Chapter 3 – My First Time with Ogre!

Chapter 3: My First Night with Ogre!

I managed to convince my old man without much trouble. Through him, I was able to get permission from Eija’s parents as well.

With that, Eija was officially going to be doing a homestay at our house… wait, seriously?

Even though I was the one who suggested it, I don’t quite understand how it all worked out.

Isn’t this reality basically a fantasy novel at this point?

I mean, living with such a transcendently beautiful girl… has my life developed some kind of bug? Like I’m unconsciously using some kind of video-game cheat code I found in the system.

Even if this was just a prank by the Goddess of Fate, the fact remained that Eija was staying at my house tonight. For Eija, it was her first night in Japan. For me, it was the first time I’d ever had a girl stay over. Excitement and anxiety hit me in alternating waves. My emotional state was a wreck.

Trying my best to act calm, I cleaned out the old storage room—formerly my sister’s room—so Eija would have a place to sleep.

After moving half the junk into my own room, I managed to secure enough floor space for a futon. Once I’d finished laying out the guest bedding, the beautiful girl who was set to sleep there tonight said—

“This is my first night with Ogre!”

She said it with a beautiful smile. Thanks to that, I spent the rest of the evening tormented by all sorts of delusions. 

Goddammit. 

Needless to say, I slept in my own room.

***

I was planning to go out and buy furniture and daily necessities today, but unfortunately, it was Monday. 

Which meant—it was time for Eija’s debut as a transfer student.

Dressed in our school uniform, Eija alongside me towards the station. 

It was a strange feeling; the familiar neighborhood scenery looked like a masterpiece when viewed past the shoulder of a silver-haired beauty. I felt a surge of exhilaration, like I needed to start running or something.

However, when I imagined what would happen once we reached school and Eija stepped into the classroom… I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Eija’s social anxiety was practically at the level of a phobia. What on earth was going to happen…? 

Wait a second.

The “wonderful scenery” suddenly reverted back to a boring, everyday street.

I turned around to see Eija staring off into space, walking down a crossroad in the complete opposite direction

“Eija! This way, this way!”

“Eh… ah!”

With a *pit-a-pat* of little steps, Eija came jogging back to me.

“I-I’m sorry. The cityscape was so interesting, I got carried away…”

“It’s just a normal residential area. Is it really that interesting?”

“Yes. It’s different from Finland. I had so much fun in Akiba yesterday, but this place is also fascinating in its own way.”

I guess that’s how it is. I’ve never been abroad, so I wouldn’t know.

“You seemed to be having a lot of fun on the way from Narita to Akiba, too.”

“Yes. There were so many tall buildings. It truly felt like a metropolis. A world of SF.”

TLN: A world of Science-Fiction.

“SF…”

“It was just like Akira!”

TLN: I believe it is referring to a Japanese manga that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world.

No, Tokyo isn’t quite that bleak and violent. And we actually held our Olympics properly. Though, that red bike is cool. Fueled by Eija’s otaku talk, my own coils were starting to warm up.

“That said, surely Finland has cities too, right?”

“Even in the capital, Helsinki, we don’t have skyscrapers like those. Besides, it’s not that big of a city; you can pretty much see it all on foot. But Tokyo is vast. Even the distance from Akiba to here is just an endless continuation of the city. I really cannot believe it. It is a marvel…”

I see. I’ve only lived in Japan, so I take it for granted, but the norm was probably different. You only realize things about yourself when you have something to compare them to. 

That… probably applies to people as individuals, too.

But in school, it feels like we’re encouraged to be standardized human beings. And those who are dyed in the colors of that community tend to ostracize anyone who doesn’t fit their sensibilities.

It’s even more extreme on social media. The high degree of anonymity makes people even more aggressive. Even in this school, there are message boards, hidden forums, and countless SNS groups. 

Everyone lives in fear of the evaluation of this invisible mass.

When Eija—an obvious “foreign object”—enters such a place, how will they react? Especially since her communication skills are remarkably low.

While I felt a sense of joy at the privilege of walking beside her, that only served to fuel my anxiety.

And that anxiety was, naturally, right on the mark.

***

The classroom froze.

When the homeroom teacher, Komiyama, entered the room with Eija in tow, everyone gasped at her beauty.

And Komiyama, who had likely already received his “baptism” from her in the faculty office, introduced her with a twitching face.

“Uh… I was going to make this a surprise, so I didn’t announce it, but starting today, you’ll be studying with E-Eija Pikku… Pikkarainen-san. It seems she doesn’t understand the language yet, so…”

So that’s how he interpreted it. 

Eija’s actually fluent in Japanese, though.

“Anyway, uh, please try to get along with her.”

After a moment of silence, the students erupted into applause and cheers.

“……”

But, as expected, Eija remained silent and expressionless.

“Um, Eija-san? Would you like to say a few words…?”

To Komiyama’s prompt, the student responded with a cold, piercing glance.

“Ah, never mind. For now, your seat will be at the very back.” He pointed toward me.

My neighboring seat was empty. It was the best position—back row, by the window. Eija walked over and caught my eye for a fleeting second. Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes were screaming for help.

Save me! I feel like I’m going to faint!*

Calm down. Just endure for now!*

I tried to talk back with my eyes. For whether it got through or not, I wasn’t completely sure.

Once the first period ended, I expected the students to swarm her immediately, but instead, everyone kept their distance, watching from afar to gauge the situation.

In the midst of that, the first person to charge in was, as expected, the Class Rep.

“Nice to meet you, Eija-san… Is it okay if I call you that? I’m Hinata Hanamiva. I’m the representative for this class.”

“……”

No response.

I felt the temperature in the room drop by two or three degrees.

“U-Um… I’m sure there are things you won’t understand since it’s your first time, but please rely on me for anything, okay?”

Hinata pushed forward bravely, despite the cold sweat on her brow.

“Ah, even if you don’t know the words, you can use hand signs… uh, gestures. I can understand English a little, so that’s okay too…?”

“……”

Finally, there was a reaction. Eija turned her face toward Hinata.

