The first thing I did in the morning was send Marie a 'Good morning' message.
Unlike last night, there wasn't an instant reply.
'Alright. Time to figure out what my relationship with her actually is.'
I opened my system and navigated to my bio.
Typing 'Marie' into the search bar, the system immediately displayed every piece of past information that linked me to her.
Turns out we met when we were kids back in America.
Marie's parents were Japanese immigrants who had moved there for better opportunities and since they lived right next door, we naturally became childhood friends.
So far, normal.
Scrolling down, I found the important part.
Apparently…
We weren't married.
Calling me 'darling' was just how she talked. For some reason, she enjoyed pretending we were a couple.
'…Is she mentally ill?'
Continuing down, I learned that around the 2nd year of middle school, her grandparents in Japan became seriously ill. Her family rushed back for what was supposed to be a short visit.
Then her grandparents died.
Her father inherited the family responsibilities.
So they stayed in Japan permanently.
Thankfully, modern technology existed.
Marie and I stayed in contact through messages.
…At least for a while.
Eventually, little-me made new friends in middle school and slowly stopped replying.
In other words…
I ghosted my childhood friend.
'Wow.'
I leaned back in my chair.
'Little me, you're kind of an asshole. Do you know how many men would like a female childhood friend?'
But…
'Alright.'
I stood up.
'Time to suffer.'
I put on my school uniform, fixed my hair and slung my bag over my shoulder.
'Protagonist style.'
—————————————-
When I entered the classroom, Kasumi was already there.
'Good morning, Ku-reiji san.' She greeted.
'Morning, Kasumi.'
I sat down in my chair and prepared for the most important activity of the school day.
Sleep.
Just as my eyes were about to close-
*Poke poke*
Something stabbed my arm.
I turned.
Kasumi was poking me with her pen.
'Is there something you want, Kasumi?'
'U-umm… Ku-reiji san… do you not get enough sleep at night?'
'Nah.' I said. 'I get enough to stay alive.'
'Th-then why do you sleep in class all the time?'
'Simple.'
I leaned back.
'I'm bored. So I sleep.'
'B-but if you don't study-'
'Relax.'
I waved my hand.
'If the teachers haven't executed me yet, I'm probably fine.'
Kasumi looked down at her desk.
'I…I just don't want you to waste your life…'
Her voice grew quieter.
'Unlike me.'
'I'm nothing.'
'…?'
I frowned.
'Why do you think you're worth nothing?'
'Be-because…'
Her voice trembled.
'I'm not smart… I'm not pretty…'
*Drip*
Tears fell onto her notebook.
'I can't even make my parents happy.'
More tears followed.
'No matter how hard I try…'
'I can't do anything right.'
I'd seen this before.
She was the reflection of my past.
'I used to be someone like you.'
Back then I was just an ordinary guy.
Nothing special.
Average grades.
Average life.
I was deemed a failure by society.
Then one day a God kidnapped me and said:
'Congratulations, you're the hero now.'
No training.
No preparation.
Just go save a planet.
There were times I wanted to give up.
Every day was terrifying.
A completely unknown world.
Monsters lurked everywhere.
One wrong move would spell my last.
But then I met people who refused to let me quit.
People who'd punch me the moment I started to whine.
Good people.
Annoying people.
Idiots.
My party members.
My friends.
'They taught me everything I know.' I said. 'That's why I'm still here.'
Of course, to Kasumi, I left out the whole fantasy part.
I placed a hand on her shoulder.
Trying to imitate the wise speech the drunk thief once gave me, I continued.
'If you ever need someone to lean on…;
'Or someone to help you…'
'Don't be afraid to come to me.'
'I'll be there.'
Kasumi froze.
For a moment there was silence.
Then-
'Sniff…'
'Sniff…'
And suddenly-
'WAAAAH!'
I think I broke her.
She burst into tears.
Full waterfall mode.
Chad Prince… I'm sorry.
Your woman-handling techniques have failed me.
Luckily it was still early.
Not many students were around yet.
'Uh… did I say something wrong?' I asked.
Instead of answering-
Kasumi suddenly lunged forward and buried her face in my shirt.
-?!
Wait wait wait.
Yes. Comforting a crying girl. This must be what Chad Prince did daily.
Sniff.
Wipe.
Snort.
…Never mind. I am a human tissue.
My uniform was rapidly becoming a biological hazard.
I stared at the ceiling.
'Sorry boys,'
'I think I'm going to be single forever.'
After a few minutes of crying, wiping and snorting, she finally calmed down.
'I-I'm sorry!'
She frantically grabbed and tried to clean my shirt with her hands.
'Don't worry. I can clean it.'
'Y-you sure?' She asked nervously.
'Yeah.'
I stood.
'I'll clean it up.'
Since class hasn't started yet.
I headed to the bathroom and stepped into an empty stall.
Looking at my shirt, I placed my hand over the tear-soaked area.
'Clean.'
Instantly, the shirt returned to perfect condition.
'Good as new.'
Magic was convenient.
—————————————
When I returned to class, Kasumi was staring blankly into space.
From this angle…
She actually looked cute.
'Sup. I'm back.'
She jolted.
Then her eyes widened.
'W-whoa! Y-your shirt looks brand new!'
'I have my ways.'
Right then the teacher walked in.
Class began.
Which meant-
Nap time.
But just as I started drifting off-
'Ku-reiji san.'
I slowly opened my eyes.
'Yes, teacher.'
'Since you seem to have plenty of free time…'
'Go help Class 2-2 move some equipment.'
'…Ah, sure.'
Honestly?
Better than class.
He scribbled a note.
'Take this in case the teacher asks.'
I waved to Kasumi and left.
——————————————-
*Whistle!*
'Match over!'
Students shouted inside the gym.
When I entered, the first thing I noticed was the wood.
Word floors.
Wood walls.
Wood ceiling.
The whole building looked like a giant wooden box.
Some students were playing basketball.
Others were moving equipment.
I scanned the room until I found the teacher.
'I'm here to help move equipment.' I said, handing over the note.
She read it and nodded.
Then gave me instructions.
I entered the storage room.
Inside were stacks of heavy equipment.
I grabbed a large piece with one hand and carried it out.
'Whoa.'
'That guy's strong?'
'Is he a foreigner?'
'I don't remember him being here before.'
The whispers started immediately.
I ignored them.
Once I finished placing the equipment, I went back for more.
Inside the storage room, I spotted a girl struggling to lift something.
The object barely moved.
'You need help?' I asked.
'No.'
She tried again.
'I… can…do it.'
And again.
The object didn't budge.
'…Sigh.'
I picked it up easily.
'If you can't do something, don't be afraid to ask for help.'
Then I grabbed another item.
After delivering those, I returned to the storage room.
She was trying again.
But on another piece of equipment.
'Can't you just lift something lighter?' I asked.
'…'
She ignored me completely.
'You're a stubborn one, huh?'
I decided not to argue and finished moving everything else.
Eventually, only one piece remained.
She was still trying.
I grabbed one side.
'On three.'
'1.'
'2.'
'3.'
We lifted it together.
Well…
Mostly me.
But I didn't say anything.
We carried it out and placed it down.
'Good work.' I said.
'Huff…huff.'
She caught her breath.
Then looked straight at me.
'I could've done it myself.'
And walked away.
'What was that about?'
Kids really are weird.