The shuffling of feet. Sounds of conversation. Stares filled with malice. All of those were nothing against me who was currently waiting in the corner of the adventurer’s guild.

It was the day after receiving our reward for the subjugation request, Shiromi had bid me off with an expression of annoyance on her face as I headed out.

“Hah……at this rate, she’ll end up with the title of brocon, won’t she?”

Maybe I should talk to her again about our roles we had agreed on.

Now, as for the reason I was occupying my time by waiting in the guild……

“Sorry it took so long! Did I make you wait?”

Approaching me was a girl with braided brown hair going over the right side of her shoulders, brown eyes showing an apologizing expression and having a pink pouch bag slung over her other shoulder, a magic bag.

Yes, I was here waiting for this girl who is only one year younger than me, Selina, to report to the adventurer’s guild that she would be taking a day-off for today. As she was a full-time receptionist here, along with the prior notice the day before, she also needed to confirm it with the guild master on the said day.

“I didn’t really mind. So I guess they gave you the okay?”

Looking at me, she nodded with a gentle smile on her face.

Crap! So cute! I need to protect her from myself at this rate!!!

Warning myself in my head as I was still a teenager in his growing years,

“But you know, you didn’t really have to repay me by showing me around town.”

“Kinji! Don’t you even know how valuable a magic bag is in this day and age?!”

“Errrr……”

Honestly speaking, I didn’t.

The magic bag that I gave to Selina, which is also the one she’s currently wearing on her person, was just something I found while sorting through the treasures I found in Kuroga’s cave before. At first, I thought it was a normal everyday bag but he corrected me and proceeded to show me 3 other items of the same function.

Against her pouting face, I could only put up a wry smile.

“Should we head off now?”

“Huh? Shiromi isn’t with you?”

“Well, she said she had some things she wanted to do for today. I’ll be sure to soak in everything you show me so she’ll be able to experience it too.”

“So it will just be the two of us huh.”

While I was spouting out an excuse for Shiromi’s absence, she mutters something I couldn’t quite make out.

“Did you say something?”

“Nope! Now, let’s go while the sun is still shining brightly in the sky!”

She said that cheerfully but the 2nd bell still had yet to ring though.

Following Selina out of the guild, she begins leading me to the center of town.

===

“……and this is Kinallen’s library.”

Referring to the large building flanked by two restaurants, I raised a question.

“Selina, the 3rd bell just rang. Are you sure you’re okay? You haven’t eaten anything yet, right?”

In response to my worrying,

“It’s fine. I’m the one who---”

Graaauuuu……

Then, a cute growl interrupted our conversation.

I was waiting to see when this would happen! The usual cute sound from a hungry cute girl’s stomach!

“I-I’m the one who suggested we should go around town before eating after all.”

With a bright red face, Selina continued her words pretending the growl never occurred.

In consideration for her, I was about to follow suit but her stomach had other plans.

Graaaauuuu……

Once more, a cute growl cut into our conversation.

Although I wanted to burn the image of a blushing Selina directly into my brain, continuing this anymore might ruin the atmosphere we had built up.

Scanning the surrounding restaurants, I found one that looked like it had delicious meals at just the right prices posted outside its door.

“Selina, how about that one?”

Following the direction of my finger, she looks at the choices posted outside.

“Um……Kinji---”

“Don’t worry! I’m pretty hungry myself!”

Without giving her a chance to refuse, I gently grab her hand and bring her inside the restaurant.

“Welcome! Oh my, what a cute couple! Table for two, I presume.”

“Yes, for two please. And no, we’re not a couple.”

Smiling at the woman, Selina quickly finished speaking with her.

The woman brought us to a table by the window, giving us a peaceful view of the outside street bustling with the town’s people.

“Kinji. Are you alright?”

“Eh? Ah, y-yeah. I’m alright.”

It’s true that we’re not a couple, but she should have hesitated for a bit, right? I mean, it’s how those girls in the ero---otome games I played acted whenever someone mistook them as a couple. Let’s see, wait, did I even complete the required flags?

Bumping into a cute girl, check. Giving her a gift that would also be useful and make her think of me, check. Miraculously meeting each other again after the initial meeting, check. Becoming friendly with each other in a short time and being considered as a couple by those around us, check.

Huh? Isn’t it weird? The next thing should be her hesitating for a bit when we’re called a couple on our date.

Wait, is this even a date? Is it?!

Aghhhh!!! Where did all the experience I gained from being shut-in go to?! Do shut-ins even have experiences?!?!?!

While I was wracking my brain looking for any sign that could fix this event, Selina was looking through each and every item on the menu.

After a few minutes, a waitress came to our table and asked for our orders.

“I’ll be having the seasoned grilled beef and ciacho juice please.”

