“Jai, I’m a little bit concerned about that boy,” Darrion said, looking at Haku’s disappearing back into the front door.
“Like, I know I can’t make out much about their conversation, but Haku didn’t look very pleased when he saw them,” the blonde said. “I can see something is going on between the four of them. But no one here seems to care,” Darrion subtly looked to the three highschoolers who were enjoying their time in the corner booth and didn’t seem to even notice in the slightest that something had happened just a few meters from them.
Darrion turned to Jai again, “And doesn’t it irk you that even his grandmother acted like this is an ordinary thing going on? And, can he really face three bullies by himself? Should we help?”
Jai didn’t answer his friend’s concern right away. Instead, he looked at the back room’s curtain.
There were some sounds that c
Haku's eyes widened as he heard Jai introducing himself. He heard of that name many times in the past month. The Friendly Tournament of Aeronvein was very well known because it was the first event Aeronvein had held in a long time that invited the four regions in the continent, and even those from the other continent.It was reported that the newest Prime Minister of Aeronvein, Artaglia, had ordered his army of windlets to share the flyers to each and every village there is in the continent that they could find, so that everyone has the chance to participate.Although it was unknown how many people from outer continent that had joined, it was still a feat to behold because there were two representatives from different continents that had arrived to watch the event unfold.From this, it could be asserted that the influence was quite significant. That's why the papers in Shouha was also infested with the news about the tournament for a month.The news about
“Here's your Fruity Berry ice, and here's a milky flavored one for you, on the house!” Haku slightly cheerfully said while putting the two bowls of grated ice beside their food bowls. His grandma had retreated to the back room after taking the orders of the next customers, so it was only him at the counter.Someone would expect that the boy was smiling out of habit or just because he was being professional at work. But he wasn't. He was actually feeling content. And Darrion noticed this because his expression was brighter than before he met the bullies.“Thanks!” Darrion replied, equally expressive. “So uhh… You know about us? From the papers? And, hey! You’re talking universal language!” he said.Haru put small spoon in each of their ice bowls before he smiled. “Yes. I learned universal language at school. I’m quite good at it among my other friends in class.”“You’re very goo
Even though it was only around 9 PM and many of the hang out places weren’t yet closed, they decided to return to the inn and call it a day.The following day, Jai woke up first just right after dawn. It was always his habit to wake up in the morning, but after dusk is slightly later for him, which means that he is tired the day before.As Darrion snored, Jai considered whether he should wake him or not. He couldn’t see the sign when Darrion was using his Windtalker skill, so he didn’t know how many information that the windlet had tried to filter yesterday.Jai hummed. “Maybe I should let him sleep some more. Might as well go to the hospital to check on the little guy. But, hmm, is the hospital for pets opened yet? Are they open 24/7? What if they’re closed? Where should I go?” he hummed again as he thought of his next activities.A knock came to the door as he was thinking, and he stopped his thought to open it.
There were already many people walking about on the street when Jai reached the main road. There were many different people passing by, but upon a quick skimming, he didn’t find any red head among them.Jai sighed internally. ‘Should’ve known they wouldn’t let Alex roam free like that,’ he thought. Again, he didn’t know Alex’s face, but at least, if he was really kidnapped and against his will, Jai would be able to notice from the gaze.While he may have never been face to face with a person who was currently kidnapped, he had a few times encountered his bullied friend. That time, the poor guy was forced to prank the teacher, but Jai managed to catch him before he did it because he knew from look and gesture alone.It’s not fool proof, but he was trying to be optimistic.He could also see a group of children crossing the street, helped by a woman who was wearing a green uniform that seemed a bit similar to D
He really was a sucker for children. He knew he could have lied about his name, but he forgot, and he just remembered that he could’ve lied to the little boy only after they had exited the doctor’s office. He had cursed himself in his head at that point.He had also re-registered his now claimed pet, the Feather Cheek Wolf, along with his name written on the register paper. The nurse had given him a card that he could use when he visited the cute puppy. He kept the card in his wallet, thanking the nurses, before leaving with Ruta.“I can’t believe you’re here in Shouha, brother Jai!” Ruta said as they left the pet wing.Jai chuckled and adjusted his scarf to cover the lower half of his face. “I’m visiting.”“Who are you visiting? Why are you covering your face like that?” Ruta asked.Jai leaned down slightly and whispered. “I don’t want to make a commotion first thing in
After taking little Ruta to his school, Jai returned to the inn.A full awake Darrion and the refreshing smell of soap greeted him when he entered the room. “Good morning! How’s your morning walk?”Jai smiled and sat down across from him by the table. “Nice. And I got a bit of information about the people in this kingdom. I don’t know if you know these already though.”“Wow! You’re getting a progress in information gathering! I’m speechless!” Darrion smiled. The way he’s saying it is so calm, contrast with how excited his words are, which led Jai to think he was making fun of him.Jai wanted to be slightly petty to the windlet for that, so he narrowed his eyes as he looked around the room, trying to find anything to make fun of the windlet. “I see you can fold your futon by yourself.”Darrion’s smile disappeared instantly. “You’re supposed to fold it?&rd
Jai and Darrion agreed to go to the small restaurant as suggested by Hinako.Darrion didn’t really know about this restaurant, which means that it was really a small restaurant. It was true that he had researched on some places in the Fire Kingdom, but certainly, not all of them. But it didn’t matter as they were also trying to widen their area of search.They went to the area where the Red Manor Hotel was because they were trying to get to the park first. The road here was a Y crossing. From their position to the south was the entrance gate, or the South Gate as Darrion corrected. The other road, that was in front of the famous hotel was the one they had not yet ventured into, so now they’re going there.They got to see the front gate of the hotel from up close. They could also peek into the gate and see the actual front of the building, and it was, well…Jai wouldn’t say it was extravagant, as the front looked like that of
While Jai was a little bit concerned about Haku, he respected the boy’s decision. The boy wanted to settle his problem by himself, which Jai considered courageous. Although yesterday was rough, and the boy ended up being beaten anyway, which was why he was concerned in the first place.He couldn’t believe a little boy like him would that kind of personality, courageous and responsible. But the proof was there. The proof was Haku. And Jai would wait until Haku asked him for help.The boy’s class was holding their exercise a bit faraway from where Jai and Darrion were sitting, so they planned on finishing their food and the news digging before moving to watch Haku. But it actually took longer than anticipated because there was so many information in those papers.It wasn’t anything that could lead them to Alex, unfortunately, but it was a progress to widen their search area and knowledge about this kingdom. At least for Jai, since he didn&r