"What are we doing tonight?" Akane asks. Under the light of the campfire, her velvet red hair had unusual tones of orange and yellow.
Hmmm… If someone held me down and forced me to admit it, then I would have to say she is quite a beauty. Maybe it has something to do with the golden ratio or skin care.
But if I had to elaborate on whether or not I have any romantic attraction for her… I would be clear and direct with a simple no. Actually, I`m not sure we can even cross a hurdle that comes before that: can we even be friends? Well, our party has survived so far, though the first day isn`t even over yet…Also, I`m not sure if we have managed to finish any conversation without me being punched in the end…
Honestly, if I could imagine Akane saying that sentence with any meaning other than 'who's going to take watch first tonight', then it would be an actual cause for concern. It would end as something like: 'who are you, and what did you do to the actual Airi Akane!?", or something.
lol.
But, I digress, what I meant to say is that, after dinner, a girl asking me such a question under the stars of a beautiful night is something that would be included as one of my top 50 'I want an onee-san to tell me that' situations...
I`m not saying she brought up an unimportant topic, but I must complain about the way in which she phrased the question. She could have said it in a more direct way, that wouldn`t destroy the beautiful image I dreamed of, right?
Truly a shame...
"Hah..."
"Huh? Why are you making a face as if I just dropped your gaming console, all of a sudden? Is it because you don`t want the first watch?"
That`s a precise comparison that does identify to what I just felt…
But thinking about her actual question, I am better at staying awake late into the night (which usually happens when I'm using the pc) than I am at waking up (in general)…
Besides, it is still early and I don't think I'm tired enough to simply fall asleep in the middle of the forest after everything we just went through.
If it`s ok for her too, then I`d prefer to take first watch.
"Just the opposite, actually. If you don`t mind, you can sleep first."
"Are you certain---?" She stops mid-question and pauses for a second, pondering something. "I hadn't said anything when I went to wash myself, but I believe its implicit that if you try anything stupid, you'll be dead ten times before you even notice you're dead, understood?"
Oh… After fighting so many creatures coming after our lives, inside this dangerous forest, it didn`t even cross my mind that I could actually be another cause for worry…
To me it`s obvious that I wouldn't do anything like that. But in between two people this is an issue of trust, and I`m not sure on how to respond to that…
Also, her threat is scary as hell, considering she hasn`t even shown me her mana conversion…
Anyways, at times like this, it's best to just quote a random famous sentence.
"Believe in yourself. Not because you believe the me who believes in you. Believe the you who believes in yourself."
"What the fuck are you talking about…?"
"Hah… Has this gorilla no culture at all…?"
Did I just say that out loud…?
*Snap!*
Huh? Did I just hear the sound of something snapping? Was it a vein on red's forehead...?
Ah... No, it was just my arm...
"…"
!!!!
…
…
…
"That moon is just so odd..."
In the sky, surrounded by stars, the moon had a waning shape. Pale blue--- With red vertical stripes covering it`s surface...
…
"Lalalalala~ I'm so bored~ What to do~? Where are my games~? Where`s my reading tablet~? Where are my animes~? Where is my lil' sis?~"
…
"Ugh! Now I'm starting to get sleepy... Only my body was tired at the start, but now my mind is starting to feel the same... When am I even supposed to wake her up...? How long has it been again?"
I kick a few random rocks and fallen leaves in frustration.
…
"The worst part is there isn't even any decent lighting in order to read the book…"
I begin playing with a few branches, trying to pile them up. After a while, I make a mistake and they all come crumbling down…
…
It must be time already, I go wake Akane up.
"Damn it! So annoying! You make too much noise! I wasn't even able to sleep! Besides, it hasn't even been half an hour yet!!!"
Huh…? Really!?
"H-how do you even know how long it`s been…?"
"Urgh---! Don't you have an internal clock??? People normally have a rough notion of the passing of time! Besides, look at the stars--- Oh, right, they`re different… I should ask at the guild later…"
I could check in the book tomorrow, under proper lighting. Or, do they even sell watches in here? There might be some in the market. We forgot to check out for them… But the fact she can check the time by the position of the stars does seem to be quite…. Wild(?).
"… That's an odd moon..." She says, more calmly.
"Right? I thought so too."
"Nevertheless, you may sleep first. I'll wake you up later when its time, so you may simply wait for the sun to rise before calling me."
"N-no! It's ok, I can still finish my turn!"
"... What I meant was 'could you just shut up for a while?' Usually you're a quiet person, however, once you think you are by yourself, you suddenly turn very noisy! Just… Go to sleep and stay quiet so I can relax for a while."
"… My bad…"
It`s not nice to make too much noise when your neighbors are trying to sleep, right…?
It wasn`t on purpose, ok…?
"Goodnight…" I give up and enter the tent.
…
As I'm drifting to sleep, Akane says something in an inaudible voice, but it goes over my head.