"Nii! You didn't have to pay for half! They're for me so..."

"I want to contribute to anything that makes you happy, Kiku. It's what a man is supposed to do." I proclaim.

I kinda wanted to pay fully, but Kiku absolutely wouldn't have that. So, we settled on half each.

Which I guess is fine, since that was still 1 Gold Myriad per blade. Kiku's an expensive date. Though I guess I would have spent the same on Aria's necklace, had it not tried to kill me.

Kiku bashfully hugs the swords and chitters though. So, I guess it’s all worth it.

"Besides, it’s something you need to fight, isn't it?"

"Um... I guess. Actually... though... I feel a bit bad. Dad said he would take me there once I made A rank, like he did with Kako."

Oh hells. I've taken another moment from Ser Arnas. I'm starting to dread stepping back into the capital at this rate. Trying to ignore that, I speed along a bit.

We move down to the seafront wharf, right behind an aging, dividing sea wall. The tide is right in, swallowing the beach at the moment, waves crashing against it like suicidal cavalry meeting a phalanx. It sprays over in a pleasant mist.

I watch the sea and enjoy the roaring noise. I think I've always enjoyed looking at the sea. It nearly killed me as a child when I was being a fool with a children’s fishing net and fell in. But I guess that gave me a respect for it, I suppose. Funnily enough, I never got afraid.

"Um... errmm...." Kiku starts.

"Ah, sorry, it's probably boring standing around." I apologise.

"Eh wot!? N-n-no... it’s not that! I like spending any time with Nii! And the sea is really a gorgeous blue... But... um... blue like... Aria's eyes..." she whispers.

"Ahhh! No! I didn't!" She panics.

I hug her.

"I'm sorry, Kiku. If it’s too much to think about sharing and you hate it... I understand..."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

She squirms.

"I... hmm... eh wot? For some reason... I... um... I don't think I hate it. Aria is... a good friend." Her thoughts spill out next to my ear in a whisper. "Um... Even though I've not known her for long... it's like... it's like she's the first proper friend I ever had. Is that sad? I guess it is." She sighs and pauses.

I squeeze her tighter.

"Kako doesn't really count. Finding a girl my age in a mercenary guild is hard. They were around sometimes, but... um... I scared them. The guildmasters daughter. And whereas they often were just starting to train, I had been... for years. I'm weak compared to dad, Kako, but... very strong for my age... I realise that. Aria is... a rare specimen... hehe..." she snickers.

"She certainly is that." I chortle.

We stand in silence in our hug for a while.

"Nii really is warm. I'm a dumb girl, aren't I? Falling in love with a pervert like you? So dumb."

"I really can't tell you why Kiku. But I'm happy you have your feelings. Nothing is dumb about love." I smile wryly.

She pulls away from me at last and facepalms.

"Hehe... It's that trash that pours effortlessly from your mouth again, isn't it? Hah... um... you can't ever just... leave my ego alone, can you? You just keep stoking it. Does a fire love the arsonist? I guess it must do!" She grins behind her hand and giggles adorably.

I blink, surprised at her metaphor. She's cleverer than she lets on at times, isn't she?

She giggles again and leaps away from me in a spin, effortlessly jumping up on the dividing sea-wall, and outstretching her arms to take in the breeze. Her red dress and loose green hair billows.

She really is cute in that dress. She really is adorable in general. Hah... turns out my heart easily races for such strong and yet brittle girls.

"I am... um... I am a bit cross that... I wasn't first." She turns her head back, blushing red.

"W-well..." I cough and choke a bit.

"That reaction made it all better." She smirks.

"Hehehe... I'm actually a vindictive, scheming girl when it comes to men, it seems. I should ask Seria what that's like." She lyrically lilts, finger to her grin.

Oh boy. I'm not sure I should have awakened this beast after all.

"Nii... I want...!"

Suddenly an errantly powerful wave decides now would be a fantastic time to explode over the sea wall, blasting her forwards.

Kiku staggers off the wall in surprise, and I catch her, both of us falling over in an embrace.

Both of us are drenched like rats. Kiku splorts sea-water in my face out of her nose and I cough furiously.

We recover. Her dress and hair are clinging to her, revealing her fit figure and modest cleavage.

"Shit! ... jeez... Shit! That fucking sucked Garmere's sweaty balls." Rowdy Kiku curses and blasphemes in the same breath.

And then she laughs.

It's infectious and I join her.

Well, there's always something conspiring to ruin a moment in my dates, eh? Perhaps I'm cursed. At least it's less lethal this time.

I reek of salt, and its itching my eye fierce. It's got into some unmentionable places.

"Um... well... I know where we need to go next, now, Nii. We need to fix this, huh?"

"Oh?" I ask.

She doesn't want to call it a day? Fix this? Whatever can she mean?

"Uh... if you say so... well... lead the way." I say.

Kiku grins, and I get a feeling I'll come to regret this snap decision.