84. summer vacation (4)

“I don’t know how long it has been since I took a break like this.”

“Schmitz lives too hard to get rid of it.”

In the tatami-mat room, Arlot and I were sitting in yukatas.

Koyono recommended that we stay at a ryokan with hot springs.

It was a new feeling for me, who had never even gone on a decent overseas trip.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t been to a hot spring.”

“I was cleaning at lunchtime. … Would you like to go to a hot spring?”

Yesterday, I arrived after the vacation ceremony and enjoyed the festival,

Today, due to acupuncture, I took a break at the inn.

I wanted to give her as many experiences as possible.

I was also curious about hot springs.

“Come to think of it, it seems that there was a sign saying mixed bathing.”

“I-I’ll never wash it like last time!”

“… You haven’t said anything yet.”

Arlott was glaring at me with a red face.

I only said that there was such a thing as mixed bathing, but I didn’t mean to do it…

“Well? What are you talking about?”

At the right timing, Koyono entered the dorm.

It seems that the sweaty figure came in after training outside.

Arlotte’s expression brightened when he saw this.

“Koyono-san, are you planning to take a bath?”

“I sweat, so of course I shouldn’t.”

“Then let’s go to the hot spring together. You couldn’t come in during lunch.”

“Well, the hot spring here is another specialty. In particular, the milk you drink afterward is excellent, so you should definitely try it.”

Watching Arlott getting ready to go to the hot springs, I also got up.

“May I go too?”

“Shu, why is Lord Schmitz here! Of course, it’s an inn where you can bathe mixedly, but… ”

“… It’s not even possible!”

The ladies glared at him with contemptuous eyes.

I hurriedly opened my mouth before the misunderstanding escalated.

“… It’s not about mixing baths. Isn’t there a divider anyway? I did it because I wanted to turn my back on it and talk about it.”

“Doubtful. Your intentions are impure.”

I brought up the story of mixed bathing first and misunderstood.

Arlott hid behind Koyono.

Looking at me with only his face sticking out, it seemed to become a dagger and fly into my chest.

Koyono, who seemed deep in thought, finally opened her mouth.

“… Certainly, the men’s and women’s baths are only separated by high partitions. There aren’t many guests at the moment, so it would be nice to talk.”

“Huh, I can’t spy on you… okay?”

“It never happens.”

Yes.

No matter what happens, I won’t even pay attention to the scenery beyond.

I’m sure you promised so…

“Ah, Prince Arlot. Don’t do this.”

“Then Koyono-san, floating on water like this… Are you provoking me?”

I’m sure I was relaxing in the hot spring while having a peaceful conversation.

At some point, Arlott’s persistent attack on Koyono began.

The difference between the two women’s femininity is literally stark.

Arlott, who vividly witnessed the overwhelming difference in the bathroom, quickly lost his temper.

It’s not that I didn’t think of this event.

As expected, the scenery over there is a concern.

Also very much.

“It’s not like that… Oh no!”

‘… driving me crazy.’

A groan coming from behind the tall wooden screen made my head dizzy.

… nope, calm down overcome the anguish

I closed my eyes and started taking deep breaths to clear my mind.

Inhale… Exhale… Inhale…

“Hyat! He, stop stabbing him!”

my, rest…

“look at this. Even if I hold it with my hand, it doesn’t even cover it all… Unlike anyone else, hey.”

“If you touch it like that, oh no… !”

they… drinking… go…

‘I can’t. I have to go.’

It’s just a joke between classmates.

… But I couldn’t help but feel strange.

I felt like I couldn’t even keep my composure at this rate, so I quickly got up.

“… Evan, please leave.”

“… ”

Evan nodded silently and left the hot spring.

Are you at peace in this situation? He’s a great guy.

As she changed her clothes, she heard Koyono’s voice saying, “Now it’s the girl’s turn!”

Leaving Arlott’s moans behind him, which began to spread afterwards, he immediately got out of the hot spring.

***

“Ugh… Prince Arlott is too much of a prank.”

“If you float it in front of your eyes like that… anyone will do that.”

Koyono and Arlott walked along the hallway of the dorm looking dry.

The two of them were about to leave the hot spring only after Schmitz had left and more time had passed.

When I reached my room and tried to enter, someone appeared in the hallway.

“teacher! Where have you been?”

