kscans

Chapter 101 - Miyoshi Mia Wants to Be Special

Anyone could see that Mia-san was drunk.

Awakened Persons don't get drunk on ordinary alcohol. Whether it's because their livers are enhanced or for some other reason, the principle is still unknown, but that much is a fact. I've often seen heavy-drinking Awakened Persons complaining about it online and on TV.

Even in the unlikely event that this non-alcoholic label was a mistake and the contents were real alcohol, she shouldn't be getting this drunk.

Supposedly, you can get drunk on "magic liquor made with a skill," but... I don't sense any such mana from this liquid.

In that case, it must be a placebo... a trait she shares with her sister that the world's heavy-drinking Awakened would cry with envy for.

No, maybe it's not a physical trait but a psychological one?

"Hic...! My sister is amazing. She never even did her own homework, let alone skipped cram school, but she always got perfect scores on tests. Not only that, she even made a PowerPoint presentation to quit cram school... When I asked her why her test scores were so good, I couldn't really understand her explanation... She's a real genius."

She started talking about something that was hard to tell if it was a boast or a complaint.

For now, I took a tissue from the box on the table and wiped Mia-san’s nose.

Yes, go ahead and blow. Blow.

...I'm touching a member of the opposite sex, but I feel absolutely no joy.

"I see," I said.

"Erina-san is special, too. Her athletic ability is incredible...! If she hadn't become an Awakened Person, she surely would have won countless awards in kendo and karate tournaments... She could have even gone to the Olympics in the future."

"Yes. I think so too."

I was just agreeing to avoid trouble, but it wasn't a lie.

They're both carefree, yet overflowing with talent. Even I, who has only known them for a short time, can see that they are geniuses in some form.

If I hadn't been blessed with talent as an Awakened Person, I probably would have never crossed paths with Aira-san and the others.

"Even Grandma is so proactive... She gives her all in everything she does, and gets results... And you, Yagawa-kun, I don't know what it is, but you're strong...!"

"Um, thank you, I guess...?"

"But your head and your mentality are mediocre... and yet you seem to have had special experiences that make you strangely decisive... a weirdo... a rare beast...!"

Who are you calling a rare beast?

"Why am I not like that?!"

Just as I thought she was going to scream, Mia-san chugged her non-alcoholic beer.

Then she silently held her glass out to me, so I poured her a refill.

"I wanted to be special too...! I wanted to be a genius that ‘Mother’ would acknowledge...!"

Hey, did she just press the detonator on a landmine?

A cold sweat ran down my back at the word "Mother" that came from Mia-san’s mouth.

"The last time I spoke to that woman was when my parents got divorced...!"

Oh no, she’s going to hand-deliver the landmine to me!

I don’t want her to say any more, but I can't bring myself to forcibly shut her up. The most I can do is wipe away her tears and snot with another tissue.

"At that time, I asked her why she was only taking my sister. Why she wouldn’t take me too. I... sob...! I wanted to be with my mother too...! It's so stupid, right? My father did nothing wrong, but still, I couldn't believe my mother had an affair..."

"...Considering your age, I think it was unavoidable."

"And then! My mother said this to us...!"

She tilted her glass, as if to wet her lips.

"Aira is smart like me, but Mia, you're like your father and will only ever be so-so."

"...is what she said."

Ugh...

I instinctively pursed my lips, but luckily Mia-san wasn't looking at me. Good. If she saw me making a face about her mother, she might misunderstand right now.

If I remember correctly, her parents divorced when Aira-san was still in middle school, right? Possibly even late elementary school.

In that case, Mia-san, who is three years younger, was definitely in elementary school... It's not something a parent should say to their child at any age, but even so...

No wonder Professor Arisugawa took Aira-san in and seriously considered cutting ties. In fact, she was being quite lenient by betting on the possibility of her daughter's rehabilitation at the time of the divorce.

"What's ‘so-so’ supposed to mean?! Does she mean I'm a jack-of-all-trades, master of none?!"

Mia-san roared, while I was at a loss for words. If this were an apartment, the walls or the front door would have been punched by now.

