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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (Light Novel) - Volume 2, Chapter 1: A Day in Room 106
Volume 2, Chapter 1: A Day in Room 106
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
Friday, April 24th
Satomi Koutarou's ability to wake up was absolutely terrible.
Today was no exception; even though the strong morning light shone down on him, he showed no signs of waking up.
His mouth was wide open as he snored almost as loudly as the fridge's compressor.
The morning light bothered him, so he thrashed about. However, as he was right next to the wall, he was only able to turn around halfway before colliding with it.
Koutarou had originally spread his futon in the center of the room, but he had been rolling around in his sleep. Before he knew it, he had rolled into a corner of the room.
However, because of that, the sunlight was no longer washing over him, and he fell back into a deep sleep.
The time was now 6 AM.
The sunshine streaming through the window was bright, and a wide blue sky stretched across the horizon.
It was now the later half of April, and the temperature was starting to rise.
Opening the window would probably let in a breath of fresh air.
However, the first thing to open in Corona House Room 106 was not the window.
Along with a small sound, the tatami closest to the entrance lifted slightly, and the plastic bag on top of it started shaking.
Inside of it, several cup noodles could be seen.
It soon stopped quaking, however.
The next moment, the mat lifted up from the ground, and a girl appeared from underneath.
"...I keep telling her to put them away...”
Because the girl had lifted away the tatami, the cup noodles spilled out from the plastic bag.
The girl saw this and sighed. She then crawled up into Room 106 with her long and beautiful black hair swaying.
The girl's name was Kiriha.
Her clothes resembled a kimono[1] and a shrine maiden's outfit, and her narrow eyes left quite an impression.
She was one of the girls planning to seize control of Room 106.
“Hey ho, hey ho~”
“Ho, ho, hohoho!”
Following Kiriha from under the tatami were two haniwas about 30 centimeters tall.
At the same time Kiriha was putting back the tatami mat, one of the walls of the room began glowing, and the figure of another girl appeared in Room 106.
The girl had short hair and a diligent look and was wearing something resembling a military uniform.
Her name was Ruth.
She was an alien who had come to the planet from over 10 million light-years away.
“Kyaaa!?”
Ruth entered the room and screamed.
It wasn't because she had fallen, but rather because of where she had appeared.
“I'm sorry, Satomi-sama! I'll move right away!”
Ruth had appeared right above Koutarou.
Her feet wrapped in stockings were planted on top of his face.
The glowing wall served as a bridge between the girl's spaceship and Room 106.
When passing through it, one would instantaneously be transported to the spaceship in orbit around Earth.
However, unlike a normal door, there was no way of knowing what it was like on the other side until you had passed through it.
Because of that, Ruth had unknowingly stepped on Koutarou's face.
“I am truly sorry for stepping on you morning after morning, Satomi-sama!”
Ruth hurriedly got off his face and apologized.
“...”
However, Koutarou gave no response.
“Sa-Satomi-sama?”
“You're quite the man, Satomi Koutarou.”
The two girls looked at Koutarou; Ruth was surprised whilst Kiriha was admiring him.
Koutarou was still sleeping and snoring.
Despite being stepped on, Koutarou showed no signs of waking up, almost as if nothing had happened in the first place.
With the appearance of Kiriha and Ruth, the plain room livened up immediately.
Their identities aside, the two were wearing aprons and looked very much like what girls of their age normally would..
“Kiriha-sama, what should I do with this long and slender vegetable?”
“We're adding the leek to the miso soup, so cut it into round slices.”
“Okay, I understand.”
Kiriha held a ladle in front of the stove and Ruth picked up a knife in front of the sink.
The two were working together to prepare breakfast.
However, Ruth was not used to cooking earth-styled meals, leaving Kiriha to do the cooking with Ruth helping her.
Looking at the two of them working together, they gave the impression of being good friends.
Not many people knew that the two of them were actually enemies.
“Goooooood mooooorniiiiiiiing!”
And then, one of the few people that knew of their relationship appeared.
It was a grade-schooler girl wearing a summer dress.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Sanae.”
“Nnn...”
The girl was sleepily rubbing her eyes as she appeared from the ceiling.
She had not flipped a mat or made a wall glow, but literally just passed through the ceiling.
Her name was Sanae.
She was a ghost living in the room.
“What's for breakfast today?”
“Rice and miso soup, and the fish we bought yesterday... Kiriha-sama, what was it called again?”
“Salmon, and then there are the wieners that didn't fit into today's bento.”
However, neither Kiriha nor Ruth showed any hints of surprise about the way Sanae had appeared.
They were acting like how people would talk with their friends.
The two were already used to Sanae.
“Are they shaped like octopuses[2]?”
“The best a girl of age could make.”
“Really?”
“She's lying. Kiriha lies with a straight face... Oh right, I almost forgot. Can I check the taste!?”
“I don't mind. I was going to serve it to Koutarou either way.”
“Yes!”
As Kiriha gave her approval, Sanae looked delighted.
Sanae, who was young from the start, gave off an even stronger impression of being a child as she jumped for joy.
However, for some reason, she didn't touch the wiener but instead headed towards the inner room.
“Wake up, Koutarou! Hey!”
“Nnn...”
Entering the room, Sanae got to work on waking Koutarou up.
She needed Koutarou's help to taste the food, as she was a ghost and couldn't eat anything herself.
So in order for her to taste anything, she needed to possess someone and share their senses.
And the one she would possess was none other than Koutarou.
