Chapter 5：Stepping into the 1st Otherworld (1/2)

After gruelling hours of practicing inside the Pocket Dimension, I was able to increase my capacity to at least double of its previous size.

Right. Hours of practice and it only amounted to that. This ability was too mediocre. One needed thorough hard work to even achieve something.

After filling up the invisible container with psyche energy, I left the dimension and went up the flight of stairs. I hadn't even eaten yet. I should at least grab some lunch, right? Even if it's already this late. One could not fight with an empty stomach, so they say. Sure that's even for a support like me.

Could I really be a support with that meager amount of energy? At best, it could only refresh one's mind for four times if it's not someone like the Principal who has a high clarity.

I better adapt fast on Sugawara's Otherworld. I wonder, what type of energy is inherent in it?

When I arrived back in the Principal's Office, Sugawara was back from class and there was a lunchbox in her hands.

”Kuramoto-kun, here's your lunch.”

Eh? What was with this development? That looked like a handmade lunch box. Wasn't that hers?

”You don't have to worry, I didn't touch any.”

That's not what I was worrying about though. Just earlier we were strangers and now she was acting like this. When I first met her before she led me to this room, didn't she act like it was her first time seeing me?

Ah. Was that an act? Why? What's the history between us?

”Thank you, Sugawara-san.”

I took the lunch box from her. The Principal just watched our exchange with smiles.

And here's the Principal, her father. Could it be I was just trapped here to be her fiance?

Ah no. One should not think highly of oneself. That was a truly dangerous thought. I'm mediocre. My ability was mediocre even with its great potential. I think I already used up all my luck to be promised with her.

Plus from the way they acted, there's some sort of history between us. But why can't I remember ever meeting them?

”How was it Kuramoto-kun? Have you adapted and improved?”

The Principal asked after the air around us started turning weird. I don't know what to say to this beautiful fiance of mine. Even if I was quite handsome, I hadn't try entering a relationship before. Ah. I did jump ahead and got myself a fiance even before getting a girlfriend. What to do? Why wouldn't my boosted mind help me this time?

”I improved it to double its capacity.”

I answered honestly, there's no point making a lie about something that might decide my safety.

”Hoh. That's a great progress,” the Principal praised. He then looked at Sugawara-san.

”Yuko-chan, have you received their call?”

Eh? Call? Those from Otherworld could call her?

”Yes, Principal, we have 3 hours left before they open the Dimensional Portal.”

She nodded and mentioned the remaining time before our trip to the Otherworld.

”Have you prepared?”

”No, I still need to talk to Kuramoto-kun”

Sugawara looked to me, her expression says she has something she only want to say to me.

”Go ahead. I'll leave the room for you two.”

After saying that, the Principal left his office. Well, he went down to the place where the Pocket Dimension was.

”Let's sit down, Kuramoto-kun. A-and you can start eating.”

And just like earlier, Sugawara became flustered again. Is this her real self? So her somewhat aloof personality from earlier is just a facade?

”Uh. Right. Thank you for this Sugawara-san.”

I followed her and sat. There's a table in front of the sofa so I put the lunch box there and opened it. It was really untouched. And just looking at it's arrangement, it was carefully made.

”You can call me Yuko when we're alone. W-we, we are now engaged with my father's consent.”

Acting that part already? She's serious considering our engagement, while I am here doubting everything about our relationship.

”Err. Is it fine? Then you can call me Daisuke, too, Yuko. Honestly, I'm still a bit confused about the reason.”

The reason why she's like this to me. Whatever it is, she's the only one who could answer it.

Seeing her expecting gaze, I started eating the food from her lunch box. Surprisingly, it's delicious. Homemade cooking's still the best! Did she make this?

”T-then Dai-kun. I see, do you want to know?”

”Dai-kun?!,” I was taken aback for a while because of the way she addressed me but I was quick in trying to compose myself and answered her,  ”If possible, yes.”

Cutting my name to that. Err, it's a form of endearment, right? This girl, would she tell me? Am I forgetting something that concerned her?

If that was how she wanted to call me then I guess, it was fine. Being called like that by a beautiful girl was a bliss in itself after all.

”It's something that happened way before I became a Hero. Let's just say, we met each other and you became imprinted in my mind ever since then.”

We met even before this whole Hero fiasco? Then why can't I remember her?

”Have we met? Wait. Now that I think of it, there's some sort of blank page in my memory.”

And about that blank in my memory. Like how I lost consciousness, it felt like if it was not mentioned, I wouldn't even recall it at all. There's something that happened way before this and that's something I couldn't recall nor even remember happening. If she didn't tell me about meeting her, I will probably live my life not knowing that there's something missing in my past.

”I see. You can't remember. Uhm then Dai-kun, let me brief you about my ability first.”

Seeing my confused face, there's a hint of sadness that flashed past her.

”Your ability determined you to become a Hero, didnt it?”