Despite an exhausting morning of back-and-forth communications, classes finally ended, and after school arrived without further incident. Oh, that’s right—Yuji had received an email from Kiritani Real Estate on his smartphone during lunch break. I remember him stepping out with a frown to make a call; the topic was probably too sensitive to discuss openly in the classroom.
When Yuji returned to the room at the very last second, the look of relief on his face left an impression on me. We hadn't had time to discuss the call then, but it seemed it hadn't been bad news.
"Should we head to the clubroom for now?"
"Yeah, this isn't the best place."
"I agree. I’d like to get the details sorted before Mika-chan and the others arrive," Hiiragi-san suggested, and Yuji and I nodded in agreement.
The details were a bit too complicated to explain to Mika’s group yet. More than anything, it was a little embarrassing to admit our blunder. We’d been so swept up in the romance of finding a training ground that we’d almost signed a contract while completely forgetting the essentials...
"Right, let's hurry then."
As I replied, Yuji led the way out of the classroom at a brisk pace, with Hiiragi-san and me following close behind.
By moving quickly and keeping our chatter to a minimum along the way, we reached the clubroom less than ten minutes after the closing homeroom ended.
"Good, Mika and the others aren't here yet."
"We moved pretty fast, so they probably won't be here for a while."
"Then let's have the conversation we couldn't have in class before they get here. Come on, don't just stand there dazed. Hurry, hurry."
Urged on by Hiiragi-san—who was practically pushing the backs of a relieved Yuji and me—we prepared to exchange information. She was right; we didn't know when the others would arrive, so we needed to share the vital updates immediately.
We set our bags on the table, took our seats, and got to work.
"First, the results of contacting Kiritani Real Estate about yesterday's decision. Fortunately, they accepted our request to postpone the contract signing. There won’t be any penalty, either."
Thank goodness.
Hearing the most critical part of the report, Hiiragi-san and I let out sighs of relief. If the postponement hadn't been an option, all the improvements we’d brainstormed yesterday would have been for nothing.
At the very least, we’d successfully taken the first step.
"As for our request to inspect the coastline from the sea, Kiritani-san gave his consent. However, they have to arrange a boat for the viewing, so heading out today isn't possible. He said the schedule will depend on when they can secure a vessel."
"Well, we should just be grateful they approved the coastal viewing. It’s unrealistic to expect them to have a boat ready the moment we call..."
"True. I want to inspect the coastline as soon as possible, but we have to respect the boat owner's schedule. It can't be helped."
The delay in securing a boat might have been due to our specific request for a local fisherman well-versed in the history of the Cape. We were being a bit demanding, after all.
Still, we needed to understand the land’s history with natural disasters. We didn't want to sign the contract only to find out later that the cliffs had a history of massive collapses during typhoons or storm surges.
"That's the situation with the coastal viewing. Also, Kiritani Real Estate wants us to visit the office soon so they can show us their documentation on the land. Kiritani-san apologized, saying he hadn't provided enough information about things like disaster warning zones."
"So it really is the kind of place where disasters might happen?"
"Given that it's a cape jutting into the sea, I'd imagine typhoons take quite a toll. Perhaps that’s why it’s designated as a disaster warning zone."
There weren't any high mountains or steep slopes nearby, so I didn't think landslides would be an issue, but...
We’d have to wait for Kiritani-san's explanation to understand exactly what kind of risks the land held.
"We should go listen to him as soon as possible. Let’s figure out a day that works for everyone later."
"Got it. If it’s just for a meeting, would after school on a weekday be alright?"
"Yes. Since we want to go soon... let's check our schedules."
Our next moves would likely depend on what we learned there. It was better to get that information sooner rather than later.
We continued talking as we mentally went over our upcoming plans.
"We can give them the reservation date once our schedules are clear. By the way, you guys saw me step out of class during lunch to take a call, right?"
"Of course. You looked panicked when you left, then came back at the last second looking relieved."
"That call was from Kiritani-san’s office. It was about the request for the Dungeon Association to conduct a preliminary survey for the skill training ground permit."
"Oh, that. So, what happened?"
Yuji spoke with a small smile, and Hiiragi-san and I leaned forward slightly, wordlessly pressuring him for the result.
Even for the Association's preliminary investigation, we couldn't set foot on the property without permission from Kiritani Real Estate. If we skipped the preliminary survey, bought the land, and then failed the formal application, we’d be in deep trouble. On the other hand, entering the property without permission would be trespassing.
"They gave the Association permission for the preliminary survey surprisingly easily. However, there’s a condition: they want an employee from Kiritani Real Estate—Yuta-san—to be present. It seems they want to see firsthand what the Association looks for when certifying a training ground. They want to use the experience as a reference for future explorer clients."
