Chapter 8: Resolve

♦♦♦

The place Shino headed to was, unbelievably, her own house.

Kamui-san’s house was incredible, but Shino’s house was also quite large.

The nameplate read “Kagura.”

“So Shino’s a Kagura, huh?”

“That’s right. Kagura Shino. That’s my real name.”

“Why didn’t you tell me your family name from the start?”

“Hmm…… Hinata-kun, have you never heard of the Kagura family?”

Since I hadn’t, I shook my head.

“Well, just so you know, my family is considered a prestigious lineage. To put it simply, we’re a warrior family that’s been around for a long time. I didn’t want to say it because it might make people act weird around me. By the way, isn’t Kamui-san, who’s in your class, also from a warrior family and a conglomerate?”

Kamui-san’s house is impressive too, after all.

“I see. Sorry for my lack of knowledge.”

“No, no. If anything, I don’t like bringing up my family. So, please just treat me normally from now on, okay?”

“If that’s fine with you……”

“Hehe. If I stay out here any longer, you might get mad at me, so I’ll head inside now, alright?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, I had fun today.”

“Me too! Um…… Hinata-kun? Will you hang out with me again?”

“Of course. And—aren’t we party members?”

“!? Yeah!”

Shino’s eyes widened, and she went inside with a delighted smile on her face.

The sky had grown completely dark, but with a certain goal in mind, I headed not to the dorm but to another location.

I arrived at the E117 Buyback Center.

From Shino’s house, this one was closer than the E90 Buyback Center.

I came here to sell off the materials I’d gathered yesterday and today, but there was an oddly tense atmosphere.

There were numerous soldiers standing both outside and inside.

What caught my attention was the placard the soldiers were holding up.

Glancing at it as I passed by the buyback center, I saw a purple magic stone depicted on it.

Yes, the special magic stone I sold off last week.

It read, “If you have this magic stone, please contact us urgently,” and I pressed down on my racing heart.

Just as I was about to flee, I noticed the soldiers’ gazes focusing on me.

It’s probably thanks to my martial arts skills that I could sense it.

Thinking that running away might make me look suspicious, I walked straight into the buyback center.

《Due to the difficulty, you have acquired the skill ‘Poker Face.’》

Gaining a new skill, I immediately felt a disconnect between my face and my emotions.

Even though it was night, there were surprisingly many people waiting to use the buyback machines, so I had to line up a bit.

Still, aside from me, I didn’t see any other solo explorers.

Everyone seemed to be in parties—ranging from two-person teams to four-person groups. Some looked like couples, and their ages varied from high schoolers like me to older adults.

Since all the buyback machines were occupied, I took a numbered ticket and sat in the waiting area.

I felt those gazes on me again. The soldiers were watching me.

Why me, and not the other parties? I started to speculate.

The difference between me and the other explorers here—it’s my belongings.

Everyone else had weapons or backpacks, but I’d come empty-handed. It’s strange to come to sell materials without carrying anything.

So, I decided to put on a little act.

I slowly reached into my pocket, pulled out a small magic stone I got from a troll yesterday, and glanced around subtly.

The gazes fixed on me instantly dispersed.

They must’ve thought I was just some high school kid selling a small magic stone I got somewhere.

My waiting time was up, and when it was my turn, I stood in front of the buyback machine. Like last time, a wall descended from the ceiling.

I quickly scanned the items I wanted to sell to check their prices.

‘Kol’s Core: 300 yen’ ‘Troll’s Hide: 1,000 yen’ ‘Troll’s Bone: 1,500 yen’ ‘Kuna’s Hide: 500 yen’ ‘Kuna’s Large Fang: 1,200 yen’ ‘Kuna’s Meat: 1,500 yen’ ‘Gige’s Claw: 5,000 yen’ ‘Gige’s Fang: 3,000 yen’ ‘Gige’s Hide: 4,000 yen’

Those were the prices for each material.

I was surprised that Kuna and Gige materials were worth more than Kol or Troll ones.

Since the rabbit and piglet monster materials didn’t sell, maybe materials like those don’t fetch high prices.

