ch101-ch120 · 114-ch114

Chapter 114: Three Weeks Already

Today is Wednesday, July 13th.

When was the last time I set foot in a dungeon?

I was told not to come to the branch until my test results came out, and that was three weeks ago now.

Naturally, I haven't entered the dungeon once in all that time.

And the crucial test results were the same as always...

The dream—Kasumi-san's home cooking, my very goal—seemed to have been crushed...

(But today, of all days, I have been invited to Kasumi-san's HOME!)

The results didn't come, but Kasumi-san acknowledged the effort I put in.

Even if nobody else in the world praises me, Kasumi-san does.

And that's exactly what gives you the guts to go get results next time.

Which brings us to now: waiting to meet up in front of the station.

"Yo, Haruki."

The one who appears is Mia-san—the kid shop manager who runs a weapon shop at headquarters.

That's me.

And of course, we are not alone.

Today is a double celebration: Kasumi-san's promotion to Triple-Rank, and a good-work-on-your-exams party for me.

"Good work with the exams."

Mia-san is dressed rough: jeans, a T-shirt, a hoodie thrown over the top.

The look of someone heading to a friend's house.

Me? Clothes Kasumi-san bought me for that family dinner get-together the other day.

I wondered if I was trying a little too hard, but I don't own anything nicer, so it can't be helped.

July's long rains keep right on falling, and the weather is just right for a light layer.

"Well then, let's get going."

She heads off first, and I fall in behind Mia-san.

I don't know where Kasumi-san lives, so Mia-san is guiding the way.

Kasumi-san is at home right now, making food for us.

Yes. Home cooking.

"Riiiight. Dum-dee-dum♪"

"Geez. Where's your gift, huh? You could at least buy flowers."

A gift? Didn't even cross my mind.

As expected of Mia-san.

Is she a genius?

And so: five deep-red roses from the flower shop.

Turns out the meaning of roses changes with the number, you know.

That's what the clerk just told me.

Five roses mean 'I am truly, wholeheartedly happy to have met you.'

Supposedly that's the correct one, too.

"Well, that'll do."

With Mia-san's OK, we head for Kasumi-san's place.

Kasumi-san's home is an upscale rental apartment sitting about midway between the station and the Chiba branch—prime location.

"Yeees?"

Hm? That's not her voice.

"Oh my, little boy—is that a present for me?"

That would be Shiraishi-san.

"Just kidding. Watanabe-san has her hands full at the moment... Oh my? What a cute little companion you've brought. Would that be your little sister?"

True to the kid shop manager nickname, Mia-san looks younger than I do.

Can't blame her for the mix-up.

Apparently these two have never met.

"Wrong. What kind of idiot brings his little sister to his girlfriend's place?"

Mia-san fires back without missing a beat.

"Is that so? And here I thought Harue-san had sent a scout ahead. Seems I was wrong."

"Scout? Harue? Who's that?"

"My mother."

"Ah. So that stage has already started, huh? Kasumi's got it rough."

For some reason, Mia-san sounds convinced.

"Well then, come on up."

"Pardon the intrusiooon!"

So this is Kasumi's HOUSE!

White wallpaper, white furniture, and surprisingly few things overall...

No, wait—more likely MY house is the cluttered one with way too much stuff.

I should mention that to my mother.

We're already planning for the three of us to go fridge shopping once things settle down, and delivery day will most likely be the day Kasumi-san first sets foot in my family's home.

I had best get the tidying underway early.

"Haruki-san, welcome. Welcome to my home."

"Kasumi-san! Thank you for having me."

My first live Kasumi-san in three weeks.

Our nightly calls had recently switched to video calls, so I had seen her face.

But seeing her in the flesh is a different thing entirely...

Today Kasumi-san wears a black three-quarter-sleeve knit and a white skirt with fine vertical black stripes.

It suits her wonderfully.

An outfit ready to step outside at any moment.

Hm? And Shiraishi-san?

A white one-piece with a floral print, I see.

The skirt is the long variety.

"Hey, I'm here too, y'know."

"Fufu, my apologies. And a warm welcome to you as well, Mia-san."

"Kasumi-san, this is for you. Here."

I don't know if "gift" is the right word for it, but I present the bouquet of roses I'd been hiding behind my back.

"These are... for me? Thank you. I shall treasure them my whole life."

"Uh, you're supposed to throw flowers out once they wilt."

Mia-san delivers a deadpan correction to Kasumi-san, who cradles the bouquet against her chest.

Apparently that was Kasumi-san playing the fool.

As expected of a long friendship—she can even tell those apart...

I have some learning to do.

"Little boy—the standard when gifting a rose bouquet is 108 stems, you know? Do be sure to bring that many next time."

Really? The clerk said five was fine—but maybe she took one look at a high schooler and picked something I could actually afford.

They were 500 yen a stem, so 108 would come to... 54,000 yen!

Impossible for your average high schooler.

Well, I earn money, so I'd manage.

"Is that right? Then I'll send 108 next time."

"......"

"Hey, don't feed the kid lies! You too, Kasumi. You knew full well and just stayed quiet, didn't you? That's not okay."

Oops—and in comes a tsukkomi from Mia-san.

Though apparently that one was a put-on too.

This is hard.

"This one is something else, scolding Kasumi like that. You two really are friends, then. I'm Shiraishi, by the way."

"O-oh. Name's Mia. Pleasure."

The two of them shake hands.

"I get scolded quite often myself, you know? Shiraishi-san scolded me just the other day."

"Did that happen? Well then, we're proper friends as well. A friend's friend is a friend—so Mia-chan and I are friends now too."

"O-oh."

Even Mia-san is getting pushed back by Shiraishi-san's momentum.

Hang in there—keep the corrections coming.

"The food is nearly ready, so you two please have a seat."

"Fair enough. Haruki's here too, so I'll sit tight like a good girl."

Said in a way that makes it sound like me helping would be out of the question.

Kasumi-san told me she's good at cooking, but does Mia-san ever cook?

"Doesn't 【Blacksmith】 come with a cooking bonus or anything?"

"Hmm. Inside the dungeon, it might."

That answer tells me she doesn't normally cook.