kscans

Chapter 97 - Perfect Communication

"Thanks for everything. I'll definitely repay this favor someday."

"No, no, I had fun too... If you really insist, maybe you could guide me on a tour of hell next time."

"Haha, then I'll enthusiastically promote hell when that time comes."

In the morning, I was seeing off King Enma from the rooftop of my apartment building. After enjoying Ura-Akihabara, it had gotten late, so I invited him to my place for drinks at home and had him stay the night. He still had vacation time left, but said he'd spend the remaining two days in the afterlife so he could respond immediately if anything came up.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Indeed, farewell then."

He boarded the hellcat and returned to the afterlife.

"...Well then."

It was just before 10 AM. Since it was a holiday, it would be perfectly fine to go back to sleep. Honestly, I wanted to sleep too. I'd like to sleep until around 2 PM and order delivery pizza for a combined breakfast and lunch.

"But I can't really do that, can I?"

Today was supposed to be free of plans, but that was no longer the case. It was Kawasaki. I ran into her yesterday by chance...

"Come to think of it, it's Obon vacation season. You're on break too, aren't you, Satou-san? Then play with me!!"

Thinking it would be more troublesome to have her sulk, I accepted her invitation. She's been favorable toward me and keeping her promises so far, but I don't know what would happen if I upset her. Unlike harmful idiots, she's an idiot who might prove useful, so I'd prefer not to have to take her down if possible.

"...Guess I'll go."

There was still plenty of time before our appointment, but I'm an adult. If I'm being invited to someone's house, I should probably bring a gift or it would be awkward. I teleported near the model shop that my subordinate who likes plastic models told me about.

(Whoa, this really looks the part.)

Entering the store, I was overwhelmed by boxes, boxes, boxes. Plastic model boxes packed into every available space. They didn't just sell plastic models but also tools for building them, but I probably didn't need those. A maniac like Kawasaki would already have them without me giving her any. She might even make her own. She's a woman who can build robots, so handcrafting nippers and such would probably be child's play for her.

"Now then, which ones should I buy?"

The Devil Kaiser she built was clearly a super robot type that shouted flashy technique names. That said, it didn't mean she disliked heavy, realistic robots from serious war dramas either. From her one-sided conversations, she seemed to like any kind of robot.

"So rather than dividing by genre, maybe I should pick a balanced selection?"

I reached for ones with designs Kawasaki might like, then realized something. Wouldn't it be better to convey my own preferences rather than cater to hers? As was clear from her one-sided conversations, she basically just kept throwing things at me. That said, she considered me a friend. From yesterday's physical contact, she thought we were quite close emotionally. In that case, I felt like sharing our respective favorites would raise her favorability more.

I mean, think about it. If you're passionately talking about something and the other person seems cold, that would be shocking, right? If they just gave halfhearted responses, that would be lonely. But if the other person also brought up topics, you'd be happy thinking "Oh, they're really listening to me," wouldn't you? Though I suppose expecting normal human sensibilities from her might be questionable. She probably wouldn't be shocked. If she were the type to get shocked, she wouldn't send so many aggressive one-way messages. But I think she would be happy. That's just my personal opinion, though.

"In that case..."

I started selecting, but this was dangerous. "Oh wow, this brings back memories, I loved this one!" "Ooh, I don't know the source material but this looks great!" I couldn't stop myself. I wasn't as deep into it as Kawasaki, but I was still a guy after all. It really drove home that I'd always love robots no matter how old I got. I was even starting to not care about Kawasaki anymore. While checking the source materials, my desire to build them was bubbling up...

"...I bought quite a lot."

I thought I'd been selective while fighting off my urges, but I ended up buying more than ten. Since I figured I might as well go big if I was going to build them, I chose the largest size for all the ones that came in different sizes, making them really bulky. If I took these on the train, depending on how crowded it was, I'd be a real nuisance. I was really glad I could teleport.

"Here it is."

I teleported to an upscale residential area in Futakotamagawa. In front of me spread a large Japanese-style mansion with "Kawasaki" written on the gate. I'd thought this when I heard the address, but she really lives in a place like this... She said it was her home and lab combined, but the other residents probably never dreamed that giant robots were being constructed in the underground space of this mansion.

"Satou-san! Welcome! I'm opening the gate now~"

There was an immediate response when I rang the intercom. I passed through the automatically opened gate and headed to the entrance while glancing at the magnificent gardens.

"Come, come on in!"

Kawasaki was waiting at the entrance and ushered me inside. Looking at her back as she walked ahead, I thought to myself with deep feeling.

(A white lab coat really doesn't suit traditional Japanese clothing...)

Combined with the atmosphere inside the house, the incongruity was overwhelming.

"Here's some simple tea."

A drum-shaped robot poured tea from a teapot into cups. I could tell just from the smell. It was quite expensive. The tea sweets served alongside were the same. They reeked of high-class quality.

"Thanks. Here, this is a gift."

The moment Kawasaki saw the gift I pulled from my alternate space, her expression brightened even more.

"Oh my, oh my, oh my! Well, well, well!"

Kawasaki put both hands to her mouth, giggling while swaying her body. Her gestures were filled with a childishness you couldn't imagine from her graceful appearance. From a man's perspective, it would be an irresistible gap. Note the contents, though.

"What were your selection criteria!?"

"I chose robots from my memories and ones I didn't know the source material for but whose designs struck me as perfect."

"Works from your memories... that's wonderful. Things that remain deeply rooted in your heart even as an adult are special!"

It seems my reading was right. She's probably happier than if I'd chosen things she might like.

"And deliberately choosing unseen works is also good! Being drawn to something with a naked heart, free of any preconceptions, is also special!!"

"Thanks. If you'd like, I'd be happy if you could watch the source material for the ones I don't know and explain them to me. How about it?"

"Of course! I'd be delighted to accept! I won't let you sleep tonight!!"

I had a vague feeling this might be the case, but it was indeed a sleepover. Rather than asking "Would you like to stay the night?" Kawasaki was being truly Kawasaki. She probably never considered that I might refuse. At this point, rather than being exasperated, I felt admiration and... a strange affection growing. Not romantic affection, mind you.

(If I had to compare it, it's like... the same feeling you get when a stupid Shiba Inu makes you smile.)

Though this Shiba Inu had the danger level of a kaiju.