Volume 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2- There are so many couples

I got kicked out by my father and made my way to this island.

Starting a new life as a hikikomori turned out to be troublesome, because I have to live in a room possessed by a spirit.

What will happen now?

That narration sounded relaxed, but in reality, it is not that easy.

While I am on this island, there is one thing I must find out.

Which is: 'From here, what will I do?'

Until now, the future was an easy and possibly not rough path towards inheriting the family business. And this path is changing to head towards different destination.

But I have already left that path already and currently my future doesn't have a single path.

My future is only a neglected overgrown field of gra.s.s, but I am at least able to say that whole thing is the path. This path is able to go any direction even if it's narrow. Yet it will be destroyed before my eyes.

Which way should I go next? Should I make a mark and continue on?

There is no one to tell me what path I am walking on.

Presently with my newfound independence, it looks like that I will only be hesitating in life. However, there is one thing I must do before anything else.

”Care for my broken arm so it can heal as soon as possible”

After that, I can slowly think about finding what I really want to do without anyone controlling me, since I believe that is freedom's greatest happiness.

2

”Now introduce yourselves, new students.”

”My name is Juugo Yama. I'll be in your care.” I bowed to the audience when called out by the teacher standing in the front of the short stage.

The whole room applauded to welcome the new student with the bandaged arm and dangling necklace.

On Monday it took me about 20 minutes to get to Nanae Private Third High School, which I just started attending, from the s.h.i.+awase dorms.

On Nanae Island there are are 7 high schools in total. It appears they are numbered by the order they were built. That is to say, the third high school was the third one built on this island. But if you think about it, it was only finished being built 5 years ago so it's still new.

This school is the product of an organization that has a different way of thinking than normal. That's why the school is built in an artistic way. But when you look at it, it's strange to the eye and has a fascinating allure.

I greeted and introduced myself to the teacher in the teacher's lounge and went over to my cla.s.sroom to introduce myself during homeroom. Morning pa.s.sed. During break, I hung out with cla.s.smates that I befriended quickly and the other periods of cla.s.s pa.s.sed by quickly.

”H-h.e.l.lo Yama-kun.”

After home room finished, a reserved looking girl with gla.s.ses came near my seat.

”Uh”

This girl bowed to me, who is caught off guard since I was called out without warning.

”My name is Yumeji Yurika. I'm the cla.s.s president.”

The cla.s.s president who wears gla.s.ses looks like a diligent, smart student. I believe it's true; it's like an established unspoken rule.

”Nice to meet you.”

”I actually am speaking to you because the teacher asked me to show Yama-kun around the school. Are you free after this?”

The option to refuse the gla.s.ses girl was not there in me at all. So I answered with a smile.

”I'm free. I'll be in your care.”

I was excited because this was a spontaneous activity, so I followed Yumiji-san out on the hallway.

”I've been curious since this morning, so to speak, what happened to your arm?”

Yumeji-san's eyes were looking at my arm with a slight excited light.

”Oh, I dislocated it due to a careless accident.”

”Uh, or is it a fight or something?”

”No, it's not like that. It's just a normal exchange resulting from wanting to discover something.”

”Huh?” Yumeji-san tilted her head when she heard my answer.

I wasn't able to give her a straight answer, which is that my arm was sacrificed to grope some b.r.e.a.s.t.s, so I was only able to say that much.

”It's not difficult, is it?”

”I'm pretty used to getting injured, even if this is my first dislocated shoulder.”

Yumeji-san showed me various buildings at school along with her continuous meaningless chatter.

There wasn't anything special, just a regular tour of the school. But the fact that I was walking alone together with a girl made me feel naturally excited.

Man, it's nice. A time like this is probably a High Schooler's happiness.

”Over there the ground isn't level, so be careful.”

Every really kind word and action of Yumeji-san's made me happy. I instantly became part of her fanclub.

”Thank you very much. You helped me a lot.”

Even though I gave her my sincere thanks in the hallway, Yumeji-san acted like she was embarra.s.sed.

