back home

At the very instant our surroundings began fading into a flash of white, I firmly grabbed the small silver armor by its helmet before evaporating alongside the straw dolls and returning to the reality of the library!

"Uffghh...!!"

...and I immediately let out a muffled groan after landing face-first directly onto the cold stone floor.

(BOOM-CLACK-CLACK!!)

Right after that, to make matters worse, a literal mountain made of dozens of straw dolls along with the small silver armor plunged straight onto my back, flattening me like a doormat.

"...Aaaahh... Ouch...."

Well, in that way, after escaping the book, we returned to the exact spot where we had found it or well, rather where I had found it...

"...Wait... What time is it?!"

...but I immediately fell into absolute panic upon remembering how much time I spent inside that story and everything I experienced in that other world.

<"Don't worry, partner.">

However, before I could panic thinking about what excuses to make up regarding how long I was missing or how to deceive mom (possessed) about my injuries, Echidna revealed...

<"Time does not flow the same way between worlds.">

...that, apparently, time hadn't moved forward at all.

"...Aaah... Really...? Give me a second to check..."

And that was how I discovered that, during all the hell that took place inside that place, practically no time had passed in reality.

"No, wait, now that I think about it... What would have happened if we didn't leave the book?"

But then a crucial question arose in my head: what would have happened if we hadn't managed to escape or, rather, if we had lost that final battle?

<"Basically your existence would have been rewritten and erased from reality to adapt to your tragic ending in the book's story.">

Well, Echidna's answer was...

"Why on earth didn't you tell me this before?!"

...as one would expect, astronomically late.

<"Hey, stop shaking me!!">

So, as fair punishment, I proceeded to shake her wildly between my hands, completely ignoring the muscle pain in my burned arm and battered body.

"...Haaa."

Until finally, after venting all my frustration over Echidna's constantly delayed explanations, I finished my school day and arrived home completely exhausted.

(CLANG-CLICK!!)

Only for mom (possessed) to coldly handcuff me to her hand as soon as I crossed the door...

"Why?!"

I am one hundred percent sure I did absolutely nothing wrong!!

"Just because. Do you have a problem with that, brat?"

However, seeing her smile coldly with obvious suppressed fury while what looked like the spectral manifestation of a giant bat appeared behind her alongside an inexplicable, crushing pressure, I, as a self-respecting man and the exemplary protagonist I am, did the only sensible thing that could get me out of this situation alive.

"None at all!!"

I cowardly surrendered instantly.

"I'm glad to hear that."

Are you asking if adopting such an attitude is pathetic?

"Now let's go take a 'loong' bath... Together... How does that sound...?"

Honestly, I wanted to complain way more about this unfair situation, but seeing mom's (possessed) terrifying expression, I realized the wisest and smartest thing to do was to keep absolute silence and nod submissively.

"...Yes, boss."

Do you think that's being a coward?

"Let's go."

Pff... You should know me well enough by now to know my answer, dear reader...

"...."

Listen carefully: cowards are the only ones who survive to tell the tale!!

"...I hope this ends soon."

Besides, this won't take long, right?

[ONE WEEK LATER]

"I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG...!!"

Over the past week, mom's (possessed) overprotectiveness has reached astronomically absurd levels.

"What are you complaining so much about now, brat?"

Not only am I handcuffed to her all the time, 24 hours a day, but they've also put shackles on my ankles to make sure I don't run away anywhere...

"...I don't know... Maybe I'm sighing for my lost freedom... Where could it have gone...?"

This is clearly an unjustified excess!

"Tch... This is completely normal, just accept it already."

But despite my protests, I had neither a voice nor a vote in this inexplicable forced confinement.

"As if I could just accept it like that!!"

However, I wasn't going to give up just because of a hurdle of this level!

"Please at least let me go to the bathroom alone!"

Nevertheless, trying to face mom (possessed) head-on was suicide...

"No. Even when you use the toilet I will be standing right there next to you."

So I had no choice but to try to peacefully convince her to return to normal. And if for some strange reason you think this isn't excessive, let me tell you that eating, showering, and using the bathroom (yes, exactly what you're thinking) attached to her for the last seven days...

"I NEED SOME PRIVACY!!"

...has pushed me straight to the limit of my mental tolerance.

"Don't worry, big brother! No matter what happens, I'll keep you company at all times too!"

The only thing that gave me the necessary strength not to collapse was the unconditional encouragement from Susie and playing for a bit with Sara!!

<"Are you literally crying tears of blood from your eyes, partner...?">

But putting my sad, miserable life as a prisoner of my own mother aside, you might be asking yourselves: What happened to the straw dolls?

"Hey, brat, you're going to stain the floor with that blood... Tch, no choice... I guess I'll have to 'clean' it later... So take this handkerchief and use it, I'll wash it later."

Well, regarding the straw dolls, most of them are still recovering from the fierce clash against the (former) black armor, while the rest now spend their time playing and teaching things to the (new) silver armor, leaving me a bit lonely... But I'm totally fine!!

"...Excuse me, Lilith... Should we be worried that he's drawing a giant smiley face on the rocks with his own blood...?"

I still have Sara and Susie as "friends".

"...Sniff-sniff... Sweet blood... Ahem, cough... Whatever, just let him be."

But at that precise moment, while drowning my sorrows doodling on stones after tossing the bloody handkerchief aside, I remembered something extremely crucial...

"Wait a minute... Friends...?"

...That's right... I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT!!

"Do you think I can smell a bit of that blood too...?"

All this mess had happened in the first place because I tried to make friends, and I completely forgot about my original goal!!

"No way, if you want something get it yourself, Mature brat."

Agh... Now I urgently have to think of a way to go back to making friends at school, as soon as I finish convincing mom (possessed).

"Alright, I'll do that."

And so, another day came to an end while a new one began.