PROLOGUE – AN ELF GIRL I PICKED UP AT THE HILL BEHIND THE HOUSE

“A girl collapsed?”

Kairi stopped walking.

It was summer vacation during his first year of middle school; he had been brought by his parents to a relative’s house and had just climbed up a hill behind the house alone.

“I heard no one was here, though…”

The hill was small with nothing but trees, and the only insect to be found was mosquitos.

Although Kairi had come here out of curiosity, he had heard that none of the local children would come to this place.

Remembering what he had heard from a relative’s child who couldn’t find a time, Kairi approached the girl while tilting his head.

“It’s a girl I’ve never seen before.”

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Her age was probably no different than his.

Seemingly uncommon beautiful blond hair, fair skin, green coat, and white trousers.

However, the most distinctive of all should be the long, pointy ears.

It was a girl like a fairy in a story.

“Are you okay?” He approached her, bent down, and called to her.

More than the concern about whether his words could be understood, his worry for her was stronger.

“Nn…” A voice came out from the girl’s lips, and her eyes opened slightly.

Her beautiful gem-like blue eyes reflected Kairi.

“●▽◇％＆＃＊＠?” The girl got up, and was rapidly saying something with a vigilant look on her face as she backed away from Kairi.

“I got no idea what you’re saying. What country’s language was that?”

For now, it’s confirmed she’s not Japanese, as he thought so, Kairi was at a loss.

The girl was clearly being vigilant towards him, and it was so doubtful whether they could have a friendly communication.

“But I guess I got no choice but to do it. I am Kairi, you are? Where did you come from?”

When he tried to talk to her while keeping their distance, the girl’s face turned into a puzzled one.

And then after staring hard at him, she sent her gaze around.

“＠◇▼◎＄￥＃％■?”

And then she rapidly said something.

“Like I said I don’t understand it. Really, what should I do?”

Kairi sighed.

The only thing he knew was that she probably had fallen into an unexpected situation and was troubled.

How far can I go with just gestures?

When he started to seriously worry, “how about now? Do you understand what I’m saying?” he suddenly heard the girl speaking in Japanese.

“Eh, I do. What’s happening here?”

When Kairi replied with his eyes open wide, “Phew, I’m glad I learned translation magic just in case,” the girl patted her chest in relief.

“Translation? Magic?”

Just what this girl’s saying, I wonder, Kairi was confused.

“Well, whatever.”

If she can understand me, let’s first ask her situation, he thought.

“Are you okay? Does your body feel bad anywhere?” In his own way, Kairi showed his concern for the girl.

“…I think I’m thirsty,” the girl spoke after thinking for a moment.

“I do have a drink if you want.”

Kairi pulled out a water bottle out of the backpack he was carrying and offered her a cup.

“A drink? Thanks.”

The girl sniffed it with great interest and took a sip.

“Such a strange smell and taste. But I think I like it,” the girl said, smiling slightly.

“I’m glad that you liked it.” Kairi was relieved.

After drinking the tea, the girl directed her blue eyes to Kairi.

“Thank you for your kindness. I’m Misha.” Placing her right hand on her chest, she gave her name.

“I’m Kairi. Nice to meet you, Misha,” Kairi gave his name in return.

“Why are you at this place?” Kairi ended up asking, not being able to resist it.

Misha slowly looked from side to side, and quietly spoke. “In the first place, where is this?”

This remark was not surprising to Kairi.

He could assume that she didn’t know Japan, as she could not understand the language.

“This is Japan.”

She probably wouldn’t know even if I say the area name, Kairi thought, and told only the name of the country.

“Japan?” Even so, Misha looked puzzled.

“I never heard it before. Is it a country of humans?”

“Humans?”1

This time it was Kairi’s turn to tilt his head.

“I mean about your race,” Misha pointed out.

“Oh, I see.”

He also had the knowledge that it was used as a way of calling humans2 in fiction, but he would never have dreamed that it would actually be used.

“You’re right. It’s a country of only humans.”

“So it was true, that there’s such a country.” Misha was surprised that what she had thought of as a fiction was in fact reality.

Even Kairi had never expected to encounter an elf in reality, so perhaps it could be said that it went both ways.

“You’re not human, right?” Kairi asked.

It was obvious even from her outer appearance and the way she spoke, but he wanted confirmation.

“Yes. You don’t know elves?” Misha replied.

What am I supposed to say?

