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As the members of the Loki Familia gathered one by one at the dining table, Shirou and Lefiya continued working in the kitchen, finishing up the much-anticipated breakfast. The aroma of crispy toast and savory soup filled the air, catching everyone's attention.
Tiona, who could never hide her excitement, leaned over the table, trying to get a closer look into the kitchen. "Wow, breakfast must be amazing today! Shirou, you're incredible when it comes to cooking!" she said cheerfully.
Tione, sitting next to her, simply shook her head, but a slight smile hinted that she, too, could hardly wait for the food. In another corner, Finn and Gareth sat calmly, but their eyes showed interest as they watched Shirou and Lefiya's preparations.
Riveria, who was still at the table, tried to clear her mind of the brief pang of jealousy she'd felt earlier. She watched Shirou from afar, trying to enjoy this peaceful moment without letting troubling thoughts distract her. Being here together like this is enough for me, she thought, even though her feelings for Shirou couldn't be easily set aside.
Finally, Shirou and Lefiya began bringing out the dishes one by one. Freshly baked toast, vegetable omelets, and slices of roasted meat were arranged on large plates, which they placed in the center of the table with ease.
"Please, everyone, enjoy your meal," Shirou said with a smile as the members of the Loki Familia eagerly reached for the food.
Aiz, unable to wait any longer, grabbed a piece of toast and a slice of meat, while Lefiya immediately moved beside her, joining in and glancing at Shirou now and then. "You know, your cooking is always the best, Shirou," Aiz said with a small smile, expressing her gratitude.
Shirou smiled, happy to see Aiz, Lefiya, and all the members enjoying his cooking. "Thank you, Aiz. I'm glad you all like it," he replied humbly.
With everyone now eating happily, the dining room filled with warmth. Laughter and chatter about Dungeon missions and magic training brought life to the morning. Riveria, listening to the lively conversation and cheerful voices, felt grateful to share this warmth with those she loved and respected.
Suddenly, Loki appeared in the doorway, looking at the table filled with food and the lively gathering. "Well, well! Did I miss a party?" she joked, walking over to the table. She grabbed a piece of toast and took a hearty bite.
"Thank you, Shirou! You really know how to keep this Familia happy!" she said with a wide grin, making everyone laugh. Shirou only nodded, smiling, happy to bring a simple joy to his new family.
Riveria, watching Shirou from across the table, sighed in relief with a smile. This togetherness is enough for now, she thought, although deep down, she still hoped that one day, perhaps, she could share moments like this with Shirou—not just as fellow Familia members, but as something more.
After breakfast, Shirou, as usual, immediately began clearing the table and washing the used dishes. Cleaning up had become a routine for him since joining the Loki Familia, and he did it every day with great care.
Lefiya, as always, helped him. Without being asked, she took up cleaning supplies and started sweeping the dining room floor, which was covered in crumbs from breakfast. She moved swiftly, working alongside Shirou.
As she swept, Shirou looked at Lefiya and smiled. "Thank you, Lefiya, for helping out every morning. I really appreciate it," he said. Then, curiously, he asked, "Did you usually handle cleaning and cooking before I joined Loki Familia?"
Lefiya paused, touching her forehead as she tried to remember. "Actually, cooking and cleaning used to be split among the lower-ranking Familia members," she said quietly. "But since you came, it's changed a little." Apparently, Shirou's habit of handling the kitchen regularly had replaced the previous rotation system.
Shirou thought about this and concluded, "So, before, you didn't have to do this every day," he said, raising an eyebrow with a hint of worry. "Doesn't it make things harder for you to help me every day?" he asked with a concerned tone.
Lefiya, who actually enjoyed these simple moments with Shirou, didn't want to admit that she wanted to be close to him through such shared tasks. With a determined tone, she simply replied, "It's my duty to help. Besides, we're teammates, right?"
Shirou looked at Lefiya, confused, trying to recall their earlier conversation. "Teammates?" he asked, looking doubtful and a little puzzled.
Lefiya, feeling that Shirou had forgotten something important, pouted slightly. "You forgot, didn't you?" she said, sounding a bit annoyed. "A few nights ago, you said we were Team Faker, remember? We work together as a team!" she said, looking at Shirou expectantly.
Hearing this, Shirou chuckled, amused by Lefiya's seriousness. "Oh, right. Sorry, I remember now," he said, smiling. "You're right, we're Team Faker. Thank you, Lefiya," he added warmly, making her smile and return to her sweeping with a warmer heart.
After sweeping, Lefiya picked up the mop to clean up any remaining dirt. But before she began, she spun the mop in her hands in a lively motion, as if she were wielding a magical staff.
Once she finished her spin, Lefiya repeated the motto Shirou had once said during his fight with Gilgamesh. "There's no rule that says a fake can't defeat the original!" she declared with determination, her voice filled with strength and conviction, like a knight reminding herself of her mission.
