“Ugh, it’s not like that,” I muttered, taking another bite of tuna to avoid her probing gaze. “It’s just… I think I did something terrible to someone who tried to be nice to me yesterday.”

Sophia raised an eyebrow, her interest clearly piqued. “Hmm, I see,” she said, leaning in slightly with a playful smile. “Well, spill it! Tell me all about it. I’m excellent at giving romance advice. I’ve lived long enough to see countless buds of love bloom—and wilt.”

I hesitated, glancing down at the food in my hands. “It’s not romance,” I insisted, though my voice lacked confidence. “I just… I left without saying anything. He was kind, and I just—vanished.”

Sophia’s expression softened, her teasing demeanor fading slightly. “Ah, so it’s guilt, huh?” she said, resting her chin on her palm. “But sometimes, a little guilt is just the first step toward doing something right. Are you planning to fix it?”

I fidgeted, unsure of how to answer. “I don’t know… What if it’s already too late?”

Sophia grinned mischievously, her wings fluttering slightly as if preparing for some grand proclamation. “It’s never too late, Mashiro! And if it’s romance, even better! Just go back, sweep him off his feet, and confess your undying love—”

“It’s not romance!” I interrupted, my face burning.

Sophia let out a melodramatic sigh. “Fine, fine. But seriously, just talk to him. Even if it’s not romantic, people appreciate honesty. You might be surprised.”

I mulled over her words in silence, the waves gently crashing against the shore in the background.

“Let me tell you how us, dragonborn apologizes.” Sophia put her hand inside her maid pocket, and pulled out a bunch of treasures such as rings, earrings, bracelets, crowns made out of gold and jewelry. “Treasures are treasures! More treasure means more sincere dragons! So just give this person the illuminating rainbow gem you collected from the monsters you defeated!”

I sat in silence, chewing the tuna slowly as I mulled over Sophia's suggestion. The savory flavor was a pleasant distraction, but my mind was already racing. After swallowing, I finally spoke.

“Well… he’s a human, not a dragon,” I said, my tone thoughtful. “Besides, he was trying to give me that same gem to cheer me up before. So handing it back to him might just feel... weird.”

Sophia tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. “Oh? So this person gave you a treasure first? Interesting. Maybe they were trying to tell you something.”

I ignored her teasing smirk and placed my hand under my chin, tapping it lightly as I pondered. “But... a gift, huh? That might not be such a bad idea. Even if it’s not the gem, maybe giving him something meaningful would show that I’m sorry.”

“Hm… if it’s not treasures, how about food?” Sophia said with a grin, her hands busy skewering the tentacles of the giant octopus alongside the tender chunks of tuna. The fire crackled as she worked with practiced ease, her wings giving a small, satisfied flutter as she glanced at her handiwork.

After preparing a dozen or so skewers, she thrust them into my hands with a bright smile. “Here! Food is the universal language, right? Everyone loves a good meal, and it shows you care. Plus, who could stay mad at someone who brings them fresh seafood?”

I blinked, staring at the pile of skewers. “This feels a bit... excessive,” I said, trying to juggle the awkward weight of the makeshift feast. “Am I supposed to feed an army or something?”

Sophia laughed, placing her hands on her hips. “Better to overdo it than underdo it! Besides, food is a symbol of hospitality and peace. Give this person these skewers, and I guarantee they’ll forgive you. Or, at the very least, you’ll make their day better.” She winked. “I’ve seen more awkward apologies and budding romances than you can imagine. Trust me, this’ll work.”

I sighed, shaking my head with a faint smile. “Fine, I’ll try it. But if this backfires, I’m blaming you.”

“Deal,” Sophia said with a playful grin, sitting back down by the fire. “Now, go make peace! And don’t forget to smile—it’ll help.”

I clutched the skewers, feeling both amused and uncertain. This might not have been the grand strategy I was expecting, but it was certainly... unique.

While holding the skewers and mulling over the idea, a familiar bubble text appeared in the corner of my vision:

[+14 Octopus skewers]

[+19 Tuna Skewers]

I sighed and shifted the weight in my hands, watching as the skewers shimmered and disappeared into my mysterious inventory. "I'll give these to Scheon, Lisa, and Elise as a token of apology," I muttered. "Maybe Roy and the other villagers, too. If they're hungry, they’ll appreciate it."

