「Dinner’s ready!」
It seemed the croquettes were finally done frying.
「Papa! Look!」
Dori carried a plate stacked high with slightly misshapen croquettes, looking immensely satisfied.
She skipped along excitedly, almost as if she were floating. Was she going to be okay?
「Watch your step—」
「Ah!?」
Overcome with joy, Dori tripped on a step.
The plate and the croquettes flew into the air.
「Looks like it’s my time to shine.」
A voice rang out, and something appeared before my eyes.
One by one, the airborne croquettes landed perfectly back onto the plate.
It was like watching an acrobatic performance.
「As expected of an S-rank explorer.」
The one who caught them was Sena, who had disappeared somewhere earlier.
She returned at the perfect moment, and the croquettes were neatly stacked as if nothing had happened.
「Where have you been all this time?」
「I couldn’t let my weaker self win. To sever my worldly desires, I’ve been hunting monsters in the dungeon.」
As expected of an S-rank explorer—she was training her mind as well.
Still, did she leave at that exact moment for a particular reason?
「You just couldn’t resist after seeing adorable little Dori, could you?」
「Tch… My heart is still too weak!」
Sena clutched her chest, looking tormented.
She mentioned she had been visiting the hospital… Was she still unwell?
「Dori, make sure to thank Sena-san properly.」
「Neenee! Tenks!」
Dori hugged Sena tightly and looked up at her to express her gratitude.
If the croquettes had fallen, the main dish of tonight’s party would have been ruined.
「Tch… Is this a reward from the gods? I have no more regrets in this world.」
As she swooned dramatically, I quickly moved to support her.
Dori still held onto the plate of croquettes, so at least there was no danger of them falling again.
「Sena-san, are you okay?」
「You kay?」
Dori and I peered at her face, which was gradually turning red.
「Ahhh…」
「Papa-san, Dori-chan! Hold onto Sena! She might take off running again!」
Even though the whole Gomi fiasco just ended, now it seemed like Sena was about to make a run for it.
She had a habit of vanishing without warning.
With the party about to start, if she disappeared now, who knew when she’d return?
Following Lady’s instructions, Dori and I clung to her tightly.
「Ugh…」
However, Sena didn’t struggle or attempt to escape. Instead, she simply collapsed on the spot.
Was that… a successful capture?
「Potato, take care of the croquettes.」
『Eh!? But that’s not a potato!』
『No dinner for you, then.』
『Wha—!?』
While Potato complained, Chips quietly stepped in to help.
Taking the plate of croquettes from Dori, Chips happily carried it over to the table.
「Watch your step, okay?」
『Un!』
Unlike Potato, Chips wagged her tail enthusiastically as she trotted along. Such a well-behaved pup.
「Alright, let’s move Sena.」
「Fufufu, I wouldn’t mind a little reward for all this. Though, I’d prefer a different kind of reward.」
Lady kept casting sidelong glances at me, but I didn’t have time for that right now.
I lifted Sena into my arms.
Her face remained as red as a boiled octopus.
I was practically carrying her, but Dori wanted to help, so she grabbed Sena’s legs.
『Let me…』
Potato must have realized that refusing to help meant losing his dinner.
With a resigned sigh, he took hold of Sena’s arms.
By the time I noticed, Sena looked like a freshly caught tuna, being carried off to the market.
Her face was probably so red out of sheer embarrassment.
「Do you want me to put you down?」
「Please, just carry me like this!」
I asked, but she insisted on being transported just as she was.
Everyone watching chuckled at the sight.
「Quit messing around and get over here already.」
At grandpa’s urging, we hurried outside.
The table was already lined with an array of dishes.
It would probably be a while before we could all share a meal like this again.
That thought made me feel a little lonely.
「Naoki, why don’t you give the toast?」
The sudden request caught me off guard—I didn’t have anything prepared.
But if I could at least express my gratitude, that would be enough.
Not just for being Dori’s playmates—when I thought about it, I realized that in some ways, they had supported me too.
There had to be something… right?
Lady mostly just spewed poison, Samurai was so quiet I barely noticed him… Ah, right. Ordinary Person built the doghouse.
That was part of what this party was for as well.
It wasn’t much of a doghouse, but that wasn’t the point.
Everyone had their quirks, but that was what made them special.
「I’m really glad I got to meet such wonderful people. Thank you all for supporting me…」
「Hey, Naoki! Are you crying again!?」
「I’m not crying!」
Haruki jabbed me in the ribs.
I quickly wiped the tears welling in my eyes and looked around at each of them.
「Haha, Papa-san, you really haven’t changed.」
「I, too, am deeply moved. My presence is stronger than usual—」
「Nah, you’re the same as always.」
「Wha—!?」
「Gyufufufu, this must be what they call a farewell gift for the afterlife.」
「Yuri, did you get the buckets ready?」
「Of course, I stacked plenty behind us.」
Seeing everyone’s smiling faces, I forgot about my tears.
I wanted this moment to be full of smiles.
「Thank you all—」
「Aaaand, don’t you dare forget about me!」
A voice rang out from the distance.
Oh, right. Doctor was supposed to come to the party too.
I quickly handed her a drink and refocused myself.
「Alright, cheers—」
「Chiieeerrrsssssss!」
Dori couldn’t hold back any longer.
With a big, cheerful voice, she called out the toast.
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