CH 149

The next day after the yakiniku party with Nishino-kun and his friends, I wake up while being bathed in sunlight.



“An unfamiliar ceiling…”



But that’s natural since I had moved in yesterday.



I’m residing in one of the vacant houses within the City Hall’s “Safety Zone”.



The residential area located North of the City Hall was relatively less damaged, so some of the houses were given to Nishino-kun’s group as rewards for their efforts in the battles against Alpha and Titan.



Even though they’re students, Nishino-kun’s group is now considered one of the main forces of the City Hall.



As an organization, the City Hall is bound to give them preferential treatment.



There were some people who complained about this, but they were silenced by the mayor when he told them to “Go get results yourselves”.



I was assigned a room big enough to fit 6 tatami mats.



Seeing how there are bookshelves, game consoles, mangas, and a desk, this was probably once a child’s room.



I’ll be using it with thanks.



The other rooms in the house are occupied by Ichinose-san, Rikka-chan, and Nishino-kun.



Shibata-kun and Goshogawara-san are in a different house.



When the rooms were assigned, Shibata-kun grumbled as he looked towards Ichinose-san and me, but Nishino-kun made him quiet down.



(…It feels like Shibata-kun isn’t particularly fond of me.)



Why?



Is he still hung up about the fact that I had disguised as Ichinose-san?



I had already apologized, but maybe he is not willing to let it go…



“Wan!”



“Kyu!”



Momo and Kiki appear from the shadows as I’m having this thought.



It seems they were both awake.



“Good morning, Momo, Kiki.”



I enjoy mofu-mofuing the two of them that are on my knees.



Yup, their furs have gotten better after evolving.



This is the best.



“Hmm?… A smell something nice.”



“Wafu?”



Momo and I sniff our noses.



It’s coming from the kitchen.



I get lured by the smell and head to the kitchen, only to meet Nishino-kun there.



“Oh, good morning, Kudou-san.”



“…Good morning?”



“Haha, why is it a question?”



No, because…



I rub my eyes and look at Nishino-kun once more.



He’s wearing an apron and a triangular headscarf with a ladle on his hand.



(…What’s up with your looks?)



Of course I’d be surprised.



Normally, people would expect a beauty or a recently-wed wife to say “Good morning” to them while holding a ladle.



Why is this delinquent high-school ikemen doing it instead?



Damn it, so you can cook?



Apparently, he was preparing breakfast.



I find bread, salad, scrambled egg, and miso soups on the table.



They’re made from the ingredients which I took out from the Item Box yesterday. I had put them in the refrigerator.



“I made them with the ingredients inside the fridge. Was I not supposed to?”



“No, it’s fine. This saves us a lot of trouble. Thank you.”



“Rikka and Ichinose should wake up soon. Let’s eat together when they do.”



I can tell just from how they look and smell.



Breakfast will be absolutely spectacular.



Nishino-kun, you’re much more versatile than what your appearance suggests.



Also, you have feminine qualities.



****



After a while, Ichinose-san and Rikka-chan also enter the kitchen.



“Fuaa~~ Mornin’.”



“Munyuu… Good morning…”



The JK duo sounds like they’re still drowsy.



They have bed hairs and they’re drooling with their pajamas on.



Feminine qualities………



“…Speaking of which, is it alright for us to eat breakfast here without using the cafeteria in the City Hall?”



“No worries. There isn’t any rule mandating exploration teams to hand over all the food they found to the City Hall. As long as we fulfill our quotas, it’ll be fine. Also, since they allowed us to live in this place, they should’ve already taken it into account.”



Fair enough. I take it that this is another privilege of being a skill holder?



A lot has changed in the two days that Ichinose-san and I spent sleeping.



“…It was Student Council President Igarashi who proposed these new rules.”



Nishino-kun’s face becomes cloudy straight away.



He was brainwashed once by the Student Council President when they were at school.



Hence, his reaction is natural.



However, for that Student Council President to… it’s unexpected.



“….Really?”



“Yes. She is also suggesting to Fujita-san and the mayor various other rules that are advantageous to skills holders. What on earth is she plotting?”



“Ngu… Huh? What’s wrong with that? Isn’t that good for us?”



Having gulped down all the milk at once, Rikka-chan tilts her head.



“…She wouldn’t suggest these things out of good will. She’s definitely onto something. Also, wipe your mouth properly.”



“You think so? Mugu… Gracias, Nisshi.”



Nishino-kun wipes the area around Rikka-chan’s mouth with a tissue.



He isn’t bothering to hide his wariness, but I am curious as to what’s actually going on.



She’s Fujita-san’s biological daughter, and I heard that she’s known the mayor since she was a child.



(The mayor and the SDF members didn’t appear to be “Enchanted” by her either…)



If something was wrong with them, I would have noticed it easily.



Does she simply wish to help out, or is she scheming something?



“We have to stay vigilant until further notice. We have to be prepared to move in a moment’s notice if anything happens.”



“You’re right…”



Put on hold.



We can only wait and see before we come to a conclusion.



****



“So what will you be doing today?”



I ask Nishino-kun about his plans after breakfast.

“I’ll be speaking to Fujita-san. Goshogawara-san will help Shimizu-san persuade the residents. Shibata and the other members will be exploring and securing food.”



“You’ll be by yourself? Will it be okay for me to join the exploration group?”



“Yes, I’ve already informed Fujita-san about Kudou-san.”



He must have been busy at work while I was in my slumber.



As expected of Nishino-kun.



“At the very least, Fujita-san and the mayor should not bother Kudou-san more than necessary. The others should have been informed as well.”



“Eh? Is that so?”



Now that he mentions it, not many people tried to talk to me after I woke up…



Except Nijou who stared at me for a long time.



That said, she turned crimson and fled when I looked at her in return.



What’s wrong with her?



“To them, Kudou-san is a ridiculously overpowered person who appeared from nowhere and defeated Titan. They’re not sure how they should behave around you.”



“Oh, so that’s why.”



It’s true that I’ve always been disguised as Ichinose-san in front of them.



I only returned to my original appearance when Nijou and Chief Shimizu were about to be assaulted.



For those that weren’t aware of who I am, my existence would have come across as a big shock.



It doesn’t really bother me though. I’m fine as long as I can move about like usual.



Rather, it’s the perfect scenario for me.



“…Well, that’s what we negotiated.”



“Sorry?”



“Nothing.”



Nishino-kun is smiling, but for some reason, I feel unsettled by that unnatural smile.



“For now, Kudou-san doesn’t have to worry and move around freely. As a matter of fact, that would be more convenient for us.”



“If you say so.”



“Will Natsun be with onii-san?”



“Eh? Yeah, that’s the plan…”



“Hmmm…”



Rikka-chan glances at Nishino-kun.



“Sorry, but today’s schedule is fixed. Don’t ask me about allowing you to go, okay?”



“Course, I know that already.”



Although she says that, Rikka-chan is clearly disappointed.



There’s little room to doubt that she wanted to tag along.



“Then we’ll be heading to the sea.”



“Is it for the Slime Hunt you mentioned yesterday?”



“Yes, as long as Aka regains its power, it’ll become much easier for us to move about.”



Also, we’ll have to restore Aka’s strength to activate its new skills.



We’ll then be able to obtain information and food easier since the scope of our activity will expand dramatically.



“Wait just a little more, Aka.”



“Furu furu~.”



Aka shakes its body in delight.



Guess it’s time to visit the sea.