Chapter 50 Shopping Date (Pre-Meeting)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Hiroya’s POV)
As the sun began to set, we left the guild.
”This is going to be a weird time for dinner.”
Liz said, patting her stomach over her leather armor.
”Definitely, I’ll be hungry at night…”
Kazumi said with a serious expression. Yeah, late-night snacks are the enemy of women.
* * *
We walked to the inn. The main street of the capital was crowded with people buying dinner ingredients and lining up in front of restaurants that smelled delicious.
”Even though the number of people and the scale can’t compare, this scene is the same in the capital and Razia Village.”
I like seeing people’s daily lives. It makes me think, “Ah, I’m alive.”
”Hey! Isn’t that a sweet shop?”
Martina spotted a building with a sign showing a roll cake.
”Cake is… a separate stomach, right?”
Rena’s eyes sparkled.
”””*Nod*”””
Kazumi, Martina, and Riz nodded with the same look.
”Um… everyone, your eyes look like predators.”
””””Let’s go!””””
Kazumi and Rena took off running, while Liz and Martina pulled me along with both hands.
* * *
”…So, can we really eat 5 shortcakes each?”
In front of us at the inn were cakes.
I only had one slice of fruit tart piled high with fruits.
Looking around, the girls were happily staring at 5 colorful shortcakes, tarts, and puddings each. No, it was more like they were in ecstasy.
””””Totally fine!””””
The 4 sisters (tentative) chimed in happily…
”Oh, I’ll make some tea.”
”I’ll help too!”
”I’ll get the cups!”
”Then we’ll wait until you’re ready, Hiroya!”
Oh, the temporary eldest sister, Liz, isn’t moving.
* * *
”Thanks for the meal.”
Even though it was delicious, I felt pretty stuffed after eating a lot at the guild’s second-floor dining hall.
The girls were excitedly enjoying their desserts, saying things like, “This is delicious!” “Oh, I want to try that!” “Do you want to try mine, Rena?” “This is what they have in the capital!”
”…I’ll clean up…”
I took my cup and plate to the kitchen, and while I was at it, I decided to take a bath.
”Phew…”
As I soaked in the tub, a sigh that didn’t sound childlike escaped my lips.
(‘Real battle experience’ huh…)
That means it’ll be after we return from the capital to Razia Village. I wonder how long it will take to make the equipment.
(I want to go back soon. And I want to fight monsters.)
Even though I hadn’t fully recovered from the journey yet, I was already thinking about going back.
(Starting tomorrow, maybe I’ll begin morning training again.)
While waiting for our gear to be ready, there’s really nothing to do. I wonder what everyone will do.
* * *
After getting out of the bath, I change into the pajamas provided by the inn.
(Huh. It’s the kind without pants.)
It’s a one-piece pajama that covers my head and leaves my neck and arms out. The hem goes down to my ankles, but this is for kids, right? When I return to the living room, everyone is still excitedly eating cake.
”I’m going to bed. Good night.”
We arrived in the royal capital and immediately got dragged around everywhere. I just want to crawl into bed.
””””Good night~!””””
Everyone answers with smiles. It makes me feel happy.
* * *
(Kazumi’s POV)
We 4 wave goodbye to Hiroya as he heads to the bedroom.
”So… is it really okay, Kazumi?”
”You can go on a nice date with Hiroya, you know?”
”Shopping alone with Big Brother Hiroya…”
I talked about this while Hiroya was in the bath.
’Let’s each go on a shopping date with Hiroya one by one.’
Well, I want to go on a date with Hiroya alone too.
The reason is──
”Shopping alone with Big Brother Hiroya…”
Martina keeps repeating the same thing over and over.
On the last night of our trip to the royal capital, when… I did something naughty with Hiroya in the sleeping bag.
After that, when Martina came to wake us up for her turn… I saw it. I saw her kissing Hiroya while he was asleep.
Ouch! My heart hurt, but thinking about Martina’s feelings made me tear up.
I’m getting to do naughty things with Hiroya. Plus, he told me he likes me.
But for Martina… just thinking about it made tears flow naturally.
So I suggested to everyone.
’Let’s take turns going on shopping dates with Hiroya.’
If I just told Martina, “Go on a date with Hiroya,” she would definitely say no. She would be considerate of me.
So I said ‘everyone.’
Maybe Martina plans to take those feelings to her grave.
She declared her determination to “give everything to everyone.” For us, and for Hiroya.
Since she doesn’t say “I like you” to Hiroya, she’s trying to repay him with her actions.
(At this rate, Martina might break.)
Thinking that, I proposed the shopping date.
”Okay, then where should we take him?”
”I want to go to a bookstore. A library would be nice too.”
I was surprised that Rizu and Rena were so enthusiastic.
”Shopping alone with Big Brother Hiroya…”
…Martina is still chanting that spell.
”I want to buy cute clothes. How about you, Martina?”
”But… we need to spend money on gear, right? We shouldn’t waste too much…”
”Leave that to me!”
Liz thumps her chest confidently.
”I forgot to exchange the guild points. I’ll take them tomorrow and turn them into money.”
Saying that, she pulls out 4 of those ‘youma (demon) stones’ from her pouch.
”I think this will be a decent amount, right? Let’s use this for everyone’s date funds.”
”Then, Liz, you’ll be first tomorrow. Meet up with Hiroya and exchange them.”
”W-Wait, I’m first? I’m so nervous…”
And so, we discussed the order and the steps.
* * *
”Well then, let’s take a bath and go to bed for tomorrow!”
Liz stood up and headed to the bath.
”I’m going too!”
”…I need to wash every part of my body.”
”Liz! It’s just a date, okay? No funny business!”
Why is the adult Liz so excited about her shopping date with Hiroya?
* * *
(Hiroya’s POV)
”Huh? What do you mean?”
As soon as I woke up, I couldn’t understand what Kazumi was saying.
”That’s why! Liz is waiting in front of the guild, so hurry up and go. Today, it’s Hiroya’s mission to have a ‘one-on-one shopping date’ with everyone in turns. Got it?”
”Yes.”
”Then wash your face and change your clothes right away. You can’t keep a girl waiting.”
”Yes.”
* * *
Not really understanding what was going on, I hurriedly washed my face, changed my clothes, and left the inn.
(They said guild, right?)
I took a carriage there, but I walked back, so I knew the way.
I couldn’t keep Liz waiting, so I rushed to the guild.
* * *
In the central square right in front of the guild. The scale and number of people here are completely different from Razia Village.
I spotted Liz sitting on a bench in front of the guild. She wasn’t in her usual leather armor but wearing a village girl outfit.
She seemed to notice me and waved her hand excitedly.
”Ah… this is… my… place. I… hope… he’s not… bothering me…”
It looked like she was talking to a guy standing in front of her. Is she being bothered? I quickly ran over to Liz.
”S-Sorry for making you wait… Who is this? Do you know him?”
”Just some guy. He seems to be hitting on me.”
Just to be safe, I released some sword energy.
”Ugh!”
The guy stepped back and said, “Sorry about that,” before leaving.
”You got here surprisingly fast. Alright, let’s go!”
Liz linked her arm with mine and we headed to the guild.
”First, we’ll exchange the youma (demon) stones. This will be our date money for today. Now, until the next turn, I’m going to have as much fun as possible with you!”
With a big smile, Liz opened the door to the guild.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.