kscans

Chapter 313 - After Dinner

"—And so, things are off to a smooth start."

"I see."

"As planned, I'm forming a party tomorrow and we'll be on an expedition all day."

"Okay."

"Thanks for setting it all up. I'm sorry for all the trouble."

"Helena did most of it."

"..."

"..."

"Are you angry about something?"

"I'm not angry."

She's lying. She's definitely a little upset.

The way she just stabbed her fork into the sea bream was a little more aggressive than usual.

As always, she insisted on sitting next to me rather than across. I glanced sideways at my dining companion, and Iris paused from eating the aqua pazza Chef Chitose had prepared to shake her head.

"It's not that."

"Well, if it's not that, then—"

"I'm just jealous."

"Sorry, my bad, let's drop this topic."

Why did I have to step on that landmine? I'm an idiot. I should have seen this coming.

"I want to go on an adventure with you, too."

"Yeah... for various reasons, that might be difficult for a while."

Iris is busy on multiple fronts, and I need to hurry up and strengthen myself to stand beside such a 'colleague'...

Besides, even if we did go on an adventure together, what would that even be like? I can't picture such a hypothetical scene at all.

"..."

"Even if you look at me like that..."

Having spent a certain amount of time with her these past few days, I've come to understand something.

Which is... this princess is, in some ways, even more emotionally expressive than Nia. Even if her face is generally a mask of neutrality.

Through her words, her tone, her gestures, she lays her heart bare—just like now, as she lets out a faint growl in her throat to convey her dissatisfaction.

"—Then, what about today?"

"Using 'then' in that context is a dirty trick."

"...No?"

"Hey, aren't girls just unfair?"

A guy's defeat is decided before the fight even begins in situations like this, isn't it???

"I-I'm not saying no, but... what are you going to do if you come over? Let me say this first, no more three-hour endurance poker matches, please."

"That was fun."

"Of course it's fun for the one who wins every single time...!"

There's no way I could win against someone who's brilliant, has a Level 100 poker face, and is incredibly lucky. Don't go getting a royal flush three games in a row.

"In that case, a game."

"Yeah, but like I said, for a while—"

"Not in the virtual world."

Even while talking, she had already finished her meal.

"I like analog games, too."

Said the princess of a family that lives for its hobbies, her voice flat but with a faint, excited lilt.

◇◆◇◆◇

"Um... Iris-san?"

"What is it?"

"I think calling this an 'analog game' will get you in trouble with a lot of people."

I get that she used the term to mean 'old,' but... this is completely 'digital.' In fact, it's not even an old model.

I made the remark while looking at the latest model game console she had brought into the room, and Iris tilted her head in confusion.

"Compared to [Arcadia]—"

"Your basis for comparison is weird. It's like comparing a regular player to the [Sword Queen]."

While some extremists call them 'prehistoric,' it's not like non-VR game consoles have become obsolete.

Their market share might have shrunk due to losing users to [Arcadia], but there are still a huge number of gamers who are active on this side.

"I like them too. I'm completely absorbed in the virtual world right now, but I might get the urge to play them again someday."

This side has its own charms—or rather, the world of Arcadia is something else entirely... It's less a game and more like 'life in another world.'

Anyway, what should we do? It looks like most of these are party games...

"Hm...?"

As I examined the 'pile' of software she handed me, I noticed not a single one had been opened. On closer inspection, I realized the hardware itself was a brand-new, pristine unit.

"What's this, did you just buy them and let them sit?"

No matter how old I get, it's always fun to look at the packaging of a new game.

Familiar titles, sequels to games I've played before, and some completely unknown ones. I asked while browsing through them—

"I collected things I could play with you in the real world."

"—...Ah."

She gave me the answer I probably could have arrived at if I had just thought one more step before speaking. My hands stopped as I grasped the various feelings packed into those words.

"I've gathered other things besides games, too. The ones I can't move are in my room, so I'd like to invite you over there someday."

"I'll think about it—close, no, you're close, I get it, you're close...!"

Get away from me, you lethally honest cute bomb! Didn't we sign a treaty before I let you in the room that 'a one-meter radius is my personal space'?!

—After that, we spent the rest of the time playing peacefully.

As if seeking emergency refuge, I had instinctively chosen a party fighting game... but while I'll omit the details, let it be recorded that one party was beaten to a complete and utter pulp.

In the dictionary of that 'strongest' individual, the word 'restraint' no longer exists.