Chapter 6

After we arrived at home, Sayaka told me about what happened after she ran into Tanaka Ayumi.

“I thought about running away, but that would've been useless since Ayumi already saw me, right? Ayumi was so worried about me, if I ran away, it would've just made things worse. So I pretended to be the Sayaka from this universe."

"Right." That certainly made sense. Since that accidental meeting guaranteed that Tanaka's cosmic dissonance would disappear, it was better to control the damage than run from it.

"What happened afterwards?" I asked.

"I told her that I couldn't come to school for a while because I was having trouble at home, and I wasn't feeling very well. When she asked me for details, I told her that I couldn't tell her more right now, but I promised her that I would tell her everything once everything was solved."

"Did she accept that explanation?"

Sayaka nodded.

"I promised her that I was safe, and that there was no need to worry about me."

“I think that works. I'll see tomorrow how Tanaka is reacting to your explanation."

I got up to go brush my teeth, but Sayaka grabbed my sleeve.

"Wait."

"What is it?"

There was a gleam of hardened determination in her eyes. It was the look of an adult.

"What were you doing with Hina-sensei?"

"I thought I already told you everything."

"I want to hear everything — every tiny detail."

I sighed. Something in her voice told me that she wasn't going to let this go so easily.

So I told Sayaka everything in minute detail. From the moment I left the store, how I ran into Hina-sensei, how I was unable to get myself out of the conversation, how we ended up at the bookstore, how we saw a high school girl and a salaryman hand-in-hand, and how we followed them to the love hotel.

"Hmm...okay." Sayaka folded her arms and furrowed her brows as if she was contemplating every detail.

"Why do you care so much anyway? It was all an accident. You should be glad that everything ended as well as it did."

"That's because..."

Sayaka averted her eyes.

"Because?"

"Gezz, do you have to make me say it?"

"I'm waiting."

Sayaka shifted in her seat, avoiding eye contact. She looked like she was guilty of something.

"Err...well, in the universe where I came from, Hina-sensei was my main rival."

"Your main rival? What do you mean?"

"Gezz, how can you be so dense, you stupid harem main character."

"What's a harem main character? Anyway, that's besides the point. What do you mean by Hina-sensei being your rival?"

"Where I came from, Hina-sensei is in love with you. I had to compete with her for your attention. Can you imagine how hard it was for me to compete with an adult woman? There were so many nights I couldn't sleep. What if she seduced you in the staff room, and you two found an empty classroom to do it? What if she got your LINE ID, asked you to watch a movie with her after work, and then you two went to a love hotel? It's difficult for a high school girl to compete with the charms of an adult woman. My greatest weapon is my uniform, but adult women are in a league of their own. Not to mention that Hina-sensei had more chances to see you during the day. She has all those chances to talk to you, and sit on your lap, and initiative physical contact. I had to try soooo hard to overcome my disadvantage."

Sayaka spoke without stopping. At some point I stopped listening and was more amazed at her lung capacity. Maybe she could beat Tanaka Ayumi at swimming if she tried.

"Have you considered joining the swim club?"

Sayaka slammed a fist on the table. "Weren't you listening? And now Hina-sensei has your LINE ID in this universe too, and what if she is interested in you? She is an adult woman who is a little younger than you. What if you succumb to her sinful charms and start a forbidden coworker relationship?"

"Don't worry about that," I said. "I don't get romantically involved with work colleagues. It would just make thing awkward at work, and it could affect our career paths."

"But still..."

"Why are you so worried? In your universe, I chose you, and we got married, right? So you won."

"But in this universe..."

Ah, I understood now. Sayaka has fully realized by now that me and the Seiji she was married to were similar, but still different. She was worried that this version of me would choose Hina-sensei over her.

I breathed out sharply. "Look, finding a girlfriend or wife is the least of my concerns right now. The Seiji from your universe sounds like a popular guy who has women and high school girls fawning over him, but I’m different, okay? Hina-sensei isn't interested in me. I haven't gone on a date in over five years. I'm completely focused on work."

"So you're a herbivore male."

"You - !"

Sayaka's worried expression turned into a smile, and she crackled with laughter.

Then she suddenly became serious again. It was amazing how fast her expression could change.

"Just promise me you won't cheat on me, even if I'm not your wife in this universe."

"Until we've figured how to return you to your universe, I won't be dating anyone."

"Then I should forever stay here, and be your wife."

I sighed profoundly.

Sayaka grinned. "Your signature is already on the marriage form anyway. The only thing left to do is for us to consummate our union."

"Don't make jokes like that."

"Ehh~"

I wonder how long life like this would continue.

It was both fun and a pain.