Next, I scanned the two types of small magic stones I got from Kuna and Troll—the main attractions.

‘Tiny Magic Stone: 1,000 yen’ ‘Small Magic Stone: 3,000 yen’

What!? Why are they so much cheaper than the purple magic stone!?

Considering drop rates, the purple magic stone, which always drops from rabbit and piglet monsters, should be much cheaper.

Tiny and small magic stones have much lower drop rates than the purple one, so why……?

Could it be……?

I pulled all the materials back and scanned the purple special magic stone.

‘Magic Stone Δ (Delta): 150,000,000 yen’

Wait, wait, wait, wait!

I frantically covered my mouth with both hands to stifle my voice.

I was so shocked I nearly screamed, but I forced myself to calmly analyze the situation.

First, the special magic stone’s name had changed.

That’s fine. The problem is the price.

There are so many zeros I can’t even process it. No, I can, but……

I hurriedly stored the special magic stone—now Magic Stone Δ (Delta)—in my spatial storage.

For now, I shoved all the materials I’d gathered yesterday and today into the buyback machine to sell them.

Thanks to Shino letting me have everything, I’d collected quite a haul. Last time I got 300,000 yen, spent a bit shopping with Shino today, and now, selling all these materials brought my total to 921,500 yen.

That should be a huge sum, but I was so stunned by the insane price jump of the purple magic stone—Magic Stone Δ—that I didn’t even have time to be amazed by my current total.

I somehow finished the transaction and returned to the dorm as if nothing had happened.

Back in my room, I took a quick shower and collapsed onto my bed.

What on earth is going on?

First, the purple magic stone’s price is astronomical.

The soldiers holding up placards at the buyback center were definitely looking for the ‘Magic Stone Δ (Delta).’

That means there might be some issue with that stone.

Plus, my earnings from just yesterday and today easily surpassed 500,000 yen.

If I’d gotten a potion, that’d make sense, but no—it’s just from raw materials.

Sure, the dungeon guidebook said becoming an explorer could earn you big money, but I never imagined it’d be this easy to rake in such a fortune.

Shino gave me everything, but even without that, it’s more than enough for a student like me—and honestly, it’d be a huge sum even if I weren’t a student.

There’s a lot I want to think about, but my stomach’s growling honestly.

I have hunger resistance, but it only kicks in during emergencies—not when I’m relaxing like this.

Despite my swirling thoughts, I left my room and headed to the cafeteria.

It was late, but as I entered the cafeteria for dinner, I ran into Fujii-kun just as he was leaving.

“Hinata-kun. Dinner now?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Oh! I forgot to eat dessert!”

He turned right back around and joined me in the cafeteria again.

He looks slim, but he’s a huge eater and says he avoids eating out as much as possible.

Dorm meals are free—or rather, included in the flat dorm fee.

“Where’d you go today?”

“I went to E90.”

“Whoa, another crazy place, huh?”

“Huh? Crazy place?”

“That’s the forest area, right?”

I nodded in affirmation.

“The visibility’s bad, the monsters are quick, and the boss room’s hard to find, so it’s super unpopular. But the monster materials sell for a lot, apparently.”

“You mean Kuna, right? The hide and meat really do fetch high prices.”

“Yep, yep. It’s way more profitable than your average D-rank dungeon.”

“Really!?”

That’s news to me. I’d thought D-rank dungeons would pay even better……

“E90’s monsters are hard to find, and their materials have a lot of uses, so supply and demand drive the prices up. The boss is like a lottery—if you beat it, you might get a super expensive potion, supposedly.”

……Is that boss room really that hard to find?

Maybe we were just lucky to stumble across it.

“That’s impressive.”

“D-rank dungeons are crowded, you see. Tons of people bring back materials, so supply outstrips demand. The stuff I pick up there often goes for as little as 50 yen per piece.”

“50 yen!?”

Isn’t that cheaper than a Kol’s Core!?

“That’s how crowded D-rank dungeons are. I wouldn’t recommend them for making money, but E-rank dungeons don’t level you up……”

Normal people probably go to D-rank dungeons for leveling efficiency instead of E-rank ones.

