Chapter 41
Book 4
"My, you're really here Sasahara-kun."
"Kyouko-san. Figured it'd be you."
"Yes. Chairwoman personally asked me, 'Yuuki-kun is in a bind. Would you be willing to keep him company?' The fact that she had a grasp of my schedule didn't come as a shock... but seeing as she personally issued the order, I am hypothesizing she needs the power of my summon. So, what is it that's troubling you?"
Ah, Chairwoman didn't say a word about my situation huh.
But I see it's not the first time... she asked for Kyouko-san's cooperation.
I've heard Kyouko-san's got into an agreement with Akimiya Group... I guess this kind of stuff is part of that agreement.
"As it is apparent, you're a favorite of Chairwoman. Quite so at that."
"Well, um. I did get into a huge mess with them. I mean my connection with Akimiya was how I got into Scwhein in the first place."
"...Well, I shall refrain from probing more. How would you need my assistance?"
Chairwoman probably sent Kyouko-san my way to help me gain intel on that woman.
But... Now that I know the reason behind her approach, I don't really care about knowing more. So--
"Hnn, I'm good. My bad, Kyouko-san. I ended up wasting your off time."
"...Let me know your circumstance at least... No, how about sharing a little with me. You're not acting like yourself. You have this sad look on your face."
"Eh, you're lying."
"I am not. It's a fact that there is something weighing on your mind. I am willing to hear you out. That should serve as me doing my part of the deal this time. Will that not suffice?"
Why is she being so kind out of nowhere. Acting this way is kinda unfair if I were really vulnerable right now.
"I just saw my biological mother, y'see. Stuff happened. You know, stuff."
"...I understand. The situation around you and the reason why I was called, everything. I see, then I suppose you don't need my help anymore?"
"Yup. She was dumber than I ever imagined."
"...Just so you know, people such as her, those drunk on a certain degree of authority and wealth are dime a dozen in this world. You simply never had a chance to come across those individuals until this point in time, which gave you a little bit of shock. That is all there is to it."
"Yup, I think so too."
"Thus, your shock will soon wear thin. Your daily life will resume as is. You will forget about it. Fufu, go and have something sweet, okay?"
Eey, she's really being unfair. Anyone's gonna skip a beat if a smile that dazzling got directed at them.
"Good grief... I do not believe Chairwoman in her capacity as a student guardian would normally overlook these situations. I'm quite certain the capability to sympathize with someone is outside her realm of expertise. Hence her reliance on me... Sasahara-kun, I understand that Akimiya may have promised you a position in the future, but know that my family is just as capable of providing you with a path forward as well. I am scouting you out of the goodness of my heart, not of interest. Do please give it some thought."
"Haha... You've really got a beef with Akimiya, Kyouko-san."
"It is but a sense of rivalry. I do not loathe them."
She's quite honest with her attitude around them.
But I'm thankful to hear those words from her at this timing.
I'm really blessed with good friends, aren't I.
"...Let's order something. Have you?"
"Ah, right. Okay then I'll have... an iced tea."
"I shall have a Tropical Sherbet Cocktail myself. According to a magazine I read, this cafe is popular among girls our age. That is supposedly the most popular item."
"Kinda hard to picture Kyouko-san reading that kind of magazines. My image of you is that of an adult woman."
"I will take that as a compliment."
Thank you, Kyouko-san. Talking to you cleared my head if only a tad.
Women who pick the stupidest choices like that really exist out there.
"Hey, how do I look in this? Weird or not?"
"Uwaa, that fits you so well Selia-san! You're so tall not only long skirts work but long boots and short pants like that bring out your coolness."
"Do I? I don't usually combine um, skirts and trousers? like this.... Fashion on Earth is just as advanced.... Think I'll get the complete set."
The place is a big multi-story building housing all sorts of apparel stores in Shibuya.
Crowded with many young people, Selia and Satomi are enjoying a little personal fashion show befitting their age.
The states of clothing garments between Earth and Grandia don't differ much. However, design, color and combination-wise, Earth is head and shoulder above, Selia is desperately trying to stop herself from buying too much just because she's having too much fun.
