Don't underestimate the insidious nature of a 'misunderstanding'. It's a subtle beast that, when ignored, can grow into a monstrous regret that haunts you relentlessly. At least, that's the bitter lesson I'm learning right now, as I stand here, drowning in a sea of my own making.

My mind races back to this morning, to that fateful phone call with Kai. If only I hadn't changed the subject, if only I'd taken a moment to explain... But no, here I am, reaping the consequences of my thoughtless actions.

Rishia, perched behind the cashier desk like a mischievous cat, has been wearing a knowing smirk since the moment we walked in. Her eyes dance with poorly concealed amusement, and I can practically see the cogs turning in her head, spinning wild tales about my supposed love life.

Noarin, sweet, oblivious Noarin, stands beside me, her brow furrowed in confusion. Her eyes dart between Rishia and me, trying to decipher the silent conversation happening right under her nose. The air is thick with unspoken words and misplaced assumptions.

And here I am, caught in the middle of this circus, desperately trying to convince Rishia that there's a colossal misunderstanding between us. My words feel clumsy and ineffective, like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands.

Before we delve deeper into this mess, let's rewind to earlier, when Noarin and I were still walking home, blissfully unaware of the comedic disaster waiting to unfold.

"What will you eat for dinner?" Noarin's question cut through the comfortable silence, her tone tinged with genuine curiosity and a hint of concern.

"Maybe another instant ramen," I replied flatly, my voice as bland as the meal I was proposing. The words hung in the air between us, heavy with the weight of months of nutritional neglect.

Noarin's reaction was as swift as it was dramatic. Her eyes widened in horror, and she stopped dead in her tracks, causing me to nearly collide with her. "Do you have a death wish?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.

I blinked at her, genuinely confused by her intense reaction. "No... Is it really that bad?" I asked, my mind racing through the past six months of my ramen-centric diet. Sure, it wasn't gourmet cuisine, but I was still standing, wasn't I? A fleeting thought crossed my mind – had I unconsciously been healing my abused metabolism all this time?

Noarin's response was a sigh so deep and long-suffering that it seemed to come from the very depths of her soul. She pinched the bridge of her nose, as if warding off an oncoming headache. Then, with a determined glint in her eye, she declared, "I'll cook you dinner. Let's eat together."

"Eh? No, I can't-"

"I insist!" Noarin's shout echoed off the nearby buildings, startling a flock of pigeons into flight. Her sudden outburst left me momentarily stunned.

"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled, effectively silenced by her unexpected vehemence. As we resumed walking, a nagging thought wormed its way into my mind. Did I really need to fix my eating habits? Those instant noodles and I had developed quite the bond over the past months.

Noarin increased her pace, her determined strides forcing me to lengthen my own to keep up. Saria, who had been quietly observing our exchange, took this opportunity to gracefully leap onto Noarin's shoulder, settling there like a furry epaulette. I couldn't help but sigh, resigned to my fate, as I followed my self-appointed nutritional guardian.

As we approached the local grocery store, its automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh, welcoming us into a world of fresh produce and culinary possibilities. The familiar scent of apples and bread wafted towards us, a stark contrast to the artificial aroma of my beloved instant noodles.

"Welcome," a cheerful voice greeted us from behind the counter. My heart sank as I recognized its owner – Rishia.

Our eyes met across the store, and in that instant, I knew I was doomed. Rishia's lips curved into a smirk that could only be described as devilish. It was a look that promised mischief and misunderstanding in equal measure.

"Oh god..." I mumbled under my breath, the full weight of my morning's mistake crashing down upon me. I could almost hear the gears of misinterpretation whirring in Rishia's mind.

"Aruta, what's wrong?" Noarin's voice pulled me back to reality. She had already made her way to the food aisle and was looking at me with a mixture of concern and impatience.

"Err, you go ahead and get the stuff you need. I'll wait here," I managed to reply, trying to keep my voice steady despite the panic rising in my chest.

Noarin hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "Alright?" she said, her tone more question than acknowledgment as she reluctantly turned away.

Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I approached the cashier, feeling like a man walking to his own execution.

"Good afternoon, sir. What can I help you with?" Rishia's voice dripped with faux innocence, her smirk still firmly in place.

I decided to cut straight to the chase. "Yeah, I need you to understand, it's not like that," I said, my voice low and urgent.

Rishia's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oooh, I wonder what you're talking about... hehe," she mock-whispered, leaning forward conspiratorially.

I felt my frustration mounting. "C'mon, I know Kai told you something," I pressed, trying to keep my voice down to avoid attracting Noarin's attention.

