Prologue
After the battle with Hajime, the 3 went on their lives like normal, and nothing special happened. In short, they went on their daily lives.
Chapter 4
Kazuya's Side Story: Learning About This World
"I'm having a hard time here!"
Currently, I'm studying about this world. My knowledge is still not enough. Although, I knew English and other stuffs, my Master said that I still need to learn more things.
So I'm reading this book called "Math Equation", but doesn't understand every bit of it. I just let out an exhausted sigh, and looked for more books in my house.
I searched my shelves but found nothing new there. I tried to search to my Master's shelf to find books, and at the very back, I saw this book, I never seen before.
It has a young woman wearing an underwear in the cover. Wait, what is it? After realizing what is it, I immediately gave it back to where it belongs! My Master is reading that kind of book! So unpleasant!
I guess I should go out and buy some books. I still have some allowance left. I prepared my shoes and left the house. I rode the train station to the city and reached the bookstore.
Still, this city never ceases to amaze me. The future has reached so much. If I time travelled further, I think I will be in the point where humans are flying. While thinking that, I accidentally let out a light chuckle.
I still don't know why I time travelled here, but all I know is I have to help people like Hajime and Hideko who are drowned in depression, and retrieve the Soul Seals.
I still have to go back, I do not belonged in this world, after all. But this world's hospitality, I should cherish it for the rest of my life.
While I'm having Soap Opera here, I realized that I'm already standing at the cashier, and already picked a book. Wait, What? I unconsciously picked a book, already! Is that even possible?
"600 yen
600 yen?! It's too expensive! I have 601 yen on my wallet. Such misfortune. I have no choice but to pay the cashier since I already picked this book.
Now that you think about it, this book is so light. I checked out the cover and it has some art called an "anime." I watch it sometimes, but I'm not a big fan of it, so I'm only watching it If I don't have anything better to do.
Oh well, I think this book is an entertainment type, I guess it's better to kill sometime since it's Sunday. With that, I bought this book to my house and read it at my home.
+++++
I flipped the page of the book and saw something like "Thank you for reading!". Wait, it's finished?! Already, it's so good! What kind of book is this?! This is the legendary book everyone need to know!
I quickly asked my Master what kind of book it is:
"That book, isn't is "Light Novel". A japanese light novel where it has manga-like illustrations?"
So it's called Light Novel, huh? Until the Part 2 of this series is released, I'm going to read more Light Novels!
With that, Kazuya Satoru, became an otaku.
+++++
Hajime's Side Story: Way Of Speaking
My voice turned back to normal. Having a light and normal voice is really hard to pull off. My throat is always soaring like hell, after school. It's good thing that I stopped the act.
Like I expected, all of my classmates took their distance from me. But Kazuya and his friends took me in. Like the old saying, It's better to have few but real friends than many but fake friends.
But if someone saw me together with them, I will cause them some trouble. So I can't take back my light voice, but I can at least change my way of talking! I could speak some old-fashioned accent like Kazuya.
But I don't like it, It's too old fashioned so I backed out in the idea. How about some polite accent? It might work out!
I practiced day and night my polite accent. After 1 week of practicing, I pulled it off! I now know all of the polite terminologies, all that's left is to make conversation with it! I tried to speak with my Big Sister with it.
"It's too creepy, please stop it."
It got rejected immediately. In the end, I stopped practicing and just spoke like usual.
+++++
Yuu's Side Story: Homework
"Ahh! It's so damn hard!"
In this Sunday, some boys in my age are spending their youth and having fun. It's Sunday after all. It's a day-off you'll get just once a week. But here I am, spending my precious Sunday on this homework that I don't even know how to solve.
I should just copy their homework! Let's see, in my circle of friends, I have Hideko, Kazuya and Hajime. Hideko will never agree to what I want. Hajime seems like an average kid and seems to be bad at Mathematics.
It seems I only have one choice. He's a handsome man who excels in both academics and physical abilities. He is popular too. But I'm not jealous even one bit, because he's my friend.
Kazuya is kind-hearted so If I begged to him, he should let me copy his homework! I immediately called Kazuya.
"Umm, Kazuya, are you free right now? Would you mind if we do our homework together?"
"I wouldn't mind but..."
"Thank you! I'm going to your house!"
I hanged up the call without any care in the world and immediately ran towards Kazuya's house. Apparently, it's just across the river. After some running, I reached the house. Still, this traditional house never ceases to amaze me.