I thought the atmosphere might soften, but the opposite happened. The air in the classroom suddenly became tense.

Eija’s gaze was like a piercing arrow. It was the same overwhelming look I’d received at the airport. A beautiful woman with a serious face has a certain intensity. Add to that her large, beautiful eyes with their abnormal “eye power.”

Those eyes seemed to say:

I will kill you.

Even the indomitable Hinata flinched.

“A-Ah, w-well, next period is about to start… s-see you later, okay?”

As she left, Hinata glanced at me, then stopped and leaned down, her face getting close.

“Nii-kun? If she looks like she’s having trouble, please help her out.”

…She really is a good person. 

I can see why she’s so popular with both guys and girls.

Though, the person causing Eija the most trouble right now also happened to be Hinata…

After that, there were students who bravely tried to interact with her every break, but they were all repelled.

Finally, morning classes ended. It was time for lunch.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch anymore. At this rate, she wouldn’t even be able to eat.

I didn’t want to do anything to stand out, but I had to move. My mom had even entrusted me with a lunchbox for Eija… I decided to find somewhere out of public view.

I stood up and spoke to her, trying to sound casual.

“Ah, Eija-san? The teacher asked me to show you around the school. Could you come with me for a bit?”

Eija stood up in silence. That alone caused a stir in the classroom.

Keeping an eye behind me to make sure she didn’t get lost, we left the classroom. Almost every student we passed in the hallway stared at my back with wide, startled eyes.

Well, of course they would… but I needed to get us somewhere we could talk alone, fast.

I walked down the hall, scouting around, and eventually reached the Second Science Lab.

“We should be safe here.”

Once I confirmed no one was around, the tension drained from Eija’s face and she let out a massive sigh.

“I was so nervous… I felt like I was barely alive.”

“I-I see…”

From the outside, it looked more like she was going around intimidating everyone.

“But…I am happy that they were being so considerate. Especially that Class Representative with the long black hair… she seems really kind. I didn’t have the courage to reply, but I tried to express my gratitude with my eyes. I hope it got through…!”

“….”

Oh, it got through alright. In the completely opposite direction.

“Is it really that hard to reply?”

“Yes… it’s impossible right now. If I had to choose, my only options are pretending I didn’t notice, pretending I didn’t hear, or pretending I didn’t see. Those are my three choices.”

Those are all the same thing!

“I get it… anyways, let’s eat our lunch. Sorry it has to be in a place like this.”

“No, Japanese classrooms are interesting. I feel like I’ve jumped into the world of an anime or manga, it’s so exciting! Every day feels like a ‘Holy Land Pilgrimage.'”

A Holy Land Pilgrimage… the hobby of visiting real-life locations that served as the setting for an anime. At the Narita Anime Deck where I picked her up, I remembered seeing a display for the “88 Pilgrimage Sites of Japan.” 

Are there really that many?

We sat side-by-side at a window seat and opened our lunch boxes.

“Wow… so this is the Japanese bento culture!” Eija’s eyes sparkled.

There were certainly more side dishes than usual, and the colors were beautiful. My mom was definitely showing off.

But thanks to that, Eija was happy. I silently praised my mother.

And so, we spent our lunch in the science room, eating while chatting. I was relieved to hear that her first impressions of the Japanese school weren’t bad.

“Phew… that was delicious. Um… Gochisousama-deshita. Saying gochisousama in Japan. It feels fun, somehow.”

“Yeah… this was my first time eating lunch with a girl. It was… nice.”

“Ah, then since it was my first time eating lunch with a boy, I’ve shared another ‘first experience’ with Oga.”

“Yeah… I guess.” 

No, seriously, watch your phrasing.

…That way of speaking still makes me blush.

While I was wondering how to tell her that, I heard voices from outside the classroom.

“Seriously, where’d she go? Eija-chan.”

That voice… Toyama?

Kai Toyama—a guy in our class who’s a bit on the annoying side. A try-hard otaku with a “party-boy” vibe. Don’t tell me he came looking for Eija?!

“This science lab is the only place we haven’t looked.”

“If she’s not there, she’s outside. I’m not trying to walk that far, though.”

Two other guys from class were with him.

This is bad. I mean, it’s not like we’re doing anything wrong, but Eija might get scared. I turned to look at her—

“C-could it be… is this what they call a ‘shakedown’? Where you are taken behind the school building and assaulted…?”

With eyes trembling in terror, she pressed herself against me.

“Eija, this way.”

I whispered and led her into the adjacent prep room. Eija followed behind with a frightened face. As soon as I closed the prep room door without making a sound, I heard Toyama and the others enter the Science Lab.

“Ah, damn, she’s not here either.”

“Whatever. She’ll be back once class starts anyway.” Toyama’s irritated voice echoed.

“Damn! I wanted to trigger an event just for myself!”

“Hah?”

“Think about it! A sudden transfer student? This is like a rom-com plot! I can’t believe something like this is happening in my life!! Thank you, God!”

I guess in Toyama’s life, he’s the protagonist. So Eija coming here is all for his sake… at least in his own head.

“But Toyama, there are definitely a lot of guys aiming for her.”

“That’s why I’m searching for her now! The starting dash determines the winner. If I get close to her first, I’m golden! I’m definitely gonna raise her affection level and make her mine!”

Eija let out a silent “hic” and clung to my arm. With a pale face and her body shaking violently, she held onto me as if for dear life.

“Wait…!?”

She was warm, she was soft, she smelled good… even in this situation, I was getting incredibly nervous for a different reason! If we got caught now, it would be even worse. I prayed fervently that Toyama wouldn’t open the door to the prep room.

“I mean, this is an event heaven prepared just for me, right? I’ve just gotta find her!”

“But dude, we’ve also got Shiramine in our class, you know?”

Rikuto Shiramine—the rising star of the soccer club. A cool, laid-back ikemen, and undoubtedly the most popular guy in class with the girls.

“Well, that is a concern. But he’s basically soccer-obsessed, right? Besides, isn’t he dating Usami?”