”Please don't misunderstand…”

My eyes widened after hearing that remark.

Or is it… Isn't this what they call a Tsundere?! What she's going to say next is absolutely going to pierce my heart.

”…My kindness to Yama-kun was only for the behavior points.”

Um… Why does it sound like the reason is actually true, even to the point where I can’t even get excited at all?

There are a total of three buildings in the third high school. The buildings are school building, special building, meeting room. The height and length of each of the buildings are different. It looks like there is a center point, which makes a right-angled triangle shape. If you look at it from a bird's-eye view, you'll see that it splits into three directions like a cosmos. There is also a section in the middle where all the buildings meet.

I stopped walking abruptly. It wasn't because someone was in front of me, but because the garden itself was so beautiful. There were orange floor tiles placed among lush green plants and a fountain which had a unique design. Just from looking at it you don't feel anything at all. But because this had the white school logo, it made the fountain look distinct.

During the time when there’s no limited rule, and each thing combines together, it has changed into the perspective that can attract people's minds.

People who are able to calculate and perform it are called true geniuses.

”These buildings are really interesting, right?”

Yumeji-san stood next to me while I was muttering and looking at the scenery.

”Your eyesight is really sharp to see this place. I myself like to see the view from here before.”

I was happy to know there was someone who thought the same as me.

”Yama-kun, can you tell me what is one thing you like about this inst.i.tution?”

I shook my head at the question that sounded like an introduction. Yumeji-san pointed to a direction.

”This third high school has a total of 3 buildings.There are a total of 3 walkways. The walkways are from the 1st to 3rd floor and has 3 lanes. The view from the walkways intersecting on floor 1 that you can see from here is really beautiful. And there's also another building where you can see another beautiful view like this in another 2 places.”

After she finished explaining the meaning I understood.

”You can see from the other two intersections. But if you look from there you will see the buildings behind the fountain in a different perspective.”

”That's right.” Yumeji-san laughed.

”The image of the fountain, if you view from the front you won't see much differences. whether or not the view from behind the buildings are wonderful.”

”It's like i thought. The person who built this is the coolest.”

”Do you know who it is?”

”Uh…It's Mutsumi Koma.”

Mutsumi Koma, a person who was designated a genius child architect. She designed many buildings starting from her teenage years. Currently she's not even thirty years old but she has partic.i.p.ated in the creation of various design plans and has an abundant amount of blueprints left in the architecture club which all is from her brain.

”Mutsumi Koma's products are world famous. Her beginnings stem from Nanae Island here?”

”I don't know that too. Is it like that?”

”Yes. It seems like those who built Nanae Island this island 12 years ago are a group of 7 genius students. They were called the GREAT 7 and Mutsumi Koma herself was one of them.”

”Heh?” I tilted my head in thought at that greatly.

”Yama-kun, do you like architecture?”

”It's not like that. I do like all of Mutsumi Koma's designs though.”

”Why's that?”

”Because I don’t know why I feel it but It's like the buildings have life in it.”

Before I came to this island, I myself used to go visit Mitsumi Koma's architectural designs many times. No matter where it was, I felt as if they had a different spirit as if it were human. Each building had symbol unique to it. They are not too strange, even with the distinct characteristic and it's to the point where it is bizarre. I viewed many of her buildings before and they all are able to convey a great meaning.

The themes for Mutsumi Koma's works are the accordances called 'harmony.'

By chance when I looked next to me, I saw that Yumeji-san was taking some notes.

”What note's are those?” When I tried to peer over and look in the book, Yumeji-san immediately stuffed it into her bag.

”I'm sorry. It's just that I write down quotes I find brilliant into this notebook. …it's not bothering you is it?”

”It's fine, it's not bothersome or anything. I was just wondering, why do you write them down?” When I asked in that way, Yumeji-san lowered her face and replied in a soft voice, as if she was embarra.s.sed.

”That's because… I want to be a writer.”

