シェリルがビルのフロアで荒野向けのコートを脱いで連れのエリオに渡す。コートを脱いだシェリルの姿を見た周囲の者が軽い関心を示した。シェリルが着ている服は旧世界の衣服を150万オーラム支払って仕立て直した一張羅だった。
防壁の内側の住人と誤解されても不思議のない軽い気品すら感じさせる服を身に
エリオは緊張を隠しきれない様子だ。ハンターオフィスの雰囲気に飲まれて畏縮し、落ち着きなく周囲を見渡し、冷や汗をかいていた。
シェリルがエリオを落ち着かせるように話す。
「エリオ。ゆっくり深呼吸でもして落ち着きなさい。別に危険な場所ではないわ。スラム街の裏路地より
(......まあ、シェリルはアキラと取引をして徒党のボスの座に就いてるんだ。その辺の度胸は並外れてるんだろうな。やっぱりそこらのやつらとは違うってことか。......普通のやつは自分の徒党が襲ったハンターへ自分から交渉に行ったりはしないか)
かつては自分と同じスラム街の有象無象だった少女を、今ではもう住む世界が違うような格好をしている美少女を、エリオは何とも言えない気持ちを覚えながら見ていた。
「不審者丸出しだと警備に間違いなく呼び止められるわ。できるだけ普通にして」
「分かってる。分かってるけどさ......」
「落ち着くまで深呼吸でもしていなさい」
ダリスが苦笑しながら話す。
「俺はそろそろ外れても良いか? お前らも大変だろうが、俺もちょっと忙しくてな」
シェリルが答える。
「はい。ここまで送っていただいてありがとう御座いました」
「じゃあ、また後でな。俺はこのビル内にいる。何かあれば連絡してくれ。万一連絡が付かない場合はカツラギに連絡しろ。帰る時間になったら合流だ」
「褒め言葉として受け取らせていただきます。アキラから贈っていただいた服のおかげですので」
ダリスは苦笑したまま軽く手を振って去っていった。カツラギに頼まれてシェリル達をここまで送ったが、面倒な事務手続きまで付き合う気はない。上階の店で暇を潰すつもりなのだ。
偽お嬢様御一行から強そうな護衛が離れていく。弱そうな護衛はまだ緊張気味なままだ。周囲の者の視線も既にシェリル達から外れている。ここは防壁の内外の住人がいる場所だ。そしてハンターオフィスは企業の要職に就く者なども訪れる場所であり、シェリル一行が本物のお嬢様であったとしても、別に珍しい存在ではないのだ。
「落ち着くまでここで少し何か話でもする? 余りに落ち着かない様子だと、私の護衛だと判断されないかもしれない。私の護衛は無理でも、護衛役ぐらいはしてもらわないと困るわ。そのために連れてきたのよ?」
エリオはシェリルの護衛役だ。ぱっと見では性能の良さそうな防護服を着用して、強化服無しでも装備できる重量の銃を装備している。シェリルがカツラギと取引をして手に入れたものだ。周囲の者がエリオを見れば、最近よく見掛けるという装備だけは良い若手ハンターだと判断するだろう。
ただしエリオの装備は本当に見た目だけの代物だ。防護服は無駄に重く、防御性能も低い。銃は照準が狂っている上に暴発の恐れがあり、危ないから使用するなとカツラギから念を押されている。この装備で荒野に出かけるのは自殺手前の暴挙である。
エリオにもシェリルを守れるだけの戦闘技術などない。それでもシェリル1人で出歩くよりは
「そういえば、アキラさんの用事ってなんなんだ? アキラさんがいれば俺は要らなかったよな?」
シェリルが平静を装って答える。
「いや、俺だってそれぐらいは分かる。ほら、ボスの頼みを断るほどの用事って何だったのかなって」
「......別に私も必死になって頼んだわけではないわ。それに私が都市の下位区画の中を少し遠出するたびに、一々アキラに護衛を頼むわけにもいかないでしょう? 今日はカツラギさんの伝でダリスさんに護衛を頼めたけれど、いずれはエリオとか徒党の人員に護衛を任せるつもりよ。エリオも慣れておきなさい」
「うーん。でもなあ......。ハンター稼業って言ったって......」
エリオが考える。ハンターがハンター稼業に
その直後、シェリルが急に笑顔を消して、静かな声でエリオに尋ねる。
「エリオ。もしかして、私とアキラの仲を疑っているの?」
エリオが慌てて否定する。
わざわざ言い換える必要性が有るのか、恐らく本人もよく分かっていない内容の弁明を、エリオは必死になって話した。
シェリルにも分かっている。シェリル達の徒党はアキラの後ろ盾がなければ成り立たない。だからエリオはシェリルとアキラの仲が悪化した可能性を感じて不安に思い、過剰に反応しただけだ。
理解して、納得している。だがその理解と納得ではシェリルの機嫌の悪化を十分に抑えることはできなかった。
自分の付き添いをアキラに頼んだ時、シェリルはアキラの機嫌を損ねない程度に強めに頼んではみたのだ。しかしつれなく断られてしまった。アキラはシェリル側の都合で自分の予定を変更することを嫌がり、悩みもせずに断ったのだ。
「それなら良いの。......要らぬ誤解を招く態度は不幸の元よ?」
「あ、ああ。誤解が解けて良かったよ。気を付ける」
シェリルの事務手続きの前半部が終わった。後はハンターオフィス側の処理が終わってからだ。シェリル達は残りの手続きの時間まで、1階の広間に設置されている椅子に座って待っていた。
