A reply came from Nis.h.i.+no-kun. The time and location of the meeting are written on the mail. We are planning on going there directly, but first…
"We"re taking a break here."
I point to a multi-story apartment. Even before the world changed, it was a building without any tenants. There aren"t any signs of monsters around, so let us rest here for now. Personally, I have more than enough stamina. However…
"Heee…. Heeee… Haaaa… Uffu….. Haaaa"
Ichinose-san is panting heavily, looking as if she might die any moment.
Yup, I knew this would happen.
Moving without being carried by me, this is what will inevitably occur. Despite having the "Body Strengthening" skill, her status is still much lower than either Rikkchan or myself. Trying to match up with our pace, this is an obvious outcome.
Yet…
"G, getting piggybacked is too embarra.s.sing… I can"t show Ricchan such a miserable figure."
Just like that, she rejected the idea of being piggybacked. As a result, she had to walk normally, and this is the result.
"Are you okay, Natsun? Do you feel like throwing up? Should I pat your back?"
"It"s okay…. There"s…. no problem… here…"
By being stubborn, she is now showing a miserable figure. This is Ichinose-san quality. Such a pitiful child… Wouldn"t it have been better if I just carried her?
For some reason, Ichinose-san tries to put up a front in front of Rikkchan…Ichinose-san comes closer to my side.
(….I"m sorry. From next time, please just carry me on your back.)
(Yes, yes. I understand.)
It seems like she has given up on being stubborn. It"s good that she"s honest.
Entering the multi-story building, we find a suitable place to take a break.
"This place should be alright. Ichinose-san, please have a good rest."
"Yes… sorry about… this…"
With her shoulder going up and down, Ichinose-san takes a seat on the chair provided. She seems much better than before. The change happened as soon as she entered the room. Is this the influence of being a "Hiki Komori"?
When we traveled outside, she was always riding the bike or on my back, but does a "Hiki Komori" receive penalties for performing activities outdoors? It"s called a "Hiki Komori" for a reason, after all.
Since Ichinose-san has "Body Strengthening", it doesn"t seem like she has trouble traveling normally, but when she has to run or travel for long distances, she gets exhausted very fast.
I lightly tap on my shadow.
"Momo, come out."
"Wan!"
Coming out from the shadows, Momo barks in reply. I mofu-mofu her. Fufu.
"I"ll be exploring this building. In the meantime, please stay next to them."
"Wan!"
Since Ichinose-san has "Cognitive Impediment", she is almost definitely safe inside the building, but just in case. Momo will inform me if something happens.
"Explore? But with Kudou-san"s "Enemy Detection"…"
"Just in case. It"s just in case. And…"
I approach Ichinose-san and whisper gently.
(My skill won"t reach here from the rooftop. If you have anything to discuss with here, don"t you think this is a good opportunity?)
(That"s!)
In response to my words, Ichinose-san"s shoulders shake visibly.
"Natsun, what"s up?"
"No, it"s nothing."
I watch from the side as Ichinose-san fumbles around. I think I might have the most irritating expression on my face right now.
"Then please take your time."
(They must have a lot to catch up on. Please take your time talking.)
"Yes… thank you… very much…"
Ichinose-san must have understood what I am doing here. I leave the room while waving my hand.
"Now then, what will come of this…"
Mumbling so, I head for the roof.
After Kazuto left, Ichinose and Rikka were left alone in the room. Momo sat near the window, starting at them without moving.
"That"s quite the impressive onii-san."
Rikka opened her mouth first. Sitting on an office chair, she rotated around while staring at Ichinose.
"Impressive, you say?"
"Yes, in many aspects. Not only in terms of skills and level, he can also overwhelm monsters which I will struggle to defeat. Oh right, but it"s the same for you."
"Eh?"
"Because when you"re confronting a monster, you seem like a completely different person. You eyes gleam like they"re saying "I only need a single shot"."
"Sorry, but I don"t get what you"re saying."
"Huh? Natsun doesn"t read light novels?"
"Not so much for novels… but I read manga."
"Is that so."
"Yup."
The conversation came to a halt. Their exchange didn"t last longer.
Ichinose felt impatient. It was strange. She really wanted to talk more, but she couldn"t speak. Her best friend who she met after a year.
Even though they had brushed past each other, they hadn"t had the chance to speak slowly with each other. Truthfully speaking, Ichinose had known in advance about the bullying and the reason behind it.
(Uuuuu, what should I do… Kudou-san even set the stage for me…)
Wasn"t this too high of a hurdle for someone with communication disorder? And it"s a face to face conversation? Her nervousness was justified.
My stomach is tingling. Also, I feel nauseous.
But I have to hold myself back. I"ve already shamed myself in front of Kazuto-san. I can"t possibly do that in front of my best friend. But what can I do?
OH! The "Mail"! I can communicate using "Mail". My words will flow out naturally and… Nonono, what am I saying. She"s right in front of me. Am I an idiot? "Communication"…Is there no such skill called "Communication"?
In this manner, a small Ichinose was in her brain, crying in tears.
"Hey, Natsun, there"s one thing I want to ask you."