—Misa Usami.

Just hearing that name sent a sharp pang of pain through my chest.

Even though it was a long time ago. The thorn still stayed stuck in my heart, binding my hands and feet. Like a curse.

“Right! If that’s the case, I’ve got no enemies in our class! I’ll take Eija-chan, who’s new to the country and lost, and show her the ropes—man, we could finish all sorts of ‘first experiences’ together!”

“You’re seriously gonna do her?”

“Damn, that’s gross.”

“Shut up, it’s love! Well, in the end, I’m gonna eat her up by summer! For sure!!”

Spitting out those weird lines, Toyama and the others left.

“Eija… it’s okay now.”

I tried to reassure her, but Eija’s shaking didn’t stop.

“I-I’m… am I going to be… eaten…? Japan has a culture of eating humans…? How terrifying…”

We don’t!! If we did, I’d be at the level of abandoning the country out of sheer horror!

“Relax. That… wasn’t what he meant.”

“Eh… then what did he mean?”

“W-Well, that is…” I found it very hard to explain.

“Even if they weren’t going to eat me, they were planning to kill me!”

“Not that either.”

“But he said he was going to ‘do’ me! Doesn’t that mean ‘kill’ in this context?!”

Well, it can be used that way, but!

“In this case, it’s a bit different, or rather…”

This is too awkward! I don’t want to be the one to explain this!

“I never imagined Japan was such a violent country…”

Eija was pale and trembling like a leaf. This was bad. Afternoon classes were about to start. I had to calm her down quickly. If we both skipped class together, there was no telling what people would suspect later.

“Look, that guy is honestly annoying, but he’s not a criminal. I don’t think he’ll actually do you any harm.”

“Do you really think so…?”

“And besides, supposedly he’s an otaku too. You might have something in common to talk about.”

“Being an otaku or not is beside the point! He’s scary!!”

Even if I managed to clear up the misunderstanding, the guy would just start talking with his ulterior motives on full display. She’d still be totally grossed out either way…

“Anyways, let’s head back. Class is about to start.”

“B-but…”

“I’ll be right there next to you.”

“Yes… that is very reassuring, but…”

“If anything happens, just let me know.”

“But! It is still quite intimidating to try and talk to you in front of everyone else…”

Well, she had a point there. Especially in the current situation—if Ejya and I were seen chatting like old friends, we’d become the talk of the school instantly, and people would be digging for details.

Eija gave me a distressed look.

“If there were a way for us to communicate at any time… I think I would feel a little more at ease…”

Eija held her smartphone to her lips with both hands, looking up at me with pleading eyes. That silent request… her cuteness was bordering on lethal. This was dangerous.

Ugh, man, asking a girl for her contact info takes a serious amount of courage!

“Umm… well, then… should we, you know… exchange IDs?”

“Yes! Thank you so much!”

And so, after scanning our QR codes, Eija’s name was officially registered in my friends list.

Whoa… for some reason, I’m actually really happy.

“Now, let’s hurry back.”

I said it, but Ejya’s steps were heavy and slow, as if she were dreading the return. Feeling restless at her pace, we managed to slip into the classroom just as the chime rang.

And so, the afternoon classes began.

Eija: [Talking secretly during class makes my heart race, doesn’t it?]

Ouga: [Yeah. But don’t let the teacher catch you.]

Eija: [Understood! Oh, by the way—]

As it turned out, Eija was quite the chatterbox. I glanced sideways and saw her deftly typing away with one hand hidden inside her desk. Impressive. I’m slow at typing unless it’s on a keyboard, so it’s a real struggle for me.

Then, during the break between classes—

“Eija-san, you’re so beautiful! Would you let me use you as a model sometime?” A girl from the Art Club came over to recruit her.

Eija: [This is bad! Is this one of those ‘catch sales’ scams where they trick you by saying they’re scouting for models?!]

Ouga: [I’m pretty sure that’s not what’s happening here. The Art Club has plenty of otakus, so you could probably have a normal conversation with them even if you don’t plan on modeling.]

Eija: [I’ve heard that even among comrades who love the same work, if their ‘couplings’ differ, it leads to war!!]

And so, the girl from the Art Club was also defeated.

Finally, the afternoon classes ended. It was the dreaded after-school period. I wanted to get Eija out of the classroom before any other students could corner her.

However—

“Eija-chaaan! Hey, hey! The star of the show, Kai Toyama, has arrived!”

We were cut off!

“Are you free today? You’re free, right? I’ve been wanting to show you around! I know tons of fun places. Oh, I can even introduce you to some delicious sweets shops! Ask me anything, literally anything!”

A full-throttle, high-pressure pitch right out of the gate. Eija, meanwhile, wouldn’t even meet his eyes, standing as still as a statue.

I checked my phone, but no help message had come from her.

What? Don’t tell me she’s actually considering it?

The moment the thought crossed my mind, a sense of frustration boiled up in my chest.

Eija was just an exchange student doing a homestay at my house. I was only close to her because I happened to meet her before anyone else. It would be a shame if Ejya could only talk to me. She’d probably be happier if she made more friends and could talk normally with lots of people.

Even as I told myself that, the mental image of Toyama and Eija walking home together made the blood rush to my head. I felt an uncontrollable surge of frustration.

This was a selfish emotion. Pure ego.

I knew that. But—huh?

I could see Eija’s hand gripping her phone inside her desk. Her hand was trembling.

She was shaking so much she couldn’t even type.

I stood up and slung my bag over my shoulder.

“…Eija-san. Shall we get going?”

Eija looked at my face as if startled, her eyes wide.

It was the first time she had shown real emotion in this classroom.

She stood up hurriedly, grabbed her bag, and walked right past Toyama. We shared a brief moment of eye contact before we started walking together.

“Wait, wait! Hold on, Eija-chan. I mean, Aoi!” Toyama put a hand on my shoulder. I had no choice but to stop.

“What is it?”

“No, what is that?! Why are you two just casually trying to go home together?” A mix of surprise, curiosity, and competitiveness flickered across Toyama’s face.

