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"LEFT... RIGHT... LEFT... RIGHT!"
The sound of commands echoed in the backyard of Twilight Manor, shouted enthusiastically by the twin Amazonesses as they pedaled their tandem bicycle at high speed. Tiona and Tione, with near-perfect coordination, continued to pedal in a steady rhythm, producing the sound of the chain creaking mixed with the rapid rolling of the wheels over the ground.
Tione, who was sitting in front and holding the handlebars, sharpened her gaze forward. Her dark green eyes sparkled as she spotted their petite captain, Finn, standing in the field, right in front of them.
"STOP!!!"
This time, Tione's shout was full of urgency, and for the first time in a long while, Tiona obeyed without protest.
Sreeeettttttt!!
The rear tire of the tandem bike screeched loudly as Tione pulled the brakes. Dust immediately scattered into the air, enveloping the area in a thin haze. Some of the Loki Familia members who were still standing near the Manor stepped back slightly, avoiding the rising dust.
In a split second, the tandem bike came to a halt right in front of Loki, Finn, and Shirou—just a few steps away from crashing into them.
Tiona, who was sitting at the back, quickly jumped off the saddle with agility. With a beaming face full of pride, she raised both hands into the air and exclaimed, "Yay! We won the race!"
Shirou, who had been watching them, furrowed his brow. Something felt off. Slowly, he glanced to the left and right, as if searching for something—or more precisely, someone.
"...Wait a minute," he finally said, looking at Tiona suspiciously. "Where's Lefiya? Weren't you racing against her?"
Tiona just grinned widely, stretching her arms out in front of her chest with an expression full of triumph. "Of course, she fell way behind~" she said smugly, flicking her hair with a playful smile. "I couldn't even see her anymore! Wahaha!"
Shirou could only sigh. Poor Lefiya...
While Tiona was still celebrating her "victory" in the bicycle race, her twin sister, Tione, was completely uninterested in the outcome. As soon as her feet touched the ground after dismounting the tandem bike, her eyes immediately locked onto one figure—Finn Deimne.
Without hesitation, she stepped closer and confidently stroked the saddle of their tandem bike, as if celebrating something far more important than just a race victory. "Captain~" she called in a teasing tone. "Let's ride this bike together."
Loki, who was standing next to Finn, grinned widely at Tione's actions. "Oho~ Tione, you're not wasting any time, huh?" she teased with a playful voice, enjoying how Finn looked slightly uncomfortable with the situation.
Finn, who was used to dealing with Tione's behavior, could only rub his forehead, sigh softly, and quickly look for a way to change the subject. His eyes then landed on the tandem bike they had just ridden.
"This bike is a bit different from the others..." he murmured, pointing to the two saddles and two sets of pedals designed for two people. Finn then turned to Shirou and asked with a tone full of interest, "Can you project other unique bikes like this?"
Shirou thought for a moment. Memories of various types of bicycles from his world flashed through his mind. Then, an idea came to him.
"Trace... On."
He extended his hand, and in an instant, a bluish-green light shimmered, forming something very different from the previous bike. As the light faded, a unicycle stood before them.
However, due to its lack of stability, the unicycle immediately tilted to the side and fell right toward Loki.
"OUCH!!"
The saddle of the unicycle hit Loki's chest directly, causing the goddess to writhe in pain on the ground while everyone around her stared in shock.
Tiona and Tione burst into loud laughter, almost losing their balance from amusement. "Hahaha! Look at that! Even the bike rejects Loki's chest!" Tiona exclaimed jokingly, unaware that her own chest size wasn't much different from Loki's.
Loki, still sitting on the ground with a pout, rubbed her chest where she had been hit. "Oi, kid! You need to be more careful!" she said irritably, glaring at Shirou, who quickly bowed in apology.
Finn, who remained calm, picked up the unicycle from Loki's body and examined it with curiosity. "Hmm... this is certainly unique, but..." He raised an eyebrow and looked at Shirou, "what exactly is the purpose of this bike?"
Shirou smiled faintly, "It's usually used for performances or shows."
Finn nodded in understanding, while Loki snorted in annoyance, still rubbing her chest that had just been unexpectedly attacked by the unicycle's saddle.
Finn confidently mounted the unicycle. At first, his body leaned slightly forward and backward as he searched for the right balance. However, within seconds, the Pallum captain adjusted perfectly. His legs began to pedal slowly, and the unicycle started moving forward smoothly.
Finn raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling challenged. "Oh? It can move forward and backward too," he murmured as he shifted his body backward, causing the unicycle to move backward a few meters before moving forward again. With each pedal, Finn's serious expression turned into a small smile. Although he didn't show it outright, it was clear that he was enjoying this new experience.
