Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V5 Chapter 57

Chapter 57: “Wait, There’s a Bear in the Mix?” ②

“W-Why the hell is there a bear?! Weren’t these supposed to be oni?!”

“The hell are you talking about?! Where do you even see a bear?!”

“No, where are your eyes looking?! Right there! Standing RIGHT THEREEEEEE!!”

The oni all turned to where Natsuki was pointing.

“…What are you even on about? That’s our adorable little sister, Kuma Doji! Don’t go saying crap like she’s not an oni!”

“First you wreck our house, then you insult our cute little sister by saying she’s not an oni—what did we ever do to deserve this?!”

“Beaaaahhh!”

“See?! Kuma Doji’s crying now! Look at her! How are you gonna take responsibility for this, huh?!”

And sure enough, Kuma Doji let out a pitiful growl, looking genuinely hurt.

For some reason, Natsuki suddenly felt like he was the bad guy here.

“C’mon, calm down. Natsuki-kun, let me handle this.”

“Y-Yusuke-kun?”

Yusuke stepped forward quietly—but with more determination than Natsuki had ever seen in him before.

Natsuki hesitated. Kuma Doji and her siblings were seriously strong. Was it really okay to leave this to Yusuke?

“Hey, Sado! You still haven’t sorted out your whole ‘youkai thing,’ have you?!”

“Yusuke, you’re not even back to full strength yet—there’s no need to play the vanguard here!”

“…Please. Let me handle this!”

Yusuke spoke with unnecessary intensity.

His eyes, bloodshot and unblinking, were so unnerving that even Senju and Koume flinched and took a step back.

“Natsuki-kun… let me handle this.”

For the third time, Yusuke placed his hand on Natsuki’s shoulder.

“Uh, Y-Yusuke-kun? My shoulder’s making some really bad crunching sounds right now. It hurts—like, a lot! It’s about to shatter! Okay, okay, fine! You can handle it!”

“Thank you. I’m glad we could talk this out.”

“You threatened me with brute force, though!”

Ignoring Natsuki’s protest, Yusuke strode toward the oni trio.

The oni braced themselves, but Yusuke stopped just outside their range. Then, with dramatic flair, he pulled a smartphone from his pocket.

“Good evening, ladies. The name’s Yusuke Sado. A shy Hero who once suffered humiliation in another world! How about it? Care to trade phone numbers, emails, and follow each other on social media?”

The oni’s answer… was a fist.

Yusuke went skidding back across the ground, nose bleeding, frustration written all over his face.

“…Unfortunately, negotiations have failed.”

“You were just hitting on them! Shameless much?!”

“Sado, not the time for that crap! Get serious!”

“He’s right! Look—Shinonome’s so uncomfortable, he’s literally counting stars in the night sky! Do you understand how awkward you’ve made this?!”

Koume pointed, and sure enough, Shinonome was gazing upward, silently counting the stars.

Whether those watery eyes were starlight or tears—everyone hoped it was the former.

“Enough already! You attack us, crack jokes, and run wild like you own the place! Bastards—just who the hell are you?!”

The armored oni finally snapped and roared.

It was the moment Natsuki’s group had been waiting for—they lined up shoulder to shoulder.

One by one, they struck dramatic poses.

“You asked, so we’ll answer! I’m the saintly guardian of kappas, who maybe, kind of, sort of bears the mission of the universe after returning from another world—Galaxy Kappa Hero RED!”

“Who’s the most beautiful in all the heavens? Obviously me! Koume Lucifer WHITE!”

“The hard-working everyman of Mukaijima! Please, no more chaos—I bear the cursed Mystic Eye—Senju Nanamori BLUE!”

“A pure-hearted boy who suffered terribly in another world! Also—nice horns you’ve got there! Yusuke Sado GREEN!”

“Representing Kyoto! The Abe clan’s reckless wild child—Shinonome Abe BLACK!”

With a snap of its metaphorical fingers, the Holy Sword let out an exasperated sigh—then thunder crackled dramatically around the posing heroes.

“Mukaijima Sentai! Kappa Rangers!”

“Beautiful Girl Sentai! Lucifer Rangers!”

“Mystic Eye Sentai! Mukaijima-ers!”

“Tragedy Sentai! Half-Human Lovers!”

“…Crap, I got nothing. Someone punish me for not thinking of a name!”

While Natsuki’s group was firing on all cylinders, the oni could only stare back in horrified disbelief.

〜〜Afterword〜〜

Even the oni are left baffled by the rowdy Mukaijima gang!

Also, regarding the weekly Sunday updates—

For December, there will only be one.

I’ll still be aiming for daily updates whenever possible, so please keep cheering me on!