kscans

Chapter 491 - Inseparable

"—So, with that, I might be gone for about a week soon."

"That sounds fine. If she's planning it, security won't be an issue. It would be good for you to take a break from the virtual world and stretch your wings once in a while."

I've completely gotten used to the extraordinary routine of summoning the chef with a ring of a bell, and now, I was naturally devouring a delicious meal in the middle of a weekday lunch.

I had said I would 'think about it,' but the plans solidified at lightning speed. When I told the chef across from me, a.k.a. Chitose-san, he simply nodded without a second thought.

It seems that the 'trip' Alicia is planning poses no inconvenience for Yotsuya either.

For someone who's given me the grand task of clearing the game, they're surprisingly lenient—so much so that the lack of restrictions makes me more anxious than a typical part-time job would.

"What is this, duck?"

"Ah, the roast turned out quite well. I tried putting it in a sandwich. How is it?"

"It tastes like it would cost as much as a fancy dinner at a nice place."

A luxurious life where even ordering a simple sandwich gets you high-class ingredients. If I think of this as part of my compensation from the great 'Yotsuya Development,' then well—but then again, my bank account balance keeps increasing every month, on top of the massive initial contract payment…

You never know what life has in store for you. No, really, you never know, so shutting down my brain is dangerous, but at this rate, I'm terrified I'll earn the average person's lifetime income in just a few years.

All the troublesome things like taxes are being handled by the Yotsuya side, so I feel a pang of guilt that all I'm really doing is playing a game.

In terms of my situation, or rather my mental state, I wonder if it's much different from someone who won the lottery. Of course, I'm happy and fulfilled, but I can't shake the baseless doubt and anxiety that asks, "Is this really happening?"—

"By the way, Haru-kun."

"Hmmyes?"

This is also ridiculously delicious, but when it comes to bread, I'm already missing Chef Tesshin's mysterious staple… Just as that thought crossed my mind while I took a large bite, the next topic was brought up.

"Feel free to go on your trip or do whatever you like, but could you set aside some time for me at some point? You've been summoned—oh, it's not urgent."

Summoned, huh?

"It can really be anytime, but they'd like you to come to the Yotsuya headquarters. To coordinate with the president's schedule, could you pick a date sometime after the next two weeks?"

"I don't mind, but… uh, let's see."

It's bad manners in a restaurant, but it's just two guys having lunch, so no need for formalities. I pulled out my phone with my duck sandwich in one hand and checked my schedule… Hmm.

Judging from Alicia's 'as soon as possible' attitude, the trip will probably be sometime this month, right? And if he really means any time is fine, then—

"It'll be more like a month from now instead of two weeks, but how about the first Saturday of next month?"

"That's perfectly fine. Then, please keep that day open."

"Okay, got it."

We agreed, and another entry was etched into my early July schedule. 'Summons to Yotsuya HQ.' By any normal standard, those are some pretty intimidating words.

Now, I wonder what sort of business they could have with me————

◇◆◇◆◇

—But before future plans, the plans at hand.

A little past noon means 'this afternoon.' The message I received this morning was, in a way, a summons of its own.

After logging in for the second time today, I woke up in the clan room. My wake-up action routine had one more rotation than this morning, now at four and a half. With the control of my right arm restored, my condition was steadily improving—the price for my other ultimate move wasn't as heavy as I'd feared, after all.

"Well then…"

My avatar's body feels light, but my heart isn't quite so. I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm 'dreading it,' as that would be extremely rude, but honestly, I've been quite apprehensive for a while now.

At this point, it's just something I have to deal with.

The person who summoned me, the person I promised to meet, the person I'm about to see is—

None other than the invincible partner whom I myself awakened.

A quiet knock tapped on my door.

The private rooms in the clan hall, whether due to some mysterious material or dimensional shenanigans, are perfectly soundproof and even block one's presence, creating a perfect personal area.

The only thing connecting the inside and outside was the sound of the knock. It was as demure as she was, but having spent the last few days with her new self, I understood.

I knew what would happen the moment I removed this thin wall between us.

So, I braced myself—

The instant I opened the door, my vision was filled with a dazzling gold.

"—Waugh?!"

"—Oofgh?!"

Whether she misjudged the distance or simply came in with too much momentum to control, I was struck hard in the chin by her forehead and sent tumbling spectacularly to the floor, stunned.

In my vision, a stun icon lit up beneath my status bar.

And there, a beautiful girl with teary eyes, clutching her now-red forehead.

"…We've, uh, done this before."

"I-I'm sorr…!"

In Arcadia, where there's no pain, surprise and shock are the most damaging things of all. Setting aside the fact that she was the one who charged in, it was only natural for the virtual world, with its slightly exaggerated emotional expressions, to draw tears in the girl's eyes.

And it was also a natural consequence for me, who had taken a solid blow to the chin, to be hit with a debuff—Hah, she's really grown, this one.

The stun duration was definitely longer than that nostalgic day.

And, well.

"I seem to recall a time when you would have panicked and worried about me…"

"…I'm fine with that much. I don't need your concern."

"That's some refreshingly blatant shamelessness…"

"I don't know what you're talking about. It's your fault, anyway."

"I-I think I'd have to object to th—"

"Objection denied. Be quiet."

"Whaaa…"

The girl who had knocked me down showed no signs of getting up, using me as a cushion. With a cute face and voice, she unleashed a merciless torrent of tyranny.

To an outsider, it would sound like a ridiculously one-sided verbal assault—

"…………Thirty seconds have passed. That's all for today's share."

"…The four days we didn't see each other are still left over."

But to an outsider, it would also be crystal clear that this was nothing more than her being affectionate.

And as for the delicate arms wrapped tightly around my neck, the fact that I couldn't mindlessly push them away despite saying "that's all"… Well, I suppose that can't be helped, either.

"It felt longer than I thought."

"…Did you not have a good time over there?"

"Until the third day… until we charged into the 'nest' that Lux-san happened to find, it was fun, like a relaxing trip. But when we chased after it, things got pretty bad."

"I see. Glad you were able to enjoy it to the fullest."

The forehead pressed against my chest in protest lacked its earlier force. It wasn't strength it held, but something else.

"A lot happened on my end, too. We might spend a day or two just exchanging stories."

"What kind of face am I supposed to make when you're so openly bragging about your date?"

"Ah… If you'd rather I not talk about it, I won't."

"I won't allow you to keep it a secret. What did you do? With Nia-san."

"What am I supposed to do here…—Ah, fine, fine. As my lady wishes."

She released her hands from my neck and, as if to voice her displeasure, grabbed both my cheeks and pulled with all her might as she lifted her body up.

Her lovely cheeks were flushed in a way that seemed to be twenty percent anger and eighty percent something else. She looked at me straight on with her shining amber eyes, and—

"…I missed you, Haru."

"Me too, Sora."

She no longer hid the warmth in her eyes, smiling with pure, simple happiness.