Even the doorbell is traditional too. It's a just a ring where you slam it to make a sound. I used it and the door opened. That's fast!
"Welcome, Yuu."
"Please excuse my intruding."
It's my first time getting inside this house. The front yard is traditional too. I bet that all parts of this house are traditional, right? Kazuya and I walked to his room, and the moment Kazuya slides the door, I saw a figure of a lady with black hair and boy with a glasses.
Why does Hajime and Hideko are here!? I can't copy Kazuya's homework with this! I took a sit beside Hajime, and took a look at his face. His face seems to be in despair. It seems we came here for the same objection, but Hideko was here so we can't do that.
I slightly whispered to Hajime:
"Two is better than one, I thought of a plan."
"I see, okay, let's go with that."
I can't give up now! I'm going to copy Kazuya's homework no matter what happens! The plan is for Hajime to distract Hideko while I'm going to talk with Kazuya. It's a simple plan but it's going to work!
The moment Hajime started stirring up some conversation to Hideko, I immediately ran to Kazuya who was writing his homework.
"Kazuya, lend me your notebook."
"Oh, sure, here."
Success! I said to Kazuya that I'm going out now. I'm going to send the answers to Hajime later. I reached my house and immediately gone to my room to copy his answers.
But no matter how hard I try, I can't see all of his answers! It's blank! Kazuya, you liar!
From afar, It looks like I'm hearing Kazuya's voice saying:
"I just lend my notebook, my answers are here in this paper. If you asked the paper then I would give it to you."
With that, Unknown to Yuu, Hajime was the one achieved the Paper with Kazuya's answers.
+++++
Himeko Side Story: This Diary
My name is Himeko Shiori, I'm writing this diary for backup plans, but let's forget that for now. Today, I asked my little sister to buy some ingredients for curry.
Until she came, I was reading some Love Advising Books, so I can advise my sister. My sister is definitely in love, no doubt. She just won't admit it. I don't know why, so I'm reading some Love Books here.
I see, signs of love are blushing. But my sister has a unique trait of being calm, so I doubt that it will work for her. In the end, I couldn't achieved any usable info.
Oh well, I don't know much about love, but if your asking me, what I think about Kazuya Satoru, the guy who made my sister fall in love, he was handsome and excels in both academics and physical abilities.
He was kind too, a month earlier, Hideko was depressed, but Kazuya was the who helped her. I was full of regrets that day, I can't do anything for my dear little sister. But there's no point digging the past anymore!
I think Kazuya is a perfect match for Hideko so I'm not rejecting the idea. It seems Kazuya is a respectable man so he won't cheat on Hideko.
My sister came back with a smile on her face. I already guessed what happened to her. She told me what happened when she shopped, and like my guess, she met Kazuya. I teased her for a bit to see her reaction, and for some reason, she blushed. Her usual composed face was replaced with a red face
If her calm expression was abolished then, it only means that her affection are much stronger than before.
My sister shows more signs of development. I don't have anything to say for myself, so I'm closing this diary now.
+++++
Kanzai Side Story: The Last Issue
"Ho, ho, ho,"
While I'm under the sun, but not too hot since it's still spring, I came to the convenience store to buy some porn magazine. It was on sale today, but minors can't enter the sacred black curtain.
I slides the black curtain with fashion, and all kinds of porn. In the end, this is where paradise lies. That's why I don't want to go back, If I go back, all of these will be gone!
I chose the magazine with a criticizing look, I need to carefully choose this after all. An old man like me, don't have much money. I'm in my 60's so I'm receiving a monthly pension.
That's the money I'm using to feed My Disciple and myself as well, and most likely, I'm buying this magazine because of it!
I chose the magazine and touched it, but some other hand touched it too. It seems he took a liking to this magazine too. It's the final copy so there's no way I'm giving this up.
"Hey, old man, could you please take off your hand? This baby already belongs to me."
This guy seems to be young, and just a teenager. He probably snuck in the forbidden section when there's no one around. Jeez, that's why kids are so troublesome.
"Young man, isn't it polite to just give it to me, the older one?"
"Your too old to read this kind of stuff! You should go read some newspapers there!"
"Your too young to read this kind of stuff! You should go read some manga there!"
