Chapter 753 - Departure
When you think of a trip, you think of a train.
That suggestion, raised by no one in particular, was passed with little hesitation by everyone (well, almost everyone), and so the Princess-produced spontaneous trip was to be by rail, both coming and going.
Naturally, the departure was set for the very next day. And, just as naturally, the seats for the journey and the inn at our destination were all secured without a single issue.
In other words, the Princess took care of it all in a single night. Whether she was blessed with boundless luck or exercised some form of power to make it happen… well, it’s a mystery.
Yes, a mystery. Or let’s just say it was the former. That’s better for my peace of mind.
In any case, being showered with this kind of special treatment was nothing new. I’d never get used to it, but pointing it out every time was just pointless by now.
So, having accepted the absurd capabilities of the young lady of the White family, I was ordered… or rather, entrusted, with a single task: to inform those around me of my break and to get permission from a certain few.
Specifically, I had to check in with the two people not named Ashe.
As it turned out, only one of them put up even a moment’s fuss.
Though they were the exclusive team for the [Acrobat], she must have felt hesitant to join a group of ordinary college students… or perhaps, like Ashe, who declined to come because she was busy preparing for the [Green Connect] raid, her schedule was simply packed.
Miss Liliania Vrewberi, who had chosen to “stay and watch the house” without a moment’s hesitation, sulked just the tiniest, faintest, most subtle bit about being left behind. However, when I offered to extend the period where skinship was permitted to the first week of next month as compensation, her smile returned in one second flat.
I could almost weep at how easily I’m led by the nose in so many ways, but again, that’s nothing new. I should probably just be grateful she was so easily convinced.
…And then there was the other one.
The one who complained wasn’t the problem. The problem—the huge problem, the one that made me ask, “Are you serious?” with a deadpan expression and a dopey voice—was the one who didn’t complain.
“—It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hinata Natsume.”
Today was the day after the plan was hatched. Boarding the eleven a.m. direct train to our destination, a girl with an unfamiliar name joined our circle of university students.
Her beautiful black hair swayed softly as if in a nonexistent breeze. Her large, wide eyes held a gentle, sky-blue light. Her elegant fashion, centered around a modest one-piece dress, created the exquisite air of a “young lady traveling incognito”—subtle, yet eye-catching enough to mark her as someone out of the ordinary.
Of course, this wasn’t some stranger named “Hinata-san.” The one using her second, and not at all fake, name was… none other than Sora Yotsuya, my precious partner.
Sora glanced at my face, seated beside her, before continuing.
“Thank you for always taking such good care of my partner.”
“…I won’t deny it, but come on.”
Was she being polite, or was this a prank?
Her looks, her voice, her aura, her every move—with every element that composed her, she had overwhelmed my friends from the moment they’d met just a few minutes ago. Or rather…
“Whoa… whoa…”
“So cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute.”
“…This is a natural-born beauty.”
“She’s a real lady…”
Having rendered them speechless in a matter of minutes, she sat there with a sweet, beaming smile.
I’ll set aside Toshiki, who had lost the ability to speak, and Shoko, who was acting her usual self, but I had to wonder if Mizuki-san, who was slightly bugging out, and Kaede-san, who was completely bugging out, were okay.
Especially Kaede-san. Have you forgotten that you, too, are a respectable “lady”?
“Hehe.”
And you, Sora-san. I’ve thought this for a while, but she’s really something else, isn’t she? She’s so… strong out here in the real world.
Is it the status of being a Yotsuya heiress, which she can’t completely hide? Or is it that, like me, her mentality is just different, to a greater or lesser degree, than when she’s in the virtual world?
Despite this being their first real meeting, with little time to mentally prepare, she was perfectly composed in front of the four of them—
“Is something wrong?”
We had a block of eight seats to ourselves, with the front four turned to face the back. We were seven in total, and with a simple tilt of her head, she effortlessly shot an arrow through the hearts of the majority present.
Her innocent, sky-blue eyes met my blank stare. I was the one who had set this all up, yet I was so caught up in a mix of exasperation and surprise that I couldn’t keep up at all.
When I’d contacted her yesterday, she’d declared, “I’m going too,” without a moment’s hesitation. It was plain to see that she… was in a very good mood.
“So—… Hinata-san. What about school?”
“I told you yesterday. A sudden trip like this is perfectly normal at my school.”
“You really do live in another world… What about your studies? Are you okay?”
“I was sixth overall in my grade on the last test.”
“Wow, you’re brilliant.”
“Ehehe… I don’t dislike studying.”
“You’re the literal personification of a good kid… Wait, a good kid wouldn’t skip school to go on a trip, would they?”
“Tha—It’s your fault, you know. For suddenly suggesting a trip.”
“Um, actually, I wasn’t the one who suggested it…”
Well, whatever the case, she must really like going on outings. She was a high-tension lady throughout our last trip, and it seems this time is no different…
““““……………………””””
“…………Right. If you all don’t stop making that face right now, you’re not getting any dinner.”
Warm, knowing gazes poured in from all four directions.
What’s the big deal? We were just having a normal conversation. I wanted to say that, but I was well aware that my own expression and mood had softened, which was a problem.
It was no use. When Sora’s next to me, this is just how I get.
And so our spontaneous trip began. Our destination: Hakone. The order handed down from the Sword Queen-sama was to “rest our minds and bodies, slowly and properly,” but…
“I’m looking forward to the hot springs… that is, um…”
“…………”
“…N-Nozomi…san.”
“…………………………………………Right. Everyone, you’re not getting breakfast tomorrow either.”
“Are you a demon?”
“Then again, I’m kind of full in another way.”
“How sweet.”
“Ah, haha…”
Would my mind really be able to rest? I turned to look out the window, but that just put a blushing Sora in my line of sight, so I had no choice but to stare at the ceiling. Meanwhile, oblivious to my plight…
“—Ufufu.”
Big Sis Natsume, watching over her lively juniors, was laughing ever so cheerfully from her seat at the end.
For the record, she was not wearing her maid uniform.
Obviously.
That's right, from here on out, it's basically all about how cute Sora is.