CHAPTER 355: PREPARATION

"Do you have everything you need in your inventory?" Zaque asked, putting down another wrapped chocolate filled sandwich on the coffee table.

"Yep." Coco answered, her eyes glancing at the inventory on her left. "Actually, my trusty unbreakable hoe is missing."

Quizen perked up from his spot on the living room couch. "I’ll get it— I placed it in my room when you arrived back home the other night. I forgot to give it back to you yesterday because we went out."

"It’s fine." Coco said, assuring the fourth husband. "Please get it now. I think the carriage will arrive any minute now."

"Okay, let me get it." Quizen stood up and rushed out of the living room, his footsteps fading into the background as he ascended to the second floor.

"Coco." The brown haired mediator called out, making Coco stop what she was about to do, her hand freezing in the middle of taking the sandwich that Zaque placed on the coffee table.

"Are you going to bring Lala and Konoha with you?" Heiren inquired, walking out of the kitchen.

"Yes." Coco hummed, her hand reaching out to scratch Konoha’s chin, making the white feline purr contently against her hand. "I need Lala to come with me just in case."

"Oh." Heiren mumbled, his shoulders sagging subtly.

Coco took notice of this and pulled her hand away from Konoha. "But if you want, I can leave Konoha here— ow!"

She jumped in her spot, hissing out in pain when she felt something sharp swat against her legs, making her look down to see Konoha having the hairs on her tail standing up as if there was a threat.

"Well.." The second husband looked hopeful for a moment, but slowly trailed off as he eyed the magical feline. "It seems that she doesn’t want to be left here."

"Looks like it." Coco said, sighing weakly.

"Just bring them with you." Zaque spoke up, catching the attention of Heiren and Coco. "It would be better to have them come with you."

"That’s right, Coco." Heiren stated, turning his attention back to his wife.

"From what I heard this morning, the third stage of the examination will be taking place outside the city." The first husband informed Coco with his eyebrows furrowing.

"We didn’t see the monsters you defeated the other day, but I’m sure the monsters outside the city won’t pose that much of a threat compared to the monsters from Yogusho Village." He added to his previous statement, voicing out his worry.

Coco stared at Zaque, taking a mental note on how worried he looked at her.

Out of the four husbands, the red haired mediator has been very open with his worries and affections towards her— not bothering to hide it nor worry about her finding out about his feelings.

So, knowing that his worries came with good intention, she nodded and accepted his concern for her well-being.

"I’ll be fine." Coco said, assuring Zaque. "If something did happen, I’ll make sure to have Lala fly here to let the four of you know, okay? But don’t worry. I won’t let that happen."

Having Zaque fuss over her safety and health makes her happy, not because he likes her, but because someone other than Lala was looking out for her— and yes, she knows that it’s not appropriate to lead someone who likes her, however, she can’t stop herself from basking on his affections.

Zaque’s physical affections triggered Coco’s defense the other day, but she realized that it was better to let herself cry her heart out rather than keeping them all in.

Besides, with her making up with Lala, she’s sure that she can finally get rid of the mask she slipped on.

"Here’s your weapon, wife!" The musician called out, his hurried footsteps can be heard descending the staircase. "I also saw the carriage outside so you need to hurry!"

Coco walked towards the doorway of the living room and met Quizen halfway, making him bump into her.

She was quick to reach out and grab him on the waist, her free hand snatching the unbreakable hoe from his hands as she steadied him with ease.

"Don’t run down the stairs." She scolded Quizen softly, letting her fingers squeeze his cinched waist. "It’s dangerous."

The blue haired mediator’s breath hitched, his blue eyes widening in both bewilderment and embarrassment, his lips parting in surprise.

"Anyway, thank you for letting me know about the carriage." She expressed her gratitude by giving him another squeeze on his waist, causing Quizen’s face to slowly bloom with a rosy hue that almost matched Zaque’s hair and eyes.

Coco pulled her hand away and looked past the fourth husband, her eyes landing on Alhai who was peaking through the kitchen door.

"I ordered some books that I think you might like." Coco called out to the third husband. "I got them five days ago so they should be arriving some time today or tomorrow."

Coco stared at Alhai for a moment, before she turned in her heels and walked out of the door, which was held open by Zaque.

The first and second husbands quickly followed behind Coco as she walked out, the two of them agreeing to see Coco off to make sure that she got everything she might need.

"You got your sandwiches, right?" Zaque asked, walking on Coco’s left.

"How about the water flasks I filled with freshly squeezed oranges and apples?" Heiren’s question came in second, walking on Coco’s right.

"Yes and yes." Coco hummed, patting the empty bag she had slung around her neck. "It’s all inside of my inventory— the sandwiches, juices, water, clothes, and the packed lunches."

Heiren opened the gate for Coco, his eyebrows furrowing as Coco walked past him.

"I’ll be going now." Coco told the mediators, opening the door and stepping inside the carriage. "Don’t forget to take care of yourselves, okay?"

The husbands didn’t get to answer Coco because the carriage moved as soon as she got inside.