritate my nostrils in the slightest. On the contrary, it filled my entire body with warmth.
Then again, maybe it was all due to the summer sun directed right at us. It shone through the crowns of the trees, as if trying to burn this moment right into our skin.
"You're such a fool, Yori. You look so abandoned when I leave, but you give yourself total freedom when I'm gone, don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you're a fool."
As was often the case, Luisa didn't try to hide her true feelings. Right now, however, her voice sounded softer than it had a few moments ago.
"I understand."
"Do you really? Since you understand, don't do it again."
She placed her hand over mine. As if playing some stringed instrument, her slender fingers lightly scratched the back of my hand.
.
Raising my head and looking at the clock, I found that no more than ten minutes remained until the end of the school day. Obviously, nothing exciting awaited me upon its conclusion. Today was Friday, but Luisa had told me that I didn't need to come to meet her.
Although she didn't seem angry with me anymore, something was definitely bothering her. Just as I had feared, the school existed separately from me. Like the other side of a wall through which I couldn't see anything anyway.
More importantly, right now I should probably lower my chin. If I kept sitting like this, with my head tilted way up, dust would start getting into my nose.
The living room was too large for a green pebble to cool it down. Usually on days like this, the front door was left open, but for some reason, it was closed this time. All I wanted at that moment was to go back to my room and crawl under the blanket.
"In that case, Luisa will be angry again," I sighed to myself.
Unfortunately, I couldn't do that. Since I hadn't met her at the school, it would be shameless of me to greet her from bed yet again. I wouldn't be surprised if she came up with some new punishment. Not that I was entirely against it, but... I wasn't exactly for it either, anyway.
If there was anything remarkable about me in this situation, it was that I had absolutely no hobbies. Which meant—I had nothing to do regardless.
"Can't fall asleep in such a stifling atmosphere. Seems like I'm... good for something after all," I decided to praise myself aloud, but my words were quickly drowned out by a yawn.
I shook my head decisively, trying to shake off the impending sleep as if it were hiding somewhere on the tips of my hair. But it helped very little—my mouth would open again the moment it closed.
Nothing bad would happen if I slept for just a bit, right? The fact that I was waiting for her practically by the door was already a great feat, wasn't it?
In an attempt to justify myself, my head began to nod slightly. My arms felt so heavy that even if I wanted to, I had no strength left to rub my eyes.
I wonder what dreams actually are and why people see them at all? If, suppose, our brain embodies our desires or fears in this way, why is it that sometimes in a dream I didn't feel like myself at all? I was simply watching someone else's life, people I had never met. And yet, it still felt like I had known them for a very long time.
"Shuriken!"
"Woah."
She looked so proud of herself, triumphantly holding a crumpled piece of paper up in the air.
"A crane!"
"It really does look like one."
With each folded piece of origami, her proud expression grew deeper.
"And now a sword for Homuki."
I watched her try to fit a rolled-up piece of paper into a hamster's paws. And, what turned out to be even stranger, he actually took it and now resembled a koala asleep in a tree more than anything else.
"But who is Homuki?"
"The hamster, obviously, are you completely silly? Haha."
"But that's Mino."
"Uh... right, yeah. His name is Honi."
Was it really so hard for her to remember his name? It didn't seem that complicated to me. At the same time, she looked very proud, as if she had actually gotten it right.
Well, let it be.
"Yeah."
"Have you ever touched Hibarai? His fur is so soft!"
Hiba...rai? It wasn't entirely clear to me who she was talking about; her gaze kept jumping from my face to the hamster. Presumably, that was his name now. Honestly, because of this whole sequence of names, I was no longer sure which option was the correct one.
However, it seemed to me that even though he was within arm's reach, I had never touched him before. Why? Maybe, just like now, every time I wanted to, he was already asleep? Perhaps.
After thinking for a moment, I only shook my head.
"Seriously?" she drew out the sound so loudly that her head almost tilted backward. "Well, you've missed out on a lot. He's so soft. Fluffy. By the way, did you know? Though how could you? Haha. It's so funny, we haven't seen each other in so long, but you haven't changed at all. I know, I know. But that doesn't stop you from being a *******. You... haha, of course, you wouldn't. Right? Will you let me?..."
