A Girl Came Over to This Former Introvert’s Room!
“Waa, so this is Shuhei-kun’s room? Thanks for having me~”
“As expected of Hero-sama—so neat and tidy.”
The moment they stepped into the room—
Hasumin and Riena looked around, wide-eyed, murmuring their impressions as they scanned the space.
“I wonder… does being a hero somehow make you keep your room clean?”
“It just matches the image of Hero-sama I’ve always had. Honestly, it’s exactly what I imagined.”
“Yeah, I guess we all have those kinds of expectations.”
I mean, I had this completely baseless image in my head that Hasumin’s room would be all cute and stylish—totally what you’d expect from a girl like her.
Incidentally, I’ve been in Riena’s room once before, and, well… let’s just say it was a bit of a mess.
It wasn’t dirty, exactly, but books and other stuff were strewn everywhere with no sense of organization.
She told me, “I know where everything is, so it’s fine,” but still.
“Hmm hmm~”
“So, Hasumin, why are you looking under my bed like you’re having the time of your life?”
“Oh, that’s simple. I was just a teensy bit curious if you might be hiding any naughty magazines.”
“Ah, I see.”
I replied as casually as I could, doing my best to mask the small ripple of unease stirring inside me.
After five years in another world, my steel-forged mental resilience doesn’t get shaken that easily.
“You know how in manga, they always hide that kind of stuff under the bed? It’s kind of a classic, right?”
“Yeah, I think that’s more of a made-up trope, honestly.”
“Wait, really?”
“Think about it. Most high school guys live with their parents, right? Nobody’s gonna stash something they don’t want found in such an obvious spot. That’s basically begging to get caught.”
“Mmm, true. That makes sense. So, Shuhei-kun, where do you hide yours then?”
“You’re really asking that like it’s a given I even have them…?”
“Well, Mei said boys are just wired that way. She also told me that if I ever find anything while cleaning or snooping, I shouldn’t get too mad about it.”
“Nitta-san’s surprisingly understanding. Or maybe just really mature. She’s got this calm, rational vibe about her.”
I mean, how many first-year high school girls have such a chill, matter-of-fact take on guys being pervy?
Honestly, it feels like Nitta-san’s mental age is on par with—or even beyond—mine. And I’ve aged five years in spirit thanks to that otherworldly ordeal.
Could she be a fellow returnee from another world…? Nah, no way.
“So, where are they?”
“…No comment. That includes whether I even have any.”
“Wow. So suspicious.”
Hasumin gave me a flat, skeptical look, her eyes narrowing.
And then—
“Hasumin-san, Hasumin-san. Hero-sama possesses the unshakable discipline to resist even the psychic seductions of Erostia, Queen of the Succubi. He’s always so proper and virtuous. There’s no way he’d ever own something like a naughty magazine. Right? Isn’t that right, Hero-sama?”
Riena said this with eyes sparkling in pure, unwavering belief.
And of course, even under that earnest gaze, I didn’t look away.
I’m not about to let anyone underestimate the steel-clad mental fortitude of the greatest hero who spent five long years on a journey to defeat the Demon King.
“Alright, enough about that. Why don’t we get to the real reason we’re here?”
“Wow. That was the most obvious dodge I’ve ever seen.”
Still, even as she said that—
After I took my seat at the desk, Hasumin and Riena followed suit, sitting down on the bed with suddenly serious expressions.
The reason the three of us had gathered today—
“Okay, let me properly introduce her. This is Rienaeira Elias. A genius priestess who traveled with me through the world of Orphermaus to defeat the Demon King.”
—was so Hasumin and Riena could finally meet, face to face.