Chapter 92 - FMF

Staring at Ryuu, Ais didn't say anything while she returned her stare.

"Do I have something on my face??"

Being asked this question, Ais shook her head as she answered with a 'no'. Even though the two didn't feel anything like 'hatred' for each other, Ryuu could somehow understand that her presence wasn't very welcome by her.

While the two stared at each other without saying anything, Raul looked at both as he decided to cut between the two by starting a conversation.

"R-Ryuu-san! Now I'm curious, would you like to tell me how did you and Ethan meet?"

His question brought her to 'break' the staring battle as she thought about it for a second before answering

"Do you...really want to know?"

Furring his brows, Raul gulped as he added

"...Is it something I can't know?"

Shaking her head, she didn't really care if Raul knew how they met each other, but, she also knew that the way they met wasn't really that 'good' to tell right in front of his girlfriend.

Conflicted, she was thinking about what to answer before an idea came to her mind. She didn't really like to lie, so the only choice she had was..

"We met in an anti-climatic way and ended up fighting each other and it's unpleasant to remember how I pointed a sword at Hyogumi-san. I assumed that he was wrong and treated him coldly before making sure it was indeed my mistake"

Hearing how they met each other, Raul couldn't help but sigh internally.

'I wonder why he always gets involved in these kinds of situations...I guess this is what being a star is like..getting to know girls like nothing..being so powerful...'

While his depressing thoughts claimed his mind, Ais didn't break her stare as she was actually curious to know more..

---

"S-Stop teasing me!"

Saying this, Lefiya didn't reply to her question while Tiona smirked

"I know you like him..it's so obvious!"

Her words brought her blush to widen as she looked away. Seeing this, Tiona sighed while adding

"Be honest with yourself, Lefiya. I'm not really good with love stuff, but I at least know that the first thing is to acknowledge your feelings for him!"

Strangely, Lefiya was already beginning to see Tiona in a new light. Even though she wasn't a wise person, some things she said managed to lend heavy blows on her, but, she remembered Ethan's words that he repeated her a few times during their time together..

'Let's take it slow'

'We can start as friends...in the future, we will see how things will evolve..'

Shaking her head, her blush didn't fade as she decided to answer her with all she had.

"I g-got it already, I-I got it..but I can't. Right now, he doesn't want to... s-see me in that way"

Her words, shocked Tiona that, with an 'Ah?' immediately replied

"You can't be serious..."

Even though bringing this up made her really sad, she also remembered how he always cheered her up. Contrasting her own feelings with the warmth he managed to bring her while he took her in a hug made her smile without her even knowing as she added

"I guess..I'm fine with this, for the time being"

Still quite shocked from what she said, Tiona nodded as she could somehow understand, from the 'firm' way she said these words, that she really wanted it.

'Now I'm too curious to let the matter be..I'm sorry, Lefiya.'

Apologizing to her in her mind, Tiona was about to continue the conversation before she was hit lightly on the head.

Even though she could've easily dodged the hit, she immediately knew it was Ethan, so she decided to play along.

"You know..you should stop with this already. I know you really care about her, but bringing her on the verge of tears isn't good"

Saying this, he took his hand from her head while Lefiya immediately wiped out the tears as she looked away while the blush on her face didn't fade in the slightest.

Even though Tiona felt bad for having brought Lefiya to the point of crying, she repressed her feelings as she didn't want to bring up the topic of the conversation with Ethan in front of her..

"It hurtsss!!"

Previously approaching Lefiya, Ethan turned to look at her as he smiled sarcastically.

"Not even my strongest hit would be able to make you feel pained to the point of making such an expression, you know?"

Shaking her head, she immediately replied while chuckling.

"That's not true..! You can probably move me a bit if you hit me with your wind magic"

Sighing, he returned his focus on Lefiya while adding

"Next time, we'll try. My goal will be to move you 20 centimetres from where you were a second before"

Nodding, Tiona was about to ask something before she saw that he wanted to calm Lefiya. Looking up at the sky, she shut her mouth as she couldn't help but think..

'She isn't a kid anymore..you know?'

"You know..I didn't hear what you two were talking about, but Tiona would never say something that could hurt you."

Nodding, she knew he was right, she was just trying to help her, but..

"I know..I was just t-thinking about some things..."

Although he wanted to sigh again, he gave her head a few pats before deciding to bring the two back.

"By the way, I actually found some acquaintances, so our party will join their group"

Hearing this, the first to reply was Tiona that, with an 'oh' asked

"Ethan's acquaintances?? Who are they??"

Thinking about it for a moment, Ethan thought about Raul as his expression turned slightly annoyed.

"One of them, the captain of the party, is someone I don't really like, but we can get along."

"T-Then..why we are joining their group..?"

Being asked this question, Ethan's thoughts focused on Ryuu as his expression returned to normal

"I know someone really strong in his party, who is also an acquaintance of mine, so I decided to tag along with her"

Understanding, both nodded as they knew that, as the Captain, his words carried a heavy weight. If Ethan trusted the strength of someone else, it was obvious that they would do the same.

"I see."

Was all that Tiona said while Lefiya didn't say anything as she was deep in thought.

'I wanted to stop showing him this side of me..but why..it always ends up like this..'