“Very well. How about you sir?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, I’ll have the caramelized steak, salmon sandwich and ciacho juice as well.”

The waitress leaves after confirming ours orders and disappears behind the ‘employees only’ area.

A variety of food in this world share their names with those from my world, most likely due to the influence of other summoned people from a thousand years past.

Though I’m not so sure on that since there are also others that share similarities from my world but have different names.

An example would be the ‘ciacho juice’ we ordered. To accurately describe it, it was a mango. Although it had a different shape and texture, its taste was exactly the same as that of a mango’s only being a bit sweeter.

Faster than expected, our orders arrived.

They probably have someone who had a unique related to cooking. Either that or these were prepared beforehand then preserved.

I take the fork placed on the table and slice a portion of the steak before bringing it to my mouth.

Delicious!

As I bite into it, the juice of the meat makes its way inside along with the rich taste of the beef.

It looks like Selina’s also enjoying her order as she’s eating slowly with a smile on her face.

While I was enjoying the view, she looks up at me and tilts her head, wondering if there was anything wrong.

Shaking my head to tell her nothing was wrong and she continues to eat.

Next, I bring up the sandwich which salmon, lettuce and tomato stuffed between the two breads and take a bite.

As expected, it tastes just like the salmon sandwiches from my world. Even though it isn’t all that delicious or amazing, the nostalgic taste alone makes it even more enjoyable.

By the time we had finished eating, the sun was already lowering from its peak.

“Your bill is 2 golds and 8 silvers.”

Taking out 3 gold coins while telling Selina that I would pay for it all, I give them to the waitress.

“Please keep the change.”

“Th-thank you very much!”

Bowing her head, she tells us to come again.

Having had our fill, I was about to ask Selina where we were headed next but then,

“Kinji!”

“Y-yes?”

Huh? Did I do something to make her mad?

Her face was looking at me as if I did something wrong.

“Considering your origins and situation, I know I should overlook some things but do you know how money works here?”

That’s right. Selina was the receptionist who helped us register in the adventurer’s guild. Because of that, she knew about my being Helgas’ hero and Shiromi not being my real sister. Of course, she still hasn’t met Kuroga but I have told her about him.

And answering her question,

“Yes. I know how money works.”

Like most fantasy worlds set in a medieval-like world, the way money worked here was quite simple.

Money was given out in the form of coins. There were three kinds: copper, silver and gold. 50 coppers were equal to 1 silver and 10 silvers were equal to 1 gold.

However, even after replying with confidence, she still had a displeased look.

“Ha……listen here Kinji, don’t you know just how hard it is to earn money here? I know that you’re an A ranked adventurer but you should still learn how to restrain yourself from spending too much. Just how much did you earn this week?”

This week?

“If I remember correctly, around 2 golds?”

“See? And you just spent 3 golds earlier since you didn’t ask for the change. Normal people usually don’t do that, you know? Honestly, I’m surprised you three have been surviving with your current lifestyle and---”

She’s gone into full-on teacher mode, hasn’t she? Now that I think about it, it’s been a full week since we arrived here.

During the one week we stayed here, I realized I knew nothing about this world’s seasons or if they had any method of keeping track on the time of the year.

Although the deceased adventurer’s letter mentioned something about the day and month it was written, that was it.

When I asked Kuroga about it, he told me that this world only had 8 months making up a year. Each month had 45 days and one week contained 9 days. Meaning that in terms of my world, there were 6 weekdays and 3 weekends. Names were not given to each day and so, they were only referred to by their number.

However, names were given to each month. They all followed a theme which corresponded to the season they belonged to. Since 2 months belonged to one theme, each theme had a pair which fell under it.

Right now, it was the 35th day, month of Husun. It was the 2nd month which belonged to the season of spring. The following month will be the month of Muspre, which belonged to the season of summer.

While gazing at Selina who was still lecturing me on how to reduce my expenses and questioning our lifestyle being comprised of three people completely oblivious to the common sense of this world, I realize that it has been one whole week since she last visited the temple’s orphanage.

Hmmm……

“Selina.”

“---furthermore……oh, sorry! I just rambled on again!”

“It’s okay. Say, do you want to pass by the temple?”

“Eh? But, we still have a lot of places to go to and you already know where the temple is.”

Her gaze goes down when she mentions the temple.

I see. She must miss the children there.

Remembering what the temple nun said about Selina having little friends and always passing by to play with the children or teach them about many things,

“Come on, I’m sure you also want to pass by, right?”

Giving her a reassuring smile, she hesitated for a bit before nodding her head.

“Although it would be rude for me to go somewhere for my own selfish desire after offering to guide you around……”

“It’s alright. This won’t be the last time we’ll go around town, right? Besides, as long as I’m able to spend some time with you, I’ll be happy!”

