Vol. 9 - Ch. 478 - Rina joins the party! Triple Date happening!

Upon entering the gymnasium, I encountered Rina, who was with her friends. She was dressed in a yukata adorned with various flowers, predominantly in red. When Rina, with her distinctive ringlet curls, wore it, she exuded an unparalleled aura of nobility. And if I may so, she was absolutely killing it! It was like a dress made solely for her.Accompanying Rina were three other girls, who seemed inexplicably startled as they stared at us.

"Kyaa! It's the boys of ‹Eden›!"

"C-Calm down, will you? You're creeping them out! But who could've expected we would run into ‹Eden› set of handsome boys......"

"S-She's right! I understood how impactful it's to have a direct meeting, b-but you're freaking out too much! Calm, rest your breath...... Can we shake hands, pretty please!?"

"......Haa. My apologies, Zephyr-san. They're typically well-behaved girls, but there's occasionally that fangirl side to them..."

Rina sighed and apologised for her raucous friends, though I was hardly bothered.

"Come now, it was a bit surprising, but nothing to apologise for. Amn't I right, you guys?"

"Yeah. I've already become jaded to all sorts of reception after getting into the guild."

"I had taken no offence either since starting."

Hearing mine, Mert and Reglam's response, Rina let out a relieved sigh.

"Thank you for your understanding."

"S-Sorry, Rina-san. I guess we acted a bit too unassumingly in our excitement."

"Goodness, you almost embarrassed me in front of my precious—ahem, guild members. Please don't do it again." Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Tehe~."

For a split second, Rina glanced at my side when saying 'precious', but immediately took back her gaze and advised her friends.

Finding it was the right time to pose my question with their excitement settling, I asked Rina about them.

"Rina, are these girls...?"

"Correct, they're my classmates. Despite their merry disposition, they're excellent in their field, and are on their way to discover their respective high-ranking job for ‹Job Transfer›."

"......Oh?"

Rina give a tid-bit about their background and introduced them. The three girls were apparently from ‹Combat Department Year-1 Class 51›, and out of three, two belonged to ‹Knight› and ‹Dog-kin› category. I couldn't make a guess about the third girl's category from a single glance.

She hardly bore a resemblance to any category. Maybe no-category......? Hmm—ack, oh. I only realised that I was staring at a girl we had just met. Where were my manners?

Ahem. Anyway, it seemed that Lina had been touring the festival stalls with her classmates during this time.

I, too, turned to introduce Orihime-san, Reglam's wife—I mean fiance, to her.

We had just finished with the introduction when the three faddist girl's expression lit up in some realisation and grabbed hold of Rina's shoulder.

"Rina, come with me for a moment! Quick!"

"Whoa, What might be the matter?!"

"Just follow us. —Sorry, Brave-san, and his friends. We are borrowing Rina for a teensy bit. It would be great if you can hold here for a moment."

The three girls said, besieging Rina between their circle, before leaving. It seemed like they had some secretive talk to follow. I could only hear a faint whisper of theirs.

"—This is, triple date—chance—"

"What! But———can I———?"

"——Just go for it————for, after all!"

"——support————!"

"——hank, you. ——oh——. Understood, then I am going."

"Yay~, go for it, Rina-san!"

Their discussion indeed was done in a matter of moments. And for inexplicable reasons, I felt Misato and Orihime-san giving me mystified gazes, wearing a warm smile. I wasn't that surprised about Misato, but did Orihime-san also manage to hear their secret talk?

"I-I apologise for the wait. Err, Zephyr-san. If I may not be imposing too much, would it be fine if I join you?"

"Hmm? Of course, but are you sure? I thought you were with your friends."

"It's all A-okay! Just take our Rina-san~."

"Fighto—! Rina-san!"

"We're cheering for you!"

"Ahaha, and this is the case."

......I don't think 'And this is the case' really explains anything. I would have asked, but I was besieged by the 'you shouldn't ask more than needed' sensation. Meanwhile, Rina's friend said their words and disappeared amidst the wave of crowds. Ultimately, we were now moving in a group of six, with Rina joining us.

"Err, okay. Let's have fun then, Rina?"

"Likewise, thanks for having me. By the way, where were you planning to go, Zephyr-san?"

"We were thinking of checking out food stalls, maybe grabbing some lunch along the way."

"Ah, yes. It's already noon huh. I do have one recommendation if you like."

"Great, then let's visit it first. What do you guys think?"

