Returning to School

“……Mmm.”

“Are you awake now?”

“Yeah….”

I opened my eyes.

Today marked the sixth day of hypnosis therapy.

It was Saturday.

“Ares, how are you feeling? Are you all right?”

Claire, who had come to visit me today, poked her head out from behind the hypnosis therapist and asked.

I nodded at her question and answered.

“…I remembered. We played that board game, didn’t we?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

“…We met when we went to the cathedral for volunteer work.”

“Yes, yes!”

“…And we got close when…….”

“Hehe….”

“Hmm….”

When I explained the memories that came to mind right away, Claire’s cheeks flushed at the end and she gave me a shy smile.

At the same time, voices echoed in my head.

━Oh no… You remembered everything…

━I’m imagining it right now…

━Ares, you pervert…

You’re the pervert here.

“It seems you’ve finally recovered all your recent memories.”

The hypnosis therapist, who had been watching my conversation with Claire, spoke as if congratulating me.

Six days of hypnosis therapy.

In that time, I had recovered every memory from the moment I transferred to Wonder Academy up to the board game incident.

“Thank you so much, sir. It’s all thanks to you.”

“Hoho, not at all. I was merely acting as a primer.”

The hypnosis therapist smiled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kindly at my gratitude.

“But… there’s something that’s been bothering me every time.”

“What is it?”

“What kind of dream was I having during the hypnosis?”

Today was the final rehabilitation session.

Since I had already recovered all my memories.

That was why I asked the therapist about the part that had been nagging at me.

“When the hypnosis ends, I don’t ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remember anything… but for some reason it really bothers me.”

Every time I fell asleep during the six days of hypnosis rehabilitation.

I would open a door as the therapist instructed and start dreaming.

But when I woke up, not a single fragment of that dream remained.

“Hmm… I’m sorry. I don’t know what kind of dream you were having either. From a certain point onward, I was only asking questions, and you stopped responding.”

“Is that so….”

“The only thing I can tell you is….”

Perhaps because I looked disappointed, the therapist continued with a more detailed explanation.

“The principle behind recovering memories through this hypnosis therapy is that we search for memories while guiding your consciousness down into the unconscious.”

“The unconscious…?”

“Therefore, the dream you had during hypnosis is one of your unconscious manifestations.”

“……”

“It could literally just be a dream, or it could be a desire, or it could be a memory.”

“Hmm….”

In short… he didn’t know.

‘Something feels off about this….’

But what could I do if I couldn’t remember it?

If even the therapist who had performed the hypnosis didn’t know, there was no way for me to find out.

After recovering my memories, the discharge process moved quickly.

There was no more treatment needed.

The wound on my hand had almost completely healed as well.

“Yes, that comes to a total of 800,000 Cocoon.”

“……How much?”

“800,000 Cocoon. That includes diagnosis, treatment, additional tests, and hospitalization fees.”

At the nurse’s words, I picked up my card with trembling hands.

Just in case, I asked.

“…Wasn’t the hypnosis therapy delayed because of a mistake on the hospital’s part? …In that case, shouldn’t you deduct the hospitalization costs for that period?”

“Of course. We already excluded that, so it’s 800,000 Cocoon.”

At least they had some conscience and calculated it properly.

‘Well… I did solve three meals a day with hospital food, so….’

If we excluded the planned meal costs, it wasn’t that expensive.

Still, it was a big expense….

The money I had spent enchanting the diary and the puppet doll so far came to 1.2 million Cocoon.

Adding this hospital bill, I had spent 2 million Cocoon in total.

The scholarship I received during midterms was 5 million Cocoon….

I also received money every month.

Well, it was fine. No problem.

‘Still, just in case, I should aim for first place in the entire school during finals too.’

I would use the monthly allowance for living expenses.

The 5 million Cocoon scholarship was strictly for emergency magic use.

So 3 million Cocoon would be enough, but….

Since a large sum like this hospital bill could suddenly come up, it would be better to earn as much as I could while I still had the chance.

After being discharged from the hospital.

On Sunday, I rested thoroughly in the dormitory room I hadn’t visited in a while.

Too many things had happened recently.

Ever since returning from volunteer work, I had been possessed by the board game ghost, resolved it only to lose my memories and end up hospitalized.

On top of that, Ellie had even pretended to be my lover with a lie….

“……”

Lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, I thought of Ellie.

The way she had looked so happy while pretending to be lovers.

And then.

“Mmm….”

After the first hypnosis session ended.

The way she had looked at me with that chilling gaze.

That was how Sunday ended with me lazing around in my dormitory room all day.

I didn’t want to wander outside and get involved with some ghost story for no reason.

My head was also a mess thinking about Ellie.

And so Monday arrived.

