"Now then, everyone, it is time for our return, forsooth."
We had been idling at the beach for several hours. Tsubaki made the announcement while the rest of us were killing time at the Okinawa airport.
I’d left the task of securing our tickets to her. I’d been a little concerned—actually, more than a little—given how airheaded she could be sometimes, but judging by her confident look, she’d managed to handle it.
"Wait, isn't the boarding gate quite a trek from here?"
"Well, of course it is, kid... We’re boarding the Kanna family's private jet."
"......A charter?"
"No, it’s their personal property."
Terrifying.
I knew Tsubaki owned several villas, and I’d heard the one at the summit of Mount Takao was her "Tokyo villa," but this was ridiculous. Just what kind of scale did this heiress operate on?
I felt awkward asking her directly, and it felt even ruder to ask someone else behind her back, so I’d kept my mouth shut until now—but I was starting to get genuinely curious.
"Still, a plane, huh... I hope I don't get motion sickness."
"Ah, you’ll be fine. That thing is equipped with the latest Ena-brand magic circuits, so there's almost zero turbulence. It’s supposed to have anti-nausea magic woven into the cabin, too."
"You're surprisingly well-informed."
"Well, I’ve hitched a ride a few times. It’s an Ena-brand product, so the safety is top-notch."
That was reassuring, I suppose... though I hadn't expected to hear that woman’s name mentioned here. With those thoughts drifting through my mind, I followed Tsubaki’s lead and boarded the aircraft.
The seats were plush, equipped with reclining features that let you lie completely flat. The interior followed a unified Japanese aesthetic, and for some reason, there was even a dining hall...
"......Is this really a plane?"
"Hey, best friend, are you sure this is a plane?"
"...It’s more like a hotel. Hey, Reima, they have soda! Let's order some!"
"You lot are getting way too excited—! My friend, look, they have movies! And it’s a fantasy film that just hit the theaters!"
While Shiki and I stood there in a daze before takeoff, the other two were already making themselves at home. Ayane’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the drink bar, while Kaiser was already aggressively scanning a movie pamphlet he’d discovered.
Exhaustion still weighed heavy on my bones, so I sank into a chair. Laura sat down next to me, having apparently already pilfered a cake from the refrigerator.
"Hm? What is it, Reima?"
"Nothing... You’ve just adjusted way too well, Laura."
"Well, naturally. I am used to such things."
"...Your adaptability was always your strong suit."
Thinking back, Laura had always been the type to simply accept things as they were, regardless of which Mythologia nation’s culture she was dropped into. For someone like her, modern magic tools were probably trivial to master. It wasn't exactly strange, but seeing her so comfortable with technology that far exceeded my own mental bandwidth—considering I knew the gap between the old world and this one—felt incredibly surreal.
"Wait, where’s Ayane?"
"Ah, she is in a private room showing Tsubaki a horror movie."
"Hey, someone should go stop her."
"Stopping her once she gets into that mood is more trouble than it is worth."
"...Don't just sacrifice your childhood friend like that."
I knew how much of a handful Ayane could be when her mischievous side took over, but I still thought someone should at least throw Tsubaki a lifeline. Then again, I knew Laura didn't have much interest in petty squabbles, and she’d probably step in if Tsubaki were genuinely in distress. She was likely just watching over them in her own detached way.
"Besides, Reima... Tsubaki is quite adorable when she is crying, is she not?"
"Give her a break. She was wailing like a banshee when we went to that haunted house."
"Haha... How nostalgic. It reminds me of the time we listened to ghost stories at her house. I scared her from the shadows afterward, and she clung to me for the longest time, refusing to let go."
"You’re the literal definition of an arsonist playing firefighter. The culprit is sitting right next to me..."
I’d almost forgotten, but back when we were fighting that horde of undead and I was on lookout, she’d pulled the same stunt and spooked me from behind. It still rankled a bit. I’d have to find a way to get back at her eventually.
"By the way, how did you two actually meet?"
Since everyone else was occupied with movies, I decided to ask about something that had been nagging at me. There were several reasons, but mostly, I was curious how Laura—who usually kept everyone at arm's length—had become so close to someone like Tsubaki.
"How we met... Well, the start was the absolute worst, if I recall."
She chuckled as she said it. It was a expression I’d rarely seen on her—nostalgic, slightly wry, and above all, as if she were cradling a precious memory. Laura began to speak slowly, tracing the path of those old days.
"It was when my parents in this world brought me to Japan. I was about four years old. Looking back, I was a wild thing then. Everything was an enemy. That was when I encountered Tsubaki."
"When you say wild, what exactly do you mean?"
"Perhaps due to my Scripture, my mana awakened early. I used it to hunt monsters."
"......Wow."
We’d drifted off-topic, but the mental image was so easy to conjure that I couldn't help but comment.
"Our meeting took place at a party where dignitaries from various countries had gathered. There was a friendly sparring match for those with mana... and she picked a fight with me because I looked bored."
"...Wait, Tsubaki did?"
"Yes. She claimed I looked strong and asked for a match. When I refused, she simply drew her blade and lunged at me."
She said they were four, but they were the same age. Just hearing about it made the scene sound incredibly bloodthirsty—or rather, just plain insane.
"So, how did it end?"
"My overwhelming victory. I was not about to lose to a four-year-old child."
"...And after that?"
"She challenged me every single day for the duration of my stay in Japan."
"Seriously...?"
It sounded like her, in a way... but she really had been a berserker from the start. What a terrifying childhood. Laura seemed to be enjoying the story, but I was genuinely taken aback.
"What was the turning point? How did you become friends?"
"Once I actually got serious, she still kept coming back for more. I found her interesting, so I was the one who eventually stormed the Kanna estate."
"............I see."
"From that day on, we played together every day... and I decided that for as long as I lived as a human in this world, I would watch over her. Well, that is the gist of it."
She finished with a triumphant look. I could only give a wry smile, but I could tell how much she truly cared for Tsubaki. The way she spoke, the way she looked so happy... above all, the way she laughed as she remembered it told me everything I needed to know.
"Ah, we are about to take off. It will jolt for a second, so steady yourself, Reima."
After that, I spent an hour and a half enjoying the flight with everyone... and then, I finally headed home with my parents, who had come to the airport to pick me up.