“Hmm! These sandwiches are delicious!” [Allen]

Allen exclaimed after taking a bite of the triangular sandwich. The salty taste of the ham went well with the juicy tomato. The crispy lettuce leaf wrapped it all together and the slightly sour sauce whetted his appetite. It was a simple meal, but it was exactly what he needed after training. Sitting on the high school building’s rooftop, he looked up at the sky that had taken a shade of crimson as the sun went down. With a sandwich in one hand, a bottle of refreshing water in the other and his bruises all treated, he felt it was a bit luxurious.

“Thank you. I’m glad you like it. If you want, you can try the salad too.” [Fyr]

Fyr smiled happily and bashfully at his praise. Once Allen, Ava and Goro were done training, she had brought out the food she was carefully carrying and began to treat their wounds.

“Could it be you made this?” [Allen]

“N-no. I only helped out a little. It’s really a classmate that I’ve been getting along.” [Fyr]

The harpy waved her hands at her red-haired friend’s question.

“But you helped out, so thank you. Please tell your friend I said thanks too. She’s really good at cooking.” [Allen]

“Um… He’s a boy.” [Fyr]

“A boy? I’m sorry for thinking he was a girl.” [Allen]

“No, it’s okay. I’m sure he wouldn’t get angry over it. Instead, he’ll be happy to hear that you liked his cooking.” [Fyr]

“Wait a minute, harpy. You said it’s a man that made this food?” [Goro]

Goro inserted himself in the conversation and questioned the harpy while holding a half-eaten sandwich.

“Y-yes?” [Fyr]

There are carrots in this salad.” [Goro]

He pointed at the bowl set next to him.

“Um… I’m sorry. You don’t like carrots?” [Fyr]

“That’s not the problem. Why are they cut into hearts?” [Goro]

Just like Goro mentioned, among the lettuce and turnips, there were heart-shaped carrots.

“Now that I take a look, you’re right. So a guy cooked this…” [Allen]

Allen stared at the bowl and slowly nodded his head.

“U-um, he always cuts vegetables into little shapes. Isn’t it cute?” [Fyr]

“That’s not the problem. What do you think, Ava?” [Goro]

When Goro asked for Ava’s opinion, everyone noticed that she was deep in thought.

“Ava?” [Allen]

“A-are you okay?” [Fyr]

When Allen and Fyr both talked to the half-elf, she finally responded.

“Yeah, just that…” [Ava]

She trailed off as she thought back on the past few days.

Whenever she went to do her job after school, the same therianthrope girl from last time would show up and cheerfully help her out. There wasn’t anything strange about their meetings…

Until Ava kept running into her around school.

When she walked down the hallways, she would see her at a distance.

When she looked outside the window from her classroom, she would see her waving her hand at her.

When she went to the bathroom, that dog-eared girl would ambush her just as she entered.

With all these coincidental meetings happening, Ava came to a conclusion.

“Not sure, but I think I’m being stalked by some crazy chick.” [Ava]

“That’s rude! You shouldn’t call others crazy!” [Stalker]

Suddenly, a girl’s unhappy voice was heard and everyone turned their sight to where it came from.  The therianthrope that Ava was talking about was climbing over the fence that kept people from failing off the roof.

“Oi, therioanthrope, did you just climb the wall to get here?” [Goro]

Goro asked as he got on guard. Allen and Fyr were still bewildered by her sudden appearance while Ava had an expression that said “Not her again”.

“What what? It’s nothing major, right? I mean, you can do it too, right?” [Stalker]

The girl with bright orange hair ignored Goro’s glare and casually approached them.

“And Ava! I’m not stalking you. I’m just trying to be your friend.” [Stalker]

“Then how do you know my name, stalker?” [Ava]

“Geez~, calling me a stalker. Everyone knows who you are.” [Stalker]

The dog-eared girl scratched her messy hair while pouting.

“You’re the only half-elf in Sanctuary Academy. You suddenly dropped out during middle school after the raid and came back in high school with a super handsome elf. Also, there’re rumors that those kids from really rich and powerful families want to get close to you.” [Stalker]

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Well, I get stared at a lot and got talked to a few times, but nothing big happened like being suddenly told ‘Hey you, be my servant’.” [Ava]

Ava said as she remembered how some students tried to talk to her, but she wasn’t exactly acting politely. Perhaps they weren’t used to it since they got angry quickly and left. Those who prevented their cramped smiles from falling only greeted her and did some small talk.

