-Shim PoV-

Today, something fell from the sky, I strained my eyes as it fell, it seems no one saw it except as they kept on walking as if nothing happened...

Seeing as it is a warm and sunny day, I was tasked to help with mother's stall at the town circle...

--

It was already past lunch when I saw a hooded figure with a man dressed in a white shirt and brown pants together with wooden slippers, on the other hand the hooded figure was soaked in water and was apparently shivering as they walk through town...

"What is that?"

"Hmm?"

"She looks like a wet fish..."

"Nyahahaha!"

Some laughed, some had a worried expression and some practically didn't care... As curiosity overwhelmed me, I decided to follow the hooded figure... They entered an old house away from the bustling noises of the town.

"Who's that?"

As I closed in upon the house, I could hear a woman ask a question in a rather serious tone. With a carefree manner the man answered simply.

"It's just someone I happen to see as I was fishing..."

They continued the conversation as is, then suddenly...

"You... You're!"

"What is it?"

"Close everything!"

"Huh?"

"Just do it!"

The man hurriedly closed the windows, and after a few minutes the man came out running, then came back with the village chief.

I couldn't hear anything from the other side... Even if I pressed my ears towards the windows I still couldn't hear anything... After sitting there for a few hours I finally gave up and went back to the stall...

There mom was waiting with a piece of wood... Haa... Guess my butts gonna hurt today...

--

The next day I saw the hooded figure it was a girl with the same age as I, she was adopted by the Harland family, it seems to be that the ones who were living in that house were them, she wore a gigantic hat (in my perspective) and had hidden all of her hair... not even a single strand could be seen peeking out from it... Is it magic item or just plain craftsmanship... No one knows...

My stare had quite the intention, seeming as she looked towards me, it seems she noticed. After locking eyes with me for a while, she averted her gaze went to her mother's back meekly...

There was an air of mysteriousness surrounding her, by all means I want to find out who or what she is, the operation "Befriend Newcomer" had now commenced...

That next day afternoon, I saw her just at the outskirts of town, still within the fences, she was up in the hill where a gigantic tree was planted, alone she kept fiddling with her fingers.

I thought "What is she doing?" When suddenly something appeared before her hands, a flame, a beautiful one at that, it possessed a blue color with a tinge of redness within it, I only got to see red flames until now. As if sensing it, she looks towards me, stood up and ran away!

"Wait!"

So "befriend newcomer" day 1 ends..

---

The next day...

She was there once again... Fiddling with her fingers, stealthily, yes, I moved and tried to close in on her, but...

She looked towards me and held out her hand and muttered something...

"Waaah!"

Powerful! Gust of wind came to my direction blowing me off to the bottom of the hill, but had not procured any kind of injuries... I looked up again and saw her ran at full speed...

So ends day 2...

--

The next day...

She wasn't there... Maybe she's staying at her house? Thinking so I walked towards the old house away from the town, there she sat while moving her legs back and forth... She kept touching her body afterwards all over the place while muttering something.

Then looked up, after a few seconds and moved her fingers as if taking something... Then looks towards my direction... Wah! How? I'm hidden behind the barrels...

I looked towards it once again and she was no longer there...

"Where?"

"What are you doing? Why do you keep following me!?"

"H-hii! D-don't blast me with air!"

She already had her hand pointed towards me, seeing as I'm afraid and shivering in fear (probably), she lowered her hand and asked for me to leave...

Day 3 of the plan ends...

--

The next day though I was a bit reluctant... I still continued...

"Didn't I tell you..."

"Now... Now... Ryomi, don't glare so much at her..."

"But she kept on spying on me... She's also the one who keeps on coming to the tree..."

"Ara..."

With me behind Ms.Emily, her mother, she couldn't do a thing but glare daggers at me, but still it's still scary that if I even took a step forward, I think I'll get pummeled...

"Okay, for now... Just talk with each other okay? I'll make some cookies..."

"..."

"..."

