Alexandra skipped back into the room, a platter balanced on her right hand as she hummed a cheerful tune. Her eyes shone with warmth as she set the platter down on the table in front of Dama, Mumu, and Tsubasa.

  “Alright, everyone,” Alexandra said with a bright smile, her voice light and full of cheer. “I’ve brought your favorites!”

  She first took the first glass, a crystal-clear one filled with a rich and golden amber liquid. “For Dama—apple juice, no bits in it. Just the way you like it.”

  Moving to the next glass, it was a milky drink with a touch of honey that glistened in the soft light. “Mumu, I know how much you love warm milk with honey, enjoy!”

  Finally, Alexandra placed a simple, delicate teacup with its own platter in front of Tsubasa. “And this is for you, Chiefess, in case you’d like another cup of green tea.”

  Dama’s eyes brightened at the sight of his favorite drink, and a small, grateful smile tugged at his lips. Mumu’s tail swished in excitement as he leaned forward, his ears twitching with gratitude. Tsubasa gave a gentle nod of thanks, her expression softening as she prepared to take a sip.

  “Thank you, Ms. Alexandra!” Dama said, lifting his glass in an appreciative toast, which Mumu copied, clinking each other's drinks.

  Alexandra’s smile widened. “You’re welcome, sweetie.” She said before she took a seat at the edge of the table, her hands folded on her lap and leaning back as she watched the others take to their drinks with a soft smile.

  Tsubasa drank her green tea with poise and elegance, each sip as graceful as her demeanor. Meanwhile, Dama guzzled down his apple juice with the enthusiasm of a child who had just been given their favorite treat.

  The star of Alexandra's attention though was Mumu. The stuffed creature sat quietly, staring down at the glass of honeyed milk that Alexandra had prepared with care. Despite her efforts to keep her thoughts to herself, curiosity began to bubble up in her mind.

  "How does Mumu drink anything?" Alexandra wondered, tilting her head slightly as she studied him. "I’ve never seen him open his mouth... Does he even have a functioning one? And does he have a stomach?"

  The questions only deepened the more she thought about it, and she glanced briefly at Dama, who seemed completely unfazed by Mumu’s peculiar behavior. "Dama knows for sure. After all, he’s always with Mumu, but I've never found the right moment to ask him. Everyone else also thinks the same thing... Then again, if Mumu doesn’t drink or eat, why does Dama always get him something?"

  She began to tap her fingers on her lap, resisting the urge to ask out loud. Instead, she decided to keep observing, hoping the answer might reveal itself in time.

  Dama then perked up, catching Alexandra's attention. He set his empty glass down with a soft thud as his face beamed with enthusiasm. "Thank you for the drink, Ms. Alexandra! It was delicious, and I’m super grateful!" he said, his voice bright and genuine.

  Alexandra's attention shifted to him, and she placed her hands together, a warm smile gracing her face. "You’re very welcome, Dama. I’m glad you enjoyed it!" she replied, her tone sweet and cheerful.

  The next moment, however, Alexandra froze mid-smile. A realization struck her like a lightning bolt, and her eyes darted back to Mumu. To her shock, Mumu now sat there calmly, now with a serene smile on his face. In front of him, his cup of honeyed milk was empty, and the sight of it made Alexandra’s jaw drop.

  "What!?" she thought, utterly baffled. "When did that happen? I only took my eyes off him for a few seconds!"

  Her astonishment must have been evident because Mumu continued to smile at her, as if enjoying her reaction. Alexandra blinked in rapid bursts, her hands hovering in the air as if trying to piece together a puzzle that defied logic. "H-How..." she murmured under her breath, unable to tear her eyes away from the now-empty cup.

  Setting her teacup back onto its platter, Tsubasa kept her eyes closed as she savored the last sip. With a serene smile, she nodded and chimed in, “I must agree with Dama. Your brewing skills are impeccable, Alexandra. I’ve always admired the care you put into every drink you make.”

  As she opened her eyes, Tsubasa noticed the peculiar expression on Alexandra's face. Her smile faltered and her brows knitting together in concern. "Alexandra," Tsubasa asked concerned, "is something the matter?"

  Alexandra flinched at the question, snapping out of her astonishment. She then shook her head, her voice shaky as she replied, “N-No, nothing’s wrong! Everything’s fine!” Despite her words, her wide-eyed gaze darted briefly toward Mumu, her face still marked by bewilderment.

