In the end, we never managed to uncover Itsuka-kun’s embarrassing secret.
The biggest reason was his desperate defense.
Whenever he looked like he was about to talk, he kept forcing his way through Tobiichi’s iron wall and covering her mouth, so she never got the chance to say anything.
They say people can display superhuman strength when they feel their life is in danger, and to me, this was exactly the kind of situation they meant.
I had no idea how he broke through that defensive line.
And just like that, Tohka and Tobiichi left without us ever hearing Itsuka-kun’s dark past.
"How should I put it... that was a storm of a duo."
"Ahaha. I can’t exactly deny that."
There really did feel like they’d swept through and stirred things up a little.
So Itsuka-kun just laughed it off without denying it either.
"Still, how was it, Len? What did you think after talking with Tohka and Origami?"
"If you ask for my thoughts, that puts me in a difficult position. I’m only here to grant Shido’s wish. Didn’t I say so? I can’t guarantee the result will be what you expect."
"I-I see..."
At Len’s answer, Itsuka-kun looked a little disappointed.
From his perspective, he’d made the wish hoping Len would get along with the others, so it was only natural for him to feel let down by that answer.
Still, there was no need to be too disappointed. Unlike just a moment ago, when she’d been expressionless, she was now smiling faintly at the corners of her mouth.
Even though we’d only met two days ago, you could kind of tell what someone was going to say just by looking at their expression.
"Though, well..."
"Hm?"
"I did understand that they’re lively girls."
Len’s evaluation of Tohka and Tobiichi as lively girls was accurate enough.
Tohka had always been bright and energetic, and Tobiichi had become much more cheerful after history changed and she was saved by Itsuka-kun once again in the process.
The fact that Len had given them that kind of assessment meant she had properly faced them and talked with them.
"I see. Yeah, that’s enough for now."
Itsuka-kun probably understood that too, which was why he wasn’t disappointed anymore and was satisfied just knowing she’d properly seen them.
"Then, since we’re already outside the shrine, do you want to look around somewhere else too?"
Wanting to show Len more of the area, Itsuka-kun suggested it like that.
Len smiled faintly at that and asked him back.
"Oh? Is that your second wish?"
Her tone made it hard to tell whether she was being serious or joking, but considering she’d pulled this kind of prank in a dream before, it seemed more likely she was joking.
"No, that’s not it..."
"I’m joking. That much is fine."
As Itsuka-kun panicked at Len’s words, she snickered and made it clear she was joking, just as I’d expected.
At that, Itsuka-kun relaxed and started walking ahead, saying he’d show us around town.
Len and I followed behind him, and then Len suddenly threw a question at me.
"By the way, why do you keep sticking around?"
"Hm? Me?"
"Yes. You didn’t make a wish, and you weren’t affected by Shido’s wish either, so is there really a reason for you to keep following us?"
As Len said, I definitely hadn’t made a wish to her, nor had I been affected by Itsuka-kun’s wish.
Maybe the reason I wasn’t affected was because I’d already met Len before.
And if she asked why I was following Shido and her around in that situation, I could answer simply.
"Because that’s my ‘role.’"
"...Role?"
"Yes. Another way to put it would be my purpose."
Right now, I was only quietly listening to the two of them talk, or occasionally joining in a little, but my original role and purpose was Itsuka-kun’s safety.
If a situation ever arose where Len targeted Itsuka-kun’s life, it would be more efficient for me to protect him directly at his side than to be at [Fraxinus] and get teleported over later.
That way, Itsuka-kun would be safer.
"...I see."
"That’s right."
I still hadn’t let my guard down around Len, and whether she sensed that or not, she didn’t ask anything further.
As we kept walking down the street, I spotted two figures running toward us from far away.
"H-Hai...!"
"Hm? Yoshino? Natsumi?"
For some reason, Yoshino and Natsumi were hurrying over here.
"Hai, we finally found you."
"『Seriously, Hai-kun, you really shouldn’t just call people out and then wander off like that~.』"
"...I thought there was nobody around, so you were probably nearby, watching me wait for someone who definitely wasn’t coming and laughing at me."
"Me...?"
I hadn’t called Yoshino or Natsumi over, and even if I had, I wouldn’t have left the area.
So I had no idea what she was talking about, but apparently, because I’d been walking around with Itsuka-kun, I’d been affected by his wish to introduce Len to the friends he’d called over.
‘So even in situations like this, I’m still being treated like an irregular...’
Silently lamenting my own specialness, I lowered my head to the two of them.
"I’m sorry. I had a bit of business to take care of. And sorry, Natsumi."
"N-No, it’s okay. If something came up, there’s nothing you can do about it. But... Shido, and the woman next to you..."
"Could it be that the business was the two of you going out hunting...!?"
"『Eeeh~! You two are really something!』"
"No, no, wait a second. There’s no way that’s it!"
