kscans

Chapter 668 - Welcome Home

"Heh heh, you've come back looking quite tired."

"If I came back full of energy, that would be its own problem, wouldn't it…"

The underground parking lot of the Yotsuya Development Headquarters. After getting off the guest-only direct elevator and unreservedly climbing into the all-too-familiar shuttle car, those were our first words to each other.

Receiving a teasing (and typical) glance through the rearview mirror, I tumbled into the back seat, not quite dead, but one step away from collapsing from mental exhaustion.

It's not that I dislike or have a problem with Mr. Togo; in fact, I genuinely respect him as a person and as a man, but that's not the issue. When you're dealing with the father of a girl you're close to, as a man, you must steel your heart with a sense of awe and courtesy.

"He's taken a liking to you, so there's no need to be so formal."

"No, it's not like that, it's a matter of sincerity… I mean, come on, being told 'don't be so formal' by the head of Yotsuya Development himself is a bit of a stretch."

"What's the famous Acrobat, Crown, saying at this point?"

As he started the engine, the Director's aide—Kazuharu Chigusa, or Kazu-san—laughed jokingly. I shot him a half-lidded glance and said, "Seriously, stop," but he just brushed it off, completely ineffective.

I always think this, but it's kind of sad how little 'presence' I seem to have. Not that I have any desire to be an intimidating person, though…

"Anyway, what was the 'business' in the end?"

"Why wouldn't the Director's aide know…"

He asked as if just throwing out a topic while driving, and I couldn't help but feel suspicious of Yotsuya Development's internal workings, whose chains of command and communication I still didn't fully understand.

Ultimately, if I were to summarize my one-hour talk with Mr. Togo as 'business' and answer Kazu-san's question—

"Well, all in all… I guess it was just a 'how've you been?' kind of thing."

"..., pfft, haha. I see."

It started with praise and appreciation for the long-overdue successful subjugation of the White Throne, continued with concern for me as I was getting used to my activities as a ranker, and included his thoughts on the arena clear footage from the month before last.

Overall, our conversation from beginning to end was dominated by him showing consideration for my current self after all the various events, or rather, him being concerned about my current situation.

So, yes. Rather than it being about 'business'…

"It seems he simply wanted to take the time to meet and talk…"

"I can understand how he feels. You are, after all, the one his precious daughter has feelings for."

"Stop teasing me like that too."

I knew it, and he even said it himself, but the one-sided favorability he developed from watching me is so high that it's creating an opposite kind of pressure.

"Well, it's good, isn't it? Putting aside the difficult stuff, being liked by your important partner's family can't be all that bad, right?"

"That's true, I guess."

"And it seems you're on good terms with the maid, too."

"That's, umm…"

I wouldn't say we're on bad terms, but I still can't shake the feeling that I'm being treated like a toy by Itsuki-san (the maid)… In a way, since she's Sora's absolute ally, she's someone I trust more than anyone in the world—but still, it's true.

"…For now, at least one task is off my plate, so, yeah."

That's one step closer to peace of mind. Not that there have been any complicated matters disturbing my peace recently… but as for what's coming later today, a rather massive 'who-knows-what'll-happen' event is waiting for me.

"…Hmm."

And with that thought.

From my expression in the rearview mirror, Kazu-san seemed to have guessed something.

"It's a good time. Shall we go eat something delicious on the way back?"

"Sushi."

To his suggestion of an energy refill, I nodded without hesitation.

◇◆◇◆◇

And so that night, a few minutes after all the actors had gathered on stage.

In the virtual world, inside our Azure Sky clan home, the shared space—which has become a place of relaxation mostly thanks to me not making good use of my own room—was filled with silence.

Everything that needed to be said had been said, but that was precisely the reason for the quiet. It was also natural that the expressions on everyone's faces were clearly divided 1:1:3.

As for me, who belongs to one of the '1's, I wore a poker face tinged with resignation. What was I resigning myself to? The certainty, based on a premonition, that somehow or other, this would turn into a situation where I'd have to put my heart and soul into running around in circles.

"…………………Um, Haru?"

"Yes, this is Haru."

One of the '3's, and the nominal Clan Master of Azure Sky, my partner Sora-san, raised her hand with a tremble, her face a concoction of bewilderment, confusion, and shock that had been boiled down, flipped over, and kicked, and asked a question with a quivering voice.

"C-Could you please explain that one more time?"

It was less of a question and more of a plea.

The girl's amber eyes were directed not at me, but at my side. At the other '1', a woman shorter than her who wore a supremely gentle smile.