Since my level’s stuck at 0 and won’t go up anyway, sticking with E90 might be fine for me.

Well, it partly depends on Shino too.

If possible, I think I’ll keep hitting E90 for a while to aim for potions.

The next day.

Another weekday began, marking the third week since I started school.

With familiar steps, I headed toward the school entrance and saw Kamui-san just going in.

For a moment, I recalled Shino and remembered Kamui-san saying she wanted me to call her by her first name too.

Shino feels okay since she reminds me of my little sister, but calling Kamui-san by her first name still feels tough.

“Kamui-san.”

“!? Hinata-kun?”

She turned around and immediately started radiating cold air.

It’s fine in front of me, but I’m still worried.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning!”

Naturally, the other students stared, but I’ve gotten used to it lately—yesterday with Shino, I got tons of looks too. I need to get accustomed to being around Kamui-san as well.

“Huh? You’ve gotten stronger……?”

“Hm? I haven’t gotten stronger.”

“Hmm……”

With my level unable to rise, I can’t get any stronger than this.

I walked side by side with Kamui-san to the classroom.

Entering the classroom together, I felt intense, hostile glares from my classmates—among them, an especially strong murderous intent stood out.

It was Gai-kun, from the same class and hometown.

Strangely, though, compared to Gige, his killing intent felt almost cute, and I nearly smiled. Maybe I’ve gotten used to fighting in dungeons.

Or perhaps my intimidation resistance skill is kicking in.

After classes ended, Gai-kun grabbed me by the collar with a furious expression and dragged me out of the classroom.

Last week, Kamui-san had been around, so he didn’t approach, but today she told me to wait in the classroom because she had student council duties.

Gai-kun forcibly dragged me to the rooftop again.

“Hey, Hinata.”

“Yeah?”

“You’ve been getting real chummy with the Ice Princess lately, huh?”

Ice Princess…… a lot of people call Kamui-san that.

When she lets her guard down, she emits cold air, and she avoids showing emotions in public. Over time, that gave her a cold image, earning her that nickname.

But I know her smiles and her rich emotions.

Hearing her called Ice Princess made me genuinely angry.

“So what?”

“Huh!? A nobody like you—”

《Due to anger, you have acquired the skill ‘Intimidation.’》

“Eek!?”

“Hey, Gai-kun. Kamui-san isn’t some Ice Princess, got it?”

“W-What!?”

“She has her reasons for acting that way, but that’s not who she really is.”

Even I was surprised by how much anger welled up inside me.

Calling her something as pathetic as “Ice Princess” just based on appearances, without knowing how hard she tries every day……

“A weakling like you doesn’t get to play the hero!”

Gai-kun swung his fist at me.

But—it was so slow I could’ve yawned.

It’s strange that an attack from someone with C-rank potential, who should be leveling up and getting stronger, feels this sluggish.

I dodged it slowly.

“Huh!?”

His dumbstruck face passed through my field of vision.

If I just—hit the back of his neck like this, could I make it so he’d never call Kamui-san “Ice Princess” again?

“Hinata-kun!!!!”

!? I stopped my hand mid-swing, reacting to the voice from behind.

Turning toward it, I saw Shino standing there, her expression on the verge of tears.

“Hinata-kun? Please…… don’t—don’t kill him!”

“!?”

“Huh!? Kill me? Who the hell—oh, now it’s the Bug Princess?”

Bug Princess?

Hearing the term “Bug Princess” directed at Shino sparked the same anger in me as when Kamui-san was called “Ice Princess.”

“You bastard! A weakling like you doesn’t get to stand out!”

He came at me with another punch.

Shino, tears in her eyes, shook her head at me.

The meaning of “don’t kill him.”

Could it be……

I dodged his fist and lightly tapped his arm.

“Owwwowowowowowow!!”

Gai-kun let out an exaggerated scream and writhed on the ground.

Shino ran over and grabbed my arm with a worried look.

“Damn it!! It hurts like hell!!”

I’d hit him so lightly—could he really be this dramatic?

Shino, who’d approached unnoticed, tugged at my arm.

