Dun-da-dun!
Squeeze
Caught you, Sensei!
T-Takanashi-kun?
Hold up a second, Narukami-sensei.
I'll help you.
Gloom
Spring has sprung for Sensei.
Episode 4
Unforgiven
Takanashi Ayame
Takanashi Ayame, Class 2-3.
She's cheerful and popular with her classmates.
She's cute, isn't she?
She's suddenly grown close to him.
He's in his popular phase.
You think that's what it is?
I mean, he's one of a handful of young male teachers at an all-girls' school.
You see girls like that from time to time.
From what high horse are you making that pronouncement?
Sensei, please give me lessons after school.
But, uh, you don't need any supplemental lessons.
Aw.
Grrrr
He's fawning over this damn girl.
She's really glaring at me.
Menace
Illicit relationships. A love triangle.
Scary!
I can't stop thinking about it.
She's cute.
Demure.
As sweet as candy.
And everyone likes her.
I wonder if girls like her are his type.
You know, that girl was much gloomier before.
Huh? She was?
You're well-informed.
There's a girl in my club in Class 3, so I go there often.
She used to be kind of peripheral in the class.
It felt like she was struggling to integrate.
Then, all of a sudden, she became popular.
Her whole aura changed, too. It was weird.
Isn't that pretty common for girls?
Don't talk like it happened over summer break.
Sensei!
There's a little something I want to talk to you about.
Huh? H-Hey!
It's something important.
Come with me.
Huh? Ah, h-hey!
Anything else odd about her?
Not particularly. She seems perfectly normal otherwise.
It's odd that there's nothing odd.
It's like...
It's like magic.
Sensei, your eyes are very pretty.
Hey, you're too close.
Sensei, how do you feel about me?
H-Hey, Takanashi-kun, what are—
Look into my eyes.
Now, answer me.
I'm just putting this out there.
This incident involved an outbreak of unknown monsters,
but our investigation revealed someone's opening a gate to another world.
So the person we're looking for is...
...a returning hero. A "returner."
What's a "returner"?
Individuals get summoned to another world
and gain incredible powers to become its hero.
Incredible powers?
They're usually called "cheats."
When these people return to our world with the powers they've gained,
they are "returners."
You expect me to believe something so fantastical?
We've had evil magical girls attacking us from another dimension.
So I can believe there are worlds of sword and sorcery out there.
Seriously?
When someone returns,
it can seem like their whole personality has changed overnight.
Her whole aura changed, too. It was weird.
If that girl is a returner...
that means Ryusei's in danger!
I see.
So "Charm" is your cheat ability, huh?
Unfortunately for you, "Charm" doesn't work on me.
Huh?
Sensei?
What are you talking about?
I'm sure you approached me because your appraisal skill says I'm harmless,
but you were a tad lax on your follow-through, Takanashi Ayame.
So you're a returner, huh?
Commoner
What's the meaning of this?
Every time I appraise him, it says "commoner."
Oh, so you're a gofer for those witches, huh?
I was right to take countermeasures against appraisal.
Does that mean they're using a commoner as a pawn to deal with my appraisal?
She's calm and smart.
A troubling foe.
What's your goal?
I just want to go back to that world.
I'm the hero that was chosen by the world.
I have a duty to slay the demon lord as its hero.
Sorry. There's a demon lord right in front of you.
So I need you to die.
Those witches, too.
As well as that fake hero, Hanaori.
Her real target is Meteor?
Why kill her?
Don't you know? You get lots of EXP for killing strong people.
If I want to return to that world,
I'll need to use even more powerful magic.
So I'm grinding right now.
Menace
Oh, but before I go, I'll kill everyone who bullied me, and all my classmates
who pretended they didn't see.
Was it fun having the power to bend the world to your will?
Yes. It was the best feeling.
This is who I truly am.
This is a hero.
Now then, Sensei. This is farewell.
For your end, I'll show you...
the power of a hero.
Crud. I sense mana.
Good grief.
The Murder of the Returner
Where did it go?
There it is.
Are you okay?
Dun
How did it come to this?!
Huh? Did you actually kill her?
We didn't kill her!
But Miss Bubble Butt is holding a knife and shaking,
Sensei looks like he nearly got murdered,
and Mana looks like she screwed up.
