Episode 54: Hawaii, At Last!
Kazuma and the others, having decided to go to Hawaii for a training camp, were extremely busy with preparations.
First, contacting and coordinating with each academy. Then, selecting the chaperones from each academy. Since the Crimson Knight was set to be the chaperone for the Seventh Esper Academy, they didn’t need to worry about that. After that, obtaining passports.
This time, the Crimson Knight was handling most of the procedures, so there were no issues with things like visa issuance.
However, they were told to get their passports themselves, as they would likely need them again in the future.
Incidentally, Kazuma only had to give his approval and had nothing else to do.
The troublesome paperwork was handled by Karin and the other student council members, so Kazuma’s only job was to report to the teachers.
And so, with nothing to do, Kazuma contacted the various national dignitaries he had become acquainted with and invited them on the Hawaii trip.
After that, once the work settled down, the student council disbanded, and everyone returned to their respective homes.
Kazuma headed to the Ivy Children’s Home, where Honoka was, to tell his family about the Hawaii trip.
“I’m home.”
“Welcome back. Dinner is ready, so go wash your hands.”
“Will do~”
As Honoka told him, Kazuma washed his hands and then headed to the dining hall.
The children weren’t in the dining hall; Honoka, Hinata, and the other adults who worked at the facility were waiting.
Since Kazuma was going to discuss the Hawaii matter this time, the children had already finished their meal.
And, as expected, Sakura Hakanai, who was also staying at Ivy, was at the table and gave Kazuma a bright smile when their eyes met.
“Well then, shall we eat?”
They began eating at Honoka’s signal.
The meal progressed in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere, and Kazuma brought up the main topic.
“Mom. What about the Hawaii trip I mentioned in the email? With my authority, I can invite everyone.”
“We’ll pass this time. I talked it over with the employees, and it just feels too out of place for us to participate. However, I’ve proposed it to the employees who always help us out as a company retreat.”
“Understood. In that case, I’ll make the arrangements on my end.”
“Thank you. But please, no VIP treatment or anything. We’re ordinary people, so normal is fine.”
“Alright, how about around the time it’s opened to the public? I mean, we could do first class, but maybe business class would be better?”
“Economy is perfectly fine. It’s not good to get too used to luxury.”
“If you say so, Mom, but are you sure about that?”
“It’s fine. If we want to go business class or something next time, we can just go on our own.”
“But these are people who help you out all the time. Don’t you think it’s okay to let them enjoy a bit of luxury at times like this?”
As Kazuma said this, the employees who had been listening silently nodded in agreement.
It seemed that, for this occasion, Honoka had no choice but to concede.
“You’re right. I’ll ask them later. But just enough for ordinary people to feel like they’re splurging a little, okay?”
“Got it. I’ll pass it on that way. What about Sis and Bro?”
“I’ll tell them. You seem busy too.”
“That’s a big help, thanks. Also, I’ll tell that damn old hag myself. She is my birth mother, after all.”
“Yes. That would be best.”
For the time being, the discussion ended, and Kazuma finished his meal.
He helped with the cleanup, and while Honoka used the meeting room to discuss the company retreat with the employees, Kazuma was in his room playing fighting games with Sakura Hakanai.
He didn’t know when Sakura Hakanai had bought it, but she was playing with an arcade stick.
“You’ve had quite a bit of free time, haven’t you…”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m bound by a contract with you, so I can’t play around with Brainwashing, can I? That’s why I’m playing games like this.”
“You brought that on yourself. More importantly, you haven’t been teaching the kids anything weird, have you?”
“I taught them conversational skills. And also, cute girlish mannerisms.”
“Don’t go creating femme fatales! If my cute little brothers and sisters turn into good-for-nothing adults, how will you take responsibility!”
“It’s fine. It’s under Honoka-san’s supervision. It was permitted because it’s training to get a good bride or groom.”
“Oh, Mother…”
Education by Sakura Hakanai would likely lead to them becoming good-for-nothing adults, but if Honoka was watching over them, there probably wouldn’t be a problem.
Surely, they would grow into adults capable of captivating what would be called prime catches in the future.
“So, what did you call me for?”
“Want to go to Hawaii together?”
“I’ll go. It’s boring staying here anyway.”
“I’m telling you now, you’ll be sticking with Momoko-chan.”
