Chapter 344 - Connecting the Apexes
"Alright, well… I'm heading over to Kagura-san's place now."
"Yeah, I'll be there later too."
"…Um, it may not be my place to say this, but…"
"I know, it's fine. I'll do everything in my power to smooth things over."
After that, I managed to deal with the flurry of 'what was that all about' questions, led by the red-headed girls, and made my escape by saying I had things to do, heading for the [Mirage Workshop].
At the fork in the road, I waved to Sora-san as she headed to the magitechnician's workshop for the second time today, while I proceeded down the other, more familiar path.
The building's interior was simple and rugged, a spartan design that seemed to embody pure practicality, with almost no decorations or landmarks to be found.
I could remember the way, but for others, the hallway with its rows of identical passages and doors might as well be a labyrinth—
though I imagine that behind each door, starting with this one, lies a space filled with the owner's personality.
When I knocked on the door of the studio I'd arrived at, a voice from inside replied, "Yes," in a tone that was a bit more subdued and calmer than usual.
Sensing her approach, I waited… and the owner of the room, her indigo hair swaying, peeked her head out as if startled.
Seeing my face, she glanced around nervously.
"Hh… W-Welcome."
"Sorry for dropping by so suddenly."
Nia let out a sigh of relief, the tension leaving her face, and beckoned me into the room—or rather, grabbed my arm and dragged me inside.
"Hey, let go."
"No way."
Still pulling my arm, she led me along, and with an expression I couldn't tell was pleased or the opposite, she flopped backward onto a large sofa.
I used my stats and willpower to resist the momentum that seemed to suggest, 'and you can just land right next to me.'
"Honestly… You're too abrupt. You really surprised me."
"I really am sorry. It was at her request, and she was insistent."
"Well, yeah, I'd heard about it, so I was prepared, but still…"
When I contacted Nia to set up this 'meeting,' she was, of course, greatly surprised and flustered… but in truth, I had already told her about the existence of the 'other person' before.
To begin with, I'm not one to judge whether I should even tell someone, 'There's another person who likes me.'
—But in this case, since I had already let it slip to Ashe, I felt it wouldn't be fair not to tell Nia as well.
On the day of her lightning-fast confession, in my confusion, I blurted out, 'There's someone else I might end up with'… I was far too careless.
"Just to be sure, one more time… you're okay with this?"
"Mhm, it's fine. Besides, if I refused, I feel like I'd be losing. I absolutely refuse to."
"That's… forceful."
Should I be grateful, or should I feel guilty… It's a hundred percent the latter. A normal person would never find themselves in a situation where they're making multiple people wait for an answer like this.
I truly resent my past self for living so selfishly.
"So, where is this other person? I thought she'd be coming with you."
"Ah, right."
"Not 'right,'… When is she coming? Didn't you make it sound like it was happening right away?"
"Exactly."
That's why you should let go of my arm—because you're about to meet her, right now.
"Tetra."
"—Hn."
"Heh…"
After carefully prying Nia's hand off, I tapped the empty space right next to me. Then, my voice, another's, and Nia's followed in succession—
As if they had been there from the start, two people appeared in the room.
It was my junior-senpai, Tetra the Undying, and… none other than the 'other person,' her shimmering silver-blue hair swaying.
"Excuse the intrusion—I kept my ears plugged, and my eyes covered for part of it, so please forgive me."
"W-Wha… wha… nyah… Hwueeeehh!?"
"My apologies as well. I wanted to avoid causing an unnecessary commotion by walking outside."
As Nia instantly bugged out from shock and confusion, the two rankers bowed their heads honestly. I had no intention of stopping them, but of course, I was the one most at fault, so I didn't plan to let it drag on.
"…I figured you'd be shocked either way, so I did it this way to spare you the stress of waiting after I told you."
"S-Stre… wha, sho………………………………"
I stepped forward to take the blame, but Nia, reacting just as I'd expected, was frantically looking back and forth between everyone like a crazed little animal—
Finally, her gaze landed on Ashe's face, and as she stared intently, all her movements ceased. She was still breathing, so at least she was alive.
"…Senpai, can I go home now?"
"You've got guts, saying that in this situation…"
"I'm not a hero, that's why I'm asking to go home."
While I exchanged words with Tetra, who was doing his utmost to signal 'I want no part of this' with his face, voice, and expression, Nia showed no signs of rebooting.
"See ya. About that other matter, we'll contact you when it's convenient for us."
"Yeah, sorry. Thanks."
"Mhm, later then."
I continued my conversation with him, and even after my junior-senpai left with a wave, the indigo-haired girl showed no signs of coming back to life.
"…………Was this a bother, after all?"
"Even if it was, there's no redoing it now…"
Ashe looked at Nia with a concerned expression, her apologetic face layered over her usual impassiveness. I stood beside her, also waiting for a scolding, but…
For nearly a minute after that, there was no reaction from our personal artisan.
Just as I began to seriously worry that she might be forcibly logged out due to brainwave abnormalities, it happened—
"…――――Hhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!?!?"
A genuine scream echoed through the room, and for once, Ashe's shoulders jumped slightly in surprise. And next to her, I, who foresaw the incoming hands, could only think—
"I really, really wasn't told about this!!!!"
I couldn't tell you, was an excuse I dutifully swallowed.
As she grabbed me by the collar and shook me back and forth—I accepted the near-tears Nia's frenzy, prepared to sincerely receive her anger.
Now, enjoy. (utterly villainous)