Chapter 76

Today being White Day, I'll post a story that doesn't really matter.

*This is a story that takes place in a different timeline and dimension from the main story.

"Hey, Airi. Do you know what day it is today?"

As soon as Seiki entered the prefab, Shu-ne approached with a lecherous smile, much like a drunkard trying to start a conversation.

It's still March, and there's snow on the ground, with temperatures dropping below freezing in the mornings and evenings.

Perhaps she had a drink to warm herself up.

Seiki moved closer to the hot stone stove and held out his hand.

"I don't know."

"It's White Day, White Day!"

"Hmm..."

So that's what it is.

Seiki nodded absentmindedly and picked up a potato steaming on the hot stone stove.

He broke the black, charred skin to reveal the golden interior, where the potato's sugars had risen to the surface and caramelized from the heat.

When he put it in his mouth, the potato crumbled, and the sweetness spread intensely throughout his mouth.

"Still, nothing beats a baked potato on a stove in winter!"

"That's not what we're talking about! Besides, those are the potatoes I grew!!"

When she says "grew," she didn't actually cultivate the potatoes. She just placed them on the stove and waited for them to be ready to eat.

"Give them back. Give me my potatoes back!!"

How much she must have wanted those potatoes.

Shu-ne protested, tears welling in her eyes.

"I'll get more later."

"Go get them now! Right now, immediately, now!!"

Shu-ne shouted, her eyes narrowing.

"Come to think of it, I did get some dried potatoes from Kintora."

"Fine! You can put them on the stove!"

Her expression changed instantly, and her eyes sparkled.

But no one ever said you could, right?

Seiki almost burst out laughing at how sensitive Shu-ne was to the dried potatoes.

"Then, I'll consider those my White Day gift—"

"No, that's not it! It's completely different!!"

"..."

Seiki clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He couldn't get away with it, could he?

"Hey, I'm a beautiful woman, a goddess, right?"

"Can I hit you?"

"Violence is wrong!!"

Shu-ne clutched her head and crouched down in a panic.

If she's scared, why did she provoke him?

"Thanks to me, you can always go on adventures without any stress, right?"

"Hmm, yeah, that's true."

Seiki nodded absentmindedly.

It's true that having her shop makes it stress-free to sell materials and buy weapons.

If there were no shop here, Seiki would have to travel all the way to Sapporo to sell materials.

Seiki's ability to focus on adventuring is undoubtedly thanks to her (shop).

However, he couldn't help but feel a bit of stress from interacting with her, but Seiki didn't argue.

Right now, it's all about the potato.

Seiki was completely absorbed in eating it.

A potato baked on a stove in winter is incredibly delicious.

—It's really great! Wonderful!!

"Then, I think you should show your gratitude!!"

Shu-ne pointed at Seiki with a decisive finger.

Seiki's lack of argument seemed to embolden her. Her face was filled with mysterious confidence, and her eyes sparkled.

Ignoring her, Seiki finished eating the potato.

"Hey, Shu-ne, where's the trash can?"

"It's under that counter."

"Thanks."

Seiki threw the leftover potato skin in the trash can and was about to leave the prefab—

"Wait a minute!!"

"...What?"

As he was about to leave, he was grabbed by the shoulder with a firm grip.

The strength in her fingers was so strong that even the now quite strong Seiki couldn't shake her off easily.

"Did you come here just to eat a potato and leave!?"

Well, I did come here just to eat a potato, but he couldn't say that.

The strength in her grip was so intense that his shoulder was starting to take serious damage.

Why is she so desperate?

...Could it be?

Seiki gasped and turned to look at Shu-ne.

"Do you really want a White Day gift that much...?"

"Wait, hold on. Why are you looking at me like that!?"

Shu-ne, who calls herself a beautiful woman and a goddess, is ignored by everyone on White Day. She finds it sad.

Thinking this, Seiki's eyes showed a hint of pity.

Seiki felt sad because his own Valentine's Day memories overlapped.

When Seiki was a student,

Valentine's Day was always a nervous time.

He would carefully check his shoe locker and desk, and during breaks and after school, he would nervously walk around the school.

While giving off the vibe of "I'm just acting normal," he would create opportunities for someone to give him chocolate.

The result was predictable.

No girl ever gave Seiki chocolate.

In fact, no girl who knew him even—

...Let's stop there.

Seiki shook his head.

Thinking about the past any further would make him want to kill himself.

Seiki wiped away his tears and declared.

"...Alright. I understand your feelings completely!"

"Why are you suddenly so fired up? I was just—"

"Don't finish that sentence! For you, who's always lonely, I'll prepare a special gift!!"

"Wait! I think you're completely misunderstanding something!!"

Shu-ne's cries from behind him went unheard.

To make this a memorable day for Shu-ne, who has been lonely all this time!

Seiki ran through the dungeon with all his might.

With a burning passion.

With tears streaming down his cheeks.

And today,

Just as Shu-ne's shop was about to close,

"Ahahahaaan!!"

Seiki presented Shu-ne with a large amount of monster materials (for a fee).

"That's not the gift I wanted!!"

"—Ah!"

"What? ...No, that's not okay, that's just not—"

"I watched 'Become an Adventurer'!!"

"Ugh, no, ahahahaan!!"

To see her so pleased that she was crying...

This White Day would surely become an unforgettable, wonderful day for Shu-ne.

Seiki, feeling a sense of accomplishment, wore a satisfied expression.

*White Day is an event where you give a full-force gift (punch) to someone who usually helps you.