…Wait a minute.
What did you say?
C-Commander? You want me to charge forward even though I can’t see anything?!
“Maru, just trust me! Run forward with the Fox Rain open!”
Is this really okay?
…Well, it must be.
Despite my doubts, I started running forward as the commander ordered.
As expected, the Fox Rain is blocking my view, so I can’t see anything.
— Thud, thud!
As I was running, I heard the sound of a much larger amount of acidic liquid hitting the Fox Rain than before.
Wait, they’re still shooting?! If I had closed it, I would’ve been in big trouble!
Thud, thud, thud…
Please stop! If this keeps up, my Fox Rain might melt away!
I don’t have a spare! Don’t ruin my beloved umbrella!
“Ugh, my Fox Rain…”
“Good! Just a little more to go!”
What does he mean by a little more? Surely he’s not talking about the Fox Rain’s lifespan.
Does the commander have some way of knowing where that fire ant is?
Dodo—
— Thud.
Now! Maru, close the Fox Rain!
“Yes!”
—Kieeek!
As I closed the Fox Rain according to the command, I saw a ferocious-looking fire ant right in front of me.
Ah, that scared me.
Couldn’t it have given a signal before showing up? I almost fell on my butt in embarrassment.
“Phew, that was close.”
But something seemed off about the fire ant’s condition.
It was chewing its red mandibles as if preparing to eat something, its legs stretched forward.
No way… If I had gotten closer, would it have tried to swallow me whole along with the Fox Rain?
Even though the Fox Rain is tough, the ant’s jaws are powerful enough to snap things in half with ease.
Goodness gracious.
Seriously, they’re coordinating attacks now? First, they snipe from afar when they’re at a disadvantage, and now they’re trying to crush me up close?
Are these really bugs? Why are they so smart?!
This is supposed to be Stage 1, right? If the enemies are this tough in Stage 1, how am I supposed to handle the later stages?!
Where’s the power balance?! It’s been nothing but close calls so far…!
—Kieeek!
Got it.
While I was lamenting the ridiculous balancing issues, Nunu had already sneaked behind the ant.
With a small dagger, she sliced the ant from below and above in smooth strokes.
Her merciless cutting was like a scene from a movie—it was incredibly cool.
I wish I could use something awesome like a longsword or a dagger instead of an umbrella. Then I’d look cool too, right?
Ah, Fox Rain, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I don’t like you. You’re my best friend!
But still, every guy dreams of using a badass weapon at least once. You get it, right?
—Kieeek!
“Huh?”
Wait, even though its back was torn to shreds, the ant was twisting its body and shrieking.
It flailed wildly and then raised its mandibles toward Nunu, aiming for her.
Is it not in pain? How can it still try to attack Nunu in that state?!
“Nunu!!!”
“Maru?!”
Realizing that Nunu might get attacked, I tightly gripped the Fox Rain and charged forward.
Splat, splat, splat.
Sticky liquid from the Fox Rain splattered all over my clothes, but I ignored it and kept running.
With the ant’s back exposed as it focused on Nunu, I lifted the Fox Rain high and—
—BAM!
I slammed it down as hard as I could. A solid hit right on the head.
…What? This is the only attack I can pull off with an umbrella.
Did I get it?!
“Commander! That’s one of the things you should never say!”
That’s a death flag!
I quickly turned around in alarm.
The ant was lying on the ground, motionless, unable to let out a final cry after getting hit directly on the head.
Nunu, looking annoyed at the near miss, finished it off by cutting off its mandibles.
And… judging by the green goo still oozing out, it would probably die soon.
Jeez, that scared me.
Why would you say something like that at a time like this? My heart almost stopped!
At least it’s not one of those fights where the enemy revives and enters Phase 2.
But still… my Fox Rain is a mess, covered in goo and ant saliva.
I wonder if there’s a place to clean it at the E-District headquarters…
“Phew, Maru saved me.”
While I was trying to shake off the gunk from the Fox Rain, Nunu let out a small sigh and walked toward me.
Looks like she already finished off the ant. As expected of an assassin.
…Wait a minute. Did Nunu just say that I saved her?
That means…!
“Maruuu~!”
Eek?!
I tried to run, but Nunu’s sinister hands had already reached my armpits.
In the end, I couldn’t put up much resistance and was lifted into the air…
“Maru, thank you so much!”
“Let me go!”
“N-No! Not that!”
I struggled to escape Nunu’s grasp, but I couldn’t stop the two large watermelons from approaching my face.
Mmmph?!
