Chapter 25: Wanting to Try a Costume Play for the Boar-chan
[Summer, the season of youth—everyone is a little restless.]
[After tasting women, you still haven't gotten used to the new realm of My Love Is Eternal EX, only feeling that many women around you have become more attractive than before.]
[As for Barghest, she is hesitating over what kind of demeanor she should face you with during the afternoon campus patrol—whether as a beast following her desires, or as an elegant and restrained lady…]
[As for your close friends, especially Gawain, they are pondering whether you might end up becoming his stepfather…]
After being informed of the Student Council mission by Barghest, Eikou returned to his seat.
He only felt as if there were thorns prickling his back.
"Is this just my imagination?"
Eikou looked suspiciously toward the two Round Table Knights in the row behind and couldn't help asking,
"Why do I feel like the way you two are looking at me is kind of strange?"
"Not at all, not at all."
Gawain gave a slightly stiff smile,
"It's just that you seem a bit different lately, so we've been paying close attention to you."
As he spoke, the Sun Knight revealed an extremely complicated look in his eyes.
His closest brother, Sir Eikou—could it be that one day he would not only become family, but might even become his stepfather…?
To be honest, if he really had to accept it, it wasn't completely impossible. After all, what kind of person Eikou was, Gawain understood more clearly than anyone.
Moreover, whether in Pan-Human History or a Lostbelt, the relationship between Sun Knight Gawain and Mother Morgan had always been rather distant. Both of them were already adults, and neither should interfere too deeply in the other's private life.
If Mother wanted to find the children a new stepfather, then let her find one— the children could understand that as well.
That said…
With such a major matter suddenly happening, Gawain had absolutely no psychological preparation at all.
His closest brother was about to become his father—this kind of thing… was simply unacceptable!
"I see, are you really okay then…"
Eikou nodded somewhat awkwardly, then took a thermos bottle out from his schoolbag in the desk compartment.
He placed the thermos on Gawain's desk.
"Here, for you."
Gawain froze.
"What is this?"
"This is protein powder I bought for you. It's already mixed."
Eikou said with a smile.
"?"
Gawain's heart was violently shaken.
No way—what on earth is going on here? Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?
Isn't this exactly like… a stepfather who's about to join the family, hurriedly trying to curry favor with his wife's child from a previous marriage?!
"Gawain, you usually work out at the gym, so from now on you should drink more nutritious stuff. You should cut back on those random drinks."
Eikou said in a very sincere tone.
No, Sir Eikou, don't treat me so well, don't use that kind of concerned adult tone. Isn't the atmosphere just getting stranger and stranger?!
Besides, you yourself can't even do that! Don't you drink carbonated beverages or eat fast food every day? And now you suddenly put on an act of balanced nutrition to lecture people— isn't that completely unconvincing?! You're exposing yourself instantly, Sir Eikou!
"Oh right, Tristan,"
Eikou continued.
"Huh?"
Tristan felt a chill in his heart, thinking to himself, don't tell me I get a share too? Are you setting your sights on my mother as well?
Eikou took another item out from the desk compartment—a cup of yogurt.
"This is for you."
"What, I get one too?"
He was a little surprised.
And it was even a high-end brand of yogurt, costing at least as much as four bottles of cola?
Sir Eikou actually bought this kind of thing for me?
In other words, he wasn't favoring Gawain specifically, but treating all his friends equally.
The two Knights of the Round Table looked at each other.
Or had they simply been overthinking it? Eikou treating others kindly never needed a reason in the first place.
"Ehm…"
Tristan took the yogurt cup, then discovered that it had already been finished long ago.
"Empty?"
"Umu, I already drank it. Help me throw it away, thanks."
Eikou said.
"??"
So it turns out… you just wanted me to help throw away the trash?!
Tristan was shaken, thinking to himself, could it be that you really don't even treat me as a human being?
You can personally mix protein powder for Gawain, but when it comes to me you just straight-up toss me the trash— and you call this not discriminating? This is obviously excessive differential treatment!
The two Knights of the Round Table looked at each other again with tacit understanding.
Gawain suddenly made up his mind.
Gawain: [As expected, we still have to thoroughly investigate Sir Eikou…]
[Otherwise I won't be able to eat or sleep in peace!]
Tristan: [Very good, then let's make a move.]
After reaching a consensus, the two Knights of the Round Table cleared their throats.
"Sir Eikou…"
Tristan spoke in a low voice.
"What is it?"
"Saying this might be a bit sudden,"
he said with a serious face,
"but later on, please play a punishment game with us!"
Eikou glanced at the two of them:
"What the hell are you two going crazy about?"
"Don't misunderstand…"
[In the following period of time, the two Knights of the Round Table used a long string of explanations to make their intentions this time clear to you.]
[They wanted to use this punishment game as a way to change Artoria the Boar into a cute-style dress, complete with bunny ears.]
[After hearing it all, you felt extremely moved, so you completely did not suspect any other conspiracy of theirs, and decisively chose to get on the same boat as this bunch of scum.]
[You want to play dress-up play with Boar-chan, while they want to take this opportunity to probe into your secrets.]
[After that, Boar-chan flatly rejected your proposal.]
"I'm not playing that kind of thing with you guys!"
During the break, Artoria shook her head like a rattle drum, refusing their proposal without even thinking.
"Why?"
Eikou was a little confused.
"It's because…"
Artoria's green eyes looked at the three of them with a somewhat speechless gaze.
"Y-you guys are definitely thinking about some very strange things, right? Suddenly asking me to play this kind of game is really too suspicious, way too sloppy!"
"You can rest assured about that…"
Eikou carefully observed his deskmate.
Although she looked very cute, as soon as she moved or opened her mouth, it made people feel she was just a little girl; she looked obedient, but was very easily irritated and impulsive; small and full of girlish charm, but her figure was somewhat regrettable.
Eikou gave a thumbs-up and sincerely praised: "You're one of the few females in Chaldea who doesn't really make my heart flutter."
"Go die, Eikou!"
Artoria revealed cute shark-like teeth and roared.
"But please, just play with us!"
Eikou couldn't help but continue to beg.
He really wanted to see what Artoria Caster, who usually dressed plainly, even could be called rustic, would look like when wearing a Western-style dress— it would definitely be very cute.
If possible, it would be even better to add some role play, letting her wear the dress and call out something like, "Onii-chan, welcome home."
Even though it was very embarrassing, Eikou truly wanted to see that scene.
"Please, my king!"
The Knights of the Round Table in the back row also cried out.
"Who is your king?!"
Artoria Caster shouted angrily.