The Witch and Her Companion: I'm Just a Normal High School Student, but I Became the Familiar of the Highest-Ranked Witch. Also, It Seems I'm the Only Guy in the Witch Organization I Joined - Chapter 81: A Date with Snow – Part 2

Chapter 81: A Date with Snow – Part 2

[Tatsumori Haruto]

“──In this freezing weather, why the hell do we have to eat lunch in front of a fountain? Humans are such strange creatures.”

“Eating a bento by a fountain on a first date is common sense among young people these days.”

“Oh really. Sorry for not being one of your ‘young people’ then.”

Next to the Ravens Castle stood an absurdly large fountain.

It was the kind of elaborate, sculpted fountain you might see in Rome—one of those that just makes you want to toss a coin into it.

Maria and I were currently sitting on the stone ledge around it, having just spread out the bento I made earlier.

“By the way, after eating, it’s also common sense to throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, bow twice, clap twice, bow once more, then spin around three times and say ‘Nyaa’ before making a wish.”

“You people really go that far? Humans are just so…”

Like hell that’s true. It’s a complete lie.

“I’ll teach you the proper way later, so for now, let’s just eat.”

“Yeah, yeah, do whatever you want.”

Now, why was I even having lunch with this girl? Simple: a mix of raising her opinion of me and mild harassment.

There’s a saying that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. That’s why I went out of my way to borrow the kitchen and make this bento myself.

And as for why I chose to eat out in the freezing cold by a fountain while feeding her some made-up ritual? Pure harassment.

This girl was still trying to kill me, after all. A little petty rebellion on my part.

Maybe if I got her to like me more, she’d rethink the whole “murder Haruto” plan. Though realistically, that probably wouldn’t happen, and if I complained too much, she’d just beat me up.

So, weighing my options, I settled on this beautifully contradictory date—hospitality mixed with harassment. What the hell am I even doing?

“…Hmph. Well, it’s not bad.”

Maria muttered as she took a bite of the karaage, gazing at the fountain.

“Glad you like it. By the way, my personal masterpiece is the dashimaki.”

She glanced at the dashimaki tamago in the bento box but picked up another piece of karaage instead.

Yeah, yeah, just admit it—you like the karaage, don’t you?

“Huh, so even someone like Tatsumori can cook.”

“…Can you not talk like I’m some kind of subhuman?”

With an onigiri in hand, I watched the fish swimming leisurely in the fountain. Never seen that species before—what the hell are they?

“…Lately, Scarlet’s been making proper food. Did you have a hand in that, Tatsumori?”

To my surprise, Maria started a conversation. Must be in a better mood after eating. Still had that grumpy face, though.

“Scarlet was never bad at cooking to begin with. She just had a habit of cursing the food at the end.”

That weird “Njahihununupeppe” secret ingredient of hers? Yeah, that’s banned now.

“…Curse, huh. I once ate some curry she made. I spent a whole week in hell.”

“Wait, you actually ate all of it?”

“You can’t just leave food unfinished.”

I was stunned. A true warrior. Someone actually survived eating an entire serving of that Cthulhu Cuisine. Even Scarlet herself collapses after a single bite.

“Maria, could it be… you’re actually a good person?”

“Ever since that day, I haven’t been able to be nice to Scarlet. Also, from the bottom of my heart, I still think Tatsumori should just drop dead.”

Fair enough. Hating someone who once poisoned you makes sense. That explains some of the beef between them.

Not that it changes the fact that she’s still a pain in the ass.

“…If I die, you won’t get to eat my karaage anymore, you know.”

“…Just make sure to leave the recipe behind.”

The karaage in the bento box was gone in no time.

＊ ＊ ＊

“──Alright, a little more to the right… No, too far… Back a bit… There!”

“…God, you’re so annoying.”

Grumbling the whole time, Maria nevertheless went along with the ritual after finishing her meal.

The coin she tossed over her shoulder landed in the fountain with a plop. Nice control.

“Hey, you got it in.”

“It’s a huge-ass fountain. Missing would be harder. Can we be done now?”

“Not yet. Now, bow twice, clap twice, then bow once more.”

Feels like New Year’s shrine visit or something.

“…Ugh, this isn’t a damn shrine.”

Maria sighed but still did the motions properly, bowing and pressing her hands together like she was praying to the fountain god.

Not that I have any clue if there’s actually a god in there.

“Nice form! Now, finish it up—spin three times and say ‘Nyaa’!”

“…You seriously expect me to believe all of you do this?”

“All the young people these days are mentally ill! Don’t question it too much!”

I’m definitely going to get all of the country’s youth mad at me with this one.

“Just so you know, once I do this, I’m leaving.”

“Fine, but make sure you do it properly and with feeling!”

“Like hell I’d be embarrassed over something like this.”

Maria said with an exasperated sigh, then—without anyone asking her to—hopped up onto the stone ledge surrounding the fountain.

So, she’s going to put on a show in such a conspicuous spot? I might not be able to hold back my laughter.

“…Spin around three times and… Eh, wait—wha!？”

“…Ah, she fell.”

Maria fell.

After twirling around on the ledge, she suddenly lost her balance and plunged headfirst into the fountain.

Her loafer slipped off in the process and rolled to a stop right in front of me.

Taking a closer look, I noticed that the heel was ridiculously high—and completely snapped off at the base.

Ah, so that’s why she lost her balance. The way she throws her body into things is almost comedic.

“Maria, you okay?”

“…Blub… ugh… h-help…!”

I called out to Maria, who had fallen into the fountain, but she seemed a little too preoccupied with something.

“…Oi, what are you doing? If you’re just pretending to drown, I’m not saving you. You just want to drag me in too, don’t you?”

Judging by the size of the fountain, it couldn’t have been deeper than a meter. No way she could actually be drowning.

“…Mmph… mbl… ah…”

—But Maria didn’t stop pretending to drown. If anything, she started sinking even more.

“…Wait, are you seriously drowning?”

“…”

She sank beneath the water, completely still.

SHE’S ACTUALLY DROWNING!?

“…Tch!”

I tossed the loafer aside and jumped into the fountain.

It was deeper than I expected—reaching up to my chest. I hurriedly pulled Maria out of the water and laid her down on the ground.

“Maria! You okay!? Hey!”

I slapped her cheeks lightly, but there was no response. In fact—

“…She’s not breathing.”

I held my hand over her mouth—no breath.

Crap, what do I do!? Call an ambulance—Wait, I don’t have my phone! And I don’t even know where the hell we are!

“…CPR!!”

Completely panicked, I finally remembered the most basic first-aid even a kid would know.

I pinched her nose shut, tilted her chin up, and pressed my lips against hers, blowing air into her lungs. Was this how CPR was supposed to go!?

“…Gah! cough cough”

“…Maria!”

She coughed up water, her chest heaving as she weakly tried to sit up.

“…Hah… hah… Tatsumori… You… should’ve helped faster…”

“I mean, I didn’t think you were actually drowning…”

I was seriously about to have a heart attack. Thank god she was okay.

“…Sorry, okay? A witch who can’t swim, what a joke.”

“No, that’s not what I—whatever. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Still, even if she can’t swim, how does someone manage to drown in water they can stand in? Is that just how it is for people who can’t swim…?

“…Tatsumori.”

“What now? You got more complaints?”

Dripping wet, Maria shot me a glare. She didn’t have her usual presence like this.

“No… I just… Thanks.”

“…Should I take that as a thank-you?”

“…Interpret it however you want.”

She’s not the type to be honest, but at least she has the decency to express gratitude. Though, why does she have to glare while doing it?