kscans

Chapter 245 - This Is Not a Confession

Three days had passed since we were informed of the date of the decisive battle.

Thanks to Aira-san, I was finally starting to feel the reality of it. In a little over a week, I would be challenging that dragon.

And so, with a completely extraordinary event like ‘dragon slaying’ on my schedule…

"And therefore, in this equation…"

That being said, it wasn’t as if my everyday life had suddenly vanished.

Staring down my textbook and the blackboard, I scribbled in my notebook with a mechanical pencil, feeling a little anxious about whether this was really what I should be doing.

When I thought about the future, a good education was important. I couldn’t imagine being an adventurer forever. I mean, a society that constantly needs adventurers would be in a genuine civilizational crisis. I may have yearned for another world, but I had no desire to live a medieval-level existence.

However, the operation we were about to participate in was crucial, one that would decide the fate of Japan, and possibly the world.

Shouldn’t I be allowed to slack off on my studies until we slay that dragon? Wouldn’t it be more meaningful to spend that time leveling up or practicing my swordsmanship?

My thoughts must have shown on my face, because the math teacher kept glancing my way.

This was no good. Because I’d become needlessly famous, I wasn't being called out, but that was all the more reason to keep myself in line.

There was a saying about reaping what you sow, and it was always better to live an honest life.

Even if the world didn't always work like the proverbs said, it was better for my mental health to believe it did.

With these muddled thoughts, I turned my attention back to the lesson.

…That being said, I really wanted to ask if I would ever actually use math once I get a job.

＊　　　　＊　　　　　＊

"I see. So that’s why you were making all those faces during class."

"Well, yeah…"

After school, I had come to Shizuku-san’s workshop.

As usual, Aika-san was there, but Erina-san was absent. Apparently, she had to talk to her parents via video call.

She was heading into the decisive battle, too. There must have been a mountain of things she wanted to say, and things she needed to say.

She’d asked in her usual energetic tone, ‘Kyou-chan, you wanna talk too?’, but I wasn’t so tactless as to interrupt a family moment.

Since I had been invited to the workshop anyway, I had politely declined.

"Putting the battle aside, I think studying math is important. It helps you develop logical thinking, which improves your problem-solving skills. I’m sure it will be useful in your adventures, too."

"Yeah…"

"Give it up, Kyouta. A model student like her will never understand how we feel."

Shizuku-san returned from the back of the room, her usual scowl on her face.

"A model student… I suppose I am, technically. It’s easy to forget when Erina-san is around. She’s always at the top of our grade, even without going to cram school."

"The fact that she's fluent in English makes her a model student in my book."

"Is that your standard…? Besides, I can’t speak it that well. It’s just enough for casual conversation."

"Kyouta. If you get a failing grade in English, we’re going to remedial classes together."

"Sorry. Professor Arisugawa has been teaching me, so I think I’m okay in English."

"From now on, your nickname is Traitor."

"But I’m getting worried about math and world history lately…"

"From now on, your nickname is Comrade."

"Come on, Shizuku-san, you have too many weak subjects…"

"Time spent hammering steel is more important to me."

Shizuku-san placed a wooden box on the desk and gently averted her eyes.

"And look. My work involves the lives of you and the others, so it’s only right that I concentrate on that. I should deal with the immediate crisis, a super-sized crisis at that, not some distant future. Like dragons, or dragons. Also dragons."

"You have an answer for everything. That 'distant future' is the second-term finals, which are about this time next month, you know?"

"Don’t remind me…! I want to bury the memory of midterms in darkness…!"

After shaking her head with a look like she’d chewed on a dozen bitter bugs, Shizuku-san gestured to the wooden box with her thumb and turned back to me.

"More importantly! Kyouta, here’s your repaired bracelet. Take it."

"Thanks. That was fast. I heard it would take a little longer…"

"For you guys, I’d drop my studies and focus on this, obviously…!"

"There’s your excuse, you study-hater."

Aika-san looked on wearily as Shizuku-san gave a rare, proud thumbs-up.

"Honestly. For Kyouta-kun and Erina-san, she’ll even open an English dictionary and ask me to read and explain technical books to her."

"Shut up. We’re not talking about that."

As Aika-san shrugged, I remembered how Shizuku-san had painstakingly researched aerodynamics and what-not for the Flügel.

"I don’t know what to say, but thank you. Both of you."

"…It’s nothing. It’s what any craftsman would do."

"You’re welcome. We help each other out when we’re in trouble. Besides… being able to help a ‘hero’ makes me happy."

Shizuku-san huffed and turned away, while Aika-san smiled brightly.

Her words made my cheeks twitch.

"Please, stop calling me a hero. I’m not that great."

"I refuse. Just so you know, I have no intention of saying things like, ‘You’re a hero, so you have to do this or that.’ I just think of you that way on my own."

"I’d rather you didn’t do that either."

