Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 7 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 12===
 
The order for the test of courage was set, and Chikage was unanimously picked first.
 
It was very late at night and the hallway was silent, she quietly tiptoed towards Akatsuki's room.
 
She lightly turned the door handle trying to be as quite as possible. Only then did she discovered that the door wasn't locked. It seems that after Akatsuki stole Listy's panties he had entered and immediately locked the door. However later after repeatedly going to check in on them he must of forgot to lock the door.
 
"......"
 
Therefore, Chikage erased her footsteps, and sneaked into the room.
 
The moonlight illuminated the night sky, and indirectly dyed the room with a pale blue light. Chikage slowly made her way step by step.
 
Towards the back of the room -- there was a bed against the wall. The stage for the test of courage.
 
"Yet, this is ...... "
 
Upon approaching the first thing noticeable was the size of Akatsuki's bed.
 
It was quite considerable, it doesn't appear to be a double.
 
It might be as large as a queen or even still a king-size bed.
 
...... A big bed. Even with 'everyone together' it still won't be crowded ......
 
Was this why Miu was able to say such an astonishing thing?
 
-- No, that's probably not the case.
 
Listy and Miu were princesses in Alayzard. Therefore they are probably accustomed to such a big bed. Rather, it might be the normal size of bed for them.
 
And now there was the owner of this room, a young man quietly breathing in his sleep on the big bed. Looking at his serene sleeping face, Chikage couldn't help but smiled.
 
"This might be considered a perk......"
 
For a while, she stared at Akatsuki's sleeping face.
 
Miu Ousawa, Haruka Nanase, Listy Sherfied, Kuzuha Doumoto.
 
They were deeply captivated by Akatsuki Ousawa's charm, Chikage Izumi was no exception.
 
As a girl, this was a very natural reaction.
 
And being close enough to touch him filled Chikage with a burst of happiness.
 
"Well.....time to get down to business."
 
While mumbling, Chikage was prepared to squeeze into Akatsuki's bed when –-
 
 
 
"--Is this a Yobai<ref>Night crawling</ref>?"
 
 
 
His tone hinted at slight smile on his face. However, Chikage wasn't surprised.
 
There were five girls laughing and giggling in the next room. Akatsuki not being able to sleep can easily be imagined.
 
".....Waiting until the last minute to speak up, you truly are evil."
 
She looked at his face before returning a wry smile.
 
"If I really had an ulterior motive. I would have waited until after you got into my bed before making a sound."
 
Akatsuki smile had a touch of ridicule.
 
Chikage floated a smile of consent 'You made your point'.
 
"Uh, we really did keep you up..... Sorry, seems we made too much noise next door."
 
"No, it's okay. I don't think you were especially loud -- In the first place, I have been asleep for some time."
 
Although Akatsuki said that with a smile on his face, but his eyes showed traces of seriousness.
 
"-How did it go? The 'Things that must be discussed', is it settled?"
 
He only ask a straightforward question. However, Akatsuki's 'Things that must be discussed' implied many things.
 
Izumi Chikage could not help thinking that this question covers a full range of topics on various levels.
 
"Yeah, it was settled...... Kuzuha, Haruka or Listy, everyone became closer, we are now more united than ever."
 
Chikage intentionally called the three by there names, as a way to show Akatsuki their new sense of bonding.
 
Through this party, each others relationship became a lot more intimate.
 
"Oh, I see....that's good news."
 
While listening to Chikage's report he showed a satisfied smile.
 
"Thanks for putting together this party. You help everyone develop an impressive sense of team -- Chikage."
 
Akatsuki had also deliberately referred to Chikage's by her name.
 
As if the two also developed a new sense of connection with one another.
 
The surprise attack caught off guard with her name being so easily called, making Chikage's slightly blush. Putting her in a somewhat difficult situation.
 
"Oh, calling me by my name."
 
She was pretending to be calm by tempting Akatsuki with a tongue-in-cheek tone response.
 
