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- About a week ago...
That night Cecilia was quested in the Guild of the Brave and came to the village.
Cecilia was listening to information about what was a village and stepping into the woods near the village for its investigation.
"A brave man from the city has set out to meet his village daughter around here."
Hundred times on site.
Cecilia goes around looking for any clues, illuminating the area with the magical lights of [light (light)].
Such a figure of her is perfectly armed so that there may be an accidental raid by someone.
Magic enhanced plate armor makes chatter, but there is no way Cecilia is aware of its weight, as if it were everyday wear.
"Can't you find a clue so easily?... Oh, and it's so annoying. I wonder why I'm out of Brett's house and on my own quest here. I wonder how you got out of yourself when you'll never get such a paradise again..."
Cecilia falls shoulder to shoulder.
For Cecilia, whose celibacy stains, living together with Rio, Iris, Mayfa and Brett was just a dream time.
It was fun to say one thing as a dog for the three girls, and I was happy to be hugged like a pillow by Rio, and in fact it was a reward to be stomped with my feet by Dos Iris, and what a comfort to be rubbed by Mayfa in the tits.
The girls were irreplaceable angels, and that land was definitely heaven.
And Cecilia herself was so de perverted that she couldn't even say it.
Cecilia came out of that place trying to escape like that because she was going to have no more teeth on her desires.
Perverts are fine.
But you mustn't hurt those kids.
That was Cecilia's, critical pride.
"Ah, hate! I hate this sexuality of my own! If I had only been a little more normal, I would have been the dog of those angels (Angels) all along......!
Yes, what a surreal figure of a fully armed female brave man to speak to himself in the woods at night.
But...
"Mmm...... Is this a blood trail...?
When Cecilia illuminated the roots of a certain tree with a light of [light (light)], she found something like a red and black stain there.
If you look closely, there are a few bloodstains around it as well.
"Well, maybe it's the animal feud, but... no, it's still like a" hit. "
Cecilia further noticed signs of something and turned her gaze to the back of the forest.
From beyond, I could see that the grass was pushed apart from the gutter and signs of not being good approached.
Not so strong a force, but three evil signs.
No, I also feel a strong force going behind it.
Four in all?
Cecilia points the [light] light in that direction.
Eventually, the only thing that came out of the way...
"Is that a moving corpse (zombie) or an eating corpse ghost (ghoul)... no, it looks more like a spawn of vampires"
Three human shapes with red glowing eyes came out of the darkness and walked out towards Cecilia.
They are not ordinary human figures, no matter how you look at them.
The long and sharp claw-bearing arms were lowered, and from the mouth of the sharp fangs, who was soiled and drooling.
Cecilia pulls her sword out of the sheath of her hips as she gently sets up a large shield.
"I see. Are you saying the cause of the villagers' disappearance is vampires? Speaking of which, at the end of this forest, there was an ancient castle that was abandoned for the most part."
I don't see any feelings in the figure of that woman brave.
On the contrary, she walks unconstitutionally toward the three evil families.
So much so that the two approaches the distance of the White Soldier Battle.
The three mannequins - the vampire spawns - scattered quickly to surround Cecilia.
"Onna... it looks good onna..."
"This onna...... ningen's, yusha...?
"Then we dedicate ourselves to the anothers, Neva..."
Cecilia looks around with a softly narrowed cold eye at such Spawn's condition.
"I don't care if it's that way or whatever, but I'll let you take them down. Whether you are treated with [Ultimate Healing (Ultimate Heel)], you need to be quiet for once."
"" "Horrible, the Yusha flair of Ningen......!
The three spawns struck simultaneously toward Cecilia.
From the front and the left and right of the diagonal front, it flies to Cecilia with a slight time difference.
Cecilia first struck and blew unconstitutionally what came from the left side with a great shield, and what came from the right side skewered her chest with a sword, and even gently wielded the sword as if it were a bar cut with its spawn's body pierced, slamming her momentum from the front to the one who came.
That's how the triplets rolled together into the ground, Vampire Spawn.
Cecilia stabbed her own sword to the ground once, toward those three spawns, offering her right palm in a gauntlet.
"─ ─ [Holy Light (Holy Ray)]!"
Holy light emanates from Cecilia's palm, wrapping the three spawns together.
"" "Gaaaaaaaa!!!
Shot by the magic of the holy light that destroys evil, Spawn did all she could.
Cecilia glances at it and looks behind further woods as she pulls her sword out of the ground.
At the end of that gaze appeared one honorable man dressed in a black cloak with a deep red lining.
Spawn grows a sharp fang as well, but his eyes dwell on the color of intelligence.
Cecilia pokes her sword at the good man in that black cape and says it off.
"Sounds like you insulted me, vampire. With my men, there would have been only a few chances."
By contrast, the black cape man - the vampire - shrugs his shoulders like he's in trouble.
"... for Christ's sake, you're a horrible woman brave enough that my family won't attack you or put you in your teeth by a threesome. Is it the famous Demon King Hunter?
"Hi. In the alley." The Holy Knight of Steel. "Looks like you're going by Cecilia. As a maiden, I'm not very happy with two names - but it's a long one, vampire. You're the next one to get knocked down."
"Hehe... what, you don't know. Vampires at night are immortal."
That's what the vampire says, she chuckles with her fangs out.
But the opposing brave woman has a cooler face.
"No, I know you well. Even if the vampire shot himself down at night, he'd come back to life in his own coffin laid with 'unclean soil'. I just... I know there are many weaknesses in that immortality. For example."
With that said Cecilia waved her sword in the direction of the day after, not toward the vampire.
The sword waved over Cecilia's head slashes down the thick tree branches that were nearby.
When the woman brave caught a branch as thick as her fallen wrist, she waved her sword furthermore, shuddering quickly.
The impromptu "wooden pile" is what I was able to do that.
"For example, if you punch a 'wooden pile' into your heart, it's possible to destroy even vampires at night, or something. Even if it looks like this, I'd rather have taken Brave Men's College classes. I didn't have bad grades, either."
"Chi......!
The vampire struck his tongue and quickly returned his heel and fled. |
Lesson I'm taking the kids and going through a huge cave.
The [light (light)] lights in my hand illuminate the walls and ceilings of the dark cave, but the cave itself is so vast that I don't have to worry about it, and after a little while, I can't see ahead in the dark anymore.
But in terms of the depth of the cave, it's about as far as my voice got through the entrance, so at least it won't be until where the dragon is.
And in fact, if you go a little further, you start to hear the wind roaring from the back.
I guess that sound that roars regularly in a certain rhythm is the sound of the nose the dragon breathes or something.
"Ho... Are you sure you're okay...?
A werewolf giant hugs Rio's tiny body in fright.
Rio said to it, "It's okay. I have a brother, too," he said, pounding on the shoulder of a beast man far bigger than himself.
As we went further, we eventually got to the place.
Especially in the vast halls, among the giant caves.
Behind that great hall, which is wide and has high ceilings, a giant creature of unity nods.
A dragon.
Its appearance, illuminated by the [light (light)] lights, is huge enough not to be compared to horses, cattle, etc., to remind it of a bungalow dwelling.
The scale is brown with a metallic glow, reminiscent of copper.
It would be reasonable to rate the species as copper dragons (cupper dragons) exhaling acid (acid braces) and the age category as typical young dragons (young dragons).
This must be the dragon in the case, as it also matches the information I was hearing beforehand in the Brave Alliance.
The dragon, on the other hand, rises slowly with its neck in front of us as we enter our own nest hole.
And he opened his big mouth, and he has spoken out.
"Hey, welcome to my twist, humans. I've been a little bored lately, so you're welcome... if you're not the thief who took my treasure."
Instead of the weight of your voice, it's a dragon that speaks casually.
But the pressure emanating from that body is so trembling if you are a brave man.
But when the children saw it, besides the werewolf (Warwolf) trembling and hugging Rio, it was even flat.
Well, since a monster called Wolf Man (Warwolf) is generally comparable in strength to his fellow braves, there is no reason for Ur to be trembling.
Incidentally, the dragon is said to be a hobby in collecting gold and silver treasures in general.
Treasures are their collection, and they get mad if their treasures are taken by someone.
With that in mind, I'll respond to the dragon.
"Regardless, your treasure is not what you are looking for. I just didn't come to see you to deepen your friendship."
"Hmm. When that happens, it's common... is there anything you can do for me?
"That's the place. I want to mine an ore called 'Moon Ore' in your territory, so I thought I'd say hello about it."
When I told him that, the dragon stopped moving perfectly.
And after taking a breath, I said:
Are you saying you're taking what's in my territory with you in my face?
I whispered my tongue in my heart at the reaction.
Apparently, this dragon, being brought out of one's territory, doesn't seem very favorable.
But I think you were right to come and say hello.
Dragons are somehow sensitive when it comes to what happens in their territory.
If you were trying to take it on your own, it would not be unlikely that you would have been noticed and trouble.
I respond to the dragon.
"Yeah. We need moon ore for a reason right now. Originally - until you lived here - it was where the humans who lived in Lavilton were mining. We humans have a right to mine there, too. Don't you think?
I said a few things that I stepped into.
We may need cynical negotiations.
Let's be clear, we're better up there by force.
Sometimes if you go out to exercise strength, you talk fast.
But that's the last resort.
Suddenly trying to push through demands with violence is not what decent braves do.
If we win concessions by any means other than hard means, we'll never get past them.
The dragon, on the other hand, returns a slightly dissatisfied voice.
'Well, yeah, but come on...... I don't like it when people take what's in my territory without anything. Hmmm......'
That's what the dragon says, with one forelimb hook claw (calf claw) attached to his jaw, to show him the way he thinks.
What that clever behavior...... it's surreal......
The dragon remained silent for a while after that.
But waiting patiently, he eventually opens his mouth again.
The dragon, from its mouth, has suggested this.
'Let's do this, then. Anyone of you can entertain me and I'll allow you to mine in my territory. I love human-generated entertainment. Whether it's playing an instrument, painting or whatever. Satisfy me. "
"" "" "'Huh?
All five of them, including me, were on the spot, shouting surprises.
Hey, what... entertainment...?
I honestly had no idea I could come from such a diagonal.
But if you ask me, I don't feel like the fact that copper dragons (cupper dragons) tend to have a very strong interest in human-generated culture and entertainment was written in a corner of a monster science textbook.
But it 's--
"" "No." "
Three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, stare at me like they expect something.
Apparently he expects me to do something about it.
But I want you to wait a minute.
"No... I'm not good at that..."
I confess in front of my godchildren.
I've done so far with a demon hunter, a brave educator, so I hardly have any entertainment or any kind of literacy.
Think about it normally, there's no way that brave people there are mastering technology on a level that will entertain someone.
Some people might be doing something with their hobbies, but unfortunately, I haven't done that.
Rio said, "What, even your brother can't do it? No one can do that," he says dissatisfied, "but I just want to go in and do it because I'm not completely superior compatible with you guys in every way.
-But in that case.
Like the Savior, there was one who came out before the dragon.
It's Mayfa.
"... I can't help it.... When this happens, I'm going to have to show you the art of preservation."
That's what the girl laughs at.
Whoa, that's Mayfa!
She has a reputation for showing skills she doesn't know very well from time to time.
"So, Mayfa. What kind of art are you gonna do?
"... hey, what I found out.... I memorize all the eclectic novels my mother had, where female knights do great things to orcs. So that's what I'm going to do now.... 'Ku, what are you going to do with me strangling my feathers, you dirty oaks! If you're going to kill me, go ahead.' - That hurts!
I was chopping from behind, behind Mayfa's head.
Mayfa looked back with tears that seemed resentful and stared at me.
"... what do you do, brother?... I thought it was from the excitement, and I'm sorry I made it on the way...?
"No! Not if a girl of my age says something like that. 'Cause my dad always says it! Mostly, why are you memorizing all that stuff, you?
"... it's up to me to read that over and over again.... don't make me say it to all of you, embarrassed"
Yeah, that's certainly embarrassing......
I made you say it. I'm sorry, too.
That's not true.
"Anyway, that's no good. Anything else?
"... unfortunately.... That's all I've read so much about Soraji"
"Right...... Sorry, sorry."
It was an act that took a peek into Mayfa's black history.
No, he doesn't seem to think he's black.
Whatever, then...
I turn my gaze to Illis.
Then Iris shook his head sideways.
That's right...
Normally, a level of art that someone can show you is something you don't have that way.
Trouble.
When that happens, are we just exercising our strengths anymore... no, but that's...
I can't let Mayfa scratch the sentence in question.
And I was worried, that's when.
One of the others on the spot raised his voice full of determination.
"Ugh, we'll do it!
That said, the werewolf next to Rio moved forward into the dragon. |
Lesson So, Question.
Are the dragons that inhabit the vicinity of the city good dragons or evil dragons?
"Yes, brother!
Oh, Rio, it was quick.
When I nominate him, Rio answers with a strained chest.
"We're near the city, so it's a good dragon, right?
"Hmm. What makes you think that?
"What...? Duh, why...?
When I returned the question, Rio went awry.
"No, because... if you're near the city, doesn't that mean that the dragon is friendly with the people in the city...?
He asks how Rio seems anxious.
I'm gonna put my hand on Rio's head like that, and I'm gonna do it with me.
Rio rang "Wahoo" and made it look like it was all over again.
"That's the thing. Being physically close to each other and both of them surviving means that coexistence is formed in some way. That means at least you're not the kind of dragon that will try to destroy you as soon as you see a human. ─ ─ Yes, Illis."
I'll nominate you, because Illis was raising his hand as a jerk.
In a rough way, Illis has been asking questions.
"But if that dragon is good, how could that... moon ore? Have you stopped picking that up? If you need it, you can ask Mr. Dragon and let me pick it..."
Mmm, good question.
I think Illis is a clear kid after all as he asks the question of the part that becomes a steep point, after a good understanding of things.
I'll answer that question while I do what I do with Iris.
"A good dragon means just as much to a human being as a good race. The dragon will also have a sense of territory - and most importantly, the market has decided that the dragon is generally difficult. I don't think ordinary people want to get as close as possible to someone they can imagine might pester themselves if they get a little upset."
"Funya... hey, I see..."
Iris was dyeing his cheeks because of me.
On the other hand, next, Mayfa asks questions.
"... that means that we, too, could be roasted round with flames throwing up from our mouths if we get in a bad mood for dragons?
Mayfa herself didn't look frightened, but when she heard the word Ur screamed "hi-ha".
I answer with a bitter smile at that Ur reaction.
"I can't even say it's impossible, about that. - So, Mayfa, don't be too rude in front of the dragon, okay?
"... Mmm, inevitable. I don't want to be roasted all over again because of that."
Apparently Mayfa is also aware that her usual words and actions are rude.
But even so, Mayfa doesn't say, "I don't want to bend myself, so I'm going home."
That's not what I hate about Mayfa.
"But, brother, back to the beginning, how strong is a dragon after all? Stronger than your brother?
Once again, Rio asks me that.
The answer to this question is a little difficult, isn't it?
"Uh... as I said earlier, there's a pinkie spot even when it comes to dragons. It also depends on the type of dragon - for example, whether it's a red dragon, white dragon, or... And most importantly," how long have you been a living dragon? "
"Eh... I knew a long-lived dragon was stronger"
Ul pinches his mouth with a snack.
I nod to it.
"Oh. Humans are grandfathers, when they become grandmothers, they lose fighting ability, but not dragons. The longer you live, the stronger the dragon is. If a young dragon (Young Dragon) hasn't lived in a hundred years, it's not so strange that Rio, Illis, and Mayfa can cross each other one-on-one now, but if it's an ancient dragon (Enchanted Dragon) that has lived for more than a thousand years, it's going to be a rough opponent for everyone, including me, whether it takes a bunch of them or not."
"" "" Hih-heh "" "
The children scream.
Here's what I'm going to add to those girls.
"Though we're not brave enough to see a thousand years of ancient dragons alive."
"Really...?
"Yes, it is."
I will do even more with Iris at hand.
Ilis was ringing, "Nah..." to give him an inadvertent look.
Um, because of the cute reaction, don't want to follow me without anything.
This sucks......
Well, aside from that.
The people we meet when it comes to dragons are usually young dragons (young dragons) less than a hundred years old.
Even if we rarely encounter something that is not, the Magnificent Dragon (Adult Dragon), which has lived for about a hundred to two or three hundred years, is the mountain of Sekiyama.
A thousand-year-old ancient dragon (Enchanted Dragon) is a miracle once in a lifetime.
Besides, the story I've heard in the city's Brave Alliance is that the young dragon (Young Dragon) will be ahead of us now.
Even the youngest young dragon (the Young Dragon) is the youngest Chenglong, but it is a giant monster about fifteen meters from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. If he is a brave man, he is not an enemy until he becomes a bunch.
But my boys have already far surpassed the realm of what they call the parallel brave, and naturally I'm not on that level either.
In other words, for us, the Young Dragon is not so fearful.
─ Well, talking to the kids like that, we move on through the wilderness.
Eventually, we set foot in the reddish rocky hills.
Around here, it would already be within dragon territory in a broad sense.
It is said that the dragon's territory usually extends from the nest hole to several kilometres around it.
By the way, the mining ground where the moon ore can be mined is a short distance from here, but I didn't want to be bothered later because they thought I took the liberty in the territory, so I decided to head to the Dragon's Nest where they taught me in the Guild of the Brave first.
Dragons say they recognize their territory as something of their own where human society says it is.
I don't know what you're willing to live in, but there's no other way for us to break the harmony and understanding between the city of Ravilton and the Dragon.
That's why we're going on a steep hillside for a while.
As the night book descended into the world, relying on the [light (light)] lights, I eventually saw a huge cave in my hand.
By the way, Ur had been beastified from around the hillside and proceeded to look like a werewolf.
Me, Rio, Illis, and Mayfa, the brave men, are moving on with their rugged terrain, but they can't keep up with their athletic abilities or their physical strength in a human wolf, so they gave up and bestialized them from the middle of nowhere.
Ur, who had somewhere repelled his appearance as a werewolf, but by the time he had traveled through the hills for a while, he had said, "This appearance also seems to be useful once in a while ~" and so on.
Well, we came all the way to the Dragon's Nest Cave with four brave men and one werewolf.
In the night darkness, the entrance to the cave, illuminated by the lights of [light (light)], is so immense that the three-story dwelling is likely to soak in, it conjures up the uninterrupted sense of size of the Lord of this cave.
I breathed heavily in front of the entrance and then raised my voice.
"Sorry! Mr. Dragon, are you there -!?
Then a little bit, from behind the cave, a loud voice echoed back from the bottom of the earth.
"Oh, are you human? This is unusual. I don't care. Come on in. '
The children who heard the voice look at each other.
The same goes for Uru, who looked like a werewolf.
And next, the four of you will look at me.
I turn to the four girls and make them nod.
"He said you can interrupt the nest hole. Let's go."
When I took the lead in [Light] lighting and stepped into the cave, the kids followed me like a surprise. |
Episode Then, roughly a week later.
It's time for the sky to blush before the evening.
We were in a vacant lot in the corner of the village where we could take enough runways.
Three girls are standing across the line pulled by a wooden stick on the ground getting ready to start.
I stood by the other line I pulled from there a hundred meters away and raised my voice toward the girls.
"About the position-- - Hey, start!
- Pip!
The girls rushed at the same time as I pushed the switch on the magic watch at hand.
The three of them come up to speed with a gnaw.
They haven't yet gained enough strength as brave men, but they still draw a line already with the walking power of the average woman.
Among them, Rio is overwhelmingly fast.
Iris and Mayfa are fast enough, but Rio pulls even those girls apart with tremendous acceleration.
And in no time, Rio is the goal.
A little late for that, Iris and Mayfa scored a goal.
Girls with hands on their knees and breathing haha.
Among those three, it was still Rio who immediately regained his breath.
"Phew... Brother, how did it go?
"Whoa, that's amazing, Rio. Ten seconds and five. It's three seconds faster than when I measured it a week ago. I've been training hard."
"Hehe, well"
When I do Rio's head, Rio becomes a nitanita with a delightful, dull face.
Oh, that's cute already.
I want to hug you.
But when I hug Rio, I get another illness of bad example, so patience, patience.
Meanwhile, Iris and Mayfa, who saw it, come to me too.
"Doctor, how was I...? Um, are you getting a little more time...?
"... I did my best.... like Rio, it's not a blur to get your head over being praised"
"Oh, Illis and Mayfa are stretched out, too. We're both eleven seconds and six. It's . seconds faster than it was a week ago. You guys are doing your best."
"Yes......! Not yet at all...... but I'm glad. Eh heh heh."
"... in your brother's head. Then you have the richness and mellowness to be queasy.... Be alert, you're going to get nostalgic"
I'll give Iris and Mayfa a head replacement with Rio.
They were both smiling, happy again.
This "without head" feels like it has been regularized at some point in the past week.
At first, I was just doing it somehow, but then I started to darkly demand Iris as the lead, and now it was enough if I didn't do it every time it happened.
I don't even think I'm the one being nostalgic.
I've been giving up my resistance lately to the girls' dreaded charm that I might as well lollicon now.
─ That's why it's been another week since I started their teacher.
In just the past week alone, the three of them had experienced remarkable growth.
Of course everyone is improving their basic abilities such as muscle strength, agility and magic.
Even looking at his technical acquisition, Rio had already perfectly mastered the moves that could be described as the basics in the swordsman's elementary called [bunk cut] [smash], and the magic was ready to use [firing (ignite)] at yesterday's stage.
In addition to the two basic magics of [Fire (Ignite)] [Wind (Wind)], Mayfa is quickly able to use even the primary attack magic called [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)], and Spear's skills are currently putting out a sperm to master [Binary Poke].
Of course this is not the usual pace of growth.
If brave men grow at a pace like this, we don't have a hard time either.
I'm satisfied with their finishing touches, but I'll crush one.
"This is... maybe it's time to try it."
When it comes to what to try, it's a real-life training as a demon king hunter I've been thinking about.
Of course, with the aid that I'm watching perfectly behind me.
Yeah, you're right.
Tomorrow we shall take the three of them and try to get to the city's guild of brave men.
With that in mind, I slap my hands on bread.
"─ Okay. Rio, Illis, Mayfa, that's enough for today. Let's go home and get dinner ready."
"" "Yes" "
That's how I took the three girls on my way home, walking down the road between the wheat fields under the sky where the sunset began to spread.
I have stew for dinner today.
The ingredients I bought in the city are in the house, so I just cook them.
It should be noted that [Ignite] and [Water Creation (Creative Water)] have been actively used by students in cooking meals since their completion.
As far as those magic proficiencies are concerned, I've had enough, except for Rio, because using magic on a daily basis can also be a workout to improve your magic.
─ ─ When I was thinking, etc.
Pull-pull, and the calling magic device that was in my pocket sounded the incoming call.
"Hmm...? Who?"
As my godchildren focus on me, I take the calling magic out of my nostalgia.
The opponent of the call magic fixture was labeled "Alma".
Mayfa stands in front of me, stretches her back and tries to peek in.
"... brother, from whom?... Okay, old woman"
"Why are you daughter-in-law now? - Oh, Dr. Alma, what's wrong?
I put a scratch on Mayfa while I pressed the call magic switch to take the call.
"Ya, Dr. Brett, how are you? I thought you might miss me. '
From the call magic appliance, a voice I hear for a long time.
I laugh and answer as I walk along the path between the wheat fields with the girls.
"Ha, Barca, what are you talking about? My new godchildren are so cute, I'm so good already."
'Heh, that's good. But how cute is it, when you get your hands on your goddaughter?
"Asshole. What the hell does Dr. Alma think I am?"
"Uh, educational idiot, are you a runaway man sometimes?"
"Please don't because it's too accurate to argue"
"hahahaha"
By the way, Mayfa was snuggling up on me while I was on the phone, trying to hear exactly what the call was about.
I'll pay for it with my hands.
Mayfa looked mucky.
I don't mind continuing the conversation.
"So, Dr. Alma. How's that? Something unusual."
─ ─ It was then.
Mayfa put her mouth close to the transmission of the call magic fixture and ran these words.
"... ahhh, your brother's big, in me, come on in... whoa, whoa, whoa"
─ ─ Pip.
Mayfa switched off the call magic fixture.
Two, two, two.
Communication is down.
"... Hey, Mayfa"
"... Huh.... If you want to talk to an old woman, it hurts after you get our permission!
"Sometimes what you do doesn't make a joke!
I twirled Mayfa's temples with both fists.
I'm sure Alma would understand if she explained it... ugh.
After I broke Mayfa's cage, I rushed back to make the call to Alma. |
Lesson Rio and Mayfa.
The two girls confront the six Dark Braves and prepare themselves for combat.
"Oh already, I was ashamed of you because of your brother!
Rio advances in front of Mayfa and stands avant-garde, turning his face bright red.
The frill-rich idle costume-style garment-based protective gear pitifully colors such a girl's appearance.
Mayfa, on the other hand, also goes back behind Rio without making any particular announcement.
She looks like an idol costume again, just like Rio, but what a grand one this one is.
"... it's okay, Rio.... Rio in that outfit, it's so cute, you don't have to be shy"
"Or don't say she's cute, idiot! Instead, I'm ashamed of you!
"... cute, cute, cute.... that looks so cute, Rio."
"No, no, no! It's you! Come on, man!
"... if your brother tells you you're cute, you'll be happy"
"Gu......! Well then... it's okay for your brother to tell you. That's good. Forgive."
"... Then next time, I'll tell your brother I don't like being told Rio is cute"
"Why not! You're telling me your brother's gonna tell you!
"... come on, Rio is worth the tease after all"
When the two are twisted that way, it's the six Dark Braves confronting the two who see it and distort their faces.
"... dude, ladies. You're forgetting about us, huh?
"You know what a big pinch we are, you little females."
"Then educate us with our hands so that we can teach them how to do it."
That said, the Dark Braves laughing at each other nasty gahahahaha.
When he heard about it, Rio stopped hanging out with Mayfa.
The boyish girl in frihila clothing turned forward again and looked up at the Dark Braves with her cold eyes.
"Damn, I can't let that happen either way. If you really think you can beat us, just call me. Or are you freaking out, old men?
The air on the spot freezes for a moment.
Eventually...
Biki, Biki, Biki...!
To Rio's provocation, a blue muscle floated up on the foreheads of the Dark Braves.
"... ho, ho, right. ─ ─ Then just beat him up and mawa him, as you wish!
"There's a petty fucking kid! It's too late to regret it. Mom, I'm telling you, it's not Goto!
That's what he shouted at, first two Dark Braves attacked Rio.
The hallway isn't that big and it's hard for the six Dark Braves to fly off at the same time.
It's the two of us who get attacked at the same time.
Rio, by contrast, takes it and stands without feeling anything.
The eye had a sharp, cold look that was different from the usual naive.
Rio pulls his sword out of the sheath of his hips and waves it sideways with Hyun.
The behavior takes less than a second to comma.
Then, in front of the two Dark Braves, who are attacking us like a rising bear, we find ourselves in nature.
"Come on, motherfuckers... [Disease Sword]!
- Zuba, bubba, bubba, bubba!
Rio made a pathetic leap through his small body wrapped in idle costumes, releasing in an instant twelve higher-level slashing moves.
"" Wow!
After a beat, the two Dark Braves erupt blood from all over their bodies and fall down with Dosadsa.
Every single wound they suffered was not as deep, but their entire bodies were seldom cut off, and they were both instantly rendered incapable of combat.
Moreover, one of them wore a clasp (chainmail), but its armor, which was supposed to be resistant to slashing, was also severed without difficulty, and a thousand chains of iron, made of thick wire rounded, were flying apart.
"hey... what...!?"
"Ugh, you're lying...!?"
Surprised by that are the four remaining Dark Braves.
On the other hand, Rio himself, who unleashed the attack, was surprised to have one.
"Uh-huh... this sword is so cute. Gardon's old man's sword, seriously awesome."
With that said, Rio takes seriously the sword himself wielded.
The short sword, which shines dull silver, is completely plain and unadorned, but the short sword used so far by Rio was an unparalleled delicacy in the quality and workout of the materials used.
But it was also during the bundle that the two showed glue that way.
'Damn, that kid, it can't be. It's strength...! No melee! Temee and the others are magic! We're gonna magically fold it!
The four remaining Dark Braves went into tactics to regain their minds and magically attack them away from Rio.
"[Firebolt]!"
"" [Wind Blade (Windcutter)]! "
The four unleash their primary attack magic, almost simultaneously.
Flamethrows, bluffs, stones.
Three rounds per person and a fierce attack over a total of ten rounds struck Rio at the same time.
"Become...!? Are they all coming to me?!? Damn... [DIFFLECTION]!
Still, Rio makes the majority of the magical attacks that strike him dodge or defend himself with agile dodging steps and sword-based defensive skills.
But the remaining four rounds, which had no evasion or defense, struck Rio directly.
A flamethrower hit Rio's body with a stone.
'Wow... that? It hardly hurts.'
─ ─ I didn't beat him.
Rio's protective Idol Costume Armor emitted a pale light, and its high Magic Defense had wiped out most of the power of the Magic Attack, which struck directly at the main of the costume.
It was Mayfa who was watching behind Rio's back and laughing at him.
"... the magic endurance test of the protective equipment has already been completed.... Unless you have so much magic, elementary attack magic, it hardly passes'
"Uh, wait, Mayfa. It's my first ear."
'... thanks for the initial reaction, Rio.... very good. I'm impressed.'
"Hey, here."
'... about this much is enough for the performance.... it's time to end it'
Mayfa protrudes her left hand forward, allowing her magic to accumulate in the space in front of that hand.
The spherically gathered magic eventually became a scorching sphere about the size of a person's head, increasing its radiance.
'Oh, hey... you're lying...!?'
"What is that amount of magic...!? No, don't...!
"Oh, it can't be! Run, they'll kill you!
'Then don't push, idiot! Wait, wait, wait, wait...!
The Dark Braves, who notice the concentration of compressed magic emitted by Mayfa and hesitate.
But Mayfa doesn't look like she was kidding.
In those eyes lived a genuine anger.
'... there's no way I'm gonna stop.... I can't wait.... indulge in the pain, pain, and fear that Ur has tasted. ─ ─ [Fireball]!'
- Bo!
From Mayfa's hand a scorching sphere filled with terrible magic was fired.
It's like trying to slow down through the moments and landing on the ground in the heart of the four Dark Braves trying to escape from the dungeon.
─ ─ Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle, cuddle!
We wrapped up the four Dark Braves, causing the Great Blast of Red Lotus.
"" "" Ggaaaaaaaaaa!
All the dark braves, beaten by the scorching flames and explosions, fell flabby, and eventually, after the blast had stopped, there was the appearance of the dark braves who had burned in black.
I stare at that with cold eyes and Mayfa snaps.
"... I don't kill.... My brother tells me not to kill people.... I'd like to think you guys aren't people, but I don't want to see your brother sad eyes"
Next to such a Mayfa, Rio lines up.
"Right. You guys thank your brothers, right?... even if you say so, don't you hear?"
And there 's--
"Good day, Rio, Mayfa. Well done. Everything all right?
Brett appeared from behind and placed his hands on the heads of the two girls.
And then you can connect your heads with mine.
The two girls who took it nostalgic for Brett as if the condition had been a lie until a moment earlier, looking like a kitten that had been taken from her.
"Ha ha, brother, I'm ticklish. It was easy for these guys to win."
"... With that said, Rio was under the magical direct blow of the enemy.... If you weren't wearing protective equipment, it would have been devastating"
"Oh, that's...! I mean, Mayfa, what were you doing then! Mayfa could have attacked you before those guys!
"... performances are important.... that one in Rio was a necessary sacrifice"
"Uh, wait a minute. That."
"... and brother, you can have a lot more of me. I won't suffer.... oh there, good...... more"
And there, the two of us, Iris and Ur, also walk over.
"Doctor, I've also finished treating Uru. It's okay now."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Brett! I've just gotten help so many times, what a thank you...... And Rio, Mayfa, and Iris, thank you so much!
Ur bowing deeper.
Against both of them, Brett dares to be headless.
"Iris and Ur, well done, too. Really, really good work."
"Nah... I knew it wasn't the teacher's head after one job. So, that's great... oh, that feels good... glad..."
"Is that what this is about...? Something about the image of Iris in our midst keeps crumbling..."
Iris dyed her cheeks and felt them as she groaned.
While Ur pulled a little after seeing how Iris was doing, he was still holding his head with his big hand and seemed to feel just a little comfortable.
Brett then reported to the city's official constitution in Lavilton as a bona fide citizen.
When Lavilton's official constitution rushes to the scene, he discovers the appearance of the Dark Braves who fell and fell by some raid and evidence of their evil deeds.
Those who created the scene were no longer present at that time, and the presence of a bona fide collaborator X was later to be recorded in the investigation records of the Lavilton Police Office.
In that way, the night before the full moon, the night of the battle passed - the next day.
The stage of amateur stage idols opened in the central square of the city of Ravilton. |
Lesson I bought clothes for three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, had a haircut and got myself ready.
And then there were three sisters of a beautiful girl who had exceeded her expectations.
That wasn't the main purpose I brought the three of you into the city today.
I'll walk down the city's central street with the three students and tell them.
"Now, before we go back to the village, we're going to stop by the Guild of the Brave"
"... too brave? What's that?"
Rio listens back.
Apparently, it's my first ear.
Both Iris and Mayfa were leaning their necks.
What is the Guild of the Brave?
I can give you an oral explanation, but it would be easier to actually go on site and experience it than that.
"Come on, follow me. I bought some clothes and paid for my haircut. You can hang out with me about that."
"Yeah. Sure, but..."
Follow the honesty with Iris and Mayfa, including Rio.
I took the three of them and walked to a corner of the city.
Eventually, we arrived at a building.
The sign reads "Guild Lindbergh Branch of the Brave".
By the way, Lindbergh is the name of this city.
I take my three godchildren and knock over the door of the Guild of the Brave.
The interior of the Brave Alliance was about the size of a little tavern.
There is a counter for reception on the front, and on the other side is the work space for employees.
On its front side there were about ten free brave men and women, each looking at a bulletin board, talking to a receptionist, and a few of them stopping by to talk.
I look back to the three godchildren and explain.
"This is one of the branches of the Brave Alliance. The Guild of the Brave has branches in every city in the country, where freelance braves can get information about the Demon King and get paid to exorcise the Demon King."
Freelance brave men are those who exorcise the Demon King and live in his reward, also known as the "Demon King Hunter".
This Guild of Braves is used by its Demon King Hunter as a source of information and as a recipient of rewards.
Here, we have information about the demon king who has recently broken loose in the neighborhood, and we're going to exorcise him.
If a brave man tries to earn money quickly, it's easiest to do this demon king hunter.
I want to let the three Rio guys do it at a later date because I get paid for the sense of day employment and there is no prohibition of minors.
And by the way, the three of them...
You weren't listening to my explanation, you looked around uncommonly, or you were surprised.
On the other hand, the other brave people who were in the Adventurer's Alliance - probably all Demon King Hunters - were so frightened to see the four of us.
No, it would be more accurate to say "three other than me" than "four of us".
Somehow a surprisingly beautiful girl came in all three of a sudden.
Even in their shoes, I think I'll end up dead.
And eventually those who returned to me began to whisper as they looked at this one.
"... hey that guy, he's got all three of those cute kids with him. Who is it?"
"I'm pretty sure it's Loricon...... Damn, it's Loricharem, I envy you"
"Brothers and sisters are the lines... no, don't they? You don't look alike."
"You smell like a crime... Maybe we should call it in..."
... and apparently it's for my attention, too.
But it is still regrettable why you do not see me in the relationship between teachers and students.
I want you to stop reporting me because I'm innocent.
Well, that's anyway.
I came here today, naturally, but not to show off all the beautiful girls in Rio.
To gauge their potential.
Each branch of the Brave Alliance is always equipped with magic items that measure the potential of the Brave, and if you register as a Demon King Hunter, you can let them use it as part of their service.
If you're a Brave Men's College of that size, you don't have to bother to take a trip to the Brave Men's Guild because you naturally hold those tools.
It is our current situation that there is no such thing in that borough cabin named the College of the Brave, and thus we have no choice but to use external services.
So when I took my three godchildren to the reception counter, I made the three Rio's sign up for the guild.
Registration itself was possible as long as they had the talent to be brave, and the three cleared without any problems.
Then start measuring the potential that was the purpose of this one.
On the orb placed on the pedestal, three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, put their hands together in turn.
Then after a while I waited, a woman from the guild staff brought me a form describing the three potentials and gave it to me.
"Thank you for waiting. This will be the value of the students' potential.... Well, I'll tell you what, all three of them are very talented."
I was told that when an official gave me three sheets of record paper.
"Are you serious?"
"Seriously, I'm serious. It sucks. ─ ─ Check it out at the table over there with the students. You'd be surprised, wouldn't you?
"Okay. Thanks."
When I paid the staff, I took the three of them to the table where the staff told me to go.
By the way, I hear these whispers coming from the officials.
"... hey, those guys, the teacher at the brave college in the nearby village and the students,"
"Ugh!? It's impossible, isn't it?... So that handsome brother is the teacher?
"It seems so. And that brother, he said he was a demon hunter before he became a teacher at the College of the Brave. So my name is Brett Cradill."
"What...? Wasn't Brett Cradill the name of the famous Amazing Demon King Hunter...? I think I heard he did retire some years ago..."
"Yeah. I don't even know if it's a trick... but in any case, those guys definitely have something. That's what my mind whispers."
"I think I'll whisper to whoever that is. Still...... haha, I want to get in between those beautiful men and beauties too. And I want to melt."
"Sometimes you say weird things..."
Rumors of female employees were that our personal information was in vain.
And the brave guilds here, the demon king hunters, they're talking too loud.
Besides, it's time to confirm the potential of the three godchildren.
I'll spread a record sheet with their potential on the table.
Three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, peered at it with interest.
"Hey brother, what is this?
"Oops. This is a demonstration of Rio's potential as brave men."
That's what I said, and by way of illustration, I'm going to point you to an item of documentary paper that shows Rio's potential.
Say Hmm, Rio and the others pay attention.
"For example, it's Rio's potential that's written on this paper, but there's a" sword skill: S "right here. That Rio is remarkably talented with swords."
............
That's all I explained, I tilted my neck.
The talent of sword skills... S Rank...?
Seriously?
"Hmm...? Brother, what are you doing? - Whoa!
─ ─ Butterflies, butterflies!
I rush around behind Rio, make sure I can hold her, and quickly glance at Rio's potential record paper placed in front of me.
"Hey, hey, brother!? hey, what are you...!?
"Wait, it's not the other way around! ─ ─ What is this value......!?
"That's not the other way around, all of a sudden you hug me from behind, what are you talking about!?
"Fine, just shut up for a second!
I kind of shut up about Rio while dropping my eyes on each item.
Surprisingly, it wasn't just the S-rank of sword skills.
Agility also s rank.
Strikes and strengths are A-ranked, as are melee skills other than swords.
Although not as talented in magic, the B rank of fire attribute magic and earthly attribute magic is nonetheless a rating that falls within top class specialties if you are a brave man in line.
"Impossible... what a gift this genius has...!
"Impossible is your brother's behavior!
Rio shut up for some reason, but if you leave it alone...
Normally, in terms of ability or skill, an A-rank is classified as a Genius Brave.
The talent of S-rank is rarely worshipped and only geniuses among geniuses possess qualities.
But he has such talent across multiple items.
Students with such outstanding potential have never seen it in teacher life before.
If I raise this guy, what the hell happens...?
This is gonna be hell......!
I turned around the Rio I was about to hug, and I grabbed both of those shoulders and shook them hard.
"Rio, you're amazing! -That's great!
And I hugged Rio from the front.
Rio, held by me, was kind of a jerk screaming gagger, but eventually...
"Ugh... I don't care anymore..."
As if he had given up something, Ru Ru wept and relaxed. |
Lesson The day after he had picked the moon ore from the dragon's territory and deposited his job with Gardon, special training began as an idol for three people: Rio, Ilis and Mayfa.
Using the city park in Lavilton, Ur will become a mentor to teach songs, dances, and more.
Ur said at first, "We're not good enough to teach people!," he said and so on, trying to turn down instruction, but our three godchildren looked at each other badly and said, "" "Dr. Ur, please!" "and so on, breathlessly bowed his head, so he couldn't seem to pull back even as Ur.
That's why the three godchildren started the lesson.
On the first day Ur also watched clearly because the bakery work was off, but from the next day he had work during the day, so Ur only saw a little in the early morning and at night.
A short period of training, but all three had remarkable absorption of technology.
Rio was particularly out of his ability to learn to dance, and once Ur did it and showed it, he immediately tried to imitate the movement with considerable precision to surprise Ur, the mentor.
Illis showed a particularly high talent in the acquisition of songs, and with his clean voice and good sound, he quickly gained the singing skills that seemed to be professional.
Mayfa, as always, tries to skip the practice exquisitely, but I'm still not sure about the Mayfa one because, strangely enough, I somehow acquired the technology at a level that is not as pale as Rio or Illis.
As such, on or about the night of the third day I started practicing, Ur had finished to a level where I said, "Talent is brutal... it took about six months for us to reach our current three levels..." and so on, and the instructor girl had collapsed disappointingly.
Well, the three Rio guys spent most of those three days training for song and dance, and the effort was the result.
It's just not half the way through, so I know very well that people who watch them grow up around can break their hearts.
Already, that's it.
I guess these three are the ultimate life-forms or something with unusual growth power, so I shouldn't have to compare them to myself.
That's why Rio, Illis and Mayfa's training as idols went amazingly well.
At this rate, I was slowly raising my hopes as well as watching on the side as I thought there would be some serious weekend contest wins.
But unfortunately, it wasn't all going well either.
Give Gardon the moon ore, then the morning of the fourth day.
I also visited the Gardon Martial Arts Store this day as part of my daily routine.
Galdon, who welcomed him in the store, however, built a neighborhood under his eyes, and his hair and proud mustache were also bumpy, looking tired.
I generally guessed with that look, but I ask Gardon for confirmation.
"Good morning, Mr. Gardon. What do you say, progress in the production of" Blackout Neck Decoration "?
In contrast, across the counter at the Gardon Martial Arts Store, the shopkeeper Dwarf tells them to be infidel and rotten.
"Huh, look, don't you see, kid? If things were going well, I wouldn't look like this."
Gardon in a frustrating tone.
I don't think it's hard to be an adult, but I guess they're pretty mental, so I don't think it's impossible either.
This is more or less what Gardon has been like the last couple of days, and the color of the wax seems to be getting stronger every day.
This means that the progress in producing "blackout necklaces" is not fragrant.
I don't know if this is happening because Gardon has spared me while I sleep and he's serious about making it......
Gardon leaks his stupidity in frustration as he scratches his head in burrs.
"We can smelt metal with moon ore without any problems! But the process of processing into the necklace doesn't really work! Damn.........!
I was watching it, and I wanted to say, "You don't have to do this," but I thought it couldn't be that way, and I kept thinking about putting it in my mouth.
Because Ur's life is at stake, I can't even say I can give it up carelessly because it looks painful.
I don't think Gardon, on the other hand, will be able to gib it up so easily before he says he'll do anything to get it done.
"Excuse me, thank you. Tell me if there's anything I can do."
That's all I'm saying, I'm leaving the store behind.
Gardon's voice, which replied "Oh" to that, was rather weak.
When I went outside the store, the three Rio's were waiting.
I was waiting outside wondering if I could blame Gardon for his frustration.
"Brother, how was it?
Rio will ask, so I'll answer that head all the time.
"You don't seem to be working. I hope we can work something out..."
"That's right...... It's stage day in three nights, and without it, Ulu won't be able to get on stage..."
Illis says worryingly.
On the other hand...
"... that dwarf, instead of slapping a big mouth, it's not surprisingly a big deal"
Mayfa says such an outrageous thing that I slapped that head gently.
"Hey Mayfa, you. Never say that in front of yourself. Even Mr. Gardon is desperately trying. Besides, he said the outfit was out of specialty, so there's no use there..."
And that's all I said, and I realize.
Gardon said he could do fine until the smelting of metal using moon ore, but the processing process to the necklace didn't work.
But in the first place, why did you ask Gardon to produce a "blackout necklace"?
As a craftsman requesting made-to-order, there was another candidate.
But what she was saying was...
When I got to that point, I couldn't stay or not, and I was rushing out of the spot.
"Hey, brother! Run all of a sudden, where are you going!?
Rio stops calling, so I look back and scream at my godchildren.
"It's at the other armorer's!
That's why when I headed to Central Avenue, I witnessed Liselle, the owner craftsman of the elf, taking command of the opening of the store that day, in front of the intended store.
When Liselle notices me, she smiles and calls out.
"Alas, I'm not Dr. Brett, a colored man admirably promoting the Lori Child Harlem project. What can I do for you in the morning?
"Don't give me two strange names. Mr. Liselle, I'd like to ask you something more."
"To me?... Ok. Why don't you just go inside? I'll make you some tea."
That's how we got through to the reception room at the Riesel Martial Arts Store and talked to Riesel.
I asked Gardon to make a "blackout necklace", but although I can even smelt metal using moon ore, from there on, the gardon must be clogged in the processing process to the necklace.
So, I thought that if Liselle was good at producing gear-based weapons, she could do something about it.
Liselle, who heard the story, snapped a word, "I see," and then returned it like this.
"In conclusion, if I can take over from here on the way, I think I can.... even then I didn't know. Mr. Gardon is not very good at producing costume-based weapons. I thought pure armour-making technology was entirely above me, but you're not. A little surprised."
When I hear that, I lift my hips off the couch, joyfully brave and say, "Bye," Liselle shows me her palm and says, "Just -" and annotates.
"Mr. Gardon, you know, pride and stubbornness, right? I wonder if that man's pride won't allow him to leave it to me in the middle of work. Mostly that guy, something he hates about me as much as a snake scorpion. I'm sure he didn't see me as a craftsman at all because he thought I was a golden deceased. This one says it's a love letter for his skill."
That's what I say and I flatter my shoulders, Liselle.
And that's when.
The door to the reception room was knocked.
When Liselle says, "Go ahead," a Liselle armor store clerk in a suit walks into the reception room and stops by Liselle for ear punches.
Liselle looked surprised and asked the clerk back.
"Is Mr. Gardon in front of the store?
"Yes. He wants to see what Liselle has to offer. It's not a noise today, but shall we drive it back?
Liselle did a little thinking before returning it to the clerk.
"No, I don't mind, just let me through here." |
From the rattling and rocking ride carriage, I watched the view out loud.
As soon as he leaves the Wang capital, the vast countryside expands, and he sees the farmers making the cows pull the plumage.
You can also see how goats and pigs eat grass and fruit, and how young children are still rushing around in shakes.
"You're idyllic."
I smile all alone.
We brave men are fighting demon kings everywhere because of unfounded emotions like this.
"But now I don't know if we're obsessed with inner rubbing and power struggles between brave men.... and sigh."
I actually sigh loudly, just a little face out the carriage window.
As far back as the streets the carriage had travelled, we could see the splendid buildings of the College of the Brave in the corner of the Wang Capital, which soars ahead of its gentle downhill.
It won't be long before I get back there.
If I were to come back, a year later...
I was the cause of this journey, of what happened yesterday.
When I was a teacher at the College of the Brave in Wang Du, when I was instructed by Cyrus, an officer of the Brave Men's Association, to come to the president's office, I already had a bad feeling at that stage.
And unfortunately, that hunch has been centered.
"Well, Dr. Brett. Do you have any openings?
A man sitting in the chair of the board and holding great hands on a desk full of authority sees me standing in front of him and says that.
It is this nervous, elderly man whose gray hair and facial wrinkles began to stand out as he plugged into old age that is Cyrus, an officer of the Brave Men's Association.
By the way, behind that cyrus, three male students stood looking at me hatefully, wrapped around their bodies in bandages for pain.
These are three of the students I was teaching, all of whom are bonbong brave men born into leading nobles and millionaires' houses...
I mean, the scenario they claim was something like this.
A teacher, I, Brett, worked assaults during class on the three male students there.
A teacher named Brett is a hell of a violent teacher and a disqualified teacher.
Complaints have also been received from leading aristocrats and millionaires, the parents of these male students.
You are not worthy to teach at this King's Capital College of the Brave.
Therefore, you are ordered to move to the College of the Brave in a small, remote village - well, that's why.
If you ask me what caused this...
Cyrus is a board member of the Brave Men's Association who holds the college's personnel rights, but I've been criticizing this guy for his power-wrapped ways every time.
I guess that's what Cyrus, who didn't care, is a stomach buildup to fly me to seclusion with difficulty.
It should be noted that according to one colleague's female teacher, "Dr. Brett has a passion for education because of his students' thoughts, and his abilities as a teacher and a brave man are amazing, but I'm worried that he won't be left any time soon because he won't think about the world".
The worry seemed to hit me beautifully, and even for me, there was nothing else than bending my mouth to the letter to.
By the way, the rich Bonbon boys students in the back standing in the guise of major injuries were the ones who didn't have enough strength yet but were all pride and didn't try to take classes properly.
I've always told them to work harder because they're not strong enough as they are, and I wonder if that turned into resentment against me.
So, what's good about that place, Cyrus must have used it.
Around that time, there is some reflection on how to teach me how to finally...
It's just, well, there wasn't much more I could do than that already happened.
It's a scenario drawn by Cyrus who likes power struggles and conspiracy plays.
I don't like this kind of politics, and I thought the outer moat was more or less buried.
So I guess it's just useless to resist, but...
Well, I thought I would try to defend myself to some degree because he said how the opening of the application was.
"No, even if they say assault, I'm not doing enough classes to get you seriously injured like that. Plus, you're raising brave men to fight demon kings, so it's gonna be some rough classes. If you were educating a flower garden with zero violence, you wouldn't grow a brave man."
In the meantime, I made a genuine point.
The College of the Brave is a college that trains brave men to fight demon kings.
Naturally, if we don't do combat training, we won't talk.
In the meantime, for example, during the practice of melee combat, it is of course a routine tea meal that has been pushed or fallen, and about needles and scratches really occur.
Or even letting students meet each other with a cloth-wrapped wooden sword would normally take about bruising in some cases.
If I try to avoid those injuries a hundred percent, I won't be able to practice with any flesh.
There will be no such ridiculous story in the College of Braves that raises brave men to fight demon kings.
And even if I didn't work the assault myself, if injuries occurred as a result in my class, I can tell you that the teacher conducted such a violent education.
I mean, this story is a one-to-ten argument.
But when I answered that, a man who was a clerk by the side of the room started filling in something more exposing himself to the paper at hand.
Seeing that, I thought, well, that would be Cyrus' kid anyway, so I guess they're rewriting the fine nuances and stuff for the convenience of the other side.
"Teacher Brett replied, 'If there's some violence, it's fine, it's more necessary'" or something.
And Cyrus, on the other hand, stared at me sharply.
"So Dr. Brett claims these students are lying? Besides, he affirmed his own violent classes and said he didn't even intend to do reflections."
I thought it was a fried leg removal until it was beautiful, but it was certainly an argument that if you twisted what I said well, that wouldn't happen.
It's also troublesome to deal with them, so I ignored the fact that they took the word butt and replied honestly.
"Well, is that going to happen? I'm reflecting a little bit on the fact that I've given such lying guidance. And how many of you in this king's capital are high healing magic users? Assuming you're injured, you don't need to wrap it around with a bandage like this. Why are these guys dressed like this?
I darkly said, "For the production of pain, right? ♪ I put a disgust on it. ♪
Then Cyrus, who received it, chipped his tongue.
Then in frustration, bang and slap the desk.
"Brett, what are you talking about? I didn't know you just had no attitude of reflection about waving assault on the students or calling them liars! Besides, even if you wield violence, you just need to heal it with healing magic, and so on, and so forth, you rant suspiciously about your ears!
The secretary will also fill in further regarding what Cyrus said.
Apparently, just for what we said, they picked up the statement for convenience, and the dimensions were that our neck would tighten.
Of course, healing magic. I didn't mean that.
The Cyrus one really has a mouth turn in places like this.
Well, anyway, it's a farce from the start, a race that can be made.
I was just wondering if there was anything else I should ask you.
I took my gaze off Cyrus and said to the three boys students behind me.
"Are you sure that's all right? Don't you regret it?
To my words, the three boys distracted themselves from me.
Well, I wasn't talking about struggling if I wanted to be revamped with such a word.
There's revulsion in the way Cyrus involves those students, but even those guys are good. Come on, they're too old to say.
What I do is ultimately up to me and I have to take on the responsibility for it myself.
Even if I don't resent them, the scars I make in them will continue to linger.
It was a little tedious as an educator that I couldn't get rid of it.
But Cyrus, on the other hand, didn't think about it.
"When the wind gets worse, now you're blackmailing the students? You really are an exhausted teacher. I don't even want to see your face anymore, just get out. I'll have it delivered to the room later regarding the decree. As soon as you receive it, pack your bags and leave this college."
That's what he said, he forced me to finish the conversation, and he ordered me to leave.
As I sighed, I thought I'd leave the president's office to wish for more farce.
Before I did that, I just remembered to throw up a throwaway dialogue. |
Lesson I even came near the desired residence.
It was midnight yesterday, but now it's about past breakfast time.
The sky pattern is pretty bright, even if it doesn't look neat.
The house is closed with doors and windows.
Of course it did last night, but if the house lights were still on at night, those lights would have leaked out of the doorway or something.
Unlike last night, by the way, I can see the villagers around me now.
The four of us seem to stand out - sometimes because our godchildren have all the beautiful girls, and maybe because they're all armed - and the villagers were eager to see us fly.
In the meantime, we walk to the door of the intended residence.
And I took the last step and knocked on the door when I sent a signal with my eyes to three people: Rio, Illis and Mayfa.
"Um, excuse me. I'm from the Demon King Hunter sent by the Guild of the Brave, is anyone there? I'd like to talk to you for a moment."
I do, speak up so I can hear you in the residence.
I haven't had a reaction for a while.
But then, a little bit later, a loud voice returned from across the door.
"... I'm sorry, but go home. I was just sleeping."
Male voice.
But the voice seemed creepy, somewhere from the bottom of the earth.
I see the faces of the three godchildren.
All three of them had a pressing look: Rio, Illis and Mayfa.
I nod to the three of them and then I call out to the other side of the door again.
"I was asleep, I say, but even at dinner last night, there was no light in this house, was there? Were you asleep then, too?
When I ask, again for a little while.
Then again, don't bluff back.
"... oh yeah. If you know what I mean, just go home."
"The village chief told me," A family of three, "and the whole family, you've been asleep?
Now I'll try and mix the faux.
In fact, I hear 'family of four' instead of 'family of three'.
If someone else in total red is making up, I might get bored.
"... right. And then we're a family of four. Did you really talk to the village chief? Ambiguous Yamatsu"
It didn't take the fake I set it up.
What do you mean...?
Are you sure you've just been asleep since dinner last night?
"Um, I'm sorry, can I open the door and let you in? You're listening to the disappearance, aren't you? It's an investigation. Please help me."
When I say that...
Now I waited awhile, but I didn't get a response back.
The place is quiet.
It's still obviously obnoxious.
There's no way to know the composition of a family living in this house, and there's still...
This will be enough, a forced breakthrough.
I make eye contact with my godchildren again.
Then I put my hand on the handle of the residence door.
I try to push the door open, but it's locked and it doesn't open.
Inevitable.
I took my hand off the door once...
"─ Ha!
I kicked the door with my feet.
Wooden doors blow up with every hinge along with loud noises, and doors detached from the entrance fall into the house with batans.
Now, if there were any ordinary villagers living here, I'd be very sorry.
Should I say fortunately or unfortunately?
What was there was not an ordinary sight.
In a dim house.
Shortly after the door was opened, a wooden coffin - one coffin - was placed.
The coffin has an open lid and is packed with a slight "dirt" inside.
I felt something in the "dirt" like an ominous sign.
It's the brave one.
But I think the signs are subtly different from the exasperation of the Demon King.
Either it's homogeneous to the signs of the undead monster...
And that's where I pinned.
Much of the questionable part connects with a single thread, neatly muscular.
I pull my sword out of the sheath of my hips and give instructions to my godchildren with only their voices.
"Rio, Illis, Mayfa! Evacuate the surrounding villagers as far away as possible! This is a vampire!
And myself, I step into the house carefully.
─ ─ Vampires.
It's a kind of undead monster, but it's a troublesome monster with top notch power and many special properties among them.
As the name suggests, vampires attack humans and suck their blood, but vampires have the ability to resurrect their own blood as undead monsters named Vampire Droppers (Vampire Spawn).
Vampire Spawn has lifelong memories, but he dwells in an evil nature and becomes impulsive of violence, killing and bloodsucking.
And at the same time, he turns himself into a loyal servant to the orders of the vampires who created him.
An even bigger problem, on the other hand, is the fighting power of vampires and their spawns.
This is pretty bad.
Vampires themselves are not meant to be demon kings, they are "just monsters" in that sense, but they are still strong enough to be invincible if not bundled up in a lined demon king hunter.
And even that dropper (Spawn) is the first monster in the world to have a fighting power comparable to a lined brave man.
Though...
If it's my strength, I'm not the one who can't handle it at all if I don't miss standing around.
Especially now in the morning, when the sun is weak but it is pouring down.
For vampires, daylight is a weakness, and they are of the nature that if they continue to be exposed to the light of day, they will be heavily damaged, and eventually burn and melt and perish.
In other words, now that we are in the middle of the day, the situation is in our favor.
Outside the house if you have to - get out in the sunlight and you can figure it out.
Then we should set up an assault and defeat him once and for all so that there is nothing like letting him escape here and spreading the damage.
Even though I have retreated from the position of being an active Barry Demon King Hunter, I am not going to take a step back when it is that easy on this level of opponent either.
"─ Shaaaaaaaa!
As I stepped into the residence, a single vampire spawn struck from the side of the entrance.
Vampire spawn is generally a human figure, but it shows that blue and white skin, sharp and pointy nails and canine teeth and, above all, creepy red glowing eyes have ended up being monsters who are no longer human beings.
That guy tries to grab me with his arms wide open, but if you try me with a bucket of agility that's always Rio, it's a perfectly normal move.
I would have backstepped outside the house to take that blow.
And he instantly stuck his foot where his opponent's balance had fallen apart, slamming a thrust by the sword.
Humans who have become vampire spawns also have slightly stiffer skin, but to that extent do not even apply it to their teeth.
My magical sword pierced Vampire Spawn's chest from diagonal to back.
"Higaaaaaaaa!"
Vampire Spawn screams, but he's also not the one to forgive.
Besides, it is not a monster that will perish to this extent.
When I pulled out my sword, I kicked that spawn in my head.
Spawn blows up to the back of his dwelling and crashes into the wall that was on his way and collapses.
On my way there, I...
"[Firebolt]!"
Strike in the magic of flame attributes.
The four strips of flamethrows that I produced hit all the spawn I was about to wake up and started a flame.
And after the flames stopped, Spawn's figure stopped moving.
It's hard to think that Spawn, impelled by his killing instincts, will simulate his incapacity for combat, and you can see that he defeated it damaging as well.
"But I don't suppose there's any such thing as..."
I'm walking into the house again.
Then from behind the door that was behind the room, the three vampire spawns appeared loose.
The figure is somewhat different from the first one, but will not differ greatly in individual combat power.
"Three... Well, what's the matter?"
Even as I relax, the Spawns will attack us first.
For one thing, I thought I'd greet you instead of the [sickness sword], and when I put up my sword...
"... from your right hand [Firebolt],... also from your left hand [Firebolt] - - hey!
- Bobby, bobby, bobby!
A total of ten flamethrows were fired from behind me and killed into three vampire spawns.
When the flame bullets land, they envelop the Spawns with flames.
I'm not the kind of person you can take down, but...
Nevertheless...... at all.
This guy's the best, you don't listen to me, do you?
"... brother, join the ranks. ... evacuation guidance for villagers is enough for Rio and Illis alone"
"I get it. If you're here, don't be alarmed, Mayfa."
"... it's okay.... I use you as a shield, so unless your brother gets hit, I'm safe"
"Right. That's a relief."
I slapped one of my godchildren standing next to me so lightly. |
Lesson When Ur and I split up, we go into the inn and take a breather in our own room.
Inn has one private room for me, and three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, have one room in the same room.
I broke up with my godchildren in the hallway of the inn and relaxed alone in my room.
After a while, I wondered if the air was getting a little loose, so I opened the window and tried to get the outside air into the room.
It's night, so I thought it was dark outside. That's not true, and the light of neon lights shines all over the place on Ravilton's night, showing the same bustle.
"Tomorrow is finally the day."
Sip one of the teas you received at the service counter and breathe in a ho.
There was something wrong, but I generally felt it fit where it should fit.
The thoughts of the children are going to be accomplished, and the weapons "got more than they should".
As a teacher, I guess you did a reasonably good job.
No, the slightest doubt remains as to whether this is the work of a teacher at the College of the Brave, but in any case, if the children grow up healthy, it will never be better than that.
And then, you know, the kids raise them to live well on their own.
And it was when I was caught up in such thoughts.
─ ─ Aww, ooh, ooh!
Outside the window, somewhere far away, I felt like I could hear the wolf squeaking faintly.
"Hmm...?
I got a slight hook in that voice.
I felt a resemblance to Ur's voice when he beastified it.
In addition, the voice sounded more "crying" than "ringing."
It sounded sad somewhere.
Am I overthinking it?
But I was standing up with a love sword standing nearby on my waist belt.
Leave the room.
Then from the next room, the three godchildren also appeared in the hallway.
All three of them have weapons in their hands.
All of them were purchased at the Gardon Martial Arts Store the other day, brand new weapons.
The protective gear is probably "holding" it, even sneaking it in your pocket.
"Brother, did you hear that now!?
"Doctor, it sounded like Ur's voice to us now......!
"... sounded like a sad squeal.... I might be worried. But"
I give those three a strong nod.
"We're going to Ur's house. If nothing happens, you can go home."
"" "Yes!
We left the inn and rushed toward where Ur's house was.
After a while, we arrive at Ur's home in the mountains.
The door of the house was unnaturally open.
Stepping inside the house, it was vandalized there as if it had been picked up.
But now there's no sign of people, no sound.
And there's no sign of Ur either.
What bothered me more than anything in that sight was the floor near the entrance.
Fragments like a thousand chopped cloth pieces were scattered everywhere at the foot of the place just as we stepped into the house.
Iris picks up one of them and asks me with a faded face.
"Doctor, hey this... isn't that a cut in Uru's clothes...?
"Oh. For some reason, it would be reasonable to see it hastily bestialized here"
"Vestification, why...!
A rushed Rio calls me to eat.
I try to respond calmly.
"I don't know why. It would be most natural to think that Ur encountered someone here who had to beast and fight..."
Someone Ur has to beast and fight.
You were attacked by a wild monster, or...
"Either way, we'll all split up and look for Ur. Danger is also expected. Call me if anything happens. That's good."
"" "Yes!
Me, Rio, Ilis and Mayfa, we went outside the house and searched the surrounding mountains.
But after a while of searching, we can't find Ur.
"Hey, Ulu!
"Uru! If you're there, answer me!
"... no. ... [Expanded hearing (high hearing)] But I can't pick up a clue.... maybe not anywhere near here anymore"
Like Mayfa, I also used the magic of [Expanded Hearing "High Hearing"] to look around, but I couldn't get any clues.
"... what shall I do, brother?... what can I do?"
Mayfa's anxiously shaken eyes sometime, and she's gonna look at me.
Rio and Illis also looked like they were about to be crushed by worry.
Again, I don't have a solution.
Calm down and rethink. Any leads?
I scold myself and explore my memories.
What is the opponent Ur who was there had to fight for as soon as Ur entered the house and beastified.
Is that a monster?
No, considering we've encountered it in the house, we should see that as unlikely.
The house was vandalized as if a pick-up had come in.
That means thieves, or robbers...
Or maybe there's a chance of people being trafficked or something.
That's all I thought about, and I followed one memory.
I take out my calling magic equipment.
"Only the number, I should have signed up...... there was!
When I found the desired address, I dialed right there.
One call... two calls... three calls... pip.
The call was connected.
"Ha, this is Karen, Chief of the Ravilton Police Department. Who are you to me for the first time?
The woman's voice I heard belonged to the person I really talked to then.
That guy, Chief of Police. What a title guy he was.
I speak to magic calls.
"Sorry I'm late at night. I was asked about a monster that appeared in the city near the library before, a man named Brett, a teacher at the College of the Brave."
That's a memory from a few days ago.
Fishing for werewolf related books in the library and discovering information about blackout necklaces, when we tried to get to the Riesel Martial Arts Store, I was questioned about my job by female policing, the person I was dealing with back then.
They seem to have remembered me, too, and she has returned the words casually.
"Uh, uh, handsome brother with a lot of beautiful girls then. Hi. Is there something wrong with you calling me?
"Yes. Only then did you say that Dark Society activities were becoming more active in the city of Ravilton"
'Oh, yes, yes, I think I said it.... So did you get any information like that?
"Yeah. Just in a bit of a nasty situation. Do you hold on to their castle?
'Mmm, you know what it looks like to be home. It's just that we haven't found a clear violation of the law, and sometimes it's outside the city, and we're the official constitution of the city of Ravilton, and it's still hard to help. I'm already saying that if I hired a demon hunter to push him in, something wouldn't come out, but I can't shake my head vertically up there. So if you have any information like that...
Female policing says that in a cute voice over magic calls.
I'll think about it.
Now all I want to know is where the home of those Dark Societies is.
"I don't mind telling you what happened, but we're fighting for a moment. Can you tell me where they're based instead?
When I said that, the opponent over the Magic Caller was silent for a little while.
Looks like you're thinking of something.
Then I got a response to my request.
"As far as I'm concerned, I have to be cautious about divulging the information I got during the investigation. I'm just saying this to myself, but I'm results-oriented, right? If it turns out well, it's all right, whatever the means, like?
I see.
Depending on the matter, the flexible response is not too blurry?
Then...
"One of the kids I was teaching went missing. When I was interviewed in the city, there was a girl you cared about, right? She lived alone outside the city of Ravilton, in a house in the mountains, for a reason. The house was razed like it had been picked up, and a slice of her clothes was scattered near the entrance to the house."
'... I see. So, knowing the home of the Dark Men, what's your brother going to do?
She immediately guessed the meaning behind my story because Ur was a werewolf.
I keep talking, hoping it'll be quick.
"That depends on the situation, but in some cases you might force your way in. As a result, you may find some evidence of the illegal activity they are carrying out" by chance. "
'... Phew. Interesting content, but a little worrying. The head count of these men is seen to be strong by more than five brave men alone. Well, I don't think there are ten of them. Besides, the leader is Gary Howell, with the alias "Disease," hands-on. I felt the air of hand work from your brother, but entering the Dark Brave's lair by yourself is just impossible, isn't it?
The enemy has five or more brave men, less than ten.
And is the leader hands-on?
And I've heard of the alias "Wind” Gary.
He should have been a brave man boasting high agility and specializing in wind attribute magic.
Adding to that fighting power, I could be tough on my own, putting them all together against each other.
But I answer.
"No problem. I'm not the only brave one here."
'Sounds like you have a chance. Then I'll bet on it, and I'll keep talking to myself. ─ ─ A stone building about half an hour walk southwest of the city's south gate. I heard there were suspicious people hanging out there.... but are you sure you're okay? Me alone, by chance, shall we go for a walk at night?
"No, you'll be fine. And if you, Chief of Police, happen to come for a walk at night, there will be no point in talking to yourself."
'That's right. Copy that. ─ Well, thank you for your cooperation. Good luck.'
─ ─ Pip.
I hung up on the magic calls.
The three godchildren, who were quietly watching around me, start talking to exhale the breath they had stopped.
"I know where Ur is, brother!?... but what do you mean," solo "or" night walk "?
"Because Rio is already a child. It's a teacher's adult bargaining technique.... right, Doctor?
"... the dark deal is, the taste of honey.... adults cheat"
I take those three heads, one at a time.
Then all three narrowed their eyes like cats and rang again to make them feel good.
I'll tell the three of them.
"Perhaps Ur was caught by the dark brave - the bad brave ones. I'm going to step into their castle. But I'm the only one. Then it may be difficult to deal with five or more brave men, including hand-working. So, Rio, Illis, Mayfa... I need a favor from you guys. As the same brave man, can you help me help Ur?
These are words based on the fact that during the exorcism of vampires, they were preached to the contrary by their godchildren.
Rely more on ourselves.
That's what the three of us told me then.
Meanwhile, the three godchildren who heard that word of mine look at each other.
And then all three of them showed me their very happy faces.
He was well and had replied affirmatively. |
Episode Three girl braves who defeated the entrance lookout oak and were as far inside the cave as Rio beat them down and continued their fast forward.
They go further down the cave.
And finally...
"... there he is, boss.... That's Oak Road"
Mayfa says in a serious voice sometime.
Rio and Illis were also looking forward, just like Mayfa, with their respective weapons in place.
It was the end of the cave and a bigger hall than any other hall in the cave.
Three people stand at the entrance to that hall: Rio, Illis and Mayfa, and I follow behind them.
On the other hand, there were four oaks in the back of the room.
The orcs are the same giant, and compared to the other girls, they're about the same size as adults and children.
Of those four oaks, one in all.
That oak, laughing invincibly in the deepest part of the Great Hall, was the Demon King Oak Road.
There are no parts of the body that are very different in size or shape from normal oak.
But he had a black temper all over him.
The fluctuations of every swinging dark force are scattered around you as you boast of your power.
Even though the size of the body is the same as other homogeneous monsters, it is the Demon King whose presence, intimidation, is out of step.
Seeing the appearance of its demon king Oaklord, the three genius brave apprentices had a uniformly rugged look, sweating from their foreheads.
"Careful, Illis, Mayfa. He's... strong."
"Yeah, I know. I mean..."
"... hey, I can't smell the gay.... If it's just him, there's still three other orcs..."
The three of them, Rio, Ilis and Mayfa, seemed to have a precise sense of the strength of Oak Road.
One of the talents of a brave man is his ability to feel the strength of his enemies with a skin feel.
A good brave man sniffs his strong enemies apart just because he confronts them.
It is the right sensibility that those three senses received Oaklord the Demon King as a superior being to each of us today.
And I, too, thought this balance was a little impossible.
The way Mayfa says it is almost as plausible as it sounds.
If it's an oak road alone, it's still too dangerous for the three of us to fight alone when there are three orcs around in addition to that.
This is, well, I can't help it.
It would be the turn of the pull teacher.
I will advance to the three sides and tell my godchildren.
"It's a little out of balance, so I'm going to fight it, too. I'll deal with the three orcs, so Rio, Iris and Mayfa are the orcs."
"Eh... but no matter how many brothers, I'm just dealing with three orcs on my own..."
Rio has said that.
Uh, did they think I was to that extent?
I'm a little shocked.
No, well, it's because I was hiding my powers so that they would.
I'll put my hand on Rio's head next door, and I'll do it with me.
"Wow... what the heck, brother! Are you kidding me?
"Hey, I thought Rio started worrying about me a little while ago, too. But I'm your teacher. All you have to do is think about your battles."
"So, but...!
Still, Rio turns his anxious face on me.
Um, don't worry about me and the Rio's can't focus on their fight.
I can't help it, so here's what I'll do.
"Okay. Then Rio and the others will be waiting for a while."
"Heh...?
"I'll get my job done first."
"Hey......! Wait a minute, what did you say... brother!
When I had Rio's head as mine again, I went in front of them and pulled my sword out of my hips sheath.
And relax and walk over to the oaks.
Seeing what I look like, maybe the orcs thought I was being fooled.
It appears that Oaklord the Demon has given orders to the orcs under his command by pointing to me.
My three orcs swung up a stick and attacked me.
When the orcs come to my sight, they wave down the stick in unison.
I didn't move on the spot.
"Brother!"
"Sir!?
"Brother!
I hear the screams of my godchildren, coming from my back.
But...
- Gaggy, gaggy, gaggy, gaggy!
Three giant sticks stopped over my head.
I was the sword of that hand, taking the blow of the oaks' sticks together.
"Not really. Don't be a school teacher."
The sword I have is a reasonably classy magic item acquired during the active Demon King Hunter era and will not be broken to the extent of an oak attack.
And no matter, I don't have to deal with three orcs myself to lose power.
By the way, of course, it was a good story to avoid, but it's Dad's kindness I wanted to show you a little strong around here.
"Yoo-hoo."
I gently pressed back into my arms, putting together the sticks of the orcs.
A trio of orcs that let the giant calm down and step on a bump.
There's...
"─ Disease Sword "
As I stepped into the orcs, I slapped indiscriminate serial slaughter from there into the orcs.
Instantly punching in a total of twelve slashes, he delivers the sword to the sheath.
After a moment, the three orcs carved in pieces collapsed.
"... Phew"
All right, work done.
I haven't been in a decent fight lately, so I guess it's about a light exercise.
And the godchildren who saw it...
"Wow... my brother is amazing!
"Doctor...... cool......"
"... surprised.... It wasn't just Loricon's brother."
and so on, and he had spoken thoughtful thoughts.
Okay, okay, you can have more respect for me.
Especially Mayfa.
But on the other hand...
"─ ─ Gooluaaaaaaaaaa!
Finally, the big boss, Oaklord the Demon King, shook up a stick in angry shape and attacked me.
Its movement is usually much faster than that of an oak of a species.
They rush at fierce speeds that don't suit giants.
Individuals who have become Demons have the ability to direct their distribution, as well as the ability to attack, defend, agility, and magic, all of which are significantly more powerful than normal species.