Before I noticed it, I had went along with the flow of the conversation and said something really embarrassing.

Selina also had a surprised expression and her face was becoming bright red.

Wait, does this mean I really did raise the right flags?! Who knew playing so much otome games would benefit me?! Going by the flow, the next thing I should say is……

“And also Selina, I---”

“I……I appreciate your words Kinji. But……”

Cutting me off midsentence, Selina spoke up.

She then lowered her head and slowly pointed to her side.

“Maybe you should think of the time and place of where you’re saying such words……”

Taking a look at our surroundings, the passing people were standing still and glaring at us.

Due to me witnessing them glaring at us, they all hurriedly walked off while pretending they did nothing.

From the nearest people, I could hear their mutterings such as “Kids flirting these days.”, “Get a room you two!” and “That boy! Getting ahead of me like that!”

Hey! You’re too old for Selina, you damned geezer!

“B-but……well, thank you! For today!”

Still with her head lowered, she thanked me in a low voice.

“S-sure! No problem, I mean I should be the one thanking you! I know, let’s go! The children must be waiting for you!”

“!!!”

Due to panicking, I didn’t notice that I had grabbed her hand while walking ahead.

Of course, I would find out later on but because she didn’t give any sort of resistance against it, my heart only beat faster after realizing that fact.

===

Kinji’s hand……

Even though I was the one who offered to guide him around town, it ended with us going to the orphanage and spending the rest of the day playing with the children. Though half my mind was preoccupied with how we had held hands while headed to the temple.

As the sun began to set, we were bid farewell by the orphanage’s children and Vivi, the caretaker here.

“Bye bye Selina-onee-san!”

“Goodbye onii-san!”

“Take care!!!”

“Keep Selina safe for us, okay?”

I felt my face heating up from that last farewell.

Geez, Vivi, what are you saying?!

Kinji was waving back with a troubled smile.

“It’s been a while since the 5th bell rang. We should be heading home now, I guess.”

“Hmn? Yeah, I guess so.”

Normally, we would be headed home just before the 6th would ring but because today was technically a day-off, we could head home earlier than usual.

The roads were silent as the number of people had decreased since earlier today.

With the setting sun painting our surroundings a deep orange, the sight of me and Kinji walking side by side would most likely catch anyone’s eye.

Recalling everything that’s happened today, I stopped walking as a single tear crawled down my face.

It’s so unfair. Too unfair for me to be with Kinji.

“I mean……Kinji’s someone who’s too good for me, after all……”

“Really? For me, I think it’s Selina who’s too good for someone like me.”

Not realizing my thoughts had left my mouth as words, Kinji replied to me with a smiling face.

“E-eh?! No way! I mean, you’re a he---someone amazing! And I’m just an orphan who doesn’t even have a last name! For Kinji, someone……someone like Helgas’ ‘Peerless Princess’ is more fitting for you!”

That’s right. I don’t know about Kinji’s original world, but even in Helgas, only nobles or those belonging to prestigious families have last names in order to distinguish themselves from everyone else.

“Umm……that’s pretty troubling for me, you see.”

“Huh?”

Scratching his head, then he lowers his hand and pats my head.

Feeling my face turn a bright shade of red,

“Eh? EH?! K-K-K-Kinji, w-what are you---”

“Selina. As you know, I came from another world, right? And in that world, though there are special cases, anyone is free to love and be together with whomever they like.”

“……”

“And just like you said, I’m someone who doesn’t understand this world’s common sense. Because of that, I’d also like to be together with you as long as possible. Well, along with Shiromi and Kuroga, since I don’t think they’d be able to survive as Humans without me.”

“……”

“Errr……Selina, you okay?”

“Love……”

“Eh?”

“You said love……so that means you love me……am I wrong?”

While I was in shock from Kinji’s words, only a few words were understood by me. Among those words, the one that was explicitly made clear to me made my consciousness return.

Huh? This is weird. It feels like......something's disappeared......

Several seconds pass without any of us speaking. Then,

“You---you’ll take responsibility, right?”

“Wha?!”

“I mean, even though heroes are supposed to have harems and the like, you purposely chose me. While you’re intentionally ignoring Shiromi’s advances, you still go after me with your intentions clearly being shown.”

“Clearly……shown……”

Before I noticed, tears were streaming down my face.

Wiping them off, I raised my arm and looked at him with a smile.

“And so, Kinji Shirokawa, if you want me to be yours and yours alone……please become someone successful in life. If we’re to lead a fulfilling life, I expect you to be able to support not just us two, but also our future family. Also, don’t forget about Shiromi and Kuroga!”

“……”

“Oh, wait! Maybe I should reintroduce myself to Shiromi? But maybe it might be too soon?”

