Sharon and I return to the inn, and after checking in with the receptionist, move to the top floor.
While climbing the stairs of the five story inn, she is excited about the upcoming race in one monthâs time.
When we arrive in the room, Iâll try to partner up with Laurier before Sharon does.
Initiative victory. If I can secure Laurier before Sharon, Iâll more than likely become the raceâs winner.
. . . . .
No, letâs stop this.
While Iâm thinking about it, Sharon is most likely going to invite Laurier as well, and as a result of their talk, will most likely agree to pairing up with her.
There is no need to ruin the pairing.
Uwaa. . . Itâs quite pointless.
I felt sad somehow.
To comfort myself, I stroke Sharonâs ass, who is climbing the stairs in front of me.
*Touch*
[Hyaa!? Wa, Haruto-kun!? Why would you suddenly do that!?] (Sharon)
Sharon, blushing, turned around, with one hand on her ass, and one hand holding down her skirt.
No matter how much time has passed, she still behaves like itâs her first time for such things.
[Fu. You have a lack of qualification as an adventurer. There is always a danger of being attacked by enemies, anytime. Donât let down your guard, even a bit.] (Haruto)
Such an absurd argument.
[Hee. . . Is that so? Then, is it alright to attack Haruto too?] (Sharon)
Uwaa, quite scary.
Sharon, who is grasping her fist, is looking at me with a cold gaze.
Whatâs more, because she is standing two steps above me, itâs giving an even more intimidating effect, and is super scary.
Ah, isnât that right? Isnât this similar to a Demon King?
[I was lying. Iâm sorry. That was just a spur of the moment thing. Please forgive me.] (Haruto)
I . . . immediately surrender. Quite miserably, too.
[Good grief. . . If, if you want to touch, etto. . . Donât do it so suddenly. If you say it beforehand. . .] (Sharon)
She is not that angry about it in the first place, and Sharon seems to accept my apology quite readily.
And then, while she averted her gaze nervously, she said some lovely words.
Is that right? Isnât she quite the angel?
[Sharon] (Haruto)
[Ha, Haruto. . . ] (Sharon)
Weâre watching each other.
I pull Sharonâs hand, climbing the staircase.
And, moving my hand to her waist, I hold Sharon close.
[Can I kiss you?] (Haruto)
[R, Right now, in this place. . .?] (Sharon)
Sharon speaks while keeping her face down, glancing all around. There are no people in the surroundings.
[. . . If, if itâs only a kiss.] (Sharon)
Sharon shuts her eyes, and puts her arms behind my back.
When she touches my back, I felt her shivering through our clothes.
This girl, is a really cute girl.
While hugging her even more tightly, I kiss Sharonâs lips.
[Nn. . . ] (Sharon)
When weâre kissing, I can feel her warm breath.
I can also taste the softness of her lips. . . Obviously, itâs impossible for me to endure.
Teachability? Whatâs that?
I quietly move my hand to Sharonâs bottom.
[Nmu!?] (Sharon)
Sharon gives a fast reaction, squirming her body.
However, I suppress her, by holding her head with my other hand, effectively sealing her movements.
Kukuku.
This is the strategy on how to capture Sharon.
Sharon becomes meek when weâre kissing!
I can do it!
I have confidence in this strategy to victory, and my right hand is steadily moving in and around Sharonâs ass, and inside her skirt.
However, I suddenly felt a pain in my side.
Oufu!?
The reason is definitely because of Sharon.
She is pinching my side, and twisting hard.
Itâs painful. . . So painful, Sharon-chan.
She might not want to do something quite in this place. . Is this Sharon being coy?
No, this kind of pinching is more painful.
[Mou! You said only kissing! Haruto ecchi! Bedda!] (Sharon) (TL note: Sharon sticking her tongue out)
. . . . What just happened?
The strategy has failed. . .?
Does this mean that Sharon is growing up? Eh?
Gununu.
I wonder if it would have been fine for me to have stuck my tongue in.
Probably not.
Sobsob.
I need to apologize later.
Sharon already started running, and has disappeared up the stairs. I finish the rest of the ascent, tottering along the way.
â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â
The trials of being a human. There are always days in which everything doesnât go the way you wish.
When I arrived at the room, I offer my apologies to Sharon. Since she wasnât really angry, the matter is solved.
Sharon is really a good girl.
Aside from that, about the archipelago race.
I wonder if the talks went well. If they did, then Iâm out of luck. (ED to TL note, erase this before posting: this line was left as a partial in the doc, so Iâm kinda freehanding it from TA)
Sharon invited Laurier, and she agreed.
Rithinia, who went to give the greeting earlier, was invited as a special guest, so it seems she is going to be busy with some kind of meet-and-greet on the big day.
Mina, who doesnât have any intention to participate in the race out in public, is going to be Rithiniaâs escort.
Well, these developments are to be expected.
The problem lies with Celes and Tanya.
These two, have somehow become close with each other. And before I knew it, Tanya has invited Celes, with Celes agreeing.
While I was talking about the race, the partnership just kind of established itself, and there was no room for me to act.
By the time I had finished speaking about the race, I had been left out completely.
This is impossible. . .
Now, I am timidly sitting while facing the corner of the room.
No, I should have expected for things to become like this since the beginning.
I had predicted that Mina and Rithinia wouldnât take part in the race, but I hadnât made any predictions about the others.
[Haruto. . . Are you alright?] (Sharon)
From my back, I heard Sharon asking anxiously.
Even though I donât see her face (since Iâm facing the corner), I gather that most everyone is looking at me.
Wait a moment, please.
Iâll recover soon.
While recovering, my self-excuses start.
Letâs think about this positively.
If I was not the one excluded, then one of the girls would have been excluded.
If itâs come to that, then itâs a good thing that I was the excluded one.
Therefore, as the master of this harem, itâs necessary for me to take on this role.
Everyone might become strained and awkward with each other, so itâs far better for me if theyâre getting along with each other.
Okay, this is a good excuse. Letâs think of it like this.
My self-excuse time is over.
Oh well, Celes usually doesnât participate in this kind of event, so I didnât anticipate her joining.
I, who regained peace of mind, stands up and faces everyone.
[Oou. Did you recover?] (Laurier)
When I turn around, everyone is normal, except Sharon.
Though, this is Laurierâs voice.
She is asking me that while enjoying some candy.
Kuu. . .
I am quite depressed here!
. . . Haa, calm down.
Right now, everyone is trusting in me to not get depressed by these kind of things. This is good chance to build up that confidence.
Ku, so painful.
. . . Oh well.
If I hesitate forever, nothing will start.
Letâs think about my race partner for later.
[By the way, Rithinia-sama. Aside from the race, how is the search for a blacksmith coming?] (Haruto)
To pull my mind away from depressing matters, I ask Rithinia.
It is so.
To begin with, the reason weâre coming to this city is not to take part in this race.
It is to create a personal weapon for me, and we are coming here to get the best blacksmith to make it.
[Hm, letâs see. We have an introduction to an excellent blacksmith. Iâll guide you there tomorrow.] (Rithinia)
Rithinia puts down her teacup on the table soundlessly, while answering my question.
[Really? Thank you very much.] (Haruto)
Whenever Rithinia does something, I never recall any sounds.
The royal family is quite something.
Anyway, our aim of getting a blacksmith seems fulfilled.
Then, as Rithinia said, letâs go over there tomorrow.
Aah.
But, the price.
As expected, perhaps I need to borrow money from everyone.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Uuun. . . is that it?
Arenât I going to try and use the victory prize from the race?
Nevertheless, my plan wonât change.
The unexpected problems are starting to pile up. . .