Sanae and Koutarou had a truce, and in return, she got to possess Koutarou.
“Hurry up and wake up! The octopus will get cold!”
“Nnn... I can't eat anymore... mhm...”
“I won't let you be the only one eating delicious food!”
However, Koutarou still showed no signs of waking up after being shaken and shouted at.
It also seemed like Koutarou was having a dream about eating something, and that frustrated Sanae even more.
“Kukuku, Mackenzie, I'm leaving the bill to you... mm...”
“Why do you always deny the reason for ghosts to exist! I won't ask for you to be surprised, but at least listen to my voice! If you get shaken open your eyes! Say 'Good morning my angel' to this lovable Sanae!”
“Don't cry because something like that... It's pitiful...”
“Anyone would want to cry!”
Koutarou, who still showed no signs of waking up, amazed Sanae and drove her past her limit.
"...In that case...”
Sanae, with tears forming in her eyes, caused a Poltergeist phenomenon and lifted up a nearby encyclopedia.
“Just you look! If you think this girl will just hold it in you're making a big mistake!”
She showed a grim smile as she said that.
She then tilted the encyclopedia. It was clear that she was planning on stabbing Koutarou's head with the side of it.
"...Hm?”
However, just as she was about to put her plan into action, the wall began glowing in the same way it had when Ruth had appeared.
The only thing different from before was that a different person appeared.
Anything apart from that was exactly the same.
The girl who had jumped out from the wall was slightly older than Sanae.
She had beautiful golden hair, a white dress, and deep and clear blue eyes.
Her name was Theia.
She was an alien princess, and Ruth was her servant.
“Guaaaaaaaaaaah!?”
“I didn't realize you were here, pleb.”
And just like Ruth, she stepped on his face.
Unlike Ruth, however, she didn't put any effort into avoiding stepping on Koutarou.
And also unlike Ruth, she was wearing shoes.
Her high heels sunk into Koutarou's forehead.
“Owowowowow!?”
“You don't learn, do you? Why do you keep sleeping there?... This is why you're just a plebeian.”
As Theia said that, she stepped off his face and onto the mat.
The edges of her white dress fluttered in a very fitting way. However, Koutarou didn't care about that.
“You idiot, Tulip! How many times do I have to tell you!? Don't step on people! And don't wear shoes inside the room!”
A red bruise had been left on Koutarou's forehead.
Because all of Theia's weight had been focused into the heels, not even Koutarou was able to remain asleep.
“You dare call me an idiot again, pleb!?”
“I'll say it as many times as I have to, you idiot!”
“How dare you show your master such disrespect!”
Koutarou and Theia butted heads and shouted at each other.
“Besides, why do you only complain about me!? I'm surely not the only one who steps on you!”
“I'm truly sorry Satomi-sama. I would like to apologize for stepping on you over and over again.”
Ruth entered the room and deeply bowed to Koutarou.
“No, there's no need for Ruth-san to apologize. Please raise your head.”
Koutarou had no intention of complaining about Ruth.
“Tulip is the one in the wrong!”
“But...”
“Pleb! Why do you only forgive Ruth!? It's just wrong! Why do you only favor Ruth!?”
Theia's face flushed red and she stomped her feet on the floor.
Her heel pierced the tatami repeatedly.
“It's obvious, you stupid princess! How about you touch your chest and ask yourself that instead!?”
“Chest...?”
Theia vacantly stared at her chest, she then looked over at Ruth's chest.
“Y-Your Highness!?”
In return, Ruth blushed and covered her chest with her arms.
"...Breasts...”
Her anger which had disappeared with a vacant look was reignited.
“Are you saying you'll forgive her because her breasts are big!?”
Theia completely lost sight of her surroundings as she shouted at Koutarou, enraged.
“It's nothing like that!”
“Koutarou, who cares about her breasts? You can't even tell if she has them or not. More importantly, the food tasting!”
“Are you picking a fight with me!?”
“You can't, Your Highness!”
And just like that, a fistfight started first thing in the morning inside of the small room.
“...Mm, this tastes great.”
However, Kiriha, who was still in the kitchen, didn't care; instead she tasted the miso soup and put on a satisfied smile.
“This time I'll make sure I teach you who your owner is!”
“Just try it, Tulip! The only place you're going is in the flower bed!”
“How much are you going to belittle your master before you're satisfied! You rude Neanderthal!”
“Both of you please stop it!”
“Food tasting! Food tasting!”
“Today is another peaceful day... Or far from it...”
Kiriha showed no signs of worry; this was everyday life in Room 106.
“Well then, let's eat.”
“Thanks for the food!”
Once the breakfast preparations were complete, Sanae jumped onto Koutarou's back and put her arms around his neck.
According to Sanae, that was what she needed to do to possess someone, but at a glance it looked like a child clinging to the back of her father.
“Hurry up and eat, Koutarou!”
“...”
Though Sanae was dying for Koutarou to start eating, Koutarou himself was not staring at the food, but at what was in front of him.
“...”
Sitting opposite of Koutarou at the tea table was Theia.
Theia was glaring back at Koutarou. The two of them had been doing this for a while.
Aside from the mark on Koutarou's forehead, there were scratches and bite marks left on him.
Theia, on the other hand, had a blue bruise near her eye.
They were injuries from the fight from just a while ago.
“Your Highness, your food will get cold if you keep doing this.”
“You should be saying that to the pleb! What's wrong with disciplining a fool who raises their hand against their master!?”
