Eclair's Companions: Kana / Nami

I was meeting with the two of them, Kanna Hizaki and Nami Himuro.

… Kanna Hizaki.

A peerless beauty on par with Kanan and Maika, but with a personality that earned her teasing for being a "let-down." In a way, that made her popular too.

… Though I didn't really have much to do with her.

I knew her face, sure, but only because she struck up conversations with literally everyone, no distinctions made.

She probably didn't remember me at all, or at best lumped me in with the rest of the crowd.

"Heeey, Naoto-kun! Long time no see, nice to meet ya again!"

That was Hizaki-san calling out to me.

"Yeah, long time no see… though I don't think we were really close enough for that."

"Ehh, that's not true! Right?!"

"… Then what kind of memory do you have of me?"

"We're friends, right? Right?!"

Kanna Hizaki pushed it on me forcefully. To her, every single person in the world was a friend, I figured. A different worldview entirely.

"… Haah, well, sure."

I had no choice but to give her a vague answer.

… Nami Himuro shot me a glare, as if to say, Don't say things to encourage her.

When such a beautiful face glared sharply, it looked genuinely fierce. That was probably one of the reasons people gossiped about her being severe.

"U-Um… Himuro-san, nice to meet you."

I greeted her.

"… As far as I'm concerned, this isn't 'nice to meet you,' is it?"

The reply came back even colder, undisguised anger laced through it.

"… Eh?"

I had met Nami Himuro before? I had no recollection of it.

… Well, my memory from that worst period of my life was patchy in places, but… could I really have crossed paths with someone as beautiful as Himuro-san and forgotten it?

"U-Um… where exactly…?"

I had no clue, so I asked her directly.

"… First-year spring break. At the park. You were soothing a lost child…"

"… Ah."

I did, of course, remember that incident.

Precisely because my own life was so painful and miserable, I'd tried to be kind to others.

That time… a few people came to help partway through, and while we were all making a fuss together, the parents showed up, and it ended happily.

… Had Himuro-san been among the people who helped? Back then I'd been frantic trying to calm the lost child, and I didn't think I'd been looking at anyone else's face.

"What are you all doing?"

"This child apparently got separated from his mom… Hey, sweetie, let's try to remember one more time, okay? Where did you get separated from Mommy?"

"… Wouldn't it be quicker to take him to the police rather than doing that?"

"That might be true, but the police box isn't nearby… If we take him to one far away, then his mom could be searching this area and they'd just miss each other.

"So I was hoping if we could pin down where he got separated…"

"… Either way, isn't it better to contact the police?"

"But I don't have a cellphone…"

"You can use mine, if it's all right."

"Ah, sorry. I'll borrow it."

And so I borrowed the cellphone from that woman, dialed 110, and consulted them about the lost child…

Eventually more people gathered, and as we made a fuss together, his mother spotted the commotion and came over. That was how it played out.

"You don't mean, the one who lent me her cellphone back then was…"

"… Yes. That was me."

So that was it. To think someone as beautiful as Himuro-san had been right next to me and I hadn't even noticed. Just goes to show how panicked I must have been.

"Ehhh…! Nami-chan, you had a destined partner like that…?! That's where the love story between you two started, isn't it?!"

Hizaki-san's eyes sparkled.

"""… No, not really."""

The two of us spoke in perfect unison.

"… I was desperate at the time, I didn't even remember her face…"

"… I noticed from your uniform that you were a student at the same school. Afterward I learned your name and saw you around the school building from time to time, but I had a clear understanding of the situation back then, so there was no particular need to confirm it. I didn't call out to you."

"Ehhhh… Why?! There's no way that's not the start of a love story! What a waste!"

Hizaki-san fumed, but no matter what she said, what hadn't started couldn't be made to start.

… Still, this was unexpected. To think Nami Himuro, who'd earned the nickname Ice Queen and was feared for the cold-blooded way she rejected every boy's confession, had a story about helping a lost child.

"If I had used that as a pretext to chat with you familiarly, I think I would have ended up understanding firsthand why I'm called the Ice Queen, so you were correct not to call out to me."

… Ah, so the harsh treatment was reserved exclusively for boys her own age.

"Geez, don't say things like that. Nami-chan, you have to date more boys and enjoy your youth, otherwise it's no fun!

"I am, after all, a master of love with fifty boyfriends to my name! I'll give you advice anytime!"

"You mean a master of love who dated fifty boys and got dumped by all fifty?"

"Th-They didn't dump me! They were all just too feeble! They couldn't keep up with my fun games at all, and they had no spirit!

"Plus they kept trying to do erotic stuff right away! That's not fun at all!"

"If you're a master of love, shouldn't you be used to that sort of thing? A virgin master of love is hardly worth talking about."