"Don't panic like that. I'm not your opponent.
I kicked Oakload's giant throat in the stomach when I used [Parry] 's skills to flush the stick down at twice the speed of a regular oak.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......!?
The giant of Oak Road blew heavily behind the hall and rolled down the ground with clutter.
By the way, I kicked as little damage as I could just blow it flashy, so it shouldn't have a huge impact on the fight after this.
When I go back to my godchildren, I let the three of them get their hands on me, one by one.
"It's a baton touch. Rio, Illis, Mayfa. Go."
"" "─ Yes!
All right, good reply.
When I got to the rear position of the three of them, I entered the mode of arming myself and watching the war.
This is the real deal.
Come on, my godchildren.
You guys can do it.
My dad's always there for me.
No, you should not only support it in your heart, but you should support it in your voice.
All right...
"Fray, fray, Rio! Come on, come on, Iris! Don't lose, don't lose, Mayfa! Whoa, whoa, whoa!
"... if there wasn't such a place, it would be really cool. ... your brother is not always tight"
Mayfa looked at me and was sighing.
Is that...? |
Lesson Manuel the Demon Emperor, Oswald the Martial God, we just left the village when we were ready.
Old and young, a total of six brave men go down a roadless path in the woods.
"It's not where Vampire Road lives. When I flew up to the village, I saw an ancient castle that looked evil at the end of the village. Vampires are good looking. Perhaps that's where Negijo is."
These are the words Manuel the Demon Emperor said before he left the village.
Support for the two arrived unexpectedly early because they flew from the city of Lindbergh to the village in the magic of Manuel's [Fast Flight (Hawk Flight)].
Manuel was bogged down with "Cedric's kid insulted me," etc., but I couldn't blame Cedric for missing the expected time of arrival because I didn't expect him to make such a shortcut either.
Incidentally, if you can't fly with that magic all the way to the ancient castle, you can manage to carry about one person, but it's very impossible to put together six people, which is the performance common to the flying magic of that hand.
And even the magic of [flight (flight)], one step below [high-speed flight (hawk flight)], is the advanced magic of the wind attribute, and no one in our line can use it except Manuel, who has the two names "Demon Emperor”.
That's why we were on foot to that ancient castle where we know where we're going.
"But Manuel's grandfather, he said 'obnoxious old castle', but why did you think it was obnoxious?
Ask Manuel a bumpy question as Rio jumps right over the roots of a thick tree.
By the way, Rio, I decided I wasn't kellogging about the stand-up earlier, and I was just getting along with Manuel.
Fast switching around here is Rio's advantage.
And Manuel, on the other hand, answers as he deals with his white beard.
"Hey, I can only say that's obviously demonic, Miss Rio. Well, you'll see in a while."
"Really?
"Oh. That was a demon, for sure"
To Manuel's words, “Martial God” Oswald also agrees with few words.
Apparently, it's so obnoxious.
Walking like that for a while.
Eventually I came to a place where I could see what they were saying.
And when I saw it, Iris, Mayfa, my three...
"Ugh... this is demonic"
"... Sure, I can only say this is demonic"
"Oh, you're evil..."
That being said, I was brilliantly in agreement with the opinion of the two backup demon king hunters.
What happened ahead as we went through the woods was there was a very demonic forest.
Specifically, how demonic is it that trees suddenly shrivel, rot, discolour, or twisted from a point beyond a certain line?
And from the branches of rotten and broken trees were dripping like snug mycelium, and there were many spooky lizards of bulk growing in the branches and trunks of trees.
Quite frankly, if I did it, it would be awkward.
It is not the appearance of the usual forest trees.
One more thing.
From that line forward, there was also a blatantly thick fog.
It's not like blocking your sight, it's a fog in a low position that crawls at your feet, but the fog makes strange movements that sometimes make it creepy.
Nor did this appear to be a naturally occurring phenomenon.
"Hey, like I said, Miss Rio?
"Yeah. I finally understand what Grandpa Manuel is saying. This is obviously demonic."
"But it's a cockroach threat. Don't be afraid. Let's move on."
"I'm not afraid to notice anything."
Rio and Manuel follow as “Martial God” Oswald moves ahead.
I also took Iris and Mayfa and stepped into a freakishly blatantly demonic forest.
"Um, Doctor... Can I hold your hand..."
The frightened Illis leans softly against me, looking around in awe.
"Oh. Here's the deal"
"Ha, yes...... eheh"
When I grabbed Illis' left hand gently with my right hand, Illis wrapped his own arm around my arm, trying to cuddle him and leaned over.
... Once again, I don't feel like a newlywed couple.
Is this good socially?
When I think I have Manuel or Oswald's eyes, I'm still worried about that.
"... brother, I'm scared too, so I want you to hold my hand"
From the left, on the other hand, Mayfa said so and peered into my face.
Hmm......?
"This is what Mayfa was like, shouldn't she be okay? I know you're scared of Iris."
"... that's not true.... If your brother doesn't hold my hand, I could be horrible and little.... then the trouble is you have to take care of me, brother."
"What's the rationale for that? Well, not as good as holding hands, but when it comes to battle, let it go. And Iris."
"" Yes ""
Iris, Mayfa returns an honest reply.
And it wasn't just Illis, Mayfa started hugging me in my arms, and my arms were completely buried.
Well I guess the production is still ahead of us, and I don't think it's okay because it makes no sense to get serious in vain, but you're not nervous nonetheless...
Meanwhile, Rio, who was watching that in front of him, pointing his mouth just a little.
"Eh, you did good, those guys"
I asked that Rio how Manuel, who was walking next door, was half frightened.
"... Noh, Miss Rio. What does it have to do with you and that little boy named Brett? The child said it was a relationship between the teacher and the teacher, but isn't that impossible?
"Yeah? Nothing normal. We've always lived with your brother. Because you and your brother are like family."
"My family's... What do you think, Oswald's?
"I don't care if you ask me. But at least I don't see how my daughters hate it. There won't be a problem."
"Your Lord is as crusty as ever..."
Manuel's attitude was that he would not fall to his heart, while Oswald's attitude was that he would leave me alone.
Even so, they still don't look like much of a normal teacher-teacher-child relationship.
But now that I don't care, I decided to let it pass with a strange face.
While we had that exchange, our line proceeded through the strange woods.
Eventually, I heard something like an animal roar from somewhere.
Not one, more than one.
And...
─ ─ Aww, ooh, ooh, ooh!
Many wolf howls echo.
Inform intruders into the territory, as if it were a signal.
Manuel, hearing it, laughs cheerfully.
"Well, I guess I'll leave the guard dog or so. - Look, he's out."
From beyond the strange woodland trees emerged one wolf after another, united and with red glowing eyes. |
Lesson When I leave the Gardon Martial Arts Store, I take my three godchildren and walk down the main street of the city of Lavilton at night.
The city, illuminated by neon lights, is bright when it comes to night.
The streets are still full of people, and the city's flourishing is not nearly over.
In the meantime, while I was walking around looking for an inn, I was thinking about purchasing weapons.
"Hmmm...... choose performance or visual...... Above all, I want more budget..."
Put your arms together and think.
Whatever you buy, it's a matter of budget first.
I received a fair amount of money for the reward of participating in the Vampire Road exorcism, but it is still becoming clear that I feel a little uncomfortable when I have all three of my high-quality weapons.
But I came all the way to Lavilton, so I want to go shopping with no regrets.
If so, is it also the hand to make a little money in this city?
It may not be a bad idea to look for good Demon King information and quests in this city's Brave Alliance.
- And that I'm thinking about it.
From the end of the line, I heard some loud cheers.
Looking at what it might be, there seemed to be a big crowd in the city's central square.
The lights are flashy, too, and they're doing some kind of event.
Apart from the voices of the cheering people, you can also hear the lovely girl enlarged with a loud magic machine.
"Guys, thanks!"
After that voice, the audience cheers.
The crowd gathered in the square was eager to raise their voices, waving a pen light with built-in light magic.
Uh, is that it?
You're an outdoor live guy.
And then Rio pulls me as if he wants to hem my clothes.
"Hey brother, what are you doing with that crowd over there? Sounds exciting."
Rio asks, so I put my hand on that head and answer.
"That's a stage idol night performance. It's definitely very popular. ─ ─ Rio, Illis, Mayfa. All three of you, you want to take a look?
When I hear that, all three of them snort.
Purely, I guess it's an interest in something I've never seen.
That's why I took the three of them straight to the city's central square.
When I came close, Central Square was still an amazing crowd.
The people surrounding the special stage are all obsessed with the stage, even though they say it's a stand-up.
Guess it's a free public event to win new fans.
There was no particular need for tickets, etc., which could be mixed with the audience.
The next song is starting live, with five idol girls performing dances and songs on the stage.
Adorable indeed.
When I see girls dressed in poor costumes singing and dancing with glowing smiles, I feel compelled that they won't stop attracting a lot of people.
But I think...
Wouldn't our three be cuter then?
If the three of you, Rio, Ilis and Mayfa, take that stage dressed up in a special costume--
Think that far, I'll shake my head to the side.
No, no, what are you thinking?
Didn't you just say no yourself at the Risel Martial Arts Store that you don't have time to do idle activities?
Besides, I know that the idle industry is not such an easy world.
The songs, dances and smiles of the idols standing on that stage, plus, above all, the support of the fans.
Those are what they got after all the hard work and hard work, and they shouldn't be that easy.
... but no.
Still, it's kind of like my kids would be good-looking, I have that illusion.
I'm starting to feel like there's no excuse for this being said to be a parent idiot.
No, I'm not these three parents in the first place, so are you a teacher idiot...?
Incidentally, the three Rio, Illis and Mayfa of the day were struggling against a powerful enemy called the "crowd".
What we have is the outermost part of the hedge surrounding the stage.
In front of the Rio's, the big adults who are passionate about idols are touched, so at the height of the three, they seemed to struggle to see the stage.
Still, Rio and Iris seem to see something if they stretch their backs.
But as for the short Mayfa, I couldn't see it satisfactorily after a jump from earlier on, and I was about to regret it.
I mean, Mayfa, I'm a little teary-eyed.
I'm usually cute in business, but this kind of look is cute again, bad for the person, but it stings.
"... oh, brother!... I feel unfair in this world...!...... It is odd that human rights are not recognized by those who are short!
Mayfa points more at the stage, and she sues me in tears.
Mayfa's honest appeal was, like, all sorts of screwed up.
Damn, I can't help it.
"Okay, okay. Look, I'll give you a shoulder car, so get in."
That's what I say, crouch, and I'll show Mayfa my back.
Then Mayfa turned her eyes round so that there was hope in the world.
"... brother.... I now know clearly. I like your brother."
"Thank you, princess."
"... um, don't suffer"
Make sure Mayfa sits on my shoulder, and I get up.
Supporting Mayfa's leg so she could hold him with both arms, he turned to the stage.
"... ooh...!
Mayfa, who sees the stage better, gives an exclamation.
I can't see Mayfa's face in posture, but I could easily imagine her eyes sparkling from this voice color.
On the other hand, it was Rio and Ilis who saw how that Me and Mayfa were doing and showed a little face.
He's looking at me with Mayfa on his shoulder, making my mouth feel puckered.
"Oh, you know, Doctor...? And Mayfa... is there...?
He asks me that while Illis dyes his cheeks.
Hmm......?
"Yes, what is it?
...... ... I'm not sure what Illis wants to say "
When Me and Mayfa got it all together and gave it back like that, Illis turned a bright red face and nodded and replied, "Yes, no... fine".
And Ilis and Rio were like, "Hey, Rio, that's absolutely crazy, right? We're not that old, are we? 'Cause then..." "Yeah, that's crazy. Regardless of your brother, I don't see Mayfa's sincerity" etc.
and at that time.
"...... hmmm!?
Mayfa moved all of a sudden over my head and gave her a sobering voice as if she had noticed something.
Then Mayfa put her hands on my head and said this in a panicked voice.
"... oh, brother!... I want you to put it down because I'm okay now!
"Hmm? You haven't seen that properly yet."
"... okay, put it down!... Oh, my brother, naturally, I don't know about that! Your brother, from time to time, is too tense! This one's going to be pulled by your brother's vibe, so I want you to think about it for a second!
"So what is it? Well, Mayfa would be nice."
I'll crouch down again and put Mayfa down.
Mayfa immediately stepped off my shoulder and began to say something to Rio and Iris in a hurry.
"... chi, no.... I wasn't really, really aware of that right now.... That's not it."
"Hmm."
Rio and Ilis watched Mayfa with cold jitoes.
No, it's true. What are these people talking about?
I don't want you to use abstract words to talk.
Either way, it looks like all three of us were somehow seen at Idol Live.
As a tourist destination, it feels like you've met a good occasion in an unexpected time.
Well, let's go. I tried to speak to the three of you.
"... ah..."
Looks like Mayfa noticed something and was looking in a certain direction.
I'm stuck and I look at you.
There one strange girl - as short as Mayfa - was trying hard to see the stage by making a pimp jump behind the hedge.
That's like a reproduction of Mayfa's tricks earlier.
But she doesn't seem to have any adults to take her shoulder car with her, and people and passers-by around her don't even care about such a girl.
Eventually, the girl gets nagged as a shun behind the hedge.
Ah......
Something tells me you can't leave me alone when you're looking at a kid like that.
I say with my pompous hands on Mayfa's head.
"Human rights must be guaranteed to everyone."
That's what I said, trying to get close to the girl, but...
- Bubba!
Three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, stood in front of me in a hurry.
"And your brother is fine! We'll do it!
"Teachers, take the time to watch Idol live!
"... whoo, whoo!... That child's human rights will be guaranteed by us.... your brother, back off."
I don't know what it is, but it was stopped at all costs.
"No, but I have a better back than you, and I have a better shoulder."
"" "Fine!
It looked like they scolded me all at once from the three of them.
What is this, I can't solve it.
Anyway, according to the godchildren, I'm not calling you.
Well, if you say so, I'll leave it to the three of you.
And Rio, Illis, and Mayfa went to talk to where the girl at the time was shuddering.
When Rio slaps the girl on the shoulder and says something to the girl who turned around, the girl with the red cheeks shakes her head flat and sideways like she panicked.
The girl is awkward and tries to escape in time, but Illis and Mayfa block the escape route.
Then Rio comes to hold the girl's shoulder like that.
... that already looks like a nasty nag or something.
Is it okay?
And Rio stood up, half forcefully shouldering the girl who was forever reluctant.
The girl breaks out in a hurry, but there is no fear of Rio, who, as a brave man, has a tough ankle and power.
The girl who eventually seemed to have noticed.
Turn your eyes toward the stage where Idol is playing live...
"Wow...!
Those eyes glistened at once.
Try to eat in and start glaring at the stage.
Seeing how it goes, Rio, Illis and Mayfa laugh at each other.
All three look very happy.
Watching it makes me smile, too.
Those guys are root brave, after all.
I walked over there and spoke to the girl being shouldered by Rio.
"You like idols?
When I spoke like that, the girl trembled.
And also, it starts to get awkward and hasty.
"If you think some amazing girls have spoken to us, now you're a handsome brother!? What crime are we involved in?!? Reverse Beauty Bureau!? We're so rich! Will they sell it?
The girl was in such a hurry. |
Lesson I was thinking about my future education plan in the living room with the sound of my three daughters squeaking in the background from the bathroom.
Turn the pen around with your fingertips and think about it in front of the paper on the table.
What is needed for an accurate brave education is first to know the characteristics of the individual students.
Characteristics are such aptitudes as being good at attack magic or inferior to agility, for example.
The general theory is based on "stretching strengths".
So what are each of those three good at and not good at?
We need to know that first.
So I cut out like this towards three people, Rio, Iris and Mayfa, who came out of the bath and looked refreshed.
"All right, you guys, we're going out of town. I'll buy you some decent clothes because I won't sneak around if a woman stays in those worn out clothes. And a haircut. I'm gonna make you guys thoroughly clean today, so be prepared."
These three girls cheered for my words.
Even these guys are bad for Illis when they say they're... women.
I wouldn't have liked anything and dressed in thin dirt.
"This... now, brother, are you making us fall in love?
"... what else.... At least, I'm pretty sure you're trying to make us feel soft.... but it's not a bluff to be dared to put on it"
"Hey, both of you! Thanks to the courtesy of your teacher, you're rude! ─ ─ Oh, I'm sorry, thank you so much!... but is that okay?
Relatively polite, Illis is an oasis of mind, though.
In the Yan sense, Rio and Mayfa are alike and dropped by.
But, Iris, you can normally tell me that you're with two sisters.
I was wondering...
"Oh, never mind. I have feelings for you, too. Take it casually."
That's what I'm gonna do with Iris' head.
Ilis trembled once, but soon accepted and became like a small animal.
I said the bottom line is that the gift of clothes and haircuts is like fishing bait.
My real purpose is to get out of the city and measure the potential of the three of us.
Well, it's not a lie that I don't sneak up on you if you're dressed up very well.
But it didn't seem like a good way to put it.
"... lower heart. Finally, I showed my horse leg. They're trying to keep us and eat us at the end of the day.... your brother is a livestock in Loricon"
"What... brother, I knew it... sorry, that's just..."
Mayfa looked like she was obviously joking, but Rio was normally donning.
Trouble.
"Uh, because that's not what I meant. And Mayfa, if you keep saying that too much, you're the only one who's gonna get out of it."
"... oh, no......... Against child abuse. ... I seek children's rights and freedom of speech"
Mayfa, who was told she was out of mesh, looked like it was the end of the world.
Damn, I'm only a kid when it's convenient.
I don't think the right to play with adults is the same as the right of a child or freedom of speech.
That's why I took three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, to the nearest city.
Walk about three hours from the village and enter the city.
Although it is quite a country neighborhood compared to Wang Du, there seemed to be a range of shops and facilities on One Street.
I go into an affordable clothing store and get the clerk to look at clothes for three.
When I told the clerk about the budget and left it to him, after much waiting, Rio, Illis and Mayfa came out dressed in new clothes.
"How do you look, brother? - Oh, my God."
To Rio, who says so whirling around on the main street in front of the store, I say, "Whoa, all three look great," cluttered back.
I can hardly say anything more far-fetched than Mayfa looking for a chance to fool me.
To be honest, all three of them were cute enough to say they didn't see each other, and they felt prettier.
I was so anxious to see what would happen if I even fixed my bumpy hair with this.
But we've come this far, and this won't end.
I took the three of them and now I'm in the barbershop.
And I left this to the barbershop again, asking them to get their hair done to look good on them.
And waiting for a while...
After I finished my haircut and saw the three of them leaving the barbershop, it was time for me to breathe.
"Thank you for waiting, brother. -What do you say? It's a lot refreshing, and so are we."
"Ahhh... how can I thank my teacher for being so good..."
"... now your brother, too, mellow to us. We can be cute, too, win-win.... your brother made a good purchase"
No, not to mention Mayfa's blueprint.
From the first time I saw it, I thought it was Diamond's primary stone.
But when I actually finished it, I've gone far beyond my imagination.
All three are super beautiful girls, super cute.
Rio makes his dark hair a glossy shortcut, and the outfit looks like a short sleeve shorter bread that is easy to move and cheerful.
That's all I saw, he looked like a boy, but he insisted firmly that his figure, including his chest, was a woman, pushing the charm of a boyish beautiful girl so forward that even this.
The Iris finish seems to me that clarity is the overall theme.
Fluffy blonde hair is stretched up to her back and matches well with a white one-piece dress.
Looking nasty, blue eyes looking at this one to the top was all I could say was against the rules.
Mayfa, by the way, has such an atmosphere as a luscious prankster.
She is dressed in a cute design costume with frills and is so cute for bruising, including a critical length mini skirt.
The shiny silver hair was put together in twin tails, like a single piece of art, including a look that made me look like a little fool of myself.
I don't think this has anything to do with me being Lorikon or not.
Kids, I don't know what, but beautiful girls are beautiful girls, and cute things are cute.
Talk about that dimension.
There was no way Mayfa would have missed such a gap if I had done that and just been out of time to see the three people who had been transformed into pathetic.
Mayfa sneaks up on me.
"... brother, we're getting too cute, we're losing our word.... If they do this, Loricon's brother can't stand it anymore"
That's what Mayfa said, and she's hugging me all the time.
... No, I'm relieved the other way around that even if I transform into a super beautiful girl, I'm going to make the same move I've always made.
"Uh, look, don't do it in public. You'll see who I suck at."
"... rather that's the aim.... this one if you make a fait accompli"
"What character are you trying to plant on me? Come on, get out of here."
That's what I said, I'll tickle Mayfa's flank.
"... cum... mmm... hi, coward... hahahaha"
I turned to tears and Mayfa finally left me.
Totally......
─ ─ But that's how I saw Diamond's original stone transform into a beautiful gem itself.
After this, I was to be able to show off their further glow. |
Lesson 'Welcome!
When I opened the door to the entrance and entered the store at the Riselle Martial Arts Store, the clerks in formal uniforms greeted me with their heads bowed simultaneously.
Surprised......
I've never been in this store before, too, but I didn't think I'd get VIP treatment from such a beginner...
I review what I'm wearing, wondering if it would be okay with a dress code or something.
That's crazy.
Why are you feeling okay with this kind of gear when you have come to buy gear?
The three godchildren, they all look at me with anxious eyes.
That's right.
... All right.
I have to be firm here.
I'll get back on my mind and move on to the store.
Rio, Ilis, and Mayfa follow along frightened as they grab the hem of my clothes.
Similar to the show windows seen from outside the store, colorful weapons and protective equipment were also displayed sloppily in the store.
They are all stunning and have excellent visual design.
but I look around at those products and find them uncomfortable.
For the price, the quality as a weapon seems to be no big deal......
One of the skills of a brave man is [eye-catching].
This is a skill that distinguishes the essentially "force" that the object itself possesses, unlike the general aim based on vast amounts of knowledge.
I have also acquired that [eye-catching] skill, and now I have been trying to explore the products in the store, but I feel like I don't have a great deal of "power" with any of the weapons that are expensive.
No, technically there are some quite "real" looking martial arts, but I find that to be particularly expensive among the products in this store, and in any case not of enough quality to match the price.
Well [eye-catching] skills are also a lot like vague "surveys," which come off when they come off.
Therefore, there may be a greater majority of brave men who appreciate [eyewitness] as a pointless, hard-won skill to acquire, and I can only say "maybe" if my [eyewitness] performs a martial arts judge...
And when I had that impression of the products in the store, one of the male clerks walked over to us with grace.
"Welcome, sir. What items will you be looking for today"
I answer that by showing the three godchildren.
"I came here to buy these kids' gear."
By the way, the three of them are snapping at me with a puffy tremor to frighten them.
Seems totally swallowed by the atmosphere.
Male clerks, on the other hand, continue to do this as they receive my response and have a meeting.
"Yes, I did. I'd like to show you in-store if you don't mind, what rank product would you be looking for?"
"Uh... rank, is it...?
Oh, you have a general ranking for weapons protective equipment or something?
I've never heard of it before.
But the clerk has a cool face and responds as normal.
"Yes, we know that we also have budget issues for you, so we rank our products to guide you"
"Ha..."
"If you can tell us what budget you're looking for, we'll show you the right rank of products here"
Hmmm......
At this stage, I was beginning to think I might want to stop buying at this store.
It seems like it would be better to go around at least a few more stores and then decide what and where to buy it.
but for once, it wouldn't be a bad idea to look at the product as information.
"Uh... I'm sorry, but I haven't decided whether to buy it at this store yet. I'd like to show you the product for a moment to consider, but is that okay?
"Yes, of course you are"
"Then please. The budget is about one hundred and eighty large gold coins, and we're going to have weapons and protective equipment for three people."
"Yes, sir. Come here, then. Ladies, please."
Guided by the clerk, Rio, Illis and Mayfa became cocky and followed the clerk.
I'll follow you relaxed, too.
That's how they showed me the second floor of the store.
The upstairs sales floor was lined with gorgeous weapons and protective equipment for a price ranging from to large gold coins.
Incidentally, the price of about twenty to fifty pieces of this large coin is a very fine amount.
Since the average average average average average person - artisan or homemade farmer - has an annual income of roughly 30 to 60 large gold coins, buying one or two would be enough to blow their annual income away.
Well, a high quality weapon is more like that than it used to be.
Even a set of regular plate armor with no rare materials would cost about this much, and it would never be surprising.
The problem is... after all, the quality doesn't look like it's worth the price.
There is also a line of weapons, light armor using magic metals such as misrills, or jackets, shirts, trousers, robes, etc. made from rare special reinforced fibers, and anyway, there is a wide range of products, and they all look good enough to work as a work of art.
But even with the skill of the visual designer, the functional performance as a weapon can't really feel right if the arm of the martial artisan hasn't caught up.
It's just...
"Hey, look, brother, this sword is so beautiful! Wow... nice, nice...!
"Shh, Doctor... what do you think of this robe...? I'm so beautiful and I think I'm cute..."
"... brother, this spear design is quite something.... It feels like a wing here or something, it's so cool"
─ ─ and in this way, the three Rio, Illis and Mayfa, who had not acquired the skills of [eye-catching], were staring at the products lined up with sparkling envy glances.
Hmmm...... trouble.
Maybe it's an important factor in appearance for girls, but as far as I'm concerned, I think quality rigidity is the most important thing.
But it doesn't mean you'll never go wrong with my [eye-catching] view...
Well, anyway, I guess it's a take-home challenge. This is...
I want to avoid summary judgment here and now.
That's what I thought, and I tried to tell the clerk that, that's when.
'Welcome home, Master Liselle!
From the ground floor, I could hear the concurrent chanting of the clerks.
Then a large number of footsteps come up the stairs from downstairs, and eventually a group of them arrive to the second floor where we are.
One elf girl was at the head of the group.
No, even when it comes to girls, it just looks like it, because it's about elves of long-lived species, how likely they are to be older than me.
It has an elf-like slender yet elegant body of curved beauty, with a back length as long as Rio and Illis.
It features elegantly spread blonde hair, long pointed ears on a delicate face and patchy hanging eyes with emerald-colored eyes.
"Oh, you're a customer, right?
That's what the elf girl says and walks up to us.
By the way, the beauty of the girl herself is a big deal, but what she's wearing is also amazing.
From clothing to ornaments, he coordinates his entire body with all that he seemingly finds expensive.
But not at all a bad taste, but a brilliant harmony between the girl's own appearance and those outfits, while still looking at things like walking art.
The clerk who accompanied us responded, "Yes, Master Lisel," to the girl, and then introduced him to me about the elf girl.
"Customer, we are the owner meister Liselle, our manager and lead craftsman"
After I said that, the clerk took a step back, and now the elf girl came to me and gracefully thanked me, and then she smiled at me.
"Welcome, sir. Would you have liked our products?
By the way, the elf girl - Behind Liselle - stares at several brave black men wearing sunglasses as if they were bodyguards.
I don't know, it's like a picturesque VIP.
"Ah duh...... right, I think it's a great assortment. And they're all superior in visual design and stunning."
When I answered that unanswered, the elf girl Liselle gave her a slightly more complicated look.
I may have sniffed off the nuances sharply with regard to the part where I dared avoid mentioning it.
But he's a professional over there.
I don't even put it on my face any more, and this is how it goes on.
"Yes, it's an honor. - By the way, are those three ladies with you?
Liselle's gaze is on three people: Rio, Illis, and Mayfa.
The three of them have been looking for weapons in the store for a long time, but they also start to be interested in whether they thought they had been called.
I answer to Liselle.
"Yep. I came all the way from one country to this ravilton trying to get these kids new gear"
"Phew...... They're all so cute and beautiful. Being here means you're a brave man, not an idol group or something, right? What a waste."
That being said, Liselle walked out to the front of three people, now Rio, Illis and Mayfa.
And what did you think, the elf girl stands still and observes as she licks all three bodies around.
I further made a square frame with my fingers, closed one eye and started staring at the three of them crumbly.
"Hey, what are you...? It's embarrassing to see too much."
"Doctor, what is this guy...? Is this what elves are all about?
"... if you want to admire us any more, pay what you pay.... you're the only one who can look at us."
Seeing the three Rio, Illis and Mayfa who say so and request lighting and sightseeing fees, the elf girl laughs happily couscous when she finally stops observing.
And the owner of the elf said to me,
"Sir, may I have a moment of your time now? I was so inspired to see these kids. I want you to design a costume for these kids."
I had to respond to a sudden offer from a super famous store owner.
On the other hand, Liselle said that you received my reply as a word of acceptance, and said to the clerk, "Please show these four customers to the reception room. Be polite," he said, and went upstairs.
And we were recently abducted to the reception room in the back of the store. |
Lesson Arena night ground.
So I was confronted with three godchildren with a wooden sword in one hand.
Rio, a genius swordsmanship athlete with terrible physical abilities.
The Divine Son, Iris, who specializes in auxiliary magic especially in all-rounders.
Mayfa, a monster who freely manipulates attack magic with his serene magic sense.
All three of them put up their weapons in a serious position, and they were seeing me in the way that they wouldn't miss a few gaps.
The distance between me and the three of us is about twenty steps.
I have to beat these guys down.
All three Nari are small, but the power they hold in their little bodies is no longer real.
I'm not the one to be insulted.
But no matter how much genius, it's only been a year since I started working out.
Besides, there were times when I was called a genius or something.
Plus, ten times as many of these guys are crap in terms of the number that crept through the training grounds.
And the brave are also said to be only stronger in terms of the number of crooked training grounds.
So in local power, I'm still a lot better up there.
"─ Ha, ha, ha!
I let go of the brave struggle I normally suppress.
The fluctuations of power revolve around me all at once and strike the three Rio's.
The three of them were frightened and pressured by the force I unleashed.
"Gu......! This is your brother's real fight...!
"Let it be, the power of the teacher... too strong...! I'm going to get pushed in......!
"... Ugh... I knew you weren't just Loricon's brother...!
The girls stayed on the spot desperately, as if to resist the strong winds.
But they didn't just lose.
"But...!
"Even we...!
"... you can't lose, you can't"
"" "─ Ahhhh!
The three men, Rio, Ilis and Mayfa, also unleashed their fighting spirit in unison.
The girls dance up their hair and put an aura of thoughtful colors in their bodies.
The three forces combined and tried to push my power back, and the fluctuations antagonized and bounced.
The place quiets down, as if the collision of powers was a lie.
With each other's aura of fighting, they were quietly facing each other.
Me and my godchildren.
Standing between the two is Dr. Leonora.
By the way, Alma was out of hips because of the current exchange.
with buttcakes on the ground and eyes open to surprise.
"Ugh, you're lying...? With a teacher and a student from the College of the Brave... this dimension, is it going to be a battle...?
Alma shivering with the calf.
Alma, well... as a brave man, he's not that powerful.
Meanwhile, Dr. Leonora stands between us calmly and begins to judge.
"The way you decide to win or lose is good in compliance with the tournament. Fight them both squarely. Okay, let's get started.
With that said, Dr. Leonora retreated sideways.
In that case, only three godchildren will be in front of me.
Then let's go. Rio, Illis, Mayfa.
I say, take every step of the way.
"Whoa, brother! I'll pay you back!
"Yes, Doctor! I'm gonna borrow your chest-- Yeah, I'm gonna shoot you through the chest!
"... I didn't think the day would come when you and your brother would fight for real.... the power your brother has built up, let him try"
The three men, Rio, Ilis and Mayfa, were also scattered thoughtfully and the battle began.
I run for the three of us.
Ilis and Mayfa scattered to the left and right, and they came toward...
Again, it's Rio.
Rio steps left and right like lightning with that terrible agility and comes at me in zigzag orbit.
Vertigo movement.
From the right or from the left?
By the way, I'm not after Rio.
It takes the most effort to deal with Rio's opponents.
There's agility, there's strength, and Rio is the hardest of the three to defeat.
Reinforcements were consolidated with Iris' assisted magic while he was dealing with Rio, and if they were simultaneously attacked with Mayfa's attacking magic and Rio's White Soldier attack, it wouldn't have just happened.
That's why...
"─ I got it, brother!
Rio's voice came from the left.
A softening blow to the wooden sword on the lower level.
Aim for my wooden sword.
Common moves in white soldier combat, [DISARM].
The technique of striking down a weapon and bouncing it off the opponent's hand.
I know you were gonna make my point, but...
Well, I'll give you a ride.
"Shit......!?
- Ka! Ka!
A rushing voice leaked out of my mouth and a wooden sword flew out of my hand.
Wooden swords dance high into the universe.
"Bye! What do you say, brother!
"Damn, they did it......! - Nah."
"What... whoa!?
I grab the sleeve and chest of Rio's clothes just after the quick attack with both hands and throw them backwards.
Then I grabbed the falling wooden sword in the air without seeing the consequences of what happened to Rio, who threw it away, and then ran forward again.
My aim is... to concentrate on magic, Illis.
I'm sorry, but let me crush it for real.
"Shit! - Iris, run!
I can hear Rio from behind.
Tossed off by me, Rio apparently landed balanced in the air for a good thing, but he can't catch up with me right from there.
I'm heading to Illis.
With a wooden sword in his hand, the technique used is the [Disease Sword] of a multi-stage series of attacks.
If you defeat even Illis, who is good at aiding and recovering, the rest of the battle against Rio and Mayfa is a war of attrition.
Then I can win because of the difference in local power.
Alternatively, this one can fight while weaving the recovery.
Either way, that means Illis is the key to the other team.
It's the first person you should defeat.
All-rounder Iris is not hit and not too low in strength, but if he still hits the [disease sword] all round with my offense, he should be able to push it to the knockout with one hand......!
And Illis on the other hand.
He saw me approaching, kept his mind focused, but...
Just before I got there, I broke Ni's mouth.
Was Illis' magic activation faster?
But with some auxiliary magic, we've strengthened Rio and Mayfa, and that's about it.
"Ha!?
I was genuinely surprised by the magic that Illis used.
The magical glow emitted by Illis resides in the body of Illis himself and becomes a powerful protective membrane.
If this happens, I won't get to the knockout very close to a single shot of [Disease Sword].
Ilis lets me try to spread my hands so I can accept me.
"Hmm, I thought a teacher would come after me. -Come on, Doctor. Enjoy me."
Which magic to use must be determined at the beginning stage of mental concentration.
I mean...
The one from Illis, he's been reading my behavior...!
If this happens, it's not the first time you're eating Illis.
I cancel [Disease Sword] and once I'm out of Illis, I change my target.
If Illis can't do it, we'll have to beat him from Mayfa, who's the least hit and less powerful.
But there's...
"... from your right hand [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)]... from your left hand [Wind Blade (Windcutter)]... Come on brother, can you do all that? - Go!
From Mayfa to me, the rain of attack magic poured down.
That's right!
I've been making it a no-mark about Mayfa, so that's how attack magic flies!
Five flame bullets and five wind blades, a total of ten magic bullets.
I dodge about four of them by flying sideways, and play four more with [difflection] using a wooden sword.
but the other two rounds were undefended, and I got one flame bullet and one wind blade on my body.
It hurts.
Not a lot of damage, of course.
They knock me out. No, not at all...
"... oh, that's my brother, wow. Eight of them.... Then until we go again"
"Let me do it! Before that, Mayfa, I'll take you down!
I kick the ground.
Towards Mayfa.
"... hey, brother. I can't believe you want to push me down and eat me."
"I didn't say. Yeah, yeah!
Oh, I don't want to do this anymore!
Don't look at Alma or Dr. Leonora with weird eyes! No, I'm not!
Besides...
"Whoa, brother, I'm not letting you go to Mayfa! If you want to eat Mayfa, don't eat me first!
Rio slipped in from the side and stood up before me rushing to Mayfa.
"Shit, Rio...! I mean, you guys express it! You're doing this on purpose!?
"" "Eh heh heh" "
Let me try to get my tongue out, you three godchildren.
Oh, shit. Yeah......
─ ─ And blah, the battle was packed at this point.
My loss, confirmed.
But I had something to do with it, and I tried to attack it with my own hands.
Something about these three anymore, they were too iron walled to do it.
The combination is perfect, the individual is strong, and I can't hit my hands at all.
Meanwhile, I was beaten to pieces by the three of us, beaten and knocked out in no time.
A shabby settlement.
And...
Cut off my perfect endurance, I was blurring and falling in big letters on the ground in the arena.
There,
"Hehe, we win. Now your brother is ours." "
I fell on my back, and Rio covered me and hugged me.
"Come on.... Doctor, good luck with your work today. Tell us a lot about us who are still kids."
When Iris sat on my pillow, he put my head on his knee pillow and gently curled my hair.
"... brother, he left us and went somewhere, and it doesn't.... I'm not letting you get away with it."
Mayfa crouched beside me with a mischievous smile on her face and shook my hand so that she would no longer let go.
─ ─ Warriorly, it wasn't supposed to be a strange battle to win.
Yet how did this happen?
How could I have assumed that Illis could not read my thoughts, which are entirely Theory Street?
It was me looking up at the stars in the night sky thinking it might have been the difference in the intensity of my desire to "win" this battle. |
Lesson - And I'm glad I meant to.
Unfortunately, our turn to fight back ended in a shoulder watermark.
That is, when Rio showed me to the house, it was a mushroom and I never encountered Cecilia.
However, instead, after being given a shoulder watermark, there was another good news.
Soon after I came back to the inn again.
Guildmaster Cedric of the Guild of the Brave contacted me as soon as possible.
I was supposed to hear Cedric's exciting voice when I hit the magic device in the inn room.
"Mr. Brett, we've decided on a demon hunter for backup! Permission to use the Transfer Magic Team has also been granted, so it is a timetable that you can arrive there by noon tomorrow. '
"Oh, have you decided quickly? That helps."
'Hehe, I'll take care of it. And who do you think that backup is?
"Who's the backup, ...? Is that who I know?"
'Yeah, first of all, I'm sure you know. The demon hunter who's headed there for backup...'
That's how I heard the name Cedric gave me, and I was so surprised that I was about to take off my magic call device.
"... are you serious"
'Seriously. So look forward to tomorrow. Bye.'
─ ─ Pip.
Cut the Magic Call Device.
I take it to the chair I was sitting in, and I look up at the ceiling.
... Life is a lot of things.
"What's wrong, brother, is something wrong again? I knew you'd rub your tits?
"Don't do that, Rio. That's good news, not bad news."
"... unusual.... Cecilia Long after your sister was gone, it was all bad news.... fuuuuuuuu"
I grabbed Mayfa and I kind of grabbed her head, but I'm going to explore a plan for the rest of this.
Comfortable backup will arrive before noon tomorrow.
And then...
We're just gonna make it through this night.
That's how I welcomed you in the middle of the night.
Time to finish dinner, bathe, and then go into bed and fall asleep.
Me and Rio, Ilis and Mayfa were in the inn, just outside the entrance door, stopping by and waiting.
It's a small inn, and I have no other guests today.
I also told the master of the inn some circumstances and now have him caged in the room as a family.
As a precaution, [Tranquillity] has been called upon all the families of the Inn and Illis, and confirms that there is no one else in the Inn.
There is no such thing as everything.
Stand ready.
It's about time Rio was promised by Cecilia.
That's how we waited.
─ ─ Concon.
I heard knocking on the inn door.
Then a voice from across the door.
"... Rio, are you there? I'm here. I wonder if you could open it."
I can't even mishear you.
That was, indeed, the voice of Cecilia that I knew well, too.
But now beyond the door, she must be the vampire, not Cecilia as the brave man I know.
Vampires have the absolute constraint (rule) that "a house with people cannot be broken in without being invited by the people inside".
If Cecilia is a vampire, she cannot enter the inn unless Rio opens the door and invites her.
When he hears Cecilia's voice, Rio goes to the door and answers to the other side.
"Sister, you can't do that."
"... I wonder why"
Beyond the door, the temperature of Cecilia's voice dropped.
Rio looks a little scared, but he steps back and answers.
"Sister - you're going to attack me, Illis, Mayfa, and your brother, too.... I can't listen to my sister Cecilia, who became a vampire."
Then there was a little while.
Then I get these words back.
"Pfft, I see. Have you solved the [Enchanted Demon Eye]? Is Brett there, too?
That's what they asked me, so I walked up to Rio and responded.
"Oh, I'm here. - Cecilia, can I ask you one thing?"
"Something."
"Is the Vampire Road next to Mr. Cecilia now?
Then again for a little while, the next thing I knew, Cecilia's voice seemed delightful returned.
"... heh. That's Brett, how dare you read that?"
Affirmative words.
Is it still true?
I thought if Cecilia were to visit this inn tonight, she would bring Vampire Road, the culprit of the matter.
Born bloodsucked by the Vampire Road, the Vampire becomes a family member of the Lord, the Vampire Road.
Though a distorted ego will remain, it will be absolute obedience to the Lord's command, and it will not do anything to the detriment of the Lord.
Then we know that the prey, the brave man - the precious vampire material - is there, but Cecilia shouldn't do anything to attack us alone and make herself a bloodsucker and a nagging spawn.
This means that right now, across the door from this inn, there is a disastrous demon king, the same one that once caused a world-class catastrophe.
I get goosebumps when I think of something like that in front of me.
If we fight in the middle of the night, which is vampire time, it will definitely be us who will be defeated.
However, vampire loads and vampires must comply with their constraints (rules).
This means that the Vampire Road will also not be able to enter this inn unless you invite them in from here.
By the way, they can't even destroy the building.
As always, I'm not sure how it works, but as long as it helps in this setting right now.
Cecilia across the door, on the other hand, knocks on the door again.
Concon, concon, and.
"Hey Brett. Open up here. Then we will all be in the family of the Great Lord."
............
"So we are, liberated. ─ ─ I found out when I became this body. I can be honest with my desires without following the ethics and morality of human society."
"I can honestly tell you now. I want Rio, Iris, Mayfa, and Brett. I want to screw this up. I want to hurt you. Because instead you can hurt me so much too. So Brett, open this door and invite us in. Shall we be happy together?
The brave man, who became a vampire after being sucked by a vampire lord, is told that the desire he held becomes enlarged and leaves himself to a distorted desire.
I don't know if what Cecilia is saying right now is wrong as a person, but I'm pretty sure at least one important tag has come off.
Cecilia today, while seemingly similar to Cecilia as a human being, is decidedly different.
"Hey, open up, Brett. Let's all seek each other out. Let's melt it somewhere. Then I'm sure it feels really good."
─ ─ Concon, concon.
The door is knocked.
"Rio, and Iris and Mayfa are there, aren't they? Anyone. Someone can do it alone, so I want you to open this place. We all have what we want, don't we? You can force me to take that away from you. You just have to ravage it without worrying. It doesn't matter how they feel. Be honest with yourself?
Three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, lean on me in a frightened manner.
I held them in my arms to protect the three of them.
It definitely doesn't matter what Cecilia is saying.
Now is not the time to open the door in front of you and invite the monsters outside into this inn.
"Hey, please, Brett. Rio, Illis, Mayfa. Open up here. Accept me."
─ ─ Crisp, crunchy.
The noise of the knock changes and the sharp nail makes something sound like a scratch.
Sounds like you're getting your chest ripped off somewhere.
But at last...
"... yes, I get it. After all, I can't accept it."
A lonely voice.
Rio, Iris, Mayfa tried to say something.
But before that, they all looked at me, so I shook my head to the side.
And next, there was a different voice from Cecilia.
It's like a man's voice.
"─ You have no blood, no tears, you brave men. The rest of Cecilia wants you so much."
It was a cold, scared running voice, like mowing your soul.
I return my words across the inn door with my three godchildren in my arms.
"... you're the vampire lord"
"Whatever. It is Yu who should be king of vampires and king of all this world. Brave men of the weak, if you descend here and now to the rest of the military gate, you will be given your place as the rest of the proximity. I also give my beautiful daughters the rest of my love...... how about that?
"I'm not kidding, you idiot!
"Who's got a vampire or something! I mean, could you just perish?
"... bullshit is also unpleasant if not as much.... idiots say rest."
Before I could answer, three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, revolted.
As always, you have no mercy when you refuse.
But that should be called a vampire, or he doesn't seem to be losing his reason to be a demon king with all his temper, nor does he seem to be dominated by violent impulses and killing instincts that don't think ahead.
And "be king of this world," he said.
Well, I'm sure he's one of the most powerful demon kings in the world.
I speak across the door.
"O demon king of vampires. I think that's a little too sweet for us human braves. You don't see the world."
"Right. Then I'll prove it, and I'll look forward to it. - Let's go, Cecilia."
"Yes, Lord"
That's how the two signs across the door left.
For today, I guess I gave up and left.
The tension I was straining was relieved, and I exhale heavily.
"Brother...... about your Cecilia sister, can you help? It's all right, isn't it?
Rio in my arms stares at me with his eyes that are still going to cry.
Iris and Mayfa seemed equally anxious, although they wouldn't put it in their mouths.
I tell my godchildren while I'm gentle with them.
"Oh, I'm fine. We brave men don't always fight alone. Behind the brave men who fight the Demon King there are people who can back it up and help each other when someone is in a pinch. So... well, look at it."
To my words, I say it in a way that Illis notices something.
"It was! The teacher was in Otona's discussion, and you called for backup!
"Mmm... well, that's true..."
It is somehow very mundane to be able to lift so much of normal things up.
Iris has an amazing fantasy about "adults"......
And the way I called for backup was subtly weird, because Guildmaster Cedric of the Brave Alliance handed it to the people to give it his all.
That's how we're being helped by a lot of people's work, I wanted to tell you that we're not just fighting demon kings in the field... maybe this hasn't been conveyed properly.
Thinking, etc., Mayfa has now held my hand and said this.
"... but you called for backup because your brother did well.... If it were just the three of us, we wouldn't have contacted the Guild of the Brave, we'd have moved on our own and already been so desperate.... Thank you, brother"
That's what I said, angel chuckle.
"Gu......"
I was disappointed in that smile.
For Mayfa's sake, for Mayfa's sake...!
You're surprisingly good at praising him......
"Well, you are. ─ ─ This is Thankful, Mayfa. I'm feeling better."
...... ... Why is your brother thanking me?
"Nothing. I don't know."
I put Mayfa's head in my face and I blindfold her.
Mayfa was also dyed red on her cheeks to make her feel good.
─ That's why we managed to spend the night that was the problem.
The showdown with Vampire Road will be tomorrow.
If the backup Cedric called me arrives, I stand a chance of winning more than enough.
We got ready for tomorrow, went back to the inn room and dived into bed.
And the next morning...
I was to be seen with a clear eye by the brave backup who arrived safely. |
Lesson When we get to the water bath, we'll get dressed first.
I break up with the women and change into a pair of seawater pants in the men's locker.
But I think while dressing in the dressing room.
Alma, Cecilia, Rio, Illis, Mayfa...
I was alone when I broke up with a man and a woman.
Once again, the ratio between men and women is very strange.
Wouldn't the situation I'm in be the one commonly referred to as "Harlem" for a little while?
That's what I thought, and then I shake my head beside it.
"No, no, calm down. At least don't account for the kids."
I twinkle like I tell myself.
If it's just the two of us, Alma and Cecilia, it's not like it's a relationship between a man and a woman, which is vulgar, and it's not that funny.
School colleague, housekeeper and fellow Demon King Hunter, and three godchildren.
All right, no problem, normal.
When I finish dressing, I go outside and wait for the women to finish dressing in front of the dressing room.
As the twitch and sun shine, we move to a little shade by the building.
So put your arms together and wait while you stand with your back on the wall for a while.
Eventually the women finished dressing and came out of the dressing room for women.
"Brother, do it!"
"Thank you for waiting, Doctor."
"... it's normal for a woman to take longer to get dressed.... Your brother was excited while he waited for us.... No problem."
First of all, Rio, Illis and Mayfa.
Forget Mayfa wanting to get your head around it because she says something vain and trivial.
I see the three of them in swimsuits yesterday, so nothing particularly surprising.
It was just a little different in the sun again, and the three appeared sparkling.
At the time when those three came out of the dressing room, there was a whirlwind of "ooh-ooh" from around them.
Naturally, we're not the only seabathers.
There are plenty of people coming swimming to the coastal city of Seafeed this hot summer.
The people's eyes were on our three godchildren.
Ilis, who noticed it, says "Hawa" and hides behind Rio in embarrassment.
Rio told such a second daughter, "You don't have to be shy like that. You just have to be grand," he said, "but I was doing a good job of sheltering my sister.
Rio himself is a man of words, grandeur, and seems fine to be noticed in his swimsuit.
It's a strange thing, even though I was so shy when they told me to fight in idol costumes.
Maybe it's okay if you dress sporty.
It should also be noted that Mayfa, as usual, is tattooed young, as if there was no wind that cared.
As always, he's got a strong heart.
But nevertheless, even though it's a public place, I'd like to tell the men around me not to look too closely at my kids.
In the meantime, as I glanced at him with all my might, the men around me panicked and turned away.
Looks like I'm gonna have to play the role of watchdog to keep the bad bugs away from my kids, who are adorable in the idol class.
And furthermore...
Thank you for waiting, Dr. Brett.
"Hey, it's like heaven here, Brett. I'm too happy to be called to heaven."
A pair of adult women - Alma and Cecilia - showed up from the dressing room.
The sunlight falling from the blue sky sun brightens the two of us.
Alma is as good a style as ever.
The better it is to leave, the tighter it is to pull in.
Did this year's swimsuit go with her hair color or is it a red lineage colored bikini style?
It is her usual stance to keep her glasses on as usual and only remove them when swimming.
But the Alma one, for some reason, procures different swimsuits every year.
Since I am an elite teacher working for Wang Du's college but I am single, I wonder if I am single aristocrat and have excess money?
"Ugh. How's it going, Dr. Brett? Am I cute?
Alma makes a joke and shows me her seductive poses.
But those cheeks are dyed slightly red, and the eyes behind my glasses are shaking into cutthroat colors that peek at my complexion.
You do this like an annual event, so I don't even know what Alma does sometimes.
"Whoa, you're cute this year, Alma. You look great."
"Really? Yay!"
When I honestly tell you what I think, Alma gives a joyful face, a pah and a look.
I feel like I do this flow every year, but you never get tired of it. True.
And because of that, I decided to reveal to Alma what I thought was inexplicable every year.
"But you, do you have to change your bathing suit every year? You barely wear them one at a time. I don't know why you're changing it, but it's just a waste of time - it hurts! Hey, what the hell, Rio?"
When I was hitting Alma in doubt, Rio, who was nearby, put a light kick in my leg.
When I look at Rio for something, Rio looks straight at me and protests something.
"Brother, Sister Alma is pathetic! Really, be blunt."
"Hey, what the hell is that? And what does that have to do with... oh, hey, Rio."
When Rio ignored me and ran over to Alma, he stretched out his back and reached out and said, "Okay, Alma's red hair."
"Sister Alma, are you sorry our brother couldn't be more serious?
"Ugh, thanks Rio. You're sweet, Rio."
Alma was hugging Rio a little while she wept for some reason.
Oh, my God.
By the way, Illis also had a troubled look on his face when he said, "Doctor, whatever it is, what it is now..." etc.
Mayfa was also exaggerating her shoulders as she twinkled, "... you're my brother, I can't help it."
I don't know what it is, but apparently it's my fault.
Yes, yes, it's all my fault anyway.
The other one, Cecilia, was watching the exchange between Rio and Alma, and she said, "Wow... a girl has an adult head... and she's hugged... honorable... ha, ha" and so on.
Yeah, sadly as usual, you're a dangerous Mr. Cecilia.
But when it comes to the appearance of that dangerous person, you can never fool around.
Blonde and model in shape, she is just as sexy as she embodies an adult beautiful woman who everyone envies.
The swimsuit Cecilia wears like that is a bold black bikini.
It was a little unexpected here because the color of armor and shields in battle is white lineage, so I was somewhat anticipating swimsuits of the same white color as Illis.
Don't remind me of Cecilia when I was being a vampire somewhere.
There's so much demonic charm that I'm worried about seducing the boys and girls around it and not letting them fall into the path of evil.
Well actually, I think the contents are ok because they're back to their original pong tip sister properly...... so is that really ok?
Uhm, do I have to keep an eye on this guy too......
Shit, I got a lot of work to do.
By the way, that's the kind of gaze I get from the people around me.
"Oh, that bastard... that you're alone with all those beautiful women and girls...?
"From Lori to your sister, I can't forgive you..."
"How is the world so unfair! Damn!"
and so forth, and had been turned to unsuspecting eyes.
I'm actually a teacher, a coworker, a teacher and a housekeeper, but I guess that doesn't matter from the field.
Oh, boy, I'm in total trouble.
Well, whatever that is.
"Brother, let's go swimming faster than that!
Soon Rio, who was away from Alma, takes my hand and hurries.
Iris and Mayfa also stood next to Rio and looked like they had gone to play with him.
All right...
My godchildren drew my hand and I walked towards the sea. |
Lesson Approximately a week from the day Cecilia traveled from our home.
That day, me and my three godchildren were visiting the Guild of the Brave to receive a quest for the exorcism of the Demon King.
As we were looking for a quest to exorcise the Demon King in front of the bulletin board, one of the brave guild's female employees who found me ran over on a small run.
The female employee asks me this while showing a slight hesitation.
"Um, Mr. Brett... you did know Mr. Cecilia, didn't you?
"Yeah, well. What's wrong with Mr. Cecilia? ─ ─ Ha! Oh no, that guy finally did something...! Where are you now!? As soon as I find him, I'll beat him up, detain him and imprison him! My Cecilia is really sorry!
That said, I bowed my head reflexively.
It's something I've been living with all these days, so I've got an inner consciousness.
But female officials laugh like troubles.
"Yes, no, I'm not. I mean, 'our Cecilia'..."
"Uh, no, Mr. Cecilia, we've been living together lately."
"What!? Mr. Brett, were you living with Cecilia?!?
"Oh, it's not even like that. I live with my godchildren. So, Mr. Cecilia was with his godchildren."
"With the godchildren!? Four people together?!? Mr. Brett, I was wondering if there was any kind of manoeuvre at all."
The female employee who was eating at me was slapped in the back of the head by another female employee who was walking behind it.
It was more "painful......" when I was running wild, tearing eyes and putting a scratch in it was "different, right?" The real deal, "he urges," Oh, yeah, "he says and tongues out pero.
And the first female employee told me this.
"Mr. Brett, Mr. Cecilia is still on the quest, and he's not back. I should have gone to a village about half a day from here, but I haven't heard from anything in almost another week..."
The female employee conveys that with an anxious look.
The officials who put the scratch on her were showing a cool attitude but equally disturbing.
It is certainly somewhat of a concern that I have not returned for a week towards the village, which is located a half-day one way street away, and that I have not heard from them.
The content of the quest - - the exorcism of the Demon King itself - often ends within a day, and even if there is something irregular and longer, it is common to end within a couple of days.
Also, the Demon King Hunter is at a quest stage, where the Brave Alliance is related to work orderers and contractors.
So if it seems to take a lot longer than is normally assumed, it is common sense to put a report into the Guild of the Brave using the Magic Instruction Caller at the stage it turns out to be.
Of course there are rough brave guys around there, but Cecilia is a neat type of place like that, hard to think of failing to contact.
"Even from the Guild of the Brave, you tried to contact me, didn't you?
"Yes. I called Cecilia's number on the register a few times, but I couldn't get through..."
Hmmm......
I do know that when that happens, you want to suspect that something abnormal is happening.
"What demon king did Mr. Cecilia go to exorcise?
When I heard that, the clerk waved.
"Oh, no. The quest you received from Cecilia is not a quest to exorcise the Demon King. It's a" general quest, "but there are so many boys and girls missing in the village that I want you to find out..."
"Uh, is that a general quest?... No, nevertheless."
"Yes. Which way, because it's strange that I haven't heard from you..."
I nod to that official's words, too.
A "general quest" is a quest other than the exorcism of the Demon King.
The Guild of the Brave, from which a portion of the nation's defense spending is allocated and operated, and the Demon King Hunter who takes quests from it, have aspects of the country's expected policing in general, including anything other than demon king exorcism.
Sometimes a bowl turns to a brave guild in the neighborhood when it comes to what the average person would expect to be at risk for responding to incidents that have occurred in various parts of the country.
And indeed, if the content of the disappearance of several boys and girls in the village, even if we do not know what caused it, we can anticipate in advance the possibility of more than a certain danger coming down ahead of the investigation.
If so, I know it's the turn of the Demon King Hunter...
"... it's not a case for Cecilia, is it? He's out of combat, but I don't think he's the type to be good at investigative work."
"Yes, that's right......" Boys and girls are missing!? I can't stay like this. Let me go now! 'And so on, Cecilia took it upon herself to be willing. "
"Uh..."
I can imagine the sight is obvious.
Well, sure, don't go if that guy does.
It's awkward, and he's going to be expecting a romance or something that starts there.
But in any case, if you're as brave as Cecilia, you'll do something about some irregular back on your own, and it's still odd that you haven't heard from one person for nearly a week.
The opposite worry also came to mind only for a moment, but I want to believe that there will be a degree of discernment no matter how much that person doesn't actually run into crime.
Whatever the joke is, like when I'm dealing with him, he's planning to hit me with resistance and scratch.
By the way, I also tried using the Magic Call Device on the spot and tried calling the number of Cecilia I knew, but never got through to her.
"Can't you connect after all..."
"Yeah, you can't. Well, I don't know what's going on."
I put my hand on my chin and think.
I care about Cecilia as someone I know.
If it's a half-day place from here, it's up to you to go see what's going on directly.
Sometimes it can be a mistake to just be missing and come back Kellogg without a thing after a while.
I can't say enough that the lack of communication is not due to the inadvertent loss of the Magic Call Device somewhere, etc.
But...
Somewhere inside me my instincts were ringing the alarm.
Fear that if you don't go looking for Cecilia here now, something will happen that you will regret for the rest of your life.
"Hey brother, Cecilia sister, what's wrong...?
Rio, who was listening, asks me in an anxious voice.
If you look, Iris and Mayfa were staring at me with a face that said something.
... Right.
Even these guys are no longer friends with Cecilia.
You'll be worried if I hear you're missing.
All right...
"Okay. Well, then, all three of you, I'm sorry, but can I take the Demon King's exorcism internship today? I'm just gonna go check on the village. You know how to get back to Litt Village, right? You guys wait at home for a while."
I tell the three godchildren, yes.
Then the three of them tilted their necks.
"I wonder what you're talking about."
Is that...?
Did I say something funny?
"Um, Doctor...? Why are we leaving a message? I think we should go find Mr. Cecilia with the teacher."
"Hmm...?
Now it was my turn to tilt my neck.
"No, 'cause this isn't an internship, is it? I don't know what's gonna happen, and it's like I have no idea if I'm the only one who can protect you guys when something happens. The element of uncertainty is too big to get you involved."
When I answered that, Mayfa came through my hand this time.
"... brother, no.... We want to help you.... and we're worried about your sister Cecilia. I want to go find it with you."
"No, I'll say so. I also have a responsibility as a teacher..."
"... it's better to abandon responsibility when 'something' happens and even your brother is missing.... and you, my brother, will beat the three of us to protect us."
Gussa!
Mayfa's blade of words pierced my chest.
"Ugh... no, I did lose three to one, but apart from that..."
"It's not anything else, Doctor! Even we can protect ourselves now! ─ ─ Plus, if we can't get someone to protect us, other demon hunters will be unable to operate in the first place. Different?
"Mmm..."
To Iris' diligent assertion, I did think so.
All three of them - Rio, Ilis and Mayfa - are already too powerful as a one-serving demon king hunter.
I'm no longer a poor brave apprentice who can't stand around properly without my protection.
Or a net story, you're strong enough to cross each other with a little dragon already just because of your fighting power...
As far as I'm concerned, I see them as protected, but all three of them are not really brave men of that level.
I realize that and I laugh bitterly.
I hope the three of you can stand alone, but I can't help but keep my hands off you.
"... ok. Well, why don't the four of us go find Mr. Cecilia?"
"" "Yes!
Reply from the good healthy godchildren.
That's why I took three men, Rio, Ilis and Mayfa, to the village where Cecilia had lost track of me. |
Episode Time returns to the middle of the final game.
Of the three sets of battle landscapes, attention was paid to the battle between "Wise Wolf” Jake and Mayfa.
Mayfa with both arms grabbed by Jake.
Jake's face, stretched out with a long tongue, is imminent, not with his arm strength, nor with his escape.
"Hi-hi, if you get grabbed like this, the magical type of brave man is powerless, right? Come on, what are we gonna do, poor captive little girl? If we keep this up, the bad wolf will eat us, huh?
Jake approaches Mayfa, along with complaining about stirring up his opponent's impatience.
But Mayfa was calm.
That's right.
For Mayfa, it's not a particularly troubled situation.
Sometimes I almost forget, Mayfa is a genius with super powers when it comes to magic.
Sometimes a brave man in a masterpiece class shows a superman technique that is unimaginable and unintelligible.
Such a Mayfa opens her mouth toward Jake.
"... if they grab you, the wizard is powerless?... Why?
"Is...?
"... caught in assumptions, preconceptions and common sense.... the poor captive wolf, that way"
"Ho, ho...? Then how are you going to get out of this state? A powerless wizard, a brave man, can't even use magic! If you can do it, try it!
"... Yeah, I'll show the poor wolf, do it. ─ ─ Flaming body self burning !"
- Whoa, whoa, whoa!
From Mayfa's entire body, a flame rolled up to envelop her body.
"Heh...!? Uh-oh!"
Jake panics and takes his hand off Mayfa's arm.
But the hand, only for a moment until I let it go, was already burnt.
Mayfa, dressed in flames, approached Jake, who flew away in a hurry.
"If so, silly......! How can you use magic!
"... why?... ask the other way around.... How do you think you can't do that?
"Huh!? With someone else grabbing you, you can combine magical images."
"... so that's the assumption.... That's not true for me, and I don't make it.... Come on, bad wolf, time to be exorcised"
"Hey, wait... Ba, idiot, don't come near me! It burns like that."
"Eh."
Mayfa, flaming all over her body, jumped at Jake, who was rushing to crawl on all fours trying to escape.
"─ Gaaaaaaaa!
Jake's whole body, gasped by Mayfa, was quickly burned by flames and...
Beep, beep!
The alarm and knockout audio rang from the magic fixture Jake wore.
"Hot! Hot! No!
To the damage of the flames, Jake swoops around the ground.
When Mayfa left Jake...
"... heh heh, when you touch me inadvertently, I get burned.... you're the only one who can touch my soft skin"
Yes, it was unleashing a decision dialogue I wasn't sure about for Jake, who could be cured by the rescue team at the tournament.
By the way, the paramedics looked alternately at Mayfa and me with suspicious eyes.
Oh, my social position has been tarnished again...... Ugh.
Meanwhile, a confrontation between “Queen” Dorothy and Illis.
This one was also in a state where the flaming whip unleashed by Dorothy wrapped around the body of Illis and it seemed as if the battle had been decided from the field.
At first glance, all we have to do is burn Iris.
"─ Whoa, whoa, whoa! Ahhhhhhh!
"Hahahahaha! That sounds good!? Let me hear more!
Iris screaming as he screams into heaven and Dorothy laughing with a joyful look.
Hey, and Iris, you're an actress......
Not only brave men and idols, but stage actresses seem talented.
And so I thought, finally.
Iris revealed his true nature.
The girl laughs niggly at Dorothy as she stops screaming inadvertently as she is wrapped around a flaming whip.
"... Nah. How was it, my scream? How many out of a hundred, the Queen of Screaming Maestro?
"... what?
Dorothy is frightened by the way she doesn't know what happened.
Iris, on the other hand, grabbed the flaming whip with disappointment in his hand and pulled it like a string.
"What, hey, hey...!?
Dorothy stepped on the bump, relaxed and fell, pulled by a strong force besides her thoughts.
I also let go of the flaming whip.
Iris is a bit unimaginable from my usual impression, but the fact is, his abilities are all-rounders, so he's got a lot of arm strength too...
Well, more than that, Dorothy's confused about not knowing, I guess.
"Sa, the scream just now... you said it was an act...? But why... why are you burned by [Flamewhip (Flamewhip)] and you're fine...!?
With Dorothy unnecessarily falling to the ground, I only look up at Iris.
At the end of that gaze is one girl smiling thinly and looking down at the “Queen”.
What she wears is a magical glow of guardianship.
"[Luminous Protection of Light] - It's a defensive magic that replaces every kind of physical damage to a certain amount."
"Ha!? of light and earth attributes, medium superior synthetic magic!? At the graduate level, I can't believe I can use such advanced magic...!
"The teacher taught me how to keep it. He embraced me believing that I could acquire it because I was good at it. That's why I did my best too. That's all."
That's what Iris said, manipulating the flaming whip in his hand to twist like a gymnastics ribbon, untying it from himself.
And I took it from Dorothy, and I put it in my own hands.
"I'm not very good at fire attributes or anything, and I don't remember this kind of magic, but... ugh, it won't go away for a while, even if it's out of the hands of the surgeon."
Illis lets the whip of the flame wave.
Pissy, the flames licked the ground, baked.
Iris slacks his mouth loose like a damned laugh.
"Later, Dorothy. You just told me you didn't care about Mazo, did you? So, one way or the other, I'm more of an" S. "
"Yes......?
“Queen” Dorothy leaning her neck while lying on the ground.
The flaming whip, manipulated by Illis, roasts the ground around it with a pissy, bassy sound.
"Heh heh... so have a little fun, Dorothy?
"What, wait..."
"Ahhh! Ahhh!"
A flaming whip waved by Illis slaps Dorothy on the back of the “Queen” shadow over and over again.
Whenever I get slapped, Dorothy screams that even sound comfortable somewhere.
"Fuhi-chan! Ahhh!
"Hahaha! What's wrong, Dorothy? Doesn't seem like a lot of comfort!
"Because! Ahh! It is...!
"Look, look! Because it's not like this yet!
... and after such an exchange lasted for a while...
"Oh, ahem... Yes, Iris, my sister. Well..."
"Phew... good girl, Dorothy"
There was a new “queen” being born that lifted up Dorothy's jaw and made her faint.
By the way, Illis just starts to notice there and turns to me with a blue face.
Then I let my gaze wander that way...
"Shh, thanks to the teacher, I won! Brrr!"
That's what he said, he sent me a piece sign.
... No, well, yeah...
Brave men, too, I think it's okay to have all sorts of hobbies and hobbies within good sense... right?
I decided to wave to Illis for now, along with making laughs.
─ Well, whatever it is, the battle between Mayfa and Iris is cleared up.
And then... |
Lesson Well, not to mention the miracle that happened to me.
With an absurd welcome in the entrance hall, we decided to start exploring the vampire's castle as it was.
It should also be noted that the castle has a three-story basement.
From the ground floor I'm on, go up or down.
"Well, how should we attack? I guess I'll just have to smudge it properly."
“Demon Emperor" Manuel twinkles like that as he grinds his white beard.
“Wushu” Oswald, on the other hand, had quietly put his arms around him and closed his eyes so that it was not his job to think about it.
Seeing that, I thought.
... Wouldn't it be surprising that these people are brain muscles for a moment?
I'm starting to feel that way if I don't hang on.
"Ah duh... as Theory, do you want to keep the basement for now because the monster science textbook describes' vampires often rest their own coffins laid with unclean soil in the basement or treasure room '"
For one thing, as a teacher at the College of the Brave, I try to mouth textbook level information.
It should also be noted that for vampires, the "coffin" dedicated to them is also a "weakness", so it is something that must be guarded dead at the top of the list.
Because if the unclean soil in the coffin is purified, its vampires lose their immortality.
... and well, as a teacher at the College of the Brave, I'm talking about the common sense level.
When I put that knowledge in my mouth, three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, said, "" "" Ooh! "" "I gave him more admiration.
And even “Demon Emperor” Manuel shouts "Wow."
"It's a big deal, kid. Even leading demon hunters don't know that much."
“Demon Emperor" Manuel appreciated me that way.
“Wushu” Oswald also snaps "useful information" and so on in a position to keep his arms together.
"Yeah, yeah, well. Even if it looks like this, I'm teaching the students..."
Speaking of which, when I was a Demon King hunter too, I might only have held onto the proper basics about the monster stuff I've actually fought for.
As for seating, you're more proficient than you were when you were an active Demon King Hunter.
This was a bit of a fresh find.
That's why when we explored the ground floor one way, we decided to explore the basement next.
Down a stone staircase to the basement, in the corner of the entrance hall.
There was an open iron door a while further, and there was still a stone basement ahead of it.
There were about ten coffins resting there.
By the way, only one of those coffins is splendid compared to the others.
"Oh, really, there was a coffin in the basement. That's my brother."
"Doctor, is that the vampire road coffin that looks splendid?
Rio and Illis say that.
but one Mayfa is a thought face.
And I thought this would be different.
"No, this guy's gonna come off"
"... well. Why would you think that, kid?"
“Demon Emperor" Manuel comes onto the story.
“Takegami” Oswald doesn't talk about it, but it's interesting.
I answer to their senior Demon King Hunter.
"No, I don't have any certainty... if I insist, would you mind? I don't like how the Vampire Road coffin is so unmade that the door is placed in an open basement with no escort. Perhaps, but that splendid one belongs to the vampire who was on the ground floor, and the rest belongs to Vampire Spawn, isn't it? It matches the number of people on the ground floor."
I see. I'm not convinced.
But there is no certainty, so we first removed all the coffins that were in the basement to the outside of the castle and purified the unclean soil by opening the lid and exposing it to the sun.
Then we step inside the castle again, and now we start exploring upstairs.
As a result, there is no harvest on the second floor either.
If so, then...
"The third floor is our destiny. Idiots like high places and the market is set."
“Demon Emperor" Manuel snaps like that.
Vampires are generally said to be a lookout, so maybe they haven't even come off though.
We're going up the stairs leading to the third floor.
And as we proceeded up the hallway ahead, we finally reached the place.
Between the sights - in front of the splendid gate at its entrance.
Vampire Road is in here.
That's what my instincts told me.
“Martial god" Oswald puts his hands on a heavy, double-open door and pushes it open.
Gogo, the door opened with the sound of
In the large room inside, during the sight, a red carpet was laid on the stone floor.
The carpet stretches straight from near the entrance we came in to the back.
There was a target ahead.
Vampire Lord was sitting on his back with a single elbow on his throne, waiting for us with an extra grin on his mouth.
"You've come a long way, you weak human braves. Did you enjoy the welcome party on the first floor?
Your stature is not significantly different from that of a regular vampire.
With such a flashy black cloak with a red lining, it's a little long, but that would be within the vampire's individual difference.
But his whole body had a strong temper.
Mere vampires don't get upset.
The only thing that bothers me about it is the monster who became the Demon King.
And above all, I feel terrible pressure of power.
In a broad glance, we say at the entrance that the Vampire Road is sitting on the deepest throne, but it's so overwhelming that it's about to tremble.
The three men, Rio, Ilis and Mayfa, also looked frightened and desperate as they shuddered their bodies small.
No matter how genius the three of them are, they're still rookies who've only been training for the first time in a year or so.
Too soon to confront the S-Class Demon King enough to cause a global disaster.
But on the other hand, there are S-class braves here as well.
The two “Demon Emperors” Manuel and “Martial God” Oswald take a few steps forward, with a cool face, even with the power of the Vampire Road.
"What's so welcome about it? That won't even warm you up."
"We've come to take you down, vampire lord. Do you think it would be an addition to that kind of miscellaneous fish"
"Hmm..."
Vampire Road stands up slowly.
And besides, when he cast a spell, a pitch-black sword was born on his right hand.
"Fine. Then you'll be buried from scratch. It's an honor."
Close at the time of battle.
I think about standing around.
Vampire Road - I don't know exactly how much that fighting power is, but I can see that just being so empowered is a menace to fear.
It will be difficult to stand around protecting the godchildren.
Before that, I think I'm just full of my legs.
And one more thing that bothers me.
Come here, I don't see Cecilia.
You mean you're somewhere that's not here.
That's what Manuel, the Demon Emperor, told me.
"Kids, let's do this guy's opponent. Find the coffin where you brought the children. It could be too much trouble for him to be immortal."
I was of the opinion.
We'd rather do what we can than stay here and get our feet together for nothing.
Hitting a dark cloud on a winless opponent is not the only way to be a brave man.
What can I do now with the bills handed out to me?
It is also a brave man to explore what he can do now and act towards it.
"Okay. ─ ─ Let's go, Rio, Illis, Mayfa!
"" "Ha, ha!
I walked out the hallway with my slightly distracted godchildren.
Eventually, from behind, you hear the sound of the battle starting.
Metal, collision, destruction, explosion-
I ran around the hallway on the third floor listening to those sounds from afar.
Open the doors of the rooms everywhere and make sure there is nothing in the room to hit the next.
In doing so, I hit the deepest door that this was the last place.
I open the door to momentum.
At the end of the door was a small room.
There's another heavy door in the back of the room.
Before that, one person, a guard stood guarding the door.
The escort laughed and said this when he admitted what we looked like.
"I've been waiting, Brett. And Rio, Illis, Mayfa. ─ -Come on, which desire wins, let's fight."
There was a vampire, Cecilia, wearing a dark armor and a large shield. |
Lesson It was about a few years ago now.
In a village, one young girl lived with her mother.
The girl had been strongly told by her mother.
It means "on a full moon night, never go outside the house".
But one day the girl broke the story.
The girl went out of the house on a full moon night, being taken by a friend's boy who said, "I'm fine."
For the first time in her life, the girl saw a beautiful full moon - and a tragedy happened.
When I realized, the boy who took the girl out was falling to the ground in bloody blood.
There was bright red blood around the girl's mouth and on her hand nails.
The adults who heard the scream rushed quickly and the boy took his life.
But as her mother embraced and sheltered, the girl was thrown many curses and stones.