She talked so much that I simply couldn't catch onto anything specific, so I only nodded in response. If she was asking questions, that is.
So, who was this girl?
For some reason, every time I tried to grasp her image, it seemed to change. Or maybe I just forgot the words to describe her properly. She was like this and... like that. Close by at one moment, but the moment you looked closer—already so far away. Very strange.
"No, seriously. Let me touch your ****. They look so soft. Haha. My head is already getting hot. Yeah. Uh... okay. I admit it. But I won't back down! Please, let me! Let me touch them!"
Before I could even open my mouth, she was already laughing at the top of her lungs. Whatever her monologue was about, it seemed to have made a deep impression on her.
Her eyes resembled the sun. Not that they were too bright—rather, I couldn't understand exactly where she was looking.
"Um, listen. Who... are you?"
"Have you completely lost it, talking in your sleep?"
"Huh?.."
My eyes snapped open instantly as I felt something pressing against my cheeks. As if my head were a lamp, Luisa's palms were rubbing vigorously against my skin. A little more, and she would rub my face right off.
By the way, when did she manage to get back?
"I'm not... a beanpole."
"Is that so? Maybe you should say that to the dried drool on your chin?"
Luisa finally let go of my cheeks, and now it was my turn to rub them. How I was trying to replace one sensation with another identical one was beyond me.
While I tried to put my face back in order, Luisa ran her fingers through her hair, as if trying to comb it. I noticed that her skin was glistening more than usual. And her chest was rising and falling so fast, as if a pack of dogs had been chasing her. Which, considering her feline nature, was entirely possible.
Of course, that was a joke.
"Did something happen?"
"Nothing."
If it was "nothing," then why do you look like that? Was she secretly born on the Planet of Nothing, and everything was a trifle to her? No, something was clearly wrong here.
I stole a glance at her shirt—it clung tightly to her body and was almost see-through. She reacted quickly to this, covering her body with one hand while covering her face with the other. Through the gaps between her fingers, I could see her eyes darting frantically from left to right.
From the outside, it might have looked like a lot was happening between us. But in reality, we were still in the exact same position we had started with.
"You saw, didn't you?"
Saw—what? The fact that she was sweaty? Was there something strange about that?
"Yes."
"Everything?.."
And here it was again. What did she mean by asking me that? I was already beginning to regret telling her the truth.
"Um, well... some part of it? I think."
"Which part?"
Now that I thought about it—I saw pretty much the whole shirt, right? So what was I supposed to answer?
"The bottom?"
"The bottom? Then... everything is fine, I guess."
Why was she asking me about this? Perhaps I wasn't fully awake yet, but something was clearly off with Luisa. Maybe there really was a hole in her shirt somewhere? It didn't seem like the best moment to make sure.
"Wait for me here, okay?"
Before I could give her an answer, Luisa was already running toward the stairs, twisting and practically dancing along.
"No need to worry about it. You look, well... cute anyway."
Why did I tell her that? Usually, such thoughts didn't leave the boundaries of my head. Maybe I was still asleep?
Luisa stopped, turned around, and snapped her fingers. At least, she attempted to do so. Although her fingers made some sort of sound, it could hardly be called a "snap."
"Mhm?"
Giving up on any further explanations, Luisa ran off, leaving me sitting on the couch.
It seems we're back to where we started, aren't we?
.
I knew this was nothing new for me—but another wave of fatigue washed over me anyway. Sharp, like the first rays of the sun. And all so that, upon closing my eyes, I would find myself in the middle of a deep night.
The human consciousness truly was something magical. It was a kind of magic capable of switching states between day and night in a single instant. Creating and destroying worlds. All while changing nothing on the outside.
And yet, as contradictory as it might sound—everything was changing.
Luisa had already returned. And, as practice showed, I would be ruthlessly dragged back to the shore the moment I tried to submerge myself into this endless ocean. And the fact that there were more days like this ahead than those already passed proved, without a doubt, that my life was in a rather good place right now.
