The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

Rin let out a long sigh, then crossed her arms and added in a slightly embarrassed tone:

"Don't get me wrong, I'm only thanking you this much because I'm angry about the ruby."

"Uh, oh."

Kiana was somewhat taken aback by Rin's additional comment and didn't know how to respond.

Seeing this, Luvia reluctantly reached out and swatted away Rin's restless little hand, then shielded Kiana behind her.

"Oh? What kind of attitude is this? Hey? Did I hear that right, kid from the Tohsaka family? Is this how you ask for help? Heh, this is truly an eye-opener for me."

"Bread roll, you!"

There's no point in saying more when you can't see eye to eye, and Rin's anger, which had almost dissipated, surged up again.

She stormed up to Luvia, ready to have a good argument with this woman who had been contradicting her since the beginning of their journey.

However, before she could speak, Ilya, who had been silent since the beginning, suddenly touched her hair.

"Could you two please be a little quieter? This is my room... If you're too noisy, Mom and Sera will be angry..."

"Uh, sorry, sorry, bread roll. Did you hear me?"

Luvia showed a very uncooperative attitude in the face of Rin's special reminder.

She crossed her arms and looked at her colleague in red with pigtails with an air of arrogance:

"Don't change the subject, you brat from the Tohsaka family. If I heard you right, you were just about to have Kiana help you collect class cards?"

"That's right, is there a problem?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Luvia burst into laughter as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Oh ho ho ho~ It's so funny, I can't laugh!"

"What did you say!"

Seeing Rin gritting her teeth, she looked like she was about to cry from anger.

Luvia then dropped her arrogant demeanor and spoke in a very cold tone:

"Kiana is someone I've taken in, why should I help you? Did you ask for my permission?"

"Uh..."

Luvia's words left Rin speechless.

She thought about it carefully and realized that the logic was indeed correct.

So, if I want this little girl to help me, do I have to ask for the bread roll's permission?

"hateful!"

The thought that I might, possibly, probably have to grovel before this bread roll...

Rin suddenly felt hopeless about life, and the road ahead seemed to be filled with darkness.

However, even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope.

"Um... Sister Luvia."

The argument between the two sides not only showed no signs of stopping, but instead escalated.

Kiana finally couldn't stand it anymore.

She tugged at Luvia's skirt and asked somewhat shyly.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Kiana?"

Feeling the little girl tug at her skirt, Luvia ignored her colleague Rin and turned her gaze to Kiana behind her, asking her in a low voice.

Seeing that her older sister, who had a problem with Rin, was willing to listen to her, Kiana gently suggested:

"I already promised Rin-nee... Besides, the last class card might not be as easy to collect as the previous ones. Why don't you all stick together and discuss rewards after we've accomplished everything?"

Hearing Kiana's rational deduction and suggestions, Luvia stroked her smooth chin and thought for a while. She felt that although what the little girl said was uncomfortable, it was indeed true.

She then slowly nodded.

"Hmm... Since you've put it that way, then so be it, you brat from the Tohsaka family."

"Don't call me a brat, you bread roll!"

"Hmph, fine, I'm magnanimous and won't hold it against you. But shouldn't you show some appreciation?"

Luvia stood with her hands on her hips, looking at Rin with an air of righteous indignation.

"Kiana agreed to help you despite all the past grievances, shouldn't you express your gratitude?"

"Um...but I just..."

"Huh? You don't think that's enough, do you?"

As she spoke, Luvia revealed a confident smile.

She plopped down on Ilya's bed, then crossed her arms and lightly touched her chin with her slender, jade-like fingers, slowly raising her jade-like feet encased in white stockings.

Seeing this, Rin suddenly had a bad feeling.

She sighed, then slumped her shoulders and, before Luvia could speak, preemptively asked:

"You don't mean to say you want me to kiss your feet, do you?"

"Shouldn't we? This is the best way to express gratitude!"

"You bastard! I'll see you—!"

Completely unable to accept this so-called request for gratitude, Rin rolled up her sleeves, ready to teach this woman who had repeatedly toyed with her a lesson.

Opposite her, Luvia also stood up without backing down, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to retaliate.

The two sides stared at each other, creating an atmosphere that seemed to say, "If you want to fight, then fight."

This scene prompted Kiana and Illya, who were watching, to both give a helpless, wry smile.

Just as the two were about to break up the fight...

A soft knock came from the door of the room.

The sudden noise drew everyone's attention to it.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the person knocking on the door softly reminded them:

"Miss, dinner is ready to continue. Please come and enjoy it with your friends."

"Huh? Oh! Okay... Sera, we're coming right away."

After recognizing the person knocking on the door, Ilya answered without saying a word, then stood up and slowly positioned herself between Rin and Luvia, her two sworn enemies.

"Alright, alright, you two. Rin-nee, Luvia-nee, you're both my best friends. I really don't want to see you two arguing over trivial things anymore, okay? Please..."

"Forehead..."

The two slightly older girls looked at each other and nodded in unison.

Seeing that they had finally quieted down, Kiana's worries were finally relieved.

"Now, I can officially join the ranks of card collectors, right? It sounds so exciting..."

During the lively dinner, Kiana devoured the food Sera had generously prepared while excitedly imagining the joyful future of collecting cards with Rin and the others...

Sentimental Magical Girls (Magic 1): Before Chapter 24 begins, let's drop by someone else's pot.

Pleasant times always slip away silently. Even though dinner time was over and her stomach was full of delicious food, she still felt like she hadn't had enough.

If it weren't for Sera and Ilya's concern that her stomach would burst halfway through her meal, and their hasty intervention to stop her...

Perhaps tonight's dinner will become a feast for her alone.

In short, after finally filling their empty stomachs, it was about time for everyone to head back.

Although they didn't meet Shirou because he went to a friend's house today, Rin and Luvia still expressed their admiration and flattery to Mrs. Irisviel.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Irisviel's reaction to the two girls' advances was rather conventional, showing neither excessive closeness nor excessive distance.

It seemed she didn't understand the deeper meaning between the two, yet it was also as if she understood everything but was unwilling to say it aloud.

"Well then, farewell, Ilya and Mrs. Irisviel."

Rin waved goodbye to the family.

After receiving a friendly response, she smiled happily, a rare occurrence, and then placed her hand on Kiana's delicate shoulder.

'Snapped! '

Rin's hand was gently opened.

Feeling deeply humiliated, she turned to look at her smug colleague:

"Bread roll!"

Luvia, unfazed by Lin's angry glare, instead defiantly tossed her wavy hair:

"What's wrong? Is there something you're unhappy about?"

"Uh... never mind."

Knowing that no amount of lengthy explanations would be of any use, Rin crossed her arms and calmly set off to leave.

Seeing that she didn't intend to delve into Luvia's provocation, Ilya and Irisviel, as the owners of the house, exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, you should come visit often when you have time!"

"Yes, Auntie. I will definitely visit again next time!"

Rin and Luvia said these words in unison, their perfect synchronization making everyone else feel ashamed.

Upon discovering that the other person had said the same thing, the two immediately started arguing again.

"You two! Stop it!"

Kiana, unable to bear it any longer, patted her belly and helplessly tried to stop them.

Seeing that she had started complaining, the two hesitated for a moment, then exchanged a cold snort to end the standoff.

After lingering for a while, the three of them left Ilya's house one after the other.