Classmate wa Isekai de Yuusha ni Natta kedo, Ore dake Gendai Nihon ni Okizari ni Narimashita - Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Preparations for the Cultural Festival Begin – Part 2

"Haa..."

Using Spatial Transfer Magic, I teleported straight near the school and made my way to my seat in the classroom, letting out a heavy sigh as I sat down.

Fortunately, Kyouri hadn't arrived yet, so at least she didn’t hear that pathetic sigh of mine.

"Mornin’! You look all gloomy first thing in the morning, Shuu!"

"Ah, good morning, Rentarou."

"What, did you try confessing to Kyouri-san after she finally came to school again and get totally rejected?"

"—!"

"Wait, for real!? Did I hit the mark!?"

"...No, you didn’t. Do you seriously think I’d have the guts to confess to Kuon-san?"

"Yeah, guess not! Sorry, sorry."

"Dude... at least pretend! Say something like 'I wouldn't be surprised if you did' even if it's a lie!"

"I’m just an honest guy!"

"This guy..."

I almost froze up at Rentarou’s remark, which, while not completely on target, wasn’t that far off either. But I somehow managed to dodge it.

Still... it didn’t sit right with me.

"So? What’s been bothering you?"

"Just thinking... it's hard dealing with people."

"You’re brooding over something heavy again, huh? Well, whatever. I didn’t come over for a counseling session—there’s something I wanted to ask."

"Ask me something?"

"Yeah, what are you doing on the day of the cultural festival?"

His question jogged my memory.

Oh yeah. It is that time of year again.

"Aren’t we just gonna be roped into helping out with the class exhibit like usual?"

"Nah, see, at this school, first-years have to choose between helping with a class display or assisting a club’s booth on the day itself. And you and I—neither of us are in a club, right? Plus, apparently, skipping the festival won’t even count as an absence."

"Huh. Then we’re gonna have a lot of free time that day."

"Right? So I was thinking, maybe we could gather some of the other free folks and hang out or something."

Hmm. Normally, I would've instantly said, "I’m in."

But...

If I remember right, Kyouri is in the Literature Club. Which means she’ll be at school that day helping with the club exhibit...

"Huh? You look like you’ve already got plans."

"No, it’s just... stuff at home too, so I can’t say for sure right now. I’ll let you know after the midterms next weekend."

"Ugh, midterms... Thanks for the reminder."

Rentarou’s face instantly twisted with disgust at the mention of exams.

Come to think of it, he got chewed out by his parents after bombing the finals last term—he even vented to me about it over chat.

"Even if you make that face, you can't run from the tests, y'know~"

"Damn it! I was finally starting to forget about that trauma!"

As we joked around, the classroom door opened and Kyouri entered.

Her usual gentle smile was in place, and the students in the room naturally gathered around her.

She didn’t look mad about this morning at a glance... but then again, Kyouri was always good at reading the room.

"Hey Rentarou, aren’t you gonna go talk to Kuon-san?"

"I already know she’s out of my league. Not even gonna try."

"...Yeah, makes sense. Oh, by the way, didn’t you have to turn in your holiday homework?"

"Oh crap, that’s right! Hey Shuu—"

"Mine’s already turned in. It's on the teacher’s desk, so I can’t show it to you."

"Noooo!"

As Rentarou cried in despair and sulked back to his desk, I took the chance to send Kyouri a message via the chat app.

"If I said anything this morning that made you uncomfortable, I’m really sorry. If there was something else bothering you, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Also, if you can, I’d like to hear your plans for the cultural festival."

...It came out pretty stiff and long-winded, but I couldn’t think of a better way to phrase it right now.

Whatever. Just send it! I hit send and flopped face-down on my desk, phone still in hand.

(I’ll message Alicia when I get home. It’s not even first period yet and I’m already tired...)

I even started wondering if I should just have my water doll double go to class and sneak home for some rest.

(Whoa!?)

My phone buzzed suddenly, startling me.

A notification popped up—Kyouri had replied.

Nervously, I opened the chat.

"First off, I apologize for making you worry. It was my first time coming to school with someone, and I was much more nervous than I expected. I didn’t find your words unpleasant at all. As for the cultural festival, I should know more after today’s club meeting. It shouldn’t take long, so if it’s not too much trouble, would you mind coming to the clubroom building?"

