Chapter 10

"......As expected, it's evening here too."

I am in Japan now.

I look around the area near the school building as the sun sets and the night deepens.

I never thought there would come a day when the sound of car engines would be comforting.

While thinking this, I walk down the school road to go home.

I was just in another world a moment ago, but the contrast is severe.

I've gotten used to it a lot after doing it so many times.

Since it's evening here too, it seems the passage of time is the same.

Now, what should I do?

I want to help Maki and Hiyama and the others to a reasonable extent.

Well, the only thing I can do is bring something from Japan, I guess.

Chocolate or candy, maybe?

Even something like that would make everyone happy.

...Let's go to the supermarket for now.

"Wait up!"

On the way to the supermarket, I passed by a child.

I can see the park.

It's the park where I used to play with Maki a lot when I was in elementary school.

...It's so peaceful.

I even wonder if nothing is really happening and I'm just hallucinating.

The Japanese side is so unchanged.

"Hey, it's Hanahashi!"

While I was spacing out, a friend from middle school days called out to me near the traffic lights.

That's Marui.

In middle school, Maki, he, and I used to hang out a lot.

Since he went to a different school when we advanced, I haven't seen him much.

But I think I was still connected through Maki, as his name would come up occasionally.

"Hey."

"How's it going? Recently?"

"Hmm..."

If I said I wanted to help Maki and the others who are surviving in another world, no one would believe me.

Even if a friend said the same thing, I wouldn't believe it either.

"...So, is this class just yours? What do you think?"

"Just mine?"

"There's only one seat in the classroom, and there are no other classmates, right?"

"Yeah, it's pretty unusual. But didn't you say something before? What was it... a special class?"

This is it.

Even the teachers and my parents react the same way.

Probably, anyone I ask would react the same.

It's an absurd situation, but the reaction is so light.

"Did something happen?"

"No, nothing."

"Is that so? Well, let's all get together and have a meal sometime."

"Sure. I'll tell Maki."

"Maki? Who's that again?"

"...Don't worry about it."

It seems everyone is treated as if they never existed.

Maybe I'm treated the same way when I'm not around.

But I'm fine with it.

I wasn't exactly in Maki's shadow, but I lived a carefree life by basking in his glory.

However, it's uncomfortable that Maki and the others are treated as if they never existed.

I'm not in love with them or anything, but it's still painful that my dear friends are treated as if they never existed.

"Well, it's fine. See you."

"Yeah, see you."

So, I part ways with my friend.

In the past, Maki was always by my side, and my friends would chat more with him than with me.

This sadness confronts me with reality.

"Welcome!"

Then I went to the nearby supermarket.

I wandered around the store, pondering.

I'm looking for something everyone might need... but it's difficult.

First, it has to be something that wouldn't seem unnatural for me to have.

Meat and fish are out of the question.

Even if I had them, where did I get them from?

Well, I could say I went hunting, but it's practically impossible to go to the forest with the combat team constantly on watch.

Moreover, if I had processed meat or fish, I'd definitely be suspected.

Even if I had them... after two weeks, the meat and fish wouldn't be fresh.

For the same reason, bento boxes and the like are also out of the question.

This naturally leads to snacks.

"Hmm..."

Next, I can't buy anything too expensive.

It's not that I'm being stingy, but I don't have much money.

The money in my wallet, as a non-college student, is limited.

Even if I tried, the most I could manage would be a four-digit amount.

I'm not saying I can't get a part-time job... but it wouldn't solve the fundamental problem.

If everyone could give me cash, that would be great, but what would I do with that money?

In the end, it would still be something like long-lasting snacks...

Well, everyone would still be happy, but I want to do more.

"Thank you!"

In the end, I bought some simple snacks and went home.

When I got home, I sat on the sofa in the living room and thought.

The TV was on, but there was still no news about the group disappearance.

Even without checking, it's clear that everyone is treated as if they never existed from the beginning.

I don't know the principle, but it seems that when you cross worlds, it ends up like this.

It's like a patch, but it's definite.

In fact, they should be recognizing me as not being there right now.

However, this patch is quite sloppy.

A good example is my classroom at school.

There are also cases where I'm recognized as attending classes even though I didn't.

This is the same in the other world; while I'm in Japan, I'm not there.

During the time I'm not there, I'm recognized as being there.

It's as if I'm being automatically filled in by everyone.

Well, that's why I can stay in the other world for a long time, so I have no complaints.

"Kousuke, take a bath before dinner."

"Okay."

My mother told me to take a bath, so I went in while thinking.

I looked at the warm, clean bath, even with bath salts.

...A bath.

There is a bath in the other world, but it's poor compared to Japan's.

It's a wooden bath, and it's set up like a large bath at home.

Everyone works together to maintain it.

Well, the combat team uses it preferentially, and by the time it's the base team's turn, it's dirty.

Especially since Taniizumi doesn't reheat the water after using it.

Still, the base team doesn't just accept it.

Of course, they add more hot water and water.

...Thinking about Maki and Hime no and the others, I feel guilty for taking a bath at home.

But I'm not going to waste a usable ability.

If there's space for me to use, others should use it too.

"I have to do something..."

It's not just the bath.

Everyone is so desperate that they're happy with just chocolate and candy.

Every day's meal is cooked from the remains of some unknown creature.

Even if it's plant-based, it's the same.

At best, it's some nuts.

To gather wild vegetables, we have to rely on the combat team's expertise.

We avoid mushrooms, recognizing the danger.

Someone with cooking skills is doing their best, but it's far inferior to what we eat in Japan.

Especially since Taniizumi monopolizes it, the base team only gets the minimum and can't have a satisfying meal.

Well... at least they get one meal a day, so they manage...

I want to do something about the food at least, but I can't do anything reckless until I know what will happen if my ability is discovered.

The other day, someone I gave snacks to called them "inferior" and mocked me.

Moreover, it was someone from the base team.

...I need to think of a reason to bring things from here.

"..."

After getting out of the bath and eating dinner, I lay on my bed in my room.

Compared to the other world, the food here is much more delicious, and I have no complaints.

The bed is a world apart from sleeping on hard wood.

The house has no drafts, so it's not cold.

...I can't help but compare.

The contrast is too great.

I can't understand why Taniizumi and the others seem so happy.

Sure, it's fun to use game-like powers.

They probably let the non-combatants do the pioneering work while they enjoy their otherworldly adventure.

I'm happy to have the ability to transfer, too.

But... how can it be fun when the food, bath, and sleeping arrangements are so different?

"..."

Maybe because they looked so happy, someone asked Taniizumi if he wanted to return to Japan.

But Taniizumi said it was ridiculous to go back to Japan.

The otherworldly transfer is romantic, but I think it's amazing that he can say that after experiencing it.

I don't respect him, though.

From what I've researched on the internet and in books, it's probably a mental state in extreme conditions.

In that sense, I might be the most abnormal one among those there.

Hiyama and Hime no have even said I'm "mature."

But this composure is because I can travel between the other world and Japan.

If I couldn't travel, I think I would have been complaining and acting out all along.

...Actually, I'm not mature at all.

If I were really mature, I would be living with Maki and the others even with a way to return, and I would have come up with a good idea.

I'm not mature if I can't do that.

The next 1-2 episodes will be the battle part with monsters.