The children, who were the girl's friends, also said "bucket things" and "monsters" and hit the girl with feelings of hatred and fear.
The mother took the girl and tried to escape and left the village.
Eventually, when you reach a house in the back of a secluded mountain - a shattered mountain hut that has been abandoned - you two become living there.
The girl was asked by her mother about the "curse" the girl was born with.
It is the curse of beastification.
The girl's father was a werewolf, and the girl herself inherited the blood and curse.
The girl who dwells in that body the curse of beastification loses reason when exposed to the light of the full moon and becomes a monster who leaves herself to the impulse of violence and killing.
The girl who found out about it got lonely.
A platter of kids who want to play with friends is no longer involved with non-mothers.
Years later, even after my mother lost her life due to illness and started letting me get out of the city and work in a bakery, I didn't try to relate to people more than I needed to.
Because I am a monster.
You must not make friends in the human world.
The shadow of a girl who was bright and nostalgic at an early age is not on her now.
A lonely girl, hiding in the shade and living alone.
But inside such a girl, a yearning gradually arose.
I wish I could someday be someone like this for everyone to see in a place where I can catch the eye of day......
I don't want to have that hope, but I want it to get stronger every day.
One day, the girl meets.
to one young man and to the three girls he took.
The encounter will radically change the girl's fate.
Hi, hello.
I'm Brett, a teacher at Ritt Village College of the Brave.
We now have three pretty godchild braves who didn't have three cute cats.
Make it a sword genius. Boyish girl, Rio.
A girl who is good at restorative and auxiliary magic and adorable as an angel, Iris.
Mayfa, a naughty girl with no one to the right when it comes to attack magic talent.
And then there's Cecilia, the world's most powerful female demon hunter, who lives with me as a housekeeper.
My current interest is in money.
That doesn't mean we don't have enough money.
On the contrary, I got plenty of money, so it was an interest in how to spend it.
The other day we were involved in the extermination of the Vampire Road, and we received a lot of rewards from the Guild of the Brave.
I am currently thinking a lot about the effective use of this.
The first decision is to purchase a few magic restoration potions as insurance for when in trouble.
This is what I learned as a lesson in my last quest.
Next thing you know, buy each of your godchildren a calling magic device.
Although call magic equipment is not usually like letting a child have one at a time, it is one of the convenient tools that is relatively inexpensive and widespread in society among magic items and can be considered a necessity for professional demon king hunters.
However, even if you consider purchasing so far, more than % of the rewards you receive and a little more than % remain.
And our godchildren are also brave men with a strength far exceeding that of a good addition and subtraction - no.
Even so, I was concerned that my gear was still soggy.
The weapon the three of them are currently dealing with is the minimum general weapon I bought when I first met the three of them.
I don't even wear anything that looks like a decent protective gear, and I'm equipped with something about a bit of sturdy clothing.
In other words, the current situation is that the equipment is not commensurate with the strength.
I would never meet a demon king of S-rank like Vampire Road, but it's not something I've ever known when or how to come across a mighty enemy, so if I can afford it, I've never come over to enhance my gear.
Powerful Demon King hunters often use the rewards they earn from their regular activities to purchase expensive and powerful magic item weapon protective equipment, which they make their own.
The swords I usually use are quite magical luxury items, and Cecilia's armor, shields and swords are first-class items with plenty of expensive magic metal.
That's why...
One morning at our residence given to teachers at the College of the Brave.
After enjoying the delicious breakfast Cecilia made for me, I told the three godchildren:
"That's why... Rio, Illis, Mayfa. I'm going to go get your own weapons and protective equipment."
"" "Yay!
Hearing my words, the three godchildren cheered.
"My brother bought me a short sword, and it's been getting worse like a blade spill lately. I thought you wanted something new."
"New weapons and protective gear...... I hope you have a cute one"
"... brother, I have good equipment.... just looking at it, it's like the enemy is trembling"
Rio, Illis and Mayfa say it orally.
Looks like we're all going to enjoy ourselves.
"No, I don't think it's possible to shake up enemies with the look of Mayfa...... Mr. Cecilia, if you're going to buy these guys weapon protection gear, should you still go to the artisanal city of Lavilton?
When I ask Senior Demon King Hunter yes, Cecilia, who was cleaning up in an apron, answers only with her voice from the kitchen.
"I guess so. I think it would be a good idea to go directly to Lavilton, the capital of the arts, if we were to buy three. It's the best range, and it's the starting point for distribution, so things are relatively inexpensive."
"Right. So we're going out, and Cecilia's off for a while. You can stretch your wings appropriately."
"Well... it's a shame you can't take care of everyone for a while, but with your husband's orders, you have no choice. But I'm protecting this house, so come back whenever you're done running errands."
With that said, Cecilia was drying the futon in her godchildren's room as she sang her nose song with Hmm.
... This guy already has a housekeeper on the board.
I don't think very much of you as a brave man with one of the best strengths in the world while you set it up yourself.
Soon, I was the "master".
Cecilia right now, I'm afraid I'm going to do anything I want... well, aside from that.
"Well, do you want to go for a minute? All three of you, start preparing for your journey."
"" "Yes" "
That's how me and my three godchildren traveled to the city of craftsmanship, or the city of Lavilton, known as the capital of art.
Then, about a week to be rocked by a carriage.
Our arrival in the destination city of Lavilton was so long past the evening that the world began to be overshadowed by night darkness.
As I waited for a check for entry into the city in front of the entrance gate to the city, I would pull Rio around to hem my clothes and let him point to the sky.
"Hey, brother."
"Hmm... what's up, Rio?
"Look, that, the moon. It's almost full moon, isn't it?
"Oh, really."
When I looked at the night sky ahead, which Rio pointed to, the golden moon, about to reach the full moon in a few days, was brilliant.
- But I didn't know that at this time.
I don't know if that month that Rio has pointed to and shown us is going to be a big part of what we're going to encounter... |
Lesson I'm back from the city's brave guild to Lit Village, that afternoon.
Soon the sun was about to set, in the garden in front of a borough cabin named the College of the Brave, where Rio and the “Holy Knight of Steel” Cecilia stood opposite each other.
I'm talking about Cecilia getting an archery on Rio, but what she's wearing along with it is gear for action.
Namely, Cecilia is a plate armor, a shield and a sword.
What Rio is equipped with is also the real short sword she uses in the actual battle of demon king exorcism.
By the way, I, Illis and Mayfa are touring sideways.
"Hey, Sister Cecilia. Are you sure you're okay with punching in with a real sword? I think it's more aggressive than you think."
Rio asks anxiously, but Cecilia smiles furiously.
"Oh, think of me as the demon king to defeat, and I hope he punches in with all his might. By the way, if you seem to be acting weird, you're going to get Rio from me.... hahaha... hahaha"
"Wow, okay. I'm going to do everything I can to take him down. I mean, I'd rather take it down."
Rio is here. He showed himself running cold on his spine and then faced Cecilia with a serious set up.
Cecilia also intercepts Rio with a shield and sword.
I guess the sword, like the shield, is going to be used for defense.
"Then let's go, Sister Cecilia."
"Mmm, go ahead."
Rio popped out like an arrow at the right time to see if Cecilia had finished saying so.
And quickly dive into Cecilia's pocket.
"─ Huh!
That speed seemed slightly above Cecilia's forecast.
A skilled female brave man gives a slightly surprising look.
"I got... [sickness sword]!
Rio unleashed an instant multi-stage attack from there when he shone the fighting spirit involved in activating the move.
It's my specialty and the strongest sword technique Rio can use today [Disease Sword].
One blow is pushed by an overwhelming number of strokes of light stuff. This move is arguably one of the fairly user-friendly sword moves located in the upper intermediate class.
But...
Seeing the move activated, Cecilia laughed all the time.
Kickin ', gaggin', gaggin ', gaggin'...!
The slaughter that Rio unleashes hits Cecilia as she stands.
"Become...!?
When I finished releasing my moves, it was Rio who had the surprise look on his face.
Because Cecilia, who received Rio's genuine [disease sword], was perfectly intact.
Neither did Cecilia show much of the dodging, leaving the majority of the slaughter to hit her own plate armor.
Cecilia defended herself with swords and shields only a few rounds when the armor was about to hit an undefended area.
─ ─ The Battle Style of the "Holy Knight of Steel” Cecilia is that by bringing his vast fighting spirit together in armor, he starts an enemy attack with an unusual amount of defense.
Rio's [disease sword], which has a mild blow, is the worst compatible with Cecilia's style of combat, and even if it isn't, it has a difference in strength at the base.
"Mmm, it's still light. Then... it won't work against a strong enemy."
"─ Huh!?
Cecilia lets go of her sword from her right hand and stretches her hand toward Rio's chest barn.
Rio made a big leap backwards with a genuinely frightening look, taking distance from Cecilia.
"Ha... ha... but you're stronger than your brother... but you're not lying..."
Rio was in a moment of engagement now, showing remarkable wear and tear.
I'm guessing you're using tremendous concentration.
Cecilia, by contrast, grins and smiles at Rio with an extra look, picking up her sword again.
"Sounds like a good idea. But... is that the end of what Rio really means?
"Ma, not yet! If [Disease Sword] doesn't work...!
Rio drives again towards Cecilia.
Instead of diving straight into Cecilia's nostalgia this time, he probably made a big jump in front of him.
"How about this-- [Rock Slashing Sword]!
Rio swung his sword wide in the air, swinging his sword down as he fell towards Cecilia.
The struggle of Rio's sword strikes Cecilia by turning the momentum of natural decline into power.
But the heavy lady brave, she didn't move at all.
"Heh, that's an interesting [slashing rock sword] style. But..."
Cecilia holds the shield of her left arm forward and focuses her struggle there.
- Gaggin '!
Rio's sword hit Cecilia's shield.
Rio's full [slaughtered rock sword] was taken lightly.
"Gu......! [Slashing Rock Sword] But you're not coming through...!
"You're right as a tactic to switch from a lightweight multi-stage attack to a heavy-duty move that weighs one blow. But by the looks of it, you can prevent it with a shield."
Cecilia shook her shield away as it was.
"Ugh......!?
Rio's tiny body is easily blown away, parabolic and then thrown to the ground.
Rio nevertheless landed acrobatically rotating his body and managed to distance himself from Cecilia again.
"Ma, are you serious... strong..."
"I don't know, Rio, do you still want to?
With that said Cecilia grins again towards Rio.
I haven't taken a breath up.
Rio, who should have gained considerable strength compared to the average professional demon king hunter, was completely treated like a child.
In contrast, Rio thought only a little, then put his sword in his sheath and put his hands up,
"No, I'll stop. I still don't feel like I can win at all right now. Sister Cecilia, I knew you were strong. Sometimes your brother just admits it."
"Hehe..." Not yet, "right? But I did, and I figured out that Rio was a talent hunk. - Well, then, here's the real deal."
Cecilia says so, walking up to the front of one big tree standing behind a borough cabin at the College of the Brave.
And I invited Rio over for a moment.
"Come on, Rio, can you slaughter this big tree with one blow?
Cecilia asks Rio.
Ogi trunks are so thick that you can't hold them off even if you spread your arms, a substitute that you wouldn't normally be able to cut them down without striking the axe dozens of times.
"Huh!? No, you can't do that with a single blow. [Slashing Rock Sword] Then you can't do a horizontal giraffe, and if you can tap [Smash] into the same spot a few times, maybe you can cut it down..."
"Well, I guess that's the place. ─ Then, another problem. Do you think I or Brett would be able to slash down this tree with one blow?
That's what they ask, and Rio thinks hmm.
"No, you can't hit anything, no matter how much, even your brother or your Cecilian sister, can you?
"Yeah, you're right. Even for me and Brett, it's hard to slash down this tree with one blow. In normal serial or heavy hitting moves, that means. - Okay, look at this."
Thereafter, Cecilia lays her sword on her waist, and she dwells in a struggle with her sword.
And...
"─ Moonlight Sword !
Cecilia's sword ran.
The shaken long sword blade leaves a remnant of the struggle in a half-moon shape, which slowly disappears.
Goggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!
Daiki, cut up diagonally and cut into two with Cecilia's sword, makes a noise and falls.
"Ugh......! Awesome..."
Rio, who had witnessed it, was surprised to see his eyes round.
[Moonlight Sword] ─ It's a move I once taught Cecilia that I couldn't make into a thing.
He said it was a move to exert an offensive force beyond the limits of a physical attack not only by putting a fighting spirit together in the sword, but also by passing the fighting spirit into an integrated sword blade.
Its characteristic is that, in addition to its normally high attack power, it ignores up to half the target's defense.
But Cecilia's guidance didn't end there.
"─ Get out of the way!
Cecilia supported Oki, who was about to fall, by circling ahead and holding her arms wide open.
Big tree about to fall, that stops right there.
The sight of a giant tree, dozens of times the size of Cecilia's own body, supported by one of her, is suspicious of the eyes when a regular person sees it.
And Cecilia... |
We took down Vampire-Cessilia. We opened the door behind the room she was protecting.
It was like a treasure room there, with some treasure, two coffins resting.
Having decided that those two would be the coffins of Cecilia and Vampire Road, I pulled them out to the previous room and purified the unclean soil in them by exposing them to the falling sunlight.
After that, we head to the vampire road.
When I walked through the entrance between the sights, the sights that lay ahead...
It was like I had seen somewhere, with the walls in one corner of the room crumbling hugely and the sun shining down from the outside.
And “Demon Emperor” Manuel and “Martial God” Oswald were perfectly healthy, and before that there was a pile of ashes that seemed to be the end of the Vampire Road.
If you think about it, that's the result.
The walls of the castle can be broken even by our godchildren, so there is no reason why these brave men with monstrous powers cannot be broken.
I said to Manuel's grandfather, "You took charge, didn't you? When I asked him, he said," I don't know what you're talking about. "
Not at all, he is an inedible grandfather.
Either way, the Vampire Road was exorcised and the case was resolved.
We went back to the village and gave the village chief an ex-post report, plus then we went back to the city of Lindbergh to report on our quest achievement to the Guild of the Brave.
By then, Cecilia, whom I had returned carrying, had also woken up as a human brave man, bowing her head with a crying face saying sorry to the people.
The two “Demon Emperors” Manuel and “Martial God” Oswald broke up in the city of Lindbergh.
At that time, I was able to exchange the address of the Magic Call Device with them.
The celebrities are so troublesome that they keep their address exchanges modest, but thank God we're good for their glasses.
As far as I was concerned, I felt a little meeher, but my godchildren didn't think it was a big deal, or they usually felt like friends.
Especially when it comes to Rio and Mayfa, and again Manuel's grandfather seems to like the two of them, and I saw my godchildren and thought they had these gainful personalities.
I don't know why, but it feels a lot more like Oswald the Martial God.
Oswald asked me if I wanted to be "strong," so I said, "Right. That feeling is strong now," he replied, "Okay. I'll think about it," he said and walked away.
Illis, who was thinly entangled by one, said, "There's nothing wrong with that. Because I am a teacher," he said, pointing at the angel's smile, so I was looked at with strange eyes when I held England in my brave guild with so much love.
The guild clerks said, "Uh... now, should I report that?" "Yeah, that's fine.... jiuru" and so on, I think, but I'm sure you shouldn't mind.
And Rio and Mayfa, "Wait! Then I'm your brother!" "... it's not a good idea to say it as if we were having an affair.... I demand an apology and compensation from Illis" and so on, and it got noisy, but let's not worry about that either.
Besides, we broke up with the two most powerful class braves while doing that, and the five of us returned to Lit Village.
Yes, it's the "five".
With regard to the fifth man, Cecilia, who was softly situated, he dragged him back to our house in half.
And when he came to the house, he turned aside the table in the living room, and sat Cecilia in the middle of the floor.
I stand with three men, Rio, Iris and Mayfa, in front of Cecilia, seated on the floor in a magical manner.
"Well, Mr. Cecilia. Do you have anything to say to us?
When I asked Cecilia that, the brave woman had been deeply grounded in flowing motions.
"Shh, I'm sorry. Ah! Brett, you Rio, Iris. Mayfa's four won't have their heads up again for the rest of their lives! I'm so sorry!
I remember when I was a vampire, in Cecilia's case. Hi, they stay clean.
And the words that hit us in the vampire state were also a lot mixed up with the authenticity that we've had since the human age.
Even though he became a vampire and was distorted, he was a pretty united word and deed with his original self in the person.
So Cecilia seems to be making herself feel guilty about it... well for once, I thought it would be necessary to let her spit out her heart.
This guy is a lot older than me, and he's on a higher level, but I recently found out that his mental is weak...
Instead, there's something weirdly serious and self-punishing about it, and letting it go could crush you with a guilty consciousness about this one.
I helped because of it, but I don't have an ex or a child who was crushed by self-blame and accidentally harmed myself.
So to ease her mind, I was wondering if I should punish her moderately.
The dimension is that being given the appropriate punishment will make you feel like you have liquidated your sins.
So I intentionally hit Cecilia at high pressure.
"Huh. Is that how Cecilia feels if she sits down and apologizes, when all this is going to be a charade?"
"Ha...! Meh, meh, meh. There's no extermination! That's never...!
"You don't feel sincere, do you? Sincerity. I wonder how you'll make amends."
"Ugh... the... um... I apologize for dying..."
"Huh? Then it doesn't make sense that we went to save Mr. Cecilia, does it? Don't try to punish yourself, but think about how we feel."
"Higu......! Then let Brett be your sex slave..."
"Oh, no, don't do that either"
All of a sudden Cecilia said something wrong, so I went back to the vegetables.
What can I say for granted......
"... or stop using those words naturally in front of the kids. It's bad for education."
"Shh, excuse me, excuse me! I can't be a person. I'm sorry!
Cecilia with a flat apology.
But I'm the one who's uncomfortable.
"" "No." "
My godchildren's eyes are hurting when they stare at me.
No, it's not because I said I wanted to make Mr. Cecilia a Honiarara slave, is it?
I'm not bad, it's not my fault.
By the way, I'm being unreasonable to Cecilia on purpose.
And I said, "Well, what do you want me to do?" I have a consciousness to say what I want to say.
Keep pushing him there.
"Then let's do this, Mr. Cecilia. Work in our house for a year from today. Cooking, laundry, cleaning, bathing, burning and all that, getting you to work like a carriage horse for us. Is that good?
When I said that, Cecilia, who was flat-headed, looked up at me in a decent way.
"Heh...? Oh, is that okay...?
"─" Is that so "? Hey, Mr. Cecilia, are you licking your chores? Or are you going to get out of hand?
"Okay, okay, eh! That's never, ever! Sincerely Perfect, we are here to take care of you!
"Great. I don't have any more beds, so please sleep in this living room with one blanket. If I step into my godchildren's room in the middle of the night, I'll knock a pile of wood into my heart and smash it to death."
"Hi-no! Wow, me too, I'm not a vampire!?
"You wouldn't have to be a vampire to die if you got a pile in your heart, would you?
"Yes! I don't want to go near everyone's room!"
and that's why my family got one ultra-high level brave housekeeper for a year.
If it were handled for a year, he would feel quite liquidated, too.
... No, I'm asking for it myself, but I also feel like I'm wasting a hell of a lot of global resources.
Well, keep in touch with the Brave Alliance, and if you ever run out of manpower or high-level brave men, you can send your troops, including us.
And that's how the conversation came together, and I'll check with the three godchildren as well.
"─ That means, you guys okay?
Then the three of them, all nod.
"Yeah, brother ♪ You did it, now I can make it easier for a while ~"
"Yes, I agree with the teacher, too.... heh, that's right Doctor, that's sweet."
"... I'm so happy to be able to skip a chore job.... your brother made a good deal"
And when Cecilia heard it, she wept that it should remain crouched.
"Ugh, they're all warm...... To scumbags like me... to me for trying to do terrible things to everyone... to me as I am, that I can live normally..."
"What are you talking about, Sister Cecilia? You said that earlier, too. I don't like it when we die, so I did my best to help. - What, Iris, Mayfa?
"Yeah. And because of that, I helped the teacher until he felt painful, so you won't allow me to waste it, will you?
"... I know it's hard for us, too, Cecilia.... All right, all right."
And it came to pass, that when Mayfa beheld Cecilia's head, Cecilia cried a great cry.
From what I heard later, I was too happy to waste it on myself.
Besides, I slap my hands on bread.
"Then you see, Mr. Cecilia, don't cry forever, just like you do for dinner. Come on, I'll work properly!
"Ha! This wonder Cecilia, we will do everything in our power to make dinner for everyone!
Cecilia, who soon stopped crying, saluted and then headed to the kitchen.
That's how Mr. Cecilia cooks dinner for a nasal crossing, for a while.
"Thank you all for waiting! I could cook!"
Cecilia arranged a stunning dinner on the table, rich in colour, using ingredients from what was in the house.
Cooked bread with a special sauce on stew, steamed vegetables and sautéed raw vegetable salad with white fish, plus yogurt with berry jam.
Rio's eyes sparkle when they see it.
"Wow, looks good! Sister Cecilia, you cook well too!?
"Hmm. ♪ A month ago, I was just helping. Whenever I look like this, I brush my cooking arm like it's okay to go to my wife."
And once everyone's on the table with the dishes lined up,
"" "." "There you go. Takimasu!
Let's all join hands and start the meal.
"Hagu! - Ugh! Ingredients I use It's with me, but so different!?
"Ha mu... momo mu... Ugh... this could be a strong enemy... If the teacher's stomach gets grabbed, it sucks... I need to train more bridesmaids too..."
"... muggle.... then we'll have to hire your Cecilia sister.... I don't feel like I can beat this."
"Haha, I'm glad you like it. How's Brett? Delicious?"
That's what Cecilia asks me as I twitch somewhere, so my mouth was full, I stood my thumb up and expressed deliciousness.
Then Cecilia, who saw it, smiled with great pleasure.
She's originally quite beautiful, so when she smiles like that, she's older but she's already so cute.
I'm sorry to hear about the contents...... I'm a little thrilled.
Damn it, I'm the one.
And it was over at a lively meal, and Rio, Illis and Mayfa took a bath or went to their own bedroom, and the living room was just for me and Cecilia.
After the noise, quiet time.
Cecilia makes me some tea and I'll sit next to you.
"Brett...... really, thank you. No matter how much I thank you, I can't thank you."
Cecilia is a serious tone and has said that.
Thanks for this, you're also aware that I dared to take a high-pressure attitude.
So...
I laughed and answered:
"Hey, you don't have to worry about it. Isn't that what Mr. Cecilia always does? It's our job to defeat the Demon King and save someone, isn't it?
"Oh... right, right. This is what we were doing."
That's how Cecilia and I laughed and enjoyed our tea time.
─ ─ That's how the vampire case we ran into ended.
After this incident, three people - Rio, Illis and Mayfa - and somehow even I succeeded in improving my strength as a brave man.
After all, it seems that a brave man grows all the way through the training grounds.
Also, there are plenty of rewards for getting rid of Vampire Road - specifically enough money to buy a house in one country - to be in a hazy state.
We're gonna end up with fate and stick our necks in the next case.
That's another story, too. |
Lesson Cuts, cuts, cuts......
I walk down the stone corridor to the stadium grounds behind my godchildren.
Walking down this hallway reminds me of the old days.
The stars of this scene now are the three godchildren: Rio, Illis and Mayfa, who walk before me.
But I was the one who walked here eight years ago as the star.
It was a personal battle at the time, the strongest new brave decision, and I became the winner of the year.
Then I turned down the different scouts and I became a free demon hunter.
But no matter how active I was as a demon hunter, I wasn't very filled.
More than that, I had a strong impression of a teacher who took care of me when I was a student at the College of the Brave, and I wanted to be a teacher too, and in about three years I quit the Demon King Hunter business and became a teacher at the College of the Brave.
Then about five years went by, and now it is.
I don't think I can be as good a teacher as the teacher who took care of me.
Still immature, not to the teacher I admired.
But still...
Quite, somewhat, is it doing well?
Either way, now we're in a position to watch.
It's so itchy to just watch your godchildren fight instead of fighting.
Was the teacher watching over me like this, too?
I looked at the three godchildren walking in front of me, their back lengths stretched only a little more than a year ago, and I was puzzled by that emotion.
Eventually, the godchildren reach before the heavy door.
I nodded to Eagle Deep as Rio turned around with his hand on the door.
Rio pushes the door open.
In the dim hallway, there is a bright light...
─ ─ Waaaaaaaaaaaa!
From the audience of over ,0, a great deal of cheer came down to the Rio's.
And when Illis was frightened, and Mayfa was softened, and Rio spitted.
Rio and the others step out into the arena ground, terrified.
I followed them with the feeling of protecting their backs.
Vision opens.
The grounds of the arena were as large as ever.
It is large enough to loosely secure a truck walking a hundred metres in a straight line.
There was an audience seat spread in a rink around the ground, with an incredible number of spectators overlooking the Rio's.
It's about morning and noon time.
Sunny weather full of sky, though not to the point, is mostly sunny except for dark clouds that appear farther away, and the bright sunlight falls all over the ground.
It also seemed like a blessing to Rio.
In fact, Rio and the others are not the only protagonists of this occasion.
Across the ground, from the face-to-face entrance and exit, students from the other school were entering.
Four male students and one male teacher with a pull rate.
When an alternate and a single student and a teacher of pull retreats laterally, the three male students come forward as they are.
The boys at the other school all had a nigga snarling grin on their faces, which, to put it bluntly, seemed like a sweet look at the Rio's.
Meanwhile, I'm sending out my godchildren.
"Rio, Illis, Mayfa. I've told you many times, you guys are strong. Be confident, you understand."
"" "Yes!
"All right, come on!
When I push your back with words, the three people who got it walk out to the center of the ground.
I dropped it off and retreated to the side of the ground.
Under the three Rio players, and the other school players, the attendants of the tournament each rush over and attach some magic props to all of them.
They are designed to prevent dangerous accidents from occurring in battles between brave men, such as magic props that suppress the wearer's magic, or magic props that increase his defense.
At the end of all that preparation, eventually the three boys from the other school and the three Rio's face each other near the center of the ground.
When they approached each other, a whistle called "Hiru" was rising from among the boys at the other school.
And the boys whisper something to each other.
Seeing the appearance of the three Rio's, maybe I have something to think about.
The boys at the other school opened their mouths when both reached the prescribed position.
"Hey, I was wondering what kind of potato-smelling miscellaneous fish brave guy would come out because it's called a brave college in an unnamed village. You actually look super cute. ─ Hey, you guys, when this fight's over, why don't we go on a date with us later? Then I'll be gentle in this battle and in the battle on the bed after that."
"Idiot, you w-what are you saying in a place like this, www?"
"There's no way. It's Bakka. This guy's www."
"" "Gahahahahahahahaha!
The male student laughed at the Guerraggera.
...... ha.
Am I the only one who feels down year after year about the morals of the new brave......
Today, the guiding principle of removing the education of the spirit of bravery (bravery) from the curriculum is flowing from the perspective of brave associations, and teachers and colleges who agree with it have already incorporated it.
I wonder how it is.
Well, I tried to teach in college, and it's already too late for some students, and it sounds good to say, "Have a free education that's not tied to ethics or morality."
No, I know what's wrong with boys.
I know, but I don't know.
Some more like this, brave things clean and white......
And so on and so on, from the board seat of the Brave Men's Association at the corner of the audience.
"No, you're quite liberal, energetic and brave."
"I understand. I understand. We have to try not to crush that young sensibility."
"Yeah. Maybe the way those young people are, is the way they look like the new brave ones in charge of the next generation."
I could hear such appropriate words.
Cyrus and his surroundings.
And those guys, they're really clever at decorating it like that with words like that...
By the way, some of the officers of the Brave Men's Association are from different factions than Cyrus.
From what I can tell, it's people who think of themselves as "good sense."
Seeing them, they seemed to be frowning at the current interaction.
But in terms of forces, it seems that the Cyrus faction is more dominant in a ratio of about seven to three or eight to two, and that in them it is difficult to counter the tyranny of the Cyrus faction.
Still, if it's a good opportunity, it's possible to flip both scales.
Forget it.
The referee just paid attention to the boys students.
Watch your mouth, that is the instruction.
The boys who heard about it seemed to reply grossly, "hey," "yes, yes, I get it," "by being tough," etc.
On the other hand, I speak to Rio and the others.
"Hey, Rio, Illis, Mayfa. You're not going to go out with the bad boys at the other school. You can ignore it."
Then the three godchildren returned this voice.
"Yeah, brother. It's okay because I don't want to play dumb with you or anything."
"Never mind the teacher. These people, kill them instantly and they're done."
"... nasty lower stuff, I don't like it.... I don't have an aesthetic for teasing. Unpleasant."
... Uh, yeah.
He says "okay" or "never mind" in his mouth, but apparently both Rio and Illis are angry at you for sounding good.
And Mayfa has a strange argument.
And the boys at the other school stood colored when they heard the words of Rio.
The referee went in between and stopped it, but there was still an atmosphere of assault.
Eventually, the referee urged both of them to thank him for deciding it was out of their hands or to just start the game.
The 'thank you' voices released by a total of six men and women were all flooded with risky hostility.
The referee falls sideways.
The audience seats that were on purpose start to quiet down.
When the referee raised the flag...
"─ Begin!
The flag was swung overhead. |
Episode We exorcised a little herd of watchdogs named Vampire Wolf, and we go further into the creepy woods.
Then, after a short walk, the forest broke off and we finally reached our destination, the ancient castle.
Walking forward, Rio looks up at the ancient castle and spits.
"Here's Vampire Road and Sister Cecilia..."
Meanwhile, Iris and Mayfa lean against me and look up at me anxiously.
"Doctor... Cecilia, I'm sure you can help...?
"... I absolutely don't like the unfortunate consequences.... Always help, brother."
I nod and answer with my hands on their heads.
"Oh. We'll do everything we can to beat Cecilia to a halt. ─ ─ Okay, Rio, Illis, Mayfa."
"" "Yes!
Good energetic reply from the godchildren.
With that in my ear, I also looked up at the old castle, standing in front of me again.
Stone gateways and iron lattice-shaped gateways.
Numerous bats are flying around the perimeter, making a kick-ass noise.
If you look up at the sky, the dark clouds are covered, and it's dim around that it's only before noon.
On the contrary, there is even a thunderous sound of gobbling up in the air.
The sunlight is whispered by dark clouds and barely reaches.
This would hardly disadvantage vampires if they fought outside.
... It's a bad day.
The upcoming vampire Negijo is indoors, so even though the weather is basically irrelevant, it must be more desirable to attack it during sunny weather because of the need.
But I can't wait long until the sunny day arrives.
Time limits may be imminent.
But at that time, Manuel, the Demon Emperor, who was looking up at the sky just like me, hummed his nose.
"Chi, it's not funny weather. Let's move it while we still can."
So crushing, Manuel starts to concentrate somehow.
And...
"─ ─ [Weather Control (Control Weather)]!"
Manuel put his hands over his head and released his magic.
Then a vortex of power wrapped around Manuel, and as it stood to the far side of the sky, a dark cloud covering the sky retreated so that it could be pushed against the vortex.
Some time later, the clouds had disappeared only near the sky above the ancient castle as if a great hole had been drilled in the dark clouds, so that the rays of the sun would fall around the ancient castle with Mr.
"This is what it is. Yeah. - Let's go, kids."
When Manuel says it like it's nothing, he moves toward the ancient castle.
“Wushu” Oswald also proceeded to walk lightly.
On the other hand, we're the ones who flatter.
"... hey brother, isn't that an anomaly?
"Oh, I think so too"
I nod greatly at Rio's penetration.
What a comforting companion.
I don't know if I should be all alone with that grandfather anymore... well, I guess not.
But is that the strength of the bravest man who is said to be the most powerful class in the world......
In order for our godchildren to be called the strongest in the world, we have to at least go beyond that grandfather.
I'll ask Rio, who was nearby.
"Hey Rio. Do you think Rio could eventually be a stronger brave man than that Demon Emperor Manuel?
"Eh, I don't know that. What about your brother?"
"Oh, me...? No, I..."
An unexpected question came back, and I said it.
... here's the thing.
I don't have enough of a struggle to be strong.
I used to not be either.
I think he was more giddy and simply enjoyed "The Game I'll Be Stronger Than Anyone".
Speaking of how long I've been like this, maybe since I saw the breadth of the world and my limitations.
I could be at the top of the ten brave men.
I had a vision of just being able to compete for first place among hundreds, or even hundreds of brave men, and I have the pride of having produced quite a few results.
But when this became among the tens of thousands of brave men, I saw my limits.
Yeah, I realized that my standing is here.
No, it's never a bad thing.
Not everyone in the world can be the best, so it would be necessary to make a cut somewhere.
It's more constructive to think about what cards are now handed out on your hand card and what you can do with that card than stick to what you can't get.
Efforts to get a better hand note, as it helps.
I remember that and put my hands on Rio's head with a pong.
"I 'm-- yeah. I wonder if I'd rather have a way of life where I can stretch my spine than someone else."
"Eh, that's not the answer, brother. I mean, I'd do that, too."
"Uh... well, yeah"
Rio told me and I noticed.
Um, why don't you?
What if I, the teacher, push my teacher to compare me to someone?
I just see the possibility, you know...
I can't laugh at your educational mom trying to tie my kid up with an English talent education with this.
"I'm sorry. Rio is Rio, isn't it? You just have to grow up like Rio."
When I said that, Rio did a little thinking.
Then Rio looked up at me with his crushed eyes and said that.
"Hmm... so, brother, if I grew up like me, would you like me more than I do now?
That's so cute.
To hide my inner agitation, I misled Rio's head with these words.
"That's harder than it is now. Anyway, I like Rio the best."
"Become...!?... well, not like that. Come on.... Ha, okay"
Rio, blushing his cheeks a little because of the way he was beheaded, joined Iris and Mayfa away from me.
And Rio reports this to his two sisters.
"Hey, my brother says he likes me the best"
"Ha!? Hey, why...!? I mean, only Rio is cheating to be a teacher again!
"No, it's not cheating. Iris and Mayfa were hugging me earlier."
"... that's it, this is this.... hugs and whatnot. Then another belly.... I'd rather eat as much as I want"
"Oh, I know that"
"Yeah, I agree with that."
I felt like my eyes aimed at the prey of the three godchildren glowed at me.
Duh, I saw it somewhere, this sight...
Meanwhile, then.
“Demon Emperor” Manuel, standing in front of the iron lattice gate of the ancient castle, called out:
"Miss Mayfa, ya. Come here for a second and open this gate. No."
Mayfa, hearing it, rushes over to Manuel.
"... Open the gate, you mean the [unlock (unlock)] of earthly attribute magic?... I don't remember that magic."
"No, I'm going to, I'm not. I thought you told me earlier."
......
Mayfa tilts her neck.
I don't think I have any idea.
Manuel, who saw it, laughed niggardly and said:
"I thought you said you were going to practice my [Undead Arrow (Phoenix Arrow)]. Practice here, turn it into a thing, and tell them to melt this door."
"Yea..."
For the first time in Manuel's unscrupulous life, Mayfa was also pulling a dong.
But there it is, Mayfa is Mayfa too.
The genius girl, who should be called a genius, let her show her terrible talent. |
Lesson A small village by the sea.
One warrior and his disciples lived in the corner of the fishing village on that periphery, where they made a simple living, far from urban civilization and so forth.
Warriors are muscular, shitty men.
Though it is time to plug it into the middle age, its brown-tanned flesh does not yet see a slight decay either.
The apprentice was a girl who had just received adulthood the other day at the age of fifteen.
It has tanned brown skin just like its master, but its flesh is not yet luxurious enough to say.
Warriors and disciples, together, are brave men.
They were chosen by birth for their ability to manipulate magic and physically separate human beings.
But whoever was born a brave man, if immature, is easily defeated by demons that attack the village.
So in this village, it was a lesson to be deposited and trained by the village warriors, the brave men of history, if anyone showed up as a brave man.
The apprentice girl has already lost her parents to illness, even if it is not.
At an early age, she also said she had a sister, but that also went missing in a water crash before the girl was willing, and the apprentice girl is now, without a warrior, lonely all her life.
After a few years ago, a previous generation of warriors had other worlds by life expectancy, these two were the only brave men capable of protecting this village from external enemies.
The apprentice girl, although her age only led her to adulthood, is still half a serving as a warrior.
It was about such an arrowhead that we were going to grow in public after all sorts of experiences.
"It's a monster. Huh!
"A flock of fishermen has attacked us. - Whoa!
It's about one summer day.
The village was plunged into havoc by a flock of fishermen who suddenly emerged from the sea.
As the villagers flee, the warriors take their disciples to the fishermen.
"Everybody evacuate immediately! Young ones, support the evacuation of the elderly! We'll stop this place! - Anya, stay as close to me as you can."
"Yes, Master"
To let the villagers escape, the warrior and the disciple girl stayed in the village and stood in front of the flock of the coming fishermen.
But the number of fishermen standing before them shall count dozens.
A four-armed fishmonger commanding a flock of fishmongers laughs distorted in its face.
"Geggeggegge, the brave man who protects the village? It's just two brave things to do. - You guys, him!
"" "Gehhhhhh!
The fishermen, with three spears in their hands, first put the three together and strike at the warrior in unison.
But...
"Don't insult-- [Brandish]!
"" "Gegaaaaaaaa!
Flashing the battle axe the warrior had erected, he snapped it wide away, and the three attacked bodies blew it together.
The blown three bodies are all severed greatly from the chest, falling to the ground and immobilized.
"That's your master!
The apprentice girl makes her eyes shine when she sees such warrior activity.
But the warriors are not optimistic at all.
"If you can afford to lie, you too, Anya. There are limits to my support alone."
"Yes, Master!
The disciple girl also sets up the spear that was in her hand.
What dwells in the girl's eyes is tremendous trust in her own master, the warrior.
On the other hand, the opposing four-armed fisherman distorts his face with a frustrating look.
"Gugigi... don't get on with it, you brave human being...! If this happens, we'll deal with you ourselves!
"Oh, come on, Fishman Commander."
"Gee yee, what are you doing! You're all in this together! That lady's kid is alive! You know that!
"" "Gehhhhhh!
Dozens of fishermen, including four-armed fishermen, were attacked simultaneously.
Only two opposed, a warrior and a disciple girl.
Warriors and four-armed fishermen cut together.
Another fisherman also pokes the gap between the two fierce battles and sticks his spear out toward the warrior again, but the warrior squeaks it precisely.
The disciple girl, on the other hand, will also cross with a few fishermen.
Though she is also half serving, she is the egg of the brave man in charge of the next generation.
If the average fisherman is the target, it's not that easy to deal with a few at the same time.
Instead, he waved a spear or unleashed elementary attack magic in his rampant appearance, shooting down the whole, the whole and the fishermen again.
And the warriors were also able to cross each other well enough, dealing with four-armed fishermen and a large number of other fishermen.
One-on-one defense.
In exchange for a warrior or girl suffering one small or medium-sized wound, a number of fishermen, such as two or three, fall.
Nearly twenty fishermen in all fell and lay on the ground, and the warrior and the apprentice girl stood on their backs.
Surrounding their perimeter is a flock of fishermen who have yet to be reduced by half.
"Phew...... that's pretty tough. But you just have to hold on for a few more minutes. When the evacuation of the villagers is complete, we will withdraw, too. One more step, Anya."
"Ha, ha... ha, yes, master! It's just a little harsh, but I'll do my best!
"That's the intention."
The four-armed fisherman, on the other hand, was frustrated with blue muscles on his forehead.
One of his four arms has already been struck by a warrior's axe and drooped.
"Guggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg! Hey, hey, hey, hey. Yeah! Just two brave men, stay on track......! Isn't this the task that my Lord commanded me to accomplish! Brothers, for the most part..."
─ And that was then.
Hululululu, and a spear flew in from afar.
The spear flies in an orbit through the torso of the disciple girl.
It was already too late when the girl realized it, and she couldn't avoid it in time.
"─ Anya!
A warrior slammed his apprentice's girl.
The girl takes her life with it.
But the spear pierced and pierced the two arms of the warrior that thrust her.
"Gu......!
"Oh, master!
Apprentice girl screaming with her ass cake on.
The warrior, on the other hand, pulls a spear through his own arm as he sweats on his forehead.
And myself, healing magic is applied.
In the meantime, another monster came loosely from the direction in which the spear flew.
"Gee hee hee hee hee! My brother, it looks like he's stuck"
"Gehich, come and take control of one human village, you moron."
What emerged were two other four-armed fishermen and a number of fishermen who might follow behind them.
"Finally here, brothers! No, the brave man in this village is surprisingly awkward."
If the flock merges, there will be three four-armed fishermen and over a hundred fishermen.
The warrior who sees it, whoops one, breathes.
He then removed one ring from the finger of his own hand and offered it to his disciple.
"... Anya. Take this and run away now. Somewhere out of their reach."
"Master! Hey, why... I'll fight with you! Half a serving, but I'm a warrior too! When you die..."
"─ Fine, just run! I'm telling you, with you, your legs are tied!
Billy and a trembling rage of air.
The apprentice girl weeps all the time.
"... ugh! - Okay, I get it! Master, if I'm gone, you must win!
"─ Oh, I'll take care of it. Who do you think I am? Come on, Anya."
The warrior slaps the disciple girl on the back and gives her momentum.
The apprentice girl burst into tears with her eyes full and ran out of the spot.
From behind, he said, "Follow him, don't let him get away!" "Bring the young woman alive! It's our Lord's command! Some of the fishermen in the herd came after Anya," said the fishermen.
Besides the escape, when Anya looked slightly behind her, she could see that one of the fishermen she had been chasing had fallen screaming.
A hand axe stood on the head of the fisherman, and I found out that the master had provided me with cover.
(Ku......! Because I... I'm impudent, my master...!
The disciple girl, Anya, ran to the spot.
But along the way, many spears flew from behind, and one of them pierced the calf of Anya's right leg.
"Agoo......!
Unexpectedly falling, Anya rolling down the ground.
By the time I pulled out the spear withstanding the pain, the fishermen, who had pulled apart due to the difference in walking power, had come just around the corner.
I don't have time for healing magic.
Anya manages to resume her escape while dragging one leg.
When he was finally caught up, Anya was literally on a cliff.
Behind it is a cliff upside down if you step off your feet.
Approaching from the front is a flock of fishermen who outnumber the ten bodies.
"Geggegg...... come on, keep an eye on her, daughter. If you catch him quietly, you won't have to look him in the eye."
"Ku......!
There is no other escape.
Anya never wanted to, she jumped across the cliff.
Underneath is a sea full of rocky reefs.
It was a hop in or out of a bee.
─ ─ Dopo, boo!
Blistering up, the girl's body sank into the sea beneath the cliff.
"Gugigi, you unruly daughter......! We're going after him, never let him get away with it!
The fishermen will go under the cliff and start searching the ocean.
─ ─ This was a prelude to a new adventure that Teacher Brett of the College of the Brave and his teachers encounter. |
Lesson The total number of wolves walking out of the back of the woods is seven.
He appeared to hinder our way, and drooled whoever was sloppy, and he roared.
Besides, the whole thing is pretty big compared to a typical wolf - huge enough to be seen as a tiger or a lion.
My eyes glow red with a giant, and I'm pretty sure if the situation were a situation.
It's a vampire wolf, a family demon wolf that vampires can summon.
With a strength comparable to intermediate warcraft such as Griffon and Minotaur, he fights as hard as a one-on-one demon hunter.
"... uh, Illis, Mayfa. It's time for your arm, will you let go?
When I said that to my left and right, the blonde angel on my right arm first got away from my arm like I noticed hah.
"Yes, Doctor! ─ ─ How dare they interrupt my time with the teacher. Because I won't forgive you!
Iris said something strange and took out his bow while running forward.
Upon exiting to the avant-garde, about ten arrows were simultaneously removed from the arrow barrel, grouped together in a horizontally erected bow and watched and fired simultaneously.
"─ ─ [Fanning Shoot]!
Numerous arrows were fanned out of the bow of the Illis, along with the sound of cutting the wind called Buh.
"Gawwww......!
Four of them hit four vampire wolves each, and the Demon Wolves scream.
Meanwhile, some of the remaining arrows came off and pierced the trunk of the tree around it, etc.
The bow's junior median move [Fanning Shoot] is a range attack skill that simultaneously fires numerous arrows fan-shaped without setting a target.
It's a low hit skill in the first place, so if you hit four, you'll be good.
Whether not fatally wounded, the arrow unleashed by Illis damaged and frightened four demon wolves.
But the other three, on the other hand, stand up and attack against Illis.
barking all the time, and before the vampire wolves attacking whomever scattered, Iris did not break his fortitude.
"You guys are nothing to be afraid of! ─ ─ Rio!
"Aye, Iris!
Before the demon wolves trying to strike at Illis, Rio, who pulls out his sword trying to protect his sister, stands up.
And Rio quickly builds up a fight in front of the flying vampire wolf...
"Let's go, dog. Colo... [Disease Sword]!
I tried to intercept the demon wolves and unleashed countless slaughters.
- Zubabababa!
The endless twelve slaughters unleashed by Rio burst into four flying vampire wolves.
So the demon wolves were bounced off and slapped down to the ground.
But the red-eyed demon wolves get up and get back into combat.
The same was true of the ones that Illis did damage with [Fanning Shoot], who were approaching the Rio's with their sharp fangs and fighting instincts.
"Shit, you're pretty tough. - Mayfa!
"... ho ho ho.... I don't want to work, but I'm going to be a little active."
That said Mayfa finally got away from my arm and spread both arms to the left and right.
And...
"... from your right hand [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)], and from your left hand [Firebolt (Firebolt)].... hey!
I unleashed a good decathlon flamethrower at the vampire wolves.
─ ─ Do-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
Flame bullets landed on the demon wolves and occasionally wind up the flames.
Meanwhile, that's how I saw the melameras and the burning wolves, and “Demon Emperor” Manuel narrowed his eyes more.
"What kind of magic can you use in [double cast] primary magic? And don't get used to it. Control of magic is clever."
"... don't say this one. I have the name Mayfa.... but I'll take the compliment. You can praise me more."
The vampire wolf who was burning in the middle of that exchange...
Two of the seven had fallen, but the remaining five had not yet fallen, showing signs of continued fighting as they burned.
Some vampire wolves are tough, but because all three of the skills used by Rio, Illis, and Mayfa are one-shot, some say they're not quite fatal when targets are dispersed.
Meanwhile, "Demon Emperor” Manuel turns to Mayfa when he glances at the demon wolves like that.
"Mm-hmm. Bye, Miss Mayfa. Look no further."
That being said, the old man stood towards the vampire wolves, spreading his arms left and right.
"─ From the right hand [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)], from the left hand [Firebolt (Firebolt)] ..."
- Bobby, bobby, bobby!
Around Manuel's hands, eight each, sixteen flame bullets are produced in total.
One flame bullet at a time is also a few percent larger than Mayfa's.
Mayfa, who saw it, opened her eyes wide.
But the true price shown by the Demon Emperor Manuel was further ahead.
"─ Binding"
When Manuel fisted his hands and held them all the way, eight flamethrows of his right hand and eight flamethrows of his left hand came together in each of them, one left and one right, together into two large pieces of flame.
"... ooh"
Mayfa sees it and curiously shines her eyes.
I'm excited to see what happens.
Manuel, who sees it, laughs at Ni, adding his hands together and turns those two lumps of flame into one.
"More binding. But deformed."
As Manuel halfway toward the vampire wolves, he protruded his gripping left hand forward, pulling his gripping right hand backwards as well, taking a bow pulling stance.
A mass of flame deforms to respond to it, obtaining the appearance of a burning bow and arrow.
"... or cool...!... Oh, brother, that's cool...!
Mayfa was already completely obsessed.
He pulls the hem of my clothes to tell me how touched he is, and his eyes stare obsessively at the figure of the old man brave, not to miss a moment of Manuel's behavior.
Manuel's flaming bows and arrows are so caloric that they shine white in particular, they never seem like a substitute for just putting together [Flaming Arrows (Firebolts)].
"That's it. So, all you have to do is release this. ─ ─ [Phoenix Arrow]!"
─ ─ Cuoaaaaaa!
Arrows were released from the flaming bow erected by “Demon Emperor” Manuel, along with sounds that could be heard as tearing apart the atmosphere, or even as strange birds chirped.
The fire-burning arrows that were ejected turned into the shape of a bird of fire momentarily, straight into the unity of the vampire wolf.
─ ─ Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle, cuddle!
A fiery column of flames to the horror engulfed its vampire wolf.
"... ooh!
I can't help but notice Mayfa seeing it.
He sparkled his eyes and stared at the sight with his luminous eyes.
"What do you say, Miss Mayfa? If you don't practice this technique, I think you'll be able to use it soon."
"... do! Practice!... I want this! Cool!"
"Look, right. Right. Right. You're still young, but you know what's romantic."
"... Your grandfather is very sensible!
"By the way, this move was developed by me."
"... true!? I respect that! I respect your grandfather and your brother!
Mayfa and “Demon Emperor” Manuel were strangely in agreement.
But next to me, do you really respect that?
By the way, the [Arrow of the Immortal Bird (Phoenix Arrow)] released by Manuel seemed to be a stand-alone assault move, with four remaining vampire wolves subtly free, where the “martial god" Oswald was buried unconnected by ripping them off with his favorite big axe.
“Martial god" Oswald, is a muscular half-naked uncle who does a less conspicuous but plainly good job.
That's how we go further as we kick the vampire garden watchdog.
Looking up at the trees ahead, he was beginning to see a hint of a harsh old castle beyond the thin mist. |
Lesson "Pu Ha, I ate. It was good. ♪ Thankful, brother ♪
"It was really good. Thank you very much."
"... your brother is God.... the god of the living who descended into the world"
The three girls thanked me in front of the burning fire as I looked happy in my own stomach.
But I'm satisfied with it.
I've never been happier because I've seen these guys look so happy.
"You're rude. I knew the kid had to smile like that."
"Brother, you really are a weird one. He looks just as happy as the rest of us who fed him. I mean, he's a kid, but even your brother's not that old with us."
That's what the brunette girl says.
By the way, the way you called me "you" and "you" because I was in a good mood, or because I was off guard, has changed to "brother" at some point.
"No, it looks like this. I'm twenty-three this year. You guys, like, thirteen or fourteen, that's about it, right?
"What...?... You're lying. I just look like I'm about seventeen..."
"Ha, well said. So about ten more than you guys."
"Ugh, seriously..."
When I gave her my head and mine from above the girl's dark hair, she took it, even though she seemed a little stiff.
If I fed him a mesh, I'd be under the impression that he'd be quite alert.
The power of feeding is still great.
But so is this kid and the other two, but his hair is stretched and blurred, and he doesn't look very hygienic.
I want to take a bath and do a haircut, but just after tomorrow around there?
And is it time to introduce yourself around here?
"I'm Brett. As I said earlier, I am a teacher at the College of the Brave who has been in this village today. You guys, what's your name?
"I'm Rio."
"My name is Iris."
"... I'm Mayfa.... name of God, carved into my heart"
The three girls reveal their names orally.
One child exaggerates his expression, but let's not mention it.
Dark-haired, dark-eyed boyish girl in Rio.
The blonde, blue-eyed, slightly polite girl is Iris.
Is Mayfa the silver-haired, purple-eyed, graspless, body-daughter girl?
We need to remember it well.
It's very important for teachers to remember the names of their children.
By being called by name, the kids recognize that the other person is taking a good look at themselves.
Calling a name means giving it a special feel.
"Okay. Rio, Iris, Mayfa, say hello."
"Yeah, it's nice to meet you, Brett's brother. -But, brother. Can I ask you one thing?
"Whoa. I'll answer anything I can."
"No - brother, why are you being so good to us...? You said you were a teacher at the College of the Brave. After all, because we're brave?
... hmm?
What did Rio say now?
"Huh...? Rio, are you a brave man?
"Yeah......? Didn't you know? Not only me, but Ilis and Mayfa are brave. You mean, isn't that why you've been so nice to me?
... Seriously.
All three of Rio, Illis and Mayfa are brave......?
Whether you are a brave man or not is something that was already decided at birth.
If you were born with the power of a brave man, you'd call him a brave man, even immature.
"No, I haven't heard. This is the first time I've ever known it."
"Yes, what... Then why are you talking so much about us...? - No way. Our bodies are looking for us."
That's what Rio said, dyeing his cheeks, holding his own body, leaving me a little like pulling myself back.
No, wait, wait, wait.
Damn, does that idea come first because the mother is arrogant?
"Asshole, is that why? I do think you guys are cute, but that's not what I'm talking about. I just didn't like kids like you not eating mesh satisfactorily."
It's kind of like my way of life.
I can't save unfortunate children all over the world, but at least I want to do something about the misfortune that appeared in front of me if I can.
I think that's a human being, and I think it's a normal emotion as an adult.
Of course, I know it's something beautiful, and I'm not going to demand or push it to the other one.
This is what I do for me, on my own.
So, I mean...
"I think I like kids."
That's what I added.
Maybe that's the thing.
I don't like to see my child in an unfortunate situation, and I like to see my child seem happy.
And when I think about it...
Fu, my silver-haired body-daughter girl, Mayfa and I got eyes on each other.
Mayfa looks at me and laughs at me.
"... I like kids.... I mean, your brother's a lollicon"
"No! That's not what I meant!
Oh, my God. I hate to say it.
Even when I say kids, when I'm about this age, I start noticing weird colors......
I thought so, but I was sweet.
It was very sweet.
Mayfa sifted and shook her neck to the side, a little nibbled and stared straight at me and said:
"... you don't have to hide it.... I know I was just staring at our bodies with nasty eyes.... seemed particularly interested in the body of Illis"
"" What? "
Rio and Illis looked at Mayfa in a hurry.
Then the two of you will look at me with a blue face.
─ ─ On the other hand, I was sweating sloppily and poorly.
There's no excuse for anything.
It is true that when we first met, we observed closely the physical fitness of these children.
Was Mayfa keenly aware of my gaze then?
Why would I do that then?
And when I was in a hurry...
Mayfa laughed and said a word again toward Rio and Illis.
"... Ugh.... Hihi, you're fooling me."
When I heard that, Rio and Illis said, "Mayfa, you're good. Come on!?" "Really, don't joke like that! It's bad for the heart!" and so on packed into Mayfa.
Mayfa comes to me, on the other hand, when the confluence is one paragraph away and the two of Rio and Illis lose interest from the story.
And Mayfa whispered in my ear, wondering if she'd leaned over.
"... I'll keep you to the point of lying.... a secret just for me and your brother"
That's what I said, and I'm laughing again.
I don't...
"Hey, what's the purpose... money"
"... brother, the statement is suddenly criminal.... Nothing, don't worry about it.... I just want to play with you because I like your brother.... Even if your brother is a Loricon, I don't care"
Mayfa said so and laughed again.
That's another horribly cute...
Maybe I'm a little bit of a lollicon.
It was a night that I had to be aware of. |
Having crushed the giant crab (Giant Club), we go further into the cave.
The gentle uphill path leads to a serpentine path.
But, Doctor, I think...
"Nh, what is it, Iris?
"Sahagin... was it that half-fishman? They're probably not in this cave, are they? If you came in here first and were moving forward, the crab must have been knocked down...."
Well, I guess so.
I answer the question of England.
There are many possibilities that Sahagin had the means to hold onto the Giant Club, that they didn't happen to run into each other when they came through, and so on.
Well, the Sahagins won't pass through here.
If I'd been there, I'd have found some trace of it.
Ilis walks next to me and shows me how to think with his hand against my mouth.
"But if that's the case, you won't be able to encounter Sahagin even if you go deep inside...? I'm telling you I'd like to take an adventure here, but considering our purpose, I guess that's fine, I just thought... hah!
I licked the head of England.
Iris jumps up and down.
"That's a good point, England. It's important to think like that."
"Hauuuu... the teacher praised me again..."
Very cute by example.
"But, England. Just because you didn't go down this road doesn't mean you don't have a sahagic in the back."
"Isn't that right, Marina?
When I called out that, Marina, who was moving forward gradually, smiled and turned around.
"That's Mr. Brett, I didn't know you were there, even though you're not from the ocean. ─ ─ The whole area of the island is covered in rocks, but there were many seafood caves that were large enough to fit the ship, except for where the clams came in. Bingo happened to be the first place to enter, but it wasn't just a bingo, but if there were many entrances in the first place ─ ─"
"But why would you do that? If you're just hiding the treasure, don't you need to make a few entrances?
Rio clasped his mouth.
Well, that's an honest opinion.
But Marina shakes her standing index finger.
"It's a game. That's what legendary pirate captain Mithrills are like. We've found several other islands where Captain Mythrill hid his treasure, but all of them were set up to compete with a bunch of pirates. There's gonna be a big bloodbath between the pirates."
"Uhihh... Marina, are you serious?
"Yeah, seriously. That's what pirates taste like."
"... drunk.... I don't understand how the blood-washing brawl tastes at all."
Mayfa is unusual, and she shook her neck sideways with her face peeled.
When she heard that, Marina said, "Haha, my little one doesn't really understand ~" and laughed with carelessness.
I don't think it's a matter of age, but I think that everyone but the marina was in my mind.
While we were talking like that, we eventually went to the second open place.
It was a vast cavity.
After bruising, the sound of water flowing echoes.
The ground was cut off by a cliff a little further, and a suspension bridge stretched from there.
The suspension bridge was crude and consisted of thick ropes and wooden planks, leading to the far shore.
Considering where the echoing sound of water came from, I saw a river with a considerable amount of water flowing under the bridge and down a fairly high cliff.
"If you fall from here, even the brave ones will be in danger....."
Argna peeks down the cliff and sips.
Sure, it's a little creepy, and the river looks pretty sharp.
If you fall out of here, it's pretty obvious that even the brave ones will be safe.
"Sensei, there is a stone tablet here. Read it?
That's what England says.
In front of her, just beside the bridge, there was a low stone pedestal.
"Oh, please. Read it, England."
"I see. Er..." As a teacher at the College of Brave Men, Brett is the coolest and most powerful brave man in the world to be revealed by God "...
Killi!
Enris looked me in the face and said so.
............
I pinch my fingertips between my eyebrows and say to my second daughter.
"... uh, England"
"Hah, hah!
"You don't have to pretend to be Mayfa, you don't have to bother."
"Fhhhhhh...!?"
England turned bright red like a boiled duck.
I'm just a little embarrassed, so I want you to stop at least this time.
"Rio, can you read it for me instead?
"Aye, brother. Nhh ─ ─ ─" Quietly cross this bridge. Those who panic are upside down. "
Rio peered into the tablet from behind England, telling him so.
Unlike England, Rio seems to have read it properly.
Cross this bridge quietly.
Those who panic are upside down ─ ─.
Well, this should be taken literally, not in a weird way.
But....
On the other hand, the marina checked the strength by pulling the bridge rope or stepping lightly on the wooden board of the scaffold.
"The robustness of the bridge seems to be okay. If it wasn't some sort of trick."
"Well, I don't suppose there's nothing set up."
That's what Marina says and laughs at her.
Anyway, if we go that far, we'll just have to cross.
Cross them all or one at a time.
Or if you cross one by one, from whom?
"Well then, I'll go first. If you try your guts, it's number ."
That's how the pirate girl slapped her chest.
I'll check with the marina.
"Marina, may I ask how you intend to cross?
"Nh...? How did it say," Cross quietly, "so it stays the same. It's different to twist it weird."
"I agree... no, I'll be the first to go here."
"Ohh...? That's right, Mr. Brett. Let me show you a man. Maybe I'll fall in love with you more?
"It's not like that...."
I stood in front of the bridge with a bitter smile.
And first step, quietly step out onto the bridge.
The bridge rocked a little, but that's all.
I'm going one more step, two more steps slowly.
The bridge just shakes a little for a while, nothing in particular.
Be aware that you can always use the Wind Attribute Magic [Feather Fall] for emergencies.
This is magic that slows down the drop speed and can be used urgently.
As a member of our team, it can only be used for Mayfa, who is good at wind attributes, and me for now.
"Hang in there, brother!
"Doctor, please calm down."
"... oniisan, fuuuuuu!"
With the cheers of the schoolchildren on my back, I slowly and quietly walk down the bridge.
Eventually, I came to about half of the long suspension bridge.
If you proceed as far as you came, you will reach the other shore.
I breathe quietly there one more time.
If you fell off the bridge, it would be hard to get back to the top of the cliff, even if you could use Feather Fall to prevent falling damage.
I have never crossed it without any problems.
With that in mind, I tried to go further ─ ─
"─ ─ Shhhhhhhhhhh!
Suddenly, a giant weird bird appeared in the air ahead of me, screaming loudly.
A weird bird with a huge figure comparable to an old dragon.
It's a huge hall, but there shouldn't have been anywhere to hide.
"" "" Become...!? "" "
Behind you, you can hear a surprise.
But on the other hand...
"─ ─ Is that so? I knew something would come."
I stood gently in the middle of the suspension bridge.
Towards me, the strange bird wings hugely, then strips out its sharp nails and comes under attack.
But there's no wind, and the bridge doesn't shake.
"" Mr. Brett!!
"It's dangerous! Brother, dodge!
"But when we fought there, the bridge...! Sensei!"
"... yeah, no, that's..."
Marina, Argna, and the teachers' screaming voices.
But Mayfa was the only one who noticed.
Mayfa passed.
A strange bird waves its giant, sharp claws down on me.
One can imagine how one of the houses could be destroyed.
─ ─ However, if it was genuine, then so be it.
When I stood there without moving slightly, the giant claw of a strange bird walked right through my body.
That's all, the strange bird itself just disappeared.
"" "" Eh...?
Behind you, you can hear a surprise.
I turn around quietly.
Mayfa, I asked for an explanation.
When I say so, Mayfa nods.
"... even if the bird winged, there was no wind and the bridge didn't shake.... that's why this is a phantom.... there must have been something like that in the light attribute magic.... nh, no. There was also a noise, so the magic of combining light and wind attributes...?
"I see. The magic of [Illusion (Illusion)] set with advanced condition activation...."
"That's right, England. ─ ─ Did Rio get it?
"Er... hehe, somehow"
England seemed to understand, but Rio laughed and made fun of him.
I don't like seating or magic compared to the other two.
Anyway, nothing happened after that, and I crossed the suspension bridge.
After me, there were other faces, but after that, there were no hallucinogenic birds.
Incidentally, when I looked at the way the bridge crossed, I couldn't find any physical traps in particular.
There may be magical tricks here too - for example, showing more than a certain amount of roughness on the bridge triggers the conditions and burns the bridge - but I didn't feel like trying them out.
"Well done, Mr. Brett... If it was hot, I'd be on the bridge when that thing hit me...."
"Besides, even in places like this, you teach classes. I didn't think the teacher at the Academy of Bravery was so amazing....."
Marina and Argna looked amazed after crossing the bridge.
Well, as a teacher at the Academy of Brave Men, I might be the only one to do this kind of lesson.
Then we cross the bridge to the other shore, and we go further into the cave. |
Marina, try putting a ring on this indentation.
I urged the marina with the broken ring.
The pirate daughter looks good.
"The ring, you mean this ring that you hit? But this was taken over by my father. You mean my dad had that" qualification "?
"I can't say for sure yet, but if you try, you might see something. Please."
"... Phew. I don't know, but that's what Brett said. I'll try."
Marina said that and walked out to the door.
Then he took off the ring from his hand and threw it into the recess in the middle of the stone door.
And then...
Boo.
The stone gate itself emitted a faint light.
"Nh...? It's glowing. Is that a hit?
"I think so. but....."
I can't see any further change.
If you push and pull the door like this, it will open...?
"Brother, this plate is shining too."
That's what Rio tells me.
What the eldest daughter of the three sisters is looking at is a stone plate with a warning statement next to the door.
I'll come by and look at the plate.
"The sentences have changed. What..." Thou hast shown me a slice of qualification. Show me one too. Then the door won't open. "─ ─ Argna"
Yes.
Argna is coming forward.
I've already removed the ring from my hand.
If you go this far, you know I won't tell you.
Marina, try removing your ring from the indentation for once.
Marina removes the ring from the indentation.
Then the light disappeared from the door and the text written on the plate returned to its original state.
Nnh...?
Does this mean it's different?
But I have no choice but to try.
"Argna, please."
"Yes, I'll try."
Marina leaves the door and Argna enters.
The village apprentice wrapped a crack in the ring that had been passed on to his village from generation to generation in a hole in the door.
Then the door glows again.
The letters on the plate...
"'Thou hast shown me a fragment of qualifications. Show me one too. Then the door won't open"... it hasn't changed. "
...... ... you've come this far, come off?... is that so?
Mayfa leans her neck.
Meanwhile, this is how England puts its hand on the mouth and thinks.
"Maybe, but... on the other side of the branch, there's something like this..."
─ ─ That's it!
The voices of all the people who were there, except England, were haunted.
England, packed with all of them, shouted a strange voice and was scared.
"That's it! That's Iris, good boy."
"Hawawawawawawa...!?"
I hold Enris with one arm and stroke her head with the other hand.
Iris turned bright red to his ears, and I was scolded while spraying hot air from his face.
Meanwhile, it was Argna and Marina who watched me and England with their own eyes.
"... Marina-san, I think that's definitely strange..."
"Ah, ah. I just don't understand what Mr. Brett said."
It's kind of like seeing an anomaly.
Nothing like this is a normal skinship between a teacher and a teacher.
No, I don't think so.
Well, anyway, the relationship between me and my teachers has nothing to do with the common sense of the world, hmm.
I don't feel that my way of thinking is getting into a bad depth, but I don't care.
When I let go of England, I look around and say:
"All right, let's go back to the junction."
"Yes, Mr. Brett. But for you ─ ─"
Marina's eyes narrowed slightly.
The pirate daughter laid her hand on the battle axe (Battle Axe) that was attached to her body and confirmed its existence.
I smile at that marina.
"Yeah, but it's two birds with one stone."
Back at the bottom of the valley to the turning point, just near the turning point, I finally met them.
"Oh, here we go. Quite a few."
I look at the army and snap at it.
The half-fishmen with the green scales were a swarm of sahagins.
The number is slightly over fifty, all with spears.
It appears to be led by a four-armed commander, Sahagimbalon.
For us, it's the th year we've met here.
We've been searching for them and traveling this distant sea.
"Gee gee! Come on, why are you guys here...!?"
The Sahagimbalon, behind the herd, looks at us and shouts.
I stand at the head of the six brave men, pulling the sword out of my waist sheath, laughing loudly and raising my voice.
"I wonder why. But one thing is clear. That means if you and I hit each other, we'll have to do it together. ─ ─ Prepare for battle, Rio, England, Mayfa."
"" "Yes! ─ ─ Guard Cloak Dress Up!
The three schoolchildren put on their armor and put their weapons on each.
At the same time, Marina and Argna also held their axes and spears, respectively.
When he saw it, Sahagimbalon raised his angry voice.
"Giggggggggh... oh, my...! I don't know if he's a brave man, but he's got only six women and children! Looks like you can't count! Fuck you, do it, do it! Leave no one alive! You can eat as many women and children as you like!
Gehehehehe!
At the behest of the Sahagimbalons, a swarm of Sahagims are coming at us, waving their spears.
That number is roughly ten times greater than this one.
I wonder if the distance between them is about a hundred meters.
The path to the bottom of this valley is by no means narrow.
A dozen or more Sahagins slightly lay side-by-side and attacked.
All of these brave men will focus on preparing for it.
"Hah, the number of enemies is roughly sixty. I said I should defeat ten of them one by one. ─ ─ Argna, can you do it?
"Ju, ten bodies!? Eh... but I'll try my best..."
"Haha. Then I'll cover the missing amount. And there's those four over here. Don't worry."
Marina looks to us - me, Rio, England and Mayfa.
Our first move is from England, which specializes in bows of long-range weapons.
"I'm going ─ ─ Arrow Lane !
And England gathered together a bundle of arrows, and put them on a bow, and threw them in the direction of the Sahagins, and into the sky diagonally.
A bundle of arrows fired in a blue fighting atmosphere splits into branches in the air.
And the flock of arrows spread out, drawing parabolas, and descended upon the flock of Sahagims.
Gwah!
Gaaaaahh!
Some of the Sahagins take a poured arrow on their body and fall down in agony.
Not a fatal wound, but the Sahagins were frightened.
"Gah...! Oh, yeah, what are you doing! Move on! If you stop here, it's just a prey for bows and arrows! Move on! Crush it with numbers!
The Commander's Sahagimbalon flies his enemies into the Sahagi.
The Sahagins who took it and regained me rushed back.
"Well, isn't that sweet? ─ ─ Come on, Rio, Mayfa."
"Yeah, brother!
"... okay.... I can't help it, so I'll work too."
I ran into a swarm of Sahagins with Rio and Mayfa. |
Episode I first contacted the Guild of the Brave to report the situation, and then I took action.
Time is midnight.
I'll take the three godchildren and stroll around the village.
In the darkness of the night, in each hand was a magical light created by the magic of [light (light)].
At this hour, I don't see one person outside the house.
It's probably because the village chief is so strict that he doesn't go out in the middle of the night.
I just hear the lights leaking from inside the house, talking in family reunions, etc.
There was also a good smell of meat dishes and so on, and Rio, who smelled it, gushed his stomach.
"Ugh, I knew I should have had dinner first before I did, brother. I'm hungry."
"Be patient. When I'm full, I get sleepy, and my concentration drops. A little hungry is just the right thing for a brave man to do."
"I'm more focused on hunger!"
"All right, all right. When I get home from the inn, I'll feed you hungry."
"Ah, already! I don't know what it is, but if there's a killer out there, get the fuck out of here! Then you can just bust it and have dinner at the inn."
Rio crushes bumps and dissatisfaction.
Maybe I should have let you eat even a loaf of bread before coming.
"Already, Rio! You're being too selfish, and you're not feeling too nervous. You don't even know when they're gonna attack you, do you?... Right, Doctor?
That's what Illis says, and he wants my complexion up next to me.
I put my hand on Iris' head and did it lightly with the will of a well-done man.
"Oh, Illis is right. ─ ─ Rio, if you stay alert like that, you'll see your sore eyes one of these days."
When I cautioned, Rio pointed his mouth at me like it didn't seem funny.
On top of that, he leans even closer to me with the kind of distance that Illis hugs, and looks at Rio and laughs at him hehe.
Seeing it, Rio became an extra muddled face.
"What the hell, brother? That's how I adore Iris."
"You know. That's not the time to say that right now. - And Iris, don't make fun of Rio. Neither of you is nervous enough."
"" Huh. ""
Two people, Rio and Iris, who respond with a slightly dissatisfied voice, but are willing to listen to me.
Well, such an attitude is cute, too.
Even so, your prowess as a brave man is losing your head, you're still a child in the root part, aren't you, these guys?
No, it doesn't even look like it's sweet because I'm here.
But at the same time that they gain strength, it is also true that they are getting a glimpse of their chronic heart.
It's easy to say in words that I need confidence, but my chronic heart is not good - but the truth is, I also feel that these two things are back-to-back, so it's quite difficult.
On the other hand, it was Mayfa who was surprisingly cautious in that.
"... Rio, Illis, we really need to be careful.... Cecilia, don't forget that your sister is missing too"
"It's okay. 'Cause I didn't forget. That's why you're looking around for your sister Cecilia at night."
Rio answers that, but besides, Mayfa shakes her neck sideways as she sifts.
"... it's not.... What I'm saying is that 'something we're trying to stand up to right now' might be 'someone even Cecilia's sister wasn't hostile to'"
Then when they heard it, Rio and Illis became faces that they had been bathed in cold water.
"Ah... right, will it..."
"Right... well, suppose the enemy is' something 'that even that Cecilian is no match for..."
On both faces, there is a serial look.
Yes, Mayfa's right, isn't she?
Even though the form of the threat has not yet been finalized, the possibility that someone with more power than Cecilia is involved in the case cannot be discarded.
Nevertheless, there are stories that Cecilia will not exist in this world of an opponent who is not capable of rivalry in the first place.
In terms of simple individual combat power, it would not seem possible to outshine Cecilia unless it was demonized by originally powerful monsters such as the Giants and Demons, or even brought by monsters of the Ancient Dragon class.
So what Mayfa is saying can also be seen as over-thinking......
But it's not like you can ignore it as a possibility.
Even if it isn't, Cecilia is left with puzzling words and deeds.
In the absence of enough information, cheap optimism is forbidden.
And when I think about it...
"Is that...? Hey, Doctor, that house, you don't have the lights on. An empty house, I guess."
Illis, who was snagging at me, pointed to a private house that had seemed like a go.
The house was certainly not lit, unlike other houses.
There is no appearance of smoke coming out of the chimney.
It's hard to think that the whole family is already asleep at this time of dinner.
It would be natural to think of it as an empty house, as Illis said.
"Right. Well, there's about an empty house."
"Is it? Unlike other houses, I thought there was something there."
"Oh, good point of view, Iris. It's important for brave men to observe such fine discomfort."
That's what I'm saying, and I'm turning Iris's head on again.
Iris said, "Eh heh heh," and looked happy.
Rio and Mayfa stare at it.
"I knew you, brother, were just so cute about Illis"
"... I feel unfair.... your brother should do a lot of things to me later."
"Oh, yeah? I'm not going to make that much of a difference..."
"We both just forget about when we're adored... From me, Rio and Mayfa seem a lot cuter."
I think maybe Illis is right.
I don't know how many times it counted, but I don't think there's anything like maybe just one person hitting on it...
─ Well, while we did that, we went around at night.
So, from the results, nothing happened this day.
It was about a boy and a girl who was walking out in the middle of the night going missing, so I thought if there was something like a kidnapper, I'd set it up, but it's the shape that was on the shoulder watermark.
