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Kurumizawa Akari is a friend who lived next to me until a few years ago, which means she is a so-called childhood friend of mine. As our families were close, I had many opportunities to play with her. But if anything, you could say that she was closer to Hana than to me, though. In fact, I don't remember talking with her that much in my junior high school days.

However, since her family moved out a few years ago, we haven't been in contact at all. Well… various things happened at that time after all. So, we didn't have any leeway to get in touch with her. At any rate, it's been a while since we met face to face like this.

Now since we're already met, I thought why don't we have a moving reunion, but…

"I never thought my childhood friend, who I haven't seen for a few years, will be on all fours in a park…"

"Ugh! A-as expected, you really saw it! Forget about it right now!"

Akari desperately said with her face reddened. And I, who felt nostalgic with this kind of exchange, unintentionally laughed aloud.

"W-what are you laughing at…."

"Well, I just thought that we used to have this kind of exchange in the past. Anyway, long time no see, Akari."

"… That's true,"

Perhaps thinking it was impossible to deceive me, Akari exhaled deeply as if she had given up and turned her eyes at me suspiciously.

"What's wrong?"

"… No, it's nothing."

"? Alright"

Although I was a bit curious, this is not something that I should get the answer to by any means. Or rather, that's not what I wanted to talk about here.

"Returning to the topic, so, Akari wanted to capture Kenzaki Dungeon?"

"Indeed. I obtained a piece of information that greatly interested me. And yet, there is no way I would’ve thought that the dungeon had already disappeared at that time!"

"It's already quite long since it disappeared, you know? Moreover, it was really troublesome at that time since the cause of the disappearance was a dungeon collapse."

"You seem to be very familiar with it. Perhaps, you too are…"

"Aa, I'm an adventurer"

Upon hearing my answer, Akari opened her eyes before displaying a gentle smile.

"Come to think of it, you indeed have always said that you want to be an adventurer. Glad to hear that you truly became one."

"? Have I ever told that to Akari?"

"Not directly. But, I could understand that much when I look at your manner of speaking and conduct. You weren't particularly good at lying, after all."

"Look who's saying…"

"What do you mean?"

"No, I just remembered when you went to sleep over in my house in the past, together with Hana you…. nope, as expected, I will stop here"

"Can you not suddenly stop what you wanted to say?! You made me really curious, you know?!"

After joking around with each other and enjoying the conversation with her for the first time in a few years, I made a suggestion.

"Well, let's leave such a talk for later and…. for the time being, could you tell me in detail why you wanted to capture Kenzaki Dungeon?"

Although I have a rough idea why, I asked her just in case. I wanted to confirm where she got the information after all.

"…. Un. Certainly, Rin, who is an active adventurer in this area, might know something about it. Actually–"

After saying such a preface, Akari began to talk about the series of events that led her to this point.