On this day, Godou heads directly home after school. He already has plans.
In fact, December 3 is his sister Shizuka’s birthday. Furthermore, he agreed to prepare gifts together with his childhood friend and hang out with Shizuka.
However, when that very day arrived, the plans he had set were about to change. This is because their father, who left the house after the divorce, contacted them saying that he doesn’t know if he will be able to come. Godou and Shizuka are facing each other.
“Well, what do you think? By the way, my vote is that he won’t end up coming.”
“I’ll cast my vote for that too. But maybe he had some matters to take care of, want to wait a little more?”
For now there is a change of plans. On the night of the 3rd, the siblings both spent their time at the house. Their father had just sent them an email at seven o’clock that night. It stated that he had some urgent business to take care of and left for Toronto, Canada.
“Well, that is to be expected of dad.”
“This would only happen to father.”
Both of them had little to say for this predictable outcome, therefore they could only move it to another day.
That “another day” is now today. Incidentally, the place they wanted to go is a very unique restaurant. They have delicious Spanish cuisine and wine shops.
This was the result after the father, who never shows up at the arranged time, and the laissez-faire approach mother negotiated on the amount of money they could spend.
“This is our daughter’s birthday. It would only be right to go out to eat some delicious food.” The conversation was something along those lines.
Also, because they received permission to bring one more person along, it was settled that Asuka could come with them.
“However, rarely have I seen families where the parents had to deal with every request through ‘negotiating’. “
After hearing the situation from the two siblings, their childhood friend, Tokunaga Asuka, sighed in sorrow.
There are several people on the way to where the restaurant is. The place is within walking distance from the Kusanagi house in Nezu, so the three of them decide to walk there.
“Really? I feel like this happens relatively often.”
“Except it is expressed differently, no matter which household they all have similar situations.”
This was spoken by Godou, who is in charge of the task to negotiate with the parents. At his side, Shizuka also nodded her head.
"Hey Godou, you should look up the difference between similar and the same again. Because you're like that even Shizuka is affected," their pig-tailed childhood friend advised them.
She was unyielding and not mincing matters as always.
"I always tell you, but don't talk like I'm someone without common sense."
"That's right, Asuka-chan. Onii-chan is having no effect on me. I can confidently say I'm the only proper human being in our household."
Godou brought up a refutation and even Shizuka complained a little.
Wrong, from her brother’s perspective it doesn’t seem like she has common sense. He thinks the craziness is hiding within her and that the one with the prospects to grow into an eccentric person would be his sister.
During all of that nonsense, the three of them have arrived at the restaurant.
The two high school students and one middle school student stood in front of the entrance of a somewhat high class restaurant.
The restaurant’s signs and decorations were unique but they were not really extravagant, the lighting was dim as well. However, the restaurant’s ingredients and wine were top grade and as a result the food here is very high quality.
“Although our social statuses do not match, we came here to celebrate a birthday and we had support for the funding, so it’s not bad after all.”
Godou said this at the front of the restaurant. Right beside him, Asuka frowned.
“You are really going to say something like that? If you were at a New Year’s gathering and brought all the money you saved up, you can even have a feast fit for a king.”
“These savings didn’t end up in my hands!”
His childhood friend knew many secrets that could not be said.
Godou realizes the trouble this will cause. Recently, the number of situations where he had to spend his “hidden assets” has increased quite a bit. Such situations are like when there are no family members to accompany him during his trips out of the country.
In short, the three of them still entered the restaurant.
Although it may look like a high class restaurant, the Kusanagi siblings are actually very familiar with the place.
The siblings would be brought here time to time by their grandfather and mother to visit. Plus, the host, who is the shop owner and the chef, is not only a close neighbor they were well acquainted with but also their mother’s drinking buddy. Occasionally, when the Kusanagi household held a drinking party, he was in the kitchen utilizing the skills of his specialty.
This is why the three of them didn’t cower when they were led to their seats and just sat down.
When calling this place for a reservation, they used a “do whatever you want” kind of attitude when ordering. As a result, many dishes were coming without interruption. White asparagus salad, Spanish-style egg rolls, oil grilled shrimp, beef tenderloin cooked in red wine. Lobster and seafood filled cuisine.