シェリルは今後の計画を思案して暇を潰している。アキラから頼まれた遺物の売却を成功させるための計画だ。今回の手続きもその一環だ。情報端末を操作して様々な案を記述し、精査し、添削し、推敲し続けている。
この計画が成功すれば、自分はアキラにとって、捨てるには惜しい役に立つ道具ぐらいにはなるだろう。それはアキラとの仲を深める機会と時間を増やすだろう。シェリルはそう考えてこの計画に全力を尽くしていた。
みは、シェリル本人の素質と訓練の成果を十分に発揮していた。
カツヤがシェリルの前に立って
「......えっと、そっちのやつは?」
カツヤに見られたエリオが少し焦る。気のせいかもしれないが、自分を見るカツヤの視線を好意的なものとは感じられなかったからだ。
「ああ、俺はカツヤだ。ドランカムに所属しているハンターだ。ハンターランクは36だ」
「ユミナと言います。カツヤと同じ、ドランカムに所属しているハンターです」
「アイリ。同じく」
エリオが更に焦る。目の前にいるのは見た目だけの装備を整えた自分のような
カツヤ達がエリオの態度に少し腹を立てる。取るに足らない者と判断した相手への返事とでも聞こえたのかもしれない。
「申し訳御座いません。彼は私の護衛です。護衛の妨げになりかねないとして、職務中は他者と不用意に話さないように指示されているのです。彼の非礼は私が代わりに謝罪いたします」
シェリルがカツヤ達に頭を下げた。カツヤが少し慌てて答える。
「い、いや、そういう事情なら仕方ないよな?」
カツヤが同意を求めるようにユミナとアイリを見る。
「そういう事情なら仕方ないわ。こちらこそ御免なさい」
「仕事は大事。仕方ない」
ユミナとアイリも誠実に頭を下げるシェリルの姿を見て機嫌を直した。
「ありがとう御座います。......彼のことは、こういう表現は良くないかもしれませんが、余り触れずにお願いいたします。職務に慣れておらず、余裕がなく緊張気味なのです」
「良いんだ。気にしないでくれ」
(シェリルもこう言っているし、シェリルの知人に変な態度を取ったらシェリルに嫌われるし、気を付けないとな。よし)
シェリルの知人に悪印象を持たれると、シェリルからの印象も悪くなるかもしれない。逆もまた
するのと同時に少し怖くなった。
(......多分、シェリルはこいつらを
思い返せばシェリルはヒガラカ住宅街遺跡の時も、そこで会ったハンター達に似たようなことをしていた。あの時のエリオには荒野にいる緊張の所為でいろいろ考える余裕などなかった。しかし改めて考えてみると、あの時のシェリルも今と同じようにいろいろ取り繕っていた。
エリオはシェリルとは結構長い付き合いだ。まだシベアが徒党を率いていた時からの付き合いである。そのためエリオはシェリルに関しては結構いろいろ知っている方だと思っていた。
だが今はそれも怪しい。最近のシェリルは昔とは何かが明確に違う。エリオはそれに気付いていた。
エリオが徒党から追い出された頃のシェリルは、一応後でエリオを徒党に戻す手段を考えていた。エリオはそのことをアリシアから聞いて知っていた。それは長い付き合いがある相手へのシェリルの情けかもしれない。
しかし今のシェリルが何らかの理由でエリオを徒党から追い出せば、恐らくもうそれっきりだ。アリシアが嘆願してもエリオをもう一度徒党に加えたりはしないだろう。アキラに頼まれでもしなければ。エリオはそう考えていた。
な手続きを済ませに来ました。今は残りの手続きの時間まで暇を潰していたところです」
「シェリルは今、暇なのか......。それなら時間まで俺達に付き合わないか?」
「カツヤさん。余り深く考えずに私を誘ったことは分かります。ですが、女性をお連れになっている時に、別の女性に声を掛けるのはどうかと思いますよ? 私にではなく、お連れの方に対してです」
シェリルがユミナとアイリの方を見る。カツヤも釣られて彼女達を見る。ユミナは諦めたような達観とも思える
め息を吐いていた。アイリも微妙な表情を浮かべていた。
ユミナが苦笑しながらシェリルに話す。
「気にしないで。カツヤはこういうやつなのよ。いつものことだわ」
「......人間は慣れる生き物」
を吐いていない。そして一応悪いとも思っている。ユミナはカツヤとの長い付き合いの経験からそれを読み取った。
ユミナは少し迷ったが、カツヤの提案に乗ることにした。今日ユミナ達がカツヤを連れ出したのはカツヤを元気づける為だ。だからユミナはある程度我慢するつもりだ。
(......まあ良いか。同僚以外の人と話せば、カツヤの気も紛れるかもしれないしね)
ユミナがシェリルの様子を
「良いのよ。誘ったのはこっちだしね」
シェリルが思案する。誘いを断るのは簡単だ。エリオという不安要素も抱えている。シェリルの素性を怪しまれないためにも、この場の接触は控えるべきかもしれない。
しかし断れば貴重な情報を得る機会を捨てることになる。カツヤ達から有益な情報を得ることができれば、今後の遺物売却計画の成功率を上げることができるかもしれない。
そして前回手に入れた情報をアキラは喜んでくれたのだ。シェリルはそれで結論を出した。
いている席を見つけてそこに座る。エリオだけは席に着かずに、シェリルの側に控えて黙って立っている。
