Chapter 78 of 100
Chapter 78
11 min read2,636 words
The reserved seats in the shinkansen car we chartered from Shuou Hero Academy are arranged in pairs.
Inevitably, someone will have to sit next to me.
Come to think of it, I haven’t decided who that will be.
After all, the most comfortable choice would be Ishihara, or as a second option, the protagonist.
“I’ve decided to sit with Ishihara.”
“Understood.”
These guys?
Seeing Ishihara and Kurose team up already gives me a headache.
I can predict the chaos that’s about to unfold.
“Of course, Eri will take the seat next to you. I can’t give it to anyone else, especially not to the cow! I won’t yield to the princess or Makoppi either!”
Nishizawa steps forward, crossing her arms.
The moment she confidently calls you "master," everyone’s attention is drawn to us.
Oh, is this the start?
This is going to be a mess.
“Hmph. Laundry board. Do you even know that Kim Deok-sung doesn’t like you? A wife should follow her husband. Kim Deok-sung, the seat next to you is mine! If you want, you can touch my thighs as much as you like!”
What?
“Hey, Rin. Are you really crazy?”
Is she trying to make someone a pervert with such outrageous statements?
“Hmm, maybe you don’t like my thighs? I thought they were one of my confident areas... I even wore black stockings that men like...”
Rin’s face turns red.
She fidgets with her skirt, revealing her smooth legs in black stockings.
“Touching thighs, huh? Kids these days are bold.”
“It’s hot. Hot. I envy the youth of these young people.”
“Isn’t it a bit much to show affection in public?”
“I did the same when I was young. Hehehehe.”
The monologues of the passengers, who are here to board the shinkansen, ring in my ears.
My headache intensifies.
This is a new pattern to deal with.
Then,
“Shizukanae. Men don’t really like such bold appeals. It’s not demure, is it?”
Kasumi, the long-haired girl with a smile, steps forward and rebukes Shizukanae.
“Huh? Kasumi-senpai. It’s a foul for a second-year to interfere.”
“Ara, Shizukanae. Are you lacking in confidence in your charm?”
“Master, I also want to run for the seat next to you. Is that okay?”
Shizukanae and Rin start bickering, and Makoto subtly joins in, making the situation increasingly chaotic.
How long do they plan to fight?
I’m starting to get tired of this destructive argument.
The shinkansen to Kyoto is about to arrive.
[The shinkansen will arrive at the platform shortly.]
[For your safety, please step back behind the yellow line.]
The announcement is made as the shinkansen we chartered arrives.
The girls are still arguing over who will sit next to me.
I can’t let this continue.
We’ll miss the train.
I take a deep breath.
I push my way through them.
“Master?”
“Kim Deok-sung?”
“Junior?”
“Master?”
I hear various embarrassing titles.
I grab the wrist of the platinum-blonde girl, Olivia.
“Y-You...”
Olivia’s face turns red.
She stammers.
Hey, I’m embarrassed too, you know?
“I’m going to sit with her, so everyone should know that. Anyway, it’s childish to fight over such a trivial matter.”
Oh, my limbs.
There’s no choice.
If I don’t say something, they’ll keep fighting forever.
I have to end this.
Besides, since two of the comfortable girls decided to sit together, the only choice left for me is Olivia.
At least Olivia is the most comfortable and listens to me reasonably well.
She’s also the most beautiful among them.
“Junior is indeed weak only for the Knight Princess. Is there really no way to beat the Knight Princess, who is your first? Even if I can’t be your first, I’m fine being your girlfriend.”
“Master, that’s too much. Eri can do just as well as the princess! I hate how you favor the princess. Eri is upset!”
“Kik... I... I lost to Bonaparte again...”
“Master... I’m fine... I’m fine. I don’t really care...”
The girls, who suddenly seem demure, start spouting headache-inducing lines.
I wish I could say something, but the train is about to leave, so I can’t.
I grab Olivia’s wrist and lead her onto the shinkansen.
Now, all that’s left is to head to Kyoto.
The person who can be by your side
The train departs with the students on board.
Since the academy chartered the entire car, there are only students inside.
The scenery outside the window passes by quickly.
“Ugh...”
Olivia, sitting next to me, groans.
She places her hand on her chest.
I feel uneasy.
“S-Surely, you can’t do without me, your dedicated maid. R-Really... You’re such a nuisance... But, I-I can’t help it... Fine! I’ll take care of you until we reach Kyoto...!”
Olivia’s face is red.
She stammers, looking embarrassed.
Fortunately, there are only students in the train.
If there were other passengers, I might have died of embarrassment.
“Tch.”
“Kik...”
“Master...”
Sighs from Nishizawa, Rin, and Makoto, who are in the same car.
Kasumi-senpai is in a different car since she’s a second-year.
“Huh, huh, huh, huh... Of course, the only person who can be by your side is me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte...”
Olivia giggles after hearing the sighs.
Though I don’t understand, she seems happy, which is a relief.
Click.
Olivia extends the armrest of the shinkansen seat to my side.
Rustle.
She takes out a sealed container and a soda from her bag.
Why a soda?
Click.
Olivia opens the container.