Silence filled the room as Ms. Emily walked towards the kitchen and apparently are making cookies...

"A...ah..."

"So? Why'd you use mom as a meat shield?"

"M-meat shield..? What is that?"

As if losing balance she staggered forward while sitting... Is that even possible?

"It means your using her as a means to keep me in check! I can't blast your face with "Wind Magic" if you're hiding behind her! You're cunning and I don't want you to keep following me..."

Waah! This is the first time someone told me I'm a cunning person... Even if I don't know what that means...

"Why do you look so happy?"

"Ehehehe... Praise me more..."

"Haaaa? Hey! Stay away!"

I wanna hug her... I don't even know the reason why I want to do that though...

"Ara... Ara... I left you for two minutes and this is what I see..."

I got slapped and "Ryomi" ran towards the kitchen, I was dumfounded of what had happened... Ms. Emily gave me cookies and said to come back tomorrow since Ryomi is in a bad mood...

So ends Day 4...

[Day 5]

I wore a blue shirt and brown pants... It was one of my brother's clothes since I don't really have any girly clothes, I have nothing to wear but boy clothes...

Wait... Maybe that's why she's avoiding me! Then I have Ryo clear up that misunderstanding...

Arriving at her house, I took a deep breathe and knocked on the door thrice...

"Coming..."

Ah! It's her!

"Who is--- *slam*"

"R-ryomi! O-open up! Hey!"

*Bang Bang Bang*

With a creaking sound I saw her eyes peaking in the crevice, and she asked "What are you doing here?"

"Ah! I'm here to play! Let's play!"

"I don't play..."

"Then what do you do?"

"Practice? Read books... Practice..."

"What!? That's so boring!"

As if shocked she was taken aback with her eyes wide open... Was it a revelation to her?

"B-boring..."

"Un! Boring!"

"Urk...."

Reluctantly, she opened the door and walked to the living room... The door was open so I let myself in, thinking so I proceeded to the living room and saw had sitting with both hands in her face.

"I... I... was... b-boring... b-but... I never thought..."

She kept muttering...

"Aah... Hey!"

"Ah!"

She looked up with her eyes half open... What's with that...

"Wanna play?"

"With a boy? No..."

"Is that why you're avoiding me?"

"Yeah! For what else is the reason would be?"

I'm glad that's the only reason... I took a deep breathe and encouraged myself for this day, "Befriend Newcomer" plan will have succeeded...

"I'm a girl..."

"Eh?"

"I said I'm a girl!"

"You seriously think I'll believe that?"

"Hey! I'm serious here!"

"Yeah! Yeah! Then I'm a boy!"

"What! You're a boy!"

"Of course not... I'm a girl stupid..."

Then she muttered something inaudible afterwards... I didn't really care about what was said since it's not directed at me.

"So? Wanna play?"

"You're still on with that?"

"Oh! Right! I want you to meet my friends, so then you can be friends with them as well!"

"Easy for you to say!"

"Ehehehe... Come! Let's go out!"

"... I have to let my parents know first..."

"Un! You tell them I'll wait outside..."

"... You're serious about letting me meet your friends aren't you...?"

"Yeah? Is something wrong?"

"Haa... Just wait outside..."

So she went to the backdoor leading outside and started shouting for some reason... Words like "Damn it!" Which I don't really understand...

Then walked to my direction...

"So? Where are we headed..."

"Yes! Hold my hand!"

"H-huh?"

"Come on we're both girls!"

I took her hand by force, her hand was so soft that it felt heavenly, I squished it gently as I run with her in tow.

After I introduced her to some of my friends they clicked immediately, or so I think they did...

So ends the day 5 of my plan...

---

[Day 6]

It's almost a week since I started "befriend newcomer" plan... I am standing in front of her house, yesterday and today her parents were nowhere to be seen, who was it that she had to tell yesterday about her leaving, that I did not care...

"Ryomi! I've come to pick you up!"