"Its something like that. When a girl sneaks into my room in the middle of the night I'm not as tactless to use her surname."
 
Akatsuki nonchalantly shrugged,
 
"What's wrong......is this really a Yobai? I accept all comers."
 
Saying here ......
 
"--Hmm? Lets see what you got."
 
Akatsuki eyes rested on what was in her hand. Chikage just simply stated her reason.
 
"If you've been sleeping. I was going to continue our test of courage, but now your awake. So --"
 
Chikage smiled and took out a glass bottle and cups.
 
"Want a cup? I was kicked out by everybody, I say this occasion deserves a drink. I mean there's no alcohol in it, just Oolong tea. So you shouldn't mind having a cup, right?"
 
"Oh, that's a good idea."
 
Akatsuki sat up on the bed. The thin fell down exposing his naked torso.
 
"Ah... ... very sensational picture...... "
 
"Is it so? Then If i say so myself, your outfit is also rather sexy."
 
The camisole and hot pants she had on left a lot of skin exposed.
 
Chikage felt Akatsuki's gaze, giving her a slight titillation.
 
"Hmm, you finally managed to treat me as a 'woman'?"
 
"-- Of course, you are sexy woman."
 
He said without hesitation. Faced with the pick-up line Chikage lightly laughed:
 
"Come on, here."
 
"Oh, Sankyu<ref>Japanese slang for thank you in English</ref>."
 
Chikage grabbed Akatsuki's water glass, then picked up the bottle and poured a cup of oolong tea for him.
 
-- By the way.
 
Inside his glass already was crushed sleeping pills.
 
It was a safety measure for just in case. However, it wasn't intended to protect her own chastity.
 
If Miu and Listy had already had such a relationship with Akatsuki, Chikage naturally wouldn't of taken such countermeasure.
 
......Stealing a march wouldn't be fair to them.
 
Chikage smiled wryly in her mind.
 
Before she set off she incidentally called out to the three others. In case Akatsuki was up, she said she might hang out for a little before returning. And if things took a wrong turn, she was going to scream SOS to let them know and come help.
 
It's been about seven minutes since she entered and poured him a glass. Akatsuki raised up his cup:
 
"Then a toast -- to you guys new friendship."
 
"Well, thank you ... ...Ah, next time we will let you join."
 
Chikage smiled as she raised her glass. They lightly clanged each others glasses together, Kanpai!<ref>Cheers!</ref>. Akatsuki drank the contents in the glass in one breath.
 
"But then again...... lately, I'll been pushing a lot exhausting things on you."
 
He said in a hearty tone.
 
"It's fine. You and Miu are my important friends...... I don't think of it as trouble."
 
Chikage answered with a smile, but yet Akatsuki's vanished. Instead he made a serious face,
 
 
 
"Ah, that is certainly true -- However, it may not be deserving to called it trouble. But still your forcing yourself a little to remain composed, right?"
 
 
 
Akatsuki said in a low tone, while he stared at Chikage.
 
"...... What do you mean?"
 
Chikage smile faded,
 
"Are you saying that deep down I am reluctant to become yours and Miu's friend?"
 
"I don't mean it like that, after all, 'reluctant' is a type of 'trouble'."
 
Akatsuki shook his head to deny it.
 
"You said Miu and I are your important friends, so you should helping us. But from what I've seen this was not the reason that you are helping us."
 
"Akatsuki, you mean I'm overdoing it to become your friends?"
 
"Ah, what it means."
 
Akatsuki said clearly,
 
"Maybe you really do consider us as important friends ... ... In my eyes though, this approach only exacerbates that bad habit of yours."
 
"My bad habit.....?"
 
Confronted with Chikage's questioning, Akatsuki did not hesitate to answer --
 
As if to declare,
 
"In order to play the good classmate, the good friend, the good sister -- your bad habit is to always repress or sacrifice yourself."