It was 4:45 PM. I checked the clock on my smartphone and let out a sigh of relief. It looked like we had arrived just in time, exactly as planned.
"We made it, somehow."
"Yeah. If we’d missed today, we would have had to come back next week. I’m glad we squeezed in."
After leaving school, we had headed straight for the tax office. Generally, government offices like this are closed on weekends and only stay open until 5:00 PM on weekdays. I really wished they’d show a bit more business sense and extend their hours.
"Onii-chan, hurry, hurry! If we don't check in fast, the counter will close!"
"Yeah, I'm coming!"
Mika had already reached the entrance. She stood there waving and calling out to Yuji and me as we stood by the main gate, looking up at the building. I couldn't blame her for panicking; we only had fifteen minutes of reception time left.
Yuji and I jogged over to her, raising our hands in a brief apology.
"Sorry, we got distracted for a second."
"Honestly! We’re almost out of time, so stay sharp! It would be the worst if we came all this way and missed the window!"
"You're right. Let's get the paperwork done."
"Right!"
Mika led the way, and we joined Yukino-san and Saori-chan, who had already started the reception process.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Ah, Mika-chan. Here, this is your number tag."
"Thanks, Yukino-san!"
"You're welcome. It doesn't seem very crowded. Saori-chan already went to the window, so I think you'll be called soon."
"Really?"
I looked around while listening to them. There were indeed very few people waiting in the lobby. I’d expected a bit more of a last-minute rush, but the room was quiet. I spotted Saori-chan at a window in the corner, filling out documents with a clerk.
Just then, an electronic voice announced a number.
"Oh, that's me! Okay, I’m going!"
"Yeah. It's not a complicated process, so just listen to the clerk and do your best."
"Got it!"
Mika gave a bright reply and hurried over to the designated window. I watched her go, giving her a small wave of encouragement.
"Well, should we get some juice and wait for them to finish?" I asked.
"Good idea," Yuji replied.
"Then let's find the vending machines."
Once we confirmed the two girls were settled at their respective windows, we went off to find drinks and indulge in a bit of a break.
We were killing time with idle chatter, juice in hand, when Saori-chan finished first and returned to us.
"Sorry for the wait. Everything went through smoothly."
"Good work. It was a pretty simple process for a business registration, wasn't it?"
"Yes. Since we had the documents ready in advance, it was very easy."
"I’m glad to hear that."
Saori-chan smiled happily as she showed us the envelope she’d received.
"That means Saori-chan is a sole proprietor now, just like us," Yukino-san said.
"Yes!"
"The administrative side, like bookkeeping, can be a lot of work, but you'll be fine as long as you stay on top of it every day," I added.
"Every day... I’ll do my best."
"If there’s anything you don’t understand, don't hesitate to ask us."
"I will. Thank you very much."
We offered our encouragement as her "seniors" in the world of sole proprietors. We were acting the part, but in reality, none of us had even been doing this for six months. In fact, pretty much every explorer specializing as a sole proprietor was in their first year.
As we were talking with Saori-chan, Mika came running over with her own envelope.
"Sorry to wait! I’m all done!"
"Good work. It was easy, right?"
"Yeah! Now I’m a sole proprietor just like you, Onii-chan!"
Mika flashed a wide smile and gave me a peace sign.
"Yeah, you are. Now, Mika, make sure you keep your books properly every day, okay? If you try to do it all at once later, everything will get jumbled and you'll get confused."
"U-Uh-huh."
"And make sure you sort and keep all your receipts. If you lose them, you won't be able to claim them as expenses, and you’ll just be throwing money away."
"...Yeah."
With every word I said, Mika’s smile grew dimmer and dimmer. I started to worry. I hoped she wouldn't give up after three days or end up accidentally evading taxes because she messed up the ledger.
I was suddenly struck by a wave of anxiety.
"Leave it at that, Kokonoe-kun," Yukino-san interjected.
"Hiiragi-san..."
"Yukino-san..."
Yukino-san had been watching us from a nearby chair and decided she’d seen enough of Mika looking dejected.
"I understand you're worried, Kokonoe-kun, but you should go a little easier on her. She only just started."
"Ah, right. Sorry."
"Mika-chan, don't look so sad. You’ll get used to it bit by bit. You just have to learn as you go. Accounting is just a part of being a sole proprietor; you’ll have to do it as long as you’re in business."
"...Yes."
After being scolded—or rather, corrected—by Yukino-san, I reflected on my tone. I’d definitely gone too far.
I looked awkwardly at Mika, only to find her looking awkwardly back at me. Silence hung between us for a moment.
"Sorry, Mika. I said too much."
"I'm sorry too, Onii-chan. For making you worry."
We both bowed our heads slightly and apologized at almost the exact same time. Then, looking at each other, we both let out a small, embarrassed laugh.
"They really do get along, don't they? Both Onii-san and Mika-chan..."
"Well, yeah."
"They're just a siscon and a brocon."
I caught the whispered conversation between Yuji, Saori-chan, and Hiiragi-san sitting a short distance away, but I ignored it. We were siblings; what was wrong with being close? I wasn't a siscon! I shot a sharp glare at the three of them—I felt I was justified in doing so.
