Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 29 - Chapter SS2

Special Short Story

Warning: This short story contains spoilers for volume 29. Read at your own risk lest you ruin the fun for yourself.

Sukiyaki, pizza, and all sorts of other fun dishes were often served in room 106. Tonight was one such occasion, but the atmosphere in the apartment was a little different from usual. There were multiple reasons for the change in mood: tomorrow most of the group would start their last year of high school, they’d only just resolved a problem that had caused them a great deal of stress, and on top of all that, a tenth girl had joined them.

“So much has happened, but we were able to make it back here and with a new friend. Let’s celebrate that and get ready to do our best in the new school term to come... Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

The clink of eleven glasses coming together rang out in the room in response to Harumi’s toast. Koutarou and company were throwing themselves a small party to celebrate their hard work, the new school year, and their new companion. It was practically a banquet, albeit a dry one since everyone present was underage. The glasses they toasted with were all full of soda and juice.

“Let’s hurry up and eat! My stomach won’t stop growling.”

“Jeez, Yurika. At least wipe the drool off your face. How improper.”

Yurika already had a plate in hand was on standby at the tea table. Her eyes were glued on the beef that was waiting to be served. Maki couldn’t help giving her a stern look. Right now, there was no hint of love or courage to be seen in Yurika.

“I know how you feel, but shouldn’t Nal-chan be the one to start this off?” Shizuka asked with a wry smile as she scribbled on a notepad.

The sukiyaki on the table was Kiriha’s doing, and Shizuka was diligently recording the recipe along with a few notes.

“I agree. So go ahead and try some. But no mystery powers or anything.”

“All right, but... I’m unfamiliar with all of this, so I’m not sure where to begin.”

The honored guest at the banquet was a girl with rainbow-colored hair. She was a stranger to the ways of humans and their everyday activities. Without her omnipotence, she hardly knew what was what. She looked like a deer in headlights staring at the tea table.

“Jeez, what are we going to do with you? Start off by observing what the others are doing. Then consider why they’re doing what they are and the tools they’re using to do it.”

“All right.”

Taking Koutarou’s advice, the girl looked to Yurika and picked up a plate of her own. She then awkwardly tried using a pair of chopsticks. Her handling left a lot to be desired, but she seemed to be quick on the uptake.

“Master, aren’t you being a little too strict with someone who’s trying any of this for their first time? I think you should hold her hand a bit more,” Ruth said with a furrowed brow and a bitter smile.

As a citizen of Forthorthe, Ruth couldn’t help seeing the girl as the Goddess of Dawn. Ruth believed she should be treated with the utmost respect, and deftly served a healthy meal on a smaller plate just for her.

“Besides, Koutarou, without any guidance, she’ll have a terribly unbalanced diet.”

“She’s using them as a reference, after all.”

Kiriha and Clan had a good giggle together. Koutarou followed their gazes and found Yurika and Theia both stuffing their mouths with beef.

“H-Hey! Eat some veggies too, you two!”

“Hom nom nom...”

“Mmgh mrrph mmph...”

With their mouths full, their responses were completely unintelligible. But Koutarou was quite sure he detected protest and objection coming from both girls. While he was clutching his head in frustration, Sanae swooped in from the side with her own chopsticks and plate.

“Sanae-chan on the scene! Here, let me teach you the proper way to eat sukiyaki.”

“Much obliged.”

The meek girl looked up to Sanae, whose eyes were sparkling, and watched as she picked out meat, tofu, noodles, and just enough vegetables to make Koutarou happy.

“Once you’ve taken what you want to eat, you move around to Koutarou’s back.”

“You move around to his back?”

“Then you hug him!”

“Hey!”

“Hug him...?”

“And then you feed him some meat!”

“Sanae, what are you— Hom!”

“Hmm, I see...”

“Kiriha often cooks to Koutarou’s tastes, so you get the best flavor when you share his senses.”

“Oh, so that’s how humans do this...”

“Wait a minute! Why are you starting off teaching her that?!”

“Because it’s most delicious this way, you know?”

“Right...”

Unfortunately, the dinner lesson was a disaster as far as Koutarou was concerned. It seemed it would be some time yet before the rainbow-haired girl mastered Japanese manners and table etiquette.