Kairi was lost for an answer; whether he should say that he didn’t know, or that he should reveal that they were known as fantasy creatures.

“Yeah.”

Just how Kairi’s silence was perceived, but Misha looked confirmingly.

Immediately after Kairi was struck with awkwardness, Misha’s stomach made a sound, making her blush.

“So you’re hungry. I only have some biscuits, though.”

Kairi rummaged through his backpack without laughing and handed the biscuits to Misha.

“What is this, I wonder?” Seeing it for the first time, Misha stared at the pack curiously.

“Ah, right.”

Realizing his own mistake, Kairi opened the seal and took out the content.

“This is a food called biscuit, and I guess it’s a snack. You can eat it if you like,” he said, urging her.

“Thanks.”

Misha nervously reached out her hand to eat it.

“…Tasty.” Her face broke into a happy smile.

“I’m glad.” And Kairi was relieved.

He’d reflexively urged her to, but there was a possibility that it might not be suitable for an elf’s taste.

Misha seemed to have been starving, so she ended up eating the whole pack.

“I’m sorry,” then she came to herself and apologized to Kairi.

“Nah, it’s fine.”

She’s eating so engrossingly there, he thought, but he kept it to his chest.

That might not be the best thing to say to an elf, he restrained himself.

“Aren’t you thirsty after eating biscuits?” he asked while smiling.

Misha nodded, averting her eyes bashfully.

As he was feeling warm and fuzzy, he filled another cup of tea for her.

“Thanks,” Misha thanked him again and drank it.

“Don’t mention it.”

Kairi smiled, maybe this is how having a little sister feels, as he thought so in his mind.

“I hate to ask, but what are you gonna do now?” He put into words the important issue.

Misha was probably not someone from this world.

I don’t know how she came here, but can she return home? Such a question was inside Kairi.

“I think it’s not impossible to return,” said Misha. “Because once every few days, the wall between worlds weakens.”

“I totally have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’m glad you can return.”

Kairi couldn’t understand anything except the fact that she could return home.

However, it was great that the most important part was solved.

“Wait a moment,” Misha said and invoked magic. “Looks like I can return after three days.”

“You can tell!?” Kairi shouted in surprise.

He didn’t know what she had done, but he just knew that it was something amazing.

“If only this much. The question is how to make it through the three days, I suppose.” Misha sighed.

Her biggest problem was to secure water and food for three days in a world she wasn’t familiar with.

“I can do something about water, but what should I do about food…” Kairi sounded troubled.

I can buy water with my allowance, and I can also get tap water and give it to her.

But, I don’t think that’ll be the same with food.

“You’re so kind.” Misha narrowed her eyes a little and spoke in the elf language.

“Eh, what’d you say?” Kairi was confused, unable to understand what was said.

She was using translation magic or something just earlier, I wonder what happened.

“A secret.” Misha showed a suggestive smile.

“C-come on, sheesh.” Kairi skipped a beat at the charm that was different from before.

He tried to protest to cover it up.

“Fufufu,” Misha laughed enjoyably, perhaps seeing through his agitation.

“A-anyway, I will do something, so don’t get discouraged,” becoming somewhat embarrassed, Kairi spoke rapidly.

“Yeah, thank you very much,” Misha said. For the time being, he went down the hill.

To conclude, three days had safely passed.

At the noon community association gathering, Kairi had been receiving an assortment of snacks as freebies.

“Sorry it’s just snacks.”

“Any of them is tasty, you knowI?”

Misha was calm in contrast to Kairi who was concerned about nutritional deficiencies.

“And I can go on for about a month without eating as long as there’s water, too,” she revealed a secret on the evening of the third day.

“Even though you were that hungry?”

When the surprised Kairi asked meanly on a subconscious level, “being hungry and dying from not eating are two different things,” Misha counter attacked with a composed look.

Kairi wasn’t fooled; immediately she turned bright red as her stomach growled again, so he ended up laughing.

“Geez…” Misha cutely groaned.

We have completely opened up in these three days, Kairi thought.

So much so that it was regrettable to have to part.

“It’s time for me to return,” Misha said with a serious expression as she was being basked with the evening sun.

“I see.”

Kairi held back his words, knowing that there would be no way he could tell her to not go.

“Don’t look so glum. An elf will always return a favor,” Misha said and gently kissed his right cheek, and disappeared into the blue vortex beyond.

“…Goodbye, Misha,” Kairi muttered, then heard crows cawing far off in the distance.