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"I'm back."
It was past evening when I returned home to the mansion. I hadn't received a reply. I wondered if Aqua and Darkness had returned yet. I took off my equipment in my room and went to the kitchen. I checked the ingredients I had on hand and decided on tonight's menu.
"Is meat and potatoes okay?"
I muttered to myself as I peeled the potatoes with a knife. Next, I cut the other vegetables and fry the meat. Then I threw in the ingredients and simmered. Meanwhile, I washed the rice and put the pot on the stove. By the time I was done with all my work, the view from the window had already gone dark.
"They're slow..."
I turned off the heat and left the cooking. Then, I started to maintain my sword and armor in my room. They are my favorite equipment. Since I had the chance, I decided to use my blacksmithing skills to maintain the finer details. I became absorbed in the maintenance, and before I knew it, a lot of time had passed.
I put the equipment I had maintained in my room and headed to the living room. I looked at the clock and saw that it was just after 9pm. I reheated the food I had left out and served it on plates on the table.
"Shall we eat first?"
I held the chopsticks in my hand...and then I stopped.
"Shall we wait a little longer?"
At this rate, Darkness is probably spending her time at her parents' house. I wonder where Aqua is hanging out...
I lay on the sofa, wasting time. And then, the time approached 10 o'clock at night. At that moment, a familiar voice echoed through the mansion.
"I'm back! Kazuma-san, please come!"
I sighed and headed to the entrance, where I found Aqua lying on the entrance mat. Her face was bright red, so she must have been out drinking somewhere.
"Aqua, grab onto my shoulders."
"Thanks."
With Aqua in high spirits leaning on my shoulder, we headed to the living room. I sat her down on the sofa and sat down next to her.
"Aqua, where did you go today?"
"Hehe! I was having a party with all the Axis cultists!"
"Is that so?"
I could tell from Aqua's words that she was truly a useless goddess who loved parties.
"Aqua, I've made some food, do you want to eat it?"
"Hmm, no thanks! I'm full right now!"
"Hey hey, so, aren't you going to take a bath? I've already heated it for you."
"You're so stupid, Kazuma! I'm a goddess! I can go a day without taking a bath and still be clean!"
"What a dirty, useless goddess!"
She probably just didn't want to bother taking a bath. She really wasn't fit to be a goddess. Then, Aqua suddenly hugged me. Ugh, she smells like alcohol!
"Kazuma-san, do you want to take a bath with me? I'll wash your back right now."
"You're in time. If you're not going to take a bath, just go to bed!"
"What? That lust demon Kazuma refused?!"
"Shut up!"
I dragged the screaming useless goddess to my room, threw her on the bed, and covered her with the futon.
"Kazuma-san, Kazuma-san. If you think about it, aren't we alone today? Since we're here, why don't we sleep together like we used to..."
"Good night"
"Wait a second!"
Leaving the useless goddess making noise in her fuss, I headed to the living room. Then, I started eating my cold meal. As I continued to eat, I felt a mysterious loneliness. It was strange, Aqua and Darkness had been acting like that lately. It was now just a part of everyday life. Why did I feel lonely...
"Kazuma, it's getting late. Let's eat first."
"Kazuma's cooking is delicious as always!"
Megumin's voice echoed in my mind. I see, that's what it was.
"Megumin isn't here..."
My voice echoed hollowly in the room.
"Kazuma, please wake up. It's already night."
"Hmm..."
I shook Kazuma awake, who was sleeping on my lap. Kazuma lazily opened his eyes and stood up.
"Wow, I fell asleep pretty quickly."
"You must be tired, right? There was a lot going on today."
As I said this, I started to get ready to go home. At this rate, it looked like I wouldn't be able to cook for myself. I'd have dinner at an inn. Thinking about this, I got dressed.
Kazuma also finished putting on his clothes and sat down heavily on the bed. After I confirmed that, I picked up the armor and gauntlets that were placed next to the bed and put them on Kazuma. Then, we both finished getting ready to go home and left the inn side by side.
"It's cold today."
"It's almost winter."
We walk side by side through the streets of Axel. Our destination is my lodging, and naturally, my walking speed slows down. I don't want to leave just yet.
"Here you go."
"What is it?"
"Can't you see? Let me hold your hand. Human skin is warm."
"Enough!"
Kazuma-san held out his hand to me with a grin on his face. I resisted, but I took his hand anyway. It was true. His skin was warm.
After that, we walked in silence. We finally arrived at my lodgings. I let go of Kazuma's hand and unlocked the door to my room. Then, just as I was about to enter, Kazuma stopped me.
"What is it? A farewell kiss? Or..."
"Yunyun"
"What is it?"
"Would you like to come to my house?"
I was intimidated by Kazuma's unusually serious look. When he came home...
I guess we'll be gathering at Kazuma's mansion tomorrow.
"I'll say it again. Would you mind staying at my mansion for a while?"
"What?! Are you staying the night?!"
So that's it! I was confused by the sudden invitation. But I wonder why. I'm so happy!
I quickly went into my room to get ready for the night...and then I stopped moving.
Somehow, I feel bad for Megumin.
"K-Kazuma-san? Umm, Megumin..."
