CHAPTER 208: HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS

"Friends.. Friends.. Friends.." Coco mumbled under her breath as she walked out of the village hall.

"If she really wants to be your friend, she would probably be the most loyal one you will ever get, Coco." The garden fairy hummed out as she flew beside Coco’s head.

"Also, she told us to come back tomorrow for the permit, right? I’m sure she has more questions for you! But you don’t have to answer them if you don’t want to, it’s up to you." Lala said, perching herself on Coco’s shoulder.

"I don’t think I can befriend someone just because they revealed their biggest secret to me, Lala." Coco sighed out and continued her way towards the inn.

She already made up her mind that she will pay off the remaining debts so she could finally take the first step to befriend Joachim, he had been nothing, but understanding so she wanted to give their friendship a try.

"Is that not how human friendship works?" The garden fairy asked, tilting her head.

"No..? We bond over the things we like and talk to get to know each other for a while.. That way, we’ll know if we can trust the other person." Coco murmured with a hum, "Just how do fairies become friends?"

"Well, first of all, we reveal our wings to each other and flap it until it becomes invisible to the other fairy! Then, we invite them to our fairy dust hut and let them consume a little!" Lala exclaimed, her eyes wide in excitement as she told Coco the ways of befriending back in Fairy Dale.

"You let them eat dust?" Coco raised an eyebrow, but kept her eyes ahead of her.

"Mhmm!" The garden fairy agreed wordlessly and laughed, "It won’t hinder them, but if they betray me or do something that breaks my trust, the fairy dust will make them sick for days! Apparently, the sickness tends to be so bad that it may send them back to their flowers."

Fairies are scary. Coco thought, her face turning a little pale at the thought of the fairies getting sick to the point of the verge of dying.

Coco sighed and shook her head, she walked past the butcher shop just in time for Jacques to open the shop.

Coco smiled softly when she saw the pink haired woman smiled at their customers, leaning in and speaking to them as she assisted them with the part of meat that they wanted.

"We have a poison tiger today so get in line if you want a poison tiger inside of a flying pig!" The voice of the woman echoed across the street, attracting the attention of the passerby and successfully making them come over.

"Aww! Look at Jacques! She’s as hardworking as ever!" Fortunately, the garden fairy seems to grow fond of the woman, too.

"It’s first come, first serve! We only have one poison tiger so please get in line!"

"We’ll go and help them out once we’re done with Mr. Tani." Coco hummed out, turning away from the pink haired woman and continuing her merry way to the Red Horse Inn.

When she arrived at the inn, she was quick to walk towards the pub where she knew Joachim would be.

"Coco!" Joachim brightened up when she walked inside the pub, immediately noticing her even though he was currently occupied with a staff.

Coco merely waved her hand and walked over to the pub’s counter, sliding to the stool and taking a seat.

"Look how urgent he sent that staff away." The garden fairy giggled and patted Coco’s cheek, "He’s so excited to see you, Coco. He must really like you."

That.. Well, I can’t deny it.

Coco mused in her mind, smiling softly as she watched Joachim shake his head to someone from the kitchen and turn to her, his expression bright and excited while approaching her.

"Coco! I heard from my wife that you have somewhere you need to be! Are you done with it? Do you want to have a snack now?" The pink haired mediator asked, smiling brightly.

His smile was similar to Jacques’ smile, always bright and cheerful, so pleasing for the eyes.

The fact that the siblings are attractive doesn’t help. Just looking at them makes Coco want to turn her head away because they seem to shine so bright for her eyes.

"It’s all good." Coco laughed nervously and shook her head, "I came here to pay off the remaining debt I have."

Joachim’s smile froze and his shoulders stiffened as he blinked. "Everything? You’re going to day everything now? As in.. Right now?"

Coco nodded her head. "Yes, right now."

The mediator brightened up, his adorable face breaking into a wide smile.

The change in his expression was obvious, his entire demeanour changing in an instant— it was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, his mood now much lighter and happier.

"I see! So, that means we can be friends today then?" Joachim asked, his eyes sparkled and the dark clouds of his earlier mood disappeared like they had never existed.

His body radiates pure joy, his body language relaxing and open, his shoulders dropping, his lips curving into a bright smile as he beamed at Coco, not hiding the fact that he’s excited that he will be friends with her after the long wait.

Coco’s lips twitched and she nodded her head. "We’ll talk about it after I pay off my debt, okay?"

"Okay! Let me just get my things, then we’ll proceed! Wait for me here, okay? Oh, wait— here!" Joachim turned to the man beside him who was busy cleaning the countertop and grabbed something from his pocket, "Munch on this while waiting for me!"

Joachim handed her a small treat, circle and green— just like Coco’s eyes.

She raised an eyebrow and looked up, only to see Joachim had already made his way inside the kitchen with a skip in every step.

"Looks like you’re having fun."