Ruth was sitting between the two, desperately trying to get the two to make up.
“Ha, to think you are calling someone a fool.”
“Hmph, you lowlife.”
However, the two of them had no intention of making up and sulked instead.
Although the two of them could not get along, their stubbornness was just the same.
“However, Your Highness, we're the ones who started it.”
“I don't care. A vassal shouldn't care about the circumstances and instead respect me.”
“Who are you calling vassal!?”
“Grow up, you two...”
“I'm already grown up. Tulip is the one who's in the wrong!”
The two of them looked away and argued in an indirect fashion.
That was because they strongly acknowledged one another as rivals.
“We can't have that, Koutarou.”
Koutarou saw Kiriha smile wryly at the corner of his eye.
Kiriha was seated across from Ruth, between Theia and Koutarou.
They were sitting around the tea table in the order of Koutarou and Sanae, Ruth, Theia, and Kiriha.
Lately, they would often find themselves sitting in this order.
So Koutarou would turn his face in the direction of Kiriha.
“Kenji and Shizuka will worry if you make a scary face like that.”
“But, Tulip is ― ”
“That's enough.”
Koutarou tried to voice his complaints, but Kiriha stopped him by placing her finger in front of his mouth.
Kiriha smiled at Koutarou as she leaned towards him.
“I don't like that kind of Koutarou either. I prefer you when you're smiling.”
“Eh...”
The soft, warm tip of her finger touching his lips felt like a kiss.
Her bright smile and calm eyes sucked Koutarou in.
“Listen, Koutarou. It's alright to make such an expression when it's called for, but that doesn't mean you should show it to unrelated people. Kenji, Shizuka, and even I will be saddened. You can't show your anger to those you treasure.”
“Ah...”
“Let go of your anger Koutarou. It is for my and your own sake.”
Kiriha calmly admonished Koutarou, and his anger vanished.
Koutarou was angry at Theia because of her selfishness.
So it was selfish of him to take out his anger on people other than Theia.
Looking at Kiriha's smile Koutarou realized this.
“Just a minuuuteee!! I keep quiet, and what's this nonsense I hear!?”
“W-What!?”
As Koutarou was about to nod to Kiriha, Sanae, who was still clinging on to Koutarou, shouted at the two.
Sanae tightened her grip around Koutarou's neck as if to choke him.
“Kiriha! Don't act like you're not Koutarou's enemy! It's fine if he shouts at you, since you're planning on taking this room for yourself as well! Don't try to casually act like you're not a part of this!”
“Fufufu, you sure are strict, Sanae.”
“And Koutarou! What's with you!? She's just trying to get you to let your guard down so she can take the room for herself; this is what she always does!”
“S-Sorry, it was just a reflex...”
“Don't say it's just a reflex! Give it a rest, Koutarou! Just how many times do you think you've almost fallen for her tricks these past days!? What do you think would have happened if I wasn't around!?”
“I was wrong, so just calm down, okay?”
"...Are you reflecting on what you did wrong?”
As Koutarou apologized, the force of her voice and in her arms dropped.
“I am. Of course I am.”
“Do you have any word of thanks to the beautiful ghost who keeps helping you?”
“Thank you for always looking out for me...”
Koutarou was actually feeling some gratitude to Sanae.
The only reason he hadn't been fooled by Kiriha and still has a place to live was thanks to Sanae.
If it wasn't for the truce with Sanae, he would have been fooled long ago.
“Good, now hurry up and eat. I'm starving.”
Satisfied by Koutarou's answer, Sanae pointed to the table.
On the table there was rice, miso soup, salmon and wieners cut into octopuses.
It was the meal Sanae had been waiting for.
“I got it. Let's eat!”
“Koutarou, start with the wieners!”
As Koutarou picked up his chopsticks, Sanae had returned to normal.
That voice was like her looks, innocent and lively.
"...Look now, Sanae.”
Koutarou's chopsticks stopped just before reaching the wiener.
“What?”
“No, it's nothing.”
You've been tamed with Kiriha's cooking...
Koutarou kept himself from saying what was on his mind.
“Oh? Then hurry!”
“Okay, okay.”
But why don't I want to say it?
Koutarou himself was uncertain of why he restrained himself.
“Your Highness, it's almost time.”
“Very well, then let's go.”
Ruth, who was doing the dishes, returned to the inner room and proclaimed so.
Theia, who was playing with her empty cup, put it down on the tea table and stood up.
At that point, the skirt of her dress extended greatly and covered a fraction of the room.
In this narrow room, her dress was a large obstacle.
“Well then everyone, we'll meet again later.”
“Don't be late, pleb.”
“Of course I won't.”
“Then that's good. A vassal's failure is my failure. It seems you are aware that you are my vassal. Very good.”
Theia and Ruth returned to the other side of the glowing wall.
They returned to their spaceship to change, after which they would take their own route to school.
“...She just keeps spouting selfish things...”
“That girl seems determined to make you her servant.”
Koutarou and Sanae, who were drinking tea by the table, stared at the glowing wall and sighed.
Kiriha, who was drinking next to them, smiled wryly and dropped her shoulders.
“That is what she needs to do to succeed the throne. She can't just back down. Of course, I can't just back down either. Well then...”
Kiriha waited for Koutarou to finish drinking his tea and brought the empty cups to the sink.
“Ho!”
“Hey-ho!”
At the same time, the two haniwas flipped the tatami closest to the front door.
Below it was a tunnel leading to Kiriha's secret base.
