Sometimes, I Relax. (23.4)

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"Hello, Hikigaya-kun." Orimoto didn't raise her head to address me. Oi, I know that making sure everyone under your care survives is important, but you can spare some time for me, right? That was a joke. I really don't mind. Keep doing what you're doing, I'd really rather you keep this city of scum and scoundrels operational. "Are you feeling better? Is your Skill still troubling you?"

"You say that like I'm supposed to have fixed myself already." I took a seat at the table Orimoto was poring over. Man, it must be terrible to have absolute focus instead of being able to think about everything at once. One glance at something and I've got it in my brain and poring over it until I'm asleep. I bet my fellow interdimensional refugee had to actually finish each document and commit them to memory one at a time instead of just passively getting through all of them at once. Still, I suppose not having to deal with mental issues all the time was a good benefit for her. "I'll have you know that I'm making progress, but this sort of thing isn't going to get finished in a week, Ms. Student Council Member."

"I almost forgot that I'd been on one of those, even though my time there helped me out a lot." Orimoto took a breath and carefully closed the map she'd been poring over. Really, I was serious, you should just talk to me while doing your usual work. I don't want to impose on critical planning that has lives on the line. "Relax, Hikigaya-kun, I'm just comparing it to past maps for mistakes before they're sent off to be printed." What?! You have perfect memory that doesn't go away after you sleep!? I take it back, you're overpowered as hell! "I remembered that you were coming. Did Bors make it difficult for you to come?"

"Eyepatch man with big muscles? Doesn't know how to wear slaves? Told me I should just fuck off for forcing you guys to go deeper into the Dungeon?" Orimoto nodded. "Nah, he was the perfect gentleman. He personally escorted me from the Hestia Familia to here by himself while using only a stick." A small smile formed on my fellow's face. Apparently, some of the girl I first met hasn't been completely lost to the woman that was before me now. "I got here without any problems, Orimoto."

"That's good, Hikigaya-kun. That's really good." Orimoto gave me a few nods before rising and walking towards a cabinet. From the dark recesses of the wooden cabinet, the brown and curly haired girl produced some liquor. Yeah, I suppose losing focus would be good for her. "You don't drink, right?" I shook my head. She gave a light laugh and nodded. It wasn't a good laugh. "Good. Don't. Before long, you'll need it to go to sleep, Hikigaya-kun."

"…" In my opinion, drinking was a better method of going to sleep than an amulet designed to knock you out without chance of awakening for 6 hours. Hell, drinking was acceptable to most societies. Well, as long as it was in moderation and didn't destroy a person's entire life. Well, now that that thought's crossed my mind… "Do you need it? Or does it just make it easy for you to sleep?" I took out the amulet I'd brought to give her. Nothing wrong with it being used by two people. "Because if it's the former, I'd rather you use this."

"…Is that the sleeping amulet you developed to knock you out?" I gave a nod. Orimoto bit her lip and looked at the bottle. My former classmate considered her situation. I could see the answer that she didn't want to say aloud. She returned the bottle to the cabinet with a sigh and walked over to the table and shook her head. "Dammit, Hikigaya, you make everything so complicated." She took the amulet and placed it in her pocket. Good. You have no excuses now. "Seriously, I go out of my way to save your life and you poke holes into my eating habits? Isn't that a bit mean, Hikigaya?"

"We've both got to look out for one another, Orimoto."

"I feel like I've looked after you more, Hikigaya."

"That'll change soon."

"I really hope not."

I gave a shake of my head as she chuckled.

My mood soured once my Skill finally managed to completely process the plans she had on the table.

"So you're going towards Floor Fifty. Don't you think that's much?"

"We're on the 30th Floor now Hikigaya. That's four Colosseums, two Rexes, and an area composed of lava and volcanoes between us and the best forward base you and I can ask for." Orimoto's voice gained an edge to it that made me realize that this was a battle I'd already lost. While it was true that Rivira was already gathering supplies for the massive expedition, they also had to do the move because of me. The Guild was now at their doorstep, given that my work pushed what's considered to be the "safe" part of the Dungeon all way here. Rivira wouldn't be able to charge the prices they needed to rebuild every day or maintain their weapons. Forgot it being the half-way point, if Orimoto didn't move her people into Fiftieth Floor, she was going to lose the whole city and hundreds of angry, criminal Adventurers wasn't something anyone wanted to or could deal with. "We need to do this—"

"Yeah, I just figured it out now. No need for the monologue. Good job planning it while the Loki Familia is returning and dealt with the boss monsters already." Orimoto wasn't my student, or someone I wanted to have to teach. I mean, who was I to even question a her plans? She had hundreds of Adventurers that were Level 2 and 3 along with several 4s and 5s because of the Asura, along with the Blacksmiths, Mixers, and Mages needed to really exploit the surrounding areas. If there was anyone capable of setting up Rivira in the possible middle of the Dungeon, it would be Orimoto and her freakishly huge and multi-talented guild. "Right, if you need help, just send someone to ask me. I've got money to spare now that I'm not farming trash mobs any longer."

