Episode 90 – On the way home


I, Who Was Reincarnated as an Evil Character With Cheat-Level Stats in an Eroge, Will Live Freely in This Life


โ€•โ€•I waited outside the shop a bit early, and the three of them arrived.

โ€œSorry to keep you waiting!!โ€

โ€œWe kept you waiting, didn’t we?โ€

โ€œSorry to keep you waiting, Seito-kun.โ€

โ€œDid all three of you buy them?โ€

โ€œYes! We bought them safely!!โ€

At times like this, I do feel like saying I’ll buy them for you, but everyone isn’t really fond of being treated unilaterally, so that’s not really an option.

Well, it should be fine though. The three of themโ€ฆ no, Saki should be fine, but I don’t know how much savings Kana and Miku have. Still, they don’t usually spend money on fancy outings anyway.

Besides, summer vacation is a big event for students. It’s only natural for everyone to spend money at times like this.

โ€•โ€•We were walking along like that when Saki suddenly murmured.

โ€œHehehe, I’m really looking forward to next weekโ€ฆโ€

โ€œWhat’s gotten into you all of a sudden?โ€

โ€œNah. I just thoughtโ€ฆ This summer break seems like it’ll be really different from last year and the years before, and I’m excited about thatโ€ฆ Oh, and of course, I don’t mean last year and the years before were boring or anything?โ€

โ€œI know you didn’t mean thatโ€ฆ But yeah. I get that feeling.โ€

“Yeah! Because this year, Seito-senpai is here! !!”

As she said that, Kana turned her smiling face toward me.

I lightly ruffled Kana’s hair before asking.

โ€œWhat were your summer vacations like until last year? I was kinda curious. You said the three of you went to the summer festival together, right? Was Nanashima not there then?โ€

The three of them exchanged glances, then Miku spoke up on their behalf.

โ€œWell, yeah. We didn’t mention it because there wasn’t really any reason to, but no, he wasn’t there. I think you kind of get it, but Tsubasa is pretty much an indoor type and hates crowds.โ€

โ€œYeah, I can kind of imagine that.โ€

โ€œBecause of that, the only time we went to the summer festival together was when we were in elementary school. The beach was a different reason, but similarly, we haven’t gone together since we started middle school.โ€

โ€œWould it be okay to ask why?โ€

โ€œWe don’t really understand it ourselves, but he said he hated going with us because his guy friends would tease him. Well, maybe he just didn’t like the beach, or maybe it was a hassle, but we don’t know for sure. We were fine with just the three of us having fun, so we didn’t press him about it.โ€

Since the game didn’t really talk about the past much, it’s a bit surprisingโ€ฆ or maybe not. Hearing it now, it’s not something I couldn’t imagine, but still, Nanashima was pretty careless about a lot of things.

I guess that’s just how middle schoolers are?

โ€œI seeโ€ฆโ€

โ€œYeah, that’s about it. We never thought to drag someone along who clearly didn’t want to go either.โ€

โ€œThat makes senseโ€ฆโ€

โ€œYeahโ€ฆโ€

I was the one asking, but the atmosphere felt a bit awkward, so I decided to change the subject.

โ€œSpeaking of which, how are you guys getting to the beach? And when is it planned?โ€

โ€œOh! My mom said she’d drive us there and back!โ€

When I asked that, Saki replied.

โ€œHarumi-san?โ€

โ€œYeah. When I told her we were going shopping today since the four of us are going to the beach, she asked how we were getting there. When I said we hadn’t decided yet, she offered to drive us.โ€

โ€œBut isn’t that a lot of trouble for herโ€ฆ?โ€

โ€œHmmโ€ฆ But she seemed really happy, telling us to have fun. I think it’ll be fine? She actually seemed eager to drive us?โ€

Why does she want to drive us? We could totally take public transitโ€ฆ Well, if Saki says it’s fine, then it probably is. Still, I should properly thank her myself.

โ€œWell then, I’ll gladly take her up on that offer.โ€

โ€œYeah. But, I’ve told Kana-chan and Miku-chan, but we haven’t set the date yet. It’ll be whenever we can all make it work. Is that okay?โ€

โ€œWell, I’m basically free all the time, so it shouldn’t be a problem.โ€

โ€œI’m good too!!!โ€

โ€œโ€ฆI already know that.โ€

โ€œHehehe, Kana-chan was really looking forward to it, you know.โ€

โ€œโ€ฆSaki, the way you say that makes it sound like I’m not looking forward to itโ€ฆโ€

โ€œHehehe, that’s not true, Miku-chan. You and Kana-chan know better than anyone how excited you are.โ€

โ€œThat’s right, Miku-nee!! You were the one agonizing the most over picking a swimsuit today!!!โ€

Kana said this with a smile, and Miku’s face immediately flushed red as she snapped.

