Those peaceful nights...
It all seemed so distant.
"Did you just have a flashback?" The stupid raven raised one of his eyebrows.
"No, that's stupid" I rolled my eyes and looked away.
"Pfft... liar,"
Ugh... you inside my head really is annoying.
"What was that for anyway?" I tried changing the subject.
"You won't believe me if I said I missed you will you?" A sly smile appeared on his face.
"Not in a million years," I replied instantly.
"I just hugged you while I still can," He looked at me with a thin bittersweet smile yet it didn't feel as if it was filled pity like the others... I'd even say it looked guilty...
"While I still let you?"
"You've never let me... anyway! How's Shin, Misa and the supporting characters doing?" Hiroto asked while sitting down on a barrel.
"Oh, you mean anger issues, the only I can talk to properly and the 2 people that hate my guts, but has to tolerate me? It's been rocky, but I expected worse. By the way, thanks for LEAVING me!" I complained, but all that jerk did was smile and patted my head.
"Great. Eventually, you won't even need me anymore,"
"No way! I always need someone inferior to remind myself how great I am!" I grinned at my own arrogance yet it felt odd saying something like this...
"Narcissist, haven't seen arrogant Amber in a while," He scoffed.
For some reason... being a narcissist feels... wrong. Like I don't deserve to be prideful about anything...
"I'm just telling the truth. You're a dummy." I smirked.
"Tsundere too, all you have to do is add 'it's not like I like you or anything, BAKA'"
Tsundere? I kept repeating the fact that Hiroto was an idiot... but what did he even do? Well, the name stuck on...
We talked and talked forgetting where we were and what we were even doing. Maybe this was what it was like back then when the pressures of the world were almost non-existant.
As dawn came, we realized we had lost track of time...
"What the... it's morning already?!" I gushed and yawned while stretching.
"That was fast..." He got up too and raised his hand up to wave goodbye, but he wasn't fast enough.
Before he knew it, I hugged him. Somehow... the warmth I felt feels like it was fading. Slowly, but noticeable.
"Are you cold?" I whispered.
"A little, but... don't worry about it. The feeling will disappear soon," He returned my hug, doing so as tight as he could as if this might be one of the last, "I'll always be here when you need me," He started walking off.
"See ya!" I waved goodbye as he walked out of sight.
I strolled out of the ally soon after to find that he left without a trace.
He gotta teach me how to disappear like that one day...
Suddenly, the world seemed to fall silent yet people were speaking. I could hear the noises, but not a single word was processed inside my mind. Times like these, I want to just pull out my headphones and walk aimlessly.
I don't feel sad... I don't think I feel anything. Longing? I just want the night to repeat forever... but it can't.
I... really should head back... before I lose myself to my own head.
I managed to open the door without a sound to find Alfie sitting on a wooden chair, looking at me. That gaze... it's Misa's predator gaze... oh no... what did I do?
"Where were you, young lady?"
"Young lady? I think we're the same ag- oh wait you're an elf. You must be ancient!"
Let me guess... 200 years old? 300?
"First of all, you don't call people ancient. It sounds like you're saying I'm old. Second of all, I'm only 2205, practically 22 with my looks. Third of all, don't change the subject! When I went out yesterday, I saw you inside a dark ally!" After that, she proceeded to nag about how dangerous it is and why I should be careful.
"I can take care of myself, Alfie. You're not my," I paused for a second... not wanting to call that women such a title... "mother," the word that came out of my mouth was filled with bitterness and disgust.
That surprised Alfie, "Fine... but stay safe. I don't want my first friend in centuries to get hurt alright?"
Friend? Does she really consider me as a friend already? The age gap's pretty wide... but when has that ever stop shounen protags from befriending the whole world right?
"You both are already awake? Should I have woken up faster?" Fay walked down, her footsteps were as silent as a well-trained assassin yet she's doing it naturally with Shin's loud footsteps following her.
"Nah, I just didn't sleep. I told you I sleep better on the floor," I replied.
Wait a second... WAIT A GOSH DARN SECOND! Shin's gonna get a flipping harem if this continues! Nah! If the cliches weren't met in the first few volumes of this series, I ain't having it! Shin's not gonna touch, Fay!
"Not over my dead body" I muttered, glaring at Shin.
"What are you planning?" He glared back with distrust.
"Where will you guys be heading now that you're well-rested?" Alfie asked.
Guess we'll have to go back to the capital...
"Capital, such a shame we're dirt poor... I got myself captured for nothing..." I sulked.
Alfie looked confused, "Were you planning to get something out of being captured?"
"Long story short, this dude had a bounty so I sent him the officials, but ended up getting captured too." I pointed at Shin.
"Oh! I remember you now! I saw you in a wanted poster at the guild once, going for... a platinum coin, right? So all I need to do is capture you..."
At that moment, all three of us were preparing an escape.
Alfie chuckled, "Just kidding~. Although, speaking of money, I got a way you can get easy cash! Interested?"
"You've gotten my attention,"
"Become an adventurer. You kept up with me back in that prison and managed to break yourself out, that's extremely impressive for a human."
Yep! Totally a human! Not anything else whatsoever...
Shin, you better not say a single wor-
"She's a demon."
Well, there goes my chances of being praised... thanks a lot dude!
"A d-demon?" That was the first time I've ever heard Alfie's voice stutter like that.
"Former human, but I am considered a pure demon..." Even though I don't have demon blood at all...
"Oh... were you a human?"
"Yes..."
"Oh my... how unfortunate..." Alfie covered her mouth, looking concerned for me.
So she knows what it takes to become a demon huh? Not a lot of people do...
"Anyhow! There are guilds here?!" I spoke with excitement. To be honest, I kinda expected it, but the fact that it was introduced this late caught me a little off guard.
"Yeah, I can bring you there if you want." She seems... oddly okay with me being a demon. It's kind of comforting how accepting she is of everything...
"That would be great!" I said with an excited smile on my face. Actually starting out like all the other isekais...