kscans

Chapter 127 - Sympathy

I spent my time repairing `Mokuren`, slaughtering `Treants` in their dungeon, and gathering materials from the artificial spirit dungeon, but time, as it does, marched relentlessly on.

The promised day always arrives.

"…Haaah."

"What’s with the dreary face?"

I let out an involuntary sigh in the Arisugawa residence’s living room.

In response, Aira-san, who was sitting next to me, flashed a cynical smile and shook her head.

"You should be grateful for the chance to meet a beauty such as myself so early in the morning. What cause have you to be so morose? If you wish, you may shout ‘All hail Aira-sama!’ or ‘Aira-chan is super pretty!’ right this instant."

To be fair, Aira-san had the looks to back up her words.

She wasn’t wearing her usual tracksuit, but a white short-sleeved dress shirt with a short blue tie, and a pair of denim pants. Combined with her great figure, she looked just like a model.

Seeing her strike a pose with a hand on her hip was certainly a sight to behold, but instead of gratitude, I shot her a look of resentment.

"You know exactly why, and you still say that?"

"Because it has nothing to do with me!"

"It has everything to do with you, you’re her family."

Aira-san and Erina-san are cousins. That means the parents I’m about to meet are her aunt and uncle.

She should be far more comfortable with them than I am.

"Hmph… there is something you should consider before you even get to the possibility of them disliking me, my dear Kyou-chan-kun."

"I’ll humor you. What is it?"

Aira-san’s needlessly handsome face twisted into a smug grin as she shot me a sidelong glance.

"First of all, there’s no way I’d be good with relatives, now is there?"

"That’s true."

"I either stay in the corner of the room or retreat to my own chambers after offering the bare minimum of greetings. That is who I am."

"I can picture that perfectly."

I was actually impressed she’d even manage the bare minimum of greetings. Professor Arisugawa probably forced her to.

That aside, it’s not something to be proud of.

But since my own mental state wasn’t much better, I decided to let it go for now.

"I’m just nervous… Meeting a friend’s family is always kind of awkward."

"Hah? I’ve never had any friends, so I wouldn’t know what that feels like."

"Uh, sorry to hear that."

Don’t just lose the light in your eyes like that. Just what kind of lonely life has this woman lived?

"I had my grandmother, I had Mia, and I had Erina-kun. And now I have you. I am not a loner. Absolutely! Not a loner!"

"Everyone but me is a blood relative…"

"Silence, you. I won’t let you see Mia’s bunny-suit jump rope routine, you know?"

"Huh? W-wait. Are you serious about that!?"

"Of course. My grandmother would probably strike me with lightning if she found out, so I’m choosing my moment, but I make it a policy to keep my promises. I shall show you my dear sister’s lewd jump roping. You may weep with joy."

"I-It’s not like I’m interested or anything. That sort of thing does nothing for me."

"You’re not very convincing, Kyou-chan-kun. …Here."

"Hey—!"

Aira-san ostentatiously lifted her own chest with both hands.

Her massive breasts, soft and overflowing from her palms, changed shape. I couldn’t help but stare at their clearly defined form, and she gave me a wicked smile.

"Closet pervert."

"Wh-what are you, an idiot!?"

My ears burned. As I hastily looked away, Aira-san shook her head with a sigh of exasperation.

For good measure, she let go of her chest and shrugged, palms turned upwards.

"Too bad for you, Kyou-chan-kun. For I am a ge-ni-us. Even if your reason evaporated at the sight of my beauty and you lunged at me screaming ‘Hail the Boobs!’, I was confident that Erina-kun and my grandmother would rush to my aid."

"I have a lot to say about that, but what kind of pervert am I in your head?"

"A boob fiend."

"Kuh…!"

Now that she’d pegged my denomination, I couldn’t strongly deny it. What a dirty trick. I’m starting a riot.

God exists. Why are there two breasts? Because one is filled with dreams, and the other with hope.

These dreams and hopes are none other than proof of God's existence.

Only a god could create something so erotic in this world! God is boobs!!

…Whoa. I think I’m losing it a little.

"Even I can tell that you are thinking something that would make a devout clergyman take a running leap to punch you."

"What? If anything, I was on the verge of grasping the truth of the universe."

