For some reason, Shade found the scene rather amusing. Not long ago, they had been fighting something dangerous, yet now everyone was frowning because of the bitterness of tea leaves.
But as he watched everyone chew tea leaves together and listened to the crackling campfire before them, the last trace of chill dispersed. For some reason, he felt a strange sense of peace. Yet that peace was not enough to free Shade from the bitterness and let him experience the feeling called "happiness."
"So what exactly is happiness?"
As Shade chewed, he stroked Little Mia and recalled:
"Having breakfast at home with Little Mia on a sunny morning? It was certainly happy, but it did not seem enough;
On a snowy night in the depths of winter, holding Luvia in bed beneath the covers as we read storybooks together? Very warm, but still not quite enough;
Waking up in the morning to see the ladies washing up or reading the newspaper, while Tifa says, 'Good morning'? Come to think of it, I have not had the chance to take the initiative and speak with Tifa much lately. I have simply been too busy;
Or perhaps the gifts they prepared for my birthday this year? No, no, this is not the time to think about that."
The "her" by his ear laughed softly.
Those memories were of no use. Instead, chewing the tea leaves made Shade feel as though the skin inside his mouth was tightening from the dryness.
The others probably had the same problem. Iluna puffed out her cheeks and frowned as she chewed as though taking medicine; Gray Wolf Girl chewed with extraordinary force, as though the tea leaves had become undercooked beef that was hard to swallow. Miss Maze, who wore glasses, was less exaggerated, but she