One obstacle after another... 5

I finally managed to enter a state of dialogue.

 

 

 

My expression was still sour as if I had pent-up resentment to unleash, but even getting to this point was fortunate.

 

 

 

"Sniff, tell me..."

 

 

 

"Well, you see-"

 

 

 

Sensei, having received my permission, began passionately defending his innocence.

 

 

 

He went on about how I shouldn't wander around alone at night, shouldn't sleep in storage rooms, and other obvious things.

 

 

 

But why didn't he follow those obvious rules himself? What was I supposed to do when I didn't know what might happen to me?

 

 

 

Whether I wander alone at night or sleep in a storage room, both are safer and more comfortable for me than being with Sensei.

 

 

 

Still, listening to him, it seemed like he didn't do the things I thought he did.

 

 

 

Watching Sensei spill out his words frantically, my tears eventually stopped flowing.

My emotions seemed to have calmed down somewhat.

 

 

 

"It's fine now... I understand that I misunderstood..."

 

 

 

"Y-you do? Then, how about some breakfast..."

 

 

 

"I'll just eat at home."

 

 

 

Ah.

Now that I think about it, there was no food at home.

 

 

 

Cucumber?

That's not food.

 

 

 

"Still, wouldn't it be better to have breakfast before you go?"

 

 

 

Ugh...

I want to get away from Sensei as quickly as possible, but my empty fridge is holding me back.

 

 

 

"Well, then-"

 

 

 

So, we went to Schale's convenience store.

The icon said 'shop', but Sora called it a convenience store, so it's probably fine.

 

 

 

Even though Sensei had explained himself, the awkward atmosphere hadn't completely dissipated.

 

 

 

The convenience store wasn't far, but the atmosphere made it feel much further.

 

 

 

Somehow, managing to keep my mouth shut, I walked with Sensei to the convenience store.

 

 

 

"W-w-welcome! ...Sensei!"

 

 

 

As soon as the door opened, I heard that line, which I had heard countless times in the game, spoken in that voice, now in reality.

 

 

 

Sora greeted Sensei while sweating profusely.

 

 

 

"Hello to you too, Nito!"

 

 

 

Nito?

 

 

 

I looked around.

 

 

 

"Why, Nito? Are you looking for something?"

 

 

 

Sora was speaking directly to me.

 

 

That's how I found out my name.

So, this wasn't reincarnation, it was possession?

 

 

 

"Hmm...? It's nothing."

 

 

 

Sora looked at me with a touched expression.

 

 

 

"Y-you answered this time!"

 

 

 

How on earth did the original owner of this body live...?

 

 

 

I lightly waved to Sora in greeting (I'd never seen her so happy. Even her small wings were flapping). Then I chose food to eat with Sensei.

 

 

 

Sensei picked convenience store triangle kimbap and ramen, and I chose a sandwich and milk.

 

"Thank you! Please come again!"

 

 

 

Sora's greeting felt formal, like she was following a set manual.

But her expression looked like a genuinely happy smile.

 

 

 

Oh, and Sensei paid for everything, by the way.

 

 

 

I went back to the Schale office with Sensei.

 

 

 

I tried my best to refuse Sensei's invitation to eat there, but he seemed intent on following me home like a madman, so I decided to eat with him.

 

 

 

I couldn't let him find out where I lived.

And the biggest reason was that I felt bad for causing trouble with my misunderstanding.

 

 

 

But Sensei was also at fault for saying things that could be misunderstood.

 

 

 

The back of Sensei's head, walking ahead of me, looked annoying.

 

 

 

...I want to punch him really hard, just once.

 

 

 

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

 

 

 

I had a bad feeling, so I looked behind me, but only saw Nito following.

 

 

 

What was that?

Am I tired?

 

 

 

Dismissing the thought, I stood in front of the door, which then opened.

 

 

 

I stepped inside and sat on the familiar sofa.

 

 

 

It wasn't a place where people sat often, but it was comfortable.

 

 

 

Nito stared at where I sat and then headed somewhere.

 

 

 

Nito went into the break room.

 

 

 

After a short while, Nito came back out, holding the break room's single-seater sofa.

 

 

 

Nito placed the chair as far away from me as possible, then glared at me while opening the sandwich packaging.

 

 

 

...This really is too much...

Even if it's me, being so blatantly hated like this makes me feel...sad.

 

 

 

I opened my triangle kimbap under Nito's sharp gaze,

 

 

 

I should eat the ramen...for lunch.

 

 

 

I can't tell if it's going into my mouth or my nose while eating triangle kimbap under that gaze, but I know one thing for sure.

