Chapter 8

"Hey, why are you just standing there like an idiot?"

"Umm, well, you see..."

In the room next to the principal's office.

The moment I stepped into the room, I froze, unable to move.

The principal's bedroom was predominantly purple.

It was a bit smaller than the principal's office.

There was a large, double-paned glass window on the right side of the room, leading to a balcony, now covered by thick curtains.

The room was dimly lit with a warm, soft light.

Crystal-like objects embedded in chandelier-like fixtures emitted a faint glow.

They didn't seem to be lit by fire, but they reminded me of something I saw in the hallway when the guards were escorting me.

No.

Honestly, that didn't matter right now.

"......"

Why?

Why am I alone in a room with a girl (and not just any girl, but a beautiful one)?

What am I supposed to do?

What should I do?

I stood there, stunned, in front of the door, looking like an idiot.

Moreover, even though this is a different world, I had inadvertently stepped into a girl's room for the first time, a place considered sacred.

Suddenly, a sweet, lavender-like scent hit my nose.

Ah, I see.

So, the smell I felt when I was in close contact with the principal during the earlier incident was this.

Still... my heart hasn't stopped racing.

Being alone with a girl in a dimly lit room at night, and especially with such a cute and beautiful girl.

I suddenly remembered the principal's words from the principal's office earlier.

--- "I'll let you see some good things."

At the time, I was confused, but now, the meaning of those words was slowly expanding in my mind.

"Good things," meaning...

No, calm down.

Calm down, me.

As a man, even if I have a perverted side, I must always act like a gentleman.

Besides, in such situations, it's usually the man who misinterprets things.

That's right.

Rather than getting my hopes up and then being disappointed, I should just—

"!?"

My heart skipped a beat.

The principal's round, white shoulder was exposed.

She was taking off her Gothic Lolita-style dress, right?

Changing clothes in front of a man...

"Principal! Isn't this a bit—"

The principal slowly turned around.

Her playful gaze was directed at me, and her lips curved into a seductive smile.

"Hmm... so you get flustered by something like this?"

"Of course I do! I mean, I—"

This is my first time being alone with a girl.

As I was flustered, the principal calmly covered her exposed shoulder.

...Could it be that I'm being tested?

"What do you want to do? Wait outside until I'm done changing? Or... turn around and wait?"

I spun around halfway.

"I'll wait here until you're done!"

If I leave the room, I might be locked out.

Not that being locked out would be a problem, but...

A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

"Alright. Can you wait for a moment?"

The sound of rustling clothes reached my ears...

My heart was pounding.

If I turn around now, I'll see something incredible.

But... no!

I can't!

If I turn around, I'll feel like I've lost.

I don't know what I'd be losing, but I just can't lose.

My instincts, hold it together.

"Alright, you can look now."

"Alright, I held it! Good job, me! Now I'm finally a man among men—uh, wow!"

"What is it?"

"Is that... a nightgown?"

"Yes, but... perhaps it's something you're not used to seeing in your world?"

"No, I haven't seen it in real life, but I've seen similar things."

"Well, usually no one is allowed in this room, so it's rare for anyone to see me in this outfit... but, yes, it might be a bit revealing."

The principal looked up at me with a mischievous smile.

"Do you dislike this kind of thing?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Good."

The principal nodded, satisfied.

...So, that's it, right?

It might be called something different here, but it's essentially a negligee.

I looked down at the principal again.

She had already taken off her headpiece, and her long black hair fell to her waist.

Hmm.

Compared to her Gothic Lolita outfit, her body's curves were much more apparent.

She seemed to like frills, as there were white lace frills at the chest—

Uh.

I just noticed.

This angle...!

Because of the height difference, I was looking down at her.

Yes.

From this position, I could see her chest.

The innocent, unblemished chest of a girl, with its perfect curves.

From above, it was incredibly captivating.

"...Oh? What are you looking at?"

"Sorry! I couldn't help it!"

I pressed my hands to my face and tightly closed my eyes.

What?

What is this situation?

What does she want from me?

What should I do?

Is this some kind of seduction?

"I'm going to sleep now."

"Huh?"

When I opened my eyes, the principal was sitting on the canopy bed.

"Come here?"

The principal patted the empty space next to her on the bed.

"Come here... huh?"

"I'll sleep next to you."

"Wh-What? Sleep next to me!?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Well, it's not that I don't want to..."

Sleeping next to a beautiful girl.

Is it okay...?

No.

I promised to change.

Yes.

This must be the first step in my transformation.

...

Let's just say it is.

"Then, I'll go ahead..."

I took off my shoes and socks and cautiously slid my feet into the principal's futon.

Swallowing hard...

Being in bed with a girl... well, technically, it's not "being in bed"...

The principal didn't seem to mind as I slipped into the futon and nestled her small head into the pillow.

I, on the other hand, didn't know how to handle the embarrassment and ended up lying on my side, facing away from her.

No.

If I faced the principal, I wouldn't be able to sleep...

Ugh.

I can't do anything.

I'm so tense, I can barely breathe.

Just as I was feeling embarrassed, the principal spoke to me.

"Just so you know—"

"Of course I won't lay a hand on you! Please don't worry! I'm a gentleman, after all!"

"That's a given. If you laid a hand on me here, it would be a capital offense."

"Right..."

Especially since the principal is involved, it feels like a crime in every sense.

"In this country... no, in this world, you can only rely on me. It wouldn't be wise to damage my impression of you."

"So you want me to just flatter you?"

"Well... if you're prepared to be executed—"

The principal moved closer to me.