What now? I wanted to keep the fact that Eija was staying at my house a secret. People would definitely start making up wild rumors based on their own assumptions. Then, they’d turn those fantasies into “facts” and pass judgment on us behind our backs. I wasn’t going to let that happen.

But… it was definitely unnatural for us to head home together if there was no connection between us.

In that case—

“My parents and Eija-san’s parents are acquaintances. They asked me to look after her.”

It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the whole truth, either. If I told a flat-out lie, I’d get caught in a contradiction later. This was probably the limit of what I could say.

“Seriously?! What’s up with that? That’s so unfair!”

“What do you mean ‘unfair’…? Anyway, that’s the deal. See ya tomorrow.”

“No way! I’m coming too!”

Huh?

I couldn’t help but scowl.

“It’s not like Aoi’s the only one with the right to walk her home, right? Besides, you’re not exactly reliable on your own. I’ll tag along too.”

How does his brain even work…? What a pain.

“Even if you say you’re coming…”

“I don’t really need your permission, do I? I’m walking with Eija-chan. Right?”

Eija’s expression remained as cold as an ice elf’s. Her eyes gave off a chilling, frost-like light. But Toyama didn’t back down, pressing even harder.

“If Eija-chan said she hated it or told me not to come, that’d be one thing. But she hasn’t said she hates it, has she?”

Technically, he was right.

But I could somehow tell. In Eija’s jewel-like blue eyes, there was a faint trace of fear.

In that case. If that’s how it’s gonna be—

“Toyama—”

“Toyama, you’re so gross!”

A different voice cut in.

I looked toward the sound and saw a group of three girls. They wore their uniforms loosely and had flashy hair—the “gal” clique. They were the class mood-makers, the ultimate social butterflies.

The girl in the center, a blonde named Misa Usami, was perched on a desk with one knee up in a pose that was dangerously close to revealing her underwear.

“She obviously hates it. Look at that scary look in her eyes. Stop being so pathetic and trying to force yourself on her.”

“Wh… hey, this has nothing to do with you, does it?”

“Huh? I’m saying it’s pathetic to try and force a girl into something. Besides, an otaku who can’t read the room is the absolute worst.”

The two girls flanking her giggled and chimed in.

“Exactly. You’re not a ‘social butterfly,’ you’re just cringe.”

“Gross~ ★”

“Guh…!”

Even the pathologically positive Toyama was losing ground. Usami’s group held the undisputed #1 status in this class.

They were stylish, cute, flashy, and sophisticated. Yet, they didn’t look down on the plain “mob” students. They might tease people, but because they didn’t mean any harm, no one really resented them for it. If anything, people were almost happy to be noticed by them.

They were, in a sense, like idols.

Compared to them, Toyama acted like he was popular, but it always felt forced and awkward.

He only talked about himself, shouted, and caused scenes. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to be funny or just desperate to show off how “interesting” he was, but he was always slightly off the mark.

A fake can’t beat the real deal, I guess.

Though, those words kind of felt like they were coming back to bite me, too.

Suddenly, I made eye contact with Usami.

“…Tch.”

She clicked her tongue at me!

Usami gave me a single, hateful glare before looking away.

“What’s up, Misa?”

“Nothing. More importantly—hey!”

Usami’s eyes fixed on a boy who was about to leave the classroom.

“Rikuto! Are you heading to club now?”

The true king of this class, the star of the soccer team, Rikuto Shiramine, stopped and turned back toward Usami.

“Yeah.”

A curt reply with no trace of friendliness. It was cool, but effortless and natural.

“I’ll come watch your practice later! ★”

“Fine by me. It’s not that interesting to watch, though,” he said, leaving the classroom.

…Right, we should head out too. For now, the others were staying quiet under the aura of a true powerhouse, but if Toyama started acting up again, it would be a nightmare.

However, just as I stepped out of the classroom, a “strongest character” of an entirely different variety was waiting for me.

“Hey, Aoi-kun. Was that true, what happened earlier?”

The quintessential class representative, Hinata Hanamiya, was standing outside the door. Even at the end of the school day, her long, silky black hair was still perfectly glossy.

“True? What is?”

“That your parents know each other.”

“Oh… that. Yeah, it’s true.”

Hanamiya pressed the tips of her fingers together and offered a gentle smile.

“I see. In that case, maybe I’ll come to you for advice regarding Eija-san from now on…”

“Huh?”

“Anyway, see you later. I have to go check in with the student council.”

“O-oh. Right. See ya.”

That smile. Was that the look of someone relieved to have found a person to dump a difficult job on? If so, she’s probably going to ask me how we can get Eija to fit in with the class…

I wasn’t sure if that was just Hanamiya’s duty as class rep or out of genuine kindness. Either way, it sounded like a good thing. However, after watching Eija all day, I knew all too well that it was a terrifyingly tall order.

Eija didn’t let out a small sigh until we had swapped shoes at the lockers, exited the school gate, and walked about a hundred meters.

“Haa… I somehow managed to survive this day…”

The Nordic beauty spoke with the face of a soldier retreating from the front lines. 

But this battle was only just beginning.

***

In that fashion, two or three days passed, and Eija’s reputation became set in stone.

The Ice Elf.

Apparently, everyone had looked up “Finnish people” online. Once they found information claiming they were unsociable, cool, and often distant, they were easily convinced.

And so, Eija’s role was established as an object to be admired from afar. Nowadays, the only one who still bravely attempted to integrate her into the class was the class rep, Hanamiya.

Then, there were the boys who approached her with ulterior motives. Led by Toyama, several guys tried talking to her or inviting her out. So far, not a single one has received a reply. Not even a rejection.

In short, it was a one-hundred-percent snub. She didn’t even acknowledge their existence. It was soul-crushing. Watching that, or hearing the rumors, the others eventually gave up.

Thus, Eija was becoming a solitary figure. At least, on the surface.

“…Well, I don’t mean to meddle too much in the students’ lives, but…”

“I see.”