“Probably because of that elf, Elyon, and the elven country telling everyone to keep their hands off you.” [Goro]

Goro told her while keeping his eyes on the intruder.

“Yeah yeah! That was also in the rumors. You’re a half-elf that the elves don’t want to let go! The most popular reason is because an influential elf fell for you. The next most popular one is because your elven magic is really powerful, so Faywood wants to keep you as a weapon.” [Stalker]

The therianthrope nodded her head repeatedly. Then, she looked at the four and raised one corner of her lips, showing her high canine.

“Anyway, after meeting you, I like you! So let’s be friends!” [Stalker]

Right after speaking cheerfully, she ran to the half-elf and licked her cheek. As Ava’s eyes narrowed, her hand flew out to push her away, but she had already moved on to Allen.

“Uwah!” [Allen]

While he was panicking at her sudden act, she did the same to Fyr.

“Eek!” [Fyr]

The harpy, blushing, let out a high-pitched and short scream.

“Don’t touch me, therianthrope!” [Goro]

“Tch! Stingy.” [Stalker]

As for Goro, he was fully on guard and stepped back. Seeing no opening and no chance for success, the dog-eared girl didn’t pounce on him. She clicked her tongue and sulked.

“T-t-t-t-that was an act of intimac-c-cy for the therianthropes! Y-you’re supposed to o-o-only do that to your f-family or r-really really really really close friends!” [Fyr]

Fyr, panicking and stuttering, rebuked her while waving her arms around.

“What? You know about our customs, huh~. It’s fine~. That’s how close I want to be with you guys.” [Stalker]

“B-b-but doing it on first meetings is considered s-shameless!” [Fyr]

“Ah, by the way, my name’s Mel.” [Mel]

Ignoring the flustered harpy, Mel happily introduced herself.

“Goro here is pretty well-known in our year, but I don’t know your name.” [Mel]

“Huh, me?” [Allen]

She drew near Allen, who was stunned after getting licked by a stranger, and grinned.

“Yeah, you. What’s your name?” [Mel]

“Well, it’s Allen, but-.” [Allen]

“Then what’s the little harpy’s name?” [Mel]

“I-it’s Fyr, but-.” [Allen]

“Nice to meet you, Allen! Nice to meet you, Fyr!” [Mel]

She shrewdly got Allen and Fyr’s name from the former who couldn’t think properly. After flashing a cheerful smile at them, she skipped over to Ava. The half-elf was looking at everyone with a seemingly disappointed gaze.

“You guys… Don’t get swallowed up by her pace. Allen, snap out of it already. Fyr, stop fretting. And Goro, do your job as a dragon and scare her away already.” [Ava]

“Huh?! The hell did you just say to me, girl?” [Goro]

“Hahaha! You’re not shy at all, even around someone as scary as Goro!” [Mel]

Mel seemed to be having fun. She laughed and clung to the half-elf with a huge smile on her face, completely ignoring how she was struggling to escape.

“Don’t touch me! Damn you’re strong! Pry her off, Goro! Bodyguard!” [Ava]

“I’m your bodyguard?!” [Goro]

While angrily complaining, Goro did as Ava asked and pulled the therianthrope away from her.

“Isn’t it fine for a bit? I’m sure your boyfriend won’t mind it much.” [Mel]

Mel said while sulking.

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” [Ava]

“Then there’s no problem.” [Mel]

“Like hell. Don’t touch me.” [Ava]

“Come on. Don’t be so stingy~. When you do get a boyfriend, I’ll keep it a secret from him, so let me hug you.” [Mel]

“I’m into girls.” [Ava]

“… Eh?” [Mel]

Without warning, Ava casually dropped a bomb on the therianthrope’s head, causing her to stare at her with a stunned expression. Goro covered his face with his hand while Allen and Fyr, who had calmed down, sighed tiredly.

A few seconds went by where no one spoke a word.

“… Pft…! Hahahahaha!” [Mel]

Suddenly, Mel started laughing.

