Chapter-05 · EP-082
Episode 82: A New Promise
I couldn't shake the feeling that things had ended differently than I expected.
I didn't like this guy Okumoto. I wanted to see him suffer, crying and apologizing, so I could laugh at him, "Serves you right!" But somehow, he made up with Hikaru and things ended on a good note…
I was the one who won the bet, after all.
Was it because I said that if we won, he had to make up with Hikaru?
I thought Okumoto wouldn't want to reconcile… that he'd be upset!
But everyone seemed happy, so I kept quiet. Still, I was slightly dissatisfied.
Well, I was confident we'd win from the start.
I'd heard from Iori how much Hikaru's swordsmanship had improved, and honestly, anyone should be able to defeat a slime in one hit. If anything, the strange thing was that she couldn't do it before.
Hikaru defeated a slime and everyone was moved, but there wasn't a single moving factor for me. Hahaha. I couldn't say that, though.
I held back and didn't say anything unnecessary, not wanting to ruin the mood.
While I was feeling that way, Okumoto approached me.
"What?"
I had no reason to be complained at, nor were we close enough to talk.
He silently looked at my face, and I was confused.
"Ichinose, was it? I apologize for my rude behavior earlier. I'm sorry."
"O-oh?"
Okumoto bowed. For a proud guy like him to bow, what was going on?
Even if he made up with Hikaru, this sudden change was eerie.
As I was trying to guess his intentions, Okumoto spoke again.
"I have a request, though I'm ashamed to ask. Ichinose, would you please sell me a Rank 3 potion as well?"
"Eh? I'd rather not, honestly…"
"…You're right. Trust hasn't been established between us yet. It would be difficult for you to sell to me."
Okumoto nodded to himself, looking strangely subdued. I had to find a way to dodge this.
As I was at a loss for how to react, Hikaru came to my rescue, speaking to Okumoto.
"Okumoto-san, is there a particular reason you need a Rank 3?"
Okumoto's face contorted as he answered.
"The truth is… I have a younger sister. She was in a traffic accident last year and suffered a cervical spine injury, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. A Rank 2 potion healed her superficial injuries, but it couldn't fully repair the spinal damage. She's still receiving treatment at the hospital, but there's no prospect of recovery. I've asked explorers connected to the Okumoto family to help, but Rank 3 potions rarely appear on the market…"
Okumoto continued, looking like he was about to cry.
Rank 3 potions were really that hard to get? Conversely, it meant there were many people like Okumoto's sister who needed potions of Rank 3 or higher.
It was sad, but that was a separate matter.
As I was thinking that while listening to Okumoto,
"Okumoto-san, I'll give you my Rank 3."
Hikaru suddenly held out her potion to Okumoto.
Even I was surprised. She had just bought it from me for 2 million yen!
"Kujo-san…!"
Okumoto hesitantly reached for the Rank 3 potion Hikaru offered.
"I can't abandon a classmate in trouble over family matters."
Hikaru's expression showed no hesitation.
I couldn't help but warn her.
"Hold on! There are countless pitiful people like that in the world. If you give charity to everyone you meet, you'll lose everything you have!"
If people got the wrong idea and thought Hikaru would give anything just by asking, beggars might swarm her. That would be a problem.
But Hikaru told me not to worry.
"Thank you for worrying about me, Ichinose-san. But it's okay. It's not like I can't judge people. If I consider someone an important friend, I'll share what I have. But if they're a complete stranger, I'm sorry, but I can't help."
"Kujo-san, does that mean you consider even me, who said all those mean things, a friend?"
"Yes. Because you're the vice class president of Class A. You're supposed to support me, the class president."
Okumoto held the Rank 3 potion he received from Hikaru carefully in both hands, stared at it for a moment, then bowed deeply to her.
"Thank you!"
I thought she was too kind-hearted, but maybe I was just cold-hearted.
Still, Hikaru might be counting on me because I said I could mass-produce Rank 3 potions.
Well, I'd already let it slip, so it couldn't be helped.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll give my Rank 3 to you, young lady."
"No, thank you."
"Huh?"
I meant it kindly, but for some reason, she refused.
"Ah, you're out of money? Well, I got double the price last time, so you can have this for free."
"That's not it. I can't rely on you so many times."
If that's how she felt, it saved me trouble. But was that really okay? She had been so happy when I gave her the first Rank 3.
As I was confused, Hikaru continued.
"Besides, we have a promise for you to sell me a Rank 4. I'm looking forward to that."
"Wh-whoa! I have no idea how to get a Rank 4!"
Hikaru laughed at my flustered reaction.
"Fufufu, I never said it was certain. It's just a promise that if you obtain a Rank 4, you'll sell it to me. But I wouldn't be surprised if you actually managed to get one."
"Gu… gu…"
When she said that, I wanted to live up to her expectations. But how was I supposed to get a Rank 4?
Even as I was troubled by Hikaru's expectations, I felt a fire ignite in my explorer's soul.
This concludes Chapter 5.
Thank you for following Shirou's growth so far.
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