Ch.176July, and Back to School (2)

Anyway, since I could only enter regular dungeons once a day, I didn’t have many options.

After completing one round each in the Sword Dungeon, Dagger Dungeon, and Axe Dungeon, I finished my routine for the day.

“Phew……”

I let out a light sigh as I composed myself.

“It’s starting to dawn,” said Bluebeard.

“Good work today. See you tomorrow.”

Bluebeard closed the book as he spoke.

Flash-!

With that, my consciousness returned to reality.

———

Right after waking up, I was greeted by serious noise.

“Eeeeeek!!!”

Umi was screaming in terror.

“……..”

Eri and Taiga were also sitting in the corner with gloomy expressions. Why does it feel like a funeral in here?

“Really… so childish. All that whining.”

Mika sighed as she wrote something. Though she often procrastinated… when she actually wrote, she was quite diligent.

Only Tina greeted me with high energy and a smile.

“Shota. You’re awake?”

Tina smiled and gave me a morning kiss.

“Yeah, I slept well… but what’s wrong with them?”

I looked around.

Everyone except Umi, Eri, and Taiga seemed normal.

Madoka was diligently writing in her picture diary at her desk. Ah… right, summer homework. I used to always put off diary assignments until the last minute and just make up stories… those were the days. Really.

Sasitsu and Frill were… completely absorbed in their own world, cuddling together. Their blanket was fluttering with incredible energy. Well… I decided to pretend I didn’t notice.

Still, Madoka doing her homework diligently even in this chaos… how admirable.

Ping-!

At that moment, Madoka’s eyes caught me.

“Shota big brother. You just thought I was admirable, didn’t you?”

Madoka said.

“Yes. Madoka doing her homework so diligently is so cute and admirable!”

I shouted loudly.

“Admirable, right? If I’m admirable, give me points!”

Madoka immediately held out her hand.

“Give me points!”

Her cute pronunciation was a bonus.

“Our Madoka!! 100 points right away!!”

I hugged Madoka.

“Big brother… give me a special kiss too…”

Madoka mumbled shyly.

“Of course! I should!”

I immediately kissed Madoka on the cheek.

Smooch-!

“Not on the lips…”

Madoka seemed disappointed about that.

Well… kissing a child on the lips felt wrong. I felt like the police would come for me.

“So you don’t like it?”

I smiled and patted Madoka’s bottom.

“No. I like it.”

Madoka smiled brightly.

“Nngh…!!”

Madoka’s smile… it was too powerful! I almost gave her another 100 points without thinking!!

“Anyway, why are they acting like that? Tina.”

I asked Tina, the only normal person in this situation.

“Ah. School’s starting again soon.”

Tina said.

“Oh. Right.”

Less than a week remained until school started again. While most other schools had vacation until August, ours started earlier.

In exchange, we got our vacation earlier in late May, so it evened out.

“Is going back to school that bad…?”

School life was fine. You could graduate just by attending. The best part was that you could graduate even if you messed around. At a job, you’d get fired for that.

“I hate it!! Shota will be super busy! We’ll have less time with Shota!”

Umi shouted.

“Well… I am busy, but were you unhappy last semester because of that?”

I said while patting Umi’s head.

“Not really… but I still hate it.”

Umi pouted.

“At least… we’re all in the same class. It would be worse if we were in different classes.”

Eri summarized the situation.

“Ah. True.”

Taiga immediately agreed. This simplicity was Taiga’s charm.

“That’s right!!!! After school starts, we’ll have the sports festival!!! And field trips!!! Chances to make memories!!”

Umi clenched her fist as she mentioned the two big fall events.

“Hehehehe. Just thinking about it makes me happy.”

Umi’s mood improved immediately.

Being able to find happiness so easily is truly a virtue.

“But Tina, why are you so excited?”

I asked.

“Well… my transfer procedures are complete. I’m officially enrolled at Natori High School now.”

Tina said.

Wait, when? That was impressive efficiency.

“But there’s no guarantee we’ll be in the same class.”

Umi, unable to resist the urge to check Tina, jabbed at her.

“Hehehe. About that… it’s all taken care of. I’m definitely going to be in Shota’s class.”

Tina said with a proud smile.

“W-what did you do?”

Taiga looked at Tina suspiciously.

“Despite appearances, I am a princess of a nation. I have that much power.”

Tina said.

“When I told them Shota was my fiancé, they took care of everything.”

Tina casually added right after.

“What are you talking about?!”

Suddenly fiancé?!!!

“Shota, don’t you want to marry me?”

Tina looked up at me with an adorable expression.

“No, I’d love to.”

My expression softened immediately.

“Really… Shota is too fond of women.”

Eri gave a wry smile.

“If he wasn’t good in bed, he’d be totally out.”

Mika chimed in.

“Agreed. He’s worthy of maintaining a harem… he’s quite virile. Once you get physical with him, nothing else seems to matter?”

Taiga formed a strange bond of understanding with Mika.

“But Tina, you’re a princess. Would your fiancé’s family be okay with him already having so many other women?”

I asked.

“Oh, it’s fine. My father also has multiple wives. Plus, polygamy is legal in our country. Many people practice it. I don’t mind at all.”

