Chapter 35: Staaare…

“Oh, you’re awake?”

Elvis noticed us and asked with a grin on his face.

“Why are you smiling?”

“I thought you two looked like a happy couple. It was entertaining. First, you put your head on Ayaka’s shoulder, and then Ayaka, annoyed by that, moved your head onto her lap.”

“Oh…”

“Is that true?”

“I don’t remember at all.”

Ayaka shook her head.

“Well, you were asleep. Anyway, this is Kokura Racecourse. It’s not even 6 yet, so there aren’t any people here.”

There were a few cars, but they were empty, and nobody was around.

“Six o’clock… Normally, we’d still be sleeping in the inn’s futons.”

Exactly.

“Things like this happen. Though lately, they’ve been happening a lot.”

Elvis laughed.

Well, on the first day, we slept on a kotatsu.

The next day, we rested at the inn, but after that, we stayed at a hotel, where Elvis slept on the floor.

The following day, we walked all night without sleeping.

Honestly, there had been very little time where we actually got proper rest.

“I hope it’s only at the beginning.”

“Ayaka, what about Takamiya-san and the others?”

“I sent them a message saying we arrived. They’ll come once they wake up.”

So we just had to wait.

“Then let’s eat breakfast while we wait.”

“Sounds good.”

We took cup noodles out of our spatial magic and each chose one—udon, soba, and ramen—then poured in hot water.

“Our sashimi set meal turned into cup noodles.”

“The horse mackerel and mackerel were really good.”

“This is good in its own way too. Besides, we’re going to Tokyo, right? We’ll be able to eat delicious things from different places along the way.”

“I hope so.”

Since we had the chance, we ate our cup noodles while enjoying the morning breeze.

Afterward, we returned to the car and, feeling bored, checked social media on our phones for information.

“There’s information about Beppu.”

“Yeah. Looks like the Self-Defense Forces reached Beppu too.”

There were pictures of the Self-Defense Forces posted online.

However, it seemed they had withdrawn after reinforcements from the demons in Oita City arrived.

“This kind of thing has happened before. They probably want some kind of achievement, but a force that size is no match for us.”

It was a complicated feeling.

“Look.”

Ayaka showed me her phone.

On the screen were young people sitting in a row on top of fallen orcs, posing for pictures.

“Those militia fighters from before? It looks like they’re showing off their hunting results.”

“That’s exactly what it is. It’s going viral. Though the reactions are extremely divided.”

There wasn’t much I could say about that.

“Things like that happen. But it’s the same on both sides. A demon had also uploaded photos of human heads lined up. That caused a huge backlash too…”

“Of course it would.”

“Let’s avoid getting involved. Any information about Yamane?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing here either. The Self-Defense Forces probably don’t use social media, and there’s no way we’d find anything.”

I wondered what had happened to him.

I was curious, but there wasn’t much we could do.

We continued gathering information by checking social media, but after 8 a.m., cars started arriving one after another, and demons began getting out.

“It’s really a demon city…”

“Yeah. Hm?”

Ayaka’s phone rang.

“Oh, it’s Mayumi. It seems Linda-san woke up. They’re going to eat breakfast first, then come here. They should arrive in about an hour.”

“Almost there.”

“Yeah. Even though we were together until just a few days ago, it somehow feels like it’s been a long time.”

“Exactly.”

I wanted to see Minato and Riku too.

We continued waiting inside the car.

More and more demons arrived and headed toward the racecourse.

Apparently, it was quite popular.

Then, after an hour passed and it was around 9:30, Ayaka’s phone rang again.

“They’ve arrived. Apparently, it’s a black minivan, but what exactly is a minivan?”

“No idea.”

I didn’t know much about cars.

“Since it says ‘mini,’ doesn’t that mean it’s small?”

“No, minivans are big. They’re vehicles that can carry eight people.”

“Really?”

“Even though it’s called mini?”

“Don’t ask me. Your side made them.”

Fair enough.

“Let’s see… apparently they’re called minivans because they’re mini compared to foreign cars.”

Ayaka had apparently gone out of her way to look it up.

“Which one is it?”

At some point, the parking lot had filled with cars, so it was hard to tell.

“Let’s get out and look.”

We got out of the car and looked around.

Then, a large black vehicle approached us from the distance.

“Ah, there it is. Actually, it’s coming this way.”

The driver was a woman, so it was probably Linda.

We waited there, and the car stopped.

The rear door opened.

Two women stepped out.

One was Takamiya-san, with long hair and a height of about 165 centimeters, slightly tall for a Japanese woman.

The other was Kitaura-san, who was the opposite—small at around 150 centimeters, with hair cut around her shoulders.

“Oh, Ayaka!”

“Long time no see!”

“You two, are you okay!?”

The three girls hugged each other and happily reunited.

“We’re fine, we’re fine.”

“It was pretty peaceful on our side. Actually, you guys are the ones who’ve had way too many problems.”

“Well, technically, we were the ones who stuck our noses into the Kumamoto situation. But I’m just glad we got to see you again.”

A beautiful reunion.

“Ah, Takanashi-kun. Good work.”

“Yuu, I’m glad you’re okay too.”

Finally, it was my turn.

Though, naturally, we weren’t going to hug.

“Yeah…”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“Your eyes look strange.”

Yeah…

Something felt off.

And there was some kind of haze making it hard to see the two of them clearly.

“Ugh! Dispel!”

I used a removal spell, and my mind became clear again.

“Well, well?”

A woman with a gentle smile got out of the driver’s seat.

She was a beautiful woman with long hair and what looked like goat horns growing from her head.

She was wearing a long skirt and a knit sweater.

However, the impressive figure emphasized by that sweater had an overwhelming presence.

Ah…

My worries didn’t matter anymore.

The war, the girl I liked, and every problem I was facing suddenly seemed insignificant.

Yes…

The thing I needed to face right now was the magnificent presence before my eyes!

That comforting fullness evoked the warmth of Mother Earth and the promise that everything would be accepted…

And above all else, that overwhelming charm!

The instincts etched into every male creature were admitting defeat.

Faced with that overwhelming presence, I took a step forward.

And then, like a black hole from which even light couldn’t escape, my pitiful consciousness was drawn in—

“Yuu?”

Huh!?

“No, stop. Seriously, stop.”

Ayaka was right beside me.

Ah, no…

That wasn’t really the point either.

“Oh my?”

Even the way she placed a hand against her cheek was adorable, but please stop charming me every time we meet.

“Sis, stop it.”

“It’s seriously not fair.”

Takamiya-san and Kitaura-san stepped in to stop her.

“For a healthy man, this reaction is unavoidable. You shouldn’t stop it.”

No.

Please stop.

“Sis, Sis…”

Kitaura-san whispered something into Linda’s ear.

“What is it? Oh? Ohh? Really? I see… Oh?”

I didn’t really care what they were talking about, but…

Please don’t look at Ayaka…

“Right? Not okay.”

“Yes, yes. Fine.”

Linda-san smiled.

“Anyway, I’m sure there are plenty of things we need to talk about, but let’s go inside first. Ah, I’ll look for a parking space, so go ahead without me. See you later.”

Linda-san got back into the driver’s seat, moved the car, and went off to search for a parking space.