"That was quite an ordeal, huh?"
"Whose fault do you think?"
After getting kicked out of the Lake of Spirits, the blindfolded girl and I were descending the mountain, soaked to the bone. Our clothes clung uncomfortably to our skin.
A man working outside the town's edge gave us an odd look after glancing at the clear, pleasant sky.
"That spirit was so narrow-minded~"
My words were aimed at her - blaming her lack of planning - though I kept that to myself.
I had more pressing thoughts than conversing with her anyway. What I saw at the lake bottom.
Strictly speaking there was no treasure, but still...
"Hey, let's chat over a meal after this! Or maybe a bath first. Hehe, want to hop in together?"
"It's getting dark, so I'm going to head off around here."
I waved goodbye and left. Hard to concentrate around her.
"Hmph... Eh? Ignoring me? Hey! It's still light out! Still noon!"
The noisy blindfolded girl shouted after me. She's always so loud.
Something's been bothering me, you see.
After circling the town's outskirts, I managed to locate the object of my interest. Finding it was good, but I still lacked information to settle my thoughts. Though I doubted it was something easily dealt with at present...
"That means next is..."
The following day, I came to the small hill to meet with Claire.
These past days I'd chat with her here and there to kill time, but today I had a request.
"Ah!"
"Yo."
Spotting me, Claire ran over.
Her expectant expression made me feel a bit itchy. Like a once-wary puppy growing accustomed to your presence.
We exchanged some small talk first.
"A lake atop the mountain? I'd like to see it too."
"Doubt you could make it there."
"Then take me, Engy."
Claire was speaking cheerfully until her expression suddenly vanished.
Glancing in the direction she was looking, my face twisted up as well.
"It's her..."
The blindfolded girl was walking our way.
"Yahoo~!"
"...You know them?"
Hiding behind me, Claire whispered.
"Nope. Some sketchy character. Best to avoid types like that. They freak me out too. Wanna head home for today?"
Claire nodded vigorously. Alright, let's go!
We started walking the opposite way from the blindfolded girl. Noticing our escape attempt, she broke into a run.
Seeing that, we started running too. But Claire was slow, and we were caught up to quickly.
"Why run away! Woah, what an awful look!"
"As usual."
"No way, you didn't make that face when talking to the girl!"
No, only for you as always.
"Please, just leave me alone already."
I held out the little money I had.
"Hey, cut that out! Don't react like that... Hmm, be nicer to me!"
Even as she said that, she took the money and pocketed it.
What a crook, taking money from a thief.
"So you do know her. Such a pretty girl."
Claire peeked out from behind me, staring intently at the blindfolded girl. Huh, pretty?
What gives? Is it just me seeing the weird blindfold she's got on?
"We're more than acquaintances! I'm his lover!"
Here we go again...
"So you! Get further away!"
The blindfolded girl tried peeling Claire off my back. I stepped between them to stop her.
She looked at me quizzically. When she tried circling around the other way, I blocked her again.
"Hey, whose side are you on!?"
"If it's you or her, it's her."
"Even though I'm your lover!?"
"You're not my lover. More like an acquaintance."
I've no clue when she claims we became lovers.
Maybe she was born in some religious region where they call the opposite sex lovers? Imposing weird local rules outside your home, really.
"You there! What is he to you?"
"...If you're an acquaintance and lover, then I'm his lover too."
Don't get it.
"Hmph. I won't lose!"
"You keep calling him this guy and that, but don't you even know his name?"
"O-Of course I do! Obviously! See, it was... uh..."
She glanced pleadingly at me for help. No intention of assisting.
Come to think of it, we never even introduced ourselves, did we?
More like, fumbling over a name proves we're clearly not lovers or anything.
"I know it. My win."
"Eh!? No fair, tell me the name!"
The blindfolded girl grabbed and shook my clothes.
Geez, give me a break already...
"Fine! It's Engy!"
As she shook and clung to me, I was about ready to kick her away, when a large bird came flapping loudly towards us. Oh great, more trouble.