Tina said with a refreshing smile.

“I see… I should pay my respects soon.”

I said.

I was curious about Tina’s country, the Kingdom of Neverdreaming.

“Wow!! Let’s go during winter break!”

Tina said with a smile.

“All of us together!! Like a honeymoon.”

Tina chuckled as she spoke.

Tina was secretly a good person. Despite probably wanting to go alone with me, she prioritized the coexistence of the entire harem. Indeed… she was the perfect harem member. Eri had good judgment.

Anyway, though it was far in the future, we now had a plan for winter break. An overseas trip sounds nice. Assuming Tina’s home country is a normal place.

“Have you all done your summer homework?”

I immediately asked the group.

“Gack.”

“Eck.”

“Keck.”

Umi, Eri, and Taiga made disgusted noises. What is this, some kind of dragoon roleplay?

“Everyone do your homework. No cuddling until homework is done.”

I said.

“T-that’s absurd!!”

Umi immediately rebelled.

“What about you!!! Shota!! You’ve just been playing around!! Have you finished yours?”

Taiga asked.

“I finished it on the first day.”

I said calmly.

“Really… Shota is secretly diligent.”

Eri, who resigned first, immediately took out her notebook and started her homework. Good. Quick compliance is nice.

Anyway, leaving my girlfriends to do their homework, I worked on writing a novel with Mika.

“Mika. Do you want to transfer to our school too?”

I asked Mika.

“Y-you want to go to school with me?”

Mika asked with a slightly flushed face.

“Yes. Very much. I think I’ll miss you when school starts.”

I spoke honestly.

“Hnngh!”

Mika’s face immediately turned red.

“I-I’ll see what I can do…”

Mika mumbled. Hehehe. Her weakness to being pushed is really cute.

After writing with Mika, I headed to the kendo dojo.

“My ranking is… around 200th.”

That was the ranking of the work I was currently writing. It was enough to make a living, but my dependents were increasing rapidly. I needed to improve.

The novel Mika was currently writing had been ranked 1st for three weeks straight. Honestly, we were in different leagues.

‘Both my swordsmanship and writing… still not good enough.’

I need to work harder. That was my resolution.

———

Right after entering the dojo, someone called out to me.

“Arigiri Shota! Long time no see!”

“Aaaah!! Cyber Psycho Kana!!!!”

It really has been a long time!!

I thought she died from overusing implants… I can’t believe she’s alive!!!

“Who are you calling Cyber Psycho!!! I’m Saito Kana!”

Kana immediately shouted.

“But what brings you here? Ah!! You came to play tag!!”

I immediately made a plausible guess.

“Hehehe. Miss Saito. Let’s play tag together.”

“This game is seriously addictive.”

The dojo students were already preparing rubber toy swords. Honestly, half the people come to the dojo to play tag. Everyone was already grinning from ear to ear.

“No I didn’t!! I came to personally greet you!!”

Saito Kana said.

“Oh. Then you’ve greeted me, so your business is done? Bye! Goodbye!!”

I waved my hand.

“Don’t make fun of me!!”

Kana shouted loudly. She’s got quite a temper. That’s what makes her cute.

“I moved to this rural town. And I’ve completed transfer procedures to Natori High School where you attend. I arranged to be in the same class so I can keep an eye on you.”

Kana said.

“Keep an eye on me……”

Why choose those words specifically?

“If you neglect your swordsmanship because you’re distracted by women, I’ll lose my rival!! I’ll monitor you Spartan-style!”

Kana shouted.

“Okay. I see.”

However, I knew how to deal with Kana. Just let it go in one ear and out the other.

“So… give me your phone.”

Kana said.

“Phone?”

“Your number! Your number!!! I need your contact information at least!”

Kana shouted.

“Why are you so angry? I’m scared.”

I said with aegyo.

“That’s cu—No! That’s not it!! Stop joking around!”

Kana immediately snatched my phone.

Tap tap tap-!

Kana quickly entered her phone number.

“Come running when I call you.”

Kana said before heading to her spot.

“Huh? Wasn’t your business finished?”

I asked Kana.

“Oh. I didn’t mention it. I’ll be training at this dojo for a while.”

Kana said nonchalantly.

“No way!! You’re my rival!!! You’re trying to steal the Kiryu family’s secret techniques!! You plankton!”

I immediately became wary.

“Hmph!!! I wouldn’t steal them even if you taught me?!! The Saito family’s swordsmanship is much better!”

Kana got angry.

While Kana and I were arguing:

“Oh. Arigiri Shota. Nice to see you. I’ll also be training here for a while.”

A muscular bald man opened the dojo door and entered.

“Thumbs-up Man!!!!!”

I immediately ran toward Thumbs-up Man.

“Man hug!!!”

“Yeah!! Come here!!! Arigiri Shota!!!”

Wham-!!!

Thumbs-up Man and I immediately shared a warm embrace. I might not like Kana, but Thumbs-up Man is the real deal!!!

“Why are you nice to Thumbs-up Man but not to me!!!!”

Kana shouted, feeling wronged.

And so, new members joined the dojo.