"WOW! Captain, you're amazing!!" Tione exclaimed with sparkling eyes full of admiration.
Beside her, Tiona and Loki also watched with enthusiasm. Tiona even looked like she wanted to try it herself, while Loki grinned as she watched their captain adapt so quickly to the strange vehicle.
Meanwhile, Shirou could only observe in silence, his mind inadvertently drifting to an image of Finn performing in a circus. With his incredible balance and small stature, he could easily become the star of an acrobatic show. Finn Deimne, the captain of the Loki Familia, the unicycle master.
However, the sound of approaching footsteps from behind shattered his imagination.
Shirou turned and saw Aiz Wallenstein standing nearby. The girl still had her usual calm expression, but there was something different this time. Her eyes were fixed on the bike Finn was using, as well as the other Loki Familia members busy trying out their own bikes. There was a glimmer of interest in her usually calm golden eyes.
After a few seconds of observation, Aiz finally asked in a soft but curious voice, "Shirou... what is that?"
Shirou smiled faintly. "It's called a bicycle," he answered, glancing at Finn, who was still busy playing with his unicycle. "A simple vehicle that you can pedal to move without using too much energy. There are many types, depending on the user's needs."
Aiz nodded slowly, still observing the bikes with great interest, as if considering something.
Shirou watched Aiz for a moment before asking, "By the way, why didn't you come out with the others earlier?"
In the backyard, the group of Loki Familia members had already scattered, each busy with the bikes Shirou had just projected. Raul looked awkwardly trying to balance his bike, while Aki and Alicia laughed as Linne almost crashed into the fence from pedaling too enthusiastically. Some other members were racing around the field, their laughter mixing with the sound of tires rolling over the rocky ground.
Aiz, still standing calmly beside Shirou, nodded slightly before answering in her usual flat but soft voice, "I was still enjoying my breakfast alone."
After a brief pause, she lowered her head slightly, her expression sincere as she said, "Thank you... your cooking is always delicious."
Shirou paused for a moment before smiling slightly. "You're welcome." However, he soon noticed something odd. "But why were you eating so late? Were you training Bell again?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.
Aiz's golden eyes widened slightly before she quickly nodded, then placed her index finger on her lips with a secretive expression. "Shh... don't let Loki and Finn know," she whispered softly, as if afraid someone might hear.
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "You're afraid of getting caught?"
Aiz slightly averted her gaze, her tone still calm but with a hint of hidden anxiety. "Loki would definitely be angry if she found out I was helping Bell. Especially since Hestia and Loki don't get along."
Shirou understood her point. Loki, with her stubborn nature, often mocked Hestia, and she likely wouldn't be happy to find out that her Familia's favorite child was secretly training a member of her "rival" Familia.
However, for now, it seemed Aiz's worries were unnecessary.
Finn was still busy teaching Loki how to ride the unicycle, while Loki, with a pout, struggled to balance herself on the unique vehicle. Tiona and Tione, who were usually noisy, were now laughing contentedly as they watched their goddess almost lose her balance several times.
Aiz glanced at them briefly, then turned back to Shirou, as if making sure her secret was still safe.
Shirou thought for a moment. Honestly, he didn't see a big problem if Aiz helped Bell train. However, he chose not to voice his opinion. After all, if Aiz herself felt the need to keep it a secret, it was better not to interfere.
He glanced to the side, where Aiz was still watching the Loki Familia members busy pedaling their bikes. Her eyes followed every movement, her expression still flat, but there was a slight glimmer of interest in them.
Seeing this, Shirou finally spoke up, "Do you want to try it too?" he asked lightly. "If you want, I can project a bike for you. You can choose which one you'd like."
Aiz blinked, seemingly a little surprised by the offer. Slowly, she shifted her gaze to the three types of bikes in front of her.
The unicycle, which Tiona was currently riding with Finn teaching her balance. The standard two-wheeled bike, which was the most commonly used by the Loki Familia members and seemed more practical. However, her gaze eventually settled on the tandem bike, which had a pair of saddles and pedals for two people.
Shirou noticed that Aiz stared at the tandem bike a little longer than the others. He could see a hint of hesitation in her expression, as if unsure about voicing her desire.
Finally, in a soft but clear voice, Aiz pointed to the tandem bike.
"I want that one."
Shirou raised an eyebrow slightly, a little surprised by her choice. However, before he could ask for her reasoning, Aiz continued with a sentence that made his heart beat a little faster.
"I want to ride it with you, Shirou."
Shirou paused for a moment before finally nodding calmly. "Alright, I'll project another one for us."