In response, Yuji and Hiiragi-san coolly ignored me, while Saori-chan started acting a bit shifty.
"?"
Mika, who apparently hadn't heard them, tilted her head in confusion at our strange behavior. An indescribable, awkward atmosphere filled the space until the time-signal music began to play, announcing the end of the office's business hours.
"...Shall we go?" I suggested.
"...Yeah. Let's go."
"...Right. Let's head back."
"...Yes."
"Wait... what was that weird pause just now?"
Mika voiced her suspicion as the other three responded to my suggestion with strange delays. No one answered her, however, as we all stood up and moved toward the exit.
"...Hey! Wait for me, everyone!"
Mika, who had been dazed by our odd behavior, snapped out of it just as we were crossing the threshold and hurriedly chased after us.
Once we were outside, everyone went back to normal. There was no reason to drag out that awkward vibe, after all.
As we walked, Mika brought up tomorrow's schedule.
"Hey, Onii-chan."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"What's the plan for tomorrow? Are we all going to a nearby dungeon in the afternoon after school?"
Mika looked up at me with expectant eyes. I caught Saori-chan walking next to her, also wearing a hopeful expression. I wondered if their dejected state from a few days ago had just been my imagination.
"Unfortunately, we won't be going to a dungeon tomorrow. I have somewhere else we need to go."
Ehhh...
Mika and Saori-chan let out sounds of pure disappointment. Why were they so fired up? They huddled together and began whispering complaints to each other.
"I thought we’d start earning some money now that we’re officially in business..."
"Yeah. I want to pay back the cost of the weapon I borrowed from Onii-san as soon as possible."
I could hear everything, girls. You’re not as quiet as you think.
But I understood. If that was their mindset, it made sense that they’d want to spend Saturday afternoon grinding in a dungeon. For a newcomer explorer, paying off borrowed gear is a major hurdle. Having seen the market rates for common drop items from the shallow floors during our last trip, they were probably feeling the pressure. If they tried to pay it off using only Core Crystals, they’d likely have to hunt nearly a thousand monsters given the drop rates. Unless you’re an outlier like us, trying to do that in a few hours on a weekend would take forever.
I looked away from them and glanced at Yuji and Hiiragi-san. They had clearly overheard as well and were wearing the same wry smiles I was.
"You two, Kokonoe-kun isn't being mean by skipping the dungeon," Hiiragi-san said.
"That's right. Tomorrow, we’re planning to take you to the trap training facility run by the Dungeon Association—the one we visited before."
Yuji and Hiiragi-san stepped in to back me up.
"...Traps?"
"...Training facility?"
Mika and Saori-chan stopped grumbling and turned puzzled faces toward me. I nodded firmly.
"Yeah. Now that you both have your Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures, you can use the formal training equipment instead of just the trial course. Trap-handling is an essential skill for dungeon exploration. I want you to practice before you run into the real thing. Honestly, I’m too scared to take you to the lower floors until you have the basics down."
Mika and Saori-chan looked at each other.
"We have to make use of a facility where you can train safely," I added.
"You could learn through experience, but the risk of getting hurt or worse is just too high. I can't recommend it," Yuji said.
"He's right," Hiiragi-san agreed. "In the early days of the dungeons, plenty of explorers pushed too far without trap training and ended up seriously injured. We’re with you, so you’ll be safe to a point, but you still need a baseline of skill."
After our combined efforts at persuasion, the two finally nodded.
"Okay. We'll go to the training facility tomorrow, like you said."
"I'm sorry... you were only thinking of our safety, and we complained."
They still seemed a little bummed out, but they were convinced.
However...
"Saori-chan, there’s no need to apologize. If you have a different opinion or a complaint about our plans, please say so. Our ideas aren't always right, as we saw during the last exploration. Instead of just following us blindly, it’s better if we all speak up and discuss things together. That’s how we’ll find the best way forward."
"...Yes."
Saori-chan gave a quiet reply, looking like she was taking my words to heart.
I remembered what Juzo-san had told me during our review meeting. I had to make sure I wasn't unilaterally forcing my will on them just because I was their senior or because I was older.
"If we just push our opinions on others without listening to them, we’re no better than those Repeating Students we're trying to deal with. We have a perfectly good example of how not to act; there’s no reason to copy them."
"!"
"So Saori-chan, if you ever disagree with us, don't hold back."
"...Yes!"
Hearing her energetic response, I turned to Mika.
"Mika, if you have an opinion, say it. Doesn't matter what it is."
"Got it. I don't have anything right now, but I'll speak up if I do."
"I'm counting on you."
I looked around at everyone and made the final call.
"Alright. So, tomorrow afternoon, we’re heading to the Dungeon Association’s trap training facility. Everyone okay with that?"
"I’m in."
"No objections here."
"Yep."
"Yes."
"Then it's a date."
With everyone’s agreement, our plans for tomorrow were set.
The machines might be different this time, but I was going to get my revenge for the pathetic showing I’d made during our last visit!