kscans

Chapter 929 - A Parallel Daily Life

"Hey, look, a delinquent."

"Ah, it's the delinquent who skips school for games."

"What a way to say 'good morning,' you two..."

Tuesday morning, the next day. As soon as I showed up in the university lecture hall, my two easygoing friends and reliable teammates immediately started teasing me.

It was obvious what they were talking about. It was because I'd skipped my classes yesterday.

"Well, in this day and age, showing up here is more likely to get you marked absent, y'know?"

Toyama Toshiki, who looked like a student athlete, said this in a joking tone, but when measured against the 'current common sense', his words were frighteningly on point.

"No rest for the wicked, either here or there, huh, Nozomin?"

And then there was the familiar, full-faced smirk. The beautiful, black-haired Ashiwara Shoko was, as always, gathering the gazes of the male students around her, but she paid them no mind, living as freely as ever.

She tugged on my sleeve, and I was made to sit—or rather, plunk—down next to her.

""How far'd you get?""

"...Ninetieth floor. Morning."

""'Sup.""

Their voices were hushed, just in case.

Believing I'd spent the entire previous day on the conquest, the two of them tilted their heads at my modest progress, thinking 'that's less than I expected,' before casually returning my greeting.

Well, of course they'd think that. I haven't told them.

Sora, Ashe... and now Milmarinus, the Sapphire Fairy. They've probably figured out that I have some real-world connection to her, but it hasn't been confirmed yet.

That's true not just for the public, but for my friends as well. There's no reason to introduce them, and Nia has no reason to meet my friends, so the chance of them meeting is zero.

Therefore, there's no need to be brutally honest about it.

And so, for today, I was, without a doubt, 'the guy who skipped school yesterday to play a game.'

"Still, to get to the ninetieth floor in about a week..."

"Didn't even need two weeks, huh... Wow, as expected!"

In any case, sharing everything that doesn't need to be kept private is what being a team is all about.

The two of them, who were aware of nearly all of 'The Acrobat's' activities, naturally knew that a party of rankers was currently tearing through the Key Tree Maze.

Every time I hand over the archived recording data, they scream for two different reasons.

"As usual, I'll give the data from Saturday, Sunday, and today to Mizuki later. Make sure you guys look it over."

"Uwaaah..."

"The data backlog just keeps growing..."

So, it would be the same this time... however,

"..."

"...Huh? Is it me, or does he have an evil look on his face?"

"...What did he do this time?"

Although it was customary to share everything that wasn't private, our relationship was, at its core, a casual friendship. So, every once in a while, I, the one who was always being teased, got to be the prankster.

In other words, the fact that I had gone on a rampage yesterday, showing off my newly evolved Teller Armament, was a surprise. They could be thoroughly shocked later in their workshop, the Shijo residence.

◇◆◇◆◇

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Haru-kun. ...Good work yesterday?"

"Now that's a fine way to say good morning..."

Before the second period, it was still, just barely, morning.

As soon as we met in the lecture hall, I was greeted with two pleasantries and smiles. I felt at ease with this pair of best friends, who I trusted in a different category than my childhood friend pair.

In any case, they probably had no idea what I was talking about.

I returned their calm greeting with a relaxed smile and a nonsensical comment, causing both girls to tilt their heads in unison with a "?" I just shook my head and said, "It's nothing."

"Morning. Here, Kaede, I need you to take this."

This time, I calmly sat down without having my sleeve yanked, and took a USB out of my bag, handing it to the stylishly fluffy Shijo Kaede.

And so, the young lady of the Shijo conglomerate and the de facto manager for me, 'The Acrobat,' took it...

"Ah, yes, of course. I have received it."

She accepted the item reverently, her expression half-serious, half-playful.

"Progress?"

The question came from her best friend in the seat behind her, her glasses glinting with curiosity.

She was the director of the archive video editing... or rather, more than just Kaede's manager, Kajisawa Mizuki was practically becoming 'The Acrobat's' producer.

"Ninetieth floor."

"...Was it 'Earth'?"

"It was."

"...Four-element completion reward?"

"There was one."

"...Mm, as expected."

While they're a calmer pair compared to Toshiki and Shoko, Kaede and Mizuki leave the other two in the dust when it comes to their otaku level. Her theory proven correct, the producer's best friend looked pleased behind her stoic expression, which the young lady watched with an amused smile.

As for who, in total, is the most intense of them all...

"...Haru-kun?"

"Hmm, what should I have for lunch today?"

"I know what you're doing, you know. You were just thinking something rude, weren't you!"

For the sake of peace, I'll keep that to myself.

◇◆◇◆◇

"So, long story short, it looks like my schedule's going to be free very soon, almost for sure."

""""Ooh.""""

And so, after class, during lunch break. As a group with no bento-packers, we were doing our part to contribute to the bustle of the cafeteria as usual. We all grabbed our fuel and gathered at a table.

"So, like I was saying a little while ago... as a way to thank you all for your dedicated support, I think we should set aside some time to do something. So, there you have it."

""Whooo!""

"I'm looking forward to it."

As I said, this was something we'd been talking about for a while... specifically, since I started the Key Tree conquest and began placing a huge burden on the four of them. When I brought it up, cheers erupted from the usual direct hype-people, Toshiki and Shoko.

Mizuki chimed in reservedly. Next to her, Kaede was smiling elegantly.

"I plan on wrapping this up sometime this week. So, if we want to do something as soon as possible, I'm free this weekend, Saturday or Sunday... but what about you four—"

""Whooo!""

"Whooo."

"Manager, translate."

"Ah, haha... I think they're saying Saturday and Sunday are fine... probably?"

Kaede-san, the last bastion of sanity.

By the way, if she were to show her true colors, the one who's the most intense in total is—

"Nozomi-kun?"

"Wait, I thought I did a pretty good job keeping a poker face just now."

"What exactly are you trying so hard to do, honestly...!"

Isn't everyone getting way too good at reading me?

Huh? What is it? Am I that easy to read lately? Back in high school, people used to say things like, 'Kasuga-kun, I can never tell what you're thinking,' but that's beside the point...

"Well, that's the situation."

"Ah, he just brushed it off...!"

"So, if anyone has any requests, let me know."

—The virtual world is important, but it goes without saying that the real world is important too.

"Yes! Can we request anything at all?!"

"You're full of energy, Shoko-kun. As long as it's something I can make happen, I'll probably allow it. Think of whatever you like."

"Yes, sir! Does that mean we can go all out?!"

"You're full of energy, Toshiki-kun. Bring it on. I'm not arrogant enough to think I'm earning all this on my own."

"Yes. Is it possible... for Hinata-chan to come with us?"

"Ah... I'll have to get back to you on that one, Mizuki-kun. I'll ask her."

It's not just about thanking my friends and rewarding my companions. To be honest, a large part of it is simply that I, myself, want to enjoy my youth as a student.

So, naturally.

"...Okay. Let's go bowling, Haru-kun."

"Could I be spared from the 'Watch His Pathetic Counterattack' party, Kaede-kun?"

"I cast one vote for the 'Watch His Pathetic Attempt at Revenge' party."

"Ah, I also cast one vote for the pathetic attempt party!"

"Hey, ganging up on me is a dirty trick, girls...!"

"Time to pay your dues, you terrible bowler."

"Don't call me a terrible bowler...!"

The 'me' over there, the 'me' over here—whoever said it, neither of us has any 'free time'.

---

Alright, let's just quickly aim for the 100th floor.