Overslept

The moment I open my eyes, I can see the sunlight is already at its peak from the window.

On top of that, I am currently lying on the bed in the room alone.

Yup, I overslept.

While still wearing white t-shirt and blue short pants, I open the thin blanket.

I look at my surrounding and there is already a wooden basket full of water on the floor.

The water is most likely taken from the nearby well. I usually use the water to wipe my body. That means Miika prepared it beforehand huh...

I slowly get up from the bed. I feel a bit sluggish... I still want to lie down a little bit more but I will feel even more sluggish if I lie down on the bed the whole day.

The moment I stand up on the floor, I hear the sound of door being unlocked.

And then Miika opens the door and looks at me.

I see Miika who is carrying a wooden plate with ham, potato and lettuce... the cheapest meal set from inn.

... did he take the money from the bag by himself?

"Ah, Shion. You already wake up."

Miika says that while releasing his grip from the door knob and then picks up the wooden plate on the floor before entering the room. Below the wooden plate, he is also gripping the key that he used to unlock this room's door.

He only has one hand so I decide to walk there and then close the door on his behalf.

"Ah. Thank you."

"You're welcome. By the way, is that your lunch?"

Right after replying to Miika, I ask that question while releasing my grip from the door knob.

"No, it's your lunch. Guild Master bought it for you."

"... what happened?"

I ask that while Miika put the wooden plate on top of the wooden table.

"This morning, I met with Guild Master. He looks troubled being surrounded by some women near the brothel. So I came up to him..."

He says that while also putting the key on top of the table before continuing his talk.

"Then he came to me and said that he had business with me. So we left those women and he treated me breakfast and lunch as well as your lunch."

He says that while moving away from the wooden table.

Sounds like he ran away from those women. What a weird orc...

I walk towards the wooden table and take a sit.

"He said that he wanted to buy a better meal for both of us. But he does not know what to buy since we always buy the same meal set all the time."

Miika says that as I take wooden spoon and fork from the plate.

Well, there are many other dishes in the restaurant that cater towards other races' taste. So I can see why the Guild Master wants to be careful with his choice. And I never really complain eating this same meal all the time because it tastes decent enough for me.

"We won't take any quest from guild today. So let's just take a stroll around the town after this."

I say that right before I start eating.

.....

....

...

After I ate lunch and finished my preparations to go out, we go out wearing our usual adventure outfits without the armor parts.

"Is there any place you want to go?"

I ask that while walking with Miika besides me.

"No, I'll just follow you."

Instant reply from Miika. With that said, we currently don't have any particular destination to go to.

And then we immediately arrive near the clothes' store that looks like a very big tent with its name displayed on a big wooden tag above its entrance.

Garticie Cloth Store, the only cloth store in this town. This is where I bought Miika's and my clothes from. Though they also sell not only clothes but also other things like accessories.

I think that as I see the wooden table displaying some accessories with wooden price tag near them.

A lamia with long red hair comes out from the store holding a linen wrapping something like a ball on her right hand.

That Lamia girl is Linda, one of the guild's receptionists. She is smiling while walking out from the store and then she notices us.

"Oh my. Shion. And uhhh..."

"My name is Miika."

Miika says that with a smile before I can tell her Miika's name. I guess he at least learns to say his name at this kind of situation.

"Ah, right. Miika. I remember now. Playing is fine but don't forget to take a rest okay?"

Linda says that while twirling both her forefinger from her right hand and her tail with same motion.

"We plan to take it easy today. Did you just buy new clothes?"

I reply with that while looking at the linen wrapping on her right hand.

"Ahh. Yeah. The new designs looks cute. So I ends up buying more than what I initially planned. Why don't you guys check it out too?"

I look at the store after Linda says that. But I usually buy clothes only for necessity. I already bought all the necessary clothes so I doubt that I need more at this point.

Then I try to look at Miika at my right side to see if he's interested in buying.

Then I see Miika staring at the accessories on top of the wooden table. To be more precise, he's looking at the red ribbon among ribbons with other colours.

"You want that red ribbon?"

I say that while looking at the red ribbon.

"Eh!? N- no... I just..."

Before Miika finishes his sentence, I just take out my leather pouch wallet from my pocket and take out 5 bronze coins which is that red ribbon's price (which is more expensive than my usual meal set).

"Your hand."

Hearing my words, Miika put his right hand forward with confused look.

Then I put the coins on top of Miika's palm.

"W- wait! Shion, I don't...!"

"Have you bought something by yourself before?"

"No, I haven't..."

