kscans

Chapter 103 - A New Comrade (Already Known)

"I am so, so... unbelievably sorry about the other day...!"

"No, no, please don't worry about it..."

The next day, I found myself back at Miyoshi-sa—Mia-san's house.

According to her, her mind had cleared up about thirty minutes after I left. However, she couldn't quite bring herself to call, so the message didn't come until this morning.

She had offered to come to my place, but since I didn't have time to disguise the room... I mean, prepare to welcome her, we decided to talk again at her house.

This time, however, I didn't come by car.

"Honestly, you can't be helped, nyaa."

"Good grief. What a handful."

Erina-san had teleported me over.

Seated next to me, Aira-san offered Mia-san a picture-perfect customer-service smile.

"So. I understand why Erina-san is here, since she used her teleport skill, but why are you here too, sis?"

"Hmph. Kyo-chan-kun told me you have a bad habit with alcohol. As your older sister, I've come to teach you the proper way to drink!"

"Guh...!"

"I really don't think you're in any position to be teaching people how to drink."

Besides, it wasn't even alcohol. It was non-alcoholic. At least, I wanted to believe it was.

"Ehh? Didn't you say 'I'm so worried about Mia, I can't stand it,' when we were leaving, Paisen?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Erina-kun."

"What is it, Paisen?"

"Let's keep that a little secret, shall we?"

"Okay!"

"Good girl."

It's already way too late for that.

"S-sis...!"

"Alright, alright, that's enough! End of discussion. More importantly! Mia, I want to hear the details of the request you made to Kyo-chan-kun."

Aira-san clapped her hands, forcefully changing the subject.

"We put it off yesterday because it was an emergency, but we have a right to know about Kyo-chan-kun's side job. Especially you, Erina-kun, since you're in a party with him."

"Hmm. I don't really mind either way. Kyo-chan is Kyo-chan."

"Erina-kun."

"Yes!"

"I'll buy you ice cream later, so be quiet for a little bit, okay?"

"Okay!"

Ignoring the now-bribed Erina-san, Aira-san fixed Mia-san with a serious gaze.

"If you're in some kind of trouble, you can talk to us. Grandma was very worried, you know. Or... is it something you can't tell us?"

"Well..."

Mia-san hesitated for a moment, then glanced my way.

Honestly, I didn't think it was something to hide. I could understand wanting to keep up appearances for family, but she was just involved in an attempted murder yesterday. It was no wonder Aira-san was worried. It would be better to explain the situation properly.

Seeing my nod, Mia-san nodded back.

"...The truth is—"

And so, after hearing the whole story from Mia-san, Aira-san gave a single, deep nod.

"Monster training is a tough one to prosecute, isn't it?"

"I'm going to knock your front teeth out, you disappointing college girl."

I materialized my gauntlet and raised my fist.

For that to be your go-to solution for dealing with an annoying recruiter... you've got some serious issues.

"HAHAHA! A joke! Just a joke, Kyo-chan-kun!"

"Now is not the time for jokes, and your eyes were dead serious."

"Hmm? Is there something wrong with my beautiful eyes? Here, here, take a good, long look and judge for yourself."

"Kh...!"

Aira-san leaned over the table, planting her hands down and bringing her face close to mine. I instinctively leaned back.

Unlike usual, she wasn't wearing a tracksuit, but a black sleeveless knit top and a blue long skirt. As a result, her smooth, white shoulders were bare, and leaning forward caused gravity to reshape her ample bosom.

This college girl... is far too lewd...!

"Alright, I win...!"

"Sis..."

Mia-san gave a wry smile at the pathetic creature beside me.

I'm glad she seems to have grasped the true nature of this disappointing co-ed. That person may be brilliant, but she's got more than a few screws loose.

"But seriously, though. I don't think they'll back off with your plan, Mia."

"Ugh..."

"You had a feeling, didn't you? Do you really think the kind of people who would follow you all the way to the university would just give up if you said, 'Sorry, I'm already in a party'? They'd just try to recruit both of you, even if you showed them the difference in your strength."

"Then what do you think I should do, sis...!"

"Monster trai—"

"Three, two..."

"OKAY. I'll think seriously, so stop the countdown, Kyo-chan-kun."

At her words, I dematerialized the gauntlet.

It's not like I was actually going to hit her. I'd just grab her by the head, restrain her, and then call Professor Arisugawa.

"Mia, do you have a business card or something from them? A memo with their contact info would work too."

"I have one they forced on me before..."

Mia-san left the living room to go retrieve it.

"...Erina-san. Don't you think you can talk now?"

"Huh? I can?"

Erina-san, who had at some point started meditating cross-legged on her chair, untangled her legs and sat normally.

As I was thinking how she was as laid-back as ever, Mia-san returned with a business card in her hand.

"This is it."

"Hmm, hmm..."

