Thanks to my special circumstances, I didn’t even have to worry about the administrative processing regarding ‘Kurosawa Kotone’.
If that had been handled before I was born here, my life would have started off incredibly dangerous. I could have somehow managed to live thanks to social skills, but I probably would have wasted a lot of time without even knowing what kind of novel this world is.
…..
Um, thinking about it again, that situation doesn’t seem too different from how it was when I was in my original world.
Still, I wouldn’t have been able to save Miura, Koko would still have been a mess, and Kaoru, Izumi, and Yamashita wouldn’t have been doing very well either.
I guess I can consider it a blessing, just that.
However,
“……”
I kept staring intently at the paper spread out on the table, clicking the pen button.
The vacation lasts until August 31. Today is August 18.
It has been quite an eventful break, but honestly, I haven’t run out of time. Even so, I still haven’t figured out how to handle Koko.
Koko’s administrative processing, thanks to Yuka, has been somewhat resolved. At least it seems that she has been recognized by the government institutions as a ‘living person’.
Miura’s father might be monitoring her, and there’s a chance she’s on a separate watchlist at government agencies, but for now, it seems like it’s not causing any problems when going through various administrative processes.
I’m not sure where Japan’s compulsory education precisely ends, but at least there hasn’t been any issue leading to Kagami’s arrest for not being of the appropriate age for that education.
I pressed the pen button again, withdrawing the ink and scribbling on the paper.
The notes read as follows:
1. How did I get to school?
2. Obviously, I don’t know.
3. But Kagami doesn’t know either.
4. That means it just happened that way. How?
The conclusion of that brainstorming session boiled down to just one thing.
5. Obviously, it must be thanks to Jjapgurasu.
Upon writing the last line, I almost slapped my forehead.
I have no idea how it happened. But one thing is certain: Jjapgurasu has the right conditions to utilize such powers.
Jjapgurasu once said, ‘It’s not about the caller, but rather the feelings of the one answering.’
In other words, it suggests that it’s possible to come to this world without anyone calling out?
“Um.”
I thought alone and drew an X on one side of the paper.
No, that doesn’t seem right. If that were the case, Jjapgurasu wouldn’t have needed to cut my left wrist to interfere with my life.
Of course, they might not be doing so out of preference, but still.
Jjapgurasu also reacted to Kaoru’s doppelgänger.
“Hmm.”
Writing that one line made me frown.
Yeah, this is super confusing.
In my view, Kaoru is just an average girl. She might have had a good imagination from a young age, which is why she could see ghosts, but other than that, I don’t think she’s in any extraordinary position that requires outsiders’ meddling.
It’s not that I intend to insult Kaoru. Here, when I say ‘average,’ it’s meant as a compliment.
If you think about it in comparison to Kagami, who desperately wants to gain attention from God, and her sister Kosuzu, you can understand how much of a compliment it is to be called ‘average.’
However, that doesn’t mean Kaoru isn’t related to the main scenario.
Scratching my head, I wrote down events that tie directly into the main story, but were hardly visible up to the parts I’ve read so far.
The Miura Case.
The case where Miura was targeted and became a victim of the serial killer, but since I intervened in this world, it never happened.
Thinking back, this case shares similarities with what would have been the Kaoru incident occurring outside the main story.
Specifically, it’s the fact that this case occurs within the story, and is also a case that’s presumed to have happened.
As I noted that, another incident came to mind.
The Yamashita Incident.
The incident where Yamashita ran away due to family issues. I’m not trying to brag, but if there hadn’t been anyone to protect her at that time, Yamashita would have probably been in massive trouble.
Definitely.
She fits the mold of a side character in such stories. Perhaps, in the latter half, Miura’s father would emerge as an important character, while the story regarding the previously mentioned Miura incident would surface, tangling up the threads before the readers.
And in some sense, the Yamashita incident seems to be much closer to the Kaoru incident than the Miura case. Miura at least had her name mentioned in the work, while Yamashita is merely Miura’s friend. Up to the extent I’ve read, even the ‘set-up for that’ never appeared.
