Third Person View
A standard self-introductions were performed for both of them.
Of course, the teacher and classmates thought that even if they were introduced at once, there would be no way they would be able to remember everyone's names. So this was just a digestive event…
but…….
(Hirose-san is Hirose because she has a wide forehead. Hosoi-san has narrow eyes. Kubo-san… well, she looks neat and ladylike… so… no, let me say Kubo is the opposite of "Tomboy[1]"!) (Colette's mind)
Colette-chan ignored whether this was true or not, and forcibly connected the name to her appearance.
(….) (Sabine's mind)
And Sabine-chan memorized it as it was, remembering everyone's name.
"Welcome to Japan!…Can you speak Japanese?" (A classmate)
"You're very welcome! Hey, what country are you from?" (Another classmate)
During the break, Sabine-chan and Colette-chan talked to each other in a friendly manner, but for some reason their faces looked gloomy.
"…what's wrong? Don't you understand Japanese? Or are you feeling unwell…" (Classmate)
"…not here…" (Sabine)
"It is not here…" (Colette)
"Eh?" (Classmate)
Following Sabine-chan, Colette-chan also looked dissatisfied.
"What's wrong? What's missing?" (Classmate)
Their classmate asked with a worried look, but…
"Even though it's a high school for young ladies, there's no one who talks like '~desuwa!'" (Sabine)
(Ah~…) (Classmates' mind)
Everyone pretty much figured it out.
It's a common occurrence.
A tourist from overseas said things like, "There are no ninjas!", "Not everyone has their topknots tied!"
Just like that, and they probably read the translated Japanese light novel and expected a lot of things.
But that couldn't be helped.
The truth is, things aren't always quite so good.
And….
"I'm Haruka Ayanokoji desuwa! I hope we can be friends! Hoo~hohoho!" (Haruka)
Haruka Ayanokoji was, of course, not that kind of character.
Unwilling to betray the expectations of the girls from a faraway country, she had no choice but to take on such a role.
…in truth, she was a quiet and gentle girl.
(Aaaaaaaah! Haruka-chan, you're being reckless!!) (Classmates' mind)
Everyone screamed in their hearts, but Sabine and Colette couldn't hear it.
"Oh! Oooooooooh!!"
"It's here! Young lady, it's here!!"
…everything was already too late…
Then, the next day, when Haruka came to school with her hair in curls, her classmates gently wiped away their tears…
Mitsuha's POV
"This is my base in this city. It's a reasonably priced monthly apartment!" (Mitsuha)
It's a few days of Sabi-Colé duo[2] before the first day of school.
I brought them to the base in this city a little early to go through various procedures and familiarize them with the area around the residence and the academy.
"Three man cell?" (Sabi-Colé)
"…I guess it's not that…" (Mitsuha)
Monthly apartment is a rental apartments used for short-term stays, such as longer business trips or single assignments.
There are similar options such as weekly apartments.
The main difference from ordinary rental properties is that it comes with the minimum necessary furniture and electrical appliances… TV, refrigerator, gas range, microwave, washing machine, and more.
So it was convenient because I didn't have to move or buy new things for a short stay.
The procedure for renting is also relatively simple, without the hassle of renting a normal property.
The price may seem a little high, but considering that it includes electricity, gas, water, and internet charges, plus the hassle of having to sign and cancel contracts every time, it's probably easier if you're staying for less than two or three months.
Especially for us who currently act under the guise of fictitious foreign nationality, this is very convenient and appreciated.
Well, if you consider that you are living in a self-service hotel rather than renting an apartment, the price feels much better.
Well, it's not impossible to live in a hotel, but it wouldn't be fun.
For Sabine-chan and Colette-chan to enjoy their study abroad life in Japan…
This time, I was the one who was acting rather boldly.
This city was very far from where my house was, across multiple prefectures.
Furthermore, we are foreign nobles, and are under the guardianship of the king of a certain country.
Therefore, even if our social status was found out, it would be nothing more than "Her Highness of another world's royal sister (Her Excellency Viscount) sent the child of a vassal to study abroad." It was just a matter of fact, and it could only be traced back to the royal palace or intelligence department of a certain country where our family register was obtained.
…that's right, there was no point in tracing it that far, and beyond that, there was nothing I could do about it.
I had no connection with the Japanese Mitsuha Yamano.
Besides, if I was found out, I could just retreat quickly.
Yeah, it was pretty much safe.
I'd also disguise myself just in case.
