An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

After all, the students were still feeling uneasy even during lunch break, and their expressions showed obvious reluctance to see Hajime, Yue, and the others during the break. So, Hajime added another sentence.

"Anyway, we'll probably be in the same class until we graduate. We'll have plenty of time to enjoy student life."

His tone was gentle. Although he didn't sound concerned, it was still reassuring.

"So, there's no need to worry. Right?"

Hajime asked. No one in the class objected.

Everyone responded in unison. Cheerful and energetic voices echoed through the classroom during lunch break, without a trace of unease.

Volume 14, Chapter 8 Graduation Ceremony and Reunion

Today is the day before Christmas and it is also the day when the school holds its graduation ceremony.

The students in the special classroom had been enjoying their school life smoothly without any problems during this period. Now, as they were leaving the school building, they were chatting about their plans for winter vacation.

Although it has been less than a month since returning to school, some students are already happily chatting with their former classmates in the same grade (currently third graders).

Shizuku, who is admired by all students regardless of grade, is naturally a piece of cake. Suzu, who is always lively and energetic, and Kaori, who already has many friends, have also easily restored their original interpersonal relationships and are no longer awkward with other students.

The same goes for male students like Kouki, Ryutaro, and Nagayama Shigeo, who was already actively involved in club activities.

Yue and Shia were stopped by a group of underclassmen at the school building's entrance. They eagerly engaged them in conversation, and the two had been glancing at Hajime with pleading eyes from time to time.

Of course, Hajime just smiled and looked away. This was a huge shock to Yue and Shia, like a bolt from the blue.

"Why don't you save them?"

Hajime went outside the school building's entrance and leaned against a pillar in front of him, waiting for the two of them. Hearing someone approach him, he turned and saw it was Yuuka. She was twirling her hair with her fingers, a bit coy.

"I have good intentions. I want them to expand their interpersonal relationships."

"I think you're just afraid of being pestered by girls."

Hajime looked away, knowing Yuuka must be looking helpless, so there was no need to look at her. He then tried to change the subject.

"Let's not talk about that for now. Thanks for booking the whole place. It's obviously our busiest time, so I'm really sorry."

"It's okay. Besides, tomorrow is the day to get really busy."

Seeing his obvious attempt to change the subject, Yuuka smiled and shrugged.

"And my parents are very happy."

"Really?"

"real."

Next, the whole class will go to a Western-style restaurant run by the Sonobe family to celebrate the successful completion of this semester and for another purpose.

Yuka's parents are sincerely grateful to Hajime for bringing their precious only daughter back safely, and to the friends who have been with her through thick and thin. Today, they are visiting the store, and the couple couldn't be more welcoming.

"By the way, when the time comes...if my parents say anything weird, don't take it seriously."

"What's that weird?"

"It's, it's about that... at the last 'family reunion' gathering... they misunderstood."

"What misunderstanding?"

"Didn't they talk about something?"

"What's going on?"

"Why don't you remember?!"

Yuka's face suddenly flushed with anger, while Hajime looked confused, as if he was genuinely baffled. However, from an objective perspective, anyone could tell that Hajime's expression was a teasing gesture, a deliberate attempt to tease Yuka.

"Ah, look! Yuuka-chan is enjoying being teased by Nagumo-chan!"

"She seemed to have mentioned her parents a little while ago. Is she finally going to officially report to them? She's announcing that she's joining the harem, or something like that."

"I'm not enjoying it! And I don't want to join in!"

Nana and Taeko teased Yuuka with smirks. People say three girls get really loud together, and their voices were actually quite loud. The students leaving the school looked at them with tense expressions.

──I heard there’s a harem king in that special classroom.

Given Yue and the others' usual behavior at school, rumors like this were bound to spread. It wasn't just because of his status as a "returner" that Hajime was truly famous within the school.

Someone else has fallen victim to this scumbag!? The male students' murderous eyes seemed to say so. The female students' gazes were a mixture of contempt and curiosity.

"...Oh, Yuuka, you're quite courageous."

"Ms. Yue!? No, that's not it—"

"Hmm~? Yuuka, I see you're capable of such a thing..."

"Kaori!? You misunderstood!"

Yue and Kaori suddenly appeared from behind Yuka without a sound or warning. Shia and Shizuku followed them.

The rumored harem members gathered together, plus three female classmates including Yuka, and now Shi was completely a green spot in a sea of ​​red.

"This world is wrong...!" A mournful complaint came from somewhere.

Furthermore, those "Soul-sworn Sisters" (self-proclaimed) who called Shizuku "Onee-sama" also began to warm up with indescribable expressions on their faces.

Seeing that the storm is coming, if we want to spend the last day of this semester peacefully, we must take action as soon as possible. There is no time to lose.

"If you've finished talking, let's go. I'm sure everyone is impatient—"

Hajime wanted to take Yue and the others away as quickly as possible, but then he noticed the crowd was in an uproar and he couldn't help but shut his mouth.

A large crowd of people had gathered at the main entrance to the school. Hajime, sensing a familiar presence at the other end of the crowd, tilted his head back with a headache.

At the same time, a figure pushed through the crowd and walked over.

It was a blonde girl wearing a cream-colored jumpsuit.

