Chapter 70 - Familiar Face
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"I'm home... Woah!"
I uttered a greet as I open the door when the Miniature Dryad suddenly approached me its welcome—vigorously floats around me like a dog that is trying to greet their owner.
"Aw," I moaned in adoration as the Mini-Dryad brushed its body against my face. "I'm back... Uh..."
Right, I don't remember Lily giving this cutie a name, or perhaps she did but she still didn't talk to me about it.
In any case, I still have to think about the problems regarding the girls shrugging me off.
"We're home."
While I ponder about the girls. It was about time the quartet arrived in the Villa. The four after saying their greeting—silently head inside displaying a blank expression.
"Oh, guys." I paused for a moment as if hesitating but still greeted them with a strained smile. "W-welcome back..."
"I'm back, Aruji-sama." Akari gave a heartfelt greeting—showing a gentle smile that kind of lightens my mood in a bit.
Though, as expected, the three didn't utter any words and just walked pass me... Is what I thought but to my surprise—
The three stops midway before they head upstairs.
"Master." Luna called without looking.
"Y-yeah? What is it?"
"That guy you argued with together with Sora," Luna paused, at the same time, her demeanor changed. "I suggest you best be careful with that guy."
You mean that black-haired guy we fought in the cafeteria? Well, he's certainly looks strong. In any case, I can still feel the awkward tension between us so best to just be passive for now.
"Y-yeah..." I timidly replied. "I'll keep that in mind..."
"We'll be going then." The three then continued to head upstairs, then Luna added as she continued upstairs. "Please give us a bit more time."
"Don't worry about it, just take your time." I said then turned my attention to Akari. "Akari, I'll be going outside for a bit. Please tell them later."
"Mhm," Akari meekly nodded. "Take care, Master."
Man, having this solicitude from someone really makes all my problems disappear for a moment. I'm really glad I met Akari. She really like an angel in disguise.
"Thanks, Akari." I patted Akari's head which she cutely murmured in response. "I'll be going then."
* * *
I was taking a walk around at the park near the center of the Capital where I suddenly saw a street vendor selling braised beef stew around the sidewalk. Wait, is that a...
"Beef pares?! It exists in this world?!"
Just as I was surprised to its existence that its delicious aroma had started spreading. That time I smelled it, my stomach also started growling.
I haven't eaten a lunch, so I decided to dine on it. I sat on a chair as I patiently waits for the food when I noticed a familiar person beside me.
"Eh?!" My eyes widened in surprise. "Sora?"
Beside me was my best friend Sora together with his companion Aoyuki who were also waiting for their food to be given.
"Eh, Sai?! What a coincidence meeting your here."
Sora cheerfully greeted me with his usual enthusiastic greeting. Aoyuki on the other hand, rose into her seat and gave me a graceful bow that really suited to her reserved behaviour together with her angelic appearance.
"You two... Going on a date?" I teased.
"Date? Well, I guess you can call it like that. We still haven't taken out lunch so since were here, I decided to eat in this place." Sora explained.
Going on a date huh... I just hope Sora keep his attention in check. It would be bad if his attention was fully on me while ignoring his companion which might ruin their time to each other.
I shot a look at Aoyuki to see if she minds it or not. But it seems like Aoyuki noticed my intention and said some words of reassurance.
"I don't mind Sai Crimsonheart. Looks like Master is quite fond of you, so I'll treat you with outmost respect."
"That's really awkward but that's how it is." Sora asked once again. "So how about it?"
* * *
We had a quite fun conversation together with Aoyuki who often asked me about certain things she was genuinely curious about. I already know about Aoyuki's personality, so it didn't take long for Aoyuki to gradually get comfortable with me.
"Hah... That was delicious..." Sora voiced out his satisfaction.
"Yeah, it's been a while since I've tasted it." I replied, while I hand money to the vendor. Until I saw another familiar face through the corner of my eyes. "Hey Sora, isn't that...?"
I pointed my finger to the familiar person in which Sora and Aoyuki shifted their attention to.
That familiar person was the girl whom that black-haired violent guy was together with. Looks like she was being ganged-up by four hoodlums that looks like they're up to no good.
"Hey cutie, want to come with us? I assure you it'll be fun."
"I'm sorry but I have someone I'm currently waiting right now."
"Oh? Your boyfriend I supposed? You could just leave him. It'll be more fun with us you know?" The hoodlum then forcefully pulled that girl into them.
"Hey!" The girl desperately tried to get out of the man's grip. "Please leave me alone."
"Just shut-up and come with us woman— Ugh?!"
To their surprise, the hoodlum who was pulling the girl out was heavily kicked by Sora who had started to make his move.
"Boss!" The hoodlums shouted. "Kuh! You bastard— Ugh?!"
Before the hoodlums even managed to make their move. I immediately stepped in and stopped them by hitting them with a heavy punch in their body simultaneously. The three then droop down in pain in response to the damage I gave them.
"Y-you two..." The familiar girl uttered in surprise.
"Kuh...!" The three tried their best and get up and took their boss and desperately left the scene. "We'll remember this you bastards!"
