CH 152

Episode 152: Reason for calling

"What's the purpose of calling us so early in the morning? N, no way."

"I really wonder what it is?"

I call Amane and Rei to the front of the station at a time when there aren't many people and it isn't completely bright yet.

They seem confused by my call. I have a feeling that Amane is imagining something bad, but let's ignore it.

"Oh, I'll give these to you guys."

I take out two ESJ permanent free VIP membership cards and hold them out in front of them.

"This is?"

"Is it some kind of card?"

The two of them look at the cards and tilt their heads.

Well, you can't tell just by looking at them.

"These are ESJ's lifetime free VIP membership cards."

""Haa!?""

The two of them have their faces dyed in astonishment at my explanation.

We were also completely astonished when we were presented with these as a reward. I think it's not unreasonable to have such a reaction.

"Wh, what's that? From what that sounds like, isn't it something amazing."

"Absolutely outrageous, isn't it?"

The two stare at the cards with frightened expressions.

It seems that the name alone conveys the power of these cards to some extent, but I'm sure you can't tell what's free and VIP just by the name.

"A, ah. We went to ESJ when I went back to my hometown last time, and we got caught up in the Stampede. For some reason I got these when I exterminated the small-fry with Shia. If you have this, ESJ-related facilities will be free forever, as long as you live, at any location, right?"

I explain in some detail.

"Th, that kind of thing, d, don't just give it out so casually!! There's no way I can receive it!!"

"Y, yeah, even if something like this is offered to me, I have no reason to accept it, and I don't even have the qualifications to!!"

Then, the two refuse to accept them in a panic.

Well, it's not like I don't understand that feeling either. But, were the two of them shrinking back in fear rather than being happy? Amane seems to be happy to receive it. Unexpectedly a common sense person.(TN:Not completely sure on this paragraph ...)

"That being said, Amane and Rei are my party members, and from now on they will be ones I will be relying on. Don't you think that's sufficient cause to be qualified?"

"It's not something you can get that easily, is it?"

"I really think it's as Amane-chan says."

Amane objects to my words, and Rei nods in agreement.

Nothing will start until they receive them.

"I still want you receive them, but isn't it okay?"

"Even if you say so, save that kind of thing for when you have a more important person."

"That's right, Satou-kun is young, and you'll have wonderful meetings from now on. It's better not to use them until that time."

I beg them to accept, but the two stop me.

I think it would be nice to give them to two people who can say such things. To be honest, I don't know if such a person will appear.

"It's okay, about that future. For me, the two people in front of me are more important than those people who I don't know when I'll meet them."

""~~ !?""

When I conveyed my honest feelings, the two of them froze with their faces bright red for some reason.

Did I say something strange?

"Damn. Something like that."

"That's true ..."

The two of them look down and mutter quietly, but I don't understand what they mean.

I wonder what it's all about.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, no, it's really nothing."

"Y, yeah. It's nothing, okay?"

When I ask, the two hurriedly wave their hands and answer that there's no problem.

It's kind of suspicious, but it doesn't seem like they want me to inquire further, so I shouldn't worry about it.

"So, will you accept them?"

"W, well, if you say so, I'll accept it."

"I, I understand. I'll gratefully accept it."

When I hold out the cards in front of them again, they reluctantly accept them while looking away.

I wonder if they didn't want to receive them.

Did I say such a bad thing?

"Onii-chan."

"Fu-kun."

Nanami and Shia arrive just after the two accept the cards.

"Is everything ready?"

"Ah, I just finished handing the cards to the two of them."

"Okay, then let's go quickly."

"That's right."

Nanami asks me if I managed to pass the cards to the two of them, so I nod, then Nanami takes my hand and heads for the station.

"Where are we going?"

I stop and look back at Amane's words.

"Well, it's an ESJ-related spa resort over there. It's because we've been diving into dungeons lately and we've been getting too much into it. We have to take a breather once in a while."

"Oh, I see!! Nanami was talking about the spa!!"

After answering Amane's question, she makes a face that her doubts were solved.

"So that's what it was."

I nod in agreement with her.

"That's right. We've been diving in dungeons quite a lot recently. It's true that it's an order from the government, but it's recommended that we take two days off a week. We've been diving continuously for the past two weeks, so it certainly feels like we should take a break."

"Yeah, yeah. I talked to Nanami and Shia yesterday and they said let's take a break. You didn't tell them where we were going?"

Seeing that Rei has decided that it would be fine to say something about our proposal in light of the situation up until now, I ask Nanami if they hadn't heard about it beforehand.

I should have asked them to contact me just in case.

"Nanami-chan said that she was looking forward to tomorrow. I see, so it's an ESJ-related spa resort."

"That's right. You can do whatever you want there for free."

Rei answers with a comprehending expression, so I grin.

Seriously ... Nanami, that's the kind of thing that makes a strange surprise.

"But ... it's certainly good. I'm tired from everyday life, so I'd like them to give me a massage."

"Me too."

"Yeah, I want you to enjoy the rest of the day and get rid of that built-up fatigue."

The two hold their shoulders and tilt their heads while imagining what they want to do at the spa resort.

I affirm their wishes and nod with a smile.

"If that's the case, let's go quickly!! It's a waste of time!!"

"Understood."

Amane suddenly becomes energetic and starts to feel restless, so we immediately head to the spa resort.