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But then a thought struck me—could I even store food in my mysterious inventory? I wasn’t sure how it worked, especially with something as perishable as food. There was no telling if it kept things fresh or if I’d end up handing out skewers of spoiled fish by accident. The idea made my stomach churn.

I sighed. "Well, I'll just deal with that later. One problem at a time."

Sophia’s voice broke through my thoughts. “What are you mumbling about over there, Mashiro?” She smirked from her spot by the fire, prodding the remaining chunks of octopus with a stick.

“Nothing,” I replied, brushing sand off my dress.

Sophia stood up, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon as she noticed a fiery glow in the distance. The fireball shot up into the sky from the direction of the mountain, lighting up the atmosphere.

“Well, it seems like my babysitting shift has come,” she said, a hint of excitement in her voice. “I’ll take you back home to Catherine’s house.”

Before I could respond, she had already moved toward me. In an instant, I found myself swept up in her arms, her wings unfurling dramatically like a phoenix taking flight. I barely had time to finish swallowing the last bite of my meal before we were hurtling through the air.

The wind rushed past me, tugging at my clothes and hair as we ascended higher into the sky. My stomach dropped from the sudden movement, but I quickly steadied myself, trying to ignore the dizzying sensation. Sophia’s grip was firm, and despite her playful demeanor, there was an undeniable strength in how she carried me.

“Waaait~!” I exclaimed as she halted abruptly in midair, her wings frozen in place. “Can you take me to the village instead? I want to give them the seafood directly, as quickly as possible.”

I had no idea how long the food would stay fresh in there, or if it would spoil altogether. The thought made me uneasy.

With a flick of her wings, she shifted direction, turning toward the village. I glanced over the landscape as we began to descend, the peaceful view of the beach now replaced with the familiar sight of the village nestled between the hills.

Sophia adjusted her grip on me, flying a little lower, her wings cutting through the air with a graceful ease. “Alright, village it is. Hold on tight.” I tightened my hold around her, watching as the village grew closer, hoping that my hasty decision wouldn’t backfire.

Sophia's wings slowed as she descended toward the outskirts of the village. The wind shifted, and I braced myself for landing. “Here we are,” she said with a satisfied grin. “Ready to deliver your apology, I guess?”

“Thanks, Sophia,” I nodded, feeling a bit nervous but determined.

“Well, I need to hurry or my employer would be angry,” said Sophia as she brushed off her maid uniform and spread her wings once more as her feet left the ground. “Bye, Mashiro.”

Before I could even respond, Sophia was already lifting off the ground, her wings beating strongly as she ascended into the sky. The breeze from her takeoff blew my hair back, and I squinted up at her, now floating high above.

"Goodbye, and thanks," I muttered to myself, before turning my attention forward, my heart set on reaching Lisa’s restaurant.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead, and started walking toward the village center. The sun was still high in the sky, but I was determined to deliver the food and apologize, no matter how awkward or strange it might feel. As I walked, the familiar sounds of village life reached my ears—chatter, the rhythmic clinking of tools, children’s laughter.

I walked toward Lisa’s restaurant and inn, my steps slow and steady, though my thoughts raced with uncertainty. The sign still hung outside, signaling that it was closed for the day. I hesitated for a moment, then knocked gently on the door.

“Lisa, are you there?” I called softly, my voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

The door creaked open, but to my surprise, it wasn’t Lisa who greeted me. Instead, Elise appeared, her hair disheveled, and her eyes half-lidded as she rubbed them groggily.

“Ah, Miss Mashiro…” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. She yawned, then blinked at me, clearly still adjusting to being awake. “Big sister is… resting.”

Her words were soft and unhurried, as though she were trying to make sense of the situation while still caught in the haze of sleep. I stood there for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt rise in my chest, but I pushed it down. This wasn’t the time for hesitation.

“Is she... alright?” I asked quietly, concerned about slipping through despite my attempts to stay composed.

Elise’s sleepy expression faltered, her gaze dropping to the floor. She bit her lip and shuffled uncomfortably, as if weighing her words. Finally, she whispered, “She’s… not getting better.”