TFCF 04

Chapter 04 ….

Eila walked toward the lakeshore with the two of them.

Moonshadow Lake was one of the Solalune domain’s famous sights.

There was a legend that a water spirit had made the lake into a mirror for the moon.

True to the tale, on windless days the lake reflected everything astonishingly clear.

“Another boat, huh.”

Eila said before she could even read the two of their expressions.

“Do you want to go all the way to that island today?”

The “island” was really just a little triangular spit of land jutting up in the middle of the lake.

After heavy rain it was submerged; when the rains were light it emerged.

What do boys like most? Adventure, of course!

“Once, Parakel oppa said he buried treasure there.”

“Treasure?”

Sada’s eyes lit up and Luca asked, “Do we have a boat?”

“Um, probably. Over there?”

The last time the three of them took a boat, of course a boatman had come with them. But today was different.

They were planning to go in the boat by themselves, so Eila couldn’t casually ask for a boatman and attendants.

‘If it were me, I’d insist on a boatman and attendants for safety! But today I really want time alone with just the three of us.’

Instead, Eila pointed to a boat that had been left at the edge of the lake for a long time.

The paint was peeled, and the boat was tied to a nearby tree, rocking gently with the ripples.

“Let’s take that.”

At Eila’s words, Sada and Luca swallowed their unease and climbed into the boat.

The old boat creaked.

Sada grabbed an oar, but Eila snatched it right away.

“I’ll row.”

“Huh? But—”

“No, really, I’m fine!”

Eila took a deep breath and tried with all her might to row… to row….

“Row, you fool!”

After a big effort, the boat slid along the surface as if the oar merely skimmed it.

“Slow….”

They planned to have a sincere talk somewhere in the middle of the lake, but at this pace there wouldn’t be much progress.

As she puffed and pulled at the oar, sweat poured down her face.

In the silence, the boat moved sluggishly.

Eventually Eila couldn’t hold back and let out a breath.

How far were they from shore now?

Anyway, phase one of the plan had succeeded.

The second part was simple.

Now that they were isolated like this, it was time for an honest conversation.

Isn’t friendship supposed to start with honesty?

Gasping for breath, Eila said, “Listen. Luca, Sada. I have a confession.”

Sada and Luca looked at Eila with tense faces.

What new concept was she coming up with now? What did she intend to ask for?

“Actually, actually, the thing is….”

Eila squeezed her eyes shut and shouted,

“I’ve been putting on an act this whole time!”

Once she said it, the rest just poured out.

“That whole ‘ladylike’ thing isn’t really me… well, it’s not completely not me, but I kept fitting myself into it and asking you to go along with it, and I’m sorry. I’ve decided to stop.”

Eila opened her eyes and said, “From now on, I just want to build friendship—pure friendship.”

Sada and Luca’s expressions turned strange at that.

Eila couldn’t tell how they took what she’d said, so she tried again.

“Really…. I truly want only friendship.”

She emphasized friendship several times.

Sada watched Eila for a moment, then said in a soft voice, “Do whatever you want, Eila. I don’t care either way.”

‘What does “I don’t care” mean?’ Eila paused and then looked to Luca.

“And you, Luca?”

“Um.”

Luca smiled awkwardly and said, “I think whatever Eila wants is fine with me too.”

Eila sprang to her feet.

“No, I mean really—”

Crack.

At that instant there was the sound of something breaking and Eila’s foot sank through the bottom of the boat.

“Eek?!”

“Eila!”

Luca hurriedly stood and caught her as she lurched forward.

Sada peered into the hole where her foot had gone and said, “You said you were fine, but I guess the boat was so old it rotted through, Eila.”

Whether it was sarcasm or not, Eila didn’t register it. Seeing water gushing in, she spoke in a trembling voice.

“Sa, Sa, Sada.”

“What?”

“I can’t swim.”

“What?!”

Sada’s mouth fell open.

“You live right by the lake—how can you not swim?!”

For a moment the world swam for Sada as she shouted, “Then why on earth would you suggest taking that old boat?”

