Invaders of the Rokujouma!? Volume 7

  Santa and Harumi

  Tuesday, December 22nd

  The bowling ball Koutarou released lightly bounced once as it made its way straight down the lane. With quite a bit of speed, the bowling ball quickly reached the end of the twenty-meter lane. And just as planned, it crashed into the middle pin and mowed down all the others behind it. Even the pins outside of the ball’s path were knocked down by the others falling into them one after another.

  “Yes, that’s right! Fall down! All of you fall down!” Koutarou shouted loudly as if trying to encourage the pins to fall over.

  However, one stubborn pin seemed unconvinced and remained standing at the end of the lane.

  “Damn, it wasn’t enough...”

  “Kou, you’re too heavy-handed.”

  Seeing Koutarou’s shoulders droop, Kenji laughed at him as he got up from his seat. Since it was a pairs game, Kenji was up next.

  “If you don’t put a little bit more spin into it and aim for the first pin, you’re basically just relying on luck.”

  “Shut up. Just let me do what I want. Those petty tricks just aren’t for me.”

  “Putting a little spin into it doesn’t count as a trick, you know.”

  After switching places with Koutarou, Kenji tossed his ball with a beautiful, sleek form. Unlike Koutarou’s throw, his ball rolled down the lane in a smooth curve thanks to the spin he put on the ball. It easily took out the last remaining pin.

  “See?”

  “With only one pin left, it didn’t matter if you put a spin on it or not.”

  Thanks to Kenji’s precise throw, they managed to pick up a spare, but Koutarou looked somewhat unhappy about it.

  Today was December 22nd, and although it was a weekday afternoon, everyone was off from school thanks to winter vacation. Making use of their break, Koutarou and Kenji had come to the bowling alley by the station to play. They’d signed up together for a pairs competition.

  “What a catch.”

  “We didn’t get first place though.”

  “Why do you always have to rain on other people’s parades, Mackenzie-kun?”

  Leaving the bowling alley, the two boys were holding gift certificates. At the end of the game, they’d managed a score of 180—quite high for amateurs. High enough, in fact, to rank them at the end of the competition. Their prizes were gift cards for the shopping street by the station worth 2,000 yen apiece.

  “I like to aim for the top.”

  “And my livelihood is on the line!”

  Although it wasn’t an impressive amount, it was a welcome sum to Koutarou, who lived on his own. To him, the gift certificate was more valuable than the first place prize trip to Hawaii. A trip like that would only add on to all the extra expenses he already had to deal with during winter, whereas the 2,000 yen gift card was exactly what he needed right now.

  “Ah, that’s right. I have a present for a poor man like you.”

  Seeming to recall something as they were talking, Kenji began searching through his bag. When Koutarou turned to look at him, Kenji had pulled out two booklets.

  “What are those?”

  “Don’t give me that. This is the reason we met up in the first place.”

  “Oh yeah.”

  The words “The Silver Princess and the Blue Knight, Part 2” were printed on the cover of the booklets. They were copies of the new script Theia had finished writing the other day. The main reason Koutarou and Kenji had met up today was to play, but the occasion had arisen because Kenji needed to give Koutarou the new script anyway.

  “Hmm, this time it’s actually a proper script,” Koutarou admired as he flipped through the pages.

  The first play had merely been a manuscript, written out on paper held together by a paper clip. This one, however, was bound and everything.

  “The budget’s increased this time around after all.”

  “It’s kind of gratifying.”

  Thanks to the popularity of the previous play, the drama club’s budget was increased for the sequel. And because the shopping street had begun sponsoring them, they were receiving help from them as well. Thanks to all of that, the production was going to be on a considerably larger scale than before.

  “By the way, why are there two?”

  “One is for Sakuraba-senpai. You’ll see each other during club activities anyways, right?”

  “Ah, gotcha. Yeah, I’ll give it to her later.”