Creaking sound could be heard as she opened the door slowly, she was loosely dressed and you can see her skin peaking out of the shirt that she wore, I felt betrayed when I saw the wicked thing in her head, that giant hat that seemed to keep everything inside of it block out from the rest of the world.

She was moving her hand to her eyes as if she only had woken up, she looks at me with half open eyes and yawned slowly then said "What are you doing here so early?"

I smiled and replied saying "Early bird gets the worm!"

"Sorry, I'm not a bird!" and slams the door close...

"Ryomi! Ryomi! Don't close the door! Hey open up!"

She opens the door and asks again...

"What are you doing here so early..."

"I wanna play..."

"Go play by yourself..."

"Ryomi's so cold!"

"It's because it's morning..."

"Eh! Then if it's midday then you'll be fine?"

"... I don't know if you don't know that I'm gently refusing you right now, or you are just plain dumb..."

"G-guh... Let's just go! Please!"

"Just let me change into something first..."

"Okay! I'll wait..."

She opens the door and invites me inside, even if she has a crude mouth, she's not as insensitive as to let me wait outside...

"Sit there... I'll be out in a few minutes..."

"Okay..."

I could smell something cooking but neither Ms. Emily or Sir Toni weren't here... Wait, is she living alone?

"Ryomi! If you don't mind me asking are you alone in the house today?"

"Yeah, I'm alone..."

She answers from beyond the door by the end of the hall... That must be her room...

"Ah... That's right, Ryomi, are you free tomorrow? There is a "thing" in the church and it pays children to pull the weeds in the church's backyard..."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Yeah, I know that already and I plan to go..."

"You already know father?"

"You mean the priest, right? Yeah, I met him once when my parents handled my adoption papers..."

"Ah! I see!"

"Okay... I'm dressed up..."

She wore a white shirt, a brown long pants, and a pair of boots... She really likes boyish clothes even though she has dresses, even though I'm envious about those dresses she wouldn't use them...

"Let's go?"

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah... What you smelled earlier is already a finished production, I've already eaten before you even knocked..."

"Heeeh?"

"Let's go!"

"Yeah!"

We played, ran around town, and practically got pummeled by Ryomi, when I said "Let's fight!" up on top of the hill where the tree was... Afterwards, I asked if she could teach me how to use magic, she thought me how to use fireball though with a bit lower mana consumption or so she said, then let me fire at her with all my might, releasing every thing I created 50 mini fireballs and aimed it at her, but was thwarted by an invisible wall of wind, she smiled saying "Keep practicing" then she said that she was going to train so keep quiet but I think she's only sleeping... Her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow, totally asleep, she thought she could fool me?

I took a closer look just to make sure, seeing her eyes that close, her eyelashes weren't that long in fact it's only medium in size, her lips seemed to suck me in every time she breathes in...

"Oh no..."

The distance from us are only just a little bit, but as I regained my senses, I stopped and sat back. My face felt hot and my heart keeps on thumping at a very fast rate, like when after we ran through the town today. I took a deep breathe and emptied my mind... Ahh... What is it, I wonder? What does this feeling represent? Can this be even called normal?

"Nnn... H-huh?"

"Ryomi!"

"... What?"

"I knew it you were sleeping!"

"............... I'm not..."

"What's with that pause?"

".........."

"Aaah!"

Even though she's a crude person, with her here such days would never be a repetitive one... After she sat there silently she said "I want to go home now!" and walked at a fast pace...

"Hey! Don't go running!"

In the end she had to go buy ingredients for here dinner so she had to go to town to buy some, unexpectedly she is well-known to the town's shops. Then late that night I kept on practicing at our house until exhaustion...

Thus ends my report for day 6...

--

[Day 7]

"Wah! You're early!?"

"I have errands to run, let's stop at the church first..."

Her eyes were half open and while wearing a long-sleeved shirt, short pants and a pair of boots, she still seemed a bit cold. Well, it is after all just after breakfast, she seemed to have just washed her body seeing as she is slightly soaked, or was she running?