"I see. Kiritani Real Estate would want to avoid a reputation for selling land that can't get a permit. I can understand them wanting to see if there are any criteria beyond what’s on the paperwork."
"That's true. In this age of information, a bad reputation spreads fast and customers vanish instantly. It’s only natural for a company to want to mitigate that risk."
In this day and age, good news travels fast, but bad news travels even faster. Once a business gets a bad name, even a thriving shop can see its customers disappear like the ebbing tide.
I actually felt better about Kiritani Real Estate for taking the initiative to send an employee to gather firsthand info. It showed they were dedicated to doing their jobs properly, even if it took extra effort.
"Well, that's the gist of it. There’s no issue with them being there, and since it’s Yuta-san, I told them it was fine. It was a snap decision, but you guys don’t mind, right?"
"Of course not. If that’s all it takes to get permission for the investigation, it's a bargain. They could have insisted we wait until after the contract was signed."
"Yes. And in the unlikely event that the Association denies the permit, having the real estate employee there will make it much easier to explain why we’re backing out of the contract. Not that I expect that to happen."
Since Yuta-san had already been with us for the property viewings, having him tag along for the survey wasn't an issue. Knowing that, Hiiragi-san was comfortable making jokes about the small chance of failure.
Besides... we were talking about a massive plot of land jutting into the sea, surrounded by nothing but empty space. If we couldn't get a permit for that, I had no idea what kind of place could get one.
"Phew, what a relief. Let’s hurry and book the preliminary investigation with the Association. I don’t know how backed up they are, but the sooner we apply, the sooner they’ll come out."
"Right. Now that we have entry permission, let's sign up. I hope we can get a spot soon... but we should probably assume it won't be until the end of the month."
"Let's just apply first and worry about that later. Who knows? Maybe they’re surprisingly free."
Hiiragi-san was right. It was better to act first and adjust our plans later rather than fret over unknowns.
With our information exchange complete and Mika’s group still not in sight, the three of us pulled out our smartphones. We went to the Dungeon Association’s website and began checking the procedures for a preliminary investigation to get a training ground permit.
Just as we finished reviewing the steps, the four juniors arrived.
Sorry we're late! Good work today!
"Good work. You're a bit later than usual today, aren't you?"
"Sorry, Onii-chan. Homeroom went long."
"Don't worry about it. It's not like we had anything urgent. We had some stuff to take care of ourselves, so we weren't just sitting around."
If anything, their timing was perfect.
Our research into the application process revealed that we could either apply at the counter or use an online form. However, both required our personal identification numbers from our Explorer Cards. We didn't have them at school, so we’d have to check them at home. That meant we couldn't take the process any further for now.
"What kind of stuff were you doing, Onii-chan?"
"Various things for that matter I mentioned. There’s a lot of back-and-forth with the other party regarding procedures, and the three of us have a lot of decisions to make. We were just comparing notes."
"I see. That sounds like a lot of work..."
"Well, it's a major purchase. Even the paperwork is a challenge."
Now that I was actually going through it, the struggle really hit home. It wasn't as simple as just paying the money and being done. While we could probably hire someone to handle most of the paperwork, the final decisions were ours to make. The road to making those decisions was... exhausting.
I answered Mika’s question and then spent a moment looking out the window with a far-off gaze. After a beat, I shook my head to clear my mind and changed the subject.
"...Anyway, now that everyone’s here, let’s start club. Also, as I just mentioned, the three of us have some urgent business to handle. Sorry, but we’re going to head out early once we’ve checked in with you guys."
"Wait, you’re leaving already, Onii-chan? But we just got here."
"Sorry about that. This is something we need to deal with immediately."
The three of us gave the juniors an apologetic bow as we explained our early departure. Since we needed our Explorer Cards to apply for the survey, we’d decided to go home, grab them, and then go directly to the Association branch. The branch wasn't too far, so if we left now, we could probably finish before sunset if it wasn't too crowded.
I did wonder if we couldn't just do it all online, but this was a good chance to see how long these administrative tasks actually take on a weekday afternoon. We’d likely be visiting government offices and the Association branch many more times in the future.
"I understand... You guys really are working hard."
"Yeah. But if I think about the fun we’ll have once this is over... I can keep pushing."
I gave Mika a weary, wry smile.
After checking the progress on the club’s presentation materials, the three of us said our goodbyes and left the clubroom.
"So, we go home, change, grab our Explorer Cards, and meet back at the station?"
"Sounds good. Anything else... The investigation itself is free, so we don't need any special funds, right?"
"Right, we're just filing the application today."
After a quick confirmation of our plans, we hurried away from the school.
I really hoped we could get an investigation date today... but maybe that was too much to ask for?