ch401-ch420 · 405-ch405

Chapter 405: 【Aikawa Natsuki】A Bear's Cub Is a Panda, a Troublesome Child 【Part 4】

SIDE: Aikawa Natsuki (Haruki's Party Member)

(So today I graduate too......)

Thinking about it fills me with emotion.

No—I'm not going to cry, you know?

Some girls around me are already tearing up, but I'm fine.

No no, I need to think about something funny instead......

"The send-off address, by a current student......"

The address would be Haru-kun, and the send-off, Soushi!

That would make it look like we repeated a year!

Right—okay, we're fine.

"The graduating address. Graduating representative: Otori Sonoko."

Hm?

Huh?

Not Haru-kun?

Well, of course—giving THAT ridiculous speech would have wrecked the whole ceremony.

What even WERE those three bags?

I never understood why Haru-kun would give the address in the first place, either.

"Warm sunlight streams down upon us......"

Oh—don't know who she is, but she's saying some pretty nice things.

Yeah, that did happen, didn't it.

Ah—danger.

Some girls nearby can't hold back their sobbing anymore, and it's contagious—I'm......

Hold it. Hold it.

HE's here today.

Absolutely no crying faces allowed.

"We now have an address from the Principal. Everyone, please rise."

Huh? This part changed too?

The principal's address was done sitting down, wasn't it?

So now we have to stand through his long-winded speech......

The ceremony's in its final stretch.

I wonder if some girls will collapse crying and be unable to stand?

"Ahem. Everyone here will be members of society once you graduate, so......"

(Mmmm? I've heard that opening somewhere......)

"The three bags that matter to a working adult are......"

HEY—!

The hall erupts with a THUD of laughter.

The crying girls lift their faces, wondering what happened.

Principal, you just plain plagiarized a student's address!

And Haru-kun's K○ speech at that......

The whole atmosphere is wrecked now.

Voices around me are asking what they'll do about the final address.

Huh? There's one?

"Graduates, dismissed."

THERE ISN'T ONE!?

Everyone's smiling.

Even the girls who were sobbing just now—all of them......

A graduation full of laughter.

This isn't so bad either.

︙

︙

"Whoa, what is THAT......"

Haru-kun's button battle royale is underway.

That guy is surprisingly popular.

He has no redeeming features beyond being strong in the dungeon, you know?

Well, I get it for those three since they've seen him fight—but even the teacher? What's the appeal?

And Saori's been acting even stranger than usual since THAT day......

She asks me every single day when Haru-kun is coming to the dungeon.

I don't get it.

Come to think of it, Miki's been looking at Haru-kun with some dubious eyes too.

If Haru-kun and Soushi are standing right there, shouldn't Soushi be the obvious pick?

Even though Soushi cooks all her meals for her, no less.

You all have such terrible taste.

Ah—there goes the address person......

Hmm, Watanabe-san isn't here today, is she?

I scan the area.

Not here, huh......

She does come asking about what happens at school sometimes.

I know nothing. That's the policy.

I'll steer clear of that corner.

"Aikawa, let's take a photo."

Ugh, now THERE's a troublesome one coming my way.

Well, I guess Haru-kun isn't the only popular one.

At least these guys have eyes, apparently.

Minami and company—your so-called delinquent group, I suppose.

"Why would I take photos with you lot?"

Soushi is...... off taking photos with his mother at the school gate and hasn't come back.

Honestly, never around when it counts.

"Aw, come on. We've got things to talk about too."

Murakami...... he's been pestering me ever since second year, you know.

Lately he glares at Soushi something fierce too.

And while Souma-san seems delighted about it—sorry—this guy apparently has a thing for me.

"Yeah, yeah—did you think over that party invite I mentioned before?"

These guys are adventurers too, technically.

I've turned them down so many times and they still won't give up.

Well, that just means I'm cute, I suppose?

"What is WRONG with you people? I told you—I'm in a party with Soushi and the others! I've got plans after this, so can I go already?"

Right—I have to meet that K○ Ossan after this.

He came to watch the graduation ceremony today.

He's huge, so I spotted him instantly.

And the big lug cried at the ceremony.

He's semi-famous, so everyone here knows he's my father—how embarrassing can you get.

"We're all Single-rank already, you know? You've got three over there, right? Soushi and the rest—we'd take 'em into our crew too, no charge."

Haah. "Single," huh.

Well, most people aim for Single before graduating high school, so even this lot must have average-level ability.

Going by that, the senpais who graduated last year were said to be within reach of Double—so there was real promise there.

Though apparently they're still Single with Gotou-senpai gone.

Compared to these guys, Miki and Hina are...... well, they're girls, and they had exams, so it can't be helped.

Haru-kun says their special skills are seriously strong, but it's because of those very special skills that they can't take on new party members......

Or—should I just dump those two onto these guys?

No wait, both of them have university.

Ah—so do I.

I'll refuse on that line.

"Sorry, but I've got university too—I don't have time to play around with you lot."

"Why'd you even decide to go to university anyway? You too, Soushi. Did you give up on adventuring?"

Annoying.

Should I just knock him flat and shut him up?

......Hmm.

I remember falling on my rear just from facing 'Sword Saint-chan' the other day.

I've been staying over at Miki's place lately, so I haven't been watching, but there's the dream thing too.

Fighting people is......

"......Haruki."

Minami mutters.

Here comes the dangerous one.

If these guys are "average" and I'm a "super-strong" adventurer, then Haru-kun is "the dangerous kind."

I hear this man went to Floor 20 solo—no, Floor 30.

I never believed Watanabe-san when she said he was stronger than her, but since his memory came back, even I can tell how strong he's gotten.

And Soushi learned a finishing technique and solo-killed a Manticore—I'm starting to feel left behind......

"Ah—Kasugano said no because the senpais told him not to. Sorry, but it's just Aikawa and Soushi."

Right—Haru-kun doesn't get along with Shimizu-senpai, the one who married Gotou-senpai?

No wait—was it that the other senpais are scared of Souma-san, so they said no......

"Wait. Haruki, fight me. I heard it from Ota—you're strong. I've been meaning to settle this with you."

Minami has had his eye on Haru-kun for a long time, after all.

But a small-time adventurer like him would lose before the fight even starts.

That would be the Hiramatsu-ryu......

'Kyaaa!'

'Fodder at last. The very LAST bit of ship-fodder.'

'Don't tell me THAT'S why the two of them turned down Mizuki-san's confession?'

'No way, that's not it at all. But I can't look away!'

The library committee found us.

I don't think that's what's going on here, though.

And Souma-san is...... ah, she's fainted standing up......

"What's all the commotion? Natsuki, so here's where you were......"

Tch. Now there's even MORE trouble.

'Bear Ossan.'

'Whoa, the real thing......'

'Isn't that the guy who was crying at the ceremony?'

'You don't know? That's Aikawa-san's father.'

Ugh, so they do know.

Embarrassing.

"What's this? Some kind of fight?"

Now even Saori......

"Apparently Minami and Haruki are fighting over Natsuki-chi."

This conversation is going somewhere very wrong......

"Then I'll fight Soushi, then. If we win, Aikawa joins OUR party. Deal?"

Murakami...... he is genuinely, truly annoying.

Like that deal would ever happen.