At the food and game stalls around, all of Enrico's companions were scattered throughout the center of Vesparello City, each enjoying themselves in their own way—cheerful and even talking about what tomorrow would bring.
"I wanted to join Enrico's team, but he asked me to join the person he mentioned."
"It must be because he's already decided on his four companions."
"Then why didn't he choose me? I'm strong."
Liam was eating while Kai played a sword-precision game where he had to hit exactly the spot where a line appeared for a single second among five targets. Each perfect hit would grant a better prize at the end. It was a hard game, but out of five appearances, Kai hit all five perfectly.
"Maybe that's exactly why... what if he wants to fight you in the Thrones of Runes?"
"Wait—you're right!"
Kai's eyes began to sparkle with stars as he imagined his rematch finally happening. Besides, Enrico himself had said who should join which person, so it could really mean he finally wanted to fight.
"I'll give it my all!"
"That's the spirit."
At the stall next door, Serenya was staring at Elian with a threatening look that made him sweat, while Caelan didn't care at all, calmly shooting at floating water bubbles with a magic gun.
"Why are you avoiding my right arm, Elian?"
"M-Miss Serenya, I-I can't stay near him! Didn't you hear his words about me being feminine enough for him?"
"Elian…"
Serenya looked to the side thoughtfully for a second before grabbing his shoulder tightly, making him tremble under her strength and aura.
"I don't like it, but if you're my subordinate, then you have to do it."
"Wait—do it? You mean—?"
"Maybe I should buy you some clothes Enrico would like."
Serenya's face was not a pleasant one—in fact, she looked furious, smiling with the forced expression of someone suffering internally.
"If my right arm wants it, then you'll be his."
"Leader, you can't say that!"
With each of her words, Elian became more horrified. He couldn't possibly do that—his embarrassment wouldn't let him. He turned desperately toward Caelan, silently begging for help. Caelan noticed the situation—but to Elian's despair, he only gave him a cruel smile.
"If you need help, I can help choose the clothes too."
'That bastard—I'm going to kill him.'
"No, only the girls and Enrico can come so we can decide together."
"I'm not a girl! And what do you mean Enrico's coming too?"
"I can help too."
Sylvia, who hadn't even been invited, appeared there with a serious look—as if she had decided to make the two men end up together, driven by some hidden perversion.
"Who invited you?"
"Oh, you're so silly, Elian. Of course, I invited myself. Serenya, can I join?"
"Of course. As soon as Enrico comes, we'll set a day to go."
All Elian could do was clutch his head in despair, trying to find a way to escape these lunatics. Enrico was amazing to him, but that shouldn't be possible—especially since he felt so inferior in strength.
'How do I escape this?'
Unlike Elian's desperation over the clothing trip, the three girls from Tsuyokuni were happily shopping for clothes together.
"This will be a good outfit for my and my master's future."
"Maybe my Ketsumei will like this one better."
"How cute, you two picking out date clothes."
"What do you mean? Wait, Aoi—why are you holding that kind of outfit in your hands?"
"What do you mean? It's just a simple pajama."
Yumeha was the first to notice the black transparent outfit that looked like a pajama—but in a completely different sense. Rina came closer and examined it seriously.
"This will be good for our future. Do they have it in white?"
"They do. I found them quite pretty, and I'm sure my dear will like them."
"You girls… the master might like it?... Do they have one in purple?"
Unable to contain her feelings and wanting to make her master happy, she approached them, looking through the same type of clothing.
"You seem happier than usual, Aoi. What happened?"
"My mother's coming to meet Enrico during the Thrones of War, so of course I'm happy. Besides, I'm planning to show my face to him since he can see it. I was a little nervous before, but now I'll go all in."
"Your mother's coming? That's great! That means our whole family will be together."
"Lady Aoi is going to show her face? If you were nervous because of that, know that the master would never care about such a thing. Look at me, for example—I still haven't shown my eyes completely, and he's never asked."
Of course, she would show them when he finally asked. Maybe he would find them beautiful—and if that happened, she'd be the happiest girl in the world.
"I know—wait, isn't that Grakka and Danyana? Why are they having a match with those two?"
She was right. At a nearby table, Grakka and Danyana were facing off against Seraphina and Valença in a card game. The match had started because Grakka and Danyana wanted to have a fight with Enrico today, so to protect their beloved's rest, the other two had stepped in—turning it into a card match they'd have to win if they wanted that fight.
'I have to win.'
That moment was tense for all four of them, as they each had something to accomplish—one wanting to fight and the other trying to protect—and none of them intended to back down.