Rishia's chuckle was like the tinkling of bells – if those bells were announcing my imminent embarrassment. "And he's right, it's really because of a girl after all," she said, her voice filled with triumphant glee.

In that moment, regret washed over me like a tidal wave. Why, oh why, had I changed the subject during that fateful conversation with Kai? If only I'd given him a proper explanation, I wouldn't be trapped in this farcical situation now.

Rishia, oblivious to my inner turmoil, continued her playful assault. "You should've just said so, you know? We're happy for you," she said, her voice softening with genuine warmth beneath the teasing.

image [https://i.imgur.com/QuVacJz.jpeg]

"I thought you were taking a day off since Kai wants to hang out with us."

"Yeah, I planned to. But since you're having a date, there's no reason for me not to go back to work," she added with a shrug, as if it were the most natural conclusion in the world.

Her eyes twinkled with mirth as she leaned in closer. "And I'm glad I did. I got to witness something amazing today," she whispered, her voice laden with implication.

I felt my cheeks heating up, despite my best efforts to remain calm. "We're just acquaintances," I insisted, my voice taking on a pleading edge. "Heck, we just met yesterday even."

Rishia's response was to pat my shoulder sympathetically, as if I were a child in denial. "So what? She looks lovely. I'll support you," she whispered, her voice filled with a sisterly affection that, in any other circumstance, I would have appreciated.

I let out a defeated sigh. At least I had tried to set the record straight. As I turned away from the counter, I found Noarin standing right behind me, her arms full of groceries and her face a mask of curiosity.

"Oh, you're done?" I asked, trying to sound casual despite the panic fluttering in my chest. Noarin nodded, her eyes darting between Rishia and me, clearly wondering what we had been discussing so intently.

I took a deep breath, ready to make introductions and hopefully dispel any budding misconceptions. "I guess I'll introduce-"

But before I could finish my sentence, Rishia burst forth with all the exuberance of a firework display. "Hi there! I'm Rishia Ninomi, Aruta's close friend. Nice to meet you!" Her voice was bright and bubbly, filling the store with an almost palpable enthusiasm.

Noarin, caught off guard by this sudden explosion of friendliness, stumbled over her words. "Ahh... yes. I'm Noarin Otorii, nice to meet yo-"

But Rishia was on a roll, her excitement seemingly unstoppable. "Can I call you Noarin? You can call me Rishia also!" she chirped, her words tumbling out in a rush.

Noarin blinked, clearly overwhelmed by Rishia's forwardness. "Eh? Uhh... sure?" she replied, her usual confidence momentarily replaced by a timid uncertainty.

I felt compelled to intervene, if only to give Noarin a moment to breathe. "Rishia, you should calm yourself down," I said with a sigh, feeling like I was trying to rein in an overexcited puppy.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Rishia's response was as swift as it was predictable. "I'm just excited that you're finally making a new friend," she said, her voice brimming with a joy that seemed disproportionate to the situation.

"That's an unnecessary excitement," I muttered, placing the groceries on the cashier's counter in an attempt to move things along. The sooner we left, the less chance Rishia would have to further complicate matters.

As Rishia began scanning our items, her enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but the mischievous glint in her eyes remained. "Well, too bad I have to do my work right now," she said, her tone suggesting she'd much rather continue her impromptu interrogation. Then, turning to Noarin with a warm smile, she added, "Noarin, let's hang out sometime when you have the time!"

Noarin, having regained some of her composure, returned the smile. "Sure, let's get along," she replied, her voice warm despite the lingering confusion in her eyes.

As we prepared to leave, Rishia couldn't resist one final parting shot. Just as I was about to walk out, she threw me a wink so exaggerated it was almost comical. I responded with my best annoyed face, though I suspect it did little to dampen her spirits.

Once outside, Noarin broke the silence that had fallen between us. "Pretty energetic friend you've got there," she commented, her tone carefully neutral.

I felt a twinge of embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry if she was a bit troubling for you," I said, running a hand through my hair nervously.

But Noarin's response surprised me. "No, no, she's not," she said, a genuine smile lighting up her face. There was something in that smile – a hint of wistfulness, perhaps? – that made me wonder about her own experiences with friendship.

Her next question caught me off guard. "So you don't have that many friends?" she asked, her voice soft and free of judgment.

"Hmm?" I turned to her, momentarily confused by the sudden shift in conversation.

"What Rishia-san said before," she clarified, her eyes meeting mine with a gentle curiosity.

"Ahhh, yeah," I replied, feeling strangely vulnerable under her gaze. "Rishia and Kai are my closest friends," I added, realizing as I said it just how small my social circle truly was.

"Kai?" Noarin's brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

"The one I talked to on the phone this morning," I explained, memories of that fateful conversation flooding back.

