CH.9 - Orcus Great Dungeon (2)

And so the dungeon dive continued like that until the 20th floor...

When the class arrived at the 19th floor Meld went at the front and spoke.

"Alright, Let's take a little brake here, there will be stronger magic beast rom now on, it's starts with the 20th, you will need every energy you can get so rest a little, he will go back when we finish this floor. Alright that's all !" The student who heard him sigh in relief since they were not accustomed to this kind of environment. Some were still fun of energy but also tired mentally so everyone went in their respective way to rest.

As for Hajime and Enkai, aside from the beast that were let pass on purpose they didn't do anything too tiring so they only sat with the soldier which were friendlier than before and they could talk to them without issue.

They were having a pleasant conversation when some in the soldier went quiet. Noticing the awkwardness, Enkai followed their gaze and saw Shizuku coming their way, attracting the attention of everyone and their silence.

Cursing in his mind he still kept a neutral face until she came in front of him.

"Hmm...could I talk to you Myojo-kun please ? Somewhere else." Shizuku asked, having here everyday face but one could notice the tiny blush on her ears if looked closely.

Sighing, Enkai still nodded his head and got up, "Lead the way" Enkai said.

At the distance, Kouki who eared Shizuku got up to also go with her but was stopped by Kaori.

"What are you doing Kouki ? Shizuku want to talk to Myojo-kun alone so you can't go" Kaori said sternly, lecturing Kouki.

"But Kaori, what if magic beast come their way we can't have them alone right ?" Kouki said with uncertainty.

"There is no danger, even if there is magic beast, Myojo-kun and Shizuku alone are strong enough to face them until we can help them so there is no need" Shaking her head Kaori replied to Kouki who was still stubborn and still got up before Meld make him sit down.

"Kouki sit down, there is no danger, like Kaori-san said the two of them are strong enough to fight the magic beast so you don't need to worry, and if you leave what if magic beast come to attack us ? You need to stay here" Meld said.

"...Alright..." Kouki said reluctantly, still wanting to go but he didn't have any excuse to go. But he still got up and towards to other groups, maybe having a plan in his head.

***

While Kouki

"So ? What do you want Yaegashi-san ?" Enkai asked.

"Hmm...To start I want to thank you about the Katana, Kaori said that you hand it over to her so that she can give it to me so thank you about that" Shizuku replied shyly

"It's alright, I know that we are better with a katana so I asked Hajime to make us one, but there is also a wakizashi you know ?" Enkai replied, with his neutral face, avoiding to show any emotion.

It's true, two days ago Hajime went to Enkai to show him two suitcase where there was 2 set of daisho inside.

"Yes, yes I know but I let it in the suit case I didn't bring it with me" Shizuku replied

"Alright then...so is that all ?" Replied Shizuku, if it was a simple "thank you" she could have done it earlier with everyone around.

"No...hmm...Myo-Enkai, I want to talk to you if it's possible, I wanted to ask you earlier but I rarely see you, and when I saw you were either with Hajime or I was with everyone around me so...could you please wait for me at the balcony tonight please Enkai ?" Shizuku asked him, with an almost pleading look own her face.

"Alright, even tough it could cause misunderstanding, I will wait for you tonight and not escape don't worry" Enkai then replied with a sigh escaping his lips and massaging his forehead.

"Alright then !" Shizuku replied with a little smile on her face hearing Enkai's response to her demand, she then saw him going back but she wanted to ask one last question.

"Wait Enkai !" Shizuku said

"What is it Yaegashi-san ?" Enkai replied, not turning around.

"Do...do...do you hate me ?" After a few seconds of silence Shizuku finally asked her question. Enkai for, didn't turned around and stayed silent, after a one minute of silence and when Shizuku was going to give up she heard.

"No..." Enkai finally replied with another sigh

"Then...can you please start calling me like before ?" Shizuku was happy but throw another question with a hopeful expression.

"Alright...let's go back it's almost time...Shizuku..." Enkai replied, still not turning around and started to walk again.

Hearing his response and the way he called her Shizuku was happy and was thinking, 'Maybe Kaori was right, maybe there is still hope...' she then caught up to him and walk back side by side.

When they came back everyone eyed them, Shizuku had a smile on her face, not a wide one but it was still big enough for everyone to notice it, Enkai, him still kept a neutral face.

"Alright see you and don't forget" Shizuku said, leaving for Kaori.

"Yes, yes don't worry" Enkai then replied telling her to go away with his hand and went to sit back with Hajime, the latter gazing at him.

"What ?"

"So the katana was for her huh ? So even this big guy can feel a little emotion for someone else." Hajime replied with a teasing grin on his face

"What do you think of me ? Am I a f**king robot ? I just don't want her to die." Enkai replied to his friend.

"Don't worry, I support you my friend" Hajime then replied with an understanding look.