I had been called to the staff room, where our homeroom teacher, Komiyama, was consulting with me and Hanamiya.

“The higher-ups seem to want a bit more… interaction. So, how about it? How are things looking?”

Hanamiya asked back with a dubious look on her face.

“Sensei, you’re talking like this is someone else’s problem.”

“That’s because it *is* someone else’s problem. But it’s also my job. The higher-ups want a story along the lines of: ‘Our first exchange student interacted with local students and established good relationships with Japan.’ Can you guys help me out with that?”

He was being way too blunt.

Hanamiya knit her brows in distress.

“I’ve tried talking to her, but she won’t give me the time of day… What about you, Aoi-kun?”

“Uh… well. I mean, we can communicate more or less, but I wouldn’t call it ‘interaction’ exactly.”

I could only pray they didn’t see through the act.

Komiyama let out a long, heavy sigh.

“Do something about it, pleeease. If you don’t, I’m the one who gets grilled by the ‘old man trio’—the principal, the vice-principal, and the head of the grade.”

Not my problem.

Hanamiya tilted her head, looking utterly stumped.

“But she follows the school rules and attends classes properly. If we force her to do something she dislikes, it might be perceived as bullying…”

“The Finnish Embassy might not stay quiet either,” I added.

Komiyama’s face turned pale.

“Eek, that would be bad! I’m just looking for a peaceful life here. Anyway, it’s fine if she stands out in a good way, but I don’t want her standing out in a bad way. I’d rather she just blend into the group like any other student. You know? Like the great men of old said: ‘Harmony is to be valued.’”

The talk ended with a convenient snippet of a quote from Prince Shotoku. Hanamiya and I left the staff room and returned to the classroom.

Since there was still time before the afternoon classes, the room was filled with clamor. In the middle of it all sat one student, wrapped in a silence that felt like a different world.

Hanamiya stopped near her own seat and spoke to me again. Apparently, this was an extension of the consultation.

“…I said all that back there, but I really do want to become friends with Eija-san.”

Hanamiya was a truly good person. Not that it was about me, but as someone who knew Eija, I was happy to hear it. How Eija felt about it was a different matter, though.

“Aoi-kun, do you have any opportunities to see or talk to Eija-san outside of school?”

“Opportunities to talk” was an understatement. Once we were home, we talked non-stop. She was quiet around my parents, but the moment we were alone in my room, she became a different person—a real chatterbox. We hadn’t gone out together yet, but we were planning to go to the store this weekend.

“We walk part of the way home together, but there’s no conversation. I haven’t gone out with her or anything.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. Eija didn’t talk much on the way home, probably because she was wary of being seen. And we technically hadn’t “gone out” together yet—though we did take a detour to Akihabara on the way home.

“I see… Oh?”

Following Hanamiya’s gaze, I saw Eija. She was staring out the window, not doing anything in particular.

“She was just looking over here.”

“Huh? Really?”

“That’s rare. For Eija-san to show interest in something.”

True. Maybe Eija was actually curious about Hanamiya, who was being so kind to her. She had even expressed gratitude, saying she seemed like a nice person.

“Hey, Hanamiya… do you… watch anime or read manga at all?”

“That’s random. Hmm, not really. Why do you ask?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I thought if Hanamiya had interests in that area, it might give her a way to talk to Eija, but—wait?

The inner pocket of my blazer vibrated. I pulled out my phone and saw a message from Eija.

**[Eija]: You two seem to be getting along quite well.**

…Uh?

“Is it an emergency?” Hanamiya asked worriedly.

“Oh, no! It’s nothing.”

“Really? Okay then… So, why did you suddenly ask about manga and anime?”

Naturally, she was curious… Maybe I was being too careless.

“Well, I’ve just been a bit interested in otaku stuff lately… You know, like they say, ‘Cool Japan’? It’s a culture Japan is proud of internationally, right? I figured I should study up on it a bit—”

“What? Aoi, are you still doing the otaku thing?”

Usami.

Swinging her blonde side-ponytail, Usami walked over.

“’Still’? …Aoi-kun, were you an otaku?”

Hanamiya looked shocked. Dammit, Usami… don’t go exposing people’s pasts like that.

“No, Usami is talking about back in elementary school. I was just at the age where kids normally watch anime and read manga.”

“Huh? You were super deep into it. You were even trying to convert other people!”

Stop bringing up details!

It must have shown on my face, because Hanamiya hurriedly tried to cover for me.

“It’s fine, isn’t it? There’s nothing shameful about having a hobby.”

“No, it’s really not like that. I just saw Blade of Annihilation on TV recently and thought it looked cool.”

Usami immediately jumped back in.

“That’s a nationwide hit. Everyone watches that. That doesn’t make you an otaku.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Once I got into middle school… I quit being an otaku after that. Or rather, I stopped letting myself get obsessed with things.”

“…!”

For a fleeting second, it looked like Usami’s expression turned painful. Maybe I imagined it.

“What?”

“Nothing! …You’re just boring now.”

“I’m not trying to entertain you.”

“You were way more interesting when you were a kid.”

You’re the one to talk…

Usami turned on her heel and headed back to her seat.

“Um… did something happen between you and Usami-san?”

I couldn’t help but give a wry smile at the class rep, who was considerate to a fault.

“We’re childhood friends. We’ve been together since kindergarten. Back then, she was bright, fearless, and could get along with anyone, but…”

Right. And she used to like anime and manga normally too—especially Gundam. We shared interests, and she was a friend I could talk to without even thinking about the fact that she was a girl. But—

“I didn’t think she’d make her ‘gal’ debut in middle school and become such a social butterfly—”

Another message arrived from Eija.

[Eija]: Are you two ‘social butterflies’?

Not me, but for Usami, yeah. Also, where did she learn that slang?

I tried to reply, but she followed up before I could.

[Eija]: She is a so-called ‘normie,’ then. She should go explode.

No, she shouldn’t. What’s with her all of a sudden?

[Eija]: I suppose I am just like a pebble on the side of the road to you.