"Is your mother and father home already?"

"None..."

"What do you mean "errands" then?"

"Are you going to ask questions or..."

"Sorry!"

"... Sorry... I'm just... Short on sleep..."

"A...ah... O-okay..."

After hearing that she walked slowly, following behind her was me... I wonder what her errands are? After we stopped at the church, she talked to the priest and declared that she will be participating in this afternoon's event, nodding at her declaration the priest gave her an okay and said to be back in the afternoon, after that we stopped by the flower shop and took a bunch of flowers, the shopkeeper smiled and gave it to her as she passed the bag of coins to the shopkeeper. Then we went back to the house to drop it off.

"We have another place? Wanna come?"

"Sure! We've got a whole day!"

"... Thanks..."

Next we went to a meat shop, Ryomi took a whole slab of meat and took it home as well, she then created a boxlike thing with earth magic and filled the bottom with water then turned it into ice... She told me it was to preserve the meat... She then closed it with an earth made cap. Then we went to our next location, it was the smith's shop... What is she going to do here? As I thought that she entered the place and we saw the old man waving his hand towards Ryomi, is she a regular or something? Only a week has passed since she got here right? The smith talked to Ryomi in a friendly manner and gave her a sword, it was a beautiful one, it sparkled as the flame's light reflected from it's blade, Ryomi nodded a few times and put it inside the scabbard and also was given a kitchen knife... Apparently the sword was her father's and the kitchen knife was what she came here to get...

"We got plenty of time since I've finished the errands a bit early!"

"Really? Then wanna practice before going to the church again?

"Sure..."

It's become much easier to control the flow of mana from my body as I took into heart Ryomi's instructions...

"O flames that burn alight to this day, grant me power and offer thine strength! [Flamepea!]"

Pea-sized flames shoot up darting towards Ryomi, as she saw that she started to declare.

"Spirits that give life and protection, seize thine enemies attacks with your impregnable shield! [Wind Wall!]"

A wall of gushing wind was erected and the darting flames scattered into nothingness as it hit the invisible wall...

"Good... I never could've thought that I only thought you yesterday!"

"It's because I'm a genius!"

"Ah~ yes! Yes!"

"Ah! You don't believe me don't you! Even though I'm really serious!"

"Haha! Sorry, I really can't just think of you as a genius..."

"Mwuuu!"

Pouting my mouth, I averted my gaze and crossed my arms, seriously, she's always like this... Then suddenly I could feel warmth coming from my back then her hands encircled me...

"Ryomi?"

"Stay like this for now..."

"Oh... Un..."

My face felt hot and I could feel her chest pushing my back, my heart beat once again rose and it was as if I could hear it as it beat loudly...

"... Thanks... Even though I've always pushed you away, you didn't go..."

She muttered in a low volume, as she tightened the encircled hands coiling around my shoulders... In the side of my face, was hers, her eyes were closed and she had an expression of calmness...

My face grew even hotter as I saw her, I wonder... What is this? Why am I feeling like this... I kept asking questions... But none of it was answered as I have kept them to myself... I took a deep breathe and calmed my heart the spoke gently saying...

"Isn't that obvious I'm a genius after all..."

"Heeh~ well, I guess in one way or another..."

"Ryomi! Mwuu~"

"Hahahaha..."

"It's already time to for to the church..."

"Yeah..."

"Let's go?"

"Un!"

I offered my hand to Ryomi but she refused saying, 'you go ahead I'll follow you' I felt rather disappointed... But I can't be demanding right...

"Ryomi! Faster! You're so slow!"

"I'll be right with you!"

So we went and deciding to join the event to procure money as well as experience, for me I guess, Ryomi wasn't in it for the money I think, she's way too carefree... She uses magic when cutting weeds, to us it looked like she's cheating but to here it was one of her skills, that are needed to be used...

'Cheating really!' I voiced my opinion as the other kids shouted 'Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!' She stuck out her tongue not caring and said "I'm not cheating I'm just putting my skills to use...