I struggled for words, unable to strongly deny Aika-san as she smiled like a mischievous child.

Somehow, even though she called me a ‘hero,’ her eyes didn’t hold the same overflowing expectation as other people’s.

But I could tell it was a fond gaze. I just didn’t know what her intentions were, which just goes to show how difficult girls are.

Maybe I should just ask her straight out.

"You call me a hero, but what part of me do you think is heroic? I think I’ve shown you some pretty pathetic sides of me. Like that whole thing with math just now."

"Let’s see. I do sometimes think you’re a bit of a disappointment."

"He’s always eyeing my chest and Erina’s, and sneaking glances at Aika’s thighs and butt. He looks at Aira-san and Mia-san with lewd eyes, too."

"I am truly sorry."

At Shizuku-san’s words, I bowed deeply.

If I may offer an excuse, it can’t be helped for a healthy high school boy. Anyone would be like this if they were surrounded by beautiful girls.

If I told my middle-school self about this, he’d probably punch me while crying tears of blood, but my worldly desires are stimulated every day. My self-control is being worn down by a grinder on a daily basis.

"However, Kyouta-kun’s pathetic side, you say?"

Aika-san placed a hand on her shapely chin, feigning thought.

"First, the clothes you usually wear were bought by your mom, and when you do pick them yourself, they’re almost always black."

"Even though he drools over chests and butts, he’s too much of a coward to make a move himself."

"You’re bad at dealing with people, and you get really nervous around strangers unless you can treat it as a job."

"I’ve never even seen you talk to anyone besides us. And when you do, it’s all about anime or games if it’s not work-related."

"Um… could you please stop there…"

Their litany of verbal jabs was like a bed of needles for my heart.

It was simply painful. I was starting to feel sorry for just existing.

"But."

"But, well…"

Aika-san and Shizuku-san looked at each other, then shared a wry smile.

Then, they turned back to me.

"Because we know that you’re just a guy you could find anywhere."

"I’m not not grateful… that you saved us that time."

Aika-san smiled softly, while Shizuku-san averted her gaze, her cheeks faintly red.

"On the day of the sports festival, when I saw you soaring through the sky… I was captivated. You had just been buried under rubble, yet you immediately took up your sword and charged at the monster."

"And yet, you were clearly scared, which makes you a strange one. Really. I thought you were either fearless or had multiple personalities, but you were just ‘desperately enduring it’."

At their words, I scratched the back of my head, unsure of what expression to make.

They were talking about the time I fought the demon. Back then, I was just focused on protecting my family and friends with everything I had.

I desperately racked my brain, and came to the conclusion that it was impossible for everyone to escape safely. So I reluctantly… or rather, I think I was actually teary-eyed as I swung my sword.

"You were crying a little then, weren’t you, Kyouta-kun? It was hard to tell with your helmet."

"You could tell…? It was pretty pathetic of me, so please forget about it."

"Idiot. Being able to fight while feeling scared is what’s cool… I mean, it shows how hard you were trying, so it’s fine."

"It was incredibly cool! Shizuku-san thinks so too!"

"I didn’t say that!"

Shizuku-san tried to headbutt Aika-san in the side, but she was nimbly dodged.

"So… that’s right. We know both your cool side and your uncool side, and even so… we think you’re a ‘hero’."

Aika-san placed a hand on her chest and looked straight at me.

Her traditionally beautiful face was tinged with a slight blush.

"Hey, Kyouta-kun."

"Uh, ah, yes."

I was momentarily captivated by her smile, and my response was delayed.

As if to cover it up, I straightened my back.

"Will you continue to be our hero? I want to see all your different sides, right up close. The cool parts, and the uncool parts. Your gallant face, and your goofy face. I want to keep watching you. Will you give me that permission?"

"Huh, what?"

Her words, so much like a confession, left me stunned.

Wait, seriously? Is that what this is?

My cheeks were hot. I could tell I was blushing bright red.

As I stood there, opening and closing my mouth, Aika-san let out a small laugh.

"I’m glad I got to see that expression, too. For the record, that wasn’t a confession, so please don’t panic, okay?"

"Huh? …Ah, right! Of course! Yep! I’m fine. I didn't jump to any conclusions or anything!"

I nodded my head up and down vigorously.

That was close! What is this woman, a femme fatale?! A misunderstanding-manufacturing machine?! On top of her indecent [Arcane Gear], is she an unconsciously wicked woman too?! She's going to do serious damage to the education and emotional stability of today's youth! Absolutely!

"You chickened out."

"I did not. I was just following the ‘proper order’."

"Is that so."

Proper order? Of what? What does that mean?

My thoughts couldn’t keep up with the cryptic conversation of this odd couple. It was no use. My brain was completely fried.

"So. May I have your answer?"

"Ah, um, well… yes."

I couldn’t win this one.

After those confession-like words, I didn’t think I could carry on a normal conversation. If this was a tactic, then this woman was indeed a wicked one.

