Akane-san certainly lived up to her reputation as a battle-hardened merchant. Despite her petite frame, she radiated an aura so intense it was almost stifling, but after a moment, her features finally softened.
"Well, it’s not like I actually came here to give Kaito a piece of my mind today."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah. I mean, this latest mess and plenty of others can be traced back to him if you look hard enough... but if you ask me if it’s actually his fault, I’d have to say no."
Akane-san didn't seem interested in turning this into a lecture. She relaxed and continued with a look of weary exasperation.
"Take the Founding Anniversary Festival back in the Arclesia Empire, for example. We ran into the War King-sama there. Kaori and I both ended up with absolute knots in our stomachs... but could Kaito have stopped that if he’d been careful? Not really."
"That’s true," Kaori-san agreed with a bitter smile. "It was just a freakishly perfect coincidence. Kaito-kun didn't invite us to the shop, and he didn't call out to the War King-sama first. I mean, the fact that he attracts those kinds of coincidences is a problem in itself... but Akane-san and I were the ones who decided to go to the Founding Anniversary Festival. Blaming him for the fallout would be unreasonable."
"Exactly. It’s not like he’s doing it on purpose, and he certainly doesn't mean any harm. He isn't a bad person. I imagine this latest situation is more of the same."
The conversation had taken an unexpected turn toward defending me, and I started to feel a wave of relief. But Akane-san cut her words short and pointed a finger directly at me.
"However! Considering how many people—myself included—suffer through stomach aches because of his accidents, I feel like someone needs to give him a good scolding once in a while just for the principle of the thing. So, I figured I'd take the lead today."
"I see... Akane-san, I think you could actually afford to be a bit harsher."
"Kaori-san!?"
I was doomed. There wasn't an ally in sight. A complete two-on-one front had formed, and the atmosphere was becoming quite stifling. It didn't help that I had so many things weighing on my conscience that I couldn't even manage a rebuttal.
As these thoughts raced through my head, Kaori-san spoke up again with a bitter smile.
"Just kidding. But seriously, Kaito-kun, you really are something else. I’m honestly terrified that you’ll just show up at my shop one day with another incredible person in tow."
"..."
"...Um, Kaito-kun? Why did you just look away so guiltily? That’s rude in the middle of a conversation. Come on, look at me. Look me in the eye... Depending on your answer, I might have to take over from Akane-san and finish the scolding myself. So? Why did you react like you had a guilty conscience just now?"
I did. I really, really did. Specifically, the matter involving Magnawell-san. If I could offer a defense, it was only because the conversation with Megiddo-san had happened yesterday, and I simply hadn't found the right moment to tell her yet. But I had every intention of being upfront about it.
"Well... I was going to tell you eventually... but Magnawell-san heard about the place from Megiddo-san, and he seemed... interested in Kaori-san's shop. I ended up promising to guide him there next time..."
"..."
Hearing my words, Kaori-san covered her eyes with both hands and looked toward the heavens.
"He’s bringing another of the Six Kings-sama. Seriously? Even if we ignore the Phantasm King-sama, having the Dragon King-sama show up brings our total to half of the Six Kings. Are you trying to reach a Six Kings Complete or something? Kaito-kun, you might have forgotten, but this is a set meal restaurant! It is absolutely not supposed to be a gathering place for the Kings of the Demon Realm!"
"I, er... how should I put this... Oh! Here, this is a black tea that works for stomach pain."
"You’ve given up! You just gave up completely! Based on your experience, you've decided that all the Six Kings are going to show up eventually anyway, so you stopped trying to deny it and switched to focusing on managing the stomach pain instead! Thanks for the tea!"
I handed her a few cans of the MK Blend HS I’d purchased from Canaris-san. Kaori-san screamed as she took them, accurately reading my state of mind through half-tears.
Thinking about Lilia-san’s case, it really felt like I might end up bringing everyone eventually. I couldn't imagine why someone like Lilliwood-san—who rarely eats or drinks—would come by, but I had a sinking feeling it would happen one day.
Still, the fact that Kaori-san made sure to thank me for the tea even while yelling felt very like her. As I mused on that, Akane-san patted my shoulder.
"Kaito, I'm buying you a dictionary next time. It’s clear the one you’re using is a defective product without the words 'self-restraint' or 'moderation' in it, so after I buy it, I’m going to write them on the cover in red ink myself."
Serious-senpai: "Kuro and Megiddo have already visited, and since Alice is always by Kaito's side, she's basically been there too. Now Magnawell is joining the list. If Isis, who just got her control accessory from Canaris, ever goes out to eat with Kaito, Kaori-san's shop is the prime candidate. That flag is practically already waving. At this rate, the Six Kings Complete is inevitable if Lilliwood-san finds an excuse to visit... Oh, that's right. Kaori has those trees that grow Yuzu and Sudachi. Those are unique to her in this world... Yeah, I definitely see where this is going."