My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon

Love Consultations

Serai-san sent me her phone number.

What a surprise. I'm a comm-phobic geek, and this is the first time I've ever received a phone number from a girl. I felt like I had suddenly won the first prize in a lottery. I was flabbergasted and distraught.

"Wait! No, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait…! Phew~! Huh~! Huh~! Huh! Calm down, calm down, me! That must be a trap by Kongming!"

I'm sure that such a tasty offer wouldn't come my way. I'm sure that as soon as I make a phone call, I'll get connected to some strange old man I don't know, or Serai-san and the other three college girls will be laughing at me on the other end of the line, saying, "Sorry~~ it was a surprise!"

They don't mind making fun of older people, don't they?

That's right. I'm sure they do. Thinking that way, I felt much calmer. Then I can do it. I can at least make a phone call to the number the girl gave me! Okay.

[Pipopapipupepo…(pull, pull, pull, pull…)"]

Pounding.

[(Pull…) Yes, it's Serai.]

(Ah, it connected!)

Thank goodness. I could avoid the route leading to a strange old man when I make a phone call.

"Hello, this is Ezuki."

[Ah, Ezuki-san. You called me right away. Thank you very much. I was treated to a lot of food the other day, that Chinese food! It was very delicious, wasn't it?]

When Serai-san realized that it was me on the other end of the line, she began to talk in her usual lively tone. After that, I received a picture of the four of us having dinner together, with a thank-you message. I had a very enjoyable time, one of the few times I've ever had one.

[I'm not sure what's the matter with you. So, you sent me your phone number, so I called you. I don't know you that well, but are you okay with me giving your phone number to a guy you don't even know?]

"Oh, that's fine. This number is a low-cost receiving phone that I can cancel at any time. You're so kind to worry about such things, Ezuki-san."

Oh, I didn't realize that. No wonder Serai-san gave me the number so readily. But today's girls are very solid. I was so nervous that I wondered if Serai-san had a pulse just by giving me her phone number.

But I'm glad I could confirm what I was wondering about. Otherwise, I would have had to talk about the future with a stupid misunderstood guy who thought that Serai-san might have a pulse.

"No, no, so…is it about Katsuhina-san who sent me her number?"

[Oh yeah! I was so surprised too! I'm not sure what to expect. I've never talked to her about men, even when we've talked about love.]

Katsuhina-san indeed has an air of shyness and withdrawal. Well, from the looks of it, it seems so.

"Oh, I didn't know that. And that's all of a sudden?"

[I get taken to a place where we could be alone because I wanted to discuss something with him. I fell in love with the coach, Machi-chan, what should I do? C'mon! Ruu isn't she cute!]

On the other end of the phone, Serai-san is getting excited over the love story of Katsuhina-san. On the other hand, I was a little toned down. I know that, but it is surprisingly hurtful when a woman you are attracted to shows you that she is not interested in you as a member of the opposite sex, even if it is in this way.

But even though I am an otaku, I am also an adult member of society. I am currently unemployed. But I decided to change my mind and ask about Katsuhina-san. Yes, she is my oasis. I immediately started researching Katsuhina-san, who might become my girlfriend.

"Well, I'm honored that you feel that way. So that's why Serai-san took on the role of love cupid."

[Oh, yeah, about that. I asked Ruu to ask Ezuki-san what you think about Ruu me. That's why I told you what I just told you.]

Hmm, what is it? Suddenly, Serai-san's words are losing their sharpness. From the flow of the story just now, no matter how you think about it, I think it's a happy day for Katsuhina-san and me.

[I'm sorry, but I want Ezuki-san to wait for a reply even if Ruu proposes a relationship.]

(What?)

……….

[……..! …! Hello! Can you hear me, Mr. Ezuki?]

"Yeah! I can hear you. I think the signal was a little bad."

Yes, I was really in a slight thought freeze. Because, after talking about a relationship, and then waiting for the response.

For someone like me, who has a low love level, I can't seem to solve this difficult puzzle. In that case, I have no choice but to endure shame and ask Serai-san why.

"Well, I understand the story, but I don't think you understand the reason or background. Serai-san, if you don't mind, could you explain?"

[Yeah, yeah. Ezuki-san should understand this, so I'll explain. Ruu, who has always been a latecomer when it comes to love, suddenly said something like this… it's a bit strange.]

"Yeah, yeah…"

[So, I thought. When you first meet a man who looks like an insect, do you fall in love at first sight? ? ] (Gohaa! That's. it's about me~~!!)

Yes. I mean, there's no one other than me. From their point of view, I'm a strange uncle who looks like an insect.

[Besides, that day was Ruu's first dungeon experience, right? After killing the goblin, she received a terrible shock. That's why a man you can rely on nearby at times like that. In this case, it's Ezuki-san, so I think Ruu misunderstood that she likes Ezuki-san because of the shock and the suspension bridge effect.]

Gnu…, what a reasonable argument and conclusion when you put it like that.

Surely. When people are scared, their instinct for preserving the species moved to work and leaves offspring. That is the suspension bridge effect. And dangerous dungeons are like suspension bridges.

Furthermore, if there is someone of the opposite sex who can be relied on in a state of a strong shock, I can understand the movement of the feeling of instinctively trying to depend on it.

Hmmm. I couldn't find any counterargument, and I couldn't say anything back.

"Nah, I see. I see. I'm sorry for frightening you…"

[No, that's because it was my fault for forcibly inviting Ruu! Ruu only followed me because she didn't want to be left out, but it was me who forced her.]

"But now I understand. I understand why you said that and why Seki-san put a stop to it. Then what should I do? If I talk to Katsuhina-san the next time I see her. I'll tell you. Is it alright?"

[I don't want Mr. Ezuki to go that far, so I'll talk about it with Ruu. I'm sorry if I said something strange.]

Serai-san has changed her tone a little. She speaks in a serious tone. It's a tone close to the customer service mode I see at a store.

"Well, if that's the case, I'll leave it to you. Then, should we end this conversation here and continue instructing this weekend?"

[Yes, please do. Ru and Shizu seem to be looking forward to it, so.]

"I see. Then next Sunday is also a dungeon instruction with Mushimushi-sensei. Make sure you train your body so it's not too much."

[Yes, well then (…pts.)]

I looked around for a few seconds after the call finished, then let out a very long sigh.

"……………. haaaaah ～～～～～…."

Serai-san has no pulse. The misunderstanding is due to Katsuhina-san's suspension bridge effect. I've experienced double and triple broken hearts within 10 to 20 minutes.

"Huh… There's no way an otaku with a communication problem like me could deal with cute and beautiful female college students. Ah~ah, shit. I should go to sleep today."

In this way, I received a shock similar to a broken heart, and I spent about three days lazily.

However, tomorrow is the day of dungeon instruction for training female college students, so it was a Saturday afternoon when I was moving my body a little. I received a message from Serai-san again.

[Ruu is taking a day off from college. I'm going to visit her tomorrow, so could you accompany me, Ezuki-san?]

"Whut?"

(Why is Serai-san inviting me to visit Katsuhina? What about tomorrow's dungeon training…?)

The situation was taking an unexpected turn.