Shaking her head again, she knew they had more serious things to think about as she decided to think about it at another time...

Looking at him, she could see how determined he was to start hunting monsters as Tiona had the same thoughts..

'they are really full of energy..'

Thinking this, she smiled as her blush started to slowly fade from her face..

---

Now arrived at their destination, Ethan saw Ais and Ryuu still staring at each other.

"As I was saying, that wasn't his fault. Ask him when he.."

Seeing that he returned, Ryuu pointed at him while adding

"Ask him if you don't believe me.."

Turning her head towards Ethan, Ais stared at him as he was confused.

"Did something happen while I wasn't here?"

Nodding, she was about to add something, but before she could, Ryuu added

"She was curious about how we met each other, so I told her"

Understanding, he looked at Ais as he calmly replied

"I didn't see or feel her presence, so I thought nobody was there, but, before I could even starting to undress, Ryuu tried to lend a fatal blow on me"

Shaking her head, Ryuu added

"No, that wouldn't have killed you"

Repressing his feelings, Ethan made an 'oh' while Ais didn't actually say anything. Seeing this as well, Ethan decided it was better to start with presentations. Pointing his hand at Tiona and Lefiya, he added

"By the way, these two are my party members..."

Focusing on Tiona, he wanted to add something more, however, he knew that they had to introduce themselves, so he decided to leave them the honour of doing so.

With a smirk, Tiona raised her chin as she added

"Nice to meet you, I'm Tiona Hiryute! But you can call me Tiona"

Nodding, Ryuu looked at Lefiya while the latter was still deep in thought. Seeing this, Tiona tapped her finger on Lefiya's shoulder. Returning to the real word, she looked confused for a moment before Ethan sighed.

"You have to introduce yourself..are you okay, Lefiya?"

Quickly understanding the situation, she immediately answered

"H-Hello! Nice to meet you, I'm Lefiya!"

Even though the way she was behaving would've made someone else think two times before easily accepting such a person in their group, Ryuu wasn't one of them.

"...I understand...Lefiya-san and Tiona-san. It's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet both of you. My name is Ryuu Lion"

Saying this, she returned her focus on Ethan while the latter nodded.

"She's the acquaintance I was talking about when I referred to the strong one"

Understanding, Tiona smiled at her while he decided to approach Ais. Holding her hand, he added

"Let's think about the expedition for now, okay?"

After confirming she wasn't actually mad, Ethan smiled as he was about to join the conversation before he heard a voice coming from behind him..

"Please Ethan, just take Ryuu in your party"

Hearing these words, he turned around while remembering the Captain of Ryuu's party was indeed Raul.

"Oh, sorry, I actually forgot about you"

Shocked, Raul felt even more depressed, but, trying not to mind it, he replied

"..I-I see.."

While he was finding the words to reply, Ethan thought about his words

"Wait, why would I take Ryuu in my party? Isn't she in yours?"

Shaking his head, he had a sarcastic smile on his face as he answered

"I saw she was alone and decided to ask her if she wanted to join my party. In the end, she accepted without much hesitation, but I think it's better to let her stay in the party she can get along better with"

In his mind, Raul was nodding at himself as this gesture of pure kindness had also affected himself.

'Please, accept my kindness and treat me better...'

While he was busy thinking about this, Ethan looked at Ryuu while she did the same.

"I don't really matter..I don't know if everyone wants me in your party either"

Her words made him flinch as he was about to say something, but before he could, Tiona replied

"Don't say such things! Our Captain was the first to say you're really strong"

Slightly surprised by her words, she took mental notes about the fact that he was leading the party. Knowing it would be awkward if she didn't say anything, Lefiya took Ryuu's side as well.

"I think the same as Tiona. Our C-Captain..acknowledged your strength, so I t-trust... his judgment"

Looking at both of them, Ryuu looked down as she managed to keep everything she was feeling deep down her heart while Ais, surprisingly, added

"I think..the same."

Now even more surprised, she wanted to ask why she changed her behavior all of a sudden.

Finding himself without words, he stared at them while they talked happily. Understanding this as well, made Raul smile as he added

"That's it..I think the situation is clear to you, isn't it?"

Turning his head to look at him, Ethan added

"But..your party members?"

Shaking his head, he added

"We were 5, so there isn't a problem with that. Just take her."

Looking down, Ethan held Ais' hand more tightly as he added

"I see... I'm really sorry if I thought you were someone I didn't want to talk with at all."

Feeling as if an arrow pierced his c.h.e.s.t, Raul coughed some blood as he looked away

'What am I supposed to reply...'

Thinking this, he was, for the second time, unable to reply to Ethan's words while he made up his mind.

"...Let's be friends, from now on."

---

(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 . You may ask me: "Why should I enter the server?". At this question, my answer would likely be: "Because it's fun? I don't know either. Just join." Ah, and you can find some image reference of items in the story such as [The Devoted Heart], so it's recommended to join. One last thing, I post chapter updates in my discord right after I posted on , so I guess you can join to be able to know when I post chapters faster.)

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(Alternate Titles: "Meanwhile, in Ethan's mind: 'From now on, I'll transform this person into a fine man!'", "FMF = First Male Friend", "is Ais actually mad or not? I don't get it.")