Returnee from Another World - Chapter 3: Selfish People

Chapter 3: Selfish People

“Hey, hold up, you’re staying here?”

“What’s the big deal? Your dad and mom are in Hokkaido, right? Besides, I’ve stayed over before.”

“That was back in middle school. How many years ago was that?”

Though, in reality, it was only about two years ago. But to me, at that moment, it felt like a distant memory.

Of course, there’s the sixteen years that have passed in my mind, but more than that, there might’ve been a part of me that wanted to erase the past with Ayano from my memory.

“If a girl asks to stay over, don’t most healthy guys get excited about it?”

“Hah… We’re not that close, are we? And isn’t this something you could solve by just apologizing to your mom, even if you don’t mean it?”

“No way. I’m not in the wrong.”

Tch, what a selfish woman.

Even so, I couldn’t wrap my head around why that logic led to her staying at my house.

If she were relying on me, that’d at least be somewhat endearing. But that’s probably not it. To put it bluntly, it’s just because my house is next door, and she knows my parents are away.

“You were probably out wandering around late, weren’t you? Your mom’s probably worried sick.”

“Mind your own business. Everyone else does it too.”

“Everyone? You mean Sakaki and his crew? Look, hanging out with them—”

“What? You gonna lecture me?”

In that instant, the red of 【Anger】【Excitement】 flared up. It seems my words rubbed Ayano the wrong way just as she was starting to calm down.

But wait.

Why am I even bothering to give her heartfelt advice?

I should just leave her alone. I don’t even like her anymore. Eventually, we’ll drift apart completely and become strangers.

“No, that’s not what I meant. But seriously, what’s so fun about hanging out with those guys? Just loitering at convenience stores or arcades, chatting until midnight? I don’t get what’s so great about it. I know this might make you mad again, but honestly, I’ve heard some bad rumors about them.”

“Hmph!! You’d never understand, Shuu. ‘Cause you’re such a good little boy, aren’t you? You don’t do bad things. No, you can’t do bad things—you’re too scared.”

“Me… a good little boy?”

“That’s right. You’d never step outside society’s rules, would you? You’re always in your safe little bubble, just drifting through life, staring blankly at the world around you.”

Ayano, you’re the one who doesn’t understand.

“I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. But it’s not me.”

“What if you get into danger? That’s what your mom’s worried about.”

“I can take care of myself.”

At that moment, I felt the heat drain out of me.

The rumor that Ayano was gang-raped by Sakaki’s group spread in the summer of our third year.

Whether it was true or not, I don’t know, but it’s a fact that Ayano was acting strange around that time. Her queen-like confidence faded, and her attitude toward Sakaki seemed to shift into something almost subservient.

Optimistically, it could’ve been the face of someone in love. But pessimistically, it looked to me like the pained expression of someone whose weakness had been exploited.

In the end, I did nothing. I wrote it off as Ayano’s own fault, whatever the truth was.

Is that guilt why I want to help her now?

Do I want to protect my childhood friend from a terrible fate, and that’s why I’m meddling like this?

—No, that’s not it.

I’m no saint. I know better than anyone that I’m not a good person.

Yes, I understand now.

I’m just frustrated that Sakaki took Ayano from me.

I can’t forgive the past where she didn’t become mine.

Even though I don’t particularly like her, I’m irritated that she drifted away from me. I’m just as selfish as she is.

I’m not some noble person who can judge Ayano or Sakaki. And can someone like me really play the part of a good little boy, pretending to be a normal person and living an ordinary life?

All I know is that if things continue like this, Ayano will likely end up as Sakaki’s girl again in the future.

If that’s the case, then maybe…

“Tch, I warned you, okay? Don’t come crying to me when your mom gets mad. I’ll grab some clothes and a blanket. If you’re changing, go take a bath.”

“I know already.”

Ayano pouted, looking slightly dissatisfied, but the red of 【Anger】 was gradually fading.

I said nothing more, silently watching her back as she headed to the bathroom. It wasn’t that I was fed up or had nothing left to say. Rather, at that moment, I’d made a certain resolve.

A dark emotion took root. If I could see my own aura, it’d probably be dyed pink with 【Desire】.

*

The living room was filled with a sweet scent.

Like berries being simmered for jam, a cloyingly sweet aroma, yet with a sharp, almost acrid sting…

A dangerous smell.

In that world, even children knew its danger.

If you caught even a whiff of that sweet scent, you’d flee immediately.

Without proper precautions, those lured by the smell would approach and soon fall into a coma. A deep, deep sleep, undisturbed by slaps or wounds. All that awaited was being slowly digested.

That scent was the pollen of the Devil Flower, a man-eating plant used to lure prey.

Late at night, once Ayano had fallen asleep, I released the Devil Flower’s pollen into the living room.

If this world affected me the same way, Ayano might’ve found me collapsed in the living room like an idiot. Or perhaps neither of us would’ve been affected at all. But, as expected, I was immune. Now, for Ayano…

Her aura had completely vanished.

An aura disappears when someone is in a deep sleep or dead.

That said, it’s unlikely anyone has ever died directly from inhaling Devil Flower pollen.

Even in a coma, they’d breathe on their own and wake up naturally after some time. As long as they weren’t eaten by the Devil Flower while unconscious, it’d be fine.

However, approaching carelessly could lead to secondary victims, and in that world, whether someone could prepare countermeasures before being devoured was the difference between life and death.

I approached Ayano.

She was sprawled on the sofa, fast asleep. I lightly slapped her cheek two or three times.

No response.

Just to be sure, I forced her eyelid open to check her eyes. She was undeniably in a deep sleep.

“As expected, this is the kind of person I am.”

I’d hoped that returning to this world might make me feel some resistance or hesitation toward criminal acts, but I felt nothing of the sort. It’s like those emotions are somehow numb.

“No surprise there…”

I roughly pulled the blanket off.

She really does have good looks, I thought again.

With everyone fawning over her, her face is undeniably pretty.

Her nose is straight, with a slightly upturned tip that exudes arrogance.

Her eyes are slightly downturned, but the sharp double eyelids hint at a strong will. Her full lips, coated in glossy pink lip gloss, shimmered seductively.

Her chest is probably an E-cup.

On her slim frame, an E-cup looks impressively large. Those alone would undoubtedly draw men’s gazes.

“Shall we?”

I reached into the dimensional storage.

Grabbing something inside, I pulled it out and dropped it onto Ayano’s body.

Plop.

The colorless, transparent thing trembled as it landed on her. It probably never imagined its first taste of freedom would be in another world.

The slime began to slowly crawl across Ayano’s body.

I’d starved it for a month on purpose.

It seemed desperate for food. Its movements were sluggish, wriggling slowly, not appearing particularly dangerous.

But I know how dangerous this slime is. After all, I created it…

The slime, taking its time, reached Ayano’s face, pausing near her glossed lips. After a moment, as if resolving itself, it slipped inside her.

Slurp.

Having seen enough, I left the living room. There was nothing more for me to do. Once it’s gone that far, even I couldn’t save her. Not that I have any intention of trying.

But at that moment, I felt profound disappointment.

Even after subjecting my childhood friend to such a fate, I was shocked at how little I felt.