short story (1/2)
That One Time the Essay a Child Wrote over Summer Break was Way too Fantasy
By Aska
ncode.syosetu.com/n0691cu/
“See you later, teach’.”
“Yeah, see you next time. Take care on your way home.”
I turned an energetic voice to the returning students, and saw them off with a light wave of my hand. It was the first of September. Yet separated from the world’s general flow of time, the elementary school I served had called for its opening ceremony. A long summer break had ended, and the second term had begun. I placed the report cards I’d collected back from the students, and their summer homework on my desk, before doing some simple cleaning of the cla.s.sroom.
It had already been a few years since I found employment as an elementary school teacher. And this year I had taken charge of a cla.s.s of third graders said to be more mischievous than the norm. It’s true I was surprised by their power first term, but even I still had a youth’s conceit in me. And one way or another, they turned out to be honest, and interesting children. I was glad I held on.
“Even so, everyone’s as lively as always. And full attendance, what’s more, everyone did their homework. I already praised them, but I should do it again tomorrow.”
Nodding to myself in the empty cla.s.sroom, I took a glance at the clock on the wall. Today’s cla.s.ses carried through ante meridiem. The afternoon would be busy with meetings and preparations, but there was some time to spare. I produced a rice ball I’d bought beforehand from its plastic bag, and after eating it, I sat in my seat and brought the summer homework I’d collected up close.
For the other works, I’d have to mark up the sheets, but if it were only essays, then spare time would do fine to read them through. And I was a little curious to see what sort of summers the kids of my cla.s.s had spent. With those light feelings, I turned an eye to the ‘Summer Break Essay’ I took in hand.
Now then, now then… oh, this is quite a thick one. Just how much did he have to write about? Ah, it’s Hiros.h.i.+-kun’s. That kid’s a bit easy going, but he’s an earnest and nice kid. I wonder if went on a trip or something.
‘July 21st, summer break began, and my family decided to go on a trip at once.’
“Hmm, I wonder where they went.”
‘Or so I thought, when a golden light appeared at my feet, and by the time I noticed it, I was in another world.’
“Fwah!?”
A strange voice came out.
‘There were a lot of knight people like the ones you see in anime around me. There was a princess too. “Welcome, brave hero” she said. I was surprised.’
“Of course, anyone would be.”
‘It was surprising to be surrounded by so many people, but I decided to stand up. “Just where could this be?” Asked my dad.’
“The family went along!?”
No, I really should be glad a single third grader didn’t go off to another world alone. Wait, more importantly, the h.e.l.l’s with another world? For that earnest Hiros.h.i.+-kun to write such an out-there essay, just what happened to him over summer break? He greeted me so happily less than a few hours ago. What’s more, his family (what’s more, an adult) just entered the stage.
‘The princess explained. The Demon King was going out of control, so she wanted us to save the world. She led us to the place the legendary weapons were kept. Before going, mom spoke with the princess with a serious look on her face. She said something about reparations or kidnapping or a.s.surance of living standards. She made the princess cry.’
“Your mom sure is strong.”
‘After consoling the princess, and telling her everything would be all right, we held hands and decided to go along. Reaching the treasury, we found a sword and spear there. “This is the legendary sword,” said the princess who stopped crying, as she brought it over. When it touched her hand, it suddenly began to glow. Mom was the chosen one.’
“Your mom’s amazing!”
Let’s put having a good talk with Hiros.h.i.+-kun off to tomorrow, and read the report for now. I was just plainly curious about what came next.
‘Dad got the spear, and Akihiko got a nice set of claws. But because knives are dangerous, I picked up a staff lying around the corner. “It’s covered in dust, are you sure it’s alright?” I was asked, but I kind of liked it, so I took it anyways. After that, the princess produced a sweet from the sleeve of her dress, and gave it to me. When I told her, “I’m not supposed to take candy from strangers,” and gave it back, she looked sad.’
“Good job, Hiros.h.i.+-kun. But a princess that walks around with candy…”
‘We also met the king. Mom and dad talked with him. “When you’re done with your work, you will be able to return home,” when the king said that, “I only took a week of paid vacation, so can’t you do something about that?” dad negotiated. When I also said, “I promised to play with Kengo-kun a week from now, so I’d like to go back,” the princess tried persuading the king. After a week, we can go back once, it seems.’
“Is that really okay!?”
You sure are weak to your daughter, your highness! And the princess is weak to Hiros.h.i.+-kun!
Reading a bit more, it was finally decided they could move freely between the world and earth. They would spend the first week in that world, and after that, since mom was a housewife, she’d take up noon hero s.h.i.+fts. Dad would help out in the evenings, and on holidays. Hiros.h.i.+-kun whenever he had time over break. The kid called Akihiko-kun said he wanted to stay in the other world until the demon lord was defeated. Eh? Is Akihiko-kun alright?
If it was until the DK was defeated, that meant there wasn’t a problem if he didn’t return to earth, so he’s not a student or working adult. Since holding a blade is OK, he’s at least older than Hiros.h.i.+-kun… huh? But Hiros.h.i.+-kun didn’t give him an honorific, right? If he didn’t give one to an elder who’s not a student or worker, then is he a NE… let’s not go there. Imagining it is a little sad. I’ll just ignore it.