Satomi herself is sending a longing glance at the tall, abs-exposing Selia-san who doesn't shy away from showing off her well defined muscles, the opposite of her style.
She's just as excited shopping at Shibuya, the holy land of fashion, since her only clothing choices are usually about picking a selection of robes and uniforms due to her Grandia commute.
In all her excitement--she slipped a word out.
"I'm sure Yuuki will fall all over you again if you show him that look!"
"Fall all over again... I don't think he's even fallen once though..."
"Eh? ...Huh, aren't you two going out..."
"N-no we're not!? I mean yes we're in the same class, take the same lectures together and we get along great... but we're not really dating, okay? I thought Satomi-san was in fact--"
This was pretty much inevitable. When two young girls share a common point in one young boy, this topic would always crop up... or maybe not, but it does sometimes.
As for Satomi-san's response to that--
"No? I'm just a friend. I do look up to him but it's not love or anything. The way he's so strong despite being my age is kinda, you know, dazzling."
"H-hee.... Was Yuuki seeing someone in high school?"
"Unn, I wonder? I only started talking to him on our third year... But, I thought for sure you were seeing Yuuki-kun, Selia-san."
"D-do we look like we are?"
"Yup. I mean, Selia-san... You like Yuuki-kun, right?"
That sudden confident claim turned Selia into a mumbling mess.
"I kind of saw glimpses of that here and there. I'm sorry if I took it wrong."
"...Well, um. I admit that Yuuki is quite dependable. I might be attracted to him deep down. I dunno if this is love though."
"I see. Yuuki-kun is getting cooler and cooler ever since he got into Scwhein School after all."
"He really is~. He got so popular at one time he couldn't even walk around freely at the campus."
"Eh!? What's that about, tell me more."
"Fufufu, sure thing. We did that mission together last time, remember... That field training?"
It happened a few months ago but the incident left a huge impression.
Following that, Yuuki saw a drastic change in his life.
As Selia was having fun narrating that, she also started to sort out the feeling she harbors in her heart.
『Is this really love I feel towards Yuuki?』.
However, she could not find the answer to that just yet.
"Also, there was a rumor about Yuuki getting engaged with a classmate of ours going around once."
"Uwaah, skipping dating straight to engagement... That's Scwhein School for you."
"Isn't it. I'm also a mere peasant in Grandia, see. Even if aristocracy doesn't exist in Japan, big name families that are kinda the same probably do, right? This classmate in question comes from that kind of family."
"Hee... I'm your average farming family girl myself, so that kind of story sounds fascinating to me... I'm gonna ask Yuuki-kun for more detail later."
"You go girl. Yuuki gets along well with all the girls in our class. From what I heard, the first ever classmate who visited Yuuki's house is this girl called Koune, see."
"Koune-san... Is that the person who... eats phoenix...?"
"Ah, yeah that! That's the girl. She actually comes from a super big name noble house. The last-last family head was the king of Secondaria Kingdom."
"Eh, then she's like, a princess...?"
"Hnn, the ruler of that kingdom is decided in a conference between the four great houses there. So there's no guarantee she'll be one. So Koune-san is only a heiress of a big name noble house."
"I don't think you can brush that over with just 'only'...."
"Ah, point taken. That girl's head is usually full of nothing but food so, you know."
"Uu, I have to make sure she won't target my summon..."
The two kept chatting away about so many random things like which clothes or accessories to get, the topic of 'love' veered away.
Did that happen due to how the conversation simply went--or did they consciously steer away from it.
None is the wiser.
"Are you okay, Kyouko-san? They say you'd feel better if you cool the area between your brows."
"Uu... It was so tasty I couldn't help myself... I have never experienced this pain in my life before..."
Kyouko-san ate too much shaved ice too fast, she got a brain freeze. Apparently she never had a shaved ice before this point.
Actually this is the second time ever she visited this kind of cafe. The first one was during a Hakata Food Fair.
Whoa, a true blue high class lady! So unlike a certain gluttonous lady.
