My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon

Chapter 456

Skill Tournament／Ejection

"Man~, I lost, I lost! Just wasn't my day~"

That's how I played it cool, joking around as I opened the door to the waiting room.

I mean, come on. After a loss, I don't want the young Shark to feel like they have to walk on eggshells around me, right? So rather than them being weirdly considerate, I'd rather be the one to joke around and just brush it off smoothly, you know?

"Too bad, Jung! I totally thought you had that one!"

Shark responded in a similarly cheerful tone, maybe picking up on how I was feeling.

"Good work out there."

"Ah, Hinata-kun, thanks. Unfortunately, this is as far as I got."

"No way, I thought it was really impressive."

And even though I'd put my opponents through some rough stuff again this match, Yuzuki-chan's impression of me didn't seem too bad either.So, while I was slowly getting out of my suit with those two helping me, Serai-san, who had been out of sight, finally came back.

"(Click) Ah, good work, Coach~. Too bad, huh~?"

But then Shark, who was holding the disconnected Bug King part (the right arm), saw Serai-san talking so lightly and got seriously angry, glaring at her.

"Hey, don't you 'too bad, huh~' me, Machi! Where the hell have you been all this time!?"

"Oh, I told you, didn't I? That I was going to watch the match next door."

"So that means you couldn't come back even once!? Without even cheering for Jung!"

But to Shark fuming like that, Serai-san just shrugged and gave a wry smile.

"C'mon, Shark. There's no way Coach could have gone all out in a place like this, right? You saw the tournament regulations, didn't you? Plus, there are... circumstances. So there was really no need to cheer extra hard for him. Right, Coach?"

"Hmm... yeah, I guess."

"But still!"

"...I know Coach's strength well, and I trust him. More than anyone else, actually... So I don't feel anything in particular about him losing. And since I knew he'd probably lose at a convenient point anyway, wouldn't it be way better for me to go watch other fighters?"

"Mu...!"

"And weren't you the one who insisted on cheering instead of coming with me when I asked?"

"Urgh... but still!"

Hmm, I see. So that's the kind of exchange they had while I was gone.

Shark and Yuzuki-chan were cheering for me while I fought. Serai-san, on the other hand, understood my situation well and acted accordingly. That's about it.

Hmm, well then...

"Shark, thanks for cheering. With you and Yuzuki-chan's support, I was able to fight really well. And Serai-san, I'm looking forward to hearing what you thought after watching the other fighters."

Shark probably felt like they absolutely had to cheer for me while I was in the match.

I appreciate that. And Serai-san understood my position and situation really well too. Hmm, having people who understand you... That's also something to be very thankful for.

"You both acted thinking about me. So I have no complaints, only gratitude. So thank you, both of you!"

"Hehe, see, Shark? Get it now?"

"Tch... yeah, yeah, I get it."

And so, my run in the skill tournament ended with a foul loss in the second round.

...

"Um, but... This flyer here says there's going to be a reception party for the fighters after the closing ceremony?"

Yuzuki-chan mentioned that just as I had finished changing back into my casual clothes and was getting ready to leave.

"No, Hinata-kun..."

"Yeah, that's... a bit much, isn't it?"

At that, me and Serai-san looked at each other and shrugged.

Yeah, I did put my opponents through hell twice. And I even sent one of them to the hospital. The Anal Prince I fought in the first round apparently didn't recover just with healing medicine.

So under those circumstances, going to a reception party would be like sitting on a bed of nails. Plus, the higher-ups in the organization probably have it out for me.

Right. It's like, 'with what face would I show up there?' and I have absolutely no desire to become infamous or sell my name and face like that.

And even if I wore a mask like a luchador to hide my face at the party, that would just be way too weird, wouldn't it?

"Well, if I don't have to pay a penalty and I still get the participation prize, I can't ask for more than that."

"Right. Oh, I just got in touch with Ruu, and she said her dad and mom are both home today."

"Oh, you already contacted her? Thanks. Then I guess I'll just go give her the souvenirs now."

"Then today's a shabu-shabu party at Ruu's house!"

"Well, I guess that's how it's shaping up?"

Yeah, the mushrooms and vegetables that Serai-san's grandfather gave me plenty of as souvenirs.

I want Ruu to eat them while they're still fresh. We also have a little bit of that salted super giant boar meat, so it's more than enough for a shabu-shabu party.

"Hey, while we're at it, let's do crab shabu too!"

"Hmm, but wouldn't that be too much...?"

"It's fine! Ruu's mom will probably just give some to the neighbors again anyway!"

"Ah, good point. Well then, shall we head to Ruu's place now?"

"Yeah!!"

The country may fall, but the rivers and mountains remain. I lost, but it's no big deal. Because now, I get to see my sweet, sweet Ruu.