But this is Mia-san’s house, she lives alone, and there probably aren't any neighbors.

It's in a relatively rural area with a lot of rice paddies and vacant lots, but more importantly, there's a dungeon a short drive away. The government acts as an intermediary, renting out land like this to adventurers at a low price.

The neighboring houses seem to be vacant and undergoing demolition by the police and local government, so there won't be any complaints from the neighbors even if we make a racket during the day.

"It's true that whatever I do, I'm only ever a talented amateur or a mediocre student...! I can't reach the level of a true genius...! But! But, I want to be ‘special’ like my sister and the others! If I were... then maybe... I could get back at... my mother...!"

Mia-san slammed her glass on the table.

Then, she suddenly burst into tears.

"...I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"You must be disgusted, right... What am I doing? I invited a guest who's younger than me to my house, and I'm the only one drinking and getting drunk... and on top of that, complaining like this... I'm such an idiot."

Wow, her emotional state is a mess.

Also, what you're drinking isn't alcohol. If you believe the label, it's non-alcoholic.

"My mother... wanted someone to rely on, and she wanted to be relied on... But she was also a very proud person. She was weak, in many ways."

Mia-san began to speak in a completely different tone from before.

"I tried hard to become someone my mother could rely on. But the result was being treated as ‘so-so’... Haha! In the first place, why am I still so obsessed with a mother like that? I really hate this annoying part of myself. Trapped in the past, studying all the time, being superficially nice to everyone around me. In reality, I've never had a best friend or a boyfriend, that's my life. Hahaha... hahahaha! ...Maybe I should just die."

Hey, this is really non-alcoholic, right?

I checked the lightened beer bottle again. I was starting to seriously suspect a labeling error.

Maybe it's some kind of magic liquor that even Spirit Eye can't detect.

"I think my looks are the only good thing about me. But that's really all there is. My inside doesn't match... I'm just a superficial being. My essence is showing in my appearance, isn't it..."

"...Well, what can I say."

To be honest, I think she should just forget about her ‘former mother’.

But it's because it's not that easy that it's so painful. Everyone has a past they don't want to remember, ten or twenty things they can't forget.

My own range from the pile of dead bodies I saw during the stampede to embarrassing mistakes I made in class, but the scale of the event doesn't matter to others. An unforgivable event for oneself will never leave the heart, no matter how much time passes.

That's not something a kid who's only lived for fifteen years should be talking about. I've had a few more unusual experiences than most, but that doesn't mean I'm experienced in life.

So, the only thing I could probably say to this person was.

"You are plenty special."

That was all I could come up with.

"I've made you feel like you have to be nice... It's okay. A true special person like you doesn't need to worry about the whining of a loser like me..."

"It would be a lie to say I'm not being considerate. But it's also what I truly believe."

Normally, I wouldn't be able to speak so clearly. At least not to Mia-san (someone I'm not close to).

But maybe I'm also drunk on the atmosphere. My tongue is moving surprisingly well.

"You've been working hard all this time, haven't you, Mia-san? The reason people say ‘perseverance is power’ is because the act of persevering itself is amazing. You've built up all that effort and made it a part of you. There's no way you're not special."

"What do you know about me...? You're younger than me...!"

She glared at me and thrust her glass forward, so I poured her another non-alcoholic beer.

Then I placed the empty bottle on the table.

"I don't know much about your inner self, Mia-san. But just looking at this house tells me that you're a responsible person in your private life as well. ...Except for right now, while you're drunk."

The floorboards were polished to a shine, and the trash can contained only a little trash. There were various notes and flyers on the fridge, but it didn't feel disorganized. They were arranged with a meticulous neatness.

The dishes were put away neatly, and the table and chairs had no noticeable stains or scratches. The house was clean from the entrance to the living room, and there weren't even any noticeable weeds in the garden.

I don't know how hard it is for a student to live alone. But she's juggling being a university student and an adventurer.

There's a world of difference between her and me, who leaves all the housework to my mother.

"I won't say that everyone is special, just for today. I will proudly say that you, who have worked so hard, are special."

"...There's no point in working hard if you're not rewarded."

