She’s the Cutest… But We’re Just Friends! - Volume 1 - Chapter 7

Episode 007: Suppose a Real Monster from the Last Dungeon Basement Appeared in a Starter Town 

It was now halfway through April. Kai’s life continued in peace, as though the chaos of his first days as a second-year were just a fever dream. He played games with Jun, saw movies, shopped around at all the major otaku chains, and before he knew it, it was the day before Golden Week. 
Right now, it was time to go to school. After getting off at Sakata Station, Kai caught a glimpse of Jun from behind. He figured that they must have been on the same train, just not the same car. 
“’Sup.” 
“Morning.” 
They walked the rest of the way to school together and talked about nothing but yesterday’s quiz the whole time. 
“Is it just me,” said Jun, “or did math get way harder once we started our second year? I get the feeling I’m not quite keeping up in class...” 
“Oh me oh my, do you mean to imply that you were able to keep up last year?” 
“Screw you, Kai. You’re getting friendly fired the next time we play Tanks.” 
“Blue name alert! We got a team killer here!” 
Kai responded to Jun’s teasing with a jab of his own before running away with a grin on his face. 
“C’mon,” Jun begged, slumping her shoulders more genuinely than Kai expected. “Can’t you give me some actual help here?” 
Asagi High School’s academic style valued personal freedom, so teachers didn’t nag about studying too often. But the school’s code of conduct touted that personal responsibility was what made freedom a virtue, so the penalties for poor grades were harsh. They’d have midterms right after their return from Golden Week, so Kai could understand Jun’s concern. 
“But wouldn’t you be better off asking our actual math teacher for help instead of me?” 
“Hmm... maybe for other subjects, but that teacher and I don’t really get along.” 
“Oh... right.” 
Kai realized he should have known better. Their math teacher was by no means a bad person, just... not a very forgiving one. Absolutely the straight-laced type. When she saw fashionistas like Jun, Reina, or Momoko, she tended to call them “hussies” as though they were her mortal enemies. 
Asagi High School prided itself on... well, you know the drill. Its regulations on appearance were nothing if not lenient. You could color your hair whatever shade you liked, and even piercings were fine if they weren’t too flashy. Jun put effort into her appearance while staying within the rules, but when she tried to stand up for herself after being called a “hussy,” all she got in return was an “I don’t care.” Kai had to take Jun’s side on this one. 
“Yeah, fair enough,” Kai conceded. “Maybe we could do a study session during Golden Week?” 
“In between our gaming sessions!” 
“It’d be an all-day event if we did both.” 
“Thanks in advance for dinner!” 
“Well, Mom would love to have company, so I guess it can work.” 
“Yay, I’m excited! Hurray for beef!” 
“So you’re already assuming we’re gonna spring for that...” Well, not that Kai could claim he didn’t want that for dinner, so he had to chuckle. 
Jun gave him a big hug from behind out of gratitude. But given they were on their way to school and had the eyes of other students on them, she kept her embrace short, just enough to pass off as playing around. If they were too clingy in public, people might wonder if they were dating yet... or if they were just going at it like rabbits. 
“Wanna come over tomorrow morning for it?” 
“Totally!” 
“If your parents are okay with it, you could even stay over. We’ve got my sister’s bed, since I hear she’s going on a trip with some friends from college.” 
“Yay! Now it’s feeling like a training camp.” 
Jun had sparkles in her eyes... until she tilted her head. 
“But wait, Kai, what about your job? I thought you couldn’t get the whole week off.” 
“One of my coworkers got dumped by her boyfriend. She told me she wanted to drown her sorrows in work, so I’ve suddenly got more free time. The next three days, for starters.” 
“Sweet, so we’ve got a three-day gaming camp!” 
“Study camp! Remember what you’re coming for!” 
“Kiddiiiiing. But we are gaming, right? I promise you won’t take an acht-acht shot in your six!” 
To show how harmless she was, Jun gave Kai another hug. A short one, of course. But this time, at this moment, his eyes met someone’s. And there was no turning back. There, at the school gates a hundred meters away, stood the teacher on that day’s entrance duty. A slender-faced gentleman whose beautiful looks could compete with Jun’s, gender difference or not.

Royalteach was looking right at them. With unusual zeal.

“Oh, it’s Broyalty,” said Jun. 
“Uh, what?!” 
Kai could have sworn he’d heard a shocking revelation in the pun that came from the mouth of the girl currently clinging to him. 
“Crap... I think we got caught at a bad time.” 
The next moment, Jun sheepishly distanced herself from Kai. He was breaking out in a cold sweat. A very bad feeling swelled in Kai’s stomach as a very bad memory flashed across his mind.

I have four brothers who are a lot older than me... 
And every single one is the doting type... 
That means having to listen to them nag, you know? Like about how I better not find a boyfriend or anything... 
They’d definitely mistake you for a boyfriend. And then beat the crap out of you. 

Wait, wait, wait, wait, Kai thought. There’s no way—there’s no way. It can’t be. 
Kai hadn’t forgotten how Royalteach saved him from Matsuda’s gang. Nor did he forget how Royalteach stayed with him at the hospital, drove him home, understood his courage in not fighting back, promised that he’d be there when Kai needed him, and even shared a rousing conversation about the big three of shounen manga with him. It’d be an understatement to say that teachers as amazing as him didn’t come along every day. 
So there’s no way Royalteach could be Jun’s brother! 
Kai wiped the sweat from his brow. 
I’m sure the fact that he’s staring daggers at me is just some misunderstanding! 
Kai forced his rattling legs forward. And he fearfully asked Jun that fateful question.

“Is... he your brother?” 
“Yup. My oldest one.”

“The terminal sister complex one?” 
“Yup. Loves me more than anything in the world.”

RIP me. Kai gazed toward the heavens as the world unraveled around him. 
“Hey, Ms. Purepure Miyakawa.” 
“Dude. Fine, what is it, Mr. Ash Nakamura?” 
“Whichever of your parents was on naming duty has some real questionable tastes.” 
Crossing the Japanese kanji and the English pronunciation of “Prince” was just... a lot. Kai was shedding tears in his soul, but he made his spirit stay strong. He gradually, casually distanced himself from Jun and walked toward the school entrance as though he didn’t even know her. He strained to avoid eye contact with Royalteach, who stood with majesty before the gates. The other students greeted the gatekeeper with a smile as they passed, and he returned their salutations in kind.

