Today, as I head to school, both Kashino-senpai and Amagi-senpai are with me. After breakfast, they waited for me and Nanami-san, so it naturally turned out this way.
“Oh, that video was taken in Dungeon No. 2? Well, thinking about it, that makes sense since we went there for the first day of dungeon training.”
“I’m curious why a monster like that appeared. What could have caused it?”
The senpais seemed interested in my video. There were some cuts where the footage skipped, likely because they had discreetly left out the part where Nanami-san revived me. Speaking of her, she’s been keeping a certain distance from me since this morning.
(I should apologize later… or maybe I should just act like it never happened. What should I do to get her to go back to being her usual self?)
“There are reports that monster summoning traps sometimes call forth monsters that don’t normally appear in the dungeon. That could explain why such an unusually strong monster showed up.”
“I see, so there was always a possibility that unscheduled monsters could appear.”
Nanami-san’s reasoning is solid, but there’s something I can’t shake—why haven’t ‘Jokers’ or boss-level monsters randomly been summoned by traps until now?
“If something like that can happen in beginner dungeons, then that means no dungeon is truly safe, right?”
“We’ve been aware of such risks from the start. That’s why we’re training to be explorers.”
“Well, that’s true… but still, we have to manage those risks ourselves… Hey, Fujiwara, you’ve been looking troubled for a while now.”
“Oh… no, it’s nothing. We’re planning to dive into Dungeon No. 2 again today to investigate a bit more.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Nanami-san immediately responded, stepping a bit closer to me. I was worried that, because of what happened last night—or rather, that strange dream—she might want to avoid me, but thankfully, that fear was unfounded.
“Going to the dungeon after school with just the two of you… You guys seem awfully close for just having enrolled.”
“Well… after everything that’s happened, I trust Fujiwara-kun… I guess?”
“Hm, that sounded kind of uncertain, but are you really okay?”
“Amagi-senpai, you sure are straightforward, aren’t you?”
“Straightforward…? Uh, I don’t really know what you mean, but I think I’ve come to terms with everything in my own way.”
“Well, I guess everyone does silly things when they’re half-asleep.”
It seems that in Kashino-senpai’s mind, last night’s events have been chalked up to sleepwalking—though I don’t think many people sleepwalk into cosplay outfits, but I’m not in a position to argue.
As we talk, we approach the school gate. Unlike yesterday, it doesn’t cause a scene, but I still end up drawing attention for a different reason.
“Hey… the fifth and sixth seat of the second years are with that first-year again…!”
“Isn’t their group growing every time they come to school? How’s that guy doing it…?”
“Do they meet up before school or something?”
“I want someone to meet me in the morning too…”
Since the fact that we live in the same dorm hasn’t spread, I’d like to keep it that way. As for the two who are being talked about—
“Wow, people are surprised we’re together. You might get ambushed, you know.”
“Eirisa is popular with the boys, after all… I don’t have that problem, though.”
“What are you talking about? Last year, you dressed up as a girl at the school festival and—mgh, mmmgh!”
“They say loose lips sink ships. You two didn’t hear anything, okay?”
“Y-Yes… But I am curious why Amagi-senpai wears the boys’ uniform.”
“Oh, that’s because Akoya isn’t comfortable with skirts… Mph, mmgh!”
“The school rules allow freedom of clothing. It also ties back to the fact that I come from a warrior family… that explanation will suffice, right?”
“Ah, I see. Because you’re from a warrior family. You even said ‘sessha’ when we first met.”
“Your ability to adapt is impressive. Most people wouldn’t be convinced that easily.”
Amagi-senpai doesn’t silence Kashino-senpai this time—despite everything, the two seem to get along well.
“More importantly, Eirisa, didn’t you say you wanted to go into a dungeon with Fujiwara-kun?”
“T-That’s fine! You guys have plans after school today, right? I’ll take him when it’s more convenient for me.”
“I’ll look forward to that.”
“Wait… Am I not allowed to go?”
“What are you talking about? Of course, Nanami-chan, you’re coming too. You practically light up the screen. You’ve got the presence of an actress without even trying.”
“…That’s not true.”
Though Nanami-san answers indifferently, I have to admit I agree with Kashino-senpai on this one.
“Good morning, Fujiwara-kun.”
“M-Mikuriya Haruka…!”
Kashino-senpai immediately goes on high alert, stepping in front of me to block the vice president.
“Just so you know, Kashino-san here is a student council officer for the second year. So is Amagi-san.”
“I see… so that means Fujiwara-kun has joined the student council as well.”
“Yes. I thought you were just building relationships, but… to be together even in the morning? Did you foresee I’d be waiting here?”
“No one was expecting you to be here! How long have you been waiting, anyway?”
“Hmm, let’s just say it was both a short and a long time.”
“Vice president, you’ve been here for like thirty minutes…”
“If you’re in the same student council, couldn’t you have just summoned him instead of waiting?”
The vice president, realizing something, straightens up and strikes a pose, brushing her hair aside dramatically.
“I’m looking forward to after school, Fujiwara-kun.”
“W-Wait, are you planning to go to Dungeon No. 2? You could easily handle the hardest dungeon here at school, and yet…”
“I’m willing to spend as much time as necessary on him. By the way, my sister will be coming along too.”
“Both sisters… interested in Fujiwara? Well, I’ve got other plans today, so I’m not… n-not that interested in Fujiwara…”
“Let’s save forming a party for another time. Sorry for being so in-demand, Fujiwara-kun.”
“No, I’m actually really happy. I thought I wouldn’t be able to form a party because of my profession…”
I just said what I was thinking, but…
As soon as those words reached the ears of the surrounding students, the atmosphere suddenly changed again.
“W-We’re always available to party up! Our schedule is wide open!”
“Please join our party, you’ll change the world with us!”
“You guys just want to use Fujiwara to boost your ranks! Not happening!”
“Fujiwara-sama will join our party! …Wait, huh?”
With things turning out like this, there’s only one option—run. Both Kashino-senpai and Amagi-senpai had already started without saying a word.
“Fujiwara, I do feel bad for you, but no matter how busy you are, make sure you save time to party with us!”
“I’m looking forward to it as well. The second-year building is over there, so we’ll part ways here.”
“I could tell everyone for you, but for today, I’ll run with you. Sorry for being an unreliable senpai.”
“N-No, not at all… but—”
The three senpais are faster than I expected—all of them seem to have speed-related skills.
“It’s a bit much, but I’ll do my best…”
Meanwhile, there’s a certain part of Nanami-san that bounces when she runs—at this rate, I’ll have to carry her again.
“I really need to work on my stamina… I get tired so easily…”
“When that happens, I’ll be there to support you… I-I mean, not in a weird way, of course…!”
“…I didn’t hear anything.”
Nanami-san’s body keeps getting warmer on my back. I tried not to think too much about why as I ran as fast as I could toward the safe zone.
