Returnee from Another World - Chapter 25: Faith in Miracles

Chapter 25: Faith in Miracles

I stepped out of the taxi and hurried to the meeting spot.

Winter dusk came early, and a bluish full moon peeked from between the towering buildings.

Feeling a slight chill, I pulled my leather jacket tighter, hunching as I trudged along.

No one paid me any attention. The mask of a man who shouldn’t exist blended seamlessly into this world.

I might need a better way to get around.

The thought crossed my mind as I walked through the city’s bustle.

Having lived as a salaryman once, relying solely on walking felt a bit cumbersome.

But it wasn’t just inconvenience. In that other world, walking was the primary mode of transport too, and it wasn’t a big deal.

The issue was taxis. Drivers might remember my face.

The James Masuda mask is for a criminal, so I want to leave as few traces as possible. The chatty driver from earlier only reinforced that.

Fingerprints or other evidence could linger in a taxi. But wearing gloves in summer would be suspicious.

I need an alternative for when things go south.

Yasunaga mentioned driver’s licenses can be bought.

They’re real, repurposed licenses, supposedly hard to trace. But they’re not foolproof. And I don’t drive often enough to justify the risk.

Ideally, I’d have someone I can call for rides, someone who knows enough and is reliable.

Sayaka seems like the perfect candidate.

For the next few years, until I’m an adult, I need someone to offset the disadvantages of being a minor—a trustworthy adult ally. I’d been thinking about this for a while.

The question is how much of my secrets I can share with Sayaka.

For now, I’ll keep the James Masuda mask on with her.

Can I trust her? Hardly.

I’d never be foolish enough to spill everything. The risks are too high.

But to break her sexually, some secrets will inevitably slip.

So, I wondered if I could finesse it somehow. I had an idea, but it depended on Sayaka. Even with my memories, I wasn’t confident it’d work.

The destination came into view.

At the station building, Sayaka stood quietly in an elegant coat, standing out despite her subtlety. A young man was eagerly chatting her up.

“You’re, like, a model, right? Wanna swap RINE? I’m aiming to be a celebrity someday. My dad’s got connections in the industry, so I could hook you up with work.”

“You’re persistent. I told you, I’m meeting my boyfriend. Can you leave now?”

“Don’t be like that. I’m pretty popular with girls, but they’re all my age. I wanna meet an older, mature woman. Please, just RINE?”

He looked about my age.

No, his slim frame and boyish build suggested he might be younger.

His androgynous, handsome face and height—slightly shorter than Sayaka’s 160 cm—made him seem younger than he might be.

Either way, he was wildly mismatched with Sayaka.

Sure, they looked like a beautiful pair on the surface. But their dynamic screamed older sister and little brother.

Watching this immature boy desperately hit on Sayaka, a top-tier cabaret girl, was comical. It seemed entertaining, so I decided to observe quietly for a bit.

“Get lost, or I’ll get mad. Persistent guys get hated. I’m not interested in you. Get it?”

“But you don’t know if you’ll click until you talk, right? Maybe we’d get along. Oh, do you reject guys with other girls? I’d dump them all for a beauty like you.”

“No chance. Please, give up. I know some scary people, and if you don’t stop, I’ll call them.”

“Cool, but my seniors are pretty tough too. Those generic threats don’t faze me.”

Red (【Anger】) flickered in Sayaka’s usually calm aura.

Seeing that, I decided it was time to step in.

“Hey, let’s calm down, Sayaka-san. He’s just a kid. He’ll learn how the world works eventually.”

“Masuda-san!”

“What the hell, man? You’re ruining my moment. No way this old guy’s your boyfriend, right??”

I ignored the boy’s words. Approaching, I spoke only to Sayaka.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go?”

“Yes. Bye, kid. Have fun with your girlfriends.”

Sayaka linked her arm with mine, pressing her chest against me as if flaunting it to the boy.

Her bold move made our relationship obvious. The boy’s androgynous face glared at me, black (【Jealousy】) clear in his aura.

No matter how cocky, he couldn’t do anything in public. I walked off, ignoring him completely.

He didn’t say anything more, probably realizing he was outmatched.

“Were you watching the whole time?”

“No, just a bit. It was amusing, so I held off interrupting. I figured you’d handle it fine, Sayaka-san. But you could’ve just ignored him from the start.”

“Maybe it’s my job. I try to be polite, even when refusing. Most people back off. But that kid didn’t get it. Where does that confidence come from?”

“He’s good-looking, probably popular. At that age, looks alone keep you from failing with girls, so he’s overconfident.”

“Still, that was too much.”

“It’s over now. So, what’s the plan? You said you’re off today with plenty of time. Dinner first?”

“If it’s okay with you, I’d prefer the other thing first. Then we could grab drinks with dinner?”

“Sounds good.”

Sayaka’s face softened dreamily.

Her full breasts pressed against my arm as we walked. Feeling the envious stares of passing men, we slipped into a dark, narrow alley.

◇

“How do you know that? I never mentioned it.”

“I just know. And I know those guys are fake miracle-workers. Have they ever shown you a real miracle?”

“It’s because my faith isn’t strong enough…”

In a love hotel room, I sat on the bed’s edge, talking with Sayaka before we started.

“I’m not singling you out. Have you ever seen their miracles with your own eyes?”

“No… but calling them fake just because of that is a bit rude, even from you, Master.”

“Is it? What if I said I know real miracles?”

“Real miracles…?”

From past experience, I knew Sayaka was deep into religion.

She’d mentioned, over drinks, being involved for years. Assuming she was already hooked at this point, I decided to test her.

I know I’d sound crazy to most people. But Sayaka? She’d likely believe in mystical phenomena easily. That’s why I chose this approach.

Even with someone gullible, I wouldn’t reveal my secrets without need. That applies to Ayano and Kyouka too. This was necessary to break Sayaka.

“I’m talking about real miracles, not fakes. And I’m saying I’ll show you one.”