  Koutarou nodded and put both booklets into his bag. The knitting society had club activities planned over winter vacation. He’d even be seeing her for them tomorrow, so he was planning on giving it to her then.

  “Right then.”

  After packing his bag back up, Koutarou took out his cellphone to check the time. It was now past 3 PM.

  “Mackenzie, it’s about time, so I’m gonna head out.”

  “What, you’re going home already? Can’t you stick around awhile?”

  “I can’t. I actually picked up a new part-time job.”

  “Another one?”

  “Handing out flyers for a cake shop.”

  Koutarou and Kenji both still worked excavating the local ruins, but the dig had been put on hold through the end of the year. In the meantime, Koutarou had taken a new part-time job to pick up the slack.

  “Are things that rough for you? Your old man’s helping you with money, right?”

  “A real man wouldn’t touch his old man’s money.”

  Koutarou proudly laughed and put his phone back into his pocket as he casually turned his back on Kenji.

  “Well, see ya.”

  “Yeah, see you later.”

  Koutarou then walked off without even turning around to look at Kenji when he said goodbye.

  “Hmm, a new part-time job... Could it be...”

  Being left behind, Kenji watched Koutarou walk away with his head cocked to the side. Something about Koutarou picking up a new part-time job was bothering him. Since Kenji worked with Koutarou at the excavation site, he had a pretty good understanding of Koutarou’s financial situation. And knowing what he got paid, he couldn’t think of a reason Koutarou would need another job, even with it being the end of the year.

  “He hasn’t been hanging out with me that much lately either... Did he get a girlfriend? Is that why he’s trying to work up some Christmas funds? No, that can’t be it...”

  While Kenji was mumbling to himself, someone approached him as if to take Koutarou’s place.

  “A girlfriend? Did you start dating another girl, Mackenzie-kun?”

  “Oh? Where did Satomi-sama go?”

  As it turned out, it was actually two someones. Shizuka and Ruth had come to shop at the supermarket by the station. They’d seen Koutarou and Kenji just as they were leaving the store, so they’d decided to come over and say hi.

  “Oh, Kasagi-san and Ruth-san?”

  “Hello, Mackenzie-kun.”

  “Hello there, Mackenzie-sama. Do you know where Satomi-sama went? It looked like he was here just a moment ago.”

  After they’d all finished greeting each other, Ruth looked around the area for Koutarou. Because it was winter vacation and about the time of day most housewives did their shopping, there were plenty of people around. With the crowd, Koutarou was already out of sight.

  “Kou said he had a new part-time job and left just a moment ago.”

  “A new part-time job? Did you know anything about that, Ruth-san?”

  “No, this is news to me.”

  Neither Shizuka nor Ruth had heard about Koutarou’s new job.

  “You two didn’t know either?”

  “Same with you, Mackenzie-kun?”

  “Yeah, I only heard about it j
ust now. But he hasn’t said anything to either of you... This is starting to look suspicious...”

  Kenji smirked as he glanced in the direction Koutarou had left. It wasn’t dissimilar from the sly grin Koutarou often had on his face while pranking Kenji. Seeing that, Ruth asked Kenji what he was thinking.

  “What do you mean by suspicious?”

  “Kou didn’t even tell us, his close friends, about this new part-time job. I suspect our little Kou has gotten himself a girlfriend and is saving up money for dates.”

  That was Kenji’s theory. Koutarou hadn’t said a word about his new job to Kenji, Ruth, or the other girls. Kenji was an old friend, and Koutarou had been getting closer with Ruth and the others lately. So for him to keep it from all of them, Kenji suspected that Koutarou might have some shady secret or was spending money on something he didn’t want them to know about. But since Kenji couldn’t imagine Koutarou doing anything dishonest or criminal, the possibilities were limited.

  Kenji figured the most rational explanation was that Koutarou might have gotten a girlfriend. Kenji knew if he got caught hanging out with a girl, Koutarou, Shizuka, and the others would make a big deal out of it, so maybe Koutarou was keeping his girlfriend a secret to avoid exactly that.