So, I too glanced in that direction.

"Alright, one more time… This is the famous Sword Saint."

I gestured with a flick of my hand toward Ui-san, who was standing beside me with a grin.

"She said that as part of her rehabilitation to return to the world, for the convenience of continuing my training, and for various other reasons, she'd like to join our clan, Azure Sky."

It's a 'what are you even talking about' situation in so many ways, but a month ago… when she first proposed the idea before she left on her journey, I also had a deadpan expression and said, "What are you talking about?" so the reaction of the three people before me is only natural.

And then,

"Then I, too, shall reintroduce myself… I am Ui, the Sword Saint. I have decided that this time, with a fresh start, I will try to reach out for various things without fear or hesitation. As such, for my first step, I would be grateful if you would allow me to join your 'clan.'"

"W-Whoa… stop. Wait a minute."

One of the '3's interrupted her as she spun her thoughts into gentle, flowing words. The small, black-clad boy, for once, couldn't hide his obvious panic.

"H-How did this happen? I heard something about soul-searching, but how in the world did that lead to the bizarre development of joining a clan?"

"Whoa… Tetra's genuinely panicking. That's rare."

"Fufu… He was like this when I first met him, right after he became a ranker."

"You laid-back master and disciple…!"

I, having come full circle to a state of natural calm (resignation). And Ui-san, who is naturally calm without having come full circle (always). Tetra glared at the both of us for our relaxed remarks, but unfortunately, it wasn't scary.

He was like a threatening kitten. Meanwhile, the pressure from Sora-san, staring intently at me from his side, was another story.

"You ask how it happened, but it's just as Ui-san said… In short, she decided to stop being a shut-in and come out into the open."

"…'Shut-in' is a slightly uncharitable way to put it, don't you think?"

"So she closed her other world and came to the city, but, you know. If the Sword Saint started using some random inn as her base of operations, it would obviously cause a huge uproar, right?"

"Haru-kun?"

"That's… well… I guess so."

"And that's where the clan home comes in."

"Haru-kun?"

Ui-san keeps saying something, but convincing the three in front of me is the priority right now. Besides, there's nothing shady about this decision, so all I need to do is keep speaking frankly.

"To put it simply, it's basically a substitute for a house. And if she's going to join a clan, ours is convenient—it's a small group that was just formed, and our name isn't known to the public."

In other words, it won't cause a stir, and besides one member, everyone is an acquaintance of hers, or in my case, practically family. It's a perfect fit.

"……………Now that you mention it, I guess that makes sense…"

"For the record, I was completely floored when she first asked me, too."

"I'll bet… Okay, I get it. I wasn't going to object from the start anyway, but now I'm convinced, so you don't have to worry about me."

And with that, the incarnation of understanding, my junior (not really junior) number one, was successfully won over.

"It's a pleasure to have you, Tetra-kun."

"Ah, yeah, right. A pleasure… to meet you."

A boy's hand, a size larger yet still small, met the small hand offered to him with some hesitation. Tetra using polite language—another subtly rare point.

And so, the remaining two—or rather, the one whose approval was needed. Sora-san, who had been utterly dumbfounded from the moment we gathered, through the introductions and explanations…

"Gasp… S-So…! I-I'm not objecting either! It's just that, I-I was just… s-so, so, surprised…!"

"Alright, I get it. Let's start by taking a deep breath, Sora-san."

"I'm sorry for surprising you… Please calm down, Sora-chan."

"I know how you feel, but calm down, Sora-senpai."

And so, she displayed a level of panic far beyond Tetra's, finding herself in the middle of a three-person support effort. In any case, without the approval of the Clan Master, Ui-san's entry cannot be finalized.

But well, as she herself says while panicking.

"…………"

"..., …………gasp…"

The hardcore Sword Saint fan-girl, whose face flushes and eyes spin just from a quiet glance, might hesitate out of reverence, but there's no way she would ultimately shake her head no.

"A-At… at the very least—can't we change the master…?"

"Nope."

"Not happening."

"I think Sora-chan is the perfect 'master.'"

"Whyyyy…!!!"

With a de facto majority approval, the Sword Saint's entry into the clan was decided.

—And then, in addition to her, one more person.

"What's wrong, Kanata, you're just staring blankly. You'll be one of us from now on, too."

"Eh, um… eh…?"

The second new member of the Azure Sky clan.

After various twists and turns, or perhaps none at all, the junior (not really junior) number two, whom I'd managed to reel in without letting him get away, just kept staring blankly with a 'is this really happening…?' look on his face.