New Life

"Oh, right." Hesta nodded. "I haven't eaten much of that, so it didn't leave much of an impression."

A brief silence fell over the long table. Everyone stared at Hesta in astonishment.

Trion's first instinct was to look at Fatima. "...How did she remember that!? Did you tell her about it beforehand?"

"How could I have..." Fatima replied softly. She too looked at Hesta in surprise, unable to understand why this girl remembered so clearly.

"Madam didn't tell me, of course." Hesta smiled and tapped her forehead. "I'm just particularly good at remembering the names of desserts, especially the ones I like."

Fatima lowered her eyes and smiled, becoming the first to applaud.

Scattered applause rose from around the table.

"Alright! We got all five questions right!" the young man seated across from Trion said with a grin. "Now it's our turn to ask!"

In the end, Trion's side lost, fourteen to seventeen.

"Friend over there," the young woman in the middle of the long table leaned forward, "you make the request. What do you want them to do?"

Hesta raised her head. "Anything is allowed?"

"Haha, you're not planning to cause trouble, are you? Requests that break the law or damage someone's reputation won't be welcomed."

"Then I'll transfer this opportunity to Madam Fatima." Hesta raised her glass. "Thank you for hosting us tonight."

Everyone laughed and raised their glasses to thank Fatima as well.

"Well then," Trion turned awkwardly toward the person beside him. "Fatima, tell us. What do you wish for, hmm?"

Fatima held her wineglass, still smiling.

"Fatima!" Trion urged.

"...Let's take a group photo together," Fatima said softly. "As a keepsake."

Before long, around two-thirds of the guests rose from the table and formed two rows by the window. Guests like Old Irene remained seated