Aira-san took a pair of disposable plastic gloves from her handbag, put them on, and then accepted the card.

I thought it was a bit much, but she looked so serious that I kept my mouth shut.

"...The Arisida clan, huh. If I remember correctly, this is one of Turohorse's subordinates."

"What?"

Mia-san's eyes widened in surprise.

"They never said anything like that, and it didn't come up when I looked up their name..."

"That's information you'll only find in underground circles, not on the polite websites you usually visit. It's no surprise you didn't know. All of their subordinate clans use Greek names, so be careful."

A clan with a Greek name...

I feel like there are quite a few clans like that, even unrelated to Turohorse. German names are popular, too.

"Just as Kyo-chan-kun is thinking, there are plenty of clans that just use Greek names because they're stuck in a chuunibyou phase."

"Please stop reading my mind so casually."

"But this Arisida is pretty famous. In a bad way."

"Are they involved in criminal activities or something?"

"Nothing so straightforward. But their members are often complaining on social media. Things like 'the quotas are tough' or 'recruiting is a pain.'"

Aira-san shrugged lightly.

"Most likely, they approached you, Mia, because they were ordered from above to 'recruit a strong Awakened Person' or they wanted you as 'manpower for gathering materials to offer up the chain.' If it was the former, Kyo-chan-kun would have been pestered with persistent recruiting attempts as well."

"I see..."

Mia-san looked at me apologetically.

"In Kyo-chan-kun's case, if they'd used a honey trap and pressed their breasts against him, he probably would have followed them anywhere!"

"?!"

"Kyouta-kun..."

My eyes shot open, and Mia-san gave me a look of exasperation.

No, that's not it. It's just that the male species, even knowing it's a trap, can't help but feel the gravitational pull of the phrase 'honey trap.'

All the great men of history would surely agree.

"Well, I mean, even then, I'd obviously run if they tried to drag me off somewhere..."

"Right. Kyo-chan-kun doesn't have the guts to fall for a honey trap on purpose anyway."

"Seriously, do you want me to put you in your place?"

"Hey, hey! Nobody actually says stuff like that anymore."

"To be specific, I'll tell on you to Professor Arisugawa."

"Gah?!"

The disappointing beauty's mocking smile vanished, replaced by a teary-eyed cry.

...Maybe I should use the professor's name whenever I'm in a pinch from now on. No, that might be going too far.

"A-anyway. We want to do something about this persistent recruiting... As for me, I'd just frame the recruiters for some crime and have the police arrest them, but..."

"I can't condone framing someone, not even them."

"I thought my dear little sister would say that. So, what should we do...?"

"Yes!"

"Yes, Erina-kun."

Aira-san pointed at Erina-san, who had shot her hand into the air.

"I think Senpai should just join our party!"

"Eh?"

"Adopted."

"Eh?"

Ignoring the confused Mia-san, the two disappointing beauties continued to advance the conversation.

"W-wait a minute!"

"What's wrong with it, Mia? Grandma was worried when she found out you were living alone, you know. Don't you think she'd be more at ease if you were at least with us during your adventurer activities?"

"Ugh."

"That's right, Senpai! And two is better than one! Three is better than two! Three arrows are easily cut by a chainsaw!"

"What are you even talking about?"

"In terms of earnings, you'll do much better with us, too. Grandma can introduce us to a connoisseur who'll buy drop items at a high price through her old connections, and we get funding from the research lab."

"No, it's not about the money..."

"Knowing you, I'm sure you want to pay back your parents for your living expenses and tuition as soon as possible, right? In that case, I don't think you should be saying 'it's not about the money'!"

"W-well, that's true...!"

"And most importantly, safety! Erina-kun for scouting and teleportation! Mia with wide-range magic attacks and a golem tank! And the crudely powerful Kyo-chan-kun! Don't you think you, and they, could explore more safely?"

"U-uhh...!"

Who are you calling crudely powerful?

"You should become a ninja with us, Senpai! As a user of Ice and Earth Style, you'll take the ninja world by storm!"

"What on earth are you talking about?!"

On the verge of being swept away by the overwhelming tide, Mia-san slammed her hands on the table.

"B-besides, is this even the right way to turn them down?! Sis, you just said that if I paired up with Kyouta-kun, they'd just try to recruit us both!"

"Did you hear that, Erina-kun? My dear little sister keeps saying 'Kyouta-kun.'"

"I wonder what happened between them yesterday, Paisen. A passionate discussion about their favorite ninjutsu, maybe?"

"LIS-TEN TO MEEEEE!!"

I've heard that when three women gather, it gets noisy, but I feel like this is beyond that.

After being glared at by Mia-san, Aira-san finally began to speak in a calmer tone.

"They're trying to recruit you because you don't belong to any organization. However, if you team up with Erina-kun and the others, you'll become 'university-affiliated.' Turohorse is an Awakened-supremacist group, so they might look down on existing organizations."

