When Hina opened her eyes, she was back.
It was the familiar school route she walked every day. Just around the corner was her house.
“Have I… come back?”
Hina stood frozen in place, overwhelmed.
“I can’t make sense of this yet.”
But she couldn’t just stand there in such extravagant attire. She was still wearing the dress and luxurious accessories from the other world.
Driven by the remnants of her rationality, Hina began to walk slowly, almost mechanically. She stumbled on something at her feet.
Looking down, she saw the bag she had been carrying before the summoning. Next to it was her school uniform, neatly folded in a bag.
“How thorough… It’s like they planned to send me back from the start.”
She let out a dry laugh, though nothing about it was funny.
“I need to get home and think this through.”
Grabbing her belongings, Hina quickened her pace.
“Welcome home, Hina! My, you’re so dressed up today. You look adorable—it really suits you!”
The cheerful voice froze Hina mid-step as she reached for the front door of her house.
“It’s… Maiko’s mom!”
Maiko, who had been summoned alongside Hina, had chosen to stay in the other world. A week had passed since their return. In this world, Maiko’s disappearance must have caused a commotion.
No one would believe her if she said, “We were summoned to another world.” Such an excuse wouldn’t hold.
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt, and her face paled. Maiko’s mother leaned closer, concerned.
“Hina, you don’t look well. I came by to see your mom, but maybe I should leave. Go inside and rest, okay?” she said kindly.
Something was wrong.
Maiko’s mother seemed exactly the same as always. But something didn’t feel right.
“Could it be…”
A realization struck her.
“Maybe time flows differently between the two worlds. Maybe no time has passed here.”
“Um, Maiko’s mom…”
“Maiko? Who’s that?” she replied with a confused laugh.
“What…? But Maiko… What is she doing right now?”
“Hina, are you feeling alright? Who’s Maiko? Do you have a fever? Go inside and rest,” Maiko’s mother said, now genuinely worried.
Unable to respond, Hina nodded weakly.
“Yeah… My head hurts. I’ll go inside now. Goodbye.”
She opened the door and stepped inside.
“Hina, so you’re finally back. If you’re going to your dad’s, at least let me know. A whole week without contact—what were you thinking? And that man… He couldn’t even bother to call. Honestly, that’s exactly what I couldn’t stand about him. Oh, by the way, I told your teacher you had a bad cold, so make sure you’re back at school on Monday.”
Her mother’s usual irritated voice called out from the living room.
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