Chapter 47: What Happened to the Oath of the Peach Garden?!
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Having completed four Powered Suits and even a robot designed to combat colossal Ibinoms, Kazuma was set to attend the Christmas party.
Currently, he was out choosing a gift for the present exchange that would take place at said party.
A price limit had been set beforehand: up to three thousand yen per person.
One might think high school students could afford a bit more, but considering various family circumstances, three thousand yen had been decided upon.
Kazuma had gone out into town with Alicia, Charlotte, and Sakura Hakanai, the three who were also planning to attend.
Incidentally, Momoko, upon receiving her Powered Suit, had promptly returned home, declaring she would rest until the Christmas party, so Kazuma respected her wishes.
“How about a scarf or something?”
“That’s a safe choice. I don’t think it’s bad,” Alicia commented.
“I think it’s good. Since it’s a mixed-gender present exchange, it’s much better than something too eccentric,” Sakura Hakanai added.
“Personally, I think a gag gift would be fine, though?” Charlotte mused.
“I wouldn’t mind going for a gag gift myself, but since it’s a Christmas party, something serious would be better, right?” Kazuma replied.
It was a surprisingly earnest answer, but Kazuma had grown up in an orphanage, where he had both received and given presents at Christmas.
That was why he was taking present selection seriously.
“Hey, hey, Kazuma! Are there presents for us?” Alicia asked.
“Is there something you want? I figured you girls weren’t short on money, so you wouldn’t need anything.”
“Ah~, well, I guess that’s how you see it. But, you know, we’re still girls.”
“Sorry about that. I wasn’t very considerate. Do you have any requests? I’ll get you something if it’s within my means.”
“Eh, now that you put it that way, it’s a bit troubling…”
Both Alicia and Charlotte had money, so unless it was a limited-edition item, there wasn’t much they couldn’t obtain themselves; thus, they didn’t particularly have anything they wanted.
“In that case, I would like a day of Kazuma-san’s time!” Charlotte declared.
“Eh, what do you mean?”
“I want you to spend just one day with me. Without anyone else.”
“So, you mean… a date?”
“Well, yes, that’s right.”
Kazuma grew wary at this unexpected development, but he couldn’t sense any ill intent or scheming from Charlotte.
“Are you sure you want someone like me?”
“It has to be Kazuma-san~. Besides, I need you to take responsibility.”
Kazuma was flustered by Charlotte, who was blushing and pressing her hands to her cheeks in embarrassment.
The word “responsibility” uttered by Charlotte left Kazuma utterly bewildered, as he had no recollection of anything that would warrant it, and his gaze had been darting around ever since.
“(Eh, eh, eh? Responsibility? Could it be, did I… do something with her without knowing? No, that can’t be right. But Charlotte said to take responsibility…)”
Though he was unaware of it, the fact that Kazuma had changed Charlotte, both body and soul, was an undeniable truth.
However, Kazuma himself was oblivious to this, while the others understood Charlotte’s remark.
“(Ah~, I see. Kazuma doesn’t understand what he’s done…)” Alicia thought.
“(Fufu, this is getting interesting~. I wonder what will happen next?)” Sakura Hakanai mused.
However, even though Alicia understood the meaning of Charlotte’s words, she couldn’t let her get ahead. She too began to plead for Kazuma’s time.
“In that case, I want to go on a date with Kazuma too!”
“Alicia too? In that case, would it be alright if we split it into morning and afternoon?”
“That’s fine with me. What about you, Alicia?” Charlotte asked.
“That’s fine with me too,” Alicia replied.
“Alright, let’s decide on the date and time then~.”
Kazuma didn’t know what Alicia was plotting, but for now, he had managed to divert the conversation, so he took the opportunity to push Charlotte’s remark out of his mind.
Though nothing was truly resolved, Kazuma decided to put the matter on hold for the time being and focused on seriously choosing a Christmas present, eventually settling on a safe, conventional item.
After that, they continued shopping for a while before calling it a day and returning to Ivy.
Upon returning to Ivy, Kazuma was about to carry his bags to his room when he passed through the entrance hall and noticed an unfamiliar pair of shoes.
“Huh? Is someone visiting?”
“A guest?” Alicia peeked out from beside Kazuma, wondering if a visitor had arrived.
“Who knows? Anyway, let’s take our stuff to our rooms and then check it out.”
“Okay, then we’ll head back to our rooms,” Charlotte said.
“Yeah. See you later.”
Parting ways with Charlotte and the others, Kazuma headed to his room, put away his luggage, and then quickly rejoined the three.
