The Matter of My Party Members Being Aware of My Desire to Be Banished - Chapter 2

“Good morning, Honoka. Don’t worry about it. It’s just me talking to myself.”

“You sure are lively talking to yourself this early in the morning. Fuaa~…”

A girl with shoulder-length brown hair, rubbing her still sleepy eyes.

Her name is Honoka.

Although her tension is somewhat low since she just woke up, she’s usually a bright and friendly person.

Being around the same age, Honoka and I get along well and often talk with each other.

“I’m sleepy, but my stomach is growling~. Today’s meal is…wow! Today’s breakfast is so luxurious!”

Honoka’s eyes, which seemed sleepy, sparkled brilliantly the moment she saw the food.

“You guys worked really hard on yesterday’s subjugation, right? You were so exhausted that you couldn’t even eat dinner. So I figured you’d be starving this morning, and I made a lot of food.”

“As expected of Rokkun~. Well then, I’ll dig in right away~!”

“Ah! You!”

With a bite, she ate a piece of the homemade chashu that had been marinating in a special sauce since yesterday.

“Mmm~! So delicious~! This is called chashu, right? I love this~”

“Yes, yes, good for you. Geez… it’s a privilege for those who wake up early.”

“Yeees~”

“But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you get away with it a second time.”

“Ouch! That hurts~”

I gave a light chop to Honoka’s head.

She exaggeratedly pretended to be in pain, but stuck out her tongue and laughed.

“Stop eating and help me out.”

“Yes, yes~. I’ll get the plates.”

Honoka went to the cupboard with light steps.

Honoka and I are the same age. We get along well.

But unlike me, Honoka is incredible.

Honoka is a dual-wielding swordsman, playing an important role as a front-line attacker in the party.

In comparison, I just stay at the back during battles, being protected by everyone.

This is… a good point of comparison!

“Honoka is excellent, but compared to her, you can’t do anything! Even at the same age, the difference in ability is so apparent… You, the useless one, are banished!”

It could lead to the classic banishment scenario!

And so, after being banished for being useless, I’ll awaken my abilities in a new land, and the opening act of my own harem story will begin!

Just thinking about it gets me excited~!!

“Rokkun, I brought the plates~…What’s with the grin? Did something good happen?”

“Ah, I was just thinking about how amazing Honoka is compared to me.”

“Me, amazing compared to Rokkun?”

“Yeah. Honoka is competent, unlike me. In comparison, I’m pretty useless.”

“……Hmm.”

“Hm? Honoka?”

I felt like Honoka’s face, which was bright just a moment ago, suddenly turned a bit grim… but it must be my imagination.

Yeah, it’s just my imagination.

“Please tell me more~”

She’s smiling now, after all.

“Look, Honoka is always defeating strong monsters and playing an active role, right? Compared to that, I’m completely useless in battle. That’s why I said you’re amazing compared to me.”

“Umm, I’m happy that you’re praising me? Thank you. But Rokkun is also doing his part. Rokkun’s ‘Storage’ can keep the food he makes warm, and when we camp outdoors, we can quickly take out tents and blankets. And it can also store defeated monsters too. It’s super convenient~”

Honoka kindly points out how I’m contributing in a different way.

Well, my role is to carry the baggage, and being called useful genuinely makes me happy.

“But in the end, I’m not helpful in battle, am I? And yet, I still receive the same reward as everyone else for monster subjugation…”

In fact, I’ve even told the leader to reduce my share, but it was rejected.

An extremely strong group and me, the baggage carrier, were treated as equals.

I’m happy about it!

I’m happy, but… it makes it harder for me to get banished.

“I still feel like I can’t contribute much and I’m not on par with everyone else.”

“……”

“Honoka, you think so too, right?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Eh, why!?”

Isn’t the baggage carrier position being treated too kindly!?

I’m happy that they care about their comrades, but I think it’s okay to have a complaint or two for a banishment fantasy, right!?

“Rokkun seems to be worried about his fighting abilities, but… I think being an adventurer isn’t just about fighting. I believe that being a ‘grateful existence’ like Rokkun is also important.”

“Ho, hou?”

Since Honoka started talking seriously, I decided to listen carefully.

“For example… Rokkun is good at cooking, right?”

“Ah, I am good at it, but…”

In my previous life, I was forced to do a lot of cooking and housework.

And now, I’m in charge of all the housework for this party.

“Food is essential for living. And so is the person who cooks that food. If the food they made is delicious, we’ll be happy, eat a lot, and gain energy. It also makes mealtime enjoyable. Although cooking has nothing to do with fighting, it’s indispensable in daily life. And having someone who cooks for us isn’t something to take for granted.”

“O-oh…”

“That’s why I’m always grateful to you, Rokkun. Thank you for always cooking delicious meals for us.”

After saying that, Honoka gives me a bright smile.

Somehow… She’s saying such wonderful things!!

And it makes me extremely happy!!!!

“Thanks for always eating a lot as well! So, am I… playing an important role for this party?”

“You are~. In fact, you’re the center of the party~”

“Oh! So, I’m also… amazing?”

“You’re amazing, Rokkun~. You’re amazing, so have more confidence in yourself.”

“Oh!”

“Hehe~. Then I’ll go wake everyone up and tell them today’s delicious meal is ready~”

“Alright, I’m counting on you!”

Honoka leaves the room for a moment.

I’m alone again.

“I feel like I can do my best for the party today as well~”

…Huh?

“Wait a minute!? My desire to be banished seems to be disappearing!?”

◆◆

“It’s troubling, you know~. When Rokkun puts himself down like that.”

Walking slowly, Honoka murmurs to herself.

On her face… there was no smile.

“Rokkun doesn’t need to play an active role during battles. Rather, I want him to quietly let us protect him. That’s because I don’t want him to get hurt. But I also don’t want him to feel down about his own uselessness. And if he ever decides to leave the party thinking he’s a burden to us… I won’t be able to smile in front of Rokkun anymore.”

Even now, there was no smile on Honoka’s face… but slowly, she pressed her finger to her lips and lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Rokkun… I’ll always protect you, so don’t worry. Both your body and your heart.”

The cause of Rokkun not being likely to be banished.

It seems that Honoka is one of the reasons… for that.