  “So Satomi-kun has a girlfriend, huh? Who could it be? I really want to know!”

  After hearing Kenji’s theory, Shizuka’s eyes began sparkling. She loved this kind of gossip. Her mind immediately went in a million directions imagining what kind of girl Koutarou might be dating.

  “Satomi-sama has a lover...?”

  Ruth, however, had the complete opposite reaction Shizuka did. Her normally mild expression grew severe and bitter.

  It couldn’t be that his relation with Kiriha-sama progressed, could it?

  Koutarou’s problems with women would eventually become Theia’s problems. Knowing that, Ruth couldn’t afford to overlook what this might mean.

  Unaware of the interest brewing in what he was doing, Koutarou was in the middle of working hard at his part-time job.

  “How about a cake for Christmas? At Harukaze Bakery, we’re accepting orders for Christmas cakes!”

  His new job consisted of wearing a Santa outfit and handing out flyers. The bakery in front of the station, Harukaze Bakery, was now selling their Christmas cakes for the holiday, and Koutarou was handing out flyers to advertise them.

  “How about a cake for Christmas? At Harukaze Bakery, we’re accepting orders for Christmas cakes!”

  But the bakery Koutarou was working for wasn’t the only place selling Christmas cakes this time of year. In fact, the supermarket, the department store, the convenience store, and the sweets shop were all rivals in that venture. So by handing out flyers, Harukaze Bakery was hoping to get an edge on their competition and snatch up as big of a market share as possible. With the recent recession still affecting everyone, selling even one cake was a serious struggle.

  I relate, honestly...

  As Koutarou was handing out flyers to passersby, he smiled to himself. He couldn’t help thinking that he and the bakery were in a similar situation. However, there was a definite difference between the two.

  “Good evening, Santa.”

  But Koutarou’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar, cheerful voice. When that gentle voice reached Koutarou’s ears, he instinctively stopped what he was doing.

  “Oh? Sakuraba-senpai?”

  When he turned in the direction of her voice, he saw Harumi smiling in spite of the cold winds whipping through the shopping street. She was a slender girl and gave off the impression of being fragile, but seeing her filled Koutarou with a strange, warm sensation. He was happy to see his friend, the girl called Sakuraba Harumi.

  As their eyes meet, Harumi’s smile changed into the playful grin she had only recently started showing.

  “Heehee, I think I’ve been a good girl this year, so may I have a flyer?”

  Harumi smiled as she held out her hands. She looked like a child asking for a present from her father.

  “Hahaha, if it’s the new script you want, I just so happen to have one with your name on it.”

  “That doesn’t count as a present. Please maintain your pride as Santa.”

  “Please don’t ask too much from a part-time Santa.”

  “Heeheehee...”

  Koutarou and Harumi had a good laugh together. Only recently had the two of them had been able to joke around with one another like this. Harumi’s progress was largely thanks to Yurika’s love advice. While it wasn’t of any practical use, Harumi’s attitude had started to change.

  I can’t keep going like this. Nothing will come from just waiting.

  After Yurika had opened her eyes, feelings like that began budding inside of Harumi.

  “Then for starters, here’s a flyer.”

  “Thank you, Santa.”

  Koutarou handed one of his flyers over to Harumi. She then began ardently reading it.

  “I’ll give you the script in the club room tomorrow. I left my bag at the bakery.”

  “Please do.”

  She answered, but without taking her eyes off the flyer. It seemed like she was really invested in reading it. Normally she would look right at Koutarou when they talked, so even Koutarou could tell that she was being distracted by cake now. It was unusual for Harumi, but adorable and silly in its own way. Koutarou couldn’t help giggling.

  “Pfft... Hahaha...”

  “Satomi-kun?”

  Wondering what Koutarou was laughing about, Harumi finally looked up at Koutarou while still holding on to the flyer.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Heh, nah... You just looked so childish, I couldn’t help myself. Heh heh...”