But nothing came of it, neither did it.
Because that's when I went to the village chief's house the next morning to report.
When I was reporting on the results of last night's round-trip, I talked about the empty house that Illis found, and the village chief who heard it said this.
"Mm...? The house is not empty. There should still be a family of four people living there.... No, speaking of which, I remember seeing the person in that house in the last few days..."
"Huh...? But the only people missing are four boys and girls and Mr. Cecilia."
When I went in, the village chief had lowered his head in awe.
"Also, I'm sorry. There were four people I heard went missing...... Since ordering a nocturnal travel ban, there have been no more reports of disappearances..."
I see.
I mean, it's just that there's no "report" of disappearance, and actually...
No, I don't know yet, but you'll need to make sure.
"Okay. Then we will go from now on, to that house to see how it goes. You don't mind stepping in when you have to, do you?
"Yes, thank you"
I say that and I bow my head to the village chief on my ass, and I signal with my eyes to three people: Rio, Illis and Mayfa.
And me and my godchildren headed to the house where the lights weren't on last night. |
Lesson Getting rocked by a boarding carriage, roughly a week.
The carriage finally reached the nearest city in the village of destination.
From there, I'm on foot to my new village.
On the road, it was getting dark, so I magically turned on the lights and proceeded.
Sometimes it's because it's night, but after I leave the city, there's no sign of people at all.
I continued to rely on maps along fine paths that made me wonder if there really was a village where people lived.
So when I walked out of the nearest city gate for about three hours?
I finally see the village lights.
Even though it is midnight when I say I have a great view, it is dark around me, but I stand on a hill and see the lights of the village under my eyes.
The view of the village from the top of the hill was somewhat larger, not as idle as I had expected.
Is the number of dwellings dotted between fields a little over a hundred?
I think it's a village of the size of five hundred people.
When I finished checking the whole village, I went down the hill and headed for the lights.
Eventually we reach the entrance to the village.
There are naturally no gatekeepers, no greetings.
The outer circumference of the village was surrounded by a simple wooden fence, but it would also be difficult to prevent goblin intrusion in such a scuska, etc., which makes me think occupationally sick, but aside from that.
It's been a long time since dark, and I don't even see him as a villager in the field.
For one thing, I decided to head to the village chief's house.
I went to see if perhaps the biggest residence would be that and it was in the middle.
When I knocked on the door, a girl came out that she was the village chief's daughter and was passed inside after a bit of boredom.
When I show the decree I was given by the college, an old man named the village chief takes it seriously.
And I hit Pong and his hand, as if he finally remembered something.
"Oh, you're a teacher at the College of the Brave. My predecessor passed away a few years ago, and the next one came, so I totally forgot."
... Hey.
Are you all right, Grandpa?
Or are you okay with this village's College of the Brave?
My predecessor disappeared years ago, and the next one hasn't come?
Doesn't that mean it doesn't work as a college for the brave?
Even with such anxiety, I am given the keys to a residence to be loaned to the faculty of the College of the Brave.
The house hasn't been used in a few years either, so it's going to start with cleaning...
And well, this is fine tomorrow, but I also wanted to see the campus of the College of the Brave, so I'll take that key to the village chief, too.
At this rate, he said, "There's no school building, is there? Not surprisingly, I thought I'd get all my culture shocks done sooner rather than later.
Then the village chief turned a mysterious word to me that he hadn't anticipated.
"We have the keys to the campus of the College of the Brave. But be careful, there are three kittens living there."
... three kittens?
Even when I questioned him, the village chief just laughed and peeled.
The faculty home was just not used for many years and the house was dusty as expected.
The residence itself is spacious and there are multiple beds to assume a family life.
Complete with living room, dining room, kitchen, toilet, etc. as well as bathroom, never bad as a place to live...... or so splendid to live alone.
Whatever it is, it's not going to be useful without cleaning.
I thought I should give up sleeping in the bed in this house today.
Now when that happens, what are we going to do with the beds today?
There does not seem to be any accommodation for travellers in this village, and if so, it is realistic around asking the village chief to stay only one night...
That's where I come up with it.
I have a travel blanket.
It's a warm time, and as long as it's not dusty somewhere in the building where the wind storm will rise, you'll sleep fine there wrapped in a blanket.
And when I thought about it, I thought, well, what about the campus at the College of the Brave?
The fact that it is not locked means that the school building is probably used on a daily basis for some purpose.
Then it shouldn't be dusty.
Besides, I couldn't help but wonder what the village chief said about "three kittens".
Helping with that curiosity, I headed to the campus of the College of the Brave with magical lights.
"... Oh, come on, this is the school building"
I was unexpectedly blurry.
When we reached the place taught by the village chief, what was there was a small digging shed that was probably smaller than any other house in the village.
The appearance of a small classroom where a few people can fit one.
All the wooden windows are closed and you can't see what's going on inside.
For once, there's a strangely large garden-like space for a ground replacement, but so I just don't see what's going on.
I sigh loudly and lay my hands on the door of a borough shed named School House.
Well, if it's a kitten habitat, maybe it's big enough.
─ ─ Giy.
When I run through the handle and push the door, the door opens with the sound of a tree.
It's definitely not locked.
"... Kitten, are you there?"
I turn the magic light inside the cabin and see what's going on in there.
Then... there he is.
Three kittens.
No, you're not.
It's not a cat.
Is the cat that big?
It was three human children who were inside that little digging shed.
At the wall behind the house, the three of them gather around and roll, wrapped in a single blanket.
No, can I call you a child?
You look old enough to wonder whether to call me a boy or a girl or a child.
More specifically, all three are a little younger than an adult of fifteen.
But I don't know...
All three are so thin and dirty, they look like orphans living in the city's slum district.
Meanwhile, those kids who were wrapped in blankets, they also seem to have noticed that I came in.
One of them jumps out of a bah and blanket and takes a stick of wood that was rolling nearby.
And when the child stood forward to protect the two who remained, she glanced at me.
It's hard to tell between a boy and a girl, a brunette child.
"Who, you! You're not from the village!
He yells at me like that.
Voice like a boy before he changed his voice.
I see... Did that village chief eat you a cup?
I thought you almost ran into a kitten. |
Lesson The battle in the dungeon began.
My opponent is Gary, the leader of the Dark Warriors "disease, and the other.
Meanwhile, with me on my back, Rio and Mayfa are supposed to deal with the six remaining Dark Braves.
Well, let's just leave it to the two of us.
I lay my sword against Gary, the “disease” that's coming my way.
"Come on, Sancho. I'll educate you."
"Hmm, don't bark. Teacher culture at the College of the Brave."
Gary was slowly walking this way at first.
But from one moment onwards, he rapidly increases his speed and jumps into our nose in an instant.
You don't kill for one thought. Let's make your whole body scarcely stabbed and incapable of combat, and let's show you how miserable your lovely godchildren can be. You're guilty of insulting me. "
The brave man's ability to share ideas - Gary's words are conveyed as a half-direct thought rather than a conversation in a fast-paced battle like the time has stopped.
At the same time, the weapon in that hand flashes.
The prey Gary is holding is a spear.
The spear wrapped up a fight indicating the activation of the move.
"[Flashing]!
"[Paris]!
─ ─ Ginn!
My sword plays Gary's spear.
Gary with a surprise look on his face.
"You prevented the first blow of my special attack, so...?"
'I'm used to seeing it, with a degree of speed and haste. There's one of my godchildren, a terribly fast one... [bunk slaughter]!
"Gu......!
Gary moves away from the backstep and weapon in between.
But the first blow of my [bunk slaughter] was inevitable, and there was a shallow laceration in Gary's chest.
I get blood all over my wound, and I make a face that Gary with his hands on it is incredible.
"You scratched me...!? Stupid...! I'm Gary the“ Wind "...!
On the other hand, I'll teach you the sword on your shoulders at your leisure.
"There's no big deal about the two names I'm proud of. Two names is what follows you on your own after the path you've taken, right?
"Damn... the anonymous teacher flair, don't get on with it...! - Hey, what are you bluffing about? Now heal my wounds! You will be able to use [Healing Water (Heel Water)]!
"... oh, well! Evil. No."
When Gary gives instructions to another Dark Brave, he rushes to cure magic.
When the healing Shizukuishi poured on Gary, the lacerations given with my sword were beautifully blocked.
... that other one, can you use healing magic?
I thought it was just a mob, but it could be surprisingly troublesome.
Then...
I stick my left hand forward and converge my magic there.
Gary and the other Dark Brave man who saw it turned his eyes round with a surprise look.
'Ha...? Hey, you're lying...!?'
"Wait, calm down! There's no way the one who can fight with that sword can handle it on that level until it's magic. I've decided on something. '
"─ ─ [Fireball]!"
─ ─ Do-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
Range of fire attributes I unleashed. Attack magic wrapped Gary and the other one together.
"" Whoa, whoa!
Burned by a scorching flame, one of them falls.
When the flames stopped, the only person left without falling was Gary, who looked worn out.
"Gu, agu...! Ba, stupid...... not only sword arms...... even magic...... masterclass...!?"
I answer Gary, groaning so bitterly, laughing with my nose.
"Masterclass to this extent? Are you kidding me?“ Disease, "Gary, you've seen a world too narrow. If you put masters all over the world in perspective without complacency, you wouldn't be such a perception."
"Don't be ridiculous... don't be ridiculous, don't be ridiculous...! A teacher at an unnamed College of Brave Men has so much power... I don't admit it! I won't admit it!
Gary kicks the ground again.
Now I'm not putting on any cushioning or anything, stupid honest advance.
Quite fast, but... compared to Rio, it's totally slow.
It's a "hands-on" level that's common in the area.
"─ Die, [Three-step Poke]!
"Don't delay it."
I turned to the side of Gary, who had unleashed a spear move, dodging the attack.
In the midst of half-stopped moments, I send a memorial conversation to Gary.
"Earlier, I said anonymous, but for once, I had two names in my days as a demon hunter. Have you ever heard of the all-purpose Brett Claydill?
"Become...!? Brett Cradill...!?“ omnipotent "!? That's the name of the Epic Demon King Hunter. That's...! One of the world's most powerful demon hunters, who disappeared neglectfully after turning young and defeating just a few mighty demon kings...!
I grab Gary's head with one hand when he's out of shape.
Gary with a frightened look on his face.
At the same time, my thoughtful conversation conveys a frightening will.
'Ha... so you have a narrow world to watch. I'm some kind of legend. I'm the strongest in the world. At least there are countless hands on me all over the world. The real me is far from “all-purpose” instrumental poverty. I'm usually embarrassed to name two names from myself.'
'What, that's...! I'm looking at things on every level. You are! Proud of the speed far beyond me, even called “disease”, that I am cleverly poor...!? The more I humbly...!
I slapped Gary in the face on the stone floor.
─ ─ Dogo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
"Ah... crap..."
With a small crater on the stone floor, Gary was covered in facial blood, with several broken teeth and peeling white eyes.
"If you're this level of hand-worked brave, you're not going to die for this much damage."
I'll let Gary go.
Gary collapses into a dungeon hallway and stops moving.
All right, now we're clear.
If you're Rio and Mayfa, I wonder what it's like.
Having finished my battle, I decided to turn my attention to my godchildren.
... but well.
I was more or less anticipating the conversation behind me and the sound of battle.
Apparently, the battle was over at about the same time as this one, and I was supposed to see the consequences after everything was over. |
Episode "Ha... ha... ha...!
Walking away from the front of the Brett's, Ur was running the main street of the night at a glance.
There are many people.
He runs and finally collides with one person as he nearly bumps into someone coming from across the street many times.
The other guy is a big guy.
The bumped Ur jumps more and falls on the cobblestone.
"What's the pain, you little shit?"
The man grabs Ur's chest barn and stares.
"Su... excuse me..."
Ur apologizes for everything.
But the other man spits and throws away, tightening Uru's chest even harder.
"You think I'm gonna be sorry, huh?
"Ugh, guh..."
Ulu groans in bitterness.
The man shook up his bush and tried to hit Ur, but the woman with him stops it.
"Forgive me no more."
"Chi......! Fucking kid, watch your back in the future."
"Ha, ha..."
The man lets go of Ur and walks down the street again.
The lady with him crept into it and disappeared into the city at night for both of us.
Ur rises up and starts walking.
and me, alone.
"Ha... how could my life be like this..."
So twinkly, I look up at the sky.
In the night sky, there was a golden moon floating about to plug into the full moon in a few more days.
"If the concert wasn't a full moon night, how could we..."
Wolf is a werewolf.
In the light of the full moon, you lose your reason and become a monster dominated by the impulse of violence and killing.
So on a full moon day, he hiccups into a cabin in the back of the mountain away from the city and decides not to step outside.
It's a habit Ur has been doing for years now.
Ur had been able to control the power of his own bestialization (Lycanslopi) until some point in the past few years.
You don't have to be a full moon night to be able to beast at your will, and in doing so, you don't lose reason.
Ur can now use his power as a werewolf by his own will.
If you become a werewolf, your flesh changes to a musculoskeletal lump nearly two meters long.
The power of a werewolf is no less pale than that of a brave man, and the man he bumped into earlier can be lightly twisted.
But to Ur, I'm not going to do that.
Sometimes if he did that, he wouldn't be able to live in human society, but above all, Ur was afraid to become a monster (monster) of his own will.
Because with that power, if you do harm to people through violence, you become a real monster.
But Ur's thoughts are also dispelled on a full moon night.
All the tenderness, reason and will of the usual Ur disappear before violent impulses that anoint everything in the light of the full moon.
So Ur has avoided engaging with people as much as he can to avoid making himself a monster.
What I got as a price for that is loneliness.
Ur has always lived alone, lurking in the shadows so as not to go into anyone's eyes.
"Already... I don't know why I'm alive anymore... I guess it's time to stop living..."
With that crushing, Ur sighs one thing and walks through the city at night.
I have to go home again today.
Um, to my house alone.
He had lived inert even since his mother lost her life due to illness, but he no longer knew what it meant to live.
It was idols that had supported Ur's heart like that.
Seeing the girls smiling brilliantly on stage kind of always, just a little cheerful.
I even had a pale dream that I would be able to be myself that way, lifting up to the appearance of poor girls dancing and singing so hard with sweat.
But the chance to show up just once before Ulu like that is also this Zama.
Live is a full moon night.
I just think fate is mocking me.
"But this is good for you. You didn't have to bother Rio for us."
That's what I said, haha laughing ul.
Rio, Illis, Mayfa - they were all pretty, bright, sweet, sun-like girls.
He even looks good. He's next door to his brother, and they all seem to be close.
People who are too different from themselves to be even ridiculous about being jealous.
It's ridiculous in the first place that Ur would put together an idle unit with those kids.
"Ugh... Ugh... How could we be like this?"
From Ur's eyes, tears abound.
The girl wipes it with the sleeves of her clothes.
Let's go home now, to my own house.
If you sleep overnight in that house where no one else is, you'll remember what you deserve.
With that in mind, when Ur was walking down the street at night...
From the front I saw Pacapaka and the carriage coming towards me.
I don't know if it's fancy or noble, but it would be rich.
Watching a two-headed luxurious carriage slowly turn toward the sound of a cobblestone treading on its hooves, the road-wielding people vacate its passage.
Ur also blurred, and made his way through the passage, trying to move beside the street.
─ But then, I realized.
Where the carriage was going, just a few more, there was a little boy.
Are you out of touch with your parents or are you looking around?
The owner of the carriage looks at it approximately and doesn't seem to notice the child.
He was also looking around at the children who weren't there, and he didn't realize that the horse's hoof pulling the large carriage was trying to pinch himself right now.
Horses weigh more than five human beings.
If you get trampled with hard hooves, there's no such thing as a child's body.
"Dangerous -!
Ur's body was moving.
Half-intuitively, I guess I can't make it in the human figure, and beast instantly.
My muscles swelled and the clothes I was wearing ripped apart in fright.
Uru, thus transformed into a werewolf, with comparable human detached physical abilities to those of a brave man, rushed up to the boy who was about to be hit by a carriage, cuddled up and rolled into the side of the street.
The body of a werewolf held to protect his child bursts into a crate that was piled up at the end of the road, making a loud noise as he leaned.
Everyone on the spot, for a while, had no idea what had happened.
But suddenly a werewolf appeared all over the city, catching a little boy and standing beside the street.
The werewolf - - Ulu takes the boy down to the ground.
Then a child who had no idea what had happened to him would see the werewolf (Warwolf) in front of him and weep with the look of fear.
(Ah...)
Seeing the boy's face, Ur feels like his chest could be tightened.
Yeah, I'm a bummer.
I remember.
"─ Caaaaaaaaaaaa!
Someone from the passersby must have raised it.
The voice of a woman ripping silk echoed around.
Ur thought for a moment that if he solved the beastification, he would understand if he became a human being.
But the idea is to immediately abandon it.
Then you will find out all over the city that you are a bucket, and you will no longer be able to live in this city.
I think of the sight of everyone in the city throwing stones and trying to kick Ur out of the city.
I thought that would happen if I solved the beastification now.
So Ur fled the scene.
As a werewolf, he walks through frightened people and rushes to scale.
From behind Ur comes the confusion of the people and the sound of the monster coming out.
(Oh... right. I didn't forget.)
Ur weeps in his heart as he runs through the crowd looking like a werewolf.
I'm a bummer.
I was made aware of that once again.
"─ Awow, wow, wow!
Ur howled to spit out the sorrow in his chest and ran through the city of Lavilton at night. |
Lesson As I entered the bakery store, the aromatic aroma of bread tickled my nostrils even more intensely.
The parent of the bakery who brought me into the store speaks to the woman in apron who was serving customers across the counter.
"Ooh, a customer. Delicious, pack me five jumbo sandwiches."
The woman in the apron was smiling and serving other customers in the store.
Seeing her parents, the woman's smile instantly turned into the shape of Shura.
"Hey you! Where were you walking at noon like this? I don't even have Uru today, so you know I'm busy! Get inside and help!
"Oh, I'm scared. Okay, I'm on my way. - I'm sorry, brother. I'll wrap it up right now. Just give me a minute."
That said, when my parents went into the back of the store, they came back inside the store after a while wearing aprons, hats and other clerk styles.
And he wraps five freshly made giant sandwiches and brings them to me.
I paid for two pieces of silver and received a sandwich of merchandise.
I thought you might be busy, but I'll make sure my parents know one thing I cared about.
"Um, I'm just saying, is Ur not doing very well with the employees at this store?
Apart from the woman in apron like her parents and their wives, there were two separate employees in the store, and they traveled back and forth between the bakery and the sales space.
When I ask my questions, my parents look a little difficult.
And here's what I've been asking you.
"Is that what Wolfgang said?
"... Yep. It was a little nuanced, but that's what I did."
Then my parents roared and put their arms together, wrinkled between their eyebrows, and said:
"No, Uruffo is a serious, good one, and I don't think the one who doesn't like Uruffo is in our employees. Me and my daughter-in-law are as adorable as they are because they think that about Wolfgang is like their own daughter. It's just... Wolfgang seems to be hiding something more important. It's hard to break it down."
"Ur better...?
"Oh. I don't think it's a good idea to force him to say something he doesn't want to, and I'm waiting until he tells me from him, which is hard. - Brother, do you know anything?
"Uh, no..."
One thing, I have a brilliant idea.
In other words, I guess Ur is hiding himself from the people in the store that he is a werewolf.
but surely this is not even what Ur should have said out of my mouth if he hadn't mentioned it himself.
"... excuse me. I have an idea."
"I see, I can't tell you. So that's the content. I wish I could, but if Urubao was worried about something, would you support him? Well, we can't let that girl's troubles get to us."
"... ok. I have my own business, and I don't know how far I can go, but I'll do whatever I can."
"Right. Thank you, brother."
After such an exchange with my parents, I left the store.
Outside the store, three godchildren and Ur were waiting.
I hand over the Delicious Jumbo sandwiches I bought, one at a time.
"So! But it looks good!
As surprising as Rio received, the bread was jumbo sized as the naming went.
It is roughly the size of a woman to see if she can eat it.
It should be noted that between the hangover and the baked bread, the chicken and egg filling and the vegetables and sauce were tightly packed and did look good.
Now we can say that four pieces of copper coin per piece are worth the price.
We sat on the bench in a pompous cheer when Ur told us about the park nearby and we all hit the bread.
"Good!"
"Yum......!
"... This can be done"
Three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, get obsessed and stick to bread.
When he saw it, Ur was as proud as he was of us.
I speak to Uru like that again with my bread on my cheeks.
"Wolf didn't say he was a werewolf at work."
Then Ur looked at me with his eyes round.
And then, I laugh and give it back like this.
"... I will. 'Cause I can't tell you. We can't all work together with bucket things, can we? So we're lying to everyone at work. You're supposed to be just like everyone else."
So self-derisively, Ur hits the bread himself.
Rio, who was listening to it on the side, pinched his mouth in the way that he didn't like it.
"Hey Ur, let's not talk about that 'bucket thing' about me, shall we? Except on a full moon night, which is normal, right? If that full moon night hasn't bothered anyone except when I was a kid, that's fine."
Ulu replies without looking at Rio, swallowing the bread he was eating.
"What would I do with that... It's hard to break it off. Besides, I've managed to do well so far, but I don't know when I might attack people for some mistake again. So after all, I don't think we can do this unless we think of ourselves as something stupid."
"I don't know. Come on...... uh-oh! I'm not convinced anymore!
When Rio says it in a sneezy way, he bites into the bread like he bumps his anger and eats it mumblingly.
While I smile sideways, I check with Uru one more time.
"Well, that's why you're not getting along with the people at work."
"That's what I do. At that time - like when I was a kid, I was afraid of tearing someone apart with our hands.... so I'm trying not to get along with anyone anymore"
"Um... then with us, why?
Now Illis is getting mixed up in the story.
Ur scratches his prickly neck, as troubled.
"That's... a lot. If they came all the way here for the first time, or if they even knew they were werewolves... most importantly, because they were brave and strong. Because even if we run wild with some mistake, everyone seems to get us back. ─ Ah, but if it's a nuisance to everyone, I'm leaving right now. Don't hesitate to say it then."
"... Ur cares too much about people's annoyances and stuff.... I always live by leaning on others with all my might. ... Ur should learn a little bit about me"
To Mayfa's words, Ur just laughed haha like trouble.
Mayfa has a point, but the teacher wonders if it's okay to imitate Mayfa.
... but in any case, it's still the beastification (Lycanslopi) curse that's necked.
If only we could do something about it...
So when we all finished lunch, we went to the library again this afternoon to find out about werewolves.
Well, actually, I thought it would be hopeless to solve the problem with this suzi.
If the curse of beastification (Lycanslopi) is so easy to control, it's not surprising that there are more werewolves (Warwolves) living in human society by now.
If that's not the case, isn't it because there's no better solution?
I had such doubts from the beginning.
But it's the muscle path of things that starts with hitting basic means and thinking about the next hand if that doesn't work.
If I had scorned the basics, there would actually have been an answer to the easiest part, for God's sake, it can happen all the time.
No, originally.
That's what I thought, so I gave up half the mix-up myself.
At that time.
"... Found"
So Mayfa, who had looked through a book, raised her voice. |
Lesson Three girl braves, baton touched from me, set their weapons and turn their gaze behind the hall.
"All right, let's do it"
"Yeah. If it's just him,"
"... Still, it looks tough though.... I don't want to work, but I can't help it"
At the end of the three glances is a blackened orc standing up staring at this one with a kick in the ass and hatred from me.
By the way, monsters who have become demon kings have never been confirmed to flee or surrender, simply trying to subjugate their adversaries with violence in the battlefield.
The anomaly that the desire for violence, domination and conquest also exceeds the survival instinct.
It's also one of the hallmarks of the Demon King.
Seeing how Oak Road looks like that, Rio says to his sisters.
"I was at the entrance to the cave, when I was watching oak, and the way I did it, okay? Hit what we're good at, and we'll bust it!
"Yeah, that's all I got."
"... I remember one of the idiots.... I want to learn more about art, but I can't help it now"
The girls nod at each other.
And...
"Then let's go! Both of you, I got you covered!
Rio rushed out for Oak Road.
Rio just doesn't go straight.
This was also the case when we dealt with watching oak at the entrance of the cave, but cut in from the diagonal in such a way as to paint a gentle arc to keep it out of the way of the remote attack between Illis and Mayfa.
It's also Rio's taste around here.
I didn't teach you anything in particular, but you have an exceptional sense of combat.
Using the rays opened by that Rio, it was Iris who launched the first attack.
Iris releases an arrow from a squeezed shortbow.
The unleashed arrows cut the gum and wind and headed straight for Oak Road, but...
Hoops, Oak Road strayed himself.
It's hard to imagine from that dull looking giant, and it's a smart move.
The arrow unleashed by Illis cut the sky and was bounced against the wall of the cave in the back.
Oak Road laughs at me.
"No......!? Damned!?
"But not yet - [Firebolt]!"
There Mayfa unleashes a pursuit by magic attack.
Two fireballs, born in the air by Mayfa, were fired as burning arrows of two strips, approaching Oak Road.
The oakload jumps sideways at a considerable reaction speed and tries to deflect it too.
However, the [Firebolt] has a gentle but traceable nature.
Though one shot was taken off by Oak Road's agile evasive behavior, the other hit him directly.
But...
"... not really, not working"
Mayfa's, slightly dissatisfied voice color when she saw the results.
The blow of the burning flame seemed to have been largely dispelled by the barrier of temper covering Oak Road's body, causing not as much damage to the body as it did.
"─ Ha, ha, ha!
Rio cuts in there.
Oaklord's response to Mayfa's magic attack has been filled with nostalgia.
"─ ─ [Bifurcated]!
I knocked in a series of attacks that I was good at Rio.
It both captures Oak Road's torso beautifully.
But...
─ ─ Galilee, Galilee!
A short sword swung by Rio was played along with the sound of scraping metal.
"Become...! It's hard!
With the Demon King's Qi barrier and skin stiffness, Oakload boasts high defense.
With Rio's offensive power, it doesn't seem easy to break through.
Rio rushes to backstep and tries to take time off Oak Road.
"Nha...!
Oak Road chased the Rio.
A normal species of oak is like a different level of speed.
Oak Road laughs at him and waves his stick in a sideburn.
A giant stroke of stick, roaring and attacking Rio.
"Ku......!
Rio crossed his arms in front of his body when he realized he couldn't make it around.
It jumps further backwards.
Rio's body was blown away.
"─ Uh-oh!
"Hey, Rio... Whew"
Blown Rio's body just hit Mayfa.
The two intertwine and roll down the ground with the dirt.
"It hurts... uh-oh, it worked. But Mayfa took it, so it didn't hurt a bit."
"For that matter...... I'm sore.... and Rio, it's heavy, get out of the way..."
"Oh, I'm not frightened. And Mayfa, you don't really grow up."
"... mukah. Where are you putting your hands?"
"Hey, both of you! Not if it's a mess!
Rio and Mayfa stand up laughing more at the reprimand of Illis.
I look at them and put my hands on my chin and think.
Hmmm......
I was hysterical for a moment, but I felt like I saw those tensions. Looks okay.
No, Oak Road's offense should be reasonably bad.
Even an ordinary oak attack would be lethal in a single blow, and given the Demon King correction added, its power should be considerable.
But in addition to Rio's strength as a brave man, he didn't seem to do a lot of damage by jumping backwards himself and letting the shock escape.
If that's the case, it seems okay to keep watching, but...
Well, why don't you ask them yourself?
"Hey, all three of you, you okay? If it's gibberish, I'll take your place."
"Heh, I don't mean this much, brother."
"... we're going to fight back.... If they replace you here, I resent your brother"
"Doctor, it's okay. I almost get it now. I think you can win."
Reliable words came back from Rio, Mayfa and Illis.
Mm, the teacher of the rate doesn't seem to show up anymore.
"" "Yes!
The three replied well and scattered.
Rio also rushes towards Oak Road.
Iris and Mayfa, on the other hand, when they nodded at each other, began preparing their bows and magic at the right time.
"─ Ha!
Illis releases an arrow from his squeezed bow.
Oaklord laughs at it and avoids it the same way as before.
"... I've been waiting for that... [Firebolt]!"
What was different from earlier was when Mayfa unleashed a magical attack.
One beat, fast.
"Huh!?
- Bobong!
It was almost simultaneously that Oak Road gave a puzzling look and that two flaming arrows released by Mayfa hit Oak Road directly.
Iris and Mayfa laugh at each other.
I see.
The perfect timing of the two attacks ensured that Mayfa's [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)] struck directly the moment Oaklord acted to evade the Iris arrow.
The magic of Mayfa comes to life with the arrow of Illis.
He was inflicting more damage on Oakload than he would have done earlier in the collaborative play.
Still, of course, you can't do a lot of damage because you're stuck in a gas barrier.
"Wow, you're still stiff...... but"
"... yeah, it's not like it's working at all.... If you can't do a lot of damage in one shot, just make it a lot of damage in a row"
Iris and Mayfa begin to prepare for the attack again.
All right, that's fine.
Attack as many times as you want without snagging, even if you are not hit hard by a single blow.
It's a necessary way to get rid of the Demon King.
Demonized monsters improve both Attack, Defense, and Agility, but one of the most notable is the increase in Defense.
It is said that it simply hardens, and in addition, that temper has the power to mitigate shock and reduce damage by a certain percentage.
So until the demon king falls, the brave need to attack as many times as possible.
It seems to have broken my heart that the effects of each blow are faint, so the brave do not serve.
─ ─ And it's Rio that follows.
Mayfa's [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)] thrusts at a fierce speed into an oak road that doesn't look frightened after two direct hits.
The sword that Rio possesses houses the blue phosphorescent light of the power of the brave.
It's not [a bunk cut], the shine of another skill she's gaining...
"How about this-- [Smash]!
Zushaah!
Rio's sword cleaved the flank of Oak Road and cut it straight through to the rear of the enemy.
The [smash] blow that Rio had unleashed had certainly left Oak Road with a hand wound.
The fact that the power of a single blow drops slightly instead of staging a series of attacks is convenient for everyday use, but when you encounter an enemy with high defense, you lose hands and feet as soon as possible.
On the other hand, [Smash] is a move that unleashes a powerful attack with a single blow.
Higher Defense enemies can hit more effectively than [Binary Cut].
Of course, it's not like a single blow would kill you, but it's not as small a damage as a scratch.
"Ugh, I'm through!
The voice of Rio who seems happy.
But I wasn't being chronic.
Rio looks right back, probably dodging a blow of a stick waved by a dark cloud in the backstep.
And yet another blow, when Oak Road smashes the little brave man down, he shakes the stick off his head with fierce momentum.
"But this is what your brother was doing!
- Gaggin '!
Rio was a short sword, slapping the flank of a stick that would be swung down and off its track.
Making a grunting noise, the oak road stick pierces the ground just next to Rio.
I saw it. I...
"Ugh, you're lying...?
I couldn't hide my surprise, it was so crushing.
Whatever that looks like, [Parry] 's move.
It should be a skill I haven't taught Rio yet.
No way...
You're saying you just saw my fight earlier and stole the move!?
Of course it's not a perfect reproduction, but even if I suddenly just used it up at a practical level, I don't know enough to make sense.
I mean, I really don't know what that means.
And if Oak Road is all about Rio...
"Demon King - your back is away!
"... more, I hope so - [Firebolt]!"
"─ Ggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
On the back of Oak Road, obsessed with Rio, the arrow unleashed by Illis and Mayfa's [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)] continue to poke.
Oak Road screams and rumbles around in agony, but Rio carefully looks at it and dodges it.
Seeing that, I thought.
... uh, this is already a battle.
That's why I went into a mode where I could rest assured and watch my godchildren stand around.
Oak Road continues to take damage one after the other with Rio, Illis and Mayfa's onslaught.
Conversely, Oak Road's attacks can hardly capture Rio, and even if an occasional attack hits him, if the damage to Rio is healing him, Illis will heal him with [healing water (heelwater)].
Though it was the battle that prolonged to some extent, eventually the life force of Oak Road also runs out.
The demon king, who continued to be attacked by the three men, made a noise and finally fell.
Confirming that the enemy is no longer in motion, Rio falls squarely to the large letter on the ground, and Iris and Mayfa also collapse on the spot with a snare.
"Ha, ha, ha... finally... I knocked him down..."
"I'm tired..."
"... but no more... I don't want to work..."
I breathe rough, three girl braves.
I would walk over to those godchildren and say the words of my nerves.
"Good day to you, Rio, Ilis, Mayfa."
When I said that, the three of them laughed a little and, like I said, they all showed V-signs.
My godchildren thought I was the cutest no matter what I did. It was me. |
Episode The flesh of the defeated oakload, after a while, collapsed and became like salad and ashes.
I searched through the ashes piled up on the cave floor and found one gem.
It's a purple gem big enough to hold it with one hand.
Rio, who watched me lay still, wakes up his torso and asks me with interest.
"Brother, it's like that jewel, what?
Iris and Mayfa also seemed intrigued.
I'll give a lecture to the three of you.
"This is what we call the 'Demon Stone'. This is how you get it when you defeat the Demon King. Take this to the Guild of the Brave and you'll get your prize as proof of crusading the Demon King.
"Wow."
Rio caught it in a hurry as I unleashed the demon stone of Oak Road towards Rio.
Under that Rio, Illis and Mayfa also stop by.
The three of them looked strange when they saw the demonic stone that had fallen into Rio's hands.
Maybe I still don't get enough of a feeling that I can call it emotion.
"That is proof that you defeated the Demon King with your own strength. I think you can be proud of yourself as a brave man."
When I say that, it seems like I'm finally getting a sense of reality.
"This is a testament to our extermination of the Demon King..."
The three of them sparkled their eyes and stared at the demonic stone in Rio's hand.
By the time I defeated Oak Road and left the cave, the sky was completely stained with sunset colors.
Returning to the village to show the demon stone and report on the completion of the demon king's exorcism, Thomas, the village chief, and the villagers turned to thank him one after the other.
That was a word of gratitude for defeating the demon king that threatened the village and saving the village from the threat.
I push my godchildren up on the arrow and make the girls rain thanksgiving.
The three of them were exposed to the word all the time looking illuminated, but eventually they couldn't stand it, and Illis and the others ran behind me and hid.
The little animal tick move was so cute.
After that, he leaves the village, returns to the city and reports to the Guild of the Brave on the exorcism of the Demon King.
Showing the demon stone of Oak Road represented by Rio at the reception, the reward was paid after being waited for a while for the appraisal.
Sixty gold coins.
As Rio and the others salivated before the golden pile of money, I handed it to Rio in a small cloth bag.
Sixty pieces of gold, by the way, is a sizeable sum of money, equivalent to two months of the average person's salary living in the city.
Rio was flabbergasted to receive a packed bag of gold coins, but then he shook his head sideways and poked the gold bag back at me.
"I can't take this. We're still half a crowd. I couldn't have exorcised the Demon King at all without my brother. So... your brother took this."
And Iris agrees with that.
"I agree with Rio, too. Besides, Doctor, you said it before. We're going to have to pay for it sooner or later.
After Illis said it, he hurriedly blocks his mouth with his hands.
Intentionally, the interior of the Guild of the Brave became noisy.
It's not good...
I hear voices like this coming from the female guild clerks in the back.
"... he said it was a misunderstanding before, but I knew it..."
"But even in Lorikon, if you're such a handsome guy... beautiful young people and beautiful girls do a good job in a secret room where no one comes... oh, my nosebleed"
"Yeah, okay. Looks like you're gonna have to report it with me. Pippoppa..."
"Geez, wait, wait! I wasn't just delusional about the thin book I'm putting out at the next comic fest!
Having heard such an exchange of female guild staff, I grabbed my godchildren for now and fled the brave guild.
The escape was a success.
By the way, I kept the reward for the demon king's exorcism and decided to give the three Rio's a few minutes of silver coins a month on a penny basis.
That's how I get my reward in the Guild of the Brave, and all I have to do is return to the village.
I thought about having a gangster party because it was after my teachers had overcome their difficulties and accomplished their greatness.
That's why we decided to buy out the ingredients for the party in the city and then go home.
Such a fold, on the corner of the street, Mayfa pulled me to get my clothes.
If I think of something, I'm going to say this.
"... brother, if we're celebrating, I'd like to try a drink"
Mayfa was sparkling her eyes, pointing to the fruit liquor sold in the outdoor store.
Generally, alcohol comes from the age of fifteen, an adult.
From what I've heard, it looks like Rio is fourteen, Ilis and Mayfa are only thirteen, and their drinking is originally NG.
But well, there won't be any adverse effects on your body if you have a small amount, and the idea is that parents should let you go through it in their children as they watch.
"All right, all right, I'll just forgive you today. But just one drink."
"Yay!... I like your brother, who knows the story.... thankyou for what Loricon's brother wants you to do, a little bit, you can do it for him"
That said, Mayfa snapped on my arm, so I'll tickle Mayfa's flank.
Mayfa walked away from me, stuffing herself with pleasure.
"... cum... tickling is cowardice"
"I've told you many times, that's not how adults tease you. Sooner or later, I'm gonna see you in pain."
"... it's okay.... because I only do it to my brother"
"That's why it's not okay either..."
I sigh heavily.
While your brother's in control, please don't, okay?
Really, you guys are so cute you can't be a joke.
and buy sweet wines in its outdoor stores while interacting like that.
I also bought a lot of ingredients for the party and went back to the village.
Then we all cook a meal at home and arrange it on the living room table.
The number of dishes was higher than usual, and a fantastic table was created.
The wines also showed interest in Rio and Illis, so I'll just pour one glass into each smaller glass.
"" "" Here you go!
The four of us, hand in hand in front of the food, it's time to start the party.
The girls begin to cook and fight colorful dishes, either in the gutters or in the muggles cucumbers.
"Ah, this chicken sautéed. Seriously! Shit, I can eat infinitely!
"Rio needs more salad too. And this bread is delicious and fragrant."
"... stew, too, is different than usual.... with plenty of butter, it tastes corrupt"
I eat myself, smiling at those godchildren.
Watching your kids eat a lot warms your heart.
... and that would have been nice.
The miscalculation was that all three of them were too vulnerable to alcohol.
The girls used to treat the wine as a fearful, chicken during the meal, but before finishing a small amount of drinks, their eyes began to fade.
And what was even more troubling was that the three of them were sweet Uedo, tangled Uedo, and hugged Uedo.
By the time it was completely up...
"Doctor... I like the smell of a teacher... calm down, tease... do you still hate such a perverted girl, teacher...?
"... Loricon's brother gets impatient when he's hugged by us like this.... It's only a matter of time before we get attacked and become criminals. ... ready to accept your brother like that"
Saying it that way, all three of them were snapping at me.
... There were too many words coming out of my mouth from around the way, and I listened to them from one end to the right to the left.
Uh, uh, I can't hear you.
Nevertheless, I don't know what to do about this situation......
If anyone sees this scene, my social survival is definitely dying.
I can't believe I was appropriately dealing with three people.
All three of them fell asleep with a snag at me.
... Well, you'd be tired today.
I can't help it.
When I put the three of them to sleep in their own beds in the bedroom, I finished the party alone.
The truth is, we should all clean up, but only today, when the three of us worked a lot harder.
And by the time I was done cleaning up, my drowsiness had hit me, too, so I went to the floor in my own bedroom.
It's true today, I'm tired too...
─ ─ That's how the first adventures of the godchildren ended, a few days later.
I got a call from the Brave Men's Guild.
That was my former colleague teacher, Alma, who told me about Cyrus' tour of social studies. |
Lesson I'll take the three godchildren to the starting point of the -meter walk.
Then an earlier brother and a little boy stood in the waiting area.
When we got there, my brother came out of the way and stood in front of Rio, not me - and looked down at the little thing.
"Hey, fuckin 'kid. How dare you lick my mouth earlier. But unlike you, I'm an adult brave man, so I'm gonna give you a break for making you wacky with strength."
"Ha..."
What are you talking about? This guy, Rio was looking up at him with that face.
But your brother keeps talking about how Rio looks.
"But it is unacceptable that you insulted an adult. There you go. - This place seems to be brave to each other, so why don't we compete with the results of this status test? Fucking kid, if you defeat me, you're gonna sit down and apologize to me. All right?"
"Ha... Hey, brother, what are you talking about from earlier this old man?
Rio goes through your brother and asks me in a frightened manner.
No, I don't care if you ask me.
Well, in short, brother, he changed the target of selling the fight to Rio because he realized he was no match for me in his earlier exchange.
Still, he's saying "square and grand," but I don't know if veteran professional demon king hunter competes with a Brave College graduate student with the results of a status test, or if that brother's pride is there.
Generally, the results of brave graduate student status tests depend on the academic year and other requirements, but often fall within the boundaries of about two to five levels at the certified brave level.
The standard line for veteran Demon King hunters with a lot of experience is to have a level of certified bravery of about -8.
So think normally, what your brother is saying about "square grandeur" is almost equals "adultless".
Well, yeah......
I'll think about it for a second and then I'll answer Rio like this.
"If only Rio could take it and do it, wouldn't you? Put something on the right terms."
"What? I don't care if they say the right conditions. Except for me, I'm not happy to be grounded by this old man... Ah"
Looks like Rio came up with something.
Then Rio laughed and cut back to his brother like this.
"Well, old man, if I win, apologize to the receptionists earlier. 'I'm sorry I bothered you. It won't happen again."
When Rio said that, your brother flaunted his face.
"What...?... Huh, that would be fine. But if you can beat me with the results of this status test."
"I know you don't have to push it anyway. If I lose, I'll do whatever I have to do."
"Kuku......" earthbound or whatever, "? Don't forget that word."
"Remember what you said."
When the two were having such an exchange, the attendant walking a hundred meters said, "Number twenty-eight, Mr. Aaron. Thirty best, Mr. Johnny. about the starting point," he has announced.
When the little man who heard it came to call his brother more "Aaron's brother, they're calling you," etc., he went with the little man to the starting point of the 100-meter walk.
Ilis and Mayfa, who were watching those things, come to me a little anxious.
"Um, Doctor... Rio, are you okay...?
"... Rio, I ran an extra mouthful.... 'Underground or whatever' wasn't a good idea.... he's definitely not thinking about it."
That's what they say, but I wasn't too worried.
I say to the two of you.
"Hey, even Rio doesn't have an idea. And you know how old Iris and Mayfa are to call themselves that veteran demon hunter, right?
When I ask back, they look at each other and then nod at me.
"That's what I'm talking about."
That's what I said, with my right hand and my left hand, respectively, with the heads of Iris and Mayfa.
The two became like cats who were made.
That brother, he doesn't seem very good at hiding his abilities.
Well, anyway, we'll see how it goes.
"About position, Yi-Yi-Yi-Start!
As the attendant waved down the flag, his brother and little man, who had been attached to the first and second courses in a crowding start position, ran off, respectively.
That's just a professional demon king hunter, and they're both unlikely to be fast compared to the average person.
Little between the starts, the attendant at the goal point pushed the Pippi Magic Watch.
The attendant at the goal point fills out the measurement results in the ledger, while communicating the results to the person.
"Mr. Aaron, five seconds, twenty-six. Mr. Johnny, it's five seconds, five and six. Good luck. Next..."
The little man who hears it openly treats his brother well.
"No, that's my brother, you're fast! I can be agile, but I still can't beat my brother. That's my brother."
"Ooh, sort of. - Uh, but five seconds, twenty-six! Kah, it's 0.2 seconds slower than last year! Well, there's some measurement errors, so I guess I can't help it!
Brother who talks about the results to his audience.
And chill, I looked at Rio better.
But one Rio, on the other hand, was campaigning for preparation as if he wasn't interested.
flexion or twisting your body.
On your brother's forehead, who saw it, a vivid blue muscle floated.
They don't like that it was ignored.
In short, I guess I was expecting Rio's hasty, fuzzy reaction like, "Ugh, you're lying... five seconds, 26, that's too fast... I can't win very much, what am I gonna do..." but... poor thing.
Incidentally, however, it is said that when a cheetah, said to be the fastest animal in the cat family, walks a hundred meters, it results in approximately five to six seconds.
In other words, even the average veteran Demon King Hunter can move like a cheetah at both initial, acceleration, and maximum speeds.
"Next, twenty-third Mr. Iris, twenty-fourth Mr. Mayfa. About the starting point."
"" Yes ""
In order, Iris and Mayfa came first.
The two respond well before reaching the starting point for a 100-meter walk.
With this flow, Rio would be with me in the next order.
"Okay, let's get started!
As the flag of the attendant at the start was swung down, Illis and Mayfa ran off.
And then...
-Bahung!
In no time they were both passing through the goal point.
Tell the two back, the attendant sweats on his forehead, and the results.
"Yes, Mr. Iris, three seconds seventy... Mayfa, three seconds eighty-five..."
When I heard that, Iris came back to me with a Doya face and Mayfa's disgruntled face.
"Hmm. ♪ Is this the difference between Mayfa and me, the usual hard work?
"... Buh.... a little today, I wasn't feeling well. ... Next, this is not how it works"
Illis and Mayfa are only slightly different in foot speed.
We have a good rivalry with each other.
By the way, my angel, Mr. Iris, I can't tell you how reluctant I am to be with my sisters.
Well, it's the same for Rio and Mayfa, and it's a unique sense of distance between these three.
Meanwhile, it was your brother and two little boys who watched the sight and kept their mouths wide open.
"Become... Ugh, you're lying... three seconds, so...!?
"Ah, brother... now, something...? That... looks like those kids were way faster than my brother to me... but I guess I blame you...?
"Ooh, ooh. That's -- that's cheat. Cheat. That's right, the magic of the agility wind attribute. Did something happen? I used that one."
"Wow, you're serious! Oh, my God! I mean something like that with the status test!?... Is that it? But when the magic of [Gail Speed], which increases agility, didn't you stop putting together magic like a green wind?
"Mmm... that's well, yeah. You're studying pretty well, too."
"Hehe, right?
Between the two of them, there was quite an interesting interpretation going on.
Although the sweetness of doping checks on the status test is considered problematic in part, at least doping by magic is obvious with the color of magic the body is clustered in.
Note that the speed at which a hundred meters is run in three seconds is equal to the speed at which a cheetah that has reached its highest speed beforehand runs through a hundred meters at the same speed.
Starting from a stopped state and possibly catching up with it will be the walking power of Illis and Mayfa now.
"Next, Mr. Twenty-One Brett, Mr. Twenty-Two Rio, about the starting point"
While I was doing that, it came to me and Rio.
I speak to Rio and head to the starting point.
"All right, Rio, let's go"
"Aurai, brother. Heh, I'm gonna beat your brother today."
That's what Rio says, he gives me a strong smile.
That's right......
Agility is Rio's greatest specialty, and it's already my level of eating it.
Thinking so, Rio has said this.
"Oh, yeah. Do you want to fight me?
"The battle? What happens if I lose?
"I have the right to hold my brother for three minutes."
"What if I win?
"Your brother gets the right to hold me for three minutes"
"... dismissed. Say no."
"Eh, why not!
"Why not? Well, no. You know that and you're tempting me, right? You're playing with me, aren't you?
"Eh heh heh."
Rio tongues out pero and gives me a nostalgic smile.
When I put my hand on Rio's head and did the hair as a straw, Rio was dyeing his cheeks with joy, and he was like a jean.
Damn, it's too cute, it's a crime. |
Lesson I felt like Rio was in the Delais period, and I thought maybe this would allow me to hold him legally, etc. - I'm in the process of demon king exorcism right now, let's be serious.
So it's an operational decision.
"All right, then go"
When I said that, the three of them nodded and got to the starting position.
Then the three of them all jumped out of the shade of a hidden tree.
"I asked you, Iris, Mayfa!
One Rio runs without stopping his legs.
When Iris and Mayfa exited to the position where the rays to the cave would pass, they stopped their feet there, erected one or bow, and entered a mental concentration for one or magic.
Target is a lookout oak, in front of a cave a few minutes away from them.
The blunt oak seemed to blur for a while as the girls with the weapons appeared in their sight, but eventually swung their faces and took a critical stance as they rushed around.
But it was an instant that Orc panicked.
The lookout oak walked up from his mouth, drooling and nittering who regarded the three Rio men not as enemies but as prey.
You idiot.
My godchildren are not just poor girls.
The first time the attack was ready was in Illis.
"─ Hit me!
Release the arrow from the squeezed shortbow.
The arrows fly straight to the oak...
─ ─ Dosh!
pierced the overstretched abdomen of the oak.
Watchful oak raising the scream of severe pain.
But far from fatal.
An angry oak tried to rush out to Illis, but there...
"... it's not over yet. ─ ─ [Firebolt]!"
- Bobong!
Mayfa's magic attack burst.
[Firebolt] is magic that creates fireballs by magic and flies them like arrows and hits enemies.
It is one of the first attack magic, but has the characteristic that the number of fireballs that can be created varies depending on the magnitude of the magic of the operator.
With Mayfa's magic now, there are two fireballs that can be created with a single [Firebolt].
Those two fireballs continued to strike straight at the giant oak.
One fireball, but a small monster like Goblin has the power to knock it down with a single blow.
"- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
In addition to the arrows of Illis, the oak roared toward heaven without falling, having received two direct hits of Mayfa's [Fire Arrow (Firebolt)].
That's Toughness's proud oak.
And when he was swept and fluttered, he withdrew anger in his eyes, and glanced at Iris and Mayfa, and strayed from his mouth.
But there's...
"─ Not yet! Temehe's got another one left!
There was a little girl looking, rushing wildly towards the giant of the oak.
It's Rio.
Rio approaching in a short time from the direction diagonally forward from the oak.
Orcs, on the other hand, rush up the stick, but...
It was much faster for Rio to jump into the orc's nose than for that stick to be swayed down.
"─ Ha!
- Zach, Zuba!
Rio instantly slapped in two slashes by [binary cutting] and rolled right out of the oak interval.
"─ ─ Ggaaaaaaaaaaaa!
The orc finally stopped moving as it fell backwards screaming the Terminator.
Target destroyed.
By the way, I didn't need Rio's last evasive action as a result, but that's a good decision too.
Because it is a monster at first sight, it is desirable from a risk aversion point of view to also think about what happens if you cannot defeat it with a focused attack.
I'll take Mayfa and Iris to Rio in front of the cave.
The three of us, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, will start with the three of us hand in hand and say, "Yikes! You did it! We fought well with each other by saying,"... that's us. "
And then...
"Hey brother, how was it?
The three of you who led Rio have looked up at me with praiseworthy eyes.
No, if you look at me like that, already.
"All right, all right, all right! Rio, Illis and Mayfa, they're all good! Excellent!"
"Wahoo."
"Ahhh."
I spread my arms and held the three of them together.
And so that the cat is adorable, why do you do it to everyone?
"Ugh... brother, now you're gonna hold us all together... well, fine..."
"Whoa... whoa... to the teacher, to the teacher...!
"... Loricon's brother has finally begun to manifest his true nature.... but I won't suffer"
Oh, she's cute already, she's cute.
Whatever, three cheeks, I want to kiss you.
Can't you?
You can't.
Squishy.
... and well, it's about this time to forget me and run wild.
"Well..."
When I let the three of them go, I look over the cave.
And...
"─ ─ [Expanded hearing (high hearing)]"
I used magic that would also allow me to hear the faint noises in the distance.
Using me as my starting point, the sound sensors spread through the water.
Is there any reaction in the cave?
I was concerned about the possibility that the oak in the cave might have noticed because the oak was making a pretty loud scream, but there seemed to be no particular reaction to whether the cave itself was quite wide.
Rio leans his neck when he realizes how I am.
...... Brother, what have you done now?
"I was picking up the sound in the cave"
"Sound...?
"Oh. If the orcs in the cave find out about the raid, they might pop up soon."
"Oh, well. That's my brother."
"Oh, you can praise me more."
Truth be told, the orcs on the lookout were desirable to take them down without letting them speak up, but I can't do anything to demand that from the three of us now.
I just want my teachers to have the right level of difficulty small goals to do it and steadily step up.
Then I gather the three of them together again to tell them.
"Alright - cave exploration is next. We'll be ad hoc from here on out. Either way, you can answer me and then you can't act in time, so make your own decisions and act. All right?"
"" "Yes" "
Good energetic reply from the godchildren.
Excellent.
I want to give you another hug, but I don't have any sparkle, so I'll weigh myself in.
Okay, cave exploration is next.
As a pull teacher, I need to work hard. |
Lesson "Humph, humph, humph!
Cecilia raised her temper voice, lifting the fallen giant tree and returning it to where it had been.
Then fine-tune the cuts cut diagonally by [Moonlight Sword] to fit perfectly.
In so doing, the giant tree took its original form, as if it were a lie that had been slashed.
The incision is really beautiful.
But the tree won't fall again, because, of course, Cecilia supports it.
If she lets go, she'll fall again soon.
Then Cecilia nominated me.
"Brett, come here for a second and keep this tree in my place"
"Heck."
On behalf of Cecilia, I will serve to help keep the trees from falling.
Cecilia, on the other hand, turned her palm to a tree incision and entered the spiritual concentration for the exercise of magic.
Then just a few moments later, Cecilia's magic activates.
A blinding ray of magic emanated from Cecilia's hand.
That concentrates on the cut of the tree.
Eventually the light stopped.
Looks like the magic effect is complete.
"All right, Brett. You can let go."
I was there for you. Get away from Oki.
But Oki never fell.
Pushing or pulling further is not frightening.
Three people, Rio, Illis and Mayfa, who saw it, applauded with admiration: "Oooh."
In other words, the cut of the tree slashed by [Moonlight Sword] was healed and repaired by the magic used by Cecilia, returning to the state it was in before it was slashed.
[Ultimate Healing (Ultimate Heel)].
Combined top attribute magic of water, earth and light attributes, with the finest effect as simple healing magic.
It is also said that its effect goes beyond even the boundaries of healing, extending in half to the restoration of the principle itself.
Still, it is said that there are things that can and cannot be cured, but as long as life itself is not lost, it is more or less manageable, it is about omnipotence......
"Iris."
"Ha, ha!
Iris, whose name was called to Cecilia, stretched his spine slightly.
I guess I'm nervous to see the strength of this senior female brave man.
Still, I don't think I'm the same person who was asking me to sit down in front of the kids the other day...
"Iris hears that all three attributes of water, earth and light have S-rank aptitudes. Then it's not too soon to complete this [Ultimate Healing (Ultimate Heel)]. I'll teach you. I think you should try to learn."
"Ha! Nice to meet you, Mr. Cecilia!
"Oh, thank you very much. I'll tell you what to do. Ha-ha-ha... ha-ha-ha..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, that's a little... Oral instruction, please."
When Iris clearly said no, Cecilia fell to her knees.
"Why not?" How can the world not give me human skin like this!? Yes, Brett, you can do it! Give me human skin, give me human skin...!
Now you come over to me like a deceased, Cecilia.
It's totally criminal behavior and I have to pull it off a little.
What got her this far......
Years of celibacy, don't be afraid.
"That's the worst time!
Rio pulls Sparkan on the back of Cecilia's head trying to get close to me.
Then Cecilia looked at Rio with tears filled in both her eyes, and at last she went in and cried out like a child.
"Wow, you! The world's cold on me. Whoa, whoa!
It is very emotionally unstable.
Or does this guy have no pride...
You have the power, but you don't get what you want.
Everywhere there was a pathetic figure there.
But... such a miserable appearance of Cecilia may have invited the girls' pity.
Cecilia, who was to live with us some time after that day, was sometimes given permission by three girls to sleep together in the beds of Rio, Illis and Mayfa at bedtime.
It is in the form of daily shifts, disturbing each of the three beds.
I had a little anxiety about Cecilia and my kids sleeping in bed together, almost identical to sex offenders, but Rio and I interacted with Cecilia for a while, he said.
"It's okay. Sister Cecilia, you look like this, and I never said we didn't like it."
"It is. If we say" Ozuke, "he'll follow us properly."
"... Instead, if I don't feed you for a bit, I'm afraid you're going to go mad and attack your brother. ... it's okay, we'll teach you how to do it properly"
He said something horrible, such as that, in front of Cecilia herself, and Cecilia, who heard it, also said, "Wow. I'm three submissive dogs. Wow," etc., and I was entering a world where I couldn't understand anything from me anymore, so I decided to leave Cecilia to the three of us.
Nevertheless, shouldn't we have let the three of us get permission regarding Cecilia coming with us?
That dungeon may have determined the subordination between the two.
Where did this guy, his pride as a superior brave man who would also have superior class strength in the world, really throw him away...
That's why the first night Cecilia came, she was to sleep in bed with Mayfa.
At bedtime that night, with a slight anxiety, I activated the magic of [hearing enlargement (high hearing)] from my bedroom before falling asleep, listening only a little to the bedroom exchanges between my neighboring godchildren.
So what I heard was this conversation between Mayfa and Cecilia.
'... Cecilia, sister, your tits are fluffy and big. How can this happen...?
'Wow, my little one is touching me...! And happy......'
'... don't say little one.... Your sister can't touch it, but it's good for us to touch it.... Okay?
'Ugh, I get it, Miss Mayfa.... but it's a life kill. Mayfa is cruel, she's a cruel general. Ugh... I want to hug Mayfa every pajama right now...'
'... well, okay.... I also need candy to teach.... if it's about a hug, forgive'
"Ho, honto!? Mayfa is a goddess! Grrrrr! '
'Mmm... hey, maybe warm.... but sister, if you say you don't like Ilis or Rio, you're gonna protect that right?
'Sure, sure! I will obey your husband's orders. Wow! Ha, Mayfa, you're soft, warm and pleasant.'
'... okay. Why?'
I heard so much and cut the effect of [Expanded Hearing (High Hearing)].
That seemed kind of like a conversation you shouldn't have heard.
Maybe this is a world I shouldn't know about.
When I roll into bed with you, I fall asleep wearing a blanket.
Then I learned a little bit of loneliness, and I felt that Cecilia felt just a little... just a little bit.
─ And, well, those days lasted about a month.
Cecilia appeared obedient and pitiful during the day as a leader, and at night as a womanizer who followed the three godchildren.
And a month after he came to us, Cecilia was to leave our house in anticipation of Rio's [moonlight sword] when Illis brilliantly completed [ultimate healing (Ultimate Heel)].
When I ask him why he's leaving for Cecilia, he says, "Because if he's here, he's going to be too heavenly for himself".
From what I can tell, I feel like it was gone a long time ago... well I guess not personally.
Eventually, me and Rio, Ilis and Mayfa waved off Cecilia walking away from the village.
"Hmm, did you treat your sister Cecilia too badly after all?
"I don't think I can help it. We have to crush our rivals, right?
"... no problem.... and I enjoyed myself a lot."
I also think my godchildren were mumbling about something disturbing, such as that, but I figured I wouldn't mind.
That's how me and my godchildren got back to normal.
Then about a week later.
We were supposed to hear about Cecilia's disappearance at the reception of the Guild of the Brave. |
Lesson From above the sea god, we all fly to the deck of the ship.
The captain looks like a brave young daughter of an example.
Having finished healing her own injuries, she follows a dozen crew members behind her back and comes to thank us.
"No, thank God. I'm playing Marina, the captain of this ship. What about you guys?
Behind that captain, two brave men of the inflexible said, "Help me!" "Thanks!," he says, posing to exaggerate muscles.
Oh, that kind of system, these people.
"I'm Brett, a teacher at the College of the Brave. For the record, I've been following the Sahaggins. Do you have any surviving Sahaggins?
"Uh, what do you think? Except for the one that got away, I guess it's all screwed up."
"May I see it?
"Aye. Go ahead."
I get permission from the captain's marina to go around checking on the sahaggins that are falling on board.
But they were all already out of time, and they could not find out where Azit was.
Hmmm...... did this fail?
I can't do it slightly. But should I have chased the escaped sahaggin... No, but in fact, the underwater sahaggin is not insulting, and it's a fact that I can't swim and catch up...
Thinking, for example, the captain's marina called out, "Can I have a word?"
"Why are you chasing Sahagin? According to this, we might be able to work together."
That's what I said, so I explained this situation to Marina.
that the villages inhabited by the Anyas were attacked by a flock of Sahaggins.
The fact that several daughters of the village were exposed to the Sahagins.
And that the daughters will not be killed for seven days because they will be dedicated to the rituals of the Sahaggins.
That it is our purpose to find the Sahaggins' Ajitos and rescue their daughters who have been taken from them, as requested by the villagers.
Marina, listening to me, frowns uncomfortably.
"... Phew. Well, sure, that's a bad story about chest feces. I don't know about that, but the Sahaggins have been in tune lately."
In contrast, I ask the marina as I look around the ship with a large number of large crossbows (baristas).
"When it comes to this ship, merchant or fishing vessel, it's well armed and bitter. I don't even think it's a military ship. What kind of ship was Sahagin sailing alone in dangerous waters?
Then Marina answered with a grand attitude, her chest stretched out and she listened well.
"They're pirates. The Marina Pirates who crotch the world's oceans, cry and shut up. Have you ever heard of them anywhere?
"No, you don't"
"Damn."
To my frank response, Marina stumbles.
Unfortunately, I never normally heard of it.
"Kah, it's still your name. Then it won't work....... hmm? But wait... Brett... Brett... like I heard somewhere...?
"Oh, it looks like the name was sold somewhat during the Demon King Hunter era, isn't it?"
"Brett... Brett the Demon King Hunter..." No way, Brett Claydill!? “all-purpose” Brett!? You 're-- you're not, you're not!? You're not lying!? Sign! I'm a fan of Mr. Brett!
Marina suddenly changed her attitude.
The young captain of the pirate ship takes the colored paper and pen from the nearby luggage box and gives it to me.
Why is something like that in there?
But I can see it with very sparkling eyes, so I had no choice but to write an additional autograph and give it to him, and Marina was so excited to say "wow, wow".
Hmm, I'm not sure about the pirate daughter these days.
"Mr. Brett looks good in feeling like a lonely lonely wolf who doesn't obey anyone! That's what I admire about Mr. Brett! For example, the legendary Herpy Road exorcism anecdote..."
"Oh, no, I don't want to talk about that right now. More than that..."
"More than that - yes, why is Mr. Brett doing a teacher at the College of the Brave!? I want Dr. Brett to teach me a lot too! It's a two-person cabin, sweet male and female lessons. Ugh."
For the first time in so many runaways, I didn't think, I was chopping on the marina's forehead.
Just calm down.
"It hurt. But Dr. Brett gave me corporal punishment for love. Eh heh heh."
She is the captain of this pirate ship, pontified in an instant.
What am I gonna do with this girl?
Besides, there, Baba and the three godchildren in swimsuits go in between and make a barricade to protect me from the marina.
"I asked you earlier, what the hell, you! It's our brother, don't go sideways!
"Shh, if you want your teacher to teach you how to handle this, get our permission first! I won't allow it, though!
"... your brother, I won't give it to you.... And your brother doesn't sound because he's a lollicon because he seduced you with the brilliant body of his wheat skin.... Give it up."
Uh, I can't chase the scratch, so let's just stop saying weird things about the three of us.
Especially Mayfa. People listen too badly.
I grabbed Mayfa and I went around that head and I said, "... it hurts, it hurts, brother! Guru, don't push it in the back......!" or something, so now I'm going to go to the marina and talk serious while I block my mouth and seize it.
"So, Captain Marina. How could that pirate ship have been attacked by Sahagin? No, they may be attacked, but it seemed to me that they had something in mind."
Then the marina, who was pounding and nodding, said, "Ahhh!" He stood up with his voice up.
"It was! Map of Clara Treasure! They took it from me!
"Treasure map?
"Oh! It's one of those maps that shows where the legendary pirate Captain Mithril hid the treasure after months of traveling to the ocean far away! That's them......!
A marina that squeezes the cobwebs and squeezes their teeth all the time.
Behind it, two brave men of the inflexible say, "I can't believe you attacked a pirate and took a map of treasure!" "Pretty tough! posing, saying," etc.
Meanwhile, Iris, who was not interested in hearing the story, looks up at me with his hand in his mouth and says, "But..."
"Now we have a clue as to where the Sahaggins are, and it's gone again.... Doctor, what will you do?
"Oh, you're right. God of the Sea is just saying that I often see sahaggins around here..."
Do we have to ask God of the Sea to wander around here for a while...?
I just need to know if there's anything I can do for you.
With that in mind, Marina, the captain of the pirate ship, laughs nicely.
"There you go, Mr. Brett. Why don't you join hands with us?
"Hands together...? What's this all about?
When I return the question, Marina raises her index finger and explains it as she walks around on the deck.
"The Sahagins took the map of the treasure of Tomara. That means they want Captain Mithril's treasure. In other words, if you head to the location indicated by the treasure map, you will encounter them. ─ ─ But it's hard to fathom them just because they're powerful. That's where I want to hold Mr. Brett's hand."
"But you've been robbed of that treasure map. You don't know where it is."
As Rio penetrates, Captain Marina shakes his index finger with a "chitchat" and then taps his own head with a ton at its fingertips.
"That's right in your head. This sea is like a garden for tomorrow. Once you look at the map, it takes one shot to get to your head where you're referring to. - So what do you say? Eight for the treasure and two for Mr. Brett."
Hearing that makes me laugh all the time.
Nothing. I didn't say I wanted the treasure.
Well, it's a classic here, so why don't we just get on with it?
I offer my hand to Captain Marina to shake hands.
"Fine. However, the share is . I can't take any more."
"That's right, Mr. Brett, you know how to behave. - All right, then it's up to you to 73."
Marina's going to shake my hand back disappointingly.
Behind it, the brave men of the inflexible say, "Now, there's a hot friendship!" "Tied! He was posing screaming," etc. |
Lesson First Ur, who cried out, waits to stop crying.
And in anticipation of when Ur settled down, I took her inside the Gardon Martial Arts store.
Encourage him to take Ur to the front of Gardon to explain the situation.
Ur nodded coldly and began to talk about himself to Gardon.
Being a werewolf.
To lose reason and become a beast of ferocious killing when exposed to the full moon light.
But the Idol Live stage to be held the next full moon night must be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I want to compete at all costs.
And most importantly...
What I want to be able to live with and get along with everyone in the city without hurting anyone with my own hands.
Gardon, who was listening, was a pompous and seemed half-hearted.
And when I saw it, Ur...
"I want you to watch closely, Mr. Gardon."
That's what I said, and I started taking my clothes off in front of Gardon, basically.
Rio, who was watching behind me, rushes into a stop.
"Oh, hey, Ur! You don't have to go that far......!
"It's not a big deal."
Ur undressed all his clothes as if they were nothing, and he appeared untied.
And...
─ ─ Mech meh meh meh meh meh...!
Ur's whole body started making noises and making changes.
The muscles throughout his body thrive, his back lengths grow, and his body is covered in dark beast hair.
The shape of the face also changes, turning into something similar to a wolf.
Ur was instantly turning into a beast man the size of a gaze up.
In a small store, it's big enough that your head is going to hit the ceiling if you don't give in a little.
I looked up at that and was surprised at that Gardon, too.
Uru, who became a werewolf, opens his mouth.
'This is what made me a monster, what we look like. Can you believe that?
"Oh, oh..."
'... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm going back now. "
An unusual, wild voice emanates from the mouth of a werewolf, and the figure of Ur eventually returns to normal.
Returning to the figure of a human girl in the reverse turn of the veterinary process, Ur shrugs and rewears his stripped clothes.
Gardon, on the other hand, looked like he had finally woken up from shock.
And then he opens his face and opens his mouth like this.
"So you mean 'blackout necklace'? He wants to block the effect of full moonlight. And he wants to live with the people of the city casually, you know."
Ur, dressed back in his clothes, nods with a sincere look.
I sandwiched my mouth from the side.
"These are the circumstances, so could you please take it on, Mr. Gardon?"
Ur courageously revealed himself and asked for help.
There may be Gardon's circumstances, but as far as I'm concerned, I managed to get him to take it on.
Gardon on the other hand, as usual, also hums his nose.
And I said this.
"Tell me this story, can you take it on, please? ─ ─ Don't be an idiot. That would be natural! I'm vulnerable to these kinds of fairytales.... Guru. Let me do it. The costume is not a specialty, but with the spirit of the eagle, I will complete it at all costs!
When I saw it, Gardon was crying a little.
He wipes his eyes with the sleeves of his clothes.
Oh, was it this character?
On the other hand, the kids who heard that Gardon looked like a big shag.
Rio hugged Ur and said, "You did it, Ur!," Ur cried, "Haha, that was good," and Iris and Mayfa watched as well with a smile.
But every time, that's not the end of the story.
In that regard, Gardon points it out to me.
"But kid, the problem remains. You know what I mean?
"Yeah, it's a matter of material. You think you need a special ore called Moon Ore?"
The kids look hazy in my conversation with Gardon.
The need for rare materials is what was also said at the Risel Martial Arts Store.
Gardon, who heard my words, makes Eagle Deep nod.
"That's right. It is a special ore that loses its magic if it is not processed within a short period of time after being mined. Of course not."
Of course I knew about that.
Because it was described in an example book about "blackout necklaces".
"I know. But there was one of the most iconic mining sites in the suburbs of Ravilton, right?
I'll check with Gardon.
This is also what was written in the example book.
But when he heard it, Gardon looked reluctant.
"Well. For sure there is. But no mining work is being done at the mining site there."
...... Are you saying that the ore has been depleted?
When I hear that, Gardon shakes his head to the side.
"No, it's not. If you go there, you'll have the ore itself. But nowadays, rarely can anyone get near it."
"... why not?
Then Gardon took one breath and said:
"Because the mining grounds are now home to dragons."
Near the city of Lavilton is a mining site where "moon ore", a material of "blackout necklace", can be mined.
Yet a few years ago, an integrated dragon appeared, and it became a habitat in a hilly area where its mining site was located.
And afterwards, people who feared the dragon stopped leaning on the place, he said.
I used to corroborate that information at the Brave Men's Guild in Ravilton, and then I took the kids out of town and headed to the hills of the matter.
The time is about dusk.
Ur and Rio say this as the five of us walk in the rocky wilderness under the sky, which is changing from orange to blue.
"Ugh... it's like a dragon... I can't believe you have to fight a dragon..."
"Hey brother, are dragons still strong? Stronger than your brother?
Apparently, the kids think they have to fight the dragons.
I'll tell them, smiling bitterly.
"Well strong, but strong. But when it comes to dragons, it's a pink one, and most importantly, we haven't decided to fight yet. There are so many dragons in the world that are friendly to humans."
"Really? When it comes to dragons and braves, I still feel like I have this, like a lodging enemy...?
I've heard from the side that Ilis is nasty.
I'll put my hand on that girl's head and sneeze her blonde hair off.
Iris sounds pleasant, fuzzy.
"No, one way or another, the brave enemy is the 'Demon King'. Many are dealing with dragons because they look good as heroes Tan, or because they are adventure stories about brave men. I think that's kind of a reputation damage for a good dragon."
"...... hmm.... there are good dragons and not good dragons...?
Mayfa's sharp twinkle.
When I did Mayfa's head, Mayfa, like Iris, had missed a lot of it.
"That's the place. So there are good dragons, and there are bad dragons. Well, I can't say in a nutshell what's good and what's evil, but if I say it's what happens when I bump into a human, it's clear around here. - Okay, so here's your problem."
I'll let Ilis and Mayfa go.
Then the three Rio, Illis and Mayfa went into student mode and paid attention to my words.
Ur, who sees the three of them, also rushes to stretch his spine to imitate it.
I put up a quick quiz for those four kids.
"There is a dragon that lived in a mountainous area near the city a few years ago and made its territory there. From the city to the outer edge of the dragon's territory, it's so close that it won't take half a day on human feet. Dragon wings would fly all the way to the city. Yet only a few years after the dragon dwelled, the city has not perished, nor has the dragon been destroyed.... Now, which do you think the inhabited dragons are friendly or hostile to humans?
The four godchildren, including Ur, thought about it. |
Lesson "No, I searched the alley where the monster came in, but I couldn't find a shadow like that"
Of course this is a lie.
I know that the monster who walked into the alley is a beastified wolf.
Female policing, on the other hand, returned this way along with a sharp gaze that explored inside this belly.
"Phew...... Then the monster ran away somewhere."
"I think so"
"That means you could still be in the city."
"Right. But since then, if you don't have any sightings, you don't have to worry about it."
I'm not very good at belly art either.
And over there, I guess you have a big anticipation.
Earlier I was blaming Ur for a moment of behavioral suspicion, and in addition, if the city people had the appearance information of the monsters they witnessed and even the basic knowledge about werewolves (warwolves), it wouldn't be so difficult to get to who the monsters appeared in the city were.
But on the other hand, I stomped that even if I found out about this lie, I wouldn't have a problem with it.
When it comes to why I can't be honest with the facts right now, it's because I don't want the city folks to know who Ur is as much as possible at this stage.
Then if you find out the lie is a lie, now you just have to be honest about what happened.
If you know who you're talking to, that'll convince you, and if you don't know who you're talking to, the results are together from the beginning, to be honest.
The point is whether this female policing is someone who understands the story.
It all depends on it, but...
The female policeman who heard my words, once again glancing at Ur, hung her mouth nicely to make her smile.
"That makes sense. Hey, we're totally understaffed right now because we're mobilizing a large number of people in a separate case. Come on. It's not like you can stay in a harmless case."
That's what the female policeman says, she laughs at the pieces.
And next thing you know, you said this to me.
"So, I'd like to rely on your brother for this monster commotion, which you think would be harmful to the people of the city if left alone?
That's what I hear while I have a sharp eye in the back of my eye.
Oh, I see.
I answered the female policing question.