Natsumi’s completely off-base delusion.
What on earth was she imagining to think I’d go around hunting women with my personality?
At the very least, when I approached a woman first, it was always for completely innocent reasons.
Like asking for directions, or something like that.
"There’s absolutely no way that’s happening, so this is... Itsuka-kun, would you introduce her?"
I handed the introductions over to Itsuka-kun.
Since he was the one who’d made the wish, I figured it’d be better if he introduced her.
"Got it. This is Len. She’s a new spirit."
"Eh!? A spirit...?"
"...Seriously? When did you seal her? Which one of you did it? More importantly, that’s one hell of a fast harem."
"What are you talking about, Natsumitsumi..."
She was saying that before Len had even been sealed, which made me genuinely afraid of what kind of image Natsumi had of me and Itsuka-kun.
She talked like we were the kind of people who kept adding women around us every time we did anything, and I couldn’t even think of a good rebuttal.
‘Well, it’s true that there are a lot of girls around us.’
If more spirits showed up in the future, either Itsuka-kun or I would have to go out and win them over again, so in a way, Natsumi wasn’t entirely wrong.
Still, hearing it like that from the receiving end was a little much.
"She’s not even sealed yet, you know...?"
"Itsuka-kun is right. And the reason I called the two of you here was because Itsuka-kun asked me to introduce Len to you."
As I corrected their misunderstanding and stepped slightly aside, Len came into view and nodded.
"I’m Len. Nice to meet you."
"Ah... yes. I’m Yoshino. Hai has been taking care of me. And this is..."
"『The whole world has been waiting! The rabbit world’s fantasy star! It’s Yoshinon~! Don’t be shy, just call me Super Rabbit Yoshinon-sama~!』"
"...Uh, ah? It’s my, my turn? I’m... Natsumi. So, for that reason..."
With her strong loner tendencies, Natsumi tried to leave the moment a new person appeared and disappear somewhere, but Yoshino snatched her wrist and ruined the plan.
"W-Where are you going, Natsumi?"
"N-No, I thought I’d go since I already introduced myself..."
"You can’t do that... Since we’ve met, let’s talk more. I’d be lonely if you weren’t here, Natsumi."
"Ugh... a-alright."
In the end, Natsumi crumbled under Yoshino’s gaze attack and decided to talk with Len.
Come to think of it, Yoshino’s eyes had something about them that could move people’s hearts.
Whether it was from guilt or just because she was cute.
"My, my. Have I perhaps been disliked?"
"No, not at all. It’s just that... both Natsumi and I get a little nervous talking to someone we’ve just met..."
I wasn’t sure whether the way her brow was furrowed and her hands were trembling just a little could really be called "a little nervous," but if I pointed that out, Natsumi might actually die of embarrassment, so I kept my mouth shut and watched.
"...Honestly, I don’t even know what to talk about."
"Hmm. No need to worry. I’m the same."
"Huh? Oh, really..."
And with that, a suffocating awkwardness descended over the three of them.
Yoshino was the type to respond to what other people said rather than start conversations herself, and Natsumi wouldn’t talk unless she was teasing someone or putting on an adult act, because of her loner tendencies.
On top of that, Len had only just met the two of them, and it didn’t seem like she had any relationships established with them yet, so there wasn’t anyone among the three of them who could break the ice.
In fact, Natsumi looked like she was holding her breath because the line of sight was too much for her, so we needed to start talking quickly.
The best solution would be for Yoshinon, since she was the most talkative, to open things up first, but...
"...How about a simple question time? Since none of us know anything about each other yet, we can get to know one another slowly."
Since it looked like Natsumi might suffocate if this kept up, I suggested a topic first.
If we did that, at least conversation should be possible.
"『Oh~! Hai-kun, that’s a good one!』"
"...Question time, huh. I see. Then, Yoshinon. Are you a doll...? You’re speaking pretty cheerfully."
"Mm."
Of all things, the first question was whether she was a doll, so I carefully looked at Yoshinon.
Yoshinon’s body was indeed a doll, so there was no change in expression, but last time I’d accidentally called her a doll and a terrifying aura had burst out, so I was worried she might react like that again.
"『Oops, what a fearless little baby. That’s top secret. Right, Yoshino?』"
‘Phew...’
Fortunately, Yoshinon’s reaction wasn’t bad at all.
Maybe because this was still her first meeting with Len, she didn’t seem particularly offended.
"Uh, so... Yoshinon is my friend."
"『That’s right. Women become beautiful by dressing themselves in secrets! So then, Len-chan, what’s with that bandage? Did you get hurt?』"
The moment Yoshinon asked that, everyone’s gaze turned to Len.
I’d also been curious about that bandage and those restraints, but I hadn’t asked directly, so it was convenient that Yoshinon brought it up.
The others were probably curious too.
Under everyone’s focused gaze, Len opened her mouth.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register