Luisa left and came back. Assuming this would be a recurring event in our future, perhaps I should scale down the drama and accept each change as something new.
Of course, there was always the possibility that I was being overly optimistic. But let's not dwell on that.
Come to think of it, days like this awaited me ahead. Days when, for some reason, I wouldn't need to go and meet Luisa. Which meant that the "I honestly waited for you right at the entrance but got too tired" trick wouldn't work anymore. As it turned out, leading with my trump cards wasn't the smartest move. Besides, it seemed Luisa herself wasn't particularly impressed by my action.
Would I really have to find myself some sort of hobby next time just to keep from falling asleep? Well...
A few days had passed since then, and I sometimes caught myself thinking about those two. I had heard somewhere that people often struggled with overthinking what they had said in awkward situations. Now I understood why. I should have kept my mouth shut.
My usual approach: simply saying "well, whatever," had finally been met with a fitting response.
Looking at Luisa that day, I had never felt so helpless. It was precisely because of this feeling that the question arose: what if? If one were to look for someone to blame for what happened, the majority of the guilt likely rested on me.
"Oh, I'm so tired," with these words, I rolled over from the back of the couch onto the armrest.
"Well, nothing new there."
A male voice quickly snapped me back to reality, forcing me to sit up a little.
"Ah... where did you come from?"
Of course, I was used to Euriel appearing whenever he pleased, but how did he get into the house this time? I stole a glance at the door—still locked. Did he climb through the window? Or did he come in with Luisa?
"Did something happen?"
Ignoring my question, he remained standing there, leaning his elbows on the back of the couch and resting his chin on his crossed palms.
"Nothing. Just... lost in thought."
"Hm? Is that so? As always, right?"
"Um, yeah."
Deciding not to unravel the mystery of his appearance, I leaned my back against the armrest again. As I squared my shoulders, my spine popped as if it had turned into a cracker, causing a deep sigh to escape my lips.
"Sometimes, trouble is a good thing."
"What do you mean?"
"It means it's time for you to start taking everything more seriously."
He reached a hand toward my face and touched my nose with his finger, making the skin around it instinctively tense up.
Strangely enough, his argument sounded very right. But before I could express my thoughts on the matter, he simply vanished.
I abruptly jumped to my feet, gripping the back of the couch, and looked around. I was still in my living room. Nothing unusual. Then... who had I just been talking to?
"What's wrong?"
The voice didn't belong to Euriel. It was Luisa. Had I been talking to her this whole time? Strange.
"Did you see anyone here?"
I decided to ask her just to make sure. At first, she tilted her head to the side, pressing her index finger to the corner of her lips, but then she quickly straightened up and nodded.
"I'm here."
Well, that was a reasonable observation. In any case, I didn't object.
"You were just staring at the ceiling and then suddenly jumped up."
"Um, well, I... my arm went numb, yeah," I declared confidently, pretending I didn't understand what she was talking about.
I hoped she hadn't caught me talking to myself yet again. Then again, who should care? If it allowed me to wait until Luisa changed and returned, then it was a good thing.
"I was just thinking about how many interesting things we can do today," sitting back down on the couch, I tried to change the subject. My neck ached slightly, which meant I had spent a considerable amount of time lying on the armrest.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
I could almost see a giant question mark appearing over her head.
"Like what?"
"I haven't thought of anything."
My answer made Luisa frown. The way her hands reached toward my face made me assume that my change of subject hadn't been particularly successful. But before her palms could reach me, there was a knock at the door.
The sound hadn't even properly reached my ears before Luisa bolted from her spot like a stone dropped from a cliff. Perhaps that is a slight exaggeration, but even a peregrine falcon would have envied her speed.
Once at the door, she turned to me—I waved at her. And she immediately did the exact same thing. And if there wasn't much enthusiasm felt in my movement, she didn't hold back. I wonder, if I had done something else, would she have followed my example?.. Who was I kidding. I already knew the answer to that question. Being a few steps ahead of me practically embodied Luisa's character.