The three of them were handling these delicious dishes while chatting about something that wasn’t of importance.
At this moment, the store owner uncle came out of the kitchen and asked “Would you like to order some wine? We have some very interesting ones.” It wasn’t until “Today everyone here is a minor” was mentioned, “Ah I see I see”, did he finally understand what they were trying to say.
“While the (conversation) once again derailed into confirming the degree of mother's friend, the banquet continued smoothly." <!--Needs to be checked-->
Shizuka’s and Asuka’s face both had a look of satisfaction as the pudding dessert went into their mouth.
As for Godou, he would instead prefer the bitterness of coffee compared to sweetness. However, at that time he noticed two people that he knew sitting down at a relatively close distance away.
“So Erica, what is the reason for calling me out today?”
“I just told you on the phone didn’t I. Lily, us two girls should occasionally get together to gossip that’s all. Recently I fell in love with a female novelist.”
“Uuuhh, in other words you just want to threaten me right!?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I just have a sudden urge to discuss literature...……Hey, for example ‘I'd like convey these feelings to that person’ using this form to create short stories, around two-three total. "
“Quit, quit quit quit looking down on people! Even if those kinds of story-lines might be overused or not, my heart won't waver for a bit!" Just, just no matter what you say I’m not going to listen!”
“Hehe Lily, your voice is trembling.”
Like music, the elegant voice and the cold yet cute voice continued to discuss.
These were two people who never exposed this side of them at school. Incidentally, their conversation was in Italian. It must be because they are old friends conversing in a relaxed manner.
Feeling like he was stepping into other people’s personal matters, Godou felt very apologetic.
But, to not even greet or say a thing before going back would not be good either. What to do….just as he was thinking it over, the girls noticed Godou.
Erica Blandelli suddenly had a look of tension on her face, her smile disappeared. An anxious Liliana Kranjcar maintained the stern look of a knight.
In order to “monitor” the god slaying demon king, these girls from Milan were dispatched over. Due to its importance, the girls put forth their full attention towards monitoring him.
“Wait a minute Onii-chan, is the bottom of your nose extending longer?” (This is a lecherous expression of men when they see girls)
“Although, they really are very beautiful foreign young ladies. You acting like this is quite rude.”
He suddenly received these words from his sister and childhood friend.
“I-Idiot. They are just students from my class. I was only shocked because I noticed them by coincidence.”
Godou only told them part of the truth. Shizuka led out an “Aaah” as if she remembered while Asuka, gasped “eh”.
“There are rumors about those two people…… Onii-chan and those girls are in the same class.”
“They are from private higher education schools and they came from abroad to study here.”
On the other hand, across from Godou’s conversation, Erica, who was sitting in the other table, raised her hand.
She called a worker to come over (The person happened to be the restaurant owner. His wife and mother along with him operate the business).
The person who came to Erica’s table was the owner’s mother.
She and the blonde haired beauty talked briefly. After the owner’s mother nodded her head she left the table. Thought she might have gone back to the kitchen, who knew that she would instead go towards Godou.
Furthermore, she also displayed a very profound smile.
“Those two ladies over there said they want to dine with Godou no matter what. Ha ha, you and your grandfather are indeed alike, these kinds of situations will happen often!”
It seems like this mother really envies grandfather’s suitors.
That’s why I said, please do not refer to grandpa and grandson together like that. Godou was muttering to himself while looking at the table across from him. Erica and Liliana both are giving a dignified and sharp expression.
No matter what, anything would be fine besides developing into the way that this mother envisioned.
“Onii-chan, what is going on?”
“Godou, your bad habit offended someone!?”
“What are you guys getting so worked up about!? This is only the students from my class sending an invitation. You two should go home first. I’ll converse with them for a little bit.”
Therefore, once a switch of tables was made the dinner once again continued.
Once they were done enjoying the food, the two European girls’ silently drank some coffee. It was a stressful situation for Godou, who wasn't used to girls.
“Although I feel like disturbing your family time was me being unaware of your general interests…”
Erica was the first to speak.
“But since we met up with someone that has the imperial title of Campione, if we were unable to make a greeting then that would harm the reputation of the Black Copper Cross. I reiterate that it is an honor to meet someone of your status.”
