Chapter 31 - Leap
I stood on the station platform, browsing a news site on my smartphone.
I killed time while ignoring the announcement that repeatedly insisted, "Please wait behind the yellow line."
My means of heading to the TV station was basically the train.
I only used a taxi when they provided transportation expenses.
Since it had been proven that I would still show up on camera even if I hid myself with concealment magic, the reckless idea of moving by jumping over buildings was out of the question.
At least while it was light out. It would cause an uproar.
An uproar.
I also wondered if that might actually be better.
If I just jumped around in front of people, I might get attention, like "Nakamoto-san invented a new magic trick."
Should I just do it?
I was starting to have reckless thoughts.
However, I felt that if I let people get too used to footage of me jumping around, the scoop value would fade.
There was a risk that the speed at which the public got bored would accelerate.
I thought it might be better to release these things in small doses to last longer.
It's the same as a comedian's one-liner.
If you use it too much, your lifespan shortens.
I had to earn money by appearing in the media for as long as possible.
And yet, the news site on the screen in my hand told a cruel truth.
It seemed that the attention on the internet was being stolen by the multiplied baseball players.
The number one featured article was the increased Player Nakamura. Number two was the increased Komai 4th Dan.
And I was third. I only barely reached this rank after performing a trick where I snapped a metal bat with my butt during a live broadcast.
It wasn't a trick, just physical ability, but to the public, it was a trick.
The masses are fickle.
They no longer get surprised just by me jumping high or breaking sturdy objects.
The demands escalate, asking for more and more.
However, one must not respond to those demands literally.
It's important to make fine adjustments, revealing impactful abilities gradually without showing my whole hand at once.
Should I destroy a car with my butt next?
Or lift a person with my butt?
Wait, shouldn't I move away from the butt stuff?
As I was pondering new material, I heard a spirited whistle.
The train had arrived.
It approached as if writhing over the sharply curved tracks.
Come to think of it, Ange was bad with trains, I remembered and found it funny.
'F-Father, an iron snake has come! It has a piercing cry!'
She had been incredibly terrified.
To a person from another world, does it look like that?
It's adorable in its own way, but I have to get her used to it eventually.
While I was feeling like a father since early morning, it happened.
When I casually looked ahead, I saw something strange.
A black shadow fell from the platform onto the tracks.
At first, I thought someone had thrown a bag or something.
But looking closely, it had arms, legs, and hair. It was crouching and trembling.
It was a girl wearing a black coat.
"What are you doing, hey!"
The surroundings fell into chaos.
—A jumping suicide. Or a fall accident.
Did she slip?
The train was right there.
At this rate, she would be run over. A young girl's flesh would be turned into mincemeat right before my eyes.
I wouldn't make it. There wasn't even a second left until the collision.
Under normal physical laws, it was a life that couldn't be saved.
But here was a human who could twist the rules.
With the power granted in a world not of this one, there was a miracle that could reach.
In a split-second decision, I cast Strength Enhancement magic and jumped down onto the tracks.
Because I strengthened my leg power too much, the ground beneath my feet shattered when I leaped.
"I have no choice!"
Shouting, I scooped up the girl's slender body.
Without a moment's delay, I attempted a second jump.
Pashu.
Leaving behind the sound of cutting through the wind, I landed on the opposite platform.
The girl and I collapsed into a sitting position.
In terms of time, it must have been an event that took less than a tenth of a second.
A moment later, the train passed by with the sound of brakes screeching.
Gyari-gyari-gyari-gyari! The sound of wheels grinding the rails echoed.
"Did they die? Are they dead?"
"They're alive! Look over there!"
"Uooooooo! Teleportation! It's teleportation!"
The people lined up on the platform suddenly became excited.
"I made it..."
Taking a sigh of relief, I looked at the girl in my arms.
Jet-black hair that reached down to her shoulder blades.
She was a quiet-looking girl. Probably still a high schooler.
Because she was covered by her bangs, I couldn't see her eyes well.
I lowered my gaze to the lower part of her face.
There were tear tracks on her cheeks.
It must have been terrifying.
I didn't know if it was an accident or a suicide attempt, but if she was afraid of dying, then saving her was the right call.
"...I hope I don't get a claim for damages or something."
I've heard that if you stop a train, you have to pay a large sum of money; I wonder if I'll be okay?
While I was fighting the realistic anxiety that arrived late, a salaryman standing nearby said softly.
"If it's a life-saving rescue, they won't charge you."
With those words as a trigger, the onlookers seemed to come to their senses.
Applause broke out all at once.
"I saw something incredible!"
"Is that the movement of a human?"
"Isn't that person the magician who's been on TV lately?"
"Ah, the one who jumps and breaks metal bats with his butt."
"Amazing, his butt is amazing."
"I don't think he saved her with his butt, though..."
Clap clap clap clap. The chorus of palms continued for nearly three minutes.
Once that was over, a photo session began, surrounding me and the girl.
Deciding that there was no need for restraint if it was a celebrity, my entire body was captured by smartphone cameras from every angle.
"Wait... stop..."
Even though there was a girl right here who had just almost died and was sobbing, did curiosity take priority?
What has happened to Japan?
Was it always like this when I was here?
While I was taken aback, I felt a tugging on my clothes.
Lowering my gaze, the girl's white hand was tugging at me.
"...Um..."
That's right, I'd been holding this girl the whole time.
Even if I'm the rescuer, this is sexual harassment.
"Oops, I should let go."
When I reflexively raised my arms, the girl also raised her face.
From under her bangs, porcelain skin and wet eyes were revealed.
Her dry lips were pale blue, as if there were no life in them.
She was weakened, looking like a different person from when we met at the shop.
"Ayako-chan?"
"It really is you, Nakamoto-san," the whispering voice said, trembling slightly.
The poster girl of the bookstore was shedding tears in a transformed state.