"Oooh, I see," Noarin nodded, her expression clearing. As we continued our walk home, a comfortable silence fell between us, punctuated only by the rustle of grocery bags and the distant sounds of the city.

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“So… why are you still here?” I ask Saria, who’s sprawled lazily next to me on the couch, her tail flicking idly. The smell of cooking wafts from the kitchen, where Noarin has taken command, transforming my usually quiet apartment into a culinary battleground.

Noarin had shooed us out earlier, her eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and determination. “No distractions,” she’d declared, wielding a spatula like a scepter. I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm - cooking clearly wasn’t just a chore for her, but a passion.

Saria stretches languidly, each movement exuding feline grace. “You don’t want me to eat with you? That’s mean,” she says, sitting up and fixing me with those unnervingly intelligent eyes. A mischievous glint appears in them as she adds, “Or do you want to enjoy your dinner only with Noarin?”

“Wh- No! Oh come on, not you too,” I groan, dragging my hand down my face in exasperation. First Rishia, now Saria – was everyone determined to misinterpret my relationship with Noarin?

“Just kidding,” Saria purrs, beginning to groom herself with practiced nonchalance. But there’s a knowing look in her eyes that makes me wonder if she was really joking.

“I have to say, though,” she continues between licks, “you’re already pretty close, even though you just met yesterday.”

I shrug, feeling a bit defensive. “I don’t know, it feels natural to me,” I admit, surprised by my own honesty.

Saria’s grooming pauses, and she regards me with an expression that seems almost… grateful? “Well, please continue to get along with her. Right now, you’re the only person she could consider a close friend,” she says, settling back down on the couch.

Her words catch me off guard. “And why is that?” I ask, eyebrow raised in curiosity.

Saria’s tail twitches, betraying a hint of discomfort. “I can’t tell you,” she says firmly. “You’ll have to wait until she tells you herself.”

“Hmmmm…” I lean back, my gaze drifting to the ceiling. My mind starts to wander, piecing together the fragments of information I have about Noarin.

There’s so much I don’t know. What did she do after discovering her power at ten? She mentioned training in that abandoned building for three years, but what about before that? I don’t even know her current age. And when did she meet Saria? The questions swirl in my mind, each leading to another. Maybe I should ask-

“What are you daydreaming about?” Noarin’s face suddenly fills my vision, so close I can see the flecks of gold in her eyes.

“Nyeh!?” I yelp, jerking back in surprise.

Thud! My forehead collides with hers, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my skull.

“Aww… What the hell are you doing!?” Noarin crouches down, clutching her forehead, her face scrunched up in pain.

“That’s my line…” I grunt, rubbing my own throbbing forehead.

“Well, that was amusing to watch,” Saria comments dryly, gracefully leaping down from the couch. Her whiskers twitch with barely suppressed laughter.

“Ahh… right. Dinner’s ready,” Noarin manages, straightening up and heading towards the dining table. I follow, still wincing slightly.

The sight that greets me makes my mouth water instantly. The table is laden with a feast: succulent steaks, fluffy omelettes, crispy fried fish, a steaming bowl of vegetable soup, and a mound of fragrant rice. It’s my second proper meal of the day, and it looks absolutely delicious.

“Well, enjoy the food,” Noarin says, a hint of pride in her voice as she carefully places a piece of fried fish on a small plate for Saria.

“Thanks for the food,” I murmur, picking up my chopsticks and diving into the omelette. The moment it touches my tongue, I can’t hold back my enthusiasm. “It’s delicious,” I exclaim, words muffled by the food in my mouth.

Noarin giggles, the sound light and musical. “Thanks for the compliment,” she says, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush as she begins to eat.

As we eat, the apartment fills with the comfortable sounds of clinking utensils and appreciative murmurs. It’s a far cry from my usual solitary meals of instant ramen, and I find myself savoring not just the food, but the company as well.

image [https://i.imgur.com/tt2lg4t.png]

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“Phew, that was delicious,” I sigh contentedly, sinking into the couch. My stomach feels pleasantly full, a sensation I haven’t experienced in far too long. “I wish I could eat like that every day.”

“Is that so…” Noarin’s voice is quiet as she settles on the other end of the couch. There’s a moment of silence before she speaks again, her words catching me by surprise. “I can cook for you every day if you want.”

“Eh?” I turn to her, eyes wide with disbelief.

Noarin’s gaze is fixed on some distant point, her cheeks slightly flushed. “Well, someone has to fix your eating habits,” she says, her tone a mix of embarrassment and determination.

“But I can’t bother you with that,” I protest weakly, even as a part of me thrills at the idea.

