They Look Fine Though?

Because it was late afternoon, Aria had been busy tidying things up at the shop because they were about to close. But when Aria was only half done, Mrs. Rumia suddenly turned on her and interrupted. "I'll finish the rest. So how about you go home now?"

"It's fine, let me finish first--"

"Hey, no need, no need. Go home, okay?" Mrs. Rumia replied while continuing to push Aria to the front of the door until she was in a hurry to grab her small bag before actually leaving.

"Wait, aunty, why--"

"Oh, look. You're still alive." But suddenly a familiar voice came from the side of the shop. It was Hiki.

"Because you didn't come back to the mansion, Rei started to worry that someone killed you or something. But apparently not, huh." He continued. "Here, flowers for you." He added sarcastically while giving a pink flower.

"M-Mr. Malven…" Aria replied while she could only freeze. Even though it had just passed one day after the incident in the greenhouse, it turns out that Hiki immediately came straight to the shop again.

But since Aria didn't take the flowers, Hiki chuckled softly. "You might think that Rei is a patient person because he just let you go even though you may not necessarily take his offer. But actually he's been torn to death in the mansion, you know."

"And he's not fun to talk to when he's like that, so I decided to just come here." He added. And because Aria was still confused, Hiki continued. "But if possible, of course you don't want to join Rei, right? I remember you looking agitated when I said that he would take you to the capital."

And while widening his smile, he took another step closer. "Then, instead of going with him, how about you just be my personal assistant?"

"...What?"

"I mean, you know, Rei isn't the only one who needs a magician by his side. I need one too! Especially since there is someone around me who likes to curse people!" He suddenly looked hysteric too.

And after calming himself down, he continued. "I'll pay you, Of course. And what's even better is that you don't have to go to the capital and leave your friends behind either. Although… I honestly think they deserve to be left behind."

"..." Aria had no thought at all about this.

"Come on, quickly say yes. Or should I threaten you to break your younger siblings' hands too like Rei?" He added.

Normally Aria would probably suffer a heart attack again. But because she saw Rei's figure appearing slowly from behind Hiki, Aria realized that the real Hiki was in much more trouble.

"..." Feeling a murderous aura creeping up his back, it didn't take long for Hiki to notice it too. "...He's behind me, isn't he?" He asked softly and Aria immediately gave a small nod, so he had to turn around. "Oh, hi, Rei, do you need to buy something else--"

BRUSH! But Rei just took the flower that Hiki had brought earlier and slapped him with it. "What you said yesterday was true, you know. I'm used to being stabbed in the back, especially by you!"

"So what?!" Hiki protested while removing the flower from his face. "She definitely wouldn't agree to your offer, so what's wrong with her working for me?"

But Rei also finally pulled his collar. "If I tell Elena this you think she'll spare you?"

"You think I can't tell Reina about you either?!" Hiki replied who also tried to squeeze Rei's collar.

Seeing that there were 2 nobles arguing in the middle of the street, everyone started to pay attention to them. Although the one who felt embarrassed was actually Aria! So in the end, she forced herself to separate them and push them to another place.

At first Aria almost took them to a quieter place, but because she suddenly felt worried if she left alone with them, Aria finally chose to take them to the water fountain in the town square instead.

"E-Excuse me, I'm not sure what to do yet. So if you two can give me more time…" Aria tried to say carefully.

Both of them looked dissatisfied, but then Rei also replied. "But I already let go of your friends. Doesn't that mean you owe me?"

"...Y-Yes, of course I will pay you back--"

"But you broke their hands and poisoned them. You can't call it a debt then!" Hiki interrupted again and now Rei already wanted to throw him to the fountain.

But when the two of them were about to fight again, a group of small children suddenly came to them--even though they immediately stuck to Aria's leg. "Sister! You're here again! Are you finally going to have another show?" Asked one of the children with twinkling eyes.

"What's today's story? Is it the lion king? Ah, since it's getting dark, what about the Ghost church?" Babbled another child.

"Huh? Ah, that, mm…" Aria was taken aback. But because she couldn't just push them away, she ended up lowering her body towards the children. "I'm sorry, but today my friends are a little sick. So probably next time, okay?" Answered Aria as best as she could.

"They look fine though?" Replied the kid while pointing Rei and Hiki.

"I-I mean my other friends." Aria hurriedly corrected it.

"That's a shame then… I haven't seen the show in a long time." Said the children with a disappointed look. It took some time, but after Aria tried to calm them down again, she finally managed to send those children away.

Even though Aria herself was actually a little sad after that. Because when she thinks about it, all of these incidents actually happened since they stopped performing their magic shows.

'Maybe we should've just kept doing the show…'

On the other hand, Rei and Hiki glanced at each other after hearing that conversation. 'So she really did those cheap shows…' Rei also thought.

"But wait, didn't we only catch your friend a couple days ago?" Hiki suddenly said. "But you haven't performed in a long time?"

"...Y-You know we're doing a show?" Asked Aria, getting scared again.

"Well, there are plenty of kids like them." Rei replied simply. "Then why did you stop doing it?" He asked again, but Aria could only stay silent and put on a sour face.

So Hiki answered again. "Why else? Of course because her friends would rather become a thief than entertain the kids for pennies." He said and Aria immediately curled her lips even more sadly.

Rei and Hiki were silent for a moment seeing the woman in front of them looking like she was about to cry. But after looking at each other and talking through the wind, somehow Hiki finally seemed to be the first to sigh, while Rei returned his gaze to Aria.

"Listen, if your life here is that hard, you really should come with me to the capital." He said. "Not just me, if your abilities get recognized, everyone will also treat you well there."

But since Aria was still silent, Rei added again. "And well, if you want, Hiki can also find other jobs for your friends here."

"Wait--" Hiki was about to protest, but Rei immediately shut him up.

Aria seemed a bit affected by that, but to be honest that's not the only thing worrying her.

"Ah, or you just don't want to leave your siblings--" Rei was about to ask again, but for some reason he became silent. "..."

"Tsk, we'll talk another time." He spat in annoyance as he immediately dragged Hiki to follow him even though the other person didn't understand what was going on either.