At the start it had been just a hole in the ground. However before anyone noticed, it had been surrounded with concrete and tiling.
That was thanks to the two haniwas.
“I will be taking my leave as well. Let's meet again in the classroom, Koutarou, Sanae.”
Like Theia and Ruth, Kiriha would head to Harukaze High School using another route.
Both Kiriha and Theia did not want to cause any unnecessary commotion.
“Yeah, see you lat — ”
“Stoooop!”
Sanae's fist crashed down on Koutarou's head as he was about to see Kiriha off.
“You're being tricked again! You don't need to see that woman off!”
“R-Right.”
Not good, I'm completely falling for Kiriha's kindness.
Koutarou warned himself.
Koutarou was going along with the flow of Kiriha's normal behavior. However, everything she said was a trap to lure Koutarou into a false sense of security.
If Koutarou was taken in by her kindness, he might wake up to his room being used to invade the surface tomorrow.
“Fufufu, so you won't believe that I'm seriously having feelings for Koutarou?”
“Isn't that obvious!? Where could anyone find romance in you!?”
"...Koutarou, do you feel the same?”
Kiriha's smile disappeared as she sadly lowered her eyes.
She crossed her hands in front of her chest and whispered to him in a sweet voice.
“Ugh...”
When faced with her slightly moist eyes and sweet voice, Koutarou unconsciously swallowed his saliva.
Even though he knew she was an enemy, Koutarou was a boy in puberty.
When she acted like that, he couldn't help but waver.
“Koutarou! Get a grip!”
“Y-Yeah, s-sorry Sanae.”
Not good, even though I know, this still happens...
Kiriha's attacks were getting more skillful by the day.
This was thanks to Kiriha getting to know Koutarou; she was changing her strategies little by little.
“Fufufu, another failure huh... I'll see you later, Koutarou.”
Kiriha disappeared into the tunnel, leaving behind a smile.
The two haniwas followed, and finally, the mat was put back in place.
“...This is bad for my heart...”
Koutarou's heart was throbbing as he stared at the tatami Kiriha had left from.
“That woman is the biggest tease...”
Meanwhile, Sanae puffed up her face, making a sulking expression, and sighed heavily.
“Sanae, let's go.”
“Just wait a second.”
Koutarou had changed into his uniform and was preparing to head for school. Meanwhile, Sanae was still trying to put on her uniform.
The scarf by her chest was bent diagonally, a part of the jacket was caught in the skirt, and her underwear was peeping through.
She was also only wearing one of her socks.
Her outfit looked terrible. Even Koutarou, who was indifferent when it came to clothing, thought so.
“Can't you do it any better...?”
“S-Sorry... Tehehehe!”
Sanae let out an embarrassed laugh as she put on her other sock.
Koutarou pulled out the jacket from her skirt and corrected her scarf.
“Thank you, Koutarou.”
“That's fine and all, but why are you wearing a uniform to begin with?”
“It's cute, isn't it?”
Once she finished changing, Sanae spun around once in front of Koutarou.
The size of the uniform didn't match her size and was slightly too large.
However, that increased the loveliness of it all, and Koutarou agreed that she looked cute.
“Yeah, but I'm more interested in knowing why a ghost is changing clothes. More importantly, where did you get a uniform a ghost can wear? I've been dying to know for a while now.”
“It's fine because I'm a girl. If you keep worrying about tiny details you'll go bald!”
“Are they really tiny details though?...”
Koutarou unconsciously stared at Sanae's uniform.
In return, Sanae grabbed the hems of her skirt and gave him a curtsy.
“They are. Ghosts in movies change their outfit between scenes all the time. That's just what ghosts do! Ah, the tragic heroine, Sanae-chan!”
“Now that you mention it, the mysterious man in a hockey mask changes his weapons between the scenes as well. From chainsaw to machete to hatchet... I wonder where he gets those?”
“Don't compare this to that! You're always like that!”
“Uwa!?”
Sanae grabbed hold of Koutarou's neck in a sudden fit of rage.
The doorbell rang, and Sanae loosened her grip on Koutarou's neck and jumped off his back.
“Hey, Kou, are you up?”
“Satomi-kuuun!”
Koutarou's friends' voices came from the other side of the door.
“I'm awake! I'll be right there!”
Koutarou headed for the front door, carrying his bag he had left nearby.
“Sanae, you haven't forgotten anything, have you?”
“No, I'm all good.”
Sanae turned off the light and headed towards the front door with Koutarou.
“What about you, Koutarou?”
“I'm...”
Koutarou, who was in the middle of putting on his shoes, stopped moving.
“Hmm, I have a feeling I'm forgetting something...”
“What? What are you forgetting?”
“I have no idea. Well, if I can't remember it right away it's probably nothing important.”
“Then let's go, Koutarou.”
“Yeah!”
Koutarou nodded at Sanae and continued to put his shoes back on.
“Make sure you don't forget to make it so Landlord-san can't see you, okay?”
“Aye aye, sir♪”
Part 2
Koutarou and the rest had left Room 106, and now the only sounds in the room were the clock on the wall and the fridge.
Apart from that, the sounds from outside leaked in. One could hear birdsong and the sound of distant cars.
However, as time passed, the sound from the outside gradually grew louder.
Rush hour began, and large crowds started gathering by nearby stations. Bicycles and cars started driving to work or school.
As the time for school drew closer, the sound of preschoolers mischievously blowing on whistles reached the room.