”Wow, that's amazing! Awesome!”

I didn't realize I was speaking so loudly. I think people who have goals and try their their best to reach it are really amazing.

When I spoke like that, Yumeji-san was surprised.

”…You're not laughing?”

”Uh, why would I be laughing?”

I had no idea why she was speaking like that.

”Oh, because it looks like Yama-kun is a person who would do that…”

”Uh, I look like I have that bad of personality?”

”N-No, it's just on the outside, Yama-kun is… Okay. You're like a delinquent character…”

”Huh? I'm sorry but I can't really hear you. Can you say it again?”

When I bowed down closer and tilted my ear towards her, Yumeji-san's face instantly turned red.

”U-Uh… I thought you weren't a good person!”

Once she said that, Yumeji-san ran away.

I was left alone there in a sort of shocked state.

”…when other people see me, do I really look that bad?”

I thought about it and decided when I get home that night I would practice smiling cheerfully in front on the mirror.

I thought that while looking in the direction where Yumeji-san ran off to and had an abrupt thought.

”Myself in the future, huh?”

Once I finish school, what will I, who refuses to continue the family business, do?

”No way, that's not it. So I can do something I have to do something.”

This was another one of my family sayings.

'Don't mix your goal with your path. The two are vastly different, therefore you must build your bath towards your goal.'

I thought about what I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.

I thought about what my father said while I smiled.

”This is kind of on the difficult side, huh.”

Because the sayings of my ancestors floated into my head unknowingly, it caused me to think that I am probably not able to escape the curse from my family.

3

Finally the incomplete tour of the school grounds came to an end.

Since I couldn't do anything about it, I walked home. Yet every step felt heavy since once I get home I will see the ghost that's possessing my room.

”…Maaaaan I don't wanna go home.”

I dislocated my left shoulder on the first day I arrived on the island on Sat.u.r.day. Maboro s.h.i.+ki-san, the owner of the place I rent, smacked my head and complained I was 'annoying', and looked at my swinging dislocated left shoulder.

”What did you do?” She grabbed my left arm and shoulder. There was a 'guk' and she shoved my shoulder back into place.

”I'm strong when it's about the human body.”

Due to the s.h.i.+ki-san's kindness, she helped perform simple first aid and introduced a clinical doctor that is closeby. The result of the appointment was that it would take a month to heal, and was just a minor injury. ”You're great at pulling out your shoulder.” were the Nanana-chan's teasing words.

rFinally the judgement in room 202 was completed. I therefore became a person with a lower status than Nanana-sama.

Regardless it is just an ordinary problem. I haven't been asked to do anything as a gopher, sometime it's simply a command to 'please buy me some pudding.'

But the problem is a different outside one.

Today is Monday, meaning that I have been with Nanana-chan that I caught for the second night.

What I concluded was…

Nanana-chan is different from humans.

Even the first time I thought she was able to also watch TV together, have normal conversations. But during that time I was able to see the differences clearly. First, when I'm hungry normally, I just eat some instant noodles but Nanana-chan doesn't eat food. Even sometimes she wants to eat pudding, but it looks like she doesn't necessary need it. I go to the bathroom, normally shower (even though I say that, but my left shoulder can't be used so I just use a wet towel to wipe myself). However for Nanana-chan, the ability to move for issues like these doesn't seem necessary. She doesn't leave this room for even one step.

And the most outstanding difference is…

When I'm sleepy, I go to sleep. Nanana-chan doesn't sleep, not even a nap.

”Say, I have to go to a meeting after this. Gotta walk 3 hours.”

Nanana-chan dragged the computer mouse and hit the keyboard. Her eyes continued to stare at the computer.

A ghost that doesn't act like a typical ghost, but acts like a girl who trolls on the internet. She is really the first to not understand humans or those who have lived on Earth past the age of 16 like me.

Aside from looking like a cute little girl, in reality she's not human since she needs to live in the room where I don't know if it's natural for her. It makes her easily irritated.

