On the fifth day of Six Kings Festival, the day handled by Alce, all the performances were wonderful and I was truly enjoying myself. My expectations were getting higher and higher, and I was wondering what kind of fun attractions we would go to next.
However, I don't know if I should say that I had expected this or not but... Not everything went smoothly.
[...Kaito-san, ummm, honestly... I'm sorry.]
[N- No, i- it was my complete defeat.]
[...I think Kaito-san has a great gaming sense but... Why do you instantly become a clod when it comes to board games?]
[...That's what I want to ask.]
Yes, at some of the attractions, we got to play some kind of strategic board game, and I've badly lost in them.
Well, the board games were also extremely well-designed. The pieces move just by thinking, and the board itself was filled with gimmicks. The game was simple, yet strategic, well-balanced, and fun, as if I were playing a simulation RPG.
Well, for some reason, my pieces were annihilated even though the strength of the pieces we were using were the same...
[I see, so you also can't play this type of board game huh...]
[...I'm well aware of it, but am I really that weak?]
[You're so weak that I think you're losing on purpose.]
[Ghaak!?]
I'm starting to think that my weakness in board games is some kind of "curse". Hmmm, why is it that I just can't win?
[W- Well, it's almost lunchtime... Let's go get something to eat! After that, let's go around the non-board game area!]
[U- Unnn.]
It seems like even Alice couldn't make a follow-up regarding my weakness to board games, so she deliberately changed the subject and invited me to lunch.
However, the time was actually just right for us to have lunch, so I didn't argue with her, and headed with Alice to the area lined with restaurants.
I have my Black-rank invitation, but I really don't feel like using it that much, so I just pay them like normal.
Just as I was thinking about this, I suddenly realized something and spoke.
[Speaking of which, Alice. The attractions we visited this morning didn't ask for money...]
[Ahh, Kaito-san is a Black-rank after all... Even if you hadn't shown your invitation, you would get a face pass when you're with me. I've already informed the people in charge of the attractions in advance.]
[I- I see.]
[There are entrance fees and such for other participants, but they aren't really that expensive. We want people to test the new technology, so we're making it easy for people to experience.]
How should I say this... Hearing her say that makes me feel embarrassed about my initial prediction. All of the attractions that Alice came up with are really great and will truly entertain a lot of people.
[...How should I say this... I've changed my mind about Alice. I was under the impression that you were planning extreme things for the sake of making money. My bad.]
[...Ah, n- no~~ W- Well, that's right. Of course, I did everything to make a lot of people smile. You see, I love seeing the smiles of people...]
What is this? Something about the way she said it sounded a bit strange. Come to think of it, Alice is usually the type of person who doesn't really care about other people.
Then, in response to my words of praise, she gave me that vague response with an awkward look on her face... Arehh? Does this mean...
[Hey, Alice. You mind if I ask you one thing?]
[W- What is it?]
[The Six Kings Festival is so grand and filled with lots of great things... That would mean that the "sales" were great, but they're divided among the Six Kings, right?]
[...O- Of course, I- I also thought that would be a good idea but... t- the others don't seem to be very interested in money... S- So I don't have any choice but to take care of everything as their representative.]
[....]
I see. I understand everything now, and things started making sense. In other words, the sales of the facilities and stalls that the subordinates of the Six Kings were in charge of would be taken by Alice. Of course, I'm sure she'll give some kind of salary of bonus to those subordinates but... Even if you subtract that, she would still be expecting a substantial amount of money.
...She's really going at it today huh.
[...How should I say this... Should I say that it's just like Alice, or should I be thinking about how I lost for changing my mind about you...]
[N- No, that's not it! Money is just a secondary profit! The best profit for Alice-chan is something very pure! Creating lots of smiles for everyone!]
[...So, your real thoughts?]
[With lots of people flocking to fill my pockets, Six Kings Festival is the best——– Ghaak!?]
[...You really are...]
[A- Ahaha... Whoa, it seems we're here! It's that store! Come, come, let's go!!!]
She's just forcefully moving the topic away... Good grief, she really is a troublesome fellow. She's a troublesome fellow... but I really can't hate her.
[Speaking of which, I'm going to change the subject but...]
[What is it?]
[...Today was quite a rare day when you aren't playing around huh... No, my bad. It's nothing.]
[Unnn? I'm not sure what you're talking about, but let's get in there.]
[Yeah.]
Today's Alice was somehow more serious than usual... I got the feeling that she was more concerned with "entertaining me" than anything else.
Could it be... She was trying to cheer me up in her own way, considering how depressed I was after the events of the third day? However, I guess it would be stupid of me to ask her that huh.
Dear Mom, Dad————- Kuro, Isis-san, Sieg-san, Lilia-san... and Alice. How should I say this... I'm really quite blessed with people. And while I am truly grateful for that———— I'd like it if she enjoyed herself more.