Chapter 1100 - At the Master and Disciple's Pleasure
—After that, the greeting tour proceeded smoothly.
Prioritizing those who had sent messages of concern, it was truly a frantic journey. Of course, I showed my face in the North and South as well, meeting every acquaintance and friend I could.
On the way, I was almost detained for a long time by a troublesome otaku and a Saintess who had reached her limit, but I slipped away smoothly and finished conveying my safety and thanks for their concern to everyone...
The current time is past eleven at night.
"I'm sorry. I ended up making you stay late..."
"No, please don't worry about it."
I was alone, visiting my master's castle, which is currently linked to the guild home's alternate dimension.
A world of isolated stillness. A secret realm where the wind and bamboo leaves sing, created by the out-of-bounds 'Terror Armament (Terror Armament)' that encompasses domain and dominion: [True Name: Secret Key of the Divine Hall that Loves the Outer Heavens (Lutemis)].
In a place that I feel has now become more than half a shared relaxation spot for the guild.
It had been a few hours (just now). My master, whom I met again, was as usual.
She welcomed me calmly, sitting on the veranda of the dojo with a teacup in hand... I might be scolded if she found out I was describing her as 'sitting there cutely' in my heart, though.
...Thus,
""..................""
Both of us were silent. That's only natural.
Because we made that kind of promise for now—namely, that's what it means.
"............Sword maintenance (................), of all things."
Her calm expression crumbled slightly. I don't know how to describe it... she wasn't quite sulking, but she looked slightly dissatisfied. Making such a rare face,
"For those who know, the deception will be obvious."
"Ah... haha, sorry. I was thinking on my feet..."
However, the majority of her expression was a troubled flavor dyed in embarrassment. Seeing that, it seems my master naturally realizes the fact that her disciple was being considerate.
...So, in short.
I've declared that I've noticed that she's 'up to something.' Similarly, she knows that I've noticed 'that.'
Well, a silent staring contest would occur. Setting aside me, who is on the listening side, Ui-san is the one choosing whether or not to say the "something" she had swallowed once, whether intentionally or not.
Thus, for a few seconds.
While the bamboo grove swayed in the wind and we listened to the song played by the bamboo leaves.
"...—Haru-kun."
"Yes."
When my name was called and I turned my gaze, my master set aside her empty teacup.
While looking into my eyes and listening to my voice, she slowly beckoned me with her free hand.
It was a beckoning rather than words. While thinking it was a subtly rare gesture, I had zero sense of wariness toward my master, as always. I took one step, then two, approaching as requested—
"...Is sword maintenance necessary?"
"Thanks to you, Ui-san, it's not necessary."
Arrival. In addition, even before being asked, I bent my waist and accepted her small, extended hand on the top of my head. While having my head stroked like that, I endured the guilt springing up in a corner of my heart.
Leaving the 'sword,' which now possesses an automatic repair function and no longer needs to be in her hands, alone. For a while, I enjoyed her hand, in which I could feel the bewilderment within her gentleness...
After enjoying it for ten-odd seconds in the silence.
"..................To Ar-chan."
"? Yes."
A mutter was born, referring to the name of someone not in this place. When I tilted my head, Ui-san looked as if she had hesitated until the very, very last moment whether to say it or not,
But, in the very, very end.
"...I ended up asking her. For, how should I put it............"
She boldly and honestly confessed.
"For Haru-kun's contact (......) information (......)..."
"......................................................Huh?"
Then, naturally, it stands to reason that I would tilt my head even further.
"Ha, eh, what... contact information? Um...? Ah, er, ah............"
I looked back at my master's face as she watched over me with an expression like a criminal waiting for a verdict—or rather, a very guilty-looking face—as I was confused by the unexpected turn of the conversation.
"Er... the real one?"
"...Yes."
"You ended up asking."
"...Yes."
"Is it that? Ashe just gave it to you normally, or something."
"............Yes."
"I see."
I see...? I see, huh.
Certainly, in terms of general common sense, it's probably an 'event,' but for us, who I recognize are not exactly general... well, what is it.
I just thought, 'So things have become "like that" with Ashe too—' and so on. Personally, I only feel happy about it, so I thought it would be a problem if she thought it was a sin or something, and I laughed.
"You don't have to worry about it. The fact that Ashe didn't say a single word about it to me, and the fact that I haven't received a contact from you in reality (over there), is the answer. To everything."
It's the usual thing. That strongest, invincible, and perfect princess always... at least in the midst of her usual peak performance that I know, tries to snatch everything up.
"But, as expected... I thought it was a behavior that would be considered questionable in terms of common sense—"
"In the end, you didn't use it, so it's just as Ashe intended. I can imagine that you were probably extremely flustered at the time, Ui-san, even hearing about it after the fact..."
"Ugh..."
"I can also imagine that Ashe, who received that directly, made the judgment to 'just give you the contact information without telling me' while perfectly considering this and that as usual. Well, I can't read that girl's deep intentions, though..."
Or rather, I was surprised to hear that Ui-san and Ashe were connected in real life. If it's about things I haven't heard, I was more surprised by that personally.
—Anyway,
"I'm glad you have it, and from now on, you can feel free to call me or anything. To be honest, I was also in the hospital... was that during the hospitalization?"
"Y-yes..."
"I thought so. So, I was also in the hospital. It's that."
If the master has confessed a secret, it would be bad manners for the disciple not to confess one too.
"I hesitated a bit. I wondered if I should contact you, Ui-san—"
I do tentatively know her contact information. It's for the sword dojo where she lives, though... but, without a doubt.
If I used a lot of words to prove my identity, they would surely put me through. I had considered contacting her even for a moment during my hospitalization.
Because, you see.
"............................I see..."
As you can see. She was worried to a ridiculous extent...—I could easily imagine that she was, even without thinking deeply.
The correct answer was 'I should have.' I shouldn't have used such pointless restraint.
"..., ............"
"...Haru-kun?"
And so, if I think that way.
Setting aside Ui-san's this and that toward me. My... the seeds of 'restraint' that I've recently been unable to help but hold in a certain direction.
In this place, where I can't even judge where things will flow.
"This is completely unrelated. No, it's related in some parts, or rather, there's a story that I want you to hear, that I want to tell you, because of various things."
"Y-yes...?"
Because I thought I should confess it to her before anyone else. So... while ignoring the virtual thirst that visited my throat due to a slight nervousness, I began to apologize to Ashe in my heart—
I started talking about what I thought I should talk about.
"I proposed the other day."
"......................Yes?"
I began to speak of the things I felt I must say.