…Is she sulking?

What kind of road has gems rolling around on it? That’s impressive.

In the end, class started before I could reply.

***

That night, I felt a bit concerned and decided to check the school’s online bulletin board. Of course, it wasn’t the official one, but one created secretly by some of the students.

Anonymous: I saw the A-class transfer student. Cute as a doll.

Anonymous: But she’s stuck-up. Gives off a bad vibe.

Anonymous: From the perspective of someone that beautiful, we’re probably just trash, right?

Anonymous: She’s kind of different from what I expected.

Anonymous: If that’s her attitude, she shouldn’t have come to Japan.

…It was getting nasty. Just as I feared.

I closed the app and lay down on my bed.

Maybe Komiyama felt this ominous atmosphere in his own way, and that’s why he called me and Hanamiya.

Communicate with other students. Make friends. Join a club. He wanted her to excel in studies or sports, but he didn’t want her to stand out otherwise.

That in itself wasn’t a bad thing. But forcing it felt like being told to kill your individuality and submit to peer pressure.

I myself was currently succumbing to that peer pressure.

It wasn’t coming from anyone specific, but it felt like I was being gently yet surely strangled.

We were being oppressed by something invisible.

The school, the teachers, parents, other students, the “vibe” surrounding me—things like that. 

The sense that “this is how things normally are,” the expectation that “you’re this kind of person,” the values decided by someone else that “you should do this” or “this is what’s good”—all of it was robbing me of my freedom.

The evaluations of faceless strangers were arbitrarily deciding my worth and warping my future.

On the class group chat in the messaging app, people didn’t talk about Eija much. Probably because it would be a problem if they were badmouthing her and she ended up joining later.

Also, it might be because I was in the group. Since I’d made it public that our parents knew each other.

But in smaller group chats, there was likely plenty of slander being thrown Eija’s way.

The fear that a negative image was quietly and surely spreading in a place she couldn’t see. People other than the person involved were arbitrarily trying to decide on a consensus.

And once the collective consciousness decided “this person is evil,” they felt justified in treating them however they wanted. They would strike the target while brandishing a selfish, intangible “justice.”

But the moment the trend shifted, they would forget they ever attacked her and act like nothing had happened.

That isn’t justice. It’s just entertainment—a way to vent stress.

I didn’t want Eija to become a target for that.

“Ouga—? You’re next for the bath—!”

“Yeah, got it—!”

I answered my mother’s call almost as a reflex.

I’ll think about this while soaking in the tub…

I headed to the bathroom with a change of clothes in hand. And the moment I opened the door to the dressing area—

Eija, in her underwear, jumped into my sight.

***

“…I am so sorry.”

In my room, I was on the floor performing a full dogeza in front of Eija.

After thinking about it, she said “next” and not “now”. Ever since my older sister moved out, it had just been the three of us for a while, so my guard was down, and I was so lost in thought that—

No matter how much I made excuses, the fact remained that I had barged in while she was changing after her bath.

“U-um… I was just surprised, I’m not angry or anything…”

Eija gave a bashful smile and waved her hands dismissively. Naturally, she was no longer in her underwear.

She’s dressed in relaxed loungewear… 

Even though it’s loose-fitting, it’s a ribbed sweater. On top of that, the neckline is wide, leaving her neck and collarbones exposed. Below, she’s wearing calf-length leggings.

I’m sitting across from Eija in this relaxed, defenseless state. For some reason, we’re both sitting in formal seiza style. I can’t tell if her cheeks are red from embarrassment or because she just got out of the bath, but she looks… alluring.

Speaking of alluring, that vision of her from earlier is burned into my retinas.

I knew she had fair skin, but seeing her in her underwear, the sheer amount of skin on display was high-impact. That skin was flushed a faint, steamy pink, and it was honestly pretty erotic.

And her chest. They were bigger than they looked through her clothes. It felt like her white bra was working overtime to support them.

But her waist was so thin it looked like it might snap, and her hips and thighs were unexpectedly curvy, and those crinkled pure white panties—

“Um… are you thinking about it right now?”

“Gah! No! Of course not!” 

But I quickly cave under Eija’s half-lidded, suspicious stare.

“I’m sorry… I’ll do my best to delete it from my memory.”

“Y-yes… it’s probably best to forget unpleasant memories quickly. I really showed you something unsightly… quite a disgrace to my face.”

The phrase*“He was the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings” reflexively popped into my head… but did she just say that she was an “eyesore”?

TLN: Reference to how some anime villain groups tend to introduce the weakest villain first and then progressively moves up in difficulty.

“Anyway, it wasn’t unsightly at all. In fact, you were really beautiful—” 

Crap! The words were out before the ink on my promise to forget could even dry!

Eija’s cheeks turned a bit redder.

“T-that’s not true. My nighttime underwear isn’t even cute, and I’m not wearing any makeup…”

Oh, right. This is her… bare-faced.

A lot of the girls in class wear at least light makeup. Especially Usami’s group—they’re always fully “done up.”

Even without a drop of makeup, Eija is many times more beautiful and cuter than the girls in class with their faces fully painted.

“Do you usually wear makeup, Eija?”

“Yes… well, if you call fixing my hair and putting on some lip balm makeup…”

To Usami and her friends, that’s basically the same as doing nothing. And yet, she’s this perfect. She really is on another level.

“I do think I’d like to learn how to do it properly, though…”

“Well, you probably don’t feel the need to.”

“That’s not true!” she replied, her tone unexpectedly sharp.

“Is that so? I mean, Eija, even as you are—”

“No! I need it for when I do cosplay!”

Ah, so that’s the reason!

“Do you do cosplay too, Eija?”

“No, I haven’t been able to do it until now due to… circumstances. So, I want to try it in Japan!”

I’m curious about those “circumstances,” but it might be rude to pry too deeply.

“I see. Anyway, sorry about earlier. I’ll be careful from now on. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

“No… I was the one who let my guard down because the bath felt so good… Oh.”

“What is it?”

