NOVEL ONLINE FREE Volume 1 Chapter 91 - Hot Pot
“I’m back.”
“Welcome back. How did it go?”
Kaede-chan asks about today’s results with her usual smile.
“They’re really good at teaching. It was a breeze thanks to them.”
I put my bag on the reception desk.
“Great to hear. Let me settle the accounts, and since I’m finishing up, let’s go home together.”
“Sounds good.”
I hand Kaede-chan my weapon and status card. She stands up and goes to the back. After waiting for a while, Kaede-chan returns with the settlement paperwork. I take it and head to the changing room. A few people are there, getting ready for their adventures, but the shower is free. I take a quick shower and change my clothes.
When I return to the lobby, Kaede-chan is already gone, so I go outside to wait for her. After waiting for a bit, Kaede-chan appears, having changed her clothes.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Did you wait long?”
“Not at all.”
Truth be told, it was a bit chilly.
“Maybe I should just come to work in my uniform, so you don’t have to wait.”
“I think your casual clothes are fine. They’re cute.”
“Hehe, really?”
“Really.”
“Okay, I’ll stick with that then!”
Kaede-chan happily links arms with me. Simple girl.
We walk arm-in-arm to the station and take a taxi to a supermarket near our home. After shopping, we walk back home.
“I’ll get dinner ready soon, so please wait.”
Today, Kaede-chan is making hotpot for us.
“Got it… oh, a call.”
It’s not my phone ringing; it’s the one I threw on the sofa. It must be Eleanor’s.
“Must be Nanapon, right?”
I pick up the phone from the sofa and check the caller. As expected, it says Nanaka.
“I knew it was Nanapon. She always calls at the right time.”
“…”
I answer the phone.
“Hello?”
“Switch.”
This kid…!
“I’m about to have dinner. Call Eleanor later if you want.”
“Oh, you’re having dinner now… sorry.”
Nanapon apologizes. She’s generally a serious girl.
“Yes, we’re having hotpot.”
“Nice! It’s been getting colder lately.”
True, true.
“Do you want to join us?”
“Is that okay? I don’t want to intrude…”
“Kaede-chan, is that fine?”
I confirm with Kaede-chan, who is setting up the hotpot and stove on the table.
“We have plenty, so why not eat together? I bought too much anyway.”
“See? She says it’s fine. You’d probably be eating a convenience store bento alone anyway, so come over.”
“Alright, I’ll come… as Eleanor.”
Figures.
“Fine, where are you now? At home?”
“No, I’m actually in Nerima.”
Hmm. That’s convenient.
“…I knew it.”
Kaede-chan mutters under her breath.
“Huh? Well, whatever. Come over.”
“Okay, but could you change into casual clothes?”
Why does she know I bought casual clothes?
“You mentioned it yourself.”
Did I? I don’t remember… well, whatever.
“So, I should wear casual clothes? What a hassle.”
“Hotpot and a black robe don’t go together.”
Aren’t they the same?
“Hmm, alright.”
I can’t argue about fashion. I don’t want to be considered unfashionable.
“Then, I’ll be there soon!”
“Sure.”
I end the call.
“Kaede-chan, could you prepare for Nanapon too? I have to switch to Eleanor because of this demanding girl.”
“Sure. That kid is as usual, huh?”
Really.
I leave the preparation to Kaede-chan and head to my room to change. I take off my clothes, drink a TS Potion, and change into Eleanor’s clothes. I tie my hair up and return to the living room.
When I get back, Kaede-chan has already finished preparing. Then, the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it.”
I open the door, and as expected, Nanapon is there.
“Welcome.”
“Sorry for intruding so suddenly.”
Nanapon enters, looking apologetic.
“It’s fine. I wanted to talk to you anyway. Come in.”
“Thank you.”
I take Nanapon to the living room.
“Welcome, Nanaka-chan.”
When we return to the living room, Kaede-chan greets Nanapon.
“Sorry for the intrusion, Asakura-san.”
