In a world of swords and magic, the trade-city of Averl stands above countless dungeons managed by the Adventurers' Guild. Jill, a slim young man who swings two steel blades, and Fina, a girl who wields a bow and enchantment magic, were forced into a partnership through an endless argument over splitting profits. Unable to be honest, they bicker constantly yet fight in perfect sync underground. Fina has fallen for Jill at first sight but hides it behind her sense of duty to her large family back
Each One's "Place to Return To - Misunderstanding at the Rain Shelter ~Young Couple, Welcome!~
The sky over Avel had been heavy and overcast since morning.
Two figures walked along the cobblestones on the main street of the East District. Jil and Fina were on their way back from shopping. On Jil's back was a burlap sack filled with daily necessities for the inn. In Fina's hands was a small package to send to her younger siblings. Between the two of them, as always, there was a slight distance.
"...The clouds are so dark. Didn't you bring an umbrella?"
Fina said, looking up at the sky. Her gold hair with hints of vermilion swayed softly in the damp wind. Her greenish-gray eyes narrowed in displeasure.
"Sorry. It was still clear this morning, so I thought it'd be fine."
Jil smiled awkwardly. His brownish-black hair was slightly flattened by the humidity. His sea-deep blue eyes wavered apologetically.
"'I thought,' isn't good enough. The sky this time of year changes in an instant."
Fina turned away with a huff. But her tone had a softness to it—she wasn't truly angry. Ever since the two of them had started working as a team, they'd repeated this kind of exchange countless times. They were both used to it by now.
(But it really does look like it's going to rain.)
Jil looked up at the sky. Thick clouds hung low, looking like they could burst into tears at any moment. In the distance, a low rumbling sound echoed.
"Let's hurry. The inn isn't far."
Just as Jil tried to pick up the pace—
*Drip.*
Something cold fell on his forehead.
*Drip. Drip. Drip-drip-drip.*
The next moment, it was pouring.
*Whoooosh!!*
"Whoa!? Hey, this rain is insane!"
Fina let out a yelp. Jil quickly pulled off his jacket and held it over Fina's head.
"Run! Over there—under that shop's eaves!"
What Jil pointed at was a two-story wooden building along the main street. A signboard reading "Please Feel Free to Consult Us" swayed in the rain. Bardo Real Estate—a property brokerage that had been in business for three generations in Avel's East District.
The two kicked off the wet cobblestones and dashed under the eaves.
"...I'm soaked."
Fina sighed as she brushed her wet bangs out of her face. Water dripped from her blonde hair tied in a ponytail. Her light leather armor and cotton shirt were both drenched.
"Here, wipe yourself with this. There's still a dry part."
Jil pulled out a cloth he'd just bought from the burlap sack and handed it to Fina.
"...Are you sure? That's the one you bought."
"Just use it. I'm fine."
Fina hesitated for a moment, but took the cloth obediently. She scrubbed at her wet cheeks.
(You always put yourself last like that.)
Fina thought that in her heart. But she didn't say it out loud. She couldn't.
Jil wrung out his hair with his hands while checking on the rain. The main street was already empty of people, and only the sound of rain filled the world. Water splashed against the cobblestones, and streams cascaded from the eaves like waterfalls.
"...Doesn't look like it's letting up anytime soon."
"No, it doesn't. Of all the times."
Fina crossed her arms and glared at the rain. Her wet shirt clung to her body, making her feel a little chilly.
That was when it happened.
With a rattle, the shop door opened from the inside.
"Well, well, this is quite the predicament!"
What appeared was a plump man with a rich, white-streaked beard. The top of his head was a little thin, but he didn't seem to mind. His kind-looking brown eyes narrowed into threads when he smiled. Rubbing his belly, he looked at the two of them with a grin.
"Sheltering from the rain under the eaves in this downpour—you'll catch a cold! Come, come, inside, inside!"
"Uh, but we came here to shop, not—"
"What are you saying! I can't leave two young people out in the rain. Come now, no need to be shy!"
The man didn't take no for an answer, pushing the two of them inside the shop.
The interior was a calm space with the warmth of wood. Floor plans were plastered all over the walls, and thick ledgers lined the shelves. On the counter, a small magic stone lamp gave off a warm glow.
"Here, towels. You two, dry your heads."
The man brought two towels from the back and handed them to Jil and Fina.
"Thank you. You're a lifesaver."
"...Thank you. Very much."
Fina said her thanks in a small voice and dried her wet hair with the towel.
The man looked the two of them over carefully and smiled broadly.
"My, my, though."
The man rubbed his belly and nodded repeatedly.
"Welcome, young couple! My, sheltering from the rain—how charming!"
"Huh?"
"Wha—"
Their voices overlapped.
"W-we're not! We're not like that!"
Jil hurriedly denied it.
"Th-that's right! We're just adventurers, a party, and we only teamed up because of circumstances!"
Fina also turned red and rattled off her words rapidly.
But the man wasn't listening at all.
"Haha, shy ones, aren't you? My, my, youth is wonderful. I had my younger days too, you know."
The man gazed into the distance, then suddenly leaned forward.
"So then, you two—you're looking for a new home!?"
"What!? No, I'm telling you, that's not it—"
"We're not looking! Not looking at all!"
They shouted simultaneously. But the man just kept smiling, pulling something out from under the counter.
It was a thick stack of floor plans.
"Well now, you two, you've come to the right place. My name is Bardo. This Bardo Real Estate has been a long-established shop for three generations. When it comes to properties for young couples, no one in Avel can match me!"
Bardo began spreading the floor plans across the counter. His eyes were sparkling. He was completely in business mode.
"...He's not listening at all, is he."
Fina whispered to Jil.
