第１２４２堀：お互いをよく知るにはお話をする (Part2)
"Hmm. We can't exactly talk about 'Yuki-related matters' in a place like a coffee shop."
"That would necessitate a silencing of tongues, wouldn't it? In that case, would you mind preparing some delicious tea for us?"
At Samantha’s request, Fiora and the others nodded and immediately set about preparing the tea.
"I feel like there’s something fundamentally wrong with making Fiora and the others prepare tea when they’re supposed to be on break."
"Hmm. Yuki, you should understand. If we don't do something, we can't settle down."
"Indeed. Besides, sitting idle while one's superiors work is like sitting on a bed of needles. It’s not as if we’re incapacitated by injury or illness, so it’s perfectly fine."
Well, I suppose they’re right. Even if one were injured, having superiors or colleagues take over one’s duties is a nerve-wracking experience. Watching Fiora and the others prepare the tea, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
"Come to think of it, what about Nairua and Wazfi?"
"They have returned to their workplaces just as we have. They mentioned they wanted to apologize to Yuki-sama later."
"No, no—if it’s coming from those two, I don’t really feel like it’s something they need to apologize for..."
"Hmm. Yuki, that’s missing the point. Those two are even more grateful for the current situation than Orelia and the others."
"Indeed. Nairua was taken in after the incident in the Holy Kingdom of Enaria. She knows all too well that if she were cast out, her future would be bleak. And for Wazfi, the inability to conduct research is a matter of life and death—surely you understand that for her type, don't you?"
"Ah, I see."
That, I could certainly understand. Nairua had the massive issue with her parents even before her research. If my support were cut off now, she’d be lucky if she just ended up with nowhere to go; at worst, she’d be facing the guillotine. As for Wazfi, there is no place better suited for monster research than Weed. And unfortunately, since there are almost no monsters on the If Continent, she would have serious anxieties about whether she could even make a living as a researcher. It is, indeed, a matter of life and death.
"Hmm. But if it’s those two, I think they crave the knowledge of Earth even more than that."
"That is quite possible. Cleena-san also spent all her time in the library when she first arrived here."
"How rude. I was always lovey-dovey with Yuki. Still better than Samantha, who picked a fight the moment she met him."
"What!?"
"Ah, my first meeting with Samantha was indeed something like that."
Back then, I had gone to the academy with Taiki-kun, only to be turned away at the gate by Samantha. Well, that was ultimately an action taken to "break the flags" of a school-life scenario. We were on high alert for the school setting itself.
Oh, that reminds me—what are Eoid and Amanda doing about the study abroad program this time? Well, they are the faces of the academy, so surely they wouldn't actually go abroad, would they?
As we exchanged such idle chatter, the tea was prepared, and Yayui brought it to me.
"U-um, what you just mentioned—about Samantha-sama picking a fight...?"
"Hmm? It’s just a story about how things went down. Tell you what, let’s start by talking about the members here. It would be boring if it were just me talking, right?"
"Is that alright~?"
"Hmm. It’s a good opportunity for Orelia and the others to learn about how lovey-dovey Samantha and I are. And also about Samantha’s massive blunder."
"Cleena-san!? If you’re going to go there, I shall tell them about the 'loner who gifted her own panties,' shall I?"
"...Ngh."
"Um, gifting panties...? I don't understand at all..."
Orelia tilted her head, completely lost at the title. Yeah, even I didn't understand what was happening at the time. When I was asking Cleena why things had turned sour between her and Amanda, she had demonstrated by handing me her freshly removed panties.
Honestly, my mind couldn't keep up at all, and I had absolutely no idea what the optimal response was. It really made me realize that when people do the unexpected, your brain just stops.
"Alright, let’s include that part, too. The story of when I first met Samantha and Cleena."
With that, I took a sip of green tea to moisten my throat and began to tell the nostalgic—if you could call it that—tale. Fiora and the others were all ears; it was probably for the best.
Now, should I start from the circumstances? In any case, there are many things you can't understand without talking them through. While it’s true that one’s appearance and first impressions can be excellent, there are those who use that to their advantage. Just because I tell them everything doesn't mean they will be trustworthy, but it is also true that if they know nothing, they cannot be trusted.
The world is a complicated place, isn't it?