While I was pondering this, Luisa had already opened the door. In truth, it happened rather quickly. So much so that the person standing behind it could certainly have thought they had been waited for right at the threshold this entire time.
Speaking of which, who could it even be?
"Luisa? You're here too? You should have said we were heading to the same place."
"Um, hello."
Could Euriel have climbed out through the second-floor window and now decided to enter normally? But the voice belonged to a woman. In that case, maybe it was a pizza delivery?.. Do they even have that here?
All my guesses ultimately led me nowhere, so I decided to get off the couch to check for myself. At the same time, the kitchen door opened, and Mom came out. She squared her shoulders, as if she had fallen asleep right on the kitchen table, and brushed her hair away from her forehead, combing it back.
The moment I approached the door, the sun struck my eyes, forcing me to squint and shield them with my hand. Immediately after, a familiar scent drifted into my nostrils. It was so strong that it made my nose itch. Where could I have smelled it before?
It was difficult for me to make out who was ultimately standing before me. All I could tell was that the figure was outlined by a blindingly bright glow, as if created from light itself.
"Oh, Yori. Long time no see, hasn't it been?"
When my eyes adjusted to the light, I recognized her. The smile on this person's face instantly washed away the smoldering warmth of the afternoon sun.
It was the very same woman in the white attire, only this time it was different. Lighter. A summer version, I guess.
Lady Roana.
"I knew I would find you at home at any time of day," she laughed right away, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
Once again, she seemed very friendly. I don't think it was her intention, but because of it, I mentally built a wall around myself.
"Well, thank you, I suppose."
"And you certainly didn't rush," Mom grumbled, continuing to knead her shoulders. The way she did it gave the impression that she had stepped into a boxing ring or something of the sort.
"Sorry, sorry. You know how those kids are."
Kids? Who was she talking about?
As if answering my question, the woman turned and, like a box of some sort, pushed a boy forward.
This boy... Right, it's... Ah, never mind.
I noticed that Luisa began to squint and slowly close the distance between us. Before I knew it, her shoulder practically brushed against mine. Did she really dislike this boy that much?
The woman took notice of Luisa's behavior too. She was given away by a smile that kept growing wider. I don't know why myself, but it created the impression that if she kept going like that, her lips would start to look like a maw.
"Benneford, where are your manners?"
Ignoring the reactions of those around her, the woman decided to continue the conversation on her own terms. Though we had only met once, there was something typical about this for her. Maybe that was why I felt so uncomfortable around her?
As for the boy himself, Benne... Ben. He wasn't thrilled by the woman's demands either. His head was turned to the side while his eyes diligently studied the material the door was made of.
"Good afternoon. Forgive the uninvited visit."
He kept looking at the door while saying this. In truth, I don't think the door was waiting for anyone at all. But let's not dwell on that.
"Oh, how exquisite."
Adding a note of sarcasm, the woman laughed again, patting the guy on the shoulder. Or rather, that's how it might have seemed. Her fingers barely touched him, like flower petals swaying in the wind.
"Mother, stop it."
His shoulders tensed up instantly, forcing the woman to withdraw her hand. Instead, she turned to Mom. Her ability to switch the objects of her attention was worthy of a standing ovation. I had more or less some experience interacting with adults, but none of them fit the description of an "adult" quite like this woman. And that was hardly a compliment.
"Stop standing at the door already. Let's go to the kitchen."
"Thank you for the invitation," it seemed as though the woman wanted to bow, but suddenly stopped. "The most esteemed bishop. What an honor."
Hm? So Euriel really was here?
Following her gaze, I instinctively grimaced. This "most esteemed" bishop, with the most unbothered face in the world, was consuming cookies at such a speed as if he wasn't even chewing.
"Long time no see," he only gave a slight nod and continued eating.
I sighed and turned back to the woman. Something told me she shouldn't be left unattended for long. She was something like a plugged-in iron—the moment you turn away, a real fire will break out.
She was quite good at switching between a serious and a childlike expression. Was it because she was full of emotions, or was it the exact opposite—and she had to act them out?
