"Yeah, it's too much trouble, and it's hard to wash."
Ming spoke as though he disliked troublesome things. In that respect, he was rather like Bai Yu, though hardly anyone liked trouble.
Armin felt a little disappointed at Ming's words, but he understood.
"That's true."
"Yeah. I'll have Bai Yu cut it for me when we get back."
"Bai Yu knows how to cut hair, too?"
"Yeah. He's really good."
"Really?"
Neither of them spoke for a while. They simply sat quietly on the hillside, feeling the gentle breeze, while Armin occasionally glanced at Ming beside him.
After quite some time.
"Ming... you've never deceived anyone, have you?"
Ming paused at that, then fell into thought, as though recalling something. Only after a moment did he speak.
"I think... I have."
That answer surprised Armin a little.
When Armin remained silent for a while, Ming turned to him and asked softly.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just a little hard to imagine."
"Sometimes I'm a bad boy, too."
Ming shook his head.
"But you wouldn't lie, would you?"
"Why?"
Armin looked into Ming's eyes, where every emotion showed without the slightest concealment, as clear as ripples on a river.
Armin didn't think anyone would fail to notice if he lied.
"Are you really a boy, Ming?"
Elsewhere, the carriage jolted, then came to a stop.
"Bai Yu? Bai Yu?"
Historia gently shook Bai Yu.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the scenery outside, which had stopped moving.
"Are we here already?"
Bai Yu shook his head hard. Just as he'd thought, there was nothing wrong with that set of structures.
Still thinking it over, he climbed out of the carriage first, then helped Historia down like a gentleman.
Some of the villagers nearby, who were building things or clearing