"Hey, you'll be fine. Assuming that monster is still in the city, if he hasn't shown up again, he's a coward or a pacifist."
"Right. I think so, too. In the scene of yesterday's incident, 'the monster also looked like he helped the child' was as testimonial as some testified, right? - Mm-hmm. Okay. I'm sorry you let me take the time. Thanks."
That being said, female policing has offered me my right hand, so I took that hand and shook it.
"No, welcome. Thank you for your wisdom."
"Haha, you shouldn't be thankful there -"
That's what I said, another piece of female policing laughing.
You're a savage, and you're a pretty pleasant guy.
In addition, female policing said, "Oh, yeah," and when I took the note paper and pen out of my nostalgia and wrote something down, he gave it to me.
"I'm sorry to hear that, but lately, I've been having trouble getting Dark Society active in this city. I don't know if it's drug trafficking or human trafficking... I'd be glad to hear from you if you heard anything like that. This is the direct number of my call magic device. Thank you for your time."
That's what the female policeman said, giving a gentle salute and then walking away.
Behind it, a big man and a little man rush after him.
"Ah, sister! Isn't that a little like him?!?
"They are absolutely suspicious, Mrs!
They were stuffed to female policing that way, but they get pounded on the head from female policing.
"Barca, this is fine. We're short on manpower, so we just don't get more extra work. I mean, I can't believe I have to use it in the field until I'm like you guys. Don't waste any more of my work."
and so on, and was appropriately embellished.
On the other hand, the children watching me and the exchange of female policing looked pompous.
Eventually, Illis asks me if it's a bad idea.
"Doctor, you didn't often find out the lies... I've been thrilled to think I was absolutely noticed because I was looking at that woman, Uru..."
I'll put my hands on the head of such a squirrel, and I'll lighten them up.
"No, he knew I was lying."
"What...? Oh really?!?
"Oh. There were circumstances over there, and you just snuck me off."
"Hmm... adult interaction... Ugh... I still haven't grown up like a teacher at all..."
That's how cute Iris is, and I did that head again.
and well, there was such an extra incident, aside.
Once again, we headed to the Rizelle Martial Arts Store.
Eventually, when I reached the store, I crept through the store door.
"Welcome"
Upon entering the store, there was a greeting from the clerk lined up with examples.
I'm still not used to this......
It's just a second time, too, so I know just to some extent I'm on my own.
I honestly asked the clerk who was the guide.
"I'm looking for an item called 'Blackout Neck Decoration', do you keep it here?
"'Blackout necklace', right, I did. Please wait in your seats as we confirm."
That's what the clerk said, and when he led us to our seats, he disappeared into the back of the store.
When the clerk came back a while later, the owner of the store was following me along.
"Oh, I thought I had another customer looking for a lot of rare items, so I was Dr. Brett."
Liselle, owner of the Liselle Martial Arts Store, an elf martial arts artisan and designer, said that was the best way to open up when she came close.
Plus Liselle said, "Hmm...?" He snaps and wrinkles between his brows, staring closely at one of the girls I was taking, from top to bottom.
The stared girl--Ur said, "Hey, what...? We don't have any weird philosophy, we look like ordinary people...? I was scared to say," etc.
Liselle observes Ur's entire body all the way through, and then she comes at me and says:
"Dr. Brett, how come there's one more beautiful girl with you? Don't you have some weird gravitational pull?
He looked like he was scared.
I don't care if you tell me that.
Liselle, on the other hand, says, "Fine," and comes to the point.
"The product you're looking for was' Blackout Jewelry '. - I'm sorry, but I didn't leave it at home. I don't think there are any stores in Ravilton that have such rare items. If you want to get it, you have to make it bespoke."
"If made to order, how long can you do it? I'd like to know the price."
When I checked that out, Liselle said, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
"It's not easy to make custom-made. You're going to need rare materials... How many martial arts artisans in this world have the level of metalworking technology that that can make in the first place. At least I can't do it on my own. Our disciples are naturally out of the question. Here in Ravilton, I only know one artisan who seems to have the level of metalworking skills to make it."
That's what Liselle said, she shrugged her shoulders and showed them. |
Lesson After a while it was time to reach the next city, the outside became noisy, making noise with the cancer and the carriage stopped moving.
I got out of the carriage to see what was going on out there.
What the carriage was stuck in was a street through the woods.
All the horses pulling the two-headed carriage were about to burst out frightened, and the first thing I saw was that your lord was desperately mocking it.
And the next thing I saw...
"Damn......! If you're coming, you can't come! I'm a brave man already! I don't know about two or three orgasms!
That's how he shouted, set up his sword, and was the figure of a boy standing forward to protect the carriage.
He would be a brave escort hired by a passenger carriage.
Riding carriages that go outside the city are the norm to hire these kinds of escorts to combat monsters.
Will the escort boy be about sixteen or seven years old to observe from his appearance and appearance?
I still have the impression that I just graduated from the College of the Brave and haven't had a moment to stand alone.
Brave men who graduate from the College of the Brave have a lot of work to do.
Serves the country, is hired by nobles as a private soldier, belongs to the Guild of the Brave as a freelance Demon King Hunter, or becomes a teacher at the College of the Brave.
The convoy escort is one of those ways of working.
Most of all, if you're a good brave man, you'll get a little better work, so I hear that there are still many brave men who don't have a lot of strength to sit back in.
─ And ahead where you can see the boy brave of that escort.
On the road in the direction of the carriage, there was the appearance of a monster appearing to be blocked.
It's an orga.
A man-shaped monster with a musculoskeletal giant, whose back length is such that even % more adult men in humans change.
The skin is red copper and the clothes are to such an extent that they are caught out of cloth.
He has a giant stick in his hand, and his attack power is just enough to smash him with a single blow, such as a human.
As it looks, it's a monster that prides itself on its power and vitality.
Not highly agile, but dealing with an attack during that storm is not easy with the help of a brave man.
Still, if it's just the brave men running out, they can handle it.
Bad news is, the number of orgasms that are holding back the carriage is three.
One of the boy braves in that escort is loaded - or if it comes directly from the front, defeat is essential, and death is confirmed.
You know or not the boy himself thins that, standing in front of the carriage with his sword, but his body was trembling with a clatter.
I look at it and sigh one thing.
Lack of experience or lack of education?
Either way, the response is inappropriate.
The three orgasms, drooling from their mouths, walked toward them.
Is the distance from the boy brave of the escort something like twenty steps on the leg of an ogre?
"Hey, boy"
I walk next to the boy brave man in the escort and speak to him.
The boy, who was seeing an orga in desperate shape, turns his gaze to me only chilly and turns his attention back to the orga again.
And I kept my gaze forward, and I replied.
"Are you a little brave, too? But you're a customer. Then take your time in the carriage. I'll take them down. It hurts!
- Sparn! Sparn!
I pulled my head off after that before the boy told everyone.
... For a moment, I get a self-scratch that they're going to tell me I'm going to be a violent teacher or something because I'm going to do this.
No, me, these brave men who make my life crude, I hate them...
I don't know when or maybe I haven't been able to get a good idea of the situation I'm in right now.
Meanwhile, the caught boy, he makes his eyes black and white and looks at me more confused.
"Hey, what the hell!
"That's the dialogue over here, what are you doing? You're graduating from Brave Men's College, aren't you?
"I am! But it doesn't matter now!
"It matters. ─ ─ So the question is, what's the monster level of the Auga?
"Huh? Not if we're talking like that right now."
"Fine. How many monster levels are there in Auga?"
"... I forgot. So what?"
When I heard the boy's reply, I dropped my shoulder disappointingly.
Seriously......
Orga's monster level is within your freshman exams.
I'll teach the boy while I'm frightened.
"Auga's monster level is six. It's a must-have, remember now if you forgot. Then tell me your level of certified bravery for this year's status test."
"Huh...? So what are you! If that's what you're saying right now, you're stuck!
"Fine. Look, there's already an orga over there."
"Ahhh! For this year's status test, my level of certified bravery was six! So what!
Six levels?
That's more or less the level I expected.
but let me tell you this far and you don't notice...?
What's the level of education at the Brave Men's College this guy went to?
If this happens, I'm gonna have to tell you from the ground up, but...
Exactly, the Augs are already a lot closer.
The boy is concerned about that, too, and he can't concentrate on my guidance.
... Shit, you can't help it.
"So what! More or less, a boy and boy, you're no different than me!
...... ahh.
I was insulted again because of my child-face.
Me, I'm either lower in height, and you're not for teachers, are you, this look?
I want majesty. Gun.
"I look like this. I'm twenty-three. - If you take them down, listen to my guidance."
"Ha...? Are you a teacher at Brave Men's College? He told me to teach until now."
"It's about your life. I don't know when this is happening, but..."
The orgasms, which were slowly approaching the ten remaining steps, finally rushed out.
The dog's teeth swept out of his mouth. He scattered someone, and he came towards us with his bloody eyes.
"Shit, I'm here...! You're a teacher at the academy, so stay back!
The boy rushes to rebuild his sword and takes the position of interception.
On the other hand, I concentrate.
I get half-hearted, stick my left hand out, and concentrate my magic there.
And not long before the orgasms got to our present - I unleashed magic.
The magic exercised is [Fireball (Fireball)].
If you are a brave man who is good at magic, it is an intermediate-level range attack magic that can be exercised at such a stage as to escape a rush.
The burning energy sphere that I released from my left hand landed on the ground in the heart of the three orgasms.
─ ─ DOGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
A huge explosion of red lotus broke out, trying to wrap the three orgasms together and envelop them.
"Become...!?
The boy, who was in a rush to intercept the orgasms, gives a stark look when he sees it.
Eventually, when the blast stopped, he appeared as the orgasms burned his whole body to pieces and stopped moving.
I'll laugh at the boy next door.
"─ Teach when you can teach. I'm a teacher."
"... Ugh, you're lying... I can't believe you wiped out three orgasms with one shot of magic... Who the hell are you..."
In the boy's eyes, the colour of respect for me dwelt.
All right, all right, this makes it easier to teach.
It's up to them to show their strength first, but it's often effective.
"Who, as you said, is a teacher at the Brave Men's College?"
"No... 'Cause usually they just have mouths that don't have real life experience with college teachers...?
"Uh..."
I see, is that the perception?
Although I do hear that as soon as I graduate from college, there are few patterns of becoming a college teacher without going through actual experience.
After I graduated from college, I worked as a freelance demon hunter, so there's nothing wrong with that.
Well, I don't care about that.
More than that, now...
"More than that, boy, it's a continuation of my earlier class. If your brave level and your opponent's monster level are mutually reinforcing, one-on-one battles are the rule. When you have to deal with two or more people, first consider ways to avoid a fight, and if you can't do that, consider a one-on-one situation."
I will educate the boy brave of the escort, one by one.
Only during this journey will I be able to see this guy.
In the meantime, I need to do exactly what I can teach you. |
After the turbulent cultural festival preparations, the festival will finally be held tomorrow. We managed to finish all the preparations the evening before because of our three-year experience, but looking at the school building from the schoolyard, there were still many classes with their lights on.
“Whew! Finally, the preparations are over.”
“I know this happens every year, but it was really tiring. By the way, the quality of the costumes was really good!
“I thought so too! I didn’t know Miyama-san could make clothes like that.”
“Right? I mainly sewed according to the pattern, and Sayuki-chan did the designing. But thanks to that, I got to know Sayuki-chan well, and in my opinion, it was a lot of fun.”
Sayuki Mitani.
This girl is one of the three people who were good friends with Hazuki.
The reason for our breakup is probably not detailed, so I’m sure she had her own thoughts about me and Kanade. But I am glad that I became good friends with Kanade because of the preparation for the festival. I want Kanade to always have a smile on her face.
“I’ve got to work on the ‘Satoru-kun, confess your feelings at the school festival’ plan!”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. Let’s make a good decision at this time when Tanuki-san isn’t around.”
“Uuu... What we have are our best friends...”
Tanuki-san had been coming home late due to her recent preparations for the school festival, so she had gone home ahead of us. We decided to go to a family restaurant to plan a strategy to increase the probability of success of Satoru’s confession.
Kanade and I are sure that his confession will be successful, so today we are going to make Satoru’s love story a side dish and have a lot of fun.
“I think the best time to confess would be around the campfire after the party, don’t you think?”
“That would certainly be the best time to confess your feelings.”
“But the problem is that many people are likely to confess their feelings at that time, so the location will be important.”
We arrived at the family restaurant, and as soon as we were seated, we discussed how the confession would be made. But the conversation was mainly between me and Kanade.
“Hey, aren’t you two having fun without me?”
Satoru, who was getting drinks for us at the drink bar, gave me a reproachful look. Incidentally, I didn’t make Satoru a passerby at the drink bar, but rather he said to me, “I’m the one who asked for it today, so I’ll get it for you!” So, I asked him to get it for me.
“No, it’s not like that. Right, Yuu-kun?”
“Oh, yeah? I’m looking forward to your confession finally getting serious... no, we’re seriously talking about it to make it a success.”
“Yuuri... you already said you’re looking forward to it...”
“Hmm? Was it? That doesn’t matter, let’s decide what to do!”
Satoru is giving me the jittery stare, but I’m not at all interested in a guy’s jittery stare, so I seriously wish he would stop. Seeing our exchange, Kanade says, “You are such good friends,” and smiles.
Satoru’s confession plan was to call Tanuki-san to the classroom at the time the campfire was lit and Satoru would confess his feelings to her. From the classroom, Satoru could see the campfire and there was a good chance that no one would be there.
“I’m looking forward to the festival. It would be great if those two became lovers!”
After we left Satoru, we went to Hanasaki Park.
It was the first time I had been to this park since Yoshi-chan’s confession.
“They are perfect for each other. By the way, do you know how Tanuki-san feels about Satoru? I think he’s got a pretty good chance of getting a hit.”
“Umm. She hasn’t clearly said she likes him, but I’m sure she is aware of him. I don’t know if Kozue-chan herself is aware of it, but she is always following Satoru with her eyes. But my concern is that we are almost close to the entrance exam. But the four of us usually have study sessions together, and we all want to go to the same university. I think we’ll probably be fine.”
Yes. As Kanade said, the four of us are studying hard to go to the same university. It all started when the four of us were studying together during summer vacation and Kanade said, “It would be great if the four of us, who were in the same class all through high school, went to college together.” From then on, the four of us became not just friends, but comrades who aspire to go to the same university.
“You know, the four of us have a very good relationship right now.”
Kanade muttered as she looked up into the pitch-black sky.
She was probably thinking of the former group of four, not just the current relationship at face value.
“I never thought we would end up going to the same place for college. It would be really great if we continued on to graduate together.”
“Haha, that would be really great! But, it might be difficult to be in the same place until you are working. But it would be nice if we could keep the same relationship even after we grow up.”
It is quite common for people to grow apart from their old friends as they go to college and develop new friendships. However, Kanade knew that, and she still dared to say that she wanted to stay with the four of us as we are now. Perhaps Kanade is even more afraid of the breakdown of our relationship than I am.
I wonder how long Kanade will continue to have the same relationship with me.
How long will I continue to cling to Kanade’s goodwill?
I have to change too.
I can’t just keep being spoiled by Kanade.
If I keep on being ambiguous, Kanade will get fed up with me and her heart will leave me this time.
I don’t want that to happen.
I don’t want to let go of Kanade.
This is completely my ego. It’s nothing but ego. But this is how I really feel.
I love Kanade Miyama. |
After school the day after Sakuya-san asked me for a favor.
I and Kanade were following behind Hazuki as she left for school, trying not to be noticed.
“Ahhhh, I wish this was a date or something.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. In return, let’s go on a date with each other after the exams are over!”
“Eh? Are you sure? Wow, I’m getting excited! I’m going to do my best for the exam!”
“Hey, hey, calm down, it would be pointless if we get found out.”
Kanade says, “Ehehe, sorry,” and flicks her tongue out.
Damn, she’s so cute!
If Hazuki’s habits had not changed, she would have gone to cram school every day after school. And even after classes were over, she would have gone into the study room and continued to study until the cram school was over.
As expected, Hazuki went into the cram school. And she did not come out even once until the cram school was over. In the end, there was nothing suspicious about that day, and she went straight home after cram school.
I wondered if there would be any activity on the way home from cram school, but as expected, she didn’t seem to be suffering from life so blighted that she would go out to play from this time on.
“Hmmm. She was just going to her regular cram school.”
“Yeah, nothing really happened.”
“Are you going to follow her again tomorrow?”
“I guess so. I’ll follow her for the rest of the week.”
“If you’re going, I’m going too! No objections!”
“Ah, thanks.”
We ended the day without getting anything in particular.
Two days after following her for the first time, Hazuki acted differently after school than she had before. She was with us until she entered the cram school, but she did not go to the study room, or she came out earlier than the cram school closed.
I was a little caught off guard, and Kanade and I quickly put away our drinks and followed Hazuki.
Hazuki was headed for Hanasaki Park.
She entered the park and looked around for a bit, but then she spotted something and ran toward it. Ahead of him was a man that Kanade and I knew well and never wanted to see his face again.
That man’s name was Kouki Kitajima. He was the man who had caused Hazuki and me to part ways.
We hid in the park tree behind the house so that the two of them wouldn’t see us.
“I can’t really hear what they’re talking about...”
As I said this, Kanade dropped the backpack she was carrying and began rummaging through it. Then, she took out something that looked like a microphone from her backpack and set the cord to her phone.
Then he took out an earphone and Kanade handed one to me.
I wasn’t sure what she was doing, but when I put the earphones in my ears, I could hear their voices more clearly than before, although there was some noise.
I was stunned and looked at Kanade, who was making a smug “hmmm” face.
“For now, let’s just leave the explanation for later and listen to what the two of them are saying.”
I nodded at Kanade’s suggestion and focused on their conversation.
“It’s unusual for you to want to meet me in the park. What’s the matter?”
“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve had a good talk with you in the park.”
“Oh, I see. It’s nice to talk outside like this once in a while.”
“Thanks.”
I thought she wanted to talk to him, but Hazuki suddenly stopped talking. Kouki also became suspicious and asked, “What’s wrong?” he asked. Time passed in a heavy atmosphere, and finally, Hazuki opened his heavy mouth.
“I wonder if Kouki loves me?”
“A, Ah, I love you the same as ever, Hazuki.”
“Phew, I’m glad. Since I broke up with Yuuri, you are all I have left. At that time, Yuuri was my priority, but I decided to put you first. Now I love you too.”
“...Well, I’m glad. Thank you.”
Kouki’s upset can be seen in his reply. It seems that he is unable to gauge Hazuki’s intentions as to why she suddenly told him such a thing. And again Hazuki closed his mouth.
“Hazuki, what’s going on all of a sudden?”
“...You know. I’m carrying your baby in my belly right now.”
“Huh?”
Kouki wasn’t the only one surprised by Hazuki’s words; I was surprised too, of course. I glanced at Kanade with a sideways glance and saw that she, too, looked quite surprised and was holding her mouth with her hand.
“Hey, you said you love me. So you’ll marry me and we can have a baby together, right?”
“Hey, hey, hey, hey. You need to calm down a little bit. Do you think we’re going to be happy if we have a baby? We’re still in high school.”
“We’ll be out of high school by the time the baby is born, and if we both work, we can manage to live on our own.”
“No, we can’t. Hazuki, you have to get rid of the baby. This is not a request. You must do it.”
“I don’t want to. I want to have this baby. I was so happy to have a child with you. I had a lot of worries before I told Kouki that we were going to have a baby. Even so, I wanted to marry you and have a child with you. So please.”
“No, I can’t do that. You must absolutely abort. You understand, Hazuki?”
“No, I don’t want to do that...”
Hazuki broke down in tears.
Without saying a kind word to her, Kouki got up and walked out of the park.
We’re walking out of the park and toward Kanade’s house so Hazuki doesn’t find out.
“That was a little too shocking...”
“Yeah, but I don’t think she was on birth control when she was doing it in my room, so I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten pregnant before.”
“Yeah, that’s true...”
Neither of us opened our mouths after that, and we just kept walking in silence. We arrived at Kanade’s house. I said, “Well then” and was about to leave, but Kanade stopped me.
“Hey, do you think we could get Hazuki to marry him?”
I did not expect such words from Kanade. I was surprised and asked, “Why?” and started talking in a small voice.
“Hazuki said she had been troubled for a long time. She also said that she came to love Kouki-kun...”
I listened intently so as not to miss any of Kanade’s words.
“As a woman, I understand the feeling of wanting to give birth to the baby of someone you love. So, if Hazuki wants to have the baby, I want to let her have it. Of course, I know that’s irresponsible...”
Kanade was shedding tears as she spoke, even though it was not about her.
I wiped Kanade’s tears and then stroked her head.
While stroking Kanade’s head, I thought about her words again.
“I can’t help but be disgusted with Kouki, who only has sex without contraception and without considering the risk of getting pregnant, and then asks her to have an abortion. He needs to be brought to his senses.”
“But even if you say that, it’s still difficult for a high school student to get married, isn’t it? Even his parents won’t agree to it...”
“Well, if you think about it normally, it would be so. But maybe that’s okay. As long as we get the order right, maybe we can get them married.”
“For the time being, I have to confirm again with Hatsuki what she wants to do. What about you, Kanade? Do you want to go with me?”
“Yes, I want to go with you.”
Thus, we decided to follow Hazuki again tomorrow and catch her on the way home from cram school to talk to her. |
I am standing in front of my room after I left Kanade. I am afraid to enter this room. The images of those guys are stuck in my mind, and I can’t seem to get rid of them. The image of the two people I know so well, making love in the bed I usually sleep in.
Unable to suppress my irritation, I opened the door vigorously and hit things at random. I thought it was lame of me to hit things, but the hatred that welled up from the bottom of my body fueled my destructive impulse.
(Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it.)
I just kept on destroying what I saw. I flashed back to the image of those guys hugging each other naked on this bed. I unconsciously took a pair of scissors and stabbed the bed repeatedly.
“Hahahahahaha ......”
(S**t... Don’t play around with me...)
After regaining my composure, I decided to move rooms first. Conveniently, I have one room in my house that is used for storage. I immediately started moving my stuff, hoping to get away from this room as soon as possible, even if it was just for a minute or a second. With that single thought in mind, I spent the rest of the night moving my belongings from one room to another.
My mother complained to me on the way, asking me why now, but I bowed my head and asked her for a favor, and she gave up and said, “I don’t have a choice.” ...My sister, Hanaka, asked me, “Yuu nii-chan what’s wrong? You’re scaring me a little,” but I didn’t have an answer for that, so I apologized with a single word, “I’m sorry.” She looked at me suspiciously, but then, perhaps giving up on something, she nailed me with a single word, “Just be quiet during the night,” and walked out of the room.
The room move went smoothly. The room was originally equipped for storage, so I didn’t have to move a large amount of stuff. Perhaps it was because of this that I was able to put the bed and other items out for oversize trash early in the morning. As expected, when I told them I was going to put the beds out for bulky trash, they said, “What’s wrong with you? Did something happen?” There was no way I could say, “On this bed, the person I thought was my girlfriend and the person I thought was my best friend were naked and hugging each other,” so I had to excuse myself by saying, “I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, and I’d like to replace it.”
“Whew, I finally calmed down.”
I lay down in my new room. For the time being, I’ll sleep on the guest futon, and next time I’ll go to Home Center to buy a new bed. I was exhausted from all the things I had been through. When I lay down, I felt my whole body relax and sink into the futon.
(Tomorrow is school... I wonder what kind of face I should make with Hazuki when we go to school together...)
My consciousness quietly melted away as I thought about such things in dim light.
*****
[Kanade’s Point of View]
I was thinking back to today’s events.
I had thought that there was a high probability that Hazuki-chan and Kouki-kun would have some sort of illicit relationship, so I suggested the surveillance camera to Yuu-kun to eliminate my suspicions, but I never imagined that they would go to such lengths. I thought they might at least kiss, but who could have imagined that she would make love to another man in her boyfriend’s room?
When the images of those two starting to make love were shown on the screen, I couldn’t understand what the hell was happening. I came to my senses when I heard Hazuki’s charming voice gradually becoming hotter and hotter, and tremendous anxiety passed through my mind.
(Yuu-kun is going to break!)
I came back to myself and hurriedly looked at Yuu-kun’s face sitting in front of me, but my body instantly stiffened and I was unable to speak to him or stop the video.
Yuu-kun is usually cheerful and bright, always giving everyone strength with his smile like the sun. I don’t know how many times Yuu-kun’s smile has saved my life.
Whenever I was feeling a little tired, Yuu-kun always listened to me quietly. And at the end of the day, he would always smile and say, “Don’t worry. Kanade can do it,” he would say, cheering me up.
I have loved Yuu-kun like that since I was in elementary school.
But in the second year of junior high school, Hazuki-chan confessed her feelings to Yuu-kun, and the two of them became lovers. I knew that they had liked each other before, and I was ready to give up on Yuu-kun, so I decided to quietly put a lid on my feelings for Yuu-kun. Even after dating Hazuki-chan, Yuu-kun was very kind to me, and I couldn’t give up on him after all.
But when Yuu-kun was watching the video at the coffee shop, his expression was different from before; there was no emotion on his face and I couldn’t see any life in his eyes that were shining brightly. As time went by, his face became pallid and his body trembled. I knew I had reached my limit and reached out to remove the earphones from his ears to make him stop watching.
That’s when Hazuki-chan turned to Kouki-kun and said, “I like yours the best. You make me feel the best.” At that moment, Yuu-kun got up from his seat as if he had just burst out and run into the bathroom.
After Yuu-kun got up from his seat, those two were still flirting in the LCD, reflecting on their earlier act. “Why do I get so aroused when I do this with Kouki?” They were saying selfish things like, “I feel safe with Yuuri, but I can’t expose myself like this.”
“I think it would be better to tell Yuuri about our relationship. Then we can be together forever, can’t we?”
“I can’t do that. I love Yuuri. I love you as much as you love me, but Yuuri is still special.”
I was at the end of my patience. The two of them are no longer my childhood friends. They are enemies. They are my enemy. I have to make sure that they don’t get close to my beloved Yuu-kun anymore. Yuu-kun’s heart will be broken if he stays with those two.
But how do I tell them that I know them? I think it’s too half-hearted to just break up with them like normal. That would not give them the same amount of pain as Yuu-kun.
My original plan was to get into their room at the right time after watching the video and confront them with today’s video and pursue them. But there was no way I could act after being shown something like that. If I confronted them when they weren’t calm, it could have ended up in a violent incident. I couldn’t let Yuu-kun do that.
I tried to think of a way to break off the relationship between the two of them without hurting Yuu-kun.
However, no matter how much I thought about it, no good idea came to mind, but I suddenly realized something.
I thought for a moment, then slowly lifted up my phone, opened RINE, and sent a message to a classmate from junior high school. |
I betrayed Yuuri.
I ran away from Yuuri’s cold eyes.
I ran away because I was afraid that Yuuri would reject me again.
I ran and ran and kept running so that I would not get hurt.
I think Kouki has changed the way he treats me since I broke up with Yuuri.
Now he invites me over to his house and we even go on dates.
We have become like normal lovers.
The whirlpool of intense pleasure that I used to experience when I was dating Yuuri is gone, but I still feel comfortable being with Kouki. When we finished having sex, he would always tell me that he loved me and give me a tender look, which made me feel very happy.
So, from the beginning of the second semester, when I saw Yuuri and Kanade getting along with each other, my heart would ache, but I gradually stopped going crazy with intense jealousy.
It was around the time when preparations for the festival were in full swing that I noticed something wrong with my body.
I was thinking that my periods were delayed, and then a sudden feeling of nausea came over me.
I didn’t think it was possible, so I took a pregnancy test that day and the result was positive. I always wore a rubber on dangerous days. ......
My mind went blank.
I didn’t have any friends I could talk to about this kind of thing.
In the past, I would have talked to Kanade about it, but she and I were already in a hopeless relationship.
I continued to worry alone.
Should I give birth or have an abortion...?
I didn’t have an answer.
In my heart, I wanted to have the baby.
I thought I could have a strong relationship with Kouki.
But I didn’t have the courage to tell Kouki that I was pregnant.
At school, I was busy preparing for the school festival, and I kept working to escape my pregnancy.
But those days would not last forever.
I had to face being pregnant again.
Whichever choice I made, I had to make a decision quickly.
Because while I was worrying, the child in my belly was still growing.
So I gathered up my courage and told Kouki that I was pregnant.
The result was rejection.
But I didn’t want to let go.
I didn’t want to let go of Kouki and the child I was carrying in my belly.
When Yuuri rejected me, I still had Kouki as an escape route.
But if he rejected me again, I would have no one left.
And I would have to kill the baby in my belly.
That’s the only thing I don’t want.
I was scared. I didn’t know what to do, so I cried myself to sleep that night.
The next day I saw Yuuri in front of me.
I was about to walk past him with my eyes downcast when he said, “Long time no see, Hazuki. Can you give me a moment of your time?” He called out to me.
I did as I was told and entered the park to find Kanade sitting on a bench waiting for us.
I was confused, but when I asked him about it, he said that they had heard about my exchange with Kouki the other day. He then asked me if I was serious about getting married and if I was ready to have children.
I was puzzled but gave my affirmation to the question.
Then, Yuuri offered me the possibility of marrying Kouki.
I stuttered.
He was offering to help me after I had betrayed him so thoroughly and continued to run away from that fact. I knew I was ugly, but I clung to Yuuri’s words.
The way that Yuuri suggested was certainly convincing.
If I consulted with him from now on, he might be able to help me with the marriage.
But I couldn’t help wondering.
Why did Yuuri give me this advice?
So naturally, I asked him, “Why did you decide to help me after I betrayed you?” I said.
Then Yuuri uttered, “I can’t forgive you,” “but I don’t hate you.” I had done something that he should hate for the rest of his life, but he told me that he did not hate me. And when I heard his next words, I finally let a tear escape from my eye.
“I just wanted to do something to help,” he said. “Because... we are childhood friends.”
Yuuri called me a childhood friend again.
I was happy. Yuuri thought of me as a childhood friend, and even though he would never forgive me, I was so happy to hear that.
I may have become so ugly, but Yuuri will always be Yuuri. |
“You know there are going to be a lot of practice games soon for the qualifying rounds of the national tournament, right? Well, I have a lot of things I want to buy, but it’s going to be hard for me to do it by myself, so I was wondering if you could come with me.”
“Oh, of course, I’ll go with you! I mean, you can rely on me more.
I think Kanade is a really top-notch manager.
She prepares the necessary practice tools and equipment for efficiency improvement, studies the latest practices, and incorporates them into our practices. My teammates, who were skeptical at first, started to win games when they followed Kanade’s advice, so I think she may be more reliable than the coach.
The coach, by the way, is Heike-sensei, who teaches English. He is, of course, an amateur soccer player. There was no way he could be trusted from the beginning.
The next general competition will mark the retirement of the third-year students from club activities, and the loss of Kanade will be a bigger blow to the team than the loss of regular members. Kanade is such an indispensable member of the team.
“By the way, where do you go to buy stuff?
“Do you know that there is a new large sporting goods store just a short train ride away? There, they have a special section for soccer, and they display products used by foreign teams. I’d like to go there and check it out.”
“I didn’t know they had such a thing! I want to go there! But is Kanade there for those items on display? I don’t think we can afford it with the club’s expenses...”
“Ah, sorry, sorry. I’m not actually buying those things. I’m looking for sports drinks, protein, and that kind of thing. However, I’d like to see the equipment that foreign teams use for training. I’d love to see that.”
“Kanade is really curious, isn’t she? It’s because of this that the team has become stronger, so Kanade is great.”
When I glanced at Kanade, I could tell at a glance that her face was bright red and she was embarrassed. It has always been like that with Kanade. Whenever I give her a compliment, she immediately starts blushing and fidgeting. It was fun to watch, and I would get carried away and give her lots of compliments.
“Looking back over the past three years, I realize how much Kanade has meant to me. I can say with absolute certainty that I wouldn’t be where I am today without you! I’m glad you’ve always worked so hard with me.”
Kanade said “uuuuuu”, squeezing her skirt and glaring at me...
“Yuu-kun’s mean. That’s how you always enjoy making me embarrassed...”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll buy you a drink at the café when we go shopping to make up for it.”
“Mouu! I can’t help it! You promised okay!”
“Wow! This sporting goods store here is really insanely spacious!”
This sporting goods store, one of the largest in Japan, stocks items for major sports such as soccer, baseball, and tennis, as well as minor sports such as cricket and squash.
“It’s true. I can’t see the end!”
Kanade jumps and jumps as she makes an effort to see the edges of the store. You’re wearing a skirt today, and you’re jumping around so much that I can almost see what’s going on inside! You should know you’re a pretty girl already!
“Hey, Kanade... I can almost see the inside of your skirt. Be careful!”
“Mwaaa!... Did you see it by any chance?”
Holding your skirt down with your hands, and looking up and jittery eyes is a... reward isn’t it...!
...No, no. Now is not the time.
“No, I-I didn’t see it! I didn’t look!”
“Really? But today’s light blue underwear is my favorite, so I wouldn’t be too embarrassed if you saw me!”
“What? Wasn’t it light pink?”
.........Ah
“Hnnn... Yuu-kun no bakaaa!!!”
“I’m so sorry! I’m remorseful! So it’s time for you to get in a better mood. I’ll even buy you some sweets at the cafe.”
Then Kanade, whose cheeks had been puffed out earlier, grinned.
“Pfft! Yuu-kun, you said that, right? Well then, there’s a fashionable cafe near here, let’s go there! I hear they’re famous for their basque cheesecake!”
“Oh, you! No way, you’ve sulked to get me to buy you sweets!”
“Hmmm. I don’t know. But you already said you’d buy me a drink, so you can’t just quit!”
“My goodness. I really can’t compete with Kanade.”
I scratched my head and said to Kanade, who looked satisfied and started looking around the store. As I watched her back, I wondered why Kanade cared so much about me. I don’t think she would be so sympathetic to me just because we’ve known each other since childhood...
Maybe Kanade is about me...
If I’m not a misunderstood b*****d, that’s probably how Kanade feels about me. But unlike the other girls, I didn’t get much of a sense of calculation from Kanade’s favors.
Thankfully, since people around me started to notice that I had broken up with Hazuki, I have received invitations from many people, regardless of gender. However, there were many invitations that seemed to develop into romantic relationships, and I have to admit that it’s a little hard for me right now. Incidentally, the invitations from men were for blind dates. It was never that kind of invitation.
So, being with Kanade, who I don’t feel is trying to get me to do anything, is the most comforting thing for me right now.
“Mmmmmm! Delicious! It’s been all the rage lately, so I had to try it.”
She looked like a squirrel as she mugged and ate her bask cheesecake with her hand on her cheek. Kanade isn’t very tall, and she doesn’t look like a little animal. I felt my heart warm just watching Kanade looking so happy in front of me.
“Hey, hey, don’t eat so fast. No one is going to take it.”
“Because! It’s so delicious! I’ve never had a cheesecake with such a rich and moist cheese flavor! And it’s not at all bland, so I’m sure I’ll be able to enjoy it all the way through!”
“I knew Kanade liked sweets, but I didn’t think she would talk about it enough to do a food report.”
When I said this, she blushed and turned her head over while adding the tip of the fork with her mouth, as if she thought she had gotten too excited herself. Then she looked at me with an upward glance.
“I hadn’t had such a delicious meal in a long time, and Yuu-kun and I had always only gone to chain restaurants in front of the station. I’d like to go to more places and have fun with Yuu-kun from now on. ...Is it okay?”
“No man would say no to Kanade when she says that! Let’s go play together in various places!”
“Yes! Thanks! Also, I want to invite Satoru-kun and Kozue-chan to hang out with us too!”
“Oh, yes, that’s right. We’ll have a break from club activities after the tournament, and after that, we’ll go out and have fun. Next year, we will have to take the entrance exam, so we won’t be able to play every day, but I want to make memories of my senior year with everyone!”
“I want to do it! It’s definitely fun! I’m really looking forward to it. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“I don’t think it’s too early to say. Let’s just do our best together until the competition.”
“I’ll do my best to support you. I’ll give it my all.”
After that, we had a lot of fun talking about the upcoming qualifying rounds for the national team competition and the gymnastics festival. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. I really can’t thank Kanade enough. |
Saturday finally arrived.
Looking back on the past week, Kanade and I were relatively busy setting up the surveillance cameras and making sure the images could be seen properly from afar and the audio was audible, in addition to our club activities. I wish I’d had a more legitimate youth to keep me busy.
Thinking of this, I opened the door to my house and found Hazuki waiting for me in front of the house.
“Yuuri, good morning.”
The same face, as usual, the same voice as usual. Hazuki greeted me with a kind smile again today. I felt a prickle of pain in my chest when I thought that I was going to deceive my beloved girlfriend today.
“Good morning. Then let’s go.”
Hazuki and I started walking toward a karaoke bar in front of the station.
“I’m looking forward to it because it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a karaoke place. Yuuri hasn’t been to karaoke at all, has he?”
“I don’t go to karaoke except with Hazuki. I think the last time I went was last fall with you.”
“Then you’ll be going with me. What shall we sing today? I’m looking forward to seeing what Yuuri will sing.”
“Ah, Hazuki’s always busy with cram school and all. I’m going to sing as much as I can, so let’s release all the stress from our daily life!”
“I wonder if it’s okay for you to say such a thing. Once I hold the microphone, I’ll probably not talk to you for the rest of the session, okay?”
Hazuki seems to be really looking forward to karaoke and seems to be in a good mood as she clears her throat. Normally I would be happy to see Hazuki like that, but today I can’t help but take a step back and look at things from a different perspective.
I can’t believe that Hazuki and Kouki are cheating on me after all. However, there is a part of me that suspects that they might be cheating on me. For the sake of my own satisfaction in clearing up this doubt, I’m going to deceive them and spy on them now.
(Huh, that really sucks....)
As soon as we entered the karaoke room, Hazuki started to sing a lot of songs happily as he had declared. And Kouki, not to be outdone, was also singing along.
Although Kanade and I were less excited than the two of them, we tried our best to liven up the situation, as we knew that if they became suspicious of us, it might hinder our future plans.
However, even if we forced ourselves to raise the tension, our feelings did not match up, so we could not say that we were truly enjoying ourselves. It seemed that Kanade was the same way, and at a moment’s notice, I saw her let out a sigh out of the corner of my eye, saying, “Phew....”
I wonder how long it had been since the karaoke started. I got up from my seat between songs and said, “I’m going to the bathroom.” I heard the door open and turned around to see Kanade coming out of the karaoke room.
“Yuu-kun, are you okay?”
She looks at me with worried eyes.
“I’m fine. Even Kanade seems to be in less energy than usual.”
“Ehe, well, you know. But it can’t be helped, we are going to do that now.”
“I guess so. However, if you look this gloomy, they’ll notice. So let’s have fun with karaoke!”
“I know. I agree! Let’s sing MIYUKI when we get back!”
Then, following the back of Kanade who started to walk in front of me, we tried to force ourselves to be excited.
“Ah, I sang like crazy.”
“Yes, you did. I sang a lot today, too, so I feel very refreshed.”
“Hazuki still has the same great singing voice today, doesn’t she?”
“Really? Thanks. Kouki sang well too.
Hazuki and Kouki were talking happily as they were at the karaoke party. The destination is my house now. I’m going to deceive my girlfriend and my best friend. But I’ve come this far, there’s no hesitation. I’m going to do the worst possible thing to clear my name, but I’m sure they’ll forgive me.
“What shall we do when we get to my place?”
“Let’s play our usual games for now.”
“We’ll play that game again, huh? I’m not very good at it, but Kanade was pretty good at it.”
“I play that game at home too! Fufu, I’m going to beat everyone again!”
“Anyway, after the game is over, let’s laze around as usual.”
As Kouki says so when they come to my house, each of them spends their time freely playing games, reading manga, talking, and so on. The three of us have been coming here since elementary school, so we probably think of it as a second room of our own.
I wonder what’s wrong? Yuuri is not in good spirits, is he?”
“Hmm? That’s true. What’s wrong?”
The two asked me worriedly, perhaps wondering why I hadn’t joined in the conversation much.
“No, I felt like I was forgetting something, and I was desperately trying to remember what it was. But, well, it’s no big deal.”
“Really? Then that’s good. Oh, by the way, there seems to be a new ice cream product on sale at the convenience store. Let’s all buy some before we go.”
I guess they didn’t think it was too serious, and I was glad that the topic was quickly diverted.
But the truth is, I was getting nervous and waiting for the conversation to end because I was afraid that if it went on any longer, I would start to lose my nerve.
“Wow! It’s so cool!”
Anticipating the time it would take me to get home, I had pre-ordered an air-conditioning unit.
“That’s Yuuri. That’s really nice of you to be so kind.”
“So true! I really admire your consideration!”
I was just setting the timer for the air conditioner, but Hazuki and Kouki complimented me so much that I was embarrassed, scratched my cheeks, and turned away.
(I’m going to deceive these good guys from now on, aren’t I?)
Seeing the two of them talking to me in the same manner, as usual, fills me with a sense of guilt inside. I tried not to let them know how I felt inside, but I forced myself to smile brightly and said, “Let’s play a game instead!”
Oh, I just got a phone call, so I’ll be in my room.
It was Kanade who said so and went out. Hazuki and Kouki, who were concentrating on the game, did not seem to mind Kanade’s presence. But I could feel my heart rate rising.
(At last...)
It was three days ago. It was when Kanade and I were doing a final check of the surveillance cameras.
“On the day of the mission, my sister will call me at the designated time, and I will use that as my cue to carry out the plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m going to pretend that the call was from a club. That day, the rival school is supposed to play a game in the evening, so it wouldn’t be unnatural to pretend that I was asked to go scouting for the rival school, right?”
“No, that would indeed be too sudden and improbable, wouldn’t it?”
“The manager who was originally scheduled to go suddenly couldn’t make it, so I’m going to pretend that he contacted me. So, Yuu-kun, you’re going to have to be the chaperone, too.”
“I see. Hazuki doesn’t seem to have any friends in the soccer club, and Kouki’s school is different from ours, so it seems unlikely that he will be suspicious of us.”
“Yes, that’s right. That’s why I’m going to tell everyone when the call comes in, and you can follow along while acting like you’re having a hard time.”
“I never thought that Kanade would come up with something like this. It changed my impression of her a little.”
“Hey, Yuu-kun, what do you mean? I’m doing my best to clear up your doubts!
“Haha, sorry, sorry! I appreciate it, seriously.”
“That’s all right then, that’s all right!”
I was so impressed with Kanade, who was smiling like a naughty child, that my heart ached with a prickle of guilt for having gotten her involved in such a situation.
“Can I have a moment, guys?”
All eyes were on Kanade as she returned to the room after the call.
“Actually, the girl who was supposed to go scouting for the rival school today suddenly had to cancel. So, do you mind if I and Yuu-kun leave for a bit? I’ll probably be back in two hours, so let’s play again when I get back.”
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with waiting here, is there? Right, Hazuki?”
“I’m a little lonely, but if you’ll come back, I’ll be happy to wait here for you.”
They readily agreed, so I feigned a bit of laziness and stood up, saying something like, “That’s a hassle.”
Sorry. I’ll be out in a bit.
“I know it’s sudden and tough work, but do your best.”
“Thanks. Don’t forget to RINE me when you go home.”
Hazuki was smiling at me, but I wondered if I was smiling back. |
Four years have passed since I graduated from college.
When I graduated from college, I joined a startup that could go out of business tomorrow as the st full-time employee. I originally worked there for a year and a half as an intern and had no peers, so I didn’t feel like a new graduate at all.
I would say that I joined a startup instead of a major company because I wanted to gain a lot of experience from a young age, even though I was relatively well-educated.
I joined this company as a full-time employee, and in my fourth year with the company, the business grew steadily from about a year after I joined, and the company was bought out by a publicly listed company in its seventh year of operation. I was given a few percent of the company’s shares of stock, which made me earn a lot of money compared to my peers.
By the way, I am still the chief manager of my original product at the M&A company. This means that I am a department manager in a typical company. [TLN: M&A is Mergers and acquisitions, click to read more]
I was years old when I became the general manager of a publicly listed company, so I was surprised at how far I had come. I can only thank the company’s president for his appreciation and trust in me, even though there were more members who were older than me.
“I’m sorry, Yuu-kun, but the meeting went on for too long and I couldn’t get out.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry I called you when you were busy.”
“No, it’s fine. But what’s wrong all of a sudden? If you have something to talk about, why don’t we talk about it at home?”
Kanade and I were living together now.
Although Kanade said that I was busy, Kanade is also quite busy working every day. Kanade chose to work for a world-class Japanese cosmetics company. She is working hard in the public relations department, which can be said to be the star department of the company.
On weekdays, we are both so busy that we just go home, have a few drinks, and go to bed, but we always go out on weekends, so it is no exaggeration to say that we are still a lovey-dovey couple.
I am leading such a fulfilling life, but today I wanted to make it a more special day than usual, so I reserved a private room at a French restaurant on the top floor of the hotel, which I usually never go to, and which has a panoramic view of the night scenery.
“No, I wanted to talk to Kanade about something important today.”
“Important talk? What is it? What do you want to talk about?”
“Well, I’m thinking about starting a business, but that’s not what I want to talk about today.”
Kanade tilts her head and looks at me curiously as if she really doesn’t understand.
I look at Kanade, who is second-guessing my topic, and chuckle, thinking that she hasn’t changed since she was a little girl.
I then took out a small box from my bag and placed it in front of Kanade. As expected, when Kanade saw the box, she must have realized what I was trying to say, because she began to wince with tears in her eyes.
“Yuu-kun. Can I open this?”
“Oh, of course.”
When she lifted the box and opened the lid, the tears that had been building up finally overflowed and made stains on her clothes.
“Kanade. Thank you for being with me all this time. Whenever I was in pain or happy, it was Kanade who was by my side. If it’s okay with you, I want you to stay with me from now on. I want you to marry me. ...... I love you, Kanade.”
“Oh, thank you... Yuu-kun, I’m so happy...”
She wipes her tears with a handkerchief and looks at me with a smile on her face as she slowly catches her breath.
“If I may, I would like to ask you too. Please let me stay next to Yuu-kun forever. I will love you forever and ever and ever.”
I was deeply relieved that I could finally marry Kanade. To be honest, when I joined the start-up company, I was always worried about my income even if I got married because the company was unstable.
But when I tried to choose such a company, Kanade said to me, “Yuu-kun, there is something you want to do at that company, right? If that’s the case, I’m not against it. Let’s give it a try there.”
Looking back on my past, I was always supported by Kanade. So I was relieved to finally be able to show off to Kanade. And when I saw Kanade shed tears of joy when I proposed to her, I was so happy that I was able to get a little teary-eyed.
Two years have passed since Kanade and I got married.
We are still getting along as well as ever, but something happened that changed our lives forever. Three months ago, a baby girl was born, and I became a father.
I named her “Tsumugi” with the hope that she would make people she meets happy by forging relationships with them.
One day, Kanade invited me to have dinner at an Italian restaurant in front of my hometown’s station for the first time in a while. I agreed to go because it had a private room, so it was safe to bring the kids, and we could stop by my parent’s house on the way home.
And now I am waiting for Kanade and the others in front of the station in my hometown.
It had been a long time since I had been in front of the station, as I had been driving home most of the time recently.
(I used to study at that family restaurant with Kanade, Satoru, and the others.)
Looking around, memories of my high school days naturally come back to me.
I had some tough times, but I was able to make friends with those guys, and that was a great asset for me.
Satoru, who was my best friend, got married to Tanuki-san last year and is living happily. It seems that Satoru is still being taken for a fool by Tanuki-san, but I think it is better for her to be strict because Satoru gets carried away easily.
As for Hazuki, I honestly don’t know.
Her mother told me that she got married after that, but I guess she thought it was tactless to talk to me about an ex-girlfriend. Her mother never talked about Hazuki, and I never talked about her.
When I was reminiscing about the old days, she said from behind me, “Oh, I’m sorry. I dropped Umi-chan’s bag.” I turned around to look at the voice and noticed that the bag had fallen in front of me.
I picked it up and went to the girl called “Umi-chan” and handed her the bag.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you for picking me up, onii-chan.”
The girl called Umi-chan thanked him with a smile.
“You’re polite to say thank you.”
I said this and bowed to the two women, who I assumed were Umi’s mother and sisters. Then I heard a voice calling me “Yuuri.”
I looked in the direction where my name was called and saw Kanade walking toward me, holding Tsumugi in her arms as if she cared for him. I stood next to Kanade and asked, “What’s wrong?” I explained that I picked up the girl’s bag for her.
“I see, Yuuri is always so kind.”
Kanade smiled and nuzzled my arm with her shoulder.
“She was a lovely girl, by the way.”
‘Oh, yes, she was. But I think I saw that girl somewhere. But I can’t remember her at all.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been at this station, and Yuuri must mistake her for someone else.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
I pecked Tsumgi on the cheek that Kanade was holding.
She looked at Tsumugi, who groaned a little, perhaps a little uncomfortably, and said, “She’ll be as beautiful as that girl.”
“Yes, she will be as beautiful as that girl. Our child will be the most beautiful.”
“Ah.”
Perhaps it was because I hadn’t been to my hometown station in a while and remembered my high school days, but I had something I really wanted to tell Kanade.
“Kanade. Thank you so much for saving my life back then. I love you.” |
“Yuuri-senpai, thank you for inviting me here today!”
Yoshi-chan entered the café and sat down in front of me, and with a carefree smile, she straightaway expressed her gratitude to me. Today Yoshi-chan was dressed sweetly but elegantly and coolly in a sheer white one-piece dress with lace and light pink sandals.
By the way, she really turned out to be pretty, didn’t she? She had a beautiful face, to begin with, but when she was a little girl, Yoshi-chan had a mature atmosphere.
I once said to Hanaka, “Yoshi-chan has changed my impression of her compared to when she was in elementary school,” and she said something like, “Girls in love are the strongest.”
“It’s my pleasure. Thanks for coming to support us every time we have a match.
“Not at all! I only went because I wanted to cheer for you guys. It was my last chance to see Yuuri-senpai playing in a high school club match.”
Yoshi-chan is smiling like she is really enjoying herself. I was embarrassed by the affection that was directed straight at me, and I ended up diverting the topic.
“You have an exam coming up, are you going to be able to do well?”
“Hmmm. I don’t know. But I don’t think it’s bad because I study at home too, you know? I’m going to study with Hanaka next time.”
“Yoshi-chan is great. On the other hand, Hanaka might not do well on the exam if she doesn’t work a little harder. Because as soon as she gets home, she lies down on the sofa and watches TV or plays with her phone all the time.”
“Hahaha, that’s so typical of Hanaka. But it’s okay because her ability to concentrate is really great. After all, in that short period of time, she has acquired enough academic ability to be accepted into this high school.”
Yoshi-chan was right, Hanaka’s acceptance into my high school was the result of her hard work from four months before the entrance exam. At that time, Hanaka was really great. The result of the mock exam she took in the summer was a D, but she studied hard during the four months and passed the exam with an impressive result.
“I just wish she could take that focus and spread it out and do it over a longer period of time. She’s gambling too much with the way she’s going about it.”
‘Pfft, Yuuri-senpai looks like an older brother. I envy Hanaka. Because she has an older brother who worries about her with such a kind face.”
“I don’t think Hanaka thinks that. I’m sure she thinks it’s annoying.”
“That’s Hanaka’s way of hiding her embarrassment. I’m sure Yuurii-senpai’s feelings have been conveyed properly.”
What’s wrong with her? Normally, she would come in with a bang, give a big hug, and then leave with a whoosh, but today she seems more relaxed than her actual age. To be honest, I had never seen Yoshi-chan as anything more than a friend of my sister’s or my second sister’s.
But today she seems to be a woman, and I am a little confused. If it had been Yoshi-chan before, I wouldn’t have thought of her this way. What is really wrong with her?
I tried to keep my composure so that she would not realize how nervous I was inside, and we spent the rest of the time at the café.
“The cafe here was great! The food was good, but the cake that Hanaka mentioned was really great!”
I agreed, holding a souvenir for Hanaka in my hand.
“What are you going to do after this, senpai? As for me, I’d like to spend a little more time with you.”
“Well. It’s still early, so it would be nice to stop by somewhere. Do you have somewhere you want to go?”
“Let’s see... Oh, I want to go to the park! There’s a park where we used to play together. Let’s go there.”
Yoshi-chan suggested Hanasaki Park, which holds deep memories for us. As I recall, the two of them stopped coming to this park when Yoshi-chan and Hanaka entered junior high school.
“That’s fine. Okay, let’s go to the park. Oh, if it’s at Hanasaki Park, it’s close to my house. I’ll go home once and drop off the cake, so can I have you wait for me at the park?”
“No, I don’t want to. I’ll follow you home.”
After saying this, Yoshi-chan held my hand and smiled happily, saying, “Ehehe.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been to this park. When I was in elementary school, you used to play with me and Hanaka. This swing feels so small.”
Yoshi-chan is swinging on the swing as if she is reminiscing about those days. However, the hem of her one-piece dress was fluttering, and I was having trouble keeping my eyes on her, so I decided to sit on the swing next to her.
“When you get older and ride the playground equipment, you wonder if this park was ever this small. That’s what I think. There are so many memories here.”
“......Yuuri-senpai.”
“I’m sorry. It’s nothing, so don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not bothered. I am sorry for sounding so serious.”
The first time I saw her, she was rowing on the swing, but then she looked at me as if she had made up her mind.
“Senpai. You broke up with Hazuki-senpai, didn’t you? From my point of view, the two of you were a perfect match and I admired you both very much. So when I heard from Hanaka that you broke up with her, I couldn’t think straight.”
Yoshi-chan began to talk.
“I wanted to help you if you were suffering, so on the first day I was too enthusiastic and rode into the classroom, but all of a sudden I was a nuisance. I’m sorry.”
“No, I didn’t think you were annoying.”
“I knew senpai was kind. So, to continue the story, Yuuri-senpai, whom I hadn’t seen for a long time, was much more energetic than I had expected. I wondered why, but I soon found out the reason. Because Kanade-senpai was always right next to him. So I thought there was no room for me anymore.”
“......Yoshi-chan?”
“...Let’s see... I have a question for you, what kind of relationship do you have with Kanade-senpai? Do you like Kanade-senpai?”
I was quite surprised when she asked me about my relationship with Kanade. Kanade and I have a relationship. We are childhood friends. However, the feelings I have for Kanade lately go beyond that of a childhood friend. I realized this during the sports festival.
But do I really love Kanade? I wonder if I am just dependent on Kanade, who spoils me. I had not yet found the answer to this question.
“I’ve known Kanade since childhood. I honestly don’t know how I feel about her yet.”
“Then, do I still have a chance? Yuuri-senior. I have been in love with senpai ever since the day she saved me. So if senpai is feeling down, I want to heal him, and I want to support him.”
“...Yo, Yoshi-chan. I’m sorry, right now...”
I was surprised by her unexpected confession, but I still did not want to make Yoshi-chan my girlfriend. So when I was about to say no, Yoshi-chan interrupted me.
“Senpai. Don’t give me an answer now. I understand that you haven’t completely recovered and that Kanade-senpai is a big part of your life. But please don’t give me an answer yet. Because neither of you has an answer for me yet. Today’s confession is completely self-centered selfishness of wanting Yuuri-senpai to get to know me.”
“No, but still...”
“Yuuri-senpai, please. Please give me a chance.”
Seeing Yoshi-chan talking so cheerfully, forcing herself to stop crying, I thought to myself what a strong girl she was. Her smile was as dazzling as the sun, and she shone so brightly that I, an effeminate girl, really didn’t deserve it.
“I understand. I’m not going to reply to your confession right now. When I get my answer, I’ll tell you how I feel then. But I was really happy that you told me you liked me like this. I’m sorry it had to be in such a half-hearted, cowardly way.”
“It’s okay. Please look it up. Because this is what I wanted.”
After saying this, Yoshi-chan came in front of me as I sat on the swing. Then she sat down on the swing, looked up at me with a big smile on her face, and said, “Senpai.”
“Senpai. Please be prepared from now on. Because my attacks are going to be really awesome.”
It was great before, but was it going to be even better than that? I was puzzled for a moment, but I was so happy with Yoshi-chan’s feelings that I told her, “Oh, I’ll make sure I’m prepared.” |
The sky is unusually blue for the rainy season, but it is so humid and dreary outside that I soon start to sweat.
The humidity is very uncomfortable, but it is a trivial matter for me, and I am getting more and more excited every time I walk. It’s no wonder, because today is the quarterfinals of the second round tournament of the all-round tournament, and if we win three more times, we will go to the nationals.
For a school that does not put much effort into athletic club activities, it is an accomplishment. And one person who has significantly contributed to this accomplishment is my childhood friend Kanade, who is walking next to me now.
“It’s finally the quarterfinals! Show us how cool you are today too, Yuu-kun!”
“Oh, you can count on me! Kanade made us strong, we won’t lose to anyone!”
“No, that’s not true. It’s the result of Yuu-kun and the others always trying their best. I know because I’ve always been watching you.”
I bump her fist with my fist.
Kanade said, “Let’s definitely win,” and gave me a dazzling smile.
“But then again, today’s opponent is a school with whom I had a practice match when I broke up with Hazuki.”
“Yup. At that time, Yuu-kun was particularly great, so I think he’ll be marked relentlessly today.”
“I’ve learned a lot from Kanade, like how to get off the mark and how to move to the back of the field. I’m going to put everything Kanade taught me into today’s game, so watch me carefully!”
After the gymnastics festival, I had been practicing on my own with Kanade every day after club activities.
Kanade managed my practice methods based on various scenarios, so I was able to practice efficiently without any waste.
In order to repay her kindness, I vowed once again, “I will definitely win today’s match!”
The match appeared to be a back-and-forth battle with neither team scoring until the last minutes of the second half.
However, four minutes before the end of the match, the other team cut off a pass from their teammate and scored a goal on the counter. The goal proved to be the deciding point, and we were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
While my teammates broke down in tears, I was the only one who could not cry. I couldn’t feel that this was the end. I called out to my teammates, walked to the center line, and gave my final speech.
After the game, everyone was crying in the waiting room, but after a bit they calmed down and congratulated each other, saying, “It’s great that we made it to the quarterfinals of the second round tournament.” There was a suggestion that we should celebrate the conclusion of the tournament, but we settled on having it on the day of the handover ceremony and disbanded on that day.
And now I’m here on the school grounds with Kanade.
“It’s over, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. It is.”
It was not yet late, so club activities that did not have a tournament were practicing normally. For some reason, seeing people engaged in club activities made my heart flutter, so Kanade and I moved to a bench in the courtyard.
“I don’t really feel like it’s over. We don’t have to do club activities after school tomorrow right? I can’t believe it.”
“I can’t believe it either. It was natural for us to support each other’s efforts in club activities. We still have the handover ceremony with each other, but that’s really all there is to it.”
After that, Kanade and I continued to look into the distance in silence. When I looked at Kanade’s face next to me, her eyes were bloodshot, probably from tears.
“Kanade ....... I’m sorry I lost, even though you went to the trouble of going out with me to practice on your own. I wasn’t good enough and couldn’t get off the mark. I couldn’t give it my all and it was over.”
“No problem. Yuu-kun was cool. We indeed lost the game, but we created a lot of good scenes. So don’t say that. Yuu-kun was great.”
“Thanks. But I wonder why. I’m supposed to be disappointed in losing, but I can’t cry. It’s so strange to me. If anything, I’ve always been a quick-to-cry kind of guy.”
Suddenly, Kanade stood up, put her hands around my neck, and hugged me.
“Oi oi. What’s up with Kanade all of a sudden?”
“Will you just stay put and listen to me?”
I was suddenly hugged and I mumbled “ah ......” in confusion.
“Yuu-kun, you are not a guy who has no feelings. You just have a lot of things going on and your feelings probably haven’t caught up with it. You used to be able to turn your eyes away by keeping busy, but now that’s gone too, you’re probably feeling a little left in the air.”
Kanade patted my head affectionately and continued talking.
“You know, just because you lost the game and everyone else is crying, don’t blame yourself for not being able to cry. Just because you cried doesn’t mean that you are more frustrated. So, Yuu-kun, it’s fine just the way you are, just the way you are. I know how hard you have been working, and everyone knows that.
I felt lightened up after listening to Kanade’s story. I felt like I hadn’t shared my feelings with everyone because I hadn’t cried, but I guess that wasn’t true.
I moved away from Kanade’s body and stared into her eyes. Her cheeks gradually turned slightly red as she stared at me. I said a heartfelt “thank you” to Kanade, who is always there to help me out.
Then our conversation turned to the future.
“What are you going to do after school?”
“Hmmm. I think I have to start studying for the entrance exam in earnest. Isn’t it the same for you, Yuu-kun?”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. I’ve been doing a lot of club activities lately, and it’s time to get serious about it. By the way, have you decided which college you want to go to yet?”
“I want to go to the same university as Yuu-kun. I went to different elementary schools, but I’d be happy if we could go to the same school from junior high school onward.”
“That would be nice. But with Kanade’s current grades, it’s going to be tough.”
“Uwaaa! I know that! That’s why I’m going to have to work harder from now on!”
It was very funny and cute to see Kanade holding her head while turning red in the face.
But I think it’s going to be hard for Kanade to pass the test at this point. What’s a good way to do it ....... Oh, why don’t you study with me and teach me what you don’t understand? I had a flash of inspiration and immediately proposed to Kanade.
“Hey, why don’t you study with me from now on? I’ll teach you what you don’t know, so let’s work together! You taught me a lot of things like how to practice efficiently in soccer, so let me return the favor.”
Then Kanade’s eyes lit up and she hugged me again.
‘Thanks! Yuu-kun, please do me a favor! Let me study with you!”
“All right, then, let’s start studying right away on Monday! First, we’ll study for the next on-campus exam. We also need to decide how we’re going to organize the handover ceremony.
“Yuu-kun, you remembered!”
“Of course, I remember. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I was actually having a hard time in the club, I was worried that you wouldn’t remember me. That’s why I’m so happy now! Let’s study and play together a lot, Yuu-kun.”
I was too cute to look Kanade up and down as she hugged me, so I ended up patting her head. Then Kanade squinted her eyes pleasantly and smiled shyly, saying “ehehe.”
When I returned home, I heard Hanaka’s cheerful voice saying, “Welcome home!”
“It was a pity about today’s game, wasn’t it? Yoshi-chan was crying in front of so many people, it was really hard for her.”
“I see, you were there to cheer us on, weren’t you? The result was not like we expected, but thank you for coming.”
“Please tell that to Yoshi-chan, too, okay?”
“Yes, of course. I’ll tell her when I see her at school on Monday.”
“It’s too late for that! You don’t have anything tomorrow, do you? Please contact her right now and tell her in person when you see her tomorrow.”
“Wait! Contact her now and meet her tomorrow?”
“Isn’t it obvious? After all, she gave you so much support, you should thank her as soon as possible!”
“You’re coming with me, right?”
What? What are you talking about? Of course, it’s just the two of you.
Of course! I was under so much pressure that I ended up calling Yoshi-chan right then and there. Incidentally, I knew her contact information because Hanaka had taken the liberty of registering RINE and her phone number on my phone before.
I gave up and pressed RINE’s call, and no way, Yoshi-chan answered in one call.
[Hya, hi! Hey there]
I hear a piercing scream in my ear. It seems that she bit her tongue as hard as she could. Poor thing. ...... That hurts like hell, doesn’t it?
[Hey, are you okay? Calm down a bit, okay?]
[Ugh. I’m sorry. More than that, senpai, thank you for your hard work today! I’m sad about the result, but you were really cool!]
[Thank you for your support. I’m glad to hear you say that. So, tomorrow, are you free at noon or so? If you have time, how about having lunch with us to thank us for today? I was thinking...]
[I’m going! I’ll go! I’ll cancel whatever errands I have to run and go!]
[No, if you have a prior appointment, you have to go there first.]
[No. No, I don’t! I just wanted to tell you that I’m that enthusiastic!]
[Oh, oh. I’m glad if that’s the case. Then, can we go to a family restaurant in front of the station? ......Adadaaa.]
Suddenly, I felt severe pain in my leg, so I looked at my feet and saw Hanaka stepping on my foot with a grimace. When I looked at Hanaka in protest, she looked at me like Shura and said, “No, no, no! It should be a more fashionable café or something!” she whispered.
[Yuuri-senpai, are you okay? Is something wrong?]
[No, no, no, I’m fine. I heard there’s a new café at the next station.]
[Oh, I was wondering about that too! I’m too happy to go there with Yuurii-senpai!]
We decided on a meeting place and time and hung up the phone. Hanaka looked satisfied and said with a grin, “I heard that cafe over there has delicious cakes, so please buy one for me as a souvenir.” I cowered my shoulders as I looked at her and patted her head, saying, “I can’t help it.” |
Nearly a week after the festival, the heat that had been smoldering in the school had cooled down considerably, and the third-year students had switched entirely over to exam mode. The same was true for those of us who were aiming for the same university, and the four of us still held frequent study sessions. Even after Satoru’s successful confession at the after-night festival, we still studied diligently.
But...
“Wait, Satoru-san and Tanuki-san. Isn’t the distance between you guys a little awkward?”
“Huh? What are you talking about, Yuuri? I’m just having Kozue teach me how to study.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so. I think it’s the same as before... Hey, hey, don’t you think so too, Kanade-chan?”
“I think I’m close too. I also think we are very close. I taught him well, but when we were looking at reference books together, our heads were almost always attached.”
“Oh, no.”
These two have changed not only in distance but also in what they call each other. They used to call each other by their last names, but now they call each other by their first names. I had never seen Tanuki-san call a guy by his first name, so I was a bit stuttered when she first called Satoru by his first name.
I and Kanade have been having the most fun lately teasing these two smiling faces. Whenever we tease them a little, they both go awww, as they are doing now, and we never get tired of watching them.
If they really don’t like it, of course, I would stop them right away, but they always look at each other and laugh happily after a moment of fawning, so I guess they are not too upset. Kanade, who was watching over them, was also smiling happily.
When I got home and went into my room, I sat down on my study desk chair and put my phone to sleep. I opened RINE and sent a message to Yoshi-chan.
“Sorry to bother you so late at night. Are you still awake?”
“It’s totally fine! I’m so happy to see you on RINE! What’s wrong?”
I felt a prickle of joy in my heart as I pictured Yoshi-chan being really happy to hear RINE from me.
“I was wondering if you wanted to go home with me tomorrow after school.”
“Of course, that’s fine! It’s unusual for Yuuri-senpai to ask me out!”
“I’ve always been asked out by you. Then tomorrow, I’ll meet you near the school gate.”
“Yes, okay! I’m looking forward to it.”
I closed my phone and faced the reference book in front of me, but I just couldn’t concentrate, so I lay down on the bed and went to sleep.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. You’re early.”
“I was so excited to be able to go home from school with Yuuri-senpai that I came as fast as I could to the school gate.”
Yoshi-chan must have been really looking forward to it. Yoshi-chan’s smile was too bright for me to look directly at her right now. So I look away for a moment.
“Okay, let’s go home then, shall we? And if you want, we can pick up some crepes on the way and eat them in the park.”
“Oh, that sounds great! Maybe I’ll get one with more whipped cream.”
We talked about the festival, school, and other things as we walked home together. We bought crepes on the way home, but Yoshi-chan ordered more whipped cream, so the volume of the crepe was completely ridiculous.
“Yo, Yoshi-chan. Are you sure you can eat all of that?
“I can eat this much in plenty of time! Don’t underestimate the power of a JK.”
I looked at Yoshi-chan, who had really eaten up the crepe, and all I could do was apologize to her honestly. I still had more than half of it left, so until I finished eating it, Yoshi-chan asked me many questions about my exam studies and what I wanted to do when I went to college. Then, when I finished eating, Yoshi-chan suddenly turned serious and looked at my profile.
“Yuuri-senpai. You have something you want to say to me, right?”
I looked at Yoshi-chan’s face in surprise.
Instead of the happy look she had earlier, she had a confident expression on her face, as if she was frightened of something.
“I’m sorry, senpai. I couldn’t hold back, so I said it myself.”
“No, it’s okay. But why did you think so?”
“Because you were totally different from the senpai I had seen before. How much do you think I’ve seen of my senpai? I don’t want you to think less of me than I do of eating crepes.”
“I see...”
I really can’t hide it from this girl.
She is a smart girl, so I think she will understand the words I am about to say.
“Yoshi-chan. I can’t go out with you.”
When I said this, Yoshi-chan’s face turned down.
When she looked up again, she looked me straight in the eye again and said, “I don’t like it.” I was puzzled by her unexpected response, but she continued.
“I absolutely hate it. I can’t imagine not going out with my senpai. I love you so much. I love him. I have always, always loved him. I can’t think of anything else but my senpai.”
“I’m sorry. I still can’t go out with you.”
“...Is that because Kanade-senpai is there? Do you like Kanade-senpai? Do you want to go out with Kanade-senpai?”
“...Ah. Ah, yes. I like Kanade. That’s why I can’t go out with Yoshi-chan.”
“I am more devoted to senpai than Kanade-senpai. I will continue to give my love to my senpai. So, therefore, I beg you. Please go out with me.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, Yoshi-chan. I’m sorry. I want to go out with Kanade.”
Yoshi-chan stared at me with an emotionally bare expression on her face. His eyes seemed to have a thin layer of tears in them.
Yoshi-chan stared at me for a while, but suddenly her face went straight up and she froze. I wonder how long she stayed like that. I couldn’t speak to her during that time.
Then, she lowered her face and looked at me again with her usual bright smile.
“Ohhhh. I thought Yuuri-senpai was so kind that if I was really selfish, he would say yes. As I thought, I couldn’t.”
Seeing Yoshi-chan’s smile made my heart ache more than ever.
“Senpai. Please don’t look at me like that. I don’t want to make you suffer. I want my favorite senpai to keep smiling.”
He must have had a very bad expression on his face. Yoshi-chan looked anxious.
“I’m all right now. I have told senpai all about my feelings. I regret that I couldn’t go out with senpai, but I still have no regrets. I don’t have any regrets, because my senpai was very patient with me. He thought it over and gave me an answer.”
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry, Yoshi-chan.”
“Please don’t apologize. I will always be on the side of Yuuri-senpai. Senpai, please be happy.”
Yoshi-chan didn’t shed any tears, but I cried a lot.
It was pathetic. I was so spoiled by her kindness to the end.
“Yoshi-chan, thank you. Thank you...”
“I’ll be fine. Oh, I’m going to stay in this park for a little while longer, so if you don’t mind, could you go home first?”
“Oh, ah... I’ll be on my way. Thank you so much, Yoshi-chan.”
“Thank you very much. Please be careful on your way home.”
Leaving Yoshi-chan sitting on the bench like that, I headed home alone. |
“Yuuri, I don’t understand this problem here, please tell me...”
“No, Mishima-kun. You have to think a little more on your own.”
“What’s the matter with you, Tanuki-san, you’re so mean!”
“I’m not saying that to be mean. If you say that, I won’t tell you anything you ask me from now on, okay?”
“Oh, you’re lying! I’m sorry, Tanuki-san!”
“Ha-ha-ha, you two are such good friends!”
Four good friends from high school were studying together at a family restaurant.
As to why this happened, it goes back to after school.
“Yuuri, please! I’m seriously in trouble for this test, so help me study!”
After school, as Kanade and I were getting ready to leave, Satoru came running toward us in a mad dash. And that was the first thing he said.
“Oh, Satoru-kun, you’re cheating! I’m the one who’s always teaching you how to study, you can’t do that! You have to work hard on your own.”
“Kanade, you’re putting yourself on the shelf too much!”
“I don’t care! Hey, Kozue-chan?”
“Hmmm. I don’t mind if you ask me, but... Oh, how about we go to a family restaurant today and study together?”
At Tanuki-san’s suggestion, Satoru and Kanade answered with a twinkle in their eyes, “Let’s go!” Thus, we came to a family restaurant to study, but about minutes into the session, Satoru was already feeling groggy.
We arrange it so if Kanade and Satoru don’t understand a problem, either I or Tanuki-san will teach it to them. When I realized that we had the best formation, Tanuki-san taught the subjects I was weak in and I taught the subjects she was weak in.
Tanuki-san’s grades are good, of course, but her teaching style is also very good!
I thought it was really great, and when I honestly praised Tanuki-san, Kanade sitting across from me kicked me in the shins and said, “Yuu-kun, what are you delirious?” and looked at me with a scary smile.
Is this jealousy? Thinking so makes the puffy Kanade look very cute. But please don’t keep kicking me in the shins all the time, Kanade.
I was studying like that, and before I knew it, three hours had passed. There were not many customers around, and the restaurant staff didn’t pay attention to me because I was ordering neatly, so I didn’t lose my concentration.
“Ah, it’s so late already. I haven’t studied this much in a long time.”
“It’s true, I made a lot of progress in today’s study thanks to Tanuki-san.”
“I also got a better understanding of the problems thanks to Yamagishi-san’s help.”
“Mmmmm... Today was really good! I hope we can have another study session tomorrow.”
“I want to study with you guys again, but it’s expensive and we can’t always go to a family restaurant.”
“Yuuri’s house is a transit station for me and Tanuki-san, so I was wondering if your house is okay?”
“My house? Sorry, it’s a little difficult.”
“I see. Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. The question is where to go.”
I felt bad for Satoru, but to be honest, I didn’t have the courage to let anyone but Kanade in the house yet. Moreover, two men and two women would undeniably remind me of that abominable day.
Then I felt a look from in front of me, and I looked over to see Kanade looking at me with a worried expression on her face. I made a smile to reassure Kanade and nodded my head once.