"And where is Quint?"
"He should be back any minute now."
So Dad was coming too? What was going on?
Wait... Could the fact that I called her son an idiot have caused this much trouble?
I could feel my jaw muscles go slack, causing my mouth to part involuntarily. My vision began to blur, as if I had been staring at a bright light for too long.
"Yori, didn't I promise to introduce you to my son?"
"Huh?.."
Luisa's palms immediately came down on my shoulders, as if she were afraid I might suddenly fly away. Smoothly, as if mimicking the movements of a snake, her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me close. While other people suffered from having their hearts scattered all over the place, she alone possessed the gift of focusing her heart into one single point. This alone was enough for the fetters creeping up my legs to retreat.
"I should have introduced him to you sooner."
Just like before, this woman refused to read the room and dictated her own rules.
"Luisa, how about giving my son a proper chance to apologize to Yori for his behavior at the school?" she added, pushing the boy almost right up to me.
And here it was again. When exactly did I agree to be left alone with her son? Besides, what exactly did this entail? And shouldn't I have been the one to apologize?
While I was thinking about this, Luisa voiced her answer clearly and distinctly. Her arms tightened so securely around my neck that I almost started to suffocate, and I immediately began slapping at them with my palms. Perhaps I am exaggerating slightly, but she really did overdo it with the embrace.
Seriously, what was wrong with them?
While the guy was clearly preparing to become an interior designer in the future and was now studying the floor, the woman didn't take her eyes off Luisa. But what annoyed me most of all was that she wouldn't stop smiling. Didn't her facial muscles ache from the constant tension?
"I want Luisa to stay."
That sense of uncertainty reflected in my voice. Or maybe it was because of Luisa's arms around my neck. I don't know. But the woman seemed to finally accept someone else's point of view and nodded.
"As you wish. In that case, let's leave the children alone."
"Can't we come with you?"
I don't know why, but I didn't particularly like the way Luisa switched her focus to the guy. It felt like a little more, and from a designer, he would turn into the actual interior.
"Adults shouldn't interfere in children's conversations."
Neither Mom nor Euriel argued with her. While Euriel was too busy with the cookies to listen, Mom was simply scratching her back and yawning. But what I was feeling lay too far in the opposite direction.
"What if we have nothing to talk about?"
"In that case, Benneford will think of something," she said with a wink, closing the topic, and headed to the kitchen after Mom.
"What a great answer," I thought, but I didn't say it out loud.
There wasn't much of a choice, so I went back to the couch. There was something ironic about it: I was like a dog that had waited for a familiar figure for so long that it rushed to greet every passerby, only to return back upon realizing the judgment was mistaken.
The irony of it all was that the one I had been waiting for had already been here for a long time. She was sitting right behind my back, placing me between her legs. It felt like I had completely turned into her toy.
The boy, meanwhile, was clearly out of his element. Even after abandoning his study of the furniture, he just remained standing near the couch as if waiting for an invitation.
"You can sit down too."
"I don't need permission."
Why he sounded so proud of himself saying that, I didn't know.
"Oh? Well, stand then."
When I said that, he sat down after all. At a pretty considerable distance, actually. I wonder if he was doing everything in reverse on purpose? If I ordered him, for example, not to sit on the floor and not to bark, would he do it?.. I hoped not. And I didn't really want to check.
"So, um... why are you here?"
I had an amazing struggle with finding the right words. While others had no trouble saying whatever came to mind, I had to construct every sentence as if out of matchsticks. Apparently, I was still too far from the concept of an "adult."
"I came... to apologize."
He let out such a heavy breath on the last word that it created the impression that it contained too many complex syllables for him.
"Apologize and leave," Luisa showed not a single shred of pity toward the guy.
"I didn't come to see you. Why are you even here?"
"This is my house."
For some reason, while speaking about the house, Luisa clapped my shoulders. As if she were a judge handing down a sentence. Only since when had I become her desk?
"Then just go back to your room."
"It's only people like you who are restricted to one place, but my house is constantly moving. Mostly."