However, after 30 minutes, the sounds stopped. Silence returned to the room.
At that point, a suspicious sound rang out inside of Room 106.
It had originated from inside the wardrobe.
A moment passed, and the sliding door slammed open.
“I'm lateee!”
A girl was seated on the upper half of the wardrobe.
The bottom half contained Koutarou's belongings, but for some reason, the upper half had a half-crying girl who was seated on top of a spread-out futon.
“W-Why didn't anyone wake me up!? Everybody already left as well!”
The girl's name was Yurika.
She was a cosplayer Koutarou and the rest were familiar with.
Koutarou, who mentioned he was forgetting something, was referring to Yurika.
“This will be the tenth day I'll be late! The teacher's definitely going to yell at me! They're all terrible! They know I'm absent a lot and just left me anyways!”
Yurika hurriedly changed from her pajamas to her uniform whilst still inside of the wardrobe.
The upper half of the wardrobe had several small shelves where Yurika's belongings were lined up.
Although it was very narrow inside of the wardrobe, Yurika showed no signs of being affected as she skillfully changed her clothes.
Surprisingly, Yurika was using the upper half of the wardrobe as her own room.
“Alright, I'm done changing! If I don't hurry I'll miss the first period!”
Having finished changing, Yurika grabbed her bag and jumped out of the wardrobe.
An odd noise screamed out as she landed.
“...Hm?”
Noticing the sound, Yurika looked down on the ground and saw a white plastic bag below under her foot.
“I-It couldn't be...”
When she saw the bag Yurika shuddered.
Despite being, in a hurry the surprised Yurika slowly lifted her foot.
If the bag contained what Yurika was thinking of, it would be an event more serious than being late to school.
“N-Nooooooooooooo!!”
What was below Yurika's foot was exactly what she had feared; it was the bag containing her cup noodles.
When Yurika had jumped out of the wardrobe, she had landed and crushed the majority of her cup noodles.
“Why is it over here!? I know I left it over there! Why did this happen!?”
Yurika completely fell into panic.
Because of the recession, the price of cup noodles had soared.
The best price available was 98 yen during specials.
Yurika had destroyed that important food.
She had trampled and destroyed six of the cup noodles.
Two days' worth of food had vanished with a single step.
“Will I be able to eat it if I gather it all!?”
The mental damage she suffered was huge, and she stopped moving as she groveled and stared at the broken and scattered remains.
"...No, you can't do this Yurika! Gathering it up and eating it is just... Besides, it would be bad for your body!”
For a moment she thought of eating it up, but her pride got in the way.
However, with her current economic situation and the attachment to the cup noodles, her pride gradually gave in.
“But I need to pick it up! If I don't eat anything for two days... But... if I pick it up and eat it, my pride as a human being... But... Not eating anything for two days... Two days!”
Yurika hesitated.
After she had picked up the cup noodles from the ground, she was hesitating whether to throw them away or eat them.
It was just a simple choice between two options, but to Yurika it held a much deeper meaning.
An intense inner conflict was raging inside of Yurika's mind.
Would she throw away the food she needed to survive, or would she throw away her pride as a human?
She was facing an important decision regarding her humanity.
"...But if I throw away my pride, I'll be able to fill my stomach! That's right, Yurika, you can't live off of your pride! You have to fill up your stomach first! You have to survive, otherwise you can't protect your pride!”
In the end, Yurika threw away her pride.
She just couldn't find herself to throw away the cup noodles.
She couldn't forget the synthetic taste and the texture of the instant noodles.
“I should value my life! I need to fulfill my purpose as a magical girl! I need to teach the children various important things!”
Yurika quickly put her plan into action and gathered the broken noodles into the plastic bag.
Yurika would not make it in time for the second period today.
At this rate, she wouldn't be able to carry on to the next grade.
“Yurika Fight! Yurika Fight!”
However, only one thing mattered to Yurika right now.
She needed to gather her food; it was the second most important thing to her after her life.
She was not thinking of anything else.
“This is a magical girl's duty! Their important duty! It can't be helped!”
She was the self-proclaimed magical girl of love and courage, Rainbow Yurika.
Everyone was convinced that she was just a cosplayer.
As Yurika headed for school, the room once again fell into silence.
Around this time, a peaceful atmosphere gathered in Room 106.
From time to time, the voices of housewives going out to shop could be heard, and sometimes, a truck could be heard passing by.
But in general, Corona House was quiet, and it continued to be so until the afternoon.
At 2 PM in the afternoon, the children who were going home passed by Corona House.
As they headed home, they were playing something, or talking about what they saw on TV yesterday, or how the pudding they had for desert was delicious; their conversations entered the room one after the other.
As time passed, the age of those passing by Corona House gradually increased, and the voices of children playing in a nearby park could be heard.
It was around that time that people started returning to Room 106.
“I'm hooooome.”
The first one to return to the room was Ruth.
Her voice echoed in the empty room.
She stood by the front door holding a large shopping bag.
Unlike the other four girls, Koutarou had entrusted her with the shopping.
She was carrying the groceries that Koutarou and the others would eat for dinner.
“Oh? What's this?”
As Ruth was putting the groceries into the fridge, she noticed the plastic bag next to the sink.
She peeked into the bag and saw the splintered Styrofoam cups and crushed instant noodles.
"...It seems like it's trash.”
Apart from the Styrofoam and noodles, there was also a lot of dust inside of the bag.
Ruth was aware that the noodles were food, but nobody could eat something mixed with trash.