Then, to find out who the intriguing guest was, Kazuma headed towards the reception room, from which he heard a familiar voice.
“Hmm? This voice is… my brother, I think.”
“Brother? You have a brother?”
Hearing the voice leaking from the reception room, Kazuma was certain it belonged to his older brother.
Reacting to Kazuma’s murmur, Sakura Hakanai, learning for the first time that he had a brother, asked him as if echoing his words.
“An adoptive one, though. I mean, it’s an orphanage, so you should be able to figure that out.”
“Come to think of it, that’s right. Aren’t you going to greet him?”
“I’ll go see him after his talk in the reception room is over.”
And so, Kazuma led the three girls to the dining hall, deciding to have a snack.
However, since snacks weren’t prepared for them, they would have to make their own.
Looking at the ingredients in the kitchen, Kazuma decided to make pancakes.
The other three, seeing that Kazuma would be making pancakes by himself, sat at the table and killed time by chatting idly.
“They’re ready~”
Along with a carefree voice, fluffy pancakes were served.
The three girls’ eyes widened involuntarily at the sight of pancakes that looked like they came from a shop, and they turned their faces to Kazuma.
“Kazuma. This is…” Alicia began.
“Eh? Can’t you tell by looking? They’re pancakes.”
“We can see that, but these look like something you’d get at a store, you know?” Sakura Hakanai remarked.
“Ah, well, you see, remember how my friend made pancakes at the school festival before? I thought I couldn’t lose to him, so I practiced secretly.”
“You’re quite talented~. You could probably open a shop with these, couldn’t you?” Alicia said.
“I’m happy to hear you say that, but it takes too much time and effort, so it’s impossible~.”
Saying such things, Kazuma began to eat the pancakes he had made, continuing his pleasant chat with the three girls.
After finishing the pancakes, Kazuma collected the dishes, quickly washed them, and then started making more pancakes.
“Are you still eating?” Alicia asked.
“Nope, these are for the kids. There were leftover ingredients, so I thought I’d make some more while I was at it.”
At those words, the three girls exchanged glances.
Why, when he was so considerate, could he not get a girlfriend?
They knew the reason firsthand, so they sighed, finding it lamentable.
Kazuma, not understanding why the three were looking at him and sighing, switched his focus, thinking he needed to concentrate on making pancakes for now.
Using up all the remaining batter, Kazuma made enough for the children and the staff, then headed to the Faculty Office to inform them he had made pancakes.
After receiving thanks from a staff member, Kazuma led the three girls towards the reception room. Just as they approached, it seemed the conversation inside had ended, and someone came out.
“Ah, it really was my brother.”
“Oh! If it isn’t Kazuma! How have you been?”
“Great, great. More importantly, brother, when did you get back?”
“Ah~, about that…”
He seemed somewhat hesitant.
Kazuma figured that since he was in the reception room, he must have been discussing something not meant for many ears.
“Brother… You should turn yourself in.”
“Why would I?! It’s not what you’re imagining!”
“Then, what were you doing in the reception room—”
Just as Kazuma was about to ask, a familiar woman emerged from the reception room.
“Natsume-san?”
“Satsuki-kun?”
“Hmm? What’s this? You two know each other?” Kazuma’s brother asked.
“Well, not just acquaintances, we’re classmates,” Kazuma replied.
“Come to think of it, Kazuma is a first-year at Number Seven. I was so busy with missions, I forgot.”
“That’s fine, but why is Natsume-san here?”
“Um, well, that’s…”
At Kazuma’s question, Kaori looked down shyly, glancing repeatedly at the man beside her.
“Ahhhh… Kazuma. I need you to listen calmly, but actually, I… I’m getting engaged. To Kaori.”
“…………Huhh?”
Unbelievable words flew from his brother’s mouth, and Kazuma felt as if his soul was about to spill out of his own.
Then, as if to deliver a follow-up blow, Kaori spoke.
“Um, it’s true that I’m engaged to Tatsumi-san. That’s why today, I came to greet Tatsumi-san’s adoptive mother, Honoka-san. Um… I look forward to being part of the family.”
“So that’s how it is. Well, it might be strange having a classmate as your sister-in-law, but please take care of us,” Tatsumi said.
“…………B-But I thought you were destined to die alone, brother! You traitor!”
Kazuma lunged forward, but Honoka-san, who was the last to emerge from the reception room, stopped him with an iron claw.
“Stop that. It’s unsightly.”
“Aghghgh!”
Caught in Honoka-san’s iron claw, Kazuma was tossed aside like a piece of trash.