“Hey, let’s go?”

“Y-Yeah……”

She pulled me away from the rooftop.

Looking back, I saw Gai-kun clutching his struck arm, glaring at me through tears of pain.

We hurried down the stairs from the rooftop to the first floor, where I called out to Shino.

“Sh-Shino?”

She let go of my arm, which she’d been gripping tightly, and looked straight up at me.

“Hinata-kun…… you were about to kill that guy just now, weren’t you?”

“Huh!?”

Her clear eyes peered into mine.

Those eyes held no lies or doubt—just pure, honest words.

“We haven’t known each other long, but I know you’re not that kind of person, Hinata-kun. If you’d hit the back of his neck like that…… he’d definitely be dead.”

Shino’s words hit me like a hammer to the head.

It’s true I’d thought I could strike the defenseless back of Gai-kun’s neck.

For a split second, I’d considered it—thinking it might be okay, that it could make up for the insult to Kamui-san. But I never—never intended to kill him.

At that moment, a familiar voice echoed from down the hallway.

“Hinata-kun!?”

Looking over, I saw Kamui-san staring at us with a tense expression.

Shino on my right, Kamui-san on my left.

The two of them brought me to a private training room.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kagura Shino.”

“I’m Kamui Hinata.”

They shook hands.

For some reason, I hurriedly canceled out the intense cold aura radiating from Kamui-san.

“So that’s your power.”

Sparks were practically flying between them……

Uh, well…… both of you…… I almost killed someone, but…… how do I put this…… I’m too shocked to even be shocked……

“Hinata-kun!”

They both turned to look at me at the same time.

For a moment, I felt silly for having been down about it.

“Both of you, how about we calm down for a sec?”

I sat down on the spot, and they sat in front of me.

“To me, it looked like Kagura-san was bullying Hinata-kun.”

“Huh!? Me!?”

“Yes.”

“No way! Me, bullying Hinata-kun? If anything, I was worried about him.”

“Worried?”

Well, what Shino said was kind of true.

“Kamui-san, what Shino’s saying is real.”

“!?”

Huh? This was the first time I’d seen Kamui-san look this shocked.

Well, we haven’t known each other that long, but that’s quite an overreaction.

“It seems I was about to kill Gai-kun.”

“What!? Is that true!?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

Seeing Shino nod, Kamui-san’s expression shifted to one of deep concern.

I then explained everything that happened from the classroom to the rooftop.

“Hinata-kun, I want to ask something. Do you think you’re weak?”

“Huh? Of course. I think I’m the weakest.”

After all, I’m level 0.

But Shino let out a big sigh in response.

“Troll.”

“Troll?”

“Think back to when we met.”

For some reason, Kamui-san flinched.

“Hm. I remember.”

“That troll had no external injuries. Except for one spot.”

External injuries, huh……

“There was a single strike mark on the back of the troll’s neck. In other words, Hinata-kun, you took it down in one hit, right?”

“Huh? W-Well…… that’s a weak point, so it was probably a critical hit—”

“True. Plenty of explorers can identify weak points and target them. But you were alone back then. And even when we fought together, it was the same, wasn’t it?”

“Y-Yeah, it was.”

Kamui-san glanced back and forth between me and Shino.

“Accurately hitting the weak point of a moving troll isn’t something normal people can do. Not me, not even Kamui-san here.”

“……”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. I can’t do that either, though I think I could take one down in a single hit.”

“True. With that cold aura of yours.”

Kamui-san nodded in response to the question.

That cold aura of hers is terrifying……

“But Hinata-kun doesn’t have an attack-specialized power like Kamui-san’s. Even with that ability, landing a fatal blow on a target in one strike is pretty tough.”

Still, Kamui-san’s been fidgeting and restless this whole time.

“Hey, Kamui-san.”

“Yes?”

“Hehe. I know about Hinata-kun’s special power.”

“!?”

“What!? Really!?”

Wait…… I have a special power!?

“Huh? Why’s Hinata-kun the one surprised?”

“No, I didn’t think I had any special power.”

“What? But you use it all the time. That disappearing thing.”