"What's wrong with being a virgin?! It's fine! I'm going to gently entwine bodies with my wonderful prince under a starry night sky while gazing at the city lights!"

"With a brain straight out of a shoujo manga, shouldn't you put a bit more effort into setting a nicer mood with your boyfriends?

"Joining the neighborhood marathon or the ditch-cleaning event would at least be something, but sprinting full speed and diving into the sea for no reason is incomprehensible."

"Ehh, but when your tension goes up, you wanna jump into the sea, don't you?! At a moment like that, if your boyfriend would just dive in with you with a big splash, going whee, that's what you want!"

"I would hate a man with that kind of high-strung tension… Or rather, weren't there plenty of guys with that level of high-strung tension among the flighty boys you've dated?"

"Hmmm, they all kept up at the start, but by day three they'd start getting mad, and even the longest-lasting one snapped by day five and broke up with me.

"I just don't get it."

"I sympathize with the boyfriends who put up with five days of that bizarre lifestyle…"

I listened with enjoyment as the two of them played out their high-tension boke-and-tsukkomi routine. This kind of atmosphere was nice. Just like Japanese high school girls.

… No, it was exactly that.

Still, you'd have to be that high-strung to date Hizaki-san, huh.

I definitely couldn't manage it.

But…

"But you two are friends, right?"

"We are not."

"Yup! Best friends!"

It reminded me a bit of Yuria and Lyuka's relationship.

"Ehhh～ Why, Nami-chaaan?"

Hizaki-san clung to Himuro-san.

"You're stifling, you know."

She shoved her away firmly with one hand, but Hizaki-san wasn't deterred, persistently trying to cling again.

More antagonistic and more passionate than Lyuka and Yuria.

"You don't seem all that compatible, so why are you two so close?"

"… She's the only person who keeps talking to me without being put off by my attitude."

"Nami-chan and I are best friends!"

Himuro-san's reason was rather poignant, while Hizaki-san's wasn't really a reason at all.

"You're best friends despite being incompatible, because being best friends means it's okay to be incompatible.

"Sounds like the chicken-or-the-egg thing."

"It's a waste of time to think about. This person doesn't reason things out the way you do."

"No, I don't just reason everything out either.

"In the end, whether you like someone is more of a feeling than something you can build a case for, no matter how many arguments you stack up."

"Oh, Naoto-kun, that's a good line! That's exactly right! The hot feelings burning in your chest are everything!"

Bam! Hizaki-san punctuated her every statement vigorously and gave a thumbs-up.

"So even for someone who can't keep up with Hizaki-san's high tension, if she likes them, there's still a chance, huh."

"… Hoeh?"

Hizaki-san tilted her head.

"I mean, I was wondering how I could get closer to you, Hizaki-san."

"S-Stop it. We're already best friends, Naoto-kun!"

She was being a little bashful. Her reaction didn't seem bad, but…

She'd said "friends" earlier, and somehow in this short time it had been upgraded to "best friends." Why was that?

This girl was hard to read.

But based on how my conversations with her had gone so far, she didn't seem as much like dynamite as the rumors made her out to be.

She was a little noisy, but having someone with such a cute voice make a fuss was almost endearing.

Though she was pretty off-the-wall.

"Best friends, sure, that's totally fine. So please, let's start with friends."

"Yup! Pleased to be working with you, Naoto-kun!"

Squeeze! Hizaki-san gripped my hand tightly in a handshake.

"… Naoto Akai. That statement of yours, it means you're aiming for Kanna as a romantic partner. Is that it?"

Himuro-san had clearly caught on.

"Ah, I thought it went without saying, but… yeah, that's right."

"What are you thinking? Aren't you dating Kazami-san?"

"Eh, in this world, you're going to bring up Earth common sense to me?

"I'm dating all of my companions.

"… If I beat Eclair, the two of you will inevitably become mine, like it or not.

"I respect my Garumon's autonomy. I have no intention of forcing anything on anyone who hates it.

"So… if I can, I want to get along.

"That's why I'm having conversations like this now, before we become companions, to get to know each other."

"Nice! How beautiful it is to be on good terms! Right?!"

"Don't joke."

The two reactions were diametrically opposed.

"I'm telling you up front, I despise men who approach with their ulterior motives in plain sight.

"Do you have any idea how many men I've cut down up to now?"

"No, I don't know the exact number, but I've heard the rumors.

"That's exactly why I was hoping we could get along…"

"I told you not to joke. And to think you're trying to seduce me along with Kanna… You're making a mockery of us."

Yikes, Himuro-san's affection rating looked low.

"I'm not mocking anyone. I just thought it'd be more relaxing to talk with two best friends together than to talk one-on-one."

"… Haah! All it means is I have to deal with two idiots, which is just exhausting!"

