kscans

Chapter 757 - A Banquet of Bonds

"────Alright, everyone! Let's raise a glass to our hero's incredible performance—no, his spectacular success—in the Triangle Duo! This is to celebrate, to show our appreciation, and to cover all the other odds and ends! And, at the same time, to cheer him on and give him a grand send-off for the big showdown at Green Connect!"

"Why are you the one running the show, Shoko?"

"Her energy level makes her the right person for the job."

"Ahaha..."

"Well, yeah. It was always a bit weird how these things were called appreciation parties, but for some reason, I—the one being appreciated—always ended up as the organizer."

"You're all so full of life."

"Ahaha..."

And just like that, the sun set and night fell.

Our venue wasn't the inn's banquet hall... but the boys' room, which was not only soundproofed from the start but had its security bolstered by the girls' rooms flanking it on both sides.

Each room was ridiculously spacious to begin with, so squeezing seven people in was no problem at all. With food and everything else brought in, the space was transformed into an impromptu party room.

"Okay, okay, no more complaining! On the count of three! ────Cheers!!!"

As expected of two young ladies who are cousins, I suppose. Kaede and Sora wore identical, troubled half-smiles, as if unsure how to react, which was masterfully ignored.

And with a single, cheerful cry, Toshiki's retort, Mizuki's not-so-complimentary-for-a-girl remark, and my own grumbling about the past were all swept away.

Our raised glasses held the sparkling nectar of ginger ale. Shoko, who seemed to be running on even higher energy than usual for this trip, took the lead with her overflowing enthusiasm... and yet...

""""Cheers!!!""""

Despite all the grumbling, when it's time to get on board, college students are the kind of creatures who go all in.

"Ah, um... ch-cheers...!"

Plus one more. A timid yet adorable girl's voice followed the others, thoroughly warming the hearts of everyone present. And so, on the first day of our trip, the long, long—oh, so very long—night of feasting began.

As for the matter of a certain maid (in a yukata) enthusiastically joining in on the shouts of youthful vigor... for now, I'll just pretend I didn't see that.

────The Matsukaze school's divergent style...

Now then. It is a truth likely universal throughout the ages that a banquet requires drinks and appetizers.

────Kesshiki, Itto.

However, we are all underage.

So, while the 'drinks' were substituted with well-behaved options like juice, the other crucial element, the 'appetizers'... well, youths who thrive on excitement can't be satisfied with just food alone.

──────Alright, let's go... Iris!!

""Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!""

"So cool."

"No matter how many times I see it, it never gets old...!"

All seven of us, dressed in matching yukatas, were gathered around a large monitor that seemed out of place in the traditional Japanese-style room.

And what was constantly being displayed on it, with the 'opponent' changing each time, was... someone I knew all too well. A fool so energetic it made me want to cry.

"────...Sora-san."

"Y-Yes?"

"Do me a favor and put me out of my misery."

"I can't possibly do that...!"

"Then, if I may be so bold, I shall."

"Itsuki-san────you too, what are you saying...?!"

In other words, it was a marathon viewing party of the [Acrobat]... that was the appetizer for this gathering of friends, a demonic event utterly devoid of a human heart.

"Whoa, whoa... even watching it now, this is insane."

"Which makes it so, so, so disappointing that the conversation after the fight starts isn't picked up."

"Right? Seriously. Hey, Nozomin, what were you and the Princess actually talking about then—"

"I plead the fifth."

"Aww... well.................................... were you actually hitting on—"

"I was not hitting on her, I plead the fifth!!!"

I shot a sidelong glance at a cackling Shoko, but her smile was too innocent to get mad at. Damn her, a genius at making people forgive her without a shred of malice.

"Hah... this isn't relaxing my mind at all."

"You say that, and yet you seem to be smiling."

"This is just my face."

"Haru, are you sure that's the response you want to go with...?"

After quickly giving up on quieting the long, black-haired girl sitting to my left, I let out a grumble, only to have the person next to the one on my right immediately jump in with some teasing. I shot back a reply with a sullen look on my face.

The one on my right (Sora-san), wedged between me and the maid, also chimed in with a retort, but it was so gentle that in this chaotic space, it was nothing short of a refreshing breeze. A partner is truly the best thing to have────

"Okay, excuse me for a sec, I'm borrowing one beautiful girl for a bit~"

"I want to hear a player's perspective from someone other than the person himself. Come on."

"Wah...?! H-Hey, um, wha—?!"

Just like that, my partner was abducted. I'm finished.

"Shall I put you out of your misery?"

"How long are you going to keep that up? ...Good grief. This is kinda, well, unexpected."

The maid, who showed no signs of reining in her mischievousness, held a glass of juice, in line with the rest of the students. Which meant that even though it was a party, she shouldn't be drunk...

"Regarding Sora, I am not taking an 'overprotective' stance, you see."

"..."

As if she'd perfectly read my thoughts, Itsuki-san replied gracefully.

It was completely different from the telepathy of those whose hearts are connected; this was a one-sided mind-reading. And the fact that she was spot-on just made her all the more unnerving.

"I knew before we even met whether they could be trusted. And as I told you before your date, as long as you are by her side, my 'little sister's' safety is guaranteed."

"...Being told something is guaranteed without any evidence doesn't really mean much to me."

"Oh, but there is evidence. The evidence is that I am convinced of it and have placed my trust in it."

"Ah... well... that's certainly an absolute guarantee, isn't it."

This woman is still scary────frighteningly reliable.

That day, at that time. I'm truly glad that by pushing forward on momentum to avoid losing something precious, I was able to win at least some of her favor... I think that from the bottom of my heart.

"And besides, concerning your friends..."

The 'older sister' turned her eyes toward her 'little sister'. She watched with a gentle gaze as Sora, though bewildered by her seniors who were closing the distance without hesitation... let a genuine smile show from time to time.

"They are people trusted by the one she trusts more than anyone in the world. People she can interact with without fear... are a very, very precious thing indeed."

From the eyes of the woman watching over her 'young lady' so lovingly, I could read nothing but pure affection. She seems to have bought into 'my reliability' quite a bit, and the pressure is almost laughable.

So, naturally,

"I can guarantee they're good people, that much is true. It's just that I can't shake the concern that their energy and antics might be a bit questionable for your little sister's upbringing..."

"On that point, I am of course counting on your support, Kasuga-san."

"Right... yeah, yeah. I'll do as you say."

All I can do is respond with all my might to the trust and goodwill she shows me.

I lifted my heavy—or what just felt like a heavy—body up from the floor. And where I was headed, I saw a girl who looked troubled... and yet, without a doubt.

Was laughing, gracefully and happily.