CH 228

Episode 228: Second time, with love

The next day, I wake up at the usual time.

I still have a strong sense of the Satou family home as a place I come to occasionally, so even though I say my room, it feels like I'm staying at a hotel.

It's almost like I don't have my own luggage.

"I should get up first."

After speaking to myself, I get up and go down to the living room on the first floor.

"Good morning, mother. Good morning Anna-san."

"Good morning, Fuhito."

"Good morning, Fuhito-kun. You're up early. You're similar to my husband."

Mom and Anna-san are standing in the kitchen.

Anna-san probably offered to help her, and although she turned it down once, I think that Anna-san requested so strongly that she couldn't turn her down.

Anna-san replies while nodding in admiration in response to me being an early riser.

"I woke up later before. But, after becoming an explorer, no matter what time I go to bed, I usually wake up at this time."

"Hee ~ that's amazing. We weren't like that, that might be the secret as to why Fuhito-kun has a great deal of strength."

Anna-san stares at me as if she is even more impressed with my reply.

"That's not true. Come to think of it, is Makoto-san an early riser too?"

"Yeah. He's borrowing the garden for training."

"He's fine even though he was like that yesterday."

"It's a daily routine, so if he doesn't do it when he wakes up, it feels wrong."

It seems that Makoto-san gets up earlier than me and trains in the garden of the house. Certainly, I feel that the body that was visible through the cracks in the tattered armor was sufficiently toned.

I wonder if I should learn martial arts like that too.

I learned by imitating Saotome-senpai for now, and the rest is my own way.

If there's a strong martial art that suits me, I'd like to learn.

And even though he's completely cured, he just came back yesterday, but he's a person I can genuinely respect for being able to train as usual today.

-Gachaaa

"Oh, looks like he's back."

I hear the sound of the front door opening, signaling that Makoto-san has returned.

"Oh, good morning, Fuhito-kun. Are you training, too?"

As soon as Makoto-san comes into the living room wiping his sweat with a towel and sees me, he asks.

"No, I don't do that, so ..."

"And you are still that strong. I'm amazed."

I scratch my head in embarrassment, and Makoto-san puts his hand on his chin and nods in admiration. I feel that the points that this couple admire are somewhat similar.

I don't know if they're similar because they're a couple or a couple because they're similar.

"No, no, I still have a long way to go. I'm nowhere near as good as high-rank explorers."

"I don't think that's the case?"

After all, I've finally reached B-rank. The hidden test is still half-way complete.

That's why I can't be selfish to say that I'm strong.

"I'm happy to be evaluated highly, but I'm still E-rank."

"What!? You're still E-rank!?"

When I tell him my rank, Makoto-san is so surprised that his jaw almost popped open, and his eyes are about to pop out and fall out.

Come to think of it, these two have been hiding in a dungeon for half a year, so they don't know much about Japan these days.

"Yeah, a little while ago an abnormal situation happened in the dungeons, and Stampedes happened all over the world. For over a month, Stampedes and Rebirths of many dungeons overlapped. I think I didn't have time to rank up because I was busy."

"Is that what happened ..."

When I briefly talk about the recent circumstances, Makoto-san answers with a mysterious expression.

"Yes. I'll talk about that at breakfast."

"Okay. Tell me more."

"Leave it to me. Also, Mom, I'll be leaving a little early today."

After I promise to talk to Makoto in detail later, I tell my mother about today's schedule.

"I understand. I want the two of them to meet with Shia-chan as soon as possible."

"Yeah. I'm sure there's a lot to talk about, so I think I'll meet with her and head to the classroom after a while."

"That's right, it's bad to disturb the family."

As my mother says, I am leaving early so that Shia and the Katsuragi couple can meet.

I will meet with Shia and lightly explain to her before leaving, and Shia will probably not be in a condition to go to school, so I should tell the teacher about Shia.

"I know. Then, I'll watch the news."

"I understand. Wake up Nanami in a little while."

"Roger."

After talking to my mother, I sit down on the sofa and turn on the TV.

"Can I borrow the bath again?"

"Yeah, of course."

"I appreciate it."

Then Makoto-san heads to the bath to wash away the sweat from his training.

After that, I stare blankly at the news until it's time, wake up Nanami when the food is ready, and after Makoto-san comes back from the bath, we all eat breakfast and talk about the recent dungeon happenings.

"Well then, I'm off."

"Yes, have a nice day."

"We were very well taken care of."

"Thank you for being so kind to us, despite us being strangers."

After finishing the meal, when I greet her at the entrance, the Katsuragi couple thank my mother and bow their heads.

"No, no, it's someone who could possibly become a relative. Please don't worry about it."

"That's right!! Haahaahaahaa!!"

"Will I be able to see my grandchildren at this age? I'm looking forward to it!!"

It seems that my mother picked up yesterday's story and talked about various things, and before I knew it, the conversation was progressing on its own.

They're completely ignoring my intentions.

Even though I'm already seen that way at school, there's no way I can escape if even my own parent becomes a successor.

I don't think Shia thinks of me like that.

I have to do something.

"It's useless if I don't give permission!!"

"I understand. You still love Fuhito too much."

"Of course!!"

However, Nanami takes a firm stance of refusal, so my mother looks at Nanami as if she is looking at a helpless child and shrugs her shoulders.

I'm glad that Nanami is the final line of defense.

"If you can come out right away, can you come to the school gate, と."(TN:Guessing he just keeps using と like saying 'over' on a radio.)

I send a message on 'LINNE' before I leave.

[ Okay!! ]

After confirming that a message with high tension that is clearly different from normal conversation is returned, I head to school.

As Shia said, she is waiting at the school gate.

Her eyes are already filled with tears. I think it's okay because the other students aren't coming because it's early.

Yes, she can already see them.

She knows who the two people walking behind me are.

"Shia, you've gotten bigger in the time I haven't seen you for a while, and you've become beautiful. Are you surprised?"

"Shia, I'm sorry I left you alone. It must have been hard, right? You did your best."

Everyone stopped once at a place about 1.5 meters apart, and Makoto-san and Anna-san take a step forward and smile at Shia.

"Father!! Mother!!"

Shia jumps in between the two of them, and the three of them quietly shed tears for a while as they hug her.

I watch the three of them for a while.

"Gusuu ... Why ... ?"

"I told you that, right? I'm going to show you something amazing. It's a surprise present. Are you happy?"

When the tears subside a bit, Shia looks at me with swollen red eyes, so I answer with a triumphant look as much as possible out of embarrassment.

"Yeah ... Gusuu ... Thank you ... Fu-kun."

"Don't worry about it, it was just a coincidence. Then, I'm going?"

Shia quietly bows her head to me.

I become embarrassed and turn my back on Shia and start walking toward the entrance.

"Wait a minute, Fu-kun."

"What?"

However, Shia stops me and I turn around.

"Chu ~ !!"

"~ !?"

At that moment, Shia's face was turned up in front of my face, and a soft touch is pressed against my lips. I can't pull away because she's holding my head.

The feeling is clearer and more vivid than the first time.

I open my eyes wide in confusion.

"Ara, ara, how bold!?"

"I, I never thought Shia would act like this!?"

Seeing Shia like that, Anna-san smiles broadly, and Makoto-san is shocked.

I don't know if it was a few seconds ore a few minutes, but it is a long kiss that feels like hours.

Seemingly satisfied, Shia separates her face from mine and says this.

"Fu-kun, I love you." と.

Her smile at that time was really cute like an angel, and pretty like a fairy.

I was shot through the heart in one blow.