Classmate wa Isekai de Yuusha ni Natta kedo, Ore dake Gendai Nihon ni Okizari ni Narimashita - Chapter 108

Chapter  108: Cultural Festival Preparations Begin – Part 11

“Haa…”

Back home and sprawled out on my bed, I let out a deep sigh.

In the end, today’s cultural festival preparations went by relatively peacefully, aside from the unexpected friend request from Ikoma-senpai. With the day over and Kyosato having parted ways with Ikoma-senpai, I had walked her to the station. Now, lying on my bed, I was deep in thought about what comes next.

My initial goal—getting Ibara and Ikoma-senpai to get along—was achieved.

Thanks to Alicia's help, both Ibara and Ikoma-senpai now had smartphones, and their accounts were successfully registered as friends.

The unexpected part was…

(Ikoma-senpai’s account is now also in my friend list...)

I had heard that Ikoma-senpai had a trauma related to men. That’s why the plan was to use Ibara to approach her carefully—to prevent any outbursts from her supernatural ability and uncover its nature.

But I didn’t expect this outcome.

Honestly, what am I supposed to do now…?

While I was thinking about that, a shadow suddenly appeared in the center of my room.

“Master, I have returned.”
“Ah, welcome back.”

It was Ibara. I replied in my usual flat tone and forced my mentally drained body upright.

“So, how did things go with Ikoma-senpai?”
“I believe we achieved the relationship you had hoped for, Master.”
“I see. That’s good. Did you notice anything while observing her up close?”
“Let me see… As you suspected, she was extremely cautious about a potential ability outburst. Aside from that…”

At that point, Ibara suddenly hesitated.

“What is it? Is there something you don’t want to tell me?”

Sensing something odd, I prepared myself to stop Ibara immediately if needed. But she simply bowed and said:

“Apologies. It seems that young lady has developed… romantic feelings for you, Master.”
“R-Romantic feelings?”
“Yes. Therefore, if you wish to learn more about her, direct contact would be most efficient. Judging from her demeanor, she would likely comply with anything you say.”
“N-No way! Isn’t it common knowledge that I’m dating Kyosato? Even Ikoma-senpai should know—”
“Apparently, she doesn’t have any close friends in class, so she likely isn’t aware of your relationship with Kyosato-sama.”
“E-Even so, why me!? We haven’t even known each other for a month!”
“It appears that being helped by you and having someone earnestly address her inner turmoil made her very happy.”
“...That’s it?”
“Yes, that’s all.”

Wait, isn’t she way too easy?

At this rate, I’m seriously worried she might get tricked by some smooth-talker and end up spending all her savings on him.

“Regardless, there’s no doubt she has romantic feelings for you, Master.”
“Great… just what I needed.”

This is seriously complicated.

Ikoma-senpai doesn’t know I’m dating Kyosato, and now she’s fallen for me.

To make matters worse, she’s so isolated that there’s little chance she’ll hear the truth from anyone else.

“If you want to learn more about her, Master, I recommend you reach out. Given her state, she’ll obey anything you ask.”

Ibara’s suggestion was definitely logical. But still…

“No, you handle the investigation. I’ll only contact her when absolutely necessary. Also, make sure to tell her as soon as possible that I’m dating Kyosato.”
“Why is that?”
“I know it sounds hypocritical since we’re already using her, but exploiting someone’s feelings is crossing a line. It’d also be a betrayal to Kyosato.”

Hearing that, Ibara widened her eyes—then chuckled softly.

“W-What?”
“Nothing. I just thought you’re a very honorable person, Master. Understood. I will take full responsibility for observing Ikoma-senpai and gathering the necessary information.”
“Yeah, thanks… Oh.”

My phone’s alarm went off.

On the screen was a message from Ikoma-senpai.

It was another overly formal, long-winded message, and it took me quite a while to read through it.

In short, it said:

"Thank you so much for listening to my concerns without laughing. It meant a lot. If it’s not too much trouble, could I ask for your advice again?"

“…I guess this kind of reply should be fine.”

I sent back a message saying:

"If you’re okay with me, I’m always willing to listen. Please feel free to reach out anytime you’re in trouble."

“Well done, Master.”
“Appreciate it. Now, go ahead with the plan. Keep looking into her abilities while keeping her company.”
“Yes, understood.”

With that, Ibara activated a ‘spatial transfer spell’ and vanished—heading to one of the safehouses Alicia had prepared.

“Man, I’m beat. Time for a bath…”

Now that things had finally settled, I sighed deeply, grabbed my pajamas, and headed for the bath.

(One week until the cultural festival. I’ve gotta keep things under control if I want to peacefully walk around with Kyosato...)

