The Left-Behind One
While Egetsu and the others were having their chaotic adventure in the mountain dungeon, Kateshina Ruu was enjoying an utterly peaceful everyday life.
And while the three were away from their rooms, Ruu—who had been entrusted with their keys—would periodically visit each of their places to clean and air them out.
"Hup… there. Phew, all done. Hehe, is this what it feels like to be a wife while her husband is away on a business trip?"
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First, upon visiting Egetsu’s room, Ruu muttered this to herself as she hung the high-quality feather comforter out to air, humming while she began cleaning.
...
"Um… welcome! Welcome to the Dungeon Shop Parade! …Something like this?"
Next, at Serai Machi’s apartment, she imagined herself wearing the Dungeon Shop Parade outfit she’d found, holding it against her chest as she pretended to greet customers.
"Hmm~, but I don’t think I could handle customer service. Hehe, I could never be like Machi-chan. If a bunch of customers came, I’d definitely panic and get flustered."Enjoying her little solo scenarios as she finished cleaning, Ruu—like a skilled home helper—then headed off to Nina Shizue’s room.
...
"Haaah~, another day done. Shizu-chan’s room is always the quickest. It’s just a tiny four-and-a-half-tatami space with barely any stuff, so cleaning’s a breeze."
(Hooomuraaaan~)
"Yeah, yeah, sorry to keep you waiting, Katsuo-kun. We’re done now, so let’s head to the batting center."
(Hooomuraaan!)
Inside the cute-patterned drawstring bag slung over Ruu’s shoulder, Katsuo-kun the Bat seemed to be eagerly waiting, as if he couldn’t wait another second to go to the batting center.
As the two of them stepped out from the narrow gravel path leading to Sumire-sou into the back alley toward the bus stop, they spotted two elementary school-aged boys with large backpacks looking troubled.
"Uuun… Masa, where even is this place?"
"Dunno. Huh? Seriously, where is it… Sumire-sou…?"
(Huh? Did those kids just say Sumire-sou? And that dialect…?)
Hearing the words "Sumire-sou," Ruu decided to call out to the two boys.
The old Ruu might’ve panicked and hesitated in this situation, but the grown-up Ruu of today could handle it with confidence.
"Hey, you two. I couldn’t help but overhear—are you looking for Sumire-sou?"
At that, the two boys, who had been visibly distressed, brightened up instantly at Ruu’s words.
"Ah, yeah! Do ya know where it is?"
"Yeah! Our big sis lives there!"
"Huh? Then, you two… are you Shizu-chan’s little brothers?"
"How’d ya know!? Ya know our sis!?"
The two shared strikingly similar faces, but the one called Masa reacted with particular shock to Ruu’s question.
"Y-Yeah. Shizu-chan and I are friends."
"Wait, how? Do ya live around here too?"
But the other boy tilted his head, skeptical about Ruu being friends with Shizue.
"I go to the same university as Shizu-chan."
Hearing this, the two boys gasped in surprise.
"Ehhh!? No way, ya don’t look it at all!!"
"Yeah! I thought ya were, like, in middle school!"
"Ah… yeah. I get that a lot, I guess…"
At their reaction, Ruu couldn’t help but think—if they have such a gorgeous older sister, then someone like me, who’s the same age but looks way younger, must seem even less impressive…
…….
"CRACK!"
The boy gripping Katsuo-kun Bat sent the incoming ball flying straight into the board marked "HOME RUN."
"Whoa! This bat’s crazy! It’s like it knows where the ball’s gonna be!"
"Hey, Yuki! C’mon, hurry up! My turn now!"
Ruu and Toga Ruri, sitting on the bench with canned juice in hand, watched their excited backs.
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"Huh~, so those kids are Shizu-nee’s little brothers?"
"Yeah, it was so sudden, I was shocked too."
The twin brothers had come all the way from Osaka to surprise their sister—only to learn from Ruu that said sister wasn’t even in Tokyo right now. Their energy deflated instantly, but Ruu couldn’t just leave them like that. After calling her mom for permission to let them stay over, she took them to the batting center to fulfill her promise to Katsuo-kun, then contacted Toga Ruri for advice.
"Well, it’s not like we can reach Machi or the others up in the mountains right now anyway."
"True. I just hope all three of them are safe…"
"They’ll be fine. More importantly, what the hell are Jung and the others doing in Kusatsu? Like, check this pic Machi sent me…"
"Huh? What is it…? W-Wha—MACHI-CHAN!?"
The three in Kusatsu had been frequently sending Ruu messages and photos.
But the image displayed on Toga Ruri’s device showed none other than Serai Machi—striking a gallant, Napoleon-esque pose while riding a buff kangaroo.