Horizon:Volume 1 Chapter 09

Chapter 09: The Awaited One Beyond the Door

When I had thought that it was nobody existsnobody .

That was not it.

It was not no need for somebodyno body either.

Then, what was it.

Point Allocation (The Edge of Death)

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An underground passage exists. A horizontal passage of the residential divisions, an underground passage with lights present.

In its corner, in front of a single western sliding door, a boy was standing, his shoulders sagged.

It was Azuma.

Without even paying attention to his mussed hair, he-

"In the end, I came back here, but I really failed..."

I was planning on resolving the situation where there was already a previous resident of the room which would be my new residence, but-

...What kind of wild goose chase was I subjected to.

First, I went to the office which manages the room. In a position outside of the horizontal passage, the manager's office at the entrance to the vertical　passage.

However, at the office, even though the managing of the rooms was going on, they weren't proceeding with the paperwork of things like my move. Therefore, I was told that I would have to bring residence change documents from the Academy if I wanted to change my room.

At least, I was able to confirm the existence of the previous resident who had moved into the room at the office.

Miriam Poquo, 18 years old. She was in the same class. The aged werewolf who was the manager looked at that and burst into laughter-

"Isn't that fine! Is appearance so important among the young!!"

-he said, but: 'If that's the case, then as expected, this won't do,' I thought. I had largely completed my transition into normal life the day before, but staying together with a girl from the same class the moment I become a citizen after being one of the imperial family is too large a character change.

...Rather than that, the other side of this equation is troubling.

However, when I went to the Academy's business office in an attempt to acquire residence change documents-

...'You need the permission of my guardian,', I was told.

After, I was stuck with searching for Oriotorai, but it was important. Even though she wasn't carrying the paperwork for my return home, it wasn't in the teacher's office either, and to find it I looked around the school. In the classroom which the tea ceremony club was using, Asama, who counted as a an acquaintance of mine, was there, and along with her club members she was performing the tea ceremony with sports drinks for the athletics club. And then, Asama placed a hat, pierced with arrows, on its side, drinking IZUMO-type's lemon-flavoured sports drink "CC-EMON" while kneeling, so I was able to explain myself, but-

"Isn't that fine? Is appearance so important among the young?"

In short, all that happened was that it was made known to me that this girl was also an exception.

However, according to their information, Oriotorai had the habit of checking her territory around this time, and with everyone's cooperation, I found Oriotorai at the cafeteria after two hours.

And, when I tried to head to the cafeteria, breaking out in laughter, having drunk the local brand of sake since noon and being completely smashed, an amazing woman was there.

I don't really understand, but at what Oriotorai, recklessly cheerful, was saying-

"Ain't that fine!? Is appearance really so important among the young!?"

...Could it be that the residents of Musashi had been brainwashed such that their thought patterns have been completely standardized?

And besides conversing for about an hour about a lot of things-

"I've been overruled..."

Anyways, Azuma was now in front of the room. The thought, 'this is bad,' was in his heart.

Being overruled meant that I can do nothing but stay in this room. But, if I stay in this room, appearance will be a lot of trouble, even from this young age. As I thought, I can't. Let's live outside. There should be a place sheltered from the wind and rain even outside, right? But, isn't being homeless immediately after my return to normal life too large a character change too?

...Could it be that now, I am in the midst of running away from reality?

He thought. At that moment. From the other side of the sliding door before his eyes, the voice of a girl could be heard.

"Even though it's fine if you come in, what are you doing?"

...Eh?

At the question, he panicked and glanced around at his surroundings. The time now is after school. The sun is leaning towards the setting side. The students in clubs are going out to each of their respective activity areas, all that are in the roads are the people walking the roads on their way for the cleanup of their rooms or the laundry. However, the voice just now was indeed audible from the room in front of him. Therefore-

"Is it...fine?"

In response to that voice of question, a pause came.

In the empty time, he continued with one breath, two breaths, and around three breaths-

...Huh? Did I say something wrong?

At that question, he started sweating heatedly. At that moment.

"--I don't really understand what you mean, but it's fine even if you don't come in, I guess?"

"Ah, no."

Naturally, his hand reached to the sliding door. 'Is this fine?' he thought. But, he felt that not entering was more wrong. Therefore, Azuma opened the door to the left-

"Um."

Faster than he was able to clearly look at the figure of the girl seated in the wheelchair in front of him, she said this.

"Azuma--I want to talk with you a little, is it fine?"

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Translator's notes and references

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