Side Chapter: Festival With Farrah (II).
"Farrah!"
Analissa calls out her name, seeing a figure standing beside her she tilts her head in curiosity for some reason... somehow even from quite a distance he seems to be familiar.
The man noticing her immediately bid her goodbye to the kind seatmate he's had over the play.
"...!" (Farrah) wasn't able to properly bid her farewell because the man left before she could. She stands there in confusion, but soon relaxes after seeing that all the same smile from the most kind and... adorable girl she has ever laid her eyes on.
"Farrah~ Have you been waiting long?" She waves her hand at her friend who's been waiting patiently ever since her performance at the play. "Did you have a friend with you by chance, Farrah? I thought you had someone over."
"O-Oh um... he was a new friend that I made while watching you act on the stage, he came to the play to support his daughter. I was kept company so I-I wasn't waiting for too long." She stares down at the heroine, it seems this is the first time she's ever been into her academy and in her uniform making her look so cute. "Y-You surprised me, Miss Analissa... I thought you were going to play the role of a tree. I never expected you to be the prince."
Analissa scratches the back of her head looking a little shy, for she was not expecting to be the prince either. "There were some last minute changes, you see the boy who was supposed to be the prince suddenly went missing and I'm a little worried about him. No one else remembers the script that he left- I volunteered because I helped him practice a bit."
"I'm glad that we got to continue the play but I hope he's okay." The braincells considered kicking him for leaving her to suffer in the play, but if something really did happen to him...
She began thinking of the most horrible things, what if someone tied him up for ransom, stripped him and he became their bitch?
'There's still a few things that I can't understand about him... but after his reformation I know that Lord Ein has changed and won't do anything to hurt me or the people around him.' She nods, hoping that Lord Ein would show up soon and that they get to talk.
Farrah blinks a little at understanding Analissa through her problem, "E-Even if it was a sudden change, Miss Analissa you were wonderful in that stage. I truly couldn't take my eyes off of you the whole time!"
Truly she couldn't understand every single moment that she did, her eyes were stuck like glue. A few mistakes slipped here and there but everyone could feel her effort and acting even when she was inside the costume. "And... the woman that you kissed on the lips she was also amazing-"
Analissa almost bites her tongue hearing that, she explains quickly that there was no kissing in the lips involved. "Oh dear don't misunderstand, Farrah! Everything was directed so well that even you were fooled, of course based on the audience's angle it seemed that we kissed but rest assured Lady Evelyn only did so on the cheeks!"
The heroine points at the cheek where the warmth of the kiss still lingers. "Ahaha...!"
"I-Is that so...?" Her chest rises up from relief hearing that and offers her the basket full of baked treats that she was planning to give Analissa. "Um, I hope this will cheer you up. I wondered if you would be hungry after your performance so I brought some freshly baked pastries with me."
"Baked pastries?!" She leans over and sees the amount of delicious looking bread that was right over at the basket, it smells heavenly too.
"Wow! This is all for me, Farrah? I don't know what to say!" She quickly takes one by her hand, taking a huge bite and even though it's not that quite warm anymore you can taste the bread's freshness and fluffy texture. "Thank you so much. You were right, I'm starving!"
Analissa takes another bite before breaking a piece off and giving it to Losimer who was sitting in her head trying to keep a low profile.
"Tweet..." He eats the broken piece gratefully, eyeing the heroine's boss at her part-time job. After all, his master tasked him to make sure that this blonde haired human is safe, well and alive.
His master didn't account for love rivals... normally he would immediately report but since Lady Evelyn already knows of Analissa's schedule and respect of private space- he decides to follow orders for now.
Farrah sees the little bird that was resting on her head, it eats the piece of bread and she remembers that this is the one bird that would frequently visit their restaurant.
"Y-You even have the adorable little one with you." She looks down on Losimer who hides his neck, making his little feathers puff out.
"Tweet! Tweet!" He went into full defense mode.
"I'm glad you're safe and accompanying Miss Analissa today, I thought you only came to the restaurant to eat but... he seems to be attached to you." (Farrah) envisions the heroine as some sort of princess that has the ability to make animals even fall in love with her. "T-Though I don't think he can understand me... it's a good thing that the bread I made today is soft. The adorable bird can have a little bit."
Losimer shyly coos, thankful for the good food that was given to him. "T-Tweet..."
"I think Losimer is overjoyed with what you brought, Farrah but you know you didn't have to bring this many." (Analissa) offers to hold the basket full of treats as the beautiful buff woman who wore her best clothes hands it over.
"I-I wanted to and I'm glad that I did." (Farrah) notices that Analissa was on her third bread and chuckles seeing the crumbs on her face. "You... were amazing by the way."
Analissa swells up with pride after hearing that compliment. "Fufu, so while we walk around the school festival can you tell me which part of my play you like that most?"
Farrah gave it a long thought, there were a few instances that she liked. "I liked the part where you had to save the princess and get her back. It's quite the love story that I couldn't understand at first because I've known nobility is often more driven by their bestowed duty to serve their people."