Inside are plenty of boiled eggs.
“I heard that in Korea, people eat boiled eggs and soda when they go on train trips. Hehe. I specially boiled these eggs for you from the early morning, as the noble French princess that I am! Enjoy them!”
Olivia boasts with a proud expression.
I sigh.
Is this the 80s?
Eating boiled eggs and soda on a train trip.
And the rabbit-shaped apple before, who keeps feeding Olivia these distorted Korean cultural facts?
‘Probably Bella.’
In the original work, Bella’s misguided advice often leads to a distorted understanding of Japanese culture, so it’s likely her.
I should have known from the beginning, given how she’s been acting as the master.
Tap, tap.
Olivia carefully peels the eggshell with her white hands.
A pristine white egg is revealed.
“Here, eat it! Open your mouth, Aah~!”
Olivia suddenly thrusts her hand forward.
The moment she says “Aah~,” everyone’s attention is drawn to us.
Embarrassing.
I inwardly sigh and take the egg she offers.
“How is it? The taste of the boiled egg I made for you!”
Olivia points at me with her finger.
I chew the egg.
It’s a normal egg. Not particularly delicious.
Eggs are just eggs.
I turn my head.
Olivia’s eyes, which are glancing at me while blushing, sparkle.
“It’s good.”
I just tell her it’s good.
It doesn’t cost anything.
Olivia’s cheeks tremble upon hearing my response.
Her face turns bright red.
Olivia giggles.
“Hehe, hehe. Right? Of course, the eggs I make can’t be bad! I’m your number one dedicated maid!”
Everything is fine, but can you stop with the number one talk?
“Princess... You’re amazing... A formidable opponent. Eri can be the number one slave for Master too.”
“Investigating Korean culture... So that’s why. That’s why I lost to Bonaparte.”
“...I also want to eat eggs with Master.”
Now, the complaints of Rin, Nishizawa, and Makoto sound like a broken record.
What is Rin thinking?
“Here, drink some soda too! Anyway, you’re so clumsy. Fool. Idiot.”
Squeak.
Olivia opens the soda and places it in front of me.
I drink the soda.
The cold sweetness soothes my throat.
While not as good as cola, carbonation is always right.
“By the way, Olivia.”
“Speak. Hehe. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll answer anything! Just to thank you!”
Olivia, who is making a pleased sound, says.
Tap, tap.
While peeling the egg, I say,
“Eating soda and boiled eggs on a train trip is something that was popular in Korea in the 80s.”
“Huh!?”
Olivia is startled and exclaims.
Her face turns red.
“People don’t eat that nowadays.”
I put the peeled egg in my mouth.
“Ugh...”
Olivia groans.
She bites her lip.
“W-Why did you have to say that now?! Fool! Idiot! Sea cucumber! Abalone! Clam! You’re the worst, most mannerless man who doesn’t know anything about mood!”
Olivia shouts with a red face.
I knew this would happen.
It’s a familiar reaction.
I silently take out a bento from my bag.
Olivia’s gaze trembles as she looks at the bento on the armrest.
It’s a Tokyo Station limited edition ekiben, the Tokyo Bento.
It’s said to be a collection of famous Tokyo dishes like grilled salmon, beef and bamboo shoot stew, and tamagoyaki, but I don’t understand why there’s bamboo shoot stew.
“Let’s eat this together then.”
A train trip in Japan is all about the ekiben.
I’ve always wanted to try one, seeing them in anime.
I’m curious about how they taste.
“T-Together...?”
Olivia’s neck turns red.
Her hands tremble.
“Mmm...”
A strange groan escapes Olivia’s mouth.
“Don’t want to? If you don’t, forget it.”
“No, no, no, no, no one said no!”
Olivia shakes her head vigorously.
I hand her an extra plastic fork, just in case.
Olivia, holding the fork, says while peeling the packaging,
“D-Do you... not feed me...?”
What?
I turn my head, and Olivia quickly shakes her head.
“N-No, forget what I just said!! What, what did I say?! I, I don’t have any ulterior motives!! It just slipped out!! That’s all!!”
Olivia’s blue eyes tremble.
Anyone can see she wants to be fed.
Is she a child? Really.
I sigh, tear open the chopsticks, and pick up a piece of tamagoyaki, bringing it to Olivia’s mouth.
“Here. If you don’t eat it, I will.”
“Hmph. I, I don’t like such embarrassing acts, but I can’t waste food. Fine! I’ll eat it. Consider it an honor. Got it?”
Olivia, with a red face, takes the tamagoyaki with many excuses.
“Seeing this... I can no longer tolerate Bonaparte’s tyranny.”
“Don’t hold back. Cow. This time, even I will cheer for the cow.”
“Nishizawa-san, Shizukanae-san. Don’t cause a disturbance on the train. The Student Council President is watching!”
The three girls start arguing again.
Then,
“Junior students. I believe I told you not to cause a disturbance on the train before we left.”
Arisu’s voice is heard.
“I’m sorry, President-senpai.”
“P-Please just this once?”
“I tried to stop them?”
“No excuses.”
The three girls are dragged out of the car by Arisu.
Now, all that’s left is to head to Kyoto.