“Mornin’, Royalteach!” 
“Oh, morning.” 
“Good morning, teacher.” 
“Ah, morning.” 
“How ya doin’, Teach?” 
“Fine. I see you are as well.” 
“Royalteach, listen, listen, listen!” 
“Haha, sorry, it’ll have to wait.” 
“Love you, Royalteach! ? ? ?” 
“And I love my wife.” 
“Fine mornin’, ain’t it?” 
“Sure is.” 
“Goooood morning!” 
“Morning.”

Much of the massive flow of students shouted their greetings heartily as they entered the gates. Kai’s mission: to blend into the crowd and make his way through!

“G-Good morning...” 
“Naaaaakaaaaamuuuuuraaaaa.”

Eeek! 
The sudden grip Kai felt on his shoulder made his heart stop. He nervously turned his head to find that Royalteach had snuck up behind him before he even noticed, horror-movie style. And his grip made it clear that he had no intention of letting go. He pulled up to Kai’s ears and whispered in a way that sent shivers down his spine. 
“I saw you, Nakamuraaaaa.” 
“T-Truly a model teacher, always watching out for your students.” 
“Soooo... you’re friends with Jun, huuuuh?” 
“Wh-Whoever could that be? I just happened to see a classmate whose name I don’t even know and had a wholesome conversation.” 
“You have some nerve clinging to my little sister!” 
“Teacher, please don’t pulverize my shoulders! It hurts. I give!” 
“Whatever could you be referring to? Don’t you see the smile on your teacher’s face?” 
“I dunno, but I see murder in those eyes!” 
“Why yooooou, are you dating Jun?!” 
“Oh no, he’s not gonna listen!” 
Kai shrieked. Who would have thought that such a wonderfully understanding teacher would start seeing red the second it involved his sister? Terminal sister complexes were terrifying! 
Kai searched his surroundings for anyone, anything that could save him, but to no avail. Royalteach was just (ostensibly) grabbing Kai’s shoulder. He was even (ostensibly) smiling. The most that any passing student would do in reaction was point and smile, as though marveling at how close the two were. Even in this massive crowd, Kai was all alone... such apathy made clear to him the dark side of our self-interested modern society. 
“C’mon, Broyalty, I think that’s enough.” 
“Oh, Jun!” Kai exclaimed, “You’re the only one I can count on!” 
Kai’s best friend, unable to bear witness to such inhumanity, came to his aid. Kai’s loneliness vanished in a moment. It was then that Kai knew that modern society wasn’t a total wash after all. 
“Jun,” Royalteach questioned, adopting the stern look of an overprotective brother. “Are you dating this guy?” 
“No, not at all. He’s just a good friend.” 
“Yeah, you heard her! Friend, got it?” 
“Hmph. I find that hard to believe.” 
“Oh please, Broyalty. What could possibly give you that idea?” 
“Yeah, you heard her! You’re a teacher, so you should believe your students!” 
“... You know, when I came to this school, I heard rumors that a school celebrity, Jun Miyakawa from class 2-1, had been cavorting with a boy she seemingly had her eye on. Many rumors, in fact. I could never believe that my little, innocent Jun could ever do such a thing, so I laughed it off as the sort of baseless gossip that kids often spread. But you, Nakamura... you betrayed me.” 
“Excuse me, when and how did I betray you?!” 
Kai desperately worked to convince him that it was a misunderstanding. But of course, Royalteach wouldn’t listen to a word of it. His eyebrows arched as far as they could go to convey his fearsome fury. 
“I shall not acknowledge such cavorting!” 
The shout was just like the one Matsuda bore the brunt of just a few days ago.

Even though we’re just friends?! 
 
And so, Golden Week began in the worst possible way. Kai rolled around on his bedroom mattress as he worked out the situation with Jun over LINE. 
“Any luck over there?” 
“Broyalty’s still royally pissed.” 
“For real?” 
“He’s on watch to make sure I can’t go to your place.” 
“Talk about some awful timing...” 
With that message sent, Kai plowed his face into his pillow. Royalteach was married, so he normally lived with his wife in an apartment away from the family home. However, his prioritizing of his students over his responsibilities to his partner led to a legendary lovers’ spat, resulting in his wife kicking him out to the proverbial doghouse. And so, he returned to the Miyakawa family home. To make matters worse, that “student” was apparently Kai, who Royalteach “prioritized” by staying with him at the hospital and driving him home. That was already enough to make Kai want to apologize on his hands and knees for causing their fight. 
He wasn’t a bad teacher. He was absolutely not a bad teacher. It was just that when his little sister got involved, well... let’s just say a screw came loose. 
“I could lie and say I’m going shopping with Reina,” Jun suggested in a new message. 
“It wouldn’t solve the fundamental problem, though.” 
“Yeah, I can’t fool him forever.” 
“Guess we’ll have to call off the study session.” 
Jun responded with a LINE sticker of Umaru rolling around and throwing a tantrum. Kai sent a sticker of Bell saying “Now, now” to calm her down. Still, Kai wanted to get something constructive out of this. 
“By the way, Jun, what do your parents think?” 
Even if Royalteach was opposed to their friendship, it should be as good as solved if Jun’s parents weren’t. Jun didn’t reply for a while; she must have been preparing a long answer. 
“My parents are pretty busy with work, so my brothers basically act as my guardians—especially now that we’re in Golden Week. My dad says he’s gotta get everything settled at work before our family vacation, so he’s stuck at the office and doesn’t have time for me.” 
Yep, thought Kai, doesn’t look like they’ll be much help. 
He groaned as he stared at his smartphone. For all the freedom that Asagi High School advertised itself on, it was pretty strict about inappropriate coed contact. It was one of those things that parents would never shut up about even if the school had no issues with it. The standard they settled on for “appropriate” was contact that had the approval of both guardians; meaning that regardless of what Kai and Jun felt or how long their friendship had lasted, the school would view it as “inappropriate” now that Jun’s guardian, Royalteach, no longer approved. It pissed Kai off, but the rules were the rules, and breaking them would get Jun in trouble, too. Once again, Asagi High School’s rules might have been lenient, but they were harsh when their standards weren’t met. 
“Do you think I could see Royalteach? Maybe we can talk this out.” 
With no other ideas to break through the deadlock, Kai sent one last suggestion. But the response didn’t come immediately. Kai thought she might be unsure, so he sent a sticker of Saori Bajeena adjusting her glasses while saying “I shall lend my expertise!” to show his determination. 
Time continued to pass, until finally, a response came.

“I don’t want you getting beaten up again.”

