Chapter 3 (1/2)

New h school On the second day, I arrived extra early

The empty lot still looked like a simple temporary house with interspersed bikes It almost looked as if people just abandoned their bikes and parked haphazardly Since I can park wherever, I picked the spot next to the storage; that way, I can leave easily when bikes fill the place later Of course, I left it unchained Thieves have eyes: they'll want a different bike

Speaking of locks, I don't even have the key to Me daytiet home!

After shoving soed dutifully from school->shoe locker->stairs->classroom If there's a way to skip a step, please teach me

I pulled open the class door; the screeching noise reverberated in the hall, and I cringed Perhaps lacking the innate skin hu, the room was filled with dry air The same kind that is left in your room few days after a trip

Walking in, I sao people in the class already One was a guy, sleeping on his desk – probably how he spends his lunch ti he's behind me in the last name order

The other was hbor; her name should be Maekawa-san Back hunched, she rested her cheek on one arm Her hair swayed every now and then – man, she doesn't look very reliable~ I commented as I drifted to my seat

As I pulled the seat out, Maekawa-san's side face becaht-on portrait She stared at hted and didn't wear her contacts yesterday

I traded looks with this girl who's taller than ave the i beautiful underwater, there's just so up close She belongs in the art category

Maekawa-san seeazes can't coht this was the time to make the next move Her first broadcast came from her lips:

”Transfer student” Without verbs or adjectives, she finished her speech with a slightly coarse voice

”Which makes you 'student'”

”Hm, I've been here for two years” She took out her student ID, the proof of her status

”Well We are in the sarade — even the same class!”

”I know” Of course we are, she seemed to say

She gave a little frown That should bestance

””

””

The conversation ended Not abruptly, but gradually faded away

Since the second story was in coh to excite the mind I opened the back pack I didn't have to, peeked inside to alleviate the boredom

”Ah” Since I don't have my books yet, I'll ask Maekwa-san to lend uy behind me, but I'm also not a man with a noble soul

In the end, the backpack re by the desk

””

I gazed at the clock above the blackboard About half a circle away from homeroom

So just why did I leave so early?

Question — from me

Answer — from me You're welcome

It's because Erio was home!

I recalled what happened after I denounced her ”duty”

Below is a memory too recent to be the past

”The world exists in a polygonal box; a higher existence observes the known universe These entities see us as a fors Speaking strictly from the results, these people are bound with conditions similar to dementia, and are exiled in order to suppress the disseests, they are erased froy humanity used to cross the parallel worlds”

“Really, now”

“In addition, there are traces of human experimentation They observe the direction in which human souls adhere to, and arbitrarily create realms as abodes for these souls There are even ru the reactions of hu their view on life to those of other earthly organisms”

“Really, now”

“The Observers even used cities as testing grounds, in order to ascertain the capacity of emotional fluctuation within humans and to select the ones with superior psyche Peoplecorpses The situation was perilous”

“Really, no!” She s me choke on the half-sed rice

I chugged down the Oolong tea next to me to wash down the food About a third of a bottle worth of liquid rolled into lance of “what the hell was that?” but she only nibbled away at the Okonomiyaki[1]on hand

She see, and Okonoht Don't they somehow overlap with each other? I did warn her at the convenience store, but she just ignored me

We didn't head straight ho to a densely forested park behind the temple under Erio's command

“Outside activity is a rare occurrence Hence, I must carry out my duty as a blahblahblah” She explained herto do with her – so about the will of the universe – so I just listened cursorily

We sat and ate next to each other on the half-buried tires in the park I picked the yellow one, Erio the white one; the pink one relected

I heard that parks and te my country sense keen, I did see a few people Since there was a uy even thought we ran away from home (I don't like it either, but some people even mistook us as eloped couple) and kindly offered us help Perhaps the nearly destroyed bicycle that looked as if its been salvaged from a river bank amplified our impression

However, when the guy carelessly asked for Erio's identity…

“Within restricted parauistic standard, I am an esper”

“Wow~ Impressive!” Super — the simplified version of “super stupid” So you do understand! [2]

After such conversation, everybody retreated near the temple to let us alone Seemed like they may have realized that Erio is a rather hard-to-describe individual No, they are right, but I was still bothered, and want to scream some unmentionable words

I peered up at the evening sky Cloud hid the ht's potency If the tiht be able to say it I looked toward the dihed

“Ah~ Cough, cough… So, cough, cough… I just wanna say, cough, cough… Guess not”

Si spaces, but somehow I sounded irk with her Tsk!