  “Jeez, Satomi-kun...”

  Harumi then realized exactly what she’d been doing and began blushing. She puffed up her red cheeks as she looked up at Koutarou.

  “You shouldn’t be laughing at others while you’re dressed up so cutely yourself.”

  “Hey, at least this is for my job.”

  “I hate it when you’re so blunt, Satomi-kun.”

  After pouting for a while, Harumi eventually revealed a small smile and held her hands out again.

  “May I borrow your hat?”

  “This?”

  “Yes.”

  Koutarou humored her, taking off his Santa hat and handing it over. After staring at the hat in her hands for a moment, Harumi put it on herself.

  “How do I look?”

  “More childish than before. It’s very cute.”

  “Satomi-kun!”

  “Come to think of it, take this too.”

  Ignoring Harumi’s protests, Koutarou thrust his hand into the large sack he was carrying as part of the Santa costume. It was mostly filled with stuffing to give it volume, but that wasn’t the only thing inside of it.

  “You should wear this too.”

  “Thank you, Satomi-kun.”

  Koutarou had pulled a spare Santa outfit from the bag. This year, Koutarou was the only one handing out flyers, but it seemed the job had been meant for two in the past. After Koutarou handed the second costume to Harumi, she put her arms through the sleeves of the jacket over top of her uniform.

  “How do I look now?”

  With the Santa hat and matching red jacket on, Harumi spun around with her arms stretched out.

  Wow... You even look good in something like this, Sakuraba-senpai...

  That’s what Koutarou thought when he looked at Harumi in her outfit, but he said almost the exact opposite.

  “It’s funny. You look like you’re a kid.”

  “Satomi-kun, you’ve been getting meaner lately.”

  Just like Harumi was slowly becoming more comfortable showing her emotions in front of Koutarou, the same was true for him. In the past, he wouldn’t have made jokes like that. But this change in Koutarou’s attitude was thanks to Harumi mustering her courage around him first.

  This is nic
e. This feeling...

  Harumi could feel the change in him as well, and although she lightheartedly complained, she enjoyed her back and forth with Koutarou. This was what she had wanted.

  I think I can do even more.

  And with her success so far, Harumi decided to try a little harder. She knew she wasn’t totally satisfied with things as they were, and that nothing would change if she didn’t do anything about it. Those kind of thoughts encouraged her to take heart.

  “Satomi-kun, please give me some more flyers.”

  “Senpai?”

  Once again, Harumi held out her hands.

  “You don’t seem to have many left, so I’ll help you.”

  “Hey, wait. This is my part-time job. I can’t have you—”

  “You gave me a flyer before. Just give me some more.”

  “That’s not what I—”

  “Ha!”

  “Hey...”

  While Koutarou was protesting, Harumi snatched half of the stack of flyers he was holding. There were about fifty in the first place, so now he only had twenty-five or so left.

  “Senpai...”

  “Heehee. There are barely any left, so this hardly counts as helping out, Satomi-kun.”

  Koutarou looked troubled, but Harumi was smiling brightly, flyers in hand. Although their outfits matched, their expressions couldn’t have been more different.

  “How about a Christmas cake? Try stopping by Harukaze Bakery!”

  “Satomi-kun.”

  Once Koutarou gave away the last flyer, Harumi returned to him, also emptyhanded. Harumi was still smiling, despite almost being carried away by the crowd.

  “Satomi-kun, I’m all done!”

  “Same here. We were done in a flash thanks to you, Sakuraba-senpai.”

  Once Harumi started helping, the flyers practically disappeared. Having a cute girl in a Santa outfit seemed to go a long way. Thanks to that, it took less than ten minutes before they’d handed out all of them.

  “Heehee, I’m glad to have been of help.”

  “You were a huge help. Thank you, Senpai.”

  Koutarou bowed to Harumi, who was laughing cheerfully, and thought about the situation they’d found themselves in.

  “Still, Sakuraba-senpai, you seemed to have changed since this spring.”