Chapter 53: From Now On

My first time having yakiniku was so delicious that ironically, it might not even remain in my memory.
Perhaps it’s something you need to experience a few times to really settle down and enjoy. Or maybe that’s just me.

“That was delicious. Really, really delicious, big bro!”
“Yeah. It was good.”

I agree, and I feel the same way, but… I can’t seem to be as purely joyful as Mitsuru.

Is it because I paid for it?

I’ve heard people say they want to eat yakiniku with someone else’s money. Maybe yakiniku is an entirely different dish when it’s on someone else’s tab compared to your own.

Gourmet experiences run deep.

“Itsuki-nii, yukke is amazing, huh?”
“Yeah. It practically dissolved into nothing.”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

Nina chuckles and skips over to Shiraishi-san. In just a week, those two have grown close.

Mutsuki walks while holding Mitsuru’s hand tightly, and for some reason, Sena and Seika are clinging to both of my arms. I suggested they could just hold my hand, but they’ve stubbornly latched onto my arms, leaving me to walk like a scarecrow.

Once we get to the hotel, we take turns bathing. Since we smell like charcoal, we’ll need to wash our clothes properly once we get home. I leave Mutsuki to Mitsuru and start packing in the meantime, so we can leave smoothly in the morning.

Before I forget, I report today’s events to Kirishima-san. She calls back immediately.

“Hello?”
“It’s not just a ‘hello’! What? Contribution rank number one? Among those adventurers?”

“Uh… yes.”
“What did you do?”

“I opened the gate to the [Scorching Mines] and dealt a critical blow to Golden Wolf Grid.”
“…Could you try to keep it within the realm of common sense?”

“I’m sorry?”
“Yes, apologies are in order.”

Apparently, I need to apologize.

Kirishima-san lets out a big sigh over the phone.

“You’ve reported to Haruka too, right?”
“…No, not yet.”

Why does Kirishima-san make these pointed remarks? It’s like my mind is being read, and it unsettles me.

“You’re with her, right? Why are you prioritizing me? Come on, go to her. Go now. Understand? Right now, move.”
“Yes. Yes!”

She rushes me so intensely, cutting the call immediately.
The sound of a door opening from the bath.

“Bro, we’ll be heading out soon.”
“Oh… I’m going to step out for a bit.”

“Shopping?”
“Sort of like a walk. I want to enjoy the city, become a city boy, you know?”

“Be careful.”
“Got it. Sorry, I’m counting on you to look after Mutsuki.”

“Leave it to me.”

I step out into the hallway and send a message on my smartphone. Knocking on the door wasn’t an option since it was bath time, and I didn’t want to risk anything awkward.

A prompt reply comes.

‘What’s up?’

I hesitate. How should I respond? There’s no time to hesitate.

‘Want to go for a walk? I’d like to talk about yesterday and today.’
‘Sure!’

Almost immediately, the door next to mine opens and Shiraishi-san appears.

The same yellow coat she wore before looks striking against her healthy, fair skin. I’ve thought so continuously and understand it well—Shiraishi-san is a beauty.

“Sorry for calling you out of the blue.”
“It’s okay. I wanted to hear your story too. Shall we go?”

We take the elevator down to the first floor and step outside. The night air is cold this season, enough to catch a cold without a proper coat.

Shiraishi-san stops at a vending machine just after we start walking.

“I’m getting cocoa. What about you, Isshiki-kun?”
“…I’ll have cocoa too.”

With decisive movements, she buys two bottles of cocoa, completely blocking my access to the vending machine. She must be being considerate since I paid for the yakiniku.

The warm sensation gradually returns to my cold fingers.

Even at night, Tokyo is bustling. Silence is fleeting here. Voices of those passing by and glaring lights surround us. This city feels fake—perhaps because I’m a country bumpkin.

I move my right hand, poised to unscrew the bottle cap, back into my pocket.

“Shiraishi-san.”
“Yes?”

“In this quest, I got first place. In terms of contribution.”
“First place? Contribution? Hmm… wait, what!?”

Shiraishi-san’s surprise deepens in stages.
She steps away from me, creating a barrier with her hands.

“Hold on a second. Let me write ‘because it’s Isshiki-kun’ on my hand ten times.”
“Isn’t that something you do with the word ‘person’!?”

Shiraishi-san silently scribbles with her right index finger on her left palm.

“Of course, it’s because it’s you, Isshiki-kun!”
“That’s some serious self-hypnosis…”

It’s like a defense mechanism for the mind now.
Circling back to calm, Shiraishi-san wears a serene expression.

“Being you, Isshiki-kun, this kind of thing happens, right? So, what exactly did you do?”

“During the mission, we got sent back to the [Fallen Holy City] by a Grid’s magic. But there was a staff the Grid used, so I forced a gate open and returned. And somehow, I ended up alone with the Golden Wolf Grid—the boss—so I fought and eventually defeated it alongside Lila.”

“Wait a minute. Let me write ‘because it’s Isshiki-kun’ twenty times now.”
“It’s increasing, isn’t it!”

This is practically a meditation now.
With a serious face, Shiraishi-san looks at me steadily.

“What is it?”
“I’ve always known you were amazing, Isshiki-kun. But I didn’t realize you were this extraordinary… Honestly, I’ve been amazed since the first time we met.”

Embarrassed, I shrug.
I then avert my gaze down to the cocoa in my hand.

“It’s all thanks to you, Shiraishi-san. You’re the one who gave me that magic.”
“…….”

Before she has a chance to reply, I continue.

“I formed a party.”
“Really… congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

It’s just Lila and me for now, so I’ll need to gather more people eventually.
But it’s begun. My adventure, our adventure.

“I’ll work hard to keep surprising you, Shiraishi-san. So—”

I may not always be right by your side as I move forward.
But no matter how distant the memories become, I’ll never forget the beginning.

“Please keep watching over me.”

Until the day I pass on what’s been entrusted to me.
Until my adventure concludes.

“Of course, I’m watching.”

Shiraishi-san smiles, nodding confidently as if to say, “It’s only natural.”

“I’ll always be watching.”

In a city where everything feels artificial,
The lukewarm bottle in my left hand was the only thing that reminded me of reality.