昼食の時間が近いこともあり、カツヤ達はいろいろ料理を注文した。ただしシェリルはコーヒーだけで注文を済ませた。
シェリルの護衛であるエリオは別にして、1人だけ食事を頼んでいないシェリルを見て、カツヤが軽い気持ちで尋ねる。
「シェリルは何か頼まなくても良いのか? 本当にコーヒーだけ?」
「はい。お気になさらずに」
シェリルの服は明らかに高級品だ。旧世界製の衣服を彼女専用に仕立て直した服は、そこらの既製品とは格の違う雰囲気を漂わせていた。
買えば幾らになるのか。カツヤには想像もできない。その服を着て生活する人間の生活水準を想像して、シェリルには不釣合いな程度の低い店に誘ってしまったかと、カツヤは少し不安になった。
「いえ、そのようなことは。......その、私の注文に関しては、料理の内容が不服などということではなく、......その、私の体型の改善を優先させた結果でして......」
シェリルの発言内容の意図を読み取れず、カツヤが不思議そうに首を
カツヤはユミナとアイリの非難の視線を浴びて少し遅れて事態を把握した。少し慌てながら釈明のようなものを口にする。
「いや、俺には太っているようには見えないし、多少ふくよかな方が健康にも良いとおも......」
ユミナとアイリのより強い口調での叱責がカツヤに飛んだ。カツヤは情勢の悪化を察知して更なる情勢の悪化を防ぐべく口を閉ざした。
ユミナが苦笑いを浮かべながらシェリルに謝る。
「ごめんね。今更かもしれないけど、カツヤはこういうやつなの。言い訳だけど、これでも悪気があるわけじゃないのよ。ただちょっと一言多いというか......、いえ、やっぱり駄目ね。もう前回の反省の効果が落ち始めてるのかしら?」
「悪かった。......シェリルもごめんな」
「気にしないでください。誤解を招くような私の態度にも責任は有ります。
の機会です。お互い気にせずに楽しく話しましょう」
1500オーラムも払ったのだ。元を取るとでも言わんばかりに非常に甘いコーヒーを味わっていた。
カツヤとユミナは、コーヒーに大量の砂糖を入れるシェリルを見て、そしてそれを口に含み機嫌を良くするシェリルを見て、驚くとともに納得した。今の飲み方がシェリルの普通ならば、確かに体型改善の
シェリルが自分をじっと見ているカツヤとユミナに気付く。
「あー、その、甘くないの?」
シェリルは不思議そうにしながら視線をユミナからカツヤの方に移す。カツヤが少し慌てながら話す。
「えっと、シェリルは甘いものが好きなのか?」
「はい。大好きです」
シェリルの味覚等の話題に触れないようにしながら話題を別なものに変えていく。自分の表情が引きつっていないことを願いながら、カツヤは無心で話し続けていた。ユミナとアイリもカツヤを止める気はない。
見なかったことにしよう。自分達の舌まで移ってきそうな甘さを忘れるために、カツヤ達はシェリルの持つカップから視線を
Sheryl took off her wasteland coat and handed it over to Erio. When she did that, everyone around her was amazed by her appearance. She was clad in a high-class old-world dress that was refitted just for her, which had cost 1,500,000 Aurum.
With Sheryl's dress even giving a sense of dignity, it would be expected for the people who saw her to mistake her as someone from the inner wall. It was extremely difficult to see through that disguise and notice that she was from the slum city. Sheryl moved so naturally as if the mood around her did not affect her at all. With that amazing dress boosting her already attractive body, Sheryl looked like a rich lady. The armed young boy and the armed man next to her only served to deepen that misunderstanding since they looked like Sheryl's bodyguards, those two were Erio and Darris.
Erio could not completely hide his nervousness, the nuance of the Hunter Office's main branch overwhelmed him as he looked around nervously while breaking into a cold sweat.