“It’s not exactly an apology, but… while I love Japanese baths, there is one thing that’s a bit of a shame…”

“Oh, what? I’ll do what I can to help.”

“If there were a… sauna, I would be happy.”

The difficulty level just spiked unexpectedly!!

“A sauna? Like, that hot room thing?”

“Yes. Finnish people love saunas. They are a part of life.”

“Is that… right?”

“In Finland, there are almost half as many saunas as there are people.”

There’s a limit to how many you need!

“I see… as expected, that’s going to be hard to handle right away.”

“Other than that… oh, there’s an anime I’m very curious about. Would you watch it with me?”

“If it’s just that, I’m happy to oblige.”

“It’s the new series of Live Live…”

TLN: Love Live…

“Come to think of it, you were looking at the merchandise at Narita Airport. Do you like them, Eija?”

“Yes, I love it! But I haven’t seen the new series, Soranosaki Academy Idol Club, yet.”

The title makes it sound like idols are going to become astronauts or something. Going to Mars and saying, “I’m home, everyone on Earth!”

It probably has nothing to do with that…

“It seems that there’s also other anime that have started airing… so I want to catch up quickly.”

I had no reason to say no. To make it as easy to watch as possible, we decided to use the PC monitor in my room instead of a smartphone. It’s a 27-inch liquid crystal display, after all.

The broadcast finished a long time ago, but it’s available on streaming services. It costs about five hundred yen a month. There are services you can register for even without a credit card, and the first month is a free trial.

Just in case my mom came in, I wanted to maintain the pretense that we were studying together or that I was teaching her about Japanese culture.

 I lined up two chairs at my study desk and spread out reference books and a likely-looking guidebook.

“I’m a little nervous…”

Eija’s throat bobbed as she swallowed, her body stiff with tension. Perhaps she was eager; her head was leaning slightly forward. Since we were sitting right next to each other, my heart was racing too. It felt like we were on a date at the movie theater. And just the two of us. 

Is this… an “at-home date”?

“Alright. Let’s start from episode one…”

It began with a view of the Odaiba waterfront area and a scene of the heroine shopping. Maybe it was because the character designs were different from the previous Live Live series, but the atmosphere felt a bit different.

“Wow… so cute. How precious.”

Eija’s eyes were already sparkling. Her profile, seen from such a short distance, was incredibly beautiful. The line from her slender neck to her shoulders. Her long silver hair, revealing a glimpse of her nape. And the collarbones that formed delicate hollows.

Noticing my gaze, Eija turned toward me.

“……”

Crap. She realized I was watching her instead of the screen. Does she think I’m a creep?

Eija placed both palms on top of her head.

“Pikka-pyon da pyon!”

“…….”

Time stopped.

Eija’s face turned redder and redder by the second. She slowly lowered her hands and looked away.

“…I’m sorry.”

In the show, the heroines were looking at bunny-eared hoodies and saying things like “—pyon da pyon,” so she must have just felt like doing it herself. But man, I wish she wouldn’t do such reckless things. She was so cute I thought my heart was going to stop.

Suddenly, I had a realization. Cuteness isn’t “justice”—it’s a weapon. It can definitely kill people.

“I should be the one apologizing… for not having a reaction.”

“I-it’s fine! Please just forget it! Let’s focus on the anime!”

After that, we focused seriously on the screen. But even without trying, I was naturally drawn in. I was completely captivated, especially once the live performance scenes started.

Before I knew it, the first episode was over.

“…….”

Neither of us spoke for a while.

To be honest, it was incredibly interesting. It wasn’t just about being cute or “precious.”

The protagonist says she’s “graduating from the things she liked as a child because they’re childish,” but then she realizes those things are still important to her… she finds something to admire and takes the first step because she wants to try it too…

All in all, as a youth drama, it was deeply moving. It was so intense I almost wanted to shout, “That was a great series finale!” The fact that this was only the first episode was insane.

That kind of long-lost emotion was swirling inside me. Maybe the impact was even greater because I’d stayed away from this kind of thing for about three years.

My blood was pumping; I was excited. I wanted to express this moving feeling. I wanted to share this emotion with someone! And Eija was right there beside me.

But Eija was quiet. Maybe she found it boring?

The thought cooled my excitement. If I got worked up alone and tried to tell her, what if she didn’t accept those feelings?

She might think I’m a weirdo. A loser. Even if she didn’t show it on the surface, she might be mocking me in her heart or somewhere I couldn’t see, insulting and laughing at me with someone else. On SNS, everyone except me might be judging and ranking me in a place I didn’t know about. That kind of fear bound my heart.

“…….It was…”

Eija turned her tear-rimmed eyes toward me.

“Amazing! I love it!”

My mind went blank at the sudden confession.

And I was startled by Eija’s voice, which was the loudest I’d ever heard it.

“I was so moved! I love this anime! What about you, Oga?!”

As for me—

“It was soooooo freaking good!!”

Shouting that out made me feel incredibly refreshed. It was as if the black mist that had been building up in my chest was exhaled and vanished all at once. I felt like my body was filled with fresh air.

“Right?! The live scene was breathtaking! And the club being disbanded, the plot just wouldn’t let me look away for a single second!”

“Yeah! That last singing scene was so moving. And even though the characters who’ll become members are just making cameos, the way they’re drawn makes you so curious about them… It’s such a satisfying story, yet I can’t help but want to know what happens next! This is crazy!”

“I agree! I feel like we have no choice but to see this through to the end!”

There was a knock on the door.

“….!”

Eija instinctively covered her mouth.

“Hey, you two! What’s all the noise about?”

Crap. We were so absorbed we didn’t notice the footsteps coming up the stairs.

“Ah, sorry. We just got a little excited.”

I quickly closed the video window, revealing the educational website I had prepared underneath.

After opening the door, my mom gave me a suspicious stare.

 In the end, she just said, “Don’t bother the neighbors,” and went back downstairs.

“That was a close one. Let’s keep our voices down.”

“You’re right… I feel bad for causing trouble…”

“But… we can’t stop here, right?”