“Sada.”

Luca called Sada’s name. Sada’s expression hardened at the sight of him.

“Hey, Luca. You too, don’t tell me—”

“I can’t swim either.”

The boat had already begun to tilt, and Sada growled, “Jump into the water.”

“Huh?”

Luca was surprised and repeated the question, but Eila, obedient as a sailor to an order, immediately jumped into the lake.

Sada was the one who ended up startled by that sight; she hadn’t expected Eila to actually dive in.

“Hey!”

Sada shouted as she jumped in too. “Grab the edge of the boat!”

Eila flailed but grabbed the rim of the boat. Luca was also in the water, holding on to the boat.

With the three of them buoyant, the boat stopped sinking—for now. Maybe it was more accurate to say it was sinking very slowly, but at least there was something to hold on to, which felt much safer.

Sada said, “Don’t cling to the boat too tightly. Relax your body and stretch your legs. Yeah, just hold it lightly, okay?”

“Okay!”

Eila answered bravely.

“I wish we could flip the boat, but I don’t have the strength.”

Sada sighed.

“At least we’re not far from shore. Hold on until the boat goes under, then swim as fast as you can. Kick your legs hard.”

Eila and Luca both nodded.

Fortunately, the shore wasn’t far.

After the three of them swam desperately, they reached ground before the boat sank completely.

“Huff, huff.”

They were soaked through and fell onto the muddy bank. Tension drained from them in an instant.

Eila drew a long breath.

Well, that turned into quite an impactful adventure…. Since we survived, wouldn’t it be good to say something memorable?

Something to mark the day so it wouldn’t be forgotten.

Hmm….

“Oh— we survived, right?”

No sooner had Eila said that than a curse broke out beside her. Sada jerked upright.

“’We survived, right?’ Do you even realize what’s coming out of your mouth? We almost died!”

“Ah, no….”

Eila widened her eyes then burst out laughing.

“Wow!”

“What’s so funny?”

Sada snarled, and Eila said, “It’s just that I’m glad—this is the first time Sada has ever spoken to me so roughly.”

“…Are you insane?”

Sada thought she’d always been strict about keeping her persona, but was it too much to stick to her persona even in this situation?

Sada muttered in disbelief, and Luca made a strange noise.

“Huh-huh…!”

When she turned, Luca was hunched over like a shrimp, shivering as he tried to hold back laughter.

Eila propped herself up and looked across at Luca.

“Luca, it’s okay to laugh.”

“Ahaha, cough. No, it’s just—haha.”

Luca couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

After laughing for a long time, Luca said gently, “I see. So you want friendship, Eila. Then let’s do that.”

“No, I really! Really….”

Eila’s voice rose then faded away.

Her face quickly reddened like a boiled shrimp. She grabbed her cheeks with both hands and said, “I’m sorry for always forcing things on you….”

Luca stood and looked at Eila. She hung her head low; her shoulders slumped.

She felt ashamed.

‘I’m forcing others to accept my idea of friendship, aren’t I? This is the worst. The worst.’

She flopped face-down onto the ground. Both of them startled and froze.

“I’m really sorry. I almost got you two killed. I’ll never do anything like this again.”

Tears ran down her face.

“Oh.”

When Eila started crying, Sada scratched her head and grabbed Eila’s shoulder.

“We were careless too, not saying anything when we got on the boat. And we understood how you felt. As long as you’re not dead, that’s what matters.”

Luca nodded as well.

“That’s right. Besides, I had fun today.”

At their words, Eila peeked up.

“Really…?”

“Yeah.”

Luca nodded, and Sada thought for a moment before saying, “This is better than your last concept.”

“…I will improve.”

“No, don’t say it like that.”

Eila stopped crying and lifted her head.

Sada said, “All three of us are soaked through, so let’s go back. You’ll catch a cold.”

“Okay….”

Eila was helped to her feet by the two of them.

‘I was way too careless. Trying to wipe out three years’ worth of debt in one go.’

She would have to take things step by step from now on.

Eila clenched her fist.