Chapter 668 - Welcome Home
"Heh heh, you've come back looking quite tired."
"If I came back full of energy, that would be its own problem, wouldn't it…"
The Yotsuya Development headquarters' underground parking lot. After getting off the guest-only direct elevator and unreservedly climbing into the all-too-familiar shuttle car, we exchanged our first words.
Receiving his usual teasing glance via the rearview mirror, I collapsed into the back seat, not quite dead on my feet, but one step away from crashing due to mental exhaustion.
It's not that I dislike or have a problem with Mr. Togo; in fact, I genuinely respect him as a person and as a man, but that's not the issue. When dealing with the father of a girl you're close to, a man should offer his heart with awe and respect. That's just how it is.
"He's taken a liking to you, so there's no need to be so formal."
"No, it's not about that, it's a matter of sincerity… Besides, telling someone to 'not be formal' with the one and only President Yotsuya is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?"
"And what is the great [Acrobat] saying at this point?"
While starting the engine, the president's aide—Chitose Kazuharu, or Kazu-san—laughed jokingly. I shot him a half-lidded glare and a "Seriously, stop," but he just brushed it off. No effect.
I often think about how little 'presence' I seem to have. It's kind of sad. Not that I have any desire to become an intimidating person, though…
"Anyway, what was the 'business' in the end?"
"How is it that the president's aide doesn't know…"
He asked as if just tossing out a random topic while pulling the car out. I found myself questioning the inner workings of Yotsuya Development, whose chain of command and communication methods remain a mystery to me, an insider.
In the end, if I were to consider my hour-long talk with Mr. Togo as 'business' and answer Kazu-san's question—
"Well, all in all………… I think it was basically a 'How're you doing?' kind of thing."
"…, Pfft, haha. I see."
It started with long-overdue praise and appreciation for the successful subjugation of the [White Throne], continued with words of concern for me as I was getting used to my activities as a ranker, and was followed by his thoughts on the arena conquest footage from two months ago.
All in all, from beginning to end, the conversation was filled with concern for my current state and well-being after all the recent events.
So, yes. It wasn't really about 'business' so much as…
"He probably just wanted to take the time to meet and talk…"
"I can understand that. You are his precious daughter's sweetheart, after all."
"Stop teasing me like that too."
I knew it, and he even said it himself, but the one-sided favorability that arose from him having watched me is so high that it's creating a reverse pressure.
"Well, it's a good thing, isn't it? Putting the complicated stuff aside, being liked by your precious partner's family can't be all that bad, can it?"
"Well, yeah."
"And you seem to be on good terms with the maid, too."
"About that, I'm not so sure."
I wouldn't say we're on bad terms, but I still can't shake the feeling that Itsuki-san (the maid) is treating me like a toy… Since she's Sora's absolute ally, in a sense, she's someone I trust more than anyone else in the world—but still, it's true.
"…For now, it's good that one task is finally off my plate, I guess."
It's one step closer to peace of mind. Not that there have been any complicated matters recently that have disturbed my peace, but… as for what's coming later today, a rather massive 'who knows what'll happen' event awaits.
"…Hmm."
And so.
From my expression in the mirror, Kazu-san seemed to have guessed something.
"It's a good time. On our way back, shall we grab something delicious to eat?"
"Sushi."
To his offer of an energy refill, I nodded without hesitation.
◇◆◇◆◇
A few minutes later that night, after all the actors had gathered on stage.
Inside the home of our clan, [Azure Sky], in the virtual world, the common space—which has become a relaxation area mostly because I don't make effective use of my own room—was filled with silence.
Everything that needed to be said had been said, which was precisely why it was so quiet. And just as expected, the expressions on everyone's faces were clearly divided 1:1:3.
As one of the '1s', I maintained a poker face tinged with resignation. What was I resigned to? A premonition, a conviction based on foresight that no matter what happened, I'd end up running around frantically, putting my heart and soul into it.
"……………………Um, Haru?"
"Yes, this is Haru."
One of the '3s', and the nominal clan master of [Azure Sky], my partner Sora-san, raised her hand with a tremble, her face a concoction of confusion, bewilderment, and astonishment that had been boiled down, flipped over, and kicked. She posed her question with a quavering voice.
"C-Could you please explain one more time?"
It was less a question and more a plea.
The girl's amber eyes were directed not at me, but at the other '1' next to me—a woman shorter than herself, who wore an extremely gentle smile.
So, I too glanced in that direction.
"Alright, one more time… This is the one and only [Sword Saint]-sama, as you all know."
