A BOY AND A GIRL, RUNNING AHEAD
Orario was brimming with excitement for days after Hestia Familia’s success in the War Game. People raved tirelessly about how Bell beat the enemy commander in single combat, and it was impossible to walk down the street without hearing tales of his heroic exploits.
“Bell Cranell was so cool! You’d never guess it from how weak he looks!”
“That Little Rookie is impressive! Not bad for a rabbit boy!”
“So that Record Holder title ain’t just for show, huh? And here I thought he was just a weedy little shrimp!”
Young and old, big and small, were united in their fervent enthusiasm for the boy no matter their race or gender.
All, that is, except for one girl…
“Grrr…!”
Lefiya couldn’t stand hearing all this praise. She wasn’t sure how to describe her feelings. Was it jealousy, frustration, anxiety? Or had Bell’s heroic battle lit a fire in her heart, too? Whichever it was, one thing was for certain: Lefiya couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Okay, maybe he was a teeny, tiny, little, teensy-weensy bit cool out there, but still! He had to rely on Aiz for everything, and she’s not even in his familia! He’s ill-bred, uncouth, shameless, and clueless about how to treat a woman! Um…what else…?
As if to counter all the praise she was hearing, Lefiya began mentally listing off every one of Bell’s shortcomings she could think of. As she walked through the street, her competitive nature burning a hole in her chest, she suddenly heard the boy’s alias.
“Hey, Little Rookie! Where are you going?”
“!”
Lefiya looked up to see the white-haired boy running down the street.
“I’m off to the Dungeon with all my friends!” he called back.
“Well, good hunting to you! And take this!”
The shopkeeper tossed him an apple.
“Thank you!”
The white-haired boy caught it gratefully, clearly embarrassed at all the praise, and continued running toward the giant tower that stood at the city’s center, jutting up into the clear blue sky.
That boy was always like that. Always running forward, braving the Dungeon, and chasing his dreams, his eyes set on the future, with nothing but a wish and a prayer.
“…Well, I can do that, too!”
With the sight burned freshly into her eyes, Lefiya set off running as well. She put her pointless fault finding aside and strove to light a fire in her heart once more.
She would never let him get one over on her. And with that resolve spurring her on, Lefiya headed for the Dungeon as well.
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