Chapter 670 - Types of Sweetness
One of the three great festivals of the year has passed, yet one or two more loom just around the corner. The endless onslaught of events waits for no one, drawing ever closer with the relentless march of time.
I'm starting to get used to this environment where there's always something going on, but is that a good thing or a bad thing? I feel like my common-man mentality is steadily shrinking… but still, my sensibilities as a plebeian are alive and well compared to those of the celestial beings.
Therefore—though it's debatable whether she's someone I should sympathize with as a fellow commoner.
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…"
"That's one looong groan."
Here we are at the beginning of September, and I can wholeheartedly understand the feelings of my partner, who is groaning in a mixture of dissatisfaction, languor, and disbelief. As someone who belongs to the same category of 'student,' albeit on a different level, I get it.
Sora-san, who is currently occupying my back, doesn't react to my teasing words, which were laced with a wry smile. After the initiation ceremony for Ui-san and Kanata was dismissed… I accepted her request with a sharp eye contact and invited her to my room in the clan home. It has been several minutes since.
It's my fault for having a room with too little furniture, but the only thing to sit on is the bed, which is set as my respawn point for logging in and out.
So, if a third party were to see us, it would be a rather compromising scene.
I'm sitting on the edge of the bed. Sora-san has climbed onto it without hesitation and is pressing her forehead against my back. The time, the place, and the situation are all completely and utterly inappropriate.
Alright, I've decided. Even if I don't use them, I'm at least getting a table and chairs. The result of my lazy thinking—I'm not inviting anyone over anyway—is this. In the first place, a similar situation has happened before—
"—Being a university student is unfair…"
"Oh? Ah… haha, yeah. I've thought that too."
Just as something within her was finally satisfied, Sora, who had interrupted her strange groan that was part-threat, part-scream, sent a muffled voice through my back.
And I, having perfectly understood the meaning of her grumbling murmur, could only offer a faint smile.
"A two-month summer vacation is insane, isn't it… I mean, normally you're supposed to be busy with future-related stuff during that time, but still. The impact of the words 'two-month break' is something else."
It probably depends on the school, but the university I attend has two-month-long breaks in the summer and spring. I've already used up half of it, but on the other hand, I'm only at the halfway point.
In other words, I'm free until the end of September—so it's no wonder she, whose summer vacation ends today, would call it 'unfair.'
But well…
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…!"
"And so begins round two…"
Sora probably isn't lamenting the end of her summer vacation and the resumption of school. If that's the case, then why? I can guess that much without needing to use telepathy.
"—Every time you meet, every single time, you two get closer, don't you…!"
"I won't deny it."
What is 'what'? It's obviously about my relationship with my master. It's a plain fact that can't be concealed, so I have no choice but to nod in agreement without a moment's hesitation.
So, that's what it is.
She used to be jealous of me receiving instruction from the [Sword Saint]…
"I know I probably shouldn't say this, but…!"
"It's just me listening, so it's fine. Probably, most likely, I'm sure."
"To be honest, more than Nia-san or Iris-san…!!"
"Now I'm starting to feel a little uneasy. Maybe it's better if I don't hear this eith—"
"At this point, Ui-san seems like a far more formidable rival…!!!"
And so, it's like this.
Now that their relationship has become more complex, her jealousy seems to be directed at the woman who is close to me.
It's a mix of happiness, embarrassment, and guilt—considering Sora's inner turmoil, feeling a bit of self-loathing for being jealous of the person she admires… well, the third one is probably a bit heavier.
In the end, it's likely a case of unavoidable frustration towards a woman who has grown closer to me, now that she herself will have less time to spend with me due to joining the clan.
It's not a matter of who is with whom; it's a natural emotional response for any human.
In that case, there's only one thing to do.
"Alright, I've heard your concerns—so I'll do this."
"Wha—Huh!?"
Activating [Flash Traveler]. It's such a ridiculous waste of a skill that I can't help but laugh at myself… but hey, it's getting late.
If I keep poking and prodding with slow jabs, it'll affect my partner's tomorrow. I have no choice but to get her to agree with a single, all-out uppercut of my will and compromise.
"Wh-wha… Wh-what…!?"
"Well, you see. We haven't had our thirty seconds for today yet."
A short-distance warp behind Sora-san, followed by a grab.
It's not like I did anything improper—I can't quite give myself a squeaky-clean verdict, but at least I haven't done anything that would get me reported, considering our relationship.
I just swapped places with my partner who was playfully clinging to my back, swiftly scooped her up as she lost sight of me, and invited her to sit on my loosely crossed legs.
What on earth am I doing, you ask?
"This is something I'd never be able to do, nor would I even think of doing, with my master. How's that?"
I demonstrated with my actions that we belong in completely different categories.
Furthermore, this is something I'd only have the courage to do with someone like Sora-san, with whom I share a heart-to-heart relationship.
…And so, there's only one thing to do.
"I know it's a ridiculously complicated situation and telling you to 'not worry' is impossible. So, at the very least, I want to show you that I'm willing to do everything in my power to ease your anxiety."
So, you should feel free to come at me with everything you've got. I'll do my best to handle it, as much as I possibly can—I continued.
The small, light-as-a-feather avatar didn't turn around. Sora swayed a couple of times on my lap before letting out a small whisper.
"…………Today, thirty seconds isn't enough."
"…Alright, alright. One minute then."
"About five minutes."
"First a double, and now a five-fold demand…?"
"And pat my head, please."
"I didn't hear you place an additional order???"
It seems my surprisingly resilient partner was more energetic than I thought.
In the end, I spent nearly ten minutes trying to please the young lady, all the while infinitely regretting my 'foolish and hasty' decision, driven by a sense of duty.
All the while, I struggled to not be overly conscious of the body heat transmitted through our avatars.