Leave a comment

“Is something wrong?” Mom asked, as my attention was on the papers on the table.
“Nah… what is this?”

I took one of the papers and checked what was written on it. It said, “About the Japanese homestay program for foreign orphans”.

“Ah… I discussed this with your father.”
“Huh? That’s the first time I’m seein’ this. Least I never noticed these papers until the day of Mika’s funeral.”

From the title, I could guess that my parents were thinking of taking someone in, but… why would they want to do that? Moreover, deliberately picking someone from overseas.

“After Ayumu died in that accident, it didn’t seem the right time to tell you… As a matter of fact, your father and I have been discussing it for some time now. It’s like this-”

From what the papers said, it was an organization that took in orphans from overseas with outstanding grades, who wanted to go to Japan as a long-time foreign students, and provided them with places to stay (on top of that, they would be transfer students, not just short-term exchange students, so that relationship would last for several years). Money and such would be provided by the country those orphans were from… apparently.

Huh, I had no idea.

“So, why do that?”
“Well. There was one orphan who was accepted at your school… and we have an unused room in our house. It also sounds like a majority of the orphans who take part in that program can speak Japanese.” Mom took the paper from me and looked at it herself. “…But then, things just got worse… so we talked about not taking someone in. It looks like time has been rewound, so if we have the leeway, we might think about it again.”
“Hm~, well… not like I’m opposed or anythin’…”

But if it’s a girl, things might turn ugly¹. I’d have to make sure not to get as close to her as to Rir.
Yep, I already have a cute girlfriend.

“Well, that is of no consequence at the moment. Right now, I am simply happy to have you back! Do you have any idea how much you worried us?”
“I do, I’m super sorry ’bout that.”
“…Yes, well, it didn’t sound like it was your fault, so all is well.”

After looking at me seriously, Mom seemed bashful.

*Clack*
The sound of the phone being put down echoed through the living room.

Seems like Pops is done callin’ the two families.

“Shuu told us the truth. Kanata and Ayumu are apparently at the Joujous’. And the Magarigis told me that Mika and Sakura have come home.”
“Hah… that such a thing could happen…”

Well, normally, that would’ve been impossible. While Kanata, Sakura, and I had just gone missing, so there was a high chance of us being alive, Ayumu and Mika were dead.

Pops put his hand on mine.
…What now?

“So, I was thinking of using today for you to tell us about this so-called other world.”
“Huh?”

T-Today?

“What about work…? Don’t you go there almost every day?”
“That won’t be an issue. On the — of — few things happened, so I only went to the office in the afternoon.”

Now that he mentions it… feels like he did.

“In that case, should I tell you the details now, Pops?”
“…No, the Joujous and Magarigis told me they also want to hear more. They’ll either take the day off or go to work after the fact.”
“Will… will that be alright?”

When I asked that, he looked at me with an expression as if to say, “What are you talking about?”, before replying.

“I thought you’d understand that, but most parents consider their children more important than their jobs. Wouldn’t it be only natural for them to want to know what happened while those children were in a different world?”
“Guess that’s true.”

Hearin’ it like that made me kinda embarrassed. Although I’m no longer at the age when I’d proudly declare, “I love you, Mom, Dad”.

“Also, we’ll let you take off a day from school today,” Pops continued, after seeing my involuntary smile. “It probably wouldn’t be a good day to go. They said, they’d do the same for Ayumu, Mika, and the others.”
“R-Right.”

I was thinking of asking him that, so this saved me some trouble. For Ayumu, going outside today would be like committing suicide. There’d likely be a flowerpot falling on his head.

“As for the place the 11 of us will have our talk… we’ll go to the Joujous’ house. Having Ayumu leave the house today would be like sending him to his death.”

Dang, Pops. We had the same thought.

Still… havin’ our talk at Ayumu’s house with six adults and the five of us. That’s some crazy mental image. Nah, it ain’t gonna be that bad.

“Then, let’s leave for the Joujous’ house in about one-and-a-half hours. Make sure you’re ready.”

1. It’s so obvious where this is going. And if you think NTR/love triangle arc for Shuu and Rir, you haven’t been paying attention to how the author likes their romances.

Support Us

Unlock Early Access ------- Select Project ------- Project Gender Bender Project Necro ∴ Support your favorite series and unlock chapters before the public release.