Runa gave me a look of surprise. “You didn’t factor that in when choosing that place?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Maybe it’s because it’s a haunted spot. It’s really damn cool out there.”
Toriko and I looked at one another. Was that...okay? If there was cool air, then wasn’t it the bad kind?
Now that she had a grasp on the situation, Runa was all fired up. She put her hands together in front of her, and turned to face us. “Umm, I have a suggestion, y’know.”
I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be anything good, but I still asked. “What?”
“It’s great I get to rejoin society and all, but I’m a minor, and an orphan, right?”
“Yeah...” I’d never heard someone bring up being an orphan so enthusiastically.
“So I’m going to need a guardian, or a sponsor of some sort. Isn’t that right?” This was a question directed at Migiwa.
“Yes. It is as you say.”
“I figured! In that case, um—”
“No way! Nuh-uh! Not doing it!”
I sensed what was coming my way and seriously panicked. It was true that I was old enough now, but I couldn’t possibly act as her sponsor.
“Huh? Oh, gosh. No, that’s not it. You’re still a student, right, Kamikoshi-san? I wouldn’t ask that of you.”
“O-Oh...”
Ignoring my disarray, Runa continued. “That’s not what I want... I was wondering if I could maybe ask Kozakura-san.”
Ohh... I could feel an air of satisfaction with that answer fill the room.
“Why Kozakura?” Toriko asked.
“Well, she seems nice, and when we were talking before, I got the sense that we have some common interests.”
She definitely thinks Kozakura’s a pushover.
Before I could say anything, Migiwa spoke up. “Have no fear. We have already considered the matter of your sponsor, Urumi-san.”
“Oh, you have? Then, Kozakura-san—”
“I have called the person here, so please, speak with them directly.”
“Huh?”
The door opened as if it had been waiting for just this moment.
“Hi there.”
It wasn’t Kozakura who entered the room with a chipper greeting, but a woman with very short hair and pierced ears—DS Research’s self-proclaimed magician, Tsuji.
“Oh, hey, it’s Kamikoshi-kun. I guess that must make you Nishina-kun. Right?”
“Uh, yeah, and?”
Tsuji grinned at Toriko’s obvious wariness.
“Hmm, I see. You’ve got a good look on your face! And so this must be...” She stopped next to Runa, peering down at her from above. “Runa Urumi-kun. This is the first time I’ve met you when you’re awake. Last time I saw you, you were groaning, and had your face wrapped in bandages.”
“Who’re you...?”
“I’m Tsuji.”
“Right...”
Still looking down at Runa, Tsuji turned towards Migiwa. “Migiwa-kun, are you the type who thinks, ‘Let the women handle the kids’?”
Migiwa had a completely serious look on his face. “I’ve never lived on the straight-and-narrow, so surely it would not be right for me to involve myself with a minor.”
“Ha ha, that’s hilarious. You heard him, Urumi-kun.”
“Yes?”
“Since that’s how it is, I’m the one who’s going to be your sponsor. Nice to meetcha.”
It took a moment before Runa went, “Huh?!” She turned to Migiwa to protest. “Uh, I don’t like this. Like, who even is this person? Isn’t it ridiculous, having someone I only just met be my sponsor?”
“It’s true that this is the first time we’ve met, but I have my reasons.”
“What do you mean, reasons?”
“So, when you attacked this place, you messed up the artifact warehouse, yeah? Well, I’m the one in charge of managing it.”
“Ah...” Runa got a look on her face that said, Oh, crap. Tsuji was still smiling, but her smile was just a little bit menacing.
“You really yanked my chain doing that, but I can’t get violent with a minor, y’know?”
“Wh-What are you planning to do? Hang on, stop it, please.”
“I’m not going to do anything. In fact, I’m even going to let bygones be bygones, and become your sponsor. Aren’t I just the nicest?”
“No, no, no, Migiwa-san! This person scares me! I want Kozakura-san instead!”
“Nuh-uh, nuh-uh, we can’t let you monopolize her like that. Kozakura-kun belongs to everybody, okay?”
As I looked on passively, thinking that Tsuji was saying some pretty out-there things herself, Runa finally reached her limit and stood up. “Fine! I don’t need a sponsor! Just leave me alone!”
“That just won’t do. Because you’re a child.”
“I’m telling you I don’t want you!”
“Oh, really? Then will you use that voice of yours, make us all do what you say?”
Runa fell silent. “No... I wouldn’t do that.”
“You sure you don’t want to?”
“I made a promise that I wouldn’t. With Kamikoshi-san!” Runa violently sat back down, pouting.
“I see, I see. Yep, I think I can be her sponsor, then, Migiwa-kun.”
“It would be a big help.”
“To be honest, the odds were eight-to-two in favor of me refusing, but Urumi-kun was more of a good kid than I thought. And it sounds like I’ll be paid a special allowance for it.”
“Huh...? Did you just say you were planning to refuse?” Runa asked.
Tsuji didn’t hesitate to nod. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t know you very well. But I feel like I learned something just now.”
“What are you saying you learned?”
“That you have the will to keep promises you make with people.”
“Is that all...?”
“That will is the most important thing. After that, it’s a matter of stamina. So, on that note... Nice to meet you, Urumi-kun!”
Runa stared up at Tsuji’s smiling face in silence. Finally, she opened her mouth to say just one thing: “I think I might hate you.”
“Y’know, I get that all the time.”
This conversation had just decided how Runa would be treated. I was surprised by how fast it had all happened, but now that it was settled it wasn’t really my place to say anything.