The four of us wanted to get together to study, but we were poor students who had to go to a family restaurant every day, so we decided to study in the school library from now on.
“Hey, it’s our last summer vacation in high school, why don’t the four of us go somewhere for fun for a day or so?”
As we were relaxing at the drink bar after putting away our study materials, Kanade suggested as if she had just remembered.
“I’m all for it! We’ve become good friends, so I think the four of us should go out and make some summer memories together.”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes! Then, why don’t we all go to the pool? Let’s go to the pool with the big water slide.”
Satoru... is a genius!
I looked at Satoru, who was sitting next to me, and made the best suggestion.
“Aren’t you two going silly? But a pool, huh? Sounds like fun.”
“Yeah. We won’t be able to go to the beach this year, so a pool would be nice.”
“Okay, then it’s settled! What are your plans for summer vacation, Yuuri?”
“I’m not going to cram school, so I’m basically studying at home.”
“I’m studying at Yuu-kun’s house too!”
“I don’t know my exact schedule yet.”
“Then, when Tanuki-san’s schedule is known, please put me in the RINE group.”
“Yeah. I understand. I’m looking forward to it.”
With our summer vacation plans set, we decided to pack up our belongings and head home.
I was one step ahead of the others in packing up, and seeing everyone smiling happily warmed my heart. What I lost at that time will never come back, but I realized that I was truly happy to be with these guys.
It was quite late today, so I decided to walk Kanade home.
I walked next to Kanade, who was humming a tune and seemed to be in a good mood.
“Sounds like you had a lot of fun.”
“Because today’s study session was a lot of fun. And it’s great that we’ve even decided on our summer vacation plans.”
“That’s right! At any rate, I’m looking forward to seeing Kanade in her swimsuit, yeah.”
I intentionally said something that made Kanade embarrassed.
The effect was extraordinary, and as I watched, Kanade’s face turned red up to her ears and she tapped me on the shoulder.
“Yuu-kun, you’re the kind to say such embarrassing things like that...”
“Because I’d love to see Kanade in a swimsuit so badly I’d get down on my knees.”
When I said that with a straight face, Kanade finally lost her patience and ran, saying, “Uwaaa” I hurriedly apologized to Kanade, saying, “Sorry, sorry,” and frantically chased after her.
When I finally caught up with Kanade, she kept her face red and said, “...then...that’s good”
I couldn’t catch it, so I asked, “What did you say?” Kanade took a few moments to clarify her words.
“If it’s for Yuu-kun, I said I can show you a lot!”
Kanade’s statement made me blush so much that I could tell. I did not expect such a counterattack from Kanade. Seeing me like that, Kanade must have been satisfied. She was so excited to see me like that.
I’m okay now.
Because I’m having so much fun right now. |
.“Yuu-kun, sorry to keep you waiting!”
Seeing Kanade coming out of the house, I gasped and stood there stunned. Seeing me like that, Kanade tilted her head and asked, “What’s wrong?” with a curious look on her face.
“No, no. Kanade was so cute in her yukata that I just stuttered a little.”
I unintentionally told her honestly how I really felt, without using any indirect words. Kanade’s face turned bright red and she turned her head down. I was probably as red in the face as Kanade.
Today was the day we were going to a summer festival for a party, just the two of us, as we had promised on the day we were eliminated from the tournament.
By the way, Kanade looks really cute in her yukata. Her hair is usually styled in a casual way, but today she wore it up in an updo, making her look more mature than usual. I felt a slight tingle in my chest at the sight of the different Kanade.
“Hehe. I’m glad to hear you say so. Yuu-kun came in a yukata too, didn’t he? ...You look cool too, Yuu-kun.”
Kanade looked up at me and complimented me, her face reddening again.
Is she trying to make me die of a heart attack? I was somewhat frustrated, so I suppressed my heart pounding and responded as normally as I could.
“Thanks. So, let’s go to the festival.”
“Yeah.”
The summer festival held in our town was a relatively large-scale event, centered around a large shrine, with the entire neighborhood as a pedestrian zone. The festival is held on a relatively large scale, with a large shrine at the center and the entire neighborhood as a pedestrian zone.
On the road leading to the shrine grounds, strong men carrying large portable shrines could be seen parading around, so even people from a little further away made the effort to visit and participate in the festival.
“How long has it been since I’ve been to a summer festival with Kanade?”
“Oh, I don’t know. The first year of middle school? It’s been so long since I’ve been to a summer festival with Yuu-kun, I’m so happy.”
“Yeah, I’m happy to be here with Kanade too.”
Ever since I started dating Hazuki in the second year of junior high school, Kanade has always been reserved for us and went with another friend.
I was thinking about this when I saw Kanade walking next to me, and I felt her hand waving louder than usual as she walked, as if she was really happy.
“Yuu-kun. What shall we eat today? I want a chocolate banana and fluffy shaved ice!”
“I think I’ll have yakisoba and takoyaki. I wonder why they taste so good when eaten at festivals, by the way? If I ate it outside of a festival, I would think it was nothing special.”
“There’s quite a bit of festival magic. I end up doing things I wouldn’t normally do, like target shooting, because I get so excited.”
“So, are you going to do it again today?”
“Heh heh, you caught me. I’m going to get the prize today!”
“Do your best in moderation. Oh, it’s almost time to see it.”
As we approach the temple grounds, the vermilion lanterns float in the air, and the energy emanating from the colorful food stalls undeniably raises my spirits. It seems that Kanade did the same, looking around with a twinkle in her eye as she let out a “Wow”.
Kanade and I went into the precincts of the temple to enjoy the summer festival from the bottom of our hearts.
The highlight of the festival was probably when Kanade finally dropped the prize she was aiming for in the target shooting. However, the moment after receiving the prize, she mumbled, “Why did I want this?” I’ll pretend I didn’t hear her mutter.
“Ah.”
I pull Kanade, who has suddenly stopped, to the edge while supporting her so as not to interrupt the flow.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry. I think I broke the strap of my sandals.”
“Really? Well, the festival is almost over, though, so let’s get going home.”
I said, “Come on, hop on,” as I got down on one knee and turned my back to Kanade. However, Kanade didn’t seem to be moving at all, so I turned around and saw her face was bright red and her hands were wriggling.
“What are you doing?”
“Yeah, I mean, you know, a piggyback ride is...”
“Don’t worry about it! Although I’m retired now, I’ve been working out in the club until the other day, so I’ve still got a lot of strength left in me!”
“Ugh, that’s not what I meant... Well, can I ask you a favor?”
“Don’t be shy. Come on, come on.”
Kanade put her hands on my shoulders and leaned down on my back.
She is a small person, so I don’t feel that much weight. I think I can make it home.
That’s when I thought so. I felt two soft objects hit my back.
Soft...
Huh? What’s this soft feeling?
Kanade is the type of person who wears skinny clothes... But still, I didn’t expect them to get so close to me. Is this what being a childhood friend is all about?... To say the least, my childhood friend is the best...
“Yuu-kun. I’m not too heavy, am I? I’m sorry I made you carry me on your back.”
“I’m fine! Thank you, Kanade!”
I gave Kanade the biggest smile of the day.
“What? Thank you?”
“No, don’t worry about it, it’s just me speaking to myself!”
Kanade was a bit nervous, but soon smiled softly and thanked me, saying, “Thanks to you too.”
We could hear the bustling summer festival crowd behind our backs, and we were basking in the afterglow without opening our mouths to speak to each other.
On the quiet night street, all I could hear was Kanade’s breathing as she rested her chin on my shoulder.
“Hey. Do you remember when Hanaka-chan fell down and hurt herself and Yuu-kun had to carry her home on his back?”
“Hmm? I think I did, but I don’t remember much.”
“I see. At that time, Hanaka-chan who was being carried on her back by Yuu-kun looked like she was in a lot of pain, but I was impressed by the look of relief on her face, which left a deep impression on my mind, so I remembered it.”
“I see. Does Kanade feel safe now?”
I asked her jokingly, in my usual tone.
“Yes. I feel very safe.”
When she said that, her arms were tightened in my embrace. I wish that she would never let go of my arms.
I wondered what Kanade was thinking right now.
I couldn’t help but wonder. |
.After Yuuri and Kanade rejected me, my world turned gray.
I knew that since I had betrayed them, they would have to break up with me when they found out. But I never expected to be cut off from any relationship.
Yuuri had always been next to me, and I thought that our relationship was like an inseparable family. So I mistakenly thought that even if I did something wrong, he would eventually forgive me.
I realized this when Yuuri rejected me. We are not family, we are not relatives. We are strangers.
I really wanted to apologize to Yuuri, so I asked Hana-chan to let me see Yuuri again so that I could talk to him again. But that failed due to Hana-chan’s refusal.
Hana-chan called me Hazuki-chan and loved me like a real sister. However, when I met Hana-chan for the first time in a long time, she looked at me very coldly, and the way she called me also changed to Hazuki-san.
I thought that perhaps Yuuri had told the whole family about the incident, but I was wrong.
“What do you want from me, Hazuki-san?”
Hana-chan, who came to the park in response to my call, asked me in an emotionless tone of voice as soon as she arrived. I was upset by Hana-chan, who was so different from before.
“Well, let’s see. Hana-chan, you know that I broke up with Yuuri, right? We’ve had some misunderstandings, so I was hoping we could talk again and get back together again. Hana-chan, would you be willing to help me?”
“No, absolutely not.”
“......What?”
“A slight misunderstanding? How dare you say such a thing? Did you really like Yuu nii-chan, Hazuki-san? I honestly despise you.”
“Wait, why do you say that? I love Yuuri. I still love him, that’s why I’m asking Hana-chan for a favor.”
“Hah...”
I sighed loudly and Hana-chan glared at me with hostile eyes.
“Hazuki-san. Then why did you go to a hotel with someone other than Yuu nii-chan?”
I was so surprised that I lost my voice, not expecting Hana-chan to know. Somehow I managed to regain my composure and asked, “Did you ask Yuuri?” I asked.
“No, I didn’t. I heard from Yuu nii-chan that you broke up with me, but I didn’t hear that you betrayed him and had a relationship with another man.”
“......Then, why?”
“Hazuki-san, shouldn’t you think a little more before you go into a hotel? Using a hotel in front of a train station that people in this city frequent, and in front of a train station at that, is like asking me to find you.”
Finally, I covered my face with Hana-chan’s words. Hana-chan continued to laugh at me and continued her story.
“At first, I thought that maybe Yuu nii-chan had run out of love for you. Because Yuu nii-chan really loved Hazuki-san until just before he said he was going to break up with her. But three days after I heard about it, I saw you in a hotel with another man. That’s when I understood everything. I knew that you had betrayed him.”
“Oh... that’s....”
“I was very sad when I heard that Yuu nii-chan and Hazuki had broken up. I believed that one day they would be good childhood friends again, even if they were not lovers. However, I didn’t think that you had a relationship with the person Yuu nii-chan calls his best friend and that you would go to a hotel with him. Therefore, I will never forgive you for hurting Yuu nii-chan. From now on, if you see me, please do not ever speak to me. Even now, I am having a hard time because I have to hold back so I don’t hit you.”
Hana-chan, who had said all this in one breath as if she was pouring out her emotions, walked toward the exit without waiting for my response to her paragraph. Then, perhaps remembering something, she stopped and looked back at me.
“Please be assured that I have not told our mothers about what you did to my brother. I think Yuu nii-chan thinks that there is no need to break up the relationship between the mothers even if the daughter is a scumbag. Well then, goodbye.”
After Hana-chan left the park, I remained sitting on the bench.
I didn’t think that Hana-chan would see me as well.
I guess when you get caught, you get caught all at once.
Although I completely deserved it, I can’t help but burst out laughing at my own ridiculousness. I am now completely unable to have any contact with Yuuri.
Even if I tried to talk to him at school, Kanade would definitely stop me, and I don’t think Yuuri would listen to me honestly. That’s probably true. Because if Yuuri had been in that kind of relationship with Kanade, I would have never forgiven him for it.
I lost Yuuri.
But we still have Kouki, so it’s all right.
The other day, Kanade said something strange, but Kouki clearly denied it, and there’s no way it’s too soon.
Until now, I couldn’t go on dates with him because we were in a relationship that couldn’t be made public, but from now on, I don’t have to be afraid to go on dates with anyone. What I used to fill with Yuuri, I can have filled with Kouki.
Because you told me that you love me, Kouki. |
“Kouki I have something I’d like you to tell me... Can we meet today?”
Kouki’s voice over the phone sounded a bit bad-tempered. Kouki has an extreme dislike of being called unexpectedly. When I asked the reason for this, he said that in the case of RINE, it is his own free will to check his messages, but a phone call is a forced time commitment. I understand what he’s saying, but I don’t think it’s necessary to sound so grumpy.
“I really want to ask Kouki something, so could you please come to the park where we usually go now? I can go to your house if you want. It’s my convenience this time, and I’ll go with you.”
Kouki reluctantly agreed to come to Hanasaki Park.
Come to think of it, I haven’t been to his house yet. I wanted to see him before when I was on my way home from cram school, and he got mad at me after I did RINE when I arrived at his house. If I had been Yuuri, I would have been welcomed anytime I went to his house because his parents were close and they were like a real family.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. What is it that you want me to tell you?”
I was sitting on the bench, lost in thought, when before I knew it, Kouki was sitting next to me. Maybe I’m irritated after all. Looking at Kouki’s profile, I began to feel uneasy.
“You see. This is a little difficult to ask, but I was with Kanade a while ago and we talked about you a little.”
“What about? About me?”
“Yes, Kanade told me that you have two other girls besides me. Moreover, she said you stole the girlfriend of someone who had a boyfriend.”
Kouki’s face grew stern.
“What? Kanade said something like that? That can’t be true! Does Hazuki believe Kanade more than my words? Yuuri must have told him something. He’s just harassing me because he’s jealous of my relationship with Hazuki.”
“I don’t suspect anything. However, I just wanted to hear you say that it’s not true because of what Kanade said. I’m sorry I asked you something you didn’t want to hear.”
Kouki’s stern face changes to a very gentle smile. Then he puts his hand on my head and pats it gently.
“I’m glad you believe my words.
“Thank you, Kouki. You and I are accomplices. We have sinned together, so I hope you will continue to bear the burden with me.”
“Oh, of course. My feelings haven’t changed since that day I confessed them to you in junior high school.”
I was reassured by Kouki’s words. I think I am a coward even to myself. I have been taking advantage of Yuuri’s kindness up until now, and now I am trying to hold on to Kouki with the word “accomplice.”
Why? Why am I such an ugly creature?
Yuuri never doubted that he would stay with me no matter what.
I have caused him a lot of trouble in the past, but the kind Yuuri has always forgiven me for that. However, the moment I saw Yuuri’s face yesterday, I knew in my heart that I would never be forgiven again.
I really loved Yuuri with all my heart. No, I still love him. But the sex with Kouki was too seductive to resist.
In junior high school, it was because of pity, and the first time we had sex again was a confirmation of the sensations I had felt in junior high school. I should not have done this at first. I thought that I should not repeat the act of betraying Yuuri anymore. But as we repeated the act, the sense of guilt and immorality disappeared before I knew it.
After I left Yuuri’s house yesterday with Kouki, we headed back to the love hotel in the same footsteps. The sex at that time was surprisingly normal compared to what I had been used to. Then I realized. The reason why I had been so aroused, so disturbed, and so degraded during sex was because of my guilt toward Yuuri.
I realized that I had not stopped feeling guilty or immoral, but had merely converted it into pleasure.
That must be why. When Yuuri found out about my relationship with Kouki, the pleasure that had captivated me disappeared.
(Fufu. It’s too ridiculous to say that I deserved it.)
Until now, I have had the feeling of having fun with Kouki, but I have never felt the happiness that fills my body and soul. I had received all of those things from Yuuri until now. That is why I only wanted pleasure from Kouki. But Yuuri is gone now.
I gave myself away.
All the affection that Yuuri had given me. |
.It was the first summer festival since Yuuri and I broke up.
I was there with four of my high school friends, Miyabi, Kotone, and Sayuki. I have been going to this summer festival since I was really young, but this is the first time Yuuri is not next to me.
After all, I still feel sad that that person is not next to me.
The first semester was nothing but hell for me.
Every day I was shown Yuuri and Kanade talking amicably with each other. And I was completely ignored by Yuuri. More than once I wondered if Yuuri really couldn’t see me.
I even tried to talk to Yuuri with all my courage, but every time I tried to talk to Yuuri, I found that Kanade was completely blinded by Yuuri. But each time I tried, Kanade would distract Yuuri, and I would always miss the timing.
In the end, I still haven’t given up on Yuuri. I don’t want to be lovers. I just want to be a childhood friend again.
The proof of this is that I have yet to tell my mom that we broke up. Of course, she probably already knows that we’ve broken up.
However, there has been a change in my mind.
I had begun to think that I wanted to love Kouki positively.
After Yuuri rejected me, Kouki started to call me at home and even started to go on dates with me. I felt that Kouki was trying to love me as a girlfriend.
We sat down on a bench in the precinct after a round of play, and Sayuki asked, “Aren’t you going to get a boyfriend, Hazuki?” she asked me. I hadn’t told these girls about Kouki yet.
“Ummm. Not now?”
“Eh, it’s a waste of being a popular girl. I heard a rumor that a former ace of the baseball team is targeting Hazuki.”
“Eh? Does Tofuji-kun like Hazuki?”
“Really? I’ve had a bit of a crush on him.”
With me as the topic, the four of us engage in love talk. Then Kotone asked, “How is it really going?” she asked me like a reporter for a weekly magazine.
“I’m not interested in that person at the moment, so I can’t really think about going out with him.”
I told her how I honestly felt, and Sayuki said, “Then maybe you have someone you like at another school.” I was getting a bit of trouble, so I just told her, “I’m sorry, I haven’t sorted out my breakup with Yuuri yet.”
“I guess you’re still holding on to Yamagishi-kun, after all.”
Saying this, Sayuki came closer to me and put her mouth to my ear.
“I’ll tell you something in private, but only to Hazuki. There is actually someone I’m interested in at a different school right now. When I think about him, I feel very happy. So you should start a new love, Hazuki. You’ll be happier that way.”
Sayuki had just broken up with her boyfriend shortly before the summer break. Not much time had passed since then, but I was surprised to find out that there was already someone she liked. Perhaps she broke up with her ex-boyfriend because she found someone else she liked.
However, after giving me an earful, Sayuki looked really happy with a slightly embarrassed expression on her face.
I wonder if one day I will be able to tell everyone about Kouki with a happy smile like Sayuki.
We were looking around the precincts of the temple after that, looking at various things. Then Miyabi called out to us with a flustered look on her face, “Hey, hey.”
“Isn’t that Yamagishi-kun and Miyama-san by any chance?”
I hurriedly turned my face in the direction Miyabi’s finger pointed. It was indeed Yuuri and Kanade. I couldn’t look directly into their happy atmosphere, so I involuntarily turned away from them.
“I wondered if those two were dating after all.”
“Miyama-san was Hazuki’s childhood friend, right? And yet they’re dating, isn’t that just the worst?”
“Oh, look. She’s resting on his back. And they’re so close to each other.”
I ran away from everyone, including Yuuri and Kanade, and walked quickly back to the bench I had just been on. Everyone hurriedly followed me to the bench.
“I’m sorry, Hazuki.”
“I’m sorry for saying something so selfish without thinking about how Hazuki felt.”
Everyone apologizes to me and says I’m sorry, but the truth is I should be the one apologizing to everyone. I don’t deserve everyone’s concern. Because I betrayed those two.
But I was afraid to tell everyone about it. I thought that if I told them the truth, they would leave me.
After I left Yuuri, I realized how lowly and cowardly I had been, and I was again overcome with despair.
And when I left everyone and became alone, I did not immediately go home but sat on a bench in Hanasaki Park. This park was filled with countless memories.
It was in this park that I kissed Yuuri for the first time, that I kissed Kouki when he confessed his feelings for me, and when Kanade condemned me.
But still, except for my childhood, my only beautiful memories here are of kissing Yuuri.
I still feel a surge of regret when I think of Yuuri.
I wonder if they are dating.
I almost go crazy with deep feelings of jealousy when I think about it. I know I don’t even deserve it anymore.
But when I see those two together, I still can’t help but think about it. If I hadn’t cheated on Kouki if I had talked to him first if I hadn’t met him after high school,......
“Phew...”
How foolish am I?
Maybe the reason I think this is because I mistakenly believe that I am a tragic heroine. Well, maybe I am just drunk with myself now again when I think so.
I know one way out of this loop.
That would be to forget about Yuuri.
But it was impossible for me to forget about Yuuri. |
[Hazuki’s Point of View]
“It’s been a long time, Hazuki. Can I have a moment of your time?”
Yuuri was in front of me.
And Yuuri was talking to me.
And he called me by my first name, “Hazuki,” instead of my last name.
This was the first time he called me by my first name after Yuuri had rejected me.
“If you are okay, follow me to Hanasaki Park.”
With that said, I followed Yuuri as he started walking.
When we arrived at the park, I saw Kanade sitting on a bench.
I was getting more and more confused as I was urged to sit down on the bench.
“It’s been a long time, Hazuki-chan.”
“Yes, it has.”
I had not talked to Kanade properly since she severed our childhood relationship in this park, and to be honest, I could not make eye contact with her.
“I’m sorry for the suddenness of it. I didn’t think you’d be so surprised but rest assured I’m not trying to get you in trouble or anything.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I was actually listening to what you and Kouki were talking about yesterday.”
I was even more upset than before.
Was he listening to what we talked about? Why?
“I am sorry. Let’s go through it in order.”
Yuuri then explained that he had been consulted by Mom, that he had been watching my behavior for only a week, that he had overheard me talking with Kouki yesterday, and that he had recorded the exchange.
But I am even more confused.
Because if Yuuri tells my mom what I said yesterday, it means that Yuuri has complied with her request. I have no idea what Yuuri wants to do.
“I’m going to ask you frankly. Does Hazuki really want to marry Kouki and have a baby?”
“...Yes, I think so.”
“Do you love Kouki?”
“...”
“I, I love him.”
“...I see. A student marriage would most likely have a tough future ahead of it. Are you saying you want to marry Kouki with that resolution in mind?”
“I know it’s tough. But I want to give birth. I want to have the baby and marry Kouki.
When I said that, Yuuri muttered, “I see,” and then fell silent.
After a long silence, Yuuri opened his mouth again.
“I see. Then, I will help you so that you and Kouki can get married.”
“But it doesn’t mean that you can get married %. It’s only to the extent that it raises the odds. Would you still do it?”
“Yes, if there is a chance that we can get married, I will do exactly what Yuuri says.”
When I said this, Yuuri gave me a step-by-step explanation of what I should do from now on. I was surprised to hear that. Surely, I could get married if that’s the way it goes. I looked at Kanade next to me and she was as surprised as I was, but she said, “Certainly if that is the case...”
“But, Yuuri. Why did you decide to help me after I betrayed you?”
“I honestly can’t forgive you guys at all, and I don’t think I ever will.”
“Yes, I know...”
I let my face fall at the harsh words from Yuuri.
“However, I don’t hold grudges against you anymore. I did indeed resent you guys right after that. I wanted to take revenge. But the one who healed my broken heart was Kanade, who is here now. There were many people besides Kanade who helped me. That’s why I was able to look forward.”
I was surprised to see Yuuri’s face again, as I thought he still held a grudge against me.
“I don’t hate you, but I don’t think I can forgive you for the rest of my life. If I hadn’t found out you were pregnant and didn’t know your true feelings, I wouldn’t have been particularly interested in doing anything about it. But now that I know, I’m pissed off with the way Kouki handled it. Besides...”
Yuuri then opened his eyes for a beat and said, “We are childhood friends,” with kind eyes as if we had been dating.
I broke down crying at his words and the look in his eyes.
“Ugh ...... I’m sorry. I’m sorry I betrayed you. I know I did something unforgivable. And I am prepared to be unforgiven for the rest of my life. But, but ......”
I burst into tears and begin to apologize.
“I really wanted to apologize earlier... But I was afraid of rejection... and I was afraid to look you in the eye... I couldn’t muster up the courage... I am so sorry. I’m so sorry for being carried away, for continuing to run away... and for hurting you.”
“To be clear, this is the last time I’m going to help you. This is probably the last time I’m going to talk to you. So today is goodbye, Hazuki.”
“Thank you so much, Yuuri. I was really happy that you called me a childhood friend again. And thank you for letting me say goodbye at the end... Yuuri, thank you so much for everything. Goodbye.”
“Ah, goodbye.”
[Yuuri’s Point of View]
I and Kanade watched Hazuki leave the park and then sat back down on the bench.
“What do you think? Was it too sweet?”
“Hmmm. I think it was a very good choice for Yuu-kun. Because if Yuu-kun had parted just like that, I think he would have left a lingering stain in the corner of his heart.”
“I’m no match to Kanade, after all. I’m sure you can see through it all.”
“Yes, I do. I know more about Yuu-kun than Yuu-kun.”
I was aware that my face was reddening as Kanade was directly telling me how much she liked me.
I continue my story, trying not to let my embarrassment show.
“Do you think those guys can get married?”
“I think they can get married if they do it in the right order, just like you said. I gave her the recording data of those two, so I thought we could make it work.”
“Yes, I suppose so. Now, all we have to do is show Hazuki how serious we are. Whether they get married or decide to abort, it’s between those two and their parents, so it’s really the end of our involvement.”
“By the way, what are you going to explain to Hazuki’s mom?”
“I’m sure Hazuki will explain soon, so I’ll tell her to wait until then.”
“I see. That’s a good idea.”
I looked at Kanade who was standing next to me and reflected on everything that had happened.
I don’t know how much support Kanade has given me since I just broke up with Hazuki. If it weren’t for Kanade, I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to call her a childhood friend again. I am indebted to Kanade to the extent that I cannot thank her enough. And I was overflowing with feelings for Kanade even more than that.
And, as Kanade said earlier, if I had not said goodbye to Hazuki in person, I might have been holding on to a small lump in my heart for a long time. And now, I feel like that lump had been completely removed.
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Yuu-kun? Do I have something on my face?”
“Kanade, I need to talk to you.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and looked back at my memories of Kanade.
Then I opened my eyes again and looked into Kanade’s beautiful eyes.
“I like Kanade.”
“Eh?”
Kanade looked at me with a stunned expression.
“When I was in pain when I was feeling down, Kanade was there for me all the time and really saved my life. I want to be able to save Kanade this time. I want to stay next to Kanade. I want to make Kanade happy. I hope you will go out with me. I love you, Kanade.”
Several big tears spilled from Kanade’s eyes.
“Yuu-kun. I Like you too. I love you, Yuu-kun. Please make me your lover.”
I hugged Kanade.
Kanade also put her hand on my back and hugged me tightly.
We held each other there for a long time, feeling each other’s warmth. |
.[Kanade’s Point of View]
Yoshi-chan, you’re too close to Yuu-kun!
Oh, something that shouldn’t hit you is right on your arm!
Nnnn! Yuu-kun, you’re being too flirty!
I’m bigger than her, so if you had told me, I would have let you touch me anytime you wanted!
Right in front of my eyes, Yoshi-chan is spoiling Yuu-kun. I’m a little annoyed at Yuu-kun, who is a little embarrassed but doesn’t refuse.
The truth is, even I want to stick with Yuu-kun, too... I went from anger mode to depression mode, but then I heard some words I didn’t want to hear from Yoshi-chan and I went into cringing mode.
“Well then, Yuuri-senpai, please make me ahhh and eat.”
I’ve never had anyone do that to me either!
Yuu-kun, why are you pulling your arm out and trying to bring it to Yoshi-chan’s mouth? Are you going to make Yoshi-chan eat the food I made for Yuu-kun? I don’t like that!
Ughhhh! I can’t take it anymore! Yuu-kun, no bakaaaa!
Eiii!!!!
Crunch!
Huh, you closed your eyes, so you can’t see who aaahhn, can you?
You look like you’re eating well, but I made that octopus wiener go “aaaahhn!”
I made sure that Yoshi-chan was satisfied with the “ahn” and started eating her lunch properly, and I was able to enjoy my lunch with a mysterious sense of accomplishment.
.....Uwaaa.
Why did I do such a childish thing? It’s no wonder Yuu-kun was appalled. But I had never had Yuu-kun do an “ahn” to me either, and I couldn’t stand the thought of him doing it to Yoshi-chan.
After lunch time was over, I returned to my seat and calmly reflected on my earlier behavior, feeling self-loathing. I was too much of an emotional wreck.
I looked at Yuu-kun, who had taken his seat, and saw him and Satoru happily talking about something.
Oh, my God! Yuu-kun is so carefree that he doesn’t even know what I’m thinking!
I was staring at Yuu-kun when he suddenly turned his head toward me and I quickly turned my face away.
Aaahhh. What on earth do I really want to do?
I love Yuu-kun. I love him.
And lately, it’s getting harder and harder to put a stop to these feelings. Because the feelings I once locked away when I was in the second year of junior high school have come to the surface for the first time in four years. I didn’t have the confidence to suppress these overflowing feelings anymore.
Until now, I thought that even if Yuu-kun found someone else he liked and went out with that person, it would be fine as long as he was happy.
But after seeing Yoshi-chan today, I realized that I was lying to myself. I don’t want Yuu-kun to fall in love with you. No, I don’t. I don’t want him to like other girls besides me.
From now on, I have to appeal to Yuu-kun, too. If I don’t do that, Yoshi-chan might take him away from me. ...... I don’t want that. I’m going to appeal to Yuu-kun aggressively from now on! I’m prepared to play tricks on him if I have to!
All right! I’ll take action after the closing ceremony!
*****
[Yuuri’s Point of View]
The sports festival ended in victory for the white team.
At the closing ceremony, Hazuki reverently received the championship flag, but my heart was not in an uproar. Well, if I had to mention anything about Hazuki, it would be that she had lost some weight. I would hate to see her lose any more weight and have people think it was because of our breakup, so I would like her to eat a lot of rice and get back to the healthy body she had before.
While I was thinking about this, the closing ceremony was over before I knew it. I felt a bit of hate building up at the last minute. Hmmm. I don’t think I’ll feel better if I just go home, so I think I’ll invite Satoru and go have some fun with him.
As I was looking around for Satoru, I received a thud from behind me. Yoshi-chan is here again, isn’t he? I turned around and called out to him.
“Yoshi-chan, you’ve got a lot of people watching you at school, so please don’t tackle me again.”
“Boo-boo, it wasn’t Yoshi-chan, it was me.”
“Kanade! What’s the matter with you tackling me too?”
“I’m sure it won’t be uncommon from now on. Well, I’d like to do the celebration now, so why don’t we invite everyone to a family restaurant?”
It’s going to be uncommon from now on? I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but the launch is a godsend! That’s what I’m talking about! Just in time to clear up this mood I’m in!
“A celebration. Sounds like fun. Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Yay! I’ve already told Kozue-chan, so let’s invite Satoru-kun, Yoshi-chan, and Hanaka-chan, too, and we’ll all go!
“Okay! I’ll call Satoru, and you call Hanaka.”
“Okay, I’ll tell her to meet us at the school gate!”
Yoshi-chan and Hanaka were going to a party in their class, so we ended up going to a family restaurant as the usual group of four. As soon as we arrived at the table, we ordered a drink bar for the number of people in our group and made a toast to our fatigue.
“Well, we lost today! It was the last time in high school, so it was a little frustrating, but it was a lot of fun!”
“I know. It was the last time in high school, wasn’t it? I’m going to be sad every time an event is over, thinking that I may never be able to do it again, but I want to cherish every one of them and enjoy them with everyone.”
“You’re so right, Kozue-chan! I think so too! Let’s all enjoy high school together until the end.”
Seeing the three of them happily chatting together, I felt like I was living this kind of youth for the first time. I had always been with Hazuki, so it was the first time for me to celebrate a school event.
“I kind of like it this way.”
Satoru, who had heard my monologue with a keen ear, looked at me with a smirk on his face.
“What is it, Yuuri? What are you talking about?”
“Ah, no. I’ve been to club celebrations, but I’ve never been to a family restaurant after an event like this with my classmates. So now I feel like I’m having a very high-school-like youth experience.”
“It’s true that Yuuri has always been with Sakashita-san. It’s a pity that you guys broke up, but I’m pretty happy that I get to hang out with you like this now.”
I didn’t expect Satoru to say this to me head-on, and I said, “Hey, what are you talking about? That’s embarrassing!” I was so embarrassed that I had to say something. I glanced at Kanade and saw that she looked happy to see me and Satoru having this exchange.
“Yuu-kun, let’s have lots of fun with everyone from now on.”
“I’ve never played with Yamagishi-kun outside of school, so I’d like to go somewhere with him when we have time.”
“What? Kozue-chan, by any chance, are you thinking of Yuu-kun...?
“No! No! No, Kanade-chan. I just wanted to say that I want to play with this group again!”
“That’s right. You mean with this group again, right? Oh, I was surprised.”
Satoru, who for some reason was upset by Kanade’s statement, was overreacting when he heard Tanuki-san’s defense.
Huh? I wondered if Satoru might be in love with Tanuki-san, and looked at Kanade with that thought. Kanade noticed his gaze and quietly nodded her head in agreement, realizing the meaning of his gaze. I see, I feel somewhat happy when I think that Satoru also has a solid youth.
“It’s late, so I’ll walk you home.”
When the party was over, it was dark outside. I enjoyed the party so much that I stayed too long. It was a little dangerous to let Kanade walk alone at night, so I decided to walk her home.
“What? Is it okay? Thank you, Yuu-kun. Then let’s go home together.”
Kanade and I are not neighbors because we are in different areas of the city, but Kanade’s house is near the road from the station to my house, so it wasn’t a big deal for me to walk her home.
“Oh, Yuu-kun. You’re busy with club activities from now on until the national team competition, aren’t you?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. I guess club activities will be hard from tomorrow.”
“And since the manager has a lot of work to do, it’s going to be tough for both of us.”
“I guess so. It’s the last chance for us to play in high school, so let’s do our best so that we don’t have any regrets.”
“Yes! And you know, after the final, there will be exams, right? After all of them, let’s have another party, shall we?”
“Oh! I like that! I’ll tell everyone in the club and they’ll be so happy!”
“Oh! No, no, that’s not what I meant.”
Kanade is bobbing her head to the side. I thought she was talking about the party for the club’s activities, but she wasn’t. Then what on earth are you going to launch?
“What are we going to celebrate? If you’re not celebrating our club activities, what are you going to celebrate?”
“Well, let’s see. The purpose is to celebrate our club activities, but I thought it would be nice if we could do it alone, not with everyone else. You know, we have been together since our elementary school soccer club, right? So I wanted to have a party to celebrate the end of our club activities at the end of high school. Is that a bad idea?”
“What are you talking about now? Of course, I’m fine. We hung out together almost every day during spring break.”
“Because I had a purpose then, and before that, we never went out alone together because Hazuki-chan was there.”
“Well, if you put it that way, I guess so. Hazuki isn’t here now either, so from now on, let’s just hang out together without any reservations!”
“Yes, let’s play a lot. Let’s play a lot. That is a promise, you know.”
Kanade hugged me with a twinkle in her eye. She smiled and pressed her head against me grimly, which was a little painful, but not unpleasant at all.
Maybe Kanade likes me after all.
Looking at Kanade’s words and actions toward me, I can’t help but feel that way. And I’m aware that I’m feeling that way as I’m doing various things with Kanade.
But if I go out with Kanade, she might betray me too. Once fear is instilled in me, I become very afraid to take a step forward. But I still surrender myself to Kanade’s kindness.
(When did I become so feminine and weak?) |
The summer vacation felt longer than expected since there were no extracurricular activities, but when the new term started, I began to miss it.
I spent most of the rest of the summer studying with Kanade.
The rest of the time I spent studying with Kanade. Kanade’s concentration when we were learning was amazing, and I could study more deeply as if pulled along by her concentration. At the end of the summer, Kanade and I took the National Unified Mock Exam, and we both succeeded in raising our grades.
And one more thing, there was a slight change after the summer vacation.
‘Bing bong.’
I ring the intercom, and a loud slamming sound approaches from behind the door.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuu-kun. Shall we go to school then?”
I had been going to school alone for the first semester, but from the second semester, I would be going to school with Kanade. It had been a long time since I had commuted to school with someone else, and I was kind of happy, and when I saw Kanade’s face, I grinned sloppily.
“What are you grinning at?”
“Well, it’s been a while since I went to school with someone like this, so I’m kind of happy.”
“Yuu-kun, you were lonely the first semester, weren’t you? If I wasn’t always busy in the morning, I would have gone with you.”
Yes. Kanade is very bad in the mornings.
She always arrives at school just in time for her normal school day, but only when there is a function or event, she wonders why she wakes up so early. When I asked Kanade about it, she told me that she just gets excited and repeats sleeping and waking up.
“No, it’s fine. You’re weak in the morning but you did all right today, didn’t you? I was prepared to wait quite a while.”
“Moou, what do you think I am? Even I could do it if I wanted to!”
She turns her head to the side while preening, but soon smiles at me and says, “This is kind of fun, isn’t it?” I naturally stroke Kanade’s head as I say, “Yes, it is,” because Kanade is so cute like that. Kanade squints her eyes pleasantly and is stroked without resistance. Then, when my hand touches her ear, she lets out a small “nn”.
I came back to myself at that word and was surprised to find that I had naturally stroked Kanade’s head.
“Oh, I’m sorry I patted you on the head.”
“It’s okay. It made me happy, so you can pat me on the head more from now on, okay?”
“I’ll try to.”
After the summer festival, she began to tell me what she wanted to do without hesitation. Since then, Kanade has been making me feel flustered more and more.
But it never makes me feel bad, and deep down I hope that she will continue to be selfish only with me in the future.
“Oh, good morning. I haven’t seen you since our study group the other day!”
The four of us had gathered together before the final exam, and we regularly held study sessions during the summer vacation as well. The initiator of the study group was surprisingly Tanuki-san.
“Did you study hard after that?”
“Just a little bit. Because I want to get into a university too!”
“Yeah. But Kanade was really great, you know? You didn’t take it, but your score on the national mock exam went up quite a bit.”
“That’s right, Satoru-kun. I studied so much during the summer vacation that I got a “B” in the school of my choice!”
There was Kanade with her hands on her hips, showing off her gorgeous smug face.
“For real! Miyama-san is awesome... Maybe I should have taken the mock test too.”
“I’ll take the next one, too, Satoru. Satoru, let’s take the test together then!”
“I’ll definitely take it too then. But I’m not sure if I’ll be able to handle it with my academic abilities...”
“Mishima-kun, if you don’t show some seriousness, you might just end up going off on your own, you know?”
“Oh, it’s Kozue-chan! Good morning!”
Before we knew it, Tanuki-san was lined up next to us and naturally entered the conversation. Tanuki-san sometimes loses her presence...
“Yeah, good morning. You worked really hard during the summer vacation, didn’t you, Kanade? I got a lot of inspiration from you. So, if you want, I’d like to have another study group with everyone after the second semester.”
“I’d love to! Let’s do it! Since I studied with everyone, my motivation went up quite a bit.”
“Oh, me too! Tanuki-san and Yuuri’s teaching style was really good, so it really helped me.”
I am really glad that I studied with the four of us. I was able to improve my grades in subjects that I used to be bad at by having Tanuki-san teach me. When I study with Kanade, I can deepen my understanding of the subject by teaching her what she doesn’t understand, but when I don’t understand something, I have to look it up by myself, which is not efficient. So there was no way I could be unhappy with the four of us studying together.
“Well, do you want to go back to the library once or twice a week to study?”
“We can’t talk much if we always go to the library, so let’s go to a family restaurant again once every two weeks or so!”
“I agree. Studying is good, but it was fun to have a casual conversation after studying, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, yeah! Let’s do that!”
It was strange that we were talking about studying, but we were having a good time as if we were going out to have fun. But I guess the four of us can talk happily about any topic.
To be honest, when the first semester started, I was dreading going to school, but I can only thank the three of them for making me feel so happy.
“Speaking of which, aren’t we about to decide on what we’re going to put on for the school festival?”
“Yeah, it’s our last festival in high school, and we want to make the best memories!”
“Yeah, since it’s the last one, we definitely want to make it a good festival.”
“I know it’s a bit old-fashioned, but I like maid cafes. I wonder why girls in maid suits are so cute?”
“Yeah, I don’t like Satoru-kun’s naughty-looking face.”
Kanade and Tanuki-san were staring at Satoru with stern looks in their eyes. Satoru was upset by their stares and waddled over to me and said, “You understand it right Yuuri?” I blurted out, “I don’t know.”
But to tell you the truth, if Kanade and Tanuki-san were dressed as maids, I’d want to see them so bad too! To put it bluntly, I’d get down on my knees and pay for it. As I was thinking that, Kanade said to me, “Yuu-kun has a little naughty face too.” Damn, even my perfect poker face doesn’t work in front of Kanade...
“Well, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but let’s definitely make this the best cultural festival ever!”
I declared to everyone in a high voice as if to change the topic. |
“Yuuri-senpai, this is a haunted house! Let’s go in here next!”
As promised, Yoshi-chan and I are going around the festival together. She was very excited to experience a high school festival for the first time. As proof of this, she reacts to every exhibit she sees and says, “I want to go in here! I want to be in here!”
Her reaction made me smile, and it reminded me of when I was a first-year student myself, and I felt nostalgic.
“Hmmm. It was kind of a cheap haunted house, wasn’t it?”
As soon as we got out of the haunted house, Yoshi-chan expressed her harsh opinion with her arms folded.
“The haunted house was made by a high school student. I think that’s the limit, right?”
“My plan was to pretend to be scared and hug Yuuri-senpai, but that didn’t work. So please go with me to the scarier one next time.”
Her smile, so defenseless, appealed directly to my heart. Seeing that smile, I felt my heart ache.
After parting with Yoshi-chan, I spent the rest of the day just helping out at the costume cafe. It was a pity that Kanade and I did not have the same break, but it was a good thing that I could go around the festival with Kanade after Satoru’s confession.
Thus, our last festival, which had been a great success day after day, ended in a great success. At first, we were a little shy about dressing up in costumes, but now we are all regretting it as we go back to our school uniforms.
“It’s all over now, isn’t it?”
“Oh, yes, it is. It was the best festival ever, wasn’t it?”
“It was really great. But it was a pity that I couldn’t go around with Yuu-kun.”
“That’s too bad. I’m sorry about that, too, but we still have a big job to do. After that, let’s go around the festival together.”
“Yes! Then I’m going to go to Kozue-chan’s place as soon as possible!”
Kanade ran to Tanuki-san, who was back in her school uniform. I saw her off and went to Satoru’s place.
“Ugh, Yuuri. My heart is beating unbelievably hard, am I going to die like this? Here, touch it. It’s not normal.”
Satoru looked pale and asked me to touch his chest. It would be a very bad picture if a man put his hand on the chest of another man like that.
We are walking toward the schoolyard where the campfire is. There are a few extra activities going on around the campfire, and it is still going strong.
“Absolutely not. You’re not going to be okay with that now, are you?”
“It should be fine. I’ve always been like this before a match, and once the match started, I was able to open up. To tell you the truth, I’m in worse shape than before the match.”
“Satoru looks brazen, but he’s surprisingly sensitive.”
“No, I’m serious...”
While we were talking about such things, it was finally time to light the campfire. Then the countdown begins.
“Five, four, three....”
Everyone shouts along with the countdown.
“One, zero.”
“”””Woooooooooooooooooooooo!!!””””
Just as the excitement of the students reached its peak, a huge flame shot up from the campfire, illuminating the darkened schoolyard in red.
Now, Satoru’s game was about to begin. I put my hand lightly on Satoru’s shoulder. Satoru looked at me and nodded his head once as if he had made up his mind.
Unlike the Satoru of a few minutes ago, his eyes were determined.
(I guess it’s true that you can reopen your mind when it comes to a match)
When I saw Satoru’s face, I felt reassured, clapped him on the back and said, “Let’s go!” and started walking to the classroom.
In the classroom, lit red by the campfire light, Satoru was waiting for Tanuki-san alone, looking at the schoolyard. I, on the other hand, after letting Satoru into the classroom, went into the next classroom and hid.
Then I heard Kanade and Tanuki-san’s voices coming from the end of the hallway. They had probably arrived at the front of the classroom.
“Kozue-chan. I’m sorry I brought you here without telling you. Could you please go into the classroom by yourself, Kozue-chan?”
“What? What’s wrong? Why do I have to go into the classroom alone?”
“Please! You’ll understand when you get in there. I promise you won’t be scared or anything.”
“Okay, okay. But next time, you’ll tell me before I go in, okay?”
“Yes! Thank you.”
As soon as the conversation was over, I heard the sound of a door opening.
I went to Kanade in the hallway and kept an eye out in front of the classroom for anyone coming in until their conversation was over.
“Do you think Satoru’s confession will go well?”
“I’m sure it will.”
“I’m just a little nervous because I’m thinking of all the other possibilities.”
“Don’t worry. I can tell by looking at Kozue-chan.”
“I see...”
We didn’t talk after that, just looked around and waited for the two of them. The time was about fifteen minutes. The door opened and the two came out of the classroom. Satoru was crying. I was worried for a moment when I saw her tears, but when I saw the look on Satoru’s face, it all went away at once.
“Yuuri...... I’m going out with Tanuki-san.”
Satoru had the most charming smile ever. Seeing his face, my emotions exploded and I hugged Satoru and said, “That’s great! I called out to him. Tanuki-san, who saw that, let out a slightly excited cackle, but I tried not to let that bother me.
After sharing our joy for a little while, Kanade and I went back to the schoolyard and watched the campfire side by side.
“I’m really happy for the two of them that things turned out so well.”
“Yeah, when I saw that look on Satoru’s face, I was really happy too.”
“I’m really happy too. Kozue-chan was a little embarrassed, but she looked really happy.”
When I looked at the expression on Kanade’s face next to me, she looked really happy. There are times when Kanade always seems to put others before herself. When she is happy, she is happy with them, and when they are hurt, she is kind and supportive.
I want Kanade to be happy from the bottom of my heart.
And I want to be the one to make her happy. |
[Kanade’s Point of View]
By now, Yuu-kun must have told those two that he was going to have a joint practice session suddenly. The joint practice would indeed take place from now on, but in fact, it had been decided from the beginning. I didn’t tell them that we were going to have a joint practice but just told them that we were going to have a game and asked them to come.
Incidentally, both the coach and my teammates knew that I would not participate in the joint practice from the beginning and that Yuu-kun would leave halfway through. Of course, I did not honestly tell them the reason for that.
And what I am doing now is hiding near the exit and waiting for those two to come out. The reason why I am doing that is I am going to follow them.
You see, the area in front of the station where this school is located is famous for its many love hotels, or in other words, castles where adults talk about their love. There was no way those two would not know about it. And I didn’t think they would pass up a chance to be alone with each other. That’s why Yuu-kun and I were trying to trap them and catch them red-handed when they came out of the love hotel.
Even if they didn’t go into the love hotel, we could call them out on the video, and either way, Yuu-kun and I were going to settle things by the end of the day!
(Wow, Yuu-kun was really cool today. I never thought he could be so muscular against that team.)
I was bored waiting for the two of them and was squealing by myself, remembering Yuu-kun’s performance today. Then I saw two familiar faces walking toward me from near the venue exit. I was in a heart-fluttering, heart-pounding mode, but as soon as I saw them, I knew my blood had run cold.
(I still can’t forgive those two. How could I forgive those two for betraying Yuu-kun?)
I followed them, glaring at them with eyes filled with hatred as they talked happily.
They were walking in a friendly manner, passing through an area with many love hotels and walking toward the station.
(Huh? They’re not going to do anything today?)
I thought for a moment that my guess was off, but the two of them were heading for the opposite exit instead of toward the ticket gate. Then I remembered that there were several love hotels at the opposite exit. If they entered the love hotel at the exit on this side, there was a possibility that they would run into Yuu-kun and his friends after practice, so they chose the love hotel at the other exit. ......
I don’t know whose idea it was, but that calm decision irritates me.
But then again, when I see those two walking around, they are nothing more than a couple, no matter how you look at them. I don’t even know what they are talking about, but when Kouki says something, Hazuki covers her mouth with her hand and giggles. Then, about the time we passed through the exit on the other side, Hazuki-chan was being held by Kouki around the waist. If that isn’t a couple, I don’t know what is.
I have seen Yuu-kun and Hazuki-chan in that kind of back position many times, and each time I have looked at Hazuki-chan with envy. But today, when I look at Hazuki-chan, my eyes are filled with nothing but a mixture of scorn and contempt.
(Why? Why is she looking so happy with her arms around another man when Yuu-kun is there?)
I couldn’t believe it. Hazuki, whom I used to think was beautiful, is now just something ugly and terrifying.
The two entered a love hotel a short distance from the station. Looking at the sign outside, I saw that it said “Rest (max. hours) from , yen”. I went into a coffee shop a little further from the love hotel and took a seat by the window. I had a clear view of the entrance and exit of the love hotel and was thankful that the coffee shop was in a good location. It is indeed too scary to have a girl standing in front of a love hotel for three hours.
After I told Yuu-kun where I was on RINE, I had nothing to do and just stared blankly out the window. After about an hour of that feeling, Yu-kun entered the shop.
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.
“No problem. It’s okay. Yuu-kun, you had to practice after the game, too, so thanks for your hard work.”
“Thanks for your help. But to be honest, I couldn’t concentrate on practice. My heart was not in the right place.”
Seeing Yuu-kun’s face as he forced himself to speak cheerfully, I felt a prickle of pain in my chest.
“Well, I can’t help thinking about the future. Because I’ve been here too, doing nothing, just moping around.”
“I see. I’m still grateful. Or rather than that, is Kanade serious and will accompany me in discussions with them? We’re childhood friends, but Kanade isn’t directly involved in this mess, right?”
“Don’t be so lonely. I have something to do with it too. Because both Hazuki and Kouki are my trusted friends. I’m not going to let Yoo-kun go in front of those two by himself. Yoo-kun will probably get hurt a lot.”
Yoo-kun looked a little pained when he heard my words, but he immediately smiled and said, “Thanks.” Yoo-kun is the one who suffers the most, so why are you so kind to me? I really don’t want you to be hurt. I don’t want to make you suffer anymore. I will stand next to you and bear a part of your suffering.
(I will definitely save you.)
About two hours after Yoo-kun came to the coffee shop, those two came out of the exit of the love hotel. We had had too many drinks, so we hurried to pay the bill with our stomachs feeling flabby, and then followed those two. And when their backs were in front of us, Yoo-kun called out to them.
“Yo. What a coincidence to see you two here. By the way, it looks like you guys came out of the love hotel, what were you two doing together?” |
“Thanks for waiting. It’s only February and it’s crazy cold. I wanted to come over at the last minute.”
“It’s okay. It’s what I like to do. It’s really cold today, by the way. Let’s go into the café first when we arrive and warm up.”
As we pass through the ticket gates and stand on the platform, Hazuki is groaning “Ugh ......” and grabbing the collar of her dull pink coat and pulling it on. Honestly, my girlfriend is so cute. Hazuki is so dignified when she’s with someone other than me that I’m sure the guys at school would be surprised to see her in such a vulnerable state.
By the way, there is a reason why Hazuki and I, who live next door to each other, went to the trouble of meeting in front of the station. It was to make our date special.
I once said, “Since we live next door to each other, why don’t you just go together like you usually do?” but she said, “No, you can’t. A date is special. If we go from our houses, it will be the same as usual.”
Thinking back, we had always met in front of Hazuki’s house to go to school since elementary school, so I agreed with Hazuki’s words that I wanted to make our date feel special.
“Haaah... I’m back to life.”
As soon as entering the café, Hazuki’s face looks blissful and she screams in bliss.
“As usual Hazuki, you’re not that good in the cold.”
“I’m wearing a coat and stuff, so my body isn’t as bad as it could be. But my face inevitably gets cold and sore.”
As she says this, she is squeezing her cheeks with her own hands.
Seeing her like that, I naturally narrow my eyes, thinking how lucky I am to be able to monopolize such a lovely Hazuki.
“Do you have an agenda for what you’re going to buy today?”
“Ummm. I don’t have a particular brand of clothing that I want, but since it’s spring, I’m hoping to find some pastel-colored light knits or lace skirts that I can wear.”
“Hazuki is as fashionable as ever.”
Hazuki probably became more fashionable in junior high school, as the clothes she wore gradually became more mature. Of course, since she was able to wear such clothes, Hazuki must have had the sense to know what fashions suited her.
“Because I want Yuuri to think I’m cute, you know?”
“Well, I always think Hazuki is cute.”
“Ufufu. Thanks.”
I was thrilled by Hazuki’s too-honest words, and I gulped down my still-hot coffee, my eyes black and white. While looking at me like that “Moou, Yuuri,”, Hazuki was looking at me while smiling. “We’ve been together for a long time, but she always makes my heart beat faster.” I felt a little frustrated while thinking that.
After the shopping was over, Hazuki and I went into an Italian restaurant, a popular place among many people, to have dinner.
Sitting in front of me was Hazuki, looking very happy and content. Apparently, she had found many of her favorites, and today’s shopping trip had been a great success.
“Yuuri, maybe you should try wearing something a little more flashy.”
“No, I don’t look good in that kind of clothing.”
“I don’t think so. Rather, the original fabric is more important in a simple outfit. Perhaps you are thinking, “I’m so cool that something so simple looks good on me!” or something like that?”
“No! That’s not true!”
“Ufufu. I’m just kidding. I’m just kidding.”
I was irritated by Hazuki’s grinning face, but I was really enjoying this usual exchange. Then the topic of conversation turned to the third-grade class change.
“By the way, aren’t we going to change classes in the third grade? Which course are you planning to take, science or literature?
“Hmmm. I haven’t really decided yet. I haven’t decided which department I’m going to study at university either. Which one are you going to choose, Hazuki?”
“I’m going to take the liberal arts course. I’m thinking of going to college in a foreign language department.”
“Ah, you’ve been saying that since the first day of high school! You’ve been going to cram school every day since the first day of high school to get there, so I really admire and respect you, Hazuki.”
“It’s embarrassing to hear you say that. But thank you. I also respect and love you for not cutting corners in your club activities and studies.”
I can’t help but love Hazuki for saying something that makes me happy while her face turns a faint shade of red. Perhaps if someone had heard this conversation, they would have clicked their tongue and said, “Tsk.” If I had been listening to this conversation as a third party, I would have definitely clicked my tongue. Because this conversation is just too innocent.
“I would like to be in the same class as you in the third grade. If we are in the same class, we can enjoy various events together. As for me, I am looking forward to the last festival the most. I’m looking forward to watching the campfire at the festival.”
“I know, right? I’m looking forward to being in the same class as Hazuki and making a lot of memories in my senior year. Ah, it’s almost time to hand in the printouts for the class selections, and I have to think about it too.”
“If you have any trouble, I’m always here for you, so feel free to talk to me.”
“Oh! I’ll consult with Hatsuki first then.”
After enjoying our after-dinner coffee to the fullest, we slowly headed home.
For some reason, I felt like I was missing something, so I asked Hazuki if I could stop by the park to talk with her. It was already quite late, and there was a chance she would say no, but Hazuki’s answer was, “Sure.”
“I also wanted to talk with you a little longer.”
“I didn’t realize that! I thought I might have overstepped my bounds, but I’m relieved. But if it’s getting really tough, just be honest about it, okay?”
“I’m not going to hold back with you now. I tell Yuuri everything.”
I was so happy that she looked me in the eye and told me how she felt straight away and I was about to pat Hazuki on the head when suddenly Hazuki let out a little scream, “Kya!”
“What’s wrong Hazuki?”
When I asked Hazuki, who had calmed down, she told me that a dead leaf had hit her body and she had mistaken it for an insect.
“I was a little stuttered, but if you think about it carefully, insects are rare at this time of year.”
Hazuki, who had calmed down, laughed as if to cover up her earlier upset. I was relieved to see that, and hearing the keyword “insect,” I asked her about the recent insect ruckus that had occurred in my room.
“By the way, you said there was an insect in my room the other day, right? What kind of insect was it? Hazuki also mentioned it, but it’s winter and bugs are pretty rare.”
Then Hazuki, who is usually so calm, swept his eyes and said, “Well, that...” Hazuki was at a loss for words.
“What’s the matter? Was it a bug that big?”
“I didn’t see much of it until Kouki told me it was a bug and got rid of it for me, but I was just screaming all the time, so I didn’t really know much about it.”
“I see, Hazuki has always hated bugs.”
“Ah, that’s right. What are you doing after school on Mondays, Yuuri? Club activities?”
“That’s right. I’m always doing club activities. Hatsuki goes to cram school, right?”
“U, un. Yes, that’s right. Yes, I’m going to cram school too.”
Something seems strange about Hazuki. Did she have something with Kouki at that time?
I looked at Hazuki who changed the subject impatiently and felt a little tugging at my heart. |
“Yuu nii-chan! It’s morning! Hazuki-chan came to pick you up!”
My sister Hanaka comes to my room and wakes me up, patting the futon firmly.
“I overslept! I’m sorry, Hanaka! Tell Hazuki to wait for me inside the house.
“I can’t help it now, Yuu nii-chan!”
Hanaka is so excited that she runs to Hazuki, who is waiting at the entrance.
I made a mad dash to brush my teeth, wash my face and change my clothes, then headed for Hazuki’s place waiting in the living room.
“Good morning, Yuuri. You’re a total sleepyhead.”
“Good morning. Well, sorry for keeping you waiting...”
Hazuki, smiling and greeting me in the morning, is having a very elegant time with a cup of coffee in her hand. I, on the other hand, managed to finish my preparations while gasping, but what’s this difference? Is Hazuki the daughter of some noblewoman?
“Mmm-hmm. It’s okay. We’ll just have to go to school a little faster than usual today.”
“Oh, yeah, right. I’m sorry, I’ll leave the house unlocked.”
“Moou, Yuu nii-chan!”
When I opened the door with Hanaka’s reproachful voice at my back, I found Hanaka’s friend, Konomi Yoshino, coming to pick up Hanaka in front of me. She suddenly hugged me, saying “Yuuri-senpai,” but we were short on time, so I brushed her off and headed for the station.
I heard “Yuuri-senpai no baka” from behind me, but I didn’t care. Still, I didn’t expect to be blamed by my sister and Yoshi-chan in the morning...
We were in a hurry and managed to get on the train just in time to not be late. Despite the fact that it was still cold, the two of us were sweating thinly.
“Huh, looks like we’ll make it in time.”
‘Yeah, I guess so. But I’m sorry I got Hazuki involved too.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s okay to have mornings like that once in a while. It was fun. By the way, it was so cute to see Yuuri coming down the stairs in a hurry that I got a little nervous.”
Hazuki was recalling how I had just woken up, and she was smiling a small reminiscent smile. I look at Hazuki like that and feel that Hazuki at the Hanasaki Park we went to the other day is still different from usual and strange.
(I wonder what Hazuki was like at that time...)
Hazuki and I had been spending a lot of time together for quite a while, but she had never been upset by what I had heard. I felt a small lump forming in my chest and continued our conversation naturally, trying not to let Hazuki know about it.
Then we arrived at school, and after the first period, Kanade came to my seat.
She said, “Yoo-kun. After our club activities are over today, do you want to go to a café and talk for a while?”
“Okay, let’s go.”
After club activities, Kanade and I often go to a café in front of the station and have a kind of meeting to reflect on our club activities. Hazuki knows this, so it’s no problem at all.
But still, what’s up with the mood today?
Most of the time when I make plans with Kanade to go to the café, it’s usually after club activities, and I’ve never been asked to go after the first period.
(Kanade was acting a little strange the other day, so maybe that’s what’s going on?)
I remember when the four of us played together, Kanade was a little down in the second half of the day.
“Did you get your thoughts straight about what you were thinking then?”
“Un. I’m not sure yet.”
“I see. I honestly don’t know if I can help you, but it helps to talk to someone else so you can get your thoughts straight. If I can be of any help to you, I’m always willing to lend a hand, so don’t hesitate to do so in the future.”
“Un. Thanks”
Kanade is still troubled, or perhaps she has a complicated expression on her face as she expresses her gratitude and returns to her seat.
(Kanade had an uneasy look on her face. I hope talking to me will clear things up. Oh, if there’s enough time, I’ll ask her about the discomfort I’m feeling toward Hazuki, too.)
I was thinking about this in an optimistic way, not knowing what kind of problems Kanade was having.
“You couldn’t concentrate at all today, did you? It’s the first time I’ve seen Yuuri make consecutive mistakes like that!”
“Oh, shut up! Even I have my bad days too.”
I was thinking about Kanade’s advice and Hazuki, and as Kanade pointed out, I wasn’t really concentrating on club activities. Not to mention the classes.
“I’m so sick and tired of you zoning out in class and still getting good grades.”
“I’m studying at home, too. The manager seems to be very busy these days.”
“That’s right! You know, we have a match coming up soon, right? So we have a lot of work to do for that, like analyzing the opposing schools.”
“There are no third-year seniors here, so Kanade and the others have to take the lead.”
When I said, “Do your best!” I ruffled Kanade’s head, and she laughed at me while saying, “Stop it already,” but she didn’t really reject me.
“Okay, so what was Kanade’s problem?”
We arrived at the cafe and after taking a sip of our drinks I asked Kanade the question. Kanade still seemed to be struggling to say.
“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, okay? I’m on your side even if you don’t say anything.”
“Un, I’m fine. I’ll tell you everything.”
Kanade took a sip of her drink, then took a deep breath and began to speak.
“Hazuki-chan, I think there’s something going on with Kouki-kun.”
“What? What do you mean by... something?”
I suddenly heard the names Hazuki and Kouki mentioned, and my heart jumped a lot. In order to avoid having Kanade realize how upset I was, I managed to squeeze out my voice.
“I understand that I’m saying terrible things. But I need you to listen to me and not get angry... please.”
Kanade’s voice was small. If I look closely, I can see that she is trembling a little. Perhaps I look very horrible right now.
“I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you, I just want to hear the rest of your story.”
“Yes. Let’s see... The other day, when the four of us were playing in Yuu-kun’s room, we went to buy cake rolls and forgot something, so we went back to our room, remember?”
“Oh...”
“And then, don’t you think they were acting strange? They said they saw a big bug, but it’s strange to see such a bug in this season, and they said they dumped it outside, but the window wasn’t open. And the bed didn’t look disturbed at all.”
“But maybe they cleaned it up by the time we got back to our room...”
“Yes. That’s a possibility. But what made me seriously suspicious was the fact that Hazuki’s clothes were in disarray. Her clothes, which she had worn properly before we left the room, were in disarray when we got back that time. But when we came back from the store, her clothes were no longer in disarray.”
I was surprised at the extent of Kanade’s vision. Did Kanade see that much at that moment?
“So Kanade was wondering if the two of them were doing something shady behind our backs, right?”
“Yeah... I’m sorry, Yuu-kun. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“No, it’s fine. Actually, there was something I was going to talk to Kanade about, too.”
So I told Kanade about the feeling of discomfort I had felt with Hazuki the other day at Hanasaki Park.
I was surely feeling uncomfortable with Hazuki, and there was certainly a part of me that agreed with what Kanade had felt.
But I just couldn’t believe that Hazuki would cheat on me and have an affair.
“But there is no way to actually confirm the discomfort I’m feeling. I don’t know what to do about this fuzziness.”
Kanade listened to Yuri’s story in silence until the end, and then came up with a proposal that went beyond what he had expected.
“I’m not sure what to do about it. Yu-kun, would you like to go shopping for a surveillance camera with me next time?” |
Ah, school starts today. I don’t feel like it at all...
As I was heading off to school by myself, Satoru called me from behind in his usual jovial manner.
“Oh! Yuuri! Ohayo-san!”
“Oh. Good morning.”
“Huh? What’s wrong with you today? You didn’t go to school with Sakashita-san?” [TLN: Hazuki’s last name]
I felt a pain in my chest. I knew that Satoru, who didn’t know what was going on, had no malice toward me, so I couldn’t do anything about the feelings welling up in me.
“Oh, ah. Hazuki and I are no longer going to school together.”
Huh? Is that so? Did you have a fight? Or you don’t mean to say..”
“Well, it’s just as you’re imagining. Hazuki and I have already broken up.”
When I said that, Satoru, who is always cheerful, became very depressed.
“I’m sorry. I said selfish things without knowing your feelings...”
“No, it’s not your fault. If you didn’t know what was going on, it would be natural to wonder. But please don’t spread the fact that Hazuki and I broke up without asking, okay?”
“Oh, I’m aware of that much.”
“I think people grow as human beings by overcoming heartbreak. You think so too, don’t you? Oh, you never had a girlfriend before you got your heart broken, I’m sorry!”
“Shut up! Damn it, I’ll definitely get a girlfriend in high school!”
This guy with a lot of emotional ups and downs, his name is Satoru Mishima. We have been friends since we started high school and are on the basketball team. We are the closest of friends in this school, and I think it is no exaggeration to say that we are probably best friends, but now that I have recently gone through a trauma, I hesitate to call Satoru my best friend.
“Come to think of it, there’s a class change today! Yuuri also decided to take the liberal arts preparatory course, didn’t you? I hope we’ll be in the same class again!”
“If we’re in the same class again, that means we’ll be together for three years.”
“That would be great! And then there’s Kanade Miyama! It would be great if the three of us were together.”
Despite Satoru’s happy mood, I honestly couldn’t wait to see the results of the class change. Because Hazuki had chosen the same liberal arts class as me. If we were to be in the same class, it would be more than just a pain in the a*s. The worst thing would be to be in the same class with only Hazuki and without any of my close friends. I hope that’s the one thing I can avoid. God... if you really are there, please somehow avoid that scenario...
The results of the class change were posted at the entrance to the school. A crowd had gathered around us, and it was difficult to find out which class I was in. When we finally saw the posters, we turned to each other and high-fived.
“You made it! We’re in the same class, Yuuri! We are in the same class for three years now!”
“Oh! We’ll be in the same class for another year! Oh, Kanade is in the same class as us.”
Now I just hope Hazuki is in a different class... Oh, it says Hazuki Sakashita... We were never in the same class when we were dating, so why would we be in the same class at this point?
Satoru was wondering when he saw me suddenly depressed, but he saw the poster and figured it all out.
“Well, we’re here for you. Don’t worry. I’ll support you as much as I can.”
“Satoru! You’re my only hope.
“Hey, hey, hey. Don’t forget about me!”
I turned around to see Kanade standing there with her cheeks puffed out and her arms crossed.
“Of course. You’re the best. I’m counting on you the most, so I’m seriously begging you.”
“Hmm. If you say that much, I don’t have a choice, do I? I’ll help Yuu-kun out too.”
I was thrilled to see Kanade looking up at me with a smiling, carefree smile.
It was too much of a surprise...
I was so nervous, but Kanade looked around and said, “Kozue-chan! We’re in class together again!” She waved her hand in the air as she spotted her good friend Tanuki Kozue.
“Kanade-chan, I’m glad to be with you again. Yamagishi-kun and Mishima-kun are also with us. Let’s get along again for the next year.”
Tanuki-san belongs to the literature club and is a pure literature girl. By the way, we have been in the same class as Tanuki-san since the first grade, which means the four of us have been together for three years.
We were happy to be in the same class and started walking to our new class. Walking down a different hallway, I felt fresh and excited.
Then Kanade came up next to me and said, “Hey, hey, hey.”
“We’re in the same class as Hazuki. Are you okay, Yuu-kun?
“I was prepared for it and I think I can handle it. Satoru, Tanuki-san, and Kanade are in the same class as me.”
“I hope you’re okay. Just don’t ever push yourself, okay?”
“Oh, thanks. I also told only Satoru that I broke up with Hazuki. I’m sure he’ll keep it to himself.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Satoru will take care of it. If word got out that Hazuki and Yuu-kun had broken up, the school would probably be in an uproar.”
“Well, Hazuki is a beautiful woman. I’m sure there are a lot of guys at this school who like her.”
“Un. I’m sure that’s true, but I think it’s going to get pretty noisy around Yuu-kun, too.”
“Me too? What are you talking about? I’ll be fine.”
When I laughed, Kanade made a dumbfounded face and said, “I can’t help it,” and we laughed together.
I was forcing myself to be excited, but I was really grateful for Kanade’s willingness to go along for the ride.
There was one woman who was staring at us from the shadow of a pillar. However, I was too intoxicated by the atmosphere of the new semester to notice her gaze. |
It has already been almost two years since we were accepted to college, and next April we will be entering our third year of college. It was almost time for us to start thinking seriously about our future, but before that, we had a serious mission.
Two months later, at the beginning of February of the following year, the four of our four best friends decided to start living alone at the station nearest to the university. We are planning to live in the same apartment so that we can come and visit each other at any time.
It was at the end of July when the cicadas began to buzz energetically, that the plan to live alone came up on the agenda for all of us.
The four of us gathered at a family restaurant to make plans for our summer vacation, and as soon as we sat down, Satoru let out a loud sigh. This pattern is a sign that I can ask “What’s wrong?” because he seems to have a problem right now.
I didn’t want to play right into Satoru’s trap, but I didn’t want to move the conversation forward at this point, so I said, “What’s wrong, Satoru?” How kind of me.
“Listen to me, Yuuri. Actually, I just can’t get up in time for the first period, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish my classes before graduation if I don’t get up on time.”
“So it’s a problem of not being able to get up in the morning. ......”
“I wish Yamagishi-kun would tell him. He doesn’t wake up at all even though I try my best to call him or something.”
“Ummm. I can only tell him to put on his alarm. And don’t stay up too late?”
“I guess so. Even if I call him and he answers, he’ll fall asleep a second time after I hang up. I don’t want to leave Satoru behind and graduate.”
“Uu... Kozue~ Don’t abandon me~”
While Satoru was engaged in such farce, Kanade seemed to be thinking about something the whole time. Then, perhaps having reached an answer, she turned to all of them and proposed.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Why don’t we all start living on our own in April?”
“What does that have to do with Satoru’s problem of not being able to wake up?”
“If we live closer to each other, even if he wakes up late now, he won’t be late because we’re closer, right?”
“No, in Satoru’s case, I think he’ll think, “I have more time to sleep, yay” and repeat the same thing.”
“Oh, I can imagine what that might be like...”
“You guys need to take this more seriously!”
Satoru was slightly teary-eyed, but next to him Tanuki-san said, “Yeah. That might be a good idea.” We were surprised and asked Tanuki-san what was on her mind.
“If I lived alone, I would probably just end up spending more time sleeping, Yamagishi said. But if we lived together in the same apartment, I thought I could wake him up right away. If I get a duplicate key, I can get in even if I’m asleep.”
“Oh, that’s true.”
“Moreover, it is a little scary for a girl to live alone, but it would be safer if your boyfriend is nearby, wouldn’t it?”
Tanuki-san said, “Right?” as she winked at Satoru while saying that.
Satoru was excited by Tanuki-san’s suggestion and continued the conversation.
“Then, Yuuri and all of us should live alone in the same apartment!”
“Then we can meet up anytime we want!”
“Yeah, I think it’s a good idea! How about you, Yuu-kun?”
I hesitate for a moment because I’d always wanted to live on my own someday, but I hadn’t decided when yet. So I decided to tell them what I was thinking, prepared to lose the excitement of the situation.
“I’ve always wanted to live on my own someday, but I haven’t told my parents yet and I don’t have a lot of money, so I can’t give the OK right now. I’m sorry if I sounded like I was putting a damper on things.”
“I think it’s probably okay. I asked Yuu-kun’s mom about it the other day, and she said, “It’s fine. If you’re in your third year of college, you’ll be years old already, and living alone is a good experience.” she said”
Well, as expected of Kanade. She’s never changed in the way she always covers up before proposing a plan to me. I mean, is living on your own going to be okay? There are things I need to look into, like moving expenses and the money needed to live on my own, but if my parents are okay with it, I want to live on my own with them.
“I’ll check with my parents again, but if they say it’s okay, I’m fine with it. If anything, I’d be willing to live on my own right now.”
“I’ll have to actually check with my parents, so for now, let’s all check shortly and report back.”
We nodded to Tanuki-san’s words and then shifted the conversation to how to spend the most recent summer vacation. However, we concluded that since we would need money to live on our own, we should not play around too much and work part-time.
Hmmm, looks like I’ll be working a lot of part-time jobs this summer...
“Since then,, you worked very hard at your part-time job, right Yuu-kun?”
“I didn’t want to say that I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have enough money since my parents told me it would be fine.”
I went home that day and asked my parents about living alone, and as Kanade said
I asked my parents if I could live on my own, and they simply said, “No problem.” But they also nailed me with a nail in the coffin saying, “But we’ll send you money for rent included, but if you want to live somewhere else than that, you’ll have to earn your own money.”
So I increased my part-time work shifts, desperately trying to balance my studies and my part-time job. This meant that I had less time to play with Kanade, but we saw each other almost every day at school, so there was no problem.
“But because of that effort, I’ll be able to live alone in the same apartment as Kanade, so it wasn’t hard at all.”
“I’m glad that I saved up enough money so that we can be closer to each other.”
“Yeah, I’m really happy.”
By the way, we were standing in front of the roundabout in front of the station.
We were about to go to an Italian restaurant near the station to discuss together what we were going to do with the property. When we were in high school, we used to go to family restaurants all the time, but we’ve come to go to fancy little restaurants too, haven’t we?
“Yo! Sorry to keep you waiting!”
Satoru crept up behind me and jumped on my back.
“Don’t do that in the city, it’s embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed! We’re about to live in the same apartment.”