"...Yeah. But it's only until the rain stops. Let's bear with it."
Jil whispered back.
"Now then, let's start with this one! An apartment with a kitchen in a quiet residential area of the East District!"
Bardo pointed at one of the floor plans.
"It's just the right size for the two of you. The spacious kitchen is its pride—a layout popular with young wives. In the morning, you can cook fresh vegetables bought from the market right here. Wonderful, isn't it!"
"I keep telling you, we're not a couple!"
Fina's voice cracked. Her face was red all the way to her ears.
"Haha, hiding your embarrassment, I see. I understand that feeling. When I was young, I used to hide my embarrassment with my wife Sera the same way!"
"We're not! It's not embarrassment, we really aren't!"
Jil was desperate too.
"No, no, everyone says that at first. But deciding where to live is an important matter. The sooner you plan for the future, the better!"
Bardo was completely unfazed. If anything, he seemed to be enjoying their reactions.
"Next, how about this one! A detached house with a garden! When you have children in the future, you can let them play in the yard. This area is great for raising kids, and the school is close. You can rest easy!"
"C-children..."
Fina's face turned even redder. Even the tips of her ears were bright red.
(Me, and Jil, and a child...?)
For a moment, she imagined it. In a small garden, a blonde child running around. And herself, watching alongside Jil.
(W-what am I thinking!?)
Fina shook her head vigorously. Her heart was pounding like a bell. Her face felt like it was on fire.
"Fina, are you okay? Your face is bright red."
Jil peered at Fina's face with concern.
"O-of course I'm fine! It's nothing!"
Fina turned her face away from Jil. Her voice was cracking.
(Because of you, my heart is racing like this.)
Fina took it out on Jil in her heart.
Bardo watched the two of them with a smile.
"My, my, you two really are close. It's embarrassing just watching you!"
"We're not close!"
"We're not close!"
Their voices overlapped again.
"Haha, perfect timing. This is truly telepathy. Youth is wonderful."
Bardo pressed a hand to his eyes as if moved.
"...It seems like nothing we say will work."
Fina gave up and let out a small sigh.
(But he's not a bad person. Just a little meddlesome.)
Fina glanced at Bardo's face. His white-streaked beard, his kind smile. She couldn't sense a shred of ill will.
"Now then, next is this one! A new property in the South District—why, you can see the entrance to the Spiral Labyrinth from the balcony!"
Bardo spread out more floor plans.
"An irresistible location for adventurers! Wake up in the morning, take a deep breath on the balcony. 'Let's do my best today,' you pump yourself up, and you're at the dungeon in no time. And you're home right away on the way back. Wonderful, isn't it!"
"...No, I'm telling you, we're not looking for a new home—"
"You two are adventurers, aren't you? My, my. Then all the more so—a place to return to is important!"
Bardo leaned forward.
"If you fight for your life in a dungeon and have no home to return to, where do you rest? If you don't rest, you'll die in the next battle. You see, providing adventurers with a place to return to—that's the pride of this job!"
Those words moved Jil's heart, just a little.
(A place to return to, huh.)
Jil had no place he could call home. A room at the inn was all he had.
(But someone like me thinking about that won't change anything.)
Jil shook his head slightly.
"...I appreciate the sentiment, but really, there's no such plan."
Jil conveyed it politely, one more time.
Bardo stared at Jil's face for a moment, then smiled broadly.
"Yes, yes, of course I understand. Today you're just sheltering from the rain. But if you ever need it, please remember me."
Bardo said that and served them warm tea.
"...Thank you."
"...Thank you. Very much."
The two sipped the steaming tea little by little. The warmth seeped into their chilled bodies.
(This person really isn't bad.)
Fina thought as she drank her tea.
(But a couple... me and Jil...)
Fina's heart pounded again.
(No. No. We're just party members. We only teamed up because of the split. That's all.)
Fina told herself that. But her heartbeat wouldn't quiet down at all.
Jil, for his part, kept glancing at Fina.
(Fina's been quiet for a while. She must have hated being called a couple.)
A small pain pricked at Jil's chest.
(Being mistaken for a couple with someone like me—of course she'd be upset. I've done something terrible.)
Jil thought that and lowered his self-esteem even further.
The rain continued to fall.
"Oh, the rain's letting up."
Bardo said, looking out the window.
At some point, the downpour had turned into a light drizzle. The sky was still dark, but a faint light was shining through a gap in the distant clouds.
"...Let's head back while we can. Thank you for everything."
Jil stood up and bowed to Bardo.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Fina bowed as well.
"No, no, thank you for the enjoyable time. Please come again anytime! If a good property comes in, I'll let the guild know too!"
"The guild!? No, really, we're fine!"
Jil waved his hands in a panic.
"Haha, don't be shy. For your future, I'll lend a hand!"
Bardo laughed heartily, rubbing his belly.
(This person is definitely coming to the guild.)
Fina was certain. And imagining that moment, her face turned even redder.
"...Let's go, Jil."
Fina left the shop at a quick pace.
"O-oh. Well then, thank you truly."
Jil bowed once more and followed after Fina.
In the light rain, the two began walking toward the inn.
For a while, neither spoke.
The rain-soaked cobblestones swallowed their footsteps. In the distance, thunder rumbled softly.
(Awkward.)
Jil thought.
(That thing about being a couple. What did Fina think? She must have hated it. Being mistaken with someone like me.)
Jil glanced at Fina. She kept facing forward, saying nothing. Her profile, wet with rain, looked somehow lonely.
(I made her feel uncomfortable.)
Jil concluded.
"...Hey, Fina."
Jil steeled himself and spoke.
"...What."
Fina answered without turning around.
"Don't do things that get us misunderstood. Like earlier."
Jil said it with all the consideration he could muster.
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