In the end, my face got buried in her chest again, leaving me unable to breathe properly.
There was a fresh scent mixed in there.
No, no, this isn’t right. If this keeps up, I’ll pass out again like last time.
That’s the last thing I want!
Mmmph! Mmmph!
“So cute! So adorable~!”
I kept turning my arms and appealed to be let go, but my struggles were meaningless, like a mouse caught in a rat trap, scattering uselessly.
“Save me~! I can’t breathe!”
The brutal chest is killing meee!
“Nunu, stop bothering Maru and come here. If we don’t leave now, the timing will be off.”
“Ah, look at me. Maru, are you okay?”
Seeing the commander uncle stop him, Nunu finally let me go.
“Phew…”
I really thought I was going to die.
The puddings were extending their hands, asking to hold hands.
I almost crossed the Cheese River…
Having successfully stopped such a sudden attack, we were back in the car heading toward the E-zone command center.
One problem, though: the state of our clothes was a mess.
“Do you think this will wash out?”
Of course, I was covered in the sticky green liquid from the monsters, and the hiking clothes, which already looked dirty from rolling on the ground, looked even worse on the commander uncle.
“OO…”
And Nunu, who hugged me tightly, got the liquid all over her clothes too.
It feels so gross, I think I’m going to die.
I want to take a shower. I want to have a fluffy bubble bath!
I want to play in the water with rubber duckies floating in the tub!!
Maru, I’m sorry. I must have made you frustrated earlier.
“…I’ll let you off this time. But next time, please hug me gently. I almost fainted from not being able to breathe.”
“Ugh, then, how about we take a bath together as an apology?”
What is that even supposed to mean?
I turned to Nunu with a look of disbelief.
But Nunu, seeing my expression, tilted her head as if she didn’t understand my reaction.
“What’s wrong? It’s common sense for girls to get closer by taking a bath together.”
“…Really?”
Are you serious?
I looked at Nunu suspiciously, and she seemed rather serious.
Is she serious?
Even if we’re the same gender, isn’t that… too embarrassing?
This is strange. Is the common sense for girls different from mine?
“Then, after the bath, it’s also common sense to sleep while hugging each other.”
Really? Wait, something doesn’t seem right.
“Is that correct?”
Something feels off.
‘Nunu… what are you teaching Maru? Maru is still a kid.’
“Tch.”
…Did you just click your tongue? You did, right?!
Goodness, I almost fell for Nunu’s evil gaslighting.
Yeah, honestly, it didn’t make sense.
Even if we’re in a different world, taking a bath together to bond as girls, and then hugging each other to sleep? That doesn’t make sense.
“I had a chance to make Maru my legal plushie…”
I feel like your true feelings are showing.
Nunu smiled softly at my words.
Somehow, that smile gave me the chills, like a predator licking its lips while looking at a trapped prey.
“Hehe, at this rate, Maru will fall to Nunu before the monsters do.”
“I already have several times.”
“Once, I was forced onto a piggyback ride, and another time, I was forced to be petted. Of course, now that I think about it, it wasn’t bad and actually kind of fun, so I won’t complain.”
“No way. Nunu, hugging and petting are limited to once a day!”
“Eh, eh?! Judge Maru, isn’t that a bit too harsh?!”
“No! Go back!”
Thinking about the helpless times in the past, I felt rebellious and made the rule of one petting a day.
I meant it in the sense that I didn’t want to be coddled too much. I hope she understands.
How many times do I have to say that I’m not a little kid, but a manly man?
Stop trying to make me weak.
…Especially you, Nunu, who’s touching my chin in real-time! I’m talking about you!
“What are you doing right now?”
“Maru’s essence was a bit lacking, so I was filling it up.”
What is this “Maru essence”?
I’m going crazy.
Now that hugging and petting are banned, Nunu started petting my chin.
This is not how you train a dog, so what is she doing?
Swoosh. Swoosh.
“Don’t worry too much. For Maru, who wants to become a manly man, this petting is a very effective medicine.”
What is that supposed to mean?
I looked at Nunu with a “Please explain” look.
“When you pet the chin, hormones are released. I’m sure our smart Maru can guess what kind of hormone it is?”
“Hormones, hormones…”
Wait, could it be male hormones to make me more manly? Or is it growth hormones to make me taller?
Either way, I’m fine with it.
Thinking that way, I began to calm down, and Nunu’s hand petting my chin started to feel more pleasant.
Oh, it seems like the manly energy inside me is accepting the male hormones.
Nice.
“The answer is… female hormones!”
“Take your hand off RIGHT NOW!!!”