And while Ruth felt like it was a waste, she threw the bag into the garbage can.
She made sure to sort the garbage as well.
“Now then, next is...”
As she finished throwing away the garbage, she washed her hands and finished putting the groceries in the fridge.
Although she was unused to how to act on Earth at first, she now showed no signs of hesitation.
This was in part because she had spent half a month on Earth, but her personality also played a big part in it.
Although she held the official position of a protection officer, she was very well versed in domestic matters.
As Ruth finished putting the groceries in the fridge, two more people returned to Room 106.
Part 3
“However, just playing card games all the time is getting old. How about we use next month's sports festival?”
“As you say, Theia-dono; just playing card games all the time is getting boring. But the sports festival would be a challenge of stamina.”
Two figures appeared as the front door was open: Theia and Kiriha.
The two of them were peacefully talking about the sports festival to be held in May.
“For example, there's the obstacle marathon for clubs, right? We'd be able to have a fair fight using that, don't you think?”
“I see, with that it certainly would be...”
“Welcome back, Your Highness, Kiriha-sama.”
“Ahh, I'm back."
“I am back as well.”
Ruth welcomed them back as she closed the fridge. The two casually entered the room as if it was their own.
“Your Highness, your shoes, your shoes!”
“Oh, right.”
Theia had stepped on the mat by the entrance still wearing her shoes.
She hurriedly stepped back onto the concrete floor and took them off.
“...This country sure has some weird customs.”
“You don't have to mention that.”
“That plebeian is my vassal, so he should value my nation's customs rather than his own.”
“It's proper manners to respect a nation's customs.”
Theia voiced complaints about having to take off her shoes.
Koutarou would get angry whenever she would forget to take of her shoes as well.
Theia was stubborn and might actually have been more inclined to take of her shoes if Koutarou hadn't burst out in rage.
“That doesn't matter anymore. Kiriha, I'm thinking of bringing up what we were talking about with Koutarou, what do you think?”
“I don't mind. I will support your suggestion, Theia-dono.”
Kiriha obediently agreed with Theia's suggestion, which was because she had a plan.
If they would compete in the sports festival, Theia, who had a weaker physique, was definitely at a disadvantage.
Theia was also not used to sports on Earth.
And since Sanae was a ghost, it would essentially be a competition between Kiriha and Koutarou.
That said, who knows what she's thinking... I can't simply let my guard down.
However, Theia was smiling full of confidence.
Seeing that smile made Kiriha feel slightly uneasy.
And a plan began forming inside of Kiriha's head. She had to be prepared, just to be on the safe side.
As Kiriha and the rest were talking, the front door opened. One more person appeared by the entrance.
“I'm baaack.”
“Welcome back, Yurika-sama.”
“I'm back, Ruth-san.”
Yurika had returned.
For some reason, she sighed heavily by the front door.
"...Is something the matter, Yurika-sama?”
“That's... The teacher got angry at me because I'm late so often...”
“Is that so?”
Yurika was sighing because she had been yelled at by her teacher.
After school, she had been scolded and was now depressed.
“Please cheer up, Yurika-sama.”
“Thank you, Ruth-san. You're right, I can't just stay depressed! Yurika Fight!”
Encouraged by Ruth, Yurika recovered slightly and showed a small smile.
However, shortly after that, Yurika stared at the sink with an amazed expression.
“Eh?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Ru-Ruth-san, w-wasn't there a plastic bag here!? A big white plastic bag from the super market!”
Yurika began to panic.
She had left the plastic bag on top of the sink this morning.
She had been planning on eating it when she returned today, but now it was nowhere to be found.
“Oh, if you're talking about the trash I threw it away.”
“T-Threw it!? You threw it away!?”
“Yes... Was there a problem?”
“Kyaaaaaa!”
Yurika didn't answer Ruth, it was no longer the time for that.
Yurika hurriedly threw off her shoes and jumped towards the garbage can next to the sink.
“Please be alright!”
Yurika prayed with all of her might as she opened the lid of the garbage can.
“Yurika-sama?”
“Ahh....”
However, reality was harsh.
Ruth had opened the plastic bag and sorted its contents.
The burnable Styrofoam cups had been put in burnable waste, while the noodles had been thrown out with the garbage.
“W-Why did it turn out like this...”
“Is something the matter, Yurika-sama?”
The noodles had mixed with the other garbage.
At this point, not even Yurika could think of eating it.
“Aaaaaaaa!”
Yurika was intensely discouraged.
And an immense hunger attacked her at the same time.
Having lost what she was planning on eating, her appetite had instead been stimulated.
“There's no longer hope for recovery...”
Tears streamed down Yurika's cheeks as her stomach growled.
It was enough for even Ruth to hear.
“Why... Why does this always happen to me?... I was just working as hard as I could...”
“Yurika-sama, what's wrong? Yurika-sama!?”
Yurika was no longer able to hear Ruth's voice.
She was crying whilst staring down at the floor.
Those tears dropped down from her cheek and formed a spotted pattern on the mat.
Then in that spotted pattern a noodle floated up.
Noticing that, Yurika hurriedly picked it up from her own tears.
“Your Highness! Kiriha-sama! Yurika-sama is...!”
“What, did something happen?”
“Yurika?”
Called by Ruth, Theia and Kiriha looked into the kitchen, but Yurika was still looking down on the floor.
“Is this all...? Is this fragment all I have to live on for the next two days?”
Yurika's stomach growled as she looked down on the fragment of noodle in her hand.