“Oh—that!”

So the special power was my Absolute Stealth!

Kamui-san, glaring at me with a super frustrated look, was kind of cute.

“N-No, it’s not a big deal. I can just disappear, that’s all. Look.”

I showed off Absolute Stealth in front of Kamui-san.

“!? H-Hinata-kun disappeared!?”

“Amazing, right? Vanishing right in front of us.”

“I’m right here, though? You really can’t see me?”

“Nope, not at all.”

“Yeah, I can’t see you, sense you, or hear you at all.”

Considering Shino’s power, it’s surprising she can’t hear me.

I canceled Absolute Stealth.

“By the way, Shino, why were you on the rooftop?”

“Hm? I heard your heartbeat coming from the rooftop.”

……?

“Heartbeat?”

“Yeah. Everyone’s heartbeat sounds different, you know that?”

“No, that’s completely new to me.”

“Hehe. Your heartbeat’s kind of on the cute side, I’d say.”

C-Cute!?

I’ve never heard my own heartbeat before.

Actually, I’ve never heard anyone’s heartbeat or noticed any differences.

“My power lets me hear all the sounds around me. That’s why I usually wear earplugs shaped like earphones—otherwise, I can’t handle it.”

“I see. My power comes from the blessing of the Ice God, so I’m always emitting cold air. Right now, Hinata-kun’s canceling it out, so it doesn’t look like it’s there, but it’s actually pouring out at an insane rate.”

“Hehe. Yeah, I figured as much since I can hear the sound of the cold air coming from you, Kamui-san.”

She can hear that much, huh.

“Wait, even with earphones, you can still hear Hinata-kun’s voice?”

“Spot on!”

Kamui-san’s dumbfounded look was cute again.

“Hmph. Hinata-kun?”

“Y-Yeah?”

Shino narrowing her eyes at me was also pretty cute.

“Your heart rate’s going up.”

“Wha—!? D-Don’t just listen to people’s heartbeats without permission!”

Both of them burst into laughter at my flustered reaction.

“Oh, Shino.”

Every time I call her Shino, Kamui-san flinches.

“Can I ask about that—‘Bug Princess’ thing from earlier?”

“Oh, that…… I guess people really do call me that.”

“Bug Princess?”

“Gai-kun called Shino ‘Bug Princess,’ and it really pissed me off.”

“Huh!? You got mad for me, Hinata-kun? Hey, hey!”

Shino pressed closer, but of course, I’m still angry even now.

I don’t know why, but I couldn’t accept Shino being called a bug—it just irritated me beyond reason.

“Yeah. The Shino I know is a good person. Like Kamui-san, she’s hardworking. I haven’t known you both long enough to know everything about you, but what I feel from you both seems genuine. That’s exactly why I can’t forgive anyone calling Kamui-san ‘Ice Princess’ or Shino ‘Bug Princess.’”

“Hehe. If Hinata-kun’s getting mad for me, I can’t even be upset about being called that all this time. Right, Kamui-san?”

“Yeah. But I’ve come to think it’s inevitable.”

“Kamui-san’s too kind. I’m over here thinking, ‘How dare they call me whatever they want without knowing my situation.’ I didn’t know Kamui-san’s circumstances, but hearing she has S-rank potential, I kinda figured it out.”

S-rank potential? Does that have something to do with it?

Seeing my puzzled look, Shino giggled and explained.

“S-rank potential means having a power that surpasses normal humans. Like Kamui-san’s ice ability—it’s probably the pinnacle of ice attributes, right? It’s so strong that cold air just leaks out naturally. My power, for now, is super sharp hearing. Not just good—it picks up every sound around me. I can even tell someone’s health condition just from the sound.”

Shino explained it calmly, but there must’ve been struggles behind it I can’t even imagine.

I can tell just by looking at Kamui-san.

Even at home, she can’t stop the cold air, so she has to constantly suppress her emotions.

Shino must have some kind of restriction at home too.

