Chapter 41
Next week is the midterm exams, so the school has a shortened schedule, and classes will end in the morning.
Since I’ve been in another world for a while, the details of that schedule are a bit hazy.
Club activities are also on break, so once morning classes are over, everyone heads home.
Some of the more outgoing classmates might go out to hang out, but most of them declined any invitations and quickly left the classroom with their bags in hand.
“But… Chi-chan gave me a bento, right? That helps, but why?”
Curious, I checked my phone and saw a message from the members of the rooftop tea party.
…
Let’s have lunch at the park behind the school
…
The park behind the school? Where’s that?
I checked on the map on my phone. It’s a bit away, but there is a park.
It seems we can get there quickly if we exit from the school’s back gate.
Kashimura-san had already left the classroom, so I decided to head to that park.
I walked along and exited through the school’s back gate.
It’s a little far from the shoe lockers, so few students use the back gate.
“This way, I won’t run into many people. I should start using the back gate from now on.”
‘How gloomy.’
“It’s fine. I’m a shadow person. I want to live quietly without attracting anyone’s attention.”
“Excuse me, can I say something? That was really inspiring.”
Apparently, someone overheard my conversation with Aisis.
Well, they probably think I was just talking to myself.
The person who spoke was a boy, slightly—or rather, quite—chubby.
“Do you need something?”
“Your view of life is wonderful. I can also relate to speaking to oneself. I occasionally talk to myself too. More importantly, I, who have mastered the shadow, felt a spark when I saw you. You’re my kind.”
I had been approached by a strange person.
He said he had mastered the shadows, but wouldn’t someone who truly mastered it avoid speaking to strangers?
Or does mastering it to the extreme result in this?
‘The Master is like that, after all.’
(I can’t argue with that…)
“I am Kuramitsu Shinkai of Class 1-1. I would very much like to form a friendship with you.”
‘Well done, Master. That’s the second friend you’ve gotten. Though he seems like a boy freed from water pressure.’
(That’s rude! You can’t insult someone’s appearance. I know, but still…)
‘Blunt, isn’t it?’
“You’re Shinkai-kun, right? I’m Kenichiro Mikado of Class 4. I’m a little surprised by this sudden approach, but it’s fine.”
“Then shall we deepen our friendship on the way home?”
“Ah, I’m meeting my cousins at that park. We’re going to eat lunch together.”
“In that case, may I join you? I also brought a bento.”
(Should I contact Chi-chan and the others beforehand?)
‘That kind of thoughtful consideration is good.’
“Wait a moment. I’ll contact my cousins first.”
“That’s best. If I appeared suddenly, your cousins might be troubled.”
After contacting Chi-chan, she replied immediately saying it was fine and that she’d buy juice from the school store before coming.
While waiting for everyone, I talked with Shinkai-kun and realized he really did have an otaku personality, just as he appeared.
He often reads web novels and seems to have read extensively across various genres.
He’s been into sci-fi since childhood, especially stories featuring robots. In other words, he’s a robot otaku.
“…I see, Mikado-dono, you are a beginner who just started reading recently.”
We arrived at the park and sat on a bench in a fairly visible spot to ensure everyone could find us easily.
After some discussion about otaku topics, a voice called out:
“There you are! Ken-kun, sorry to keep you waiting!”
It was Mii-chan’s voice.
“So Ken-kun’s friend is Shinkai-kun. Hmm, I think that’s good.”
For some reason, Chi-chan looked at us from an older-sister perspective.
“Mikado-kun, there’s a good spot over there to eat lunch. Someone showed me too.”
Kashimura-san said that and gestured in that direction.
“W-w-w-what… Mikado-dono, you’re a sunny-type person? Come here for a moment.”
Shinkai-kun led me away from everyone:
“So your cousins are girls, I see. Did you know? Yuzuki Chiho and Kunisaki Misuzu are always ranked among the most beautiful girls at this school. I don’t know about the other one, but I could tell at first glance she’s a hidden beauty. They’re the exact opposite of someone like me, a shadow person.”
I see… Chi-chan and Mii-chan are amazing too.
“I get what Shinkai-kun means, but Chi-chan, Yuzuki Chiho is my cousin. I live in Tokyo, and every summer vacation I come here to play with Chi-chan, Mii-chan, and Misuzu, so it doesn’t feel unusual to me.”
“I see, so your cousins are childhood friends.”
While we were quietly talking about that, Mii-chan shouted: “Ken-kun and Shinkai-kun, let’s eat lunch! I’m hungry!”
“Sorry, I’m coming now.”
“I will join you in eating with Yuzuki-dono and Kunisaki-dono…”
Shinkai-kun overheated as he said that.
◇
“I’m home!”
“Welcome back, big brother. Did you make any friends?”
I am Kuramitsu Shinkai. I’m a first-year high school student at Komeiin Private Academy, and I’ve been attending this school since middle school.
Due to my fat appearance and name, people have teased me by calling me “Anglerfish,” and I’ve never met anyone I could truly call a friend.
No, the truth is I’m a coward who lacked the confidence and courage to make friends.
However, from this year, my little sister Aika took the middle school entrance exam and was admitted to this school’s junior division, and she said this to me:
“I’ll try my best to make lots of friends, so you do your best too. There will definitely be someone who understands how great you are, so don’t give up.”
My sister is not fat like me and is considered a beautiful girl in our neighborhood.
She had many friends in elementary school, and it was obvious she would be popular even after entering this school.
As her older brother, I had no choice but to try to make friends.
During my first year of high school, I would have classmates who progressed from the junior division, so it seemed unlikely anyone would want to be friends with me. It seemed difficult, but there might be hope among those who joined from high school.
Then, when I was starting to give up, I saw a student talking to himself near the back gate, as usual.
Since I didn’t recognize his face, I assumed he was a transfer from high school and mustered the courage to speak to him.
That was Kenichiro Mikado.
At first glance, I thought he was also a shadow person like me, but he was actually a mix of shadow and sun.
“Big brother, you don’t have to push yourself. Aika said something unnecessary, so it must have been stressful.”
“It’s nothing like that. Look, little sister.”
I showed my phone screen to my sister.
“What’s this? [Rooftop Tea Party]? Sounds like some noble group. What’s going on?”
“I became a member of that group.”
“You’re not in some weird cult, are you?”
“No, I’ve made friends. We even ate lunch together at the park today.”
“Really? You’re not lying?”
“I’m not lying. And tomorrow, we’ll have a study session with them, even an overnight one. See, little sister, big brother can do it too.”
“I see… (Seems suspicious… Is big brother being tricked…?)”
“I need to prepare for tomorrow immediately.”
“Wait, Aika will come too. I need to study for the test too.”
“Aika will come as well? I’ll need to ask the members first, so I can’t give an answer immediately.”
“Even if not, I’ll go with you anyway!”
Saying that, my sister ran up the stairs.
“By the way, the junior division also has midterms next week.”
I immediately contacted the members.
