Chapter 488: Quite Nervous

After Neun-san told me about Kuro's family, there was a bit of silence between us. It's not that it became awkward between us, but the mood feels unsettling.

I thought about it for a while, before calling out to Neun-san behind me.

[……What kind of food do you like, Neun-san?]

[……Eh? What's with the sudden question……]

[Ahh, no, it's just that…… I was thinking I only know a few things about Neun-san…… I don't have any precise reason, but I kind of want to know more about you, Neun-san.]

[Fueehh!?]

I surprisingly haven't had many private conversations with Neun-san so far. Of course, I consider Neun-san to be my important friend, so I know her to some extent.

However, just as I talked about with Dr. Vier before, when I talked with Laguna-san and Fors-san, I realized that I didn't know Neun-san at all.

……I wonder if that's why? It's just that I suddenly felt that I wanted to know more about Neun-san.

Neun-san looked confused about hearing what I suddenly said, but after thinking for a bit, she answered my question.

[……I guess it would be anmitsu.]

[Anmitsu huh…… I haven't really eaten anmitsu that much, but do they have it in this world?]

[Yes, they have it here. I also often make some for me to eat…… What about you, Kaito-san? What kind of food do you like?]

[I like hamburger steaks and apple pies.]

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Neun-san likes anmitsu…… I'll make sure to remember that. I'll also check out shops that serve anmitsu in Kuro's food guide.

I owe Neun-san a tremendous debt of gratitude for the rice she gave me before,so if I get the chance, I might as well treat her to some anmitsu.

[Well then, if you don't mind me asking…… What are your hobbies, Neun-san?]

[Let's see…… I like to play shogi. Have you ever played shogi before, Kaito-san?]

[Y- Yes, well……]

[If we get the chance, how about we play a game?]

[……I don't mind, but you have to be prepared before you face me. If you place shogi with me, Neun-san will experience "the same despair that Alice felt"……]

[……I see, so you're that confident huh. Very well. I am also a bit confident in my ability to play shogi…… So I don't think I would be lacking as an opponent!]

……Unfortunately, I was the one lacking as an opponent here…….

[No, it's the opposite of what Neun-san is thinking. If you play a game with me…… Neun-san will despair about how horrifyingly weak I am.]

[……Eh?]

Alice despaired when she played against me. After she had to spoon-feed me just to get me close to winning, she never asked to play shogi with me again. N- No, wait? Perhaps, at that time when I played with Alice before…… It may just be that I'm not really that weak, wouldn't it be possible that Alice is just too strong?

Unnn, that's very likely. After all, despite her personality, Alice is like a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-everything type of a genius, so she's probably extremely amazing at shogi.

Considering that, I may even have put up a great fight against her…… Doesn't that mean I might actually be fairly amazing too?

[No, it's nothing. Yes, if there's a chance, let's play a match……]

[……Y- Yes.]

[Errr, next thing to talk about…… What do you usually do, Neun-san?]

For the time being, let's put aside how great I might actually be, I asked the next question.

[……Errr, I refine my skills…… Sometimes, I follow Kuromu-sama to visit different countries…… Sometimes, I help Raz-sama with her farm work…… I- I guess that's all?]

[……I'm sorry if I'm being too intrusive, but how do Neun-san and Raz-san…… how do the members of Kuro's family make money?]

[……F- From…… our allowance.]

[……Ehh?]

I thought that since Zechs-san was in charge of the magic tools business, Neun-san would also be in charge of something, so I asked her about it but…… sounding very embarrassed, Neun-san replied with words I didn't expect.

[……U- Ummm…… we receive an allowance of one gold coin each month from Kuromu-sama, which we use to buy things we want…… That's why, I don't really work……]

[……I- I see…… Errr, I'm sorry for asking.]

Amazing…… I don't know if I should say that it's to be expected from Kuro or not…… They're receiving a million yen a month as allowance……? It's an environment that Fate-san would envy.

Thinking about it again, it may be difficult for Neun-san, who is hiding the fact that she is the First Hero, to find a job.

I see, that's why she seems to have a hard time saying it. I was impolite for asking her something like this.

[N- No, I've also been trying to do something about his matter too. I mean, even Raz-sama earns income by selling fruits and vegetables……]

[Errr……]

[……By the way, if Kaito-san needs "a guard when you're going out"……]

[……I- I'll tell you about it when the time comes.]

I guess she really was concerned about it, going as far as promoting her services to me…… But unfortunately, when it comes to guards, I already have that bundle of cheats guarding me……

Anyway, this topic is really mind-damaging for Neun-san, so let's just talk about something else…… But before that, I need to make a follow-up for Neun-san……

[I- I'm changing the subject, but Neun-san, you look very cute in your outfit today, aren't you?]

[Ehh?]

[Neun-san has originally been very beautiful, and that western-style dress really suits you…… I guess it could be described as neat and tidy. Calming femininity is really just like Neun-san, isn't it!?]

[Eh? Eeeehhhh!? K- Kaito-san…… W- What are you…… ummm, errr……]

Arehh? What the heck am I saying? I don't know if it was because I was trying to cheer up Neun-san or not, but I ended up saying a series of lines that would make one cringe……

Well, the milk has been spilled already, so I might as well keep the momentum going……

[Y- Your pink-colored hair also looks good on you. Or rather, since Neun-san is a beauty, any hair color would look good on you!]

[Hooeehh!?]

[For me to be able to have a one-on-one talk with the beautiful Neun-san, I'm quite a lucky man.]

[Migyaaahhh!? W- Why are you suddenly saying s- s- s- such a…… M- My h- howt isn't weady yet……]

……Unnn. This won't do, I made a blunder. I knew that letting the momentum control my actions would end up pretty badly. It kind of feels like I'm hitting on her rather than cheering her up.

This won't do. If I said something like this to the shy Neun-san, she would definitely loose her composure. I should revise what I said as soon as possible……

[I- I'm sorry! I accidentally started saying strange things——— Eh?]

I turned my head behind me to apologize for saying something outrageous on the spur of the moment, but at that moment, I heard the sound of something falling behind me.

Of course, if I had to guess what that sound was in this situation……

[N- Neun-san!? Bell, stop! Stooooooooop!!! Neun-san had fallen!!!]

[Guru?]

Dear Mom, Dad———– This was a complete blunder on my part. How should I say this…… I ended up going along a strange flow of conversation. I was the one who lost my composure. It was just like last night's reverse proposal. Even though I didn't notice it then…… It seems like being in a situation like this where I'm alone with Neun-san————- makes me quite nervous.

Neun-san has "fallen"!

Serious-senpai ZERO : [……When he loses his composure, he goes around seducing people!? I knew that this protagonist is really my natural enemy!!! Well, putting that aside…… Seriously, what the heck happened? His shogi match with you, I mean……]

? ? ? : [……Alice-chan earnestly fought against him, but she didn't take him too seriously.]

Serious-senpai ZERO : [……Incidentally, how much did you go easy on him?]

? ? ? : [I held back so much, going as far as to think I'm "playing against a five-year-old who has just learned shogi".]

Serious-senpai ZERO : [Uwaaaahhh……]