Blueberries

"So—that's what happened at the mansion?" Tsukino gripped a big burger in her hands as she chomped down, chewing gracefully.

The dark tavern was lively with villagers who'd shown up for lunch, though journalists lurking around would sometimes look over in our direction. I tried not speaking loud so they wouldn't overhear us.

"Yeah," I replied. "Nuri was actually still inside the mansion; I managed to meet and talk with her. Couldn't figure out how to ask for an interview though."

"Huh. And you couldn't tell me all this on the way here?"

"I told you I didn't want anybody overhearing us."

"I'm pretty sure that was just an excuse so I'd bring you both somewhere to eat."

"Oh! That was my idea, hehe!" Trixie bit into an apple slice. She'd sat atop the table while picking through a bowl of fruit. "I was hoping there'd be grapes here! Lame!"

"This was simply the best venue in terms of affordability and quality," Tsukino said. "Plus, it's near the cathedral where that wedding will occur."

Hmmm . . . I grabbed a chicken leg off the table and chomped. "Speaking of that, Amila and Nuri both said they're leaving town now. Shouldn't we be following them around instead of taking side trips?"

"It's unnecessary; there's no need to stalk the Heroes religiously. Our main job is covering popular news, and the Heroes just happen to be popular. We can cover other points of interest when they arise."

Well damn. That changed my perspective on Borsalino, which I imagined as just another paparazzi biz. But if we were given freedom from just being glorified groupies, maybe this could be a job I'd take pride in after all.

As we continued our lunch, I kept noticing shady men wearing caps skulking past us for no apparent reason. Their eyes would always fall on me, and I'd just stare back sometimes.

"Hmmm?" Tsukino said, looking over her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Journalists from the mansion keep trying to eavesdrop. Are we newsworthy?"

"No. Either they're curious why I have a new partner, or they suspect you really did have more than an interview with Amila."

"Well they're not far off with the latter."

Tsukino shot her signature stink eye at me before pouting. There wasn't much I could do except shrug and keep eating my chicken leg.

"Anyway," I said, "since this wedding will be a big deal, I'm guessing these journalists will also be attending?"

"Oh, yes that's a good point. That's another reason they're probably all waiting here. The wedding will be a highly publicized event that will have the famous Count Duval in attendance."

"Is he special?"

"He—has a colorful past, beyond just his noble status."

"Huh." I tried jogging my memory if I'd heard the name before, but nothing came up. "Will anyone else important show up?"

"Maybe some viscounts or barons, though likely no high-ranking church officials. Security would have to be tighter for that."

"Why even bother with security if it's peacetime?"

Tsukino finished off her burger and cutely licked her finger clean. "Remember—it's not a peace agreement with the demon continent, just a ceasefire."

The background noise of the tavern continued. Laughing. Singing. Chatting. But lunch at our table wasn't interrupted anymore by journalists, and some had begun leaving early for the wedding. They'd lost all interest in us it seemed.

Then from the tavern's bar, a fat waiter wearing an apron approached our table.

"Dessert," he said as he laid down another bowl of fruit.

"What?" Tsukino said, annoyed. "We didn't order dessert."

The waiter gave her a flirty wink. "House treat for the cutie."

She just rolled her eyes before biting into a strawberry. Slow chews hinted she was savoring the treat more than expected.

Wait . . . Before I'd left Cielo Verde, Chief Borsalino gave me some parting words:

'Aizawa! Our darlin' will give you sass, but if you ever wanna get on her good side, she loves strawberries!'

And as I watched her eat another strawberry, Chief's words proved true. She actively searched out every strawberry in the bowl and scarfed them down herself.

Wonder what she'd think if I bought her shortcake or something with my first paycheck, I daydreamed. Maybe there's chocolate fondue in this world? She likes keeping things professional, so I could say it's an obligation gift from a new coworker. Or maybe I'd just invite her out to somewhere she'd like—good luck with that.

But while Tsukino and I were distracted, Trixie had fished out a blueberry from her own fruit bowl. Her little eyes gleamed bright.

"Oh! Yummy looking fruit! Don't think I've had one of these before!"

Almost like slow motion, Trixie readied to bite down. But before she could, Tsukino's hand whipped the air and slapped the blueberry away with surprising force. Even I was stunned at how unnecessarily cruel it looked.

"E-Eh?" Trixie said, startled.

"No! I told you at the hospital! No eating blueberries!"

"B-But I think I'd like blueberries . . ."

"They're not good for you! Just eat grapes! I'll purchase some sometime!"

Trixie sniffled, her eyes watering a little. Instead of eating, she just flew towards me and crawled down my collar into my trench coat.

"Hey," I told Tsukino. "Weren't you a bit harsh with her?"

Tsukino looked conflicted as well, like she knew she'd overreacted. "It's complicated. You wouldn't understand."

"Is there something I should know?"

"No, just make sure she doesn't eat blueberries. Ever."

Nothing made sense. Were blueberries toxic to pixies? Or were blueberries responsible for putting Trixie in a psyche ward? Whatever the case, I couldn't question Tsukino since she was essentially the legal guardian. The other thing on my mind was why both her and Chief seemed set on keeping Trixie hooked on grapes—instead of blueberries.

Weird priorities.

Our remaining lunch time was uneventful. Tsukino laid out coins on the table to pay, while I listened in on conversations around us. Villagers were all gossiping about the upcoming wedding and wishing they could attend.

"How is Trixie?" Tsukino said.

"Uhhh . . ." I glanced down at my chest. "She's probably still pretend sleeping in there."

"Let me check."

That's when I was surprised to see Tsukino reach across the table, perching herself on her stomach. Her head was almost close enough for me to pet as she rubbed my trench coat trying to find Trixie.

"Heya," Tsukino said in a warm tone. "I'm sorry for what I did earlier. Can you forgive me?"

No reply. But I felt a little rustling inside my coat that hinted someone was listening.

Tsukino shimmied closer towards the bulge on my chest. "We've been through a lot together. I'd be sad if my favorite pixie Trixie didn't like me anymore. So can you come on out now?"

"Y-You're not mad?" a squeaky voice replied.

"Of course not."

"Even if I'm not a good girl sometimes?"

"Everyone has bad days. Including me."

There was just silence while Tsukino waited for a reply. Other patrons in the tavern began glancing over, the sight of a woman laying belly-down on my table making people curious. She even rocked her legs in the air like some teenage girl.

Then finally, the head of a little pixie popped out from my collar.

"You'll praise me when I'm good then?" Trixie said.

"I'd praise you whenever you ask."

"Yay! Praise me then, big sis!" Trixie flew out and flopped onto Tsukino's head. Both laughing girls reunited with a wholesome scene where even I couldn't help smiling.

But as lunch time ended and the tavern emptied, I stood to fix my trench coat. It was time to go.

"Well now that you've both made up," I said, "how about we crash that wedding?"