After grabbing some takeout, we headed to a nearby square where eating was permitted. I kept a picnic blanket in my Magic Box for occasions like this, and since Aoi and Hina were adventurers, they carried their own as well. We spread them out, settling in for a lunch that felt exactly like a quiet picnic.
Yugfressia was so lush that the square felt more like a natural park than a city center. Dining there in the open air really did hit the spot. The shop we had chosen specialized in sandwiches—various ingredients tucked between thick slices of fresh bread—and everyone had picked out whatever caught their eye.
I had gone for a hearty clubhouse sandwich and a kebab-style wrap that had piqued my interest.
"Mmm, it’s so peaceful here," Hina said, narrowing her eyes contentedly. "Even though the branches and leaves are thick enough to block the sky, it’s still so bright out."
"There’s probably some kind of enchantment at work," I replied. "Logically, a tree that size should be casting a shadow over the entire city."
I stretched my limbs, enjoying the conversation. A gentle breeze drifted past, accompanied by the faint, pleasant strains of music.
"...By the way, Kaito-senpai," Hina started.
"Yeah?"
"Did you meet my brother? Before I left, he told me not to cause you too much trouble. I didn't think much of it then, but now that I think about it... when I first told him about you after returning home, he called you 'Miyama.' But somewhere along the line, he started calling you 'Kaito.'"
"Oh, yeah. I ran into Akira while I was finishing up my university withdrawal. We talked for a bit."
Hearing her words brought back memories of that trip to Earth to handle my paperwork before officially moving to this world.
The university procedures had gone smoothly. It was just a standard withdrawal for personal reasons, so it wasn't particularly complicated. Still, I’d had to make several trips to provide the necessary documents after the initial application, which took up a fair amount of time.
I’d already quit my part-time job about a month before the summoning. The shop was closing for a six-month renovation, so I had left then, meaning there were no loose ends to tie up there. Since I hadn't started job hunting yet, my only remaining task was canceling the lease on my apartment. I’d told them I’d be out by the end of the month, but there were still forms to sign.
I also needed to get a move on with the packing. I was walking along, wondering which box to tackle first, when I saw a man standing just ahead of me.
"It's been a while, Miyama. Since graduation?"
"...Class Rep?"
"I'm not the Class Rep anymore."
The man had short hair with a slight orange tint and wore glasses. He looked every bit the serious student. He was my high school Class Representative—and by some strange coincidence, we’d been in the same class for all three years.
Back then, I’d been a lethargic loner who spent most of my time sleeping, yet he was one of the few people whose face and name I remembered clearly. He was also Akira Yuzuki, the older brother of Hina.
"I saw you heading toward the campus earlier. I've heard a lot from my sister, and I was hoping we could talk. I've been waiting for you."
"Sure. But let's not stand around. Want to head to that park?"
"Alright."
It made sense once I thought about it. Hina had always called him strict, but he clearly cared for his sister. He probably wanted to hear the details of the summoning from someone else who was there.
We stopped in front of a vending machine, and Akira pulled out a coin purse.
"Want something to drink? I'm the one who stopped you, so it's on me."
"A canned coffee sounds good."
"Got it."
He bought a black coffee and a sweetened one, offering me the choice. I took the sweetened one. He popped the tab on the black coffee, took a sip, and sighed.
"It really is an unbelievable story."
"Well, most people wouldn't believe it if they just heard it," I said with a wry smile, opening my own drink.
"If it were just Hina talking, I would've laughed it off. But after actually being shown the evidence, I don't have a choice."
"I'm curious—how exactly did they explain it to you?"
"A woman named Amaterasu came by. Not the goddess from the myths, apparently, but a subordinate of the God of this world. Since this case was so unusual, she explained everything to the whole family and even demonstrated magic for us. I was stunned. Honestly, for a while, I thought it was just a high-level magic trick."
"Haha, yeah, that sounds like a normal reaction."
Akira looked surprised when I laughed.
"...What?"
"Nothing. I just... I didn't know you could smile like that. We were in the same class for three years, and yet I never knew."
"Well, I was pretty apathetic in high school. I know I gave you a lot of grief."
"You really did nothing but sleep. I'm amazed you graduated without repeating a year."
"Ah... yeah."
I couldn't argue with that. I’d basically survived on last-minute cram sessions for every exam.
"To be honest, I'd halfway given up on you," Akira admitted. "I gave you warnings because it was my job, but I don't think I ever actually tried to reach you."
"Huh?"
"I just thought... maybe if I'd been more persistent back then, things might have turned out differently."
"Maybe. But I didn't have the mental room to listen to anyone back then, either. Who knows if it would've changed anything?"
It was all water under the bridge now. Discussing the "what ifs" didn't change the past. But there was no tension between us; we were just two guys reminiscing. Still, I felt like we were closer now than we’d ever been during those three years in the same classroom.
Serious-senpai: "Wait, wasn't there a mention in an afterword somewhere about them meeting back on Earth? Anyway, for this series, a conversation between two guys of the same generation is a rare sight indeed."