I returned to Wonder Academy with my memories restored.

“…—So I went in for the exorcism without knowing anything.”

“Suddenly? Weren’t you scared…?”

“I’ve been through so many things like that that I wasn’t scared. So….”

And today, on my first day back at school.

I was having lunch with Ellie on the fifth floor of the east staircase.

It was our usual day to eat together anyway.

Right after recovering my memories, I wanted to meet her as soon as possible to get rid of any awkwardness.

And….

Ellie was bothering me a little.

“So who was right in the end…?”

Ellie had almost finished her lunchbox and was focused on my volunteer work story.

She stared at me with round, cute eyes.

Fortunately, she didn’t show any awkwardness.

…Or maybe she was just hiding it.

“Actually, the priest was a demon worshiper.”

“Huh? Really…?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Later I found out the exorcism ritual was all fake too.”

“Ehh….”

“Haha, I was completely fooled by their lies.”

“Ah….”

“Oh….”

At that moment, the words “lies” and “fooled” came out.

Ellie flinched as if the words had struck a nerve.

Then she averted her eyes and gently turned her head.

‘Damn….’

Just when the atmosphere was good… I had to bring up a sensitive topic and make her uncomfortable.

Of course, I was the victim….

But in reality, I hadn’t suffered any major damage.

‘Is Ellie… human…? Or….’

I looked at Ellie, who was bowing her head with guilt written all over her face.

She was currently sitting two steps above me, keeping her distance.

“Ellie.”

“Huh, yeah…?”

When I called her, Ellie flinched and carefully raised her head to look at me.

I smiled at her and spoke.

“Aren’t you… keeping some distance from me?”

“Huh, huhh? No, no…!”

Ellie denied it in a fluster at my question.

“Keeping distance…! I, I… did something bad, so….”

“I told you it’s fine.”

“But….”

“Don’t do that and come over here.”

“……Huh?”

Tap tap.

When I patted the spot right next to me, the gloomy Ellie looked at me and the empty space beside me with squirrel-like eyes.

“We sat like this at the hospital too.”

“That’s….”

“I didn’t hate it back then.”

“……”

“Honestly, I even liked it. …So it’s fine if you come over.”

“……”

After I repeated myself, Ellie kept glancing at the spot next to me and lowering her head.

Then, before long, she quietly stood up and came to sit beside me.

Thud.

Our shoulders touched at close range.

The same distance we had maintained when we were acting as lovers at the hospital.

…Of course, we were just friends now.

“……Thank you, …Ares.”

Ellie’s cheeks flushed red.

She smiled softly and glanced at me.

…If we had still been lovers like at the hospital, I probably would have hugged her here.

‘But we’re friends now… so this much is enough….’

Close enough for our shoulders to touch.

But we didn’t lay hands on each other.

I thought this level of distance suited us right now.

‘She might be a ghost story… but there’s no definite proof that she is one either.’

Why was it?

Just like with Lana… I found it hard to just leave Ellie alone.

Honestly, there was no need to force the distance closed like today. I could have just left her be and let the relationship recover naturally.

…But for some reason, it was hard to just watch Ellie looking so down.

She kept bothering me.

“Hehe….”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just… because I’m happy.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah….”

“……”

“……”

But.

Even if she bothered me and I couldn’t just leave her alone.

The fact that there was a considerable chance she was a ghost story was also clear.

So.

Ellie, who had been roughly 7:3 in favor of being human versus a ghost story.

Now that the evaluation had flipped to 3 human and 7 ghost story.

Just like NightRat said, it seemed like a good idea to make contact with a new girl.

Claire was there, but….

If I trusted only Claire and she turned out not to be human, I’d be screwed.

‘Who would be good….’

After school.

I wandered around the school where students still remained and casually observed the girls.

‘I feel like some sleazy pickup artist… this feels kinda gross.’

Looking at the girls with the intention of getting close.

I had recently admitted to myself that I was trash.

In many ways, it didn’t feel pleasant.

But this was also for survival.

“Mmm….”

So I wandered around the school, watching various girls and observing the atmosphere.

Because I had to pick a girl with a high probability of being human.

I absolutely refused to pick a ghost story and get dragged into some incident.

“Ughhh….”

Just then.

“It’s fine~, how about it? Huh?”

“I’m telling you, I’m not really feeling it….”

“Why? You don’t have a boyfriend either.”

“Even so, why would I….”

While passing the playground and heading toward the backyard.

Voices could be heard from behind the school building.

‘What? That voice sounds familiar….’

A girl’s voice and a boy’s voice.

Even from a glance, it didn’t sound like a pleasant conversation.

‘Is it a ghost story…?’

Just in case it was dangerous, I decided to check and looked at the owners of the two voices from around the corner.

