HOW TO SPEND WEEKENDS ③

“Reno, since you came fishing, you have to properly tidy up as well, right?”
“Ah, that’s right!”

There are many things to do in fishing, such as processing the fish after catching it.
It’s not like you could move on to the next thing right after you’re done with it.
At the very least, you have to spike and wire* it correctly to preserve its freshness.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll lend you a hand so that we finish quickly, and can go hunt for snow-strawberries.”
“Eh? But…”

Reno made a downhearted expression, so Kili said she’d help her.

“It’s okay, it’s not like I’m in a hurry to have snow-strawberries.”
“I’ll fillet half of it and carry it back home. The rest can be left alive to serve as lunch, can’t it?”

As Kili stopped her hand and looked towards Milia, Milia returned a kind smile back at her.

“In that case, we can go find snow-strawberries at once.” (Milia)
“Are you fine with that?”

“I’ve been graciously allowed a share of these fishes, yet all I’ve done is sit and watch. Allow me to do this much.”
“I will, also help, in filleting.”

Milia and Sui each take out a knife from their bags.
It seems that they were prepared to do some filleting here itself.

“I also want to do it!”
“Hmm, this is a problem. Since I have only a single knife for myself~. In that case, can Reno help with filleting the fish we will have for lunch later?”
“B-but-“
“That’s right, if you gather plenty of snow-strawberries, please share some with us. I feel no confidence in finding many myself, so it would be really helpful if you gathered as many as you could.”
“! Okay! I’ll find lots of them! Kili-nee! Let’s go!!”
“O-, wait. Milia, thanks. I’ll come help later.”

Kili got dragged by Reno to gather snow-strawberries with her.
Aria accompanied them as well.

“It’s fine if Lain wants to go too.”
“I’m creating a lid for this fish-cage, in case a bird tried to steal one from us as we head back.”

I created a simple lid using earth magic, and fitted it on top of the cage.
In the meantime, Milia had quickly finished filleting five fishes.

“Then I shall carry these back to the village. I’ll be fine alone so Sui can go look for snow-strawberries.”
“Okay.”

Sui replied, and chased after Reno and the others.

“Heave-ho.”
“It looks heavy, let me carry it. I leave the fishing tools to you instead.”

I carried 5 fishes, including the ones Milia was holding.
After a little hesitation, Milia decided to carry the already gathered fishing tools.

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“It’s fine if Lain wants to gather snow-strawberries as well.”

“I can’t let a girl carry all this weight herself. Besides, I brought up the snow-strawberries as a way to stop Aria and Kili from working. We’ll be doing it through the afternoon, after all.”
“…I see. In that case, I hope to rely on your strength.”

After gazing into my eyes for a long time, Milia judged my words to be truthful, and left half of the load to me.

***

“…Could it be, you’re feeling a little regretful?
“Eh? Why?”

While walking back to the village, Milia said that.

“You were looking so intently towards Reno-chan earlier.”
“Aah, that’s because I’ve never seen such a cheerful side of her before.”

It was my first time seeing such a playful Reno.
Up until now, I had seen her joyously training, or energetically exploring the forest, but that carefree playful appearance I saw today, suited her the most.

“If I hadn’t come here, she might not have spent so much time practicing magic, and instead have had more time to enjoy freely.”
“That’s not true.”
“Milia?”

Milia halted and declared that in a strong tone.
She had never spoken in such a tone before.

“Reno-chan has… No, all of us in the village including me, have only you to thank for our current colorful lives. It’s because Lain gave us both power and peace of mind, that we are able to enjoy ourselves like this.”
“Milia-“
“Before Lain came to us, we lived afraid of wild monsters, afraid of our dark futures, and huddled together so that we managed to live day-by-day. Lain is the one who changed all that. No one puts it in words, but we are all deeply grateful to you. To think it would be better if you weren’t here…shatters my heart.”

Milia says that out of breath.

I had no idea this is how she felt.

“…My bad.”
“Please don’t apologize. I’m also sorry, for losing my temper and blurting out such things. But, none of the things I said were false. I truly am grateful to you. Please do not forget that.”
“I understand. I won’t forget that. Thank you, Milia.”
“…Yes.”

After that, until we returned back to the village, I didn’t speak another word to her.
However, instead of there being any awkwardness, there was a sort of warm, cozy air between us.

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