“So, I can’t go without earphones. I’ve told the school, so I wear them even during class. That means I can’t hear anyone around me, and the teachers accommodate that. But to normal people, it’s a weird sight. So they started calling me…… someone who ignores others, the ‘Ignore Princess,’ and over time, it spread and turned into ‘Bug Princess.’”

“Yeah. I’m always expressionless, so I get called ‘Ice Princess.’ Ironically, since I use cold air, the ice part isn’t exactly wrong……”

They both gave lonely smiles.

It’s a smile only they could share, understanding each other.

“H-Hey!”

Feeling like I had to say something, I blurted out, and they both turned to me.

Two pairs of beautiful eyes fixed on me.

“……I don’t have S-rank potential…… but I’ve got the opposite.”

“Opposite?” “Opposite?”

“……I was born with a level of—0.”

They tilted their heads in confusion.

“I was told I could never become an explorer. In the countryside, rumors spread fast. Even if me or my family wanted to keep it secret, it didn’t matter. Before I knew it, people called me ‘Eternal Level 0.’ I didn’t understand what made me different, but they branded me as having no future and kept putting me down. So I trained my body and studied hard to get into this school, to prove them wrong. But someone from my middle school was here, and people started keeping their distance again. Nothing changed.”

Why is it?

Because I’m frustrated? Because I’m sad?

More than anger at others, it’s the anger of “Why just me?” that overflows.

Then, I felt a warm touch on both my hands.

“Hey, Hinata-kun. Even if that’s true, I’m glad.”

“Thanks to you coming to this school…… I’ve been able to touch people and smile at my mom. I’m really glad you’re here, Hinata-kun.”

“!?”

I wanted someone to acknowledge me. To give meaning to my being here. Not just my little sister or mom, but truly, someone.

Before I knew it, tears streamed down my cheeks, and they were crying big tears too.

“Thank you for teaching me the warmth of touching people, Hinata-kun.”

“Thank you for letting your voice reach me, Hinata-kun.”

They must’ve had it so much harder than me.

Yet they’re thanking me—me, a Level 0 nobody.

“No, thank you both. For being kind to someone like me.”

I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

I can’t thank them enough.

“Mmph. Hinata-kun, that’s banned.”

“Huh?”

Wiping her tears, Shino suddenly glared at me.

“‘Someone like me’ is banned now! I like you because you’re Hinata-kun. Got it?”

“O-Okay……”

“M-Me too! And I’ve got a complaint too, Hinata-kun!”

“Huh!? K-Kamui-san too?”

“That! I don’t like ‘Kamui-san’! You call Shino-chan by her name, so why not me?”

Kamui-san leaned in close.

“Uh! T-That’s because……”

“Ohh, your heart rate’s spiking~”

“Shino! Stop listening to my heart rate without permission!”

“But~ I can’t help it if I hear it~ Right, Hina-chan?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Hehe. Since you both have the same name, if ‘Hinata-chan’ is hard to say—how about just ‘Hina’?”

I was startled by Shino’s sudden suggestion.

“H-Hina!?”

“That okay with you, Hina-chan?”

“Yeah! I like it!”

They got closer, their bodies nearly touching my arms.

“O-Okay, okay! —Hina, let’s keep getting along.”

“Yeah!”

Hina’s—formerly Kamui-san’s—radiant smile felt like it could melt my heart.

“Pfft. Your heart rate’s off the charts.”

In a way, Shino’s teasing saved me.

“So, we’re done talking, but what do you guys usually do here?”

Shino asked about the private training room.

“I practice suppressing my Ice God’s blessing here.”

“Suppressing practice?”

“I have Hinata-kun glare at me, and I endure it.”

“T-That’s how it is……”

Hina said she wanted to keep practicing this week and had reserved the room for a full week.

“Then I’ll join too!”

“It’s pretty tough, you know?”

“That bad?”

“Yeah, it’s really scary.”

S-Scary!? Hina probably finds it scary because of some trauma, but……

I just glare, that’s all.

“Well, since we’re here, I’ll give it a shot too!”

“Yeah. That okay with you, Hinata-kun?”

“Sure, I don’t mind.”

They stood on the other side of the training area, taking deep breaths to prepare.

“Anytime!” “Bring it!”