I gestured with a flourish toward Ui-san, who stood beside me, beaming.
"She said that as part of her rehabilitation to return to the secular world, for the convenience of continuing my training, and for various other reasons, she'd like to join our clan, [Azure Sky]."
At this point, it's a 'what are you even talking about' situation in so many ways, but a month ago… that is, when she first proposed this before she left on her journey, I also stared blankly back at her and said, "What are you talking about?" So the reaction of the three people before me is only natural.
And then,
"Then I, too, shall reintroduce myself… I am Ui, the [Sword Saint]. I have decided to make a fresh start and try my hand at various things without fear or hesitation. As a first step, I would be grateful if you would allow me to join your 'clan' as a fellow member."
"W-Whoa… stop. Wait a minute."
One of the '3s' cut off her gently woven words. The small, black-clad boy, for once, couldn't hide his obvious panic…
"Wh-what's the deal? I heard something about soul-searching, but how did that lead to this bizarre development of joining a clan?"
"Whoa… Tetra's genuinely panicking. That's rare."
"Fufu… He was just like this when I first met him, right after he became a ranker."
"You laid-back master and apprentice…!"
I've come full circle and am now in my natural state (of resignation). And Ui-san, without needing to come full circle, is in her natural state (as always). Tetra glared at the two of us for our casual remarks, but unfortunately, it wasn't scary.
He looked like an intimidating kitten. Meanwhile, Sora-san's stare from beside him was quite intense.
"What do you mean, 'what's the deal'? It's just as Ui-san said… In any case, she decided to stop being a shut-in and come out into the open."
"…To be called a shut-in is a bit disagreeable, don't you think?"
"So she closed her other world and came to the city, but you see, if the [Sword Saint] herself started operating out of some random inn, it would obviously cause a huge commotion, right?"
"Haru-kun?"
"That's… well… I guess so."
"And that's where the clan home comes in."
"Haru-kun?"
Ui-san keeps saying something, but convincing the three in front of me is the priority right now. Besides, there's nothing shady about this decision, so I just need to state the facts confidently.
"Long story short, it's simply a substitute for a house. And if she's going to join a clan, ours is convenient—we're a small group that just formed, and our name isn't known to the public."
In other words, there's no way it would cause a commotion, and besides one member, everyone here is an acquaintance of hers, or rather, through my connections, they're practically all family. It's a perfect fit.
"………………Now that you mention it, I guess that makes sense… huh."
"Just so you know, I was genuinely floored when she asked me, too."
"I bet you were… Okay, I get it. I wasn't going to object from the start, but now I'm convinced, so you don't have to worry about me."
And with that, the incarnation of understanding, my junior (not my junior) number one, was successfully won over.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Tetra-kun."
"Ah, yeah, right. A pleasure to… meet you, too."
The boy's hand, a size larger yet still small, met the small hand offered to him, a bit hesitantly. A polite Tetra is another subtly rare sight.
And so, the remaining two—or more accurately, the one whose approval I needed. Sora-san, who had been in a state of sheer bewilderment from the gathering to the introduction and explanation…
"…S-So…! I-I'm not objecting either, I swear…!? I-I was just, s-so, surprised, that's all…!"
"Alright, got it. First, let's take a deep breath and calm down, Sora-san."
"I'm sorry for surprising you… Please calm down, Sora-chan."
"I get it, but calm down, Sora-senpai."
Her panic, far exceeding Tetra's, put her in the middle of a three-person support effort. In any case, without the clan master's approval, Ui-san cannot join.
But well, just as she's saying while panicking.
"…………"
"…, …………!"
The genuine fan girl of the [Sword Saint], whose face flushes and eyes spin just from being looked at quietly, would hesitate out of reverence but would never shake her head no in the end.
"A-At… at the very least—can't we change the master… ?"
"Nah."
"I don't think so."
"I think Sora-chan is the perfect 'master.'"
"Whyyy…!!!"
With a de facto majority approval, the [Sword Saint]'s entry into the clan was decided.
—And in addition to that, one more person.
"What's wrong, Kanata, you're just staring blankly. You'll be one of us from now on, too."
"Eh, um………… eh…?"
The second new member of the clan [Azure Sky].
After some twists and turns, or perhaps none at all, the junior (not my junior) number two whom I'd managed to reel in, just kept staring blankly the entire time, as if thinking, Do things like this actually happen...?
Regarding the incident where you go to an unexpected recruitment invitation all excited, only to find you have an unbelievably insane contemporary.