“I don’t feel bothered at all,” Noarin insists, finally turning to face me. Her eyes shine with a warmth that makes my heart skip a beat. “Besides, eating together is much more fun than eating alone.”

As I look at her, Saria’s earlier words echo in my mind. I’m struck by a sudden realization – could Noarin have been lonely all this time? The way she’d smiled at Rishia, how her eyes had lit up at the prospect of hanging out… It all starts to make a bittersweet kind of sense.

Before I can second-guess myself, I hear my own voice asking, “Well then, would you cook for me?”

Noarin’s face lights up with a smile so radiant it almost hurts to look at. “Sure! With pleasure,” she exclaims, her joy palpable.

Man, that smile… It sends a jolt straight through my heart. Have I fallen for he-

“Alright, you newlyweds, remember that I’m still here?” Saria’s amused voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife. Noarin and I turn away in perfect synchronization, heat rising to my cheeks.

“What do you mean newlyweds!” Noarin sputters, her composure completely shattered. In a flash, she’s on her feet, scooping up a protesting Saria and rolling around on the floor.

“Kidding, kidding! Stop it, I’m getting dizzy!” Saria wails, managing to wriggle free and leap back onto the couch.

“Let’s talk about our plan now, shall we?” she says, smoothing her ruffled fur with as much dignity as she can muster. Noarin, still slightly flushed, picks herself up off the floor and rejoins us on the couch.

“I think instead of focusing on the Steel and Wind Holde-“ Saria begins, but Noarin cuts her off.

“Can we just call him ‘Iron Tempest’? Calling him ‘steel and wind attribute holder’ is way too long,” she suggests. Saria considers for a moment, then nods. I can’t help but be impressed – when did Noarin come up with such a cool name?

“Instead of focusing on ‘Iron Tempest’,” Saria continues, her tone becoming serious, “we should also deal with the other supernatural news.”

I lean forward, intrigued. “If we manage to find another Holder, maybe we can get them on our side. If not, then so be it. Is that what you're getting at?”

“Exactly,” Saria nods, her tail swishing thoughtfully. “Even if the Holder refuses, we can just tell them to keep their power low. But if they decide to do something against the law, we’ll take their ornament."

“Wait, you can take someone else’s ornament?” I ask, raising my hand as if I’m back in school.

"Well, not exactly take it. Ornaments can't be separated from their holders, so even if we manage to take the ornament, it will teleport back to the holder's hand," Saria explains." However, with the Holder's consent, you can take the ornament and even use its power. It won't return to the Holder unless they want it to."

"Is there any way to take it by force?" I raise my hand again. Saria nods.

"You can break the ornament into pieces. That way the holder will lose the power and ownership of the ornament. The ornament will repair itself after 11 hours, then it can get a new Holder," Saria adds. "I had this plan for a long time, to be honest. But since there are only me and Noarin, I can't carry out the plan. It's too dangerous to let her fight alone," Saria turns to Noarin.

"Come on, I'll manage," Noarin comments.

"You literally dying yesterday."

"Well, about that..." she smiles ironically. Saria sighs.

"Now that we have Aruta, who can do healing magic, things would be good for us. But that doesn't mean we're invincible," Saria stands up.

"That's all I had to say," Saria concludes. "Can we proceed with this plan?"

"Sure, I think it's the best way to deal with our situation right now," I agree, catching Noarin's affirming nod out of the corner of my eye.

"Well then, we'll start digging into the news tomorrow. Good night," Saria says, her form shimmering before she vanishes entirely, leaving Noarin and me in a suddenly awkward silence.

"Alright, I'll be back tomorrow morning to cook breakfast," Noarin announces, getting to her feet. There's a hint of shyness in her voice that wasn't there before.

"Right. Good night," I reply, watching as she nods and quickly slips out the door.

Alone at last, I retreat to my bedroom and collapse onto the bed. Another exhausting day, but so different from the monotonous existence I'd grown used to. Somehow, in the span of just two days, my life has transformed completely.

As I lie there, my mind wanders to the future. How will the world change with the introduction of these ornaments? Magic, once the stuff of fantasy, could become commonplace. But people will need time to adjust, to understand. Like the gradual adoption of technology, magic will need to be introduced slowly, integrated carefully into society.

I chuckle to myself, imagining how people from a thousand years ago would react to smartphones or airplanes. They'd probably think it was sorcery. And now, here we are, on the cusp of real magic entering the world. If we can guide people to understand and accept it, who knows what wonders the future might hold?

"I guess I'll just sleep," I murmur to myself, reaching out to switch off the lamp. As I burrow under my blanket, my last thoughts are of Noarin's smile and the adventures that await us tomorrow.