Sheryl then said to Erio to calm him down.
"Erio, take a deep breath and try to calm down. It's not like this place is dangerous. As a matter of fact, this place is way safer than the back alley of the slum city. So there's no need to be afraid."
[...Well, Sheryl became the boss of the gang after she negotiated with that Akira, that in itself is amazingly brave. It reminds me again that she's unlike those common slum children... But now that I think about it, those common slum children won't even think of striking a deal with the Hunter who destroyed their own gang, huh...]
The girl who was once just a common slum city girl in the past had become a beautiful girl clad in a beautiful dress as if they were living in completely different worlds. Seeing that girl in front of her, Erio somehow felt a bit complicated.
"If you stay like that, there's no mistaking that someone would call the guard to kick you out. So try to act casual."
"I know... I know, but...."
"Take some deep breaths until you can calm down."
Darris smiled bitterly and said.
"Can I go now? I know you guys are having a hard time here, but I'm busy, you know."
Sheryl replied.
"Sure. Thank you very much for taking us here."
"Alright, later then. I'll still be somewhere inside the building. If anything happens, you guys can just call me, and if you can't reach me, just call Katsuragi. We'll meet up again when it's time to head back."
"I'll take that as a compliment. It's a dress that I received as a present from Akira after all."
Darris smiled bitterly and waved his hand at Sheryl before leaving. Although he took her there due to Katsuragi's order, he had no plans to accompany her doing the troublesome administration work. So, he was planning to pass time in the shops upstairs.
A strong looking bodyguard had left that knock-off rich lady's envoy. While the weak-looking bodyguard still looked quite nervous. Everyone's attention in that area focused on Sheryl and Erio. The main branch of the Hunter Office was often visited by people from both outside and inside the wall. Sometimes, there were even people from companies too. As such, even if Sheryl was indeed a rich lady, it was not a rare sight at all.