If it was a widespread ghost story, I needed to assess the situation in advance.

And at that moment.

“Ah….”

“Oh….”

Our eyes met.

A short bob that felt like a pixie cut.

A familiar face.

Huh? Where had I seen her before…?

That face was definitely familiar yet not close, while also giving off a physical sense of familiarity….

“Ah, o-over there…!”

At that moment.

The bob-haired girl, whose cheeks had somehow turned slightly red, called out to me from a distance.

Then the boy in front of her also turned his head to look at me.

“Ares…!”

She knew me.

‘Where did I see her…?’

I didn’t approach at the sound of her voice and instead tried to dig through my memories.

Maybe my memories hadn’t fully returned yet?

It felt like it was about to come to me but didn’t.

“C-come on! I called you…!”

When I still didn’t approach even after being called, she came over herself.

The bob-haired girl quickly ran over and, for some reason, hid behind me.

“Noel, who the hell is that guy?”

Then the boy who had been in front of the girl approached and asked.

“M-my ……boyfriend!”

“Huh?”

Me? Why?

Don’t tell me my memories still hadn’t fully returned?

Had I been discharged without remembering a girlfriend I had forgotten about?

‘Bullshit.’

No.

I could say this for certain.

I didn’t have a girlfriend.

Besides, in this world, getting confessed to and dating meant death.

In other words, this girl was lying.

“W-what…. B-boyfriend….”

And the reason for that lie was clearly standing right in front of me.

The boy who had been standing in front of the girl, looking sleazy.

This was the first time I had seen this boy.

“Sorry… just play along. R-right now it’s really urgent….”

“……”

The bob-haired girl whispered that from behind me.

I roughly understood the situation.

“Boyfriend? Ha, you’re lying. You don’t have a boyfriend, do you? Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

“You fucking bastard! Why do you think you know everything, you stalker! We’re secretly dating!”

“You don’t know who I am? If you lie, I can tell right away.”

“It’s not a lie, okay?”

He could tell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if someone was lying…?

Maybe he was a student from the magic class?

So he could distinguish lies with some special spirit magic or something.

That was possible.

And at that moment.

“I—! I’ve already done super lewd stuff with him!!”

“Huh…?”

“W-w-w-what…?!”

The bob-haired girl made an outrageous declaration.

‘Huh? Something… feels like it’s about to come back….’

At the same time, my head, which had been frustratingly foggy, seemed to be clearing up little by little.

“It’s a bit extreme but…! He keeps touching my stomach and stepping on me! And making me come! We do tons of lewd stuff together, you know? Right? Ares!”

“Uh, uh-huh?”

“Don’t you fucking lie!! Hey!!”

The boy, looking extremely angry at the bob-haired girl’s words, grabbed me by the collar.

“Look me in the eyes! Is it true?!”

“……”

And at that moment.

It came back to me.

‘Ah.’

This girl was one of the three girls who had been caught up in the board game ghost story not too long ago.

‘Now that I think about it, on the rooftop….’

Back then I had been possessed by a ghost so my memories had been hazy.

Now everything came flooding back.

The countless punishments that had happened on the rooftop.

“No, well… it is true.”

“Look me in the eyes, I said!!”

“……”

“……”

The boy stared into my eyes.

I stared back into his.

And then.

“T-this fucking—!!”

The boy, with tears in his eyes, screamed.

“You fucking bastard!! How dare you touch Noel!! Noel!!”

“Uh, uh-uh?!”

“Kyaa! What are you doing!!”

The boy raised his fist.

He seemed to have lost his reason after confirming the truth.

It looked like he was planning to entrust his body to anger and resolve things with violence.

“Wait!! Wait wait wait!! Let’s talk, let’s talk!!”

“Shut the fuck uuuuuup!!”

The boy who had lost his reason threw a punch.

I dodged it, tripped him with my foot, and climbed on top of him.

“Kyaaaaah!! What are you doing!!”

“Let’s talk—ack! Let’s talk—ack!!”

“We’re talking right now. You started the conversation with fists first.”

“I’m sorry—ack!! I’m sorry—ack!!”

After getting punched in the face a few times, the boy quickly got up and ran toward the school gate as if fleeing.

“……”

“……”

That was how the sudden chaotic situation ended.

Left behind in the backyard of the school building were only me, the bob-haired girl… and Noel, staring blankly.

“U-um….”

“……”

“Sorry… for suddenly… making such a weird request….”

“……”

When I just stood there, Noel spoke to me.

Glance.

Her face somehow flushed, she looked at me and asked.

“A-are you… going to punish me?”

“……”

Me?

Why?

“……S-should we… go to the rooftop…?”

“……”

Why are you smiling?

Please step back a little.