What? Since when do you have a house on wheels? Stop feeding the guy nonsense with such a serious face. What if he believes you?
But I lacked the courage to voice my rebuke aloud, and instead, I retreated, staring out the window.
Curious, did they interact the same way at school? If so, did that mean they were friends? Or... was it what people called a "budding spark"? There was no point in hiding it—I didn't particularly like that thought. Though there was no specific reason for me to interfere either.
"Hey, you. Wake up."
I caught myself awkwardly looking around, as if I had been caught doing something questionable. He was holding a small box almost right in front of my face.
"What's this?"
"What, can't you tell? Chocolates. And from a very expensive confectionery, at that."
Really? Is it just me, or did Dad and I eat the exact same box before? Does that mean it's not actually that expensive?
One way or another, I accepted the box handed over by Ben and lowered it onto my lap.
"Don't eat that. He definitely wants to poison you."
"What? What are you talking about? I wouldn't stoop to that!"
"And you don't need to. You're already somewhere down there... at the bottom anyway."
Hm? Poison, huh? I wanted to believe that Luisa was simply exaggerating. Mostly because I was already pulling the ribbon that kept the box closed.
Despite the warning about potential danger, I opened the box and, taking one piece of candy, popped it into my mouth. Immediately, the pleasant sound of a dry treat crunching inside my mouth resonated.
In the end, if the food really was poisoned, it was better to check it myself. Though, who was I kidding? I just wanted some candy.
At the same time, Luisa's words gave me an idea.
"Hey, Ben. That girl. Why did you need her?"
Reluctantly closing the box, I set it aside. Luisa only sighed but said nothing.
"Huh? Who? Oh..."
He placed his hands on the couch and lifted himself up slightly. At that moment, his hair swayed a little, and I finally discovered his undeniable resemblance to his mother. They had the exact same mysterious blue tint.
Can hair really be so identical? Perhaps they used some special shampoo?
"Beggars have no right to skip classes."
Perhaps I knew very little, but I was certain those weren't the kind of words one should utter while staring into the distance with shimmering eyes. In other words, I found absolutely no connection in it.
"What?.."
"She should be grateful that someone like her was accepted into a prestigious school. What's not to understand?"
"Oh..."
I still didn't understand anything. Well, whatever.
"By the way. Who is Ben?" having finished his speech, the guy turned around awkwardly.
How absentminded does one have to be to double-check their own name after already responding to it? Maybe he was trying to crack a joke that way?
"Isn't that your name?"
"What? Actually..."
"That's right, that's exactly his name. Ben. Yes, precisely."
Luisa nodded several times, confirming it. In truth, I didn't see it. I only felt her chin brushing against my hair.
"Shut up! Lu... Lu... Lu!"
"Ho-ho-ho, and is that all you've got?"
Even though I was frequently excluded from the conversation, strangely enough, I didn't feel left out. Because these two literally surrounded me, all I needed to do to remain part of the group was to occupy the space between them. Perhaps all these so-called social interactions weren't actually that complicated.
"What is wrong with you? At school, you can't drag a word out of you, but here you can't keep quiet for even a minute!"
It seemed Luisa had finally driven the poor boy to his limit. I even thought I could see the veins bulging on his forehead. I don't get it: are they friends or not?
Hm... Wait. What?..
Who kept quiet at school? Luisa? Could he have mistaken her for someone else? Out of all the words this boy had said, this one undoubtedly left the deepest impression on me. Everything he spoke of felt as though it had come from another world.
I turned, trying to glance at Luisa, but she merely pretended not to understand what he was talking about. She tilted her head, brought her brows together, and blinked her eyelashes as if she were seeing him for the first time. And although it was difficult for me to believe that we had such a difference in age, I would never tire of watching her. She was something like a sleeping kitten who, without even realizing it, created an entire photo album of impressions in just a single minute.
But unfortunately, that wasn't the only emotion I was experiencing. I had no idea what they were talking about, but no matter how hard Luisa tried to appear indifferent, it seemed they were on the same wavelength. This stirred a strange emotion inside me, one that, no matter how hard I tried, I was unable to put into words.
