ch161-ch180 · 176-ch176

Chapter 176: The Runaway Girl Graduates

"I heard about that incident. You told me Association employees were never in danger, didn't you?"

"That incident" is the one that's lately come to be called 'the Umemoto Incident'—the whole affair with that 【Berserker】.

Apparently he'd watched the video of Kasumi-san and me that's been making the rounds, and figured out that Kasumi-san was the one who captured Umemoto.

And so it was my mother-in-law who'd kept nagging her to come home...

What a long tail this incident has, honestly...

"I told you—that was an irregular situation. But it truly was dangerous. I nearly died..."

"Nearly DIED? Kasumi, you..."

"Mm. So you WERE doing something dangerous after all. Quit the Adventurer's Association at once."

Oh dear.

Everyone, please calm down.

She just came home for the first time in years—escalate like this and we're right back to running away, you know?

"I SAID it was an irregular situation. I was trying to evacuate the people who hadn't escaped in time, and ran straight into the culprit. And I AM quitting the Association. Because I'm marrying Haruki-san."

And she just declared it, huh...

"Urgh, th-the wedding can wait. I see... so you're quitting..."

Father-in-law can't decide whether to be relieved; he looks a little conflicted.

"I came today to apologize to you, Father."

"Apologize? What brought this change of heart?"

Six years without coming home—of course he's curious...

Well, since she's about to tell us, let's listen.

"I was powerless. I was going to die without being able to do anything... Everything you said was right, Father. My naginata was worth nothing at all... So, Father—I'm sorry. I was the one who was wrong."

Kasumi-san is crying...

I want to say something, but today of all days, that's not my role.

"Kasumi... It's all right. You came home alive. That alone is enough. Welcome home. Welcome home, Kasumi..."

Father-in-law is crying too.

Second time today.

"Sniff, sniff. The truth is I knew all along. Becoming an Association employee meant nothing but hardship, day after day. People kept dying, and no one would listen to a word I said. But I refused to accept it. I wanted to believe what I was doing had meaning. That if I just tried hard enough. That even one person might be saved because of me. But—but it was too much..."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner...? I'm sorry, Kasumi. I'm sorry I never noticed. If only I'd dragged you home by force..."

"I'm sorry, Mother. I'm sorry, Father... sniff"

Now Mother-in-law is crying too.

Man, what a tearjerker.

"But still—you ran into the culprit and it was dangerous, so how did you survive? And I heard it was Kasumi who captured him?"

After the three of them had a good cry, Father-in-law brings it up.

"At the very last moment, Haruki-san came for me. I thought I was dead, but I survived. He was so cool..."

"Oh my—so Kasumi makes that lovestruck face too, does she?"

"I see... So Haruki-kun is the one who saved Kasumi's life. ...Thank you, Haruki-kun. Thank you for saving Kasumi. And for bringing her home. Sniff."

Ah, he's crying again...

Father-in-law is a real softie, isn't he.

"So Haruki-kun is an adventurer. Isn't that dangerous?"

"That's right. Adventurers grow stronger by raising their levels over long stretches of time, don't they? Haruki-kun is eighteen. His level can't be all that high. The culprit was some enormously high-level individual who caused a national incident, no? Was it really all right?"

Oh? You know quite a lot, don't you?

"Of course he does. Ever since Kasumi left, he's been researching adventurers this whole time."

"Father..."

I see.

With six years at it, he might know more than I do.

Can I talk my way around this...?

"I somehow wedged myself between Kasumi-san and the culprit, and while I was acting as bait, Kasumi-san captured him from behind."

From behind—more a WHAM than a slice, or maybe a slice, I suppose.

Kasumi-san definitely did the capturing, no mistake there.

Father-in-law nods along, apparently satisfied.

"And you see, I intend to quit the Association, but until Haruki-san finishes university, I want to stay an adventurer and repay all the people who have looked after me."

"Wha—doesn't that make it MORE dangerous?"

"It's fine. I won't overdo it, and I'm strong, you know? Haruki-san will be there too, so there's nothing to worry about."

Asking them not to worry is asking a bit much...

"That's far too dangerous. Isn't it, dear?"

"...Very well. But on one condition."

Oh? He's giving in?

"...What is it?"

If the condition turns out to be brutal, I'm in trouble, so I'd better hear it first.

If it's too harsh, do we run away from home again?

"Come show your faces now and then. No—come often. And bring Haruki-kun with you."

Eh? Me too?

That condition is far too harsh...

"Father... Thank you..."

Kasumi-san?

You were allowed to refuse that, you know?

"We've talked the morning away. It's already noon. Mother—sushi. Order the deluxe set."

"Yes, yes."

Tuesday, when Kasumi-san comes to our place, I was planning to do sushi—but if they order deluxe grade HERE, then...

︙

︙

A complete change from the somber morning mood—the afternoon passed pleasantly, listening to stories of Kasumi-san's childhood.

About time to take our leave, I thought—

and then, the bomb...

"And your father, you know? He watches that 'Sword Saint-chan's' videos all the time."

Ah...

DON!—a fist comes down on the table.

Kasumi-san.

"Unbelievable! Watching that little brat's videos while his own daughter was suffering!! We're leaving, Haruki-san!!"

Father-in-law and Mother-in-law both flinch.

Wait, you're getting angry over THAT?

My arm gets grabbed and I'm hauled out of the room...

Is this another runaway situation?

Father-in-law, Mother-in-law—see you again in six years.

...Or so I thought, but she's climbing the stairs.

"Um... this is..."

"It hasn't changed at all. Just like six years ago."

This appears to be Kasumi-san's room.

Not a speck of dust.

Cleaned meticulously.

They kept it just as it was, all six years...

"No giant plushies on the bed, I see..."

"Fufu. Were you hoping for that sort of thing?"

Aikawa looks like she sleeps hugging a bear plushie—I do wonder whether it got carried back into the dungeon with her.

"It's like your place in Chiba—it feels very much like you, Kasumi-san."

Not much in the way of belongings.

Same as Kasumi-san's home in Chiba.

"I'm sorry for the suddenness today. I simply couldn't bear to come home alone... But asking you to come with me, Haruki-san... I kept thinking, what if you refused... I'm sorry!"

Kasumi-san bows her head.

Granted, dragging someone along to your family home is a pretty high-level request.

And coming from the person who'd just pulled a surprise of considerable level on me...

"It's quite all right. You come to MY home—me refusing this would be strange, wouldn't it?"

"Thank you... Thanks to you, Haruki-san, I managed to come home properly. And with that, the runaway girl graduates. Shall we head back to Chiba?"

I think she should just stay the night herself, but she must have given up on it—the morning commute tomorrow would be brutal.

Next time, please come on a schedule that lets you stay over.

Eh? I'll refrain, personally.

"Yes. Oh—on the way home, shall we go to Tokyo Tower?"

She points out the window.

Tokyo Tower looks awfully close.

Might as well make it a date on the way back...