The two of us gave intense stare to each other. No one wants to give in. In the end, it all comes to physical abilities and strategy. This child can't go out carelessly, so he can't chase me if I've gone out to the black curtain!
I snatched the magazine, and sprinted out of the forbidden section! The young man attempted to chase me but he realized that I'm going out of the curtain so he backed out on the idea.
I'm close to the curtain! I can see the sun raying from here! It's my win! Old man is the best! Just after I got out, my backs hurts! I forgot that I have intense back pain. With that, I was brought to the hospital, the magazine ended up at the shelf again. An old man's naivety will cause you this. To all of the old man's here, learn from my foolish experience.
+++++
"So hot!"
"Yeah, and it's still spring! Who knows how hot is summer?"
Yuu and Hajime are both standing to a nearby shelter, to avoid direct heat from the sun. They're both waiting from someone.
"Still, he's late."
Hajime whines. Yuu didn't replied and just attempted to call Kazuya. But just a minute before that, the man came.
"Sorry, guys, my grandfather won't let me go."
"Having a grandfather sure is tough."
Why are these three men together in a holiday? Let's turn back time. Let's go to the Friday morning while Break Time.
"Guys, I'm bored, let's hang out sometime."
Yuu said. Hajime replied Yuu's words.
"That might be a good idea, right, Kazuya?"
Hajime's voice reached out to Kazuya. Hajime's voice took so long for them to get used to, but they got used to it.
"Hang out? You mean going out together and having fun, right?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Then, isn't that date?"
Hajime and Yuu suddenly attempted to vomit something but no one came out. Kazuya's idea of having fun are only dates.
"No, no, I'm surprised you don't know this kind of stuff. Are you an ojou-sama(Milady) that didn't gone out for so long?"
Kazuya thought for a while but gave an answer.
"No, I travelled Japan."
Yuu was at lost for words. If Kazuya can travel the whole Japan at a young age then... that old man was very rich! He didn't have the slightest idea that Kazuya travelled Japan to kill someone. He took on assassination jobs after all.
"Then, let's get back on topic, shall we? Hanging out have the same concept as dating, but the reasoning are different. Hanging out are just having fun between friends while dating is having fun between a man and a woman. Did you got my point?"
Yuu explained briefly what is hanging out.
"Yes, I understand. Then, were hanging out, right?"
After Yuu's explanation, the three planned the schedule and the location of the waiting spot. That's the reason they ended up in this situation.
"Then, where should we go first?"
Kazuya asked curiously.
"Since it's already 12:00, we should first grab a lunch."
The three have gone to the nearest fast food restaurant. Because they don't have that much cash, they just ordered a burger.
"It's delicious, it's just a burger though."
Yuu said.
"We can at least eat."
Hajime replied.
"This is good! So this is a burger!?"
It seems this is the first time for Kazuya to eat burger. After they had lunch, they've gone to the manga cafe!
"A room for 3 people, 3 hours please, with drinks."
Yuu compiled all of their money and paid to the cashier.
"Okay, pick your favorite anime, light novels, and manga! I'm not exactly a fan of this, but let's have fun! We're going to meet at our room."
Kazuya picked a lot of Light Novels, he became a fan of it. Hajime picked some random manga that seems interesting, while Yuu was filling drinks and was about to go to the room
"It's like a small room, so this is a manga cafe, huh?"
Kazuya said while looking around the room.
"Although this is a manga cafe, most couples does not come here to read manga or watch anime."
Replied by Yuu, Kazuya curiously tilted his head and asked.
"Then, if they're not reading manga, what are they doing?"
Yuu became flushed red and didn't answered Kazuya's question. Hajime was the one who answered, and he whispered the answer to Kazuya's ear. After hearing the explanation, even he became flushed red.
"Then, let's watch anime, shall we?"
Proposed by Yuu, then followed by Hajime.
"Then, let's watch this."
Hajime showed the popular anime this season, Dragon Ball Z, it's an old anime but it still weighed some impact on normal people. That's why if you said anime, they will think of Dragon Ball Z.
Yuu played the CD and they watched the series. Yuu was surprised at Kazuya's reaction while watching the series. Hajime and Yuu already watched it so they don't get excited to what's going to happen because they already knew it.
Kazuya was shouting all over and going "Woah!". Meanwhile, Hajime and Yuu had their secret meeting on a corner.
"Hajime, do you think that Kazuya came from a really noble and secluded family? There's no way you never watched Dragon Ball on your entire childhood, right?"