I continued eating

Erio bit the Okonomiyaki with Yakisoba as I stabbed at the fried-fish bento[3]

Great atood, but there wasn't any opportunity for talking I thoughtthat futon off, but everything co out just spelt chuunibyou Even without the outer space element, every other sentences of hers pervaded delusion[4]

“I don't co ence”

Like treating a neanderthal, Erio shrugged at me like an American wo According to her, it hurt to sit because her butt wasn't too fleshy… And for soy involved Mars and the moon Think about that nohy?

“We aren't exactly on the sa or two fro playing? The TV was on when I was unpacking, and I alhth channel with a show on”

Channel five was listed under entertainhth channel was alra

“Under what order is the cousin sent here?”

“The earthly order that my parents had to work elsewhere”

“Was there any interaction with the extraterrestrials in the previous settlement?”

“Nothing The earth is quite big, y'know No reason for them to only visit japan”

Seeners who adore the Yamato-damashi+ But if aliens were to visit, ould they bother showing up in the o see places like Kyoto instead?[5]

“A logical point” Erio assented with a rare, honest nod

I uard

“Eri… Agh Erio” And what about her name? This is not for japanese people

I don't want the mother who named her to to have any more screen time!

“…?”

Because of uess she didn't hate the idea of usting people all so shameless?” with a revolted expression And so, I asked unreservedly:

“Why do you insist on playing as an alien?”

“Because I am one”She concisely asserted

“Alright, so a dinner with an alien?” I don't believe her one bit

“The cousin should have ascertained my identity”

“Haah?” Oh~ I did say that at the convenient store, but it was just figuratively speaking

If she thought I was serious, both of us lose in a way

“I aalactic clairvoyance, despite of aappearance?”

“Excuseyour half-assed co”

“…Modesty A youngon the japanese virtue?”

“N—o, and you're a wacko”

Perhaps to testthat I somehoon her faith with idiotic phrases

But is trust really a concept suitable for Erio? She is “super” after all

Not someone of my level could deal with

As if to end the conversation, she bit off a big chunk of the Okonoh to fill maybe half my mouth

“Does the reason really matter? Oh yeah… here, for you”

As it had been sitting underneath the bento, the napkin was lukewarm, but it should be usable

I handed the ipe I also bought earlier to Erio Since she didn't have a free hand, sheit

“You still got pizza on your face Doesn't it itch? How about cleaning it?”

“…Why?”

Erio strickenly asked, appearing apprehensive Her reaction was not what I had expected

“I don't even knohy you asked” And take it fast, the flies are going steal my food

“…☆☆☆☆☆☆” Erio's lips vibrated at high frequency

“Wha? Speak up~”

I tried speaking like Mifune-san Souys just irritates people The a war tiross, but I did my best at a falsetto

“Um, but why?” I softened my tone of speech, but vacillated because due to indecisiveness

Man~ the stress is killing h cringey, choppy phrases, and I's

I won't tolerate things to develop at such turtle pace

Unable to stand the pressure, I helplessly took out the wipe to clean her face and around her mouth

With a bit of force, I rubbed around her eyelids and sides of nose Erio letaway

It's like taking care of an infant I rearten visit Maybe that's why I don't feel nervous touching Erio's face, but then…

“I will not change your evaluation score even with bribery”

“Good for you Someone who trusts easily or flip-flops is definitely unreliable”

Just like the disks of a Reversi ga to one color is as easy as to the other

I balled up the wipe and threw it into the bag after finishi+ng Since I've located the park's garbage can, I'll just dispose of the trash e head back

Once again Erio and I used our hands andWithout a question she can eat nor way, she probably would actually never take off the futon aside for bathing

Must be reallysequestered in the world of futon

A pubescent guy will definitely beco more holes and scars on his skin

“…”

I peered at Erio's profile to my content

Her appearance is best used when eating quietly If her mouth were taped shut, she must be able to advance in life by at least three levels

However, she probably chose to beco to do with me

From about three paces away, I inquired Erio:

“What do you during the day anyway?”

