This story is part of the Wanderer series.
The two groups began to dine as music lit up the tavern. Nozomi, Rin, and Chiara were closely interacting with members of the other group, sometimes shouting across the table in order to convey themselves over the loud music. Alisan and Karin mostly talked amongst their counterparts, not looking to raise their voices too much, but not shy to let out a loud laugh every once in a while. As the two groups intermingle with each other, Asa and Haku watched from their end, talking amongst themselves.
Haku held his elbows on the table, holding his drink in front of him with one hand as he took small sips every once in a while. “Botan and Chiaki are drunk already.”
Loudly chuckling, Asa picked up his cup, leaning back with an arm on the backrest. “They always get drunk, don’t they? Let them drink away their problems tonight.”
“Are you sure it’s okay for Chiara and the likes to be drinking with them?”
Taking a sip, he audibly breathed out. “I’m sure it’s all right. I noticed the princess and Nozomi don’t drink either.”
“I did too.”
With a big grin, Asa briefly nudged his keg towards the group. “Plus, Chiaki shouldn’t be drinking either.”
“And who’s fault is that for letting them drink?”
“Hey…” he shrugged. “They control their own destinies. I’m not going to tell them how they can lose steam.”
“You could set some rules at least.”
“I do.”
Haku glanced at them again as Chiaki flung herself onto Chiara’s shoulders, much to her surprise. “Doesn’t look like you did.”
There was a loud commotion as Chiaki rattled on and on about what it’s like to be single while Itsuki kept telling her to shut up. Nozomi loudly yelled with her, enthusiastically offering words of encouragement.
“She’s a loud one,” Haku complained. “You’d think she was drunk too.”
“Nozomi’s just matching the energy of the party,” Asa reasoned. “She’s an energetic one.”
Haku sighed. “That much I do know.”
Watching a little while longer, Asa’s face lit up, and he leaned towards Haku, smiling deviously. “Hey, you think if Nozomi got drunk, she would be more willing to flaunt her power?”
Haku eyed him. “Do you still want to see her power that badly?”
The squad leader laughed. “Why not? She’s been playing hard-to-get with it!”
Sighing audibly, Haku hunched forward and put his lips to his keg. “Just a word of advice: I would stop hitting on her in front of Honoka.”
“Aw, come on. It’s nothing like that,” he smoothly dismissed. “All we’ve heard so far are stories. What magician wouldn’t want to see it for themself?”
“You’re asking for trouble, is what you’re doing.”
“I see it as a friendly exchange between leaders.”
With nothing else to add, Haku said nothing else.
“I would like to work together with them eventually,” Asa declared, setting down his keg and holding out his hand in front of him for emphasis. “We’re both ragtag squads of Wanderers. Think about that! When in history have you heard of such a gathering force?”
“The Great Empire had a legion of them,” Haku reminded.
“Bah, those are just stories! Plus, they were beholden to the emperor. Just imagine what more we could do without being beholden to someone?”
“You make it sound like it’s that simple.”
Sitting back, he picked up his drink again. “It won’t be. Trust me, I know it won’t. But if we work hard towards it, just like we are now, I have faith we can prevail somewhere.”
Haku stared at Asa for some time as he watched the table again, before eventually joining him in his observation.
“I don’t disagree with your ambitions. But bringing in this lot… It’s really up to them.”
“Don’t worry,” Asa assured. “I’ll respect their decision, whatever it may be.”
The tavern began to roar as the other tables merrily shouted together. The members from the two groups followed the roar with their heads, finding that they were cheering a young couple dancing to the tune of the violin. Seeing the tavern start to clap with the music, some of them, like Nozomi and Rin, started to clap along.
“I may be naive, but I’m not brainless,” Asa continued, chuckling at himself. “It’s very likely we won’t be able to accomplish all the things we want to achieve in our lifetimes.”
Staying silent, Haku did not join in on his own demeaning.
“I mean, we’ve found that out the hard way, haven’t we?” Asa said, turning to his partner. “Most people only live in a world of results. It’s easy to believe they can change the world without trying it themselves first.”
“Well, if you want to convince them, then I see why you fixate on Nozomi the most.”
“Hm?” Asa lowered his arms, wearing a clueless expression.
“She seems to drive their group’s direction, just as you and I,” Haku continued. “If you want them to get on board with you, you’d need to convince her first.”
“Ah, that really is a good observation!” Asa agreed. “Even more reason to haggle with her, don’t you think?”
Sighing, Haku hid his mouth behind his keg again. “You really are brainless.”