Living Normally In An Abnormal World

Chapter 44: Noticing the News and Complaints

A month has passed since ‘Escape from Paradise.’ I’m at school as usual right now.

“Yuuto-oniichan~, over here~!”

“Oh, okay, wait up~”

Right now, I’m playing tag with the younger kids. Children are so innocent and cute, aren’t they?

The fact that I was the one inside the Grauzer costume during ‘Escape from Paradise’ is a secret known only to the students of Asano Elementary School.

I needed time for training, so I wrote a letter to my pen pals, telling them that I’d be taking a one-month break from our correspondence to focus on training.

The news of my appearance on ‘Escape from Paradise’ spread quickly at school. I also mentioned that I was in disguise, so the word “Grauzer” became taboo at school.

It’s a relief.

However, in the two weeks following my appearance, I received many requests from other operators wanting male participants in their events.

I received letters at home, which included messages like, “Please appear again, I want to see your cool self once more,” and “I’ll definitely outrun you this time.”

Well, since I have no intention of appearing again, all I can do is apologize to both parties.

“Yay, I won, Yuuto-oniichan~!”

“Ah, I lost. You’re fast, huh~”

“Since I won, I get to hug you~!”

“Uwoooh, don’t come at me suddenly~”

“Hmph… is that a no?”

“Kuu, uu… Okay.”

“Yay!”

I couldn’t refuse the whims of these young girls.

“Ah, Yuuto-kun. May I have a word with you?”

“Yanagida? What’s up?”

“I have something important to discuss with you.”

Yanagida approached me with a serious expression after the final homeroom period.

“For now, can you come with me to the clubroom?”

“Sure.”

We headed to the newspaper club and sat across from each other at a table.

“To be honest, it’s a bit inappropriate for me to say this to you, but… I’ve been getting complaints from your fan club members, and since there are so many, I decided to bring it up with you directly.”

Complaints… It’s finally here.

I’ve been tweeting and providing photos to Yanagida for fan service, but dissatisfaction builds up over time.

Haha, it’s time for everyone to be disillusioned with me and move on to other men, I guess.

“Tell me, what’s the complaint about?”

However, the complaint is probably directed at me personally. Whatever it is, I’ll accept it.

Well, I’ll probably be bedridden for a couple of days, but I’ll be fine.

“It’s… they want you to establish a membership fee system.”

…I’m a completely unrelated person for that matter!

“Haa?”

“Again, they’re demanding that you charge a membership fee.”

“I don’t need it.”

“They’re not satisfied, so we’re here to discuss it and make a decision.”

“Absolutely not.”

“If we leave it as it is, your home will be flooded with envelopes stuffed with cash.”

What a troublesome yet seemingly delightful act.

“My newspaper article is the main cause, but ultimately, it’s up to you, Yuuto-kun, to decide.”

“How much do you think is appropriate?”

“Well, first, I’d like you to take a look at this.”

She placed a fan book of a male idol on the table.

I picked it up and flipped through it. However, his profile wasn’t very detailed, and instead of various photoshoot scenarios, there were only a handful of pictures. The last section featured a special on his weekly private life, but it was mostly about him staying at home and being a shut-in, which was disappointing.

A total of 15 pages… Is this a doujinshi?

“How much do you think this costs?”

“5000 yen?”

“50,000.”

“50,000… for this?”

“That’s the standard price.”

“And?”

“Yuuto-kun, you’re really out of touch.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Now, take a look at this.”

She showed me a swimsuit photo of the same male idol. However, his forced smile was obvious, and he looked awkward.

“Limited quantity, 100,000 yen per photo.”

Expensive!

“To be blunt, if we charged a membership fee of 500,000 yen right now, no one would complain, you know?”

“If you’re okay with giving me an ulcer, then go ahead and continue this conversation.”

Just listening to this made my stomach churn.

“I can’t afford to have you collapse.”

“Besides, I’ve already received my reward.”

“Huh?”

“A safe and ordinary daily life. Even now, I’m living peacefully without any disturbances. The fan club members abide by the rules and don’t stalk me or gather outside my house. They’re considerate and don’t cause any trouble. That’s my reward.”

“Yuuto-kun…”

“Please try to convince them somehow.”

“I understand. I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you.”

With that, the conversation seemed to be over. Yanagida was about to start working on the newspaper, so I decided to leave and not disturb her.

As I stood up to leave,

“Ah, by the way, Yuuto-kun… I think your fans outside the school have also figured out that you’re Grauzer.”

“As expected?”

“Well, logically speaking, no other man could run as fast as you did.”

“So, the identity of the strongest, unknown male, Grauzer, is known to hundreds of thousands of people?”

“Yes.”

It’s not unknown at all! It’s hilarious that they figured it out despite all the efforts I made to keep it a secret.

“Grauzer is also a banned word within the fan club.”

“I understand.”

After that, it was decided that there would be no membership fee system, but strict discipline would be enforced.

“Nii-cha, hurry up!”

“Yuu-kun, it’s time.”

“Okay, I’m coming.”

A month has passed, and it’s the day of the ‘Escape from Paradise’ broadcast. The show airs once a month.

As I’m at home, it means Grauzer won’t be appearing this time.

However, instead of starting the game,

‘Why isn’t Grauzer here?!’

The runaways started complaining about Grauzer’s absence, saying things like, “Was he doping?” or “Did he get scared and run away?”

The staff member being complained to remained calm, probably expecting this reaction.

Well, I had sent a letter to the operators, so I knew this would happen.

‘Well, Grauzer won’t be appearing because he has absolutely no interest in any of you.’

…Hey, staff member, why are you using a provocative tone?

‘Dear gentlemen, I appeared on ‘Escape from Paradise’ a month ago. I was looking forward to the first game, but it turned out to be a disappointment. If this is the level of the show, I don’t think I’ll feel like participating again. It’s ridiculous for me to be serious about this when I’m just a joke of a ‘strongest’ title.

P.S. If you really want me as a runaway, at least succeed in escaping five times in a row. If you want me as a hunter, catch everyone three times in a row. Then I’ll consider participating.’

Don’t make up unnecessary fillers!

Moreover, I only sent the last part; the rest is a fabricated letter. I wrote it politely, but they changed it without my consent.

You sure did something unnecessary, operators!

This is absolutely unacceptable behavior.

‘Don’t mess with me! I’ll show you! Hey, hunter, don’t hold back!’

‘Yes! I understand!’

Wow, they’re so eager.

What should I do? I’ve become the hated Grauzer.

“Nii-cha…”

“Yuu-kun…”

Mana and Yuuna looked at me anxiously.

“I didn’t write it like that. And it’s impossible to succeed five times in a row anyway.”