I Am No Longer a Loner
There, of course, stood my mother, just as she had been five years ago―.
“―Ah! Mom… I’m home.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I finally said the words I had been longing to say.
For five years, I had promised myself that the first thing I’d say upon seeing my mom would be, “I’m home.”
Naturally, my feelings didn’t quite come across to her.
“Waking up and saying ‘I’m home’? Are you still half-asleep? Go wash your face already. Breakfast is ready, so eat quickly and get to school. If you’re late on the first day, I’ll be mad, okay?”
“Thanks, Mom. Okay, I’ll get ready right away.”
“Seriously, what’s gotten into you? You’re acting strange this morning. Are you feeling sick?”
“No, I’m fine. Sorry, I guess I was just a little groggy. I’ll wash my face now.”
“Wait a second, didn’t you grow a size bigger overnight? You look way more muscular…”
“Ah—well… Actually, I’ve been doing strength training every day throughout summer vacation. So, I guess it’s showing?”
“I don’t remember you looking like this last night though.”
“Oh, come on, Mom. If we keep talking, I’ll be late for school.”
Tilting her head curiously at my words,
“Boys really can change so quickly…”
She muttered as she left the room. Watching her retreating figure, I felt a profound sense of having truly returned to my original world.
(I’m finally back in my original world…)
I washed my face, ate breakfast, and got ready for school.
Salmon onigiri, miso soup, tamagoyaki, and pickled vegetables.
For dessert, banana yogurt.
My mother’s homemade Japanese food, after five long years, was so delicious it brought tears to my eyes.
Banana yogurt might not exactly count as Japanese food, but I decided to let that slide for now.
Then, for the first time in five years, I put on my school uniform.
“It’s a bit tight…”
Unlike the weak, scrawny body I had as a member of the going-home club before I was transported to another world, my physique, honed through real combat, made the uniform feel snug. Oh well.
“Even with all these changes, it’s amazing how Mom just accepted it so easily earlier.”
Maybe that’s the power of a parent-child bond.
“Though the summer uniform’s short sleeves are fine, there’s no way the winter uniform will fit. I should tell Mom about it when I get a chance.”
Still, she might be reluctant to buy a whole new set of winter clothes in the fall of my first year, especially since I had only worn them briefly in the spring and they were still practically brand new.
Mainly for financial reasons.
School uniforms are pretty expensive.
We’re not poor, but we’re far from rich, either.
“Maybe I should get a part-time job as a high schooler? With my Hero skills, I should be able to manage most things.”
Pondering such matters, I left the house and headed to school for what felt like the first time in five years.
The 20-minute walk to school felt nostalgic as I finally arrived at the familiar high school.
“Let’s see, I think I was in Class 1-5, right? The classroom should be on the far end of the third floor. Now, where was my seat…?”
Struggling to remember my class’s location, I found my way to the door labeled “Class 1-5.”
“Good morning!”
Entering the room, I greeted everyone loudly.
Suddenly, everyone turned to look at me, their faces filled with surprise.
Some reflexively responded with “Good morning,” but they also looked startled.
(Ah, come to think of it, I used to be a loner before going to the other world. The intense experiences of being a Hero for five years made me completely forget that.)
A quiet, background character who used to sneak into the classroom suddenly bursts in with a loud greeting after summer vacation—of course, everyone’s shocked.
Especially the group of popular girls, centered around Hasumi-san, one of the cutest in our grade, who had been chatting near the entrance. Being close to me, they stared up at my face in amazement.
(Well, this is the real me now. I have no intention of reverting to my old, timid self.)
Smiling, I greeted Hasumi-san and her group again before heading to the seat I’d managed to recall.