I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace (WN)

Chapter 2462 - Requested Item ⑱

Thinking back on something calmly afterward is something anyone can experience. Kaori, who had readily agreed to Kaito’s invitation to watch a movie, found herself thinking as they went to buy snacks.

(I’m really looking forward to it, watching a movie for the first time in ages. What should we watch? A romance film, probably…… ah, but would Kaito-kun get bored? Maybe an action movie would be better. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a movie that I could enjoy any genre…… n- no, horror is a hard pass. I don’t mind scary themes, but the kind that relies on jump scares really isn’t my thing……)

For Kaori, it truly had been over 10 years since she’d last seen a movie, and she felt a buoyant excitement as she pondered what to watch.

Then, at that moment, she casually shifted her gaze to Kaito walking beside her…… and a word flashed through her mind like a sudden spark.

(……Arehh? Wait, is this…… a date? M- Maybe? A movie date feels like the most classic of classics, but…… ah, no, we’re not going to a theater, we’re watching it at my shop…… so would that be a stay-at-home date? A young man and a young woman…… young…… well, I’m still barely in my 20s, and with Olivia-sama’s Blessing, I’ve essentially regained my youth, so I should still count as “young”, right? A- Anyway, a young man and woman watching a movie alone at home…… isn’t that totally a date?)

Her excitement over watching a movie for the first time in ages had kept that thought from occurring to her until now, but today was Kaori’s shop’s regular day off. Once they returned, it would be just her and Kaito alone, and once she started thinking of it as a stay-at-home date, she couldn’t see it any other way.

One could say she was overthinking it, but once her thoughts tilted in that direction, more and more ideas kept bubbling up.

(S- So what is this, really? Watching a movie together was Kaito-kun’s idea, so does that mean I basically got asked out on a date? No, but I was the one who suggested watching it at the shop, so it’s not like Kaito-kun necessarily intended it as a home date. Ahh, but we didn’t just part ways after meeting Olivia-sama either…… so maybe he wanted to spend a bit more time with me? That possibility…… might exist?)

Of course, Kaito himself didn’t have any particularly deep intentions, and based on their past interactions, Kaori thought that was probably the case. Still, she couldn’t say with absolute certainty that he had no intention of dating her at all. There remained the possibility, however small, that he might.

She had already held quite favorable feelings toward Kaito to begin with, and on top of that, Olivia-sama’s Blessing had resolved her long-standing worry about nearing her 30s and starting to see her age reflected in her appearance.

She’d thought about it that morning while looking at herself in the mirror during her shower. She didn’t flatter herself enough to think she was a peerless beauty, but at least to the extent of thinking “Aren’t I kinda cute?”, she could feel some confidence. Her skin condition had improved dramatically lately, and because of that, it was fair to say her awareness had drifted oddly in a romantic direction.

(……H- Hmmm, considering Kaito-kun’s personality, it’s probably right to think he just invited me as a way to help me refresh my mood…… b- but, maybe, just maybe, he’s a little aware of me as a woman…… I can’t say the chance is zero…… s- so what do I do? What kind of mindset am I supposed to go in with?)

Kaori understood that the correct course of action was to not be weird about it and act as she normally would…… but once she started thinking about it, the thoughts stubbornly refused to leave her head.

[……Um, Kaori-san? We’ve passed several shops already, where are we heading?]

Her thoughts kept circling without an answer. Unlike Kaito, Kaori didn’t have Sympathy Magic, and she wasn’t confident in her romantic experience either, so reading someone’s intentions was difficult. Still, she liked romance stories and had a fair amount of knowledge about love-related matters, which only made it harder for her thoughts to reach a conclusion.

(I mean, fundamentally, there’s a huge gap between my romantic experience and Kaito-kun’s. If he were serious about it, I could easily get swept along in no time, and there’s even a chance we’d cross the line. It’s not that my guard is loose or anything; it’s more like Kaito-kun is just too much of a playboy, or rather, he’s naturally cool and kind. Over the course of knowing him, I’ve thought he’s…… ah, no, actually, I’ve thought he’s really great. So if he came on strong, I feel like I’d just get overwhelmed and give in.)

At her core, Kaori’s affection for Kaito was high, and even if Olivia had been with them, she had gone on a date with him before. Part of her wanted to take the lead as the older one, yet another part of her felt that being pushed assertively wouldn’t be so bad either. With those conflicting feelings, Kaori wore a deeply conflicted expression.

[……You’re not hearing me? Errr, if we keep going, there’s also Carriage Street ahead, so……]

Perhaps because she was so lost in thought, Kaori didn’t respond to Kaito’s calls, continuing to walk on with the same troubled expression.

(I mean, I know Kaito-kun isn’t the aggressive, carnivorous type, but sometimes he suddenly has this dependable, cool way about him that really gets to you…… and getting led along like that wouldn’t be so bad either, I guess…… N- No, that’s too big a leap! We’re just watching a movie together at home, that’s all, ahaha, wow, I really let my imagination run wild there……)

Still lost in thought, Kaori continued walking straight toward the road meant for passing carriages. Judging it dangerous if things continued as they were, Kaito grabbed Kaori’s hand and forcefully pulled her back toward him.

[Kaori-san!]

[……Fwah!? Ah, eh? Eeeh, w- what, what!? K-Kaito-kun, you’re really going into beast mode……]

[No, you looked like you were about to step out onto the carriage road because you were thinking too hard…… sorry it ended up looking like I was pulling you into my arms.]

[……Huh? Eh? A- Ahh…… I see…… so that’s what it was……]

Having suddenly been pulled close by Kaito, Kaori’s thoughts were instantly blown away and her face flushed bright red, but his explanation finally made her understand what situation she was actually in.

And then, what came surging up next was an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.

[……I’m going to die of embarrassment.]

[Ah, errr, I’m really sorry.]

[No, that’s not about you pulling me in like that…… honestly, I’m grateful you stopped me]

[U- Unn? Then what is it about……?]

[Please, I’m begging you, don’t pry any further. My face is seriously going to explode……]

Realizing in hindsight just how deeply she’d been engrossed in what was basically romantic delusion, the embarrassment was enough to make her feel like flames were shooting out of her face. In front of the puzzled Kaito, Kaori stood there for a while, covering her bright red face with her hands.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [D- D*mn it…… this bûche de Noël is way too sweet…… I feel like I’m taking damage here. Isn’t there something more bitter!?]

Makina : [I like sweet cakes better. I mean, bitter chocolate has its own kind of appeal too, but when it comes to chocolate cake, I think it’s better when it’s nice and sweet.]

Serious-senpai : [Just when I thought the Christmas side story was over, this one’s turning sweet too…… does my personal hell never end……? Black coffee, please.]

Makina : [Here you go.]

Serious-senpai : [Thanks……]