Chapter 3

Part 3His footsteps echoed quietly on the earthen ground, barely interrupted by the distant murmur of the night life. As he observed his surroundings, he couldn't help but reflect:Now that I look at it, this doesn't seem like your typical medieval setting...The impression came from the surprising architecture surrounding him. Although much of the ground was still dirt, there was evident care in its planning: polished stones, fitted with precision, adorned the main paths, preventing the place from feeling cluttered or rustic. Some houses, though built of wood, exhibited an intelligent structural design, with firmly secured sloped roofs and window details that evoked the contemporary architecture of his own world.The lighting did not go unnoticed either. Tall wooden posts, finely hand-carved, held lanterns whose flames burned intensely, casting warm, dancing shadows upon the house walls. The moon, suspended high in the clear sky, added a silvery hue to the scene, illuminating the roofs and trails in a silent, subtle, and melancholic spectacle.Finally, Akihiro reached the point he had been directed to. Before him stood a large two-story house, built entirely of dark wood. It wasn't an extravagant mansion, as he had imagined for a moment, but it stood out for its sober elegance and the quality of its materials. Without a doubt, it was a noble residence, far superior to the neighboring buildings.Standing by the gate with his arms crossed was Hideaki. His firm posture, his gaze fixed on him from the moment he arrived… there was no doubt he had been waiting there for a long time.Damn it... why is this idiot waiting for me? Akihiro thought, irritated.Hideaki began to approach with a determined stride. His expression was hard to read: a mix of annoyance, exhaustion… and something else, something that seemed to weigh on him. Guilt, perhaps?Akihiro looked away, pretending not to notice."You're late, Akihiro," Hideaki said as he reached his side. "The girls were worried. They didn't know if you had gotten lost... or if something had happened to you."The comment made Akihiro frown. He didn't look up. His voice, low and laced with contempt, was barely a mutter between his teeth."And does that even matter? They’re with you, aren't they? I’m irrelevant to your group, don't you think?"Hideaki sighed wearily but didn't raise his voice."That's not it. I'm just saying we need to stick together. If we stay together, we can...""Go home?" Akihiro interrupted him immediately.That word... home. It sounded so distant, so foreign, that for a moment it disconcerted him. He hadn't thought of it since he arrived in this world. Not once. Everything had been chaos, adaptation, confusion. Going back...? Was that even still an option?Hideaki nodded slowly, but before he could continue, Akihiro looked up. His face, finally exposed to the lantern light, was completely distorted with emotion."You are not going to screw this up for me... do you understand?"There was no trace of insecurity left in his tone. Only contained fury. Accumulated rage. A silent fire that had been burning inside him for hours.His fingers clenched tightly, forming a fist that tensed until his knuckles cracked. For an instant, it looked like he was actually going to swing.Hideaki watched him with a cold gaze, full of distaste. That response had ignited a deep anger in him, one he could no longer hold back."Akihiro, I don't know what the hell you're thinking, but we have to go back... no matter what. Do you understand?" he said firmly, locking eyes with his brother. "Dad must be worried. And so are the girls' families. This is no time for selfishness."Akihiro gritted his teeth. A bitter laugh, devoid of joy, escaped his lips."I see... So now I'm the selfish one," he mused, slowly stepping closer to Hideaki, his expression laden with hatred and bitterness. "Sure, I'm the villain of the story, right? I'm just trying to... start over. The only selfish one here is you. Have you ever even thought about that?"His voice trembled, not just with anger, but with a deep sadness that was eating him from the inside."What are you talking about? Don't you see the situation we're in? We have to—!""No!" Akihiro cut him off with a choked shout. "You only want to go back because you have everything there! You always had it without lifting a single finger! And me...! I worked so hard... and I couldn't even reach you..."His words broke into a ragged breath. His eyes were clouded with held-back tears. He pointed at his chest forcefully, trembling."Do you know what the most painful part of being compared to someone is? That when you fail to reach them... you eventually give up. Bit by bit... you just fade out."The silence grew heavy. The night wind kept blowing, but it was no longer enough to dissipate the tension between them."And do you know the last thing Dad told me when I gave up?" Akihiro continued, his voice breaking. "'You should be like him.' Like you! It makes me sick! You're a damn show-off who’s never known defeat. But this world... this place... is my new starting point. And I’m not going to let you ruin it with your absurd 'perfect boy' obsession.""Don't talk nonsense!" Hideaki snapped back, containing his fury. "Everything I did was to become someone better. Someone who could grow and not disappoint others. And what did you do? Why should I believe in someone who gave up... even when Mom was begging you to keep going?"Akihiro froze. His eyes snapped wide open, as if he had been stabbed directly in the soul."What... did you say?" he whispered, his voice shattered, as a shadow of absolute wrath crossed his face. "Don't you bring Mom into this!""But it's the truth, and you know it," Hideaki insisted, not breaking eye contact. "Tell me, Akihiro... did you even say goodbye to Mom while she was dying? Or did you just sit there... reading the last thing she wrote? Do you really think that was the right way to say