SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 69 - Launch
After finishing pouring the healing potion into the bathtub, I returned to the living room.
“It’s ready.”
I announced to the two of them as I returned to the living room and sat down on the sofa. We resumed our pizza-eating and drinking.
“Okay, Asakura-san, go ahead.”
“Alright, I’ll go.”
As Nanapon told Kaede-chan to go first, she got up and left the living room. They probably decided the order while I was preparing the bath.
“Kaede-chan will probably be quick, so let’s prepare her favorite cocoa.”
I headed to the kitchen to boil some water.
“Wow! You’re so thoughtful, Elenora-san!”
“Want some too?”
“Please make it for me after I take my bath.”
“Sure, sure.”
I filled the kettle with water and started boiling it. I took two cups from the shelf, filled them with cocoa powder, and returned to the sofa.
“How’s the alcohol? It’s your first time, right?”
She had been drinking moderately but didn’t seem drunk.
“I’m fine for now. I don’t feel drunk at all.”
She might have a high tolerance. At least she’s not completely intolerant.
“Just drink moderately. It’s easy to go overboard when you’re a student.”
“Were you like that too, Elenora-san?”
“Oh yes, I caused Kaede-chan a lot of trouble. To this day, she won’t let me into her room.”
“Is it because you tried to slice a table or claimed you could cut down a utility pole?”
Kaede-chan sure does spill the beans easily. Did I ever say I could cut down a utility pole? What would be the point in doing that?
“Yeah, I’ve given up binge drinking since then.”
“But you two are drinking quite a bit, aren’t you?”
“We’re only on our fourth can. We’re not in the mood to drink much with Nanapon here.”
“As long as we’re not chugging, we’ll be fine.”
“Alright… By the way, what kind of mask should I wear?”
“Any mask will do. Even a comical or skeletal mask is fine.”
“I don’t want either. It would draw attention. You’d be the one getting laughed at for being with someone wearing such a mask.”
Fair point.
“As long as it hides your face, it should be fine.”
“I’ll think about it. I have to go back to university, so please give me some time.”
“Sure, prioritize your studies.”
“Yes, Master.”
Good, good. I wish Okita-kun could learn a thing or two from her straightforwardness.
While Nanapon and I were chatting, a ‘beep’ came from the kitchen. I got up, turned off the heat, and poured hot water into the cups filled with cocoa powder. The sweet aroma of cocoa filled the air.
“It’s cold…”
As I finished making the cocoa, Kaede-chan returned to the living room. I carried the cup filled with cocoa back and placed it on the low table in front of the sofa.
“Here you go, Kaede-chan. Hot cocoa.”
“Wow, you’re so considerate, Senpai! I love you!”
Sure, sure.
Kaede-chan held the cup in both hands, warming her fingers as she began to drink the cocoa.
“Next, it’s my turn. Elenora-san, I have a sensitive tongue, so please make mine when I get out.”
With that, Nanapon stood up.
“You have a sensitive tongue? Want iced cocoa?”
“That’s counterproductive.”
“It was a joke. Just take a warm shower when you get out.”
“Okay.”
Nanapon grabbed her usual bunny backpack and left the living room. Once she was gone, I returned to the kitchen, poured hot water into the other cup, and placed it on the table.
“Senpai, look, look!”
Kaede-chan set her cocoa on the table, rolled up her sleeves, and showed me her hands and arms.
“It’s really smooth now, isn’t it?”
Honestly, I couldn’t tell. Kaede-chan’s skin was never rough to begin with.
“No, touch it. You definitely don’t get it.”
I got caught.
“Let me see.”
I caressed Kaede-chan’s arm and took her hand.
“It does feel smoother than before.”
“See! You should’ve told me sooner!”
I guess girls really are into this kind of thing.
“Geez! But it’s cold.”
Kaede-chan picked up her cocoa and started drinking again.
“Want me to warm you up?”
As I said that, Kaede-chan looked at me with a half-smile.
“You’re Elenora-san, remember?”
… It was worth a try.
“Do you think Nanapon will get mad if we switch back?”
“She’d definitely be mad.”
“I wonder if she has no intention of getting along with Okita-kun?”
