kscans

Chapter 78 - It's Still Okay

Sora, blushing, turns away shyly.

And I, out of a sense of obligation, drop to my knees without a moment's hesitation.

"...Wha-what are you doing?!"

As one fool solemnly attempts to transition from a formal kneel to a full prostration, Sora, still blushing, frantically stops me. She grabs my shoulders mid-bow, and unfortunately, my forehead never reaches the ground.

"My ignorance led to my rashness, I humbly beg for your forgiveness..."

"N-no, um, it was a surprise, but...!"

Saying it wasn't something that required such a grand apology, Sora pulls back her hands, and I stand up at her urging. Well, yeah, now that I think about it, trying to prostrate myself was a bit of a mystery. Perhaps I was just as flustered as she was.

"Umm... could you explain it to me, please?"

When I asked hesitantly, Sora, whose blush was gradually fading, explained the details of this so-called 'contract'.

In short, I had misunderstood the nuance of the name 'Partner System'—in Arcadia, a partner wasn't a “buddy,” but a “spouse.”

In other words, the 'Partner System' in this game was the equivalent of a 'Marriage System' in other games.

Of course, that explains why the offer is treated as a proposal, but it's not officially recognized as such, just a marriage-like system.

Due to its detailed specifications, many players felt that it was more of a spouse system than a buddy system, and now it's an unspoken common understanding that that's just what it is.

"Complete inventory sharing, huh... so it's like a married couple's wallet."

Even our currency would be combined, making us truly in it together for life.

"And since it's a lifelong commitment, well... it requires the resolve to spend the rest of your days with someone you can trust with all your heart, you know?"

"Yeah, the fact that you can't break the contract is pretty crazy..."

That was the most crucial point. Apparently, once both parties agree and enter into this partner contract, there is no way to break it—in other words, no divorce.

Under normal circumstances, a feature like this would be met with a flood of complaints. In Arcadia, where you can't create multiple accounts or sub-characters, an irreversible element like this carries too much weight.

".........Hmm."

As my head cooled down, I turned my gaze to Sora.

It's certainly a heavy decision. But... is there any chance that I'll meet another partner in the future with whom I can connect and build trust as much as I have with her?

She's honest, hardworking, kind, and considerate. And she even tries her best to keep up with my often-over-the-top energy. Is there any chance I'd be lucky enough to meet another girl like that twice?

No way. And on top of that, she's a cute girl whose appearance (avatar) and personality are a perfect match for me. That's not just luck; it's a miracle you couldn't hope to find even if you lived a hundred lives.

...From my perspective, at least, there's no reason to back down, is there?

It's just an unspoken understanding, and at the end of the day, it's just a game system. It's not like we're stepping into a real-life romance or anything.

People might get the wrong idea about our relationship, but... conversely, if I can accept that minor demerit and give a clear form and name to our somewhat vague relationship, then—

"Uh... Sora-san."

"Yes?"

It might be an exaggeration to call it resolve, but I made up my mind and spoke.

"Taking all that into account, I'd like to propose this again... if you're okay with it, would you be my partner?"

A second time, now with a proper understanding of the situation.

This time, my words could undeniably be taken as that kind of confession, but after all this time together, Sora should understand me to some extent.

Being the smart girl she is, she should be able to read my true intentions.

"Ngh—that is... um."

Suppressing the urge to boil over again, Sora kneaded her cheeks with both hands as if to cool them down and showed a thoughtful expression.

"That is, um... not in a romantic sense, but as a purely platonic partnership... is that what you mean?"

"Yeah. If people get the wrong idea, we can just explain it to them."

Sora fell into thought, agreeing with that sentiment.

Of course, the benefits are almost entirely from my perspective. How much merit she sees in a partnership with me is completely up to her judgment.

I'm confident that we've built a trust that goes beyond the time we've spent together, but if you ask me if I'm a good catch, the answer is no... so, as I've said, this is a proposal “if Sora is okay with it.”

"...There are a lot of restrictions, but the benefits are significant, aren't they?"

"They are. The permanent buff during co-op battles is huge, and the exclusive skills for contracted partners are pretty broken. If we continue to pair up, the benefits will be substantial."

