Chapter 61: When It Comes to Encouragement, It’s Definitely a Woman!
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The next day, the students staying at the lodgings reported hearing a voice like a vengeful spirit, sobbing from the pitch-dark beach.
What on earth could it have been? The lingering regret of a warrior who died in battle in Hawaii? Or perhaps the ghost of a pitiful man, buried in the sand after incurring the wrath of the women with a careless remark? The mystery only deepened.
“Huh? Where’s Kazuma?”
“If it’s Kazuma-kun, I haven’t seen him since last night, though?”
“Is that so… And today’s the battle royale between the new and old student councils, the most important part of the orientation.”
While enjoying the morning buffet, Hayato and Souji searched for Kazuma.
However, no matter how much they looked, Kazuma was nowhere to be found.
In the first place, if Kazuma showed up, things should have gotten noisy.
The fact that it wasn’t meant he really seemed to be absent.
“Is he still sleeping?”
“Who knows? I haven’t seen him since that yesterday, so I don’t know.”
“After that? You mean when Kazuma was taken somewhere?”
“Yeah. When I asked Shiori, she said he might have been buried.”
“Come to think of it, I heard a strange voice while I was sleeping. Surely it wasn’t that, right?”
“Knowing Kazuma-kun, it’s possible…”
Souji and Hayato, having finished breakfast, headed to the beach they had visited the other day, just in case.
And there, they found Kazuma, crying towards the morning sun.
“Waaah, waaah, waah waah waah!”
With only his head sticking out of the sand, Kazuma was wailing, his mouth wide open.
Souji and Hayato, upon seeing this sight, almost shed tears at the sheer misery of it, but it was so overwhelmingly hilarious that they ended up laughing until their stomachs hurt.
After laughing for a good while, Souji and Hayato dug out the buried Kazuma.
“Are you okay?”
“Souji-senpai, Hayato-senpai… You saved me.”
“Could it be, you’ve been here since last night?”
“Yes. I was told to cool my head…”
“You were buried here all night…?”
“You really endured it well…”
“Well, compared to Satsuki-ryu training, being buried for a night is nothing.”
Because Satsuki-ryu was far too convenient, Kazuma used it excessively.
Since he could generally get away with things by just mentioning Satsuki-ryu for whatever reason, it was no wonder Kazuma overused it.
“More importantly, do you remember today’s schedule?”
“I remember. In the morning, there’s a meeting about this year’s academy events, and from the afternoon, the battle royale between the new and old student councils, right?”
“If you remember, that’s good, but are you feeling okay?”
“My physical condition’s fine. No matter the situation, no matter my state, it won’t hinder my combat ability.”
“Well, it’s Kazuma-kun, after all.”
“I see. That’s what I’m looking forward to, so I wanted to avoid you not being in top form, Kazuma, but if you’re perfectly fine, then there’s no problem.”
Although it was called an orientation for the new and old student councils, the alumni group of old student council members weren’t there for work; they considered themselves to be completely there for fun.
Of course, they did give advice and such to the new student council, but it was truly only trivial things, and the alumni group mostly just observed.
This time, luckily, the training camp location was Hawaii, the best possible place, so their excitement was higher than usual.
“By the way, about this year’s academy events meeting, do I need to participate?”
“Kazuma-kun, you’re technically a representative of the Seventh Esper Academy, so you have to participate, but… to be honest, I don’t think it would be a problem even if you weren’t there.”
“That’s probably true. Kazuma is likely just a figurehead student council president.”
“That’s a harsh way to put it… But, you’re not wrong.”
“If Vice President Akino and Secretary Himuro are there, it’ll be fine even without you, Kazuma-kun.”
“Akino and Himuro? Who’re they?”
“Kazuma-kun. Surely you’re not serious…”
“…”
“Eh? You really don’t know?”
“Sorry. Based on the surnames, it’s probably Karin-senpai and Yukihime-senpai, but I’d completely forgotten their surnames.”
“If they found out…”
“Please keep this a secret just between me and Hayato-senpai!”
“Now, what should I do?”
“I’ve got some good leverage now,” Hayato grinned.
Kazuma regretted his careless remark, but deciding it was too late now, he completely changed his tune and told Hayato dismissively to do as he pleased.
