“Hey! Over here!”

Hirasawa and I escaped from the airport using a transport AI drone and flew out of the city to the suburbs. Finally, the drone delivered us to Miss Mari.

“I'm so glad!”

Miss Mari wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

　Her makeup was smudged, and the area around her eyes was blackened, making her look like a panda.

—However, the scenery was peaceful and rural.

The area was filled with nature, with scattered houses dotted around.

All the houses were wooden, single-story structures, resembling a depopulated village where the influence of civilization had not reached.

“We're saved. Thank you.”

“I was really worried!”

“It hurts. Stop it.”

Miss Mari clung to Mr. Hirasawa.

His arms, wrapped around her body, were muscular with veins bulging.

It must really hurt.

“You did well too, Mikoto-chan!”

“Thank you!”

I also received Miss Mari's muscle hug.

　It was more painful than I imagined.

However, I felt an overflowing amount of love and became very reassured.

—Wait... why am I crying?

Tears naturally fell from both of my eyes.

I suddenly remembered the fear I felt when I faced the flight attendant with the Japanese sword.

“There, there. You really did your best.”

　Mari-sama gently stroked my head, which was streaming with tears.

“Haha... It hurts!”

My hair was all messed up.

“Alright, let's go inside the base. We'll talk about the details later.”

After comforting us for a while, Mari-sama showed us around the base where we would be staying.

　However, behind Miss Mari stood a dilapidated house with nothing special about it.

“Come on in, come on in.”

I had hoped that the moment I entered, I would find a room filled with futuristic machinery.

However, that fantasy vanished in an instant.

The furniture was dilapidated. The walls were dirty with what looked like dirt or mold.

　The floor and desks were covered in dust, and just breathing in this place felt like it could make you sick.

“Mikoto-chan. Don't make that disgusted face.”

“Eh...”

I replied with a wry smile.

However, Miss Mari was smirking for some reason.

“Come on, go inside this bathroom.”

“Eh? I don't want to.”

　Miss Mari led us into the bathroom.

The moment I saw inside the open door, I felt like I was going to vomit.

It was extremely dirty.

There was a traditional-style toilet bowl covered in brown and yellow stains that looked incredibly smelly. My sense of smell is extremely sensitive, so if I smell that odor, I might faint.

　I hated it, but I switched to breathing through my mouth.

“It's okay. This is a toilet, but it's not a toilet.”

“I don't get it!”

I protested while holding my nose.

Isn't there a lot of toilet-related tragedy today?

I even ended up peeing in front of Ms. Hirasawa!

Miss Mari smiled and pulled the toilet lever.

　Then, the floor with the toilet bowl opened upward, revealing a staircase in front of us.

“What? No way!”

“I told you, this isn't a bathroom.”

—It was a hidden staircase leading to the basement.

“Our base is prepared in this basement. Watch your step.”

　We followed Miss Mari down the stairs.

Then, the space I had initially imagined, filled with futuristic machinery, spread out before us.

The keyboards and PCs placed in front of the large monitors were also cool!

“Do you like it?”

“It's amazing! It's amazing, Miss Mari!”

I excitedly looked around the room.

“That's the bedroom. Each room is for one person, so don't worry. Also, you two didn't have time to bring your suitcases from the airport, did you? I arranged for them to be picked up instead. They're in your rooms, so please check them.”

“Oh, that's right. That's really helpful!”

That's good.

Finally, I can get a good night's sleep.

“Well, Shinji-chan. Shall we rest for today?”

“...Yeah. I guess so.”

Hirasawa-san seemed a bit down.

Even after entering the base, she seemed distracted.

I wonder what's wrong with her.

“Well, I'll prepare dinner, so you two should rest.”

Taking advantage of Mari-sama's offer, we went to our respective rooms to rest.

“Phew... It feels like I'm still dreaming.”

I lay on my back on the bed, muttering to myself.

Looking up at the ceiling, I thought back on what had happened today.

But I still couldn't believe that I had experienced something like this.

And then there was Hirasawa-san's behavior.

“All right!”

　I got up, changed my clothes, and left my room.

◆◆◆

“Hello?”

“...What is it?”

Hirasawa-san was sitting on the bed, looking down. She hadn't even changed her clothes.

“Don't you think I did well today?”

“...Yeah.”

“A reward.”

“Huh?”

　Hehehe. I succeeded in changing her gloomy expression into a confused one.

Now, I'm going to tease her thoroughly.

“A reward... What do I have to do?”

“Give me a knee pillow.”

“Eh?”

I laid my head on Hirasawa's thigh and lay down on the bed.

Her muscular thighs were wonderful.

“Stroke my head and praise me.”

“...Ugh.”

As instructed, he awkwardly stroked my head with his hands.

I thought he might resist, but he was surprisingly obedient.

However, no words of praise came from his mouth, and we both fell silent for a while.

Slow, quiet time passed.

　Only the sound of our breathing and the sound of him stroking my hair continued.

How much time had passed?

Suddenly, Mr. Hirasawa spoke.

“I'm sorry.”

“Really.”

He apologized quietly.

“I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.”

“That's not it. Mr. Hirasawa, you did protect me, didn't you?”

　I kept my head on Hirasawa-san's thigh and looked up at his face.

He looked like he was about to cry.

“You sacrificed yourself to let me escape, didn't you? I'm a little angry about that.”

“...I'm sorry.”

“Well, I'm much happier that you tried to protect me until the end than I am angry. Thank you.”

“...”

　Hirasawa turned away, unable to find the words to say.

I had said what I wanted to say, so I decided to end the “teasing” there.

“Well, dinner might be ready soon. It smells good. I'll go ahead.”

“Ah... ah.”

Leaving Hirasawa behind, I left the room and headed for Miss Mari's room.

　◆◆◆

“Hmm... What should I do?”

“What's wrong?”

“Kya!”

Miss Mari, wearing an apron, stood in front of a large monitor, arms crossed, deep in thought.

Hey, hey. That reaction is too cute.

That's not a reaction a muscular, tall guy should have.

“Huh? Is this the flight attendant with the Japanese sword?”

“Um... yes, that's right.”

At that moment, I couldn't believe my eyes.

“This is a video of Mikoto spraying poison on her opponent. The flight attendant was wearing a rubber mask as a disguise. This is a video of her taking off the mask with the poison on it.”

“W-what... Why?”

I involuntarily took a step back.

“W-why? A-a-aaaaaah!”

“Hirasawa-san!”

I heard Hirasawa-san's scream from behind me.

When I turned around, he was crouching on the spot, holding his head.

“Why... why...!”

Hirasawa's body was shaking violently. I rubbed his back and tried to calm him down.

However, I was also extremely confused.

The assassin who attacked us looked exactly like Hirasawa.