"You...maybe I will show all of your shameful display to Kaori then ? You see no problem right ? Like when you were saying in your sleep "Ohh Kaori, I lov--" Enkai wanted to get his revenge and start to talk louder but Hajime quickly shut him up by putting is hand on his friend mouth

"Alright, alright I'am sorry please stop" Hajime begged.

"You deserve it" Enkai replied with a big grin on his face.

Hajime was blushing like a tomato, you could even see the red color in this dungeon. Enkai was staring at his face and remembered something for yesterday.

***

Yesterday

"Here this is the second daisho, like the first I didn't name them since they are average product and I don't have suitable name so have the pleasure to it" Hajime said to Enkai before seeing leaving.

Enkai with one suitcase in his hand was heading toward Shizuku's room. After reaching the door he knocked a few times, after waiting he saw a girl in pajamas in front of him, Kaori

"Oh ? Ei-kun what are you doing here ? Oh you want to see Shizuku ? Sorry she is not here but you can wait inside if you want." Kaori asked with a teasing smile after seeing who was at the front door.

"What are you saying Kaori ? And what with this nickname ? Anyway I'am not here for her I just wanted to give you this, this is for her." Enkai replied with an annoyed expression...or not ?

"It was your surname in Elementary school you know I still remember. Anyway I will give it to her when she come back don't worry." Kaori replied.

"Alright, thank you" Enkai said.

"It's alright Ei-kun" Kaori replied.

"Stop with this nickname" Enkai said embarrassed and started to leave.

"Wait ! Ei-kun, I want to ask you something" Kaori then asked with a worried and serious expression.

"Yes ?" Seeing her serious expression Enkai stopped a looked at her, waiting.

"I had a bad dream about Hajime...could you tell him to not go tomorrow please ? He will listen to you" Kaori ask to Enkai.

"What are you saying ?"

"I have this bad feeling since I had my dream that something bad will happen to Hajime in the dungeon, so please" Asked again Kaori almost begging.

"Don't worry Kaori...and even if I told him to not go he will anyway, he is determined to but don't worry I will stay with to protect him, you saw my strength right ? so don't worry." Enkai replied with a sigh but serious expression after seeing Kaori, he petted her head and reassured her.

"Alright...thank you Ei-kun, you are kind you know ? I don't know what happened between the two of you but I know that you don't hate her Ei-kun so make up with her alright we could maybe go back like before...or maybe with one more person hehe" Kaori sigh in relief and then said something to her friend with an earnest expression with a foolish grin at the end.

"Maybe...we will see in the future Kaori...and you should confess already, you are showing it too much now, little Hajime will explode from embarrassment you know ?" Enkai replied to her with a sigh which was replaced by a small smile after a bit.

"Hehe don't worry I have my plan, enough talking about me, you should make up with her, I saw quickly what was inside the suitcase, a katana, a knife ? and a teddybear it's so cute. Anyway it seems like you don't hate her like she believe you do" Kaori still had a foolish grin but it was replaced by a honest smile.

"I don't hate her, it's only her misunderstanding and you know that, alas for the famous "Onee-sama" who is always composed and thinking, she made a foolish mistake and went to conclusion to quickly. As for the katana I just don't want her to die" Enkai replied.

"Well you know, love make us foolish and stupid and stop with the 'I just don't want her to die' you tsundere" Kaori replied with a teasing smile.

"Who's the tsundere ?! Anyway, love ? I was only her friend and she thought of me as a friend or she wouldn't....anyway I'am going now see you tomorrow and don't worry about Hajime." Enkai replied with a loud voice at first but then calmed down, before starting to leave.

"Friend huh...Ahhh Ei-kun you are such a fool...but your last sentence...hmm...I will definitively know about what happened" Kaori whispered and closed the door...

***

Enkai shook his head and started to eat some bread.

Looking at the Enkai at the distance Shizuku was thinking of different things but the most important was that she needed first to apologize and explained what she did and why and then to finally con--

"Shizuku ? Shizuku ? Earth to Shizuku" Kaori was talking to her friend who was in the moon and wasn't listening.

"Oh ? Ka-Kaori sorry I was in deep thought" Shizuku replied with an apologetic face and wry smile.

"Ohhh ? Were you thinking about En--"

"Shizuku ? What you and Myojo-kun were talking about ? Could you tell me--us ?" Asked Kouki, completely cutting off Kaori, angering her which could bee seen by the vein bulging on her forehead.

"Nothing important it's something between the both of us don't worry" Shizuku replied, smiling when she thought about her conversation with Enkai. She then stopped paying attention and looked furtively at Enkai, remembering the third object in the suitcase...a teddybear.

Seeing the smile on Shizuku's face made him happy but also uncomfortable since he didn't know why she was smiling or even for who ? Surely not Enkai right ?

"Alright everyone gather up it's time to go" Meld screamed to everyone.

With this thought in his head Kouki got up and went at the front with his Party, with this time a fake smile...