"But you know, Senpai, even if Turohorse thinks that way internally, I bet they'll care about their public image!"

"Exactly. What's more, it's not Turohorse headquarters that's making moves right now, but their subordinate, Arisida. That makes it even harder for them to do anything reckless. If they still try something, the university will report it to the police."

"And I think the police will be more willing to act on a report from the university than from you as an individual, Senpai!"

Aira-san and Erina-san pointed their index fingers at Mia-san with triumphant expressions.

In response, she averted her gaze.

"B-but..."

"Come on! Why are you so against it, Miaaa!"

"Kyaa?!"

Aira-san clung tightly to Mia-san's arm.

Oh, her breasts are squishing and changing shape...!

"Are you perhaps not a fan of Erina-kun's ninja talk? Or do you dislike Kyo-chan-kun's lecherous gaze?! We'll make them improve eventually, so could you please put up with it for now?"

This one naturally excluded the possibility that she's the one who's annoying.

Also, if my gaze is called out, the only thing I can do is a full-on dogeza.

"P-please, sis, you're too close...!"

"I'm worried about you! We've been estranged for years, you know! Let's make up for lost time by talking, playing, and touching each other! I also want to take a bath together."

"W-what are you...!"

Mia-san's cheeks flushed bright red as she flustered.

Aira-san pressed even closer, and their magnificent bosoms made contact with a soft squish.

...! This is it, the mystery of the universe...!!

"Kyo-chan, your eyes are bloodshot. What's wrong?"

"I am sorry from the bottom of my heart."

I bowed my head deeply. Should I do it? Should I get down on my knees and beg for forgiveness?

But the beautiful sisters seemed to have no notice of me, continuing their conversation while pressing their chests together.

Well, can you even call this a conversation...?

"Please? We could even start living together at Grandma's house today."

"...Y-you're impossible! Sis!"

"You'll do it?! Oh, that's wonderful!"

"Only the party! The... the cohabitation is still on hold!"

"Fuhahaha! I'll conquer you one day, my dear little sister!"

"C-conquer...! I-I'm probably not... into that sort of thing!"

So this is what a honey trap is like. The fact that Mia-san said 'cohabitation' with the nuance of a couple living together says it all, doesn't it?

An attack using logic, emotion, and desire. I don't know if she's aware of it herself, but I'm pretty sure even I would have caved to that.

...The thought that maybe I'd like to experience a honey trap just a little bit is a secret I'll take to my grave.

"Ahem! Kyouta-kun."

"Ah, yes. My apologies."

"...? Why are you apologizing?"

"IT'SNOTHINGATALL."

"It's okay, Senpai! Kyo-chan always gets flustered when he sees a woman's chest or butt!"

"Gahk..."

The instant-death spell, delivered with a smile, momentarily stopped my breathing.

Damn you, self-proclaimed ninja...! Such a vile assassination technique...!

"I-I see."

With her cheeks faintly pink, Mia-san looked directly at me.

"I understand that my sister and Erina-san are in favor of me joining your group. But what about you, Kyouta-kun?"

"Of course he's in favor, right Kyo-chan-kun?! You're captivated by Mia's huge boobs and beauty too, aren't you?!"

"Please be quiet, sis."

"Yes."

"Kyo-chan will definitely agree! He loves beautiful women and big boobs!"

"You too, Erina-san, please be quiet."

"Yes."

Hey, are these two trying to socially assassinate me? I'm gonna cry.

Looking slightly embarrassed by the two disappointing beauties' comments, Mia-san's gaze wandered for a moment.

"So... what do you think?"

"...You're not a stranger, and above all, I can trust and rely on your strength. I have no reason to refuse. If you'd be willing to explore with us, I couldn't be more reassured."

I somehow managed to answer in business mode.

If I'd just nodded normally, it would have been like affirming the words of those two idiots.

"I see... You can rely on me."

As Mia-san smiled bashfully, Aira-san gave me a thumbs-up from the side.

And from next to me, Erina-san flashed a peace sign with a smug look on her face.

...Yeah.

You two don't actually think those comments were supporting fire, do you?

As I vowed to settle the score with them in a racing game later, I genuinely rejoiced that Mia-san had become our comrade.

With this, the matter should be settled.

"Alright! Now the Invisible Ninjas is a four-person group!"

"Excuse me. Can I take back what I just said?"

"Too late for that, Mia. This entire conversation has been recorded."

"Let us fall together... Mia-san..."

"I really don't want to be in a party with that name!"

"Perseverance and endurance...! Perseverance and endurance, Mia-san...!"

"It's the super cool name I came up with! How 'bout that!"

We now have one more person who thinks this party name is ridiculous.

That might be the thing I'm happiest about with her joining...!

The day the name Invisible Ninjas vanishes is near!