"Haa... ha... fufu, I showed you such a sorry state of me."
"Don't threaten me, okay. I'm not telling people or anything."
"Fufu, I place my faith in you. But... This thick flavor you cannot find in sherbet is quite nice... The way you could thin it out by eating the white part also gets a point from me."
"Seeing you makes me want to order one for myself. Nice for a hot day like this."
"Fufu, would you like a bite? For some reason that escapes me, they serve this dish in a big cup and it comes with two spoons."
Ah, that's prolly because it's a couple dish as written on the menu. Kyouko-san didn't notice huh. Kinda embarrassing but well, nobody is around us....
"Here you go."
"Ah, yes."
She shared hers in a cup with another spoon. I wasn't hoping her to spoon me or anything, okay!
"You wear your heart on your sleeve, don't you. Did you truly believe I would feed you?"
"Uee!? No way, no I don't!"
"Fufu, I jest. But... this really does taste nice."
"Yup. I think Kyushu's got a type of shaved ice as a specialty dish somewhere?"
"That would be 'Shirokuma' in Kagoshima District. Although I have yet to taste one."
"Yep, that! I love that stuff."
"Fufu, do you now. I shall give it a sample when the opportunity arises."
This is kinda calming. I feel nervous around Kyouko-san because she's like the perfect embodiment of 'Japanese Lady' in my mind. Conversely, that aspect is what makes her easy to talk to.
Long black hair. Light make up. Slightly cold tone. She'd likely beat me up if I said it out loud... but she kinda reminds of my grandma somewhat. I'm never saying that out loud though.
"...Fufu, I'm glad you have perked up considerably."
"Ah... Haha, I am. Thank you, Kyouko-san."
"You're welcome... Perhaps this is how it feels if I had a kid brother?"
"Oh come on, you don't say to a boy your age. I'm gonna grow even taller in one, two year, I'm sure."
"I think you are good as is. Balanced as it should be."
"What does that mean."
"If your outer self reflects your inner self, you would be... quite hard to approach. You're very much affable on one side, while a different part of yourself stays clear of us from a faraway place. That's how you feel to me."
"Hahaha, what's even that. I'm your nice young man with the stature to back at all time."
"Fufu, that would be nice."
Ixia-san said something along that line. That my consciousness isn't quite normal... I wonder if I'm still not perfectly conformed to this world.
Someone knocked the door and the waiter came in for the third time.
"Pardon. Your companions are here."
"Ah, got it."
"My? Were you waiting for someone?"
"Yup. Keep that matter a secret okay. Back me up."
"Yes."
Selia-san wearing a different set of clothing than she was in earlier, and Satomi-san with sunglasses and a hat that frankly don't look like a good fit to her showed up.
"Ah, Kazuki-san! How come...?"
"Welcome back, you two. I saw her in this cafe by chance earlier so I thought might as well invite her."
"Err, good afternoon. Nice to meet you... wait, this isn't the first time, is it."
"Yes, I believe you were the attendant that was visiting with Norun-sama. I take it you're Sasahara-kun's acquaintance?"
"Ah, we attended the same high school."
"I see. But still... Flowers in both hands, what a sinful man you are, Sasahara-kun."
"Wait till you heard how I've got the third one falling into my lap."
"Fufu, well said. Forgive me, did I interrupt you three in your outing? I will make myself scarce."
Kyouko-san finished her shaved ice and got up.
Selia-san and Satomi-san called out to her just as she was staggering her way out.
"Let's go have some fun together, Kazuki-san. If you have time of course."
"I-I agree. You're already here and all."
"Yup, let's look around. All four of us."
"...Well, I might as well take up your offer."
I dunno if she really doesn't have business after this but she accepted our invitation nonetheless.
Afterward she told us that she wanted to get her car to the parking lot so we ended up taking a ride on it.... but man, riding a car on Tokyo is kinda inconvenience.
Sorry about it, Kyouko-san, no seriously.
"Huh? Is it just me or is this a different car from the last one?"
