Hasumin (2)
“Thanks. Coming from someone as popular as you, Hasumin, that means a lot.”
“Wait, am I really that popular?”
“At least among the guys, you are. Remember how they all started making a fuss as soon as you volunteered to be the vice-rep?”
“Oh, yeah, that did happen… So, um, just out of curiosity—what do you think, Shuhei-kun?”
“About you, Hasumin? Well, of course, I think you’re cute. You’re cheerful, charming, and I also think it’s great that you have such neat handwriting.”
Hasumin twirled her bangs with a finger as she asked, and I gave her my honest opinion.
“Oh, um, thanks… You’re really straightforward, Shuhei-kun. I almost didn’t catch that last part—what was that about my handwriting?”
“I noticed while you were writing on the board today. Your handwriting is so neat—it’s honestly impressive.”
In Orphermaus, after years of war with the Demon King’s army, both the economy and culture had fallen into ruin.
With wartime conditions in place, education for the common people was almost nonexistent, and literacy rates among the general population were below ten percent.
Even the elite had far more pressing concerns than learning to write neatly, so it wasn’t a valued skill.
Honestly, as long as you could read and write, that was considered enough.
Even Riena, a high priestess serving the goddess, had pretty messy handwriting.
But she’d always say,
(As long as I can neatly draw the ancient runes for magic circles, that’s all that matters. Besides, your handwriting isn’t great either, Hero-sama.)
And honestly, that’s just how things were in that world.
So when I saw Hasumin’s beautifully written notes, it genuinely moved me.
Of course, if I mentioned anything about the other world, people would think I was crazy, so I kept those thoughts to myself.
“You really do see things differently, Shuhei-kun.”
“So I’ve been told a lot lately.”
I decided to just roll with it.
“But I think it’s a good thing—it makes you unique.”
“Haha, thanks.”
“Well, I should get going. I take the train, so I’ll see you tomorrow at school. Bye, Shuhei-kun!”
“Yeah, see you, Hasumin. Bye.”
Waving goodbye to Hasumin, I headed home as well.
My first day back from another world ended smoothly, with no major trouble.
“Yep, Japan really is the safest country in the world.”
That night, I found myself hoping Hasumin might send me a message.
But, as expected, she didn’t.
That’s just how things go.
After all, to everyone else, I wasn’t “the Hero, Shuhei Oda.” I was just some unremarkable introvert whose name they couldn’t even remember after summer break.
If I texted her first, it might remind her of the incident with the delinquents, which she probably didn’t want to think about.
It must have been pretty scary for her, and she’d likely prefer to forget it ever happened.
As a former introvert, I didn’t understand girls’ feelings very well.
But at least I could manage this much consideration.