------"Cast aside your family, your friends, your possessions, your world and come to our Little Garden."
Having second thoughts about having cast away her wealth now, it felt like the most ironic thing ever!
"Though it's my responsibility alone, I still feel a little left out……From now on, I shall plan wisely before joining Gift games so as to prevent any unnecessary expenditures. After all, a set of Flame gemstones can even cost up to one copper."
"Nn. Yep. Tonight will mark the first step of your conservation plans……. Let's go! Let's walk while eating, shall we?"
"Eh?" Asuka's surprise escaped from her mouth when she registered the detail of that question.
God knows when she bought it but there were 2 freshly baked Apple Pies held in Yō's hands. Taking a large bite into the apple pie and spilling it's aroma into the surrounding air, a look of bliss came over Yō's face.
Asuka smiled wryly as she stretched out her hand. "Oh well, at least you were thoughtful today. So I will have one."
"Eh?"
"Hmmm?"
"Nn? I won't give it to you."
Stuffing her second apple pie into her mouth, Yō's face was one of bliss again.
Mustering her hot flushed cheeks, Asuka strode over to the stall and ordered three peach pies on an impulse. Though keeping her temper in check, she began to feast upon the pies in self-abandonment. Not caring about the upkeep of looks.
Relishing the remarkable harmony of the sour and sweet taste of peach that seemed to wrap around her tongue with each bite, Asuka felt her temple appeased when she remembered something.
"Oh right, Kasukabe-san, have you returned the headphones?"
Yō immediately started to cough as she choked on her food.
Asuka frowned as she understood the reason behind this over reaction.
"You haven't given it to him right?"
"…. Nn."
"About the matter of having broken his headphones?"
"That case is closed. He had forgiven me when I apologized. So quick was his reply that I almost couldn't believe my ears…… but….." Yō halted her words.
To replace the spoilt headphones, Yō had originally planned to summon her father's headphones to return to Izayoi. Though she lost it before, it was fortunate that she managed to find it once more on top of the rubble.
The replacement had the same flame logo that was seen on Izayoi's headphones. Hence Yō thought that she could use it to atone and be forgiven. Only that……
"I heard that his headphones wasn't a product that can be bought…. But a handmade item crafted by his friend…."
"……Is it so?"
At this point, Asuka realized the cause of her woes.
A handmade item when compared to a commercial product would often carry a different weight of feelings. If a replacement is simply acquired and given, it might get taken badly as an insult to Izayoi's friend.
(Eh? If…… If it's like this, something seems amiss. How would a handmade item carry the same logo found on a commercial product?) Asuka felt puzzled as she thought to herself.
Yō didn't seem to notice her concerns as she clenched her fists.
"And so I decided to keep the headphones as a keepsake of my father's possession and use something else to repay him. I already promised Izayoi that I will give him all the prizes that I gather from the Harvest Festival."
"Oh….like this…?"
"That's why I really wanted to get the first place for the Hunting event. That Garol-san just doesn't know how to be considerate of others." Yō stuffed more of her apple pie into her mouth as she sulked.
All of a sudden, her hand stopped moving. With a half-eaten apple pie held midway to the mouth, she widened her eyes as she fixed her eyed on something beside the stall.
Perplexed by her companion's strange actions, Asuka cocked her head to one side.
"Kasukabe-san? Is something the matter?"
"…….Asuka, what's that?"
Yō pointed before her with her free hand and Asuka's eyes followed the direction that Yō pointed……
*Puck!* went the sound of the collision between Asuka's forehead and something that was roughly the size of a fist.
"Aya!"
"Wua!"
"Ah, Asuka!"
Throwing aside her unfinished pie, Yō rushed to Asuka's side.
Fortunately it wasn't anything serious. Asuka only doubled over due to the surprise and force of the collision. Pressing the point swelling and angry looking bump on her forehead, she lifted up her head to look at the culprit that made that voice in a strange pitch.
The thing that collided with Asuka------ was a fist sized, faerie that was now seeing lots of stars.[11]
"This…. This child is a faerie?"
"Seems smaller than Mel. It looks bite-sized."
"Right…. Want to eat?"
"I want to eat!"
"No you can't!"
Feeling the imminent threat to its life, the faerie quickly scrambled to its feet and brushed the dust off its Margenta silken outfit. Feeling a wave of déjà vu, Asuka gave a wry smile-----
*Puck, Puck!* A second and third collision went straight to her forehead.
"Yahahah!"
"Wuahah!"
"Waahah!"
"Serves your right♪"
*Swish!* The last one sent out a flying kick while shouting out maliciously. Asuka finally fell backwards with her back on the floor.
"Four? There's four of the same faerie?" Yō couldn't grasp the situation but she counted the number of those floating faeries.
There were a total of four faeries wearing the same Magenta High Grade silk one piece dresses. Looking like Mel, they seemed to be a type of group faerie. Floating around while squabbling amongst themselves, they flew away as though nothing had happened.
Yō with her mouth agape was too stunned to react as she watched them leave. At this moment, a familiar voice could be heard from over the crowd------it was the shop assistant of [Thousand Eyes]'s voice. Jostling against the crowd, she jogged over when she saw Yō and Asuka.
"Hah….Hah…. Y.You, the [No Name] people! Have you seen a five member group of faeries pass by her? They are small female faeries that wear Magenta one piece dresses!