However, before he could activate Projection, he suddenly felt a light touch on his shoulder. "Hm?" He turned and saw Tione standing beside him.
Tione grinned slightly and winked. "You don't need to project a new one. Just use the tandem bike we used earlier."
Shirou briefly wondered why Tione was giving him the bike, but before he could ask further, Tione added with a slightly worried tone, "While you're at it, look for Lefiya. I feel like she hasn't come back yet."
Aiz, who heard this, immediately turned to Tione and asked seriously, "Lefiya... where should we look for her?"
Tione raised her hand and pointed toward the far end of the Manor's backyard. "We passed through that area during the race. Lefiya might still be around there."
Shirou and Aiz exchanged glances before finally nodding. It seemed their adventure with the bike had just begun.
Aiz approached the parked tandem bike and examined it carefully. Her golden eyes observed every detail—the two saddles, two sets of pedals, and the handlebars only available at the front. She touched the frame, feeling its smooth surface before finally standing straight and turning to Shirou.
"How do you use it?" she asked, her voice as flat as ever.
Shirou smiled faintly and pointed to the front saddle. "If you want to experience riding a bike properly, it's better if you sit in front," he suggested. "The back can only pedal, but the front controls the steering."
However, Aiz just stared at the front saddle for a moment before finally choosing to sit on the back saddle. "I just want to try pedaling first," she said as she adjusted her sitting position.
Shirou blinked, a little confused by her choice. Wouldn't it be more fun if she was the one steering? But he didn't push his opinion. "Alright, then I'll take the front," he replied as he mounted the front saddle.
Meanwhile, Aiz gripped the edge of her saddle tightly. In truth, the reason she chose to sit at the back wasn't just to try pedaling. If she sat in front, she wouldn't be able to see Shirou clearly. But with this position, she could observe Shirou from behind—watching how his back moved as he pedaled, feeling the close distance between them.
Shirou, unaware of Aiz's thoughts, glanced back slightly and said, "Before we start, lift the kickstand first."
Aiz looked down, saw the bike stand supporting the rear wheel, and swiftly used her foot to push it up. CLICK! The stand lifted, and the bike was now ready to use.
Shirou glanced back again and gave the signal, "Okay, let's start. Ready?"
Aiz nodded silently.
"One... two... three—pedal!"
In one synchronized movement, the two began pedaling the tandem bike. The wheels started turning, slowly carrying them toward the back of the Manor. Shirou steered steadily, while Aiz, behind him, quietly enjoyed this little journey, her eyes still fixed on Shirou's back.
Shirou pedaled firmly, his hands gripping the handlebars of the tandem bike while maintaining balance. The cool morning breeze brushed past them, swaying the strands of his red hair. His sharp eyes scanned the backyard of the Manor—searching for Lefiya among the buildings and trees decorating the Loki Familia's backyard.
Behind him, Aiz also pedaled in the same rhythm. At first, her eyes focused on the surroundings, looking for signs of Lefiya's presence. Her gaze swept across the area—the row of small trees bordering the yard, some other Familia members still busy playing with their bikes, and the dirt path leading further back.
However, the longer she rode with Shirou, her mind began to wander.
The sound of the chain turning smoothly, the rhythmic swing of the pedals moving together, and Shirou's presence so close in front of her... all of it gave her a strange yet comfortable feeling. She could see Shirou's sturdy back, how every movement of his body felt so natural as he controlled the bike, and she even occasionally heard his soft breaths whenever they had to pedal harder.
Weird... Aiz thought. Why does it feel different?
Her fingers, which had initially gripped the back of the saddle, now relaxed slightly. She no longer cared much about the surroundings. What mattered was that she could enjoy this ride with Shirou.
Meanwhile, Shirou remained focused on his goal. His eyes continued to scan the backyard of the Manor, searching for signs of Lefiya's presence.
Finally, in the distance, something caught his attention.
A pink bicycle stood still next to a small building filled with forging tools—the Loki Familia's Forge. From its design, Shirou immediately recognized it as Lefiya's bike.
He slowed down the tandem bike, its wheels rolling more slowly over the ground, leaving a soft sound of friction against the gravel.
"She's probably inside the Forge," Shirou murmured, glancing back slightly to inform Aiz.
Aiz, who had been lost in her thoughts, snapped back to focus. She followed Shirou's gaze, spotting Lefiya's pink bike parked neatly.
"Let's check," Aiz replied simply, her voice returning to its usual calm tone.
Shirou nodded, then began steering the bike toward the Forge, leaving tire tracks on the slightly damp ground, while behind him, Aiz resumed pedaling with a more conscious rhythm—aware that her little moment had just passed.