A sudden "idiot" branding. Himuro-san's poison tongue had started running.

Well, my school grades were easier counted from the bottom, so I had no reason to get angry at being called an idiot by Himuro-san.

"… I'm sorry, that slipped out."

But Himuro-san apologized of her own accord.

"No, I'm actually not all that bright. Compared to Himuro-san, who was top of the class, of course I'm an idiot."

"… In this world, I'm not foolish enough to call someone who debuted in May and rose all the way to A-Class Master in this short a time an idiot.

"… It really did just slip out. I apologize."

Huh? She was being unexpectedly gentle.

"No, you don't have to worry about it that much."

"I'm aware that I have a poison tongue, but that's just stating the truth about a person without mincing words.

"Kanna is an idiot, but you are not, so I was rude."

"… Understood. I accept the apology."

So Himuro-san was meticulous, then.

"Ehehe… I'm troubled to be praised so much…"

"I have not praised you with a single word!"

The exchange between the two was endearing to watch.

"… So, what kind of poison tongue are you going to direct at me? I'll listen, prepared."

I straightened my posture, took a deep breath, and braced myself to have my heart sliced apart by the blade of her words.

Heh… My mental fortitude, forged through being showered with abuse and violence as a bottom-tier slave, wasn't a nervous system that would be hurt by mere verbal blades.

But it would be a problem if her blades surpassed even that…

"… You're approaching me and Kanna with your ulterior motives in plain sight."

"Hmm, hold on a moment. Is that a bad thing? Hizaki-san and Himuro-san are both that beautiful and charming, peerless girls.

"It's only natural to be drawn in by that beauty and call out to you. Conversely, would you prefer someone who didn't consider that beauty, that defining trait, at all?"

"… But beauty is, after all, only skin-deep. Being captivated by that surface is a sign of rashness, of not trying to look inside."

"No, that's wrong. Even with surface beauty, without the beauty that overflows from within, it can't shine that attractively.

"Himuro-san isn't just beautiful. You have intelligence overflowing from within, and the upright fairness to call right what is right. That's why I think you're all the more beautiful and charming."

"Wha… gh… ngh… Su-Such cringeworthy lines…"

"No, cringeworthy lines… I'm just stating the truth about you without mincing words."

"… Gh… wh-what are you…"

Himuro-san was rattled.

… Huh? The renowned Ice Beauty, the verbal knife, the mind assassin Himuro-san had a remarkably mild reaction.

Hmm. I'd braced myself to be sliced to pieces, but she was just normally cute, which threw me off.

Was bracing myself like that rude?

"… Wh-What is with you…? I-I've been propositioned countless times by men spouting flattery dozens of times more elaborate than yours.

"… And yet, I'm the Ice Queen who chased every one of them away mercilessly, without sparing them a glance.

"For me to… w-with just a single bit of flattery like this…"

Himuro-san seemed flustered. I didn't really get it.

"I'm telling you, I haven't said one word of flattery."

"…!"

Twitch. Himuro-san reacted, her face reddening.

Hmmm? No, the reactions were great, very cute. Just what was her reputation in society about?

"Wh-What is it…? I don't understand the meaning."

Himuro-san was bewildered too.

"Hoho, this struck me with a spark. I see it now, Nami-chan."

Hizaki-san put a hand to her chin and held up her thumb and index finger in a detective pose.

"… Huh? What do you mean?"

"This is love! Nami-chan, you're in love with Naoto-cchi, so just one casual word makes electricity run through you with a zap!"

She thrust her index finger forward as she made her pronouncement.

"Haaaaa?! Th-There's no way! Wrong! That's impossible!"

Himuro-san denied it with full force.

"You really are a fool! People like you are what they call a romance brain!

"Please don't dismiss every human emotion as love and romance!"

"Hauu… R-Really? I thought that was it…"

Hizaki-san wilted under the verbal barrage.

… No, even I had thought, ah, was that it? for a moment. Maybe this girl wasn't as much of an idiot as she seemed.

"I-In any case, men who approach with ulterior motives are out of the question!"

"Then for Himuro-san, Sario would be the ideal man. He has zero ulterior motives, right?"

"True… but as an ideal man… he already feels like the same gender to me…"

Himuro-san fell into thought.

"Well, Sario-cchi isn't really romance-target material, is he.

"Of course it's not that I dislike him. If he asked me to have sex with him… well, after all the help and protection he's given us, I'd probably be like 'sure, okay,' I think.

"But as for whether I like him, it's more of a friend feeling, or a family feeling, you know?"

Hizaki-san offered her impression.

"That's right. Sario is someone you can trust beyond the boundaries of male and female. If he says it needs to be done, then it must be necessary, and… in that case, one would have to respond to it.

"That's it. If you want to make us yours, you'll need to earn that level of trust!"

