Chapter 9

"Really, Ayatsuji is so unreliable."

"I agree. If Kanna-kun were here, the situation might have been a bit better."

"......Misaki-san, Aya-san, please have mercy."

A few days before Kanna thought of his hometown.

"Why do you just go along with people's requests? Wanting to help someone in trouble is a virtue, but you need to consider the time and circumstances. Think about how it affects those who get dragged into it."

One of the girls, Misaki Hoshizuki, is a lively and adorable girl who is popular with both boys and girls in her class. She has excellent athletic skills and is the ace of the karate club, with a history of winning championships.

"Sorry."

"Alright, alright, Misaki-san. That's enough. It's a well-known fact that Ayatsuji-kun is a regrettable handsome man. He couldn't say no to such a beautiful princess."

The other girl is Asanagi Aya. In contrast to Misaki, she is calm and is also a beautiful girl. She boasts top grades in the class and is always the top student. She is also a brilliant scholar with top-class grades in national tests.

"......"

And the one sandwiched between the two is Izumo Ayatsuji, a boy with such a handsome face that ten out of ten people would call him a handsome man. He is immensely popular with girls and is well-liked by boys for his friendly nature. He excels in both academics and sports, consistently ranking in the top ten in every test.

He is truly a talent blessed by the gods.

"But, if you think about it, it's not all bad. It's better than being abandoned without knowing the situation."

"That's true. We're also worried about Kanna-kun. First, we should stay here and gather information. The priority is to acquire basic common knowledge. We can escape when the opportunity arises. Is that okay, Ayatsuji-kun?"

The boy couldn't interject in the girls' conversation. He didn't have the courage to speak up.

--- The three were having this conversation in a room in a castle.

Three days after Kanna escaped the castle with a woman, new visitors from another world had been summoned.

Now, after the initial explanation, they had been led to a guest room for a break.

"Still, do you think Ayaka also thinks Kanna is here?"

"Comparing the events of the day before yesterday with what happened to us, the possibility is high. The light that enveloped us is almost identical to the one observed when he disappeared."

These two girls are truly resilient. In such a situation, most people would be panicking, even if they had been given some explanation. They might have complained in private, but they managed to stay calm.

"That means Kanna was also summoned by that beautiful lady, right?"

"Stopping Ayatsuji-kun from speaking was the right move. If we had pressed the issue, it might have raised her suspicions. You did well, Misaki-san."

"Right? I had a good grasp of Ayatsuji's shortcomings from our interactions."

Initially, the two girls had hidden their anxiety and unease, but they quickly regained their composure and were able to make objective judgments. Of course, they were still worried, but they had regained enough composure to make decisions.

Undoubtedly, this was due to the influence of one friend.

"Um, Aya-san, why was it bad to ask about Kanna?"

Ayatsuji, still rubbing his sore side, spoke hesitantly. Just as he was about to ask the princess about Kanna, he was elbowed by his karate club friend. Incidentally, "Kan-chan" is the nickname Ayatsuji uses for his childhood friend.

Aya sighed before answering.

"Do you understand? If the princess had summoned Kanna-kun, it would be unnatural for her not to explain it to us. She might answer if we ask, but it's also possible that she's choosing not to answer unless we ask."

"But, the princess might not have summoned Kanna."

"That's fine too. It would mean she genuinely doesn't know. However, if she deliberately kept Kanna-kun a secret......"

Aya's brow furrowed slightly as she suppressed her unease.

"Kanna-kun might be a very inconvenient presence for her. I don't want to think about it, but in the worst case......"

Aya bit her lip as if to stop herself from saying more.

Misaki, understanding Aya's unspoken thoughts, patted her friend's shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'm worried too, but this is Kanna. He'll be fine, no matter what."

"You're right. I'm sorry for causing you worry."

"It's okay. Thanks to Ayaka, we always get through these situations."

While the two girls were bonding, Ayatsuji felt a bit left out. Unable to bear it, he tried to speak.

"But, why are you two so wary of the princess? To me, she doesn't seem like a bad person at all."

The two girls, who had been smiling at each other, sighed and shrugged their shoulders.

"What's with that reaction?"

"I've always been amazed that you've never been involved in any trouble with girls. Well, you are now."

"Kanna-kun must have been the one keeping you in check. Without him, your flaws become more apparent."

"Every time I speak, I feel like I'm being stabbed in the heart......"

