1-04: Rejection (5/6)

1-04: Rejection (5/6)

Contact was first made 38 years ago.

Diplomats from countries throughout the world discussed with them in secret, preparing for the day they unveil their existence to the public.

8 years ago, on the very next day you were drifted to Garesto, their existence was finally revealed.

The very next day!?

Does that mean the reason I

Yep. When the existence of the otherworld was revealed, some drifters were also brought back, so the government decided to investigate missing people and runaways with suspicious circumstances.

In your case, it was immediately concluded that you fell into a dimension hole, so Garesto promptly sent a search party, but

You couldnt find me.

Sorry.

Ah, its fine. I just wanted to confirm. Im not blaming you or anything!

He did drift into a different otherworld, after all, so it wasnt as if they could actually find him in Garesto. If anything, Shinichi felt a little guilty for making them go on a wild goose chase.

No its my fault for ending up in such a weird place!

Thanks.

Youre as kind as Ive heard, Shinichi-kun.

Being praised like that left Shinichi at a loss since hes only been responding selfishly so far.

Just how did his father describe him to her? He really wanted to know.

Moreover, Shinichi also felt inexplicably uneasy. If these people couldnt figure out that he ended up in a different otherworld, then the reason he went missing must be equally crazy. That left Shinichi with an ill foreboding, but he ignored it for now, and just listened.

Actually, the nature reserve you were at wasnt searched at all. Not because we didnt want to, but because we couldnt. Im sure you know full well that its an unexplored area, but on top of that there are countless ferocious organisms living there, and not even Garestos technology could cope with them, Rinko said.

And even if I was there, the odds of survival were nil, Shinichi said.

All the more so if it were a normal middle school student from Japan. Regardless who considered it, regardless if both of his parents demanded it, there was no way anyone would risk it. It was just too high a risk for what was obviously a hopeless endeavor.

He must be elated. He should be arriving shortly.

Huh?

Although she said that happily while wiping the tears in her eyes, Shinichi couldnt help but tense up again. She might have told him how his father waited these last 8 years, but meeting him all of the sudden was too scary. That was a fear stemming from the 6 year time difference and the difference in their familial relationship.

Rinko was a sharp woman, and she was immediately able to see through Shinichis fears, but by the time she stood up with resolve in her eyes to say something.

Umm I know its a bit strange for me to be the one saying this, but I think I should tell you beforehand

Shinichi!!! A voice cried out.

It was already too late. A certain someone had already arrived.

Following an intense succession of sounds, the door to the waiting room swung open, and a man in suit appeared. He looked to be in his latter 40s and was heavily drenched in sweat.

That man moved with so much haste that he looked like he was about to fall.

Nobuhiko-san!? Rinko cried out.

D-Dad? Shinichi said.

The both of them stood up inadvertently at the mans sudden appearance. He came a lot earlier than theyd expected.

The mans shoulders heaved up and down as he looked at Shinichi. He was a little older than he last remembered, but there was no doubting it.

This man was indeed his father, Nakamura Nobuhiko.

Ah! Ahh! Shinichi!

Shinichis hair was also longer than the man remembered, but this young boy was undoubtedly his son.

In the next moment, that man walked up to Shinichi and with all the feelings pent up these past 8 years called out his name as he gave him one big hug.

U-Uwaah, thank goodness! Thank goodness!

I knew you were alive! I just knew you were! Shinichi, Shinichi, Shinichi!!

D-Dad, wai