"Hmm. From that expression, I take it you’re having some dishonorable misunderstanding about me?"

"Well, the exhibitionist part is a fact, isn’t it? Your [Arcane Gear], I mean."

"That wasn’t my intention!"

Aika-san, her face bright red, yelled at Shizuku-san. Well, there was no defending that outfit; it was indecent.

As if to cover her embarrassment, she cleared her throat with an ‘ahem’ and approached me.

I instinctively tried to step back, but thought that would be rude and held my ground. I expected Aika-san to stop in front of me, but for some reason, she came even closer.

"Huh? Huh?"

A hand was gently placed on my chest.

In a posture that was almost leaning against me, she stood on her toes and brought her face close to my ear.

"This is a first for me, too. All of it."

"Ha…"

This time, my thoughts came to a complete stop.

Only the situation around me was being processed as data in my brain.

Aika-san pulled away, her face still bright red, and placed her index finger in front of her thin lips. As if to say, this is our little secret.

…Isn’t she a wicked woman after all?

"Hey. Exhibitionist and virgin."

"I’m not an exhibitionist!"

"Shut up. I’m busy. If you’re going to flirt any more, do it somewhere else."

Shizuku-san sighed, looking annoyed. Then, she took something out of her pocket.

Her palm concealed it, so I couldn’t see what it was. But I could definitely feel mana from it.

"Kyouta. Hold out your hand."

"O-Okay."

My head was still fuzzy, but I reflexively offered her my arm.

It was a sudden request, so it was my left hand, not the right I usually hold my sword with. Shizuku-san gently took my hand and slipped a ring onto my finger.

Onto my ring finger.

"—"

"This is a modified drop from the Orc Champion that Aika, Mokuren, and I defeated the other day. We just happened to run into it and had to take it down, okay? Just… let’s leave it at that."

It was a rugged, steel-colored ring. From it, I could faintly feel the presence of a formidable enemy I had once fought.

"It’s still a one-time use item. But I’ve boosted its output to the max. It should be useful in your fight… probably. No, it will definitely be useful."

"Ah, well…"

"You don’t have to pay for it. It’s not a loan or anything. It’s a… a sample product. So, make sure you use it. I’ll ask for your feedback when you get back, and I’ll check if it’s broken. If you tell me you forgot to use it, I’ll be mad."

"Um…"

"Wh-What is it? Don’t tell me you don’t want it."

Shizuku-san glared at me with her sharp eyes.

But because of our height difference, she was looking up at me, and her cheeks were as red as her hair.

"Shizuku-san, Shizuku-san."

"What is it, Aika? I was just explaining its specifications to him."

"The left ring finger… does it have a special meaning?"

"…Ah."

At Aika-san’s words, she finally seemed to realize where she had placed the ring.

More flustered than ever before, she started to panic, looking as if her face might burst into flames.

"N-N-No, that’s not it! It’s not like that! It was just a coincidence, that finger was in an easy position to put a ring on! Kyouta! Don’t stick out your arm in such a confusing way! Your right hand! Give me your right hand!"

"Y-Yes!"

"Hmph!"

She yanked the ring off my left ring finger and jammed it onto my right ring finger.

"There! This is the right way! Forget what just happened!"

"Right!"

My heart was about to give out. My heart, which should be several times tougher than the average Awakened Person's thanks to my [Sage's Nucleus], was pounding as if it were about to burst.

This naturally sexually harassing dwarf, what kind of ‘mistake’ was she making? What would she do if I misunderstood and said ‘Let’s get married’?

This odd couple, they were both wicked women. I wish they would stop unconsciously seducing people. I’m more susceptible than a light novel heroine from a decade ago.

"A coward… no, you’re not, are you?"

"O-Of course not! I have no such intentions!"

"No intentions, you say? Even though it’s the ‘right ring finger’?"

"Huh? Of course. It’s not the left hand, after all."

Aika-san was smiling, looking like she was having the time of her life. Like a young girl reading her favorite shojo manga, her lips were curled into a gleeful grin.

"Listen, Kyouta. Do not, under any circumstances, misunderstand. And use this ring. Come back and tell me what you think. Got it?!"

"O-Of course! I definitely will!"

"Good, I have your word!"

"Hmph. ‘Come back alive,’ can’t you say it a little more sweetly, Shizuku-san?"

"Shut up, you anvil!"

"Them’s fightin’ words, you shorty!"

As usual, the odd couple started bickering good-naturedly.

At that, I was finally able to think normally again.

…Even as a huge, extraordinary event loomed, everyday life continued.

Maybe that was fine. It probably suited me better.

I sat down on a nearby folding chair and decided to watch the two of them banter. It wouldn’t be fair for me to be the only one getting all the attention.

Their back-and-forth was something I could watch for a long time without getting bored.

…Come to think of it, the factory seems unusually quiet today. I wonder if it’s closed?