Chapter 757 - A Banquet of Bonds
“—Alright everyone! This is to celebrate our hero, the Acrobat’s, rampage—I mean, great success in the [Triangle Duo]! And to give him our support for the big one, the [Green Connect] raid! And for a bunch of other stuff too!”
“Why are you leading this, Shoko?”
“Her energy level makes her the right person for the job.”
“Ahaha…”
“Well, yeah. Every time we had a ‘well-done’ party or whatever, the one who was supposed to be tired—me—somehow ended up being the one in charge, which was ridiculous.”
“You are all so youthful.”
“Ahaha…”
And so the day faded into night.
Our location was not the inn’s banquet hall, but the men’s room, its inherent soundproofing enhanced by the fact that the girls’ rooms were on either side.
The rooms were so ridiculously large that cramming seven people in was no problem at all. Food and drinks were brought in, and in this impromptu party room…
“Alright, no more complaining, on the count of three! —Cheers!!!”
Perhaps it was because they were cousins, but Kaede and Sora shared the exact same troubled, “How should I react to this?” kind of wry smile, which was completely ignored.
And Toshiki’s jab, Mizuki’s not-exactly-a-compliment remark, and my own grumbling about the past were all blown away by a cheerful shout.
In our raised glasses was sparkling ginger ale. Shoko, who seemed to be in even higher spirits than usual for this trip, led the toast with boundless energy… however…
““““Cheers!!!””””
Despite their complaints, when it’s time to get on board, university students are the kind of creatures who get on board.
“Ah, um… ch-cheers…!”
Plus one. The reserved and adorable voice of a young girl that followed warmed everyone’s hearts— The first day of our trip. The long, long, oh-so-long night of the banquet had begun.
As for the fact that a certain maid (in a yukata) was getting into the spirit of things with the youths… let’s just pretend we didn’t see that for now.
“—The Matsukaze derivative…”
Now then. A universal constant, common to all times and places, is that a banquet requires drinks and entertainment.
“—Kesshiki, First Strike.”
In that regard, we were minors.
So the “drinks” would have to be substituted with sensible things like juice. But as for the other important element, the “entertainment”… young people who thrive on excitement can’t be satisfied with just food.
“—Now, let’s go… Iris!!”
““Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!””
“So cool.”
“No matter how many times I see it, it never gets old…!”
Dressed in matching yukata, the seven of us gathered around a large monitor that seemed out of place in the traditional Japanese room.
On the screen, though his opponents changed, was a single, impossibly energetic idiot whom I knew all too well.
“—…Sora-san.”
“Y-Yes?”
“I request a mercy killing.”
“I can’t do that…!”
“Then allow me, if I may be so bold.”
“When did you— Sis, what are you saying too…!”
In other words, it was a full-blown “[Acrobat] Watch Party”… that was the entertainment for our friendly gathering, a devilish event devoid of all human compassion.
“Whoa… even watching it now, this is insane.”
“Which makes it a huge, huge, huge shame that they didn’t pick up the conversation after the fight started.”
“Right? So true. Hey, Nozomin, what were you and the Princess talking about back then?”
“I plead the fifth.”
“Aww… ……………………You were actually hitting on— ”
“I was not hitting on her, I plead the fifth!!!”
I shot a sideways glance at the cackling Shoko, but her smile was too innocent for me to get angry. Damn her, a genius at making people forgive her without a hint of malice.
“Haaah… At this rate, my mind won’t get any rest at all.”
“You say that, but you are smiling.”
“This is just my normal face.”
“Haru, are you sure that’s the right response…?”
I quickly gave up trying to quell the long, black-haired girl sitting to my left and let out a sigh. The one sitting next to my right, however, immediately jumped in with a jab, to which I replied with a sullen look.
A retort also came from my right (Sora), who was sandwiched between me and the maid, but it was so gentle that it was nothing short of a soothing balm in this chaotic room. A partner truly is a treasure—
“Alright, excuse me, borrowing one beautiful girl for a moment.”
“I want to hear a player’s perspective, from someone who isn’t you. Come here.”
“Wau…!? W-Wait, um, wha—!?”
Oh no. My partner has been abducted. It’s all over for me.
“Shall I perform the mercy killing?”
“How long are you going to keep that up? …Honestly. This is kind of, well, surprising.”
The maid, who showed no signs of reining in her mischievousness, held a glass of juice, just like the students. So even though it was a party, she shouldn’t be drunk…
“As for Sora, it is not my position to be ‘overprotective.’”
“…………”
Itsuki-san, having read my thoughts perfectly, replied gracefully.
It wasn’t the telepathy of two connected souls, but a one-sided mind-reading. And the fact that she was spot on made her all the more unnerving.
“Whether or not they were trustworthy, I knew before I even met them. And as I told you before your date, as long as you are by her side, my ‘sister’s’ safety is guaranteed.”
“……Being told something is guaranteed without any evidence doesn’t really mean much to me.”
“Oh, but there is evidence. The fact that I am convinced of it and have placed my trust in it.”
“Ah… I see. That is, indeed, an absolute guarantee.”
This woman really is scary—scary, but incredibly reliable.
On that day, at that time, when I pushed forward with all my might to hold on to what was precious to me, I managed to get on her good side, at least a little. I’m truly glad for that… from the bottom of my heart.
“And as for your friends…”
Her gaze shifted to her “sister.” The “elder sister” watched gently as the younger girl, though flustered by the older students unabashedly closing the distance, occasionally let a genuine smile show.
“They are people trusted by the one whom she trusts more than anyone in the world. Those she can interact with without fear… are very, very precious indeed.”
Her eyes, watching over her young mistress, were filled with pure affection. It seemed she held “my trust” in incredibly high regard—the pressure was almost laughable.
In that case, naturally…
“I can guarantee they’re good people. My only concern is whether their energy and antics are a good influence on your sister, but on that point…”
“On that, of course, I am counting on your support, Kasuga-san.”
“Of course… Right, right. As you wish.”
All I can do is respond with all my might to the trust and goodwill she shows me.
I heaved my heavy—or what felt like a heavy—body to its feet. And in the direction I was heading, looking troubled… but also, without a doubt…
Was a girl, smiling gracefully and having fun.
That concludes the guardians' meeting, brought to you by the fake fiancé and the self-proclaimed maid.