On the 29th of the Month of Wind, I apologized to Lilia-san and the others as soon as I woke up, coming clean about everything that had happened the day before.
Naturally, it was mortifying. When I confessed that my "collapse" was actually a physical reaction to green peppers, they all looked at me with a sort of warm, pitying amusement. I wanted to find a hole and crawl into it.
As the saying goes, news travels fast. Word of my picky eating habits spread through the mansion like wildfire. By early afternoon, my hatred for green peppers was a matter of public record within the estate.
The woman who served as the head chef watched me with maternal eyes, as if looking at her own son. "I know what you don't like now," she said, "but do you have a favorite food?"
Having learned that dodging questions only led to disaster, I answered honestly. "Hamburg steak."
The head chef laughed for a long while before announcing that tonight's dinner would be Hamburg steak. This only deepened my embarrassment.
I wasn’t sure if it was because of our age gap, but she seemed to treat me like a child, and she looked genuinely delighted by the revelation. My favorite food was Hamburg steak and my least favorite was green peppers... was my palate really that of a child? It was a depressing thought, mostly because I couldn’t deny it.
Sieg-san and Lilia-san were very kind. Neither of them brought up my childish tastes; they simply smiled and said they were relieved that I wasn’t actually ill.
However, there was, as expected, someone who found the whole thing hilarious. I didn't even have to look—it was the no-good maid herself.
"Oh? If it isn't the green-pepper-hating Miyama-sama."
"..."
Lunamaria-san was practically beaming, like a fish back in water. She was like this just from us passing each other in the hallway. The smug look on her face—the look of someone who had just acquired the ultimate blackmail material—was incredibly irritating. But I knew that getting defensive would only entertain her more.
I decided to try a different approach, launching a little counter-offensive of my own.
"Come to think of it, I overheard something interesting recently... Apparently, Lunamaria-san, you aren't very good with bugs?"
"H-How did you know that...?"
It was more effective than I had anticipated. Lunamaria-san’s smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a look of sheer agitation.
"Oh, it's nothing special. I’m not saying I’ll do anything with that information, but..."
"M-Miyama-sama, m-may I speak with you about something slightly unrelated?"
"Eh? Sure."
"Well, you see, I believe it is only natural for any living creature to have things they are bad at or dislikes. It is an unavoidable part of our nature, and I don’t think it’s something to be ashamed of at all."
"I see. That’s true enough."
I wanted to point out that her current attitude completely contradicted what she’d just said to me, but I bit my tongue and waited. I figured letting her dig her own way out would be more beneficial for me.
"Therefore, using such things as a weakness to mock someone would be a disgraceful act for a human being. S-So... shall we agree to that?"
"Do you really hate bugs that much?"
"I wish those creatures would simply perish from the face of the world."
"I-I see."
In short, Lunamaria-san was proposing a truce. She wouldn’t tease me about my dislike of green peppers if I refrained from teasing her about her phobia of bugs. It was a mutual non-interference pact.
She apparently hated insects even more than I had imagined. She was likely terrified that if she pushed me too far, I might actually catch a bug and bring it to her.
"I understand. A mutual non-interference pact on these matters... How does that sound?"
"I have no objections."
In any case, being mocked for my childish preferences was embarrassing, so I accepted. A strange sense of solidarity was born between us that day.
Unfortunately, Lunamaria-san wasn't the only one who found my secret entertaining.
"Hehe, Kaito-senpai, you actually have quite a childish side to you... It’s kind of cute."
"Ugh... Hina-chan? That isn't a compliment, you know."
Hina-chan had been in a great mood since this morning. She brought it up cheerfully while we were out on one of our occasional runs. Unlike Lunamaria-san, it didn't feel like she was mocking me; she just seemed genuinely happy to have learned an unexpected side of me.
But I really wished she’d remember that "cute" isn't exactly high praise for a man. Well, maybe for some men, but not for me.
"Ahaha, sorry. But you know, it’s much more personable for a man to have things he can't do or things he's bad at, rather than being perfect at everything."
"Ummm. Do you really think so?"
"Oh, definitely. Though in Kaito-senpai's case, it feels like there are more things you can't do than things you can. You're a bit unreliable at times."
"Gah!? Hina-chan... that's a bit harsh..."
Her cheerful honesty dealt massive damage to my tiny pride. A critical hit if I ever saw one. Perhaps this was proof that we’d become closer, but recently, my two juniors have been quite merciless with me. It seemed the "reliable senior" persona was well beyond my reach.
Seeing my reaction, Hina-chan waved her hands in a slight panic.
"Ah, I’m not making fun of you! I mean, I find it charming. I, um, really like that about you."
"Eh?"
"Kaito-senpai, it’s true that there are many things you can't do, but there are just as many... no, way, way more good things about you. You're kind and warm, and it’s just fun to be with you. And besides, when it really matters, you're incredibly cool... I think you're wonderful."
"T-Thank you."
As she said that, Hina-chan's cheeks turned as red as an apple. Her bashful smile was truly dazzling.
"S-Sorry! I-I said something weird, didn't I!? Come on, let’s pick up the pace!"
"Huh? Ah, wait! You're too fast!"
"Come on, Kaito-senpai! I'm going to leave you behind!"
"W-Wait... I can't run that fast!"
Watching Hina-chan happily accelerate, I was stunned to realize she was already moving faster than my full sprint—and she wasn't even using magic. I scrambled to chase after her. I guess being a "reliable senior" really was impossible for me, but maybe that’s just... who I am.
The next day was the 30th of the Month of Wind. The incident occurred on the morning of this, the final day of the month.
Still feeling the usual morning lethargy, I moved to the dining hall. As I waited for breakfast, the doors were flung open with enough force to generate a physical sound effect.
"Kai-chan! It's me!"
"G-Good morning, Fate-san."
Standing in the doorway was the problem child of the God Realm. She was one of the few beings who could rival Alice in pure, unadulterated uselessness. Fate-san was prone to "skipping work" to come play at the mansion at irregular intervals.
Her sudden appearances were nothing new, so I figured she was just dodging her duties again. But as I returned her greeting, Fate-san gave me a charming smile and dropped a bombshell.
"Good morning, Kai-chan! This is a bit sudden, but come with me to the Hydra Kingdom right now!"
"Huh? No, what are you saying all of a sud—"
"Thank you! I knew you'd gladly agree!"
"Wait, no! I haven't said anything... Why are you grabbing my arm!? Also, what's with that magic circle!?"
"Alright, then let’s go!"
"Wha—!?"
Fate-san didn't listen to a word I said. Or rather, she completely distorted my protests to suit her convenience. She grabbed my hand, a magic circle for teleportation magic flared beneath us, and my world was enveloped in light.
Dear Mother and Father—
The day after I confessed my dislike for green peppers, Fate-san arrived without warning and forcibly dragged me away to the Hydra Kingdom. I have no idea why this is happening or what's going to happen next, but at the very least—will you just listen to me for once!?
After watching the blur of light that carried Kaito away, Lilia and the others began eating their breakfast as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Sigh... again?"
"Well, it is Kaito-san, after all."
"He is Kaito-senpai, after all."
"It's Miyama-sama, so..."
Watching Lilia heave a deep sigh while spreading jam on her bread, Aoi, Hina, and Lunamaria murmured in collective resignation. Lilia’s shoulders slumped as she gave a weary wave of her hand.
"Please bring me some stomach medicine."
"Milady, I'm not sure if taking stomach medicine preemptively is a good idea..."
"It’s fine. He’s just going to come back having befriended a King or something anyway... and I'm the one who's going to end up suffering for it regardless."
"The fact that I can't deny that is the terrifying part."