Hearing those words, Shirou felt a little embarrassed. He hadn't expected his old motto, once spoken with such spirit, to resonate so deeply with Lefiya. But seeing her serious and enthusiastic expression, he couldn't help but find it charming and endearing.
They continued their cleaning, wrapped in a comfortable atmosphere of camaraderie. Lefiya, full of energy, even began humming a little tune as she moved the mop across the floor, as if this task was an important mission for Team Faker. Shirou just smiled, happy to share this peaceful moment with her, even amid the simple routine of cleaning up.
After finishing, Shirou and Lefiya made their way to the large living room in Twilight Manor. The room was grand and elegant, with a high ceiling adorned with a chandelier casting a warm glow. On either side of the room were two large winding staircases leading to the upper floor, made of dark, sturdy wood and decorated with intricate carvings, adding a touch of elegance. In the middle of the room were several cozy sofas, with a soft carpet spread underneath.
Lefiya invited Shirou to sit on one of the large sofas near the staircase, and Shirou followed her. They sat side by side, enjoying a moment of relaxation after all the morning tasks. Lefiya turned to Shirou, her face cheerful and full of enthusiasm, and began sharing stories of her training experiences with Filvis.
Shirou, sitting quietly, listened to every word Lefiya said with full attention, showing himself to be a good listener. Lefiya felt comfortable sharing her stories, especially recalling her intense training experiences. "You know," she said with a small laugh, "Filvis was really tough on me during concurrent chanting practice. She even let me get surrounded by Frog Shooters!"
Lefiya laughed lightly, though it was clear the memory was quite challenging for her. Still, she couldn't hide the smile on her face, proud of having gotten through that training.
Shirou listened, smiling softly. "Well, Frog Shooters shouldn't be much of a challenge for an adventurer at your level, Lefiya," he said gently. "You're already level 3 and almost at level 4. Those creatures probably aren't a big threat to you anymore."
However, Lefiya, with an adorably annoyed expression, tugged at Shirou's sleeve playfully. "Still, Shirou… their saliva is so disgusting! I can't stand how sticky it is!" she complained, her face showing a slight look of disgust.
Seeing Lefiya grumbling like that, Shirou smiled softly and patted her shoulder attentively. "You've worked really hard, Lefiya," he said, his tone full of appreciation. "The training isn't easy, but the results are obvious. You're getting stronger every day."
Shirou's praise made Lefiya feel at ease and proud of her efforts. A small smile appeared on her face, and a newfound enthusiasm filled her heart, ready to take on future challenges.
Lefiya was still enjoying her relaxing time with Shirou and wished she could stay close to him a bit longer. But at that moment, a loud noise came from the mansion's entrance. Raul appeared with a stack of parchments in his hands, his face brimming with excitement. "Big news! Big news!" he exclaimed loudly, breaking the calm.
Lefiya pouted, annoyed that her private moment with Shirou had been interrupted. Still, she stood up and walked over to Raul, taking one of the parchments from the stack he was carrying. Shirou followed quietly, observing Lefiya's slightly disappointed expression.
Hearing the commotion, other members of the Loki Familia started to gather, curious about the big news Raul had brought. Aiz, Tiona, and Tione arrived almost at the same time, while Riveria stood at the back, calmly observing the scene.
Lefiya read the headline on the parchment with shock and annoyance. In a loud voice, she announced the news. "Bell Cranel… has reached level 3!" Lefiya could hardly believe it, remembering how it took her two years to reach that level.
Tiona, hearing the news, immediately turned to Aiz with excitement. "Aiz, Aiz, Aiz! Little Argonaut is level 3 now!" she said, laughing. Tiona seemed pleased with Bell's rapid progress.
Aiz nodded calmly, though her eyes showed admiration. "Yes, Bell has leveled up quickly," she commented, impressed by Bell's remarkable advancement, unusual for most adventurers.
Tione, finding the development strange, furrowed her brows and said, "It's not typical for someone to level up this fast, especially since he only reached level 2 a month ago."
Riveria, hearing Tione's doubt, added with a wise tone, "Perhaps Bell has a rare skill that accelerates his accumulation of excelia, allowing him to level up faster than others."
Riveria's words made the Loki Familia members think for a moment. They knew each adventurer had a unique journey, but Bell's rapid growth was beyond their expectations. Lefiya herself still felt a bit annoyed hearing the news, as though her own struggles seemed slow by comparison. Yet, deep down, she couldn't help but be curious about the secret behind Bell's extraordinary strength that continued to surprise everyone in Orario.
Feeling inspired by the news of Bell's quick leveling, Lefiya loudly declared, "Actually, I could also reach level 4, but I'm waiting until my Magic stat reaches rank S before leveling up." Her face showed a hint of pride; for her, not everything had to be rushed.
Shirou, just realizing this concept, raised his eyebrows. "So, you can actually hold off on leveling up?" he asked, full of curiosity.
Tione, seizing the chance to tease, smiled and turned to Shirou. "Yes, but for you, Shirou, there's no need to hold back," she joked. "Besides, all your stats are already at SSS. You're an exception." Tione chuckled, amused at Shirou's slightly awkward reaction.