“Oh, really? Well then, just do whatever you want! I’m probably already hated anyway!”
Kazuma huffed and turned away.
Thinking that even Kazuma might have gotten genuinely angry this time, Hayato now started to panic.
“It was a joke, Kazuma-kun. Let’s just keep it a secret between you and me.”
“It’s too late for that. I don’t care anymore. No matter how I try to smooth things over now, I’m hated anyway.”
“Hated? After just what happened yesterday? I don’t think so.”
Souji chided Kazuma, saying that was too hasty a conclusion.
However, Kazuma seemed to be sulking and wouldn’t listen to Souji’s words.
“It’s fine, really. Someone like me…”
“This is bad. He’s completely sulking.”
“What should we do~? Kazuma-kun is a pain when he gets like this~.”
“Isn’t there some way to get him back to normal?”
“He gets back in spirits if girls fawn over him.”
“What a simple thought process he has…”
“But I think the girls are avoiding him because of yesterday’s incident. This is a problem.”
“It can’t be helped. I’ll try something.”
“Eh? Souji, are you planning to cross-dress or something?”
“Don’t say such creepy things! There’s something I want to try. Hayato, come here too.”
Souji and Hayato temporarily moved away from Kazuma, who was sulking on the beach, sitting with his knees hugged to his chest.
The two moved far enough away that Kazuma couldn’t hear their voices and held a strategy meeting.
“The thing I want to try is related to the Starry Sky Memory I’m currently Copying.”
“Is there a hero who’s perfect for this situation?”
“There are several such figures in history, right? You know, like Tamamo-no-Mae, Yang Guifei, Daji, or Lilith.”
“I feel like Yang Guifei might be different… Well, maybe they’re not bad as candidates? But, if I recall, the heroes summoned by Starry Sky Memory are basically from modern times, right? Can you summon people from that long ago too?”
“I can. However, since only written records remain, I don’t know what they look like. If modern and ancient aesthetic senses are different, the result would be disastrous.”
“Just imagining it gives me chills. I don’t want to hear something like, ‘The three great beauties of the world actually weren’t much by modern standards.'”
“For now, shall we try summoning one?”
“It’s worth a try, but the risk if it fails is immense.”
In short, it was like setting a honey trap for Kazuma.
If it failed, Kazuma would fly into a rage like a blazing fire, and he’d become even more unmanageable.
However, they couldn’t just leave things as they were.
If Kazuma participated in the meeting for this year’s academy events, which was starting after this, while still sulking, it would undoubtedly become extremely troublesome.
They had to somehow get the sulking Kazuma back to his usual self.
“Hey, are there any other candidates?”
“Even if you say other candidates, who else is there?”
“What about modern actresses for whom a lot of visual materials, like videos, remain? Category-wise, they’re not heroes, but can’t you summon them?”
“Hmm, I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot.”
“For now, why not try with a gentle, older-sister type actress that Kazuma-kun would likely prefer?”
“I don’t know if such a convenient person exists, but shall we look into it~?”
The two took out their phones from their pockets and started researching past actresses.
Since Honoka had exposed Kazuma’s preferences during New Year’s, the candidates were narrowed down.
“How about this person?”
“Hmm. I think this one is better.”
“Eh~, isn’t that a bit off?”
“I think Hayato’s choice is off too.”
For a while, the two continued searching online.
And then, they finally found an actress Kazuma would likely fancy.
The two nodded, thinking Kazuma would surely like this one, and attempted to summon her with Starry Sky Memory.
“Come, Anegasaki Mira!”
A star that shone in a certain era was summoned by Souji’s wish.
The one who descended was a woman who seemed to be Kazuma’s type.
“She looks a bit haughty, but I think this might work, don’t you?”
“For now, shall we ask if she’ll do it~?”
“I am aware of the general circumstances from Master’s memories. I simply need to help that gentleman over there get back on his feet, correct?”
“Oh, uh. Can you do it?”
“As I mentioned earlier, I have an understanding of him from Master’s memories. I believe it should proceed without issue.”
“I see. Well then, can I ask you to do it?”
“Understood.”
