Chapter 1088 - Meeting
The next day. As Komei-shi had said, I was discharged. It was really that simple. I finished my preparations, left the room, and walked out. If Ashe hadn't been walking proudly beside me, I would have kept looking back, wondering if it was really okay to leave.
It was a freedom that came with being managed. I didn't have to deal with annoying paperwork, a VIP treatment that I wasn't sure if I should be happy about.
Anyway, it was my first time outside in three days...
"I'm glad to see you're healthy."
"You've got some nerve. You were the one laughing and saying everything would be fine while you saw us off."
"Ha ha. You're being harsh."
"See, there it is again. That lazy smile."
"...He was right, in the end."
"Of course I was."
"It's annoying because I don't know where that confidence comes from..."
Ashe and I were in the back seat of a car. Kazuharu Chitose, the representative assistant of Yotsuya Development and our chef, was at the wheel. As I told him, his expression hadn't changed since three days ago.
He had smiled and told us not to worry when we were panic-stricken. He still had that calm face now, as if nothing unexpected had happened. He had known all along.
He was truly certain that there was no need to worry.
"..."
"..."
"..."
It was a bit awkward, and I wasn't sure how to act. Aside from the adult who only ever smiled, Ashe and I probably felt the same way.
In the end, we didn't know what these people were thinking.
"...Chitose."
"Yes?"
Ashe was cool and didn't hesitate. "You were watching this time, too, weren't you?"
"Yes. That's my job as an observer."
She was blunt, not bothering with politeness since he wasn't. "How? Why? What happened?"
Kazuharu gave a wry smile. "Secrets. Work. It's the same as for you."
He seemed to be teasing her. I wasn't sure if that was my own suspicion or if he was really doing it.
"Kazu-san."
"Yes?"
I spoke up after Ashe. I knew I couldn't be as cool as her, so I just used my usual bluntness.
"Is it really okay not to worry?"
He didn't ask about what? He was a man who could easily hold a conversation with Alicia White. He would understand what I meant.
"There's no need, is there?"
He just smiled at us in the rearview mirror.
...
"Well then. Let me know if you need another ride. Anytime is fine."
"Thanks."
"Thank you."
We arrived at our destination. He waved from the car window and drove away. I turned around.
"This isn't your first time here, is it?"
"No. I've been here a few times for girls' night."
This wasn't the Yotsuya Lodgings. It was a stylish, respectable building that could be called a mansion. I rang the bell... and for some reason, I felt a strange pressure. Was it just my imagination?
The door opened, and...
"..."
"...I'm sorry."
"...Why are you apologizing?"
A beautiful maid was standing there with a smile.
"I'm glad to see you're doing well."
She invited us inside. Itsuki Natsume, the self-proclaimed maid, showed us a genuine look of relief, unlike certain other people.
"I'm sorry for worrying you..."
I bowed, feeling apologetic. She gave a gentle smile.
"I figured you'd be getting many messages from many people, so I didn't send one myself..."
Her warmth was clearly sincere. "But seeing your face makes me feel much better. You too, Iris-san."
"Mh..."
It was rare for her to show this side of herself, but I knew she had it. It would be rude to be too surprised.
"Hehe... and about Sora..."
This was the reason Ashe and I were so nervous. The sisterly figure was worried about her family who had gone through something mysterious. We were the ones with her at the time.
Of course, it wasn't our fault. But humans tend to feel a certain sense of responsibility for those things.
"I might surprise you, but I don't intend to complain to anyone about her having strange experiences in the virtual world."
As she said, it was a surprise. Itsuki-san didn't seem to hold it against us.
"I will worry about her, of course."
She was worried, but she didn't blame us. "I'm sure it's something she needs, after all."
She was generous about her sister's adventure. There must be some secret promise or story about Sora that I didn't know yet. We decided to stop worrying about her curiosity and just say...
"I'm sorry for the concern."
"...We're sorry."
We thanked her for her genuine worry. She smiled and said,
"Well then, please go in. The two of them are in the living room."
She showed us the way through the hallway with the perfect poise of a real maid.
Then, in front of the living room door, she paused and looked back at us with a smile. I felt a bad premonition. I knew this woman was up to something.
Before I could decide whether to stop her or run away...
Click.
"Ah, Itsuki-san, hurry up and change, Haru and the others will be... wait!"
"...!"
The door opened. The scene was revealed. The instigator of it all was smiling as she walked into the room. Ashe blinked and whispered, "Cute."
As for me, I was frozen by the sight of my two friends. They were in outfits I hadn't expected to see them in.
"Wait, what... um..."
"Look away!" Nia shouted, her face turning red.
"Look away!" Sora added.
It was Sora-san and Nia-chan in maid outfits.