Rikka was staring at her with a serious expression.
"What is it?"
Observing the solemn atmosphere, she corrected her posture.
"Natsunm after this… after meeting with Niss.h.i.+, what are you going to do?"
"What am I going to do?"
"Do you want to move with us?"
Confronted with the question, Ichinose went silent for a reason different from before. It was something that was already on her mind. Rikka was traveling with them because she had the goal of uniting with her teammates.
So what would happen after that?
Would they be cooperating?
(Most likely not…)
Ichinose shook her head inside. Kazuto and her fight styles were meant to be for solos, not for group battles. Before they formed a party, they moved independently, so there was no helping it.
Above all, they had too many secrets that they had to keep from others. Item Box, a dog with skills, and a slime which could mimic.
If people knew about the food inside the Item Box, people would want it with drool dripping from their mouths. Also, there would be many people who would not accept Momo and Aka because they were a threat like monsters.
Furthermore, Kazuto and herself were not comfortable being in a group with "others". They didn"t hate other people, but they didn"t like the particular atmosphere that groups exuded.
The more people there were, the more forceful they would be. Some people might do something against them as well. Because they possessed skills, they would feel like they were more powerful. If it is for "everyone", the "group" might compel them to do something. They would behave this way despite being in an inferior position. Kazuto had once voiced out this concern.
"I see. As expected, we can"t be together huh."
Interpreting what her silence meant, Rikka looked sad.
"Well, Ricchan… you know…"
"It"s okay. I know. But then again, with your communication issue, it won"t work out even if you join up with Niss.h.i.+. "
Ni s.h.i.+ s.h.i.+. Rikka laughed, making Ichinose slightly offended.
"That"s not the case! Even I can…"
"Even you can?"
"That… if I try my best… I can… speak normally… with other people…."
"Young lady, despite saying that, your voice is becoming softer and softer."
"Muuuu."
Rikka laughed even more at Ichinose who inflates her cheek.
"You"re mean, Ricchan."
"Ahahaah, sorry. I mean, watching your reactions is so interesting that I had to."
She laughed once more and said, "But, yup. I see, I see. So Natsun"s saying that it"s more comfortable to travel with that nii-san."
"H, how did that translate into this topic?"
Ichinose"s face faintly turned red.
"Because it"s written on Natsun"s face."
"Eh?"
Reflectively, Ichinose rubbed her face.
"Ahahaha, Natsun"s too easy to read."
"Wha!?"
She finally realized that she was being teased.
"Ahahahaha, to think that Natsun will…. Oh, I"m jealous of that nii-san. To think he could make Natsun mero-mero[1] in just a few days."
"Mero-mero… it"s not like that."
"Well then."
Rikka"s spoke, covering what Ichinose was about to say. Her smile up to this point was replaced by a serious expression, making it appear as if her previous behavior was a lie. Looking straight at Ichinose, she held her hand tightly.
"Is it possible for me to continue being in your group?"
"Eh…?"
Opening her eyes wide, Ichinose stared at Rikka. She realized that Rikka wasn"t joking with her.
"Around now, they should be chatting with each other."
I am currently leaning on a fence on top of the rooftop. I can"t hear their conversation. To be honest, with this distance, it"s not impossible for me to listen in on their conversation. Unique skill, "Profession Enhancement". By enhancing a skill, I can eavesdrop on what they"re saying despite being upstairs.
Even so, I am not willing to do that because that would be akin to betraying Ichinose-san. Although we are in a party… no, because we"re in a party, I have to follow the rule.
They might have things which they don"t want others to know. If I step over that line, no one would trust me, and I won"t be able to put my trust in others either. The same goes for Momo and Aka. It"s ironic that such rules are important in this world where order does not exist.
(From what I can imagine, they should be talking about what they would do after this occasion.)
After meeting Nis.h.i.+no-kun, will they continue to act together, or will they separate? Probably, Rikkchan is concerned with this question. While arriving here, she was constantly taking a peek at Ichinose-san.
"Perhaps she will invite her to join their group…"
And if Ichinose-san accepts the invitation...
"Then… that will be that."
Regardless of Ichinonse-san"s decision, I"m planning on respecting it, even if that means disbanding the party. That would be a bit… no, quite saddening. But it"s there"s no helping it after all.
"…Hmmm?"
Suddenly, I see a monster while looking around through the fence.
"This is my first time seeing a monster like that."
It"s a zombie wearing equipments that makes me remember a Roman warrior. Its face is hidden by a full-face helmet, its exposed skin is dark red, and its hands are wielding huge a huge sword and a s.h.i.+eld.
Zombie knight…. No, should I say death knight?
Is it the superior species of zombies? The death knight comes straight towards our direction.
"Guess we"ll hunt it."
From what "Crisis Detection" is telling me, the strength of this creature is around the same level as shadow wolves and orcs. I don"t see any other zombies around it, so it"s a suitable target.
Not much time has pa.s.sed considering the discussion they must be having, but there"s no helping it. I immediately send a signal to Ichinose-san who is on a lower floor.
[1] Mero-mero: infatuated, fall in love. I"m a.s.suming that it has to do with marshmallows.