Part 4
In Room 106, playing card games after dinner was the norm.
But it was not a fun game to deepen their friendship; instead, it was a battle of who would seize control of the room.
In Room 106, there were six tatami mats.
One of those tatami mats was covered with furniture, leaving five.
The amount of people competing for the room was also five.
As such, each person controlled one tatami mat.
Koutarou controlled the middle tatami mat; when the tea table was not there, that was where he normally sat.
He also spread his futon there.
South of that, the tatami mat by the window was Sanae's.
That was her spot, but since she usually hung off of Koutarou's back, she was often not found there.
However, when the tea table was in the center of the room, Koutarou retreated back to the tatami mat by the window, and that was when she could be found there.
Kiriha's tatami mat was the one closest to the kitchen.
The tunnel leading into the underground also happened to be under that tatami mat.
It would be an awkward place to live, but after entering the tunnel she would soon find herself in her secret base, so she suffered no inconvenience.
Yurika's tatami mat was next to Kiriha's, and was positioned in front of the wardrobe.
Yurika started living in the wardrobe before anyone noticed, and that tatami mat naturally fell under her control.
However, since she was weak to pressure, she would often allow the other invaders in and suffered for it.
Theia's tatami mat was the one furthest back in the room, in front of the glowing wall.
She often put a mini table and chair meant for tea there.
And because she wearing such a large dress, it would often fall into the territory of the other tatami mats.
The one most likely to invade Yurika's tatami mat was Theia.
Each mat was converted into 180 points, and control was calculated from that.
One point was one centimeter, and 180 points was 180 centimeters, or one whole tatami mat.
By using card games, they would fight over these points.
Meaning that winning over others would be the same as increasing your territory.
Normally there were five games a day, and they would each play one game of their choosing.
This was then repeated until somebody had five tatami mats worth of points, or 900 points. This meant that they would obtain control of the room.
This was how they would fight after they had signed the Corona Convention.
At the current moment, Yurika was the only one who was losing, with her points dropping below 160.
The other four people were maintaining their points around the 180 level.
Theia would violate Yurika's territory because of this.
At this rate, Yurika was sure to be driven out of the house.
As such, they were of course planning on playing five games today as well. However, the games showed no signs of starting, despite everyone having gathered by the tea table.
“Kiriha-san, what's the matter with Yurika?”
“Well, it seems like she had lost two days' worth of food.”
“So that's why she's acting like that...”
Koutarou and the rest had not started up the games because of Yurika.
“Ahahaha♪ Ufufufu♪ Fight~♪ Yurika Fight~♪ I love cup noodles♪”
Yurika, with a spaced out look on her face, laughed and sang some odd lyrics.
When Koutarou and Sanae returned from Koutarou's part time job, Yurika was already in that state.
They couldn't let Yurika play games in her current state, so they cancelled their plans for today.
“So, what is she grasping?”
“It's a fragment of one of those cup noodles. It seems everything but that fragment had gone to waste.”
“Fight~♪ Yurika Fight~♪ I am a magical girl~♪”
“Satomi-sama, actually, I was the one who mistook Yurika's food for garbage and threw it away.”
Ruth's expression clouded as she looked at the miserable Yurika while explaining the situation to Koutarou.
“They were gathered next to broken cups and dust, so I was certain it was garbage...”
Ruth, who felt she was responsible for the incident, showed an apologetic expression.
“I see... Alright.”
Hearing her explanation, Koutarou quickly decided what to do.
If it had just been Yurika, he would have hesitated, but if Ruth was involved the situation was a little different.
He was planning on solving the situation immediately.
“What will you do?”
“Well, just wait and see... Hey, Yurika.”
“I believe in love and courage~♪ The most important thing is life and bonds~♪ I love everyone~♪ Lots of food~♪ L-Lots of... food...”
“Owa!?”
“Uuuuuu...”
However, Yurika wasn't listening to Koutarou at all. Instead, she began to cry.
She had depressed herself with the lyrics of the song she was singing herself.
Lots of food.
To her, that lyric was just too sad.
“Now that I've decided...”
Although he had jumped back in surprise when Yurika started to cry, Koutarou had no intention of leaving Yurika as she was.
He approached her again and stole the fragment inside of her hand.
“Aaah!? Give it back! Please give it back! That's the only food I have until the end of tomorrow!”
Because of that, Yurika finally noticed Koutarou.
Having had her last piece of food stolen, she began panicking.
“Hey Yurika, don't you want to eat some normal food instead of this?”
“Eh...?”
Because of Koutarou's words, Yurika stopped moving and her stomach began growling.
Her stomach was being honest.
“T-That would be a dream come true, b-but you're not planning on demanding me to hand over several points in return, are you!?”
“I would love to, but this isn't just about you, so I'll overlook it for these next two days.”
“I-Is it really alright!?”
“Satomi-sama! Thank you very much!”
Yurika and Ruth smiled.
“Ooooooh, Satomi-san I knew you were a good person from the moment we first met!”
“Don't make me laugh...”
Yurika began crying tears of joy as she grabbed a hold of Koutarou's hands and began shaking them.
Looking at Yurika's behavior, Sanae who was clinging into Koutarou's back sighed.
The day they had first met she called Koutarou a horrible person and a bully.
However, even I didn't think it would end up like this back then...
While Sanae was thinking that, she slightly strengthened her grip on Koutarou.
“Thank you very much for looking out for us, Satomi-sama.”