"Megumin isn't at the mansion right now."
Kazuma's words took me by surprise. That's right, Megumin isn't at the mansion right now. Wouldn't it be okay if she was there for a while? That thought grew inside me.
"Kazuma-san, I'll be staying the night. Please wait while I get ready!"
"I, I see."
Kazuma seemed to respond with a happy look on his face.
"K-Kazuma-san. Am I really not in the way?!"
"Why are you scared now? Come in, come in!"
"Wha?! Don't push it!"
The location was in front of the entrance to Kazuma's mansion, and Kazuma pushed me into the mansion. I felt very nervous.
"Sorry to interrupt..."
"You idiot! From today onwards, this is your home. Just say you're home!"
"but..."
"But no! Yes, I'm home!"
"I-I'm home!"
"All right!"
Kazuma, who seemed to be in a good mood, took me by the arm and led me straight to the living room. The mansion was pitch black, and it seemed like no one had returned yet.
"Okay, Yunyun! I'll make dinner. Of course, you can help out, okay?"
"I got it!"
After putting our luggage down, we started preparing dinner. The menu was very simple: sauteed pork and salad. Watching Kazuma work briskly, I steeled myself. I'm good at cooking too. Even though I have cooking skills, I can't afford to lose!
After finishing the food, I set it on the table. Kazuma looked at it with satisfaction, then sat down in his chair.
"Yunyun, let's eat!"
"Eh? Aqua-san and Darkness-san are..."
"Leave me alone! Let's eat!"
"Hehe, if Kazuma says so, then let's do it."
And then we started eating. Eating food that we had both cooked together was somehow refreshing, and I couldn't help but smile. What's more, I could tell at a glance that Kazuma was in a good mood. I wonder if he was enjoying spending time with me.
After we finished eating, we washed up together and sat next to each other on the sofa by the fireplace, talking about our plans for the next day and other trivial things.
Then, after a while, a familiar voice echoed through the mansion.
"It's over."
"Yunyun, Aqua has returned. Let's go."
"Ah, yes!"
I followed Kazuma to the entrance, where I found Aqua lying passed out drunk.
"Hehe, Kazuma... Why is Yunyun here?! Kazuma, did you bring a girl here?!"
"N-no, Aqua-san! I was just wondering if I could take care of you for a little while..."
"Shut up you thief! Kazuma-san is so easy to get with if you just show a little interest! What are you doing trying to curry favor with Kazuma-san like that...!"
"Shut up, useless goddess!"
"Ouch! Hey, Kazuma! Explain yourself!"
"Got it! Got it, so stop grabbing me by the collar and shaking me!"
We then headed to the living room. Kazuma and Aqua were sitting at the dining table with a sullen look on their faces. I prepared some tea for them.
"Um, here you go."
"Thank you, Yunyun."
"Hmph!"
The two of them obediently accepted the tea I had made and took a sip.
"Oh, Yunyun, you're good at making tea too."
"thank you!"
Kazuma praised me! I had been practicing making tea for a friend who might come over to my room someday. I guess that's what paid off.
However, Aqua-san just stares at the tea with a sullen expression. Perhaps it wasn't tasty.
"It's hot water."
"What!? That can't be... it really has turned into hot water! Why!?"
"Kazuma, look! This cat has been harassing me in a sneaky way! Come on, don't go home! You nasty thieving cat, go home now!"
"N-No! I'm not shady or anything!"
"Shut up! House! You're a bad thieving cat! Ouch!"
"Enough with your jokes, listen to what I have to say, you useless goddess!"
Kazuma then calmed down the noisy Aqua and began to explain. He said that with the current manpower shortage, it was difficult to maintain the mansion, so he decided to let me, who was looking for a safe place to stay, live in the mansion and help with the housework in exchange. Kazuma, I'm amazed you were able to come up with such a lie so quickly...
"Somehow, I can't quite accept it..."
"Don't say that, something like this has happened to Chris too. Besides, Yunyun is a friend to you too, right?"
"Mmhmm... I guess there's no other way."
"Is that okay, Aqua-san?"
"Just for a little while! If you don't work, I'll kick you out right away!"
"I know!"
"Aqua, does that mean I can kick you out?"
"Kazuma-san, if you keep saying stupid things, I'll beat you up."
Thus, I received Aqua's permission to stay at the mansion. I was a little prepared for it, but I was fortunate that she agreed without any major friction.
"Well, at first I thought you might have brought some nasty woman into the mansion while Megumin was away and done whatever you wanted with her, you know?"
"That's not understandable, Aqua-san."
"Kazuma-san! Why are you speaking broken Japanese?!"
"Phew..."
I was currently lying in bed in one of the rooms in the mansion. After that impromptu meeting, I took a bath with Aqua. Kazuma then told me to go to bed quickly as he had something to do, so I decided to go to bed obediently.
And then, my body writhed in an overwhelming sense of happiness. Yes, from now on I would be able to spend the whole day with Kazuma. This was exactly the situation I had dreamed of.
Knowing Kazuma, he might come and visit me at night. But that's no good, Aqua is right next to me. ...I'm starting to get excited.
In the end, Kazuma never showed up in front of me that day.