Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V2 Chapter 20

Chapter 20: “A late-night home visit, isn’t it?” ②

“Good evening, Yura-kun. It’s a nice night, isn’t it?”

“Is it? I just had the worst dream.”

“No, that was actually happening in another world. It seems you still haven’t completely severed your connection with that world, so you saw it in the form of a dream.”

Mikoto Tsukiyomi, with his stark white hair and round glasses, claims to be in his forties, though he looks about thirty. He’s a Japanese history teacher, deeply trusted by his students and relied upon by fellow teachers, making him an unsung hero of the school.

(Why is my teacher appearing in my dreams, interfering even? And does this mean I can properly relax when I wake up?)

Tsukiyomi, smiling, approached Natsuki and brushed off his shoulders, head, and arms as if dusting off dirt.

“There, that should do it. You shouldn’t be able to peer into that world anymore.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ve cut the connection on my end, so you can rest easy.”

It felt like he had casually mentioned something incredible. 

The fact that his connection to the other world hadn’t been severed was surprising enough, but he was even more astonished that Tsukiyomi could sever it with such a simple gesture.

(Why didn’t I realize when I met him today? This person, could he be a god?)

But, he couldn’t determine which god Tsukiyomi might be.

With many gods in Japan alone, Natsuki, who rarely visited shrines except for New Year’s visits and festivals, couldn’t immediately think of any god’s name. 

And even less so when it came to foreign gods or demons.

It would be easier if it were like the Lucifer family, where their identities were obvious, but he had no clue about Tsukiyomi’s true nature.

“However, I never imagined that Yura-kun would be summoned as a hero to another world. I am very glad that you have safely returned, but it seems you have come back bearing powers that humans should not possess. Unfortunately, I cannot interfere with those powers. As a teacher, I can only pray that you use your powers wisely.”

“…You knew I went to another world?”

“Yes. I was at the school, so I noticed — even if it was a momentary event in this world, I was aware. But rest assured. Not many gods are aware of it. I only noticed because I was nearby. But it seems it was quite an ordeal for you.”

Tsukiyomi looked at Natsuki with sympathetic eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of anger as well.

“Summonings to other worlds do happen from time to time. Generally, interference between worlds is prohibited, but that mainly pertains to Earth and several other worlds. However, the world you were summoned to is a completely different jurisdiction from ours… in a sense, a truly ‘other’ world.”

“I don’t really understand.”

“It’s alright if you don’t understand. Essentially, you were sent to a world not even recognized by the higher gods, including our Father or God. But, it’s nothing to worry about.”

“Is that okay?”

“It’s fine. We have no intention of getting involved. Of course, if my younger siblings hear about it, they might make a fuss about war, but I apologize to victims like you; we choose the lesser of two evils.”

“Sigh. It’s fine, really. I made it back, so there’s no need to worry about me.”

“I feel terribly sorry as a god.”

Natsuki hardly understood what Tsukiyomi was talking about. But he grasped that Tsukiyomi was a god with a father and brother.

“Don’t worry about it, Tsukiyomi-sensei. I’ve caused you enough trouble.”

Hearing this, Tsukiyomi’s face turned pale, and he looked extremely tired.

“It was truly a difficult situation. Asuka Matsushima was already a problematic student, but to think she was doing such things in an empty room of the gymnasium…”

“What happened after that?”

“Gondo-sensei and I went to check, and as Yura-kun said, she was enjoying herself with the boys from the basketball team. The boys tried to run away in surprise when they saw us, but Matsushima-san had the audacity to suggest… that the teachers join in…”

“Uwaa.”

“Gondo-sensei, who just got married last month, was furious, worried about being misunderstood by someone. It ended up involving all their parents.”

Tsukiyomi sighed deeply.

Natsuki didn’t know Gondo was married, but he could fully understand the trouble Asuka’s careless words could cause for Gondo and Tsukiyomi, leading to unwarranted misunderstandings. As a person and a teacher, such a misunderstanding could ruin one’s life.

(Still, that girl is something else. Not screaming and running away when caught by a teacher, but instead inviting them to join? She’s truly formidable. Even a hero would be surprised!)

Imagining the scene made him feel nauseous for a different reason than the otherworldly visions, so he decided to stop.

“So, what’s going to happen to them?”

“The basketball team will be disbanded.”

“I see.”

“Given the potential for this to become public, we had to take strict action. Gondo-sensei was happy he could go home early since he no longer has the advisor role. Of course, there were voices saying that Gondo-sensei, who hadn’t noticed anything, was also to blame, even from Gondo-sensei himself, but we plan to resolve that among the adults.”

Disbanding the basketball team is a harsh measure.

It’s unfortunate for the students who weren’t involved, but in a team sport, collective responsibility is inevitable. 

Whether the basketball team’s students lose their place at school or become the subject of gossip is not Natsuki’s concern.

“Some students might even transfer. Of course, it’s not something easily done…”

It seems there were students who had been scouted by high school basketball teams or were aiming for basketball scholarships. Their prospects are likely ruined.

“As for Asuka Matsushima, her parents were furious.”

“I bet!”

“Though it’s not finalized yet, her parents want to move her to her paternal grandparents’ house and transfer her to a nearby all-girls’ boarding school.”

“Good!”

“…Yura-kun.”

“Ah, sorry. But, you know, they were so annoying!”

“As for Matsushima-san, the decision about her transfer isn’t official yet, but it seems she won’t be allowed out of the house. The school has also issued a one-week suspension.”

Natsuki felt relieved, knowing that at least for one week, and hopefully even after that, he would no longer be troubled by Asuka. 

With one problem resolved, his curiosity led him to the next question.

“Um, Tsukiyomi-sensei?”

“What is it?”

“You’re a god, right? May I ask for your name?”

“―Eh?”

“Eh?”

Tsukiyomi, who had been smiling, suddenly froze, causing Natsuki to tilt his head in confusion. Had it been wrong to ask about his true identity, he wondered, feeling a bit uneasy.

“…I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. Well, my name is indeed my divine name, but I didn’t expect you to not realize it. I thought my name was easily recognized, especially with the internet being so widespread nowadays, but it seems I was overconfident.”

Tsukiyomi said this sadly, emitting an incredible divine aura.

“Whoa!”

Natsuki had only sensed a superficial level of Satan’s power, as it was cleverly concealed, but meeting Tsukiyomi was like encountering the most powerful being since returning from the other world.

“―Then, let me introduce myself again. I am Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto, a minor god representing Japan!”

― Afterword ―

Announcing the end of Asuka and the basketball team.

Actually, Tsukiyomi-sensei was Tsukiyomi-sama! Did anyone guess?