“Ahaha, I'd rather feed Yurika for two days than watch you walk around with that gloomy face.”
People don't die over not eating for two days; it sounded more like a tough diet.
However, since Ruth was wearing such a gloomy expression, Koutarou couldn't just overlook it.
“Oh....Thank you very much, Satomi-sama...”
Ruth smiled while slightly blushing and bowed deeply.
Being thanked so honestly by Ruth, Koutarou had a somewhat ticklish and happy feeling.
“Please raise your head Ruth-san. It's really not that big of a deal.”
“However, it doesn't matter if it's a big deal or not if it is enough for people to survive, Satomi-sama.”
"...Hey, pleb.”
At that moment, Theia's sharp glance pierced through Koutarou.
“W-What is it now all of a sudden?”
“It was the same this morning, but what is with this difference in behavior between me and Ruth? It's like you're saying you're fine with giving your allegiance to her!”
Theia, frustrated, bit her lip and puffed up her cheeks as she glared at Koutarou.
To strangers, Theia might look cute, but she was seriously upset.
“Geez, I was wondering what you'd say but...”
“What!? Then give me a satisfying explanation!!”
Theia just grew angrier as Koutarou exaggeratedly sighed.
Koutarou ignored the screams and pointed at Sanae, Theia, Yurika, and Kiriha in order.
“A weird person, a weird person, an extremely weird person, and a weird person. There are four strange people in this room. It's obvious to want to treat the only other normal person here with care!”
“What kind of gibberish is that? Why am I a strange person!? I am your master!”
“Who are you calling master!? Don't you understand the hardships Ruth-san has to endure!?”
“T-They're not hardships...”
“Just listen, pleb! Ruth is saying that there are no hardships!”
“A proper person like Ruth can't just spell out that she's suffering right in front of the person she's suffering for!”
“I'm not suffering any hardships! It's true!”
Koutarou and Theia were making a fuss with Ruth by the side, oddly enough starting to panic.
Her behavior was all that was needed to be said about how she felt, but Koutarou and Theia were too busy arguing to notice.
“Hmph, it doesn't matter. No matter what you think, as long as I gain control of this room I will gain control of you!”
“Like it'll be that simple!”
“I'll make it simple! That's the power of royalty!”
“I'll fend you right off!”
As Koutarou and Theia was staring at each other, Kiriha, who had kept quiet all this time, opened her mouth.
“About that, Koutarou. We have a proposal.”
"...A proposal?”
As he calmed down slightly, Koutarou looked towards Kiriha.
“That's right. You and I both have plenty of will to fight; however, just playing card games every day is dulling our will. With that in mind, we have an idea of a different kind of match. Of course, the amount points played for will be higher.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, there's an obstacle marathon for clubs in the upcoming sports festival, right? We will take part in that and compete using that. Just playing card games every day gets stale, doesn't it?”
Kiriha began explaining and Theia continued it. Theia had calmed down and was now back to normal.
I only need to win this race and show the plebeian my superiority.
That was what Theia was planning on.
“That sounds interesting. The tension will rise with that kind of special match as well. I agree.”
Koutarou quickly agreed to the proposal.
Koutarou, who had been the star during the previous sport events, had no reason to refuse.
Fufufu, I'll make you regret challenging me to a sports match, Tulip...
Koutarou showed a confident and fearless smile.
“I agree as well.”
Yurika, who would normally complain about matters being resolved without her, obediently agreed.
With two days' worth of food on the line, she agreed with Koutarou.
“Wait just a minute. What about me? I can't take part in the sports festival.”
However, that was when the ghost, Sanae, spoke up; she was unable to take part in this match.
“It's all right. We have already taken you into account. You will pick one of us beforehand and get the same rank as that person.”
“Pick beforehand? What do you mean?”
“Well for example, say you pick me.”
“I absolutely refuse!”
“Well just wait, Sanae, this is just an example. Say I get second place. In that case, you too would get second place. It will be as if two people got second place.”
Which meant that third place would be fourth, fifth would be sixth.
Simply put, Sanae would get the same rank as the one she chose.
“I see. We would be in the same boat.”
“That's right. Although with this method, your abilities will have no say in the matter, and you will be at a slight disadvantage. That is why if you don't choose anyone you will get third place. Feel free to choose the way that works best for you.”
Because there were five people, the person in third place wouldn't lose any points. In other words, Sanae could chose not to take part in the match.
“Hmm...”
While still hanging on to Koutarou's back, Sanae put one hand on her cheek and pondered.
“I can't just not participate, that would be too boring...”
Sanae looked at Kiriha, Theia, and Yurika in order and finally looked at Koutarou in front of her.
And after looking at the side of Koutarou's face for a while she smiled brightly.
“Alright, I've decided! I'll be in the same boat as Koutarou!”
“Hm? Are you okay with me?”
“Even though there might be obstacles, in the end it's a marathon, right? You look like you have the most stamina. Besides, we have a truce, right?”
“I see. I'll make sure you don't regret choosing me, Sanae!”
“Nyahaha, I'm counting on you.”
Sanae smiled and nodded at Koutarou, and put her arms back around Koutarou's neck.
“Alright, with that it's been decided! As a special match, we are taking part in the obstacle marathon for clubs!”
And just like that, Koutarou and the rest would have a special match during an event at the sports festival.
Translator's Notes and References
1. ↑ A traditional Japanese garment, essentially full-length robes
2. ↑ A standard for lunches in Japan are wieners that have been cut to look like an octopus.