The person who can be by your side
The train departs with the students on board.
Since the academy chartered the entire car, there are only students inside.
The scenery outside the window passes by quickly.
“Ugh...”
Olivia, sitting next to me, groans.
She places her hand on her chest.
I feel uneasy.
“S-Surely, you can’t do without me, your dedicated maid. R-Really... You’re such a nuisance... But, I-I can’t help it... Fine! I’ll take care of you until we reach Kyoto...!”
Olivia’s face is red.
She stammers, looking embarrassed.
Fortunately, there are only students in the train.
If there were other passengers, I might have died of embarrassment.
“Tch.”
“Kik...”
“Master...”
Sighs from Nishizawa, Rin, and Makoto, who are in the same car.
Kasumi-senpai is in a different car since she’s a second-year.
“Hehe, hehe, hehe, hehe... Of course, the only person who can be by your side is me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte...”
Olivia giggles after hearing the sighs.
Though I don’t understand, she seems happy, which is a relief.
Click.
Olivia extends the armrest of the shinkansen seat to my side.
Rustle.
She takes out a sealed container and a soda from her bag.
Why a soda?
Click.
Olivia opens the container.
Inside are plenty of boiled eggs.
“I heard that in Korea, people eat boiled eggs and soda when they go on train trips. Hehe. I specially boiled these eggs for you from the early morning, as the noble French princess that I am! Enjoy them!”
Olivia boasts with a proud expression.
I sigh.
Is this the 80s?
Eating boiled eggs and soda on a train trip.
And the rabbit-shaped apple before, who keeps feeding Olivia these distorted Korean cultural facts?
‘Probably Bella.’
In the original work, Bella’s misguided advice often leads to a distorted understanding of Japanese culture, so it’s likely her.
I should have known from the beginning, given how she’s been acting as the master.
Tap, tap.
Olivia carefully peels the eggshell with her white hands.
A pristine white egg is revealed.
“Here, eat it! Open your mouth, Aah~!”
Olivia suddenly thrusts her hand forward.
The moment she says “Aah~,” everyone’s attention is drawn to us.
Embarrassing.
I inwardly sigh and take the egg she offers.
“How is it? The taste of the boiled egg I made for you!”
Olivia points at me with her finger.
I chew the egg.
It’s a normal egg. Not particularly delicious.
Eggs are just eggs.
I turn my head.
Olivia’s eyes, which are glancing at me while blushing, sparkle.
“It’s good.”
I just tell her it’s good.
It doesn’t cost anything.
Olivia’s cheeks tremble upon hearing my response.
Her face turns bright red.
Olivia giggles.
“Hehe, hehe. Right? Of course, the eggs I make can’t be bad! I’m your number one dedicated maid!”
Everything is fine, but can you stop with the number one talk?
“Princess... You’re amazing... A formidable opponent. Eri can be the number one slave for Master too.”
“Investigating Korean culture... So that’s why. That’s why I lost to Bonaparte.”
“...I also want to eat eggs with Master.”
Now, the complaints of Rin, Nishizawa, and Makoto sound like a broken record.
What is Rin thinking?
“Here, drink some soda too! Anyway, you’re so clumsy. Fool. Idiot.”
Squeak.
Olivia opens the soda and places it in front of me.
I drink the soda.
The cold sweetness soothes my throat.
While not as good as cola, carbonation is always right.
“By the way, Olivia.”
“Speak. Hehe. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll answer anything! Just to thank you!”
Olivia, who is making a pleased sound, says.
Tap, tap.
While peeling the egg, I say,
“Eating soda and boiled eggs on a train trip is something that was popular in Korea in the 80s.”
“Huh!?”
Olivia is startled and exclaims.
Her face turns red.
“People don’t eat that nowadays.”
I put the peeled egg in my mouth.
“Ugh...”
Olivia groans.
She bites her lip.
“W-Why did you have to say that now?! Fool! Idiot! Sea cucumber! Abalone! Clam! You’re the worst, most mannerless man who doesn’t know anything about mood!”
Olivia shouts with a red face.
I knew this would happen.
It’s a familiar reaction.
I silently take out a bento from my bag.
Olivia’s gaze trembles as she looks at the bento on the armrest.
It’s a Tokyo Station limited edition ekiben, the Tokyo Bento.
It’s said to be a collection of famous Tokyo dishes like grilled salmon, beef and bamboo shoot stew, and tamagoyaki, but I don’t understand why there’s bamboo shoot stew.
“Let’s eat this together then.”
A train trip in Japan is all about the ekiben.
I’ve always wanted to try one, seeing them in anime.
I’m curious about how they taste.
“T-Together...?”
Olivia’s neck turns red.
Her hands tremble.
“Mmm...”
Olivia’s mouth emits a strange groan.
“Don’t want to? If you don’t, forget it.”
“No, no, no, no, no one said no!”
Olivia shakes her head vigorously.
I hand her an extra plastic fork, just in case.
Olivia, holding the fork, says while peeling the packaging,
“D-Do you... not feed me...? A, aren’t you?”
What?
I turn my head, and Olivia quickly shakes her head.
“No, forget what I just said!! What, what did I say