  Tsubasa tilted her head, unconvinced but choosing not to press the issue. Instead, she glanced at Mumu, who continued to sit stoically, his ever-present smile giving no clues.

  With a soft hum, Tsubasa returned her attention to Alexandra, her calm demeanor unshaken. She set her cup back down, her tail swaying as she straightened her posture. “Well, Alexandra, we should finish discussing what we were talking about earlier, especially since I have something important to discuss with Dama afterward.”

  Alexandra nodded, her cheerful demeanor returning. “Oh, right, we were talking about me creating child-sized outfits for girls—sundresses, skirts, and other similar pieces. I’ve been sketching a few ideas already.”

  At the mention of the clothing, Dama’s eyes flickered toward Tsubasa, and a thought crossed his mind. "So that’s it. Granny Tsubasa must have asked Ms. Alexandra to make clothes for Giona. That’s why she’s here."

  Alexandra continued, her excitement bubbling over as she leaned forward. “I can for sure make them! I’d just need to meet the girl in question to get her measurements. That way, I can tailor everything to fit her perfectly.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Dama’s heart sank, his face paling in an instant. "Oh crap!" He darted a panicked look toward Tsubasa, unsure of how she’d respond.

  But Tsubasa remained composed, a small smile curling at her lips. “That won’t be necessary,” she said smoothly, “you can use my measurements. I already checked her size before coming here, so it’s all taken care of.”

  She glanced toward Dama, her silver eyes twinkling as she added playfully, “It’s like taking down two birds with one stone~” She even punctuated her statement with a subtle wink in his direction, causing him to relax.

  Alexandra clapped her hands together. “Well, that makes things so much easier! I’ll get started as soon as possible, thank you, Chiefess Tsubasa!” She said before tilting her head with a thoughtful smile. “You really do think of everything, don’t you?”

  Tsubasa chuckled at Alexandra’s compliment, her eyes glinting with warmth. “Fufu, it’s my duty, dear. But thank you, nonetheless.”

  Meanwhile, Alexandra approached one of the wool bags that had been set down earlier, picking it up and cradling it. Her eyes sparkled with inspiration as she began imagining all the possible designs she could create for the mysterious girl. “Whoever this girl is,” Alexandra said aloud, almost to herself, “I hope I get to meet her someday. If Chiefess Tsubasa is taking the time to order clothes on her behalf, she must be someone special.”

  Dama’s nerves visibly spiked at the comment, and he let out a nervous laugh. “Haha, well, you’re not wrong—” he started, but before he could finish, Tsubasa’s bushy tail gently wrapped around his shoulders, cutting him off.

  “Oh, I have a feeling you’ll be one of the first to meet her.” Tsubasa replied, her knowing tone effortlessly redirecting Alexandra’s curiosity.

  None the wiser, Alexandra smiled brighter. She returned to the table, gathering the empty dishes with care. “I’ll look forward to that day, then!” she chirped, bowing as she balanced the dishes in her hands. “Thank you all for coming! It’s always a pleasure to have you here.”

  Dama, Mumu, and Tsubasa rose from their seats, each offering their farewells and thanks in return in their own way. As they headed toward the door, Alexandra waved them off. “Have a nice rest of your day!” she called after them, her cheerful voice following them as they stepped outside.

  Outside, the air was crisp, filled with the hum of villagers conversing, the crunch of gravel underfoot, and the delighted laughter of children darting through the streets.

  The village roads bustled with activity, with Tsubasa’s graceful stride drawing the attention of those nearby. However, one figure among the crowd reacted more than the others. A young man, tall and semi-muscular, stumbled as his jade-colored eyes landed on the trio—his main target being Mumu, who loomed over the crowd at more than six feet in height.

  The young man adjusted the dark green hat perched on his head, its folded brim resembling a cuff. The yellow linings of his dark green robe shimmered in the sunlight as it swayed around his legs, the open front at his waist revealing black, baggy pants tucked into sturdy travel shoes. Over his shoulder, he carried a hefty bag of goods with both hands, the weight causing his arms to flex under his robe.

  “Dama! Mumu!” the young man called out, his voice carrying an unmistakable warmth as he jogged toward the group. His jet-black hair peeked from under his hat, bouncing with each step.

  Dama blinked at the approaching figure, his boyish voice piping up, “Mr. Jaden? What’re you doing here?”

  But before Jaden could respond, his gaze flicked to the shorter individual beside Dama—Tsubasa, and his confident stride faltered.

