Larel shook his head slightly looking over at Hotaru as she apologized, he couldn't really blame her for the comment even he was aware that there was drama between them that probably flared a bit too often.
Which he consider strange since he had never thought about it before, though he's never really had an outside audience before, Mera and Hotaru were always there to see it so on occasion he wondered if he was causing them discomfort in their constant back and forth.
Larel stared at the empty bowls in front of him extremely tempted at the offer of dango, however he felt he'd just be avoiding Alari which wasn't the right option at the moment so he decided to just suck it up.
"It's all right," Larel said lifting his head. "I'd just feel like I'm avoiding him if we stayed here. Don't worry about the comment either I may have deserve that one a little."
Larel picked up his sword and attached it to his back before putting all the bowls together in one stack, once he finished he stood up and brushed off his bottom.
"Lately I've been questioning why I hate that man so much. I used to not think about it, I figured if something felt wrong about him to just go with that, listen to my instinct. Recently though I've been questioning it, wondering why every time I see his face I want to punch it in."
Larel didn't realize it himself but Alari had explained the reasons for this long before at the campfire, aside from the fact Alari kept secrets from him that kept him confused, Larel had trouble understanding anything beyond the surface of his own emotions. Thus his hate for Alari was just that...hate, he couldn't fathom the reason because of the way he was. Just like Hotaru was his friend and that was it, Mera was his master and that was it, even if he felt something deeper he couldn't understand it.
Thanks to this Alari didn't need to do anything for Larel not to understand he just had to say nothing, it was an infinite conundrum and one Larel wasn't going to answer.
"Oh well let's go ahead and head back," he said shrugging. 
Digging in his sleeve he handed the coins to the waitress before motioning towards the door.

Alari entered the inn his mood improved compared to before, Larel of all people had given him a compliment he couldn't deny he was a tad proud of his progress if he could squeeze one of those out.
He truly owed Mera and Hotaru and he hoped one day he would be able to repay that kindness in full, for the time being he would keep an eye on things and prevent as many circumstances as he could on their end that could hinder their troubles.
Though that would be easier if his echo would return, he had cut off all channels of magic in his body so aside from his own instinct he couldn't sense people a certain distance from him.
Anyone close was an exception but at a certain distance he couldn't feel presence, it was slowly returning but gaining it back was a bit more difficult since he was trying to read the life force of all living things and...well there was a plethora of living things.
Thankfully he didn't need his echo to see Mera who was right in front of him, he smiled a little noticing her but his eyes narrowed slightly seeing she was distracted by something, he watched her rub the bridge of her nose and brought a hand to his chin.
His options were extremely clear, the first option was to surprise her with a possible public display of affection, but he didn't have the courage to do that seeing as he couldn't touch her for an extended period without feeling lightheaded also there was a good chance of pain following.
The second option was to call at her from a distance but he wasn't sure if she'd hear him so he went with option three instead.
"Hey Mera," Alari said giving her a small pat on the shoulder as he walked next to her. "You seem distracted is everything alright?"
Alari adjusted his glasses and moved his hands in his sleeves before speaking again.
"Were you able to find any work?"

Hiroyuki rested his hand on his sword as he walked through the small fishing village, stopping at a vendor he handed him a few coins before taking some grilled eel from him, walking along he bit into it surprised at it's toughness but he couldn't deny it's delicious flavor.
He had lost track of his companions and ended up wandering here, Neria had run off somewhere and their strange floating companion had vanished. Neria said she would return once she finished her business and to go on ahead, and their masked companion said the same.
Wandering around now he was reminded how lonely it was traveling on one's own, though he didn't want to stand still either and he decided to take an alternate way to their destination and go by boat, it had been a long time since he had been on one, though he decided to wait a day before moving on so his companions could catch up.
"I wonder what Nii-sama's up too," Hiryouki said lowering his gaze slightly. 
Much as he wanted too he couldn't get past Alari protecting Hotaru and Larel, the two of them were youkai...evil creatures, the whole thing seemed wrong to him but he shook his head putting that aside since now wasn't the time for such thoughts.