As if he wanted to share more with Ren about the interesting things he had experienced...or at the very least, the things he had seen, heard, or dreamed about...
Nautilus hesitated for a moment. He hoped Ren would feel a little more at ease, that he could soften the vague chill emanating from Ren's earlier reply, something distant and lonely he couldn't quite name.
His eyes drifted toward the stairs leading to the second floor. Still no familiar figure in sight.
Only when he was sure Yuna hadn't come down did he lean toward Ren, lowering his voice as if afraid someone might overhear.
"That's not all there is to a picnic trip, you know." A mischievous smile flickered across his face, like he was about to reveal a delightful secret.
"A picnic is also the perfect excuse for... you know, couples to spend a whole day together." His eyes lit up as he spoke, though he still kept his voice to a whisper, as if telling a forbidden tale.
"You could invite someone you like for lunch, play games together, or if you're brave enough, confess your feelings right then and there." Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he added, slightly sheepish and half-joking:
"Ah, or maybe even dance around a bonfire at night. Some even go to temples to pray for love. They say it increases your chances of becoming a couple…"
Nautilus chuckled softly, but his gaze wasn't just teasing.
There was a hint of nostalgia, a touch of regret, and somewhere in there, a genuine curiosity about the person sitting across from him, someone who always hid his face, and more than that, hid himself behind a calm façade.
As if afraid of being misunderstood, he started to explain.
"It's just... I think it'd be really nice if someone like you got to experience something like that."
The words fell gently, not meant to make the air heavy, yet they left behind a lingering trace, light as morning mist, slow to fade.
"So, have you ever invited Yuna on one of these trips?", Ren asked, tilting his head a little, as if he were only curious, not teasing, but genuinely finding the idea... interesting.
Part of him felt a quiet sorrow for himself...for never having had the chance to experience such simple things. A picnic. A confession. Or just a day spent beside someone dear.
The question hit Nautilus like a weak spot exposed. He stiffened, his ears immediately flushing a soft pink, his eyes wide as if he couldn't believe Ren had just said that.
Almost instinctively, he turned sharply toward the stairs, as if terrified Yuna might appear at that very moment and overhear everything.
"N-no... no..." Nautilus stammered. "We didn't go to the same school... She went to an all-girls' school, and I went to a regular public one."
His voice dropped notably at the second half of the sentence. And as if to escape the silence or Ren's gaze, Nautilus began stirring the leftover porridge in his bowl with his wooden spoon, clearly no longer interested in eating, just using the motion to fill the emptiness inside.
Ren said nothing. But he didn't laugh, didn't tease, only watched quietly as his friend tried to hide his awkwardness and regret behind his usually tough exterior.
"But it really is a shame…"
Nautilus whispered, as if to no one in particular, not expecting an answer.
A fragment of a past that never happened, yet always lingered like a silent note in the heart.
"A shame about what?", came Yuna's familiar voice from behind, soft as a breeze, yet enough to freeze the room in an instant.
Both boys turned around almost simultaneously, but only one truly flinched.
Nautilus, with a frozen expression on his face, shot up like someone who had just stepped on a nail.
"W-what?!", he let out a startled sound, nearly tripping over the chair behind him.
His eyes were wide, his face full of panic, like someone caught in the act.
Yuna stood not far from the table, hair falling gently over her shoulders, one hand on her hip, her eyes half skeptical, half amused. She tilted her head at Nautilus, her gaze more probing than actually expecting an answer.
Ren merely turned around calmly, his usual composed expression in place, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, almost forming a knowing smile.
He had no intention of saving Nautilus...nor of adding fuel to the fire.
"A shame about what?", Yuna repeated, this time drawing out the words slightly, clearly not planning to let this slide. "I've been down here for one minute and already caught you two whispering something suspicious."
Nautilus swallowed hard and looked to Ren for help, but he already knew nothing would come except a look that clearly said, "I'm not involved."
