I‘m not entirely sure why, but ever since I entered elementary school, I‘ve found myself utterly friendless.
It was much the same back in kindergarten—I didn't have anyone I‘d call a 'best friend'—but at least there were a few kids I could describe as being close to me...
Now, for some unknown reason, a sort of 'invisible social barrier' has formed around me. Other children avoid me when I approach, and none of them ever take the initiative to talk to me. That said, it‘s hard to call it true bullying. There‘s no active harassment, and no one discriminates against me when it‘s time for cleaning duties.
It‘s just that when the other kids play, I‘m never included. When it‘s time for lunch, no one sits with me. On the way home, I walk alone... things like that.
“Well then, I‘m off for today!”
“Have a good day~”
“Be careful! Give my regards to Sister Yuika!”
Another powerful and grand morning.
Since I had plans to meet Suse Ritsuka, Sister Yuika‘s sister, I woke up early despite it being the weekend and headed toward Aida Church where the sister resides.
One might wonder if it‘s a bit rude to visit so early in the morning. However, the sister‘s church holds morning mass at the crack of dawn—4:00 AM, to be precise—and evening mass quite late. If you meet her during the lunch hours, she can easily slip away.
If you were to ask if that‘s a problem... well, of course it is. But the sister says she simply ignores those concerns.
“So, Karma-kun, have you still not managed to make any friends?”
“...That‘s a critical hit to the heart, Sister.”
“What do you mean by that, all of a sudden?”
“You wouldn't understand even if I told you.”
Exchanging such nonsense, we moved to a café.
Inside Café Janus, Ritsuka sat waiting. She wore ordinary clothes and possessed a face strikingly similar to Yuika‘s.
“It‘s been a long time.”
“A long time? We only met briefly when you were four. You actually remember that?”
“My memory is a bit better than most. So, have you finally moved back to Misaki City?”
“Yes, I ended up getting a job at the church by chance.”
Unlike Sister Yuika, Ritsuka had an exceptionally lively personality in many ways.
After ordering a few light brunch items, Ritsuka showed off various 'tricks' for fun, telling me to watch. In reality, they were displays of magecraft.
As I clapped and cheered for her, Ritsuka responded with a comical bow of the head. Packing away her tools of the trade, she finally began the conversation in earnest.
“I understand Sister Yuika is a nun, but what exactly do you do at the church, Ritsuka-san?”
“Hmm? I do all sorts of things. Just a few odd jobs here and there.”
The meeting with Ritsuka ended without incident, and the two sisters returned to their workplace, the church.
Ritsuka aside, even Sister Yuika‘s name... I felt like I had heard it somewhere before.
* * * * *
Being friendless at school can actually be an advantage.
The problem, however, is that the disadvantages completely overshadow the benefits.
If I were to list the pros: since I have no friends, I don't get into fights; eating lunch is convenient... Ah, my eyes are sweating.
Anyway! The current situation is no exaggeration to call the greatest crisis of my seven years of life.
“...Teacher.”
“What is it, Kirigaya-kun?”
“...I don't have a friend to partner up with.”
That‘s right. I have no one to form a group with for the school field trip.
If that Mapo-obsessed priest who loves human suffering saw me now, he‘d surely burst into boisterous laughter. My plight was summarized by the teacher in a single sentence.
“I see. In that case, just join a group that has an extra spot.”
...Right, I knew it would come to this. Damn it, why are these elementary schoolers so full of social energy? Or maybe I‘m just that much of an outcast.
For the record, it rained heavily on the day of the trip, and it was replaced with self-study in the classroom.
The world is fair after all.
* * * * *
Thus, through various trials and tribulations, I navigated a school life that was enjoyable despite being friendless... Ah, why are my eyes still sweating?
In any case, two years passed. I had become something of a local celebrity in elementary school... the kid who always plays by himself.
To begin with, the classes themselves were incredibly tedious.
Strictly speaking, I was living my life by separating my past life from my current one, yet sitting through lessons filled with 'knowledge' I already possessed was boring beyond measure.
Even for subjects I technically didn't know, like Japanese history or linguistics... whether it was a 'reincarnation perk' or just the fact that my intellect was at an adult level, I mastered them far too quickly.
“...Usually, in fiction, your level of knowledge and mental maturity adjusts to your physical age.”
“Yes? Did you say something, Karma-kun?”
“Just talking to myself, Sister.”
“Fufu... By the way, Karma-kun, have you still not made any friends?”
“The world is my friend and the companion of my life.”
“...You sound like a poet, Karma-kun.”
At some point, Ritsuka had started showing up more frequently at the church.
When she said she was 'helping out,' it literally meant cleaning—or something close to it.