"… I almost forgot how quick you are to offer help if there's no planning to be done." Orimoto laughed. It sounded a lot better than the last laugh she gave. Oi, are you trying to pick a fight!? Those words are definitely meant to pick a fight! I'll have you know I'm eligible for a managerial position! I'm not just someone who'd follow a plan without question if it's easier to do than actually think! "Don't worry, Hikigaya-kun, I'll be sure to ask for your help when I need it?" When? Not if? Woman, you're making me regret offering you my help. Still, I suppose seeing you relax a little is worth a little trouble. Hey, what's with that smirk on your face? "Hmmm, that is if you've got enough time to help me now that your philandering finally caught up with you? So, how many girls have you running errands now? Two? Three? Oh, ho, four!"

Don't use your Skills for stupid reasons like reading body language, dammit!

"I don't need my Skill to read you, Hikigaya-kun. It just helps! You're not a very difficult person, y'know?"

"Oi, take that back! I'm as difficult as difficult gets, dammit!"

"Sure, sure, Hikigaya-kun, you're free to believe that." Orimoto hid a smile behind a hand. Still, when our laughter stopped, I recognized the look of concern my former classmate had on her face. Yeah, I knew what this conversation was. "Hikigaya, you're really considering staying, aren't you?" There was a question behind those words that I knew she wanted to ask but couldn't. For a moment, I thought that she wouldn't, but Orimoto Kaori proved that she wasn't the same girl I'd met years ago. "Is… is it because of what I did back then?"

If you had more friends and people you relied on back home, would you even consider staying here? That was the question Orimoto asked past the surface. Are you staying here because of me? That was the question that Orimoto really wanted answered. Here she was, the only person I'd tried to be friends with and go out with, the woman who rejected me, and the one who is partially responsible for who I am now. Was I going to stay here, though I promised I'd get to her the end? Was I risking my life for her without reason?

There was only one answer to all those questions.

"I don't know." That was it. That was all I had regarding the subject. Being able to admit it wasn't a weight off of my shoulders, but it wasn't another burden for me to carry. I didn't have an answer. While it wasn't the best solution, it certainly wasn't the worst. As Hiryute, Lyon, Alf, and Viridis showed me through their actions, I knew that changing meant taking action. Crozzo said I should just move forward and not worry. Hardly useful advice, but I was trying. Now I did my best to just get past my issues, live a somewhat normal life, and look over my students instead of just throwing myself into the Dungeon. I was acting now to both stay and leave Orario. I was moving on a path that was going to branch. All the while, I was just trying to get to a better place. "I really don't have an answer for that." I felt the need to bow, to apologize sincerely, so I did. "Gomenasai, Orimoto."

"…" Orimoto didn't reply immediately. I mean, she could've been prepared for a yes or a no, but I doubted she had a response prepared for my indecisiveness. Without a doubt, my answer was less than what she was expecting. Really, I'm sure that she'd be frustrated with my words—"…You haven't changed at all." Orimoto laughed and easily broke my train of thought. "You're as greedy as always, Hikigaya-kun."

Eh?

"Even if it might be impossible, you always do your best to try and reach the end that makes everyone happy. You've always been selfish." Orimoto's smile was a mix of the two she had earlier. A melancholy smile that was very familiar to me. She turned her gaze towards the map of Rivira she had on the wall and gestured towards it. "You want a fairytale's happy ending. One where everyone is happy. Where the hero doesn't have to give anyone up and everyone goes on to live the rest of their days—"

"And you don't? You don't want to choose? To do what you want? Do you want there to be just one way for all of this to end?" I could see where Orimoto's words were going. The way she looked at the map of Rivira, at the layout of the floors past 50, and I knew what ideas crossed her mind whenever she looked at the people she had available to her and what she could achieve if she just didn't care about them. "Don't be an idiot, Orimoto. We can't afford to think only one way is right."

Orimoto's eyes were level and there wasn't a single trace of emotion on her face… until she finally gave me the same smile she'd given me years ago instead of the strange, alien ones she'd been giving me since she greeted me.

"Hilarious, Hikigaya." Some part of Orimoto was definitely straining to say the words and act the way she wanted to, but she still managed it. Yeah, I suppose with a Skill like yours, someone just needs to point out a few facts instead of assembling an army or resorting to…drastic measures. Augh, I was really thankful I didn't need to do anything stupid like that. "Jeez, you really need to work on how you speak to women. You're going to break a girl's heart one day if you keep being so honest. Couldn't you have held your words back just a little for me?"

Given the fact that you and I need to do the impossible, keep ourselves sane in the process, and do our best to not regret the decisions we make?

"Not a chance."

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