kscans

Chapter 708 - The Seat Next to Her

In the end, the brief segment of just over ten minutes flew by in what felt like an instant.

I'm sure it was all thanks to Nono-san, who, despite appearing to be fooling around the entire time, skillfully led the way with her impressive speaking and technical skills. A true professional is on another level.

And so, once the so-called NonoHaru Radio that had been slotted into a spare moment came to a close… what followed was the originally scheduled program.

Namely,

"Whoa, you're a total mess. How pathetic, onii-san."

"Good work."

"So, what's the plan? Same as always, it's tough when they just tell us to chat freely."

"Same as always, why don't we just rely on the fan mail we've received?"

"…If I may ask, who's going to be the one reading them?"

"Irori-senpai can do it again, just like last time."

"I said this last time, too, but why me—"

"You looked so cool and natural in your 'personality' role last year, Irori-kun."

"Where's the fan mail box? Hand it over already."

—and just like that, the turn shifted to our Eastern Faction. Nono-san had departed with a triumphant, "Finally, a break!" and in her place, the spacious room that also served as the host's lounge filled with our members.

We were allotted thirty minutes. The request was for some 'casual banter'—a loose form of entertainment that's ironically more difficult the more you think about it.

In other words, the current lively chatter already qualified as doing our jobs perfectly.

This whole thing was just to provide some excitement during a break, after all. At the end of the day, all we had to do was provide something akin to background music or a radio show to kill time. For the battle-hardened rankers, whose guts were forged from super-alloys, it was a piece of cake.

Of course, it goes without saying that for a certain not-so-battle-hardened ranker, this time of day, just past noon, was not so kind to the mental state.

As was tradition, the two little ones immediately came over to poke at me. I was half-dead, collapsed on a sofa at the side of the host's table. Having been dragged around by Nono-san and forced to squeeze out every last drop of my positive energy, this creature of the shadows was, of course, drowning in a sea of shame, replaying the recent debacle in my mind.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, get up, onii-san. Time to switch places, switch places."

"You're still the main attraction. Do your best."

"Stop it, give me a break…"

But my two tiny senpais were merciless. As I tried to become one with a cushion, they each grabbed one of my hands and, with the feeble strength of their pure magic builds, began to pull me up.

"Nooo… I already did my part…! It's my turn to take a break—"

"No can do! Didn't you hear Nono-chan? That was just a fill-in spot. It's meaningless if you slack off during the main event! Now get up!"

And with that, I was forcibly dragged from the sofa.

"Alright, take your seat! Now then, make sure you give them a generous supply of what they're demanding."

I was thrown into my predetermined "designated seat"—and where was that, you ask?

"Fufu… Good work. Are you all right?"

"I am not all right, but, well, I'll do my best…"

It was none other than the seat next to my master.

Yeah, I get it. I can read the room. Now that the [Sword Saint], who had a change of heart for some reason, has come out into the open… this is the scene everyone wants to see.

The world is probably thinking it. Show us some master-disciple interaction already.

In that case—

"Oh, in that form?"

"Well, if I'm going to be sitting next to you as your disciple, I thought this form would be better…"

It wasn't an act of defiance against the audience, who were no doubt enjoying the show, but in this space where the coercive force had vanished, I nonchalantly reactivated my [Trance].

As I forced a weary smile in my familiar form,

"You're right… Both versions of you are adorable, Haru-kun, but I must admit that your original form makes me feel more strongly that you are 'my disciple.'"

—she responded, just as familiarly, with a howahowa comment that left me at a loss for words.

I have to admit, my master, who smiled so naturally as if she didn't mind at all, was truly precious. But for me, who had to mind everything, the calming effect was instantly overwhelmed by a wave of embarrassment and discomfort.

"Ui-chan is ruthless."

"She's doting on her disciple."

"She's really showing off, huh?"

The comments muttered by the usual trio of mismatched sizes probably served as a stand-in for the thoughts of the other five as well. The thought of the reaction from the venue and the entire world was terrifying.

On top of that, it was also somewhat frightening that the 'student' himself was acting cooler than anyone. I'd almost feel more at ease if he glared at me with his usual talk of making me into mincemeat—

"Well then, shall we begin now that you've settled down?"

"Yeah. Let's just read a few at random."

As if he hadn't noticed my gaze, Irori, who simply shot me a slightly teasing look before brushing it off, nodded at Hina-san's voice and shook the box in his hands. Clatter, clatter.

And after I had the rude thought that, just like with those fireworks a while back, this guy looks ridiculously out of place with festival-type items, my junior, oblivious to my thoughts…

"First one is… —Hah."

—let out a thoroughly infuriating reaction.

"It's for the [Acrobat]. It says, 'A word for your master, please.'"

"Why?! Not another one-liner request…!"

At the content of the first letter, announced with utter amusement, I let out a heartfelt cry of 'give me a break' and collapsed onto the table.