NOVEL NEXT Volume 1 Chapter 95
Having finished my business at the guild, I decided to head home.
I thought of turning back into Okita-kun in some restroom and going home with Kaede-chan, but she seemed to be working overtime.
After parting ways with Nanapon, who was off to visit a friend’s house, I went shopping for dinner and materials for the Auto-Map, then returned home.
At home, I laid out the materials I had bought on the living room table. It was time to create the Auto-Map.
First, I placed a sheet of paper on the table and then set a compass and pencil on top of it. That was all the preparation needed.
All that was left was to concentrate, and voila! The Auto-Map was complete!
“…It’s just a piece of paper.”
How do I use this?
I held the seemingly ordinary paper, tilting my head in confusion.
“Let’s see… Ah, I need to write the scale.”
An idea popped into my head, so I wrote 1/50 in the top right corner of the paper with a mechanical pencil.
“So, I just walk with this…”
I walked around every corner of the house with the paper in hand. Gradually, a map began to form on the paper, and eventually, a floor plan of the entire house, except for Kaede-chan’s locked room, was completed.
“Hmm, that’s it, huh?”
Maybe that survey company might be interested in buying it, but honestly, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of it being underwhelming.
“It’s an impressive technology, but still feels lackluster. I’ll give it to Satsuki-san.”
I placed the compass and pencil on a notebook I had bought, creating an Auto-Map notebook, and tucked it into my bag. Then, I remembered my disciple’s suggestion about making a body wash potion and placed the body wash I’d bought on the table. That’s when the doorbell rang.
“Huh? Who could it be?”
I stood up and went to check the monitor in the living room.
On the screen was Yoshino-san, her notable features quite apparent even through the monitor.
Huh? She came to my house…
I knew she was investigating, and since she knew about my relationship with Kaede-chan, it made sense she knew where I lived, but to come directly?
“Yes, what is it?”
I pressed the talk button and spoke to the monitor.
“Ah, Okita-kun? Sorry for the sudden visit. Can I talk to you for a bit?”
What to do? My fiancee (in a sense) is working hard overtime, and now I’m letting a busty lady into my house? Well, it’s 100% not a romantic situation, but still…
I looked around the living room, checking if there was anything incriminating in sight.
Everything related to Eleanor-san is in my room, so no problem there…
“Just a moment, please.”
I said and ended the call, quickly stowing the body wash into my bag. I hid the item bag in the kitchen and hurried to the front door, opening it to find Yoshino-san standing there.
“Hello.”
Yoshino-san greeted me with a light wave of her hand.
“Hi. What brings you here?”
“I have something important to discuss. Is Kaede around?”
“Kaede-chan is still at work. Would you like to come in? I can at least offer you some tea.”
“Sure, it’s not something I can discuss outside.”
What could it be? A confession?
“Please, come in.”
“Thanks. Sorry for intruding.”
I invited Yoshino-san in, led her to the living room, and had her sit at the table.
“Um, just to be clear, how do you know where I live?”
“Sorry, I looked it up.”
That’s kind of scary…
“Why?”
“That’s part of the important matter I want to discuss.”
Could it be about Eleanor-san?
“Huh…? You’re being too sudden, I’m shocked.”
Ever heard of making an appointment?
“Sorry for coming unannounced, but it’s not that urgent.”
What is she talking about?
“I mentioned earlier that I had something important to discuss soon.”
…Huh!?
“Did you? Earlier, as in yesterday?”
I haven’t met Yoshino-san today as Okita-kun. That was…
“We met earlier on Mireiyu Road.”
Oh, that’s bad.
“What are you talking about?”
“You are Eleanor Ocean, aren’t you?”
Huh?
Am I busted?
Did I do something that would give me away?
“No way, that’s impossible. I’m a man, and Eleanor-san is a woman.”
I’m a man. Eleanor-san, a woman.
“Don’t hide it. I can tell.”
“I’m not hiding anything… By
the way, why do you think so?”
“I have a unique skill as well. It helped me realize.”
A unique skill…
Oh, this is bad…
What do I do!? Where’s Kaede-chan!?
“Sigh… Want some coffee?”
I let out a sigh, realizing I hadn’t offered any tea to my guest.
“I’ll take some.”
I stood up and went to the kitchen to boil water, all the while thinking.
What should I do?
This is bad.
Well, for now, maybe I should just keep her quiet…