So. This is what she had spent all that time hesitating to say. 
“Egh...” Kai blurted, immediately choking up at the thought. 
The bruising he took after Matsuda’s gang demanded he break up with Jun was still quite fresh in his mind. The absolute shock on Jun’s face when she saw his injuries was even fresher. Kai couldn’t imagine the sorrow it’d put her through to see that tragedy repeat itself at the hands of her own family... 
Jun’s next messages arrived before Kai could catch his breath. They came in a rapid flurry that gave a hint as to where her resolve lay. 
“I’ll do something about this.” 
“Everyone in my family will be along for our trip.” 
“I’ll convince my brothers in front of Mom and Dad.” 
“So just wait until then.” 
It was just a few lines, but they made it clear that Jun had thought long and hard about this.

I won’t put you through that ever again, Kai. 
I want to see you, too. I want to hang out together. 
So I’ll do what I can. 
Trust me. 

Reading those messages warmed Kai’s heart. He took a look at the calendar on top of the table and saw that today was April 27. He had heard that Jun’s family vacation was between May 1 and May 3, so he’d need to be patient for a whole week before Jun could win over her parents. 
“Got it.” 
Kai murmured to himself as he fiddled with his smartphone to send a sticker. It had Terminus Est saying “As you wish” with a smug, yet casual look on her face. 
Without missing a beat, Jun responded with a sticker of Akiyama saying “Leave it to me!” Kai sent the sticker right next to Est’s, a picture of Yukimura Kusunoki saying “Best of luck.” 
Jun’s plans changed to having Royalteach help her with her math. However, Kai had his doubts that a social studies teacher who cut math from his life after the employment exam could be as reliable as Jun needed... 
 
It might not bear repeating at this point, but Jun came over to Kai’s place around five times a week. Which is to say that on average, they had two days a week to themselves. Maybe work or shopping trips got in the way, or maybe they had prior plans at school or at home. Sometimes their schedules just didn’t line up. So hey, this wasn’t the first day off Kai had to spend without Jun. He was used to this. 
Or so he thought. 
“All right, let’s get to gaming.” 
Why did his subconscious muttering to himself suddenly sound so hollow? He shook his head to clear out those pointless thoughts and turned on his PS4. The console version of WoT’s sister game, a naval war game called World of Warships, finally released this month. Kai had saved his last bit of wages for this, so he planned to master it during Golden Week. 
“If I start playing before Jun does, I can get good first. Heh, I’ll have a head start.” 
Kai continued talking to himself as he created an account and started playing... until he got bored only thirty minutes later. 
Well, not exactly bored, per se. He just couldn’t focus for some reason. Even though he knew beginners had to give 110% when learning a competitive game, he just suffered shipwreck after shipwreck. 
“Yep, these just don’t handle the way tanks do. Looks like it’ll take a lot of grinding for me to get used to ’em.” 
He didn’t know who he was making excuses to, but he shut down the PS4 anyway. 
“Okay, videos. Yeah, let’s watch some videos.” 
Kai booted up the old laptop on his study desk. He saw that jyunjyun1203 AKA JJ had uploaded a new Monster Hunter solo hunt video late the previous night. Kai nearly jumped for joy as he smashed that play button. 
The video’s contents went in one ear... and out the other. Once Kai realized how spaced out he was, he dragged the progress bar back and watched the video again. And again. He couldn’t get the dot to stop on the exact second he wanted; it always did that, of course, but this time it made him so frustrated that he couldn’t focus. He gently closed his laptop lid in annoyance. 
“All right, let’s read a light novel. Good ol’ LNs.” 
He took a stack of nearly ten freshly purchased paperbacks out of the bookstore’s plastic bag. He bought these books with the intention of finishing all of them during Golden Week. The first one he reached for was none other than the start of a new series by his favorite author that had just gone on sale that April—a release that Kai had been waiting for with bated breath. Its title was The Immortal Army Strikes Again and Again! 
Kai lay down on his bed, put a pillow under his belly, and engaged in maximum comfy mode as he began reading. His first step was to savor Yuunagi’s godlike color illustrations. Ah, what a satisfying blend of euphoria and fulfillment. 
Next, he dug into the text... until he realized that his hands just weren’t turning the pages. After a few paragraphs, his attention would drift off. He’d read a little further, realize he didn’t remember anything he’d just read, try to reread a portion, then realize he didn’t even remember where he stopped. 
“Gaaaaaah, everything’s booooooring!” Kai shouted, tossing his paperback aside on the bed—a barbarism he’d normally never treat his light novels with. He glanced at the clock in his room; it was 2 p.m. 
“...Geez, that early?” 
This year was a ten-day-straight Super Golden Week, making this first day the gateway to a world of endless hopes and possibilities. And Kai was already bored.

Such stifling ennui continued the next day.

And the next.

“And playing alone was all I did until middle school...” 
Kai could do nothing but lie sprawled atop his bed and stare at the posters plastered to the ceiling. In particular, a Goblin Slayer piece drawn by the god Noboru Kannatsuki, featuring the show’s four main girls frolicking affectionately in their swimsuits. 
It wasn’t like Kai was a complete lone wolf in those days. He had friends like Kishimoto to share his hobbies with... but obviously, they didn’t spend every day together the way he did with Jun. Otaku hobbies tended to be solitary pursuits, so Kai didn’t mind too much back then. 
But that was then, and this was now. He had changed. He met Jun, someone who was like the other pea in a pod to him. He came to know the ultimate joy of sharing one’s otaku interests with a friend. He never dreamed that going without seeing her would be all it took to make life this excruciating.

