Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V6 Chapter 03

Chapter 03: “Isn’t There No Compensatory Day Off?”

“Oh my, Natsuki. Welcome back. …I didn’t expect you to return after just one night.”

That was the very first thing his mother said when she got home from work and saw him.

“That’s harsh!”

“I thought you’d be staying in Kyoto for at least a week. Koume-chan, thank you for taking care of Natsuki.”
“Hahaha! It’s fine, it’s fine… my damn old man’s been freeloading here too, so it’s more like we’re even—honestly, I should be the one apologizing.”
“That’s not true at all. Thanks to Satan-san, the house feels so lively—and even though he’s a guest, he’s been cooking for us.”

They all gathered around the round table, said “Itadakimasu,” and started eating while chatting.

Satan, still wearing his apron, fidgeted shyly while going, “Oh, Haruko-shaan…”

Natsuki quietly looked away and pretended not to see it.

“I got a message from Ashiya-kun. You stayed over at his place, didn’t you?”
“It was a really nice house—wait, that’s not the point! Why do you even know Doman-san, Mom!?”
“He’s just a friend from my school days.”
“A friend from your school days!?”

Natsuki felt a headache coming on.

He had gone to another world, fought gods and demons… but honestly, his mother was on a whole different level.

(I’ve been thinking this for a while, but Mom’s connections feel straight out of a fantasy world! How do you even end up being friends with Ashiya Doman back in your school days!? And Doman-san, could you maybe live a bit more quietly in modern society!?)

Natsuki screamed internally.

His mother had always been easygoing—but this was too easygoing.

Still, she had saved him in so many ways because of that personality, so there was no way he could ever complain out loud.

“Ah, right. Here—souvenirs.”
“Oh my.”

He handed out oil blotting paper for everyone and gave his mother a box of sweets to share.

“I appreciate the thought, but… doesn’t this kind of ruin the fun of your school trip later?”
“Ahh, that’s separate. I’ll just enjoy that when the time comes.”
“Well, if you say so.”

Their school trip was to Kyoto too—but it was still six months away, so he’d think about it later.

(…I’ll probably go back to visit Madoka-chan and the others before that anyway. But money… maybe I should get a part-time job. Though I’m still in middle school… Maybe the Minazuki family will buy some magical tools from the other world?)

He happily dug into the hamburger steak and omurice.

(The food in Kyoto was great too, but this kind of homemade meal… wait, hold on. Is it really okay for the Demon King Satan to be cooking such homely food?)

“Natsuki, you’re forgetting the most important thing.”
“Hm?”
“Did you properly make up with Madoka-chan?”
“Of course!”

Natsuki gave a big thumbs-up with a bright grin.

Seeing that, his mother didn’t press further—she simply nodded, looking satisfied.

“Alright then, make sure you go to school properly tomorrow.”
“—Eh?”
“…That reaction is so shocked it’s making me surprised.”
“M-My compensatory day off?”
“Why would a kid who skipped school to go to Kyoto get a day off!?”

Smack!

His mom bonked him cleanly on the head.

〜〜Afterword〜〜

Ginko: “T-This is the hug scene between Natsuki-kun and Madoka-kun! I’m getting so fired up☆”
Koume: “Creepy! What’s creepy is you getting all worked up while sitting at the same table as the actual guy in the photo! And it’s even worse how everyone else is just eating like normal around this insane woman!”
Leviako: “What are you talking about? Demons and gods are way worse.”
Koume: “…Yeah, fair point.”