We finished touring all the famous spots like a famous public park a gallery, and a souvenir store near a dome-shaped baseball stadium. We hitched a ride in Kyouko-san's car back to floating city.
That was when I noticed that it was a different car than the last one she drove--
"Eh, what what!? You drove with her before, Yuuki-kun!?"
"Eh, you rode her car already!? So you're Kazuki-san's fiance for real!?"
"...Please keep your voice down. I merely offered him a ride when we went out together to order his device."
Selia-san and Satomi-san went into young girl mode and got all worked up.
"Ah, right you gave him some sort of, catalog?"
"Oh..."
"So, about my question."
"It's nothing much. My private car is parked in my floating city's apartment but the bridge is still under repair, remember? As such, I have a spare car to use on the mainland for the time being."
I see. Truly a situation peasants can never understand! That's a company president's daughter for you.
"Hee... that's kinda shocking. Maybe because I'm too rural to understand...?"
"I don't really get it either... Wonder if it's like how nobles have a different carriage for each continent."
"That's probably easier than having the carriage take a boat trip."
"Yes. This car belongs to my company. Which explains its deficient acceleration and the frame's extraneous weight..."
I don't really get the differences but an aspiring mechanic like her is probably fussy about those things.
We arrived at the harbor used as a hub for the bridge reconstruction.
"Hee, they've got the base structures connected already huh? Can't see well from here though."
"I don't think we can see the bombing site from here. Come on, let's get on board the ferry."
"...Wonder how it'd have looked if Yuuki-kun didn't stop the bomb..."
"Let's see, it took 11 years since breaking ground before the floating city bridge started operation. Taking that into account, it would likely take around three years before they could rebuild everything in that alternate reality. Truly, his achievement was enough to warrant a National Honor Award badge, but he did not make the cut citing his capacity as Akimiya studentt as the reason. This country is unable to strong arm Akimiya on that type of matters."
"News to me. I'd turn it down either way, though."
"Eeh, what a waste."
"Is it akin to a knight medal award? If so, you've got nothing to lose from accepting that. We've got several people like that in my village and they get monthly pay for it."
Selia-san is making a weirdly homely point.
Hee... Grandia got that kind of system huh. Interesting.
"By the way, Kyouko-san. How about having dinner at my house tonight? Selia-san and Satomi-san will be there too. I've been nothing but trouble for you today. I'd like to make it up to you."
"I don't... remember you causing any sort of trouble for me... but fufu, I would take up on your offer."
"Oh! How many classmates have been at Yuuki home with this?"
"Hn, err... Kyouko-san makes the third one. Satomi-san and Selia-san. Five in total... We don't get a lot of visitors up the hill."
Despite that fact, Ixia-san responded me informing that there'd be another guest for the dinner with, 'Yes, keep them coming'.
Wonder if Ixia-san will bring her housewife friends one day.
Wonder if this excitement I feel unbecoming of my age is because I don't usually welcome friends to my house.
Once I started living by myself, my friends treated my house as a place to go wild because nobody was around to scold them so I had a lot of untoward types dropping by.
I cut off my ties with those types though.
I made them understand that coming to play and being a hang-out spot is an entirely different thing.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
『I, Mother and R-oneesan will guide you through today's recipes.』
『BB is in Grandia for work, see. It's been so long since we went there. I wanna do a homecoming too.』
『Fufu, that we do. Now then... Today's recipe comes from a recently popular questionnaire about the cuisine young women like best--』
I'm feeling more motivated as a mother these days thanks to Yuuki friends coming over.
Making your kid friends feel at home. That is something I had never experienced in my past life.
Normally, outsiders could not visit the facility and we had a rule that ensured children who were adopted stayed anonymous.
I have to make sure dinner today comes out delicious. Yuuki just informed me that he had invited another friend.
『Too bad huh, Mother. The menu doesn't have a lot of meat.』
『Oh whoever feels bad here? We will be making Bagna Cauda, eggplants tomato bolognese, and non-alcoholic frozen cocktail.』
『What about all the sweetness!? Where dessert!?』
『Well now. That's all written on the memo.』
『Ice cream, let's make ice cream!』
『Oh whatever I'd do with you... Very well, let's add honeyed tomato mint sherbet to the list.』
R-oneesan is as cute as ever. But recipes popular with young women are they... Would Selia-san and Satomi-san be pleased, I wonder?