And so came the day after that, the final day of April. Kai had the noon shift at work. He left for his commute in the hopes that getting some work done might lessen his boredom. He arrived in the break room, took out his work apron, and sluggishly tied it around his waist. Just then... 
“Why, Nakamura. I completed my reading of that thing the other day.” 
Kai’s coworker, Kotobuki, called to him from behind. She had the opening shift, so she was currently taking her noon break by chowing down on a homemade lunch. Kai had actually felt someone’s eyes on him earlier, but he ignored her since he couldn’t muster the energy to talk if she didn’t engage first. Now that she had made the first move, he could respond in the same rigid, yet lacking-in-vigor tone he always used with her. 
“And whatever might ‘that thing’ be referring to, Kotobuki?” 
“It refers to the soccer manga you sung the praises of.” 
“My, how rare for you of all people to take interest in a sporting work. And a manga, no less.” 
“Works such as the recent Tsurune and Run with the Wind may be about sports, but are not to be underestimated... though I admit I viewed their animated adaptations.” 
“Quite the shows, they are!” said Kai. “But I could have sworn you weren’t the type to partake in manga.” 
“I was merely concerned about cost efficiency since manga can be read so quickly. I picked this one up only because my younger brother happened to possess it.” 
“May I inquire as to your impressions?” 
“Speaking frankly, it was awesome. The main character seems to have quite the mojo,” said Kotobuki. 
“...Mayhaps you could explain in a way I could understand?” 
“Unlike the average sports anime, I felt that the girls were positively adorable.” 
“Ah, I absolutely concur!” replied Kai. “Even that suntanned lady who only showed up for a moment was exquisite.” 
“Indeed. Although I personally am on Team Hana.” 
“Not Team Anri?” 
The two looked into each other’s eyes as sparks flew from their gazes. But Kotobuki soon shut her eyelids, as though this was a digression she’d meant to avoid. She cleared her throat and continued. 
“It was an awesome manga, but I do have one complaint. Of course, this is merely a personal qualm.” 
“If I may be so bold.” 
“The romantic scenes were a tad too irritating. I was unable to rid myself of the sense that the protagonist could have made something work had he taken merely one more step. Hana being so cute simply makes one all the more impatient.” 
“I suppose you have a point.” 
“One. More. Step,” Kotobuki repeated, emphasizing the message she really wanted to send. “That was all he needed to take.” 
This gave Kai a realization. 
“...Are you psychic?” he asked, finally being brought back to his senses. 
Kotobuki gave a cocky “Hmph” in response. The obnoxious, triumphant look on her face was the kind Kai knew her for. “I may not know the reason, but I can tell from a glance that you’re dragging your feet over yet another concern.” 
“Whoa... I must be super easy to read...” 
“And you’d do well to remember it.” 
Kai couldn’t say a word to her haughty sarcasm. She might be obnoxious, but Kai just couldn’t bring himself to hate her. This girl’s fragile emotional stability had made her an expert at watching others, and she always brought that talent to Kai’s aid. 
After a deep sigh, Kai untied his apron, stuffed it back into the locker, and replaced it with the messenger bag he brought from home. 
“Nakamura?” inquired Kotobuki. 
“I’ve gotta go take one more step,” responded Kai. He relaxed his shoulders and gave his thanks. 
“Are you certain it’s the correct decision?” 
“Yep. But uh, what do I tell the manager?” 
“Simple, you have a sudden stomachache and can’t work. I’ll be certain to cover your share of the shift.” Kotobuki’s smug smile made Kai’s eyes widen. 
“You sure that’ll work?” He couldn’t help but worry about this newbie coworker. 
“But of course,” said Kotobuki, straining to hold her head high. “Who the hell do you think I am? After all, it was you who taught me everything I know.” 
“Why, touché!” exclaimed Kai, breaking out in a grin. “I’ll take your word for it, Kotobuki.” 
“Perhaps you’d consider repaying this kindness?” 
“I’ll think of something later.” 
“I eagerly await it.” 
They made a familiar exchange as Kai exited through the back door. He took out his phone and tried to contact Reina over LINE as he made a mad dash outside. Thankfully, today was still April 30. 
 
“Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!” Kai shouted by the front gates. “Let’s plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!” 
He felt like he’d reverted to a child. Before him was a typical stand-alone house. A two-story building, not unlike Kai’s own home, except this one belonged to the Miyakawa family. It was Kai’s first time here, but Reina told him the address over LINE. 
“Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun, let’s plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!” 
“Don’t shout my name so loud! You’ll embarrass me to the whole neighborhood!” 
The house’s front door swung open, revealing Jun and her furious expression. Her chastising left her breathing heavily. 
“Well, I was worried you might not hear me.” 
“Well guess what, I can! I just need at least one minute to put some darn clothes on!” 
Now that she mentioned it, Jun was wearing just an extra-large T-shirt like it was a dress. This attire was far more feral—er, free—than Kai was used to. The straps of her bra also peeked out from the wide collar. Kai’s sister was firmly in the no-bra camp of comfiness, but he figured that going au naturel had to be more tiring once you reached Jun’s size. 
“Geez, I told you I’d handle it for a reason. Of course you’d come anyway...” Jun pursed her lips. It was a pose Kai recognized—the one that said she was secretly happy. “I swear, Kai, that part of you is so boyish.” 
“Whatever that means.” 
“Anyway, why not come in? Just, uh, make sure you run away if you’re about to get clocked.” 
Kai paid no mind to her threats as he waltzed on in. If he let this day slip past, then the Miyakawas would leave on their family vacation, and Kai would be stuck agonizing over it for three days. Like hell he was running away. 
The foyer had a distinctly regal feel to it, partially from the mix of Eastern and Western architectural aesthetics, and partially from the imposing stance of Royalteach as he stood smack-dab in the middle of it. Sure enough, he wore a well-pressed dress shirt and slacks as though they were battle armor, weekend or not. Given how loud Kai had been, his sudden springing into action came as no surprise. He stared Kai down from the step above the concrete entryway atop which Kai stood. Jun might not have meant to ask “why not come in?” as a question, but Royalteach clearly intended to be the answer. 
“I told you I didn’t approve of your cavorting with my little sister, did I not? Nakamura, you do understand that words mean things, correct?” 
Royalteach crossed his arms like a big shot as he took a stab at sarcasm. Kai didn’t take off his shoes. He stood his ground, stared back, and said: 
“I just came to hang out with a friend. What’s the problem with that?” 
Kai didn’t mean to say that as a taunt, but it sure sounded like one. He didn’t come all this way to beat around the bush. He wasn’t leaving with just the sense that he could’ve made something work. 
“You have some nerve, Nakamuraaa.” 
A vein surged on Royalteach’s forehead. This was where the battle would begin. Jun held her breath to watch over them...

The curtain lifted upon the duel of wits between Kai and Royalteach.