โ€œKana!! I told you not to say that!!!โ€

Kana gasped, covering her mouth.

โ€ฆShe totally did that on purpose.

โ€œB-but it’s okay! I won’t tell anyone else!!!โ€

โ€œThat’s not the point!! You said it to the one person you absolutely shouldn’t have, Seito-kun!!!โ€

โ€œHehe, calm down, you two.โ€

โ€œHehe? No wayโ€ฆ Besides, it was Saki who started itโ€ฆ Seriouslyโ€ฆโ€ใ€€

Objectively listening to the conversation alone, it might sound like they’re arguing, but Miku isn’t actually angry. Well, calling it hiding embarrassment would be more accurate.

Both Kana and Saki know that, so they’re talking with smiles.

All three of them seem happy.

After that exchange continued for a bit, I asked.

โ€œBy the way, what are your plans after this?โ€

โ€œIf it’s after this, we still have a little time left. Would you mind accompanying us shopping? We still have a few more things we want to buy!!โ€

โ€œOf course, no problem. I’ll stick around as long as you need.โ€

After that, I accompanied Kana and the others shopping.

โ—‡

โ€œThanks for today, Seito.โ€

After dropping Kana and Saki off at their homes, I gave Miku a ride too.

Though her place is really close, just right there.

โ€œNo problem. I had a lot of fun too. Plus, you were buying quite a bit, so you needed someone to carry your bags, right?โ€

โ€œHehe, yeah. That was a huge help.โ€

โ€œHey, Miku, can I ask you something?โ€

โ€œSure, what is it?โ€

โ€œIt’s not urgent or anything, just something I’ve been wondering. Do your parents know we started dating? I mean, Kana’s parents obviously know, and I’m pretty close with Saki’s parents too, but I’ve only talked to yours once with Yuki-san, so I was curious.โ€

We’ve only been dating a week, so Miku probably hasn’t told her parents yet.

โ€œW-well, I haven’t told them yetโ€ฆโ€

โ€œYeah, I figuredโ€ฆโ€

โ€œUmโ€ฆ Should I tell themโ€ฆ?โ€

Miku asked timidly.

โ€œNo, not at all. I was just wondering.โ€

Besides, just like with Kana, if I want Miku’s parents to accept me, I’ll have to explain my past tooโ€ฆ Like how I don’t have parents, or how I used to be a troublemakerโ€ฆ As I was thinking about that, Miku spoke up.

โ€œโ€ฆIf you’re thinking about explaining your past like you did with Kana, it’s pointless to even consider it.โ€

โ€œโ€ฆWhy’s that?โ€

โ€œโ€ฆWhat did you think when you saw my mom?โ€

โ€œWhat do you meanโ€ฆโ€

She looked incredibly beautiful and stylish, just like Miku.

And from talking to her, she seemed like a really solid, serious person, right?

โ€œShe seemed really dependable and serious.โ€

โ€œWell, yeahโ€ฆ She seems that way to me too. But actually, my mom was pretty wild back in the day.โ€

โ€œHuh? Seriously?โ€

โ€œSeriouslyโ€ฆ Dad says back then, because of her home situation, she got into all sorts of trouble with a few girl friendsโ€ฆ And though it was for different reasons than mine, she hated boys and was so strong-willed she wouldn’t flinch even against someone bigger than her.โ€

โ€œI can’t picture that at allโ€ฆโ€

“Yeah. But you can still catch glimpses of it when she gets angry. Anyway, continuing the story, that’s when she met my dad. He was the class president in her class, and being serious, he started paying attention to her. Then, as she got involved with him, she started changing. It’s a long story, but that’s the gist. That’s a pretty big reason why I wasn’t scared of Seito from the start.”

You’re right. Miku seemed less like she hated delinquents and more like she just disliked boys in generalโ€ฆ Back then, Miku and I weren’t exactly close enough for me to ask, but thinking about it now, it makes perfect sense.

โ€œHuh? But if that’s the case, wouldn’t she have been even more worried about dating me, since I was a delinquent?โ€

โ€œThat’s true, but Mom changed herself, so she wouldn’t just dismiss it without hearing me outโ€ฆ Just so you know, keep this between us? Mom’d get madโ€ฆโ€

Miku said this, looking a little worried.

Usually, Miku acts like the older sister around me and Saki, but when it comes to her mom, she really does become that way. This gap was cute in its own way.

โ€œGot it.โ€

โ€œAlright then. I should head inside now. Thanks for walking me home, Seito. See you later. Oh, and I think I’ll wait a bit longer before telling my parents.โ€

โ€œGot it. See you.โ€

And with that, Miku went inside her house.

Maiban


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