"Do you want to talk about something for a little while until you can calm down? If you are this nervous, people won't believe that you're my bodyguard. And if that's impossible for you, I still need you to do your job properly to protect me. That's exactly why I brought you here with me, you know?"
Erio was there to protect Sheryl. At a glance, he seemed to be using a pretty good armour and he was carrying a powerful gun which could be used even without an augmented suit. Sheryl got that equipment by making a deal with Katsuragi. So, looking at Erio, most of the Hunters in that area would think that he was a pretty well equipped young Hunter.
But it was all just a disguise, his armour was needlessly heavy with almost no worth as protection, the aim on his gun was defective and his gun was broken that it might explode when used, Katsuragi even warned them not to try using it since that would be extremely dangerous. Going out to the wasteland with that equipment was simply suicidal.
Erio himself had no skills to protect Sheryl in the first place, but it was still safer than coming alone. Although it was only for putting up an appearance, it was still way better than having nothing. And of course, inside that Hunter Office building, there was no one foolish enough to think of testing Erio's skill. After all, causing trouble inside that building was the same as picking a fight against the Hunter Office.
"By the way, I wonder what Akira-san is busy with. If he would accompany you, you won't even need me here."
Sheryl calmly replied back.
"Well, I already know that much. But like, I wonder if it's that important to even turn down your request."
"...It's not like I pleaded with him to accompany me. Moreover, I can't just keep asking him to come with me every time I want to go to the lower district, right? Although I asked Katsuragi-san to have Darris-san accompany us this time, I eventually would rely on you and the other gang members. So you better get used to it while you still have the chance."
"Of course, but still... Hunter job, huh..."
Erio thought that it was perfectly understandable for a Hunter to be busy doing his or her Hunter job. But it could not be something that important, at least, it would not be enough for a reason to refuse a request from Sheryl, Akira's lover, to accompany her for a bit and to make sure that she was safe.
Right at that moment, Sheryl suddenly stopped smiling and whispered to Erio.
"Erio, are you, by any chance, suspecting my relation with Akira?"
Erio flusteredly refuted.
Erio was being desperate, it was rather unclear whether there was a need to change his wordings like that or it was just simply because he was trying to come up with an excuse on the fly.
Sheryl herself understood that her gang could not survive had Akira not supported her. That's why Erio was trying his best to readjust his wordings since he thought that he might worsen the relation between Akira and Sheryl.
Sheryl understood that very well, but that was not enough to abate her irritation.
Sheryl did try to push her request when she asked Akira, but she was coldly rejected. Akira did not even consider her request, he had no intention to change his current plans just because Sheryl and her gang asked him something. So, he flatly rejected Sheryl's request.
"Well, I guess that's fine. If that's the case... Just so you know, unnecessary misunderstanding tends to cause trouble later."
"Y-yeah, I'm glad that I can clear up that misunderstanding. I'll be more careful next time."
Sheryl had finished half of the administration work beforehand. She just needed to wait for the Hunter Office to finish their part of the work. Sheryl and Erio were sitting on a bench on the first floor of that building while waiting for the Hunter Office to finish.
Sheryl was spending her time thinking about her plans for the future. To be more precise, she was thinking about what to do to sell the relics that Akira asked her to. She was working on her information terminal to reevaluate, revise, and refine that plan.
If she could make that plan successful, she might be able to be someone not worth abandoning to Akira. It might also be a chance to deepen their relationship even more. Sheryl thought so as she put her best efforts working on her plan.
Katsuya looked at Sheryl's smile and blushed. That dazzling smile decorating her pretty face was the result of Sheryl's hard work training herself.
Katsuya stood in front of Sheryl and happily said.
"...Uhhh, who's that guy?"
Erio got flustered when Katsuya looked at him. It might be just him, but for some reason, Erio felt that Katsuya's gaze at him was not a friendly one.
"Ahh, I'm Katsuya, a Drankam Hunter. My Hunter Rank is 36."
"I'm Yumina. I'm also a Drankam Hunter just like Katsuya."
"Airi, same."
Erio panicked even more, the people standing in front of him were not just Hunters by appearance, they were real Hunters. Moreover, it seemed that Katsuya was putting some kind of pressure on him. Although there was no way he would kill him, it was still scary for Erio.
