arc01 · 038-ep38

Episode 38: Showed Up Uninvited

"I'm heeere!"

I get home, and for some reason, Azuma Mio is standing in front of my house.

"No, huh? Why?"

"'Cause I moved in right next door to you."

"…………No, huh? Why?"

◇

Plenty of questions swam through my head, but hearing her out: Azuma, who was living alone to begin with, can move at the drop of a hat, and she had the money, so she just—moved.

No, that's not the point.

"What I want to know is why you went out of your way to move in right next to my room, and how on earth you found my place."

"Oh, that. Well, afterward, I got lonely after all, no matter how you slice it. That was the first time since my past life I'd gotten to talk with someone like that… So I went home and thought it over. If I lived super close to your place, we could talk more, and I might get to meet other reincarnators, and maybe I'd figure something out. And so, and so—there was no way I could find your house on my own, so I had my fortune read with 【Astrology】 again. They gave me the feel of this general area, and I searched like crazy, lemme tell you. And then, wouldn't you know it—the room next to yours was vacant! So I pushed a little, signed the contract, and negotiated so I could move in the same day. I worked hard, okay?"

…S-s-scary.

Isn't this, like, that thing? A stalker?

"Ah, but I have zero intention of getting in your way. I totally get it. School, dungeon—you barely have any time, right? And today, by the look of you, you're straight back from the dungeon? Good work out there."

"Right. Calling the cops."

"!!? Wait wait wait, why!?"

"Look, you may not realize it yourself, but this is seriously unhinged."

"Huh!? I-I haven't done anything wrong!?"

Azuma flails about, wearing a face that screams, how dare you!

For someone so pessimistic, why is she this bold about exactly these kinds of actions…

"Well… as long as it's no trouble for me, it's within tolerable limits…?"

"I really, really won't be a bother…!"

"Like you said, I'm busy. So just because you moved in next door doesn't mean I can fuss over you all that much."

"I know, I knooow… Oh, but about dungeon stuff, there was one thing where I thought I might be able to help you."

"Hm? Now that's got my attention."

"Right? Right? Anyway, drop your stuff and let's talk over some food, 'kay?"

Th-this girl…

She knows exactly what dangles my attention, but isn't this just her wanting to talk, plain and simple?

Seriously, just how lonely was she?

"…………Haah. Well, it is mealtime. And I'm in a good mood today. Fine, I'll keep you company."

"Yay! As expected of you!"

"Easy to please, aren't you."

And so I dropped my stuff in my room, and the two of us settled on eating together.

"So? There's no restaurant anywhere near here, you know. Which one of our places are we eating at?"

"Hmm, I haven't finished unpacking yet… but it's reasonably tidy and the table's already set up, so let's eat in my room."

"Should we order Über Eats or something? Huh? Wait, Über doesn't exist here yet, does it?"

"I think it's right about due to start any time now, actually… Either way, I'm pretty sure it only ran in the city center at first."

"I see. Then let's just order delivery pizza."

"Sounds good."

After bland trail rations for my whole expedition, and with my stomach growling, I ordered enough—sides included—that we might as well call it a party.

"Wow, you really can put it away. Boys, huh."

"I just happen to be starving, that's all. I don't normally eat like this."

"Hehehe, riiight, riiight."

"What's so fun about that…"

"Nooothiiing~"

She's quietly got a pretty face, and when she grins at me like that it just takes the wind out of me.

Well, she's got zero danger in her as a person, so I'll let her be.

"Anyway, I'm gonna go take a bath. Two days in the dungeon, and the grime and the stink are bugging me way too much to ignore."

"Okeydokey. I'll tidy the room up a bit more, so come on over once you're done with your bath, 'kay?"

"……Haah. Roger."

Somehow I get the feeling she's leading me around by the nose at her own pace, but shoving her away at every turn seems like it'd cause its own brand of hassle.

Being depended on this hard is a problem, so I'd like her to find some other conversation partner, but…

I got the water heating and decided to shut it all out of my head for once and take my sweet time in the bath.

Haahh~ now that hits the spot………….

◇

Out of the bath. Hair dried, changed into loungewear.

The pizza doesn't seem to have arrived yet, but off to Azuma's room I go.

"Heeey. I'm here."

"Yes, yes~ The door's unlocked, come in, come in~"

I call through the door, and the answer drifts out from deep inside the room—apparently she's mid-task and can't free her hands.

That's awfully careless of her.

I genuinely do not get why she trusts me this much.

Well, if Azuma doesn't mind, in I go.

"Pardon the intrusion, then."

I lock the door back up behind me, just in case. It's an apartment building, so I'm sure it's fine, but still.

Inside, Azuma is busily setting out chairs and drinks.

"You really don't have to fuss this much. I mean, my room would've worked too… no, wait, mine isn't set up for guests and there's scrap iron scattered all over the place, so yours is the better call."

"Ahaha, it's not like I'm expecting guests either—I just buy the interior stuff I like."

"Like this mushroom-looking chair here?"

"Yes, yes! Isn't it cute?"

"Hmmm…"

"Ah, that scowl. Not your taste, huh."

"Way too cutesy. I couldn't relax in that."

"I seeee. It's not bad to sit in, though, you know?"

"Well, if it sits fine, I'll allow it."

"Yay."

Why am I reviewing this girl's interior decorating again?

Also, I really do need to clean up those wrecked steel-pipe pieces one of these days………….

Before long the pizza arrived, and we finally got our dinner.

"Whoa, look at all this! First time I've ever ordered this much!"

"Four large pizzas really is a spectacle. Fries, nuggets, and salad on top—it's a genuine party spread."

"Can you seriously eat all this?"

"Probably. Worst case, it becomes tomorrow's breakfast."

"I don't think I could finish even one, so good luck with that."

"Heh. Don't underestimate a high schooler's appetite."

That thing Azuma mentioned—about possibly being able to help me—has my interest too, but first, I'm going to enjoy the pizza in front of me.

The talk can wait until after. I'm starving, period.

And so—itadakimasu!