"Yeah, but it's not like that. He has reasons."
"The way he spoke is too old-fashioned. It seems his words came from a novel."
Hajime can't deny it. Hajime already knew that Kazuya came from the Edo Era so he's not surprised that he don't even know Dragon Ball. But he promised to Kazuya that he will not talk to someone about it, so he kept his mouth shut.
In the end, Yuu decided to stop sniffing Kazuya's past and had fun together with them. The 3 hours have passed very quick and soon after they got out of the manga cafe.
"It sure is fun, so where should we go next?"
Yuu and Hajime thought for a while before answering Kazuya's questions. Then, finally gave an answer.
"I guess we should go to an arcade."
"Not bad, Yuu, then let's go!"
Hajime agreed to Yuu's proposal and decided to go. Kazuya on the other hand, doesn't have the slightest idea what an arcade is so he just tagged along like a dog of a tail.
Kazuya still doesn't know all of the modern terminologies, that's why he's having problems. But for already two months that he's here, he became accustomed to a common modern japanese language.
Soon after, they reached their destination, the arcade! The three visits the crane game first and attempted to catch a stuff toy, but soon, they gave up, including Kazuya.
Next, they played the Just Dance game, Hajime and Kazuya was the first to play. Unfortunately, Kazuya won. His footwork and body movement are flexible since he trained with a sword.
Yuu played with a stranger, that they don't even know, but Yuu won in the end.
"It's actually fun to be here."
Kazuya said, then again, Yuu retorted.
"Kazuya, it can't be that you never visited an arcade on your entire life, right? Surely, you've visited even once."
"No, I never visited arcade. At most, I was at my house reading books."
Yuu was full of suspicions. A young man who never watched Dragon Ball, a man who travelled Japan, and man who doesn't even came to an arcade even once, and a man that has an old-fashioned accent.
Unfortunately, Yuu's suspicions are not enough to draw conclusion, so for now, he just left it be. Hajime already knows Kazuya's past, so he's not surprised on bit about his actions.
The three just played at the arcade until the sun sets. After they played, the three was ready to go home. Since Yuu and Kazuya have the same way to their houses, they've gone home together.
While walking together to go home, Yuu asked some question to Kazuya:
"Kazuya, who are you? Or should I say what are you?"
At that moment, Kazuya took the hint. That Yuu Ichirou have became suspicious of him. Kazuya calmly replied:
"Jeez, Yuu, is that a new joke?"
Kazuya didn't used his usual old-fashioned accent and instead used a normal way of speaking.
"I guess I should not dig in any further. My house is this way, so goodbye."
It's not a very cheerful goodbye, so Kazuya worries if they will still be the same tomorrow.
"I'm home!"
Kazuya shouted that and immediately have gone to his room.
"Yuu harbors suspicions of me, it means I have to clear that. I have to change my accent, my lack of knowledge in things will be needed to change too. All right!"
With that, Kazuya took an all-nighter, to change his accent and read some information at the same time.
+++++
"Kazuya, Kazuya, wake up! You need to go to school!"
Kazuya opened his tired eyes and saw his Master shaking him and shouting to wake him up. After realizing what's happening, he immediately jumped out of the table and prepared for school.
Kazuya studied all-night on his table, so it's only natural that he will be tired. His accent have changed a bit but it still needed a few practice to completely master it.
He prepared his shoes and quickly opened the door, and ran as fast as he can! He's like a raging fireball while he's running. It's too fast, well not supernaturally fast, but in a level where a man who do track in field for 3 years will be matched.
Since his school is just across the river, he made it in time. It still has 3 minutes before school starts.
"Kazuya, good morning! Good thing you made it in time."
Yuu was acting like yesterday didn't happen.Kazuya was glad that everything turned back to normal. Kazuya tried to talk in a normal way.
"Then, please pronounce our word of day, it was "denouement".
Soon after, Kazuya was being called by the teacher to pronounce the word.
"Top Student, pronounce "denouement"."
Kazuya was the top student for this class, although it was still unsure because midterms will still happen two weeks later. Kazuya stood up with a firm pose, the girls was staring at him while the boys are taking side glances.
"It was written as "denouement", but it was read as "denoma."
"Thank you, Kazuya Satoru."
Kazuya took a seat, and silently thought about his accent. It seems no one reacted to it. It means that his accent is not that strange anymore.