I must continue to live my life in this room with a girl like this. Whatever Nanana-chan says is never wrong.

The act of a person and a spirit using a life together is a difficult subject.

I try to use my time by being outside as much as possible before I have to go home and prepare to go sleep as quickly as I can.

”Eating cup ramen again? You ate that this morning too.”

I don't know why Nanana-chan when she is in a bad mood since last night today also looks like she is still in a bad mood.

”Well, I don't know how to cook.”

”But if you don't start and just keep eating like this, it's going to have a negative effect on your health you know.”

Even if it will result in that, but my arm is injured like this I'm not able to even try to challenge making some food. Not only that, I don't have money so I'm not able to change my raw materials. The thought of working specially but I injured myself like this so I'm not able to do anything.

I thought that way but I couldn't say anything. I ended replying ”I'll be careful then.” which was a reply that seemed the most satisfactory while I sniffed the ramen noodles.

When I said that, Nanana-chan hugged her pillow in an upset manner. She turned away to quietly watch TV.

It's such a tense environment.

In a room like that, I sniffed the ramen quietly.

Of course I want to eat delicious food too. Even though I can't use one arm, I miss the way of life before I moved. I wondered about the things needed to trade in order to go to to heaven are truly expensive or not.

It's for sure that humans must run to find some hards.h.i.+p (desire). While reviewing incorrect thoughts on that life, I quickly ate my food. Then I went and shut myself in the bathroom.

Even though I didn't need to go, I just sat on top of the toilet cover and played with my mobile phone sending messages to people I know. I checked some of my SNS, watched the news on the net…

And I just complained in my head. Maaaan, why is n.o.body replying to my messages? Ehhhh are people still doing stuff now? The economy will probably be stagnant…

That thought made me happier and have a more open mind. The narrow s.p.a.ce like this made me in turn happier.

”Hey, how long are you going to stay in the bathroom, huh?”

I heard Nanana-chan's irritated voice coming from the other side of the bathroom door, and was startled.

When I saw the time that was displayed on my phone I was shocked since it meant I was shut in the bathroom for about two hours now.

”I'll be out in a moment.”

Even though I replied back quickly like that, in reality I didn't want to leave the bathroom at all. I felt like I would rather stay in the bathroom than to be in the room with Nanana-chan.

?

It shouldn't be like that at all because truthfully the time I had with Yumeji-san after cla.s.s that one time was more on the fun side.

When I thought about what the difference could be, it is for sure that because Yumeji-san is a human girl like me. As for Nanana-chan, she's a spirit.

It looks like a simple problem, but in truth it is a huge problem that I think about a lot.

It's not just any spirit that can be seen clearly, can be talked to normally, be able to touch things, and eat pudding. At the beginning when I didn't know Nanana-chan, there were people who spoke of her spirit. There was a clear difference here which made me even more stressed.

Last night was also the same. I didn't feel good so I hid in this room and secretly cried a bit.

”…Living a life this way is difficult too, right?”

In the future, the a difficult wish that pushes you to get stuck  and use your own life because of you getting infatuated with a girl, the dreams of Yama Juugo himself looks like it will disappear already.

Click.

”Hmm?”

When I heard that at the time, there was a following 'thunk' sound as if something fell.

When I swept my vision to look around suspiciously, I noticed a difference around the left side of the toilet.

”Am I sleeping?”

A wooden board that was about the same size as the small window was moved open. There was a thread sticking out from inside. When pulled, it appeared to be tied to the toilet.

When I checked deeper inside carefully, it looked like it was attached at the same time as the toilet was. It seemed as if the weight was over the limit, it was built to open up.

”Who the h.e.l.l prepared this elaborate thing?”

Even though I was perplexed, I removed the top and bent over to look inside. Inside was a single school notebook.

I took the notebook out carefully and looked at the cover. A frown unknowingly formed on my face.

'Nanana Manual?'

That was written on the cover.  Underneath, the owner's name, 'Konjou Kasumi,' was written.