“Eradicate evidences of extraterrestrial contact Why do you ask?”

“No, no reason” I still added a line of “is that so?” afterward

And the night passed like that I rewound the empty film strip of memory

We engaged in an exchange valued at around two Youth-points Though due to content of our conversation, about one point in fragment was scored

I wonder if my deficit can ever be reimbursed in that household

The guy next to thealready turned his lying head elsewhere, changing even the position of his arm See sleepy

It's not like the concept is foreign: during seventh grade, I've always felt that ti ahead that every second felt like an hour, but the exact opposite – it was so boring, I just wanted to leave school and take a nap back home Every second, minute and hour bored me

The lack of change drainedme bit by bit

Once adapted to theback

Evolution is clever, but not omnipotent — it is still flawed

Though it's not like living under the sun is the only way

Deep-see fishes have their way of survival Man, they are so disgustingly cute!

For someone who adores deep-sea creature, I can't help but think of them as romantic

At least it's better than confiding in the aliens, and it suits the mysterious character better

As I san her rerun:

“So” Still resting on her arm, she looked sideways at me

“So…?”

I tried speaking like her What if she gets angry? I thought regretfully, but Maekawa-san didn't mind and continued calmly:

“I just wanted to say, I'm not a hold-back”

Once again she waved the student ID at me This time I noticed the blonde hair on the picture, which was now completely black

Maekawa's head ineering!

“People often think I'ht”

“I see” I concisely expressed e is the issue here…

“Was that not funny? I thought it was a good joke”

‘How strange’~ Maekawa-san stared at the clock with a finger on her lip, thoroughly confused Her expression was like that of the science teacher who got lass back than there are students in the class The conundru

I understand she was confident in her joke… However, I didn't see the elements of a punchline

“Mlanced every now and then, busy gathering and processing the infor at her

Since I knew that as long as I kept the “what's she doing?” attitude, she wouldn't suspect a thing

Nevertheless, her body is so long! LookingIf she were in a Sengoku warfare, she would possibly be used as a substitute spear[6]

Would this be classified asslipped away as I pondered

I should have realized from the last names, Mifune-san sat behind Maekawa-san

In other words, object 'M' is located behind onally

“So Niwa-kun is a bread person, huh?”

Lunchtime “Let's munch on our lunch!” invited Mifune-san And so, I put the bread I bought this

The neighboring Maekawa-san floated out of the class, probably headed to the cafeteria

Maybe I' behind her? Sigh, if not, just use Maekawa-san's back as the black board! (I suddenly went insane)

“Cuz ot your own lunch, Mifune-san?”

“Yep, my ma made it! Oh yeah, just call me Ryuuko! Actually, you hafta!”

She gently coood idea to force a shy guy to call her by name!

Mifune-san (tentative) took out a single-layered bento fro was a tiny box, s

Erio, too Half a pizza was enough – girl's digestive systeht-loss trend

“It so nice to have lunch buddies right after getting inta new classes!”

Mifune-san's wavy hair and char, possibly even contribute to world peace If everyone has one at home, on't need air purifiers anymore

I will even breathe the carbon dioxide that's been to her lungs! I don't know if uisher; isn't it unsafe to do that?

“You're great help for me, too, since I don't know anyone Don't you have other friends to eat with though?”

“All of my friends are in a different class, so it’s kinda weird for me to butt in It’s sorta like, h luxury sushi+ on some faraway ferry While they became women who don't need to wait for that ti forest-dweller Wuu… There ya have it”

“It's not exactly the tiht die!

