kscans

Chapter 93 - 093

We left the dungeon and are now heading to Rena's family home.

Along the way, in the back seat of the limousine that came to pick us up, we were checking the archive of the compulsory stream.

"I’m glad the part where you kissed me wasn't forcibly streamed this time, Rena."

Unlike when I rescued Rena when she was made a trophy, the scene where she kissed me after I gave her the Necklace of the Blue Sky was not broadcast.

It's widely known that we're dating, but it's still embarrassing to have hundreds of millions of people watch us kissing.

"I wouldn't mind if they saw it."

"Your mental fortitude is top-tier."

"People in America kiss on TV all the time, don't they?"

That's different. The modesty of the Japanese is a virtue.

Incidentally, even though Rena says she wouldn't mind being seen, if it actually happened, she would surely turn red and get embarrassed later. The gap between her words and her actions is what makes her cute.

"W-Why are you smirking!? It's true, I wouldn't mind being seen."

"Then next time we clear a dungeon, can I hug you tightly right away?"

"Fine, do it. You can even kiss me if you want."

I wonder if she’ll regret saying something so bold out of bravado later?

Then again, seeing Rena squirming over it might be nice too.

"Okay. Then, if the mood is right after we clear the next dungeon."

"Y-Yeah."

I got her consent. Something to look forward to.

"By the way, Rena, how old did you turn on your birthday today?"

"Don't you know?"

"Yeah, sorry. Fifteen or something?"

I thought she was a year or two younger than me.

"...Sixteen."

"What."

"I turned sixteen. Same as you, Hayate."

"Oh, we’re the same age."

"You should be more interested in me."

"Ugh, sorry."

I might have been content just having her by my side. I'm Rena's boyfriend now, so I reflected that I should make more of an effort to know her better.

"I appreciate the birthday present. But you need to be punished for not knowing my age."

"Punished, you say?"

"You will sleep with me in my room tonight. You have no right to refuse."

That sounds more like a reward for me.

By the way, when she says tonight, there’s a birthday party at her family’s home, so we’ll probably be staying over instead of going back to our base.

When Rena says my room, she means her room at her family home.

Rena's father told me we're not allowed to sleep together yet, but is that really okay?

"You're sixteen now, Hayate, and your birthday is in March, so you're a second-year in high school, right?"

"That's right. I'm one grade above you, Rena."

"If it were a regular high school, I could easily keep up with the second-year curriculum."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"The high school Hayate went to was absorbed by the Black Dungeon and is currently closed. A new academy for training dungeon explorers is going to be built on that site."

"Ah. I didn't tell you, Rena, but I was thinking of going to that academy with my friend."

"You should invite me too."

"What."

"I'm telling you, keeping up with the studies of a higher grade level is no big deal for me! Besides, the main focus will be on dungeon explorer education, so I'm sure I could do well even in the same class as you, Hayate."

So that's what she meant.

Since Rena is a rich young lady, I just assumed she would continue to attend an academy where other wealthy heirs and heiresses gather. And since we're in different grades, I never even considered the possibility of being in the same classroom.

"Going to school together with Rena. That sounds nice."

Her expression brightened when she heard my words.

"Me too! I want to go to school with you too, Hayate!!"

To be honest, I was jealous of Naoto. He was always flirting with his girlfriend in the classroom whenever he got the chance.

But from now on, I can be with Rena too. We can spend time together in the classroom.

We can participate in all sorts of events together. Just imagining it was too wonderful.

"Rena-san."

"Y-Yes."

"Would you like to go to the new dungeon explorer training academy with me?"

"I will! I'm definitely going!!"

Yes!

Is there an entrance exam? Who cares, I'll use whatever means necessary to pass it.

No guarantee we'll be in the same class? We've got the Shinonome Zaibatsu backing us. We have the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the United States on our side, and if need be, we have a god as an ally. We can get the class assignments rearranged.

I was firmly resolved. I would absolutely go to the academy with Rena. And we would be in the same class.