Chapter 41

Mizuki stood there, her eyes wide open.

"No, they're just pretending not to know."

It's in moments like these that Maujin's kindness truly touches my heart.

"I'm just waiting for you to tell me someday."

Maujin's casual words made Meguru's hand tremble.

...I have to talk to her about this later.

But first, I need to calm Meguru down.

"Meguru! If you're angry, I'll apologize, so please calm down a bit!"

Maujin's attempt to soothe her was not very effective.

Moreover, Meguru glared at me with eyes that seemed to be filled with anger.

"Maujin... I'm going to borrow the room again."

"Sure, be quiet."

I returned to a separate room in Maujin's workshop and invited Meguru in.

"Meguru, around what time today did you notice something was off?"

"Today, when I couldn't find Kosei-kun anywhere, and when I asked everyone, they all said, 'Who's that?' I couldn't believe it, so I kept looking."

I could vividly imagine the scene.

Meguru asking everyone around.

"...Wait? When I thought about it, there were times when he wasn't there... I kept wondering why I thought he was there while I was looking for him!"

"What about Tani and the others?"

"I only confirmed with Sakae-kun and Hagizawa-kun multiple times! I did ask others, but... it felt like I had wandered into a different world that was similar but different."

This is a pretty dangerous state, isn't it?

If I look at it optimistically, it might just mean that Meguru was looking for me, but I need to be more careful from now on.

"So, today?"

"Yeah."

Until now, Meguru hadn't noticed the强制力 when I returned to Japan.

But due to some factor—well, in this case, the expansion ability I learned early this morning, which allows inter-world transfer—resistance to the强制力 has developed.

If I couldn't transfer between worlds without losing one set of memories, I wouldn't be able to go from Japan to the other world.

I hadn't thought about it before, but it seems that I have such resistance as part of my ability.

That's why Meguru noticed that I wasn't there.

"Explain what's going on."

This... yeah. I should just be honest.

Even if she despises me.

"Then, let's put it to the test. I'll do something and come back in five minutes. Meguru, ask Maujin about me in the meantime."

"Okay."

I activated my ability to transfer back to my room.

"First, I'll transfer myself. Remember what you asked me before?"

"Eh? Yeah..."

"It seems I can only transfer myself. In five minutes... wait for me."

"..."

The hourglass ran out, and I transferred to Japan.

I used visual transfer to check on Meguru.

Meguru asked Maujin as I had instructed.

After a short conversation, she returned to the room.

I used incantation in the meantime and transferred back in front of Meguru.

"Maujin-kun said he doesn't know Kosei-kun. Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"Besides, didn't you say you can't transfer living things?"

"Yeah, I still can't transfer anyone else."

Meguru tilted her head.

"...I see. If we talk here, someone might overhear us. Kosei-kun, you'll tell me everything, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then... I'll transfer us to that spring. Follow me."

I followed Meguru's instructions and moved with the light of the transfer.

The spring, which had taken on a night-time hue, was filled with a glow like fireflies.

In front of this ethereal scene, I looked at Meguru.

Honestly, it's selfish, but I'm glad she understands that I'm not there.

Sometimes I think...

In both Japan and the other world... I might be an unnatural existence, like a mirage.

"So? Where did Kosei-kun go with the transfer?"

"...Japan."

"Japan... eh?"

Meguru's eyes widened.

"I never thought you'd be found out by Meguru... really..."

It's true... when it happens, it happens suddenly.

And by Meguru... thinking about it, it makes sense. Her ability is considered a higher version of mine.

There was a high possibility that she would manifest a similar power.

"That's why... I was so relaxed, and I could share food with everyone. It's all because I can return to Japan alone."

It's a fact that would make me despise myself.

If Meguru exposed me to everyone, it wouldn't matter.

I could share food, including sweets, with others because I had the luxury.

If I couldn't return and was neglected, I would probably have been sulking.

I might have even taken Meguru's kindness as an insult.

But I think Meguru has the right to condemn me.

"And I learned what's happening in Japan. That's your next question, right?"

"What's... happening?"

Meguru asked, seemingly believing my words.

If I had said something like, "It's a joke," the response would have been different.

...I really think Meguru is a good person.

"When you were looking for me earlier... you probably have a good idea, right?"

"You don't mean... that people in the class have disappeared...?"

Meguru's face turned pale.

I nodded silently.

"Just like everyone acted as if I had never been there, in the other world, everyone in the class... is treated as if they don't exist. I don't know what phenomenon this is."

"Such... so there's no commotion at all?"

"...Yeah. Of course, I tried to explain to the school and my parents. But no one believed me."

My class of one.

By forcefully associating this fact, the teachers thought I was in a class of one and didn't take me seriously.

If I can't rely on my parents or the school, who can I turn to?

The internet? They wouldn't believe me, and I doubt I'd find anyone knowledgeable.

Most importantly, I might get the same reaction as from my parents and the school.

Of course, I subtly checked the bank accounts, so I know they're accurate.

Hagizawa, Maujin, Meguru, and Jitsu's accounts had been switched to their parents' accounts.

However, they didn't remember creating them, as if they had been made at some point.

I didn't have the courage to hand over empty cards, though.

"Want me to bring a class photo or something? I think I'll disappear from the photo when I transfer to Japan."

Meguru covered her ears and shook her head.

"Please... I understand, so stop."

"Sorry..."

I continued to comfort Meguru until she calmed down.

...It's my fault, so it feels hollow, but...

"I can travel between the other world and Japan. I think this is the essence of my ability. I wanted to do something with this power, but I was afraid of what would happen if I told everyone on the first day that I could return to Japan alone, so I chose to keep quiet."

I continued talking to the calmed Meguru.

"From then on, as you know, I only gave small snacks to those with abilities that weren't combat-oriented, in secret."

I really told everyone it was a secret, but how did Meguru find out?

I didn't think they would expose something that benefited them...

I made sure not to tell anyone who might expose it, and I gave them my food.

If it wasn't a snack, it wouldn't seem unnatural.

I also distributed food through Maujin.