kscans

Chapter 82 - The Golden Witch and an A-Rank at a Family Restaurant…

I awoke to the presence of another person. When I opened my eyes, a girl with a cute face was peering down at me.

"Good morning."

"Kaede-chan, morning…"

I’m sleepy.

"What time did you go to bed last night?"

"Around three, I think? Nanapon called me…"

She called around midnight.

"Ah, I see. So that’s why you’re Eleanor-san."

Hearing that from Kaede-chan, I moved my hand under the covers to my lower body.

"Oh, you’re right. It’s gone."

"I won’t ask what. You can go back to sleep, but don’t forget you have a deal with Yoshino-san this afternoon."

"Yeah… Kaede-chan, come sleep with me. And wake me up when it’s time."

"I’d love to sleep in too. But I have work."

Ah, Kaede-chan isn’t in her pajamas. She’s in her outdoor clothes.

"Have a good day…"

"You too. I left some onigiri on the table for you, so make sure you eat."

Is she my mom?

"Okay…"

After hearing my reply, Kaede-chan stood up and left the room. Unable to fight off my sleepiness and the warmth of the blanket, I closed my eyes again.

Ping pong, a sound went off. I reached for the smartphone by my pillow and looked at it.

[Time to get up. You have to get ready, and sleeping in too much isn’t good for you.]

It was a message from Kaede-chan. I checked the time. It was ten o’clock.

I operated my phone while still lying in bed.

[I’m up! Thanks!]

A reply came back almost immediately.

[Getting up means getting out of bed. I bet you’re still under the covers.]

Reading that, I sat up and looked around the room.

"A camera?"

I tilted my head but got out of bed and headed to the living room. I sat down in a chair at the table and operated my phone again.

[I was up.] [30 seconds. I call your bluff.]

Esper Kaede is amazing.

I simply replied with [You’re amazing, Kaede-chan] and put my phone on the table. Then I went to the kitchen and drank some water. Returning to the table, I started eating the round onigiri that Kaede-chan had made for me.

"It’s good, but it’s cold. And it’s chilly in here."

Winter is almost here. It’ll soon be time to start using the heater.

After finishing the onigiri, I washed my face and fully woke myself up.

"If Kaede-chan hadn’t woken me up, I would have definitely slept until noon…"

Kaede-chan is such a good girl. Compared to her, what was Nanapon thinking, calling at that hour? And it was about what kind of outfit would be appropriate for Eleanor-san’s apprentice. Something I couldn’t care less about.

"……Guess I’ll get changed."

I returned to my room, opened the closet, and then the dresser.

"Hmm, half of this has been invaded by women’s clothes."

Anyone who saw this would think it was the dresser of someone with a cross-dressing hobby.

Normally, this is something you’d never want your housemate to find out about, but in our case, it’s not a problem. That’s because Kaede-chan picked out all these clothes herself. What’s more, she even coordinated them, telling me which top goes with which bottom.

I learned that yesterday after we came home from our shopping date. It was quite the first date.

"Which one should I wear…"

I pondered for a moment, but figured they were all about the same, so I picked one at random and started changing.

"Ah, these clothes don’t smell nice at all."

I liked Kaede-chan’s clothes better…

After I finished changing, I went back to the changing room and stood in front of the vanity mirror. The blonde woman reflected in the mirror was wearing a white sweater and a long brown skirt. The reason the sweater was white was because my usual robe is pitch black, so wearing the opposite, a brighter color, would make me less recognizable.

"I’m completely a woman… Not that it’s a surprise."

The only women’s clothing I had worn before, besides when I borrowed from Kaede-chan, was the black robe. And even when I borrowed from Kaede-chan, I never saw my reflection in a mirror. So this was effectively the first time I was seeing Eleanor-san in normal, everyday clothes.

"I think she’s beautiful, but pretty plain."

Kaede-chan is definitely cuter.

"It’s… 11 o’clock now."

Deciding to get ready and leave quickly, I tied my long hair into a single ponytail with a hair tie and brought it over my left shoulder instead of letting it hang down my back.

