“Hey, you’re Tachihara, right? Don’t get cocky, you bastard!”

“Snitching to the teacher, huh? We’re gonna beat the crap out of you!”

“………………”

This… this is some serious déjà vu…

On the school rooftop after classes, I found myself surrounded by a bunch of delinquent-looking guys. The rooftop of this school had always been a hangout for troublemakers, and ever since Tsuyuhara and his gang—who used to bully me—had quieted down, another delinquent group had taken their place.

The reason these guys dragged me up here was simple. A few days ago, I happened to witness them extorting money and beating up a student from another class. I stepped in to stop them and reported the incident to a teacher. And now, here we are. It’s the same story—bullies, thugs, people like Tsuyuhara—they’re everywhere.

“Take this!”

One of them raised his right fist and swung it at me.

“Whoa!?”

But I sidestepped his punch and stopped my own left fist just short of his face.

“Let’s not resort to violence.”

“You little…!”

This wasn’t some skill-based counter or magic trick. It was just reflex.

It had been three months since the day the door to the other world had closed. Since then, it hadn’t reopened. There were no messages from Ande, either.

The thought crossed my mind more than once—maybe I’d never be able to return to the other world, never see Sara again. But I refused to believe that. I kept pushing forward, preparing for the day the door would open again. I continued studying the language of the other world. And I trained my body.

“Damn it!”

My opponent, now enraged, threw another punch—then another, and another. I dodged them all.

“Why the hell can’t I hit you!?”

A few months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to avoid these attacks. But now, I was training in mixed martial arts.

I didn’t know if martial arts would be useful in the other world, but I figured gaining real combat experience couldn’t hurt. When deciding what to learn, I remembered that Mogi attended an MMA gym. He introduced me to it, and I started training.

The monthly membership fees were covered by the money I had converted from the jewels and gold I brought back from the other world. It had only been three months since I started, but I had improved enough to dodge an opponent who charged at me in a straight line.

The gym instructors even told me I had talent. Maybe my experiences fighting for my life in the other world had helped me develop better instincts.

“Tch, screw this! Everyone, get him!”

“Yeah!”

“Die, you bastard!”

“Guh…!”

No matter how much I had trained, I was still outnumbered. There was nothing I could do against so many at once.

“Damn, this guy’s tough!”

Curled up defensively, I protected my head and other vital spots. The blows hurt, but I had conditioned my body for this. At the gym, I had even sparred in full contact matches. And compared to the pain I had suffered fighting Ande, these punches were nothing. No matter how much they hit me, I wasn’t afraid!

BAM!

“Tachihara, are you okay!?”

“Tachihara-kun, I brought a teacher!”

“Abe! Watanabe!”

The rooftop door burst open, and there stood Abe and Watanabe.

That’s right—I hadn’t fought back because I trusted them to bring help. I didn’t want to rely on Fūsuke’s power or use the magical tools I had brought from the other world unless absolutely necessary.

Just before these guys dragged me up here, I had barely managed to send a distress message to Abe and Watanabe. I couldn’t include my exact location, so they must have searched the school until they found me and brought a teacher along.

“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing!?”

“Tch…”

“………………”

Oh, great. Of all the teachers, it had to be him…

The teacher Abe and Watanabe brought just so happened to be my homeroom teacher. The same guy who had ignored the bullying I went through. Abe and Watanabe knew how useless he was, so they probably only brought him because he was the closest teacher they could find.

“Sorry we’re late!”

“Tachihara-kun, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. You guys really saved me. Thank you!”

I grabbed the hands Abe and Watanabe extended to me and pulled myself up. Thanks to them, I got away without any major injuries.

I knew they would come through for me.

Now… the real problem starts here.