“……”

“Kinji?”

“Selina.”

“Yes?”

Without a word, Kinji motioned for me to look around us.

Eh?

On the road we were walking on, which shouldn’t have anyone else aside from us, suddenly a huge crowd had formed.

Taking a closer look, most of the people watching were familiar faces from the adventurer’s guild and the marketplace.

Wait, does that mean I said all those embarrassing things in front of everyone?!

While he was grinning at me,

“Maybe we should continue this next time, when there’s no one watching us.”

Towards him, I shyly nodded while hiding my face.

===

Having woken up the next day, I started preparing breakfast.

“Hmm…..hmmm….hmmhmhm……hmmm…….”

“Kinji-nii, you’re pretty cheerful, aren’t you?”

Reacting to my unintentional humming, Shiromi directed a question at me.

“Eh? Ah, yeah. You could say that.”

Though I tried to shrug it off calmly, a grin had appeared on my face who knows when and gave my inner thoughts away.

“Kinji-nii, I really don’t understand what you see in that woman! I mean, you have me, right?!”

Taken aback by her words, I stop myself from doing a spit-take.

When I was about to explain to Shiromi about what was it she said that was wrong, Kuroga appeared and cut into our conversation.

“Mistress, may I remind you that in our current situation, both you and master are siblings. As I recall, relationships between siblings are not allowed here.”

I nodded my head, agreeing with his words.

Wait, here?

“Then doesn’t that just mean we need to leave this country?!”

“It is exactly as you say mistress. According to what the woman downstairs told me, Farbrent is stra---lax about its laws regarding marriage and such.”

“Guh! Farbrent, you say?”

Oh right, Shiromi originally came from Farbrent, the country of the Dragons. Though I have no idea how she ended up in that mountain.

“Well, we currently don’t have any plans of going there so that puts a stop to your plans.”

“As you wish, master.”

“Wait, Kinji-nii, where are you going?”

“Hmn?”

Having finished preparing breakfast thanks to [Parameter Control], I started putting on my adventuring clothes before Shiromi stopped me.

“Oh, well, I was planning on going to the adventurer’s guild.”

“To see that woman, most likely.”

“Say Shiromi, be honest. Why don’t you like Selina?”

This question had been occupying a part of my mind ever since we registered as adventurers.

Though jealousy is a likely reason, but Shiromi’s reactions imply that it’s more than just simple jealousy.

“I---I don’t know!”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know, okay! It’s just that, I have a bad feeling about her! Like when we fought before, my unique always acts up around her!”

Her unique? She must be talking about [Foresight]. But for it to react around Selina, is she using a unique towards us?

It doesn’t look like she’s using a kinetic one since there’s no preliminary action or gesture. Then a potential unique?

Well, no use thinking about it now. But for the one I love to betray me in the end, won’t that make a great plot twist?

“Let’s think about it later! I’ll be off then!”

“Wait, why’re you going out on a day-off?!”

Closing the door as Shiromi shouted, I left the inn in a positive mood.

===

“Hey Selina.”

“Yes Ria?”

The adventurer’s guild was filled with energetic adventurers once again.

As groups of them finished their business with the many receptionists behind their counters, one counter was noticeably going through its inquirers twice as fast.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help but notice……aren’t you in a bit of a hurry?”

“Hmn? But of course! Kinji’s on his way here, after all! I need to make sure I’m ready to receive him as soon as he arrives here.”

After having recovered from yesterday’s incident, Selina replied to Ria’s question with confidence.

“No, no, wait. There’s no way he’s coming today. Didn’t he say that he would be taking a few days off?”

“Please don’t doubt me Ria.”

“Then please give me a reason to not doubt you, Selina. And also, haven’t you been a bit strange recently.”

“Ufufufu……”

While ignoring the adventurers whose bodies were exuding a dangerous killing intent towards the person who still wasn’t there, Selina let out a mischievous laugh.

Yes, after the previous day’s incident, something had changed within Selina. And along with that change,

“Let’s just say……it’s intuition, is all~!”

Playing it off with smile, Ria sighed in surrender.

During that exchange, no one in the adventurer’s guild could have anticipated that not one, but two unexpected guests would be arriving that day.

=====

Good day everyone!

I deeply apologize for being inactive for over a month!

As various circumstances occurred, I found myself having less time to focus on this story.

Though I cannot assure a constant schedule for updates, I will try my best to update at least once a week or two weeks.

Once again, good day and thank you for reading this far!

PS: Lately, I've been thinking if I should change this story's title.

Honestly speaking, the current story's already strayed away from my initial concept so I don't think the title is showing what it's really about.

Though if all of you are okay with it as it is now, I will leave it as is.