Both incidents occurred in the background, probably masked until they were highlighted, and up until then, they didn’t hold much influence over the main characters.
Now,
All of them are related to Kurosawa Kotone.
I don’t think all of those events were part of a grand conspiracy made by some character in the work.
Most likely, they were all unfortunate accidents. Just like victims who were randomly killed by a demon in a chain reaction.
But looking at these incidents from an outside perspective, they all seem to converge at one point—the place intended by the ‘author’.
Kurosawa Kotone.
Most likely, the Kurosawa Kotone in the work hasn’t been having as much fun as I have.
There’s no Miura to care for her, Yamashita must experience some unwanted troubles, and as for Fukuda…I don’t really know much about them.
After losing two close friends in a terrible way, did Fukuda even have the luxury to kindly take care of the existence that is Kurosawa Kotone? I see that with skepticism.
“…Then what about Kaoru?”
I don’t know the original version of Kotone. I don’t really know much about the literature club either. There have been light novels about literature clubs, but [Tokyo Slayers] is not one of them.
So, there’s a chance that Kaoru, in some way, is also connected to Kotone. Whether Kotone approached first, or if Kaoru did.
“…No, that doesn’t seem right.”
I scratched my head again.
How did I end up thinking this far?
Originally, I was just trying to think about what to do with Koko.
No, I really should have pieced together this thought sooner or later.
“Uu?”
Koko, who was leaning next to me, watching as I wrote on the paper, tilted her head and murmured.
“Kotone. Is this?”
It seems my letters were so different from the characters I had taught her that she looked puzzled.
“Just doodles. It’s not writing.”
I mumbled while folding the paper in half.
If I had lived alone, I might have written in Japanese. If asked which language is more comfortable for me now, I’d probably be immensely confused.
Japanese felt so natural—it was as if it had been in my head from the start that I could write and read it with ease.
I don’t think this is something Kurosawa Kotone had as memories from before. When I cross-check the testimonies I’ve heard, it seems Kurosawa Kotone was like a fool up until I arrived.
On the other hand, I can still use Korean adequately.
Since I entered this body with the memories of my previous life intact, my handwriting is even that atrocious scrawl from the day of my previous life.
Unless someone is genuinely good at Korean, they might find it tough to recognize this as Korean at a glance.
But that doesn’t mean I can relax. A common trope in this kind of setting is the ‘multilingual prodigy’ type of character.
I tore the paper into pieces and tossed it into the trash.
“Uu?”
Koko tilted her head again.
Only then did it hit me that I hadn’t resolved any problems at all and I felt despair.
When I was working part-time, I stayed quietly at home, so maybe she could manage at home while I was at school.
But once I start going to school, especially from Thursday to Saturday, I’ll be away from home much more than I’m home.
Can she endure being at home, although she’s not entirely alone because of Kuro?
…Should I really start looking for facilities soon? But on the contrary, causing issues by getting intertwined with others while I’m not in front of her seems troublesome.
“Sigh.”
“Kotone?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
As Koko stared at me intensely, I casually stroked her head and spoke.
“Something will come up.”
“Uu.”
After hearing my words, Koko tilted her head, but then she felt my strokes, curling up like a cat on the floor.
“……”
Should I ask Jjapgurasu for help?
But that seems incredibly risky too. Up until now, they’ve only played around with me or caused moderate pain, but the moment I ask them to help Koko, I might end up jeopardizing her life.
Let’s put that as a last resort.
While using my right hand to stroke Koko’s head, I took out my phone with my left hand.
Then, I opened the phone book to look for names of people who could help.
The first person to come to mind was naturally Kagami.
…But imagining putting Koko in school through that social power gives me the chills.
The next name that sprang to mind was Yuka.
…I’ve already received too much help from her. I would shame myself if I put such a complicated administrative task on her shoulders.