Blonde wigs, colored contacts, fake glasses, and foundation that gives a Caucasian color, and more.
My own makeup skills were poor, but I asked a woman in the intelligence department of a certain country to bring me a souvenir, and she taught me some tips on how to apply makeup that is easy to apply and could completely change your impression… or rather, disguise yourself.
As a token of my gratitude, I gave her a small jewel, saying, "This is a personal gift to yourself," apart from the rewards that would have to be handed over to the organization.
To make sure it wouldn't get rolled up, I attached a guarantee that said, "This is a personal gift. If you roll it up, I'll be mad! If you want it, you can buy it from me for a price you're happy with! If you do, I'll check later to see how much I bought it for!"
It was small so it was not that expensive.
…in the other world, right?
Of course, even here on Earth, it was not that expensive. …if only it were from Earth.
That little gem might be no different from the one on Earth.
…but what if the composition was different from that on Earth?
Ingredients, crystal structures, unknown substances that might be mixed.
Well, well, it would sell to those involved… at a good price.
I'd never brought any gems from there back to Earth until now.
I'd done the opposite many times…
Anyway, as a personal thank you, it would be enough.
If it could help that intelligence lady's wedding fund, then it would be worth it.
In this way, Sabine-chan and Colette-chan decided to go on a short-term study abroad trip to Earth… to Japan for three months.
…as a citizen of a certain country who was a member of the Isecon, an other world council, that gave us nationality (with title)…
It's a school for rich girls, far from the town where my parents live, so there's no need to worry about being recognized, and there's no need to worry about the two of them getting in the way of bad guys.
I use transfer to pick them up from their home country, and they usually walked to school from the monthly apartment I rented nearby.
It's only a 2-3 minute walk to the school, and there's a fair amount of traffic from people commuting to and from school both during school and school hours. It was not a place in Japan where you could kidnap two children around the age of 10 by force. There were also crossings along the way.
The room I rented was on the upper floor, so I could see part of the route to school from the balcony, and I could see where I was passing through the main gate of the academy. The hair color of Sabi-Colé duo stood out, so it was easy to see even without binoculars.
No, I did have binoculars and telescopes, but I'd only use them when necessary because I might look like a suspicious peeper.
I didn't pick them up, but, well, in Japan, for elementary school students around the age of 10, they probably took safety into consideration.
Of course, we had plenty of security goods.
For the request to study abroad, a request letter from a certain country's royal family and a letter written by His Majesty the King produced a tremendous effect, yeah.
I got the OK on the first try to study abroad for a short period of time.
This academy had an escalator system to the university, so the rough seas of the entrance exam wars didn't have much to do with anyone other than those aiming for a top-notch university.
That's why no one in the 6th grade was busy preparing for the junior high school entrance exam.
Yeah, they didn't have to worry about life being ruined because of the these two.
...probably.
Well, for that reason, it was a girls' school near a high-class residential area in Japan where public order was good, but just in case, I asked someone from a certain country's intelligence department, and they lent me some security bells, security sprays, tactical pens, GPS transmitters, mobile phones, wristwatch-type small communication devices… and other things.
Since I couldn't be by their side, it was only natural for them to have a way to ask for help and a way to buy time until I rushed to them.
And while they were away from me, I would stay in Japan instead of returning to that other world.
At home or around a rented monthly apartment.
…otherwise, if something happened to the two of them, we won't be able to contact each other.
Overprotective?
No, because they had been kidnapped on Earth before. It was in another country though…
All countries should be fully aware of the outcome of that incident.
And if I were to mess with both of them… I didn't know what would happen.
Therefore, it was kindness to avoid creating an unhappy country.
Hmmmm…
Author's Note
Notice! (^^)/
Next week, from January 23rd (Monday), "I shall survive using potions!" spin-off comic has started serialization! (^^)/
The manga artist is Sukima-sensei, who is in charge of the illustrations for the novel version of "Potion."
“I shall survive using potions! ~ Hanano and Lotte’s trip for two~”
The first time is a big service with simultaneous updates of episodes 1 and 2! (^^)/
It will be published on the free web comic site "Sirius' Wednesday" at 1100.
Thank you very much for your support! (^^)/
Translation Note
[1] ボクっ娘 (Bokukko) = tomboy; we could say it's the reverse of "Kubo"
[2] サビ・コレコンビ (Sabi-Kore konbi), for the next few chapters, I will use "Sabi-Colé duo"
Edit History
9 Oct 2023: improved readability.
19 Aug 2024: translation overhaul, added dynamic naming.