"That's true. I don't think you'll feel it's meaningful unless you're rewarded in a way that you find satisfying. But still."

I knelt on one knee on the floor, trying to meet her gaze. But Mia-san buried her face in the table, hiding her eyes.

It didn't matter. I could tell from her twitching long ears that she wasn't asleep.

"I will affirm your efforts as many times as it takes. You are a person who has worked hard. No matter what anyone says, you are a special person."

"........."

"I respect you. You have a slightly reckless side, but you're still someone who can look forward. And the fact that you have such an obsessive emotion towards your mother..."

For a moment, I hesitated to put it into words.

If I say what I'm thinking now, I might just strengthen the curse of her dead mother.

But I reconsidered.

This person, even if her steps are small, even if she stops from time to time.

She is a person who can walk on her own two feet.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to come this far. She's such an amazing person that even I, who barely knows her, can see that.

"It's because you are a kind person. Because you are a person with deep love."

"...Are you saying I'm a clingy woman?"

"I wonder. I've never had a girlfriend, so I wouldn't know."

I could only laugh it off. My own romantic experience consists of unrequited crushes in elementary and middle school that I never even confessed, and things I learned from games and manga.

I have nothing I can tell anyone about. The thought of it was so embarrassing that my cheeks naturally grew hot.

"But, you know. To be able to love someone as much as you do, Mia-san, is an amazing thing no matter what. That's another piece of evidence that I can use to say you're special."

As I said that, the heat in my cheeks intensified.

Now that I'm calming down, it sounds like I'm trying to hit on her.

This is it. The things I've picked up from games and manga are coming out more smoothly than I expected. I don't know how to deal with a woman who has become a weepy drunk, so I think I was subconsciously spouting those lines.

This is so embarrassing. I wish I could dig a hole and crawl into it.

"...It's Mia."

"Pardon?"

"You keep calling me Miyoshi, Miyoshi, even though you know I have a delicate relationship with my current parents?"

"Oh, no... I'm sorry. I'm not used to calling people of the opposite sex by their first names..."

"You call my sister and the others by their first names, don't you? Is it because they're special?"

"I don't intend to judge a person's worth by how I address them, but... I understand. I will call you by your first name as well."

"Please do."

With that, Miyos—Mia-san sat up straight in her chair.

She straightened her back with a graceful gesture and placed her hands on her closed knees. Her cheeks were still red, and her eyes were moist. Combined with her good looks and beautiful figure, just looking at her directly was embarrassing.

She was like a completely different person from the disappointing beauty who had just been leaking everything from her face.

Come to think of it, this is a pretty amazing situation. The more I calm down, the more my thoughts seem to get jumbled.

"M-Mi—"

"........."

"Mi—!"

"Are you a cicada?"

"N-No, it's just... ahem!"

I cleared my throat, straightened my posture, and looked up at her face.

"Mia-san. ...Is this okay?"

"...I'll allow it. Then, I will also call you Kyouta-kun from now on. I will also reduce the number of times I call you a rare beast in my head."

So that’s what you were calling me in your head?

While I was reeling from the minor shock, she picked up the other beer bottle that was on the table.

"Well then, Kyouta-kun. I shall pour for you."

"Huh?"

"Come to think of it, you were the guest. Drink up."

"Ehh..."

Her eyes are still glassy.

She opened the second bottle of beer... probably non-alcoholic... and pushed a glass towards me.

She poured the alcohol... or is it alcohol? The liquid that might be alcohol or non-alcoholic... to the brim, and I panicked as it was about to overflow.

"Come on, bottoms up."

"...Thank you for the drink."

I was reluctant, but if I refused, she would probably start sulking in an annoying way again. I had no choice but to put the glass to my lips.

I'm not a big fan of carbonated drinks in the first place—

"So bitter?!"

I managed to suppress the urge to spit it out and looked down at the glass. I stared wide-eyed at the yellow liquid, of which more than two-thirds remained.

What, is beer this bitter? Or is it because it's non-alcoholic?

I've seen my dad drinking beer with enjoyment, and on TV and in dramas, all adults say they like beer.

But it's bitter. Very bitter. It feels weird in my mouth.

