"Thanks," Jotou beamed to Asobi who helped tie her hair back, Hotaru doing her own hair up. Asobi gave a nod and a smile. A new sword sheathed to Jotou's side.
Fumeko observed the rising Sun, the snow being pushed and cleared out before it thaws and causes a flood. Entrances of buildings were cleared and now adventurers, firefighters and volunteers worked on the edges of streets and roofs.
The clouds showed no darkness and the snowflakes sparkled under the rays, "Pretty…" Fumeko muttered; the word unintentionally escaping her lips.
"It is!" Asobi joined her in gazing. Fumeko flinched, turning around to the elf. Fumeko took a breath, looking elsewhere as if she never said anything.
"Where do you want to go to eat?" Hotaru looked to the two and folded her arms.
"Are you okay?" Jotou noticed.
"What do you mean?"
"You seem ticked off," Jotou watched her crimson ears.
Hotaru frowned, "I'm fine."
'Uh huh, that answer fills me with confidence…'
"How about that place from yesterday!?" Asobi giddied.
"They don't do breakfast, I checked," Fumeko pouted. Hotaru's fingers massaged the bridge of her nose as she exhaled.
"Well, well, well; hello blondie," Keldow approached, his party, Grayfence, behind him. Except he limped, a cast around his left leg, the bandages a darker green than his hair, like seaweed was wrapped around; a crutch in hand.
"So, that was your secret weapon all along huh?" Fexia walked up in a small applause, lance to his side.
Their eyes darted to Grayfence, "What happened?" Fumeko pointed without a second thought.
"This? Was doing fine escaping till blondie crashed down the building," he gave a smirk.
Jotou's eyes widened, "Sorry, about that…" a nervous laugh following, "Can you? Heal…?" she faced Hotaru.
Hotaru took a glance, examining the leg from a distance, held together by a splint.
"Hm… My healing's best for the first ten minutes, worst case twenty. After that, something like bone fractures is beyond my help if not initially healed. I can try, but it's been hours now."
Jotou faced back to Keldow and her eyes scrunched, unsure where else to look. "Eh, it's fine. Part of the job; I've faced worse- ghaH!" Keldow crunched his teeth as Bolset came from behind and pushed down on his left shoulder.
"He sure as hell has," Bolset stated, while Keldow smiled with a glare.
"We're gonna be on a ship to Hefaloss soon. So, what's the plan Howllett? Clearly your ability outranks your rank," Fexia queried.
Jotou was having the same question constantly in her mind, "Probably gonna stick to Kria for now. Call it a newbie manoeuvre but I'm gonna try to figure out my limits first."
"Hey, you're doing something right," Fexia replied as he observed the upper edges of the guild still dripping rubble and dust from the wind—almost with an expression of admiration.
"You're gonna call it home here?" Keldow inquired.
Jotou looked to her friends, around Kria filled with snow being shovelled off. A glint of a smile on her noble face, "Maybe," she shrugged.
They said they're goodbyes, Grayfence riding off on a wagon through the streets, setting off on their next adventure.
"Speaking of home; didn't you used to rent some place? How about there?" Fumeko recalled.
Hotaru winced, "You want to go there? It's a bit of a walk."
"I think the tent in the park is still up. We can live in the woods!" Asobi stated.
"That tent was torn down after it was abandoned…" Fumeko's stomach began to rumble.
"It's either we become hobos in a park or a house, it's up to you," Jotou told.
Hotaru groaned, "I don't like losing cases, but fine, we'll go to my old place."
_
Through the streets, the daylight cleared out the frost that lingered, some kids coming out to play in what snow was left. The air still cold—spring coming to a close and fall coming close.
The neighbourhoods became narrower the more they walked, to a point where even a cart would have difficulty navigating and not falling into the large drains on both sides along the streets.
The buildings became smaller yet taller, shops selling various items from foods to random antiques and small magical trinkets were under the houses, opening up their bamboo and wood shutters.
The snow easily was piled into the drains, giving a safe walk to Hotaru's old home; on top of a stall selling breakfast around the street corner.
"It's not much of a restaurant, but the breakfast here's good," Hotaru pointed to a lady selling noodles, tables set on the outside with chairs on top of them.