  He stiffened, his body jerking upright. “Oh no…!” he muttered under his breath, hastily lowering his goods to the ground with care. Straightening up, he dipped into a respectful bow, his face flushing slightly. “M-My apologies, C-Chiefess Tsubasa! I didn’t notice you right away—it’s an honor to see you out and a-about!” he stammered, his words spilling out in a rush.

  Tsubasa’s warm laugh cut through the tension. “There’s no need for that, Jaden. I’m not so fragile that I need you to bow every time we cross paths.” she said, a hint of amusement lacing her tone. Her calm presence seemed to ease the boy’s nerves as he straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “I just finished speaking with Alexandra.” Tsubasa continued, a knowing look crossing her face. “She mentioned being quite busy with personal orders recently. Tell me, Jaden, would you happen to know anything about that?”

  “Well, guilty as charged, you caught me, Chiefess!" he admitted, his grin turning sheepish. “Can you blame me, though? I’ve been running low on stock, and Alexandra’s clothes are practically a gold mine for a merchant like me.”

  Tsubasa folded her arms, her expression both amused, yet also a bit serious. “Always thinking of business, aren’t you? You must be doing well to keep her this busy. I just hope you give her enough for her efforts, hm?”

  “Of course I do!" Jaden hastily replied, seeing the glint of potential disapprovement in his Chiefess' eyes. "My parents always taught me to take care of and respect my most loyal trading partners! And I'd be a fool to sell Ms. Alexandra short, people can’t get enough of her work! Both inside and outside Enohay!”

  He then reached down into one of his coat pockets, bringing out a leather pouch filled to the brim, indicative by numerous disk-like objects pushing out from the inside. “Speaking of which, I'm actually here to drop off her earnings for the past month!"

  Tsubasa, still keeping her arms folded, raised an eyebrow as she shifted her weight to one side. "Hm? You don't pay her upfront?"

  Jaden scoffed at the thought. "Hey now, what kind of merchant do you think I am? Of course I pay upfront!" he exclaimed before leaning forward as he pointed at the pouch. "This bag is just a by-product of our deal, where she'll also earn 5% of every sale."

  "My my," Tsubasa chortled out as she dropped her arms, one hand resting on her hip, "guess you two are business partners after all."

  "Mhm!" Jaden nodded. "And if you guys need anything yourself, just say the word at my booth!”

  Jaden then hefted up his bag of goods. His jade-colored eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he adjusted the strap of his bag and turned his attention to Dama and Mumu. “Speaking of my shop,” Jaden began, his tone shifting to one of playful persuasion, “Dama, are you and Mumu free to help me set up for today? I’ll even give you a 50% discount on her next few purchases if you do!”

  Before Dama could respond, Tsubasa’s melodic voice interjected, carrying a teasing yet firm tone. “Ah ah ah~” she chimed, curling her fox tail around Dama. Her expression was calm but commanding. “I’m afraid I need to borrow Dama for a while. There’s something we need to discuss you see.”

  Dama nodded, bowing slightly toward Jaden. “Sorry, Mr. Jaden. I’d love to help, but I’ve got to go with her.” he said, his voice tinged with regret.

  Jaden sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping in fake disappointment. “Alright, alright, I get it. You’ve got important Chiefess business...” he said, waving a hand in exaggerated defeat. Then, his grin returned as he added, “But once my shop closes later today, I’ll hold you to helping me pack up and clean. Deal?”

  Witnessing Jaden outstretch his hand, Dama looked up at him and said, “Deal!” with an eager nod, shaking Jaden's hand.

  Jaden gave a satisfied nod, tipping his hat again. “Welp, good luck with, uh, whatever Chiefess stuff you’ve got going on. I’m counting on you later, though! Also, stop calling me 'mister', I'm only three years older pal.”

  With that, he hoisted his bag of goods over his shoulder and disappeared into the bustling crowd, his green robe swaying as he moved.

  As the trio waved him off, Tsubasa turned her attention back to a sheepish Dama and gestured for him to follow her in the opposite direction. As they walked further down the gravel road, the noise of the village gradually faded into the background.

  Glancing up, Dama could see that they were headed for the village's entrance. He turned his attention to Tsubasa, curiosity evident in his expression. “So… where are we going?” he asked.

  “To someplace more secluded.” Tsubasa replied, her voice calm yet purposeful. Her silver eyes flicked toward Dama, her tone softening. “There’s more we need to discuss about Giona, isn't there?”

  -

  Next: (Extra Chapter 8) Dama and Tsubasa’s Walk