Chapter 3 - Episode 2: The Family at the Orphanage

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Afterwards. In the end, Yuuki woke up and went to have a meal with Suzume and the others.

At the same time, Suzume had a small request for him.

Scene: Inside a bedroom, in the Sarendia Orphanage.

Kurumi
Zzz, zzz...

Suzume
Ahaha. Sorry for the trouble, Yuuki.

Suzume
Carrying Kurumi up to her bedroom... For a girl like me alone, it would be difficult to pick up and carry her. It really is helpful to have a boy around for this.

Yuuki
1. "You're welcome."

Suzume
Yes. In fact, if you don't mind, it'd be all right for you to stay permanently here at the Sarendia Orphanage.

Suzume
I'd be happy if you'd help out with chores and the like. Because it's you, Yuuki, I can feel at ease.

Ayane
Huh? Oh, Suzume! You're back?

Suzume
Yes. I got back not long ago. I'm home, Ayane!

Ayane
Yeah, welcome home!

Ayane
Don't leave the house so empty again, okay -- I'm the big sister, so I was fine, but Kurumi was really lonely, you know?

Suzume
Ahaha. Sorry, Ayane.

Suzume
I ran into some unexpected trouble today, so I was delayed coming home... But I'd like to be by everyone's side as much as possible.

Kurumi
Hau, au...? H-Huh...? Did I fall asleep...?

Suzume
Ahh, we woke you up. It's okay to keep sleeping, all right, Kurumi?

Ayane
Huh? The person holding Kurumi, it's big brother Yuuki?

Kurumi
Huh... Ayane, you know big brother Yuuki, too?

Ayane
Yeah. Kurumi, you do, too?

Suzume
Ahaha. Yuuki, you really are well known.

Suzume
To cut to the chase... Yuuki is now staying with us at the Sarendia Orphanage.

Suzume
Please get along with him well, Kurumi, Ayane!

Ayane
Yeah, of course! Leave it to me!

Ayane
Big brother Yuuki, at the Sarendia Orphanage, I'm the most senior one here, you know? So you should call me Miss Ayane!^[1]

Puukichi
"In that case, then you should call me Mister Puukichi as well. Nice to meet you, new guy."

Kurumi
Hau... Then, I should also be Miss Kurumi...?

Kurumi
Getting called 'Miss' by big brother Yuuki is such a mysterious feeling... Hee hee!

Animated cutscene.

Kurumi
I didn't get to greet you properly earlier, but... If we're living together, then that really makes us family, right?

Kurumi
So... Let's treat each other well from now on. Big brother...

Ayane
Ha ha! Cheers, big brother!

End of cutscene.

Suzume
Ahaha. The two of you, hugging Yuuki just like a bunch of kids...

Suzume
That said. It's already late at night, so the two of you should go to bed. If you stay up too late, you'll be eaten by an evil ghost, you know!

Scene: Downstairs, at the dinner table.

Saren
All right, help yourselves. It's just leftovers, but you can eat as much as you'd like.

Saren
You've gone through a lot of misfortune, Yuuki! But with some good food to eat and a warm bed to sleep in, we can say all's well that ends well.

Suzume
Huh? Milady, you're also acquainted with Yuuki?

Saren
Right. It's for an unexpected reason; he's helped me out with work several times.

Saren
And now, it looks like you've helped out Suzume as well... Yuuki, you certainly are well-connected, aren't you?

Suzume
Ahaha. It looks like he knows Ayane and Kurumi as well.

Suzume
Earlier, Kurumi and Ayane together gave him a warm welcome.

Suzume
The two of them were calling him "big brother" -- it was so sweet!

Saren
Hmm. Well, let me tell you now, I won't forgive you if you try any funny business with our little girls.

Saren
Though, you seem to be an endlessly good-natured person, so... I'm probably worrying too much.

Saren
I have a duty to protect the children of the Sarendia Orphanage. I'll turn any lawless thugs who seek to harm those children into rust on my sword.

Saren
Ahh, but seriously, I'm tired.

Saren
It's all from urgently hurrying to that estate deep within the mountains, and from intervening in that skirmish between Kaon and Nightmare, you know?

Saren
And then, I needed to file a police report. I'm going to wind up awake all night... I feel myself aging, and without a doubt, my skin is getting wrinkled.

Suzume
Ahaha. Your hard work is appreciated, Milady.

Suzume
But on that subject. If you were filing a police report, shouldn't we all have filled it out together? Weren't there more affected parties than just you?

Saren
No, it's okay. For tonight, it's best to leave it at the level of a minor discussion between guild masters.

Saren
Myself from Sarendia Orphanage, Miss Jun from Nightmare, and Miss... Maho, from Kaon, yes?

Saren
The three of us will be having a meeting.

Saren
It's getting late at night, so the rest of you should wait until tomorrow to file your reports. For now, it might be difficult, but I'm asking you to take your time.

Saren
In the meantime, Yuuki, you and the others are welcome to stay here at the Sarendia Orphanage. I'll provide you with free room and board.

Saren
If you have nowhere else to go, then you can even stay here indefinitely.

Yuuki
1. "That's a great help, but are you sure?"

Saren
Yes. Of course, you'll have to work some to cover the cost of your food, but I'll provide you with a letter of reference for jobs.

Saren
But let me tell you now, don't run away. Another reason I'm taking you in is to keep tabs on you until this police report and related business are over with.

Saren
Well, caring for you and observing you are practically the same. Kaon's guild house was half destroyed because of the assault...

Saren
And Nightmare's headquarters is in the Royal Palace, which is off-limits to all except those with connections.

Saren
Meaning, there wasn't any choice but for us to take you in. We're essentially a third party to this dispute, which is a convenient position to be in.

Saren
Though, just like Nightmare... We're one of the guilds under the Princess Knights, so we can't be considered completely impartial or neutral.

Suzume
This is so complicated. It's troubling to think that a peaceful guild like ours could be dragged into a dispute like this.

Suzume
I-It's my fault, after all, isn't it? I'm sorry!

Saren
What would make it your fault, Suzume?

Saren
We've only been dragged into trouble in the sense of being victims, and you should be quite adamant about that. If you show any weakness, you'll only be taken advantage of.

Saren
Oh, my. I believe it hasn't been that long since you arrived in Landsol, so you might not be too familiar with the relations between guilds.

Saren
You're making a face that says you don't get it... Well, let me give you a simple explanation. Have a good listen while you eat.