Whether we continue to pair up is also up to Sora. Why? Because I can't imagine a situation where I would be the one to break off our relationship.

"Um, Haru-san and I, well... our, our compatibility is good, right? Thanks to [this little one], my inventory capacity is more than I need, so we can make good use of the sharing feature."

Ah, that's true. If I could borrow the space Sora doesn't need from our simply doubled capacity, my own inventory situation would improve considerably.

"And..."

Sora's words trailed off, muttered more to herself than to me. I wasn't exactly calm myself, so I didn't have the courage to press her for more.

And so, after a moment of silence—

"Can I have a little time to think about it...?"

With an expression that seemed to say she wasn't entirely against the idea, Sora asked for a little more time.

◇◆◇◆◇

Itsuki Natsume was a maid.

In modern Japan, declaring oneself a maid by profession would inevitably attract curious stares, to varying degrees. For that reason, she presented herself as a housekeeper or a secretary to the public, but in her heart, Itsuki was a maid.

If asked why, she could only answer that it was a personal preference. The fact that she wore a maid uniform in the mansion even when told it was unnecessary was, one hundred percent, purely a hobby.

Itsuki had been given but one duty... well, not just one, but in her heart, it was the one and only matter that took precedence over all other tasks, something that had become her mission.

That was to be the caretaker of a single young girl.

She first met her three years ago, when the girl was a little younger than she is now.

To put it simply, Itsuki fell in love with the girl at first sight. Her exceptional looks were, of course, part of it, but it was her demeanor. The earnest gaze of one so young, always trying to be considerate of those around her, struck Itsuki right in the heart.

Ever since then, Itsuki has been the girl's lady-in-waiting, her friend, her older sister, and at times, her mother, dedicating herself to her more than anyone else.

Thanks to her efforts, the girl grew very fond of Itsuki, and they now share a close bond that makes even her employer, the 'Master', remark with envy, “They're like real sisters.”

This wonderful friend, younger sister, and even daughter-like figure, Itsuki's 'Young Mistress', has recently been quite engrossed in a certain game... and a certain gentleman.

She was a girl who, despite her naturally frail body, was mentally quite powerful to begin with. But lately, her emotions have been particularly rich.

In the beginning, Itsuki had to coax the stories out of her, but now she recounts her adventures every day on her own, and they are tales full of various colors.

Especially when she talks about the exploits of her partner, whose name comes up frequently, Itsuki can't help but surmise things from her expression.

It was a bit unsettling that she couldn't see it with her own eyes since it was happening in a virtual world, but her 'Young Mistress' was a good judge of character.

If she placed such pure trust in someone, then he couldn't be a scoundrel, at least.

With that in mind, Itsuki had been watching over the girl's burgeoning feelings, not yet quite love, with a warm smile—until one day.

"He proposed to me."

"Pro—"

Her 'Young Mistress' (Sora), who had appeared in the living room with unsteady steps, muttered the words with a bright red face, and Itsuki dropped the ladle into the pot.

As Itsuki stood there, stunned, Sora sank into the sofa, her mind clearly elsewhere. Seeing her in a state she had never witnessed in their years together, Itsuki immediately put the lid on the pot and turned off the heat without a second thought.

Preparing the soup stock was a trivial matter compared to the emergency facing her beloved Young Mistress.

Itsuki rounded the counter, came out from the kitchen, and went straight to Sora's side, sitting down right next to the girl.

"Sora?"

She peered into the dazed eyes staring into space, and beautiful sky-blue orbs turned to look at Itsuki. Those eyes, moist with a feverish heat, combined with the crimson of her flushed cheeks... well, it was, how should I put it...

"...Have you fallen in love?"

"...!"

They looked exactly like those of a young girl swept up in her first 'love'—and in response to Itsuki's careful question, Sora jumped with such alarm that her eyes spun and she began to flail in panic.

"N-n-no, that's not it! I-it's okay! It's still okay!! Haru-san said he didn't mean it that way! And I'm not mistaken about it either!"

"S-Sora? Let's calm down a little, shall we?"

Holding her frantic Young Mistress's shoulders to keep her from flying off the sofa—Itsuki secretly revised her assessment. This might be more serious than I thought.