Chapter 93

And so it was decided that Detective Chikage would also join the tour. She, too, appeared to be a light-novel fan and had been looking forward to meeting the author.

Time passed, and winter break began. The first day of the event was cloudless and bright, as if blessed by the gods; despite it being winter, the weather was almost warm.

I met Detective Chikage at a nearby station and began the boarding procedure.

We were told everyday shirts were fine. I didn't worry too much about it. Detective Chikage, however, who had fretted over whether dressing up was necessary, wore what could only be called a special-occasion one-piece. As we boarded the train I wondered if people might mistake us for a couple.

No one around seemed interested in either of us, so I relaxed a little. We took our seats and waited until we reached our destination.

All we carried were the invitation and the train ticket we'd been sent. The pencils and notebooks we'd requested would be handed over when we arrived.

"We're meeting here, right?"

After leaving the station we zigzagged through town until we reached the building. When Detective Chikage asked, I looked at the map on my smartphone and nodded. "Yes."

I looked up from my phone at the tall building, but we weren't heading to the top floor—we were headed to the first floor.

A receptionist was waiting on the first floor. Before I could start looking, a long-haired woman came toward us.

"Ah, you're Hyoga-kun and his girlfriend, right? Um, Chikage-chan, was it?"

She looked like an elegant older woman with a beauty mark near her mouth. Had I been the kind of person who showed interest in women, I might have stared.

Hanging from the neck of this beautiful woman was something that looked like a business card reading "Karma." Detective Chikage stared at it as she replied.

"That's right. I'm Eniwa Chikage, here to participate in the tour in place of Miiko-chan! And you are...?"

"I'm called Karma. I'm helping out with this event. From now on we'll be spending four nights and five days together. Nice to meet you."

"Uh, yes... K-Karma?"

Detective Chikage tilted her head at the slightly unusual name. I kept quiet, but it bothered me too.

When I said, "Nice to meet you," she must have sensed my confusion; she looked straight at me.

"Come on, come on! You especially, Hyoga-kun! You can just call me Karma, no honorifics."

"Huh?"

While I was wondering why she stressed "especially," she explained the rule to me.

"Did you forget the letter? For the Other-World Harem Experience Event, it was decided that the women would call each other by English-like names rather than Japanese ones. Right? That's how other-world harem stories work, isn't it? When the protagonist calls the girls' names!"

"W-well, I guess that's true."

"Right, right. Anyway, Hyoga—no, Hyo-chan—you're the protagonist, so act like it!"

A chill ran down my spine. Probably because I wasn't used to affectionate nicknames. As I shivered, Detective Chikage beside me snickered. I was about to glare at her when Karma-san grabbed my arm hard.

"K-Karma-san?"

"Come to think of it, we don't have much time for introductions. We're running behind. Chikage-chan, wait here a moment. The others will arrive soon."

"Um, what exactly are you going to do to me now?"

"Just come with me."

For some reason I was about to be led to what looked like a warehouse. Not understanding the situation, I instinctively tried to resist verbally.

In the middle of it, a cold killing intent from behind.

I turned around, but only Detective Chikage was there.

"Huh...? Who was that?"

Before I knew it I was tossed into a room that resembled a warehouse. Not that I was locked in—Karma-san came in with me.

"What's wrong?"

She hadn't missed my suspicious remark. She brought her face close to mine, looking worried.

There was no need to mention "killing intent" and upset her, and I wasn't even sure it had been killing intent. Maybe it had just been a jealous glare from someone walking outside the publisher: "What are you two flirting about!?"

Deciding I was overreacting, I forced a smile and said, "It's nothing." Then I looked around the room and found what looked like a change of clothes.

Green jersey that looked both familiar and unfamiliar. Right—the protagonist of the light novel had worn this.

In other words, I was supposed to change here. I silently accepted it and waited quietly.

"What's the matter, Hyo-chan?"

I kept waiting. Smiling, I waited for her to leave the room. But she just kept standing there, so I tried hinting. Saying it outright would be too embarrassing.

"Um... my underwear's in there too."

There were even underpants.

"So?"

"Hmm?"

"Hurry up. What's wrong? It's not that you've gained weight since the application, right?"

"...Please wait a moment. I'm changing..."

"It's fine. Quick, quick. I'll explain while you change."

When she gestured for me to go ahead, I forgot my embarrassment and yelled without thinking.

"Wha—!? I'm changing, you know!? I'm going to change my underwear!"

"Oh, I'll take those underwear."

"Whaaaaaat!?"

"Wait a second."

"No, no, no, no, no!"

I couldn't wait. This was serious. Even for an other-world harem event, this was insane. Who would want my underwear!?

She stared at me wide-eyed. Calmer than I was, she retorted.

"Wait, that's not it. Didn't you read the letter? You're not allowed to bring your own clothes. They might be hiding something. I have to watch you change."

"You're okay with watching a guy change!?"

My question was met with an adult response.

"Well, it's work. No problem. The women participating in this event are top idols and models entrusted with Japan's artistic future. Besides, every woman who's participating—including me—has already done the same thing and changed clothes!"

"I still can't accept being watched... but, if that's how it is... the underwear you mentioned—"

"It's not that I want them. We'll wash the clothes you wore here and send them back properly..."

"Ah."

I could feel myself blush. What a misunderstanding I'd caused. If I could do anything to my past self, I'd cram an entire roll of duct-tape core into his mouth.

"Though I might secretly take them home."

"Wha—!? Seriously!? Huh!? Whaat!?"

What expression should I make at a time like this!? While I panicked, Karma-san started patting my head.

"Just kidding!"

"That joke was way too much!"

I stepped away from her a bit and started changing, trying not to let her stare too much.

When I finished changing and left the room, my energy spent, I saw something even more hellish.