That option is definitely not something I can completely give up on, but for now, I’ll push it back as far as possible—like, to the same level as Kagami and Jjapgurasu.
And then there’s the next choice—
“A.”
…There’s someone I can consult.
Moreover, they don’t necessarily have to involve fantasy, illegal matters, or religious powers.
[Suzuki Sensei]
As I rummaged through the phone book, that name dawned on me, and I checked the time.
It was still after 3 PM. Calling wouldn’t disturb anyone.
Besides, Suzuki Sensei is a kind and diligent person.
However, it still makes me hesitate a bit to choose without doubts.
Why would a teenager seek advice from a friend when they have various problems instead of asking an adult? If anything, it’s because there’s no solution anyway.
The reason is simple. If a matter becomes too public, it feels like seeking help for small troubles is too excessive, and above all, it’s nearly impossible for adults to completely understand or empathize with teenagers.
To put it bluntly, it feels like dragging in outsiders to resolve problems.
“……”
What am I saying?
I pressed the call button firmly.
That’s right.
When I think about it, I’m technically older than Suzuki Sensei, so it’s silly to start drawing lines between adults and kids now.
First of all, since Koko’s status is prepared, it’s my duty to find a way to enroll her in Hanagawa High School.
Ring, ring.
Ring—
The call tone only rang twice.
[Hello. Is this Kurosawa?]
“…Hello, Sensei.”
I replied a bit sheepishly in response to her noticeably surprised voice.
*
I have never had a job as a school teacher.
Well, to be precise, I’ve only ever had two jobs. One was the part-time job at a convenience store during my college years for pocket money.
So, I know nothing about how schools or most workplaces operate. I’ve only heard some anecdotes on the internet.
Because of that, I didn’t really feel the weight of how impressive it was for a school teacher to come to my house before 6 PM during vacation time.
Just because they are a teacher doesn’t mean they don’t take breaks during break periods. They seem to have a schedule that works differently from common workers, but it just felt odd.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Since I hadn’t even asked, her answering that by judging my expression seem to imply that she has something she feels guilty about.
At least she thinks there’s a reason for me to worry.
Someone like Suzuki Sensei, she wouldn’t casually skip class or staff meetings, though.
“So…”
When I opened the door, Suzuki Sensei’s eyes widened as she stepped into the room.
And she swept her wide-open eyes around my room.
Noticing that there’s a proper refrigerator in the kitchen, the TV, various cabinets and closets in the room, and Kuro, who was lazily sprawled on the ground, as if it’s all very comfortable.
“……!”
For some reason, Suzuki Sensei covered her mouth with both hands and wore an expression as if she’d burst into tears any moment.
…..
Uh, that.
Honestly, I can’t say I don’t understand her reaction.
Seeing a high school girl sitting alone in an empty room and spending time aimlessly might seem touching when they are managing to keep themselves in an acceptable human shape while playing with a game console that has long since become a classic.
“…Kurosawa, you’ve held up well…!”
…I have held up, but.
My conscience hurts knowing that the blanket Suzuki Sensei provided has now become unusable.
It seems Suzuki Sensei herself doesn’t even care about that.
“And—”
As Sensei turned her eyes, she spotted Koko, who was watching from a corner of the room, observing us with a curious expression.
Since she doesn’t look threatening, and given that it was Suzuki Sensei who was brought in, thankfully, there’s no overt tension present.
I walked next to Koko and took her hand.
“……”
Suzuki Sensei gazed at the two of us with her mouth slightly open.
“She’s the sister I mentioned on the phone.”
“She is my sister.”
I had already prepared that part.
Of course, Koko wouldn’t suddenly turn into a chatterbox and introduce herself. Suzuki Sensei took my words with utmost seriousness and replied hastily, “I’ll be on my way soon. Please wait.” then abruptly hung up the call.
In the meantime, I could only teach her that little of an introduction.
“You said you were twins?”
“Yes.”