Katsuya got even more irritated by Erio's answer. He might have thought that it sounded like an answer that someone would give to mock other people.
"My apologies, he's my bodyguard. He was told not to talk with other people unless it's absolutely necessary since it might disrupt his duty as my bodyguard. So please let me apologize in his stead."
Sheryl bowed to Katsuya and his friends, Katsuya flusteredly replied.
"Ah, no. If that's the case, it can't be helped then, right?"
Katsuya looked at Airi and Yumina, asking for their support.
"Yep, it can't be helped if that's the case. We're sorry too."
"Duty is important, it can't be helped."
Yumina and Airi returned back to their usual self as they saw Sheryl bowing to apologize to them.
"Thank you very much... As for him, well, it might be rude to say this, but please don't interact too much with him. He's not used to his job yet, that's why he's high-strung right now."
"It's alright, you don't need to feel bad about it."
[Well, Sheryl did say that if I annoy her acquaintance, it might cause her to hate me too. So let's be careful about that. Alright then.]
If he left a bad impression on Sheryl's acquaintance, it might also leave a bad impression on Sheryl too, and vice versa. Katsuya then threw a friendly smile at Erio.
Seeing how Sheryl was smiling at Katsuya's group and how Katsuya's group's behaviour changed in a snap, Erio sighed out in relief while also feeling slightly scared at the same time.
[...I bet Sheryl is planning to trick them too, right? People don't usually treat slum children like that, so I'm sure they at least think that we're from the lower district. In the worst-case scenario, they might be even thinking that we're from the inner wall... Seriously though, is it really that easy to trick people?]
Now that he thought about it, Sheryl actually also did the same thing to the Hunters that she met in the Higaraka Residence Ruin. Back then, Erio did not notice it since he was too nervous being in the middle of the wasteland. But now that he looked back, Sheryl actually did the exact same thing.
Erio knew Sheryl for quite a long time, he already knew her since the days when they were together in Sibea's gang. Because of that, he knew her very well.
But he could not say that with confidence now. Erio noticed that the current Sheryl was completely different from the past Sheryl.
When Erio was kicked out from the gang, Sheryl was actually thinking of a way to let Erio return back to the gang. He knew that from Alicia, it might be out of Sheryl's pity toward someone who she had known well for a long time.
But if Erio got kicked out from the gang now, he was sure that the current Sheryl would just forget about him. Even if Alicia pleaded, Erio bet that Sheryl would not accept him back to the gang as long as he did not directly ask Akira to vouch for him.
"No. I came here to complete some administration work. Right now I'm just waiting until they process their side of work."
"So, you're free right now...? In that case, do you want to hang out with us?"
"Katsuya-san. I understand that you invited me without any ulterior motives. But, honestly speaking, I don't think it's something that you should do when you're already accompanying another girl, you know? That would be rude very rude, not to me, but to the girl whom you're accompanying."
Sheryl shifted her gaze towards Airi and Yumina. Katsuya followed Sheryl's gaze to them too. Yumina somehow looked exasperated as she sighed. While for Airi, she looked slightly conflicted.
Airi vague mumbling somehow sounded pretty convincing. Sheryl then replied with a bitter smile to both of them.
Yumina smiled bitterly and said to Sheryl.
"Don't worry, this guy is just like that. You can say that it's his habit."
"...Humans can really get used to anything."
Yumina looked at Katsuya, although it was only an excuse, Katsuya was not lying. Moreover, he did feel sorry for what happened too. Yumina could read that far since she had been together with him for quite some time.
Yumina was not sure what to do, but she eventually decided to go along with Katsuya's plan. In the first place, they were actually out in the city that day to cheer up Katsuya. So she decided to just let him do what he wanted to do.
[...Well, I guess it's fine, huh. It might cheer him up for a bit talking with someone else who's not working in Drankam.]
Yumina then cautiously asked Sheryl.
"It's fine, we're the one who's inviting you anyway."
Sheryl thought for a bit, it was an easy thing to refuse that offer. Erio also felt uneasy about their offer. But since it might cause them to doubt Sheryl's identity, he decided to not say anything there.