 

 

 

I'm going to get indigestion.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, seeing Nito, who ate a cup of ramen so slowly yesterday, now eating a sandwich with her small mouth with all her might, made my impression of her drop even further.

 

 

 

She didn't forget to glare at me while eating diligently.

 

 

 

Well, it still just looks like a small animal sulking.

 

 

 

After finishing eating her all-out sandwich, Nito immediately stood up.

 

 

 

Now that I think about it, Nito was still wearing the pajamas she came in yesterday.

 

 

 

"Um, Nito. If it's not too much trouble, you can change into these clothes instead of your pajamas-"

 

 

 

"No."

 

 

 

"Okay..."

 

 

 

I was flatly rejected.

 

 

 

"Well, I'll be going now."

 

 

 

"Alright, take care."

 

 

 

Oh, and there was something I wanted to say before she left.

 

 

 

"Be careful not to follow any strange people. Be careful of cars, be careful of the streets, and be careful of people."

 

 

 

"What do you think I am? I'm not a kid...!"

 

 

 

You are a kid.

 

 

 

I swallowed that thought, fearing another chase.

 

 

 

"Anyway, be careful on your way~."

 

 

 

"Tch...!"

 

 

 

Nito glared at me (I'm used to it now, so it doesn't bother me) and turned to walk away.

 

 

 

I watched Nito's retreating figure.

 

 

 

The time with the arrival of a new student

 

 

 

"Um... the door, please..."

 

 

 

"Ah, right."

 

 

 

Came to an end for now.

 

 

 

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

 

 

 

That jerk Sensei.

 

 

 

We only spent one night together, but he managed to shake my mental state, which had perfectly completed the Korean school system.

 

 

 

I really hope I never have to meet him again.

 

 

 

I remembered the way home, so I didn't get lost.

This fragile body seems to have a good sense of direction, at least.

 

 

 

After about 30 minutes of walking, I saw my house.

 

 

 

It's strange.

I only spent less than half a day away, but just seeing it makes me feel relieved.

 

 

 

I went up to my house and grabbed the door lock to open it.

 

 

 

For a moment, I was horrified that I didn't know the password, but I was relieved to remember it was a fingerprint lock.

 

 

 

I placed my right index finger on the sensor, and it beeped, unlocking the door.

 

 

 

As soon as I knew the door was unlocked, I pushed it open.

 

 

 

I couldn't resist the temptation of the bed in front of me.

 

 

 

I threw off my jacket and jumped onto the bed in my pajamas.

 

 

 

"Haaah~. This is bliss~."

 

 

 

I still can't get used to this voice.

More than anything, I can't get used to the size of my hands; I almost died trying to use chopsticks while eating ramen yesterday.

 

 

 

What should I do now...

Can I even go back to my original body?

 

 

 

I might run out of money tomorrow.

I could get caught up in something like the Eden Treaty.

(Even without the Eden Treaty, I could be attacked by random helmet gangs or deliquents.)

 

 

 

While my body was comfortable, my mind was tired.

 

 

 

Buzz-!

 

 

 

A ringtone from somewhere.

Well, in this day and age, it's unlikely someone wouldn't have a phone.

 

 

 

The ringtone was coming from under the bed.

 

 

 

...Why...?

 

 

 

Anyway, I pulled the phone from under the bed and saw a bunch of missed calls and Momotalk messages.

 

 

 

Seeing Momotalk almost gave me PTSD, but thankfully, it was nothing serious.

 

The sender was... the President...?

 

I started reading the messages sent to me carefully.

 

-Nito! We have class together today!

10:30 PM

 

-Why aren't you answering your phone?! Did something happen?

10:41 PM

 

-If this is a joke, stop it!

10:46 PM

 

After that, there were countless more Momotalk requests.

Somehow, even in this state, I ended up leaving them on read.

No, I didn't even know the messages came, so isn't this one safe?

 

Reading through the numerous Momotalk messages, I finally reached the bottom sentence.

 

-I'm coming to your house now.

9:27 AM

 

Huh?

What time is it now?

 

I looked at the time displayed on my phone.

 

[10:04]

 

"Huh?"

 

A dazed sound escaped my lips.

And not long after...

 

 

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

 

"Nito-chan~! Are you inside? Answer me if you are!"

 

 

Wait, hold on.

This feels like a really bad situation...?

 

"I can't wait! I'm breaking in!"

 

"W-Wait-"

 

Click-tick-tick-

 

Something hit the floor and rolled.

Not long after that sound,

 

Boom-!

 

An explosion that felt like it would burst my eardrums echoed through the entire villa.

 

Hahaha... my house...