Nikami POV
"...." I went silent, I wanted to say something but words wouldn't come out.
"...Hey, you okay? did something happen with that commoner? I'll execute her if she did something to you!" Shukona looked mad, but she was still concerned.
"....No, don't worry she did nothing to me. it's just....." I looked down, feeling a bit.... worried? sad? confused? scared? I didn't understand...
"it's just what? Hmph, spill it out, or else I'll make you spill it out." She pouted but goes towards me and wrapped her big arms around me.
What she said had a rough tone to it... but the warmness of her embrace just canceled it all out.
I chuckled a bit under my breath.
"I knew I could always count on you, Shu..." I muttered to myself.
[Whenever I feel something I don't understand... she always snaps me out of it, I don't understand how though... something about her warmness and softness... of her voice... it's... weird really, but... I'm happy she's my friend. or else I would have lost all of my emotions back then...] I thought in my head while slowly hugging her back.
"So? what's wrong Nika?" She asked me in a low tone, her warm embrace still wrapped around me.
"It's... just... I.. I'm kind of worried about... meeting Rai...I-I don't know... I just... I feel... scared somehow." I slowly explained to her, still hugging her. I put my head on her shoulder, still very worried.
She sighed and nodded a bit.
"I get it, I know you two haven't seen each other in years... But, I know that you'll be fine Nika. I know it for sure. You may think that he changed... hell I know you even changed too, but.... we're still best friends, he didn't change.... even if you think he changed... I know you two will be still be friends. Tch, I'm repeating stuff now.... Sorry, even I'm a bit nervous too. It's really been so long since we three have been together... But, Everything will be fine Nika! I'm sure of it." Shukona's words encouraged me. her left hand is still wrapped around me, her right arm going up to pat my head.
I smiled a bit due to her actions. Shukona may act tough and all But I know that she's gentle... Almost like a mother.
"Thanks, Shu...." I let my head stay on her shoulders, while she was still patting me.
My hands are still wrapped around her slender and tall body, hugging her tightly but softly.
"and Also... why did you decide to talk about this now?" She asked me in a low tone.
I flinched to her words, a bit startled.
"Uhhh...." I wanted to defend myself but words or excuses couldn't come out of my mouth.
"Hmmm... is it about the commoner? you don't want to show weakness? Ahh, I see. Typical you Nika, oh well. whatever, even though I don't understand why you wouldn't want to show weakness to a mere commoner..." Shukona sighed a bit, still patting me.
I lifted up my head that is on her shoulder and let go of our hug then backed away a bit, I looked at her with a pout on my face.
"Hm? Nika?" She looked at me, a bit confused at what I was doing.
"Do I have a reason to not show weakness to anyone...? I am going to be the queen of the Adventurine Kingdom, I have to not show any weaknesses, Or else they would take advantage of them. A queen must be strong, must be tough, must be.... Perfect." I explained to her, still pouting.
Shukona was a bit dumbfounded for a few seconds then laughed at me.
"Hahaha!" She gently laughed at me, smiling at me.
"Hu-huh?" I was very confused at her sudden laugh. Though I was a bit irritated at this.
"You say to not show any weaknesses but you show weakness to me! and now I know you like wolves! what about that?!" She laughs at me yet again, she covers her mouth trying to muffle her laugh. She puts her other arm on her hips.
I pouted even more at her and decided to tease her a bit. I folded my hands and looked away.
She puts both of her arms on her hips, still looking prideful as ever.
"Well... Do I have a reason to not trust my best friend? you do a lot for me Shu, I... I really.... Cherish you.... Shu. If it wasn't for you... I would have been broken back then... I really adore you, Shu." I looked back at her, with a bright smile on my face. I unfolded my arms a bit red, I was still smiling at her.
"E-eeehh....?" Shukona's eyes shot wide open, she had her arms on her hips. She looked at me with a rose-red face, still looking shocked.
"How adorable." I giggled at her rose-red face.
"H-hey!! are you ridiculing me?! Ugh! Nika!" She pouted and yelled at me, still blushing immensely. After that she turned her head away playing with her hair, she was still pouting her face still very red. She was twirling her forest green hair around her index finger, she looked a bit shy for the first time.