"The point of a restaurant is to sell food, isn't it?" Asobi scratched her head with her wand.
"Third time… I'm tired of losing, I want to eat," Hotaru shook her head in surrender, splashing a rejuvenate spell on herself.
"Uh, four bowls of wonton noodles, please," Jotou ordered to which the woman nodded and began preparing.
Hotaru hooked her by the arm, "Relax your eyes, you look like you're about to rob the place," she pulled Jotou away, down small steps that led up to the small stall. Fumeko already awaited her meal, forehead on the table while her feet dangled.
"Definitely the first time I heard that…" Jotou flexed her brows.
Hotaru frowned, tail melting like the snow as she took a glance at the surroundings; narrow walls, streets of houses and shops, "I only lived away for two or so weeks, but I don't exactly feel nostalgic being here," she muttered to Jotou.
Jotou tilted her head, "At least you're telling me that."
Hotaru chuckled, "You know what my fears are filled with," a frown returned.
"Was it that horrible?"
"Hmph. My neck wasn't cut open, but it might as well have been. This place doesn't give me good memories and I was ready to forget them when I left. I didn't realize I'd be back so soon," her ears never once poked up.
"This isn't permanent," Jotou held her hand, "And you have us. We'll find another place to stay soon enough. And you can tell us your fears. You don't have to be afraid," she comforted.
Without looking, "I'm not afraid," Hotaru replied crystal clear. "Maybe I once was in the past. However, now I'm a grown woman and can plan her future just fine," she huffed.
"You're twenty-two, you're not off the hook yet… I'm sure there's still a lot to deal with."
"It's not- just- never mind," Hotaru turned back, going to get the noodles that were prepared and walked over to Fumeko. Jotou sighed, following behind.
Fumeko grabbed the chopsticks provided, "Nope!" she tossed them aside, using her mouth alone to eat the soup and noodles out of the bowl.
"Where's Sobi?" Hotaru enquired.
Fumeko put the bowl down, cheeks full of wontons, "Over there," she chewed.
Asobi was playing with children at the other end of the street, showing off her tricks. She began whacking a wooden wheel with her wand while a young boy stole her hat and ran around her, "Hey!"
Jotou sat down and began to eat the noodles with chopsticks… and gave up as each noodle fell back into the bowl. Too anxious to ask for a fork, she decided to follow Fumeko's lead.
Asobi whined and shouted from the other side, chasing the boy who took her hat. He tossed it over to a girl who ran away with it, playing monkey in the middle.
'A wheel and a stick… How old is this place?'
Hotaru peered, "Asobi, you're twenty, just ask for your hat back," she yelled over.
Asobi stopped, looking over, "I did!" she wailed.
Hotaru's ears pricked up, "Hey!" the kids all came to a halt, "Give her back her hat!" she scolded—arms folded and eyes glaring.
The kids, "Y- Yes Miss… sorry…" nearly wet their pants.
"Yay!" Asobi cheered receiving her hat back as she skipped to her breakfast. The kids scattered from the scene where the part-human scowled.
Hotaru grunted. She took a seat and casted another rejuvenate spell on herself. However, she looked bewildered as only three or four drops of water splashed on her face. She groaned to herself, before exhaling and calming herself down to a smile.
They ate their meals, Hotaru departing at first to speak with the shop keeper. She returned, keys in her hands, "Five silver, we have my old apartment for the day," Hotaru dangled it.
They followed her lead, to the side of the building with a padlocked gate that led up some concrete steps. Hotaru opened the locked door and the scent of her old house flew by—musty, but with a hint of her sweet perfume.
Hotaru then winced, the smell of alcohol hitting her face first. The others joined into the small house—a sofa that was pressed up against the window, an old radio on a stand and rings of dust on shelves and racks.
A mixture of wood and stone. The room straight ahead she knew to be her bedroom, and off to the side her bathroom. What she did not recognize was the grey lump on the sofa.
A blanket was covering something, empty glass bottles had fallen to the side and heavy snoring reverberated—Fumeko steadied herself, Jotou had her hand on the hilt of her sword, Asobi watched in curiosity.
Hotaru widened her eyes which faded into furrowed brows as she walked over and pulled off the blanket on the figure, "DAD!" she growled…