"Then take this as a chance to learn on how to buy things. Go take that red ribbon and pay it inside the store."

Miika is a bit hesitant hearing my order. But he finally nods, takes the red ribbon and heads inside the store.

Linda suddenly giggles while looking at me.

"What's wrong?"

I look at her while saying that.

"No, it's just... you sure act like a mother in front of him."

Linda says that while looking at me and then at Miika with a smile.

"... I don't act like a mother at all."

"You just don't realize it yourself~."

Linda says that with a teasing tone.

I think about what Linda said while looking at Miika who is paying to the male beastman.

... a mother won't ask that child to risk his life for her own benefit.

Miika finally buys the ribbon and walks out from the tent.

"So? What do you want to do with that ribbon?"

"..."

Miika looks down at the ribbon as if he is hesitant to answer my question.

"You already bought it. No need to be hesitant at this timing."

Linda says that while looking at Miika.

"I was thinking that this ribbon might look good on Shion's hair."

Miika says that while looking at me.

"My my... it's for Shion huh~."

Linda says that while looking amused.

"B- but I don't know if Shion want to wear this or not."

"I don't mind."

I immediately reply to Miika's statement so that there is no misunderstanding.

"I- is that alright?"

Miika says that with surprised look.

"Adults are supposed to ensure that kids can do what they want. As long as it's not anything wrong, I won't have a problem with it."

I say that as I take the ribbon from Miika's hand.

"Adult you say..."

Linda smirks while saying that. But I'll just ignore her comment.

"So... how am I supposed to wear this?"

"... Um, I'm not sure yet..."

Miika thinks for a moment before answering my question.

Well, I also wore two similar ribbons but I lost them while I was staying at the forest before coming here. Let's see if I can still remember on how to wear this...

I try tying the red ribbon to the left side of my hair. Turns out that my body still remembers...

"Oooh!"

Linda says that with surprised tone before continue talking.

"That looks cute, Shion. It's kinda surprising that a simple accessory can make such a difference. I wonder if this is because your usual clothing is really plain..."

I can see where Linda's coming from. After all, I only bought clothes with plain but better movement style for necessity. I'm not a noble who need to show up in pretty dress anymore so buying pretty clothes is no longer a concern.

As I think that, I notice that Miika is looking with surprised expression.

"It... it looks good on you!"

Miika says that with excited expression.

"It's just a ribbon. You guys are exaggerating..."

I say that as I am taken aback by Miika's attitude. This is probably the first time I see that kind of expression from Miika.

"What are you talking about. This is a huge improvement. Right, Miika?"

Right after Linda says that, Miika nods two times while smiling. He looks really happy even though I am the one who is wearing the ribbon.

"... you don't want anything from that store for you to wear?"

"? No, I only think the ribbon might be nice for you."

He replies to my question with a confused look.

I feel strange since I end up wearing the accessory instead. But I don't want to buy things that Miika does not want to buy so...

"Well, I don't mind wearing this if you're fine with it."

I say that while touching the red ribbon on my hair a bit. It's true that I want to give him reward for his hard work after all.

.....

....

...

"...ion."

"Shion?"

Miika's voice suddenly wakes me up before I completely fall asleep.

"Ah. Sorry..."

I say that while my hand is pointing at a letter on a book. We are currently in Liasr Town's library. Miika is sitting on a wooden chair besides me as I am teaching him about this world's letters.

After we left the clothes' store, I decide to go here thinking that I can try teaching Miika on how to read.

"As I thought, you're still tired. You need to rest."

Miika says that while looking at me with a worried expression.

"... you're right. Let's head back to the inn and call it a day."

I say thay while touching my forehead. I thought that this sluggish feeling will disappear soon after I move around but it does not seem the case...

"I'll return the book."

Miika says that while grabbing the book. We immediately go out from the library after Miika returns the book.

As we are walking outside, Miika asks a question while walking behind me.

"Why did you suddenly teach me about letters?"

"Hm? Not being able to read is inconvenient right? Is there any problem with that?"

I decide to answer his question in a way that he can understand.

"Rather than a problem... I feel like I stack up more debts than before. At this rate, I might not be able to repay you at all."

Miika says that while looking down.

"Don't mind it. I do it because I wanted to-..."

Before I finish my sentence I suddenly lost control of my body. I can tell that my body is falling down to the front.

"SHION!"

I hear Miika's surprised voice.

I can feel Miika holds my body to prevent me from touching the ground. But I already has no strength to stand up.

The world is turning black.

Miika's worried face is the last thing I see before my vision closes off.