goodbye to the one who believed in you until the end?"The air became unbreathable. The fury built up over years seemed ready to explode. An invisible pressure squeezed Akihiro's chest as if the entire world were pushing him into the abyss.Without warning, his fist shot out.The punch slammed into Hideaki's cheek with brutal force, throwing him backward onto the ground. The silence shattered like glass under the impact of the pain.Hideaki, staggering, struggled to sit up. A metallic taste filled his mouth. A trickle of blood ran from his nose to his chin.It seemed the fight had only just begun... until a loud, firm, and authoritative voice broke the tension."Stop this instant!"Both turned immediately.From the doorway of the Mayor's house, a figure watched them sternly. She was the one assigned to act as a mediator during their stay. Behind her, peeking through the windows, the girls of the group watched them with faces full of worry and surprise.Only then, for the first time all night, the bloodlust saturating the air began to dissipate. What remained was a heavy, dense silence... laden with everything they had never said to each other."Young Hideaki, I remind you that we only had a few minutes to attend to you. If you are finished, please come inside. The other young ladies are waiting for you," the girl said in a soft but firm voice. She walked gracefully back into the house, leaving the door open behind her.Akihiro, with anger still pulsing in his chest, stepped forward without saying a word to his brother. His steps were sharp, determined, almost defiant. Hideaki, for his part, remained motionless for a moment. The sting on his cheek was the least of it. What truly hurt was the invisible weight that had settled in his chest: disappointment, frustration... and guilt.Still, he took a deep breath. His shoulders shook slightly, but he took a step forward and followed his younger brother.The interior of the house enveloped them with unexpected warmth. Shelves packed with books lined the walls in an orderly fashion; family portraits, hand-woven tapestries, and old photographs adorned the walls with sober taste. In a corner, a fireplace crackled softly, dissipating the outside cold with its dim orange light.The atmosphere, however, tensed as soon as they crossed the threshold. Every gaze was fixed on them.Some faces—the more innocent ones—showed concern at the sight of Hideaki with a still-visible red mark. Others, especially those of certain girls in the group, shot hard looks at Akihiro, as if he had just desecrated something sacred.Lia stood up immediately, fluttering her light skirt as she trotted toward Akihiro with a playful smile that barely hid her unease."Akihiro! Tell me, please, tell me you discovered something exciting out there! I'm dying to know! Was there anything magical? Strange? Creepy?"She hadn't even finished her string of questions before Akane grabbed her by one of her braids with a tired grimace."I told you not to run around like you're at a convention, Lia. At least wait until they sit down," Akane grumbled, pulling her gently toward a large wooden table at the back of the hall."Ow! Akane, that hurts! Braids aren't handles!""I know."While the two bickered, Amelia rose unhurriedly from her seat, her eyes fixed on Hideaki. She walked toward him with serene steps, maintaining her refined poise."Hideaki... are you alright?" she asked in a low voice, laden with sincere concern. Amelia's gaze didn't judge; it only sought to confirm that he was still standing.He nodded with a forced smile. "I'm fine, Amelia. Thank you.""If you need to talk... I'm here," she added, barely a whisper, before returning to her place.Nami, who until then had remained with her arms crossed leaning against one of the columns, snorted softly."Tsk. Did you really let yourself get hit like that? And you," she looked at Akihiro, "you're not a kid to be exploding over nothing. You both should stop acting like rivals from a cheap anime.""Nami," Akane scolded her in a severe tone, without looking at her directly."What? Someone had to say it."Vania, for her part, remained seated, legs crossed and hands together on her lap. Her gaze, sharp as a blade in the wind, locked onto the two brothers, but especially onto Hideaki. She said nothing for a few seconds, but when Akihiro passed nearby, her voice cut through the air coldly."If you're going to drag us into this unknown world, at least try not to destroy each other," she murmured, devoid of obvious emotion, but with a chilling strength.Akihiro looked up for a moment, surprised by the bluntness of her words. He didn't respond, but something inside him tensed even further.As everyone took their seats, the aroma of the banquet began to envelop them: roasted meat in fine spices, glazed vegetables, and freshly baked warm bread. Everything was meticulously arranged on the large table. Twelve plates served with detail awaited the diners.The girl who had received them walked to the end of the table, where an old man with a well-trimmed beard and gray eyes watched the scene with elegant patience. His bearing was that of a noble, but his smile was warm, almost fatherly.Akihiro couldn't help but feel, for the first time in a long while, a spark of hope. Maybe... this man knew who they were. Maybe the world hadn't forgotten them."Akihiro, right?" the old man asked in a firm and polite voice. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Brings Alexander Mastir."The boy straightened up, surprised they were using his name with such respect."A pleasure, Mr. Brings. I am Akihiro Kirisawa. Tell me, can I try some of this banquet? I'm... famished.""Of course. Today we prepared a special meal because we were expecting important visitors."Akihiro smiled with relief, but the next sentence cut his enthusiasm like a blade."Though I see there has been a misunderstanding. The guests we were expecting are emissaries from the human capital. They are coming to discuss certain village matters."The hope dissipated. Without saying more, Akihiro took a piece of bread and put it in his mouth.Another disappointment. He thought while chewing, lacking the energy to fake interest. Not even here do they know we are summoned heroes...Lia, already seated and with her mouth slightly puffed out from the bread, tried to cheer him up."Don't worry, Akihiro. You're not the only one disappointed. I also thought that upon arriving here, they would treat us like legends... but well, at least the food isn't bad, right?"Akihiro sighed. "I thought there would be some prophecy, a glowing magic circle, or something saying we come from another world...""Even if you were from another world, young ones..." Zenith, the youngest maid, intervened then. "People like you have never been heard of here. No one warned us."Brings nodded with a peaceful smile."My daughters haven't introduced themselves yet," he said, looking at the two girls with tenderness. "My daughters, pay your respects to young Akihiro."Both rose gracefully. The elder took a step forward and spoke in a clear voice."My name is Sunna Mastir. I am in charge of the order in this home, both in the kitchen and in cleaning. Additionally, I am the second-in-command of the village."The younger one, with impeccable posture, followed."Zenith Mastir. Third-in-command and my father's secretary. A pleasure to meet you all."Hearing that name, Akihiro immediately remembered what Alan had mentioned on the way. Zenith... so it was her.Hideaki, who had remained distant after his argument with Akihiro, seemed to be slowly pulling himself together. His brow was still slightly furrowed, but at least he no longer avoided the eyes of others. Amelia, sitting to his left, spoke to him sweetly, trying to clear his mood without making him feel vulnerable."You can't carry everything alone," she told him in a low voice, while passing him a piece of bread. "Trust us a little more."He didn't respond immediately, but his expression softened. On the other side, Nami watched him in silence, resting her cheek against the palm of her hand, toyed with her spoon. Finally, she broke the ice with her usual tone: haughty, yet with a hint of complicity."It was about time you stopped playing the martyr. If you're going to fall apart every time someone contradicts you, you'd better name me the leader of this group right now.""Not in your dreams," Hideaki replied, rolling his eyes with a half-smile."Are you sure? I think I'd do quite well," she countered, turning her face with theatrical exaggeration. "Imagine me giving epic speeches before every battle. Everyone would love me.""Yeah, but only until they hear you screaming at the enemies the way you screamed in the classroom," Amelia added mockingly.The comment provoked a general laugh, light but necessary. Even Hideaki let out a snort that didn't quite become a laugh, but at least it was sincere. The tension that had floated between them since the afternoon began to dissipate.Akihiro watched them in silence. It was strange... they had been here for less than a day, and they were already joking as if this were a summer camp.He dipped his spoon into the stew and brought it to his mouth. It was tastier than he expected.Warm. Smooth.For a moment, he felt that comforting flavor gave him something akin to peace.What are we doing? he thought, lowering the spoon again.Today we were summoned from another world. We had to accept all this without understanding anything. And now here we are... sitting... eating.He looked at his hands. They were stained with dust. The sleeve of his school jacket still held a wrinkle from the moment he was dragged by that magic symbol.And I'm still wearing my school uniform. How ironic... the same one I wore while hating every morning.Brings, who until now hadn't said much, watched them with a mix of wonder and curiosity. Finally, he leaned forward slightly, furrowing his brow."Forgive the question..." he began, "but... those clothes you are wearing, are they of Elven origin?"The conversations stopped."Elven?" Amelia repeated, looking at her own uniform. "This?""Yes," Brings said. "The embroidery, the dark fabrics, the fine details... it's a very elegant design. Elves usually dress like that. Nothing like what we common humans wear.""This isn't Elven clothing," Nami said, crossing her arms. "It's our school uniform. See this symbol here? It's the emblem of Minamizawa Institute.""Hmm... interesting," Brings murmured, intrigued."Wow, so there's a fashion in this world similar to our uniforms?" Lia added with a smile. "That really is weird! Although, well, my legs look perfect in this skirt!""You just want an excuse to show off," Nami huffed.Akihiro looked at his own uniform. Blue jacket, black buttons, closed collar. He never liked it, but now that Brings called it "Elven attire," he felt like he was wearing the armor of some video game character.What would they all think if they knew this wasn't anything like what they believe...? It's just the symbol of an exhausting Japanese school system."I guess we're strange to you," Hideaki said calmly. "But to us, you are much more so."Brings let out a light, hoarse, short laugh."That's fair, boy. Though to tell the truth... I didn't expect you to be so young.""Neither did we expect all of this to be real," Amelia answered, still with a tone of doubt in her voice. "A circle, a flash... and here we were."Brings watched them intently for a few more seconds. Then he leaned back against the headrest of his chair."Be that as it may, this will be your home until you decide your next step. There's no need to rush. Eat in peace. We will talk more tomorrow."The atmosphere relaxed once again. The girls continued eating, this time with fewer jokes and more silence. Only the crackling of the fire accompanied the clinking of cutlery against the plates.Akihiro took a deep breath. For now, that was enough.