"Especially royalty... or at least I was told that in the army when soldiers often gossip about such. I've never seen royalty chasing someone they truly love to the point of defying everything." She continues on, Analissa listens attentively while eating. "The part where you turned back into a human was also magical..."
"The story was also a bit rushed." (Farrah) realized that they were in the first booth, a maid cafe with cat-eared girls catering to their every need. A few commoner students could be seen eating and chatting with one another.
They stopped walking as Analissa waited in line for them to reserve a few seats.
"Welcome to our booth dearest masters~ oh hello there! It's you~!" The same cheerful girl from last time greets Analissa. "I'm glad you visited again! I wasn't expecting you to bring another friend over- woah."
The girl with her eyes squinting slowly looks up at the tall figure of Farrah.
She feels her palms sweating, a little scared. "S-She's um... tall."
Analissa looks up at Farrah and then her surroundings that seemed to be interested in her friend. Everyone in the cafe stopped eating not to admire her but in shock of her companion, wondering if there's any seats available that would fit her size.
"Look at the size of that woman..." Peering eyes of the other students suddenly became interested. "No offense to her but is there any chairs that can support her-"
A boy whispered to his friends, mistaking Farrah as a man. "He's not a student from the looks of it."
One of his friends with an embarrassed expression hits him by the shoulders. "What do you mean he? She's clearly a woman."
"Damn, sorry I just thought by the size of her shoulders it was a muscular man. I mean... at least she works out? Man, don't blame me for misunderstanding. With her body it would be normal for anyone to mistake her as a man."
"Um..." (Farrah) could feel everyone's stare surrounding them. "S-Should we go somewhere else? I don't think they're comfortable with me being around."
She lowers her head feeling down.
The Japanese streamer's heart suddenly tightened, it was not easy seeing the ever so innocent and happy Farrah who was cursed to be a side character looking so sad.
"Grrr!" She glared at the other people who were being rude and held Farrah's hand in comfort, holding up two fingers signaling to the maid. "Two please."
"A-Ahahaha! Right this way nya~ please follow me!" She quickly got them into their seats, giving two copies of the menu and left them for a bit to decide what they're going to order. "We hope you enjoy our dearest customers!"
Farrah carefully sat down into her chair, minding her dress.
Analissa scoffs holding the menu in her hand while still glaring at the other boys who said such mean things to a beautiful woman like Farrah. "Sigh... Farrah, what would you like to order?"
She smiles warmly hoping it would erase all the tense atmosphere from before.
Honestly she still wants to kick a few groins but one must keep their patience and manners in check. "I-I... I'm not sure what to order, Miss Analissa."
"I could recommend a few things! I've been here before with my friend and the egg omelette here is good with the adorable service." She pointed at the egg omelette on the menu and even suggested a few cold drinks to go with it. "They have really good lemon juice here as well."
Farrah appreciates everything Analissa is doing but...
All around her, the air buzzed with voices, laughter, clinking cups.
And stares.
They weren't loud. They didn't need to be. They crawled over her skin like cold water, soaking in places it didn't belong. A thousand quiet pinpricks- measuring, doubting, judging. Every glance landed with weight, lingering just a moment too long, tugging at her sleeves, her posture, the curve of her arms that didn't quite fit the lace.
She didn't look down. She didn't shrink.
But the stares clung.
They swept over her broad shoulders, paused at her height, then slid sideways into something sour. Amusement? Disbelief? Pity? She couldn't tell. Maybe it was all of them. Maybe it didn't matter. It wasn't the kind of attention that filled you- it hollowed.
Like being on display, but only so they could confirm what she wasn't.
Her smile held, but it felt like glass too sharp, too thin. Her chest ached with the tension of being seen still, she stayed where she was.
"I-I'm... not sure everyone is comfortable with me being here." She mutters, the hold on her menu weakening.
Analissa's heart breaks.
"Is it because of the staring?" She asks.
"Mm... my apologies but unlike the army my body... is not really..." (Farrah) nods, she couldn't continue her words and forced a smile to reassure the heroine that all is well. "I have already accepted it."
"Farrah." (Analissa) calls out, she places a hand on hers. "Don't mind them and only look at me. I promised you a fun tour at the academy festival. You know I'm really happy that you came, I want to show you so many things."
"This is one of the many booths we're going to enjoy. I'll give you a super fun time that you won't even notice these stupid pieces of- ahem... that such unwanted lingering stares would bother you anymore." She really wanted to poke each one of the eyes that were looking and snickering behind their back but what matters more is that Farrah have fun today. "Haha! Kind of like a date!"
She jokes hoping to lighten up the mood.
"So don't hesitate and order something." She winks, holding up her menu with a teasing smile on her face. "My treat."
"..." (Farrah) lowers her face down hiding the reddened color of her flushed cheeks.
Miss Analissa Blanchet... is really cool!
Analissa on the other hand didn't realize what she had done and happily ordered the same food as before. "One omelette rice with maid service please!"
"Tweet... tweet." (Losimer) facepalms, wondering if this woman is truly an innocent soul or such a player.
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