Chapter 11: Sayuki's Daily Life

Original: Chapter 11: Sayuki’s Daily Life

I, Chiyusaki Sayuki, wake up exactly at 7:00 every morning. …Hmm, maybe that’s a lie. Since I always go back to sleep, I usually end up waking up around 7:10.

After getting up, I spend about 20 minutes fixing my long hair in front of the mirror. My hair always explodes with bedhead every morning. While I’m half-asleep trying to tame this troublesome hair, my eyes gradually wake up.

By the way, I’m not the type to shower in the morning. That’s because my hair is long and thick, and it takes forever to dry.

After taking my time with my hair, I put on my school uniform blazer and black tights, then head to the table to eat some bread.

“Thanks for the meal.”

I can’t eat much in the morning, so I just have one slice of bread. I usually just spread some jam on it and eat it.

Oh, and my parents are overseas, so I live alone.

“Thank you for the meal.”

After washing the dishes and finishing my morning routine, it’s about 7:50.

Then I put on my shark backpack and leave the house.

“I’m off!”

Even though no one’s home, I still say “I’m off” out of habit before heading to school.

It’s a 10-minute walk from my house to the station. From there, it’s a 7-minute train ride, followed by a 15-minute walk to high school. That usually puts me at school about 5 minutes before class starts. I’m the type who cuts it close. Since I don’t have friends, there’s no point in getting there early.

“Well then, I guess I’ll tough out another day of classes alone.”

Just as I muttered those empty words to myself, the homeroom teacher entered the classroom.

Ah, I wish I had friends. Even though I wish for it, I’ve never managed to make any so far, and I doubt I ever will. I’ve pretty much given up at this point.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class for now. It’s lunch break.

I basically eat alone every day.

I’ve heard there are loners who eat in places like bathrooms or deserted spots, but I’m not that type. I’m the type who proudly eats alone at my own desk.

After spending years living a friendless life, you stop caring about your classmates’ stares. If you’re still embarrassed about eating alone, you’re still a beginner loner. You need to work harder.

“Well, time to go to the school store.”

The bread at this school’s store is delicious. Ever since I found out, my lunch has been bread almost every day.

I went to the school store, bought some bread, and quickly returned to my seat. Alright, time for my lonely lunch.

“Anpan and cream bread, hehehe, I’m so happy I could buy both of my favorites ♪”

Feeling happy, I took a big bite of the bread.

Huh? I can hear the girls talking from three seats ahead.

“Miss Tanaka, hey. Are you alone today?”

“Yeah, club activities are canceled.”

“Then wanna eat with us?”

“Yeah, let’s do it!”

Miss Tanaka joined the group of girls three seats ahead of me. They started their fun little lunch gathering.

…Huh? Wait a minute?

I’m alone too.

I’m alone too, right? What’s going on?

“…Sigh. This cream bread is delicious.”

But somehow, this cream bread tastes a bit salty. Sniff.

Don’t cry. This is normal for you. Sniff.

No, no. The reality before me is too painful. Let’s think about the Dungeon instead.

I took out my smartphone and opened a page that gathers Dungeon conquest information. Maybe I’ll look up info on the Fire Ant I fought yesterday.

Everyone’s efficient strategies are neatly summarized here. Hmm… but… it’s not very helpful. Stuff like “wear hard armor on your legs before challenging it” sounds like it’d cost a lot of money.

“…Huh? Wait? The recommended conquest level for Fire Ants is 15? Not 5?”

I’m pretty sure the stone tablet said 5.

Ugh. It says the recommended conquest level becomes 5 if you’re challenging it with three or more people.

For solo players, it recommends challenging it at a much higher level with plenty of room to spare. The reason is that if you get ambushed from underground and suffer serious injuries, it becomes difficult to win.

“Hehehe… Well, I won though… Even if it was a life-or-death struggle.”

There’s even a warning that since death is a possibility, beginners especially should prepare thoroughly before challenging it. That’s absolutely right. Really.

Also, I think girls need spare tights. I went home with my tights torn…

Whether it was because the tear looked strangely suggestive or because people were worried something had happened, I got stares from all sorts of people, guys and girls alike, directed at my legs. It was really embarrassing.

“For now, I’ll prepare spare tights and backup clothes from now on.”

I’m a girl, after all. I can’t walk around outside in tattered clothes.

Oh, Miss Tanaka and the others seem to be talking about the Dungeon. Their voices are loud enough to hear.

“Hey, speaking of which, yesterday, pretty deep in the Dungeon, there was this girl soloing for some reason. I don’t get it.”

“What? That’s crazy, right?”

“Yeah, crazy. She’s a weirdo.”

“Yeah, a weirdo.”

“She looked like a hardcore clearer, but she was fighting in just her school uniform, no armor.”

“Eww, that’s a serious weirdo.”

Stab. Stab stab stab. It feels like arrows are piercing my heart.

So, I guess I’m on the weirdo side. I tried to be careful about things like skirt length so I wouldn’t look like that. I even wore tights because I didn’t want to show skin. But all that effort was pointless, huh… If you fight in your school uniform, you’re a weirdo.

“Was she a classmate?”

“Nah. An upperclassman.”

Oh. It’s not me. Then I guess it’s fine.

“Was she the athletic type?”

“Nah, she was super pretty.”

“A pretty girl was alone in the Dungeon?”

“Yeah. She didn’t seem to belong there.”

“Right? Ah, but maybe because she’s pretty, she has stress in her daily life or something?”

“Ah, I see. That makes sense. I get it.”

“Wait, no you don’t? I don’t see any elements you could relate to.”

“Hey, that’s mean!”

…I want to join their Dungeon conversation too. I want to talk like, “Hey hey, did you guys beat the ant? I beat it solo.”

I’m getting antsy. But I couldn’t muster the courage to go talk to them.

“Sigh… Maybe I’ve gotten too used to being alone.”

I wonder if that pretty upperclassman is alone too. I’d like to meet her someday. Maybe we could become friends.

But from what I heard, she seems like a pretty hardcore player. As I am now, even if I met her, she probably wouldn’t pay me any attention. I need to level up more.