I Really Need You

"Hey-Yo! Hey-Ya!"

"Wa--!" Aria, who was busy carving small pieces of wood, immediately became shocked when she heard someone rushing in and shouting strange words. So as a result, the part of the carving that she had made so carefully ended up broken.

"Did you know that's how western people greet each other?" He still said again. "So if one day you meet them, you should use it too. Hey-Ya!"

"Mr. Malven…"

Not replying anymore, this time Hiki looked around and found the situation somehow familiar. Stacks of books, and some results of magical experiments. A sight that he definitely saw when Rei played at his house or when he went to Rei's house.

"I think magician's activities are all the same..." He muttered softly. "But it's past noon. Don't you have to rest?" He asked again and this time Aria was silent, confused.

"Well, I'm sure Rei didn't say you shouldn't. So how about you accompany me for tea." He said and after that he just immediately called the maid to bring some snacks and tea over there.

"...I-I'm fine though." Aria tried to say.

"I don't." Cut Hiki who was now sitting on one of the chairs and removed all the books that were on the table. "Rei is busy taking care of his useless new stuff, so I don't have anyone to talk to right now. So sit down quickly."

"..." Aria was silent for a very long time because she felt uncomfortable. But because she also couldn't study the books if Hiki kept looking at her like that, Aria finally forced herself to sit down and listen to Hiki's ramblings who were bored.

"This cake is delicious, you know. You've never tried that, have you?" Hiki continued. But because Aria never replied to his words and only sipped her tea, he finally gave up for a bit.

Hiki knew the type of girl like Aria couldn't be talked to just for small talk, so he thought he should find some serious topic. "But I really thought that Rei would ask you to teach him micro magic though." He said then.

"But unfortunately he didn't, huh." He added. "Well, he doesn't have that much time, so I guess it would just be a pain if he tried to learn it again."

"...Don't have much time?" Aria repeated, somewhat surprised.

But Hiki just laughed at that. "Hahaha! No, no. He's not sick or anything. Even though you might want it that way. Me too sometimes." He said. "It's just, he needs to do something. And he only has 2 or 3 more years to do that."

"Do what?"

"...Something. If you really gonna work for him, I'm sure he will explain it to you." Replied Hiki. "Or maybe you'll figure it out yourself. Because it's not something that's difficult to guess anyway."

Somewhat not understanding the direction of the conversation, Aria finally could only return to silence. But while they were talking about it, Aria worked up the courage to ask too. "But, do you know what job I will be doing?"

CLAP! But suddenly Hiki clapped his hands excitedly. "Right, about that! He hasn't told me that either! Damn Rei." He said. "I mean, I only know that he'll be taking you to the capital. But I don't know about the rest." He added.

After that, Hiki started muttering to himself, babbling his complaints about Rei, who hadn't told him much about this and that. But on the other hand, Aria was actually very surprised to hear Hiki's words earlier.

"T-To the capital…?"

"Hm? Yes, because Rei does live there--"

"What are you doing here?" Interrupted Rei who suddenly entered the greenhouse again. "Hiki, you must be bothering her again."

"Why? I just told her to rest for a bit because you made her study all day." Replied Hiki.

"Excuse me…" But suddenly Aria joined in. "But is it true? That we will need to go to the capital?" She asked.

Rei glanced briefly at Hiki when he heard the question, but then he answered anyway. "Yes. Because I live there." He replied, and Aria's face immediately turned limp. "Why? You have a problem with it?" He asked, even though Aria just went silent.

Although instead of continuing the topic, Rei just sighed softly. "Well, that's a matter of later. Rather than that…"

BRAK! Rei suddenly threw the two frozen handcuffs onto the table. "I just went to check on your friends and found this. You must have frozen their chains on purpose so they could escape."

THUMP. Not just skipping, this time Aria even felt her heart race wildly.

To be exact, she didn't actually do that. But when she healed Mika's hand, she indeed managed to also healed his magic circuit, so maybe he...

She'd be lying if she said she didn't expect this to happen, but she definitely didn't expect that Rei would check them out and find that out right away.

"Earlier they attacked me, so you can't blame me if I have to break their arms again." Rei said again.

Hearing that, Aria suddenly spontaneously ran to the door. Although of course Rei immediately held her hand and pulled her back to the table. "My goodness you really are such a pain! I didn't kill them. So don't run just yet!" He grumbled.

Aria tried to pull her arm, but Rei's grasp was really strong. "W-What did you do to them?" She asked.

"...You're lucky I'm being kind, so I won't do anything to you even if you just stabbed me in the back."

"Isn't that because you're already used to it?" Hiki chimed again, after which Rei immediately glanced at him sharply.

"The agreement is still the same." Rei said again. "As long as you agree to work for me, I'll let your friends go. So yes or no?"

But Aria was still silent, so Rei continued. "What's so hard about that, for god sake? I told you I won't ask you to be a killer or anything."

"Why else?" Hiki interrupted again. "Of course it's because people like them don't trust people like us. It's natural law, you know."

"..." Hearing that, Rei finally fell silent and let go of his grip on Aria's arm. "So the more I ask, the more you refuse me, huh…" He muttered as if he was repeating someone else's words.

He went silent for a moment, before finally speaking again. "Fine then. If you prefer it that way, you can bring your friends home today."

Widening her eyes, Aria was again shocked at Rei's words. She wasn't sure if it was really her or this man who actually had a bad day today.

"As for your magic, well, I guess that's enough at least." Rei continued while glancing around. Even though nothing had been completed yet, he could see that Aria's magic was suitable for his needs.

"I'll be returning to the capital on Monday, so decide before then." Rei continued, who seemed to be already tired.

After that Rei also reached his pocket and took out a small pouch. "And about the medicine for your dying friend, here."

Aria's shoulders, which had been tense to death, finally started to go limp slowly "A-Are you serious?" She confusedly asked.

"...I really need your magic." He replied while putting on a serious look. "I promise I'll treat you well there, so please trust me."

"..."