With lunchtime approaching, Kai and the others decided to go to Pete's family restaurant for lunch. After they finished their meal, they resumed the conversation they had been having earlier.
"So, what should we do now? All the items Grandma Lyla mentioned yesterday can't possibly just appear out of nowhere, right?"
Kurt asked while glancing at his other friends with a sour expression. He was still unable to accept being forced to sit so close to the young man seated to his right.
"I don't know… That irresponsible goddess didn't explain anything useful to me,"
Kai replied with a shrug. Kurt's expression grew even more sour upon hearing that answer.
"Is she really a goddess? Why didn't she give you any useful information?"
"I don't know… I'm starting to doubt her status myself."
The two young men let out weary sighs at the same time. They seemed at a complete loss as to what they should do next.
"Don't worry! The Fairy Goddess will definitely help us in an emergency!"
Elly said, trying to defend the Fairy Goddess.
"Doesn't our current situation already count as an emergency?"
Kai replied with a flat expression. Elly fell silent, her thoughts tangling as she searched in vain for the right words, the weight of his response slowly settling in.
The moment Claire noticed the sadness lingering on her close friend's face, she could no longer remain silent and finally spoke up.
"I think that just befriending Kurt isn't enough for you to obtain those items, so it might be better if you start getting closer to the other villagers as well."
"Then why did you tell me to befriend him?!"
Kai looked extremely displeased, as he felt that befriending Kurt was a pointless effort. If he thought about it carefully, there was no way someone like Kurt would have information about the things Grandma Lyla had mentioned yesterday. However, when it came to information about explosions, Kai was certain that the young man knew that topic very well.
"You've only just met, so maybe the effect hasn't appeared yet… but I think that if you keep staying together, a miracle will eventually appear."
Claire replied with a meaningful smile.
"What kind of miracle are you talking about?!"
"You're not expecting me to keep staying together with this guy, are you?!"
Kai and Kurt retorted at Claire at the same time.
"You already look like true friends, so all we need to do is wait for time to do its work."
""What are you talking about?!""
Both Kai and Kurt shouted in unison.
Kai and Kurt's moods grew even worse, and both of them wanted to leave the place as soon as possible. However, a girl approached their table, causing the two young men to restrain that intention.
"What are you talking about? You look very lively. May I join you?"
said the girl who was working as a waitress at the restaurant.
"K-Katie…"
Kurt called out the girl's name nervously and in surprise.
"Y-Yes, of course… you can sit here!"
Meanwhile, Kai spoke to her casually and patted the empty chair beside him, signaling for the girl to sit there.
Katie accepted Kai's offer without much thought and immediately sat down beside him. Seeing this, Kurt shot a sharp glare at Kai. Fortunately, Kai understood the meaning of that look and took the initiative to switch seats with Kurt without saying a single word.
Now sitting next to Katie, Kurt immediately turned red and was unable to say anything at all. When Katie looked toward Kurt and noticed his flushed face, she also began to blush and found herself unable to speak.
"Such youth… you two really look adorable."
Kai said while giving Kurt a meaningful smile.
"Why are you talking like an old man?"
Claire responded with a flat expression.
Meanwhile, Elly simply smiled without saying anything as she watched Kurt and Katie's behavior. She seemed to understand exactly what was going on.
"Can we continue our discussion?"
Claire asked, wanting to bring their conversation back to the main topic. Everyone immediately turned their attention to the girl, including Kurt and Katie, whose faces were still flushed.
"Katie, you might be surprised, but we've just obtained a clue on how to create the best festival ever… even though that information is somewhat suspicious,"
Claire continued in a serious tone.
"Suspicious? What exactly is suspicious about it?"
Katie asked, tilting her head slightly and speaking in a curious tone.
"It seems that we need to make that person get close to the other villagers,"
Claire replied while pointing at Kai. The young man being pointed at simply flashed a wide grin, then made a V sign toward Katie, indicating that he was indeed the person Claire was talking about.
"Ah… I see."
After saying that, Katie seemed to think about something for a few moments before finally opening her mouth again.
"In that case, how about we give it a try!"
Everyone looked shocked by Katie's words.
"Give it a try!? What do you mean? Don't tell me—!"
Kai said in a very startled tone.
Katie gave Kai a sweet smile before nodding, confirming what was currently on Kai's mind.
"Yes, let's try getting close… to be honest, I've been quite curious about you ever since we first met!"
It felt as if an arrow pierced Kurt's chest as those words flowed smoothly from Katie's mouth. Kurt felt as though several parts of his body were about to crack.
Krrrt!
A crease formed on Kurt's face as he glared at Kai with a frightening look. Kai, noticing that stare, felt as though he were in danger. Cold sweat continued to pour down the young man's back and face.
Kai had no hobby of stealing someone else's girlfriend, so he had never intended to get close to Katie. Well, even so, he wouldn't refuse if the girl herself truly wanted to get closer to him.
A few moments later, Katie realized what she had just said and then looked toward where Kurt and Kai were.
"Um… don't misunderstand! When I said that, it doesn't mean I've fallen in love with Kai!"
Katie explained her words before Kurt could kill Kai.
Kurt's anger immediately subsided upon hearing that.
"So that's how it is… well, I guess there's no way a beautiful girl would like a guy like him,"
Kurt said in relief, but those words instead ignited the anger of the young man he had been glaring at earlier.
"Huh! What do you mean by that?!"
Kai said as he grabbed Kurt by the collar.
"Exactly what I said!"
Kurt replied, also grabbing Kai by the collar.
"Stop it, both of you! Or I'll make you both lose something precious as men!"
Claire threatened, causing the two young men to sit back down quietly.
"I don't mind if you want to join our plan, but you should realize that it's dangerous for you to get too close to that guy!"
"Oi, explain what you mean by that!?"
"Do I really have to explain it to you!?"
Kai sat back down quietly after receiving Claire's frightening glare. Even though Kai felt that Claire was far more dangerous than he was, because he valued his life, he decided to keep his mouth tightly shut.
"Don't worry… I don't think Kai has any bad intentions toward me,"
Katie said while giving Kai a look full of trust.
Seeing that expression made Kai feel as if he were being crushed. Katie's trust in him was far too heavy for him to bear.
"If that's truly how you feel, then I won't say anything, but do you have a plan?"
Claire asked, still casting Kai a suspicious look. She only needed to keep watching them to make sure the young man didn't do anything improper.
"Hmm… actually, there's one thing I want to do… if you don't mind, would you be willing to accompany me?"
Katie looked toward Kai to see how the young man would respond.
"I don't mind… what is it that you want to do?"
Katie's smile widened before she finally gave her answer to Kai.
"Actually, I want to…"