"Team Shadow Gear, huh?"
After Mira's explanation, Aurel had learned there were plenty of small groups within the guild—like the Thunder God Tribe led by Laxus.
"…"
While Levy was introducing them, Jet and Droy finally noticed the boy sitting beside her and froze.
"Jet and Droy are childhood friends of mine," Levy said with a smile, then turned to the boy at her side. "This is Aurel. He just joined the guild today."
"Nice to meet you," Aurel said kindly.
Joined today?
The two exchanged a grave look.
No doubt about it—this kid has designs on our cute Levy!
"An enemy…" Jet muttered under his breath.
"Looks like we call a temporary ceasefire," Droy said, feeling an inexplicable pressure from that outrageously handsome face as sweat beaded on his brow.
Damn it—where did this guy come from, looking as good as Loki!
Clearly, this was the real threat to their pursuit of Levy.
"Hey, you two… that's pretty rude, you know? He greeted you," Levy scolded, narrowing her eyes.
These two…
"S-sorry! I'm Sarusuk—but everyone calls me Jet."
Wilting under Levy's dangerous look, Jet snapped to attention, pressed a hand to his broad hat, and introduced himself.
"I'm Droy. Nice to meet you…" Droy added, none too happily.
Watching the girl you like chat and laugh with a stranger—no one would be in a good mood.
After the brief introductions, Levy suddenly remembered the team issue. Scratching her cheek with one finger, she spoke a little awkwardly:
"Um, I actually wanted to discuss something."
"What's up?" Jet asked.
"It's just…" Levy faltered, then after a long beat put on an apologetic yet polite expression. "I'll be leaving the team for a while. For upcoming jobs, you two will have to go without me."
"Huuh—!?"
"W-wait, wait… you're quitting the team!?"
Droy and Jet froze like they'd been thunderstruck, disbelief draining the color from their faces as their lips trembled.
"Why!? Since we formed the team, we've never—"
"I'm the one who asked Levy-san to partner with me," Aurel cut in before Droy could finish.
"I just arrived in town, and I'm not familiar with the job procedures. That's why I asked Levy to team up for a while."
He wore the same gentle smile, and his calm voice made Levy blink.
That's not right—I was the one who asked…
"N-no, I was the one who—"
She hesitated a couple seconds, then decided to set the record straight—but halfway through, she felt her left hand being held.
The firm touch and warm temperature stole her breath for an instant.
"That's the situation. If you senpai have any objections, you can take them up with me," Aurel said.
"…Nothing to object to," Jet muttered, rubbing his temple.
He'd said it himself—what could they even say? Push any harder and Levy might really get mad.
"Then please take care of Levy," Droy forced out, then gritted his teeth and added, "If she gets hurt on a job, we won't let you off!"
"Don't worry. I'll look after her," Aurel said seriously, giving the soft, smooth hand under the table a reassuring squeeze.
"…"
Levy lowered her head, hoping her former teammates wouldn't see how red her face had gotten.
Just then, Mira came over with the advanced pay. She looked at the four of them and blinked in confusion.
What's with the heavy mood?
"Here—200,000 J for you."
Curiosity aside, Mira handed Aurel the coin pouch first.
"Thanks."
The weight in his palm felt wonderfully solid.
With wages secured, the next step was to find a decent place to live.
Fairy Hills—the girls' dorm—was only 100,000 J a month, the cheapest in town.
Regular places were at least 150,000 J and up.
"Mira-nee, we'll head out this afternoon. As for the work—" Aurel gestured to a tray-carrying ninja. "Without my order, the Shadowkhan won't disappear. They'll keep at it until closing."
"House-hunting?" Mira tapped her chin, thinking. "A family near my place has a unit for rent. You should take a look."
Unlike most women in the guild, she didn't live in an apartment; she'd bought a house in town with her commission earnings and lived there with her little brother.
"By the way, the scenery around there is lovely~"
"Got it. Thank you, Mira-nee," Aurel said, meeting her eyes and speaking softly.
"It's nothing." Mira averted her gaze without thinking and tucked a strand of silvery hair behind her ear to hide the heat in her cheeks. "We're comrades, aren't we?"
There it was again—that quickened heartbeat. Why did it always happen when she looked at Aurel?
The girl who'd never dated wondered helplessly.
"Then we'll get going."
Packing away the Gourmet Napkin, Aurel and Levy walked side-by-side toward the guild doors.
They left behind a bewildered Mira—wondering if something was wrong with her—and two miserable faces in Jet and Droy.
Staring at the pair's departing backs, Droy pounded the table in frustration.
"Damn it—give Levy back to us!!"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]