ch161-ch180 · 170-ch170

Chapter 170: The Runaway Girl

"Are you planning to leave home, Aikawa-san?"

"Yes. I can't stay in that house anymore."

Aikawa answers Kasumi-san's question, head still bowed.

Huh? As in, running away?

There's no urgent need to leave right this second, but for Aikawa it must have been unbearable.

She could have played ignorant—let her father remarry, have more kids, and kept pretending not to care until around university graduation.

That's what most people would do.

But there's a line you can't cross.

Something absolute, something you refuse to yield...

For Aikawa it was family—her father, directly—and he went and decided on a wife himself.

Everything she'd protected alone, all this time, was made meaningless.

Hmm.

I did think she should leave the nest, but running away is another extreme entirely.

"You already know I'm an Association employee, yes? And I believe you've been told I'm Makihara-san's kouhai from university. I have a duty—and an obligation—to tell your father about you. Are you aware of that?"

"Yes. Tell him—I don't mind. I'm leaving home either way... But please, let me stay here."

Um, could we maybe do something about the still-full prostration?

Soushi's soup worked too well—she's gotten a bit too honest...

Honestly, if we fed suspects in interrogation Soushi's katsudon, wouldn't they all confess on the spot?

Bring in a 【Musician】 while we're at it and play them that glove song—might reform them completely.

Skills are scary...

"I see... I'm sorry, Aikawa-san. I only wanted you to understand where I stand first. Now, back to the sofa. If you're to be comrades, the relationship is equal, no? Let's sit down and talk properly."

"I-is that really all right?"

"Of course. I have no reason to oppose it. But your father does get a full report on your situation."

"...Okay."

Aikawa returns to the sofa and sits.

So does Kasumi-san.

So she doesn't oppose Aikawa joining the party itself.

A new problem has appeared, but my biggest worry is gone.

If Kasumi-san opposed it, I couldn't take Aikawa's side.

"Hold on—leaving home? Like, running away? Where are you gonna live? What about school?"

Soushi fires off questions in rapid succession.

This doesn't look like a sanctioned move-out, so runaway it is, then.

The question is whether the old-timer allows it—but turn it around, and Aikawa will absolutely never accept him and Makihara-san.

It'll come down to: if I'm with Makihara-san, you leave the house—choose one.

And until he chooses, she won't go home—so step one, out of the house?

Can the old-timer actually choose? Doubt it...

Say he picks Aikawa—continuing the party with Makihara-san would be impossible.

Party disbanded? In that case, a father-daughter bear party might not be bad, actually.

Happy ending?

"I'll live here. Earn money before summer break ends, and graduate properly."

Huh? This is a WAREHOUSE, you know? There's no toilet or anything—are you sure?

Well, the Association facilities are close, so it'd work—but with Chiba Dungeon this deserted, I honestly can't tell if the safety situation is good or terrible...

She needn't worry about money—but am I allowed to be the one to say so...

"Inside the dungeon does worry me a little. There's MP recovery to think of—I'd say renting a room nearby is best. You're welcome to stay at my place for the time being, you know?"

"We only met today—asking that much of you is... I'm fine here."

Apparently Aikawa has come to the Chiba branch before, but today was her first time meeting Kasumi-san.

Kasumi-san has been off counter duty lately, after all.

But that stretch WAS exam season—was she not studying for her exams at all?

"Watanabe-san, hearing Aikawa's running away from home doesn't worry you?"

That, yes.

"I am worried. But it will be fine. I too ran away from home after clashing with my father—it has been nearly six years since I set foot there—and nothing has come of it. Natsukawa-san, pull yourself together. As long as we support Aikawa-san, it will be fine."

And here we have... another runaway.

Wondering why she got so suddenly kind—was she seeing herself in Aikawa?

"Haru-kun, you've already made quite a bit of money, right? Once I make Single-Rank, could I earn enough to live on my own?"

"Hm. Haru-kun is already a Double-Rank adventurer. His monthly earnings exceed one million yen. Single-Rank, even working hard, would be around one hundred thousand? I'd like to discuss all that somewhere else, though. Mia-san happens to be at her shop—shall we head over?"

That nickname, huh...

You don't need to compete, you know?

We're close to both the Association facilities and the main street here, but Mia-san's shop is a little ways off.

I have 【Presence Detection】, too—nobody's overhearing anything by accident there.

"A MILLION?! And Double-Rank?!"

"Shh—you're loud. Seems like there are all kinds of secrets here. Keep it under wraps, okay?"

Soushi's hushing her, but Double-Rank is information the Association already has. Even if it leaks, we're fine.

What comes after is the problem.

︙

︙

"Sounds like a fight in there."

"A fight...? They are certainly arguing..."

We've reached Mia-san's shop—and one of the voices is Shiraishi-san.

Thought she'd gone home. Here she is.

"What even are you on about? Not following a word of it. Have you ever even done any forging?"

"Why of course, dear. Every single day. I don't usually cook, but cleaning, laundry, anything goes. Leave the chores to me."

That's ironing, not forging.

"Ah—hey, Kasumi-san, listen to this. This woman handed in a resignation letter, apparently. Says she's gonna work here. Is that really okay?"

Noticing us walk in, Mia-san tosses the topic our way.

A resignation letter, huh... Hope it goes through.

If it does, though, there's a real chance Hayashi-san storms the place.

I'd rather she hold out until a replacement 【Healer】 arrives.

"Haah. Again? What is it this time?"

Kasumi-san asks Shiraishi-san, exasperated.

Last time, she tried quitting the Association so she could become an adventurer in Kasumi-san's place...

"There's no 'what' about it! I've decided I'm going to make the finest parfaits right here. So I'm quitting my job!"

"What kinda weapon's a 'parfeh'? Not the eating kind of parfait, right? Armor? A parfeh?? Never heard of it..."

It is the eating kind of parfait, yes.

"Parfait" is French for "perfect," so maybe she IS planning a perfect weapon—but Shiraishi-san thinks this place is a parfait shop...

Once she learned payment came in high-tier Heal coupons, she must have decided she couldn't manage it—so now it's work here and eat parfaits as staff meals?

I'd love to say "creative"—but this is a smithy. A weapon shop.

"Oh my? Nacchan's with you too? Here for a job interview, are we?"

"Nah, we're not even hiring staff yet—don't go dragging people here. Haven't even set business hours..."