Chapter 71: Well, I Guess It Can’t Be Helped
The three who had gone to get food decided to split up, as they each had people waiting for them.
Hayato joined Shiori-san, and Souji joined Aoi-san. They happily savored the food and engaged in lively conversation.
And Kazuma, now alone, quickly moved to a corner of the venue and began to eat.
Sadly, Kazuma hadn’t been forgiven yet, so if the girls found him, there was no telling what would happen.
Of course, he had bowed his head and apologized many times. But he hadn’t been forgiven.
That’s precisely why he had been left hanging from the top floor of the hotel.
A shadow crept up behind Kazuma, who was secretly enjoying his meal in a corner of the venue, facing the wall.
Sensing an unsettling presence, Kazuma turned around to find Issei, who was surprised by Kazuma’s sudden turn, his eyes wide.
Kazuma checked behind Issei and, confirming no one else was there, let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest.
“What the. It’s you… Need something?”
“No, I just thought it was unusual to see you eating alone.”
“Unusual, you say? Why would you care about something like that?”
“Ah, no, it’s just, there’s always someone around you, Satsuki, right?”
“…Well, yeah, usually. But right now, it’s a bit…”
“Ah. I see…”
Issei, too, guessed the reason why Kazuma was furtively eating in the corner and gave him a look of pity.
“More importantly, what about you? Looks like your entourage isn’t around.”
“Same here. Well, unlike you, Satsuki, I’m not fighting with them.”
“So that’s it. Your entourage has their own friends, huh.”
“Stop talking like I don’t have any friends.”
“Do you?”
“………Maybe one.”
“Does that person consider you a friend?”
“I was talking about you, Satsuki…”
“…Haha, not funny. Could it be that you’re pretty disliked by people other than me too?”
“I-I don’t think I’m disliked…”
“Well, the guys probably dislike you. As for the girls, maybe they find you troublesome and are just being considerate?”
“I-Is that so…”
“Well, don’t get so down. You’ll make a hundred friends someday.”
With a mocking smile, Kazuma patted the dejected Issei’s shoulder.
“Satsuki, even though you say you dislike me, you talk to me quite a bit.”
“Even if I say I dislike you, it’s not like I hate you from the bottom of my heart. It’s not like I don’t want to see your face or talk to you.”
“Just that alone is a blessing right now…”
“Well, I have plenty of friends, normally.”
“I-I have friends too…”
“Same gender?”
“………Opposite gender.”
“So you can’t exchange dirty jokes and roar with laughter, burst out laughing at stupid gags, or talk about girls you like? How pitiful…”
“So friends really do talk about stuff like that!?”
“I do. Unfortunately, I won’t with you.”
“Why not!?”
“Because it doesn’t seem like it’d be fun.”
“It’s not right to decide that when we haven’t even talked much!”
“Hmm… Well then, try telling me an interesting story.”
“Eh, ah, well, about the other day…”
“Actually, never mind. It already sounds boring from the start.”
“Why?! At least hear me out before you say that!”
For a while, Kazuma teased Issei.
While openly stating his dislike, Kazuma continued to converse with Issei and was enjoying the banquet.
However, it was indeed lonely without any “flowers” in attendance.
Normally, the girls would be around him, but now, there was no one but Issei.
Two guys were eating forlornly in a corner of the venue.
That said, since they were getting angry and laughing, they did seem to be having fun.
“By the way, I’ve been wondering, you said you’d introduce me to a girl if you lost the duel. What kind of girl is she?”
“That’s sudden. Well, as per your request, Satsuki, she’s a quiet and modest girl. She’s often in the First Esper Academy’s library, reading various books.”
“…Are you close?”
“Hm? Ah. My Gift is to summon heroes from the past, right? So, she’s a good girl who helps me gather materials and such in the library.”
“I’ll kill you?”
“Again, why!?”
From what he heard, she indeed seemed to be the quiet and modest girl Kazuma had wished for.
However, no matter how he heard it, it sounded like she was interested in Issei.
Even if he were introduced to her after winning the duel, it would surely only lead to an unhappy ending. Moreover, not just for Kazuma, but for the girl as well.
Even Kazuma would find that hard to bear, so this whole deal was completely off.
“Sorry, but the duel is off.”
“Why!?”
“There’s no ‘why’ about it, you idiot! When you get back to the academy, try telling her about this. She’ll definitely cry.”
“Eh? You think so? I don’t think there’s any problem with just introducing her to a friend.”
“Idiot! Moron! Dimwit!”
“That’s so mean all of a sudden!”
Unable to bring himself to say, “That girl likes you, you know,” Kazuma insulted Issei with the vocabulary of an elementary schooler.
“Haa… Oh well. Anyway, the duel is off. Got it?”
“No, I can’t accept that. I properly presented a merit.”
“You, I said this before, but you’re pretty shameless for someone in a position of asking for a favor.”
“That’s how much I want to get stronger.”
Issei stared at Kazuma with a serious gaze.
A firm determination to become stronger was conveyed from Issei.
But, he didn’t quite understand.
Why he wanted to become stronger to such an extent.
“Why do you want to get that strong? In this day and age, it’s true we can’t say it’s peaceful, but there’s no need to become that strong, is there?”
“It’s as you say, Satsuki… but you remember the large-scale terrorism around New Year’s, right?”
“Yeah. But the Crimson Knight resolved it. There were some casualties, but the damage wasn’t that bad, was it? Japan, especially, should have had less damage compared to other countries.”
“I know that. But there’s no guarantee something similar won’t happen again, right? At that time, I want to at least be able to protect the people within my reach…”
“That sentiment of yours is admirable… but frankly, wouldn’t it be better to just be able to summon more heroes?”
“Ugh… That’s true, but. In the end, if I myself am weak, it’s no good, right? Because with my Gift, I myself am the biggest weakness…”
“Ah, right. If you’re incapacitated, the heroes disappear too, so you’d be actively targeted.”
“Right? That’s why I want to get even a little stronger.”
“I see. I understand your reason. But it doesn’t have to be me, right? You have heroes from the past with you. Have them make you stronger.”
“Of course, I intend to. But… I want to be taught by Satsuki, who is stronger than anyone despite having a Gift unsuited for combat.”
“Ah~, well~, about that. I’m happy you think so highly of me, but it’s still impossible.”
“Tsk… No matter what?”
With an expression that said he couldn’t give up, Issei asked Kazuma.
Kazuma closed his eyes and pondered how to answer.
He had said he disliked him, but he didn’t hate him from the bottom of his heart.
Rather, he found his earnest efforts to improve likable.
In that case, it would probably be fine to train him a little.
Having thought that far, Kazuma slowly opened his eyes and looked intently at Issei.
“Alright. Kisaragi, after the banquet is over, I’ll train you just once.”
“R-Really!?”
“However, there’s a condition. If you complain even once, it’s over at that very moment.”
“Yeah! Understood!”
“Alright then, eat until you’re about to die. Once you’ve digested that, come to the training grounds.”
“Yeah!”
Issei, having received a favorable reply from Kazuma, happily dashed off and piled a large amount of food onto his plate.
Then, he began to eat heartily, and when he choked, Karen, who was nearby, immediately handed Issei some water.
“Honestly, what are you doing…”
“Sorry, sorry. Thanks, Karen.”
“I-It’s nothing, really.”
Kazuma, watching this exchange from his corner of the venue, seriously considered calling off the training after all.
“Hateful, that guy is so hateful…!”