3 bar menu

The Bold and the Hospitable

Upon unlocking the door and stepping into the house, a peculiar stagnant air, suggesting abandonment for several days, wafted through.

Serika’s really not here.

The house’s owner, Hazuki’s father, had generously lent the residence to Serika and her friends. Presently, she resided with her family in a secure and luxurious high-rise condominium.

Adjusting to the new lifestyle wasn’t as seamless for her, but after a month since their relocation, she subconsciously found herself heading towards the condo.

Did it always smell like this?

A thin layer of dust covered the living room table. Despite being lent to the Four Eastern Stars, the house seemed rarely inhabited.

Maybe they went home.

Hazuki sat alone on the living room couch. She was aware that Serika was returning to the other world while Hikaru came here in her place. For some reason, however, she couldn’t find the urge to see Hikaru.

As evening settled in, Hazuki contemplated using the remote to turn on the TV but refrained. The large TV they purchased a few years ago took its time to boot up, and there was nothing interesting to watch. News programs might be airing, but she already knew the content—new arrivals from the other world.

Since the first broadcast of combat footage from the Doyama residence, Hazuki suspected the boy in black to be Hikaru. In fact, with the timing of his arrival, plus the silver-haired companion, it could only be him. On a related note, the segment showing magic burning the attackers was considered too intense for over-the-air broadcasting and was consequently edited out.

Various media outlets gathered in the town of Fujinota, where the new otherworlders appeared, and the Four Eastern Stars had vanished from their base of operations, allowing Hazuki to enter the house without media hassle.

What is Serika up to?

Hazuki had returned to collect necessary items, intending to leave for the condo once done. But she remained seated on the couch.

Thinking back, every day since Serika’s return passed in a whirlwind. Media, researchers, and government officials flocked from all over the world, and the day the rift opened was broadcasted live worldwide. Due to security concerns, they moved to a high-rise condominium, bringing only the essentials such as clothes and school textbooks with them.

The school was in uproar too. Hazuki did not understand what was going on, and even with Serika’s explanation, things still remained unclear to her. But her classmate—and teachers—wanted to know about the other world. With their loveliness and beauty, the Four Eastern Stars had even garnered a fan club.

Hazuki, desiring a quiet life, found herself in an undesired spotlight. If it wasn’t her friend that dragged her into this mess, she would have expressed her displeasure.

Hazuki’s smartphone vibrated, indicating a message.

“Hmm?”

The sender was a male classmate she rarely interacted with. She couldn’t recall sharing contact information with him, but being in the same class enabled them to connect through a messaging app somehow.

Feeling uneasy, she checked the message.

“Hazuki! Do you know the female mage that just arrived?! Rumor has it she’s stunning without her mask. I’d love photos of her!”

As soon as the “read” indicator appeared, messages flooded in, seeking information instead of photos, and a desire to connect to Serika and the Four Eastern Stars.

Hazuki’s finger moved instinctively to the block button, but doing so might cause complications down the line. Hazuki’s standing at school was currently precarious. Despite Serika communicating exclusively with her, some classmates, craving information, spread rumors that Hazuki was controlling Serika and limiting information.

Serika had once made her messaging app account open to her classmates, but someone sold her contact information to the media for some extra cash. As a result, Serika started receiving a massive number of messages, prompting her to stop connecting with classmates other than Hazuki.

The claims about restricting information were baseless, but asserting that didn’t stop the rumors. “Why not just ignore them all?” Serika had casually suggested to Hazuki. Due to special circumstances, Serika was on leave from school—treated as a temporary withdrawal—while Hazuki continued attending. Their situations were different.

Was Serika always this carefree?

Serika didn’t talk much about her experiences on the other side, but there were hints that her life there might have been quite challenging.

The question remained about what to do with the messages from this male classmate.

While irritated by his demands, Hazuki, who had encountered numerous individuals constantly expressing their demands since Serika’s return, no longer felt anger. She politely explained that she knew nothing and that contact with Serika was prohibited by the government. Bringing up the government in such situations often intimidated people, making it easier.

“Sigh…”

She didn’t want to see more messages. Thinking of muting notifications, her phone vibrated again. It was a call.

Could it be the same classmate? Frowning, Hazuki looked at the screen.

She blinked when she saw the name. “Huh?”

Serika’s name, her friend who was supposedly back in the other world, appeared on the screen.

Hazuki hurriedly answered the call, unaware that Hikaru had taken the phone from Serika’s apartment. Furthermore, Hikaru had returned to the other world through a spell used by Ayano Sasakura—Soaarunay Saak, and the phone was currently in the possession of the silver-haired girl.

“Hello, Serika? What’s wrong? I thought you were in the other world.”

Surprised by the unexpected call, Hazuki’s voice cracked. Little did she know that it was the girl from the other world who listened to her question.

And thus, Hazuki and Lavia established their first direct connection.