Chapter 160:
Chapter 160:
Chapter 160:
Cousin And Shortages
After finishing the meal, relax in the rest area.
The time spent gazing at the relaxed appearance of Ruu and her friends, who are berry cute even without makeup, is truly priceless. Feeling once again the casual attitude they show, a sense of contentment fills my heart.
"Ahh, I'm so full already"
"I'm stuffed too. But I ended up eating everything."
Yeah, Seiki and Shark were competing with each other as they rolled around on the tatami mats in their full bellies. But since we already ordered, it would be a waste to leave anything.
"Maybe I ate too much today. Hey, want to go for a massage next?"
"Yeah, let's go once everyone's settled down."
"Hey, what's with this massage talk!? I didn't agree to that!"
"Hehe But, Shark, it's time for you to go home, isn't it?"
"No way! Machi, Jung! I won't be left out like this!"
"Okay, okay, I'll take you with us. But I don't think high schoolers would feel great getting a massage."
Hmm, oh well. It's late, but I can drop Shark off on the way home.
.
"Oh, Tsunami-nee, was this the store where Tsunami-nee worked?"
"Huh, Ruri-chan!?"
When we went to the massage parlor Leaf at the Super Sento, Shark suddenly spoke to Tsunami-san who was inside the store.
"What? Shark knows Tsunami-san?"
"Of course. The room I'm staying in now used to be Tsunami-nee's."
I had no idea about that information! Seems like you're the only one who knows, huh?
But I never expected Shark and Tsunami-san to be relatives. But now that I think about it, they're both beautiful, and their slightly slanted eyes are similar.
While I was thinking about that, Serai-san, with a serious expression, poked me in the side.
"(Hey, Egetsu-san Isn't this a bit risky?)"
"(Huh, risky What do you mean?)"
"(Because that person also knows that Egetsu-san was a futa. What if She tells Shark???)"
"(Ah!!)"
Oh no, that's right!
When we came to the super sento before, it was when the three of us finally made up.
But at that time, I was still in a state of being a natural futa, and I explained the situation in that appearance to apologize to Tsunami-san, whom I hadn't responded to during my dark period.
I was happy to be able to return to my male form and bathe without any worries. I had completely forgotten about it. As I looked at Tsunami-san, who was talking to Shark with unease, I realized that Tsunami-san was also glancing at us from time to time.
(Hmm, this is bad. What should I do!)
But Tsunami-san is a professional who even I respect.
Even if she were to tell Shark my secret, she wouldn't casually reveal customers' personal information, even if they were family. And even if Tsunami-san were to tell Shark something like [That man used to be a futa], Shark probably wouldn't easily believe it because the fact sounds like a lie.
But anyway, I need to find a way to convey that to Tsunami-san so she won't mention it.
"(Psst Psst!)"
I moved behind Shark, who was engrossed in conversation and sent a message to Tsunami-san with hand signals and a pleading pose. And then.
"( nod)"
In response, Tsunami-san nodded back at me with her eyes. Oh
..
So, we all got massages together.
The one who took care of me today was a male staff member whose face I recognized but hadn't talked to much before. I had done some part-time work here as an apprentice before. But since then, my silhouette had changed, and it seemed like he didn't remember me, so there wasn't much conversation.
Instead, I could hear the conversation between Tsunami-san, who was in charge of Shark, and Shark quite well. Shark's voice is loud, you know.
According to them, Shark, who now attends school in Tokyo, is staying with Tsunami-san, who started living alone in the vacant room. Their fathers are apparently brothers, making them a family of four with Tsunami-san as the eldest daughter and Kengo-kun as the younger brother.
It doesn't matter much, but isn't it unusual how often I encounter the Shark family? I know each of them individually, even though they're all acquaintances.
"Hehe, mom was surprised. She said Ruri-chan suddenly started helping with cooking."
"Huh? No! Well, I just thought that you know, being able to cook is kinda cool!"
So Shark is studying cooking even at home. Yeah, young people should learn.
"Is the pressure okay?"
"Yeah, please apply a bit more pressure."
As for me, my condition isn't bad, but maybe because of too many changes in my body, I feel a bit tired. Since a male massage therapist was assigned to me, I thought I might as well ask for a firm massage.
..
The next day, when I went to the nearby supermarket to shop, the atmosphere seemed different from usual.
"Um, excuse me. Do you have any honey in stock?"
"Well sorry, but at the moment"
"I see, thank you."
No honey.
Even though the store is usually piled up with cardboard boxes to the point where they seem like they might collapse, the products are displayed in cardboard boxes. Today, the quantity is low, and there are noticeable gaps where products are not placed.
When the store employee said, [At the moment], it probably refers to the ongoing conflict during the day.
Amidst the chaos of the Dungeon Stampede, China occupied Sado Island in Japan. However, China claims this is to [rescue a neighboring country in distress from a humanitarian perspective], so they do not acknowledge it as an act of aggression.
But even when the Japanese government urges them with [It's okay, please go back], they stubbornly refuse to budge. Instead, they deploy fleets and fighter jets in Japan's airspace, provoking the Self-Defense Forces to react.
Naturally, the already weak-kneed Japanese government is furious and has lodged strong complaints, which has led to a halt in trade with China. They probably want to say, [What's with that attitude when we're helping!]
And as a result, the current situation of the supermarket's drastically reduced stocked goods.
(Hmm, things like honey and frozen vegetables. Since many of those are made in China.)
While China is in such a state, American and Australian fleets have arrived near the Philippines, so military harassment against Japan seems to have subsided, and political moves are underway.
Specifically, they are smuggling large amounts of supplies from China into North Korea, powdering their noses at Korea, which has been snubbed by the United States, and engaging in some exchange with Russia, which invaded Ukraine, behind the scenes.
Not only the US forces in Japan but also the arrival of American fleets seems to have prompted China to desperately try to increase its allies.
As for Russia, well
They may be inwardly rejoicing at having captured Ukraine and finally obtained unfrozen seas, but they are receiving heavy criticism from the EU. So in the future, they'll probably have no business in that direction.
Even though they have obtained the sea, if they have no trading partners, what are they going to do?
In Africa and the Middle East, there are also smelly stories popping up here and there again. Like [such and such has become a conflict zone], or [refugees crossing borders~]. As always, I think it would be better if they didn't keep fighting like that.
(Is this the work of humans.)
It's a difficult time for the world with the Dungeon Stampede and all Nina-san's mood also fluctuates in tandem, so I really wish it would stop.
But it's troublesome. Honey is the favorite of the Pixies. While they don't dislike fruits, there's a difference in their excitement between having honey and not having it.
(Hmm, maybe I should extend my legs to the department store near the station.)
At any rate, I'm worried that honey will continue to be difficult to obtain. When I get home, I should order it online just in case. I wonder if there's a monster somewhere that drops honey.