“You merely came to visit a friend, you say? In broad daylight?” 
“Of course. It’s the truth, after all.” 
“If you want to lie, I suggest you come up with something less laughable! Who would ever believe such a slapdash excuse?” 
“Well, Teacher, what do you base your theory that I’m dating Jun on? You can’t tell me you seriously took gossip at face value, can you? Of course not; teaching is such a venerable position that it’d be an insult to imply that.” 
“I’ll have you know I did my research! You’re together with Jun almost every day after school, aren’t you? Jun’s the one visiting your house. Who would do such a thing other than lovers?!” 
“I don’t know. That sounds an awful lot like a personal bias. Is it that strange for close friends to spend every day together?” 
“You’re a boy, and Jun is a girl!” 
“Why, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re suggesting that men and women can’t possibly be friends. Are you sure you don’t have a personal bias here?” 
“...Look. My little Jun is ridiculously cute. You’re not going to tell me I’m alone here.” 
“Oh no, I agree that she’s super cute.” 
“I’ve got you! Fool that you are, you admit it outright! Nakamura, your ulterior motives are clear for all to see! When faced with someone as cute as Jun, no man could resist the urge to make her their girlfriend! A hungry wolf cannot resist the allure of a fresh cut of meat! High school boys are nothing more than beasts! I know. I’ve been a high school boy before!” 
“You’re kidding! Men aren’t complete barbarians! No matter how cute Jun is, we can still maintain our dignity!” 
“Your theory might hold for typical cuteness, but not for the ridiculous cuteness of Jun!” 
“Jun may indeed be the cutest girl on the planet, but my point still stands!” 
Kai was howling. His shouts wouldn’t be deterred by Royalteach’s unyielding resolution. 
Meanwhile, Jun grew redder at each consecutive blow they traded as she scrambled to get a word in. “Okay, I get it!” “I’m cute, I get the point!” “Please just leave it at that, I beg you!” “Awawawah...” 
Sadly, Kai and Royalteach were too focused on their duel to pay her any mind. 
“Then can I ask you something, Teacher?” 
This was it. Kai funneled his concentration into this one counterattack. 
“What is it? It’s a teacher’s duty to answer a student’s questions.” 
“You’re super popular with the girls at school, aren’t you?” 
“...Fortunately, yes, I am. However, I try not to leave any boys behind.” 
“So, you’re aware that a ton of girls have the hots for you.” 
“What a vile turn of phrase!” 
“If you’re such a hit with the ladies, then it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet for you, isn’t it? You could have your pick of any girl in school, can’t you?” 
“Wha... How preposterous! Don’t you dare joke about that! No teacher would even consider putting his hands on a student!” Royalteach’s face instantly flushed, as though he took the very insinuation as a disgrace. 
“But aren’t all men beasts? Aren’t we all hungry wolves?” 
Assured in the strength of his assault, Kai assumed the expression of a fool as he haughtily picked apart Royalteach’s argument. The ever-annoying Momoko proved an excellent mental model for this move. 
“I’m a grown adult! Don’t compare me to a brat in the throes of puberty!” 
“Soooo, that’s why you say it’s only natural for you to hold on to your dignity, hmm?” 
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying!” 
Royalteach was dead serious, from his expression to his shouts. He really was a good teacher; he was sincere even when talking to a high schooler. That’s why Kai had to get real. He did away with the cheap shocks to hide his own faults and the provocative acting. He laid his whole heart bare as he got serious, too.

“Well, I don’t want you insulting me, either!” 
 

Kai laid his cards on the table with a scream from the soul. Royalteach was taken aback, but Kai continued to drive it home.

“Jun is cute. She’s ridiculously cute. Probably the cutest girl in the world. But I’ve never once thought of her as my girlfriend. That’s because Jun is my friend! Because being her friend is way better than being her lover!”

Kai was heaving, his body almost taking the metaphor of “spilling your guts” too literally. Looking back, a lot had happened that April. Reina told Kai that he “didn’t deserve Jun.” And Kotobuki gave him the advice that Reina “must be mistaking him and that girl friend of his for lovers.” Thanks to them, Kai understood.

Boyfriends and girlfriends are a pain in the aaaaaaaaaaass. Being friends is like a million times better! 

It was thanks to this realization that Kai could stand here and defend himself so concisely. That he could defy Royalteach’s assumptions. 

We’re just friends! But being friends is the reason we get along better than lovers! 

Yes, this was something he could shout with his head held high. He said everything that needed to be said. You could shake him down, but not another word would come out. Meaning that, uh, he didn’t quite know what to do if he had to argue any further. He wouldn’t know what to do, but he at least knew he wouldn’t lose for lack of trying. 
He glared at Royalteach with his chest puffed out, waiting for the man acting as Jun’s guardian to reply. Before he realized it, Jun had come to his side. The two exchanged glances, their eye contact serving as a nod to each other. 
As for Royalteach, his answer would be... 
 
Mr. Prince, also known as Prince Miyakawa, married at the age of 26. He passed the Teacher Employment Examination, graduated college, scrambled between posts at public high schools as a temp teacher, got stuck on standby, and amidst all this hustle and bustle, woke up one day to find himself at that age. Fortunately, it was then that he was hired as a full-time teacher, so his lifestyle finally settled down. That was reason enough for him to propose to his longtime girlfriend.

He met her through a college club when they were both first-years. They began as just friends, but their hearts warmed up to the idea of romance as time went on. Finally, in the summer of their second year, Prince asked her out. They’d been together ever since. 
Although... that’s not to say they didn’t have their differences. They only continued living together after graduation out of convenience. As for the proposal, Prince only did it out of his obligation as a man. The flame of romance had gone out long ago. 
As the years went on, the woman who became his wife began to let more of her complaints slip out. Being a full-time public school teacher meant her husband was always busy; coming home late was the norm, which cut heavily into the time they could spend together as a couple. She made sure to let him know how displeased she was about it. 
“What do you love more, your job or me?” went one of her typical gripes. “You know I’m a woman, right? Not your personal maid, right?” went another, more sarcastic one. 
“I’m fully aware,” Prince would badly want to shout back, “but teaching is a higher calling!” 
However, he always held his tongue. He knew that raising his voice would mean the end of their marriage.

Prince first took an interest in Asagi High when Jun said she was taking entrance exams for a private school. When he looked into it, he found that they had plenty of teachers on staff, ensuring a lighter workload for each one. Its employment exam was difficult, but after studying like mad all over again, he officially became one of Asagi’s new hires. His job now demanded less of his time than his public school work did, leaving him with more of it to spend with his wife. Finally, he had the happy family he needed to breathe a sigh of relief... or so he thought. 
Caring for Kai after he was attacked by his classmates counted as working overtime, causing Prince to abandon his dinner plans with his wife and put him right back on her bad side. Prince didn’t think he did anything wrong, and of course he had no regrets about helping Kai, so this was the one time he talked back to his furious wife. A fight ensued, resulting in him getting put in the proverbial doghouse. 
And now this had to happen. Kai Nakamura, the boy who stole the heart of Prince’s little sister right from under his nose, had the nerve to act like he was turning the tables as he shouted at the top of his lungs:

“Being her friend is way better than being her lover!”

To be honest, it struck a nerve. It forced him to think about those days just after he’d first met his wife. The days when they were just friends. Every moment they spent together back then was truly filled with bliss. Even after they officially became an item a year and a half later, he was still happy and fulfilled. 
But soon after, the spark was gone. And without that, it was all over. Now that he thought about it, the majority of the 11 years he spent with her had been rather dull. The vast majority. 
Would it have ended differently had they neither married nor dated and simply stayed friends? Could they have continued having fun all this time? Prince didn’t keep up with many of his old college buddies, but he still had a few. Even fewer of them were women, but that was better than none.

