Mission Impossible: Spy on Mocha

Following her previous actions, she fills the last pot with ingredients, waiting a few calculated moments until bunches of Custard Tarts come popping out. When Mizuki misses a step, Hinata catches them in his arms, gritting his teeth. He holds the plates in a position such that he does not drop them or squash them, gently setting them down against a counter.

[Side Quest: Bartender on the Other Side - Wait until morning (08:30 - 12:00)]

"Wow, I'm messy," Hinata observes, dusting flour off his clothes.

"Have you seen me?" Mizuki holds out her arms, exposing how filthy her clothes are. Hinata holds his hands against his face, a failed attempt to hide his expression of disgust. Mizuki's clothes are not only a week old from wearing and soaked in mud, they're ripped up and now covered in flour. No one would've thought a spoiled daughter of a high-class family would end up in a position like this.

"Right, I will get you a new set of clothes," Hinata clears his throat. In the meanwhile, Mizuki organises the pastries into the basket provided by Oliver, leaving them on the counter with her satchel. When she stands, she realises that her pain is numbed a lot more when she's having fun - a lot more ignorable. Supporting her abdomen, she tries to walk, hobbling slowly until Hinata throws a set of clothes onto her head. It's a pink dress with a ruffled V-shaped hemline, a cute bow to tie the innocent look together.

Mizuki turns, holding the dress up to analyse how it fits her. She decides feminine clothes aren't exactly her thing. Pouting, she holds up a couple locks of her hair in a half-tied ponytail style. It doesn't fit her usual rough image. Lingering on this idea for a bit of time, she flushes red before leaving the bathroom, holding onto the waistline of her dress as she walks.

Hinata waits for her at the couch.

He has also changed into another outfit, a silken nightgown that exposes a window of his chest. "Come on, I'll carry you up," he states, snapping Mizuki out of her daze. Before she can argue, Hinata lifts her, giving her a fright.

"How long is this going to go on?"

"A few more days, until you're better," Hinata states, flashing a kiddish grin. Mizuki, reluctantly and quite shyly, wraps her arms around his neck, allowing him to carry her. He's gentle when he carries her, the way he walks with extra care and makes sure to very gently lay her down onto the bed. Mizuki, while lying on the bed, notices a larger stack of books scattered out on his desk, many more than before.

"You don't sleep?" Mizuki questions, wondering how he hasn't been cursed with dark circles yet. It's a true wonder that eye bags don't look bad on him.

"I have some studying to do," Hinata says simply, elaborating no more. Mizuki decides it's not her place to ask, slowly resting her back against the bed. Eyes on Hinata as he turns away from her, she slowly closes her eyes.

Hinata looks back to her one last time and when she's sure she isn't looking anymore, he changes into a black cloak and grabs his bag, turning off the lights.

[Hirashi Mizuki has tucked into bed]

[Side Quest: Bartender on the Other Side - Check what Mocha is doing]

Mizuki awakes the following morning to the thought of last night, the brief image of seeing Hinata strip off his shirt. Through heavy-lidded eyes, there was not much for her to see but dried claw marks stretching over the length of his back. He looks well-built, hidden under the layers of clothes that he usually wears. She swears she saw him changing, for what, she couldn't tell.

Surely, he wouldn't turn off the lights if he was studying?

She totters downstairs, interest piqued. She spots a bowl of what views to be curry rice, and the rest of the house empty. Mizuki's eyes dart around the room, searching for Hinata. He's nowhere to be seen. Suspicions only starting to grow, the back door creaks open, revealing Hinata himself in an olive green button down with fitted pants, his waist-length crimson hair let down for the first time. He carries a basket of vegetables in, combing his hair back after setting it down in the kitchen.

"Morning," he greets, grabbing a tomato and tossing it up and down. Mizuki greets back, sliding into her chair.

'Maybe I'm overthinking it?' Mizuki scrutinises any difference in his actions. After changing into a white-red dress exposing her neckline, tight only around her waist and below. Catching whiffs of Hinata's curry, she digs in heartily. 'Ah, how it reminds me of home.'

It's a watered down version of what her chefs cook for her but something she can appreciate even with her picky tongue. Her attention is diverted from Hinata instantaneously. Once she gobbles her last bit of food, Hinata slides her a glass vial. It has a bright green substance, like a concoction made out of herbs.

Mizuki wipes the corners of her mouth with a cloth, a few remaining crumbs sticking around while she picks up the elixir. "Do I drink this?"

"It's a Healing potion to cancel out the effects of the Black Magic. If you give it 24 hours, all your pain should be gone," he removes the cork off the top of the vial. "Trust me."

Mizuki takes the glass in her hand, lifting it to her face. Squeezing her eyes shut, she swallows all of the elixir at once, the bitter taste of herbs lingering on her tongue. She squelches, sticking out her tongue in disgust.

