"Alright, hope we'll meet again soon, Little Miles. Oh, and of course you too, Fia!"
"Mm! Don't forget to continue that story later, okay? I really want to know what happened! That Mr. Herzog sure sounds like a funny guy!"
"Ahaha, he sure is! I've always been told my husband looks unreliable, but he's really such a sweet, hardworking man, you know? They can't just judge him by his looks alone. I can't wait to introduce you all together. Oh, I'm sure he's going to be surprised when he meets you again, Little Miles."
"Umm… Y-Yeah, haha, can't wait for that…"
They both truly had bonded, it seemed. Once again, Milanor was surprised by Fianna's social skills. He was pretty confident in his own skills, but it appeared he was no match for her. Though, he couldn't help but feel complicated that the subject of their bonding seemed to be the sort of thing that was prevalent with gossipy women.
After they came back from the bathroom, Milanor immediately suggested that they continue on their way. Miss Irina visibly looked disappointed, but Fianna reassured her that they would hang out again whenever a chance came up. She soon cheered up again, and seeing that, Milanor could only agree with a stuttered "S-Sure."
They left the burger place after paying their checks (which Milanor covered for all of them, Miss Irina included). 'What? The money was originally all from Naya? What're you talking about? That's her payment, remember?' Milanor argued with himself. He needed to rationalize this from time to time or he would feel like he was going to lose his sense of pride.
"Well then, I better get going too. You're all heading to Qwattor, right? I don't know what you are planning to do there, but I heard the place is kinda risky. Anyway, just be careful, okay? You especially, Little Miles!"
"Who are you, my mother…? I don't need to be told that."
"Haha, guess so, huh? The famous 'Minor Streak' wouldn't be troubled by some 'minor' problems, after all. Alright, see you again!"
Miss Irina Herzog (her current family name, apparently) waved to them as she walked away. Milanor didn't expect that she would know that nickname, as he hadn't gained that one back when they were working together.
"Hah, well that was unexpected. We spent our time here way longer than we planned. Better get back to the ship pronto," he declared before heading back toward the port where they anchored Helios.
"Hold it! Hey, Mil, did you forget your promise? Ah ah, my movies preview, remember?" Fianna immediately held on to his arm before he could take even a single step.
Milanor couldn't believe she still remembered that. He should have expected this, why did he think she would forget anything concerning her hobby? It wasn't like she was someone like him, who frequently forgot important things he need to be doing.
"…"
"…"
Both of them stared at each other, silently confronting their intentions with their eyes. Neither of them wanted to back down, it looked like. And so the showdown continued.
"Hah… can I go back to the ship first?" Naya asked from the sideline.
"W-Wait, Naya. Alright, fine. However, Fia, only one film, got it? I can't stress this much more, we're running late enough as it is."
"Hmph, that can't be helped. Alright, I'll hold myself back."
'Please do…'
"Then c'mon, here," she handed him the shopping bags she was holding. They began heading to a media store nearby, but while walking Milanor kept looking at the grocery inside the bags. Something told him he was forgetting another important thing, yet again.
'Food… shopping… supply…!?'
He suddenly started running, going in the direction of the grocery store from before.
"Mil!?"
"Wha—!?"
The two girls he left behind could only stand around with bewildered expressions. Milanor paid them no heed, focusing ahead in his direction.
"Of course, the instant foods!" he yelled, remembering that one important thing he must not forget again.
———
"And so, that was how you returned almost two hours later than we agreed upon? Forgive me, Lady Naya. It seemed that both my master and Lady Fia acted unprofessional again."
"Hey! Are you implying something, Miledi? Unlike Fia's hobby, my instant foods are actually necessary!"
"Tch, how is any of that thing different than those tasteless synthetic foods?"
"Wha—? Did you just click your tongue at me, Fia? Did I just hear something very scandalous in what you said?"
"No, it's nothing."
They were back in Helios, Milanor's arms holding an absolutely bulging bag full of instant foods. He wanted to make it quick so he didn't even bother checking the products and just stuffed almost the entire shelf into the shopping cart. With this much, his precious supply could last way more than a month.
'It's my victory, Fianna.'
For her part, she indeed bought several boxes of her favorite AR films. Just as Milanor had expected since this morning, there was no way she would only buy one of these things.
"Either way, it's not like we were the main reason for this tardiness. I told you we met an old acquaintance, did I?"
"Ah, that's right, Miledi! We got so caught up in talking with her, it was like, super fun!" Fianna joined in. When it came to making excuses to Miledi, they could work together quite smoothly like this.
"Very well, what's done is done. With this, we might have less time to search around in Qwattor. Or are you suggesting that we put aside the time and keep searching no matter how late it will be?"
"Now, now. I'll make it work somehow. There's no need to hurry so much, is there? We could always continue tomorrow too."
Although there was a good reason why they had to make this fast, too. The more time they spent on that planet, the more likely something wrong could happen.
"If you say so, Master. Might I request clearance to launch the ship?"
"Go ahead. We'll arrive in 4 or 5 hours, right? If I'm not wrong, it would be noon in Qwattor City's time."
"Yes, you are correct. Then I will head to the bridge. Excuse me," she bowed her head and left.
"I'll put this grocery in the kitchen, then. Mil, here," Fianna handed him the stack of boxes holding her AR films. "Take this to the simulation room, okay? Don't mix it with my collection that's already there!"
"Fine, fine. Oh, Naya, you're going back to your room?"
"…Mm. I'll need to leave my purchases there. Hey." Just as Milanor was about to leave after hearing her confirmation, she stopped him. "Can I talk to you later?"
"Hmm? Sure. We'll have, well, basically nothing to do for the next few hours, at least."
'Unless there's an emergency like a pirate attack, that is…'
Still, the route they were using was relatively empty and those criminals would rather not risk attacking a single ship that was clearly not a trading vessel. The undertaking wouldn't be worth it. Milanor couldn't get careless, though, regardless.
"Good. I have something to ask."
"Alright… Oh yeah, I wanna see those videos again! How about the main observation lounge? I'll go there as soon as I finish what Fia asked."
"Sure."
With that, they separated from each other. 'What does she possibly want to ask?' Milanor wondered as he walked away to the elevator.