Chapter 1

2020/12/19

I tried writing a new romantic comedy. I would be happy if you could support it.

A classmate who is a popular idol has a crush on me, a guy who never wants to work.

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2496gr/

"Thank you for coming, brave heroes!"

Ah, this is the second time I've heard this line.

The first time was also in the royal room of this castle, where I was spoken to by the same princess with the same words. However, the difference from the first time is that last time, the person next to me was an unknown man, and this time, it's about 40 of my classmates.

My classmates are somewhat shaken, and some of the girls even show signs of fear.

But I was more at ease this time around. Besides, this is a scenario I have longed for, so there's no way I wouldn't be calm.

The name of this world is <Eclaire>. It was once a world ravaged by intense wars between humans, demons, and beastmen. And it is a world I once saved.

Before I delve into the details of this world, I want to start with my story, Sasaki Yuki.

A few minutes before being summoned

"Hey! Go get some yakisoba buns, Necra Yuki!"

During high school lunch break—suddenly, I was kicked in the back and forced out of the classroom. It was definitely someone named Endo. Lately, I can't be bothered to remember everyone's names.

"I want a cream bun!"

"Get me a curry bun, Necra Yuki!"

What a hassle... Even from those whose names I can barely remember. I guess I can call them Endo's lackeys ① and ②.

I could have stood up to them, but the troublemakers at the center of the class would probably call me "rude" and summon me after school. That would be the most troublesome and annoying thing for me.

I decided to head to the cafeteria in silence, holding my wallet.

By the way, "Necra Yuki" is my nickname. My long, unkempt hair covers my eyes, and I'm short. I look like a total otaku, so I can understand why I'm called Necra. As for Yuki...

"Yuki-kun! What are you doing?"

Running over from the cafeteria is a girl with brown hair in a slightly wavy bob cut. She's my next-door neighbor, childhood friend, and classmate, Hanaashi Yūhi. She's a bit shorter than me, with a good figure that has curves where they should be and flat where they should be. She's a cute girl.

"Ah, Yūhi. I'm on my way to the cafeteria... Can you stop calling me Yuki?"

"Because Yuki-kun is Yuki-kun!"

You might have noticed, but the "Yuki" part of Necra Yuki comes from this girl calling me Yuki instead of Setsu. Apparently, she couldn't call me Setsu after initially calling me Yuki. From Endo and his lackeys' perspective, it probably looks like the class idol is on familiar terms with a creepy guy... which is why I get bullied out of jealousy.

The class's gaze is also somewhat painful. The boys are jealous, and the girls are creeped out... something like that? I don't really care.

Unaware that she's the cause of my nickname, Yūhi is called by a group of people from behind.

"Yū, what are you doing? Let's go!"

"Hurry up! I'm starving!"

"Mitsuki is as always."

The voices of the people who interrupted our conversation are familiar to me because they are prominent in the class.

The first one has a so-called two-block hairstyle and a wild, handsome face, Kondo Jirō. His name is old-fashioned, but his appearance is modern.

The second one is a girl with twin tails, shorter than Yūhi, Asakura Mitsuki. She has an active personality and good athletic skills, but Yūhi has told me that she's not very smart.

The last one has long brown hair and a handsome, gentle appearance, Harusaki Mitsuhiro. He's the so-called perfect superhuman, the ultimate popular guy.

They are all classmates and Yūhi's friends. They are always at the center of the class. By the way, "Yū" is what they call Yūhi.

"Ah, okay! See you, Yuki-kun!"

I watch Yūhi wave and head back to the classroom. Three people insert themselves between us, as if to protect Yūhi. I feel like they are all glaring at me. I head to the cafeteria, thinking I'm quite disliked.

--- Why is Yū with such a creepy guy?

--- What? Yuki-kun isn't creepy at all?

I hear such a conversation as I leave.

I buy all the buns I was asked to get, to avoid being bothered later.

I head to the vending machine outside to buy a drink.

I buy my favorite sweet coffee or cafe au lait and head back to the classroom. Glancing at the schoolyard, I see upperclassmen playing soccer. It looks like some soccer club members are mixed in, and a really skilled player is breaking through the defense and getting ready to shoot.

With a shout, the ball is kicked straight toward the goal... but it passes just above it, drawing a beautiful arc and flying toward me.

I have both hands full with buns and a drink, so I can't stop it with my hands.

"Damn... my luck..."

But the ball, which is about to hit me, suddenly loses momentum and bounces on the ground right in front of me.

Well, I need to deliver the buns quickly.

The lunch break ends, and the afternoon classes begin.

Fortunately, I didn't upset Endo and his group, so I can relax and turn on my phone during class as usual. I block the teacher's gaze with my textbook and open a web novel site on the internet.

What I'm looking for is a novel about being summoned to another world.

...I was summoned to another world and saved it over a decade ago. I haven't told anyone because no one would believe me.

Over a decade ago... after saving the world, I was somehow expelled from the human kingdom that summoned me.

They probably wanted to kill me, but as a hero who had grown and reached the realm of immortality, I couldn't be killed so easily. I was reluctantly sent back by some kind of banishment magic.

...I was surprised to find myself reincarnated as a different person when I returned to the present...

Looking back, the king probably found me to be a hindrance. He might have thought I would take his position...

Anyway, it was sudden, and I left a lot behind in that world.

So, from a young age, I desperately searched for a way back. I read countless books and surfed the internet.

Fortunately, I retained all the powers from my hero days, which allowed me to read books almost non-stop whenever I had free time. The reason for retaining my powers is still a mystery. According to web novels, this is called deus ex machina. It's a convenient term.

Still, I haven't found a way back. Despite wasting my life and school life in this world, I have no leads.

But I can't give up. That's why I keep diving into the internet. Web novels are my best hope right now. I continue searching on my school computer and my home PC after school. This is also why I don't want to be bothered after school.

I half-listen to the teacher's lecture and follow the text.

I felt a sense of unease here

(...the flow of magic?)

Suddenly, I sense the flow of magic, something I haven't felt in a long time.

Magic only awakens in another world, and I've never encountered it in the modern world. But I can feel this flow of magic in the classroom... right at my feet.

(Could it be!?)

"Whoa!? What's this!?"

A male student jumps up.

One after another, voices rise throughout the classroom.

At our feet, a giant, glowing magic circle appears...

It's the same one that first summoned me...

(The world hasn't given up on me...!)

Thus, the classroom is enveloped in light, and I am summoned to another world once again with my classmates from this life.