kscans

Chapter 412 - The Second Invitation

"Ah, um... W-What is it..."

As the topic shifted, she must have sensed her position changing from observer to participant. Faced with two pairs of eyes, Nia shrank back cautiously.

In any case, the speaker remained the same... or rather, I had to keep quiet since voicing an opinion on this matter would be unwise.

"First, let me confirm. Nia, have you met him in the real world?"

"Huh? Um..."

The only piece of information these two had about each other was that the 'other' was the 'same' as themselves.

Nia didn't know that Ashe and I had signed contracts with Yotsuya Development and were living under the same roof... or rather, in the same building.

Conversely, Ashe didn't know that Nia and I had interacted in the real world.

I had no right to leak their respective situations. If that information needed to be shared, it had to happen between the two of them, like this.

"Well... yes. I have."

Nia glanced at me as if for confirmation. I gave her a look that said 'Yes,' and she timidly affirmed. Receiving her answer, Ashe nodded once.

"Then this will be quick."

"And stop."

As my ears picked up the Princess's next line, I had no choice but to call a halt. Hearing 'this will be quick' from her was far too terrifying.

This was a delicate matter directly involving the real world. For the sake of my mental health, I'd appreciate it if she refrained from her usual straight-to-the-point killing method.

"For this one, a roundabout approach is just right, so please proceed with care."

"...Mm, you're right. Understood."

"...???"

That was a close one. I'm pretty sure if I hadn't stopped her, she would have dropped the 'conclusion' bomb within two seconds.

"Then, first, I'll explain our current situation."

"Huh? What, situation..."

"How Haru and I stand right now—to put it simply, we've signed a contract with a certain company and have become something like colleagues. Along with that, we're living together in a dorm provided by the company."

"Uh, umm..................Huh? W-Wait?"

As I watched Nia's expression change rapidly with a mix of confusion and a flurry of other emotions, I too was taken aback.

Didn't I just say to be roundabout?

So why is she just blurting it out so 'simply'?!

"Our rooms are different, but we're under the same roof. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we're cohabiting."

"Wait a minute, that's an exaggeration—gack!"

And just as I predicted, a certain culprit was hoisted up by the collar from next to me.

"Hey."

"Yes..."

"What's this? I haven't heard anything about it."

"That's why I'm telling you now—I'm sorry, I'll be quiet."

On the receiving end of the coldest gaze and voice I'd ever experienced, I, the overwhelming underdog in this situation, was knocked out of commission in a single blow.

Hey, I'm counting on you, Princess. I'm really counting on you, Princess.

And why are you wearing a faint smirk right now???

"...S-So? How am I supposed to react to that? If you want my honest opinion, I'm prepared to start crying right now, you know?"

"That's not it. I didn't tell you because I wanted to brag."

That's a lie. She was definitely looking a little smug.

Well, anyway. If things were going to turn out like this, it would be better to just get to the conclusion quickly.

"T-Then what is it—"

"You should come too."

And so, that was the main point of the conversation.

"I've gotten permission from 'upstairs'... the client. A room has been secured."

"..................H-Huh, um...? W-Wait, hold on, I don't get it, I don't get it."

Naturally, she couldn't keep up with the conversation's pace. The hand that had been strangling me went limp, and Nia, her face a canvas of question marks, let out a voice filled with 100% bewilderment.

"Huh... Huh? Um, so basically, you're saying you received an offer as a ranker and there's a contract and all that, right?"

"Yes."

"But I'm a complete outsider. How did you get permission or secure a room for me... S-Sorry, let me just calm down for a second..."

Noticing her gaze fall to the table, I handed her the glass that was in front of her. It was mine, but I hadn't touched it, so it was clean.

"Ah, thanks..."

"Yeah... Um, look. I know everything is sudden, but this isn't about forcing you to do anything or some complicated, convoluted matter. I know it's a lot to ask, but please try to listen as casually as you can."

"............Okay."

And so, once Nia had calmed down a bit, Ashe began to speak again. This whole affair was, after all, her idea.

"For formality's sake, you'll have to sign a contract with him. The pretext is that you'll be the [Acrobat]'s exclusive artisan and supporter, providing follow-up for Haru in both worlds."

"P-Pretext..."

"Yes, a pretext. You don't need to do anything more than you already are. If I had to say, just try even harder than before to win this 'troublesome person' over."

"T-That... huh...?"

Thinking about it calmly, what Ashe was saying and trying to do was an absurd act that went far beyond 'giving salt to the enemy.'

It's no wonder Nia was confused—but to tilt her head at this point shows a lack of understanding of the [Sword Queen], Iris... and by extension, Alicia White.

"Fair and square, on as equal footing as possible—only then can I also get serious."

While I trembled at the fact that what she'd shown so far wasn't her being serious, Nia was left frozen, her mouth agape in genuine disbelief.

This is just who she is, this Princess. She's a protagonist who charges straight ahead, fair and square, anytime, anywhere, without a care for whether she's at a disadvantage.

It's a costly disposition. But that's precisely why she is revered by so many.

"Huh............ Um... you know..................Huh?"

"There's no need to rush your answer. We'll keep the room secured for you, so you can take your time until you've made up your mind."

"............Um, sorry. First of all, this dorm? Where exactly is it located? It would mean... moving, right?"

"Yes, hold on."

As she spoke, Ashe tapped on a window at incredible speed, performing some kind of operation. She probably sent a message with the address.

Nia stared into space for a moment, likely reading the message she received... then let out a sigh that was hard to decipher, a mix of trouble and relief, and swiped to close the window.

"Well, I figured it would be in Tokyo. It's not far from my current place, so even if I were to move, it wouldn't be too much of a hassle... but still, huh... this is so sudden."

"I think your reaction is completely normal in every way, and like Ashe said, you can take your time to think about it. If you do move, I can guarantee the quality of the room, though."

"...By the way, what kind of room is it?"

"Uh, more like a house than a room?"

"You damn rankers..."

Though Nia herself is presumably a young lady of some means... well, I don't know what her current living situation is like.

"...I know you want to think it over, but if I could offer one more push."

"Huh... ah, yes. If you would?"

I sensed the faint smirk reappear on her expressionless face and had a slight premonition of dread, but it was too late.

"If you live with us, you can eat his home cooking."

"Home cooking."

"He's very good. So good I'd want him for a bride."

"A bride."

"The coffee he makes after dinner is also delicious."

"Coffee."

"And playing games until late at night feels wonderfully naughty, too."

"Naughty... —Hey, you?"

"Wait a minute, there's a misunderstanding! I'm the one trying to set up defenses here, I swear...!"

Nia must have concluded from Ashe's words that we weren't just living in separate rooms but were freely inviting each other over.

With a fixed glare, she grabbed my collar again, and I desperately tried to explain myself. I swear, I have never once invited Ashe into my room on my own initiative.

However, if I were asked whether it was a sin that my paper-thin defenses were breached every single time, I would have to say yes, it is a sin. I'm truly sorry.

And after that—

"Alright then, could you tell me the details again? Everything, honestly."

As Nia pressed me with a smile so intense I could practically see a vein popping on her forehead, how she answered Ashe's invitation—well, there's no need to spell it out, is there?

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This is getting to be like a rom-com.