“I’m coming!”
Kasumi is the first to respond to the doorbell.
Does she know whoever that is, I think as I watch, but then I hear a shrill voice.
“Shouta, shall we?”
“What what?”
“Let’s go!”
Maki and Ayane pull me out of the house despite me not knowing what’s going on. There I see girls in long sleeved kimonos like Kasumi, surrounding her looking happy.
“Hum… Are they Kasumi’s friends?”
“Ah, big brother, let me introduce them. This is my team, Lightning Speed!”
I then get introductions one by one.
The vice-leader, playmaker, and tank, is Haru.
The main attacker who uses a katana like Kasumi and seems old-fashioned is Hazuki.
The sub-attacker who uses grappling weapons and seems full of energy is Renka.
The healer who stands out among the ones wearing long-sleeved kimonos because she looks like a nun is Irina.
And the one that typically doesn’t accompany them but came along because it’s the beginner dungeon is their exclusive receptionist, Izumi.
I see, so it’s the five of them plus Kasumi. I greet everyone, and I remember seeing one of them before.
“…Hn? Hazuki, did you go to the same dojo as Kasumi?”
“Ooh, you remember?”
“I do, but it was ten years ago, so vaguely.”
“The same goes for me. I remember training, and Miss Kasumi being clingy with her older brother who spoiled her. I remember you getting along quite well, so I am relieved to see that is still the case.”
Before stats were a thing, we went to a sword fighting dojo in our hometown. The demand for these kinds of places that taught how to fight went up when dungeons appeared, but when stats appeared, despite the stamina and techniques I got there, I fell short compared to the others in everything.
It was too hard to keep going there, so I didn’t, but Kasumi didn’t just rely on her stats and kept training. I’m sure Hazuki was the same, and the others also worked hard. They all seem like nice serious girls.
I whisper to Aira.
“…Is that what that tent is about?”
“Yes. I assumed you would not want Miss Kasumi and her friends in separate tents. Also, since Miss Kasumi’s level has gone up, I thought it would be nice if the others leveled up as well.”
“I see, I get it.”
It would be too bad if we separated them after they came all the way out here. Aira knew they were coming, so she anticipated what I would want.
Aira seeing right through me is nothing new, but hearing it said out loud makes me realize what I’m really thinking.
“Have you had lunch yet?”
“No, the plan was to eat after setting up the tent.”
Sounds like they weren’t informed about the tent.
“Then you can use that one with Kasumi.”
“Eh!? A-are you sure?”
“Well, Kasumi trusts you, so it’s fine. Let’s eat over there in that tent while introducing ourselves. Aira and Maki made more than usual too.”
“Yes. We prepared a lot, so please eat as much as you want.”
We introduce ourselves before we eat, and have lunch in a circle. We’ve only used this tent a few times, but it has plenty of space to stretch one’s legs and sleep. Eating here together is no problem.
After our introductions, and as we eat, their attention is mostly on me and Enki and the others. Well, golems are like monsters, it makes sense.
And Iris really is a monster.
“Ah, big brother, I have something important to ask. Will you listen?”
“What’s with the formality?”
Kasumi speaks with a serious expression after we’re done eating.
“…Remember how I told you I didn’t want to get strong and leave the others behind?”
“Yes.”
“I want to grow along with them. Going with you will be good for our adventures going forward. I was wondering if we could come with you for the next few days. I don’t have anything to give in return, but I’ll do anything! I don’t need experience from rare monsters, so please!”
“““““Please!!”””””
They all bow, wanting training to achieve new heights. Well, this is what I wanted.
Kasumi and I made up, and she’s now dear family instead of someone I want to forget. If she’s going to keep adventuring, there’s always going to be danger, so I want her to be okay even when I’m not around.
Kasumi wasn’t on board with raising her level, and I understood why. But if her teammates also want to get stronger, even if it will take some time, we can give them some experience and training. And skills too.
I’ll probably leave it up to the girls to decide the right balance.
“Fine. But I won’t hold back, so keep up.”
I say, and they all smile innocently while looking at each other.
“Yes! Thanks big brother!”
“It will be for a short time, but thank you for having us, big brother.”
Says Haru, and the other girls start calling me that too. And they want to be treated the same as Kasumi.
I question my sister’s friends becoming stepsisters, but I guess I’ve gotten unique stepsisters in a short amount of time. The more we talk the more I see they’re all good girls, and their levels are high enough, their appearance is refined, and they have experience as adventurers. That said, aside from her aura, Hazuki doesn’t seem all that different from what I remember.
I feel like they would be cute even without their levels. The respect from them doesn’t feel bad… But if I think too much about that the others will get jealous, so let’s take it easy.
“Getting pretty smug, aren’t we?”
“We need to talk later, Shouta.”
“Yes.”
Too late.
“Ah, I’m their exclusive, so I’m staying.☆”
“No. You’re coming along, Izumi.”
“Eh~?”
“One or two won’t make a difference at this point, so you’re coming.”
“Yes big brother.☆”
These girls really are unique.
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