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Fuu, fuu……
Hah, hah……
Haa. haa.

Beads-like sweat formed on Inglis’ forehead. Her upturned cheeks were cherry-colored. Sweats trickled from her cheeks down to her throat.
It then fell and splashed onto her chest, which soon stained her clothes and dissipated.

For onlookers, she looked even more glamorous than usual. Inglis had always been prone to gather attention, but today even more so than any other day. The boys’ eyes were glued at Inglis who was sweating profusely.

Although, the person herself was completely unconcerned, concentrating on what was in front of her. Sitting right next to her was Rafinha, as drenched in sweat as Inglis.

「A-, are you two okay? Inglis, Rafinha……」
「「We’re good!」」
「Th-, that’s fine then, but——」
「That being said, what a dreadful color those are…… they’re completely red.」
「It is the Extremely Spicy Sauce, after all.」

Double Extra Large All Toppings Extremely Spicy Pasta. That was a new menu entry Inglis and Rafinha had requested to the cafeteria. Today, they were battling with this extremely spicy new menu since early morning.

「I can’t say that’s a color of something edible……」

Commented Leone, petrified.

「That’s not true. It’s delicious, you know?」
「It has a stimulating taste!」
「It looks tasty in my eyes too……」

Added Pullum, supporting Inglis and Rafinha’s claim.

「Eeh!? That looks delicious to you, Miss Pullum……!?」
「Yes.」
「We’re from Alucard, after all. North from here. It’s cold over there, and eating spicy stuff makes our bodies warm. We’re used to it.」
「It’s as Lahti said. Spicy stuff tastes like home to us, you see.」
「Then, why don’t you order one too, Pullum?」
「W-, well, the amount is a bit too much…… Double extra large is just——」
「Then, then, I’ll give you some of mine!」

Saying so, Rafinha put some of her red pasta on Pullum’s plate.

「Wah, thank you so much.」
「Oh. Give me some too, Inglis.」
「Sure.」
「No! You can’t, Lahti!」
「Eeh!? Why?」
「Indirect kiss is a no go!」
「……Fine, fine, I got it.」
「Ooh. You’re obediently listening to Pullum today?」

Rare things did occur too, after all.

「Well, I messed up real bad yesterday, after all…… I gotta be more docile.」

Said Lahti, scratching his face.

「That’s not true, it wasn’t your fault! You were only trying to save me, I’m not blaming you at all. I won’t let the indirect kiss pass, though!」
「……Sure, sure. We can’t even talk properly with you around.」

Seeing how casual Lahti was, Rafinha opened her mouth.

「Aah~ If you keep saying mean stuff like that, Pullum will grow tired of you, you know? Even like this, Pullum is quite popular. She just got a love letter the other day. Don’t think that a girl’s feelings will never change, okay?」
「Wha……!? O-, oi, Pullum, is that true……!? Who’s the b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲!?」

Bam!

Lahti leapt to his feet.

「Oh, look at you, getting all anxious. How easy to understand~. That was a lie, a lie. If you’re getting anxious about it anyway, you should take the appropriate attitude with her.」
「Uggh……!?」

Lahti flinched.

「That’s right~ that’s right~」

Added Pullum, swinging her fist in the air whilst hiding behind Rafinha’s shoulder. However, being glared at by Lahti, she hid her eyes on Rafinha’s back.

「Stop it, Rafinha. It’s not good to lie.」

Leone chimed despite seemingly amused by the situation.

「That’s right, Rani. It’s hard for childish boys to be honest with the girl he likes. Once Lahti grows a bit more mature, he’ll stick to Pullum like a stamp.」
「Is that true? Inglis!?」
「Yeah. Boys are that kind of creature.」
「DON’T DECIDE THAT YOUR DAMN SELVESSS!!!!」

Screamed Lahti in protest, but Rafinha instead looked puzzled by something else.

「Even if you say that, Glis. Seeing how you’re so disinterested in boys, it doesn’t sound so persuasive, you know……?」
「Your’e right. After all, the last time we asked you who was cool, you answered with Prisma, didn’t you?」
「This and that are different matters.」

Rafinha and Leone tilted their head in confusion with Inglis’ casual reply.

How is it different? They had questioning faces, but Inglis purposely didn’t answer.

「So, you went to save Pullum and was about to get attacked by a Magic Stone Beast?」
「Yea. And that’s when Senior Silva came and received the attack for me. I mean, you guys saved him after that, but I still messed it up real bad. I gotta apologize to him later.」
「Even so, that personage didn’t look that angry back then, did he? Seeing his attitude towards Miss Inglis and Senior Yua, I was under the assumption that he hated the Squires……」
「Ah! I know……!」
「Know what, Rani?」
「He must be a guy who likes boys……! That’s why he was so kind towards Lahti, right?」
「Haah……L-, like hell that’s true——!」
「Agreed. Can you not decide someone’s taste behind their back?」

The person who suddenly intruded into the discussion was the person in question, Silva himself.

「Umm……! I’m so, sorry about yesterday! You were injured badly because we were in the area!」

With great vigor, Lahti bowed deeply to Silva.

「Don’t mind it. It was our mistake since we brought you two into the enclosed subspace. Rather, it was me who was saved by your group. I apologize for my rudeness, please let me say my gratitude. Thank you.」

This time, it was Silva who bowed towards Inglis and Rafinha. Seeing this, Rafinha grabbed Inglis’ hand then stood up. After which, she also bowed her head. Making Inglis do the same.

「No, I’m at fault too for saying impudent things to you. I’m sorry! And so, since we’re all apologizing anyway, that means we’re even, right?」

Her smile was wide and radiating. Following which, she held her hand out to Silva. This kind of freshness and friendliness were part of Rafinha’s charm as well. She didn’t fuss herself with the small things and had the capacity to let bygones be bygones.

「Yeah, let’s go with that.」

Silva answered Rafinha’s handshake. This conduct invited a smile to Inglis’ face.

But——!

「Okay, you’re done, Rani—— Let me ask you on my behalf too.」

Inglis quickly intervened and put an early end to Rafinha’s handshake. It was undesirable for men outside of the family to touch Rafinha. There was no such thing as being too cautious.