Saying that, Mira walked towards Kazuma.
The two who saw her off felt uneasy, wondering if this was really the right thing to do.
“Hey, do you think this was a good idea?”
“I don’t know, but Kazuma-kun is extremely troublesome right now, so I just want him to get back to normal quickly.”
“I guess we’ll just leave the rest to fate~.”
For the time being, the two decided to watch how things unfolded.
They could see Mira approaching Kazuma and talking to him, but the two had no idea what she was saying.
However, they could tell that Kazuma was terribly shaken and flustered.
“Excuse me, mister, are you alone?”
“Ueh!? Wh-who are you?”
“Me? Fufu, who do you think I am?”
Mira very naturally sat down next to Kazuma.
Kazuma was bewildered by the sudden appearance of an unbelievably beautiful woman beside him, but recalling his experiences in the other world, he raised his guard to the maximum.
“(I don’t sense a human presence. She’s not human. Perhaps she’s a hero Souji-senpai summoned with Starry Sky Memory? But for that, she’s weak, far too weak. She doesn’t look skilled in combat. Could she be someone who excelled as a spy or something? The way she closed the distance was far too natural. This is just a guess, but given that she’s a woman, I’d say she’s a hero who specializes in Honey Traps!)”
He wasn’t wrong about her being a Honey Trap operative, but she wasn’t exactly a spy.
No, if she were an actress skilled in performing, it might not be unreasonable to think she was a spy.
However, Kazuma was a man who had fallen for Honey Traps countless times in the other world.
Even if a Honey Trap were set for him now, he wouldn’t fall for it so easily.
“Why so quiet all of a sudden? Are you perhaps nervous?”
“No, I’m just wondering who you are, onee-san.”
“Is that so? Did you figure anything out?”
“To put it bluntly, I’d say you’re a spy. And one who specializes in Honey Traps!”
“Too bad. I used to be an actress. I have played such roles before, though.”
“An actress!? You could summon one with Starry Sky Memory…?”
“It seems so. And I was asked to cheer you up, Kazuma-kun.”
“Souji-senpai…!”
The incredibly gullible Kazuma swallowed Mira’s words whole, deeply moved that Souji-senpai had gone to the trouble of summoning an actress with Starry Sky Memory just to console him.
“Well then… Here, come over here.”
“Eh?”
Kazuma, who had been sitting with his knees drawn up, sensed no hostility or killing intent, and before he could react, he found himself embraced by Mira, then gently laid down for a lap pillow.
“Wa…waah…”
“Fufu, good boy, good boy. Kazuma-kun, you’re working so hard. Onee-san will give you lots of ‘good boy’ pats.”
“Fah…faaah…”
This was truly paradise.
Kazuma was convinced this was heaven.
Even if it was a fleeting happiness, Kazuma surrendered himself to the moment, knowing that for now, he was truly happy.
However, that time did not last long.
Mira, summoned by Starry Sky Memory, smiled as if her mission was complete, then dissolved into particles of light and vanished into the sky.
“Uwaaaaaaaah! Wait! Wait, Mira-san! Take me with you!”
“Kazuma-kun, you still have things you need to do, don’t you? So, this is where we part. Do your best, Kazuma-kun.”
“U…uuh! I’ll do my best! I’ll really do my best! So please, watch over me from the sky!”
“Yes, I’ll be watching over you from this starry sky.”
A single farce had come to an end.
Mira returned to the starry sky, and the Kazuma left behind stood at the water’s edge with a face full of determination, wiping away tears. Of course, no tears were actually flowing; it was merely an act (pretense).
Just then, Souji and Hayato approached, exuding a grand atmosphere.
“Looks like you’re about ready to go?”
“Yes! I’ve decided I’m going to become a respectable person.”
“I see. Well then, shall we go?”
“Yeah!”
The three of them started walking.
Kazuma looked back one last time, as if reluctant to leave, and
“Please watch me, Mira-san! I’ll do my best!”
he declared to Mira, who had returned to the starry sky.
“That guy, I’m worried about him in a different sense. Is he gonna be okay?”
“Don’t worry. That’s him being normal.”
“That’s worrying in its own way.”
The two of them were worried about Kazuma’s simple thought process.