kscans

Chapter 670 - Types of Sweetness

One of the three great festivals of the year has passed, yet one or two more are just around the corner. The endless onslaught of events never waits, and with the relentless march of time, they are surely approaching.

I'm starting to get used to this environment where there's no end to such things, but is that a good thing or a bad thing? It feels like my common-person mentality is steadily shrinking… but still, my sensibilities as a commoner are alive and well compared to the heavenly beings.

Therefore—…though whether she is someone a commoner should sympathize with is questionable.

"Uuuuugh—…………"

"That's a loooong whine."

Here we are at the beginning of September, and I can wholeheartedly understand the feelings of my partner, who is groaning in a manner that is dissatisfied, listless, and discontented, as someone who belongs to the same category of 'student,' albeit on a different level.

Even to my teasing words mixed with a wry smile, Sora-san, who is occupying my back, doesn't react. It's been several minutes since the welcome party for Ui-san and Kanata disbanded… and I accepted her request with a sharp exchange of glances, inviting her into my room in the clan home.

My room is too bare, which is my fault, but the only thing to sit on is the bed, which is set as my respawn point for logging in and out.

So, if a third party were to see this, it would be a rather compromising scene.

I'm sitting on the edge. Sora-san is on the bed without hesitation, pressing her forehead against my back. The time, the place, the situation—all are completely and utterly inappropriate.

Alright, I've decided. Even if I don't use them, I'll at least get a table and chairs. This is the result of my lazy thinking, telling myself I wouldn't be inviting anyone over anyway. In the first place, a similar situation occurred before—

"—Being a university student is unfair…"

"Oh? Ah… haha, yeah. I've thought that too."

Finally, as if some quota had been met, Sora, who had stopped her strange cry that was somewhere between a threat and a scream, mumbled against my back.

And I, having perfectly understood the meaning of her grumbling, could only offer a faint smile.

"A two-month summer vacation is crazy, isn't it… I mean, normally you'd be packed with things to do for your future and all that. But still, the impact of the words themselves, a two-month break."

It probably depends on the school, but the university I attend has long breaks of two months each in the summer and spring. I've already used up half of it, but on the other hand, it's only the halfway point.

In other words, I'm free until the end of September—and for her, today is the last day of her summer vacation, so it's only natural she'd say it's 'unfair.'

But still…

"Uuuuuugh—…………!"

"And here comes round two…"

Sora probably isn't lamenting the end of her summer vacation and the resumption of school. If that's the case, then why? I can figure that much out without needing telepathy.

"—Every time you meet, every single time, aren't you getting closer…!"

"I won't deny that."

What is she talking about? It's about my relationship with my master. It's a plain and simple confirmation of a fact that can't be disguised, so a no-time affirmation is unavoidable.

So, that's what it is.

She used to be jealous of me for receiving tutelage from the Sword Saint…

"I probably shouldn't say this, but…!"

"I'm the only one listening, so it's fine. Probably, most likely, surely."

"To be honest, more than Nia-san or Iris-san…!!"

"A little bit of anxiety is creeping in, huh? Maybe it's something I shouldn't hear either."

"When it comes to this, Ui-san seems like the most formidable rival by far…!!!"

And so it is.

Now that the relationships have become more complex, her jealousy seems to have shifted to the girl who is close to me.

It's a mix of happiness, embarrassment, and apology—considering Sora's inner turmoil, feeling a little self-loathing for being jealous of her idol… well, the third one is probably a bit heavier.

In the end, it's likely a case of unavoidable frustration towards a woman who has grown closer to me due to joining the clan, while her own time with me will decrease.

It's not a matter of who is with whom; it's a natural emotional response for any human being.

In that case, there's only one thing to do.

"Alright, I understand your anxiety—so I'll do this."

"Wha—heh!?"

Activating [Flash Traveler]. It's a ridiculous waste of a skill, to a level that I myself find amusing… but hey, it's getting late.

If I keep testing the waters with slow jabs, it might affect my partner's tomorrow, so I have no choice but to get her to accept with a single, all-out uppercut of will and compromise.

"Wh-what… wh-…!?"

"Well, you know. We haven't had our thirty seconds for today yet."

Short-range teleport behind Sora-san, and then a grab.

It's not like I did anything improper—I can't quite declare myself completely innocent, but at least, considering our relationship, I haven't done anything that would get me reported.

I just swapped places with my partner who was playfully clinging to my back, grabbed her as she lost sight of me, and invited her to sit on my loosely crossed legs.

What in the world am I even doing?

"It's something I'd never be able to do, or even think of doing, with my master. How's this?"

I demonstrated with my actions that we are in completely different categories.

Furthermore, it's something I'd only have the courage to do with Sora-san, with whom I share a heart-to-heart partner relationship.

…And so, there's only one thing to do.

"I know it's a ridiculously complex situation where telling you to 'not worry' is impossible. So at the very least, I'll show you that I'm willing to do everything in my power to ease your anxiety."

So, you should feel free to come at me with all you've got. I'll handle it as best I can—or so I continued to say.

The petite avatar, light as a feather, didn't turn around. Sora swayed a couple of times on my lap before letting out a single word.

"…………Today, thirty seconds isn't enough."

"…Alright, alright. One minute, then."

"About five minutes."

"From double to another five times the demand…?"

"And pat my head, please."

"I didn't hear any additional orders???"

It seems my surprisingly resilient partner was more energetic than I thought.

For nearly ten minutes after that, I worked to please the young lady, all the while endlessly regretting my decision with a sense of 'you've gone and done it now, you fool,' driven by a sense of duty.

Throughout it all, I struggled to not be too conscious of the warmth transmitted through her avatar.