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

With that, the door connecting to the next room opened.

Erina-san appeared, and I couldn’t help but stare at what she was wearing.

She was actually wearing something other than Japanese-style clothing.

A wide-brimmed white hat was wrapped with a dark green ribbon. Her black dress was trimmed with a white collar and frills, giving her an air of both innocence and loveliness.

A thin belt was cinched at her waist, and the color of the dress gave her a somewhat sharp look. With her long, slender limbs and high waist, it suited her perfectly.

But her chest…! The presence of her chest, packed so densely beneath the black fabric…!

Her hair, usually tied in twin tails, was down, flowing smoothly as she smiled like a prankster.

"Ta-da! Grandma picked it out for me! It’s an outfit that goes with the hat Mama gave me for my birthday last year!"

"Ah, so that’s why it has a slightly dated feel."

"Says the one who wears nothing but tracksuits, Aira."

Professor Arisugawa, who had followed Erina-san in, shot Aira-san a light glare.

Then, her gaze turned to me.

"Thank you for coming all this way with her. Things have been rather dangerous lately, but I can rest easy with you here, Kyouta-kun."

"N-no, not at all…"

"I’m just dropping you off at the station, so I’ll leave the rest of the escorting to you, Kyou-chan-kun."

"I’ll… do my best."

I have no idea what to do as an escort, so I plan on becoming part of the scenery, but still.

As I averted my gaze from the Professor and Aira-san, Erina-san walked up beside me, took off her hat, and looked up at me.

She flashed a bright, sunny smile.

"Thanks for today! Kyou-chan!"

"…Yeah."

I managed to reply with just that and a small nod.

This part of her… It’s just not fair.

＊　　　　　＊　　　　　＊

Aira-san dropped us off at the parking lot in front of the station and we got out of the car.

The passenger side window rolled down, and she gave us a salute from the driver’s seat.

"Farewell, my friends! I wish you luck!"

"Yessir! Roger that, Senpai! You take care too!"

"Indeed. Once this operation is over, I shall have tea with my sister at a fannncy café…"

"I don’t even know where to start with that, so I’ll just say one thing. That’s a death flag."

"Senpai! You can totally take them down, you know!"

"Take what down?"

"If I had to say… I suppose it would be ‘†Destiny†’?"

"Don’t say ‘I suppose’ and don’t wink at me."

She’s so ridiculously good-looking that a dramatic wink actually suits her. It’s such a waste.

This is important, so I’ll say it again. She’s ridiculously good-looking.

"What is it, Kyou-chan-kun? You have such a look on your face. You’re lusting after me, aren’t you!? You closet pervert!"

"You know what, I’ll just say it. Aira-san, you’re ridiculously good-looking, but your brain is a complete letdown."

"What’d you say? How dare you speak to the beautiful genius university student, Aira-chan, in such a manner."

"Kyou-chan."

Erina-san gently tapped my shoulder.

"You can’t keep the car parked in front of the station for too long. I think it’s bad to hold Senpai up."

"Wait, this is my fault?"

"That’s right, Kyou-chan-kun! No matter how sad you are to be apart from me!!"

"I oughta make sure that death flag comes true for you later."

"Farewell, you two! See you in Valhalla!"

"Senpai! May fortune favor you…!"

"What is this?"

Aira-san’s car drove away at the end of our third-rate drama.

That aside, for a holiday, the area in front of the station was awfully empty. With a Cuelebre rampaging in the next town and a demon attacking the school, the population around here had certainly thinned.

…Thinking about it calmly, there are way too many outbreaks in this area. Is it cursed or something?

"Alright, let’s go, Kyou-chan! A new adventure awaits us!"

"What’s waiting for you is something you already know."

I shot back at the self-proclaimed ninja spouting nonsense, breaking into a cold sweat as I felt the stares from our surroundings.

The number of people had decreased, but they hadn’t disappeared. It was still the front of a station, so there were a few people around, and her beauty stood out even among them.

If she just kept her mouth shut, she’d look like a sheltered young lady, her golden hair shimmering in the clear sky. Many would surely be captivated by the cheerful smile gracing her lips beneath her white hat.

And her figure is just amazing. No, seriously, it’s amazing.