“Got it. Here I go—glaring!”

I took a deep breath and—glared as hard as I could!

“Wait!!” “Wait!!”

The moment I started, they both collapsed to the floor, shouting.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“Hina-chan!? Every day!?”

“N-No, it’s…… it’s gotten way too strong…… Last week it wasn’t this bad……”

I rushed over, handing them drinks and towels I’d stashed in my spatial storage.

I’d prepared everything last night after regretting not having stuff ready when Shino was struggling yesterday.

Even though it was just a moment, both were sweating profusely.

“Hinata-kun? How do you glare, exactly?”

“Uh, like—grr! Like that?”

“Keep that feeling in mind.”

“?”

“Don’t ever use it on anyone else, okay? Absolutely not.”

“O-Okay……”

“It’d be a disaster. Anyone else would be traumatized.”

Shino let out a big sigh as she said that.

Just from glaring?

Oh, right—I’d gained that ‘Intimidation’ skill earlier.

I must’ve activated it unconsciously while glaring. It might’ve amplified the effect. I’ll be careful from now on.

“For someone who says they’re Level 0, why are you so strong, Hinata-kun?”

“Yeah, you’ve got this master-like vibe. Kinda like my grandpa.”

“Your grandpa? You mean Kamui Jizou-sama?”

Kamui Jizou-sama?

“Shino-chan, you know my grandpa?”

Since Hina called him her grandpa, it must be that old man.

“No way I wouldn’t. Among warrior families, there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know Jizou-sama.”

Oh yeah, yesterday at parting, she said the Kagura family was a warrior family.

I think Hina told me the Kamui family was a warrior family too, back when they started driving her home from school.

“And Hina-chan, you must know my brother, right?”

“Kagura Touma-sama?”

“Yep, my idiot brother. Plus, I’ve heard our family’s been at odds with the Kamui family since way back, so I naturally heard about Jizou-sama too.”

They’re getting excited about stuff I don’t know at all.

They just met today, but they’re already this close—impressive.

If anything, Shino’s got amazing communication skills.

Hina can chat like a normal girl and have fun when she speaks freely too.

“Sorry, Hinata-kun. This is all stuff you don’t know.”

“No, no. Jizou-sama’s that old man, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Huh!? You’ve already met him!?”

“Yeah. I visited Hina’s house once.”

“Oh! Hinata-kun, my family had a request. If possible, could you eat dinner with us every day from now on?”

“!?” “!?”

“Um…… my mom…… she wants to eat with me…… and I……”

Hina said it apologetically.

Shino looked at her curiously and asked,

“You don’t usually eat together?”

“N-No…… I end up letting out cold air if I’m not careful.”

I figured…… When I visited Hina’s house last week, I wondered if she ate alone, and it seems I was right.

“S-Since when?”

“Since my power awakened at ten, I guess. Embarrassingly, when I eat something tasty, I can’t stop the cold air……”

“Wait, Hina-chan, you mean you’ve been eating flavorless food all this time!?”

“Y-Yeah……”

My mind couldn’t keep up with this shocking revelation.

Eating tasteless food? Purposely making it unappetizing? For five years?

Then, last Friday when Hina ate so happily……

And the Kamui family watching her so fondly……

Noticing the change in my expression, Hina hurriedly said,

“It’s fine! It’s my power’s fault! So you don’t need to feel sad, Hinata-kun, okay? But…… if you could, even just sometimes, eat dinner with me, I’d be happy.”

“!? Hinata-kun.”

“Y-Yeah?”

Shino stared at me with a stern look.

“From now on, we’re eating lunch together every day. All of us.”

Her steady gaze was trying to tell me something.

Oh, right!

“Got it. And dinner too…… if it’s not a bother, I’ll come eat every day. Weekends we can figure out? I want to hit the dungeons too.”

“Yeah! Thank you! It’d make me happy if Shino-chan came too!”

“Me too? Is that okay?”

“Of course!”

Hina’s dazzling smile made both me and Shino happy, and we couldn’t help but smile too.

From that day, I decided to prioritize spending time with Hina every day.