While on the other hand, if Sheryl refused that offer, she might be missing a good chance to gather valuable information. If she could get some valuable information from Katsuya and his friends, she might get some insight to help her plan to sell her relics.
Not to mention, Akira was quite happy with the information that she gathered last time. Thus Sheryl reached a conclusion.
They found an empty table and took a seat on that table. Erio was the only one who was not sitting, he was just standing-by next to Sheryl without saying anything.
Since lunchtime was getting closer, Katsuya, Airi and Yumina ordered some meals for their lunch. While Sheryl only ordered a cup of coffee.
Leaving Erio who was standing there as Sheryl's bodyguard aside, Sheryl was the only one not ordering a meal, so then Katsuya casually asked her a question.
"Are you sure you're okay not ordering anything else? Just a cup of coffee?"
"Yes, please don't let it bother you."
Sheryl's dress was obviously a high-class dress. It was an old-world relic fitted exactly for her, so of course, she was giving off a different vibe compared to the other people with common dresses.
Even Katsuya could not imagine how much that dress would cost him if he tried to buy one. So considering the usual expense of the people who would casually use such a dress, Katsuya was worried if he had picked a cafe that was too cheap for Sheryl's standard.
"No, that's not it... Uhh, the reason as to why I didn't order any meal is not because I don't like the food in this cafe... It's... Uhh, to keep my body's proportion under control, so..."
Katsuya could not catch what Sheryl was implying, so he just tilted his head and asked further.
As Yumina and Airi were glaring at Katsuya, he finally noticed it. He immediately flusteredly tried to come up with an excuse.
"Ah, no, I don't think you're fat, you know. And I do think it's rather healthy not to be too skinny..."
Yumina and Airi once again immediately shut Katsuya up. Thanks to that, Katsuya realized that he only made it worse, so he decided to just shut up as not to make it even worse.
Yumina smiled bitterly and apologized to Sheryl.
"I'm sorry. I know that I've been saying this again and again, but that's just his habit. I know it sounds like an excuse, but he did not mean to offend you at all. He just... What can I say, tend to go too far... Well, I know that it's not good at all, I wonder if the effect from the last scolding has worn off."
"I'm really sorry... I'm sorry, Sheryl."
"Please don't worry about it. It's also partly my fault for doing something that might cause a misunderstanding. Since we're here, let's not worry too much about it and enjoy ourselves."
"Very well then, let's talk about something else."
Up until now, Sheryl had never ever been in a situation where she could use sugar without worrying about the cost, and since she had spent 1500 Aurum for her coffee, she used so much sugar as if she was trying to make up for that price. Thus her coffee turned into a very sweet liquid.
Katsuya and Yumina were so surprised when they looked at Sheryl who used a lot of sugar on her coffee and how her expression turned softer when she took a slurp of that coffee. But on the other hand, they could understand why Sheryl would do that. It might be something that she had to do so that she could keep her body shape under control.
Sheryl noticed Katsuya and Yumina's expression.
"Uhh, isn't that too sweet for you?"
Sheryl still looked a bit confused as she shifted her gaze from Yumina to Katsuya. Katsuya noticed that and flusteredly asked.
"Uhmmm, do you like sweet things?"
"Yes, I love them."
Katsuya then kept on talking while trying not to touch the subject about Sheryl's palate and hoping that he was not making a weird face. Yumina and Airi did not seem to plan on stopping him any time soon.
When they thought about that cup of coffee, they knew that it must be extremely sweet and could not help but to imagine how it would taste if they took a slurp of that coffee. Thus they were trying not to look at Sheryl's cup in order to avoid thinking about it.
Rebuild World (WN)
リビルドワールド
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/rebuild-world/
Action Adventure Drama Harem Mecha Mystery Sci-fi Seinen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alternate World Anti-social Protagonist Apocalypse Artificial Intelligence Beautiful Female Lead Cautious Protagonist Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Determined Protagonist Distrustful Protagonist Futuristic Setting Gangs Gunfighters Harsh Training Lack of Common Sense Male Protagonist Manipulative Characters Monsters Near-Death Experience Older Love Interests Poor Protagonist Poor to Rich Ruthless Protagonist Shota Sudden Strength Gain Survival Twisted Personality Unlucky Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9736dt/
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