Curfew

Nova barely finished the meal with his life, resting his head on the table.

『...Do you all… eat this kind of food all the time?』[Nova]

He released the Blessed Flame Rebirth spell, causing the blue flames to dissipate into the air.

『Oh, of course. You eat this kind of food to get strong from childhood, of course...』[Alex]

Kikhia didn't know what to say in order to refute Alex, but had a conflicted look on her face.

Freyana, on the other hand, didn't have anything to say.

She sat there with a satisfied expression on her face that made her look like she arrived in paradise.

『...Freyana, are you alright?』[Nova]

『Hehe...』[Freyana]

She seemed to be drooling a little on the side of her mouth.

『...Alright, then...』[Nova]

Mrs. Frey came out, clearing away all the plates.

『Okay, how was the experience- oh, goodness.』[Mrs. Frey]

She squeezed Freyana's cheek.

『Hello? Honey, are you okay?』[Mrs. Frey]

The dreamy look in her eyes still remained.

『...Can we come by again?』[Freyana]

『...Sure, honey. Just go back before it's too late. They're enforcing a curfew this week.』[Mrs. Frey]

She snapped out of her daze.

『Huh?! Why is there a curfew?』[Freyana]

Mrs. Frey rested her cheek on her hand.

『Hmm.... It seems that there has been a report of suspicious individuals around the Kingdom. It'll probably be best for you to just go straight home.』[Mrs. Frey]

Nova remembered the fight that he had earlier in the day.

『...Oh. Then, we should probably get back to the academy soon.』[Nova]

『Are we going on a walk back?! I'm excited!』[Alex]

『...It's the same way we came here...』[Kikhia]

They got up and bid farewell to Mrs. Frey as they exited through the same door they came through.

Freyana poked out first, drawing Bana's attention.

『...Freyana?! What are you doing here? I thought you were at the academy!』[Bana]

『Uhh..!? You know… just…?』[Freyana]

He suddenly looked down and saw that she was wearing a dress.

『...Did you want to show your dress to daddy? It's very cute, honey!』[Bana]

He looked like he was on cloud nine, causing Freyana to turn pink when all of the patrons started to pay attention to her, too.

『Oh! How was the date, missy?』[Patron]

『So you're the chief's prized daughter!』[Patron]

『Where is the lucky boy?!』[Patron]

Bana's expression suddenly soured.

『Nova… Where are you..?』[Bana]

His tone of voice sent a chill down Nova's spine.

Alex looked at Freyana's back, then back to Nova before he gave Nova a thumbs up.

『...Huh?』[Nova]

Alex stepped out forward, waving at Bana.

『Hi, Mr. Shaylon!』[Alex]

His expression radically changed as he silently shook in place.

『Wh-wh-wha...』[Bana]

He fell to the floor, seemingly having fainted.

The patrons stared at Alex and Bana with a weird look.

『...Freyana, aren't you… dating Nova?』[Patron]

『...Last time I checked, yes!』[Freyana]

『...Uh… Bana dotes on Nova when you aren't here… so it must have been a shock to see another guy step out...』[Patron]

Nova poked out behind them.

『...Huh?』[Nova]

『Oh! Nova! Did you come in earlier as well?!』[Patron]

『Uh… yeah, I did. Is the old man alright?』[Nova]

He walked over and laid his back to the wall.

He began to wave his hand in front of Bana's face.

『Old man. Old man! Wake up!』[Nova]

Bana slowly opened his eyes.

『...Oh, Nova. I had this nightmare that you were replaced by a blondie- oh, SHIT! There he is!』[Bana]

He pointed at Alex directly.

『No, no, no! He's dating the girl back there!』[Nova]

Nova pointed at Kikhia, who was standing behind Freyana.

『...Hello.』[Kikhia]

Bana clutched at his chest, heaving sighs of relief.

『Goodness. I thought that Freyana was...』[Bana]

Alex wanted to say something, but stood there, beet red.

『...Anyways, we have to get going! Have a good night, uncle!』[Nova]

Nova quickly got out of the restaurant, the rest of them running after him.

....

『...Would it have been better if I didn't pop out?』[Alex]

Nova couldn't deny that it would have been better if Alex didn't pop out, but he decided that Alex had his best intentions in mind.

『...Pfft. No, it was fine. You read the mood a little too well is all.』[Nova]

A night wind blew through the area they were walking through, causing all of them to feel a chill.

『...It's cold!』[Freyana]

『...Yeah! It really is!』[Alex]

Nova took his outer shirt and put it on Freyana, before continuing to walk.

She stared at his back, slowly getting farther from her.

『...Hehe.』[Freyana]

She lightly ran to catch up to him.

Alex looked at Kikhia, who was waiting for him.

After a brief moment of deliberation, he began to take off his outer shirt of the blazer, when an incredibly strong wind blew through the area.

The wind was strong enough to push all of them back by a few feet.

『Gngh…! What is this?!』[Nova]

Kikhia suddenly formed a scythe with a magical circle and placed it around Alex's neck

『Kikhia?!』[Nova]

Clashing of steel rang through the area as sparks flew into the wind.