Eija’s eyes sparkled.

“I’m so curious about the rest I won’t be able to sleep like this.”

“True.”

Don’t you stop… someone was whispering to me. And since the setting is Odaiba, a “Gundom” might even show up. I thought I saw just the feet in the first episode.

And we really didn’t stop.

We kept the volume low, whispering our thoughts and commentary as we marathon-ed all thirteen episodes in one go. By the time we finished, it was two in the morning. 

I’m glad tomorrow is Saturday.

It was simply “wonderful” to the point where I couldn’t stop. The parts that didn’t feel like the typical Live Live series were actually what made it good. Plus, the attention to detail in the direction was insane. It’s the kind of thing you’ll want to watch over and over again. You’d think the third series in the franchise would feel formulaic, but it was the opposite; it felt fresh everywhere.

The plot development where the main heroine looked like she might fall into darkness was something I’d never have imagined before, and when she pinned her best friend down, I was actually worried—is this really okay?!

I kept my mouth shut and didn’t comment on that scene, but I’ll add that inside, I was at my peak level of excitement.

Perhaps partly due to the effect of that scene, the act of “otaku-ing”—watching anime late at night while hiding it from parents—felt like the two of us were sharing a secret, and it felt… good.

Also, personally, I thought it was wonderful how each character respected and acknowledged each other’s individuality. A gentle world. An ideal utopia.

The reality I live in is much harsher.

“Ugh, that was truly the best. I want to talk more with Oga, but… it’s already late, isn’t it?”

It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. Tomorrow, I’m planning to go shopping for daily necessities with Eija.

“But this is my first time watching anime with someone while sharing our thoughts. It was so fun… it feels like a dream.”

“You didn’t have anyone to share your thoughts with in Finland?”

“No. So I am very happy right now. And to have that person be…”

She gazed at me but quickly looked away in embarrassment.

“I-it’s already this time… we have to go to bed soon.”

“Gotta brush our teeth before bed.”

“Oh, then shall we go together?”

Eh? Is tooth-brushing something you do together? 

I crept down the stairs with Eija. The first floor was silent, and it was clear my parents had gone to bed long ago. It felt like we were playing a prank, which was exciting. I felt like I’d returned to my childhood.

We went to the washroom without making a sound and turned on the light. On the shelf, a recently added cup and toothbrush were lined up next to mine.

“It’s my first time brushing my teeth with someone.”

“We’re having another first experience together, aren’t we? ♪”

When she gave me that innocent smile, I couldn’t say anything. I put toothpaste on my toothbrush and stuck it in my mouth.

Before I knew it, I felt like the distance between Eija and me was closing.

Both physically and emotionally.

***

~A Restless Night~

Eija’s Perspective*

Today was truly so much fun!

Spending a night like this feels like a dream.

The feeling of being in a dream world keeps hitting me over and over.

At school, I’m still nervous all the time, and it’s full of scary things…

But it’s okay because Oga is here.

But Oga isn’t just my Oga.

Today, he was chatting happily with a cute girl at school.

That’s why… I ended up sending him a message to try and interfere…

Even though I knew it wasn’t a good thing to do, I couldn’t stop myself.

A scene from the anime we just watched plays back in my head.

The scene where the best friend gets jealous because the other person is getting along with someone else. I understood those feelings all too well.

Doing things like that might just make him hate me.

I came home feeling worried, but Oga was the same as always.

That made me so happy. I felt relieved.

Oga is always on my side. My hero.

In the anime, it depicted the anxiety of feeling like a best friend is drifting away as they find their own path and try to move forward.

But I want Oga to find his own path.

No, that’s not it.

He must be lost.

I don’t know why, but I have that feeling.

I wish.. I could take him where he wants to go.

Though, that’s not something a person with no sense of direction like me should be saying.

Ah, it’s already going to be three o’clock.

This real-life dream world is so much fun that I don’t want to go to the real dream world.

But time is finite.

This dream world is only temporary.

I have to cherish this treasure-like time where I can escape from my parents…

***

• Goddess’s Daily Trouble Consultation 【Amatuma Gaia / Gojikushi Live】

Worship me—! Fourth generation of Gojikushi Live, Earth Goddess, Amatuma Gaia.

To all my Believers! Thanks for watching today too! I bestow my blessings upon you—!

Are you guys doing okay? This Goddess is a little tired, though.

Golden Cold [Thanks for the overtime!]

DoruDoru [Yo! Corporate slave!!]

No, no, it’s not that. It’s just that there’s this new kid at work… who seems to be having a tough time and is worrying about it. Ah! And no, this isn’t about the fifth-generation members. It’s about the workplace, you could say.

Elvan-za [The workplace www]

Kaiser [Here comes the pee-pee talk]

Tch, wrong! That’s not it! It’s because you guys in the comments always talk about that stuff that I got influenced, right?! I got influenced! Or rather, brainwashed! Brainwashing! Mind control is scary!

FOX [Covering it up www Desperate]

Tekeli-li [.]

DoruDoru [Part-timer?]

Horny Bunny [Who’s the newbie?]

Well—, bosses and customers are seriously full of problems, and humans really have it tough, huh.

Also, kids these days are just… different, right? Like, they have no hesitation or consideration, and they just attack relentlessly? Like they’re punching you mentally?

Kukkoro [I thought she was a high school girl?]

R’lyeh [How old is “kids these days” anyway w]

Nyaa-nyaa [Gah…•••••••… Gaiaaaa!!]

That’s not Gaia!

I’m a goddess! Stop it! Don’t get the wrong idea! I’m not getting beaten to a pulp!!

Let’s get to today’s consultation corner.

Sakura [A friend asked me for advice. A girl wants to redo her room’s interior. I was thinking of actually going to a store with her, but isn’t it cheaper and better to buy online? Any recommendations?]

No way! That’s no good!!

For that kind of thing, you have to actually go to a furniture store and choose together!

And it’s best to choose while imagining your sweet, decadent life together as a couple.

Damn it! Getting me all worked up!!