“No, let me say something.”
Godou cut off Erica’s endless display of etiquette.
“I said this many times before. Because this kind of talk numbs my back, talking like ordinary people would be just fine. Behave like you would before I turned into this type of person.”
“Ok. I know clearly that if I do this again, it will become annoying.”
No longer needing to use honorifics, Erica let out a smile.
The type of smile wasn’t filled with affection, but rather like the smile of a lioness before going hunting.
“I am truly grateful to have met you before you became a god killer. If I had to bestow respect on to you every time then I’m afraid I might not be able to
converse with you. “
His relation with Erica date back to the spring of this year.
At that point, it was before Kusanagi Godou had killed the Persian Warlord Verethragna.
Just that you couldn't say that the two of them shared a close relationship. Erica has always acted and spoken without fear towards the Campione. <!--Needs to be checked-->
“Erica……hold on a sec. Even though he is young, Kusanagi Godou is still a Campione. Also, he is an ally of the dangerous but manner lacking Salvatore Doni, making him a very influential person. By choosing the appropriate words to say, and by showing etiquette is the way of the knight.”
Objecting to her long-time friend was obviously Liliana. Her attitude was pretty rough as well.
She probably dreads not being able to develop a personal friendship with Godou.
“Please do not say that idiot Doni and I are good friends.”
Godou said this as in order to correct the incorrect facts.
“If you guys are as you just described, then it would lead to many complications.”
“Furthermore, when you guys destroyed the Sforzesco Castle and when you guys were fighting together in Naples, it caused a lot of commotion. Looks like there will be many opportunities for the two of you to fight together.”
Liliana in a clever-like innotation proposed this suggestion.
“That kind of retort has many flaws in it so let’s not talk about it. I have already come to accept pretty much all the subtle complications you two have.”
“What subtle complications do you mean?”
“In short, it is like this. You and Salvatore Doni go beyond the good intentions of friendship. Not as a male friend, but rather someone you could love.”
“Love, Love!?”
Godou was stunned at the detective-like reasoning used to say something like that.
“Of course, these kinds of immoral feeling cannot be discussed in front of other people. Furthermore, young people like you have a hard time admitting this kind of unusual sexual habit. As a result your lips firmly say that Salvatore Doni is annoying because no matter what, you couldn’t cut off these feeling of worrying or longing for him.”
“I didn’t think of it like this. Although, everything throughout seems to be structured correctly.”
“No way is that correct! Don’t make up my feelings ok!?”
Because Erica actually admired Liliana’s reasoning, Godou quickly came to reject it.
“All in all, it is a fact that you and the chief of Italy’s magic guilds and gunpowder warehouses don’t have a shallow relationship.”
“What gunpowder warehouse……do not talk nonsense.”
Godou whispered towards Liliana in an unexpectedly sharp tone.
“But, me and that guy….or rather I should say, me and the other Campiones are different. If possible, I would like to continue to live a peaceful life. If I can die on a tatami then I will feel very satisfied. This kind of monitoring can be stopped.”
It is said that Erica and Liliana are both future talents with high expectations from everyone.
They are young knights from the magic guilds, Black Copper Cross and Bronze Black Cross. These kind of talents was dispatched to monitor Kusanagi Godou in Tokyo.
This was to inspect the movements of the Campione allied to Salvatore Doni.
“What are you saying Kusanagi Godou? ‘Monitoring’ a god slayer devil king is in what way disrespectful or forbidden conduct?”
Erica twisted her lips and self-deprecatingly said.
“If you started to do any business, perhaps there is a probability it might have unexpected effects throughout Europe. If something like that were to happen, then we would contact the guilds. Although, our goal for coming to Tokyo was simply to study abroad. It was in order to learn more about the Asian culture.”
“To experience The Travels of Marco Polo is a hard earned experience.”
Even Liliana showed an expression of understanding while saying that.
“It’s just like that, king. Please do not mind us, just continue to live your life normally.”
Oh. Godou frowned. If this type of situation continues there would be no way to improve their relationship.
Despite that, both options would be fine. To be able to manage your own time or to improve the relations with the two. <!--Needs to be checked-->
2012-07-04, 22:36