“… I have an urgent quest. After all, it’s still active duty.”

“Well, you have suffered a lot.”

“… Koyono, I have something to tell you, can you give me some time?”

While they were saying hello, Koyono’s teacher, Erika’s eyes suddenly became serious.

Sensing that sign, Koyono winked at Arlot.

“Feel free to talk. Koyono-san, it’s right in front of you, so I’ll go alone.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Shall we take a walk? I want to see the night view.”

Koyono calmly followed Erika and left the inn.

It was the middle of the night, just after the sun had set, so the yellow light was still visible here and there.

Since the lodging was located halfway up the mountain, the city of Heyrin was clearly visible.

Erica, who had been standing still and watching the scene, got lucky.

“Koyono, aren’t you worried about something?”

“… !”

Koyono swallowed in vain at Erica’s sharp question, which suddenly hooked and pierced.

“How many years have I seen you though? You can tell just by looking at his face.”

“… that, that.”

Erica always gave the right answer when I expressed my concerns.

That’s why Koyono also has her own worries… I wanted to express my concerns about Schmitz.

The story about the relationship between a man and a woman was a little unfamiliar.

So Koyono used a different method.

“Actually, worrying is worrying because an acquaintance has troubles. It’s not the girl, it’s because an acquaintance is in a difficult situation… ”

“… Ah yes. yes, buddy… ”

“Well, it’s definitely not a girl’s story, so don’t misunderstand. So let’s talk… ”

Koyono started the story by borrowing the name of an ‘acquaintance’.

A man and a woman of the same age who have been together since childhood.

Although they were not aware of their love for each other, the two of them are forming a strong bond with each other.

However, the two are at a standstill.

Relations between friends were sluggish, not progressing, perhaps because of shyness.

In the meantime, another girl tries to intervene.

Both men and women of the same age are good friends for the girl, but there is a problem.

I love the girl, the man who got in between them.

… To the extent that I don’t want to give up even if I know that my friendship will go sour.

“… So, what would Master do?”

“Um… Well.”

Koyono’s heart was beating like it would explode.

Even in the adventurer’s guild, it was Erika who was called a veteran and often consulted with others.

As Koyono herself often consulted, she was well aware of her advising skills.

The situation where he is focusing on Erica’s lips more than ever.

Finally, the mouth moved slowly.

… No, the hand moved first.

“Hyat?! Go, what are you doing all of a sudden!”

“Is there anything wrong? You have such a great advantage.”

The parts of her body that had been harassed by Arlot earlier were swaying again.

It was because Erika, who had a deep smile on her lips, stabbed her in the chest.

“Schmitz isn’t such a man… Hey, I said it was a girl’s acquaintance in the first place!”

“Yes, yes. I know.”

I was startled and said the wrong thing, but Erica shook her hand as if it was no big deal.

Koyono’s face flushed for no reason, as if her lie had been exposed.

Erica, who was looking at Koyono, opened her mouth again.

“Koyono, you are a very upright child.”

“… What does that mean all of a sudden?”

The mischievous look from earlier had disappeared, and a serious atmosphere had flowed before I knew it.

Erica patted Koyono on the shoulder.

“Be jealous or intrusive, none of it suits you. Go your way.”

“That, so it’s not a girl… ”

“Just as we have pursued the goals he gave us until now, shouldn’t we pursue him ourselves?”

“… !”

Koyono had hardened like a stone.

Even though he hid it as an acquaintance’s story, he saw through his troubles.

then.

With such a great eye, how likely is she to see Schmitz connecting with her?

While looking into her eyes without saying a word, Erikaka confessed it.

“…but it will be very difficult. To divert the boy’s gaze.”

“Master too… I hope you saw everything.”

“You know better than anyone, right? He’s devoted at best and dull at worst, that boy.”

‘It’s all your fault. Didn’t you fall for that kind of image of him too?’

Upon hearing that one word from her teacher, Koyono fell into thought for a long time.

And, as usual, she goes back to the dorm after posting a polite thank you.

Erica silently watched his back and took out a smoke pipe from her bosom.

He spit out white smoke and spoke softly.

“… Try hard. Don’t regret it later.”

Erika suffocated and swallowed a laugh, and exhaled smoke again.

She passed the time smoking a pipe.

Koyono’s back as she walked through the smoke-streaked moonlight was somehow resolute.