218 Chapter 219 - Watching a Play (1/2)

He would be asked some questions, before receiving a beating. Or, in Iroha's words, ‘asking what he was thinking and checking his current strength.’

Their meeting was scheduled for tonight at eight o’clock, in Nagawa amusement park.

He felt bound to go. No matter what he encountered, it would finally set him on track.

It sounded like it was certain that he was about to receive a beating… to clarify, it meant that Iroha was going to fight him.

Light-chan had already left, so Seiji felt that the current him probably wouldn’t match up to an experienced Spirit-branded Retainer, and Iroha probably thought the same as well.

If just getting beaten up once would help him to be forgiven, that would be a great deal for him, but Seiji doubted that would be the case.

Check his strength meant seeing his current level… but then what?

If his strength was sufficient, would he be permitted to return to the family?

If that was the case, it was quite pragmatic. But from another angle, it could be considered generous.

Seiji returned to the ramen stand as his head swum with thoughts.

When he saw the three women waiting for him, he temporarily left his own matters behind and greeted them with a smile.

…

After leaving the ramen stand, Mai said that she had other things to do, and left.

Seiji, Mayuzumi, and Saki continued exploring the school festival, this time in the middle school section.

They discovered a wild Hoshi Amami (in the boy’s middle school uniform).

”Senpai, you’ve finally arrived!” The handsome younger boy flashed a brilliant and warm smile.

”What’s with the 'finally?' I contacted you by cell phone less than ten minutes ago, you know.”

”I really wanted to see you, Senpai. Even though I didn’t wait for all that long, it felt really long to me.”

Seiji didn’t even know what to say to this.

Forget it—Hoshi wasn’t currently in female clothing, so it was still within his abilities to withstand.

”You should greet your elders first,” Seiji said. ”Sensei is your… what exactly is the relation again?”

”She’s my father’s cousin. Aunt Mayuzumi, hello, long time no see.” Hoshi greeted Mayuzumi politely.

”Hello, Hoshi, long time no see.” Mayuzumi smiled gently at him.

Quite a natural scene… wait a moment.

”Sensei, you’re not afraid… of Hoshi?” Seiji noticed this part.

”Yeah, because… Hoshi’s really like a girl,” Mayuzumi replied in a low voice.

”I'm the only male that doesn't trigger Aunt Mayuzumi’s androphobia, which gave me quite an impact in the past.” Hoshi smiled and added, ”I don’t really mind anymore, all because of you, Senpai…”

”Yeah… but I’ve changed now thanks to Senpai…”

”I did a few things, yes, but you became stronger thanks to your own willpower!” Seiji lectured in a serious tone of voice. ”So don’t say stuff like it’s because of me; your strength”—'as a trap,' Seiji added in his head—”stems wholly from yourself, not from anyone else.”

”Senpai…” Hoshi was visibly moved by Seiji’s speech.

To Seiji's relief, Hoshi didn’t say anything else.

While Seiji pretended to be serious on the surface, he actually heaved a secret sigh of relief that he'd made it past this without the ladies hearing about anything too awkward.

From a bystander’s viewpoint, this was just a normal and nice scene of a conversation between a junior and his senpai. Even the manga author and editor believed this.

Hoshi joined their group and took them on a tour of the middle school section.

The activities and programs were similar to the ones in the high school section, but the average quality was a bit lower than the high school section. The students’ performances and behavior were also less professional and filled with a youthful aura.

But this aura of youth was the essence of middle school!

The students trying to attract customers were blushing, the servers were shy, the fortune tellers were stuttering, and the performers were tentative… all this seemed rather cute.

Seiji was all eyes for the tender and juicy… whoops, young and cute middle school girls, while Mayuzumi felt a lot more relaxed than earlier; it was as if a game had suddenly switched to easy mode.

It wasn’t that she was completely unafraid of middle school boys, it was just that she was less afraid of them compared to high school boys or adult men.