“This has nothing to do with that!”
Seeing our usual exchange, Kanade giggles, and Tanuki-san makes a dumbfounded face.
“Don’t annoy Yamagishi-kun, Satoru. He’ll really abandon you someday if you keep on being such a pain in the a*s.”
“No way! Yuuri, I’ll have a lot of trouble if you leave, please don’t abandon me!”
“No, I won’t abandon you, but I might at least leave you alone. I mean, get off already!”
I said, “Give me a break,” and Satoru clung to me even tighter than before. I’m stunned, but I’m not going to change. I was a little stunned but felt relieved that Satoru had not changed at all.
I managed to pull Satoru off of me and turned to Kanade, who was staring off into the distance.
“Is there something over there?”
“Ah, nothing. Nothing. I thought I’d seen some people there before, but I think maybe I’ve mistaken them for someone else.”
“I see. Well, anyway, it’s too uncomfortable to be outside in the cold all the time, so let’s go to the store soon!”
“Yeah! I’m starving.”
“I’m hungry too! What shall we eat today? I had a hamburger steak the other night, so I think I’ll have pasta today.”
We started walking towards the Italian restaurant, excited about our new life from next year. |
I confessed my feelings to Kanade and we finally became lovers.
However, we were both students preparing for the upcoming university entrance exam.
So we promised to wait until after we passed the university entrance exam.
We were together daily, but we didn’t do anything except study.
Thanks to that, Kanade’s grade was about a C before the summer vacation, but she got an A on the most recent mock exam. By the way, Tanuki-san and I had received A’s before, and we didn’t lose any grades this time either. On the other hand, Satoru was just one step away from a B on his most recent exam. But he has Tanuki-san, so as long as he doesn’t skip school, he should be fine.
And we continued to study hard without playing until the entrance exam.
“I’m so nervous. I’m going to have a hard time with the college entrance exam...”
“What’s wrong, Kanade? This is not the time to break down! We are going to the university together, right? We’re going to spend our blossoming campus life together, aren’t we?”
“That’s right! If I don’t get my act together, I won’t be able to enjoy the blossoming campus life with Yuu-kun! I’m sorry, Yuu-kun. I won’t be feeling down anymore!”
“Yes! All right, let’s get into it!”
“Oh~!”
The reason we are having this silly exchange on the day of the exam is that both of us were so nervous that we got into a strange tension.
“I’m still nervous, but I’m glad Yuu-kun is here next to me. If I had been alone, I would have been crushed by the pressure.”
“That’s my line, too. I’m glad Kanade is here. Let’s do our best today.”
I held Kanade’s hand and we headed to the university’s examination hall, still holding hands.
When we got to the entrance of the test hall, Satoru and Tanuki-san were waiting for us.
“Hey! Did you sleep okay last night?”
“I managed to get some sleep, but I couldn’t help wondering if I’d left anything undone, so I called Kozue and she said, “It’s not good to go on a bad night’s sleep now, it’s dangerous if you don’t get any more sleep. So please go to bed!” She got angry with me.”
“I have to thank Tanuki-san for that.”
“Oh, that’s true.”
Then the four of us formed a circle and said, “Let’s all pass the exam and have a fun campus life!” “O~o!” We did something adolescent and headed for our respective examination rooms.
“It’s over...”
As soon as the exam was over and we met up in front of the campus gate, Satoru was overflowing with despair in a small voice with a loud sigh.
“Huh? Satoru, did you by any chance not get a response?”
It was Tanuki-san, Satoru’s girlfriend, who called out to him worriedly. It was understandable that he was worried. I and Kanade understand how much he is looking forward to spending campus life with his girlfriend.
“I think I probably solved the problem to a certain extent.”
“Is that so? Then why are you so depressed?”
“Because, you know, I feel “adequate”, you know? I think other people could have solved it better. The percentage of participants with glasses was quite high.”
Hearing this, Tanuki-san let out a loud sigh, then took Satoru’s cheeks between her hands and held them in front of her face.
“Satoru will be fine. Satoru will definitely pass the exam. I taught him everything I know. There is no way he would fail. I know Satoru’s effort and ability better than anyone else.”
Hearing Tanuki-san’s words, Satoru’s eyes were all watery and he hugged her, murmuring, “Kozue, you’re too cool, thanks...” I was watching him and I felt very happy. Watching this made me smile and I really wanted to attend this university with the four of us.
Then I looked at Kanade next to me.
“So how did it go for Kanade?”
“I think I’m pretty confident. I was not nervous at all by the time the test started.”
I was relieved to see that she seemed to be feeling good about her performance. I am feeling the same way as Kanade, and I am sure Tanuki-san will be fine as well.
Relieved that everyone seemed to be responding well, we decided to go to karaoke to blow off the stress of the exam.
We were all in a mysterious high-tension state, so we sang and laughed, tambourine banging and laughing, it became chaotic, and finally, everyone was exhausted, so we decided to break up as it was.
The day of the acceptance announcement came.
Nowadays, you can find out about the announcement of acceptance from home via the Internet, but we decided to go to the university to see the announcement in person because we felt it would be too tasteless. We didn’t say it out loud, but we were afraid of what would happen if something happened to us.
As we entered the campus, we saw many uniformed men and women. Their destination must be the same as ours.
When we arrived at the bulletin board, there were some who were bursting with joy and others who were in tears of disappointment. When I saw people shedding tears, I began to feel very uneasy.
It seemed that Kanade, who was walking next to me, was feeling the same way, and she grabbed my pinky finger with her slightly trembling hand.
We silently walked toward the bulletin board.
After separating into two groups, Kanade and I and Satoru and Tanuki-san, we decided to look for my exam number first. My examination number was “.”, 406, 408............409
There it is!
Upon finding my number, Kanade said, “Congratulations!” and hugged me. I was not yet ready to give my all, so I just said “Thank you” and went to look for Kanade’s exam number without giving her a hug.
When we arrived at the bulletin board with Kanade’s number, she was holding the hem of my dress with her eyes tightly closed. I hugged her and told her “Hang in there,” then she opened her eyes and looked at the board as if she had made up her mind.
Kanade’s number was “1036.”
1031, 1032 .........1036
When she found the number, Kanade’s wide-open eyes overflowed with large tears.
“Yuu-kun. There it is. My number is there.”
“Yes, there it is. Congratulations.”
“Now we can go to college together. I was scared. I was really scared.”
I gently hugged Kanade, who buried her face in my chest and cried, and moved away from in front of the bulletin board so as not to disturb the others. I looked around while patting Kanade’s head and saw Tanuki-san patting Satoru’s head, who was also sobbing.
Tanuki-san and I both chuckled and understood from the atmosphere that everyone had passed the exam.
After Kanade and Satoru settled down, we reported to our parents and the school respectively. Our parents, as well as our teachers, were delighted. Then, I received a message from Yoshi-chan, who must have heard it from Hanaka, who said, “Congratulations! I’m also aiming for a university there, so please be good friends with me when I’m your junior again!” and I smiled as I looked at my phone.
Kanade, who was watching this next to me, said, “Hmmm? What is the meaning of this when your girlfriend is standing right next to you?” I poked her cheeks with my fingertips as she puffed her cheeks out.
When we left the university we went straight to a family restaurant and exchanged many words, losing track of time as we reflected on the many memories of our high school life so far. There was a time when I was in despair, but looking at my friends in front of me and my girlfriend sitting next to me, I felt like it was the happiest high school life I had ever had.
I grabbed Kanade’s hand from under the table as she sat next to me, and she squeezed it back.
I am a very lucky man, I thought.
I don’t know what would have happened to me if Kanade had not been by my side when I was betrayed by Hazuki and Kouki. I might have become hopeless and stopped going to school, or I might not have been able to trust people anymore. The only reason I didn’t end up like that is that I had Kanade by my side supporting me all the time.
I promised myself that I would never betray Kanade and that I would cherish her for the rest of my life. |
The day after I met Yuuri and Kanade, I was waiting for someone in front of a building.
“What’s that? Oh, it’s you, Hazuki. What are you doing here?”
“Kana-san, I’m sorry to disturb you. Actually, I have something I want to discuss with you.”
“Ara, what is it? Are you talking about Kouki?”
“Yes, it is. If possible, I would like to talk with you in a place where not many people are around...”
When I said that, Kana pretended to think for a moment and then said, “Hmmm. Then, wait a moment,” she went back inside the building.
This person’s name is Kana Kitajima. She is Kouki’s mother.
Kana-san is a young-looking woman who is so beautiful in my eyes that it is hard to believe that she has a son in his third year of high school.
Kana-san and I have known each other since I was a little girl, and recently I have been visiting Kouki’s house, so she understands my relationship with Kouki.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I found an open conference room at the office, so let’s talk there for a while. It’s a private room, so we can talk in private without worrying.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
I followed behind Kana-san and was led into a plain, bleak room with a table and chairs. Kana-san said, “Wait here for a minute,” and walked out of the room. I had never been in a company conference room before, so I was slightly confused.
“So, what’s up?”
“A, actually...”
I was too scared to say the rest of the words. Then Kana-san gently placed her palm on my trembling hand and said kindly, “Just take your time.”
I don’t know how long it was after that, but I gathered my courage and stared firmly into Kana’s face.
“Actually... I have Kouki-san’s child in my belly.”
Kana-san stared at my face and gave me a stern look.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. I have tried several times with a pregnancy test, and each time the result was positive.”
“But why did you come to me? Shouldn’t you go to Kouki’s place first before coming to me?”
“I went to see Kouki the other day and talked with him.”
“I see. So what did Kouki say?”
“...He told me to get an abortion.”
When I realized I was talking, I turned my head over and stared at the scratches on the table.
Kana, who heard Kouki’s words, remained silent for a long time. But the palm she placed on my hand was very gentle.
“I see. He said that to Hazuki-chan... So what do you want me to do, Hazuki?”
“I want to marry Kouki-san and raise Kouki-san’s child together.”
“I understand how you feel, Hazuki. Because even Kouki was a baby when I was in my third year of high school.”
That’s right. Kouki’s parents were also married as students.
“Hazuki is going to go to Kouki’s mother tomorrow and talk to her about the fact that she’s pregnant.”
“To Kouki’s mother?”
“Yes, that’s right. Kouki’s parents also have a history of having Kouki in their midst as a student and getting married. Hazuki also knows that those two used to be bad, right?”
When I was in junior high school, we all went to Kouki’s house to visit him and he showed me old photos Kana-san told me many stories, so of course, I knew about them too.
“Those two are the type of people who really can’t tolerate crookedness. They were the kind of people who would mercilessly beat even the children in other people’s homes if they did something wrong.”
Yuuri said this with a slight smile as if reminiscing about the old days.
“If those two know about your heartfelt feelings and determination, and about Kouki’s wrongdoing toward you, they will definitely take your side. If you are persuaded there, you will have no choice but to have an abortion. So no matter what they say, you have to stick to your idea with all your willpower.”
“But, Hazuki. Student marriages are really a hardship. Just because you’re young, it’s going to be hard for you to make money.”
“Yes. I’m prepared for that.”
“Even so, raising a child brings with it a lot of responsibility. People will look at you with a cold shoulder just because you are young. And maybe even your newborn child will be bullied because of it. I don’t know if you can protect them.”
“I will protect you. I will support not only the child that will be born but also Kouki-san.”
Kana stared at me again and fell silent.
Then, she let out a loud sigh and muttered a single word, “I see.”
“Okay, I understand. Then let’s talk this time not only with me but also with his father and Kouki. I’ll check your resolve again there.”
“Thank you...”
“Well, I understand how you feel, Hazuki. When I found out that I was pregnant with Kouki, I was really worried too. It must have been hard to be alone.”
After saying this, Kana-san came next to me and hugged me.
“You have to take good care of yourself. Being stressed is the worst thing that can happen to you.”
The process moved very quickly after that, and Kana-san contacted me that evening, and the four of us agreed to discuss the matter tomorrow night.
Most of the discussion was about confirming our intentions.
Yoji-san, Mitsuki’s father, also told me that he was not opposed to us getting married and that he would do his best to support us if we were to have a baby.
At the park, Kouki had told me to get an abortion, but I was very happy that he was there for me that day.
Next, we were going to tell my mom that I was pregnant and that we were getting married, but the day’s discussion ended with Yoji-san saying that all four of us should go to greet her either on Saturday or Sunday.
When I was about to leave, Koki said, “It’s not safe at night, so I’ll walk you home.” This was the first time this had ever happened to me, so I stuttered, but I was very happy.
“Hazuki. I’m sorry I told you to have an abortion at that time.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s okay. Anyone would have been upset if they were told suddenly.”
“I was scared. I was scared. I thought student marriages would only be hard for me. But my parents were very angry with me and said, “How do you feel about Hazuki,” and “Is that okay with you, hurting her because you love her so much?”“
“I see...”
“I, I’ve done a lot of terrible things to get you...”
“No, it’s okay. Because you chose me in the end. I am happy to be able to marry you.”
Then on Saturday, the four of us, myself and Kouki’s family, went to my mom to tell her that we wanted to get married. But of course, Mom was against it.
We all got down on our knees and asked her for permission, but she wouldn’t budge.
From the next day, Kouki showed up at our house every day and together we made our request. Then, just in time for the abortion period, Mom finally allowed us to get married.
“Hazuki. I allow you to marry. I don’t know what will happen to you in the future, but you must only take care of the child you gave birth to.”
Mom was not happy about the marriage but had a look of resignation on her face. |
The second semester has begun, and before I knew it, September was already nearing its end.
The atmosphere in the school was different from usual and somewhat buoyant.
It’s no wonder since there are less than two weeks left until the school festival, one of the most exciting events of the school year. Although things are still calm at the moment, next week many of us will be busy with preparations until late at night.
Especially for us rd-year students, we are all very enthusiastic because it is the last festival in our high school life. Incidentally, our class decided to hold a Halloween costume cafe because Halloween is coming soon.
At our school, the third-year students are given priority for the most popular performances, and if there is any overlap in content among students of the same grade, it can be decided by rock-paper-scissors-scissors. Therefore, we had to decide on a third choice. However, there is a loophole in this as well.
For example, maid cafes, butler cafes, and cosplay cafes are very popular, and the competition is fierce every year, but by changing the name and concept, it is surprisingly easy to pass. So, our class was able to avoid competition with other classes by changing the name to Halloween Costume Café and making the food and drinks Halloween-specific.
This is a trick that Tanuki-san, who was a member of the festival committee last year, taught us. By the way, Tanuki-san wanted to have a cross-dressing cafe, but it was rejected due to objections from all but a few classes because of the high possibility of a serious problem.
The success of our class performance will depend on the quality of our Halloween costumes. If the quality of the costumes is low, it will look like a play, and it will become a black history that we cannot erase even if we want to.
But no one in our class was worried about that. In fact, Kanade and Sayuki Mitani are very good at Western-style dressmaking. Mitani-san, in particular, was so well-versed in Western-style dressmaking that she designed and made her own clothes and wore them for everyday wear.
And there would be no need to worry about makeup either. After all, in our class, there is Oto Fushimi, who has won many prizes in painting competitions. She and the rest of the art club will be applying makeup to our faces as if we were canvases.
I, on the other hand, have absolutely no skills in this area, so I am doing chores such as thinking up the cafe menu and helping with decorations in the classroom. Or rather, except for a few dexterous boys, I was mostly in charge of chores.
“Um, Yamagishi-kun. I’m about to run out of materials to make decorations. Can you go shopping for them now?”
It was Hazuki, my former lover, who said this to me.
After we broke up, Hazuki started calling me by my last name instead of my first name, and when she first approached me in the third grade, she called me “Yuuri” as before, but I asked her to call me by my last name. I then started calling Hazuki by her last name, “Sakashita-san”.
Hazuki looked a little sad, but she agreed to it honestly, saying, “Okay.” I know that people around Hazuki say that I am too cold in my treatment of her, no matter how much we have broken up.
But as much as I don’t care what people around me think, I couldn’t be familiar with Hazuki anymore.
Since the preparation for the festival started, Hazuki has been talking to me more and more often. Well, Hazuki is in charge of managing the progress of the class, so this kind of interaction is inevitable. However, I already felt nothing about whether Hazuki was in my sight or not, whether she spoke to me or not. I was not sad or happy. The emotion inside me was nothing.
“Oh, okay.”
After saying this, I went to Satoru and asked him to accompany me to a large discount store to do some shopping.
“Hey, Yuuri. Actually, I need to talk to you about something.”
When I was taking a break on a bench at the discount store after shopping, Satoru looked at me with a reserved look.
“What’s the matter? That’s not like Satoru. If it’s okay with you, I’ll listen to what you have to say.”
“Thank you... A, actually... I’m thinking of confessing my feelings to Tanuki-san at the festival.”
“I see. The day has finally come.”
“What? What is that reaction? Did you notice it by any chance?”
“Oh, Kanade and I were aware enough to talk about when you were going to confess your feelings to her.”
Satoru mumbled, “Really?...” as he held his head. Then he grabbed my shoulders with both hands as if he had noticed something.
“Wait, you don’t mean to say that even Tanuki-san knows about this, do you?”
“I don’t think so. Also, I haven’t actually asked Tanuki-san, but I think Kanade and I have a pretty good guess.”
“What? Seriously?”
“I think Tanuki-san doesn’t tend to show much emotion, but when she talks to Satoru, she is quite emotional. I think that’s how much he cares about you.”
“Then I’m happy. I’d like to know how she feels about me. But if this doesn’t work out, it’ll be too hard, so you’ll have to comfort me then. Also, I don’t want our relationship to become awkward because of my confession, so I’d appreciate it if Yuuri would follow up.”
“Of course. I don’t want to think about failure, but leave it to me then. Also, can I tell Kanade about your confession?”
“Yeah, all I’m asking is you two! You got it, my best friend!”
Best friend ......, huh?
I guess I would have originally had this kind of relationship with that guy.
Well, I was the only one who thought he was my best friend.
That is why I really wanted to be of help to Satoru, who called me his “best friend.” I would rejoice with him when he succeeded, and if he failed, I would continue to support him. That is how I treat my “best friend.”
“Yuuri-senpai!”
As Satoru and I were walking down the hallway after returning to school, we heard a bright and cheerful voice behind us.
“Hey, Yoshi-chan. It’s almost time for the festival, how are the preparations going?”
“It’s a very difficult task. The high school festival is much more serious than I thought it would be. It’s good that we started preparing for the festival, but there’s so much to do that we’re all dying.”
“Our school is especially enthusiastic, isn’t it? By the way, what are you going to do?”
“We are a casino! We play poker and roulette, and whoever wins against the dealer gets a drink and an assortment of snacks as a prize.”
“Oh, that sounds like a lot of fun!”
Satoru leaned forward and eagerly took a bite.
I wonder if this guy likes to gamble. I hope he doesn’t ruin himself with it someday. ......
“When the school festival starts, senpai, please come visit us too, okay?”
She made a request to us with her upturned eyes.
Kuh, There is no way we can say no to such a request with such eyes. Or rather, we had no choice but to say yes from the very beginning.
“Of course, I’ll come to visit you. I hope I can be free at the right time when Yoshi-chan is a dealer.”
“Thank you! Then I’ll send you the time I’m scheduled to be a dealer next time on RINE!”
Yoshi-chan smiled a very lovely smile as if she was happy.
I was thrilled by her expression, but I think we managed to communicate with a poker face.
Then Yoshi-chan went back to her classroom to prepare for the festival, but suddenly stopped and came back to me as if she had remembered something.
“I forgot to tell you. If Yuuri-senpai has some free time during the festival, would you be willing to go around with me?”
Despite looking a little uneasy, Yoshi-chan looked me straight in the eye.
(This girl is really determined.)
“Yeah. That’s fine. I’ll tell Yoshi-chan when I know my free time.”
When she said this, her anxious expression from a moment ago was replaced by a dazzling smile. Then, saying, “I promise,” Yoshi-chan returned to the classroom with bouncy steps.
“Yoshi-chan is a really pretty girl.”
“Oh, yeah...”
I had not told anyone that Yoshi-chan had confessed to me. However, I know that it is not a good thing for me to take advantage of her goodwill and stay like this.
If I don’t get my act together, no one will be able to look forward to the future. It’s not just Yoshi-chan, it’s Kanade and me as well.
(It’s time for me to get my act together.) |
Huh, it’s so hard...
I sighed loudly as soon as I sat down in my seat in my new class.
It had to do with the seating order in my new class. At first, we were assigned to our seats in alphabetical order, but I was seated in the back by the window, and Hazuki was in the front row in the center.
This seating arrangement meant that Hazuki was inevitably in my line of sight. At first glance, I felt that Hazuki’s attitude was the same as before. Seeing Hazuki like that makes me feel like a small person and irritates me.
However, I am surprised that I have not been damaged more than I thought. When spring break had just started, I had suffered so much. I guess it’s because Kanade was with me the whole time...
“Yuu-kun, are you sure you’re okay?”
As soon as the first period ends, Kanade comes to my seat and looks at me with concern.
“Well, it hasn’t been that long since then. Today was my first day, but I’m sure I’ll gradually get used to it.”
“I’m just too far out of sight in my current position. I hope there will be a seat change soon...”
“Hey, hey, hey, hey! What are you two whispering about? Let us in the mix too!”
As Kanade and I were whispering so that no one around us could hear, Satoru and Tanuki-san came over to us. Satoru is a nice guy, but his voice is too loud and he attracts everyone’s attention in a strange way.
“You’ve got a big voice!”
“Sorry!”
“Satoru, you’re always so loud, aren’t you? Now that we’re in the third grade, we should be a little more mature.”
“Shut up! We are still in high school, so we can be kids! Hey, don’t you think so too, Tanuki-san?”
“Hmmm. I also think you should be a little more mature.”
“Tanuki, san... you’re going to betray me too...”
I found myself laughing from the bottom of my stomach, forgetting about Hazuki. I’m not alone. With these guys here, I feel like I can really enjoy the rest of my year in high school.
Class started again, but strangely enough, I didn’t feel anything special when Hazuki came into my sight. I was in a nervous state, but these guys must have refreshed me. I thanked them in my heart.
After that, school life went on peacefully without any problems, but during lunch break, a storm suddenly came to the classroom.
(Maybe I should invite those guys over for lunch.)
When I was dating Hazuki, we always ate lunch together at the school cafeteria, but now I have to eat with someone different.
I wondered if he would be okay with me asking him out. Just as I was about to get up from my seat, the classroom door slammed open.
“Yuuri-senpai! Let’s have lunch together!
I was startled by the sudden call and turned back to the door with a start.
“Don’t run so fast, Yoshi-chan! And this is a rd-grade classroom. What are you doing!”
“Huahua, it’s okay! Let’s have dinner with Yuuri-senpai, too! I’m sure it’s okay. Right?”
“Hey? Hey? What are you two doing coming all the way out here?”
The two noisy visitors who came to me were my younger sister Hanaka and her friend Yoshi-chan aka Akiyoshi Yoshimi. My classmates were a little taken aback by the sudden arrival of the duo, but when they came to their senses, they said, “Woah! They are so cute! What? Wait? They know Yuuri?” And suddenly they became noisy.
Well, of course, they will.
After all, Yoshi-chan is a pretty girl with twin-tail hair that looks really good on her, and she is the center of an idol group. Hanaka, who is standing next to her, also has a face that would be adored by older boys.
The boys in the class must have been excited to see these two beautiful girls.
“Oh, Yuuri-senpai! Let’s go out to eat together. I’ve always wanted to go to the cafeteria!”
“Wait a minute, Yoshi-chan. Yuu-kun is going to have lunch with me, so you can’t just run off.”
“Oh, it’s Kanade-senpai! Don’t be so mean and be nicer to the new first-years!”
“I want to eat with Yuu-kun, too, so today is not a good day to do that.”
I thought things would get out of hand, so I suggested that we all go out to eat together between the two of them. Then I wondered when Satoru and Tanuki-san were behind me and decided to go to the cafeteria together.
On the way to the cafeteria, I asked Hanaka what was bothering her.
“I mean, is it fine that Hanaka didn’t go with her classmates?”
“Hmmm. I was so surprised when I thought it was lunchtime and Yoshi-chan suddenly ran out of the room. I didn’t expect her to go to Yuu nii-chan’s classroom, so I was really surprised.”
‘You’re still as intense as ever, Yoshi-chan. You’re having a hard time too. ......”
As I was petting my sister’s head and sympathizing with my own sister, Kanade and Yoshi-chan who had spotted it with their own eyes, forced me to pet them as well.
Of course, Hazuki is not among the members heading to the cafeteria right now. But the reason why Hanaka, who loved Hazuki like a big sister, didn’t say anything is that I told my whole family that I broke up with Hazuki during spring break.
The whole family asked, “Yuuri, what did you do?” “If you did something bad, I’ll apologize too, so fess up.” “Yuu nii-chan. You have to apologize properly.”
“No, everyone. I’m the victim. It was Hazuki who betrayed me!” There was no way I could say that, and in fact, all I could say was, “That’s just how it is. I’m sorry.” That was all I could say.
But they didn’t pursue the matter any further, probably because they were concerned about me.
“So this is the school cafeteria! Hanaka, you seem to have become a high school student.”
“Yes! I’m so excited!”
The third-year students were smiling at the fresh reactions of the first-year duo. Then, after calming down the two who were cackling, they managed to secure a seat in the cafeteria, which was gradually becoming crowded.
“Now, you two don’t know Satoru and Tanuki-san, do you? Let’s just introduce ourselves while we eat, shall we?”
“Yes! My name is Akiyoshi Yoshimi! I came to this school because I love Yuuri-senpai!”
“Oh, hey! What are you talking about all of a sudden, Yoshi-chan?”
“Because it’s the truth. I studied hard to get in here, you know?”
Damn, the upturned eyes of Yoshi-chan are too cute and mocking. When I looked away from her too brightly, I saw Kanade looking at me with grim eyes... scary.
“I’m Hanaka. I’m Yuu nii-chan’s younger sister.”
After Hanaka finished her self-introduction without hesitation, Satoru and Tanuki-san followed with their own introductions.
“Hey, Akiyoshi-san, why do you like Yuuri so much?”
“Satoru! What are you asking all of a sudden?”
“Ummm. That’s a secret. I’m not going to tell you why I like him, because if I simply say why I like him, it will sound like my feelings for him are light. Hehehe, but it’s true that I like you, you know?”
Ignoring my protests, Yoshi-chan gave a firm answer, which again unnerved me. It’s too lame to be pushed around so much by a younger girl... And I feel like Kanade is staring at me the whole time, and I’m getting more and more uncomfortable...
“If you say you like him in a place like this, Yuu-kun will be in trouble. If you’re going to say something like that, you have to choose the right place. People around you are staring at us.”
“Oh, it’s true...”
“This is embarrassing. I don’t want to see my best friend approaching my own brother.”
“Maybe one day I’ll be Hanaka’s big sister.”
“I told you to stop already!”
The exchange hit a nerve with us and we burst out laughing, and they both looked at each other and started laughing together.
There was no shortage of topics for us to talk about, but as lunch break was coming to an end, we promised to have lunch again and returned to class.
By the way, when I warned Yoshi-chan, “If you come to class suddenly, you will disturb a lot of people, so call in advance before you come,” she responded in a small voice, “Yes.” Yoshi-chan is a very energetic girl who says what she thinks right out loud, but she is also a very nice girl who cares about others.
After that, classes and club activities went smoothly, and the first day of school came to an end. |
“I’m talking about that. Yuu-kun, maybe next time we can go shopping together for a surveillance camera?”
Kanade suggested that we buy a surveillance camera and install it in my room at a cafe we stopped by on our way home from club activities. If what we were thinking was wrong, and there was nothing suspicious about the two of them, I would be a b*****d for snooping on her and her best friend together.
“That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
“I understand what you mean. I’ve been thinking about what I should do since that day.”
Kanade was a little teary-eyed.
That’s understandable, they’re my girlfriend and best friend, but for Kanade, Hazuki is her best friend, and Kouki is a friend who has been with her since she was a little girl. I now realize that I am not the only one who is suffering.
How much am I pretending to be a tragic heroine? I was so frustrated by my inadequacy.
“If nothing happens to those two, we can just use it as a home security camera, and if we don’t tell them, I don’t think they’ll find out. If we can clear up the confusion and be the same four good friends we are now, it’s a small price to pay, isn’t it?”
“I agree. The best way to do this is to use a security camera. Okay, well, let’s go buy a surveillance camera next time!”
“I’m sorry I made you deceive those two, Yuu-kun...”
“It’s okay. If Kanade hadn’t suggested it like that, I would have just been moping around all by myself for a long time. I’m glad to hear that.”
Saying that I stroked Kanade’s head like before, but this time Kanade just laughed “Ehehe” and didn’t resist at all.
The shopping trip for the surveillance camera was this Friday when there were no club activities.
She had done much research beforehand and showed me the candidates on his phone.
Kanade recommended a surveillance camera that allows you to view the video in real-time and even hear the audio. The surveillance cameras Kanade showed me ranged in price from a few thousand yen to , yen.
So it was not as expensive as I thought.
It is true that it is an unexpected expense, but I am not the type of person who spends a lot of money, so I can afford to buy it with the money I have been saving up for the New Year’s holiday.
Kanade said, “I’m the one who suggested it, and I’ll pay half the cost,” but I politely declined since this was a matter between me, Hazuki, and Kouki.
“The four of us will play the week after next, won’t we? We’ll have to test to see if it shows up properly by that day!”
“Yes. I may need your help with some things, but when I do, I’ll be counting on you.”
“Un. I’ll be totally fine. I’ll do my best, Yuu-kun.”
Seeing Kanade’s kind smile made me happy thinking that I have a really good friend.
On Friday after school, Kanade and I met up in the club room, even though we had no club activities.
If we went home immediately, there was a possibility that we would run into Hazuki, so we decided to kill some time in the clubroom before going to buy a surveillance camera.
We arrived at one of Tokyo’s most famous electronics districts and arrived at our destination building, having dodged the pressure of a large number of maids.
“Oh, hey. Are you sure this is the right place?”
“Ummm, yeah. It shouldn’t be wrong...”
The building in front of us was dimly lit and a bit scary, unlike the shiny buildings on the main street. No, it was pretty scary.
“Okay. I’ll go in first, and you follow me.”
” I understand. I never knew Yoo-kun could look so dependable...”
“I’m always a reliable man, you know!”
I and Kanade enter the building fearfully, talking foolishly so as not to lose the suspicious atmosphere of the building.
Then, as we both nervously boarded the elevator, which was so old that I suspected the wires would break at any moment and we would fall out, Kanade smiled mischievously at me and said, “It’s a bit like an adventure, isn’t it?”
“Wow, that’s a lot of stuff.”
“I can’t believe how many products are in here, I hope they have the surveillance cameras we’re looking for.”
We restlessly scurried around the store and started rummaging through the items. However, we had lived a life so far away from surveillance cameras that we had no idea what to look for, so we asked the clerk to help us narrow down the list to three candidates.
“Now, which one shall we choose...?”
“They all look good, don’t they? The point is, how beautiful do you want the image to be?”
“Well, I don’t know. I don’t really know, but the difference in price between the regular and high resolution is only about 0,000 yen, so I’ll take this opportunity to buy a good one. The microphone also seems to be very powerful.”
“If the image is rough or the sound is full of noise, it might be ruined, right?”
“Well, then, I’ll go to the cash register and buy one!”
Shopping with Kanade is kind of fun, I think, but then I look at the surveillance camera in my hand and let out a big sigh.
What’s so sad about me is that I have to buy a surveillance camera.
I chuckle to myself as I pull out a couple of money from my wallet to buy a not-so-cheap surveillance camera.
“Thanks for today.”
Before we left, we stopped at a family restaurant to discuss our future plans.
“We’ve got to set our sights on the next Saturday for now.”
“You’re right. I’ll have to set up a surveillance camera and test to see if it’s working.”
“Yeah, right! It would be a shame if the video didn’t show up on the day of the event, wouldn’t it?
“As expected, I’d like to avoid that...”
With that said, I recalled that Kanade was in the checkout line behind me.
“Speaking of which, didn’t you buy something at the store earlier? I didn’t see anything there that Kanade would buy, so what did you buy?”
“Heh, heh. I’ll keep that to myself!”
“What’s with the stinginess? You can at least tell me that.”
“Absolutely not!”
Kanade was laughing cheerfully, but gradually her expression turned shadowy.
“It totally stinks that we’re laughing like this. While we’re trying to deceive and spy on two of our friends.”
“Kanade doesn’t have to feel responsible for this. I was the one who made the decision to film the two of them with the surveillance camera. It may have been Kanade who suggested it, but I could have rejected it, so don’t worry so much.
“I know, but you can’t just dismiss it like that.”
“If nothing happened to them, we should get down on our knees and apologize. I’m sure they’ll forgive you.”
Kanade nodded a small “yes” with a downcast look on her face.
“What kind of schedule should we make for Saturday, the day of the show?”
I made a deliberate attempt to sound cheerful, and Kanade laughed and said, “Hmmm.”
Then, Kanade and I made a plan to deceive my girlfriend and best friend. |
It’s : in the morning on a Saturday morning, and Kanade and I are walking to school. The purpose was to prepare for the school festival.
We had already finished decorating the classroom the other day, so there was no need to go to school so early if we were going to have a regular coffee shop.
However, our main attraction was a costume cafe. In a sense, it is no exaggeration to say that we put more effort into the costumes than into the coffee shop.
“Ah, I wonder what Yuu-kun’s Dracula-sama will look like? I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’m looking forward to Kanade’s bloody nurse too. Thanks so much for dressing as a nurse.”
“Mmm~. I feel a little uncomfortable if you say it that way...”
Kanade’s eyes are so cute today as always.
When I was looking at her face, she said, “Yuu-kun, I’m mad at you,” and then she puffed out her cheeks and looked at me with even more cold eyes.
“Hey, you two. You guys have been so lovey-dovey since this morning.”
“Oh, Satoru. Good morning.”
“Hi, Satoru. I can’t wait to see you in your werewolf costume.”
We glossed over Satoru’s lovey-dovey comment and continued our conversation about the festival.
“I had a werewolf makeup done for a test once, and I think you’ll probably be pretty amazed at Fushimi-san’s skill level.”
“Oto-chan is really amazing! I knew she was good at drawing, but I didn’t know she was that good.”
The crux of this costume was, after all, the design and makeup of the costume. Fushimi-san was originally said to have excelled in art, but as Kanade said, she did not expect that he had the skill to change people to that extent.
Although she would like to take more time to improve the finished product, as expected with the time limit, it was tough, so she settled for a simple makeup (still amazing from an amateur’s point of view).
“Satoru can’t wait to see Kozue-chan as a witch, can he?”
Kanade, as if in return for being lightly teased earlier, grinned and began to agitate Satoru. Then Satoru’s face turned bright red and he began to get overly upset.
What is it, Satoru? You’re too cute.
It was hard to wake up so early, but seeing Satoru’s cute face made Kanade and I feel relaxed in the morning.
“Hey, isn’t it a little too crowded?”
“Oh, I didn’t expect so many people to show up...”
As soon as the festival started, there was a long line of people waiting in front of the classrooms to see our performance, which had gained a reputation for the high quality of the costumes.
Stunned by this situation, the werewolf and Dracula stood in the hallway.
“We can’t go around the school like this, with all the work we have to do all the time.”
“It’s a little more than I expected. Hmmm. How about a numbered ticket system? If we limit the number of people in each group to minutes, it will be easier to calculate, and the burden on the people in line will be reduced.”
“Oh, that’s great! Let’s go propose right away.”
“Yeah, sorry. Satoru, could you go propose this?”
Satoru, the werewolf, looked doubtful for a moment, but then he thought of the person who was in charge of the class, figured out what was going on, and just said, “OK,” and went to Hazuki. I could deal with her on a normal level, but to be honest, I had to deal with a lot of things when it came to proposing. I was not comfortable with that.
If you ask me, “Do you still hate Hazuki?” I honestly don’t hate her that much anymore. If I had been alone, I might still have been trapped in my hatred, but I had many friends around me. That’s why I was able to look forward naturally.
However, just because I looked forward, I could not forgive Hatsuki and talk about it as if nothing had happened. I am not yet that settled or mature. Will I ever be able to forgive Hazuki? I couldn’t even imagine such a future.
Thanks to the fact that we were able to control the crowds to some extent by starting to hand out numbered tickets, Satoru and I were able to show up at Yoshi-chan’s classroom.
“Ah, Yuuri-senpai, whoops! It’s Dracula! You’re so cool!”
Yoshi-chan, who immediately spotted me entering the classroom, was shouting and waving her hands in the air in a big, sweeping motion. Next to her was Hanaka, who was tugging on Yoshi-chan’s arm while saying, “You shouldn’t shout so loud.”
“They both look so cool, like real dealers!”
Yoshi-chan and Hanaka were dressed in white shirts, black vests, and bow ties. Their hair was pulled back in a single ponytail, giving them a dignified look instead of their usual cute look.
“Heh heh. Do we look good together?”
“Yeah, you look great. Don’t you think so, Satoru?”
“Of course! Hana-chan and Yoshi-chan both look great.”
“Thank you, both of you!”
“I’m not very happy to be praised by Yuu nii-chan. I wish I could get compliments from more handsome and nice men.”
“Hanaka, give up on this one... I, your brother, am the limit for you.”
“I don’t want to accept such reality!”
Hanaka gave me a stomach punch and quickly went back to her post.
As I rubbed my belly, Yoshi-chan smiled and said, “I’ll be the dealer next, so let’s play blackjack together.” Yoshi-chan invited me and Satoru to sit at the table with her and we started to play.
The only thing I can say about the outcome of the game is that Satoru and I lost miserably to Yoshi-chan.
“Yoshi-chan, aren’t you being a little strong?”
“Hmmm. I’ve never lost a game like this. I am also a strong mahjong player.”
Yoshi-chan grinned and said with a smug look on her face, “My specialty is here.”
“No way! I never thought I’d hear a line from Akagi Shigeru come out of Yoshi-chan’s mouth...”
“What? Huh? What’s up with you two all of a sudden?”
In front of Satoru’s eyes was a first-year high school girl who smugly said a line from the main character of a maniacal (and in some cases famous) mahjong manga, and my best friend shuddered in surprise at the unexpected remark.
But what’s up with Yoshi-chan’s taste in manga? I mean, you look so smug, but if I didn’t know that, you’d suddenly be the girl who said something incomprehensible!
When I told her that, she replied, “I know all about you and your taste in manga, so don’t worry about it.” How much does she know about me? Yoshi-chan, you horrible girl...
“Hmmm. I don’t know, but it’s kinda fun! Yuuri, let’s go play roulette this time.”
“Okay! I’ll win next time! Double push!”
“Oh, yeah. Double push!”
As I headed for the roulette in a weird tension, I heard a voice behind my back blurt out, “Buhuh...”. Hearing that, I grinned, confident that I had gotten through to Yoshi-chan safely.
I then enjoyed the casino with Satoru and was about to leave the classroom when Yoshi-chan came running after me.
“Senpai. I hope you two will go around the festival tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.”
She blushed as she said this and returned to the classroom with a big bow of her head, saying, “Well, I’ve got to go.”
“Yuuri, the popular guy, seems to be going through a lot of trouble.”
“Baka, it’s not that nice.”
I said, and then I hit Satoru’s shoulder with my fist with a knack. |
“Well, let’s get going.”
As I walked out of the house and looked up at the sky, I saw a blue sky without a single cloud. The conditions were perfect for a soccer match. But despite the clear blue of the sky, my mind was as muddy as mud.
That is, of course, because I had been shown such an act through my phone. It is no exaggeration to say that I have hated Hazuki ever since then. I don’t want to see her face, and I don’t want to hear her voice. Just looking at her face makes me so irritated that I have a hard time suppressing my desire to hurl cuss words at her.
Moreover, when I was alone in my room at night, memories of the fun, happiness, and joy I had with Hazuki would flood my mind, and something like nausea would well up in the pit of my stomach, and I would find myself in tears.
I tried to fall asleep quickly, but I couldn’t because the scene kept flashing back to me when I tried to meditate.
(This past week has been hell...)
I started walking heavily toward the meeting place.
“Yuu-kun, good morning.”
I turn toward the voice and see Kanade approaching me at a trot with her usual bright smile on her face. I was relieved as soon as I saw her face.
“Good morning. Good luck in today’s game.”
“Today’s opponent is a stronger school than ours, but I’m sure Yuu-kun will be fine.”
“If Kanade told me that much, I have no choice but to do my best.”
“That’s right! Every one of us has been working very hard! I’m sure you’ll win!”
The high school I go to is a preparatory school, but the soccer team is considered one of the stronger ones in the prefecture. In fact, it was the result of Kanade becoming the manager and revolutionizing the way we practice.
“I’m glad the school that competed in last year’s In-High School tournament agreed to play a practice match with us.”
“We did relatively well in the last tournament, too. I wonder if they are aware of that. Or is it to give themselves a boost by beating a team that is not too strong or too weak?”
“It could be either. If that is the case, we can’t afford to lose, can we?”
“That’s the spirit! Let’s beat them and get our momentum going!”
We talked a lot and laughed a lot. We were both so preoccupied with what we were going to do after the match, but neither of us wanted to talk about it. Both Kanade and I are worried. Because we are about to sever by our own hands the relationships that have made up such a large part of our lives until now.
“We’re gonna win! Get fired up!!!!”
“””””OOO!!!!!!!!”””””
The first game of the new team is about to begin. Since the game is to be played on the opposing school’s field, the gallery is mostly made up of people who have come to cheer on the opposing team.
I look over at the bleachers and see Hazuki and Kouki standing side by side. Perhaps noticing that I was looking at her, Hazuki waved her hand and gestured for me to do my best, and cheered me on. I raised my hand lightly and quickly turned around and headed back to my teammates.
Contrary to most expectations, ours was by far the most aggressive team in the match. I was the one who was responsible for that.
It’s ironic that my best performance comes in the worst conditions. I probably have less enthusiasm for this match than everyone else, to be honest. It’s not that I have zero motivation, but I just couldn’t fully concentrate on what I was going to do.
In the end, the game ended in a - win for us. I ended up with one goal and two assists, so I guess you could say I was the hero of the game.
After the game was over, my teammates surrounded me and slapped me on the back. Laughing at the pain, I looked at the bench and saw Kanade hugging and sharing her joy with the other managers.
I managed to escape my teammates’ rough congratulations, and I sat down on the bench to rest my body while I looked out at the audience. There I saw Hazuki and Kouki high-fiving each other in delight.
(Please stop ...... don’t let me see you like that ......)
When I see Hazuki and Kouki, I get the feeling that my heart is broken. I wonder if those guys don’t even realize that she’s getting laid and are laughing at each other about how they’re just floating around being a bit of a hero in club activities. I wonder if they even high-five each other and are that happy to see me turn into a clown.
I couldn’t suppress my irritation. But everything I’m thinking right now is paranoia. I know that. I know, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t do anything about it. Damn it...
“Yuu-kun ......”
I was sitting on the bench, looking down and holding my head, when Kanade put her hand on my shoulder.
“Are you okay? No, of course not. There’s no way you’re okay. But you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here. I’ll bear the pain you’re going through.”
“Kanade...”
I looked up and saw Kanade with her usual smile on her face.
“Because, you know, we’ve known each other since childhood.”
“Ah. Yeah, you’re right. I really appreciate it, Kanade. You always helped me out.”
“When I was in elementary school, I helped Yuu-kun a lot more. I can afford this much! It looks like you’re feeling better, so let’s do our best in the next round.”
“Thanks to Kanade, I’m going to be able to manage. I’m counting on you.”
“My bad. The opposing school today asked me if I would like to practice with them from now on, in addition to the game. It was decided suddenly to have a joint practice. So, Hazuki and Kouki, could you just go home first? I’m really sorry for coming all this way to support us! I’ll make it up to you next time.”
I explained to them by putting my hands together, looking down, and trying not to look at their faces as much as possible. My heart is not strong enough to face these two people head-on right now.
“You don’t have to worry about it. Yuuri was really cool today, by the way. Yuuri can study well, and he’s also a soccer player, which is a bit unfair, isn’t it?
“No, seriously, you were awesome! I’ll be there to cheer you on in the next game! Don’t worry about what happened today! I’ll make sure Hazuki gets home safe and sound.”
(Where the hell are you sending her off to?).
Kouki, who thinks their relationship is unknown, almost snapped when he made the scummy remark, but he managed to keep his reason in his hands.
“Oh, thanks, you two... well, I’d better be on my way.”
He sends a shout to my back, “Good luck,” and “Say hi to Kanade for me,” but I don’t even turn around and dash past them to my teammates. |
“We pledge to show the results of our daily practice, to fight fair and square, and to burn until the very end. Satoru Mishima, representative of the red team. “Hazuki Sakashita, representative of the white team”
Satoru and Hazuki, who served as members of the athletic festival executive committee, administered the athlete’s oath, and the last athletic festival of our high school life was held. At our school, it is customary for the athlete oath to be administered by the chairperson and vice chairperson of the athletic festival committee. Satoru had always wanted to take the oath of the athletes, which made sense, but I had never thought that Hazuki would run for the committee.
Hazuki was generally not an active participant in school events. Of course, she had taken the initiative in helping with preparations, but this was probably the first time for her to take the initiative and do something. At least, I had never seen Hazuki do anything like that before.
After the opening ceremony of the gymnasium was over, I went to my seat and saw Kanade, who was in the same red team as me.
“I didn’t think Hazuki would be the one to lead the pledge.”
“Well, I didn’t expect it either.”
“Are you okay, Yuu-kun?”
“Yeah, I’m probably fine now. Thanks for worrying about me.”
I was by no means acting strong when I said it would be okay. It has already been three months since I broke up with Hazuki. Spring break was pretty tough, but once school started, Kanade, Satoru, and Tanuki-san were always there for me, and Yoshi-chan and Hanaka came to visit me. And with the preliminary rounds for the national team, the culmination of our club activities, coming up soon, I was so busy that I didn’t have time to think about anything else, so I wondered if my wounds had begun to heal without me noticing.
Kanade had a worried look on her face to make sure I wasn’t really overworking myself, but when she saw my natural smile, she felt relieved and returned to her seat, saying, “Let’s do our best and win, shall we?”
“Yuuri-senpai was so cool!”
When the third-year students finished the footrace, Yoshi-chan jumped on me. The way the people around me were looking at me was too painful...
“Yoshi-chan, I smell sweaty, maybe you should step away from me for a minute?”
“No! I don’t want to go away! Sniff-sniff-sniff.”
“Hey! Don’t sniff me so much, I’m embarrassed! Please get away from me!”
I pushed and pushed, but she wouldn’t budge, not even for leverage. What is this girl? Is she at one with the ground? As I was thinking about this nonsense, I saw Hanaka running over to me from the first-year seats.
“Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing here? You can’t be here, there are too many people! Oh, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go where there aren’t so many people!
“Because Yuuri-senpai is so cool, I couldn’t resist.”
“Look, Yoshi-chan. Yuu-kun and Hanaka-chan are troubled, aren’t they?”
“Mmhmhm ....... I’m here, Kanade-senpai!”
“Because Yuu-kun and Hanaka-chan are both troubled. That’s right, as a childhood friend, I have come to help them.”
Saying this, Kanade dragged Yoshi-chan and Hanaka back to the first-year seats.
*****
[Kanade’s Point of View]
“Kanade-senpai is so unfair! I also wanted a weapon named “childhood friend”!”
“Hmmm. Childhood friends can be good, but they can also be bad. As for me, I envy those who are able to show their affection to someone head-on like Yoshi-chan.”
From my point of view, Yoshi-chan is a really cute girl. When a girl like her shows her affection head-on, I think it would be hard for a boy not to fall in love with her. I thought it would be fine if Yuu-kun fell in love with her and decided to go out with her. Well, it would be best if I could become his girlfriend and make him happy.
But if I told Yuu-kun that I liked him, knowing everything that was going on, he might be troubled and suffer again. That’s why I’m afraid to take the first step.
“It’s true that Kanade-senpai’s position seems to be hard to go for... However, I envy Kanade-senpai for having Yuuri-senpai look at her with such kind eyes! I’m definitely not going to lose!”
“I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that I’m being forced to watch two girls fight over my own brother. I’m so thankful that you followed me here, Kana-chan. You’re going to have lunch with Yuu nii-chan, right? Can we join you?”
“Yes, of course! Of course! I have packed lots of lunches, so let’s eat them together.”
After I left the two of them, I remembered what Yoshi-chan had said to me.
I guess I’m in an enviable position in the eyes of those around me. Though when I think about it, maybe I am. If we weren’t childhood friends, Yuu-kun probably wouldn’t have shared his problems with me, and he probably wouldn’t have been willing to depend on me, right? But I still envy Yoshi-chan for being able to honestly tell him how she feels.
I see... I’m not satisfied with just being a childhood friend anymore, either. |
[Hazuki’s Point of View]
“Yo. What a coincidence to see you here. By the way, you look like you just came out of a love hotel, what were you two doing together?”
From behind my back, I heard the voice of someone who was not supposed to be there. I fearfully turned around to see Yuuri standing there with a smile on his face. The expression on his face was a smile, but Yuuri’s eyes were cold and devoid of any emotion.
“Yu, Yuuri... Why are you here...?”
“Hm? I followed you guys after the game was over.”
“Wh-why...why did you do that?”
“Hmmm. It’s a little hard to talk here, isn’t it? Let’s go to my house and talk slowly.”
As soon as he said that, Yuuri slipped past us and walked toward the station without changing his expression. Kanade followed behind her with a short run and started walking next to Yuuri. It was there that I first realized that Kanade was also present.
(What? What? What do you mean? Didn’t Yuuri have club practice? Was he following us? Why? Why did you think it was suspicious? Did he know about my relationship with Kouki? When? How long had they known?)
I was confused. In all my life, I had never been so confused in my mind.
I am aware of it, but I think I am relatively calmer than others. I have been called ‘cold’ not a few times. But even I have my problems and I sometimes want to cry.
“Hazuki. You have a problem right now, don’t you? Don’t try to solve it by yourself, always rely on me, right?”
Yuuri always helped me by saying so. But now I can’t put my trust in him. That’s supposed to be that way. Because it is Yuuri himself who is the cause of my confusion right now.
We arrived in front of Yuuri’s house. I don’t know how many times I have been inside this house. I have been inside this house since before I can remember. I know this house as well as my own. But I have never felt afraid to enter this house.
I thought we were going to be taken to Yuuri’s room, but we were taken in front of an empty room that was used as a luggage storage space. When Yuuri opened the door, it was already someone’s room, not a storage room. And that someone would be none other than Yuuri.
“What? Why is the room changed?”
I let out a few words without saying to anyone.
“Hmm? What is it, Hazuki? Do you want to know why I moved rooms? You at least know why I can no longer stay in my old room, don’t you?”
Yuuri knows everything. He knows about my relationship with Kouki, and he also knows what we did in Yuuri’s room during that time.
I collapsed on the spot. My body was so cold that I felt as if all the blood had drained out of me, and my hands and toes were numb.
Hazuki, are you all right? Come into my room.”
The voice that reached my ears had its usual gentle tone, so I looked up with anticipation. However, that expectation was soon betrayed. The smile was already gone from Yuuri’s face, and he simply stared at me with a blank expression. When I saw his eyes, my whole body trembled and I couldn’t move.
Kanade, who couldn’t bear to look at me like that, asked, “Can you walk?” and let me into the room.
*****
[Yuuri’s Point of View]
After making sure everyone was inside the room, I looked around at all the members there. Hazuki was sitting on the floor and Kouki was sitting in a chair at his study desk. Kanade was sitting on the floor with her back against the door, looking at me anxiously.
“Everyone sat down. Well, first of all, I want to ask Hazuki and Kouki something. Why did you two come out of the love hotel together earlier?”
“Ah...... that’s.......”
“Hazuki seems to be confused right now, so I’ll explain that to you. Is that okay?”
“Yeah...”
“After the game, I had some free time, so we decided to hang out in front of the station. I was just taking a little stroll and Hazuki suddenly got sick, so I took her to a love hotel right in front of me to rest. There are beds there, you know.”
“I see... So you’re sure it’s not the kind of illicit relationship I’m suspecting?”
“Yes, of course. You may suspect that Hazuki and I did something in the room, but even that is a misunderstanding. I swear. I swear to you, Hazuki and I do not have the kind of illicit relationship you think we do.”
“Ha ha ...... ah ha ha ha ......... ah ha ha ha ha!”
Seeing me laughing like crazy, Kouki and Hazuki are wide-eyed and astonished.
What is this guy talking about? Misunderstanding? Did you swear? What are you swearing to? You don’t believe in God, do you? This is too funny. I didn’t think you had this much sense, Kouki.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sorry, sorry. I’m sorry. No, I didn’t expect to hear you say that. Because who would believe that nothing happened when the two of you came out of the love hotel together? Kouki, if it were you, would you believe it if the guy she was with said something like that?”
“Tsk...”
Perhaps thinking he had lost the upper hand, he clicked his tongue and Kouki went silent as it was. I glanced at Hazuki and saw that she continued to wobble and shake with a pallid expression on her face.
“Well, you know. That was mean, wasn’t it, even my question. But, you know, I trusted you to apologize. I thought you’d feel guilty about me being your childhood friend and boyfriend who’s been with you all your life, but it looks like you didn’t even have that.”
Hazuki’s shoulders jumped when she heard those words.
“I know about your relationship, by the way. Before I explain how I came to know about it, I have to apologize first. I’m sorry. I had surveillance cameras set up in my old room.”
“What?”
“What,...?”
“I couldn’t believe you guys, so I set up a surveillance camera in my room to film the two of you. When we hung out at home last week, you remember how Kanade and I said we had to scout for club activities and left in the middle of the day? That was a lie. We went into a nearby coffee shop and I got to see the whole story of what you two were doing here.”
“No, it’s true. If you want, I can show you the proof.”
After saying that, I opened the app on my smartphone and played a video.
Hazuki watched the video and held her head and said, “Stop it. Stop it already ......,” she complained with tears streaming down her face. Kouki said, “Damn it,” and glared at me with his tongue lolling out.
(Hey, hey, hey. All your reactions are what I want to do.)
“So, Yuuri. What do you want us to do? Don’t be a b***h about it, just tell us what you want.”
“Hey. Don’t be so backhanded. I’ve been on the verge of losing my temper for a long time now, but I’m trying my best to hold it in.”
I turned to Hatsuki as I said that.
“I want two things. First, I want to ask you when and why you started this kind of relationship with Kouki. Of course, you’ll tell me, won’t you, Hazuki?” |
.I moved up to the third grade, and for some unknown reason, I ended up in the same class with Yuuri, with who I had never been in the same class before. And I even got to be in the same class as Kanade.
When I entered the classroom, the two of them were already talking together in Yuuri’s seat. I was sure that those around them were Yuuri’s and Kanade’s friends.
Looking at those four people, it was as if I was watching us before, and it made my heart ache. Laughing together with Yuuri was such a normal thing, but now I will never have that normal thing again.
(Even though I betrayed him, he’s still not ready to leave me.)
As far as I can see, Yuuri seems to have already blown me off, and I feel very sad at the fact that my childhood friend, whom I have been with for about years, has forgotten me so easily. Of course, I understand that it is selfish. But I still feel that way.
It was lunch break time.
I didn’t want to see Yuuri and Kanade talking amicably, so I was about to leave the classroom.
“Yuuri-senpai! Let’s eat together!”
I stopped in my tracks and looked in the direction of the voice. The voice calling for Yuuri was a very cute girl.
I thought to myself, Isn’t that girl Yoshi-chan, who was a good friend of Hana-chan? As I was thinking that, Hana-chan hurriedly entered the classroom from behind Yoshi-chan.
I see... both of them have entered this school. As I was thinking about this in a daze and looking at Yuuri and the others, Hana-chan noticed me, erased her smile, and glared at me with cold eyes.
From her gaze, it seemed as if she was saying to me, “Why are you here?” and “Get out of here as fast as you can.” I hurried to the school cafeteria to escape from her gaze.
A month after school started, many people knew that Yuuri and I had broken up. It is not surprising that people would think so, since the two of us, who had been together all this time, did not speak a word to each other as soon as we entered the third grade. And it is a fact that we have broken up.
“Is Hazuki okay? It must be awkward to be in the same class as your ex-boyfriend. Have you gotten used to it?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, thanks.”
“But, you know, I wish he didn’t have to flirt so much with different girls when his ex-girlfriend is in the same class as him.”
“I was thinking that too. Is he trying to put the blame on Hatsuki?”
“I didn’t think Yamagishi-kun was the type of person who would do something like that. I guess his image has changed a little.”
“Everyone is fine for me. I’ve already broken up with him. I can’t demand anything of Yuuri, and I can’t stop him from doing what he does.”
“Hmmm. Hazuki is very modest, really. If you ever have a hard time, you can always talk to us.”
Masashi, Kotone, and Sasetsu, who are worried about me, have been my friends since I started high school, and I can call them my best friends. Because of them, even though I lost Yuuri and Kanade, I think I am still able to make it at this school somehow. So I can only be really grateful to them for being with me.
“Speaking of which, the sports festival is coming up soon, isn’t it? I wonder who will be on the committee?”
“I definitely don’t want to do it. I hope it will be decided smoothly.”
“Well... Actually, I would like to run for the committee. I’d like to be the vice-chairman of the committee.”
“What? Hazuki is going to do it?
“It’s unusual for you to be actively involved in a school event.”
“I’m in my third year, so I thought I’d make at least one memory.”
“Oh, I see. But I’m sure Hazuki will do it well, so everyone will be at ease.”
The other two nodded their heads in agreement.
But the truth is, it’s not about making memories, it’s because I thought that if I got busy, I would be less conscious of Yuuri that way. I also have an ugly ulterior motive in thinking that if I am a member of the athletic festival committee, I will be on stage at the opening and closing ceremonies, and Yuuri may take another look at me.
Since becoming a member of the sports festival committee, I have been busy as I thought I would be, and that did not change even on the day of the sports festival. It would be more correct to say that I was busy looking for work on my own.
That didn’t change even at lunchtime.
The teacher asked me to deliver a package, and just as I was about to leave the courtyard for a shortcut, I saw Yuuri and his friends happily eating lunch together.
Why?
Why?
Yuuri, why are you smiling so much while I am suffering so much?
Was that all I was to you?
Are you just going to abandon me, not listen to my apologies, forget about me and go on with your life?
The sports festival is over and I am sitting alone in my classroom.
Looking out the window, I see the sun setting and turning the town red.
As I look out, I remember the smile I saw on Yuuri’s face at lunch.
How long have you been doing that?
I noticed that it was getting dark outside.
I decided it was time to go home and suddenly looked at my phone to see that I had received a RINE from Kouki.
After checking the contents of the message, I got up and headed for Kouki. |
The Monday after I talked with Yoshi-chan in the park, I met her at school.
“Oh, Yuuri-senpai! Good morning.”
“Oh, yeah. Good morning, Yoshi-chan.”
Until now, when she saw me, she would jump up and down to me, but today, Yoshi-chan and I had changed our distance to that of a friendly senior and junior. I see. Yoshi-chan has already looked forward to the future. It may be presumptuous for me to say this since I had hurt her, but I was very happy to see that.
“Isn’t there something a little different about Yoshi-chan?”
“Hmm? Is that so? You look as cute as usual.”
“Nn~! You can’t call a girl cute right away like that!”
With that, Kanade puffed out her cheeks and strode quickly into the classroom. As I watched Kanade’s back, thinking how cute she looked, Satoru came up from behind and squared his shoulders.
“Morninn! What are you grinning at while looking at Miyama-san’s backside this early in the morning?”
“I don’t want to be told by you, the lovey-dovey bakauple!”
“We’re not a bakauple. Well, I don’t disagree that we’re in love.”
“Isn’t that the same? I’d rather not see it.”
And so, while having a silly conversation with Satoru, I went into the classroom and school life began again as usual.
I was walking Kanade home after school when I saw someone standing in front of my house.
“Huh? Someone came to see me?”
“Oh, Yuuri-kun. I had some business with you today, so I waited for you.”
In front of the house was Hazuki’s mother, Sakuya-san.
When Hazuki and I were dating, I often visited her house and we talked almost every day, but after we broke up, we never saw each other at all, so it had been a really long time since I heard Sakuya’s voice.
“Huh? Something with me?”
“Yeah. Would you mind stopping by my place for a minute?”
“That’s okay, though. Is... Hazuki home?”
“She hasn’t come home yet.”
Then I thought, okay, I stepped over the Sakashita family’s door threshold and entered the house for the first time in a long while. As far as I could see inside the house, nothing seemed to have changed since I last entered. I sat on the sofa in the living room and waited for Sakuya-san, who came over with a tray of coffee and cookies.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to call on you so suddenly.”
“I didn’t have any plans or anything, so I’m fine.”
“Thank you. You’re as kind as ever, Yuuri-kun.”
“No, that’s not true.”
Sakuya-san looked at me nostalgically. I couldn’t bear the look and reached for a cookie.
“I somehow know that Yuuri-kun has broken up with that girl.”
“Eh? You hadn’t heard?”
“I never asked her directly. But whenever she came home, she always talked about Yuuri-kun, but one day she stopped. So it would be impossible to not notice that.”
“I see...”
Well, I don’t really care that Hazuki didn’t tell everyone that we broke up, but what is it that you still want to talk to me about, Sakuya-san, when you know that we broke up?
“So, what is it that you want to talk to me about?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. She’s been acting strange ever since she broke up with Yuuri-kun, but lately, she’s been acting especially strange.”
Is there something wrong with Hazuki? There didn’t seem to be any change at school. Well, it’s not like I’m observing her, and there’s no way I can understand the subtleties of Hazuki’s state of mind right now.
“I was wondering if you could ask her what is going on with her. When I asked her, she just said, “Nothing happened.” I know it’s not the right thing to ask Yuuri-kun, who broke up with her. But I have no one else to turn to but you when it comes to that girl...”
I see. Sakuya-san is worried about Hazuki, isn’t she? To be honest, I don’t like it, but I owe Sakuya-san a debt of gratitude for being so good to me up until now, so I thought it would be good to pay her back here.
“Yes, I understand. But I don’t think she’ll talk to me even if I ask her directly, so from now on I’ll try to pay close attention to Hazuki’s condition.”
“Oh, thank you. Thinking about Yuuri-kun’s feelings, I know it must have been uncomfortable, but thank you so much.”
She must have been very worried. For the first time, Sakuya-san put a smile on her face and shook my hand. I simply said, “Don’t worry about it,” and left the Sakashita house. It would probably be the last time I would enter this house.
When I got home and was studying, I decided to tell Kanade what Sakuya-san had asked me to do earlier, so I sent her a message on RINE. Then, as I was about to put my phone down to resume my studies, I received a call from Kanade and stuttered.
“Yuu-kun, what do you mean?”
“No, it’s just like the message, but Sakuya-san asked me to check on Hazuki for a week or so.”
“Hmmm. As for me, I’m against it. I think it would be better for you not to be involved with Hazuki anymore.”
“I don’t think I would have been able to do it right after the incident, but now, thanks to Kanade’s support, I don’t think anything of it, so I’m fine.”
“I see. But what are you going to do about it?”
“I’m thinking of following her around a bit after school.”
“Hey, follow her for a bit... It smells like a crime, Yuu-kun.”
Even through my phone, I can feel Kanade’s dismay.
“Well, that’s a subtle way of putting it, but I figured I could just study at a family restaurant or something while she’s at cram school, and I could manage for a week or so.”
“Uuuuuu. Okay then, I’ll go with you!”
“Eh, that’s fine. You don’t have to go out with me too.”
“No, it’s not fine! Yuu-kun has some things he’s missing, and if I were there, he would definitely have a better chance of success.”
I have to admit that I can’t even deny it if you put it that way. If it had not been for Kanade, I might still have been betrayed.
“Well, can I ask you to come with me tomorrow?’
“Yes, that would be great! I’ve been studying a lot lately, so it might be a good distraction!”
After that, Kanade and I talked on the phone for a while, spending time between studying. |
“I’m home.”
On Monday after school, Kanade and I had our first study session.
Kanade, like Hanaka, once she concentrates on something she’s devoting herself to it, but she is not very good at sustaining it. However, she is not bad when it comes to the groundwork, such as building a soccer practice method, so once she learns how to study, she may surpass me in no time.
“I think it’s been a while since I’ve been in your room.”
“Yeah, it sure has. It’s been since that day.”
“Oh... sorry. Did I remind you of something bad?
“No, not at all. I’m going to get you a drink, so you can go to my room first.”
“Yeah, I understand. Thank you, Yuu-kun.”
With that, he headed to my former room and opened the door to my new room, saying, “Oh, I made a mistake.” Seeing her like that, my heart was very warm, even though I felt sorry for her. I felt very happy that Kanade had come to my house again.
“Oh! You’re full of enthusiasm!”
When I entered the room, Kanade had already put out her textbooks, problem books, and notebooks and was in study mode.
“Of course. I really came here to study. Yuu-kun, I’m looking forward to working with you today.”
“Yeah. Let’s do our best to go to college together!”
“Yeah!”
Then we concentrated and began to study silently. Kanade’s ability to concentrate is amazing. And she’s so open-minded. Whenever I gave her a hint, she immediately understood and came up with the answer one after another.
“Nnnnn... Oh, it’s been two hours already. My parents might be back, so don’t go into the living room for a minute.”
“If Auntie is here, I’d like to say hello, so I’ll go with you.”
As I headed for the living room, Kanade followed behind me. In the living room, Hanaka and my mother were sitting on the sofa, chatting while watching a drama they had filmed.
“Ah! It’s Kana-chan! What’s wrong?”
Hanaka took one look at me over the back of the sofa, noticed Kanade’s presence, and called out to me in surprise.
“I’m studying with Yuu-kun starting today. Next year we have to take the college entrance exam, so we have to do our best.”
With that, Kanade turned to my mom and greeted her by saying, “I’m sorry to bother you.”
“I see...you’re about to take the college entrance exam. I don’t want to study like that anymore.”
“Haha, Hanaka-chan, you just finished the entrance exam. I thought I didn’t want to go back then, too. Two years went by so fast...”
“Uuuu... Now I’m going to escape reality and do what I want to do.”
“It’s possible that you may have to repeat the year in high school, so you shouldn’t let your guard down, Hanaka. Also, since that’s the case, Kanade will be coming over to our house often from now on to study.”
“Of course, that’s fine Kanade-chan, you can take it easy as usual. Next time you come, let’s have dinner together here.”
“Yay! I’m so happy! I’ll tell my mom that when I get home today since I’ll be visiting tomorrow.”
We went back to our room, but we couldn’t regain our concentration once it was broken, so we talked and laughed at each other about silly things.
“Oh, what shall we do about the two of us handing over the club?”
“I wanted to talk about that too! As expected, Yuu-kun, you’re so good at remembering things!”
“It’s not that big of a deal, is it?”
I giggle at Kanade who compliments me on everything.
“Is there anything you want to do, Kanade?”
“Let’s see. Well, I’d like to go to a summer festival with you.”
“Oh, a summer festival sounds great!”
“Right? I know it’s a little ways away, but the exams are over! I’ll be able to enjoy it to the fullest.”
“Oh, yes.”
The keyword “summer festival” made my heart beat loudly for a moment. The summer festival was one of the memorable events that Hazuki and I first kissed and cherished at the time. But that’s all. It is a memory of the past that I don’t need right now.
“You know Kanade, you remember before spring break when I collapsed during a club activity?”
“Hmm? Yeah, there was. I was really worried about you at the time.”
“Ha-ha-ha. I’m sorry you’re always worried.”
“I’m telling you the truth!”
She glares at me with her mouth agape and her cheeks puffed out, but soon she says, “I’m just kidding!” and Kanade smiles. Seeing that expression always makes me smile naturally, too.
“So, in the infirmary, when I meditate, I have flashbacks of those images. But then I realized that I don’t see them at all anymore. I think it’s because Kanade has been with me since then.”
“No, that’s not true.”
“I’ve been thinking lately, ‘That was fun today. What should I do next?” And when I’m thinking about what to do, Kanade is always by my side. Thanks to Kanade, I can look forward to tomorrow. I really appreciate it. Thank you.”
Kanade, who had been listening with her face down in the middle of the conversation, opened her mouth after a short pause.
“I’m really glad that you think it’s fun. I was actually worried that you might think I was annoying. I thought Yuu-kun is so kind that he would never say anything, but I was still worried too...”
After a short pause, she looked up and stared at me. There were a lot of tears in Kanade’s eyes, and they looked as if they would flow at any moment by some impulse. However, the tears did not spill over.
“Let’s have lots of fun together from now on.”
Kanade had a very kind, warm, and wonderful smile as she said this. |
I fell in love with Yuuri-senpai when I was in the sixth grade of elementary school.
I had been good friends with Hanaka since then, and we often played together at home, but at the time I only thought of him as a “kind older brother.”
It was an incident that made me start to be conscious of Yuuri-senpai.
One day during the summer vacation in sixth grade, I was killing time at the library when an employee of a small company owned by my parents told me to follow him because my father wanted to see me, and he almost took me home.
I often went to visit the company and knew the man, so I followed him, but I realized halfway through that something was wrong. I tried desperately to resist, but I was helpless before the power of a grown man. As I was struggling to make a bad move by screaming loudly in agony, a man heard my voice and rushed over to me. That was Yuuri-senpai.
Yuuri-senpai punched the man and hugged me. Then he said, “I took a picture of everything you did with my phone! I even called the police!” He said, and the guy ran off in the opposite direction and disappeared.
“You’re Hanaka’s friend, right, Yoshi-chan? It’s all right now. You were scared, weren’t you?”
When I heard Yuuri-senpai’s gentle voice, I couldn’t hold back any longer and clung to senpai and cried hard.
“Ugh... ugh... ugh...I was scared. I was scared. I thought I might never see my mom and dad again. I thought I was going to lose them...”
Yuuri-senpai gently stroked my head until the police arrived.
Since then, Yuuri-senpai became a hero in my mind, and I found myself liking him the most.
However, I knew from Hanaka that Yuuri-senpai already had a girlfriend. I had seen a glimpse of her, and she was so beautiful that I could never compete with her.
Still, I couldn’t give up on her, so I thought, “If I become pretty, maybe he will turn his head toward me!” So I went to a proper hairdresser to get a pretty hairstyle, and I also tried to lose weight to be slimmer. I loved to eat, so dieting was very hard for me, but I persevered, thinking that I was doing it to get Yuuri-senpai to look at me.
Thanks to my efforts, many guys confessed their feelings for me when I entered junior high school. I had to turn down all of them because the only one I liked the most was Yuuri-senpai, so I managed to gain confidence in myself.
Then, before entering high school, I heard from Hanaka that Yuuri-senpai had broken up with Hazuki-senpai. Eh? Could this possibly be a gift from God for my high school acceptance? Because, how could the timing be like this? I vowed not to miss the chance God had given me, and vowed to pursue Yuuri-senpai with all my might once I entered high school.
But we were such good friends, why did they break up? Even if I ask Hanaka, she just gives me a disgusted look and doesn’t tell me at all... Hmmm, well, let’s not dwell on the past! It’s just a matter of me being the support for the heartbroken Yuuri-senpai!
Alright! My first goal in school is to have lunch with Yuuri-senpai at the cafeteria!
“Ufu... ufufufufu...ufufufufufufu...”
Yes! Today I got to have lunch at the cafeteria which was my goal, with Yuuri-senpai, who I’ve always loved! We couldn’t be alone together as expected, but everyone was so nice that it was a lot of fun!
As I heard from Hanaka, it seems that Hazuki-senpai and senpai have really broken up, so I might have a real chance! But I have a feeling that Kanade-senpai, Senpai’s other childhood friend, might be my rival.
Her personality is totally different from Hazuki-senpai’s, but Kanade-senpai is also really cute, to be honest... If Hazuki-senpai is a beautiful model, Kanade-senpai has the purity and cuteness of an actress in a morning drama series. To put it bluntly, it’s a too strong and an unfair level of cuteness.
Mmmmmm.
But still, I wonder why there are so many cute girls around Yuuri-senpai who have an unusual level of cuteness. Even Tanuki-senpai, who was with me at lunch, was very cute and had a wonderful air about her, even though her looks were not as good as those two...
Hmmm. I don’t think I can win even if I fight normally... I’m at a disadvantage of being younger than her, but having such a cute person as a childhood friend is a cheat.
Oh, no, no, no! I’m too timid, no, no, no, no, no, no. If I get scared at this point, I’m sure to lose.
I’m going to change my status from Hanaka’s friend to a girl and boldly confess my feelings to her before Yuuri-senpai’s graduation! Go for it! Go for it!
(To tell you the truth, I want Yuuri-senpai to confess to me...)
*****
[Hanaka Point of View]
I know Yoshi-chan liked Yuu nii-chan, but I didn’t expect her to take such a hard-line approach by storming into the rd-grade classroom during lunch break. Since Yuu nii-chan saved her life in elementary school, I’ve noticed that she’s changed into a more aggressive type of person. She used to be such a gentle girl with a soft and gentle air about her.
...It’s amazing what a girl in love can do!
By the way, I am proud to say that I have been watching Yoshi-chan the most closely, and from that time on, she was making a lot of efforts to get Yuu nii-chan to be interested in her.
As for me, I wanted Yuu nii-chan to marry Hazuki-san, but seeing Yoshi-chan’s efforts, I had no choice but to support her. Because I got to see right in front of me how love can change a person. It would be a lie not to support her after seeing that.