Usually, it was difficult for me to focus on any one thing, but right now, I could think only of this. It felt as though these feelings had risen to my throat and spread like bitterness across my tongue.
Realizing that I was unlikely to get an answer from Luisa right now, I turned back to Ben. Perhaps on my part, this looked like a betrayal: I was listening to the words of a boy I had only seen twice, instead of ignoring him in favor of Luisa. I knew this. I knew it. But I couldn't help myself.
I tried to hide my anxiety—at least outwardly—but Ben seemed to notice it anyway. An idiotic smile slowly spread across his face, not at all like the calculated smiles of his mother. In this, he was too far from her, and at the same time, a little more understandable.
"I'll tell you, but only if Elira-Clairmont leaves," he proudly tossed his hair back with his hand, as if mimicking a gust of wind.
The words dropped by Ben only made me more confused. I wouldn't want to compare my imagination to anyone else's, but he clearly wasn't holding back when inventing pompous names.
"Who is that?"
It was unclear what exactly I had said wrong, but now Ben looked shocked. His smirk quickly shifted into something sour, as if he had just bitten into a lemon wedge.
"Haa? Are you serious? You don't even know your friend's full name? Are you two even friends?"
"Stop talking nonsense. Then what is Yori considered to you, Ben, if she can't even remember a part of your name?"
All these names, titles, or designations had completely muddled my mind. It felt as though while I was aimlessly moving pebbles across a game board, these two were having an actual chess battle.
Elira-Clairmont, huh?.. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, there was a grain of truth in Ben's words. Once again, I was faced with the fact that I didn't possess even basic information about the person I considered my closest.
Perhaps, in answering that girl's question, I hadn't been able to call us friends not because our relationship was above that, but banally because it hadn't even grown to that point yet.
"Shut up! Lu... Lusa!"
And what was it now? I wanted to believe that this wasn't some other school nickname of Luisa's that I didn't know about either.
"Very original, Ben. No wonder you're always second."
Luisa placed a clear emphasis on the last word. Ben flinched so sharply as if he had accidentally sat on a stray needle. And yet, it was difficult for me to understand what was wrong with his name. Maybe he didn't like it?
Regardless, at that moment, his name, just like his reaction, didn't concern me in the slightest.
So many loud words—even if not all of them had been voiced—I had used to describe our relationship, and now I didn't know what I was supposed to do with them. I was like an unskilled detective: believing I was already close to solving the mystery while following entirely the wrong tracks.
All that was left for me was to admit my incompetence and start everything from the very beginning. But how should I address her now? By her full name? Probably.
"Elira... Clairmont."
"Hm? Don't listen to him. People who are close don't address each other by their last name."
"But they are obligated to know it!" Ben immediately intervened, continuing to defend his point of view.
On the other hand, they were both right. Not using it and not knowing it are not the same thing.
"Why? Yori doesn't know hers either."
It seemed Luisa was genuinely perplexed by his statement. I couldn't disagree with her. After all...
Wait. Hold on.
"I have one too?"
"See? Yori is just Yori. You're overcomplicating everything."
It would have been far more convenient to agree with Luisa's logic, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was unreliable. I was like a lost child who, when asked "what is your mother's name," replied: "My mom." The only thing I could justify myself with was that I would easily recognize Luisa by her scent, her warmth, her touch, and a single hair that had fallen from her head.
But was that enough? Did that truly justify me? I found it difficult to answer.
"You both are... strange."
"And that is exactly why you don't belong here," Luisa affirmed and, as if to confirm her words, rested her chin on the crown of my head. What would our parents say if they found out that a simple introduction of their children had turned into something resembling a battlefield?
Apparently, coming to the conclusion that bringing his interlocutors—or, rather, interlocutor—to reason was an impossibility, the guy gave up: utter hopelessness reflected on his face. In the end, he was only here to apologize for what happened. Nothing more, nothing less.
I noticed that Ben's eyes were now focused on me, as if he still hoped to pull at least one of us over to his side. From the outside, perhaps, this situation resembled some sort of political election with a single voter. Showing that this had nothing to do with me, I simply made the scowliest face possible. It was already obvious who my vote would go to, wasn't it?
