"Thank you for worrying about me, Yuika, Aura, I'm fine now, nothing to be worried about anymore"

The tension between Yuika and Aura was reduced and I can feel the atmosphere become lighter but I feel like the distance between them aren't narrowed even an inch, I feel like they still can't get any closer, I still can't understand what happened to them actually, to suddenly argue over something I don't understand at all and making me a tug of war, it's not like I was angry or anything, but I feel like I need to understand what is going on between them and solve it together, I want them to become friend and be kind to each other.

"I'm sorry, Erwin"

"I said it's fine right? you don't have to worry about it Yuika, if you are still worried about it, I will start to call you Yuika-san"

"W-wait Erwin... I-I understand.."

"it's fine, a mere injury like this isn't something bad, Aura too, don't be worried too much"

"Y-yes...."

Aura has been remained silent all time, she looks so sad, maybe she feels guilty about what happened to me even I don't remember what happened myself, but, I can tell that she looks so gloomy again even after what I did to them, it's so confusing right now, can't these two just make up already? I don't want us to get another problem.

"Cih..."

Hm? what was that just now? did I just hear Yuika click her tongue just now? when I look at Yuika, she smiles at me, nothing is wrong with her, then what was that tongue clicking just now?

Well, let's not think about that for now, I think it's just me being tired and start hearing things.

"Anyway, maybe we did it already but, let me introduce you to each other one more time"

I move a bit and lean back to the headboard slat and try to make myself comfortable by moving aside the pillow from my back.

"Alright, Yuika, I want you to meet Aura-chan, I met her in the capital and because of some condition, me and uncle Alto have decided to save her and let her live with us"

"She wha...?"

I feel like Yuika wants to say something, but I don't want this introduction to turn into arguing session or anything, at least that's what I feel from her tone and the vibe on the air.

"So Aura, this is Yuika-chan, we've been a friend for a long time, we live in the same neighborhood, we used to play together all the time"

"P-pleased to meet you..."

It seems that Aura is still a shy girl whenever she met someone new, thankfully she's already familiar with me and her phobia isn't actually that bad, she was able to get close to me at least, and thankfully because of that, I've been having a weird conclusion all the time whenever she's around me, she's been acting weird all the time, it makes me feel suspicious about her true feelings.

"Yeah.. nice to meet you too"

Yuika reaches Aura's hand who's been waiting for Yuika to pick up her hand and give her a warm welcome handshake.

"Alright, is there anything you want to ask?"

I feel like I can leave them be, for now, I feel like they will be a friend as time goes by.

"Then, what do you mean by she lives together with you Erwin?"

"What? well, as I said before, because of some condition, me and uncle Alto had decided to let her live with us, at least that's the reason why, or are you asking the detail?"

"Yes I want every single detail of it"

Yuika looks serious and stares deep into my eyes, I turn my face and look at Aura, she looks a bit sweaty on her face, but when she notices me looking at her, she gave me a little nod before she covers her face with her hands.

"Well, it's gonna be a bit personal, and Aura, please forgive me"

I bow a bit to apologize to Aura because I will bring up this topic in front of her to Yuika.

"So she was attacked by a rude adventurer with a spiky-haired style, that time, I was having a little walk after having a dinner with uncle Alto and we coincidentally saw her got attacked by that spiky-haired guy, so we went and save her, we got into a little fight against that spiky-haired guy but somehow we manage to defeat him and make him surrender"

Is it fine to make up the story a bit? I don't want to mention that uncle Alto doesn't want to get involved in that fight before and even asked me to just leave them because he thinks to get involved by that spiky-haired guy for the second time isn't a good idea.

"As I thought from Erwin-ku... Erwin sure is strong..."

Yuika's eyes are dazzling when she heard my story, she always got excited whenever I did something and says 'it's awesome' or something like that, she always like that since we were still little kid.

"But I still can't understand, why she lives together with you and uncle Alto-san?"

"About that..."

I look at Aura, she still remains silent and just looks down, I think she doesn't want to say a single word about it.

"[ Sigh... ] She's an orphan, and her orphanage was destroyed by magical beasts attack and she said she's the one who was able to escape, at least that's what she remembers, she said her friends saved her and she was able to escape because of that"

Yuika seems to understand but her face is saying that something is still bothering her, and when I look at Aura, she has just let out a deep sigh and then grab her chest, it feels like she's hiding something, her sadness? if it is, then, I think I need to cheer her, I need to pull her out from her solitude and tell her that she's not alone, I will always be with her and Yuika also will always be there and support me, I know she will support Aura too because now we're friends, right?

"Ah... I don't really understand but, Aura-chan, I won't let you do anything you want to Erwin, I won't say I got handicapped or anything, but, don't think you can win against me"

Eh? why is Yuika starting to provoke Aura again? what is happening here? and why am I being dragged into this?

"I-I...."

"Alright, now we're settled, you come with me and find Ilya-nee to apologize"

Yuika walk closer and grab Aura's hand and then drag her exiting the room, just what is happening right now? I got left out in this big room all alone now, and my head feels a bit fuzzy, I think I might better sleep a bit more for now.