Rina, who had been here earlier, suggested a food stall. I asked the rest of the members if they had anything to say, and received no objection so we decided on that. Originally, my plan, for us boys, was to eat while walking, trying out various delicacies we found amidst our stroll. It was like a strolling food tour. Or that was how it was going to be, but—

"It's honestly quite a turnaround in the situation. I thought it would be just three boys, but then Misato tagged along, then Orihime-san. I started to feel out of place so I am really glad to have you, Rina."

"It's my delight if that's what you think. And, err, I don't mean that I don't enjoy my friend's company, but I, too, am glad to follow you."

"Haha, then it goes both ways I guess. I was also thinking that maybe I interrupted you from having fun. ......That said, do we really need to do this?"

My gaze dropped to my—or our arms.

At present, we were walking in the gymnasium as I escorted Rina. It was the so-called boy and girl linking their arm thing if you know. This was followed by Orihime-san and Misato as well. Of course, Orihime-san was enacting this with Reglam, while Misato was with Mert. Though the initiator of this scene was none other than Orihime-san.

Orihime-san replied seamlessly as I presented my doubt.

"It's the summer festival, an event. It's most of girl's cherished desire to be escorted by a wonderful gentleman. Besides, we're even in the number of boys and girls, so doesn't this make a perfect setup? Consider it a page of your youth. I would feel bad to experience it alone, and... it's amusing to gaze at how others tackle their youth."

The last line was your real intent, right?

"Yeah, it's truly a novel feeling to be escorted by Mert-sama! Hmm, I think I may have come to like this."

"Misato is like a little child, you take your gaze off and she would disappear who knows where. I just found the right solution."

"Geez, here comes the tsun-tsun side of your, Mert-sama. I am sure you're just as happy if anything."

And their friendship is just as deep. Mert wasn't showing any sign of reluctancy as well. Reglam's movement was a sign that it wasn't his first act with Orihime-san, and the same goes for her as well. Sheesh, I didn't expect them to be not only ikemen, but experienced ikemen!

Argh, then I couldn't let them overtake me! Yes, I am going to show how it's really being done! I dispersed—or more like, put a force lock on my bubbling embarrassment, regained my calm mind and once again focused on Rina. Right, this was the moment when a boy must take the lead. They shouldn't be swayed by the unexpectedness of a situation. Not when you're with a girl at least! It might be my first time, but I am definitely going to ace it!

But at the same thing, a thought, or a vague realisation, suddenly struck me. Isn't this like...real date? Or am I reading too much in the situation? I had been just wondering when we had a little accident.

"—Ah!"

Rina tripped on her steps, her balance wobbling. Immediately, my ‹Intuition› and ‹Super-Instinct› activated as well. My body went into auto-mode, taking precise and timely movement to diffuse the situation under the effect of ‹Super Instinct›. I spinned on my heel and slide in front of Rina, accepting her fall over me. But as the stance stood, I was now somehow hugging—not of my violation—Rina, my hands circling around her back.

"......Hot damn, isn't this ‹Super Instinct› too crazy? —Right, not the time. Are you hurt, Rina?"

"I-I am fine! Thank you ve...ry.......much."

What should I name this explicable phenomenon!? The braveness of Brave' ‹Super Instinct› turned out to be far more braver than ‹Brave› expected!!?

On one hand, I was honestly rejoicing to see her yukata had remained neat, without any speck of dirt, avoiding the worst case situation. On another hand, my mind had several question marks flashing—how did one exactly end up hugging someone when the intent was to support her?

Rina's body was snugly fit between my arms, her eyes staring at me, a shade of red gradually dyeing her sculpted face. She apparently voiced her gratitude, but by the time they left her mouth, it was akin to mosquito buzz that I barely could hear before they melted into the surrounding. ——Damn, too adorable. No-no, don't give up on me yet, my calmness.

Fortunately, the worst—in my imagination—didn't happen as I managed to protect my calmness from fading away into oblivion following Orihime-san's words.

"Oh dear. You're amazingly bold, Rina-san. Ohohoho. Reglam-sama. Might I suggest you do the same?"

"......Later."

"Geez, that's how it always ends up with, empty words. I, too, sometimes yearn to hear 'as you wish, darling' from you, you know."

"But wouldn't you agree time and place are just as crucial? Pray look around, the attention Zephyr is receiving now."

"But I have precisely taken this attention in plan as well though? If you give me a chance, I would surely announce to the whole academy that Reglam-sama belonged to me, and only me."

"Would you please not whittle down my resolve with your words......"

It seemed like our happening had triggered a some sort of skit between Reglam and Orhime-san, flirting as naturally one breath.

Well, how do I put it about the situation...it doesn't feel that bad. Is this the so-called youth in Orihime-san's words?

"E-Err, well, that......"

Rina had turned quiet as she remained within my arms. It was an experience that I have never felt before.