Page 124 of A Soul to Touch

“What the hell do you mean you can’t think of anything else?” Mayumi shouted in an attempt to show her outrage while also trying to speak over the unusually loud chatter of the tavern she was in.

Cornering Klaus and Yoshida at the same time while they were both off-duty was a miracle. However, they were being as utterly useless as they usually were.

“Sorry, Yumi,” Yoshida answered with a shrug, bringing his mead-filled mug to his lips. He accidentally spilled a small amount down the front of his shirt and began wiping it off. “I just can’t think of anything other than casein that would be available in the city or what you suggested.”

“What about beeswax?” Klaus interjected. “People use that for glue sometimes.”

Mayumi groaned while sliding her arms forward onto the table and face planting it.

“That’s not strong enough. I need something that wouldn’t fade over time, that won’t melt under heat or crack when frozen. I need something that is malleable, yet firm enough to hold under pressure.”

“You’re asking for the impossible,” Klaus said with a frown crinkling his stupid forehead between his stupid red eyebrows. “You haven’t even told us what this is for.”

Music was playing, albeit just loud enough to add to the noise but not overpower it. Someone knocked into the back of her chair before stumbling into their table and then walking off like nothing happened.

The tavern smelt horrible, like alcohol and sweat, and sheknewthat was all going to cling to her. If she’d be able to smell it on herself, she worried how Faunus was going to feel.

“So animal glue and casein, that’s all we can think of?” she asked instead of answering.

How was she supposed to say she was trying to glue a Duskwalker’s skull back together? If they didn’t call her insane and throw her in the prison cells, they would round up an army to surround her home to take Faunus on.

“Yeah, but both of those can become brittle over time, and it also depends on if what you’re trying to glue back together is porous or not,” Yoshida reminded her. “If you’re trying to glue something together that is smooth, there’s a chance neither of those things will work since there isn’t anything to bind to. Plus, you’ll need to clamp the pieces tightly together. Otherwise, it’s pointless. So if it’s round, good luck.”

“Thank youso muchfor explaining the obvious to me,” Mayumi grumbled as sarcastically as possible.

I’m being mansplained to!She’d worked with plenty of glue in her life. She didn’t need someone to explain it to her like she was five years old.

“I’m just trying to help,” Yoshida grumbled with his mug to his lips. “You’re the most ungrateful person I know.”

“I’m paying the tab for your help, so shut up.”

“It would be good if we had Henry here,” Klaus chimed in, waving for his mug to be filled at the reminder that she was paying.

“Where’s the smart one when you need him?” Mayumi cried pathetically against the table, her shoulders giving a false heave as though she was truly weeping.

“Never thought I’d hear you say anyone is better than you at anything,” Yoshida scoffed. “And he isn’tthatsmart. He tripped over his own boot yesterday.”

“He’s more of a smartass,” Klaus chuckled, staring at the huge tits of the barmaid serving him.

It wasn’t his fault. She was smiling while obviously trying to shove those soft, round, yummy things in his face.

“Yeah, and you both are like two halves of a whole idiot.”

“There’s three of us here, so that makes us all one-third each of a whole idiot.”

Mayumi lifted her head and pointed her index finger at Yoshida’s face with a glare. “I came up with the animal glue idea.”

She’d already checked if she had some at home in her shed. Her reserves were low, and she was a little worried about how old it was.

“Yeah, and at least I came up with casein.” Yoshida then pointed his thumb at Klaus. “This one here hasn’t brought anything good to the table since he roped you into hanging out with us when we were kids, and Istilldon’t think that was his greatest idea.”

Her nose crinkled in annoyance.

He was joking, she knew he was, but she still wanted to be childish and twist his nipple so he’d squeal like a little bitch – just like when they were children.

“Awww, don’t be like that,” Klaus pouted while wrapping his arm around Mayumi’s shoulders, making her cringe at thephysical touch. “She was useful. She was the smallest and helped us get into some really tiny places. Remember when she–”

“I didn’t come here to reminisce!” Mayumi shouted as she shoved her hands against the table to stand. “The markets are closing soon. I’ll pay the tab, so anything you drink from here on out comes from your own pockets.”

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