kscans

Chapter 158 - A Man's Dream

"Haaah. This is fun. But it's also pretty tiring."

We took a break after everyone finished their introductions, joined up, and accepted the quest. Role-playing uses more brainpower than you'd think. When you're just talking as yourself the words come naturally, but when you speak through a character, you always have to think first. What would my character say in this situation, based on the personality I created? You keep repeating that thought process to move the story forward, so you're bound to get tired, and it takes time. But just as Rika-chan said, it's also fun. A whole lot of fun.

"By the way Sarna-chan, you're really good at that refined, seasoned kind of role-playing."

Yuichi praised Sarna-chan, a soda in his hand. The kids are staying over tonight, so no alcohol for us. We're sticking with the non-alcoholic stuff.

"Oh, not at all. I was just using Satou-san as a reference for when he's being a little dry."

"You used Satou? Seriously? Is that how he looks to a pure and innocent middle school girl?"

"Satou, what do you plan to do, leading a middle school girl astray?"

I'm not planning to do anything. And I'm not leading her astray.

"Speaking of role-playing, Saku-chan, you're pretty amazing yourself. You've really got that girly feel down."

"Ahaha, thanks. Well, I normally use 'watashi' to refer to myself anyway, so all I have to do is make it sound a little more casual."

Now that he mentions it, that's true. It probably also helps that he has a girl close by to use as a model.

"Speaking of role-playing, you old guys. Aren't your characters super unpleasant?"

"""That's because they're elves before they soften up."""

We said it in unison.

"What pure, innocent eyes you have."

"I see. Now that you mention it, that might be true."

"And you're just going along with it, Rika-san."

Well, you know? As a guy, I'd be happy with a girl who's sweet and affectionate from the start. But... I don't know. That's not it. Men are creatures who sometimes want a little bitterness, not just sweetness. Elves who look down on humans gradually growing affectionate. Just imagining it is incredible.

""But Satou, you've... noticed, haven't you?""

"Yeah."

We are playing our ideal elves. But an ideal elf isn't something that's complete on its own.

"""There are way too many girls in the party..."""

Four women in a six-person party. This could be called a rather difficult situation.

"Um, what's the problem with that?"

"Saku-chan. I told you before, didn't I? They're elves before they soften up. To depict them softening up, you absolutely need someone for them to soften up to."

"Excuse me. Wouldn't another woman be fine? There are three humans, after all."

""No. That won't satisfy a man's desire.""

A man... he can't help but dream... of a development where a romantic flag gets raised all on its own... Like, huh? Did I do something? The romance of a flag being raised before you even know it is just the best.

"Wait, are you old guys hitting on us?"

"You're the one making a pass at us, aren't you?"

"Well, that's because Jack is a hopeless loser. He'd totally show his ulterior motives to three beautiful elf sisters."

I think that kind of thorough role-playing is wonderful.

"Right now, Alec is a pretty good guy... but if all three sisters went for him, that wouldn't feel right, would it?"

"No, that's not it at all."

I get what the Arima brothers are trying to say. I feel the same way. The others, however, don't seem to understand.

"The romance would get too heavy. Things would get tense, right?"

That's not what we want. We're not looking for a messy love triangle or any of that complicated stuff.

"If it's just the twins, it's fine."

"...Why is that fine?"

""Because that's the twin trope.""

What she likes, I like. What I like, she likes. It's about sharing. A flower in each hand. Sure, there are plenty of stories where twins fight over someone, but the path of sharing is also open to them.

"Hero Uncle. Isn't that just the delusion of a pathetic man?"

"""What's wrong with dreaming? We're guys, after all."""

Sometimes, a man's IQ drops to unimaginable lows. It's especially noticeable when his lower half is involved.

"Hmm. Hey, Yuichi. Shouldn't we give Alec to Satou?"

"Why... oh, I get it."

"Hey, what are you two talking about. Are you trying to be considerate just because I'm the host and the one who planned this whole thing?"

""That's not it.""

Then what is it?

"Satou, how can a man like you not realize?"

"Satou, if you had to describe the character Jack in one word, what would it be?"

In one word... Rika-chan said it too, didn't she.

"A hopeless loser."

""That's it!!""

"What are you... wait a minute!"

Is that what this is about?

"What is this vibe?"

"This is a world I do not understand."

"If Saku-chan, who's also a boy, doesn't get it, there's no way we would."

Then let us explain it so even the children can understand.

"It's a pretext. That's what the Arima brothers are talking about."

"""A pretext?"""

"A hopeless loser who needs looking after. He's too much for one person to support. So, the two of them will do it together."

It's a pretext to justify the 'flower in each hand' situation. He's a hopeless loser. You just can't leave him alone. But he's too much for one person to handle. It's a way for us to smooth over our base male desires by saying, "It's not like that!"

""That said, whether or not this plan works all depends on Jack.""

"Indeed."

We need him to do something cool, at least enough to make us think, maybe it's okay to raise a flag here? Right now, Alec is the only one making cool-guy moves. I was genuinely thrilled by how Alec handled the three haughty sisters like an adult. Even though Alec is technically younger than them.

"Well, thanks to Rika-chan's dice luck, he has the potential, at least."

She got to reroll three times, and they were all high stats. Rika-chan made some minor adjustments too, giving him the feel of someone with untapped potential. So if that potential blossoms, maybe his personality will too? That's the kind of development we're hoping for.

"...You know, I'm starting to think this might be a good idea."

"Rika-san!?"

"A harem, huh... Right now I'm the hopeless loser Jack... I'm kind of drawn to it."

"""As expected of Rika-san! A woman who understands!!"""

"Right!?"

The three of us cheered on Rika-chan, who was telling us to pump her up. As we were doing that, Robo Woman, who had been in the kitchen, returned with a large platter of sandwiches. I'd asked her to make something we could snack on for a late-night meal... and this looks delicious.

"Whoa, this is delicious! It's like something from a bakery... Old man, this kid is amazing!"

"Right? Though the cooking data used for Robo Woman is from Dr. Kawasaki."

"Dr. Kawasaki... wait, that Dr. Kawasaki!?"

"? Hero Uncle, who's Dr. Kawasaki?"

"A robot otaku who tried to go on a rampage in a giant robot in the surface Shinjuku."

""What a psycho.""

He is a psycho. But he has his cute side.

"Well, anyway, once we finish eating, we're starting again!!" "Yeah!!"

And so, our fun night wore on.