“...” 
Maybe he’d just been trying not to think about it. 
“... ...” 
But Kai forced him to do so. 
“... ... ...” 
That’s why he had to... 
 
“... ... ... ... ...” 
Silence. And a lot of thought. Royalteach still stared Kai down, but his mouth was stretched into a straight line. Eventually, those stiff lips separated. Kai held his breath in anticipation as he listened with Jun. 
“I understand your point, Nakamura.” 
It was almost enough to make Kai want to strike a victory pose. 
“However, it’s still a point made by a brat. It’s only a matter of time before your dignity loses to your instincts, and I assure you that you’re not a good judge of when that’ll happen.” 
“Broyalty, come on! You’re being unreasonable!” 
“Jun, stay out of this!” Royalteach shouted, shutting down Jun’s attempt at providing backup. Kai had to step forward himself. 
“I think it’s a little disrespectful to keep calling me a ‘brat.’ What am I supposed to say to that?” 
“That’s exactly my point,” said Royalteach as he flashed an indomitable grin. “There’s nothing you can say. Nakamura, if you want to convince me that you’re not a brat... you’ll have to prove it.” 
“Y-Y-You don’t mean a f-f-fight, right?!” Kai stammered, immediately flying into a panic. He recalled that Jun did tell him to run away if he was about to get clocked. He could call himself the Ten-Thousand Punch Legend all he wanted, but he couldn’t hide his shaking knees. However, to his surprise... 
“You idiot, don’t be ridiculous. A teacher would never hit a student.” Royalteach’s grin turned to a frown as he chastised Kai for jumping to the wrong conclusion. He continued, “I hear from Jun that you’ve got quite the skills.” 
Royalteach reached into the pocket of his slacks and whipped something out.

It was... a Switch.

“Do you always walk around with that?!” 
“As any man should.” 
Kai blurted out the first thing that came to mind, and Royalteach responded in a way that made it hard to tell if he was joking. 
“Well... I can’t deny that every man should.” Kai took him up on his challenge and pulled out his own Switch from his messenger bag. 
“Ah, so you brought yours, Nakamura.” 
“Of course. I came to play video games at my friend’s house, after all.” 
“Ah yes, of course you did.” Royalteach’s gaze sharpened as though he had found a worthy opponent. “Very well; come inside. We’ll do battle with these.” 
“So, you just need to see my skills, right?” Following the direction Royalteach jerked his chin in, Kai took off his shoes and stepped inside. It was his first time entering Jun’s home. 
“Hold on! Broyalty, this is nuts. Kai, don’t go along with this.” 
“C’mon,” said Kai, shaking his head at Jun’s concerns. “We’re just gonna play a video game. It’s not like anyone’s gonna get hurt.” 
“Geez, you’re letting your ego go to your head again... Well fine, just don’t blame me for whatever happens!” 
Jun pursed her lips. This time, she was exasperated for real. Still, she stayed by his side, making it clear who she was rooting for. 
Their duel would take place in the living room. Kai sat down on the cushion Royalteach pulled out for him and faced his opponent. They sat head to head, close enough to let them check each other’s screens and make sure no cheating was going on. 
Jun sat next to Kai, of course, making a statement that she’d fight for him even if it meant defying her own brother. Royalteach pouted a bit after seeing his sister oppose him, but his face quickly grew stern as he sat cross-legged and made his declaration of war. 
“The game will be Monster Hunter GU. The match will be decided by who can complete the Hellblade Glavenus G5 quest the quickest.” 
“...That’s a pretty tough mission to handle solo. Sure you’re up to it, Teacher?” 
Honestly, Kai wasn’t even sure he was up to it. The mission was so hard that hitting the three-faint limit and failing was a real possibility. Kai hadn’t played an MH besides World in quite a while, so could an adult who didn’t have the time to obsess over games possibly keep up? 
“Hmph. Don’t underestimate an MH veteran.” Royalteach’s indomitable grin returned. It reminded Kai of when this teacher told Matsuda’s gang not to bite off more than they could chew. 
“Be careful,” warned Jun. Even she was taking this seriously. “Broyalty’s the one who taught me Monster Hunter. He’s good.” 
All the more reason why I can’t slack off, thought Kai as he put his game face on. He powered up his Switch, selected MHGU, and logged in with his account. Once the game started, he carefully balanced his equipment loadout for a time-attack run. He had put a ton of time into this game, so there was no item he lacked. 
“You’re gonna go with water-element weapons, right?” asked Jun. 
“Yep. I’m running Dual Blades.” 
“So the Plesioth Machetes might be a better choice over the Deviant Mizutsune weapons.” 
“Yep. That’s what suits my playstyle.” 
Kai and Jun sat in front of the small screen of the portable game console and discussed their strategy. Mr. Sister Complex still looked cocksure, but he was better off ignored. 
“Gonna use the Hellblade set for armor?” 
“Maybe, but I want some more skills, so I wanna customize it a bit,” Kai told Jun. 
“Like for Repeat Offender?” 
“...Yeah. That’s gonna be critical.” 
He replaced the head armor with a piece from a Gunner’s set and equipped a Kushala Cista GX to his torso. This gave him the defense he needed as well as access to some powerful DPS skills. 
“Oh, but Kai, you’re giving up Divine Blessing...” 
“It won’t matter for a challenge like this!” 
Kai gave a fiery rebuke to Jun’s worries as he set his style to “Adept.” But his fingers stopped when it came time to choose his Hunter Art. 
“I could pick Wolf’s Maw III to get more damage output...” 
“Absolute Evasion is what I’d pick,” said Jun. Her firm suggestion was to choose safety over a high-risk, high-reward attack. The two had been through hell and back in this game, so her advice came from the perspective of a reliable partner who knew his habits inside and out. This counsel was worth its weight in gold, and Kai would do well to heed it. 
“Yeah, a first-rate hunter knows better than to overestimate their skills.” Kai no longer hesitated to set his Hunter Art to Absolute Evasion. All that remained was to pick his items. 
“Got your Cool Drinks?” 
“Okay, got ’em.” 
“And Dash Juice?” 
“I have some Megas.” 
“Energy Drinks?” 
“Dash Juices have that covered.” 
“Ah, fair. So, just need your Potions and Max Potions?” 
“I’ll bring what I need to combine for them.” 
“Don’t forget your Book of Combos, then.” 
“Okay, got it.” 
The careless mistake of forgetting to bring vital items on a quest was a common occurrence in MH, so Jun helped Kai double-check to ensure that didn’t happen. Royalteach spent the whole time making comments like “You two get along better than I thought...” or “Hey, maybe mind your personal space?” or “If you’re just showing off then I swear.” It was hard to tell if he was just nagging or actually complaining, but Kai and Jun didn’t hear a word of it. They were lost in their own little world. 
“...Are you ready, Nakamura?” 
Hence why Kai couldn’t imagine the reason behind Royalteach’s disgruntled look when he finally asked that question. 
“Yeah!” 
Kai just gave an earnest response. Jun’s constant assistance made his answer brim with confidence. 
“...Okay then, go accept the quest.” 
“You got it!” 
Kai headed to the Hunter’s Hub to meet up with Royalteach, who had finished his preparations long ago. 
...On second thought, maybe I should get a look at Teacher’s equipment first. 
Kai squinted hard at the screen. Hey, if you knew the enemy and knew yourself, you didn’t need to fear the result of a hundred battles. Royalteach made no attempt to hide his Switch, so Kai took a look over at his screen.

