kscans

Chapter 108 - In This Sullied Sorrow

"...Time manipulation, sure is convenient."

Suzuki muttered thoughtfully while checking on the squid soaking in the pot. It was a little past seven in the evening. We'd been eating nonstop for about seven hours now, but everyone still had plenty of room left. Enough room that we were moving to the rooftop to have a spectacular seafood BBQ.

"I'd like to learn it too, but it looks impossible for me, which is disappointing."

"Hey Suzuki, get a grip. You're being corrupted by Satou. Interfering with time isn't something you can just do so easily."

Well, that's true. There are techniques for accelerating deterioration, but that's not actually manipulating time. There are techniques that truly interfere with time to accelerate or rewind it, but they require massive preparations. Using them just for food would be terribly cost-ineffective. It'd be like buying land and building a stadium just because you want to play soccer for fun.

"This guy doing it with a snap of his fingers is what's abnormal. What are you, some kind of monster?"

"W-wait, Takahashi-kun!!"

Chika-san, who had been tipsy, snapped back to her senses with a start, but I waved her off.

"It's fine. I'm used to being called that kind of thing."

After I was left alone... I fought quite a lot. There were plenty of people who were genuinely terrified seeing me get stronger with every battle.

(Chika-san included.)

I didn't realize it until it was pointed out, but after Takahashi and Suzuki disappeared, she was the one closest to me. It's natural she'd be scared of me, someone who kept winning every battle and growing stronger. Even gods fear me. It's only natural for humans to feel terror. Chika-san probably reacted to Takahashi's words because she felt guilty about that, but...

"Do I really look like the type to care about that stuff?"

"No way."

"W-well, that's certainly true, but... still..."

I don't really care what strangers think of me. Chika-san is in a different category, but I hadn't even noticed it back then, and by the time she confessed, she'd already come to terms with it herself. If she can accept me normally now, isn't that perfectly fine? That's all I can think.

"Chika-san, you're just too serious."

I'm a hundred times more worried about my hair and old man smell.

"But you know what, looking at the results... maybe we were just dead weight."

"Huh?"

"Think about it. You won by making up for whatever you were lacking to win, right?"

Well, that's true.

"The more you stayed in a group, the smaller your growth became, didn't it? Actually, your growth after you paired up with Saionji was bigger than when we were around. And after you went solo... well, goes without saying. You became stronger than anything else in this world."

Hm? Wait, is she sulking? I glanced at Chika-san and Suzuki. Chika-san was clearly dejected... and Suzuki was just pretending not to care.

"Are you stupid?"

"What's... with that way of putting it..."

I laughed off Takahashi, who was pouting.

"I won't say power has no value. Actually, I push through a lot of things precisely because of my strength."

My current position and happiness are based on power. I'll admit that. But that doesn't mean power is supreme to me. What matters is what lies beyond using that power.

"I can share drinks and have fun with you guys like this. Hey, is there any greater happiness than this?"

There isn't. Even if the universe were destroyed, the concept of being strongest could never stand above this happiness. So please stop the misguided self-deprecation about being dead weight or shackles.

"I'm happy because you guys are here."

"..."

Ugh... that was incredibly embarrassing. After saying it, tremendous embarrassment washed over me. Both the one who said it and those who heard it were blushing bright red. Actually, didn't this happen before too? And wasn't Takahashi the trigger that time as well? What is this? Is Takahashi some kind of embarrassment-generating device?

"W-well, the atmosphere got kind of weird."

"Y-yeah... Suzuki, isn't the squid ready yet? Let's grill it quick! I can't wait anymore!!"

"...Right. It should be good now."

When we placed the squid from the pot onto the heated grill, an incredibly appetite-stimulating aroma began to waft up. But... no good...! This won't help us cover up the awkwardness. I think all of us, me, Chika-san, Takahashi, and Suzuki, though we didn't say it aloud, were probably thinking the same thing. Everyone simultaneously reached for their drinks.

(At times like this... alcohol!!)

We chugged. But not just any chugging. I drastically lowered our alcohol tolerance. I'd done this before to get drunk, but this time the alcohol was hitting us at an incomparably faster rate than before.

"Ahyahyahyahya!!"

Within minutes, we had entered complete drunk mode. Embarrassment? What's that? Everything was just so fun and amusing. Even chopsticks rolling around would make us laugh.

"Speaking of which..."

"Yeah...?"

"Satou-kun, you said something before~"

"What was it~"

"You said you wanted to do boyfriend-girlfriend stuff~"

"Oh~ I said that~"

"I'll let you do it~"

"S-seriously!?"

"Yeah... I'll even forgive some slightly naughty stuff."

Come here, Suzuki said, spreading both arms wide. I dove into her chest without hesitation. Pat my head gently? When I made that request, Suzuki gently stroked my head.

"There, there... Satou-kun is a good... good boy, I wonder? Not exactly a good boy, but I like you~"

Ah, this is nice... so nice... Hugging tightly and pressing my face against her neck. It feels like a loving hug... wait, that hurts!?

"Hey hey, those tiny boobs are too pitiful for Satou~"

"Huh? Bigger isn't always better~"

"It's all about balance. Come on, Hiro-kun, over here, over here."

Just as Takahashi pulled me away, this time it was Chika-san... my head came off. But Satou-kun doesn't break from something like losing his head, so I immediately regenerated. My severed head rolling around and disappearing in sparks was a bit surreal.

"Hiro-kun? How are my boobs?"

"...amazing."

Also, I wonder if it's because she's a mother. I can feel her nurturing nature. If Suzuki is like a reliable girlfriend your own age, Chika-san feels like an older, indulgent girlfriend with maternal instincts.

"Amazing? It's too early to make that decision~"

"Hey, Takahashi-kun, don't pull on me!"

"And you too, Saionji-san, what are you suddenly doing~"

The three of them tugged at me, fighting over me. But none of that mattered. I was completely intoxicated by the supreme situation of having breasts pressed against me from three directions...

"Ugh."

Uh?

"...~~~!!?"

Ngaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!?!!