N.T. Kare wa Tomodachi (He is my friend)
In an isolated cabin, far from where the girls were, there was movement. The structure, built from sturdy wood, gave off a scent that filled the space. The yellowish lighting felt warm, and the fireplace kept the room comfortable. Colonial-style furniture blended nicely with the rugs and other decorations.
The sound of hot water from the shower slowly faded. The woman who had been bathing got dressed and walked into the living room, where she stopped, facing her companion seated on the floor.
"So then, Heidi. Feeling better now that you've thawed out and had a hot shower?" said the tall man, amber eyes, his body covered in a large dragon tattoo. He wore only loose black pants and watched her with a smile.
"More or less. What's your problem, Aiden? You were much stronger than them," the woman said, one hand on her hip, her tone sharp. "Why did you leave? Why didn't you eliminate them?"
She was tall, around 1.70 meters, with long brown hair and bluish-gray eyes. She wore a long-sleeved bodysuit with openings at the abdomen, fastened with buckles.
"Because it wasn't part of the mission," Aiden replied, returning his attention to the object in his hands.
Heidi and Aiden had been responsible for the attack at the waterfall, and now they rested safely nearby.
She found his answer strange. Moving in front of him, she crouched down, supporting herself on her hands and knees, bringing her face level with his, looking at him seriously.
"What's wrong with you people?" she mocked. "Is everyone in Maureen's group like this? Excellent warriors… you could conquer kingdoms, lands…"
"We are warriors, not assassins," he cut her off, his tone unfriendly.
Heidi's eyes shifted toward the object in his hands. He held a book filled with drawings of muscles and human proportions. It caught her interest.
"And what are you reading?" she asked, looking at it with disdain.
"Ah…" he lowered it slightly so she could see. "An art book from this planet. I found it interesting. The ones I saw in Finalia were all destroyed."
"Oh! So you're an artist." Her serious expression gave way to a hint of curiosity.
Heidi knelt down and began touching Aiden's face and hair, as if examining a small animal. Feeling him as if he were something unusual.
"I didn't know there were still any. Interesting. I didn't expect to meet one."
"Are you going to examine me like I'm some rare specimen?"
Her touch stopped, turning into an embrace. The man's mysterious nature caught her attention, and she followed it with a kiss. Surprised, Aiden set the book aside and returned her affection. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting an orange glow that matched the warm autumn afternoon.
Ren's apartment, 10 PM
Saturday wasn't a night to sleep early. With no obligations the next day, the boys decided to relax after a busy week at the rental shop.
The smell of beer, snacks, and popcorn filled the space. The plan for the night was already set: play video games.
Dylan was in the kitchen making popcorn and refilling the snack bowls. Ren and Itzel sat on the couch, eyes fixed on the tube TV, playing old cartridge games. Kenta walked behind the couch, holding a freshly opened beer, when he looked at their choice.
"You guys are really going to play that old console?" he scoffed.
"Man, cartridges are way cooler," Ren said, not taking his eyes off the screen.
Itzel stayed silent, his eyes focused, leaning forward slightly, as if trying to better understand the form of entertainment of these Earth youths.
The intercom rang, loud and sharp. Since he was already standing, Kenta went to answer it. He spoke little, just listened and nodded along. At the end, he pressed the button to unlock the door, asked for confirmation, then hung up.
"Who was it, Kenta?" Ren asked, stretching his neck, curious.
"Itzel's friend."
"Friend?" Itzel found that strange. He hadn't been expecting anyone that night.
He stood up, pausing the game and leaving the controller behind as he went to answer the door. He opened it slowly and found himself face to face with a man around 1.95 meters tall, smiling at him.
"Hey Itzel! How are you?"
"Aiden! Come in!"
"Man, look at the size of this guy!" Ren and Dylan commented, wide-eyed, staring.
"Hey, I'm tall too," Kenta complained, at his 1.92 meters.
"Guys, this is Aiden, my friend," Itzel introduced.
Aiden just said hi and waved as he stepped inside. Soon, his attention returned to Itzel.
"Would it be possible for me to stay here for a few days?"
"Hm… there are four of us here…" Itzel started thinking. "Ren, what do you think?"
"Man… I'd offer the couch, but I don't think he'll fit," Ren replied, imagining Aiden lying down with most of his body hanging off.
With that, Itzel thought of another solution.
"I can check how Maureen is doing in the apartment across the hall. Iker's there too."
"Hmm, Maureen! That sounds good," Aiden replied, pleased.
"Alright. I'll figure out something better later."
Itzel walked Aiden over to the apartment across the hall, where he was welcomed by Maureen. The night continued across both apartments. The missions seemed paused, and for once, they could just not think about anything.
Aino's house, April 25, Sunday
Located on the street that slopes down from the school, near the city's main avenue, Aino's house sat on a corner. Since the building was constructed right at the edge of the lot, there were no walls or fences, and the windows were usually kept closed for safety.
The small yellow house had a green stripe across the top. It contrasted with the busy family ice cream shop out front. Her room had enough space for a dresser with a mirror, a wardrobe, and a double bed.
Aino and the girls had returned from the mountain trip, each now at home. But even though the rest of the trip had been calm, her mind wasn't. What happened at the waterfall made her reflect on her role in the group.
The decorations that usually sat on her dresser were now on the bed, replaced by two candles. A bucket full of water sat nearby. Everything was prepared.
She leaned closer to the dresser, carefully checking the candles one last time before starting. Finally, she gathered her courage, stood up, pointed her finger toward one wick, and released her flames. The fire was precise, controlled. The candle lit perfectly.
"Alright! One down!" she said.
She had managed to control the intensity of her Potentia without damaging anything. That was the goal.
Now for the second candle. She stepped a bit farther back, raised her finger again, and repeated the process. But this time, the result was different. The flames came out stronger, passed through the wick, and began spreading across the wall and furniture.
"OH MY GOD, IT'S ON FIRE!"
Panicking, she started pacing, until suddenly she remembered the bucket. She grabbed it and threw the water at the flames without even thinking about how much she needed.
The problem was only half solved. The wall was soaked, the dresser dripping. The clothes inside were probably wet too.
But Aino didn't even check. She sat at the edge of the bed, head down, hands trembling as she gripped the sheets.
"That's enough for today. I lit one candle… and almost burned my room down…" she murmured, her voice on the verge of tears.
Silence filled the room. Her gaze drifted into nothing, and a few tears slipped down her face. In that moment, she just wanted to forget everything that had happened.
April 28, Wednesday, Choppub
The week passed without much happening. Finally, a few days to breathe. And that Wednesday night was not just any night.
The Choppub was a pub that had opened that year in the city. It had already caught attention from younger crowds, with its drinks, modern aesthetic, and current music, as well as from older patrons, with refined cuisine and draft beer from top breweries.
The place had an outdoor area under the stars, and an indoor space for colder days, always well-lit and comfortable. The menu was varied, offering both buffet and à la carte options. For those who enjoyed drinks, the highlight was the bar counter, where the bartender prepared cocktails on the spot for the more adventurous customers.
But tonight, this place would host something special.
Arriving at the entrance were Dylan and Ren, hanging onto Itzel, while Kenta followed a bit behind.
"We're here!" Ren cheered, one arm raised, the other around Itzel's neck.
"Why did you drag me here?" Itzel asked, uncomfortable. His tone suggested he already had an idea, but was still hoping he was wrong.
"To celebrate!" Dylan answered.