As soon as we finished sharing information with the administrator, Fraxinus, we decided to head back to our assigned place of lodging.

　This unique architecture of Athropolis, where the buildings and the trees seem to blend together, gives the illusion of being in the woods, while at the same time allowing us to relax as much as if we were properly resting under a roof.

　It's a style of architecture I've gotten used to by now, but it's one that adventurers who have just arrived complain about: 'There's something strange about it.

　We walked down a corridor that faced the outdoors like a terrace, and were about to enter a hall-like area on the second floor - Garnett, who was a bit ahead of us, urged us to stop.

　I only wondered for a moment if there was something wrong.

　A quick peek inside the hall and I could understand why Garnett had stopped.

　He could see Alexia and Leila's two lined up behind him by the window on the opposite side of the doorway.

'...... In short, you said you were having trouble keeping up with Mr. Travis,'
'Yeah, yeah ......, that's what it would be in a nutshell: ......'

　Apparently, Leila is asking Alexia for advice.

　Perhaps, but it seems that Leila was unable to discuss the matter in a direct way out of shame, and was confessing her feelings through a series of distant, far-fetched statements.

　I'm not sure if I've achieved the desired result as Leila herself, though I've tried to keep my hands out of the way at every turn, so that we could be alone again today, but I'm not sure that I've achieved the desired result as Leila herself.

　If we - or rather I - interrupted here, even though Leila had gathered the courage to confide in me about her concerns, I might have to hold my tongue again.

''Yeah, well, I'll just be blunt, okay?

　Alexia maintained her usual a-keen attitude and threw straight to the wind what I had been thinking about as well.

"For now, why don't you stop calling me Mr. Travis?
"......!　I guess it is, after all: ......
That's right. It's something you do with someone you admire, who you can't reach. It's an expression of the unconscious desire to keep a distance and watch from a distance.

　The awkwardness of being pointed at by the figurehead was clearly evident in Layla's profile that could be seen from this place.

　It's not that Leila herself really thought it was okay to do so, but it seems that she was objectively pointed out to her that she had been doing it unconsciously, and she couldn't even talk back.

It's not just an object of adoration that is pleasing to look at, but if you want to capture it firmly, you need to close the distance between yourself and it.　That's just going to make you fall back to being a mere chaser (fangirl).
...... Exactly, maybe. Maybe just being close enough to you made you uncomfortable, and you were afraid to move on from there: ......

　Alexia looks at Leila with satisfaction as she stares back at herself and is ready to deepen her relationship with Travis.

　Although I have tried to encourage the two of them in various ways, I still feel that I wasn't able to give Leila, a younger member of the opposite s*x, much in-depth advice.

　In that respect, Alexia is the best choice among my and Leila's common acquaintances.

　Leila didn't just ask for advice at random, but chose her after considering the compatibility in that area.

''Thank you, Alexia-san. I don't have any experience in this kind of thing ...... and I didn't have anyone around me to serve as a role model, so I couldn't resist exploring .......
Ugh, that's quite a pain in the ass. Noir and I are both single, you know. Erica is still more concerned with work than love.
"...... Oh!　Well, no!　I meant that I didn't have any family or relatives!

　Leila's serious reaction to Alexia's deliberate performance is panicked.

'I know, I know. If you're going to be a reference, it's either the head of the Florence branch, who also has children, or it's more like ...... and that. Maybe if you bring your fiancé, Luke, with you, we could hear all sorts of graphic stories.
''Nah, I see. ...... You're Miss Alma of the Argentean family. ...... I've had a little part in it, but it seems to have been a very big love affair and...'' ...Can you help me with that ......?
You're like most people. When I look at your eyes, I can't help but notice where you come from.

　Me and Garnett all froze together, speechless.

　I don't understand it at all.
　Why is there a critical stream of arrows flying at us in the flow of things so far?

　It's true that I never brought A(r)ma(...) to Green Hollow, but even so, there's a good reason for that.

The first thing to do is to get the best out of it. I've never had a chance to talk to you very much, since I only saw you from afar when I went to the capital. Shall I ask Luke-kun to bring me along next time?
'Good, I'd like to hear from Miss Alma as well.

　Something about Alexia and Leila are getting excited in a misguided direction.

　The two of them didn't seem to notice our presence, yet I didn't dare to break into this air.

　I exchanged glances with Garnett and sneaked up from the front of the hall without saying a word to each other.