Chapter 1

Well………

"Where am I? Who am I?"

………………

Ah, I really regret it. I had a feeling I shouldn't have said it before I even spoke. It must have been some kind of forbidden phrase.

But really, where am I, and who am I?

A few minutes ago, I woke up here.

A spacious room made of stone with a marble-like color and luster, probably about 20 tatami mats in size. There are no furnishings or pillars, just a square room. The whiteness adds to the vastness, making it feel quite oppressive.

Now, I woke up in this place, but I have no memory of sleeping here. More importantly, I have no memory of this place at all. To be even more precise, I don't have any memories at all.

I don't remember anything about myself, my parents' names, or even my childhood friend (female), the long-haired class president (female), the cheeky junior (female), the gentle and beautiful senior (female), or the cool and beautiful teacher (female).

Maybe I wasn't a student. I'm wearing a school uniform, though.

Because if I wasn't, there's no way I could forget all that.

Surely, today was supposed to start with my childhood friend (ponytail) waking me up, being late and getting scolded by the long-haired class president (glasses beauty), taking care of the cheeky junior (adorable small animal), being taken care of by the gentle and beautiful senior (student council president), and spending an inappropriate after-school time with the cool and beautiful teacher (unexpectedly affectionate?).

………………Yeah, sorry.

But, I do have knowledge.

I can derive the area of a triangle, but I don't know who came up with the theorem. I can recognize the music titled "Fantaisie Impromptu," but I have no idea who composed it. I understand Fleming's left-hand rule, but I don't know the name of the wise person who created it.

It's like that.

………No, really, I'm not lying? I really have no memories?

But, I'm in trouble.

There doesn't seem to be any entrance or exit in this room, and since I have no memories, I don't know where to go. Besides, how did I get into this room?

"You didn't come into this room; you were born here. Just a moment ago."

A sudden voice echoed.

A voice with authority and presence reverberated through the room, making it vibrate. My knowledge made me check if there were any speakers on the ceiling or walls, but as I confirmed earlier, this is just a white stone room. I would have noticed if there were any.

"No, I guess I did surprise you. Sorry.

Anyway, I had to speak to you eventually, so it was just a matter of time."

The voice's owner apologized with a tone that sounded like a wry smile.

"No, I was at a loss, so it was just in time. Can you explain this situation?"

"Sure, after all, I brought you here."

The voice said this cheerfully. I listened and asked about what the voice had said earlier.

"Um, what do you mean I was just born?"

"Um? It means exactly that. You were just born in this place."

"But, according to my knowledge, my body has already grown to the early or mid-teens, and I'm wearing clothes. There's no sign of a mother, so it seems unnatural for me to have just been born, right?"

"Hmm. Indeed, it might seem unnatural that your body is already grown, you're wearing clothes, and there's no mother nearby. But that's based on the common sense of the Earth you used to live on."

I remember the planet 'Earth.' I vaguely remember the general world map and the vague global situation of various countries. ………Vaguely. R-Really, I do!

But what about the way this voice is talking? It sounds like this isn't Earth.

And my knowledge is telling me.

After sorting out and integrating this situation, and eliminating all impossible possibilities, the impossible truth is!

"I understand……"

Yes, I understand everything.

This is―――a common template seen in stories.

It's a simple thing to think about, Mr. Watson.

………Who's Watson?

Never mind. In other words, the true identity of the voice speaking to me so transcendentally is―――

"You're an alien, aren't you!?"

"No, that's not it……"

I felt like I was being laughed at by some sarcastic detective.