LET ME JOIN IN
“Hey, Argonaut! Remember what we were talking about yesterday?”
“Oh, Tiona. Yes, of course, what is it?”
Tiona and Bell began chatting—while Aiz watched them like a hawk. It was just after breakfast, the morning after the rescue team returned to the eighteenth floor, and Bell had nothing to do. It was then that Tiona came bounding up to him, a huge smile on her face, bumping shoulders and getting chummy, much to Aiz’s chagrin.
For some reason, the closeness bothered her. It was as if a beloved pet had started cuddling with someone else instead. Aiz didn’t know if that made her feel lonely or sad, but at any rate, she didn’t like it.
After a while, she worked up her courage and marched right up to the overly intimate pair. She had to get in between them somehow…
“Do you know the one where Elna of Arcadia meets the masked knight? And she never finds out his name until she leaves?”
“Um…I’m not sure I know that one. But if we’re talking about Arcadia, then I know the story of the Skeleton King…”
I…don’t know any of them!
A shiver shot down Aiz’s spine. Her mother had told her many tales as a child, so Aiz figured she was well-equipped to tackle the discussion, but she had been mistaken. Sweat dribbled down her brow as she recalled Loki’s words: “There’s some real die-hard freaks called otaku in this world!”
She hung around, eavesdropping, waiting for a chance to enter the conversation, when…
“How about the story of the Sleeping Princess? I really like how—”
A chance! Recognizing a familiar title, Aiz stepped in.
“I know that one!” she yelled.
Tiona and Bell turned to look at her, wearing faces of utter bewilderment. Slowly, it dawned on Aiz what an embarrassing thing she’d just done, and poof! Her face turned an uncharacteristic shade of scarlet.
“Um…I…er…that is to say…I…”
Aiz stared at the ground, mumbling nonsense in a voice so quiet it might have gone out like a candle flame.
So cute.
So cute.
Tiona turned to her and smiled, while Bell covered his mouth with his hands, his whole face flushing.
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