Sora breathe a sigh and turn to the girl. "You good?"
"Y-yeah," the familiar girl meekly nodded. "Thank you..."
"No problem." Sora replied, then added. "Hey, you're the girl together with the violent guy, right?"
Straight to the point aren't you, Sora.
"Geh...!" the girl displayed a strained smile. "I-I'm really sorry about him earlier... Ah, I haven't introduced myself!" The girl put her hand into her chest. "The name is Jasmine Dawnmeadow, nice to meet you two."
Hm, I don't know her name, but her face was very familiar. I know she appeared on an Event CG, but she didn't appear much, so I don't really remember...
"My name is Sora," Sora points at me to which I bowed. "And this guy is Sai Crimsonheart." Sora pointed to Aoyuki who was left standing not too far at the scene. "And that girl is Aoyuki, nice to meet you too."
"Likewise." Jasmine gracefully bowed. "So, there are three of you together."
"Yeah, we just coincidentally happened to meet each other actually." Sora then suddenly realized. "Ah, we could say the same to you. Coincidence really are freaky huh."
"Ah yeah, you could say that. Fufu~" Jasmine replied.
This conversation continued for a while—slowly getting familiar to each other. To my surprise, Sora really knows how to make a proper conversation. I guess as expected of the protagonist.
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[Sora Pov]
"Ah, I guess it was time for me to head back." Sai informed, while looking at his watch. "Well then, I had fun talking so see you three later."
That's really sad, we sure were having a blast talking to each other... It can't be helped; Sai is very busy making himself stronger after all. I tried to check his stats using my ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ into him and to my surprise, he's surely have gotten too strong.
"Yeah, take care Sai." I replied.
"He looks busy, isn't he?" Jasmine said, then added. "I wonder what he's doing?"
"Ah, you see, that guy aims to be the strongest. "I explained. "It might sound stupid but he's actually working hard for it."
"No wonder I sense a similar vibe from him." Jasmine replied, then mumbled while smiling. "Just like a certain someone..."
"Heh~ Is it about—!!" I was forced to cut my sentence as someone hastily approached me as fast as an eye can see.
I saw a glimpse of heavy punch coming after my face, so I quickly sway it sideways, deflecting the guy's attack. But to my surprise, he took the hand that I used to deflect and pulled it over to him and used it as a momentum to attack me with a strong kick.
I immediately blocked it using my arm and took its opportunity to grab his feet and tried to throw him, but I was too slow that he spins himself midair and managed to land a heavy hit on my face.
"Guh!" I groaned in pain and was staggered to the guy's heavy kick. I've been kicked many in my life, but this is the first time I was kicked in a face so strong that I felt like losing consciousness.
"Now you've done it you bastard." The guy said as he stood in front of me looking enraged. "You didn't learn your lesson in the cafeteria huh."
"Eh?" When my eyes started to clear, the familiar face whose standing in front of me was the violent guy we met in the cafeteria. "Y-you..."
"⟨⟨Astral Beam⟩⟩" When we heard those word, Mr. Violent guy was attacked by a large blue beam to which he managed to dodge by hairs width.
"Master!" Aoyuki shouted at me. "Be careful Master, this guy is very strong."
Right, even with the two of us, I'm afraid we can't beat him with our current strength. It's really frustrating but it seems like he was holding back earlier in the cafeteria.
"Hey what are you doing?!"
Aoyuki and I was startled when we heard a shout coming from Jasmine. Even that Mr. Violent Guy was stunned for a moment when he heard it.
"Sorry Jasmine but I this guy's been full of himself since earlier." Mr. Violent Guy exclaimed.
"I don't know what you're saying but that guy saved me from the hoodlums earlier."
"Eh?!" Mr. Violent Guy widened her eyes in surprise, then shifted his gaze into me. He paused for a moment before he spoke. "B-but—"
"No buts!" Jasmine exclaimed, crossing her arms. Then she turned her attention to me. "I'm sorry Sora, he's always been like that."
I shot a look at him only to see his face displaying full of sorrow. Ah, I have a bad feeling about this.
"I'm okay Jasmine," I nervously said, wearing a strained smile. "It seems like he's already here so why don't we part our ways here?"
"Y-yeah, I'm really sorry about this." She then approaches Mr. Violent Guy and pulled him into her. Then cheerfully waves at me. "See you again, Sora."
"Yeah!" I shouted and waved her back. For some reason, Mr. Violent Guy became flustered in my vision, but I guess it was just my imagination.
"Master."
While I was seeing them off, Aoyuki called me. For some reason, she was emitting a serious demeanor.
"Hm, yeah?"
"Unfortunately, but we have no chance of winning against him the next time we fight him." Aoyuki remarked looking agitated—as her sweat droop from her cheeks. "I suggest you look at his status."
I paused for a moment but decided to follow Aoyuki's suggestion. I used my ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ at that black-haired guy and it made me stunned, fully dumbfounded to what I just saw.
"What a monster..." I muttered.
Does Sai know about this I wonder? The tournament will begin in next week and all I can't see any chance of winning against him. And I doubt even Sai can even manage to...