Yuuki did not give additional detail on the new friend.
"Fumu... Well, I suppose I could always serve the tuna monster from the fridge if I had to. I'm sure nobody would dislike that."
I tried my best to memorize the recipes as I watched the streaming video.
"Oh! This is really good! It brings out all the flavors of the vegetables... such a complex taste. Anchovy, cheese, garlic, white wine... This can go so well with many things."
Right as I was about done with the cooking leave for the finishing touch, I saw that it was half past five.
It has been an hour since I received the message, 'We're on the way home.' I have truly gotten the hang of cooking if I do say so myself.
I have learned how to create all-purpose dishes I could freeze and store in the fridge, hence I am able to serve many things in a short amount of time.
BB Channel... It's all thanks to it. I have to strive harder for lunchbox making next semester too.
『I'm home.』
My heart throbbed when I heard Yuuki's voice.
I love this moment that dispels away all the swirling thoughts in my mind, 'Will he tell me it's delicious', 'Will he like it', 'Will he come home safe', above everything else.
I head to the front door--
"Welcome home, Yuuki. You too, Selia-san, Satomi-san. And--"
"Good evening, Sasahara-kun's mother. I'm grateful for having me over. My name is 'Kazuki Kyouko', one of Sasahara-kun's classmates."
"My, thank you for coming all the way here, Kyouko-san. Come in now, make yourselves at home."
She was such a cute girl. I'm unsure if it comes off as a rude thing to say, but she looks alike to a Japanese doll in Yuuki's parent house with her striking lustrous black hair.
I could tell that she has been well trained from her speech and conduct. It's... a training meant not for combat but propriety. Could she be a lady of a noble family perhaps.
"Err, have I done something wrong...?"
"Oh pardon me, I was fascinated by another beautiful girl Yuuki brought home. Fufu, you've been inviting nothing but young woman haven't you, Yuuki?"
"My... Fufu, perhaps I have to be more careful about you than Arariel-kun, Sasahara-kun?"
"Ah hey! It's a coincidence I swear! Come on, Ixia-san... Koune-san's head was full of food back then."
Oh what fun. A lively atmosphere in this house is such a good thing.
But really, Yuuki gets along well with these girls.
...He might even tie the knot with one of them.
That would make her my daughter in law. Daughter... such a nice ring to it.
"Excuse me."
"Welcome back, Selia-san. Fufu, you've changed into such a cute attire."
"Ah, I just bought these. Fufu, you're gonna make me blush."
"I bought a hat too!"
"Fufu, Satomi-san's... just as cute. That's an unusual design."
"Yes! I like how it looks like a flame."
...Satomi-san is really cute. She's like a kid who has received a new toy.
As for Selia-san... I see, these clothes expose the skin for the opposite sex... fumu.
"Let's proceed to the living room. I'll get you some cold drinks."
"Thank you. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Fufu, much appreciated, Kyouko-san. Could you bring this tray to the table?"
This is good... truly. I think from the bottom of my heart. Having children all around you is a good thing.
"That was sublime... My family does farming but my mom never makes something this fancy... I've only ever seen vegetable sticks in restaurants."
"Hahahaha! Now that you mentioned it! That sounded just like my grandma. Ixia-san, thank you so much for the delicious dinner."
"I'm happy it was to your liking. Thank you for enjoying the meal."
After meal, all of them would express how good my cooking was.
What a nice feeling. His friends do seem to genuinely believe that seeing as they left nothing on their plates.
"This sauce dressing on the vegetable is so good... Maybe I could learn how to make it... I wanna treat the people in my village."
"Fufu, BB Channel has the recipe on today's video. Do give it a watch."
"BeeBee Channel? What's that."
Oh I have to educate her. The more people know this scripture the merrier.
"...I-I see."