With his childish appearance, he looks like a middle school student, but his aura is completely different from that of ordinary people. He exudes an elegant and noble temperament.

This is natural, because she is a real princess in another world.

She smiled friendly and politely and thanked every student who naturally made way for her.

Facing her gaze and words, every student, regardless of gender, reacted as if they had seen a princess in a fairy tale.

Who is she? No matter how you look at her, she looks like a rich girl. Could she be an acquaintance of a high-ranking official like the chairman?

Everyone was discussing this, but that was the end of it.

"ah."

Because, the princess called out. Her smile now was so bright that it made it clear that her previous smile was just a forced one.

Princess Liliana broke into a run. The ribbon holding her hair in a bun swung, and her slender legs, clad in pantyhose and boots, stepped with obvious joy.

"Hajime-san! Hehehe, here I come~♪"

The princess came before the man in the same way and said the same words.

On the day of the graduation ceremony──

“““““Why is it you again?!!””””””

This sound, which sounded like both a complaint and a roar, echoed throughout the campus.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

The time goes back to two days ago.

The living room of the Nanyun family was now filled with a subtle atmosphere, somewhere between a slight tension and the cheerfulness of a party venue.

This is mainly because the couple Chou and Jin were holding firecrackers in one hand, wearing toy nose glasses and colorful pointed hats, looking like complete partygoers, but their expressions were very tense.

"... Granny, there's no need to be so nervous."

"Grandpa! Sister Lily is very gentle!"

Even though Yue and Myuu tried to comfort them, the couple just said in unison, "Don't worry, it's okay." The atmosphere was still tense.

This was no wonder. After all, a real princess was about to visit the home of an ordinary commoner.

Even so, she decided to stay in the other world out of her royal duty, even preparing to say goodbye to her lover. She is a princess of noble character.

This visit is just a temporary vacation. He will return home after the New Year holiday and continue to lead the entire country.

In other words, she is not an ordinary princess.

When Yue and the others first arrived, things moved so quickly and unexpectedly that the couple had no time to get nervous. However, it was inevitable to be nervous when waiting to officially welcome someone from another world with a unique identity and status.

"Honey, aren't we looking a bit overly happy and complacent dressed like this?"

"But, Sumire, if it gets any more formal and reserved than this, it'll seem like there's a huge distance between us."

"That's true... After all, he'll be part of our family. So, it's best to keep the nose and glasses on."

"Yeah. That's better."

What's so good about it...? Yue and the others thought so, but they also understood that Chou and Sumire were doing this to show their welcome to Liliana, and they all watched with caring eyes.

"By the way, aren't you a little slow, Hajime-san? The food is almost cold."

The table was filled with several delicious dishes, all carefully prepared by Shia and Remia.

"Haha, it's a rare reunion after all."

"Yeah. Don't look at Lily like that, she's actually a very warm person."

Remia smiled meaningfully. Tio, who was using magic to keep the food on the table warm, also showed some awareness.

They thought that Liliana must be kissing Hajime passionately, filled with joy at the reunion. After all, she hadn't seen Hajime since they returned to Earth.

Opening the "Space Gate" for cross-border travel requires a vast amount of magic power. To explore ways to reduce magic power consumption and reconnect, we've previously experimented with sending letters. We also used this opportunity to schedule a time for today.

Even so, they couldn't see or touch each other during this period, and Liliana must have been very lonely.

From this perspective, it is understandable that one would become addicted to spending time alone together.

“Ah, here it comes!”

The space in the living room distorted, and a vortex of swirling light emerged. The true princess from another world was about to arrive.

"Husband, get ready! The warmest welcome!"

"Of course. She's our new bride, so we have to make a good first impression no matter what!"

If you value first impressions, you shouldn't dress like a partygoer... Yue and the others thought so, and they still had some opinions in their hearts, but it was too late to say anything now, so they could only watch silently.

Then, a figure emerged from the glowing "Space Gate." The girl, dressed in a light pink gown and a hoop crown, had a fresh and lovely appearance. It was none other than Liliana. As soon as she appeared—

"Welcome to the Nagumo family!"

The sound of the firecracker going off "Bang!" was heard.

“…! —『Light Destruction』!”

In a hurry, Liliana subconsciously set up a barrier.

The large amount of colorful paper pieces scattered lightly were blocked by the light barrier and fell to the ground.

The atmosphere was dead silent.

Chou and Jin looked desperate, as if they had committed some terrible mistake.

After a moment, Liliana also looked desperate, feeling that she had messed up.

"Huh? What's wrong with you guys?"

Seeing this scene, Hajime, who had followed in a little later, was bewildered. Shia and the others watching from the side were also extremely embarrassed. Yue, on behalf of everyone, tried desperately to smooth things over.

"...What a quick reaction! Such a fine barrier, one of the best in recent years!"

It's just like the promotional slogan for foreign liquor products.

Of course, the atmosphere was still as awkward as before.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

“That was the situation at the time.”

In a Western-style restaurant with classical decoration, Liliana said this in a very depressed tone.

This is the Western-style restaurant "Wistria," owned by the Sonobe family. Family gatherings are often held here. Even after the missing persons' return, every parent gathering has been held here.

Therefore, with the kindness of the Sonobe family, today's celebration and Liliana's welcome party were also held in this venue.