"I see… so I need to rebuild the kind of trust you cultivated over two years.

"That's fine with me.

"I would absolutely never force someone who hates it.

"If you come to think you can trust me, then open your heart and body.

"If you can't, you're free to live as you please for as long as you want."

"… That, in turn, being told it's fine not to do it… is a bit… My chest gets a little muddled…"

Himuro-san said something troublesome.

Well, a complicated maiden's heart, I supposed. I shouldn't say "troublesome."

"No, no. You know that once you become a Garumon, your lifespan vanishes, and you can live forever as long as your spirit remains full, right?

"So time is infinite. I'll wait as long as it takes for you to feel ready.

"It's not that I don't want to. Himuro-san, you're cute, and your body is wonderfully attractive too.

"If you'd allow it, I'd want to embrace you right now."

"Ha-haw, hauu…"

Himuro-san went bright red and wobbled.

"S-So, no more of that flattery!"

"I'm telling you, I'm just being honest, I'm not flattering…"

"It really has to be love…"

"It is not! When in the world am I supposed to have fallen in love?!"

"Ehhh, the first time, with the lost child.

"After that, you searched for Naoto-cchi at school, and waited expectantly, wondering if he'd call out to you, right?

"You let your feelings build up during the time you couldn't see him, and before you knew it, it had become love?

"That's why you turned down everyone who confessed to you. How about it, Watson? My deduction!"

"Who's Watson?!

"Off the mark. By a millimeter!! Not even grazing!"

Himuro-san denied it strongly.

"And helping a lost child is just basic human decency.

"Doing the natural thing, and you put that much weight on it. That's strange!"

"Ehh～ It's not strange. The beginning of love is always some chance like that～ Aww, Nami-chan is cute!"

"I-I told you that's not it…"

"All right, all right. Hizaki-san, let's stop teasing Himuro-san."

"Okaaay."

Hizaki-san backed off obediently.

"Honestly, honestly! It's not like that! Don't get the wrong idea!"

Himuro-san fumed, beet red.

"All right, all right. Even if you don't like me right now, I'll do my best to get you to like me from here on.

"Of course, when the duel comes, feel free to give it your all. If you do come to like me, all the more reason to think, I won't hold back at all, I'll beat him down with everything I have to show off how good I am.

"But when you lose, however much you want to be frustrated about losing itself is fine, just please think it isn't bad to become my companion.

"That's what I'm hoping for."

"… A modest hope. That much is… not bad.

"Of course, we will absolutely not lose. We have the pride of being S-Class Master Garumon.

"Standing on the pride of having won through hundreds of battles together with this Kanna…

"We will absolutely not lose."

"Yeah, that's fine. I won't lose either.

"But outside of the match, I want to get along in the no-side spirit. We're classmates who transferred from the same Japan, after all.

"The companions I have with me, Kanan, Maika, Yumi, Haru, Setsuna… and of course not just Japanese members, but also the companions I've met here, and…

"Plus I have the angel Luna as a companion. If you'd like, I'll introduce you."

"Eh～?! Luna-chan?! I wanna meet her, I wanna meet her!"

Hizaki-san latched on.

"Who?"

"Geez, Nami-chan, you don't know? She's the angel descended to earth, the super-idol who was a hot topic! Angel Snow, you know. Hmm-hmm-hmm-hm-hmm."

Hizaki-san hummed a slightly off-key tune.

"I don't know."

Himuro-san's reaction was dull.

"Then, do you know Mira Kongouin? The companion of Ursula…"

"Mira Kongouin?! That genius girl?!"

This time it was Himuro-san who latched on.

"Who?"

"You don't know?! Eight years ago she was the youngest person ever to pass the Mathematics Proficiency Test Level 1, the beautiful elementary-school girl!

"That youngest record has been broken since, but her beauty, her intellect… her logical, well-organized responses. She's my idol…!"

Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle…

Himuro-san's eyes shone.

"If you'd like, I'll introduce you."

"Really?!"

She bounded forward as if to embrace me, gripping both my hands.

… Hizaki-san had been slow to react, and was wiggling her hands in the air.

Well, holding Himuro-san's hand wouldn't really do anything for her.

"… Ha! D-Don't think you've curried my favor with this! … B-But, but, but, um… if-if I could speak with her… I'd be happy…"

"Got it, Himuro-san. I'll get in touch soon."

"Ah, I wanna meet Luna-chan too, I wanna meet her! I want to dance together!"

"Sure, Hizaki-san. I'll be in touch."

What you should have are reliable companions… I'd managed to score a nice favor.

I'd skip the details of Luna meeting Hizaki-san and Mira meeting Himuro-san, but both of them were thoroughly delighted.

And so, I was able to get a little closer to Hizaki-san and Himuro-san.