"I won't cause any more trouble."
"Alright." I was spaced out.
The policeman let out a heavy sigh, "Do you understand? You got off with just a stern warning this time."
"Yes."
I was dumbfounded, engulfed by a sense of emptiness.
"You don't seem to be using drugs or alcohol... I get that it's adolescence. Alright, you can go home."
"Okay."
I nodded my head, like a bobblehead doll.
"Go on, then."
The policeman looked annoyed.
I was released without penalty by the policemen who protect public order. But all I did was cry and scream on the street, so it's only fair. I didn't do anything wrong. Did I?
"Am I doing something wrong? Shut up! I'm a high taxpayer!"
"Hey, you! Cut it out!"
The policeman glared at me from the police box.
"Yes, yes."
I sulkily left the scene.
Once again, my assets met a foolish end.
"No, at this point, I must be sick."
My assets that ventured into margin trading...
"I'll stop thinking about it."
I chuckled.
Everything in this world must be transient and easily changeable.
The universe is a journey of all things in reverse.
"Money makes the world go round, they say... Sigh. If only I were a big spender, the ace of big spenders... Maybe I should become a host."
It was a café at the airport, which was the designated meeting place.
"The celestial show of the century will soon be visible. The Keter Comet, which approaches once every 1,000 years, will come closest this summer. The best viewing time in Hinomoto is..."
A special astronomy broadcast played on the giant screen inside the café.
Soon after being protected at the police station, I was released and walked towards a familiar group with a devilish expression.
I furrowed my brow in the center of my face.
People call it "grin and bear it."
With a grin and bear it face, I arrived an hour late to the gathering spot where my party members were waiting.
As a young girl stood up from her seat, she said, "You're too late, senpai!"
Komachi seemed a bit angry.
Maria, Komachi, and Chiaki all approached me, looking somewhat displeased.
"I apologize. I had... an important matter to attend to."
I looked at everyone with a stern face.
The sound of swallowing saliva.
After a brief silence, it seemed that the girls sensed my atmosphere, and their frustration subsided.
"Amachi-san, I believe in you. I'm sure you were dealing with a very important matter, something we can't even imagine, right?"
Important?
Depending on how you put it, maybe.
"That's right."
She understands me well.
It's impressive that she could see through the intention of me being taken to the police box for crying on the street.
Maria nodded, "As I thought," and said, "Although you were quite late, let's not ask what happened, as it's tasteless. Your determined face is proof. Heroes always arrive late, after all."
Cabaret Maria was open for business today as well, being my yes-man.
She always puts a positive spin on things.
"I appreciate it."
I narrowed my eyes and furrowed my brow, giving myself a sinister look.
"Senpai, are you really okay? Your face is very pale. Also, you look even more suspicious than usual."
"Suguru-kun, are you feeling alright? You look like you're about to... throw up. And what's with that face?"
With furrowed brows and eyes wide open, I made a face resembling a wrathful deity.
"No problem! It's... it's nothing."
Desperately holding back tears that threatened to spill, I squeezed out those words.
"..."
Coughing could be heard, and beyond that, Kakko and Hisui looked troubled, sending glances my way, as if asking for an explanation.
I exuded a fierce aura and, with a deep, resonating voice, briefly introduced everyone while maintaining a stern expression.
"They will also join our party members' training camp.
Since they are my friends, there should be no objections. Yes, let's go.
Please enjoy your conversations, everyone.
For a while, I will be lost in thought, so please do not talk to me.
Now, Kei-kun and Hisui-san, please take care of each other."
Despite realizing my selfish attitude, I walked away on my own.
Gunma Prefecture is a region located in northern Kanto.
We have to use an airplane to descend from the upper world, then take a train to the secluded Gunma Prefecture.
Since I was late, everyone had not eaten lunch yet. It was already past 2 PM.
Gunma Prefecture is mostly mountainous. The local industry mainly consists of mining, processing, and exporting ores.
These ores range from popular ones like iron and steel to unique magical ores found only in this world.
The primary energy resources in this world are still oil and coal, just like in my previous life.
However, all of these resources contain magical powers, making them fundamentally different from our world.
It seems that this world generates electricity and thermal power by converting energy from oil and coal imbued with magical power.
Processed products are also created from oil and coal containing magical power.
Gunma Prefecture has only one city where people live: Takasaki.
At Takasaki Station, we decided to have lunch.
We entered a random restaurant in front of the station, and each took a seat.
Everyone except me sat at the same table, while I sat alone at the counter, making a difficult face. I was deep in thought, of course, about my assets.
"Do I have no choice but to start a new business...?"
Everyone else seemed to have had some conversations along the way, and they were whispering to each other.
It seemed that I could eat my meal slowly while lost in thought.
.
.
.
/third person perspective/
"Amachi-san has been very quiet, hasn't he?"
Maria looked at Amachi, who was resting his head on his hand with his elbow on the table, and sighed dreamily.
(What a dignified face. I'd like to add it to my best collection.)
"That's right, he's been like that the whole time.
Even when I try to talk to him, he just says 'I'm a bit busy right now.'
I wonder if he's just thinking about naughty things?