...That’s not short. Barely five minutes passed and she sent this whole thing?

As I stared at her message, confused, I glanced in her direction—but—

(Huh? She’s not there?)

Only her usual group of close friends were.

I looked around the classroom—and then...

"S-Sorry! I left all of a sudden..."

"No worries. You had someone you had to message, right?"

The door opened, and Kyouri returned, a bit out of breath, hurrying to her friends.

—And in that moment, I think she gave me a quick, bashful glance.

"Ah... do you mind waiting a bit?"

"Nope, go ahead."

"Yeah, we don’t mind at all~"

"...Thanks."

Before rejoining her group, Kyouri pulled out her phone again and typed something.

A new message appeared in our chat, accompanied by a cute sticker of a mascot offering a heart.

"Also... thank you for calling me cute. That made me really happy."

I peeked at Kyouri again. Her back was to me... but her ears were visibly red.

Wait, does that mean—

"Shuu! Please! I’m begging you, help me! I really don’t wanna get called out by Yasuno in math!"

"...Tch."

"Wait, was that a real tongue click!?"

"Give it here. Where do I even start?"

"Oh! You’ll help!? Uh, start from this page..."

"...It’s practically blank. What the hell were you doing all break?"

"I had things to do! Come on, hurry up and help!"

"Yeah, yeah."

I was seriously annoyed for a second there from being interrupted so suddenly, but honestly, if I’d reacted any more openly, someone might’ve figured out that Kyouri and I are involved.

Thinking of it that way, maybe Rentarou barging in saved me.

So I swallowed my irritation and got to work helping my hopeless friend with his homework.

---

◇◇◇

"All rise, attention, bow."

Homeroom ended, and the class was filled with that familiar post-class relaxation—well, except for one guy.

"Thanks, Shuu. Seriously, for helping someone like me..."

"C’mon now. We’re friends, aren’t we?"

"Yeah... In that case, can I ask one last—"

"No."

Before he could even finish, I shot him down.

His already tragic expression somehow went even paler.

"At least hear me out!?"

"You were gonna ask me to come to the staff room with you and apologize to Yasuno-sensei, right? No. Absolutely not."

"I was! But still! I’m begging you! That teacher is terrifying!"

"You already used your one lifetime favor this morning. Now go on, march to your doom."

In the end, Rentarou didn’t finish his homework.

He grumbled, “If only math was in the afternoon, I could’ve made it!”—but honestly, with how blank it was, even lunch break wouldn’t have been enough.

"...Guess I’ll go."

"Yeah. I’ll collect your bones later. Don’t worry."

I watched my friend shuffle out like a prisoner heading to the gallows, then glanced at the seat beside me.

(Kyouri probably went ahead to the clubroom while we were screwing around... So, what should I do?)

Her message said, "It won’t take long", and "If you’re free, please come by."

(Dinner... I can probably manage without going shopping. Guess I’ll drop by the clubroom.)

With that decided, I messaged Kana to say I’d be home late, and told Alicia I’d report in around 9 p.m. about something that had been bothering me this morning.

Bag in hand, I left for the club building.

(Since midterms start next weekend, there aren’t many students still hanging around campus.)

The few who were left were chatting with friends or—like Rentarou—paying for their mistakes. The club building felt pretty empty.

Come to think of it, it’s kinda unusual to decide on cultural festival stuff this late in the term.

But then again, maybe it’s different for a small club like theirs that doesn’t do much anyway.

Before I knew it, I was at the Literature Club’s room.

It had been a while since I’d last come—back when Kyouri asked me to help take care of a monster. Surprised I remembered the way.

Just as I was mentally patting myself on the back—

"U-Um, e-excuse me!"

"——Huh?"

I stopped in my tracks at the sudden voice and turned around—only to be stunned speechless by who I saw.

"Umm, y-you’re the one who helped me this morning, right...?"

Standing there was the girl who had been tangled up in that weird situation with the delinquents earlier—Ikoma Juri.

---

← Previous Chapter | Next Chapter →

---

Translator’s Note:

• The phrase 「一生のお願い」 is often used humorously in Japanese when begging someone for a big favor, even if it’s something small.

• "文芸同好会" is translated as "Literature Club," though technically a 同好会 is less formal than a full club (more like a hobby group).

• Kuon Kyouri’s politeness stands out in her messages, matching her character’s reserved and thoughtful tone.