Chapter 4

"If I fail and end up somewhere in the forest, I feel like I'll be treated as a murderer."

If such a criminal record were to arise in this situation, I'd be the only one to suffer.

I can't take that kind of responsibility.

"Why not! Do it!"

Ohtake approached me again, grabbed the collar of my shirt, and shook me violently.

I just let him do it because of the situation, but in Japan, I would have forcefully pulled away!

"So, you're saying it's okay to conduct the experiment and not treat Hashihara as a murderer even if it fails?"

Hey, you delinquent, that's a bit too casual.

If it actually happens, you won't treat me as a criminal, right?

"Well... I want to go home, and if Hashihara can do it, I think we have to try it on someone."

"Ohtake is willing to try any means to get home and won't give up even if it fails, so isn't that fine?"

"That's right! Send us home!"

Most people agreed with this.

I sighed.

What if something terrible happens after the transfer, like in those foreign movies with the fly guy?

"If the transfer works, it could be used as a mode of transportation."

Taniizumi muttered... You don't want to go back to Japan, do you?

Enjoying the dream world, huh?

"Then I'll try it."

I designated Ohtake as the target and imagined Japan as the destination.

Yeah, I could clearly see the place I was sending him to.

When I visualized the decision, a sandglass should have appeared... but it didn't.

"Um... it doesn't seem to work."

"Even though you could send firewood, it might not work with living things."

"What! This useless guy!"

Ohtake made a fist and punched me hard!

"Ow!?"

"Kousuke!"

Ouch! How much strength did you put into that?

I flew through the air, spinning.

Ugh... it hurts.

My cheek is swelling up.

Or is it caving in?

It's throbbing so much.

"Are you okay!?"

Moshin rushed over, worried.

Hey, you shouldn't have hit me like that.

"Y-You okay?"

Himeji Mami, a popular and cute girl in the class, ran over and put her hand near my cheek.

She's small, but she's so adorable, with big, sparkling eyes, and she feels different from the others.

Her skin is smooth, and her hair is soft.

She's a different kind of girl from the others.

Ah, Ohtake is technically a pretty girl, but her repeated hysterical actions and violence have made me remove her from the "girl" category.

That guy...

"Let me try an experiment. I think it'll be okay."

A faint light appeared from Himeji's hand and was placed near my cheek.

I gradually felt the pain subside.

"Ah, Himeji seems to have a base recovery ability. There are others with healing abilities, but what's the difference?"

"I don't know. Anyway, Ohtake, please apologize to Hashihara."

"That's right! Kousuke tried his best, so you shouldn't hit him!"

"Hmph! It's your fault for raising my expectations!"

Ohtake didn't apologize to me, crossing her arms and giving me a disdainful look.

Damn... I won't forgive you.

Even if I find a way back to Japan, I won't tell you!

And Moshin, Himeji, and one other... Hiyama, right? They didn't just laugh it off!

...Remember that.

"Next, Hiyama."

It was Hiyama's turn.

In my opinion, her evaluation rose just because she didn't laugh it off.

"Um, my ability is teleportation."

What? It's the same!

You should have different abilities.

...That's a game-like way of thinking.

In reality, it's not strange to have similar or the same abilities.

"It seems like it will be the same as Hashihara."

"Then I'll try it."

"Use me. If you fail, it's Hashihara's punishment."

"What's my punishment? Hiyama is a girl!?"

Well, only a girl can hit a girl, but that doesn't mean you can hit people.

"...I can't fail!"

So, Hiyama, who has a similar ability to me, used her ability.

From the look of it, she doesn't want to be hit.

Of course.

"Go!"

Hiyama used her ability with a lot of spirit.

A pillar of light appeared in front of us.

"Can we go home!?"

Ohtake, excited, rushed towards the pillar of light.

She instantly teleported to a spot a little to the right of the pillar.

It was fast!

"Hmm..."

"It's not Japan!"

Ohtake tried to punch Hiyama, but Taniizumi stopped her.

Ohtake is so annoying, it's stressful.

She doesn't think that just because she's a girl, she can do anything, does she?

"Think about it. Hashihara can't teleport living things, but Hiyama can... she has the power of a portal. It's convenient for travel."

Taniizumi looked back and forth between me and Hiyama, smirking.

Hey, what's with that superior attitude?

"Hiyama seems to be a superior version of Hashihara."

I'm the inferior version!?

I feel like I'm being mocked.

In a breeding game, I'm the Flaragon and Hiyama is the Gaburas!?

Are you saying I'm a hopeless existence that can't even be given a Mega Evolution and has to live in despair!?

The situation, which might have been a bit fun in this different world, is completely deflating.

"Um... I'm sorry..."

If Hiyama had mocked me, I couldn't have tolerated it, but she apologized.

She seems to be a very normal person.

...Should I ask her?

"Hiyama, can you send us back to Japan or something?"

"Maybe. I'll try."

Hiyama tried to create the pillar of light again with her ability.

But it didn't appear.

"Sorry, it doesn't seem to work. It seems I can only teleport to places I've been before."

"Does that mean places you've been since you got your ability?"

"Probably..."

Wow... I didn't have high hopes, but it seems difficult to return.

It's probably a type of teleportation magic like in RPGs.

"Anyway, Hiyama's ability is more efficient than Hashihara's."

"Cut it out, Taniizumi!"

Moshin stepped forward to protect me.

"What? I'm just stating the facts. Hashihara takes time to activate and can't teleport living things, while Hiyama activates instantly and can teleport living things. Which one is the better ability?"

"Well, Hashihara must have different characteristics from me."

Hiyama defended me.

Ugh... Hiyama is so normal, it makes me feel really miserable.

Ohtake and Taniizumi, I'll remember this.

"...It seems I need time to recharge before using my ability again. Next, I'll try to teleport firewood like Hashihara did."

After the cooldown period for Hiyama's ability, she threw the firewood into the pillar of light.

The firewood passed through the pillar and fell to the ground with a thud...

This means...

"It didn't work."

"So, Kousuke's ability is suited for transporting objects, while Hiyama's is suited for moving people. There is a difference, after all."

"Ha, if someone carries the object for you, Hiyama's limitation is almost nonexistent. Well, Hashihara, maybe you can find some trick to make it work. If there is one."

Taniizumi seems to want to treat me like a lower caste.

He's probably getting cocky because he has a fire ability.

But in fictional works, fire abilities are often the underdog.

"Anyway, it's meaningless if you can't send us back to Japan!"

Ohtake, cut it out!

How long are you going to be crazy!

Ugh... Hiyama being a good person is the only consolation.

"Well, I'll appoint you to handle leftovers and cleaning. You won't be of much use against monsters."

It's a complete dismissal from the team!

Taniizumi continued to belittle those with seemingly inferior abilities.

Himeji was also among the victims.

"Oh!? It seems Himeji's healing is faster. This one might be more useful."

The difference between base recovery and healing.

Base recovery takes time to heal, while healing has an immediate effect.

Taniizumi gave a mocking look, and Moshin glared back each time.

In the end, everyone in the class, including the teacher, had their abilities identified.