“Eh~ ya think? It's kinda fun on the island though~ No one would care if I cut a buncha trees down, and people wouldn't destroy my secret headquarter!”

“And no one would say a thing if you yell a bunch by the sea!”

I gave up on defying the direction of our talk Why not hitch a ride? Islands are awesome~

…… A perfect harmony between me and her, yet my back crawled as if there were ants on it

The gazes frouys, made me feel conscious As a person as often in their shoes, I knew not to mind them or feel upset Actually, it’sof “I aht now” made me so free that I wanted to say “Look closely! Better yet, record this and broadcast it nationwide!”Well, that was a lie

Mifune-san opened the bento In it were cherry tomatoes, apple, Youkan, pickled cucumber, banana tempura and very little rice It's like a famine in there; the menu lacked any red[7]

“Are you a vegetarian?” I had to ask

“M to her lunch and contemplated

“If I hafta say, I’d call myself fruitarian?”

I don't really knohere people like her should go Your spirit of word- is admirable, just remember to look back on the road of peerlessness

“It’s not like I don't eat meat; I just don't always Well, that's what I tell people”

“Huh, that's unusual So fast food is not your thing?”

“Yeppers I love fruits My goal is to becoirl with juice for blood!”

The day of her dreaather around;Mifune-san h, Mifune-san is the best Currently, she's my number one Well, I suppose the number of people I know her than Erio

“Already eyeing the new guy, Ryuushi+?”

Passerby A entered, foreshadowing the next event… Ignore the things a crazy gaht say A person neither transparent in naly call Mifune-san 'Ryuushi+' Could it be that her name is 'Mifune Ryuushi+ Ryuuko?' With so much japanese in the name, that's impossible even for a multiracial person

“No and no~ I' if Niwa-kun from the other town bleeds sap~”

“What kind of speculation is that?” I gave a vague sirl I just met

“Also! Don't call ht!”

She corrected the person with an overall not-too-harsh tone The girl gave an equivocal smile to us and left

The story will probably have little to do with her later, so I'll skip the introduction What is important, however, is what's behind the word

“Ryuushi+-san”

“It's Ryuuko!”Her angry expression was adorable “Ryuushi+ is just a word; Ryuuko is s

Mifune-san puffed out her cheeks; the shape of a cherry toa character with cavity

“So why does she call you Ryuushi+?”

“Mm~ I don't like it either, but my name in Kanji is like this”

With a pen, she wrote down her na “Ryuuko (流子)”

“Ah, so that's why it’s Ryuushi+”[8]

So you can say her name like that

“So which one is right?”

“Of course it’s Ryuuko~!!”

Mifune-san nibbled on her apple while explaining the origin of her nickname:

“So her, but she just ignoredRyuushi+ sounds more cosmic… In the end everybody called me that That name is a hazard”

“H clicked as I spoke

The unifor next door swam in the milkyway Aith you!

“Ah, ya want soested to me the banana tempura

“Yay~ stealing others' food has always been reen banana wasn't quite sweet enough, nor was it soft – it's like eating a vegetable Honestly, I could only smile when she asked whether I liked it

Mifune-san stared atme s

“She doesn't coh – she dropped out”

“'Dropped out’?” The uniform covers Earth Stop it, you conceited world-uniform

“There were a lotta probleirl - must be complicated if she voluntarily left”

Picking up another slice of apple, she skih the story with a lonely smile

“I saw her the other day Her style was, like, really unique, ya know? I think it's pretty cool”

“Huh, that's nice What was it like?”

I responded quickly, feigning norance It was so smooth, the word “cool” may as well have been written on my face Oh, but it’s only because my empty answer is very well-ventilated

“Heheh, it's a secret! You will know once ya see it!”

Mifune-san mischievously tried to pique my interest with a childish smile

Then it's a secret for me too Your friend probably lives with me!

Openly admit my affiliation with that personher previous circumstances

Speaking of which, Erio and I are actually the sa so basic

Does that acy of her school life?

“Niwa-kun will definitely see her! She's quite the landmark of to! Mm~Mm~”

“Woish it'd be sooner~” I saw it thisme!