“I won’t cause that much trouble.”
“I wonder about that…”
Sighing in exasperation, Kazuma input a command.
In contrast, Sakura Hakanai, to kill time, unleashed the skills she had honed online for some time and completely overwhelmed Kazuma.
“Just how much have you been playing…!”
“Well, I’ve been bored and alone for a while now~”
“Damn it! I could beat you in reality!”
“And yet, games are mostly for people who can’t win in reality.”
Frustrated from losing at the game, Kazuma challenged Sakura Hakanai to other games.
He challenged her in various games like FPS, racing, card games, and puzzles, and lost every single one.
And so, the night deepened, and Kazuma went to sleep after his daily training.
◇◇◇◇
Time flew by in an instant, and Kazuma was to go to Hawaii for the new and old student councils’ orientation.
Kazuma was scheduled to spend the week before Valentine’s Day in Hawaii, but the matter of Hawaii’s reconstruction was top secret, so only the teaching staff, Honoka, and the Ivy employees knew about it.
Kazuma’s classmates had only heard that he would be away for a week for a training camp and casually asked him to buy some souvenirs.
And now, Kazuma had arrived at the airport in the Seventh Area with the new and old student councils from the First Esper Academy to the Eighth Esper Academy, along with their chaperone teachers.
“Man~, I’m so excited!”
“I get that you’re excited, but… Kazuma. Aren’t you jumping the gun a bit? And aren’t you cold in that outfit?”
His close friend Souji looked worriedly at Kazuma standing next to him.
Kazuma was already wearing an aloha shirt, a straw hat, and sunglasses.
It was good that he was perfectly prepared for UV rays, but they were still in Japan, and it was early February, the dead of winter.
The airport lounge was air-conditioned, so it wasn’t cold, but Kazuma’s attire couldn’t help but look freezing.
“I’m not cold at all!”
“But you came all the way here dressed like that, right?”
“Yup! Got stared at a ton! Well, I’m famous, after all! Gahahahahaha!”
“I think those were probably ‘look at that idiot’ stares…”
“No way! Everyone’s eyes went wide, and they did double-takes!”
“Well, yeah, if they see a kid in an aloha shirt and shorts in the middle of winter, they’re gonna stare…”
Naturally, the new and old student council members from the Seventh Esper Academy who had come to the airport with them were all nodding in agreement with Souji’s opinion.
“More importantly! Souji-senpai, aren’t you a bit down? It’s Hawaii, you know? Hawaii! Let’s get more pumped up!”
“Hey now… The King and the Crimson Knight are coming, you know? Normally, you’d be more nervous, right? And they say the Prime Minister and the President are coming too…”
“It’s fine! The President and the Prime Minister are just nice old guys!”
“Wha-!? You, that’s seriously rude!”
“It’s okay! The Prime Minister and I are best buds!”
“I’m getting really worried now… Seriously, don’t mess up, okay? Even I won’t be able to cover for you, you know?”
Souji was fond of Kazuma, but even he couldn’t help him if Kazuma acted rudely towards powerful figures like the President or the Prime Minister.
No matter what, they were just too far out of his league.
Under the President and Prime Minister were the King and the Crimson Knight, so it didn’t matter if Souji was the strongest student.
There were plenty of people in the world stronger than Souji.
“Oh! They’re here!”
A plane arrived on the runway visible from the lounge window.
Aboard it were dignitaries from all over the world, and the entire airport was enveloped in tension.
After waiting for a while, some of the most prominent figures, such as the King, the Overlord, and the Sun King, appeared in the lounge, and finally, the Crimson Knight appeared, full of dignity.
“Ooooh… Seeing them in person is insane.”
“You think so?”
“Kazuma. If you make those people angry, your life will seriously be on the line, you know?”
“Souji-senpai, you’re worrying too much~”
“You’re the one not worrying enough…”
Souji clutched his head anxiously as he watched Kazuma laugh cheerfully.
Everyone from the academies silently agreed, Please, just behave yourself.
The next moment, the Crimson Knight rushed over to Kazuma and gave him a passionate hug.
““““““““Eh?””””””””
Perplexity, bafflement, confusion, astonishment, uproar.
Thus, Kazuma’s self-orchestrated ploy had plunged the lounge into chaos.
「「My friend.」」