Chapter 15: Starting School Out of Season is Pretty Awkward

Upon arriving at school, I was ushered into the principal’s office. I found myself sitting across from Yuuji Kazama, the principal of Meikutsu High School.

He looked young for a principal—somewhere in his late twenties or early thirties—and he served me a cup of tea.

"Again, I’m grateful you decided to enroll at Meikutsu High, Reima-kun," he said.

"Ah, yes... Thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, why did you let me in? I know I missed the start of the year because I was unconscious. I appreciate the opportunity, but the reason is a bit... unclear."

This had happened right after I woke up. The principal had gone out of his way to visit my house, pleading with me to enroll if I still had the will to learn.

I had recognized the name "Meikutsu High School" from a diary I found in my desk. It was the school the original Reima had intended to enter. After some deliberation, I had decided to go through with it.

However, after doing some research, I realized this school was incredibly famous. I couldn't fathom why the principal would personally recruit me. I’d been wondering about it ever since.

And then, I got my answer.

"—What are you saying!" he exclaimed, suddenly standing up. "Why would we ever reject a genius like you just because of a late start? The accident was unavoidable. If anything, I should be the one thanking you for still choosing us!"

What is this guy on about? My reputation is weirdly high. Did the "me" of this world actually accomplish something?

I’d only grasped the bare minimum from the diary and hadn't really dug into my own past. I’d been pushing through with the amnesia excuse, but if I had friends here, I probably needed to investigate a bit more. I wanted to ask him for details, but since I hadn't told him about the memory loss, I wasn't sure how to phrase it.

"Above all else! You’ve been Ayane Yukisaki’s exclusive Supporter since middle school! You’re the genius who pushed her to S-Rank! Even without magic or a Job, you established an entirely new Supporter theory through sheer wit and knowledge of Dungeons and monsters! There is no way we wouldn't welcome Reima Kariya. You were the top applicant for the Support Department!"

He was practically vibrating with excitement as he laid it all out.

He recounted my supposed achievements with agonizing detail, even mentioning my lack of magic and a Job. He looked at me with sparkling eyes, like he was staring at an idol.

"I-I see. Well, I’ve always wanted to attend Meikutsu High, so... I’m happy to be here," I managed, leaning back to escape his intensity.

I had intended to keep a low profile to avoid slipping up, but that was looking impossible now. If what he said was true, the original me was a professional Supporter with a massive amount of Dungeon knowledge.

In contrast, I knew absolutely nothing about the Dungeons or monsters of this world.

I’d been leaning on the amnesia excuse and avoiding the books, but it looked like I had a lot of work to do before I could ever hope to return this body.

Seriously, what was the "me" of this world? Was he some kind of superstar?

I felt a fresh wave of guilt wash over me, even as I felt a mounting sense of secondhand embarrassment for the over-excited adult in front of me.

"Yes! Please, by all means, devote yourself to your studies here! I have high expectations!"

After receiving that "splendid" encouragement, I was led away by a teacher who had been waiting outside. I followed them toward the Support Department classroom, wondering how I was going to survive this.

I was told to wait until I was called. After a few moments, I heard my name and stepped inside.

I stood at the front of the room, pinned by a barrage of curious stares. I felt like a specimen under a microscope. It wasn't exactly stage fright, but I honestly didn't know what to say for a greeting.

Still, I couldn't just stand there in silence.

I decided to just brace myself and go with something safe, mimicking the transfer student scenes I’d seen in manga and anime.

"Um, I'm Reima Kariya. I'm joining late, in June, but I hope to fit in. Nice to meet you."

I’d dealt with royalty and nobles in the other world, so I liked to think I could handle basic communication. I chose the most innocuous, middle-of-the-road greeting possible to avoid causing friction.

"Right. Kariya-kun, please take the empty seat by the window," the teacher said.

"Understood."

"Also, since we're here, let's make today's first period a Q&A session for Kariya-kun! Is that okay with everyone?"

The teacher probably thought they were being helpful, but it was a disastrous move. Wait, what am I supposed to do? I can't answer anything.

My current knowledge was limited to monsters from a different world. In this world, I was effectively a newborn. What am I trying to say? I am ignorant.

"—This is stupid. There's nothing to ask a guy who showed up late."

The moment the Q&A was supposed to start, a student kicked his desk and stood up.

He glared at me for a second before storming out of the classroom. Silence fell over the room.

As I stood there wondering how to handle the awkward atmosphere, a single figure approached me.

"Don't let it get to you, best friend. That guy's always like that."

The guy grinning at me was a handsome student with red hair and a bandana.

He was someone who lived in the corners of my memory—my best friend from my original world. He was one of the people I thought I’d never see again when I was in the other world.

It was Shiki Amagase.