I must admit that Ben's words hadn't left me completely indifferent. But I wasn't going to show him that directly, undermining Luisa's confidence. The fact that I had already messed up once was enough.
However, there was still one unresolved question. And even if it wasn't the most favorable time, I doubted I would get another opportunity to speak with this guy.
My domino chain of mistakes had begun to collapse from the moment I pushed the first tile myself. And even though the process was likely unstoppable now, I could build a new one. Separate from the one already ruined.
"I'm sorry I called you an idiot."
Ben, crossing his arms over his chest and arching his lips, stared straight at me.
"Hmph."
A moment later, Ben tried in every possible way to show that he didn't care in the slightest. But the mere fact that he looked at me as if I were a head of cabbage and scowled away spoke to the contrary.
Probably, I should have told him that making a disinterested face was already a bit too late, but I decided to keep that to myself and finish my thought instead.
"And another thing. You need to apologize to that girl, not to me. You were rude."
"What?!"
This was probably the first time Luisa and Ben agreed with each other. They shouted in unison so loudly that I didn't know which way to lean to escape the sound.
What surprised them so much?
"Why should I apologize to her when I was right?"
If I could still understand Ben to some extent, what was it that Luisa didn't like? I threw my head back to look at her. She, in turn, tilted hers down to do the exact same thing.
She expressed her dissatisfaction not only with her voice but also with her facial expression, making me feel like I had done something wrong again. But it was unwise to back down when I had already started.
I straightened up and turned back to Ben.
"It doesn't matter what the intentions were—applying force only leads to friction."
"Ah? What?"
What's not to understand?..
But, looking at Ben's widened pupils, I decided to reconsider my approach.
"Oh... Just apologize. No one will be friendly to you if they are forced to be."
"Now that's a thought. Why don't you two visit her on Monday?"
Before I could even realize it, someone else shamelessly interfered in our conversation. Of course, by the voice, I quickly guessed who it was. It was enough for this woman to appear just once to leave an indelible mark on my memory.
How much did she hear? Judging by the way her side twitched while she leaned against the kitchen doorframe—she had heard enough.
"Ah, but of course. The three of you."
That very same smile appeared on her face again, the one that, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't fully interpret.
I didn't need to guess what had caused the woman to reconsider her proposal. Luisa's hands seemed to come alive whenever Roana appeared somewhere nearby. Frankly speaking, the way they were behaving right now caused me a bit of discomfort. It felt as if they were trying to encompass my entire body, and not just my neck.
"Mother!"
"Don't 'Mother' me. Have you forgotten what your father taught you?"
Poor Ben. In his mother's presence, all his will to fight seemed to completely evaporate. He looked ready to curl up into a ball, staring at her in fright, to which the woman only smiled.
"No."
"Splendid, then."
"The four of us. Such outings are no mere stroll for Yori."
A mere... what? Dad never ceased to amaze me. Not only did he follow Roana out of the kitchen right after her, but he also said something... adult? Probably.
I wasn't particularly surprised that in all this commotion, Dad managed to find a loophole to slip past us unnoticed. No, what alarmed me was that he had chosen not to interfere in the conversation until now. Had he, for once in his life, decided to show some tact?
"The guards could handle the escort, but if you insist," the woman raised her hand condescendingly. "In any case, traveling in a carriage would be faster."
"Too ostentatious," Dad replied without a second thought.
"Well, it shows."
Perhaps from the outside, it might have looked like these two didn't get along, but there was something in their behavior that made me doubt it. They rather resembled two old friends who felt it their duty to tell each other that a dress didn't suit them. Which, on the whole, was quite characteristic of my father.
"Why do I have to..."
I never did manage to catch the last part of Ben's whisper, as it was ruthlessly swallowed by Dad's laughter. But something told me his dissatisfaction wasn't limited to just one thing.
As for the whole upcoming expedition... What a pity. I doubted I would ever get another opportunity to ride in a carriage.
Well, whatever the case.