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◇◇◇

“Shuu—can you hand me that glue and tape?”
“Here you go.”

Only two days remained until the cultural festival.

So far, there hadn’t been any ability-related accidents or incidents, and the friendly rapport between Ibara and Ikoma-senpai continued smoothly.

As for my relationship with Ikoma-senpai, we kept a respectful distance—just occasional counseling sessions.

“Shuu-kun, I finished this part. Can you help me stick it up over there?”
“Sure, Kyosato.”

Thanks to that, I could focus on preparing for our class’s booth with a healthy balance of effort and relaxation.

Today too, during the afternoon LHR (Long Home Room), we were split into groups and working on a completely unexciting “Local History” exhibit.

“You’re lucky, Shuu. You’re close enough to Kuon-san to call her by name.”
“You’ve said that ten times already. Shouldn’t you be more worried about your makeup test?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me...”
“Iori’s right. Rentarou, you need to focus on your grades.”
“C’mon! Isn’t anyone on my side!?”

Luckily—or unluckily, I guess—after two weeks, people had mostly stopped fussing over me and Kyosato dating.

Now, Rentarou was the only one still teasing us like this.

“But seriously, Rentarou, you’ve got tons of female friends. Can’t you just date one of them?”
“Nah, I don’t hang out with them for that. Though if it came down to it, I might beg one of them on my knees.”
“Wow, that’s both pathetic and gross.”

As we joked around, I silently prayed from the bottom of my heart.

Let things stay peaceful through the cultural festival.

And then—

“Hm?”

Someone tapped my shoulder. When I turned around, I saw Kyosato looking bashful.

Behind her were Ueshima-san and Alicia, both smirking for some reason.

“…U-Um, would you mind walking around town with me after school today?”
“Of course. Let’s meet at the school gate after class.”
“Yay! I’ll finish my club work quickly, then!”

Kyosato blushed as she spoke and quickly ran back to her friends, clearly overjoyed.

“…Hope they explode,” muttered Rentarou bitterly.
“Not happening, dumbass.”

I brushed off Rentarou’s snark as I looked at the beaming Kyosato and reaffirmed my wish:

To spend the cultural festival happily by her side, enjoying every moment.

---

◇◇◇

“What is this supposed to be?”

Evening. A luxurious condo’s living room.

Across a table filled with mostly 90+ test papers, Juri Ikoma sat nervously. Facing her was a refined-looking woman—her mother—who didn’t bother hiding her irritation.

“Your grades dropped two points from last semester. Do you seriously think you can get into med school like this?”
“S-Sorry… I’ve just been so busy with club activities and everything… And it’s only two points…”

Her soft murmur of “only two points” made her mother’s expression darken.

“Only two points!? You have to become a doctor and take over for me! You must prove him wrong! And you think two points don’t matter!?”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Forget it. Hand over your phone.”
“…Eh?”
“That toy is the reason your grades dropped. I’m confiscating it until your next report card.”
“…Okay.”

Overwhelmed by her mother’s pressure, Juri trembled as she handed over her phone.

Her mother sighed loudly, pocketed it, and stood up.

“I’m heading back to work. You stay in your room and study.”
“…Yes.”

After watching her mother walk out, Juri staggered back to her room.

(…I don’t care about becoming a doctor. I don’t care about Dad. Why do I have to suffer like this…?)

To Juri, her mother was more terrifying than any boy her age.

After her divorce, her mother’s disdain for men worsened. She forced Juri into pursuing medicine, ignored the bullying she faced by saying she was just “weak,” and constantly controlled every aspect of her life.

Juri wanted to escape—but she had no means to survive on her own.

So she remained trapped in this hellish routine.

But that day, when she was helped by a younger boy named Iori Shuu… something changed.

That emotion grew into love. And her curiosity about him only deepened—

‘Iori-kun is dating Kuon-san, you know?’

Then, that fragile first love was shattered by a friend’s words.

The following days were miserable. She wanted to disappear.

And now—after her mother’s harsh scolding and having her phone taken—things had become unbearable for a teenager like her.

(…Right. I’ll look at that to calm down.)

She opened her desk drawer and pulled out a pale green crystal—softly glowing—and held it in both hands.

‘This magic stone will lead you to your ideal world. No payment necessary—I think it belongs with you.’

A fortune-teller she met by chance on the way home, a mysterious woman whose face was half-covered by a black hood, had given it to her.

Somehow, the stone gave her confidence and peace just by holding it.

(If only everything would just break… this house, this school, this world… him… everything. Just fall apart at the worst possible time…)

As Juri wished that, the green crystal pulsed once with a dark, ominous glow.

But she didn’t notice.

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