ch81-ch100 · 096-ch96

Chapter 96: I Am Reflecting!

"Since this has eaten into our shopping time, we will stop here for today. You may thank your mother for that. And I will be keeping your license for a while."

"...Yes."

Breaking through a dungeon wall is a license-revocation offense.

It could have endangered everyone nearby.

She's accepting my claim that it was an accident—and since it was the Floor 30 boss area, where no one should have been, she is turning a blind eye this once and will not report it.

Besides, the fact that I was on Floor 30 at all must stay secret because of 【Gate】, so even if she wanted to report it, she couldn't.

That "for today" does bother me, though...

"...Are you reflecting on what you've done?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Good. We shall gift your mother the top-of-the-line model. Let's go."

Huh? This is a date, right?

"And your reflection?"

"I am reflecting!"

I have to get her back in a good mood somehow...

And with that on my mind, we entered the Association building.

At the counter was the black gal receptionist.

"Oh my, oh myyy? Watanabe-san, all dressed up—is this a date? Ufufu."

"I am sorry for pushing my work onto you. I will make it up to you another day."

"Kyaaa! You're not denying the date, I see. Forget making it up to me—just tell me everything later, okay?"

"But of course. Where is Fuyutsuki-san?"

"Ah, the newbie? She heard a biiig noise earlier, so I sent her off to go check on it!"

A lie.

【Presence Detection】 has a hit.

She's hiding under the counter desk.

She's covering for her, huh...

The black gal receptionist is kind.

"A big noise, you say... Please tell Fuyutsuki-san I apologize for pushing my work onto her as well."

Kasumi-san presses a hand between her brows.

A big noise, huh...

WONDER WHAT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN.

"Okayyy! Have fun out there! Good luck to you too, Kasugano-kun!"

"Yes, ma'am! I'll do my best."

I bow to the black gal waving us off, and we leave the dungeon.

Kasumi-san's mood seems to have improved somewhat.

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Two hundred thousand yen?

Whaaaat.

That's the same price as the rental spear...

How much DOES spear repair cost, anyway?

"Even I shall cover half, at least."

"No, it's quite all right—I withdrew the money properly. It's for being a good son."

Branch Manager... being a good son is HARD...

"Now then—we still need to look at refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers—"

The warehouse rent might just end up getting billed to the branch manager...

"Wait. As the branch manager said, people have their own tastes in refrigerators and appliances. So that your mother may choose for herself, let us simply take catalogs home today."

Ughhh. Saved...

"And recommend it properly, so that she buys the top-of-the-line model without holding back."

Not saved...

There was still time before our appointment, so we kept shopping after that.

Huh?

Is this... actually fun?

"A rack for storing spears on the warehouse's second floor, maybe..."

"Can this go down as a business expense...?"

"I couldn't, though..."

"Then who's paying...?"

"I will gift you the clothes, so..."

This IS a date, right?

Hm? Reflection?

"I am reflecting!"

"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"

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"Hon, Haruki's actually dressed up nice."

My father gawks at the restaurant meeting spot.

"Of course he is. It's an important dinner."

Kasumi-san bought me a suit-like jacket earlier.

"See? This is what I meant when I said to dress properly. You're the only one in casual clothes, dear."

The mother saying this is wearing heavy makeup.

And clothes I've never seen before.

Is she trying to compete with Kasumi-san?

She has no chance...

Hm? Reflection?

"I am reflecting!"

"Out of nowhere... Ahh! ...It is a pleasure to meet you, Father. I am Watanabe Kasumi. I am seeing Haruki-san. Madam—thank you very much for inviting me today as well."

I beg your pardon?

"Seeing" him?

To hear those words from Kasumi-san's mouth...

Kasumi-san seems a little nervous, maybe?

"How very polite. I'm Kasugano Shuntaro, Haruki's father."

"See? Isn't she a lovely girl? Kasumi-san, shall we go in?"

My mother and Kasumi-san head into the reserved restaurant.

"Haruki, isn't she a gorgeous girl? A girl like that, as my daughter-in-law... Did you hear that? She called me 'Father-in-law'? Mufufu."

Quit drooling, old man.

THIS one has the makings of a cheating man.

I want to ship him straight back to Aomori, but I also suspect that Tanaka-san sitting next to him—the 'adventurer'—might actually be a woman.

"Let's go in."

I enter the restaurant too.

We take our seats; the meal is a preset course from the reservation, so there's nothing to order.

Time to launch Operation Good Son while I can.

"Here, this is for you. A present—apologies for worrying you yesterday."

A super-high-end robot vacuum.

"Oh my, a present? Thank you, Kasumi-san."

"Sorry about that. It was all so sudden, we didn't prepare anything. When Haruki goes to greet your parents, we will have him bring something."

Hm? It's from ME, though?

(Hey, dear. This is a vacuum, you know?)

(I wondered why it was so big—so that's it. Isn't this thing expensive?)

(I told you. She's a daughter from a good family.)

They're whispering, but they're sitting right next to me—I can hear every word.

"Um... That is a present for you, Madam, from Haruki-san. I only helped him choose it. I haven't..."

"Is that right? Thank you, Haruki."

(...Dear, did you hear that? She defers to Haruki properly. What a truly lovely girl.)

(True. There's no way Haruki could buy something like this on his own—and those clothes, she must have bought those for him too.)

Operation Good Son: failure?

No—I have a second arrow.

"And these too—catalogs for refrigerators and the like. They're yours, so pick whichever you like. My recommendation is this one."

I open the catalog to the most expensive refrigerator and hand it over.

(Dear, are these... betrothal gifts?)

(Sending over this much from their side—it might mean they want Haruki as their son-in-law.)

While they were at it, the food arrived...

Well, as long as they accept it, anything goes...

Just like the branch manager said—being a good son really is hard.

"Kasumi-san, please take good care of Haruki."

"He's a fool of a son, but please don't give up on him."

My parents bow deeply.

"Please, raise your heads."

We've now left the restaurant, and this is where everyone splits up.

Apparently Kasumi-san's stock hit limit-up.

But what they said was right, so I bow too.

And I was sent home carrying the robot vacuum and the stack of catalogs I was supposed to have given away.

I remember that after we got home that day, the two of them got drunk and carried on until late at night.

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The next morning, having finally gotten to sleep, I was woken before six by a call from Kasumi-san.

There was something listless about Kasumi-san's voice...