A few days had passed since I'd equipped the Cursed Bracelet.
It seemed all the paperwork was finally finished, because I was set to start at the Magic Academy tomorrow.
On the day before that nerve-wracking yet exciting event, Headmaster Gustav—the principal of the academy—came to our house. For some reason, he was currently in my room along with my parents and my sister.
Honestly, five people in this room made it feel way too cramped... Hey, Toko! Stop snooping under my bed!
Our parents and the Headmaster are right here!
"Headmaster, is there something up with my room?"
I grabbed Toko by the scruff of her neck and turned to the Headmaster.
"Yes. You will be attending the academy starting tomorrow, but I thought I would give you a tour of the grounds today beforehand."
I see.
That made sense. I was supposed to start tomorrow, yet I knew absolutely nothing about the place.
"I heard from my sister that I'd be commuting via teleportation, but how does that work? I can't use Teleportation Magic, and I've never even heard of it before."
"Of course, I am aware of that. Therefore, we will install a door that connects to Astral."
A door?
"So, I just walk through the door and I'm in an Otherworld?"
"That is correct."
That’s incredible...
Is it some kind of "Anywhere Door"...?
"Installing a door, huh... Maybe over there?"
I pointed toward a vacant stretch of wall.
"Then let us put it there..."
The Headmaster walked over to the wall I’d indicated and touched it.
The surface began to glow, and in an instant, a black door materialized.
"Whoa, awesome! Toko, do you have one of these in your room too?"
"Yep. It was a huge pain to clean up enough space for it."
I hadn't been in Toko's room lately, but it used to be a mountain of stuffed animals.
"Hmm... and if I pass through this door, I'm in the Otherworld?"
"Yes. But before that, I shall give you this."
As the Headmaster spoke, he produced a white garment from thin air and handed it to me.
"A uniform?"
"Yes. The academy does not actually have a mandatory uniform policy, but we provide one regardless."
"Wait, I don't have to wear it?"
"Indeed. Some of our students are working professionals, after all. One could hardly expect them to feel comfortable wearing a school uniform."
Come to think of it, there were people like that. I certainly wouldn't want to see some middle-aged man or woman squeezed into a school uniform.
"Do you wear yours, Toko?"
"Of course. A uniform is a high school girl's prerogative."
I see...
"I guess I'll wear mine too. Might make me look like less of a NEET."
"Good idea," Toko said, nodding sagely.
"You may start wearing the uniform tomorrow. For now, let us begin the tour. Tsukasa, please open the door."
The Headmaster handed me a key.
I took it, inserted it into the keyhole on the doorknob, and gave it a twist.
I heard the heavy click of the lock opening, and I gripped the handle.
Actually, from the moment I touched the knob, epic background music had started swelling in my head. In an anime, this would be the final scene of the first episode where the opening theme kicks in.
"The first step of my life as a magician..."
"Stop trying to look cool and just go already. That attitude is exactly why you're not popular."
Shut up, you. Let me enjoy the moment.
I twisted the knob and pushed the door open.
Beyond it lay a mysterious world of magic... or so I thought, but it was just a drab, ordinary room.
"Wait, where is this?"
Where were the grassy plains? Where were the airships soaring through the skies?
"Allow me to explain. Each student at the academy is provided with a private room. They use it for living quarters and magical experiments, and it is also where we install the gates for those who commute from the outside world."
Ah, that made more sense.
"So I'll be commuting to this room?"
"That is correct. This is the Boys' Dormitory within the academy grounds."
Which meant Toko's was in the Girls' Dormitory...
"Can you get to the Girls' Dormitory from your room?" I asked her.
"If a boy enters the Girls' Dormitory, he gets thrown in a cell, no questions asked."
A jail cell, huh...
"Please refrain from such things. Now then, Tsukasa, shall we?"
"Right."
Urged on by the Headmaster, who wore a dry smile, I stepped through the door and into the room.
The space was about ten mats in size, roughly the same as my room back home. However, since it only contained a closet and a work desk, it felt much larger.
"My living space just doubled!"
Sweet. I’ll use this place as storage for my manga and stuff.
"Now then, Makoto, Giselle, Toko. I shall take Tsukasa for his tour."
"We'll leave him in your care."
My father and mother bowed, and since Toko had already slipped out, I closed the door behind me.
"I can head back through here whenever I'm done, right?"
"Yes. Of course, you are also welcome to stay the night. That door leads to the toilet and bathroom."
The Headmaster pointed to a door in the corner.
"I see. So if I get tired of Toko hogging the bath or the toilet, I can just come here."
That girl stayed in the bathroom forever because she was always glued to her smartphone.
"Well, please discuss your living arrangements with your parents. Now, let us head outside."
The Headmaster left the room, and I followed.
We walked down the hallway, but I didn't sense anyone else around.
"Are there no other students in the dorm?"
"There are. However, today is Sunday, so they are likely visiting their families or out enjoying the town."
I see. I wanted to go see the town too. I was definitely curious.
My room was on the second floor, so I followed the Headmaster down the stairs.
Just inside the entrance, a beautiful girl was waiting. She had long platinum blonde hair tied in a side tail and wore a crisp white uniform.
"Good afternoon, Headmaster."
The girl bowed with perfect, elegant posture.
"Yes, good afternoon. My apologies for keeping you waiting."
"Not at all... Is this the new student enrolling tomorrow?"
The girl turned her gaze toward me.
"Yes. This is Tsukasa Nagase. Tsukasa, this is Sharleen, the Student Council President. She will be your guide."
The Student Council President?
"Wait, I thought you were going to show me around, Headmaster."
"I have some research I must attend to. You understand, don't you?"
Ah—he was going to look into my bracelet.
"U-Um, so I just follow Sharleen?"
"That is correct. Sharleen, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Understood."
Sharleen gave another graceful bow, and the Headmaster stepped out of the dormitory and went on his way.