"This is amazing!" Airi expressed joyfully and Nagisa almost got nervous there for a second.
"I would never have imagined you to be such an amazing cook!" Airi complimented him.
"No one really ever does," Nagisa sighed, "How about you inform me about your past now?" Nagisa changed the topic now that the bet was won in his favor.
Airi remained silent for a moment to ponder about things. Meanwhile Emi was just stuffing her face and wagging her tail all happily without a care in the world.
"How about I go first?" Nagisa took the first step.
He told Airi about how he was summoned and even the event taking place prior to the summon. Airi listened intently without a single change in her facial expression. There was no judgement or pity, she just listened to Nagisa's story about both his parents and previous school experience.
Nagisa concluded in how he managed to awaken a dual-trait and had been secretly training and only few knew of his abilities. Air nodded from time to time, then concluded with a sigh once Nagisa finished bringing up his past.
"Okay… so you have had it rough as well, huh?" Airi remarked and then put both her hands together on the table with her fingers intertwined.
"Where to start…" Airi began slowly, "I guess you could say I ran away from home?" Airi started.
The reason was because of how society works for high-elves, especially noble or royal ones. Airi was to be married to her brother to keep the bloodline pure, however refused to have her destiny set out for her. Airi managed to escape the walls and wandered blindly through the desolated lands, forests and other climate until she was later captured.
Nagisa put on a displeased look on his face, even this world has scumbags no matter where you go. He hated every bit of her story.
"Luckily I was saved and taken in by a foster family in the human kingdom," Airi changed her tone and leaned back in her chair.
She stared up at the ceiling.
"Else things could have gone vastly different. I do not regret things. But there are those who would bring me back for a hefty price if they knew my identity," Airi concluded.
From Nagisa's own understanding, humanity only had maps drawn on how to reach the Dwarven and Elf Kingdom. The High-Elf Kingdom was unknown and unexplored territory. Nagisa assumed if Airi was captured and to be taken back, they would route through the Elf Kingdom and seek passage or knowledge to reach the High-Elf one next.
"Do you miss your family?" Nagisa asked.
"Some sure, but not my older brother. Another reason I refused was that he was always smiling, and it creeped me out," Airi replied.
Emi jumped off her chair and went to hug Airi. At some point Emi decided to listen in. Nagisa figured out by the looks of it, that once her plate was empty there was nothing else much to do than listen.
At that moment of time, someone entered through the balcony.
"Ahhh! Another girl?! Wait is that Airi?!" Chisa hissed.
She found Emi hugging Airi then hid behind her.
"Wait… so you accept Airi over me," Chisa slightly cried out, "Nagisa!! How dare you two-time cute little Emi over there!" Chisa joked.
Nagisa and the rest remained suspiciously quiet observing Chisa's charade.
"Or do not tell me you two have already kissed?" Chisa extended her joke and gasped then hovered with her hand above her mouth.
That is when Airi and Nagisa glanced at each other for a second, both blushing before averting eye contact by looking at opposite directions.
"Wait…" Chisa inspected the two of them, "Really Nagisa?" She sighed.
"It is not what you think!" Nagisa complained with his usual excuse, but this time Chisa looked tougher to convince.
Nagisa explained that they were the pair who discovered and beat the giant demon rat. He went into detail to justify his actions in order to explain why he pulled Airi into the crevice or kissed her to keep her quiet.
"Mm… I see… there was no other scenario you could have told her that it was a Stage-3 demon, and you had to kiss her, huh?" Chisa sneered at him.
"Like I said… Airi acted impulsively and the space was too cramped up!" Nagisa tried his damndest to get through to her.
"Yeah, right…" Chisa scoffed.
Nagisa gave up and Airi refused to comment on the matter herself.
"Did you make any for me?" Chisa asked, changing the topic to the dinner lying on the table.
"There is a plate for you back in the kitchen, I assumed you would leech again," Nagisa pointed with his thumb behind him.
The three of them ate in absolute silence with Emi staring at them. Chisa thanked for the food before taking her leave. It was already late evening and Airi took the hint that it was time to leave as well. Airi's dormitory was a seperate one all across the other side of the academy, where non-humans lived.
"Thanks for dinn--" Airi was interrupted by Emi walking up to her and grabbing her blouse.
"Stay?" Emi hushly asked while slightly tilting her head for Airi to spend the night.
Airi looked at Nagisa then back at Emi.
"Sorry, but I have to get home, I have no change of clothes and would like to take a shower," Airi hunched down and patted Emi's head.
"It is okay, you can join me and Nagisa in the shower!" Emi smiled.
Airi immediately turned towards Nagisa with judgement in her eyes.
"Why does everyone think I am doing something wrong…" Nagisa sighed.
He walked up and tossed Airi a clean white shirt.
"You can use my spare clothes, do not worry, they are clean. Then you can go back and change in the morning before class," Nagisa said while staring at Emi.
It was impossible for Nagisa to refuse Emi's wagging tail revealing her true emotions in how much she wanted Airi to stay.
"You will understand once you hop into the shower," Nagisa pointed out his remarks about Airi's judgemental eyes concerning him and Emi in the shower.
Airi shielded Emi who remained clueless to all of it. Once again she managed to cause confusion for Nagisa.
"Come, Emi, before he does something else," Airi grabbed her hand and entered the bathroom and closed the door.
She then opened it after a second.
"And do not you dare peek," Airi warned.
"Do not worry about it, you are not my type!" Nagisa stuck out his tongue right before Airi closed the door.
Nagisa relaxed around the table and realized there was no secret evening training with Emi. Instead Emi caused another misunderstanding and somehow Airi is going to spend the night. Nagisa sighed loudly being exhausted by the entire event.
"Is this a blessing or a curse? I already know which one it feels like…" Nagisa complained and prepared the bed.