And he found something he couldn’t believe.

“Ah... aaaaah... aaaaagghhh,” Kai subconsciously wailed, dumbfounded. It was that surprising. It was that much of a jaw-dropper. He just wanted to see what loadout Royalteach would take into this ultra-difficult quest out of curiosity and competitive spirit, but what he saw his opponent wearing was...

A lance. And not a single piece of armor.

“No... No way... It can’t be... It can’t be true...” Kai was so rattled that he couldn’t think straight. 
“Calm down, Kai! It’s one of Broyalty’s mind games!” 
If Jun hadn’t tried her hardest to snap Kai out of it, he might have lost before the battle even began. The sight shook his composure just that much.

Of all loadouts to use, he picked armorless lance? Against the absolute monstrosity known as the Hellblade, he used armorless lance? Does this man fear not even the wrath of God?

“Teacher, are you insane?!” 
“Oh, I’m quite sane. But I am the adult here, so I’m offering my student a handicap.” 
“Teacher... you’re a fearsome man!” 
Kai looked like the dictionary definition of shock and awe. Jun tried to snap back at her brother that trying to show off with an armorless loadout wasn’t very mature at all, but Kai was too overheated to hear a word of it. 
“All right, Nakamura, let’s begin!” 
“R-Right!” 
With his spirit completely enervated, Kai started the quest like he was a yes-man following orders. His mind and body were in tatters, but he still downed a Cool Drink and Mega Dash Juice before heading off to face the Deviant Glavenus on Ingle Isle. 
Sadly, that was as much as he could accomplish. He could barely keep playing. 
I gotta know what’s up with the armorless lance stuff! 
Could someone really beat the Hellblade wearing that, or was it just an ignorant adult’s bluff? Kai found himself forgetting about his own hunt as he grew engrossed in Royalteach’s play.

To make a long story short, Royalteach was far more monstrous than the Hellblade. He Insta-blocked every hit of the Deviant’s ferocious attacks! And after every flawlessly timed parry, he counterattacked with a brutal cross slash! He might have been in his character’s birthday suit, but he was floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee. One mistake would have been all it took to send Royalteach right back to the base camp, but it didn’t seem like he’d make it any time soon. Kai was spellbound by his expert technique!

This guy’s playing like he’s JJ, thought Kai. His first thought was that he didn’t stand a chance of winning, but he soon reached his second thought. With trepidation—great trepidation, at that—he looked over at the name hovering above the avatar Royalteach was controlling.

“jyunjyun1203”

The same name as the video uploader that Kai had been admiring for the past five years. 
You’re kidding! There’s no waaaaaay! 
Kai whipped his face away from the screen and pleaded to Jun with his eyes. 
“Yes way,” said Jun, wiping away Kai’s disbelief as a sheepish smile crept on her face. That would explain why she warned him not to blame her for whatever happened. She continued by explaining where Royalteach’s handle came from. 
“My name can be pronounced as ‘Junjun,’ and my birthday is December 3.” 
“Oh man, he really is terminal!” 
It was the real deal. JJ showed up in the last place Kai expected to find him. Kai’s eyes were glued to the live performance of skill from his long-admired Let’s Player. He was practically on his hands and knees in worship.

The godlike hunter displayed on screen known as “jyunjyun1203” sent every interloping Glavenus to their grave. 
“Well, that’ll do,” said Royalteach as he heaved a long sigh after completing his hunt. Indeed, for a player on his level, the armorless lance was probably a tactical choice to sharpen his focus to the extreme. That was why he didn’t seem to notice a thing Kai did as he was playing. 
“So, Nakamura, how goes your hunt?” he eventually asked. Royalteach didn’t need to pay attention to look completely assured of his victory. 
Kai grinned, gave a thumbs up, and exclaimed, “I triple carted ages ago!” 
Royalteach was taken aback for a moment, but responded, “...So, it’s safe to say that I’m the victor, correct?” 
“Sure is! I could never hope to beat you, JJ!” 
Kai confirmed it without hesitation, his grin never fading for a moment. He might have lost, but he just couldn’t help it. Not after he put the pieces together. The man named Prince Miyakawa, the teacher who saved him from Matsuda’s gang, the Monster Hunter legend he had nothing but respect for, was a good guy deep down. He was everything Kai could have hoped for. 
The conditions of their duel said it all. Royalteach told Kai only to “prove” himself. He never said anything about barring the two from meeting again if Kai lost. When you’re as good as JJ, you know full well you’re going to win. Not adding that condition was a subtle sign of Royalteach’s kindness, his manliness. That’s why Kai smiled so broadly in spite of his loss.

“Now that our duel’s over with, please play with me, JJ! Let’s do Special Permit Glav! C’mon, it’s Glav!” 
“Okay, look... You’re supposed to be a bit more persistent, maybe asking for a rematch...” 
“I’ll totally prove myself if you join a party with me! I’ve had a lot of experience covering for Jun’s dodging mistakes as a top-notch wide-area support, so trust me!” 
“...” 
Royalteach was left speechless at Kai’s incessant demands to play. 
“Hold on,” Jun interjected. “Lemme join too!” 
“Yeah, Jun, go get your Switch!” 
Jun cheerfully hopped out of the living room and dashed up the stairs to prep for their three-player hunt. Meanwhile, Royalteach’s jaw was still on the floor. 
“H-Huh? You’re not gonna join up?” 
“...Our duel is over, is it not? So go home.” 
“JJ, I’ve always admired your mad skills! I wanna play together at least once!” 
“Mgh...” 
“Please! It’s my one wish!” 
“...Just know that I can’t control a monster’s behavior if I’m not playing solo.” 
“So, gonna put some armor on this time?” 
“...Don’t be ridiculous. If I did, I’d clear the hunt far too quickly for it to be any fun.” 
Royalteach was getting a little brash, but at least he was committing to play with them. 
“You’re a real handful...” he griped, but the fact that he was still joining along was a sign that he was a gamer before all else. In a real war, yesterday’s enemies could never be today’s friends. That’s why video games own! 
“Ahhh, it’s an honor to go on a hunt with the legendary JJ. Also, we’re cool if I accidentally trip you, right?” 
“Don’t you dare.”