“…Wait, is it okay to sit down and talk? This might take a little bit.”
Seeing me holding Koko’s hand, Suzuki Sensei asked with a serious expression.
I looked at Koko and nodded my head.
“Uu?”
Koko, who made a sound after seeing my actions, tilted her head, causing Suzuki Sensei’s expression to turn even more serious.
…Hmm.
I hope I didn’t call in the wrong way…
I shouldn’t cause a situation where Koko gets sent to a facility just because of my unclear actions…
Now that I think about it, I regretted calling Suzuki Sensei.
*
Still, compared to the past, this house has changed a lot.
For instance, now there’s tea to serve to visitors. Of course, it’s not fancy, just some tea bags, but still better than having nothing at all.
There was a cup of green tea placed for Suzuki Sensei, Koko, and me. Unfortunately, there were no snacks. Usually when I buy them, both Koko and I devour them together.
Koko showed no disinterest in the green tea and drank it without any hesitation. She doesn’t gulp it down either; she takes her time because it’s still hot.
Well, it didn’t seem to be a major issue for Koko, as she observed me while chatting, and then Sensei asked me—
“By any chance, does Koko have…?”
With an incredibly cautious expression, Suzuki Sensei leaned towards me, and I leaned in closer too.
In a very hushed tone, barely above a whisper, Suzuki Sensei confided,
“Does she perhaps have borderline intelligence?”
“Ah.”
I see.
Now I understand why Suzuki Sensei didn’t immediately start causing a ruckus demanding that Koko be sent to an institution the moment she laid eyes on her.
Borderline intelligence refers to the level of intelligence that sits just above the benchmark for intellectual disabilities.
So being just above that threshold, it’s unsurprising that she is not classified as ‘disabled’. She cannot be categorized under governmental judgment.
However, it makes social interactions a bit tricky. Depending on the environment, some can easily adapt and have no issues socially, while others can find themselves entirely isolated.
If you think of media characters, ‘Forrest Gump’ is the most well-known example.
“…I don’t know well, but…”
I decided to hedge my words a bit.
“I see.”
“Uwa?”
Seeing the way Koko leaned in close to us as we were near each other, she too followed suit, curious about our conversation.
Suzuki Sensei couldn’t help herself and smiled involuntarily before slowly straightening her back.
Yet, her expression quickly shifted back to one of seriousness.
“However…Kurosawa-san. It might be a bit difficult for Koko to become a student at Hanagawa High School.”
“……”
“I mean, it’s not that she doesn’t qualify. But whether she qualifies depends on exams, as you know, Kurosawa-san.”
I figured it might be that way.
“You studied hard to get into school, right? I don’t know how you ran into Koko again, but do you think she can pass the exams?”
“……”
“And to enroll in school, there will be tuition fees too.”
Right.
“If you look around, maybe you could get some aid from local governments… but for Koko to enter, she’ll need to meet those standards in terms of skill.”
“……Understood.”
I nodded. I grasped that much.
“But that means Koko can still take the exams, right?”
In response, Suzuki Sensei nodded.
“There’s still vacation going on. And applications are still accepted. There’s still room in the school…”
Did she find all that out beforehand?
“So if you want, I can help you apply.”
“…I’ll rely on you.”
As I said that, I placed my hands on my knees and slightly lowered my head, to which Suzuki Sensei, again with a serious expression but this time having made up her mind, nodded vigorously.
However, it seems odd that Koko and I are on first name basis, yet I’m still ‘Kurosawa-san’.
It seems like Koko possesses some ability to dismantle people’s wariness.
“Uu?”
Koko, having heard her name mentioned several times, seemed lost in understanding, continuing to tilt her head as we spoke, which filled me with concern again.
She’s only just begun to learn to read, can I properly teach her enough to clear the entrance exams for private schools?
…Well, you won’t know unless you try.
I’ll see how much I can do.
And afterward, I figure a few shortcuts might not be such a bad idea.
That was my thought process.
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