“It’s fine. We have plenty.”
Meat, fish, and vegetables are all lined up on the table.
“There’s really a lot. You’re so extravagant.”
“Nanaka-chan, do you indulge yourself too?”
“Not since that incident. Now, I only indulge a little.”
Well, she did have a rude awakening.
“Let’s sit down. We can talk while eating.”
I say this and sit across from Kaede-chan. Nanapon sits next to me.
“Let’s eat.”
Kaede-chan lifts the lid of the simmering hotpot.
“Let’s.”
“Let’s eat.”
We start eating the hotpot and begin drinking beer.
“Beer is awful.”
Nanapon, who just turned 20, seems to find beer too early for her.
“There’s something sweet in the fridge. Help yourself.”
“Okay.”
Nanapon goes to the fridge, and I chug down the beer she left behind.
“The first drink after work is exceptional.”
“You sound like an office lady despite being a witch.”
Kaede-chan laughs.
“It’s delicious.”
“I didn’t like it when I was a student either.”
I remember Kaede-chan saying, “Beer is bitter,” and always drinking Cassis.
“Ms. Asakura, may I have this grape one?”
I hear Nanapon’s voice from the kitchen.
“Sure.”
Kaede-chan answers, and Nanapon comes back with a sweet grape Chu-Hi.
“You both can really drink beer. Oh, what should I do with this… it’s empty.”
Nanapon holds the beer can I just emptied.
“I’ll take it.”
“Eh… well, I’m not worried about indirect kisses or anything, but do you usually drink it?”
“It’s a waste otherwise.”
“Mr. Okita, you’re frugal despite being rich.”
Eh, I don’t think so.
“Just so you know, he also counts yakitori and fried chicken pieces. He stopped because I nagged him, but…”
To be honest, I was thinking that these shrimp should be limited to two per person.
“That’s terrible. If he did that on a date, it would be a turn-off.”
“Right?”
Eh? Kaede-chan, were you turned off?
“Let’s not talk about that! Okita-kun will cry. It’s not the kind of topic for after a full day in the Frontier.”
Take care of me more!
“Hm? Eleanor-san, you went to the Frontier?”
Nanapon asks.
“Yes, about that. Today, Okita-kun got taken to the Mireiyu Highway by A-rank adventurer, Yoshino-san.”
“Wow! A-rank! How did that happen?”
“He got hit on.”
Isn’t that amazing?
“Didn’t that raise suspicions?”
Nanapon seems to think so too.
“Well, probably. But it should be fine. Besides, I went to the Mireiyu Highway today and it seems we can go there too. We don’t have to stick to the Diana Mines anymore, and I’m tired of skeletons. Let’s go to the Mireiyu Highway from now on.”
“If Eleanor-san says so, I understand.”
Nanapon is so straightforward. Okita-kun should learn from her.
“Nanaka-chan, have you decided on a disguise?”
Kaede-chan asks Nanapon.
“I have!”
“What is it?”
“That’s a surprise! But don’t worry, it’s not weird.”
It’s definitely weird.
“Hmm…”
Kaede-chan seems to think the same as me.
“It’s fine, really. Eleanor-san, are you free tomorrow? Let’s go to the Mireiyu Highway.”
Tomorrow? Even though I went today? But Nanapon has had some time off, so maybe it’s good to go.
“Kaede-chan, what about tomorrow?”
“I have work, but it’s fine. But remember, tomorrow is Saturday.”
Kaede-chan mentioned that Saturdays are busy.
“Well, the guild can’t be helped. But Mireiyu Highway adventurers are intermediate level, so there shouldn’t be a difference between weekdays and weekends.”
“True. Nanaka-chan, are you okay with that?”
“I’m fine!”
“Since Nanaka-chan is unusually motivated, we’ll go.”
“Okay. I assume it won’t be early in the morning?”
Kaede-chan looks at Nanapon and shakes her head, smiling wryly.
I can’t expect college student Nanapon to be up early. We were like that too.