Not just a little perverted, but quite perverted," Ayaka said with a wry smile while checking the types of ramen.
Ayaka's senior agreed.
"I think that's probably the case. Knowing our senior, he's probably just worrying his head over some trivial matter. He's such an idiot."
"No, no, Amachi-kun is actually very smart. Perhaps he's calculating some terrifying plan in his mind. I think I'll go for soba with tempura," Kei said.
"In that case, I'll have the same as Kei."
Maria shifted her gaze from Amachi to Komachi and Ayaka.
"I think Amachi-san is considering my feelings. Hehehe. I'm looking forward to tonight. Please don't get in our way, Homura-san and Chiaki. Amachi-san and I may take a little break tonight, or tomorrow night, or the night after. Please don't worry about it. Just don't get in our way."
"Why would that be the case?!"
Both Komachi and Chiaki retorted simultaneously in response to Maria.
"Maria-senpai, I really don't want to say this, but..."
"What could it be?"
"Amachi-senpai doesn't think of Maria-senpai in that way at all.
In fact, he's not even interested. Haven't you noticed?
Oh, by the way, I got this from my master, Amachi-senpai."
Komachi pointed to the precious metal necklace around her neck.
"Oh, I don't really care, but senpai gave it to me on his own accord. I really don't care."
She showed it off with a sarcastic grin.
"Eh!?"
Maria and Ayaka looked at the necklace Komachi pointed at, their faces contorted.
"That's right, I don't think he cares about Maria at all. Not even a bit. I'm sure I'm more... You see, Komachi-chan, I've been piggybacked by him. We often go to dinner together at Saburo Ramen. It's not about material things, but about memories and relationships with people."
Ayaka, slightly flustered, tried to gain the upper hand and put pressure on Maria and Komachi.
"Grrr... You foolish people. Shall we have a match?"
Maria's veins popped, and her hair stood on end.
She was furious.
"Maria-senpai, I know you were the MVP in the class battle, but I defeated seven people. I won't lose."
"That's right. Don't you think you're a little too full of yourself? I don't think you can beat me."
"Homura-san, Chiaki. This time, Amachi-san is giving us special guidance, so how about showing our results on the final day or so? Shall we have a match?"
"Sure, will we finally get to see Maria-senpai's angry face?"
"I guess so. I don't plan on losing."
"We'll decide on the details later."
"Understood."
"It might be nice to have Suguru-kun make the decision."
"Hehehe."
The three of them made sinister faces.
"Hisui... Sis. We might be witnessing a battlefield."
"That's right, Kei. I'm really looking forward to it."
"Eh?"
Realizing she had let something slip, Hisui continued.
"No, my apologies. Let's keep this a secret from Amachi-san."
(This seems like it's going to be an interesting farce. I want to see the surprised look on Master's face. I do acknowledge his intelligence, but it's a bit frustrating. Let's prepare a surprise for him.)
"Why?"
"Don't you think it would be better to have a little fun... I mean, a surprise? His goal is to improve our abilities, after all. That's right. Let's join in and prepare some entertainment for him."
"...Is that really okay?"
"He's within our expectations. He's cleverly planting a sense of rivalry and improving our abilities."
"Well, that might be true, but Amachi-kun probably sees through everything..."
"It's getting interesting."
"Sis, you have a wicked look on your face."
Hisui clapped her hands once.
"Maria-san, Komachi-san, Chiaki-san. How about something like this? There are five days in this long weekend, including today. We'll probably be spending time together from morning until evening. During the other times, wouldn't it be fair to split up? First, we can give everyone one day each, and in the evening, have one-on-one lessons with Master... ahem, Amachi-san Of course, you can use the time however you like. You can receive guidance, have a conversation under the name of advice, or even indulge in amusement. However, no inappropriate activities are allowed. Other than that, anything goes. On the last day, the morning of the fifth day, how about everyone, including my brother Kei, participates in a tournament-style competition? I think it would be a great opportunity to show Amachi-san our progress."
"Me too!?"
"Yes, Kei. You too."
"Uh..."
Maria, Komachi, and Ayaka each responded.
"That's an interesting proposal, Hisui-san."
"It's straightforward and nice."
"I'm definitely going to win."
Hisui, making sure not to be noticed by Amachi, whispered while occasionally glancing at him.
"And there should be a prize for the winner. How about the champion gets to spend a one-night, two-day trip with the ever-busy Amachi-san? I'll make sure it happens."
"'"We're in!!"' Hearing about the prize, the three of them, excluding Kei, leaned in and agreed.
"I already spend almost every day with Amachi-kun, though..." Kei, with a troubled expression, scratched his head.
"Kei, just be quiet."
(This seems like it's going to be an interesting heroine race. I'll show him something beyond his expectations.)
"Uh, okay."
(I wonder if this is okay. Is this also part of Amachi-kun's plan? Amachi-kun himself is reading the financial paper with enthusiasm alone...)
"Well, alright, Sis."
"Good answer, little brother. Hehe."
(This is getting interesting.)
Hisui had a mischievous smile on her face.
"Hisui-sis has a wicked look on her face."