Author: Suisei
Translator: Rinkage

Character page: Here

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Chapter 161 – I accepted the hero’s invitation

Someone visited my room the day after Caius left the inn with his companion in the coffin.

“Youki-kun, do you have any plans for today?” 

When I opened the door, it was Yuuga, dressed in a modest disguise. His outfit was casual, designed more for comfort and ease of movement. It seemed like he had come to invite me out somewhere. The incident yesterday was probably still fresh in his mind, so I wasn’t sure if he was okay already. As for myself, I didn’t have any special plans for today aside from taking on a few guild requests. Considering that he went out of his way to come to me, there was no reason to refuse his invitation as long as I paid attention to my words.

“All right, I’ll get ready, so wait for me.”  [Youki]

I quickly prepared myself and left the room with Yuuga. Walking side by side, we passed various people, but no one seemed to recognize him. The lack of any signs of trouble was almost anticlimactic.

“It’s surprising that no one notices, isn’t it?”  [Yuuga]

“Yeah, it really is.”  [Youki]

Even though the conversation finally started, it didn’t seem like it would continue for long. Walking in silence felt incredibly awkward, so I had to find a way to keep the conversation going.

“That outfit of yours… it’s bold. Not so much a disguise as just a regular outfit for going out.”  [Youki]

“Mikana picked it out for me. She said it would suit me and that I should care about my fashion occasionally.”  [Yuuga]

“…”

I had hit a major landmine, and my face froze. Even though Yuuga smiled and proudly said, “Pretty good, right?”, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had messed up. Mikana’s image would keep creeping into the conversation if we kept talking about clothes. I decided to change the subject quickly.

“I haven’t eaten yet. Let’s… grab something here.”  [Youki]

I thought going into a restaurant would reset the conversation, but… I recognized the sign – it was where I had come with Mikana and Raven the other time. It was Mikana’s recommended spot, and I’d been here with Yuuga before, so it held many memories. I had messed up again.

“This place is great. Let’s go in!”  [Yuuga]

Yuuga smiled, and while he couldn’t see, I held my head internally. It started to feel like I was intentionally bringing up Mikana’s shadow. Well, it was too late to back out, so in we went. Yuuga must have memories of coming here with Mikana, too, so if we started talking, stories about her would probably slip up. So my plan was simple: just don’t talk.

“Y-Youki-kun…”  [Yuuga]

“…Huh, wha?”  [Youki]

I eagerly stuffed the food laid out in front of me into my mouth. It was my classic strategy: “Can’t talk while eating,” so things stayed quiet. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to speak with him, but we could do that once we left this place.

“If you stuff that much food in your mouth at once, you’re going to choke. Drink something… Oh no, there’s nothing left!?”  [Yuuga]

“Mmf, it’sh, fhhne, dun worry.”  [Youki]

I had already anticipated that, so I downed all the drinks they served before we ordered.

“Ah, man… This takes me back. There was this village speciality I tried for the first time. It was so delicious that I stuffed my mouth full till I choked. Then Mikana smacked my back really hard to help me.”  [Yuuga]

“Blugh!”  [Youki]

In the end, it still came back to Mikana. I couldn’t help but spit out my food in surprise.

“Whoa, are you okay?”  [Yuuga]

“Cough… You know, man… are you doing this on purpose?”  [Youki]

“Huh? What do you mean?”  [Yuuga]

“I’m partly to blame, but you’ve definitely been bringing her up on purpose, right? If you’re not doing it consciously… well, that’s pretty dangerous, dude.”  [Youki]

“…Let’s finish eating. It’d be a waste if the food got cold. We should enjoy it while it’s still warm.”  [Yuuga]

We both kept eating so much food together that it looked like two gluttons came to the restaurant. I’d say the plan worked since there was no conversation during the meal. Once we finished eating and left the restaurant, we started walking side by side through Minerva again. I still didn’t know why Yuuga invited me out today, so I was feeling more and more anxious about what he was planning.

Should I ask him? It’s probably related to what happened yesterday…

“…So, what’s up today?”  [Youki]

“I thought about it thoroughly for the whole night. And, I have a request for you, Youki-kun… I want you to hit me again.”  [Yuuga]

There was seriousness in Yuuga’s voice. He wasn’t joking. Even so, from my perspective, it just didn’t make sense. I couldn’t nod in agreement.

“I’m on the verge of finding my answer. So, I thought maybe if I could grasp something…”  [Yuuga]

“You mean like giving your head a shock or something?”  [Youki]

“Yeah.”  [Yuuga]

“Yeah, my ass! That’s not it!”  [Youki]

I understood that he was seriously facing and thinking about his own issues, but he was still a bit off. I punched him the other day, but thinking back, I really didn’t have the right to hit him. Besides, I couldn’t hit him now even if he asked me to. He had been trying hard to figure things out independently, so I couldn’t bring myself to punch him.

“Ugh!”  [Yuuga]

Just as I was about to tell him I couldn’t do it, Yuuga groaned and collapsed. It wasn’t because I hit him unconsciously. There was no way I was capable of doing that. The one who hit Yuuga had taken a running start to throw a punch. The person who elegantly spun around and faced me was a familiar face.

“…Divine retribution.” 

“What the heck are you doing!?”  [Youki]

The one who landed a punch on Yuuga was Happiness. She wasn’t in her maid uniform but in her casual clothes. That would mean…

“Haah… haah… What are you doing, Happiness?” 

When I turned around, I saw Raven running towards us from behind. So, while they were on a date, Happiness must have spotted Yuuga and locked on to him.

Still, suddenly stacking him seems a bit too much.

“You should keep her on a leash, Raven.”  [Youki]

“…I don’t have that kind of fetish.”  [Raven]

“No, that’s not what I meant.”  [Youki]

I didn’t want to interfere in your private lives, but since Happiness acted impulsively, you should watch her closely.

“Ugh… That really hurt, Youki-kun. But thanks for granting my reckless request.”  [Yuuga]

As I was talking to Raven, Yuuga slowly got up, having recovered, and thanked me.

“I wasn’t the one who hit you. It was her.”  [Youki]

I pointed to Happiness, who was glaring at Yuuga with hostility.

“Huh… Isn’t she the maid who works at Cecilia’s estate? Oh, and Raven’s here too.”  [Yuuga]

“…Danger.”  [Happiness]

“Happiness, hide behind me.”  [Raven]

“Raven, you’re making it seem like I’m the enemy here.”  [Yuuga]

Raven pulled Happiness behind him, likely because he didn’t trust what she might do if she stayed in front. Last time, the two of them got a little fired up negatively talking about Yuuga.

What should I do about this?

“Raven, don’t tell me… that girl…”  [Yuuga]

Yuuga seemed to have caught on to their relationship, sensing something between them.

“…”

Without saying a word, Raven wrapped his arm around Happiness and pulled her close. Was he embarrassed to say it out loud? No, pulling her in like that was probably way more embarrassing. Since Happiness didn’t resist and accepted it, Yuuga must have understood perfectly. Although, seeing a happy couple might not be the best thing for Yuuga at the moment.

“I see. Congratulations, Raven… Take care of each other.”  [Yuuga]

Yuuga said just that, then turned his back and walked away. At the same time, he casually grabbed my arm and pulled me along. Raven and Happiness seemed a bit unsatisfied with his reactions, but I waved goodbye to them behind my back.

It should be fine.

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