"Hey, maybe I was teasing you a bit.... but I wasn't lying at all. I really do Cherish you, Shu." I smiled a bit at her again.
She looks back at me, She still had suspicions about what I said. She was still red, though it was much more less this time. She raised her eyebrows
"Are you sure?" She said to me, still a bit suspicious. Her face is still red, she was still twirling her forest green hair around her index finger.
"Yea. I'm not lying to you, Shu. You know I really adore you." I chucked a bit at her
She pouts, even more, then she sighed but smiled at me.
"Whatever you say Nika... But thanks... I guess.." She smiles at me.
I smiled back at her, for a few seconds we had a soft silence... of both of us smiling and staring at each other's eyes. It reminds me of our childhood together...
After for a while, Yasachu and Yuutsu came back to us. Yasachu looked more relaxed now, not unlike earlier. She was smiling more gently and she was a bit more confident, Yuutsu is still the same.
She still had that mischievous yet alluring smile on her face, when they arrived all of the girls immediately swarmed into them. And as expected they all had questions for both of them.
I turned towards them, smiling a bit. Shukona did the same, though not with smiling. it was with glaring.
"Yuutsu-sama what was that all about?!" A girl asked curiously to both of them
"What happened there Yuutsu-sama?" Another girl asked
"Yea yea! you were acting weird Yuustsu-sama! like you are love-struck or something...." A girl thought out loud.
"Ahahaha! Love? maybe you could say that!" Yuutsu smiled brightly, wrapping her right arm around Yasachu's neck. Then grinning and doing a peace sign with her left arm.
"Kyaaaaa! really love Yuutsu-sama!?" A girl squealed
"Awww... now Yuutsu-sama has a lover..." A girl sounded disappointed.
"But we can still encourage them together! they look like a cute couple!" One girl giggled and had a nosebleed.
Yuutsu laughed a bit at the girl's statements, she was a bit amused. Yasachu was more embarrassed though, her eyes were shot wide and she was red. though not too red.
"Th-that's not true at all! w-we're just friends I-I promise! w-were just talking about some stuff... I-I swear! W-we aren't dating... we just met anyways.... I-I promise...." Yasachu rashly explained to the girls, though she keeps glancing at me. I wonder why?
"...." I was still just looking at her silently....
"Yup yup! We're just friends.... though not just not any friend, best friends!" Yuutsu exclaimed and chuckled loudly.
"Best friends?! kyaaa! how cute!" One of the girls squealed
"So we can still have Yuutsu-sama! and she has a bestie! I see this as an absolute win!" Another girl cheered
"A-a noble?! Be-best friends?! with a commoner?! th-this is..... so... scandalous! an-and bestie?! wha-what kind of noble uses such an inelegant word like that?!" Shukona looks like she just saw a dead body of a rat in the middle of her comfortable home, and is about to puke.
I stared at Shukona and I put a hand on her shoulder and then patting it.
"Calm down Shu." I tried to calm her down.
"do you really think I can calm down! this.... this is so.... so inelegant! it's disgusting!" Shukona clenched her fists and glared at me
"Hey, if it calms you down... let's go to a library, and maybe read about plants? I know those always cheer you up." I suggested to Shukona.
Shukona puts her arms on her hips and nodded.
"Hmph. fine then! let's go there! thanks for calming me down Nika, just the mention of plants makes me happy!" She smiles at me.
Yasachu took notice of this conversation and she interrupted us with a happy smile.
"U-uhm! can join with you? I want to go to the library too! I wonder if there are some powerful spells there..." Yasachu innocently smiled at the two of us.
"Oh! of course, can I go too! I need to go where my best friend goes!" Yuutsu winked at Yasachu then looked at both of us. still smiling brightly.
I turned my head at Shukona, like I was looking for her approval.
"Tch! of course not! especially with you commoner!" She pointed at Yasachu.
Yasachu looked dejected..... She looked down on the ground.
I looked at her... and felt a bit pity for the protagonist. So I decided to speak up.