Chapter 137: Chapter 135 – What to do During Winter

Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes

What to do During Winter

『So are the Four Stars staying in Forestia for a while?』Hikaru asked, continuing their conversation.

『Hmm... Selyse is surprisingly enthusiastic. Sarah and Sophie are vague about it, just sitting on a fence. As for me, I don’t really like the idea.』

『Oh.』

『It’s cold here.』

『Ah. Where are you from in Japan?』

If she didn’t like the cold, it was either because she lived in a warmer place, or perhaps the opposite and she was sick of cold weather.

『I lived in...』Selica mentioned a certain place.

『That’s where I’m from.』Hikaru said.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

『Really?』

『What’s the nearest station?』

『East Sakuramori.』

『Whoa, that’s close by. Mine’s West Sakuramori.』

『What?! We’re practically neighbors!』

『What a coincidence... or maybe it’s not?』

『What do you mean?』

『Maybe people who die in that area tend to get sent here.』

In the afterlife, Hikaru realized there were only Japanese people around. At first, he thought maybe every country had its own heaven, but it didn’t make sense to segregate souls based on their nationality.

Perhaps it had something to do with the geographic location or coordinates.

『Eh, whatever. Thinking about it will get us nowhere. So are you staying Forestzard for a while?』

『We can stay wherever we want. Up until now, our party worked intensively, so we’re taking an extended vacation. Plus we won’t be able to go adventuring when it starts snowing.』

『Ah, I see.』

『Are there any tourist spots around here that I should check?』

『I haven’t been here long, so I hadn’t gone sightseeing. Although...』

Hikaru recalled something. The Zuburan relics catalogue that the principal allowed him to see.

『What?! They excavated a massive amount of tengu masks?! Sounds like our predecessors did some stupid things.』

『If you have time, it might be worth checking out. There might be things that only we know about.』

『That might be a good idea... What about you? There are ruins perfect for Japanese people, but you’re taking it easy here as a student?』

『I could go check it out. But I’m kinda tired so I want to rest.』

『You sound lazy.』

『That’s rich coming from the one who’s taking an extended vacation.』

Selica didn’t mind Hikaru’s comment.

『You should come with me, then.』she said.『I’m sure we’ll discover something.』

『Where? To the ruins? They might’ve excavated everything already.』

『We won’t know until we go there.』

『Plus it’s winter. The snow...』

『It doesn’t snow a lot in Zubura, does it? It says so in the guidebook.』

『Oh... You checked a guidebook?』

『You should be happy a pretty girl is asking you out. You might just wither away.』

『I’m still bursting with energy, thank you very much. I’m only fifteen, Senpai.』

『Then as a young boy bursting with energy, you should come with me. I’ll go back to Forestzard first and talk to the girls. We probably won’t be back for a while.』

『Where’s my say in this? I really don’t want to—』

『You don’t want to go? Really? Let’s be honest here.』

『W-Well... I planned to see the ruins some day.』

Hikaru was curious about the ruins and lost technology apparently created by Japanese people.

『You don’t have anything to do in the winter anyway.』

The student alliance should be out of Hikaru’s hands now. Same for the mass wedding. League might ask him to participate some more, but these were things the citizens of Forestia should work on.

Forestian winters were long, and the academy would be temporarily closed. It’s true. I don’t really have anything to do...

『...Fine.』

『Nice! I got a company to talk about Japan with!』

Selica smiled happily. It looked like she really missed her home country. She was craving for topics about Japan.

『But... if my partner Lavia says no, then I won’t go.』

Selica stood up and walked towards Lavia. Lavia looked at her.

「Lavia, right?」

「Huh? Uh, yes...」

「Hikaru’s going with me to check the ruins in Zubura. You should come too!」

「What?」

「Ah, this might not make sense to you.」Hikaru said.「In Zubura, there are—」

「I’ll tell you all about Japan.」Selica said.

「I’ll go.」Lavia quickly answered.

「Uh, Lavia?」

「Ah, I’m sorry. My tongue slipped. But I want to know more about your home.」Lavia explained, looking down, her face beet red.

Hikaru couldn’t say no to that face. It was simply impossible.

「A-All right. Let’s go, then. Let’s talk about Japan on the way.」

「Okay!」

「Great!」

「I’m so jealous!」

「You should come too, Paula.」

「What? Are you sure?」

「We can’t just leave you behind alone. But you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.」

「I’m going! I did it, Lavia-san! Hikaru-sama invited me!」

「Yeah. Good for you, Paula.」

「Yes!」

She seemed to be getting excited.

「...So I’m the only guy on the trip...」

I might have to pay careful attention during the journey.

The moment Selica left, Paula went out as well. Hikaru told her she could stay here.

「I can’t always rely on both of you!」she firmly refused.

Paula wanted to go job-hunting, but since they would be leaving for Zubura soon, she’d have to put that on hold. Hikaru gave her some money for the time being.

Selica planned to return to Forestzard on tomorrow’s carriage. She said she’d look for an inn.

「This is the part where you say “You can stay here for the night.”」Selica said.「But even Paula doesn’t want to so I can’t really ask!」

She did technically say it anyway. Then she disappeared into the streets of Scholarzard together with Paula.

「Will Paula be okay?」Hikaru wondered.

「Are you worried about her?」

「Yeah. Apparently all this time, her friends handled the lodging and food prep. Although the actual cooking was done by her.」

「I’m sure she can check-in to an inn by herself. I told her to get in touch once she finds a place to stay, so she should come back today.」

「I suppose.」

Hikaru and Lavia returned to their room. He yawned, perhaps from finally having peace.

「I should sleep...」

As soon as he entered the bedroom, he flopped onto the bed. He actually wanted to take a bath and have something to eat first, but the long journey, the briefing with Lavia and Paula, and Selica’s sudden visit left him completely exhausted.

「Hikaru.」

「Hmm?」

Drowsiness came quick, and he couldn’t get a word out.

「Good night. You did great out there.」

「Thanks, Lavia.」

Lavia sat down on the bed and stroked Hikaru’s head, her thin fingers combing through his hair. Feeling comfortable, Hikaru closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.