-- later that afternoon...

We already got our pay from the job, Ryomi had six bags and I had two... It's because using [Wind Cutter] was apparently more effective than just cutting them normally.

We once again got to our training spot and decided to train once again...

Three pea sized flame came darting towards her once again was thwarted by the invisible shield...

"As expected!"

"Nnn... Not really! If it had been a bit more faster and bigger [Wind Wall] wouldn't have defended it."

"But still you defended on my high-speed fireballs..."

"I'll teach you how to make a true fireball now! So we can move on to the next phase but don't overexert yourself okay?"

"I'll be fine! Teach me! Teach me!"

"Like what you did in the pea sized fireballs only give it more mana... Imagine it's size getting bigger but still incorporate the speed you once used... Chant the spell I thought you as well..."

"Okay... I'll try..."

I concentrated mana into my hand and imagined it's appearance, a big red flame, and a speed the same as that of, the flamepea...

"I think I got it!"

Then I started to chant however, it wasn't the same chant as I always used "True God's Words" or so Ryomi named... It was the language used to bring forth magic of the ancient, she already seen it first hand with her mother and have already done it as well, I guess I really am a genius!

"Velvra Set Hume Karn Shel! [Fireball!]"

Instead of a red flame, a blue majestic ball of flame appeared and was launched, unknowingly, I targeted Ryomi like I always did... As I thought this was bad... Ryomi casted [Wind Wall] but it only lasted a second and the flame still came through burning everything in it's way!

"Kyaa!"

"Ryomi!"

"Stay away!"

She told me so as I walked slowly, I could see her figure she doesn't seem burned, but her hat was...

"I'm fine... You can go ahead... I can go back home myself..."

"But Ryomi!"

"I said to go back to town didn't I?"

I couldn't help but yelp... The tone of her voice was cold, as she shouted towards me, it wasn't a request... It was an order, I took a step backwards as I teared up unconsciously, and ran down the hill towards the town...

'Scary... Scary... I don't want that...' My heart beat faster but not because of happiness but of fear, even though it's my fault... Even though it's...

My legs lost power and I fell face forward... It hurts... I was so scared... yet in the end, I didn't want Ryomi to hate me... I wanted to apologize but couldn't as strength came back to my feet, my feet moved on it's own and before I knew it, I am standing at her house...

Reluctantly, I knocked on the door...

"It's me... Ryomi..."

As if talking to the door, I named myself hoping that Ryomi was on the other side... Ryomi opened the door with a worried expression and gently said...

"Shim, I..."

"I'm sorry, Ryomi! Please don't hate me!"

I closed my eyes as my shoulders were shaking wildly, never taking into account what Ryomi had to say...

"Look, Shim it should be me who..."

"I didn't mean to target you! I'm really sorry! Please don't hate me!"

"Will you please let me finish!"

"Urk..."

She was angry that I could tell from the tone of her voice... But contrary to her voice her eyes conveyed another...

"Shim... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you earlier... I just didn't want you to worry too much..."

"Really? Then... You're not angry at me blasting you with [Fireball]"

"Of course, I'm angry but not to the extent of hating you for it... I'm not that cheap to hold a grudge with a measly thing, and besides you only grazed me... So it's all under the bridge."

I hugged her in delight, as I felt joy from the bottom of my heart... But this feelings of joy was suddenly replaced by envy...

"Why do you have these bulges when I don't have one..."

She gently caressed my head and hugged me back saying "It'll grow big soon enough for you as well, just give it time..." I retorted by reflex with "We are both of the same age!".

After that, we went to buy ingredients for supper... Since Ms. Emily and Sir Toni won't be back until weekends, together with Ryomi we walked towards the market and bought ingredients for her meal... 

I separated from Ryomi on the crossroad to my house and to theirs, saying "see you tomorrow" my heart felt light and I couldn't help but smile unconsciously.

With that operation "Befriend Newcomer" can be approved as a success!