Sacrificing my vocabulary to rein in my rationality, I managed to tear my eyes away from her beauty and her chest.

"Let’s just get inside the station for now."

"Okey-dokey."

And so, we headed for the station platform. On the escalator, I made sure to stand behind her.

Hmph. I looked up how to be an escort online. The only knowledge I retained was ‘walk on the street side,’ ‘carry her bags,’ and ‘move first to open and close doors.’

…Can I really do this!?

"Oh, looks like Mom and Dad are already here!"

"Huh? Did we take a train one earlier than planned…?"

"Looks like it! Heeeey!"

Stepping off the up-escalator, Erina-san started running, waving her arms wildly.

Ahead of her stood a graceful, black-haired beauty and an older gentleman with beautiful blond hair.

The woman’s features resembled Erina-san’s, and the man’s eyes were the same emerald color as hers. There was no doubt they were her parents.

Realizing this, I jogged after Erina-san, and then—

"Erina! It’s been ten thousand and two thousand years!"

"What year were you born!?"

"The Big Bang, Mom!!"

"The birth of the universe has nothing to do with this, does it!?"

They embraced tightly, a mother and daughter spouting nonsense. Yep, they’re definitely related!?

At that moment, my eyes met with the blond man—the one who had just retorted to the black-haired woman’s comment. His blond hair was neatly styled, with a matching golden kaiser mustache.

He had a sturdy build and looked good in a suit—clearly someone from a different world than me. And yet, I felt a strange sense of sympathy for him.

"This… looks like a lot to handle."

"You as well…"

Before I knew it, we were both wearing strained smiles. Why? I felt like he was a kindred spirit.

"Kyou-chan, let me introduce you! This is my mom and dad!"

"I’m the mom, Rinzaki Rina! Pleased to meet you!"

"I’m her father, Eric Rinzaki."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Yagawa Kyouta. I’m an adventurer with Rinzaki-san."

I hurriedly straightened my back and introduced myself with my best business smile.

Things had gotten bizarre right from the start, but I had to be polite.

"So, you’re Kyouta-kun. I’ve heard a lot about you."

"I see, I see. So this is Erina’s ‘boyfriend.’"

"Eh?"

I cocked my head at the word from Erina-san’s mother… Rina-san.

"Oh! That can be misunderstood in Japan, can’t it! Boy, and friend! You’re just friends, right!"

"Ah, yes. That’s right."

"Right, right! Kyouta-kun, ‘Erina’s boyfriend’!"

"YES! Kyou-chan is my comrade on the path of the ninja!"

"No, I’m not."

"Let’s build a ninja village together!"

"We are not doing that."

"Kyouta-kun."

Her father, Eric-san, patted my shoulder with a gentle smile.

"I’m counting on you today. As the straight man."

"Could I possibly decline!?"

"I’m getting on in years, you see…"

"Don’t abandon me!?"

Don’t look away with that mournful expression, Dad! You’re the husband and father to that one and this one! Take responsibility!!

As if a part of my wish was granted, Rina-san smoothly linked her arm with Eric-san’s.

"Oh, my. I’m devoted to you and you alone. Yes, even as a comedy duo…!"

"You don’t read the kanji for ‘married couple’ as ‘manzai combo,’ Rina."

"A husband-and-wife comedy act, I see!"

"That’s not what I meant."

"Let’s aim for the top!"

"I think my current job is a bit more important."

"What! What’s more important to you, me or your job!?"

"That’s right, Dad! Give her a straight answer!"

"Help me, Kyouta-kun!"

"I can’t!!"

Rina-san held onto Eric-san’s arm, making it clear he wasn’t going anywhere, while Erina-san had somehow ended up behind me, blocking my escape route with her hand.

What is with these people…!

"Honestly. You two are getting too carried away. I wish you wouldn’t be so loud at the station."

"That’s what I was thinking!!"

What is WITH these people…!!

As I was being led away by these strange beauties, Eric-san and I had a conversation with our eyes alone.

‘You’re the hosts today, so I can leave the retorts to you, right…?’

‘No way. Take responsibility, Dad…!’

For now, the one thing I understood was that all my knowledge about being an escort was completely useless.