"Feel free to try?"

Uh.

My face flushed.

"I won't!"

"Hehe... I guess you are a gentleman, after all?"

She pouted, and I turned to face her.

The principal was grinning mischievously.

What is this feeling of being toyed with...

"Frankly, it's not easy to find someone who believes such an outlandish story about a visitor from another world and provides food, shelter, and everything else. Do you still want to try?"

"That's why I won't do anything..."

The principal lowered her eyelashes and smiled, nodding.

"Alright."

I turned away again.

This person is really something.

...

"Hey, Principal."

"What is it?"

"Is it because I can use the forbidden spell that you're doing this?"

"...Yes."

She admitted it surprisingly easily.

If that's honesty, then it's honesty.

The principal's fingertips traced a line down my back.

I shivered for a moment.

"I'm not doing this out of habit. By the way, I was about to say that I don't usually invite men into my bedroom... I don't want you to misunderstand. I have a bit of pride, you know."

Her fingertips, which had stopped, began to draw circles.

...It tickled.

After a while, the circles stopped.

"I have my own issues, you know."

"I bet you do."

"Oh, you sound like you understand?"

"From what I've seen, you seem to have a lot on your mind."

"Cheeky."

She pinched the flesh around my waist, even twisting it.

...

The principal fell silent for a while.

Then, she spoke softly.

"Maybe, just maybe, a visitor from a different world, with no ties, could be a good listener... But I don't want to force you."

"Huh?"

The principal chuckled.

"Anyway, I'm a selfish woman."

"A selfish woman, huh."

"Still... you're easier to talk to than I thought."

"Really? Thanks."

I felt a bit of warmth.

But then, a playful smile spread across her back.

"Did you think I might have a crush on you just now?"

"..."

So, I was just being teased...

"Call me Makina."

"Huh?"

"'Principal' sounds a bit formal, doesn't it?"

She had also told Reiza to call her by her name.

Maybe she prefers being called by her name.

"Alright... Makina?"

"Good."

Hmm.

I feel a bit embarrassed...

"I'm tired today..."

Makina changed her position.

"Then, why don't you just go to sleep?"

"Your voice is so relaxed, it's like a lullaby."

That's harsh.

Still, I thought.

I never expected to be a student again...

Feeling Makina's warmth on my back, I reflected on my situation.

Well, I guess it's a stroke of luck.

On my first day in a different world, I'm sleeping next to such a beautiful girl.

...The futon even smells nice.

And thinking about the warmth I feel in the futon being Makina's... it makes me feel ticklish.

I feel happy and embarrassed.

And with her breathing so close... huh?

Breathing?

This regular breathing is—

I slowly turned my upper body and looked behind me.

Makina was already asleep, facing me.

She was breathing softly, like a small animal.

I observed Makina again.

She really is a beautiful girl.

Her face is small.

Her eyelashes are perfectly aligned.

Her skin is so smooth.

"Mm—"

She frowned slightly, then returned to a peaceful sleeping face.

She's really asleep.

"..."

I changed my position as quietly as possible, put my hands under my pillow, and looked up at the canopy ceiling.

Then, I glanced at the sleeping girl from the corner of my eye.

It's just... so defenseless.

She invited a man she's known for less than a day into her bedroom, even with some ulterior motive, and is now sleeping next to him... It's almost unfair.

"Well, then."

I quietly crawled out of the bed and lay down on a long sofa in the room.

I fixed my gaze on the ceiling.

Then, I began to reflect on the day's events while staring blankly at the ceiling.

I thought I was ready to die and climbed that mountain.

Then, I was somehow transported to a different world.

When I woke up, I was about to be thrown into a room called a "punishment cell."

Then, I read a strange spell book and gained the ability to use a forbidden spell.

Because of this, I was invited by Makina to become a student at this school.

And now, I'm lying on the sofa in Makina's bedroom, the principal of the school, looking up at the ceiling...

--- It feels like a dream.

Or maybe, when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll see the ceiling of my dark, damp room.

So,

--- Maybe it's all a dream.

The moment this thought crossed my mind, I felt a bit scared.

Then, I realized.

Ah, that's it.

I don't want to go back to that world.

I don't want to go back to that world anymore.

"Feeling no attachment at all is a bit strange..."

But it's true that I don't feel even a hint of nostalgia.

Especially not for the world around me.

A world where I had no place.

A world where I couldn't think of a single person I wanted to see again.

In the end, I lived for twenty-seven years—

"By the way"

I stared at my palm.

"Why did I become younger?"

Then, a theory came to mind.

Yes.

Humans have two ages.

Physical age and

mental age.

Perhaps... when I was transported to this world, my body regressed to match my mental age?

...

I scratched my nose.

Well.

It's a bit scary to think that this might explain it.

But if that's the case, it means that I only aged physically, while my mind never grew...

In other words, the twenty-seven-year-old Kurohiko Sagara was a very uncertain and almost transparent existence—

"..."

That's ridiculous.

I sighed.

Forget it.

It's fine.

Even if I found out that my mental growth stopped in my mid-teens, I can't go back and make up for it.

In fact, being younger physically might give me a fresh start and more motivation.

Thanks to that, I feel unusually energetic.

There's nothing particularly bad about it.

I'll think about the complicated stuff later.

And then,

"...Hmm"

A sudden wave of drowsiness hit me.

Indeed, today has been eventful.

My body and mind are exhausted.

Right.

I'll just go to sleep for today.

I closed my eyes quietly.

* * *

The first night in this different world came to an end.