It wasn't just his imagination; each time he spoke, it felt like a thorn was being twisted into his heart.

"That princess, she was smiling the whole time we were talking, but her eyes never smiled. Didn't you notice?"

"......Sorry, I didn't."

"Well, it's just my intuition. But I trust it. What about you, Misaki?"

"Right...... Her behavior was too perfect, I guess."

"Too perfect? What do you mean?"

"The timing of her words, her gestures, her facial expressions. Everything was designed to make us feel at ease and listen to her. I've never seen anyone do that so naturally."

"So, you're saying she was acting, Aya-san?"

"It's possible she's genuine, but I think it's better to be cautious. That's my role, after all."

Even if someone was 99% trustworthy, the remaining 1% should be doubted. This was Aya's role in the group, which included Kanna.

"But, combined with Misaki's impression, it might not be entirely wrong."

"That's why we're doing this hot and stuffy thing."

In fact, the three of them had been under the covers of the bed in the room, whispering to each other. If anyone else was in the room, they wouldn't be able to hear the conversation unless they were very close.

"Are you suspecting eavesdropping? But, from what I've seen, the technology in this world seems far behind ours. I can't say for sure without seeing outside the castle, though."

"That's naive, Ayatsuji-kun. The technology that summoned us from another world. Even if it's called magic, it's unknown to us. It wouldn't be surprising if they had eavesdropping devices."

"You're right, Aya. I didn't think that far."

"Me neither......"

Despite being popular with both boys and girls in class, Ayatsuji was at the bottom of the hierarchy among his friends. He had a history of it.

"So, Aya, what's the plan?"

"As I said, first, we need to acquire knowledge, including the common sense of this world. The top priorities are reading and understanding the language and getting a sense of money. Without these, we'll be lost if we try to escape."

"But, are we really going to escape?"

The princess who summoned Ayatsuji and the others had asked them to "save this world." Ayatsuji, who had initially agreed, was hesitant about the idea of escaping.

"At least, we have no obligation to do so. The princess used flowery words, but in essence, she was looking for combat power. We might be sent to a battlefield. I don't want to be a mass murderer at this age."

"I agree. It's ridiculous to entrust the fate of the world to just three people. It's like they're passing the buck. I want them to solve their own problems."

In Kanna's case, he might have said "OK" without hesitation until he realized the princess's true intentions. In a way, his opinion was more realistic. It might have been because the princess was a woman and a peer.

"But, she might really be in trouble, right?"

"You're persistent, Ayatsuji. Did you fall for the princess?"

"N-no, that's not it......"

Ayatsuji, blushing and looking down, was flustered. His face was hot, but the other two's gazes were cold.

Pulling himself together,

"The plan is as Aya said. But, can we go a bit further?"

"Do you have a suggestion, Misaki?"

"Regardless of the princess's intentions, we're in another world. We should do something more 'otherworldly.' Like learning magic, for example."

The princess who summoned them had stated that Ayatsuji and the others possessed rare magical power in this world. Despite her suspicious nature, this part was likely true, as it was the reason for their summoning.

......One high school boy didn't fit this description, but the three didn't know that.

"Even if we eventually escape, it's better to have self-defense skills. I can hold my own, and so can Ayatsuji, but that's not enough."

Misaki, the ace of the karate club, had confidence but no arrogance. Her absent friend had taught her that mere skill and strength weren't enough to win.

When it came to serious matters, Misaki could make even calmer judgments than Aya.

"Aya said we might be sent to a battlefield. But, we're still amateurs. They must know that. So, I think we'll be trained for battle. We should take advantage of that and learn as much combat technique as possible."

"That makes sense. Unlike you two, I'm completely an indoor person, so learning magic might be the most beneficial for me."

"Besides, it's a big plus to not have a liability. We should also learn as much about this world as possible."

"Agreed. Is that okay, Ayatsuji-kun?"

"To be honest, my opinion doesn't count much."

"It's a majority decision."

Thus, the newly summoned trio began to move.

And their reunion with their dear friend would come some time later.

This is the introduction of the "protagonist." While Kanna is the protagonist of the story, Ayatsuji is the protagonist of the world within the story. However, this is only for now. Kanna will eventually cause various events that will affect the "world's story."

Incidentally, the hierarchy among the four, including Kanna, is as follows:

Kanna > Aya = Misaki >>>>> Unsurmountable wall >>>>> Ayatsuji