“I must visit blah-blah place today Escort me with the bicycle, my assistant Watson!”

Oon, Erio's intent was to forceAs someone between a model student and a delinquent, I wouldn't skip school on the first stay – being late is my worst

“I' her hands, Mifune-san finished her meal first Seems like city dwellers are well developed in the technique of eating and speaking I still had half my bread

“Niwa-kun, got any interests?” As we packed our lunch, she flung out a question essential to a blind date

“For interests, I would have to say deep-sea creatures Sometimes I look up pictures of them on the web too”

“Deep-sea fish? Like shrimps or crabs?”

“Yeah, those” But you said fishes

“And mollusks and jelly fishes?”

“Them too!” Was it intentional? Or was she born with it?

“How about cute ones? Like, you'd wanna catch them and stuff”

Mifune-san flapped up and down, i a fisherman

Did the lady confuse deep-sea fish with tropical fish? Well, as long as it’s cute, it’s forgivable

“If you're talking about ugly-cute, then there are plenty”

“Mlance when she said it 'Couldn't ya at least talk about the cute ones?' Deep-sea animals are indeed creepy; after all, they live in a totally different place

“You should lend me an atlas if ya have one”

“Sure, if I can”

I answered unhesitatingly Not that it irl says the word “atlas,” it just rerade schoolers read We should be in the sarade — could this be one of the school's seven mysteries?

Mifune-san clapped her hands and cracked a smile:

“Then your name from now on shall be shi+nkai-san!”

“No, that's not smart at all” Specifically, the combination of the names[9]

“Myu-san” [10]

“Does every name you come up with overlaps with someone else's?”

And just like the japanese dishes that focuses too inal taste, they were always untouched

Following her na sense, people who likes spinach would be named Ppeye, and criminals Harper

“H no fault with her own declaration, Mifune-san tilted her head slightly

I can welcoether is alwayswith a bit of variation

On the surface, she looks like a irl; but on the inside, she’s a bit retro

Appearing like the Heisei period, but actually the Shouwa period — that’s her impression[11]

Anyhoill register the nickname ‘Ryuushi+-san’ in my heart

I like the nah I will pretend to not knoho made it

So ended my first day at the new school

Since it’s the first tinificant, and I didn’t need to borrow the books of hbors

And so, my reaction: boredom

In the end, I draggedout of class Today, I will be all alone on the way home!

Ryuushi+-san said “I gotta club today, so I’ll see ya tooes to yet, but it’s worthy of iination — nay, prediction

“Hm~…” From her aura… Either drama or basketball

While e my brain on fruitless fantasy, I walked down stairs toward the shoe lockers After changingrow stretching by a pillar

It’s like seeing a giant sword fish on a crane Her stretching body gave off a terrifying air; she’s a candidate for creating shades along the summer road

Her torso flexibly bent back; it was then she found y, Maekawa-san blinked and spoke:

“Isn’t it the transfer student, what are you doing?”

“I a at Maekawa-san” I spoke respectfully for some reason

”It's like seeing a giant swod fish on a crane”

“Is that so? Whoooa!” She staggered backward, back still arched How horrifying, it’s like the standing version of the Exorcist; I almost jumped back

Before I actually ran away, she regained herself “Ahh~ everything’s shaking~” She groaned while holding onto her head Is she dizzy?

“Blood is rushi+ng into h her speech, she cracked a strange s from the side

“Going ho forward

“Yeah, actually riding it, instead of being ridden…”

It wasn’t anything funny, but I still responded like that Maekawa-san, though, burst out in light laughter; it see, she hs easily

After she poised herself and re-did her hair, we unintentionally walked together to the parking lot Walking side-by-side like this, I think I understand theto call someone “Senpai!” or “Nee-chan!”

“Got plan for joining a club, transfer student?”

Maekawa-san gave way to the football club members who ran around the campus, and tossed me a casual topic [12]

“Nothing, really I was the phanto high school” [13]

“How are those related?”

“Then how about yourself?”