"That's the hotly talked about Grandia cooking channel. From the few videos I watched, they appear to have a deep understanding on earth cooking. People surmised that the chef was a royal court chef in Grandia but his identity remains unknown. Rumor says only staff of Akimiya Group network division are aware of BB and his two helpers' real identities."
"Oh, is that right? Kyouko-san, you're quite well informed on BB Channel."
To think she was a comrade. Fufu, what a good thing. It must be popular, all my housewife friends watch the channel too.
"Our company requested their review for a kitchenware product but they declined citing they don't do enterprise subjects... but I could not bring myself to hate them. Their cooking videos are interesting to watch after all."
"Kyouko-san's company... makes that stuff too huh..."
"The refrigerator here and the air cleaner at the entrance are made by our company."
"For real!?"
Fumu? Kyouko-san's family owns a company that make appliances I see.
"Thank you for the food. I'm sorry for taking so long."
"Please don't mind it. I'm glad to see you relishing my cooking. Was it to your liking?"
"Yes. Both the bagna cauda and this sherbet are very tasty. I never had anything like that. It tastes so refreshing, I like it."
Thank goodness. I did not have honey on hands so I made do with flower nectar I refined.
"Oh, would you look at the time. I have to take my leave if I wish to make it home on time. Sasahara-kun, and his mother. I'm truly grateful for your invitation today."
"Ah, I have to go back too. My place's in the downtown back."
"Ah, right. Want me to walk you over?"
"Uun, no need it's close by with a lot of people around, really."
"Think that's my cue too. My place's the campus dorms, and... It's past curfew."
The clock show it's past seven before I realized. Time really does fly when you are having fun.
Now then...
"Sasahara-kun, could I trouble you to escort me to the bus stop? I usually take a private car back, so I'm not familiar with the location."
"Eh? Oh, OK. I'm heading out for a bit, Ixia-san."
"Yes, take care. You three, have a safe trip back, okay."
I went back to the kitchen to do the dish once the three said their good bye in unison.
"Gotta ta-ta here. See you later, Kazuki-san! You too Yuuki!"
"Yup, good night."
We said good bye to Selia-san in front of the dorms, leaving me alone with Kyouko-san as we made our way to the bus stop.
...I've never walked around in the campus ground when it's this dark out.
"So, what's up Kyouko-san. You need to talk about something right?"
"Well inferred. I am thinking of giving you an advice."
Well, of course I noticed. There's no way Kyouko-san would not know about the bus stop's location.
It's like... I can't imagine her overlooking anything.
"As a businesswoman, I am sensitive to subtle signs. You could say I am well learned in the art of reading someone's face and thought. Now with that preface... Sasahara-kun, you have been acting and sounding more feebly than usual today, likely due to the result of you meeting your biological parent. The position of your brows and the way they curved when you laughed were slightly off as well."
"Eh!? Uh, the fact that you usually observe me that closely comes as a shock though."
It's kinda embarrassing.
"Wha... A-anyway. Even I, someone who hasn't known you for long noticed the differences. There is no doubt in my mind your mother has as well. If you were thinking of keeping it to yourself... I believe you should resign and tell her everything instead. That was my first meeting with her... but I could tell that she's an exceedingly good mother. Not to mention... how terrifyingly perfect she is."
Kyouko-san said that to me with a straight face.
...I see. I guess that meeting really did a thing to me.
I'm well aware how perfect Ixia-san is. That's Ixia-san for you. Ixia-san is perfect!
"Quit trying to look away by having some weird thought. If you have someone you could let out to, do just so. Fufu, here I thought you had a discord with someone living with you. Turned out it was a false alarm."
"But of course. Still... thank you Kyouko-san. I've been nothing but trouble for you this whole day."
"Fufu, that is not true at all. To me, this opportunity to spend a day like a girl my age is something I treasure. Now then my bus should be coming soon, I'll take my leave."
"Yup, I'll be counting on you next semester, Kyouko-san."
"Yes. Farewell, Sasahara-kun."
She walked away alone to the bus stop after saying that.
Haha, I knew she knew where it is.
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