Any of you could be to blame.
Dumb
Hey!
You all look like would-be murderers.
Stop already!
We didn't kill her!
Recalling......
Uh, if I recall...
Takanashi-kun was just about to kill me...
when these two came rushing in.
Takanashi-kun tried to attack them,
but she tripped over my leg and lost her balance.
Hanaori-kun waved her knife around, but her knee landed the critical hit.
My heart was pounding because her knife came within a hair of cutting me.
Then, Kuraishi-kun's magic unexpectedly landed multiple hits.
That's what really happened.
Just awful.
Will it all be okay? We caused quite a stir.
Just leave it to Oz.
Oz is so convenient.
You're dumping it all on them?
That was her first time fighting a human? What a kind girl.
She's not suited to battle.
Thank you. You saved me.
What you did took courage.
Oh, don't mention it. It was my duty.
Grrrr
She's really glaring at me!
Summoned to another world, huh?
I wonder if that world was appealing to her.
Obtaining power beyond human comprehension
must've let her release everything she'd been suppressing.
But was this really the best thing to do?
We could've sent her back to that other world, right?
No, we couldn't.
Because she'd already...
acquired a taste for blood.
Are we in a horror movie?
Operation Present
The other day, I cut Ryusei's necktie.
I bought a replacement, but when do I give it to him?
This kind of feels like a present.
What do I do if he misunderstands?!
The hero was dutiful.
Asking Classmates For Advice
So yeah, I've been trying to figure out how to give it to him.
You're such a girly girl.
Yeah.
You could just give it to him normally.
The weirder you act, the more likely he is to misunderstand.
Hanaori-kun probably wants him to misunderstand.
That's not true at all!
It's not a present. It's restitution.
That's what makes it awkward.
Well, apologize while handing it to him.
What Do You Want?
Speaking of presents, what kind do you two want?
Money.
Land.
Gleam
Sorry. Let me rephrase that.
I'll make it up to you, so what do you want me to destroy?
We were joking!
Dun-da-dun!
I'm good, since I already always get to see your smile.
And I always get to enjoy your kindness.
Faculty Room Time
Narukami-sensei, did you know?
Expensive accessories are the top item high school girls want as a present.
I saw that on the internet, so take it with a grain of salt.
Um, what are we talking about here?
We're talking about what presents high school girls like.
Oh, looks like branded cosmetics that are only slightly expensive are good, too.
What are we talking about?
Repaying Double
Here. It's a necktie. Since I cut yours with my knife yesterday.
Thank you.
Sorry you had to do this for me. I really appreciate it, though.
It's fine. Don't worry about it.
Okay, this is from me.
What's this?
A Present For You
WHOA!
Plop
A ring?!
Wh-What is this?! A w-w-wedding—
Settle down.
It's a weapon.
A weapon is stored inside the ring.
Huh?
It works the same as the holy sword you used to wield.
Call out its name and it'll appear.
You were forced to punch that eater in the subway,
and you had to use a knife with that hero yesterday.
So not having a weapon is an issue, right?
Th-Thank you.
Why don't you try it out?
Come forth, Sachertorte!
It's Rosen Ritter.
My holy sword.
200,000 troops just wiped out?
That's impossible.
I am the demon lord.
You have defiled this world.
For that, you will pay with your death.
I used to be a demon lord.
But now...
Um, isn't this basically like...
Isn't this...
Couples Therapy
...couples therapy?!
Rokudou-sensei!
Why?
We're not a couple!
You claim you're not a "couple."
Don't take notes!
There have been all kinds of rumors about a teacher dating his student.
No!
Personally speaking, I'd love to support you, but this a school.
You can't be so open about it.
You have it all wrong!
It's because you pester me so much!
You're the one to blame, Ryusei!
I've done nothing—
You're like a magnet for trouble!
That has nothing... Uh, it's still not just because of me!
Well, I know, but...
Oh me, oh my. Well, well. This explains all those rumors.
It's not like that!
I'll read you some of the reports we've received.
"They use first names, no honorifics."
"They stare at each other passionately."
"I can't stand watching them fight like lovers over stupid things."
Wail
Oh me, oh my. This just won't do.
I'm the rom-com police!