“Hahahahaha! S-seriously!? Haha! You, you just! Hahahaha! My stomach! It hurts! Hahahaha!” [Mel]

Holding her sides, she laughed merrily to the point that tears appeared in the corner of her eyes. She tried to talk, but couldn’t do it properly, so she gave up and focused on laughing her head off.

When she was finally done, she was gasping for air and bending forward.

Under everyone’s gazes that were wondering if she went insane, Mel hopped in front of Ava.

“I like you! Let’s be friends!” [Mel]

She said while smiling cheerfully.

“No way.” [Ava]

“Awww~. Don’t be like that.” [Mel]

“Hey! I told you not to touch me! Stop hugging! Why are you so fast and strong?! Bodyguard! Bodyguaaard!” [Ava]

“Stop calling me that!” [Goro]

Once again, the dog-eared girl was pried off Ava by Goro who was demanding the half-elf to stop calling him her bodyguard. When it looked like a fight was going to break out, Allen and Fyr stepped in to calm them down.

On that day, the chatter coming from the school’s roof was a lot louder than usual.

----------------------------------------

A few days after meeting Mel, the four were in the school cafeteria. As a side note, the therianthrope with bright orange hair tagged along forcefully. She would pop up during lunch and during training. When she was bored, she would get up and leave. The dog-eared girl went and left as she wanted much like a stray cat.

The sun was setting. It was high time for supper and that was what they were here for.

“It’s good! This is really good!” [Allen]

Allen said after trying the stew that was placed in front of him. There was also freshly-baked bread and a fluffy omelet that tasted just as good. His friends were all eating at a table and savoring the dishes.

“Whoa, you’re right. Almost makes me want to have Murma as my wife. Ah, he’s a guy though.” [Mel]

Mel agreed with the human’s words and nodded her head.

“Yeah, it’s good. It’s definitely good, but…” [Goro]

Goro also thought that the food was delicious, but he had mixed feelings. He looked at the stew. There were heart-shaped carrots and potatoes floating inside the brown soup along with the chunks of meat. Next, he looked at the one who cooked it. He was sitting next to Fyr and eating as well. As his classmate, the harpy got to know him and was happily talking to him. However, many would be afraid to even get close.

It was an ogre.

A short horn was sticking out from his forehead. He was nearly two meters, taller than Goro, and had quite the scary face. His tanned body was full of huge muscles and his gray hair only helped to make him look older.

He turned his face towards Goro. Even though there was no glare in his red eyes or hostility on his face, a strange pressure was being emitted from him.

“Um… Goro, Murma is worried that you don’t like his food.” [Fyr]

Fyr spoke up for her classmate since she knew that he didn’t talk much. Surprisingly, the harpy could tell what he was thinking most of the time.

“… If I say it’s bad, will he attack me?” [Goro]

The pressure from Murma intensified, causing Fyr to look at him worriedly.

“I-if you say that… Um… He’ll cry.” [Fyr]

“… This guy’s an ogre, right?” [Goro]

“… I think so.” [Allen]

Both Goro and Allen were surprised at the giant’s meek personality and softly muttered. But, it didn’t seem like he was going to cry at all. Rather, it felt like he was getting ready for battle.

When Fyr told everyone that she wanted to introduce her gentle classmate to them over a meal he made, they expected to see someone that was small and harmless like her. They should have asked for more details than his name.

“Relax.” [Ava]

Ava spoke up, attracting everyone’s attention. She swallowed the stew-dipped bread she was chewing on.

“There’s all sort of people in the world. We have shy ogres that love to cook, harpies that can’t fly, humans that treat half-elves to meals and dragons that pick doors’ locks. Also, therianthropes that hug others too much. There’s nothing weird about this.” [Ava]

“Ava, I don’t like to hug too much. I just like to hug you~.” [Mel]

“Shut up, Mel. I take it back. You’re the weird one around here.” [Ava]

While Mel was grinning and Murma was silently eating, the other three were staring at Ava and thinking the same thing.

“(Ava, you’re pretty weird yourself.)” [Allen]

“(Umm… Ava, you’re a bit weird too…)” [Fyr]

“(You’re weirder than that ogre. Hell, you’re the weirdest thing I’ve met.)” [Goro]