ch261-ch280 · 264-ch264

Chapter 264: The White Gal's Wrath

"Mmm-mmm-mmm. That would be...... Shirai-san, was it?"

Oh, it really is her.

We were having a parfait party to celebrate Shiraishi-san getting her upper-rank job, but as usual I have a curfew, so I'm heading home.

I'm taking the complaints of Mia-san, who was earnestly at work, and seeing Kasumi-san off—when I spot a familiar face at the dungeon-side counter.

Shirai-san, aka the white gal.

That skirt's length is unmistakable.

Being inside the dungeon means she has a license, huh.

I've never seen her here before, but if Kasumi-san knows her, maybe she's Chiba-based?

"Oh, Kasugano! Thank goodness~"

She's noticed me.

Well, she does look troubled, so I'll at least hear her out.

"Is something the matter?"

Kasumi-san asks Akane-san, the Association's black gal working the counter.

"Perfect timing~. She came looking for Natsuki-chan, but I wasn't sure whether I should tell her, you see...... I was just about to go call her."

"I came to check on Natsuki-chi, but her phone won't connect, and this lady says she can't tell me anything, so here I am stuck. You saved me~. So, where's Natsuki-chi?"

The Chiba branch apparently keeps my information sealed up tight, so naturally they wouldn't have told her about Aikawa either, being in my party.

So there she was, stuck between "wait while we call her over" and "tell me and I'll go myself"—and then along comes Harukichi.

"She's at an acquaintance's shop. Soushi's with her too. I'll show you the way."

"Oh, appreciate it. Well then, off we go~"

I exchange a quick bow with Akane-san and start to leave—when a halt is called.

"One moment. Haruki-san, please head home as you are. I will bring Shirai-san back with me when I return. Shirai-san, I will show you to Mia-san's shop myself, so could you wait here a little?"

"Eh? Hah, sure, I guess......"

Shirai-san turns a "I don't mind, but is that okay?" look at me.

"Sorry. I've got to get home...... It's close by, so you'll be fine going with Kasumi-san."

Shirai-san nods at that and says she'll manage.

"Hmm. Well, whatever. See ya later, Kasugano—"

"Take care, Kasugano-san, ssu."

I'd feel bad making Kasumi-san run back and forth.

Before passing through the Dungeon Gate, I hear voices from the counter.

"Putting that aside, is that woman all right in the head?"

"Watanabe-san is a staff member of this branch, so...... she's all right?"

Why is that a question?

︙

︙

"I was MORTIFIED yesterday, okay!? What's all this 'working a dangerous job' crap! It's a weapon shop, isn't it! Far from shady, everyone there was lovely!"

Something got lost in translation somewhere, and Shirai-san has been storming around since morning.

Mia-san's shop IS, unquestionably, a dangerous shop dealing in strange weapons, though......

The regulars who come all the way out to the shop are gentlemen after Mia-san herself......

"Shiro-san, calm down! Weapon shop? What? Does Natsuki live there? So there was no problem, right?"

"They were having some parfait party or whatever, and I only ate too much!"

"Why does a weapon shop serve parfaits......"

"Well, the moment I walked in, she started going 'You mustn't be here!' and stuff. Everyone was just standing there, blinking."

Sounds lively in there.

"What do you expect, getting dragged off by a scary lady looming over you!? She knows everything about me, you know? Terrifying! I honestly thought I could never go back! And anyway, it's YOUR fault, Kasugano, for leaving me behind! Hey, you've got something to talk to me about at lunch—don't you dare run away!"

Oof. Summons received......

Kasumi-san is such a worrier that maybe she's got all the newbie adventurers' info in her head.

Same as with me—she probably worried herself into overkill.

"Oh? Don't tell me it's Shiro-san's turn too? Ah—behind the school building is bad luck, so maybe don't pick there!"

Is this the prank pattern?

︙

︙

"Hey, you. What is that woman's deal?"

Yes, it's lunch.

She traipsed along behind me to the back of the school building, and here I am, cornered.

"Which woman, I wonder?"

Apparently there's a woman I was rude to yesterday, as far as Shirai-san is concerned.

Didn't like Akane-san's handling of things? That's nothing to do with me......

Oh—did Shiraishi-san swipe Shirai-san's parfait?

Also nothing I can answer for......

Hmm, maybe the delinquent girl from the part-time job got mixed up in it?

Tried to rope her into a party, or came on to her, something like that.

Or maybe Mia-san scolded her about her short skirt?

Could anyone get THIS angry over that?

No, wait. A high school girl's skirt length is her LIFE!

There may be lines she simply cannot concede......

"Quit stalling! The woman who was with you yesterday! I'm asking if this fiancé thing is for real!"

Oh. It was Kasumi-san......

Fiancé...... huh.

Well, that is the plan, eventually......

Does that already count as engaged?

"We are dating, yes. Um—did she do something to you?"

For some reason I'm the one being scolded, so I shift into polite speech.

Did Kasumi-san say something about her skirt length?

"The problem IS that she's your girlfriend, idiot! You've got a girlfriend and you're the president of Saori's fan club!? And then E...... Anyway, the problem is that you have a girlfriend, isn't it!?"

Eh?

Well, I mean. Fair.

I see the problem there too.

I have Kasumi-san, and yet somehow I've been made the president of the Goddess Adoration Society without my consent.

I want to be angry about it just as much as you do.

"Mizuki-san is practically an idol, isn't she? There's no rule that a man with a girlfriend can't support an idol, is there?"

I'll handle this with the Hiramatsu-ryu secret art.

"Hah? My own mom chases idols around, so...... I'll grant you Saori's way cuter than any of those idols...... But that's not the point! Forget Saori—what am I supposed to say to Ecco...... I mean, seriously, what is with that attitude? You looking down on me?"

Just when her mom's mention had calmed her down for a moment, she's back to raging—this time over my attitude.

Is this the "Endo-san doesn't like Hiramatsu-san grinning at her" pattern?

Though Hiramatsu-san only ever grins in front of Endo-san.

Still, Shirai-san might actually be a delinquent girl, huh.

Her language is rough.

She sits at the top of the school caste, so maybe that's just how it is.

Even angry, though, she's a little lacking in menace.

Yesterday she was squealing, trapped between hulking Forest Ogres, and if an Ogre King roared in her face she'd freeze solid on the spot.

Compared to that......

"Honestly, your angry face is almost cute—"

It slipped out of my mouth.

"Wha—c-cute......? You—! That's how you tricked Ecco too, didn't you?"

Ecco is the black gal in our class, right?

Her name's come up a few times now, but why does the black gal keep coming into this?

Oh...... don't tell me......

So THAT's what it is?

"Calm down. How about a juice? Go on, don't hold back. The cafeteria vending machine or the entrance one—which would you like?"

So juice is what Shirai-san desired.

No no, by all means.

One for Aikawa too? Wait, she doesn't need one, does she?

Well, nothing to be done.

Let's call this hush money......

Eh? You want to beat me flat?

N-not enough, apparently......

Even so, Shirai-san went back to the classroom wearing a sour face, clutching pharmaceutical-company juice.

Well, hey—problem resolved, and that's what counts.