"Ah… well… I meant… it's a shame that…", Nautilus stuttered, his wooden spoon still absentmindedly stirring the nearly empty porridge, "...a shame the grilled fish ran out this morning… I really like that dish… yeah."
Yuna blinked, glancing at his bowl. "Really?"
"Really!" Nautilus nodded frantically, nearly feeling cold sweat break out at the back of his neck.
Ren tilted his head slightly, looked at Yuna, and casually added in a soft but unmistakably teasing tone, "He said it's a shame... that he didn't go to the same school as you."
Once again, the air seemed to freeze.
Nautilus turned to Ren with a look of utter betrayal.
Yuna stood still for a heartbeat before a soft blush spread across her cheeks, and a flicker of confusion crossed her eyes like the surface of water stirred by a breeze.
"…Can the two of you actually eat breakfast peacefully without making it awkward for everyone else?" she murmured, her voice noticeably quieter, then quickly stepped forward to sit beside them, perhaps to hide something.
Nautilus still hadn't come back to himself.
Ren took a sip of water, his eyes narrowing slightly, and thought silently: Sometimes, Aincrad doesn't need monsters or cruelty to make a heart race.
Yuna sat down, turning toward Nautilus with a serious look, as if waiting for some kind of explanation, but clearly, he still hadn't regained his composure.
The three of them sat there in silence, with the morning light streaming through the window, casting shimmering patterns across the wooden floor of the inn. Everything seemed to pause in that moment, as if Aincrad itself was waiting for them to decide their next step.
Finally, Nautilus set down his spoon and regained his usual composure. He turned to Yuna, his eyes calm once more, though still tinged with a bit of embarrassment.
"All right," Nautilus began, his voice more steady now. "I just… didn't want to make things awkward for you. That's all."
Yuna looked at him seriously, then let out a soft sigh and smiled lightly, though something seemed to ease in her expression. "Okay, no need to explain anymore. But if you're really planning to invite me on a picnic or something, you better pick a different place. That kind of spot doesn't suit me."
Nautilus blinked in surprise, then broke into an unexpected grin. "You really think I was seriously inviting you out like that?" he teased, acting like there hadn't been anything sincere in his words before.
Ren simply observed the two of them quietly. He knew full well that these jokes were just a way to avoid saying the harder things, but also a way to ease the tension between them.
Yuna's guarded emotions, Nautilus's unease, and his own silence, each of these were pieces slowly forming a more complex picture.
He smiled faintly, saying nothing. Despite the uncertainties and the unspoken truths, they were still companions. At least for now.
"I'll pay for breakfast today," Ren suddenly said, cutting through the slightly awkward atmosphere. "We've all got things to do today, right?"
Nautilus nodded, still wearing a somewhat puzzled expression as he watched Ren rise from his seat, while Yuna remained quiet, just smiling slightly before standing up as well.
As the three of them stepped outside, the stillness around them faded into the usual bustle of the world.
Even though the world outside kept spinning endlessly, in this fleeting moment, there was a quiet bond between them, unspoken, but felt.
…
"So… where do we start today?" Nautilus asked, his eyes scanning over the mission board, as if searching for something that stood out. But all the postings were familiar, simple and safe.
Nothing exciting, nothing challenging. Just the same old tasks anyone could do, with rewards… barely worth the effort.
They weren't the kind of quests that earned money easily.
Despite completing a string of jobs every day, they barely had any coins left in hand.
What little they earned was immediately eaten up by equipment repairs, maintaining armor and weapon durability, and buying basic supplies.
Add in the cost of daily meals, and there was nothing left for real upgrades.
Silence hung in the air, until Yuna spoke. Her voice carried a hint of hesitation, but there was unmistakable determination behind it. "How about we try the mine?" she asked, looking up at the other two.
Nautilus furrowed his brow, feeling a twinge of unease.
Even so, he realized that if they kept taking only the safe jobs, they'd never get the gear they truly needed to face real challenges.
They didn't know what lay ahead, what horrors might come crashing down on them, just like in life.
Terrible things always happen to people. And when they come, they hit at the worst possible time. They always do.