"This is fine. Having it in the back is too conspicuous."

Even though I wasn’t wearing the black robe, this long blonde hair still stood out. Bringing it to the front should make it a little better.

I finished my preparations, put the bag I was selling to Yoshino-san, which I’d made yesterday by inserting a rubber band into it after Kaede-chan helped me pick it out, into my own white bag. Then I put on my coat, slung the bag over my shoulder, and drank an Invisibility Potion.

With all my preparations complete, I left the house and headed for the family restaurant in Ikebukuro where we were supposed to meet.

◆◇◆

After leaving the house, I dispelled my invisibility in an empty spot and hailed a taxi. A short ride later, I arrived at my destination, the family restaurant. I paid the driver, got out of the taxi, and went inside.

"Welcome! A table for one?"

As I entered, a female waitress greeted me cheerfully.

"Um, I’m meeting someone…………ah."

As I scanned the restaurant, I saw a familiar face waving at me.

"There."

I pointed towards Yoshino-san, who had already arrived.

"Right this way."

The waitress gestured, so I headed to the table where Yoshino-san was sitting.

"Hello. I’m sorry for being late."

I apologized as I sat down across from her.

"No, I was just too early. But what’s with the sunglasses?"

Yoshino-san looked at my face with an exasperated expression.

"I was going for a celebrity look…"

I was actually really excited when I bought them yesterday…

"Take them off. They make you stand out more."

Aw, man…

I did as I was told, taking off the sunglasses. I also took off my coat and placed it on the seat next to me.

"This is the first time I’ve seen you in normal clothes."

It’s the first time I’ve seen them too.

"Does it look strange?"

By the way, if you insult my fashion master, I’m leaving.

"No, it suits you. It’s just that the image of that black robe is so strong. Is that what you wear as your everyday clothes too?"

"It shouldn’t matter what other people wear."

"Ah, you’re right. But you seem to be deliberately trying to stand out."

She’s right! Eleanor-san is Okita-kun’s cover, after all.

"I like to stand out."

"You don’t seem like the type… For someone who likes to stand out, you sure avoid people in Frontier."

"I like to stand out, but I hate being bothered. You understand, don’t you?"

"Well, I suppose so………… Sorry, I have a habit of prying. Order whatever you like. I recommend the doria."

Yoshino-san said, handing me a menu. I took it and looked through it.

………………………….

Isn’t doria the cheapest thing on here… Don’t be so stingy when we’re about to conduct a transaction worth over 40 million yen…

"Saegusa Yoshino-san, no, Yoshino-san, let me treat you today."

I announced as I handed the menu back.

"No, I’ll get it. The doria is delicious."

"I’m having the cheese hamburg steak!"

"I see………… Sorry to make you pay. I’ll have that too."

I can say this with certainty. This woman has no friends other than Lin-san.

We ordered the cheese hamburg steak set and waited while drinking juice from the drink bar. A short while later, our cheese hamburg steak sets arrived, and we began to eat.

"Mm, this is good."

"It’s alright."

It’s cheap, but it’s decent enough.

"Is it alright if I ask you something while we eat?"

"Go ahead. Pry as much as you like."

"That wasn’t my intention…………"

"It’s useless. Everyone tries to pry. I’ll tell you this upfront, I’m not from Frontier."

Do people from Frontier even really exist? I’m pushing the theory that they’re not humanoid, but aliens.

"Well, just think of it as small talk. Why did you choose the Ikebukuro Guild?"

"I just picked one at random. There’s no reason."

That’s actually true. I chose it on a whim. I’m sure it was fate. By the way, when I told Kaede-chan this, she scoffed and said, "It was just because it was close, wasn’t it?" Correct.

"Then why not transfer?"

"I won’t. I’m indebted to your cousin."

"I see… Say, what did Satsuki-neesan say about me?"

This woman really cares about that. If you’re that concerned, then don’t transfer.

"A money-grubber."

"…………I don’t want to hear that from her."

Pot, meet kettle. You’re a cheapskate yourself.