Hearing Shirou's name mentioned, Lefiya's excitement surged. "That's right! Compared to Shirou, Bell doesn't stand a chance! Shirou, who's also a new adventurer, has already reached level 4," she said proudly, as if confirming that Shirou was the best in her eyes.
Shirou, who wasn't used to receiving open praise, decided to respond with a joke. "What if Bell levels up again next month? Won't he end up surpassing your level, Lefiya?" he teased, making Lefiya's face turn from annoyed to surprised.
Not wanting to lose in this debate, Lefiya replied with a sharp tone, "Just wait! Next month, Shirou will reach level 5 before Bell catches up with me!" she exclaimed, as if convincing everyone—especially herself.
Hearing Lefiya's confident statement, Shirou could only sigh inwardly. Why do I have to be the one pressured to level up again? he thought, smiling slightly, puzzled by Lefiya's enthusiasm.
The other Familia members listening to the conversation couldn't hold back their laughter. They were entertained by Lefiya's rivalry with Bell and her pride in Shirou. That day, the atmosphere in Twilight Manor felt warmer with laughter and happiness filling the room.
After their lively conversation at Twilight Manor, Shirou bid farewell to the others, remembering his meeting time with friends from the Hostess of Fertility was approaching. He hurried toward their meeting spot in the shopping district.
Shirou arrived fifteen minutes early at the agreed location—near the fountain in the center of the shopping district square. When he got there, he saw that Ryuu was already waiting calmly.
That day, Ryuu wore simple yet stylish casual clothes: a dark blue top that matched her black pants, along with a light scarf elegantly wrapped around her neck. Her appearance was neat, fitting her calm and composed personality.
Realizing Ryuu had arrived first, Shirou quickly approached her and apologized. "Sorry, Ryuu, you're treating me, but I'm the one who came late," he said with a regretful tone.
Ryuu gave a small smile and shook her head, then looked at her watch. "No need to apologize, Shirou. You actually arrived earlier than the time we agreed upon," she replied, easing Shirou's concern.
Feeling relieved, Shirou invited Ryuu to sit on a bench near the fountain while they waited for the others. "How about we sit while we wait for the others to arrive?" he suggested.
Ryuu nodded in agreement, then walked with him toward the bench by the fountain. They sat side by side, enjoying the increasingly bustling shopping district filled with visitors.
Ryuu smiled slightly and started the conversation. "Syr was right, it seems. You always wear the same plain tunic," she said, her tone lightly teasing but still with Ryuu's usual gentleness.
Shirou chuckled at Ryuu's comment, realizing this habit had been with him since he lived in Fuyuki. "I haven't had many clothes since back then," he said, recalling his past. In those days, he often wore a simple white shirt with blue sleeves.
"Even now, I only have about a dozen outfits," Shirou continued with a smile. "Mr. Arther gave them to me long ago—so it's no surprise they're all plain like this," he added casually.
Seeing Ryuu's casual yet stylish appearance, Shirou couldn't resist giving her a compliment. "Maybe I should ask for your help next time. Your fashion style looks so cool and… interesting," he said, looking at Ryuu with a friendly smile.
Ryuu blushed at the compliment. Looking away slightly, she responded in a low voice, "You and Syr are the same, always saying I look cool." Then, almost whispering, Ryuu added, "But I actually prefer being praised as… beautiful."
Shirou just chuckled, enjoying seeing Ryuu's shy side, which was rare.
Suddenly, Shirou remembered Ryuu's appearance during the War Game disguise. "Speaking of your disguise back then, Ryuu," he began, "maybe you should improve it. One of my friends actually recognized your true identity."
Ryuu looked slightly surprised at this. "Really? Even though I wore a mask and didn't use any magic," she replied in a puzzled tone.
Shirou smiled and offered some suggestions. "Maybe you could add a thicker cloak or, perhaps, change your hair color."
Hearing Shirou's idea, Ryuu suddenly laughed softly, leaving Shirou confused.
"Why are you laughing?" Shirou asked, not understanding what amused Ryuu.
After stopping her laughter, Ryuu explained, "Actually, Syr already dyed my hair to a greenish-yellow for the disguise." It turned out that Ryuu's current short hair color wasn't her natural one, but part of an effort to make her identity harder to recognize.
Realizing this, Shirou noted that he'd never known Ryuu's true hair color. "So, your natural hair color isn't what it is now?" he asked, full of curiosity.
Ryuu smiled slightly and shrugged. "Oh, so you want to know a lady's secret?" she teased, leaving Shirou momentarily speechless and feeling awkward.
Seeing Shirou's confused expression, Ryuu finally replied gently, "My natural hair was once long and blonde."
Shirou tried to imagine Ryuu with long blonde hair, like Aiz. He thought that color would definitely suit Ryuu's elegance and only add to her charm.
Their conversation was filled with smiles and small laughs, building a friendly and warm atmosphere between them as they waited for the others to join.