[Shin-Koiwa Station — Kinouchi Mari]
I was currently standing next to the ticket gate at Shin-Koiwa Station. Today, I was going on my first date with one of my classmates, Yamaoka Shingo. Shingo-kun had told me he had feelings for me a while ago. I had rejected him at the time, but he had still decided to join Dungeon Busters, and we’d wound up spending a lot of time together in the dungeons. I hadn’t really know what to do when being told I love you in such a direct way.
“Mari, you need to give him a proper answer soon. Shingo-kun truly likes you. That’s why you need to be a responsible woman and answer him. I feel bad for him, being left in the dark like this.”
That’s what my mom had told me. Emily had also told me it was about time I decided what to do. Even Senyath, our newest recruit, had had something to add.
“Lady Mari, it may not be my place to speak on the matter, but I must say that tormenting this poor gentleman for so long is unbecoming of a proper young lady. Although he is a healthy and, if I dare say, rather promiscuous young man, his feelings for you are genuine. You ought to be up front about the matter and crush his hopes once and for all.”
Senyath seemed to assume I would definitely reject him, but I did agree with the fact that I had to give him an answer. That’s why I was now on my way to have my first-ever date. Aaaah... I’m kind of stressed.
“Mari! I’m sorry I made you wait!”
Shingo-kun had arrived. He looked pretty cool in leather sneakers, a pair of jeans, and a T-shirt with a hemp jacket thrown over it. Since he had joined Dungeon Busters, Shingo-kun had changed a lot. At first, he had just been another high schooler, but quite a few of our classmates and even some of the upperclassmen had confessed to him recently. I’d heard he turned them all down. I wasn’t sure why he seemed to think I was any better than those other girls.
“Let’s go,” he said, holding out his hand for me to take.
I hesitated a little before taking his hand. My face heated up a little. Shingo-kun had become much bolder when I wasn’t paying attention.
＊ ＊ ＊
We watched a movie at a theater inside a mall in Kinshicho before getting lunch at a nice Italian restaurant next to the mall. Both Shingo-kun and I gave all the money we received from Dungeon Busters to our parents, who then gave us an allowance. I received a hundred thousand yen per month while Shingo-kun told me he got around a hundred and fifty thousand. I could never have imagined having so much money in my hands a year ago.
“I want to buy a motorcycle, so I’m saving up for it now. What about you, Mari?” he asked.
“I guess I’m also saving. To be honest, I don’t really know what to use my money for. Ah! I guess I am spending quite a lot on cakes.”
We talked about the dungeons and school but also about our private lives. I didn’t know how to explain it, but I felt like Shingo-kun was a little like Kazu-san now. He always seemed like he was in control. I told him he had changed a lot, and he smiled brightly at me.
“My goal is to become like Kazu-san. He truly is the kind of adult I hope to grow into,” he said.
“Why him? Aren’t Akira-san and Hisato-san pretty cool too?” I asked.
I thought everyone in Dungeon Busters was really nice and reliable. To be honest, when I looked at my classmates, I often thought they were rather childish.
“All the men in Dungeon Busters are really cool. They all have their own goals and are ready to put their lives on the line. But what I truly want is to become as strong as Kazu-san. He’s able to push everyone forward and face the unknown of the dungeons head-on. I’m sure he has to deal with a tremendous amount of pressure and stress, yet he always pulls through. I end up thinking I want to become like him when I stand behind him.”
“I understand.”
I suddenly remembered the time I had gone shopping with my mom and Kazu-san. I hadn’t been able to stop myself from wishing my father had been a person like him. I think I really would like it if Shingo-kun becomes more like Kazu-san in the future.
“Ah! I need to buy a thank you gift for Kazu-san! He’s always taking care of me, and I want to repay him somehow.”
“You’re right. Let’s go,” Shingo-kun agreed.
As we exited the restaurant, we held hands without giving it a second thought.
＊ ＊ ＊
[Kinshicho — Shopping mall — TRY! Next Door’s Cuisine]
That day, we were recording the TV program “TRY! Next Door’s Cuisine” on the terrace of Fusion, Kinshicho’s shopping mall. The program’s main concept was to invite young women to cook live, but since many refused to be filmed, we were having a hard time finding participants.
“Hey! What about that couple over there?” the director asked.
The young woman and young man he pointed to had a strange air about them. They were holding hands, smiling at each other, and looked just like the protagonists of a soap opera. They seemed to be in a world of their own, and no one could keep their eyes off them as they walked. They would make a pretty picture on TV.
Right as I decided to go talk to them, I heard a scream. I turned to look in its direction and saw a man swinging a knife around.
“This is bad!”
“The camera!”
The man’s yelling was almost unintelligible, though I made out something along the lines of, “The world’s ending anyway!!!” He slashed and stabbed at anyone he could reach as he yelled. In the midst of the general panic, the couple we had spotted earlier stepped forward. The air around the young man was completely different now. His happy expression had disappeared, replaced by a look befitting a seasoned warrior.
“Aaaaah!!!”
The man ran at him, but he easily dodged the knife before grabbing the man’s arm and sending him flying with little effort. He stepped on the man’s back, twisting his arm to make sure he could not get up.
“Mari! Heal the wounded!”
“Yes!”
The pretty girl, who could have easily overshadowed any popular idol, ran toward the people who had collapsed to the floor, injured. A dim light shone as she held her hand over one of them, and they stood up shortly after.