I Became the Final Subjugation Target of That Era’s Light Novel

Traveling is always fun, but this school trip was especially enjoyable. whoosh!

Maybe it’s because I’ve finally found some leisure time for myself.

I wasn’t quite at Yuka’s level yet, but I was learning ways to deal with Yōkai in my own way, and now I could hold my own in a fight pretty well.

I could never let Kagami see me fighting, but I felt confident that I could handle things if something happened.

I wasn’t going to fight alone.

Even here, I only noticed that Kagami had followed me, but there might be government officials around. Maybe Yamashita sent a few people after me.

At least, since they haven’t come looking for me outright, I could say I’m safe for now.

It was probably that feeling of security that allowed me to enjoy my time.

…….

So, should I slowly go meet my friends now?

Yamashita or Fukuda might think badly of it. If I’m around, they could get dragged into something. And actually, Mako’s dad still hasn’t told me where Mako is.

Since we live in the same Tokyo, I could just make time to visit that neighborhood…

“……”

“Koto Ne?”

At the ryokan we had chosen for our school stay.

I couldn’t share a room with Yuka. After all, we weren’t from the same school. Plus, Yuka’s school and ours were quite far apart, so visiting her at this hour would be a bit awkward.

That said, it wasn’t like I had no friends at school. I got along pretty well with the kids. Naturally, the ones in the room with me were the same. We were all chatting away, not falling asleep until late at night.

Then, in the middle of all that, I suddenly went quiet, and one of the kids tilted their head, calling me.

“Hmm?”

“Why? Did you forget something?”

“Uh, no, not really. Just something popped into my head.”

“What popped into your head?”

“……I suddenly want to eat something sweet.”

I made up some excuse, but I guess it didn’t sound weird to them that I suddenly said something like that.

“It’s a bit of a tricky time to go out now. We have to watch the teacher.”

“But there’s a vending machine. We could just have hot chocolate, right?”

Once someone suggested that idea, the kids jumped out of their seats chattering. Naturally, I got up too. It would look odd if I was the only one sitting while they stood up after I suggested it.

But amidst all that, the thought that had popped into my head didn’t easily leave me.

The school that served as the background in the main story, Hanagawa High School. Of course, I had looked it up since it was the school I hoped to enter.

Even if it weren’t for me, Sota and Shii would naturally end up at that school. They were just in their first year of middle school, so I couldn’t understand why they seriously considered that school. Maybe Shii wanted to keep the relationship between seniors and juniors a bit longer.

Or perhaps they simply chose the best school available. After all, Shii’s dad was a person who valued social standing.

……Well, whatever. That’s how the story originally flowed.

But that school is in the neighborhood where I lived as a child.

Could it be that Harumi or Yuuki will go there? If I enter that school, won’t I run into the two of them?

It was only natural I’d think about it. It seemed plausible. Harumi and Yuuki, while appearing to be carefree, studied quite diligently.

But, thinking back to my elementary school days is a bit different now.

Two years is surprisingly short. If the last year is focused on exams, it really feels even shorter.

Thinking like this, I suddenly felt unsure about what to say to them if I met them.

Would they recognize me? What if they don’t remember me?

I think of them as my most important friends in my life, but what if they don’t remember me?

“……”

Trying not to reveal such thoughts, I drank sweet beverages with the kids.

*

“Why are you worrying about exams already?”

The next day.

After parting ways with my friends as usual and meeting Yuka again, that was her question.

To be honest, I had already mentioned it once before. In the novel, Yuka’s next school was Hanagawa High School, but because of my existence, that could change.

However, Yuka didn’t seem to take that story too seriously. She was still in her first year, after all.

If a first-year student just entered high school worried about university, they would typically be laughed at. Parents might think it’s admirable, though.

“No, it’s just…”

I know it’s excessive worry.

But telling Yuka about my worries regarding Harumi and Yuuki felt like overdoing it a bit.

“Um, well.”

Seeing me slightly shrink back, Yuka thought for a moment before saying.

“If it’s possible for me, going to the same high school as you wouldn’t be too bad either.”

While saying that, she seemed to think it was a bit embarrassing, her eyes darting.

“Well, that would be great for me.”

I didn’t know if I would actually run into Harumi and Yuuki.

But if I ended up going to a school much further away than where I currently am, surely there would hardly be anyone I knew there.

If a friend who lives a bit further away goes there, I felt more at ease.

If I think it won’t deviate from the original story, that is.

After my answer, Yuka rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Well, I’m just thinking, just thinking.”

Even though she said that, I somehow felt she was going to end up at that school.

*

The second and third days passed joyfully. When we returned at the end, it was even a bit funny that I was on the same train as Yuka. Kagami went home on the second day, but she didn’t seem too disappointed after having a deep conversation with me.

The atmosphere was completely different from our elementary school trips, but I was satisfied. To be honest, thinking about how the school trip in the second year wouldn’t be like this made me feel a little bittersweet.

Well, once we become high schoolers, we’re bound to be together anyway.

I’m not worried at all about being in different classes. If that happens, we can just join the same club and hang out.

If there’s a place where we can casually gather, like a literature club or reading club… we should be fine with at least one of those.

I thought about that the whole way back.

“Koto Ne!”

Once I got home, Kagami was waiting in front of the entrance.

Even though I saw her just the day before, she looked at me like she had been waiting for years—

“Welcome back!”

She said as she spread her arms wide open.

Hmm.

If I heard something like that, there’s only one reply from my side.

“I’m back!”

Saying that, I jumped into Kagami’s embrace.

Feeling the warmth of Kagami holding me tight—

Yeah, now I understand why she acted like she hadn’t seen me in a long time.

I felt that way too.

*

And then, we return to our daily lives.

It’s November now; it can be considered winter. As our school cultural festival is at the end of November, the kids are starting to unwind.

After the cultural festival, what awaits us is December, right?

Even if we don’t have romantic partners, it’s a time everyone looks forward to. We can just meet up with friends and have fun. It’s that kind of atmosphere.

It’s true, growing up makes such feelings stronger. The year-end was just a cold season where you age like crazy when I was an adult.

“Our school also has the cultural festival in November.”

On the weekend.

While preparing for work, Yuka casually blurted that out.

“I think it’ll be a week before yours.”

“Is that so?”

“Are you coming?”

“Of course.”

“Even if I tell you not to come?”

I paused for a moment while wearing a raincoat and looked at Yuka.

“Why? Is there a reason for me not to come?”

“No, I mean, not really.”

“Are you perhaps having a maid cafe?”

“……”

At my question, Yuka frowned, looking at me.

How did I know that?

It was as if her eyes were asking that.

Well, it’s a cliché.

Even if it weren’t a cliché, isn’t that how school festivals are supposed to be? When I was a high schooler… it wasn’t as flashy or fun as what you see in manga, but we still made such places and sold various things.

There were also kids dancing around with music playing, just like in a club.

“I’ll definitely go.”

When I said that with a smile, Yuka let out a deep sigh.

“Well, for now, let’s talk about it after we finish today.”

Saying that, Yuka turned away.

Today, the place where we are going to work is an old-looking two-story apartment.

……Is it a little weird to think of the apartment where I used to live with Kagami?

Standing side by side with Yuka and looking up, I sensed a feeling that was bleak and hard to express in words.

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