‘For the week, we were trained in the castle. Because we were summoned, we were strong, they said. The old magic guy taught me. After a week, I was able to pour water from the staff. It was tasty, and refres.h.i.+ng. But I couldn’t make anything else. When mom and the others were tired from training and I gave them water, they looked happy, so maybe it would be fine like that.’
“Oh, that’s a bit heartwarming.”
‘Mom shot lightning from her sword, and destroyed the castle a little. Dad and Akihiko defeated lots and lots of soldiers. After seeing that, I gave some water to the princess crying in the corner, and she clung onto me tight saying, “So this is solace…” When I gave it to the knight people, they looked a little more energetic. When I can’t even use healing magic, it was a little strange.’
“There’s no doubt about it, you’re the healing factor.”
After that, he gave water to the king holding his stomach in pain at the trouble the family was causing, and all the important people, and got them to dote on him like a grandson, it seems. Those otherworlders sure have it hard. Though they reap what they sow.
‘After that, we went on a journey. With our family, and the princess, and the old magic guy, and thirty knights.’
“That’s a lot!? … no, is that normal? The Hero family’s a bit out there, on occasion.”
‘The old guy was apparently the one who summoned us, and he would summon us every day on our travels, and send us back and everything.’
“He’s not working himself to death, is he?”
‘The princess also wanted to come along. “I’ll definitely protect the solace of this world!” she said, and the king and a lot of people stuck up their thumbs and saw her off. Even though she’s a princess, it looks like she fights with a mace. She said it was simply good sense for a n.o.ble lady. Also, she said we weren’t strangers anymore, and gave me lots of candy. It was tasty.’
“What’s with this walking ma.s.s of retorts?”
The journey from there proceeded more as a summary. Perhaps because after a week, Hiros.h.i.+-kun had returned to earth. His parents and the people of the country said giving Hiros.h.i.+-kun crude food and making him camp out was simply absurd, so he’d return to earth at eight every day without fail, get dinner with one of his parents, and sleep soundly in his bed… that Magician really is going to collapse one of these days.
After that, his dad sent a bandit brigade flying into the distance, his mom crushed an army of monsters, Akihiko-kun defeated three of the Four Heavenly Kings, and the knights got plainly dragged in as they tried to help. The Princess followed through whenever they went too far, and the magician did, in fact, collapse a few times. Hiros.h.i.+-kun took it all at his own pace, handing enemies and allies the water he poured, and doing some healing aftercare.
So as not to show little Hiros.h.i.+-kun any blood, they always used the back of their blades, it seems, but naturally enough, they didn’t hold back any further. Yet why are those beaten up ant traumatized monsters were healed by Hiros.h.i.+-kun leading the way to the Demon King’s castle? At first, the princess and co. were wary, but after about five days, they’d just go, ‘what, again?’ and they stopped even questioning it. You’re amazing, Hiros.h.i.+-kun. Never change.
Since it was written from Hiros.h.i.+-kun’s POV, it felt heartwarming, but that journey was definitely chaos. And led by the monsters, and at times, riding on their backs, they made it to the castle within the break. There’s no way they should’ve reached the last boss within forty days, but there was no helping it with this family, so I found myself strangely accepting it as it read. I’m probably going to challenge the next parent-teacher conference with a low profile.
W-well… it was a really real essay, but I doubt it really happened. Don’t mind it, don’t mind it.
‘We had finally reached the demon king’s castle. I took a selfie with the black dragon who took us there, and said goodbye. He was cool. It looks like monsters can’t speak words, but the monsters who led us were all really kind.’
“Huh~ this is strange~. There’s really a picture of Hiros.h.i.+-kun and a dragon stuck in here. Just how am I supposed to interact with his family from here on? We’re going to be together for the next seven months, you know?”
‘There were lots of monsters in the demon king’s castle. But everyone kept moving forward. The princess exterminated any monsters that came towards me, so I was alright. “Knights, go do your job! If Hiros.h.i.+-kun is even so much as scratched, that family will get scary!” she said in a loud voice. Everyone was amazing.’
“Why did you have to put that into your essay and show it to your homeroom teacher (me)!? What’s with this life-threatening pressure of responsibility! I didn’t want to know that!”
A teacher’s life… more than that, this elementary schooler’s essay had established that my life was facing its greatest crisis yet. As a teacher, I know it’s absolutely no good to show favoritism to a child. But you know man, if anything happens to Hiros.h.i.+-kun, aren’t I like dead? My face was stiff, but for now, I decided to read on. The last line may end up being, ‘and then I woke up’. I can only hope.
‘When we went into a large room in the demon king’s castle, there was a large demon man there. “There’s a hero called Akihiko who defeated all the other Heavenly Kings, right? I request a duel with him, one on one.” He said. When we all looked at Akihiko, he stepped in front of all of us. It looks like he accepted the duel.’
“You’re so cool, Akihiko-kun.”