"This better not be poison or anything," Mizuki glares, standing up. She walks towards the kitchen with no limp in her step or discomfort in her abdomen. Picking up the basket with no trouble whilst hanging her satchel against her shoulder, she strolls towards Hinata.

"I'm going to complete Mocha's quest today," she announces.

"You don't feel different," Hinata's voice calls out as he slides his chin onto his palm, holding himself up with his elbow against the table. Mizuki blinks, and then she blinks again. She looks down and then looks back up with a surprised look. Flailing her arms, she exclaims, "My abdomen doesn't hurt anymore?!"

Hinata lets out a knowing laugh. "It's fast working, especially on a full stomach," he states, praising himself for his good work.

"At least you did one good thing," Mizuki teases before closing the door to her back. She leans against it, hand still on the knob.

She closes her eyes, letting a grin accompanying her heated cheeks. 'I could get used to this', she giggles.

'Now, to save Mocha's love life.'

Mizuki enters the empty bakery to cutlery clattering in the kitchen. She rushes in to examine the commotion, only to find a mess left of the kitchen inside. Mocha is seen on one leg, trying to balance a massive cake on her head, holding a platter of Curry Buns decorated to look like bigs. Mizuki rushes up to help her, making sure nothing else falls.

"What are these for?" Mizuki inquiries.

"I baked them for Sebastian," Mocha states innocently, a soft smile forming on her lips. Mizuki chokes up, holding back a rude comment.

"Hey, no, Mocha, uhm," Mizuki stutters, making Mocha step away from the counter. "I have a whole basket of everything you asked for. Don't you think we should make him try your new curry another day?"

"But he loves them…"

Mizuki's heart melts at Mocha's expression, a blank one that reminds her of a child. Not wanting to let her down, she only nods, patting her on the shoulder in encouragement to keep doing what she's doing. If she's lucky, the date might even go successfully!

"Okay, now we have to hurry up before his father keeps him busy," Mizuki brushes off flour from Mocha's frock, wiping the splotches on her face with a rag. Standing back to admire Mocha, she finds that something isn't quite perfect. She ponders, jolting in surprise once an epiphany hits her.

[Side Quest: Bartender on the Other Side - Prepare Mocha for the Picnic Date]

"I'll do your hair!" Mizuki exclaims, sitting Mocha down on a chair. Events unfurl too quickly for Mocha to process, being pushed around by Mizuki as she ensures that everything is picture-perfect before the date. Mizuki's desperate to have the Quest done so she can finally rank up and move on to better things. With just this, she'll be one step closer to achieving her end goal and returning home. Picking a bundle of Blueblumes from her satchel, she laces them in between strands of Mocha's hair, using their stalks to tie it into a bun.

Mizuki stands back, watching proudly at her finished work. Doing hair has always been something she has liked to do, especially since her own was always kept short and she often decorated her sisters' hair. Grabbing her wrist, Mizuki leads Mocha out the door, handing her the picnic basket with food.

They stop outside the pub Sebastian works at. "You can do this. You go in there, talk to him and bring him somewhere nice, okay?"

Mocha looks down. In a soft voice, she requests, "Do you think you could follow me around to… make sure things aren't going badly?"

[Side Quest: Bartender on the Other Side - Follow Mocha and Sebastian secretively to ensure their date is going smoothly]

Mizuki's lips part in surprise. She doesn't think it's a good idea. She knows it isn't a good idea, a slip-up on her part is bound to happen. "I…" Mocha lifts her head, flashing a puppy eye look at Mizuki. She inhales, "I will help you."

"Oh my god, thank you, Hirashi-chan!" Mocha beams. Nodding her head in self-reassurance, she opens the door to the pub, waddling inside towards Sebastian who's cleaning the tables. Mizuki waits outside, her back pressed against the wall.

Bored, she kicks around a few pebbles, not knowing what to do for her next course of action. When she hears the door open next to her, she turns her face away, pursing her lips.

"Ah? Mizuki?" Sebastian leans into Mizuki's vision. He's red in the face, all the way from his ears to his neck, a warm smile plastered on his lips. Waving mechanically, Mizuki greets him. Mocha shoots her a pleading look from afar, ensuring that Mizuki will follow.

Least suspiciously she possibly can be in broad daylight, Mizuki follows whilst trying to blend in with the crowd, avoiding being caught staring for too long. Sebastian looks around a couple of times, during which Mizuki has to look away or hide behind poles so he doesn't catch sight of her. The couple walks side-by-side, occasionally breaking into light-hearted giggles, the skin of their hands brushing against each other.

For someone single her entire life, Mizuki finds this teeth-rotting adorable. Her main problem is hiding once they're out of the castle gates. With the guards standing on watch, she can't climb to the top of the wall and watch from there, not like it's possible due to the smooth texture. Her only other option is to hide in a tree which is by far the stupidest thing she has ever set her mind on.