(Sharing Tonight's Warmth) Nero
Card Story - "Let's Share Drinks Tonight"
Chapter 1
Shino: Oh, it's the market. It's on our way back anyway, so let's stop by.
Heathcliff: Haha. Shino, you're just hungry, aren't you?
Faust: We've finished our mission in one piece, and we still have some time left. I don't really mind if we do.
Nero: Then, can we pass by another shop a little ways over too?
Heathcliff: Of course. Is there something you want to buy?
Nero: There's a real nice herb that grows around this season. I wanna try usin' it on some snacks to go with our evening drink.
Faust: ..... Wait, are you talking about the one you put in our snacks the other day?
Nero: Yep, yep. It's got a bit of a unique flavor, but it really gets ya hooked, don't it? It gets the drinks goin', so it's pretty popular among drinkers all 'round.
Faust: Indeed. Refreshing with a subtle hint of bitterness, it was really tasty. The cheese you paired it with had a strong flavor, but also bit of a peculiar aroma that drowned it out... However, pairing it with the herb brought out its flavor and it became much easier to eat. As expected of our chef.
Nero: Haha, why, thanks. If ya liked it, I'll make it for ya again. Since I'm gettin' ahold of that herb again today an' all.
Shino: ...........
Heathcliff: Shino?
Shino: You guys are so unfair. Just because you're grown-ups, you think you can go about eating all that tasty stuff in secret without saying a word to us.
Faust & Nero: Huh?
Nero: Whaddaya mean "in secret"....
Faust: It's not like we've been keeping it a secret from you two.
Heathcliff: That's right, Shino. They're drinking alcohol together at night, so it wouldn't make sense to invite us along anyway.... And besides, they must be talking about stuff only adults can discuss, like consulting about missions and the like.
Nero: That's, uh....
Faust: We are, but also aren't.....
Shino: Which one is it? Well, whatever. If you're gonna be like that, tomorrow night we Eastern Wizards will all drink together.
Heathcliff & Nero: Eh?
Faust: Drink? With you two?
Shino: That's right. If you're not going to invite us, we're doing it instead. That's why you have to feed us those cheese and herb snacks too.
Heathcliff: I can't believe you... You just want to eat Nero's snacks, don't you?
Shino: Yep. But Nero shouldn't have a problem being asked something like this, am I right?
Nero: Haha, bingo. Then, tomorrow night, come by my room. I'll have tasty snacks ready for ya, as you wish. So let's share some drinks, just the four of us.
Chapter 2
･✧･☽･✧･
Shino: Alright! We're all gathered. This marks the start of the Eastern Wizards' fun evening drink time.
Nero: Uhhh.... Before that, ya have a moment?
Shino: What is it.
Heathcliff: So, um, tonight, you wanted us to dress up in a way befitting of a grown-up gathering, right?
Shino: Yeah.
Faust: We wore the outfits you asked for but....
Nero: Why did it have to be sleepwear...?
Shino: In the Sage's world, it's considered 'adult' to drink wine while wearing loose and private-feeling clothes like bathrobes, or so I heard. The closest thing to that is this.
Faust: Is... that right?
Heathcliff: I feel like you've misunderstood something, but if you say so, Shino....
Nero: Let's leave it at that. Well then, the snacks're ready, so let's toast, why don't we?
Faust: I see you've picked out an excellent red wine for us. Smells wonderful.
Nero: An' grape juice for Heath and Shino. I put 'em in matching wine glasses with us, so be careful not to mix them up.
Shino: 'Kay.
Heathcliff: Thank you, Nero.
Nero: Uhh, now then. Glasses in hand, all of ya.
Eastern Wizards: Cheers.
Shino: .... This is so cool. Just drinking from this glass makes me feel more grown-up already.
Nero: Glad to hear. Why don't ya try some of this too? 's the snacks ya asked for. It's a bit of a mature taste, so hope you kids like it just fine.
Shino: Hmph. I'm not as much of a kid as you think.
Heathcliff: Thank you for the food.
Shino & Heathcliff: *munch.....*
Faust: ..... How is it?
Shino & Heathcliff: ........
Shino: So tasty!
Heathcliff: It's so good...