“Probably not. She looks up to you, or rather, Elenora-san.”
I don’t get it. We’re the same person, after all.
“Let’s give up on that. The more she gets along with Elenora-san, the more she solidifies her anti-Okita stance. It’s beyond mere androphobia now.”
“True. But you should be careful, your speech is turning into Okita-senpai.”
“I don’t like being Elenora-san when I’m at home, especially when I’m drinking with Kaede-chan. We can’t even hug.”
“Well, why don’t you just hug then?”
“I’ll save it for next time.”
We’ll do it when we celebrate just the two of us.
“Fine, but please be careful. I don’t like it when you use Elenora-san’s tone while appearing as Okita-senpai.”
“I am being careful, so it’s okay.”
“Alright, but Nanaka-chan will be back soon. Maybe you should switch to Elenora-san?”
She won’t take a long bath, after all.
“Alright, I’ll switch. But between Elenora-san and Okita-kun, you prefer Okita-kun, right?”
“Of course, the Senpai I know is Okita-senpai.”
I heard that as ‘the Senpai I like is Okita-senpai’ (selective hearing).
“By the way, the materials for the enhancement potions are Kira-Kira Grass, Sara-Sara Grass, and Fwa-Fwa Grass. Do you know any of them?”
“I know Fwa-Fwa Grass; it grows in the Kuner Ruins. The others, I’m not sure. Most adventurers at the Ikebukuro Guild are beginners, so the items they bring are usually from Eden Forest or the Kuner Ruins.”
“So the other two types of grass must grow somewhere else. But it’s good that Fwa-Fwa Grass is in the Kuner Ruins. It’ll be useful for us, who wear light armor, to make Defense Enhancement Potions.”
“Is Fwa-Fwa Grass sold anywhere?”
“No, it’s literally a fluffy grass. It feels good to touch, but that’s about it.”
So we’ll have to go pick it ourselves. If Okita-kun goes to the Kuner Ruins, he should be fine. He won’t get hassled by other adventurers.
“This week Nanaka-san has to go to university and is thinking about her disguise, so I’ll have Okita-kun go to the Kuner Ruins.”
“Yay! Okita-senpai after a long time!”
Kaede-chan also seems pleased.
“We should really go; it’s suspicious for someone not going on adventures to level up. Your Status Card is at the guild, after all.”
“Don’t worry, I have your Status Card.”
Again, Kaede-chan has it.
“Why do you have it? Give it back.”
“I can’t. It would confuse people if you had two, and I can’t hand over your card. Other guild staff would find it suspicious.”
“It’s suspicious for you to have it too!”
“According to the story, I’m an obsessive girl who keeps her live-in boyfriend’s Status Card close at hand.”
That must be Satsuki-san’s doing.
“Well, can’t be helped then.”
It’s for my live-in boyfriend, after all.
“Still, that boyfriend should visit sometimes.”
Now I’m feeling reluctant to go.
“Shall we go together?”
“Will you wake up?”
“I will, I will.”
“Hmm… alright, let’s do it.”
Kaede-chan is skeptical but also seems pleased.
“Let’s take a taxi; I don’t want to ride the crowded morning train.”
“That sounds good. Shall we do it tomorrow? I’m off the day after tomorrow, so let’s go drinking after work.”
“Sounds good. I’ll take you home!”
“Of course, you will.”
Well, yeah. We’re going to the same place, after all.
Just as Kaede-chan and I were settling our plans for tomorrow, the door to the living room opened.
“Wow, it’s really as cold as Asakura-san said.”
Nanapon quickly sat on the sofa and started drinking her cocoa.
“Did your skin get smoother?”
Might as well ask.
“It did! It’s amazing! But let’s do it in the spring next time. It’s kinda cold.”
When I did it in October, it was cold too. I regretted doing such a pointless experiment, but seeing them happy made it worth it.
After that, Kaede-chan and Nanapon seemed satisfied, so we resumed the after-party and had a great time until late. It was 11 PM when the party ended, so we called a taxi for Nanapon. Since we had to get up early the next day, we decided to go to bed.
After going to the toilet, I stood in front of Kaede-chan’s room and tried to turn the doorknob. But as expected, it was locked.
So much for that…
I should really give up…