Ba-ding
If I had my way, you'd be put to death!
Flap Flap
How do you feel about it, Hanaori-san?
Well...
She's asking me how I feel at this point?
Why do I have to go through this?
My heart's thumping!
I should've killed him when I had the chance.
Dumb
Hanaori-san?!
Narukami-sensei, how do you feel about Hanaori-san?
Dumb
I think she's an annoying woman.
Dumb
Narukami-sensei?!
This is what I mean!
What now?!
Yes, yes, I see.
Don't take notes!
Let's Dig Deeper
You two seem very close.
Did you know each other before?
We're, uh, both from the same hometown.
Gleam
So you're childhood friends?!
No!
Let's just go with that.
And then we ran into each other again here at school.
Gleam
So you were fated to meet again?!
Oh, come on!
Let's just go with that.
So how did you come to want to kill him?
It's a bit of a long story, but...
Yes?
I basically built a major supermarket in an underpopulated town,
and it dealt a death blow to the local shopping district.
What was your previous career, Narukami-sensei?
What in the world is he talking about?
And you mean Hanaori-san's family was affected by that?
Yes.
But he actually did it to try to save the town.
She was on board with it?
The mayor sold out the town to line his own pockets.
He planned to turn it into a waste dump and build an industrial waste treatment plant.
The major supermarket was an attempt to halt that and save the town.
I learned that later.
We didn't understand what he was trying to do,
and we forced the supermarket out.
The scarlet-eyed demon lord who led an army of undead to wipe out the empire.
He was really just a lone necromancer.
The world saw his power as dangerous,
and a new war broke out.
He's the man who took my precious family and shopping district from me,
but he's also the man who saved my town.
That's who Narukami-sensei is.
That's a lot heavier than I imagined.
Snicker
She's starting to enjoy this.
Don't tease her too much.
The Hero Has Super Hearing
Well?
I can't hear them. But it looks like things have turned a little serious.
Yeah.
If the school finds out those two are dating,
won't Sensei get fired?
You think they're dating?
Wait, they're not?
No, they're definitely dating.
They're in a bind.
A real bind.
Stop making assumptions.
I see.
Positively Natural
So Sensei feels guilty toward Hanaori-san,
and Hanaori-san has complicated feelings she can't get over.
That's why the heat always rises when you're together!
Dun-da-dun!
That's not it!
Still, this is a school. And an all-girls' school at that.
Even if it's not what you intend, rumors spread,
and they could develop into an annoying problem, so be careful, okay?
Thank you, Sensei.
I'm sorry.
Manukaney
Do you want a cough drop?
That's what I thought! Sweet!
That was awful.
We made Rokudou-sensei worry about us.
Still...
I haven't forgiven you yet, you hear?
You don't have to forgive me.
I used you.
All that awaited me after wiping out the empire
was the eternal pain of death and endless battle.
I'd been waiting for you.
Because the hero defeats the demon lord.
You were the one and only person who could've freed me.
I'm grateful to you.
Hey.
What did you think when I first visited your home?
Dumb
"What an annoyance."
This is what I mean!
I used to be a demon lord.
But now...
Now...
Good grief. You cause so much trouble and rope me into it.
But...
This means we're living in peace, doesn't it?
You sure are positive.
Peace
I am the hero, after all.
Yoohoo!
What a coincidence.
You were spying on us earlier.
Because our friend was in trouble.
It was the power of friendship.
You've got it wrong! We're not a couple, okay?
I'd rather kill him!
Why are you giving me consoling looks? Jeez!
Squeeze
Heh
Hehehe
Du-dun
Crumple
Blush
Jeez, I keep telling you girls!
This kind of daily life isn't so bad.
Hanaten Confessional
Oh, you sinful, lost little lamb.
Confess to your heart's content.
During the fight with Takanashi,
I touched her and used Energy Drain to secretly lower her level.
That's why I was so composed.
Now, pray.
Please try not to do things viewers won't understand.
Right.
Same goes for this gag.
Next Episode Preview
Problem solved! Part one's over!
It's not like everything's been resolved.
This is where the rom-com high school drama begins.
Can you cope with living a life without violence?
Right back at you.
Episode 5: Much Ado About Nothing
What was that?!
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!
Illustration: Toyoda Minoru