Nero: Ooh, so you two can keep on goin'?
Shino: Yeah. I can properly appreciate this herb's tastiness. But I understand your concern. It's true Riquet or Mitile wouldn't be ready for this flavor.
Heathcliff: You dressed the cheese and herbs with olive oil, right? They're both ingredients with intense flavor, but it feels like they're tied together, it's very easy to eat.
Nero: Just as we'd expect of Heath. Ya really get it.
Faust: Since you can appreciate the quality, both of you are part of the 'grown-ups' for tonight.
Shino: Heheh.
Heathcliff: Fufu...
Nero: I've also prepared some nuts and ajillo. Knock yourselves out.
Shino & Heathcliff: Yay!
Faust: Thanks, don't mind if I do.
Shino: Munch, munch... So good.
Heathcliff: *Nom...* This is really good too.
Faust: ........
Nero: ........
Shino: ......... Hey, so, what else do you two do when you drink together? So far you've just been drinking and eating in complete silence.
Nero: Well, it's not somethin' we have all planned out. Sittin' in silence like this, and just enjoyin' the food an' drink is all fine... But sometimes 's nice to also talk about stuff like, say, what's happened in the day.
Chapter 3
Shino & Heathcliff: What's happened in the day?
Nero: Yeah, like... For example, say, I went shoppin' together with Heath today, right? An' on the way home, Heath was so happy about buyin' some real good coffee beans that he kept secretly catchin' whiffs of 'em in the bag as he walked.
Faust: And in today's class, Shino was trying so hard to fight off his drowsiness, that he kept pinching the palm of his hand to stay awake, and managed to brave through the entire lecture. Stuff like that.
Shino: So I was found out.....
Heathcliff: No way you saw that.....
Nero: Haha, you're blushin'. It's an endearin' story that brings a smile to your face, ain't it?
Shino: .... I see. I now understand how to enjoy drink time. I have some stories of that kind too.
Nero: Oh? Let us hear it.
Shino: It's about this morning. The squirrels from the forest somehow found their way into the courtyard.
Nero: ............. ...... Squirrel.....
Shino: I hid on top of a tree and observed from afar, so I wouldn't irritate the squirrel. And then Nero came. He immediately noticed the squirrel, and squatted down.
Faust: Oh, really?
Heathcliff: And then?
Nero: Right, okay, Shino, thank you, that's enough.
Shino: He started calling to it like "tch tch tch tch" and the squirrel ran away. Nero looked so dejected.
Faust: Haha... That's unfortunate.
Heathcliff: How cute of you, Nero.
Nero: No, I wasn't dejected, I uh... I was just holdin' back a yawn.
Heathcliff: If we're exchanging cute Nero moments, I have one too.
Nero: You too, Heath?!
Faust: It's not often we get to drink all together. Let's hear him out.
Shino: That's right, Nero. You're the one who said drink time is like this.
Nero: I mean, I did say that but...
Heathcliff: So, earlier this evening, I went in the kitchen to test out the new coffee beans I got.
Nero: You're gonna keep goin'!?
Heathcliff: Ah, I'm sorry.
Shino: No, don't listen to him, Heath! He's just being shy.
Faust: You can keep going. ... Right, Nero?
Nero: ....... Yes, sir. Keep going, Heath.
Heathcliff: Okay, so. I'm going to continue now. ... And then, just as I was about to go in, I noticed Nero was taste testing tonight's dinner. For some reason, I decided not to go in the kitchen, and just look from afar, but that's when I heard Nero say... "I might actually be a genius."
Nero: Ahhhhhh........
Shino: Huh, so you've got your cute moments too.
Faust: Well, our chef is a genius. You're right about that.
Nero: It's kinda embarrassin' when you're the topic of the conversation....
Shino: Just like you're always watching over us, we're watching over you too.
Nero: Yeah, got that one pretty well...
Shino: What's wrong? Why are you getting us all seconds all of a sudden?
Nero: How about we toast again, to start this over?
Faust: Haha, alright.
Shino & Heathcliff: Of course.
Nero: Then, once more, to the Eastern Wizards' joint drink time.
Eastern Wizards: Cheers.
(End)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