Kazuya survived all the classes until it was over and met up with his friends. Hideko, Yuu and Hajime are all waiting in the shoe locker.
"Waited for long?"
"No, we just got here."
Replied by Hideko. Kazuya opened the locker and changed his inner shoes into an outside shoes. Then, they've gone home together. Kazuya have gone to school, studied and goes home like his usual routine.
But Kazuya was a bit worried, it's been two months since Hajime's case has concluded and since then, he didn't sensed a Soul Seal. He just thought it in a positive way. If he's not sensing any Soul Seal's, then it means that no with a Soul Seal is depressed.
"It must have been in a different school."
He thought, that's why he's visiting nearby schools more often. But he can't visit all the school's in Japan. There are too many things Kazuya has been worrying about.
First, He still don't know if retrieving Soul Seal's will be the key to return to his own world.
Second, He's not sensing any Soul Seal's this time.
Third, it doesn't mean that if they don't have a Soul Seal, they're not depressed. Soul Seal's can go anywhere as long as the host is depressed.
Forth, Yuu was harboring suspicions of him. He want to avoid the outcome where he has to tell the situation to him. Hajime was a special case, Kazuya can't hide the truth anymore so he just told Hajime. He has to move more carefully from now on.
Fifth, Soul Seal's are not limited on Edogawa High School. It's possible that it will scatter on the whole world."
Sixth, Kazuya was assured that there's a very high chance that Soul Seal's will only go to to people that's under age but it doesn't mean that we can rule out the possibility of an adult host.
While Kazuya was thinking, he found himself on the front of his residence.
"I'm home already? I guess time flies when your thinking."
He got home and immediately slept. Tomorrow, In the school, he just found that while the four of them was walking towards their houses, Kazuya was thinking too hard and doesn't seem to see anyone. That's why the tension became heavy and they didn't talked at all.
Kazuya showered them apologizes.
+++++
Hideko Side Story: My Life Without Painting
"Your too good! If you keep this up and train some more, you'll be a great asset to the world of painting!"
I remembered my elementary teacher saying that to me. I felt happy, I'm happy that my painting are being praised. Although, I was praised by the grown-ups, I harbored envy from my classmates, and it continued until my 3rd year of middle school.
They didn't bullied me or anything like that, but I was left alone. As if it's natural for someone like me to be alone. I just thought that "it's okay as long as I have painting."
So I painted day and night, I put my life on the painting. I only spoke to my sister since my parents are so far away. I didn't got any friends, but I didn't blamed it to my painting. I continued on painting, even though they don't like me.
But everything changed when I reached my 3rd Year Of Middle School. I was involved in a car accident at that time. I was in a passenger's seat, while my sister is driving the car.
Unfortunately, our brakes didn't worked and we hit a nearby tree. Luckily, no one was killed in that accident, my sister was fine, and I'm fine too, that's what I thought. My index and middle finger got severely damaged, the doctor said that I should give up on painting.
Too cruel, isn't it? I gave it my all, yet it was not rewarded? Why? It's just too cruel! I sacrificed everything for painting, and now It will just disappear!? If painting was gone, what would be left to me?!
Like the doctor said, I gave up painting. But in return, My life became normal, as if my life as an artist never occurred at all. I still don't have any friends, but they don't isolates me now and talks to me more often. My life as an ordinary student continued all the way to my graduation. Since I gave up painting, I decided to go to a normal school instead of an Art School.
Yes, it's better this way, that's what I thought but... every time my eyes saw a canvas, the heart becomes heavy. My life without painting is not my life. I want to paint, I love painting after all. But If I paint again, those sensation will return, the feeling of being isolated, being left out.
I don't have any choice but to stare at the canvas, by the riverside. While I'm staring at it, weird guy approached me and said that my painting was beautiful. It's been a while since I heard that so I felt a little nostalgia.
Ever since that day, he's always coming to the riverside, we became friends because of that. He's the first person I could call my friend. Actually, I was quite grateful of that friend I'm talking about, because of him, I gained more friends and achieved the life I was hoping.
Of course, I was painting again, It's a bit hard using my left hand but it became my dominant hand after some practice. I gained friends too on the Arts Club. That's why, Kazuya Satoru, I'm grateful to you. I'm not going to forget what you've done for me. I hope someday on the future, I can return the favor.
END OF CHAPTER 4