So when I heard from Yuu nii-chan that he broke up with Hazuki-san, I was sad, but at the same time I thought, “Yay, Yoshichan, you did it!” Well, it might be difficult to attract Yuu nii-chan because he still has Kana-chan, too. |
When Kanade and I left the house, we went as originally planned into a neighborhood coffee shop that I have been frequenting recently, where there are almost no customers. I ordered two hot coffees, and Kanade looked at me with concern.
“Yuu-kun. Are you ready?”
“Ready” I could tell that Kanade put a lot of thought into this one word. Encouraged by such a voice, I, who was internally scared to death, started up the app on my phone with determination.
The video on my phone showed the two of them playing a game against each other, just as they were when we were still in the room.
“Oh my God, I’ve lost again. I lost again.”
“Hehe, I don’t think I can lose against Hazuki.”
“I’m kind of annoyed. Ha, that’s fine. Let’s take a break.”
Hazuki then put down the controller and leaned back on the bed to rest.
(Those guys weren’t cheating on me!)
Seeing the two of them playing the game normally, I let out a big sigh of relief and quenched my thirst with a mouthful of coffee.
“I knew those two were fine.”
I looked at the screen of my phone and saw Hazuki still resting her back on the bed. Kouki moved next to Hazuki and put his arm around her waist in what seemed like an all-too-natural motion.
“Hey. Did you forget that Yuuri came back halfway through the day the other day, and we almost got caught?”
“No, I haven’t forgotten, but he said it would take about two hours today, and he said he’d RINE you when he returned, didn’t he?”
After saying that, Kouki turned Hazuki’s face towards him and kissed him...
(What? Wait a minute, wait a minute. What the hell is this all about?)
I was so confused by the image that my heart was beating so loudly I thought it was in my own ear.
“Kouki......”
Hazuki has always called Kouki “Kouki-kun.” However, Hazuki, who is now in the video, is calling him “Kouki” with a poised expression on her face.
(What is this? What is this? Hazuki..., since when did you have such a relationship with Kouki?)
The two people in the video are seeking each other more deeply as if they don’t care about my messed-up heart. As if to prove it, Hazuki in the video was in a state of disarray that even I had never seen before.
(I never knew this side of Hazuki...)
Usually, Hazuki was mature and calm, but right now she was seeking Kouki intensely, both physically and verbally. I knew my heart was dying with a thump as I watched Hazuki like that.
The coffee shop’s heating system was blowing warm air vigorously, making it hot enough to make me sweat, but my hands and feet were numb and cold. Yet I was sweating cold sweat all over my body, and my whole body began to tremble.
“Yuu-kun. That’s enough. Let’s stop looking at it.”
With that, Kanade reached for her phone.
And just as she was about to remove the earphones from my ears, I heard it.
“Kouki. I like yours the best. You make me feel the best.”
Hearing those words, I felt a surge in my stomach and ran to the bathroom.
“Thanks for waiting. Sorry, I had to rush to the bathroom and didn’t come out for a long time.”
Kanade looked like she was about to cry when she saw me smiling. I didn’t want Kanade to have that look on her face. If she makes a face like that, it makes me look like a very pathetic and miserable man.
“Why do you look like you’re about to cry? You have nothing to worry about.”
When I said that, Kanade wrinkled her face and desperately tried to hold back her tears. I looked at my phone, which was still on the table, and saw that the screen had already gone dark and the images that had been projected earlier were a lie.
“Well, you know. The result was like this, but our suspicions were cleared in a way, right? I mean, if it was that obvious, I couldn’t say anything else, could I?”
While I was laughing and scratching my head, Kanade stood up silently, pulled me by the hand, and walked out of the store.
“Oh, hey. We haven’t paid the bill yet.”
“I already paid the bill.”
Kanade took my hand and started to run. I was confused, but I kept on running, following Kanade’s hand, and we arrived at Hanasaki Park, which has been a favorite place of mine since childhood.
“You don’t have to force yourself to laugh!!!!!”
As soon as we entered the park, I was surprised by Kanade’s loud voice. While looking at me like that, she continued to shout out loud as she stared at the ground.
“It’s a lie that you wouldn’t be sad to witness something like that! Yuu-kun is so kind that he cared about me and talked to me as if nothing had happened, but there’s no way that’s true! Don’t force yourself to smile and lie and hurt yourself!”
“As I took a breath on my shoulder, Kanade raised her head and looked at me. The first thing I saw was not her usual cute and cheery smile, but rather Kanade who is drenched in tears.”
“I don’t know what to do anymore. When I saw that video I thought I’ve never known that side of Hazuki.”
When I saw the look on Kanade’s face, I felt my entire body relax and I fell to my knees on the spot. I continued to talk while kneeling down, and I noticed that Kanade was in the same position as me, looking me squarely in the eyes.
“Hazuki, ju, just now she called him “Kouki” just now, didn’t she? When we were together, she called him “Kouki-kun”. The way she called him “Kouki” was like the way she always call me by my name. I always thought I was the only one who knew Hazuki, who had such kind eyes and called my name lovingly, but I guess that wasn’t true.”
I continue with a weak smile.
“I wonder what they thought of me when they saw me, a man who knew nothing. I wonder if they were laughing at me in the shadows, saying I was an idiot who didn’t even realize he was being cheated. Did you hear what Hazuki said at the end?”
“I don’t know, when I heard those words, I lost all strength in my body. At first, I was angry. But gradually I lost those feelings, and just when I wanted to disappear, I heard those words, and I felt like everything I had been doing and loving toward Hazuki was rejected.”
Then Kanade, who had been silently listening, put her hands on my head and hugged me.
“I’m sorry, Yuu-kun. I thought you would break down if I didn’t do something, so I thought it would be better to let it out, and I said things like that to agitate you. I know it’s painful and sad. But I’m the only one who can help you now. So don’t force yourself. Take what you’re feeling right now and put it on me...”
I took her words to heart and continued to shower Kanade with my negative feelings toward those guys as I sobbed. I shouted so loudly that my throat bled.
I wonder how much time passed. I noticed that it was getting dark around us. We moved to a bench and continued to sit in silence.
“Ah, I remember telling those guys I’d be back in a couple of hours or so.”
“Don’t worry. I told them from the coffee shop that we’re going to be late today and that they should go home first.”
“I see... Thank you, Kanade. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry I got you into this mess.”
“Un. I’m sorry too, because if I hadn’t made this suggestion, maybe Yuu-kun would have been happy without even realizing it.”
“I’m really glad that I didn’t continue to be cheated on in the future. The result was terrible, but my gratitude to Kanade is true.”
“I’m sorry.” I stroked Kanade’s head as she apologized and shed a large tear, while I gazed blankly at the pitch-black sky. |
“Tomorrow is school day again so what are we going to do? Yuu-kun, it’s hard to see Hazuki after yesterday, isn’t it?”
Kanade looks up at me with a worried look on her face.
We got together at a different (less crowded) coffee shop than yesterday to decide what to do from here on out. As expected, going into that coffee shop is too tough for me right now.
“I guess it is. The problem is going to school and having lunch. I think I can handle it because we are in different classes, and after classes, I have club activities and Hazuki has cram school.”
“That’s right. Well, there is a game next Saturday, right? How about we practice in the morning and at noon for that game?”
It has been about eight months since the new team was formed. A game was coming up, an important test of the results of the team’s hard work. Wouldn’t it be okay if I devoted myself to morning, noon, and a week of practice...?
“I’m sure it’s not the worst idea. It’s true that Kanade’s idea might be the most comfortable.”
“Right? I’m pretty sure those two are coming to watch the game too, right?”
“That’s how it’s going to be for now.”
“Yeah, I guess so. Yuu-kun, I know this is a terrible thing to ask you after yesterday, but what are you going to do about your relationship with those two? Are you going to continue to pretend that you don’t know?”
Kanade was twirling the ends of her hair with her fingers. This is an old habit of Kanade’s. Whenever she is anxious or worried about something, she unconsciously fiddles with the tips of her hair. I could tell from the gesture that Kanade was worried.
“I couldn’t honestly pretend that I didn’t know anything about it. I’m actually thinking of setting up a little trap for them next week at the end of the game. If you’d like to help me, Kanade?”
“Of course, I’ll help! Because I can’t forgive those two either.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. I’ve been relying on Kanade a lot lately.”
“It’s okay for you to rely on me more. I think we both need each other when we’re weak.”
“Yeah, I know. Thank you.”
I was only thinking about myself, but Kanade must have had a big shock too because two of her childhood friends did that to her without telling her. And yet, she’s really my best childhood friend because she cares about me and is willing to help me out.
After I left Kanade and went home, I sent RINE to Hazuki.
“Sorry. I’m going to school tomorrow and have a lunch break, but I’m going to train on my own for next week’s game. So can you have lunch with a friend or something for the week?”
Even if it was a text-only exchange, I couldn’t help but think of Hazuki at that moment, and my fingers trembled as I typed. And now that I’ve finished sending it, I’m dreading Hazuki’s reply. I wonder how she feels about doing RINE with me. Is she laughing at me for being cheated on without knowing anything about it?
The Hazuki I know is not the kind of person who laughs at people behind their backs. But I realized the other day that this is an illusion.
I am afraid. I was scared of Hazuki from the bottom of my heart. As I was crouching under the covers, the screen of my phone lit up.
“I understand. You said next week’s game is important. I’ll be there to cheer you on that day, so practice hard.”
If I hadn’t known about Hazuki’s betrayal, I would have been extremely enthusiastic when I saw this message, but nothing resonated with me now. It was more like disgust. I had feelings for Hazuki that were more than just family, but I felt so sad that my heart had become so cold.
From Monday, I started going to school early and practicing in the morning as I had planned, and also went out to the field to practice in the afternoon as well. Kanade also went along with me in the morning because she was my manager, but one of my teammates made fun of me saying, “You have a girlfriend and you’re allowed to practice alone with Kanade? You don’t even know how I feel!” Well, I understand a little bit.
Hazuki and I didn’t see each other at school very often, as expected. Since we are in different classes and have different after-school activities, we almost never see each other as long as we can avoid the time when we go to school and during lunch break. Even during the short breaks between classes, I was very careful to disappear from the class immediately.
But all my efforts were ruined by the lunch break on Thursday.
“Yuuri. May I have a moment?”
Just as I sat up to go to practice when the chime rang, I heard a voice calling me from the classroom door. I looked in the direction of the voice and sure enough, there was Hazuki.
“I came here right after class because lately, you seem to disappear as soon as it’s break time. I’m glad you’re still in the classroom.”
Hazuki was right, since the beginning of this week, I have been trying to leave the classroom as soon as the chime rings. That is, of course, because I don’t want to see Hazuki. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kanade looking at me and Hazuki with a worried look on her face.
We move away from the classroom to the front of the music class, where not many people come.
“I’ve been busy lately. I’ve had to move quickly. Did you come by a few times to check on me by any chance?”
“Yes. I haven’t been able to come to school or have lunch with you this week, so I’ve been a little lonely.
“I’m sorry about that. It’s going to be the same as usual until the game, so just bear with it until tomorrow.”
“That’s all right. I don’t mean to be selfish and make you feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to talk to you while seeing your face for a little while.”
I was annoyed by Hazuki’s words, which sounded so sentimental.
I’m not going to be a wimp. You’re not trying to make trouble for me? When you’ve already betrayed me so badly.
“I’m sorry I missed you too. We’ll go to school and have lunch together again next week. Well, I’m off to practice.”
I quickly make my way to the field, trying not to let the resentment welling up in the pit of my stomach get the better of me. Then Hatsuki calls out to me from behind.
“I understand. Thanks for your time, Yuuri. Good luck with practice.”
I only raised my hand without turning around so that Hazuki wouldn’t see my face. I am sure I look ugly and distorted right now. I couldn’t let Hatsuki see my face like this.
“I’m sure we’ll have a lot to talk about on Saturday, Hazuki.” |
V Sports Festival “Finally lunch! Bento lunch!”
Satoru, who is always so high-spirited, was three times more energetic than usual, probably due to the sports festival. But I can understand Satoru’s feelings. Why does he get more excited during the lunchtime of the sports festival than during the usual lunchtime? I could see that even Tanuki-san, who is usually quite quiet, was excited with his lunch box in his hand.
“Let’s just spread out the sheet in the courtyard and eat.”
“That sounds great! There are only a few people there every year, so we can eat together slowly!”
“That’s right! Okay, I’ll go ahead and get a space! Tanuki-san, please come with me.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Leaving me and Kanade behind, Satoru and Tanuki-san went running toward the courtyard. When I confirmed that they had gone ahead of me, I accepted the bento box that Kanade was carrying, which was too big for one person, and asked to take it.
“Thank you, Kanade for making lunch for me and Hanaka today.”
“No, it’s fine! Because I know how busy Yuu-kun’s mom is, and it’s surprisingly easier to cook for three or so people than it is to cook for one.”
Since my parents both work, I used to buy lunch boxes from the store every year for the sports festival in order to reduce my mother’s workload as much as possible, but this year, Kanade decided to make them for us. I refused at first because I felt bad for Kanade, but she said, “I’m making one for me anyway, so you don’t have to be shy about it.”
“Kanade is a really good cook! That’s why I was looking forward to today’s bento with Hanaka.”
I’m glad you said that, but I’m feeling a little pressured. I’m not sure what to expect, but I’ve put in a lot more effort than usual today. Eat a lot, Yuu-kun.”
Kanade’s smile is too dazzling!
I’m really too lucky to have a childhood friend like this. Well, my other childhood friend has betrayed me beyond belief. Still, thanks to Kanade’s support, my wispy heart was much healed.
“Hey! Over here!”
“Yuuri-senpai! Come quick!”
When we arrived at the courtyard, Yoshi-chan was jumping up and down and waving at me. What is that angel? Isn’t she too cute? While I was admiring her, Kanade was pouting from next to me, pulling on my uniform and puffing up while groaning, “Nnnn~~~.”
Oh, you can’t touch Kanade-san now. I felt myself in danger and started running toward Satoru and the others. From behind me came “Ah! Yuu-kun!” I heard a reproachful voice behind me, but my sixth sense whispered to me that I should not turn around.
“You got a crazy good spot here!”
“Phew, didn’t we? There weren’t many people when we got here, you know. Good thing we went for a short run!”
“This place is really awesome! Thanks, Kozue-chan and Satoru-kun!”
Kanade rushes after me to express her gratitude.
“Don’t worry about it, Kanade-chan. Let’s eat lunch together.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah! Come on, you guys, get up here.”
As soon as Kanade and I climbed onto the leisure seat, Yoshi-chan stood up and pulled on my hand, as if she had been watching for the right moment.
“Senpai, here you go. Come sit next to me!”
“Thanks, Yoshi-chan.”
“Then, I’ll sit on this side of Yo-kun. Hanaka-chan, please come over here. This way it will be easier for everyone to eat lunch together.”
“Yay! Thanks, Kana-chan!”
“Uuuh~. I’m naturally next to Yuuri-senpai ......”
“Okay! I’m sure everyone’s sitting down now! Then let’s eat lunch right away!”
“Yeah, let’s do that! Okay, Yuu-kun. Open our lunch boxes.”
When I opened the lid of the lunch box that Kanade had prepared for me, I found a hamburger steak, teriyaki chicken, octopus sausage, potato salad, and other hearty side dishes.
“That’s a lot of food! That must have been hard work, huh?”
“Whoa! Amazing! Thank you, Kana-chan!
“Ummm, I had already prepared it since yesterday, so it wasn’t that hard.”
Kanade says so, but there’s no reason why making this bento wouldn’t be hard. I know because I cook sometimes too, and it’s obvious that it would take a good amount of time to make this.
“Whoa! There are omelets too!”
“Yuu-kun likes it sweet, right? I hope it suits your taste.”
“Delicious! I love this slightly sweet tamagoyaki. I’m so glad you remembered!”
“I’m glad it’s just the way you like it.”
“Hey, hey, don’t go into your own world, let’s have a conversation too.”
When Satoru comes in to chill us out, “Oh, no, it’s not like that!” and Kanade turns bright red and waves her hands in the air. Satoru saw this and made fun of her again, saying, “Miyama-san, you’re in too much of a hurry.” Perhaps at the height of her embarrassment, Kanade finally turned her head down, saying, “Uuuuuu .......”
“Don’t tease Kanade so much, Satoru!”
“Haha, my bad, my bad. But you guys really seemed like a perfect couple, you know?”
Then Yoshi-chan, who had been pulling next to me for a long time, suddenly hugged me.
“Yuuri-senpai is a good match for me! I won’t let Kanade-senpai have him!”
“Hey, Yoshi-chan. This is a school, let’s get away from each other, okay?
“Uuuuuu~!”
She stares at me with her jittery eyes like crazy...
Hey, Hanaka. You’re Yoshi-chan’s stopper, right? What are you doing at a time like this?
I looked at Hanaka expectantly, wanting her to do something about Yoshi-chan.
“It’s very tasty. Very tasty. Wow! What is this hamburger? It’s so fluffy. And every time I bite into it, the juices come out.”
It’s no good. Hanaka has succumbed in front of Kanade’s bento. At any rate, I pull Yoshi-chan away and hand her the bento so as not to cause any more trouble.
“Yoshi-chan. If you don’t eat your lunch soon, your lunch will be over soon.”
“Umm... I understand. Then, Yuuri-senpai, please feed me the food with your hands.”
“What? Is it really necessary to do that?”
“No, I can’t. Here, ahn.”
It was simply adorable to see Yoshi-chan with her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open, waiting for her food. Damn, I can’t resist this kind of thing. The chopsticks move on their own.
Crunch.
While I was conflicted, Kanade was feeding Yoshi-chan an octopus sausage. And Yoshi-chan was meditating, so she did not see Kanade’s code-breaking act.
“Nn~! The wiener that Yuuri-senpai ahhn’d for me is exceptionally delicious!”
Seeing Yoshi-chan’s smiling face, my heart ached, but it seems that the storm has passed. But it seems that the storm has passed. I looked at Kanade with this in mind and saw that she was eating her lunch with a slanderous look on her face while saying, “Yoshi-chan, it’s delicious, isn’t it?”
(Kanade... that’s horrible...)
And Tanuki-san, who was watching us, had an indescribable expression on his face and said dismissively, “I’m glad you’re having fun.” |
Hazuki, I wonder what you’re thinking right now? A while ago I would have thought I knew whatever you were thinking...
Why are you looking so frightened right now?
Why do you look like such a victim?
Why have you been deceiving me all this time?
I don’t know anything about you anymore.
How much time has passed?
The air in the room was so heavy that it paralyzed my sense of time. Then Hazuki’s mouth opened and gradually began to spin words.
“I think the first time I had relations with Kouki-kun was shortly before our junior high school graduation ceremony.”
It was a bombshell.
I never thought that Hazuki and Kouki had a special relationship even before that. I’m not sure if she doesn’t notice my astonishment or not, but Hazuki goes on with her story.
“I think Yuuri was told that Kouki-kun was transferring to another school on the day of the graduation ceremony, but I was told about two or three weeks before that. He told me then that he liked me and that he wanted me to make memories with him just once before he transferred to another school. At first, I refused, but I could tell that he was serious about it, so I said yes.”
Hazuki was wandering in the air with empty eyes.
“In junior high school, that was really the first and last time I saw him. I knew I would never see Kouki-kun again, and since we had been such good friends up until then, I got lonely and said, “If it’s just once, I’ll come back here.” I never thought that Kouki-kun would come back here. I had already become a high school student and he was already a person from the past, and the time we had sex had been relegated to the corner of my memory.”
When I looked at Kouki, he was grinning as if he was enjoying this situation.
“It was around July of my junior year in high school, a little after Kouki-kun came back, that we began to have the kind of relationship we have now. I think it was the same day that Yuuri and Kanade suddenly had to go to a club activity. It was still too early to go home, so I continued talking with Kouki-kun at the park. At first, we were just having a casual conversation, but when we started talking about our junior high school days, I found myself remembering that time. And the next thing I knew, I was kissing Kouki-kun.”
There was certainly a time like that. That time a member of our club was injured and we had to go to the hospital in a hurry. Well, Hazuki betrayed me in earnest at that time.
“I was kind of extremely nervous. Even when I had sex with Kouki-kun for the first time in junior high school, I was more excited than having sex with Yuuri, and I was the one who was feeling good. I couldn’t seem to forget that sex for a long time. The first sex after Kouki-kun came back was also great. I thought, “Oh, this is the kind of sex I’ve always wanted to have”.”
I wonder if Hazuki realizes That he is calling out Kouki’s name. That she is no longer keeping up appearances.
“I don’t know if you can believe me, but I wasn’t dissatisfied at all with the sex I had with Yuuri. But with Kouki-kun, he enveloped me with a pleasure that I couldn’t get with Yuuri. At that time, I thought, “Oh, my God, I’m going to have sex with him”. I thought, “Oh, I love having sex with this person”.”
At that moment, I heard a rattling sound at the door. I looked toward the sound and saw Kanade standing up with an angry expression on her face and about to turn toward Hazuki. I stopped her with my hand and urged Hazuki to continue.
“Sex with Yuuri makes my heart flutter and I feel very happy. But when I have sex with Kouki, I feel as if my head is being turned upside down, and the sludgy lust inside me is being drained out of me. Having sex with Kouki-kun allowed me to expose the real me. I probably did a lot of things that Yuuri couldn’t even imagine. That was exciting for me, and I looked forward to having sex with Kouki a lot.”
Hazuki looks ecstatic. You, you have such a look on your face too. I didn’t think I’d be able to see your expression for the first time at a time like this.
“In the past few months, when I said Yuuri wanted to have sex with me, you refused, didn’t you? I told him that I was tired, that I was a little sick, but the truth is that I was refusing because I couldn’t be satisfied unless it was Kouki’s sex. fufu, I’m the worst.”
Deciding that the conversation is over, I confront them with my second request.
“Very well. Here’s my second request. You and I are strangers now. We’re not girlfriends or childhood friends or anything. I want to erase even the past you from my memory. It may be impossible for me not to see you because of school, but I want you to expect that we won’t exchange a word except for what is necessary.
Then Hazuki suddenly opened her eyes and clung to my feet.
“No. That’s the only thing I don’t want to do. I’m sorry. Yuuri, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I betrayed you. So please don’t pretend that our relationship never happened. I beg you. I’ll do anything, just don’t abandon me.”
“I can’t do that, Hazuki. You betrayed me so thoroughly. The time to forgive or not forgive has long passed. If it were true, I would have broken up with you in junior high school. I never thought I would be deceived and betrayed by Hazuki for such a long time.”
“No... I don’t want to. Forgive me... Yuuri, please forgive me.”
I guess Hazuki thought I’d forgive her for whatever reason. She was rarely selfish, but I never once refused Hazuki’s wishes. Ignoring Hazuki’s clinging to my leg, I turned my face to Kouki.
“Kouki, this goes for you too. Until now, I thought you were my best friend, the one I could trust the most. But I’ve learned the hard way that I was just being selfish. Take Hazuki and get out of this room right now.
“I understand, I understand. I’ll leave right now. Come on, Hazuki, don’t cling to Yuuri, get up. You’re lucky, you’re going to be with me for a long time. You said so yourself. You love having sex with me, don’t you? I’ll do it anytime, let’s go.”
In a tone of voice that shows no signs of guilt, Kouki holds Hazuki in his arms and is about to leave the house. Hazuki, held in his arms, still said, “Yuuri...... no...... don’t abandon...... me. I won’t give up. I won’t leave you,” she shouted at me, but I didn’t care anymore.
“Ah! Yuuri! You should delete that video! I’ll be in big trouble if you expose me to libepo.”
“I can’t do that. Hazuki and I are close as a family. As an insurance policy against Hazuki telling you what to do and what not to do, I’m going to carry it with me. Of course, I won’t do any libepo, so please don’t worry about that.
“Tch............. Well, never mind. Don’t take this libepo nonsense seriously! See you later, best friend.”
*****
[Kanade’s Point of View]
What in the world is this person talking about?
Is it really Hazuki who is hurting Yuu-kun in front of my eyes?
Was the real Hazuki such an ugly woman?
I couldn’t stand it. I have to shut up this woman who is hurting Yuu-kun in front of my eyes. Yuu-kun will get hurt again. I have to protect Yuu-kun.
I wanted to get up and stop Hazuki, but Yuu-kun stopped me.
Why, Yuu-kun? You shouldn’t listen to this woman.
Tears were falling from my eyes.
And when Hazuki’s story ended and Kouki-kun opened his mouth, the content was so terrible that I forgot to even get angry.
What had I and Yuu-kun been spending the same time together until now? Looking at these two people, it is hard to believe that they are the same people as us. We trusted such people and laughed together in the same space. I was scared to think so.
I let go for a while, but the moment I heard the door of the house slam shut, I came back to myself.
(Yuu-kun !!!!)
When I looked at Yuu-kun, he was sitting on the bed and drooping.
“Yuu-kun, are you okay? Hey, look at me.”
Yo-kun’s face was pale and his eyes were vacant and he looked like he was in danger. Impatient, I hugged him and said, “Don’t worry. I’m here, I’m here, it’s going to be okay.”
About minutes after those two had left the house, Yuu-kun began to talk with vacant eyes.
“After I saw the video, I was going to break up with those two, so this is what I expected to happen. However, it was more painful than I thought it would be to hear that the person I thought was my beloved girlfriend and my best friend had betrayed me. I never thought that Hazuki and Kouki had been in a relationship since junior high school. I thought I knew everything about Hazuki, but I didn’t understand the important part at all.”
The words came out of Yuu-kun’s mouth without hesitation, but they were monotone, and I could not feel any emotion at all.
“What was the relationship between me and Hazuki? What kind of a person was I to him? I’m already afraid to trust people. I’m already afraid of being betrayed.”
Yuu-kun’s shoulders were shaking. He should be very sad, but not a single tear came out. But I understand. Right now, Yuu-kun is crying. Deep in his heart, he is crying until his tears dry up.
So I hugged Yuu-kun more strongly than before so that my feelings would be conveyed to him.
“Yuu-kun. I will never betray you. I will never do anything to make you sad, and I will never leave your side. When you are in pain, I want to heal you, and when you are happy, I want to be happy with you. So please share your sorrow with me. It’s okay. You don’t have to force yourself. You don’t have to be strong.”
When I said that, Yuu-kun shook his shoulders and cried like a child.
I had seen Yuu-kun cry like this once when I was in elementary school. That was when Hazuki-chan’s father passed away.
At that time, Hazuki and Yuu-kun cried while hugging each other. As I watched the scene from a distance, I thought, inappropriately, that I envied Hazuki. It’s not often you get to share so much sorrow together, is it?
“Why? Why is Kanade being so kind to me? It’s always been like that. Why is she so supportive of me?”
Yuu-kun, who has calmed down a bit, looks me in the eye and asks me a question. That’s right. Yuu-kun, it’s because... I love you.
“That’s not a surprise. Because we’ve been childhood friends, right? We’ve been together since we were kids, and I can’t abandon you like that.”
“Just because we’re childhood friends, is that the only reason Kanade is so supportive of me...?”
“That’s right. And if I were in a situation like Yuu-kun’s, Yuu-kun would probably support me with all his might as I did. Because the Yuu-kun I know is that kind of person.”
When I said that, Yuu-kun’s face got all messed up and he turned his head down.
“Therefore, Yoo-kun, you don’t have to worry about it, okay? In the past, now, and in the future, I will always be by your side, and I will always be on your side.”
“Kanade... thank you... thank you so much... for always being by my side. Thank you... for always watching over me.”
Yoo-kun and I hugged each other and cried together.
Just like Hazuki-chan and Yuu-kun back then. |
“We were almost there and you should have at least made sure you had your wallet with you before you left!”
“Oh, I’m sorry! I apologized many times. I’ll go to my room to get it, please wait here.”
“If we can’t get the limited edition roll cake, I won’t forgive you, okay?”
My childhood friend, Miyama Kanade, was angry with me, Yamagishi Yuuri, as if she were my mother. It all started when we left the house to buy a limited edition of roll cakes from a nearby confectionary store, but I made the mistake of forgetting my wallet. We rushed back to the house together, but it may be a close call whether we can buy the roll cake or not. It was no wonder that Kanade, who loves sweets, was so worked up.
However, even though she’s prickly now, I know she’s not really angry.
Kanade and I have been friends since we met in the fourth grade at a local soccer club. In elementary school, she wore her hair very short so she looked like a boy, but when she entered junior high school, she grew her hair to medium length and made a magnificent job of transforming herself into a very pretty girl. There was no way that the guys around Kanade would leave her alone, and numerous boys confessed their feelings for her.
After graduating from junior high school, Kanade and I went to the same high school and were classmates for two consecutive years. We were also both on the soccer team, and I think we may have been in the same class most of the time since we entered high school.
Since we know each other so well, it’s easy to tell how angry Kanade is.
———
In a hurry, I asked Kanade to wait at the door and vigorously opened the door to my house. Then I heard a loud thudding sound coming from the back of the house, specifically from my room.
Startled, Kanade and I froze for a moment, but quickly came to our senses and went to the front of my room and opened the door hesitantly. They were not thieves... but two people, Hazuki and Mitsuki, who were waiting for our return.
“What the hell were you guys doing slamming around and making loud noises?”
I was relieved to hear that no one seemed to have been hurt.
“No, it’s a... bug, yes, a big bug came out suddenly, and the two of us were struggling to do something about it!”
“I was just trying to get rid of it. I’m not sure what to do about it. But Kouki threw it out of the window, so it’s all right now.”
Kouki was amused that Hazuki, who is always so calm, was saying something he didn’t quite understand, “Insects,” as he was getting flustered, and he said, “What the heck is that! Hahahahaha” and they burst out laughing.
Seeing this, the two looked somewhat relieved and laughed together, saying, “Yeah.”
Kouki Kitajima has been my best friend since I moved here when I was in the fifth grade. He transferred to a different school for his ninth-grade graduation but came back here in July of his second year of high school, and we are playing well together again as before.
The other person in the room is Hazuki Sakashita, my second childhood friend and also my beloved girlfriend. Hazuki and I were born a day apart, live next door to each other, and have been close to each other since we were little, making her my closest and most precious girl. She has long, silky hair and is, in my opinion as her boyfriend, a very beautiful girl.
“I forgot something, and I just came back to get it. Well, the rolls will be sold out, so I should hurry and go rushing off again! Don’t you guys mess up the room with your slamming antics again!”
“Oh! Be careful!”
“Have a safe trip. I’ll be waiting for you.”
I heard their words and said to Kanade, “Let’s go,” to which she responded, “Yes,” as if she was not even in the room. I questioned Kanade’s attitude, but I didn’t pay any attention to it and headed for the front door. I was so absent-minded that I did not notice that Kanade did not utter a single word during our earlier exchange.
Well, even if I had thought something was fishy at this point, it was too late for anything.
“What the hell are those guys doing running wild in someone’s room!”
“Yeah.”
“They’re doing whatever they want just because it’s my room. I’m going to have to give them a stern talking-to.”
“Right.”
I managed to buy the last cake roll and was walking home with Kanade with a relieved look on my face. But in contrast to me, Kana’s face was looking down the whole time.
What’s wrong with Kanade, she suddenly lost her energy even though she was able to buy the limited edition roll cake that she loves so much. I guess she’s mad because I made her run so hard.
“What’s wrong, Kanade? Did you really hate it that much that I made you run?”
“I’m sorry. It’s not that. I was just thinking.”
“That’s a bit sudden to be thinking. You were complaining to me just a few minutes ago. But it is rare for Kanade to be like that. If you feel comfortable talking to me, please feel free to talk to me anytime. I’ll help in any way I can.”
“Yes, thanks. I’m sorry I’m acting weird all of a sudden. Once I’ve got my thoughts together, I’ll talk to Yuu-kun about it.”
Kanade smiled with a somewhat troubled expression on her face.
I was a little worried to see Kanade like that. Kanade was cheerful and energetic, and she was able to look at her problems in a positive light. And she was the kind of girl who would tell me everything, good or bad, about her thoughts and feelings head-on. I had never seen Kanade hesitate to say things like this.
She seemed so happy just a few minutes ago.
Even after returning to her room, Kanade was always one step behind me from beginning to end.
[Kanade’s point of view]
What was that all about?
Hazuki and Kouki were very upset when we returned home to pick up the forgotten items.
They said that they had “found a bug” and that they were fine because they had thrown it out the window, but the window was not open, and it was not natural to think that the bed just below the window was not in disarray.
What I found even stranger was that Hazuki’s clothes were slightly disheveled. Before we left the house, her shirt was neatly tucked into her skirt, but when we returned to pick up our forgotten items, I could see Hazuki’s shirt sticking out of her skirt a little.
I have actually arrived at one answer. But it was one that was terrifying and disgusting to even think about.
“Hazuki-chan, could she possibly be...”
I shook my head buzzing to the side as if to shake off the thoughts in my head.
I don’t think Hazuki is the only one like that. Because Hazuki-chan and Yuu-kun have been together for a long time, and especially after they became a couple, they seemed so happy that there was no room for anyone else.
“I wonder if I should tell Yuu-kun about this...”
I trust Hazuki-chan.
But I just couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with the two of them at that moment. And I need to get to the truth of that feeling of discomfort.
“Hazuki-chan might be having an affair.” |
“Hazuki. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
On Sunday, the day after Yuu-kun parted ways with Hazuki-chan and the others, I contacted Hazuki-chan with a RINE and asked her to come to Hanasaki Park, where we had so many memories.
“That’s okay. So what is it that you need me for?”
I wondered if Hazuki-chan had been crying since then yesterday.
She couldn’t hide her swollen eyes, ruining her usually pretty face.
“Okay, I’m going to tell you clearly. I am in love with Yuu-kun. I’ve loved him ever since I was in elementary school. That’s why I’m going to walk beside him from now on.”
“What? Wait a minute, Kanade. I and Yuuri haven’t broken up yet, right?”
“You already broke up with him. He already said that he wants to break up with Hazuki-chan forever.”
“I’m sure it was just a sudden emotional outburst. Because we have known each other since before I can remember. I know everything about Yuuri, and I’m the only one who can understand him.”
Hah, Hazuki-chan really doesn’t get it, does she? Why does she still believe she can keep the relationship going after such a complete betrayal?
“Hazuki-chan. If you say you understand Yuu-kun’s feelings, do you know what he is going through right now? Do you understand how much he has suffered since he found out about your relationship?”
“That’s...”
Hazuki-chan is clearly upset. I could tell from her expression that she was desperately trying to think of an excuse. It’s hard to believe that Hazuki always looks so mature.
“I feel bad about that. But I’m sure he knows how much I love him. It’s true that I did have sex with Kouki, but I also went on many dates with Yuuri, and whenever I had time, I was always with him and gave all my love to him.”
“Wait a minute, Hazuki-chan. Are you serious about that? Don’t you realize that it’s hopelessly over when you say you had sex?”
“That’s fine. In the first place, it has nothing to do with Kanade, right? This is between me and Yuuri, so don’t interfere.”
This girl is really screwed up now. It’s like she’s seriously lacking in thinking of others.
But she shouldn’t have been like this originally. In fact, Hazuki has helped me and Yuu-kun more times than I can count. If that’s the case, then why does she say things like ignoring Yuu-kun’s feelings when it comes to this?
Is it possible that she is just scared? I should be able to understand that she is saying incoherent things, but is she just saying such things because she is afraid of losing Yuu-kun?
“I’m related in this matter, okay? I love Yuu-kun and I want to tell him how I feel when I support and heal his broken heart.”
“What’s that? Making me leave Yuuri and supporting and healing a weakened Yuuri is just hypocrisy to increase the probability of success when Kanade confesses her feelings. You are just a thieving cat.”
“Un. That’s right. Does it look that way from Hazuki’s side? But you know, it was you, Hazuki, not anyone else, who made Yuu-kun broken. And I am the only one who can be by his weakened side. You have neither the qualification nor the right to be by his side anymore.”
Hatsuki-chan throws unspoken anger at me with her gaze. But I won’t be intimidated, okay? I can’t accept that Hazuki-chan, who hurt Yuu-kun so much, can get away with just a broken heart. That’s why I’m going to use a wild card that only I know.
“Hazuki-chan, how much do you know about that scumbag who makes you feel the best?
“What? Who is this scumbag guy? You don’t mean Kouki, do you?”
“There is no one but Kouki. Rather than that, answer my question. I’m asking you how much you know about him. For example, do you know that he is having sex with two other people besides Hatsuki?”
“Eh......?
“And they both had boyfriends. Yet he took them away from them. I can’t help but laugh at them. I can’t help but feel sick to think that I was hanging out with someone like that.”
“Don’t say that bullshit......”
“It’s not bullshit. I asked the boy who was a victim of cuckoldry. You must know one of them Hazuki-chan, because you were classmates in junior high school. Well, I can’t tell you his name.”
“You’re lying! Don’t lie to me like that! He said he likes me, remember? Kouki said he likes me the best, that he feels most comfortable with me.”
“Hmmm. I see. I wonder who that scumbag compared you to and said you felt the best? Well, I don’t trust any words uttered by scumbags. If you doubt me so much, why don’t you ask him directly? I’m sure he’ll probably say something like, ‘I didn’t do that,’ or ‘I like you the best.”
“Tha... that’s not true... that can’t be true.”
“I don’t need to hear about your relationship with the scumbag, and I don’t need to hear about the outcome or report back to you. Anyway, why don’t you just go on with your life with that scumbag already? That’s how guilty you’ve become, you know.”
Hazuki-chan crouched down with her head in her hands. I looked down at Hazuki-chan and gave her the finishing blow.
“I will never forgive you if you try to cause Yuu-kun any more pain. Also, remember this. Our relationship as childhood friends is over because of your betrayal. Goodbye, Hazuki-chan.” |
I fix my hair and head to the washroom.
should I set it today?
I remember what Rio said to me the other day.
I picked up the wax and started to fiddle with my hair.
Okay, thats about right.
I thought I had done a good job.
Then I sprayed it down and set it.
All right, lets go.
I looked at my watch and saw that it was minutes before the appointed time.
I was dressed in the same all-black style as before.
I left my apartment and started walking slowly toward the station.
It was only a little more than ten minutes from the apartment to the station.
When I arrived at the coffee shop, I received a call from Rio.
Im at the front!
I replied and went inside the coffee shop.
I told the waitress that I was going to meet her.
Rio was sitting at a table by the window, drinking a caf latte.
Sorry, Im late.
Dont worry about it. I came early.
No, its still the same as making you wait.
I like that kind of thing about Ryo-kun.
Saying that, Rio smiled.
At that moment, a tremendous shock ran through my heart.
Oh Thank you.
Rios facial expression changes so often and she is so cute.
If there is a man who is not thrilled when she smiles at him, I will give him the title of hero.
Thinking about such a trivial thing, I sat down opposite Rio and ordered an iced coffee.
You got your hair done today.
Yes, I did it because you complimented me on it the other day.
You definitely look better that way!You look so cool!
Im so happy.
I was able to see Rios happy expression and it made me happy, too.
Im sorry I called you out so suddenly.
You dont have to worry about that either. I wanted to meet you too.
The fact is that I wanted to meet with Rio.
Is there anyone in this world who wouldnt want to meet such a beautiful girl?
Even so, yesterdays broadcast had a great response.
Oh, yeah. By the way, have you seen this video?
I showed her the video clipping of me and Rio on my phone.
I saw it! Thanks to this, the number of subscribers is increasing!
Im glad to hear that. This Asuna-san is the one who always makes my best scenes.
Thats why you get clips so fast.
Yes, yes.
It seems that Rio was surprised at the speed at which the collection of famous scenes was created yesterday and today.
Hey, do you want to play a game other than FPS this time?I want to play in person, not online.
Okay. If I remember correctly, theres a free studio in our office, so Ill ask Shirase-san.
The office I belong to has a studio that creators can use for free.
There are lighting and other equipment there, as well as game consoles.
Can I, from another agency, use that?
If Im there, it wont be a problem.
Ill take your word for it then. Lets show our faces this time!
Yes, lets do that.
After discussion with Rio, it was decided that the game to be played would be a racing game.
I have a suggestion for you .
After saying that much, Rio paused for a moment.
Would you like to join me in aiming to become the worlds No. Prohopple? |
We are promised a place in the Asian Games if we win the Pro-hopple Japan Tournament.
There is still time before the Asian Games, but we must be ready.
We have to be ready for the Asian Games, which will bring together even more experienced players than in Japan.
“The Asian Games are almost here.”
Rio said on the way home after the studio shooting.
“I guess so. Already less than two months to go.”
The Asian Games were held here in Japan this time.
Lugh’s head office is in Japan, so basically it is often in Japan, but the world competition was held in the United States.
“Hey, let’s have a training camp! A game camp!”
“Why not? Where are we going to go?”
“You have my house!”
Rio lives alone and in a luxury apartment.
“Oh, that’s right.”
I have been in Rio’s room only once, but I still have the impression that it was very spacious.
“Just this weekend is a consecutive holiday!”
This weekend is a three-day weekend, and schools will be closed.
It sounds like fun to have a concentrated game training camp at that time.
“We have a game room at our place, so you don’t have to bring anything.”
“I understand.”
I walked from the nearest station and arrived in front of Rio’s apartment.
“Thank you for walking me home again today.”
“I’m still worried about you.”
Rio had been a victim of a stalker before.
From then on, I decided to send as much as possible.
“Oh, my father wanted me to give you this.”
I pulled out a business card from my wallet.
“What’s this?”
“The president of a security company who is an acquaintance of my father. Why don’t you ask here for home security.
“Uh, thank you. I’ll look into it.”
“Well then, this is it for me. See you on the weekend.”
I left Rio and went back to my apartment.
“Hey, welcome home.”
A delicious smell comes from the kitchen.
“Go wash your hands, dinner is almost ready.”
“Thank you for doing this always”
“It’s okay. I do it because I like it.”
Today’s meal smells like curry.
My father can’t come home today either.
Ever since he took office as Chief of the First Investigative Division, he seems to be busy every day.
There’s curry and salad on the table.
“I don’t want any food this holiday weekend, so please do me a favor.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’m going to have a training camp at Rio’s house. The tournament is coming soon.”
Yuzuki is grinning.
“What is it?”
“Well, I can’t leave my brother in the corner either.”
“I’m just playing games.”
“And by games you mean Pro-hopple, right?”
Yuzuki asks while carrying curry to her mouth.
“That’s right. I might play a different game for a change of pace.”
“Well, isn’t it fine? Have fun.”
“Thank you. Sorry to leave you alone.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. It seems that Dad can go home on the weekend.”
He’s busy, but he’s making time for his family.
“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll call him later.”
“Okay.” |
Nothing more happened that day.
Rio is sleeping in Yuzuki’s room with her.
“Dad, how can I help Rio out of her anxiety?”
“Well, I have an idea. I have an idea. Can you do what I say?”
The next morning, Rio would return home to his own house.
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
Rio bowed her head with a bow.
“Bye, Rio-san! Let’s have a sleepover again!”
“Yes, let’s do it again.”
Yuzuki and Rio seemed to be getting along well.
“I’ll walk you home.”
“Is that okay?”
“I’m worried about being alone. After what happened yesterday.”
“Thank you.”
We leave the house and start walking.
We can walk to Rio’s apartment from here.
“Ryo’s father is amazing.”
“Hmm?”
“He worked hard for Ryo and Yuzuki and even became the head of the investigation department.”
“Yes. I am grateful to my father.”
When I was a few minutes away from Rio’s house, I felt a sense of incongruity.
“Someone is following me.”
“What?”
Rio tried to turn around in a hurry.
“Don’t turn around. Just pretend you don’t notice.”
I was close to Rio.
“You may not like it, but put up with it for now.”
“I don’t hate it at all. I’m rather happy.”
Saying so, Rio intertwined her arms with mine.
This is part of the strategy.
I dared to show her to the stalker who was following me.
We arrived at Rio’s apartment on foot.
“Then, here.”
I walk Rio to the entrance of the apartment.
Rio grabbed my shirt sleeve and held me back.
“Come to my room. I want you to stay with me a little longer.”
I walk through the entrance with Rio and get on the elevator.
“ There was nothing in the mailbox today.”
“I see.”
I got off the elevator on the second floor and stood in front of the door of Rio’s room.
“Drink some tea. Thank you for sending me this far.”
“Then, shall I disturb you?”
“Yes, sit on the sofa.”
The living room is neat and tidy.
The room still smells faintly sweet and girly.
It is a girl’s room.
At that moment.
Pareen!
The window is broken.
A fist-sized stone is lying near the window.
The window must have been broken by this being thrown in.
Then, a hand reaches out from the broken window.
“Kyaaa!”
Rio screams loudly.
“Rio, get behind me.”
“Uh-huh.”
It was a man in black.
“Get away from my Rio-chan !!!!.”
His voice is strained
This indicates that he is in a state of excitement.
“Get away, get away, get away!!!!”
The man has a knife in his hand.
“Ryo......”
“It’s okay. Stay back.”
My father taught me what to do in times like this.
“Rio, be mine!”
He said that and came at us with a knife.
“Ha!”
The knife fell to the ground.
Yes, I knocked it off.
“That’s it!”
I grabbed the guy’s hand and threw him toward the window.
“Dad! Get in!”
I yelled, and my dad came running out the front door.
“You’re under arrest for breaking and entering violation of the Firearms Act, and attempted murder.”
He handcuffed the guy.
“Are you two all right?”
“I’m fine. Ryo?”
“I’m okay, too. Here.”
I show Rio that I’m not hurt anywhere.
“You guys set me up!”
“I knew that a jealous guy like you would immediately turn tail. That’s why I asked my father and Rio to help me.”
This strategy was my father’s idea.
If any real damage was done, he could go ahead and arrest them.
“I’m sorry I put you both in harm’s way.”
“If you feel that way, you could have helped us a little sooner.”
“I’m sure you’re no worse than any stalker out there.”
My father said with a laugh.
“I didn’t know Ryo was that strong.”
“Was that surprising?”
“Because he doesn’t look like that.”
I have a normal build by most people’s standards.
No wonder I don’t look like I do martial arts.
“My father trained me in self-defense and arrest techniques from a young age. I’m glad it helped.”
“Thank you for protecting me.”
Saying that Rio hugged me.
“Oooh it’s getting hot in here, I’m going to take him in now.”
An undercover police car was parked under the apartment building.
“The truth is, stalkers are the responsibility of the Community Safety Department, so I’ll probably get in trouble again.”
The police car pulls the man over, blurting out something like that.
“But isn’t attempted murder handled by the Criminal Investigation Department?”
“Oh, that’s true.”
He put the man in the police car and had his men take him away.
“Well, glass, we have to clean up.”
The room is littered with broken window panes.
“No bugs or cameras seem to have been planted.”
My father checked the room.
“Thank you, sir.”
“That was scary, wasn’t it?”
“I know it was scary. But Ryo was with me, so that was really reassuring.”
“I’m glad.”
Thus, Rio’s angelic smile returned once again. |
The next day, I had an appointment with Rio.
Today we were going to do a live stream together.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
I meet Rio in front of Hachiko at Shibuya station.
“No, I was not waiting that long. Let’s go.”
Today, we are scheduled to do a live pro-hopple stream.
But the reason why we are meeting in person is because we are going to play the mobile version.
Usually, Rio and I play the PC version.
The mobile version is easier to play on a smartphone.
I think more of our viewers are playing this version.
That’s how much the pro-hopple pull has spread among people in the world.
I have never used the mobile version, so it is a new experience for me.
“I called you yesterday, but my father and sister want to meet Rio.”
“Yuzuki, right?”
“Yes, they insisted that I invite you to our house. Well, I won’t force you to come.”
I was walking and talking with Rio.
“Okay. Ryo’s younger sister and father, I’m curious about what kind of person they are. And...”
“And?”
“Family is nice, isn’t it?”
“Oh, oh.”
But I did not pursue it any further.
Everyone has one or two things they don’t want to talk about, or don’t want to be asked about.
“I’m looking forward to today! I haven’t touched the mobile version much.”
Rio uttered with a smile as usual.
I guess so. But I don’t think there’s that much difference.
Basically, the game is designed to be not much different from the PC version.
Recently, there seems to be a tournament for the mobile version of the game.
However, the current situation is that only the PC version is being used for global-scale tournaments.
Still, it seems that in the not-too-distant future, the winner of the world tournament for the mobile version will emerge.
A few minutes’ walk from the station, we arrived at our usual studio.
This is now our game stream room.
Most of the equipment was already set up.
“Takamori-san, all you need to do now is to connect the terminals, and you can start anytime you want.”
Shirase-san enters the studio.
As usual, she is a very good worker and very considerate.
This is a woman who will rise to the top.
“Thank you very much. You’re a big help.”
“I’m always bothering you.”
Rio and I thanked Shirase-san.
“It’s all right. Thanks to Takamori-san and Rio-san, we have been able to make a considerable profit.”
“Isn’t that kind of thing usually kept more under wraps?”
“Well, I thought it would be okay with Takamori-san.”
I’ve been the target of a lot of jealousy among the male employees here because Shirase-san is always all over me.
I’ve half resigned myself to the fact that she is one of the most beautiful women in the company, so it can’t be helped.
“And how late do you plan to stream today?”
“I think we’ll probably finish after pm.”
Today’s stream is scheduled to start at : p.m., so assuming it will last about an hour, it will be over after : p.m.
“I understand. If you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce someone to the two of you after the stream.”
“I’m fine, but what about Rio?”
“If it’s okay with Ryo, it’s okay.”
“Thank you.”
“So, who is it? Who is it that you want to introduce?”
“That’s something you’ll have to wait until you meet them.”
Shirase-san smiled mischievously.
I think it’s cheating because she has both an adult-like side and a child-like side.
“Well, good luck with the stream.”
After saying this, Shirase-san leaves the studio so as not to interrupt us.
“Shall we get on with it?”
I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost ten minutes before the start of the delivery.
The stream reservation screen showed an outrageous figure of more than 0,000 people already waiting for the stream. |
Its Monday, usually a depressing day, but today time seems to be flying by.
After school, I head to the office.
I take the train and get off at Shibuya, where the office is located.
I never get used to this town no matter how many times I come here.
I enter the building where the office is located and take the elevator up.
The elevator stops at the th floor and the doors open.
I took my ID card out of my pocket and held it up to the sensor.
I heard a beep, and then the sound of a lock opening.
Mr. Takamori, weve been waiting for you.
Its been a while.
It had been a long time since I had seen Shirase-san in person.
She has dark brown hair that reaches just below her chest and is slightly wavy at the ends.
She is dressed in office casual attire, but she is still more than beautiful enough.
The distance between me and Shirase-san is about one meter.
Just talking at this distance makes me nervous.
Lets go to the conference room, so please come in.
Thank you.
I entered the conference room and sat down on a chair at Shirase-sans urging.
There are water, coffee, and brown rice tea. What would you like?
Coffee, then.
I understand. Black, right?
Yes, please.
Please wait a moment.
After saying that, Shirase-san left the conference room.
After waiting a few minutes, she came back with two cups in her hands.
Thank you.
I took the iced coffee from Shirase-san and took a sip.
Then again, thank you very much for coming today.
Shirase-san bowed her head lightly.
No, its fine.
Now then, there are two things I would like to discuss with Takamori-san.
Yes.
The first is about Rio Natsume. The other party wants to meet you once before playing the game in collaboration.
Yes, I agree with that.
It is easier to play the game if we know each other and what kind of person we are.
Especially in a FPS game like the one we are playing, you need to be able to coordinate with each other.
You cant see the other persons facial expressions on the phone.
I want to get to know each other first by actually meeting and talking.
I also wanted to meet Rio-san, so it was perfect.
I understand. Then, please leave the scheduling to me.
Now, the other one, theres been some talk about sharing the proceeds with the person in the company who does the clipping of Takamori-san.
I think its a good idea.
The clippings have been done until now under the condition that they are not monetized.
However, if we make it official, we can split the revenue between me and the clippers.
It would be a win-win situation for both parties.
Thank you very much. I will work out the detailed conditions and send it to you separately.
I will be waiting.
Thats all I have to discuss with you, but would you mind talking with me a little longer?
Shirase-san smiled and said, Thats all I have to discuss with you.
If there is a man in this world who can say that he disagrees after being told that by someone with that look on her face, Im going to give him a round of applause.
Its fine. Its fun to talk with you, Shirase-san.
Im glad.
From there, Shirase-san and I had a chat about nothing else.
I realized that we had been talking for at least an hour.
I looked outside and saw that it was starting to get a little dark.
I should get going.
Im sorry I seemed to have held you up. Please have a safe trip home.
Yes, thank you very much for today.
After saying that, I left the office. |
Sometime after the summer holidays, I was sitting around the dinner table with my family for the first time in a while.
My father was unusually home today.
“I have an announcement to make to you two.”
My father began with a serious expression on his face.
“What is it? With such a serious expression.”
He paused for a moment.
“Dad got promoted by mistake.”
“What? What? It’s a great thing. Why do you look so serious?”
“That’s right! Congratulations, Dad!”
“So, what’s your next assignment?”
“Chief of the First Investigation Section...”
My father speaks with difficulty.
“How can you go wrong?”
“I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t say no.”
The head of the investigation section is the head of the investigation section of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, a post to which a non-career, highly trained detective is appointed.
I could somehow imagine why my father had a gloomy look on his face.
“I’ll have less time to spend with you guys.”
“Don’t worry about it. We are already high school students. Besides, it’s just right for you to be the first demon to be searched, isn’t it?”
“Yes! Father is so cool when he is working.”
One of my father’s colleagues once told me.
He is a hot-blooded detective who is feared at his workplace and is called the “Souichi Monster”.
Even in cases that were said to be on the verge of going cold, my father has been able to solve them all when he joined in the investigation.
It seems that his achievements were evaluated and led to this personnel appointment.
“Thank you. ......”
“Please continue to deliver the truth to the bereaved families.”
The bereaved families can only move forward when they know the truth.
It is our honorable job to help them do so.
This is what my father always said to me.
I was proud of him.
That’s why he didn’t have to go home.
I never complained if he didn’t play with me on his days off.
“Dad, keep up the good work.”
“Oh, I’ll work harder from now on.”
At that time, my phone vibrated.
“Can I go to Ryo’s house today?”
It was a message from Rio.
It was rare for Rio to ask me to come to her house.
“It’s okay.”
“I’ll be there now.”
After a while, Rio came to my house and I opened the front door.
“Ryo, help me .......”
Rio hugged me with tears in her eyes.
“What happened? Well, come up for now.”
I sat Rio down on the sofa in the living room.
This is what I found in the mailbox at home: .......
He handed me a brown envelope about one centimeter thick.
It had only the name of the person to whom it was addressed, and there was no sender’s name or stamp on it.
I checked the contents.
“What is this ......? Dad, you gotta see this.”
“What’s up?”
I check the contents with my father.
“This is .......”
It’s a hidden camera, no matter how you look at it. No stamps on it, which means he put it directly into the mailbox.
It may be as many as pictures.
There were about a hundred pictures of Rio’s daily life in the mailbox.
“A stalker, right?”
“I guess so. Rio, have you noticed anything else unusual recently?”
Dad asks Rio.
“I felt like someone was following me when I was coming home from the station at night, but I thought it was just a misunderstanding.”
“So the stalker has started to make his presence known: ......”
Dad puts on gloves and goes through the photos one by one.
“Rio, are you okay?”
Yuzuki hands Rio a cup of tea and sits down beside her.
“Thank you, Yuzuki.”
Rio takes a sip of the tea.
It wouldn’t be surprising if someone with as much popularity as Rio was stalked.
She is beautiful and has many enthusiastic fans.
“Father, is something wrong?”
“Maybe the police can’t do anything with all this.”
The police basically won’t act unless there is actual damage.
“But it’s too late to do anything until something happens.”
“That’s right. I’ll tell the authorities to reinforce patrols in the vicinity of Rio’s apartment. Also, can you have our forensics team take a look at these photos?”
“I understand. Sorry to trouble you.”
“You’re my son’s precious person. I’m sorry I can only do this much.”
Father bowed his head to Rio.
“Please don’t apologize. Rather, father has taken sufficient measures.”
“If you are afraid to go home, you can stay at our house today.”
“But won’t it bother you .......”
Rio seems to be reserved.
“Oh, I can stay over with you, Rio!”
“Yuzuki will be happy, so please stay the night. We have a scary monster called Souichi’s monster living in our house, so it’s okay.”
I intentionally laughed and said.
I wanted to make Rio feel at ease.
“Thank you. If there is such a monster, I feel safe.”
“Hey, hey, don’t treat people like demons.”
The smile returned to Rio for the first time in a long time.
If you forgot about the existence of the stalker, even just for a moment, it’s fine now. |
I headed for the center of the area.
“I’m getting shot at. I’m going to get out of the car.”
I pull over right next to a tree.
“The rooftop of an apartment building in the direction. Can you see it?”
I located the enemy from the direction of the shot.
“Have you found the direction of the shot in one moment? “
“Yeah, I knew where they shot from, so I was able to find them.”
If I had not known the direction of the shot, it would have taken me a little longer.
“There, there’s two of them. ......”
I looked through the scope and saw that they were aiming at us.
“It’s that so?”
“Let’s do it.”
I took aim with the sniper.
“Okay, I got it.”
One of them went down as I landed a headshot.
Another enemy tries to revive him.
“No, you can’t do that.”
They may think they’re out of the line of fire, but they’re not out of the line of fire at all.
“Yes, it’s over.”
Both of them, who had been shooting from the apartment, took it to a sure kill.
“Nice! I didn’t have a turn at all.”
“Well, it was far away from us just now.”
“Thanks!”
The comment section is abuzz with excitement at the play just now.
[As expected of Takamori.]
[You’re too good a sniper, aren’t you?]
[Properly carry Rinka-chan.]
“It’s almost time for the safe area to be reduced, so let’s go into the area.”
It was indicated that there were three seconds before the area was reduced.
“There’s someone in the house here, aren’t there?”
Footsteps are heard inside the house, which is just inside the area.
“Maybe he’s on the second floor. I’ll go with you.”
“I understand.”
Rinka and I ready our assault rifles.
Then, we went up the stairs at once.
Two enemies noticed us and returned fire.
However, we were the ones who won the battle.
“Well, we managed to win the shootout, didn’t we?”
“I got my first kill!”
“Nice. Congratulations.”
“It was thanks to you, Takamori-san.”
“No, no, Rinka-san is getting better at it.”
I said as I scavenged my opponent’s supplies.
“For now, shall I put in some recovery?”
“Yes.”
Even though she had won the shootout, Rinka’s health had been reduced by about half since she had also eaten her opponent’s attack.
“We can win this match.”
The number of remaining enemies is indicated as four.
The number of remaining opponents is listed as four, which means that there are only two more excluding us.
They should be out of the area by now.
“Should we move?”
“Yeah, I think so. Let’s move.”
We leave the house and start moving toward the area.
The back is clearing, so the enemy is probably somewhere in front of us.
“I think they’ll come from the right nine times out of ten.”
Given the terrain, it would be more advantageous for them to come from the right.
My prediction came true, and two enemies came from the right.
And I succeeded in defeating both of them.
“Champion!”
That’s what was displayed on our screen.
“Nice!”
“Thank you. Good job.”
We had successfully won the championship. |
It was Saturday, the day I was to go to the police station.
My father is grooming himself in the morning.
“Dad, do I look okay with this?”
I was wearing a three-piece suit for the first time in a long time.
“It’s fine. I’m not weird either, am I?”
He was wearing a three-piece suit, too, and his hair was all done up.
“So, let’s go.”
“Bye, you two!”
Yuzuki saw us off at the door.
“I’m off.”
My father’s car is parked in the underground parking lot of the apartment building.
He drives us to Kasumigaseki, where the Metropolitan Police Department is located.
“We’re here.”
He pulled into the parking lot of the Metropolitan Police Department.
“Thank you.”
I follow him into the police station.
I was nervous to enter the police station, even though I had done nothing wrong.
“Here is Ryo’s entrance pass. Put it where it can be seen.”
“Okay.”
I put it on my chest when my father gave it to me.
“Good work, Chief.”
Everyone who passed by said hello.
I realized once again how much my father was loved and how much of a leader he was in the police organization.
My dad must be excellent.
“Well.”
We take the elevator and get off to the fourth floor.
The main conference room was the venue for this meeting.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I brought my son.”
“Thank you. Let’s get started.”
In the room was the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department, the chief of the First Investigation Division, the deputy commissioner, and the managers of the First Investigation Division.
“Ryo Takamori, this way, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
I follow his instruction and stand in front of the deputy commissioner.
“Certificate of Appreciation, Ryo Takamori. You have made a great contribution to the alleged stalking incident that occurred in Shinjuku City. Therefore, I hereby express my respect and gratitude to you. Superintendent Seikichi Mori.”
“Thank you.”
I received a letter of appreciation from the deputy commissioner.
Applause can be heard from the surroundings.
After the award, the deputy commissioner called out to me.
“As expected of Souichi’s son. It was a great feat to subdue a criminal with a knife.”
“No, I was desperate at the time.”
I said with a bitter smile on my face.
“Even so, it’s amazing that you didn’t flinch in the face of the criminal. You are definitely someone we wanted.”
“Haa...”
“Why don’t you become a police officer now? I will take care of you.”
The deputy commissioner was coming on to me.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but my son is already successful in other things.”
“Winner of an e-sports tournament, huh? That’s great.”
“Well, if you won’t become a police officer, I’ll let your father try harder.”
The deputy commissioner said with a grin.
“Are you going to make me work more harder ......”
“Takamori, I have high hopes for you. I heard that the Commissioner of Police wants to award you a Police Achievement Certificate.”
“What?”
The Police Achievement Certificate is awarded by the Commissioner of the National Police Agency to police personnel who are deemed to have made particularly outstanding achievements.
It is the third-highest police commendation.
“So, keep up the good work. Yoshihide Takamori, Chief of the Investigation Department”
“Yes, sir!”
Thus ended my commendation ceremony. |
The next day, I woke up at ten in the morning.
Its Saturday, so school is out.
I get up and look at the responses on social media on my phone.
Oh, that looks good, huh?
Apparently, yesterdays live broadcast had been well received.
Then, I launch the app for the video streaming service.
This guy works fast. .
I searched for my name and found a number of clips of me.
They were posted under titles such as Takamori God Play Collection and Kill Collection.
Clipped videos are one type of content that has recently become popular.
They are videos that have been live-delivered for a long time, or videos that are very long when viewed as a whole, and then a third party cuts out parts of the video, edits it, and reposts it.
For example, it is difficult to watch a live broadcast that exceeds two hours, but the clippings have become popular because they allow the viewer to enjoy only the best scenes and important parts of the video.
Some people have a negative opinion about people making clipped videos, but I allow them to do so.
If they start making money from them, it is a problem, but if they are not monetized, it is more likely to be a positive thing.
As proof of this, some of the clipping videos have received over a million views with room to spare.
After the clipped videos were circulated, the number of subscribers and followers on social networking sites increased dramatically.
I have this person, Asuna-san, to thank for that.
Asuna-san has been doing my clippings since the beginning, and whenever I do a live distribution, they always make a collection of great scenes right away.
They are also the one who gets the most views.
I have never met them or heard their voice, so I have no idea what kind of person they are, but I know they are a fan of mine.
They always edit their videos in a way that shows their respect for the original videos.
Among other fans, Asuna-sans clippings are reputed to be the easiest to see.
Now, after eating dinner, I think Ill go practice my game.
As I was about to get up from the gaming chair I was sitting in, my phone shook.
I looked at the screen and saw that the name Yukino Shirase was displayed.
Its Yukino Shirase, the manager of my office.
It was unusual for her to call me directly.
Yes, this is Takamori.
Im sorry for calling so suddenly. This is Shirase. Takamori-san, is this a good time?
Yes, Im fine.
Shirase-san entered my office as a new graduate.
She took over my case from her predecessor, Asai-san.
Her predecessor was excellent, but Shirase-san is also an excellent manager.
She is only in her second year, but she does such a good job that I dont feel that way.
She is also very popular within the company because of her beauty.
I would like to confirm something with you, Takamori-san, do you know Rio Natsume?
A name I had only recently heard came out of Shirase-sans mouth.
Yes, I know her. Shes the one whos been appearing in various media lately as a beautiful girl pro-gamer, right?
Yes, thats right. That Rio-san asked Takamori-san to collaborate.
Oh, with me?
Yes, she wants to collaborate with Takamori-san.
No way, I dont know what happened in my life that contact points came around so quickly.
Will you take it? Is it enough to have a discussion about?
Yes, I think so. I wanted to play a game with her once too.
Well, well proceed in the direction of collaboration here. Also, I have one more thing Id like to discuss with you about the clippings, can you come to my office?
Yes, thats fine. Tomorrow is Sunday, so can I come the evening after tomorrow?
More often than not, the office is not even open on Sundays.
If it is a weekday, it would be after school.
Ill be waiting for you at the office.
Thus I ended the call with Shirase-san.
Collaborating with Rio Natsume, thats something to look forward to.
I had no idea at the time that this would be an event that would have a major impact on my life. |
We began with questions prepared by the officials.
“First of all, you two have won the World and Japan Competitions, so why did you decide to compete in the duo category this time instead of the solo category?”
Both Rio and I have won in the solo division.
I guess people would have thought that we would compete in the solo division if we were to compete in the next competition.
“I guess it was because I wanted to try something new.”
“I did, too. Besides, I thought I would like to play duo with takamori.”
What is important when playing Pro-hopple in a duo is mutual trust.
The way you play solo is fundamentally different from the way you play in a duo.
It is not a matter of one being stronger than the other.
“Did you two meet at a tournament?”
“No, we did not. We didn’t compete in the same tournaments.”
“I asked Takamori-san if he would like to collaborate with me.”
The first meeting between me and Rio was a pre-collaboration meeting.
I won the th Pro-hopple Japan and the World Championship.
Rio won the th Pro-hopple competition the following year.
I did not participate in the th tournament.
We had never met each other at the tournament.
“Is there anyone in this year’s tournament that you two are interested in?”
The question made us think.
I thought of someone in particular.
“Rinka Sakurada, I think.”
Rinka Sakurada, one of the most popular Vtubers of the moment, is also scheduled to participate in this year’s tournament.
Rinka’s game skills should be good enough to compete with the pros.
“Rinka is one of the hottest Vtubers in the world right now; is she good enough to get takamori’s attention?”
“ I have duoed with her once, and I think she is very good. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to meet her in close combat.”
I felt that Rinka was outstanding at close combat.
I couldn’t say for sure that I could win if we shot at each other head-on.
Rio would probably be able to hit it off, but it’s not good for me, who is good at long distance.
“How about you, Rio?”
“Umm, I guess I would be Noa Osaka.”
Aisaka Noa, Rinka’s partner, is a popular Vtuber.
“I found out from watching her play videos that she is a good long range sniper.”
“I see, so those two are the hottest pair of Vtubers.”
“Yes, that’s right. They were also in second place in our predicted rankings.”
The pair of Rinka Sakurada, after Osaka, was ranked second in the predicted rankings after us.
The pair’s ability has been recognized by the public as well.
The fact that they are competing in this tournament for the first time may be one of the reasons why they are attracting so much attention.
“Now, please tell us about your enthusiasm for this year’s competition.”
“I’m going to have fun at the tournament, but since I’m going to participate, I’ll aim to win. Games are supposed to be fun. But this is the first tournament I’m going to participate in with takamori-san, so I’m going to do my best to win!”
When he said this, the comment section was abuzz with excitement.
[I’m looking forward to your divine play!]
[You should go out with each other already.]
“I, too, am looking forward to seeing how you two play. Good luck!”
I think it was a little over thirty minutes in time.
The pre-conference interview was over. |
Time flies by so fast.
In no time at all, the day of the Pro-hopple Japan tournament arrived.
The venue for the tournament was set up in Shibuya, where Lugh’s headquarters is located.
“Whew!”
I let out a big breath.
No matter how many times I have experienced the tension of a tournament, I never get used to it.
“Are you nervous, brother?”
I was in the washroom, doing my hair, when Yuzuki called out to me from behind.
“Did you notice?”
“I’m your sister. You’ve been so nervous ever since you woke up today.”
Certainly, I feel like I’ve been out of my mind since breakfast today.
“No matter how many times you go to a competition, it’s always nerve-wracking.”
The expectations placed on me are different from the norm.
I had already won the world championship once, so the pressure was on.
“I’m sure my brother will be fine! Go with confidence.”
Yuzuki gives me the same smile she always does.
I felt a little more at ease seeing her smile.
“Thank you.”
I said as I patted Yuzuki on the head.
“I can’t make it to the tournament, but I’ll be watching the streaming and cheering you on!”
“I’ll do my best.”
After I finished all the preparations, I left the house.
“I’m off.”
Yuzuki saw me off and I headed to the venue.
When I arrived at Shibuya, where the event was to be held, I found Rio waiting for me at the meeting place.
I was supposed to go with her to the venue.
“Ryo, thanks for waiting for me.”
When Rio saw me, she came up to me running.
“I didn’t wait for you. That outfit .......”
Today Rio was dressed in what is called a “minefield type” outfit.
The pink and black color scheme is often seen in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku.
“I’m not sure if it’s weird or not. Isn’t it a bit like a gamer girl?”
“You look really cute. You’re wearing different makeup than usual.”
I felt that she had changed her makeup to match her clothes.
“I thought boys didn’t care about makeup.”
“Rio is cute and looks good in any clothes.”
The usual neat and tidy young lady’s outfit is good, but this kind of mine is also quite good.
I have quite a propensity for mine-type make-up and clothes.
“Oh, thank you. ......”
Rio said with her eyes a little downcast.
“Well, let’s go.”
The venue is just a short walk from here.
The preliminary rounds of the Japan Tournament will be held at the event site owned by Lugh.
The winners of the nationwide competition for the ticket to the Japan Tournament will gather at this year’s Japan Tournament.
Naturally, the feeling was very high.
“Takamori and Natsume.”
We showed our entrance passes to the security guards and entered the venue.
The venue had been changed to Pro-hopple specifications.
We had to wait in the waiting room for the tournament to start.
As the winner of the previous tournament, I felt that we were being treated wonderfully.
“Can’t you calm down?”
Rio has been restless since a while ago.
“I think it’s finally happening.”
“Well, it is, isn’t it? But I’m sure me and Rio will be fine. Let’s do it as usual.”
Compared to the first time, the coordination has become much better.
After understanding each individual’s ability, I think that we can play each other’s roles in a way that complements it.
“Yeah, that’s right. Let’s do our best together.”
Rio said so with her usual smile that even Angel-sama could not resist. |
The Strongest Detective
A detective who has risen from the field is appointed to this position.
Yoshihide Takamori was appointed to this post this year.
He is my father.
This time, I would like to tell you the story of how he was called the “Monster of Souichi”.
“Hey, did you see the new appointment?”
“Oh, it’s Inspector Takamori, isn’t it? He’s the chief of the First Investigation Section at his age, isn’t he?”
The chief of the First Investigation Section is appointed by a detective who has been working his way up the ranks.
The age of the chief is usually higher than that of the other career chiefs.
However, my father is years old this year.
He is exceptionally young to be appointed chief of the First Investigation Division.
That’s why he was appointed because of his track record of solving numerous cases.
With Yoshihide Takamori, any difficult case can be solved.
It was a well-known story within the Metropolitan Police Department.
Just the other day, it was the same.
A series of high school girls were strangled to death.
My father was ordered to lead the investigation as the superintendent of the case, which was said to be on the verge of going cold.
My father brought the case to a close in two weeks, and the murderer was arrested.
“Director, I think you should get some sleep. You haven’t slept in three days.”
“I’m not going to die if I don’t sleep. But the next victim might appear if I don’t arrest the culprit. I don’t want to add more people to the list who have to bear the grief. Compared to that, I don’t give a damn about sleep.”
Indeed, his obsession with the investigation is a demon.
It seems that he is called that because he cuts through incidents with its sharp fangs.
“Deputy Commissioner, isn’t it too early to make him a section chief?”
There were such voices within the Criminal Investigation Department.
The main one was from the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department.
“It is true that he has played a leading role in solving quite a few cases, but he is only years old. Isn’t that too young?”
The deputy superintendent of police suppressed this voice and made Yoshihide Takamori the chief of the Investigation Section.
He is the number two man in the Metropolitan Police Department.
“Do you know when he started saying he would definitely raise a hoshi?”
He always says, ‘I’m going to raise a hoshi.’
“No. ......”
“It was ten years ago. Did you know how his wife died?”
“Yes, I heard it was a car accident.”
“Well, ostensibly.”
The deputy commissioner sat deeper into the sofa.
“Ostensibly, you say?”
“It was a hit-and-run.”
Ryo’s mother, Saya Takamori, was not killed instantly.
She was still conscious when she was hit.
If she had called an ambulance right then and there, there was a chance she might have survived.
However, the criminal, who had been drinking, left the scene without calling .
“The investigative file didn’t say anything about that, did it?”
“The man driving the car was the son of a powerful politician and pressure was brought down from above to cover it up.”
There are a certain number of people who will try to get out of a situation with money and power.
“Did the commissioner give in to that?”
The current commissioner is a man who is trying to clean up the dirty parts of such an organization.
“I don’t think he’s the kind of person who would do that.”
“But back then, the top brass was different.”
“I see.”
“That’s when he changed.”
Victims can only move on when they know the truth.
It is our job to help them do so.
That’s why he always mentioned Hoshi.
“He may be called a monster, but he knows the pain of victims better than anyone else. I want a guy like that at the top of the department. Understand?”
“I understand.”
“If something happens, I’ll ask you to forgive me with my neck.”
Thus, it was decided that Yoshihide Takamori would be appointed head of the First Investigation Division. |