Could it be that all adults have something wrong with their taste buds?

"Hmph. It seems you're still a child, Kyouta-kun."

Mia-san had a smug look on her face as she snatched my glass.

That laugh is just like Aira-san's... I thought, and then.

"Mmm..."

"Ngh?!"

She drank it. Mia-san, from my glass.

Th-This is, an indirect k-kiss...!

"...Actually, I don't like the taste of this either. I prefer juice."

"R-Right."

"But I drink it. It makes me feel all light and floaty."

"Are you sure that's non-alcoholic? Shouldn't we take it to a research institution or something?"

I ended up keeping her company for another hour.

She complained about how hard her university classes were, the lecherous looks from her lecturers and other students, how tiring being an adventurer was, how she often got glared at by other women, how annoying the party invitations were, and how she wanted to take a bath with Aira-san.

I managed to get through the flood of complaints, which she must have been bottling up for a long time, using the rumored "SASISUSESO" technique.

The drinking session, or whatever it was, finally ended when the beer bottle, which I wanted to believe was non-alcoholic, was empty.

The sun was still high, but I felt like I could lie down in bed right then and there.

"Well, I'll be going now. Please make sure to lock the door, okay? The chain too."

"Yes..."

"Activate your golem and place it by the entrance or nearby. As a precaution."

"Yes..."

"...Actually, I'll just pour some mana into it, so please replenish it later."

"Yes..."

Mia-san was still in a daze, which made me a little uneasy. Is this person going to be okay?

I activated the stone and wood golems that were on standby in the storage room, ordered them to protect her, and then put on my shoes at the entrance.

"Well then, I'm off."

"...Kyouta-kun."

"Yes."

She rubbed her eyes vigorously.

Then, with her face still slightly red, she looked up at me.

"Will you... drink with me again?"

"...Sure. I don't mind."

I shrugged and nodded.

After seeing this much of her pathetic side, even I, with my slightly lower-than-average social skills, could probably interact with her normally.

Mia-san was no longer an unknown entity, but a species of the "Disappointing Beauty family" that I had recently become all too familiar with.

Honestly, drinking with this person is a hassle, but.

A stunningly beautiful person like her would give me a smile like a flower in full bloom. I'll accept it as a perk of the job.

"Yes! Well then, see you again!"

"Yeah. See you."

And so I left her house, and after hearing the sound of the door locking, I took out my smartphone and called Aira-san. She must have been waiting for my call, because she answered on the first ring.

"Hello, Aira-san. It's Kyouta. Sorry to bother you, but could you please call a taxi?"

"Certainly, I understand. ...You were there for quite a while, is everything alright? I did hear in an email that you were having a light meal before heading back, but..."

"No problem. Mia-san and I just got a little carried away with our conversation."

I replied as I readjusted the bag containing the dismantled Byakuren and the case with its weapons on my back.

It was heavy, but not so much that I couldn't walk.

"...Hmm. You're a poor liar, Kyouta-kun. But if you say there's no problem, I'll believe you. I'll send a taxi, so tell me your current location. I'll let Erina-kun know as well."

"Thank you. ...Also, there's something I'd like you to investigate."

"...Are you serious? I can guess what you want to say, but that's beyond the scope of a civilian. It's a case that should be left to the police."

"Yes, this might be a case. But still, I want to be ‘convinced’."

"...Very well. I shall acknowledge your resolve! Then, let's pursue the truth of this attempted murder using monsters. Fufufu, from now on you may call me an armchair detective."

"No, not that."

"What's that?"

Why on earth would I have to stick my neck into an attempted murder case?

Before the Day of Awakening, I might have mistaken myself for the protagonist of a detective novel and done something stupid. But I've had enough of seeing people's blood.

That kind of thing should be left to the police. What I'm curious about is,

"Does your family have... a breathalyzer, Aira-san?"

In my left hand, I held the empty beer bottle. It said non-alcoholic, but there were still a few drops of liquid left inside.

—Incidentally, after a thorough investigation, it turned out to be just a regular non-alcoholic beer.

...These disappointing beauty sisters really are alike.