Since I visited the church so often, I became acquainted with the chief priest, Father Fumitsuka. He was a man with long hair and round glasses, and occasionally, he would stare at me with a strangely piercing gaze.
“By the way... is this church actually functioning properly? It feels like Sister Yuika is always just taking me out to play.”
“Sigh... honestly, Yuika. Her childhood habit of loving to play hasn't changed a bit.”
“That applies to you too, Ritsuka-san.”
“Eeeh~ despite appearances, I‘m actually doing my job properly... More importantly, it‘s almost November. Are you going to be okay?”
“You don't need to worry that much, Sister. Even if people say I‘m an outsider or have no friends, there are a few guys I‘ve at least managed to open a dialogue with.”
Two years had passed since I started school, and I was now a third-grader.
But just as the world remains constant, my daily schedule was always the same.
First, I wake up, bite into the toast my mother prepared, and head to school.
After finishing classes, since I‘m not in any clubs or after-school programs, I head home immediately. Well, not straight home; I stop by the church to play briefly with Sister Yuika or Ritsuka. Of course, Father Fumitsuka stares at me intensely every time I play with them...
Anyway, after leaving the church, I head to 'Bread & Kitschland,' an abandoned amusement park, to conduct short sessions of training for my Rinnegan.
And finally, on the way back, I use the Preta Path to supplement a bit of life energy and soothe my exhausted body before eating dinner at home...
“Perfect, Karma! Hahaha!”
“...Hey, Kazuto-kun, is Karma really okay?”
“He‘s probably fine... I bought him a vampire manga recently, and he‘s been like that ever since.”
* * * * *
Another powerful and grand morning!
Last time, I had to head out early because of my promise to Ritsuka, but today is a weekend that is purely of me, by me, and for me.
'Morning' and 'Weekend.' Under the perfect conditions of waking up early on a day off, nothing stands in my way.
Both Sister Yuika and Ritsuka are busy with their own circumstances, and I can't stay at Dad‘s kendo dojo for long either. If I stay there, I naturally end up being tasked with cleaning.
As for training? Even if I use the Preta Path to absorb energy and restore my body, circulating that energy and using it again brings a certain level of physical fatigue.
“Therefore, I shall play!”
“Oh, isn't that Karma! You didn't go to school today?”
“It‘s the weekend! Yahoo!!!”
“You‘re in higher spirits than usual. Want a sausage?”
“I didn't bring any money today! See you later, mister!!”
Yes, people should live brightly and radiantly like this.
Look around. Isn't this world beautiful?
The bustling and lively marketplace, the old man from the house behind ours happily haggling over prices, the kids my age running around sucking on candy, the baby throwing a tantrum for snacks... and the guy looking at a flyer with bandages around his neck...
“Hmm?”
“Oh, who are you?”
“Hey, that flyer belongs to our dojo. Why do you have it?”
“Ah... so this is your dojo? Actually, I‘m looking for a part-time job.”
At those words, I glanced at the young man‘s body.
And I was shocked.
’Whoa... he has so many scars on his body. And more than that, what is that scar on his arm?!‘
“The truth is, I just moved to the city yesterday. I really need the money, so I‘m looking for work... Could you introduce me, perhaps?”
“Of course!”
* * * * *
The man who introduced himself as 'Sojuro' possessed a fairly good personality and a certain shameless charm.
“I see, so you must be quite famous around this neighborhood.”
“Haha, I wouldn't go that far.”
“Anyway, thanks for the help. I‘ve never been to a dojo, but if the pay is that good just for simple cleaning, it‘s great for me.”
The conversation we had while walking toward Dad‘s dojo following my suggestion was as bizarre as some grand adventure.
He claimed to have come from the countryside, but he acted like someone who had never encountered modern civilization... No, he genuinely didn't know what a mobile phone was. And although his long sleeves mostly hid them, there were long, jagged scars on his arms.
According to his claim, those were scars from being bitten by wild dogs...
“Well, wild dogs are dangerous. Honestly, if they attack in a pack, they‘re more dangerous than a bear. I can win against a bear in a one-on-one fight, but if I‘m swarmed by numbers, even I would be in trouble.”
“...What kind of crazy person fights a bear with their bare fists?”
...Our conversation went roughly like that.
All I gained from this exchange was that this guy was either a massive eccentric or completely lacking in common sense—and that he was strong enough to beat down wild dogs, if not a bear, with his bare hands.
Regardless of that, my father hired him as a dojo part-timer after a brief interview and a personality check, then began asking a few questions.
“Tell me, have you ever practiced kendo?”
“No. To be honest, I‘ve barely practiced any martial arts at all.”
As my father continued asking casual questions, he ended up practically screaming in shock upon learning that the young man hadn't even secured a place to stay yet. I watched the scene for a moment before quietly slipping away.