As they chatted, Jun returned in a hurry with her Switch. Kai accepted the Special Permit quest, and before long, the three were on the hunt. Royalteach’s moves were as smooth as always, but the other two were letting their rust show. They made massive mistakes and had massive laughs over them. Royalteach raged whenever they hit him in-game—he was less mature than he let on. But it was all part of the experience, one they’d look back on with smiles. 
They paid no attention to the time as they played for who knows how long. Until eventually, the hands of the clock pointed out that it was six at night. Figuring it was a good stopping point, Royalteach stood up. 
“Teacher?” 
“I remembered I have plans with my wife.” 
“Huh? I don’t remember you saying anything about that...?” 
“I just remembered!” 
With his exclamation made, Royalteach walked toward the exit. Leaving Kai and Jun alone. Wait, for real?! 
“You can have my share of dinner, Nakamura. Just heat it up in the microwave.” 
Royalteach turned back with his hand on the doorknob, as though he just remembered to mention this. Jun, unsure of what in the world had gotten into her brother, was just as confused as Kai. Royalteach didn’t seem to pay their concerns any mind. 
“Your curfew is at 9 p.m., got it? My brothers won’t be coming home tonight... but don’t take my trust for granted, Nakamura.” 
“R-Right!” agreed Kai on reflex after Royalteach sternly drove the point home. That’s why it took him a moment to process the meaning of the words he said. 
Huh? Wait, what? Can I really stay that late, eat a meal, and just go home? ‘Take his trust for granted,’ meaning... he trusts me?! 
Kai wasn’t able to show Royalteach anything close to the skill expected of him, so he didn’t have a clue what was going on... 
 
Nakamura, you look like you haven’t the faintest idea of what’s going on, thought Prince. The look on Kai’s face when he turned around after reaching the doorknob gave him a silent chuckle. To tell the truth, he had long since accepted their relationship. That boy did say that being her friend was way better than being her lover, after all. 
Kai’s outburst really did strike a nerve and convince him that there was nothing improper going on between them, but Prince was too proud to accept it on the spot; being told off by a brat pissed him off. Bringing up the duel and Hellblade hunt nonsense was merely an excuse. Prince’s plan to tear Kai to shreds in Monster Hunter, his specialty, had no greater purpose beyond taking out his frustration. 
What epiphany was Prince supposed to have about Kai over a silly game? Games have value because they’re merely a form of play, not because they can settle real-life disputes. Prince knew this because he was a gamer to his core. 
Besides, what else was he supposed to do after they made him listen to their way-too-personal strategy meeting? How could someone possibly get between that?!

Anyway, long story short: Prince lost the actual duel to settle their dispute the moment he accepted their relationship. The sheer force of Kai’s will won him the day.

Still, I suppose I have to admit that Nakamura’s quite the gamer. 
Thinking back on it, Prince had to laugh. He knew he had been rather cruel in forbidding their relationship. Yet Kai didn’t hold a grudge; he just wanted to play. It was quite the surprise, one that left Prince’s jaw on the floor at how genuine their bond was. Maybe someone had to be a boy like that to keep his wits about him around Prince’s dear little sister. 
Kai was still a brat, but he was certainly an interesting one. An impressive one. One that Prince absolutely, positively wanted to defeat next time. Of course, he didn’t care in the slightest about wins or losses in a game. He wanted to win on the stage of real-life disputes. 
Again, Kai’s bluster bore repeating: “Being her friend is way better than being her lover!” It was an ideal that Prince could get behind. But he wasn’t going to let a losing streak stand. He wasn’t going to let his childish retaliation born out of jealousy be the end of it. He’d have the last word. Maybe next time, maybe later than that, but he would one day boast to his dear sister and her interesting friend:

“Being spouses is way better than being friends!”

To that end, Prince had no further business staying at the family home. He had an apartment—a lovers’ nest—to return to and a wife to make up with. 
 
Royalteach had really left. Kai and Jun were left alone in the Miyakawa household. It had to be a trap, right? He was gonna come back in no time, shout something about inappropriate relationships, then start breathing fire or something, right? Kai was cautious of the possibility at first, but his fears proved unfounded. 
“Phew, that’s a load off my back.” 
“Yeah, that’s a load off mine, too.” 
The two relaxed before laughing together like idiots. They only stopped once Jun’s smartphone rang with a notification. 
“I got a LINE from Broyalty.” 
“What’d he say?” 
“He asked if you’re free on Sunday the 12th.” 
“Well, I am...” 
“He asked if you wanted to come by our place then. The three of us could all play together.” 
“Who’da guessed he’s a softie at heart?” 
“Not me. I never thought Broyalty had that side to him.” 
“Wait, why’s he sending a text when he could have just told us to our faces?” 
“He’s probably shy.” 
“At his age? No way.” 
“Yes way. Broyalty’s the type to spout cheesy lines one after another if left on his own.” 
“I can see it. It’s hilarious.” 
Kai nodded as he thought back to the monologue Royalteach went on while driving back from the hospital and just about everything he said today. 
“He’s a natural. But once he’s aware of it, he gets super flustered.” 
“Guess he put his stats into being a glass cannon.” 
“Right? Isn’t my brother super lame?” 
“Definitely! Sure is handsome, though!” 
The two laughed again with no end in sight. 
“Would you like to eat? Or would you like to game?” asked Jun in between their cackles. 
“Games gotta come first!” 
“Would you like to play Mario Kart? Or would you like to play Splatoon?” 
“I’m definitely in an MH mood. I’m fired up. I’ve gotta get back into shape by the 12th!” 
“Ah, here comes Kai’s competitive side.” 
“Hey now, MH is a co-op game!” 
And with that, the two took their Switches out of sleep mode with friendly smiles on their faces.

These were the days Kai spent with his friend, a girl named Jun. And this day in particular made him certain that they’d continue for a long time to come.